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Shhh….Tell Everyone!!

October 5th, 2009

Secret Church is coming soon…

Today, Monday, October 5th, at 9a.m., Secret Church tickets go on sale! (I am posting this at 1:30 pm on Oct. 5th and there are only about 900 tickets left.) Tic-Toc Tic-Toc….

You can get them by visiting Brook Hills’ website, www.brookhills.org, or by going to www.secretchurch.org. Tickets are $5. This will cover your study materials for the evening.

Secret Church will be Friday, November 6, from 6p.m. – midnight. The teaching will be focused on Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare.

If you want to be added to our email roster, have questions, or need additional information, feel free to contact our Media Director, Angelia Steward, at astewart@brookhills.org or call her at 205.313.7735. There is also a Secret Church Facebook Group that you can join to stay connected.

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The Nations

September 24th, 2009

That’s a term you hear a lot around Brook Hills “Lord, give us the nations in such a way that only You get the glory” … “We’re going to the nations” … “We glorify Christ by making disciples of all nations” … etc. This is a good thing. I think you should care about the nations.

Question: How much do you  know about the nations?

Personally, I don’t know much. I get confused by which countries are which in Europe, the Middle East, and don’t get me started on Asia … It’s so big!

Being the game girl, like I am, I’m posting a game for us all to enjoy. (The link is in the right hand column. It’s the “How Much Do You Know About the Nations? Game”.) It’s going to test your geography knowledge. Play it enough and you’ll start to learn where some countries are … you know those countries that you know you should know where they are but you don’t really. When I started playing I couldn’t get past Level 4. I got to Level 9 today. You’ll learn more about where the nations that we have a heart for are and, maybe you’ll even be inspired to learn more about these nations …

Ryann

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What is the Church?

September 21st, 2009

A couple of weeks ago I asked the girls in my small group to think about the question, “What is the church?” They had to answer in more than one sentence and back it up with Scripture. I’d like to share one of the answers with you, written by Kyndal Nichols.

“The church is the body of Christ, a group of believers gathered in the name of Jesus. Matthew 18:20 says, ‘For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.’ We are one body. Ephesians 4:4-6 says, ‘There is one body, and one spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and one father of all, who is over all and through all in all.’ Later in verses 12 and 13, it talks about the body of Christ being built up to reach unity in the faith, the knowledge of the Son of God, and the fullness of Christ. As the church we seek Christ, and spread the Gospel. We fellowship with one another, and pray for each other. We hold people accountable, and meet together for worship. We are one in Christ and we make disciples, not only in the church, but also in the world. The church is the body of Christ seeking the fullness of Christ.”

How would you answer the same question?

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John Piper on Reading and Studying the Bible

September 14th, 2009

Thought this post from Desiring God was a worthy read. How many of us continually revisit some of these same questions?

(Author: Abraham Piper)

The newest Bible Study Magazine features an interview with John Piper.

They ask him…

  • How do you keep from growing indifferent to the Bible when you’re so familiar with it?
  • How do you approach the Bible?
  • How can we make time for the Bible?
  • How do you memorize Scripture?
  • Is the Bible easier for you to understand than for other people?
  • What would you say to someone who hasn’t read their Bible in a long time?

Download the article to read his answers.

Bible Study Magazine is also giving away John Piper’s book Finally Alive for Logos Bible Software this month.

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Is there a difference around you…because of you?

September 9th, 2009

A buddy of mine recently posted this clip. It caused me to evaluate my influence on the folks around me. Barnabas is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. I have always seen him as an example of what an encourager is supposed to look like. However, as I started looking at him closer i realized he was much more than that. God had gifted him, like He gifts all of His children, with certain personality traits and spiritual giftings. Barnabas used those traits/gifts to impact the world around him in a multitude of ways.

If you are a Christ follower you to have been given specific gifts and abilities to impact those around you. What are you doing to make a difference around yourself? More importantly, and perhaps more correctly, what are you communicating about Christ in the way you live and speak? And finally, how has it been going for you?

This post isn’t to kick anyone in the teeth. But rather to bring awareness to gifts God has placed in each of us and to hear your feedback. Comment with some of your successes and, if your willing, share some of your most recent failures. We can all learn and grow from both!

Be a Barnabas from Chris Kinsley on Vimeo.

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Cribz–Getting on the “inside”

September 8th, 2009

Slide1

Whats up everybody,
I don’t know how many of you have been wondering but this coming week we will feature another episode of “Cribz–Who’s Room is it anyway.”

If you haven’t been to Brook Hills in a few weeks you probably don’t have a clue what I’m talking about. Over the past few weeks I have been checking out many Brook Hills Student’s Room. Now don’t worry…we disregarded all of the unmade beds and unmentionables but we did bring in a camera crew and got a short video clip of what your room looks like on a regular basis.

The goal will be to show these clips on Sunday Mornings and see if the students in the crowd can figure out who’s room we were in. We’ve got a bunch of rooms shot already and we are still getting a few more. Jackson Moon, a former BH student, is showcasing your crib so be on the lookout. You might find your room showcased here or on the big screen on Sunday Morning. My plan is to use this blog as a preview of the upcoming weeks episode so you might want to check back on a regular occasion.

Below you will find the intro video where Jackson lays down the rules to this activity as well the first clip we already showcased (Morgan Werk’s Room).

Cribz Intro Video

Morgan Werk’s Room

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Small Groups are starting!!!

September 1st, 2009

It’s time…to join a small group! You may wonder what this talk about small groups is all about. Well, I’m glad you asked because I’d love to tell you! We have small groups for all students in 6th grade through 12th grade, guys and girls…and they are starting this week! The purpose of small groups is to take a deeper look at the Word and what God teaches us. It is also a group where community is built, service is done, and life is shared. There are groups meeting throughout the week at various locations. There will also be Gatherings (1st Wednesday of each month for middle schoolers, 3rd Wednesday of each month for high schoolers) at the Student Building. I challenge you to, first, get involved in one and, second, to invite a friend to go with you. If you have any questions, email me at aarceneaux@brookhills.org.

Here are the groups currently available:

MIDDLE SCHOOL (all groups meet at the BH:Student Building on Wednesdays from 6:30pm-8:00pm):
6th grade guys 6th grade girls
7th grade guys 7th grade girls
8th grade guys 8th grade girls

HIGH SCHOOL (all groups meet from 6:30pm-8:00pm):
Sundays (Brook Highland):
9th and 10th Guys and Girls at the Middleton home (1708 Wingfield Circle, Birmingham)
11th and 12th Guys and at the Wilson home (3553 Chippenham Dr., Birmingham)
Mondays (Inverness):
10th-12th Girls at Alanna’s home (702 Turtle Lake Dr., Birmingham)
Wednesdays (Brook Hills, Inverness, Highland Lakes, Chelsea, and Greystone):
All High School Guys and Girls at the BH:Student Building
9th and 10th Guys and Girls at Rick Mitchell’s home (144 Thorn Berry Dr., Birmingham)
All High School Guys and Girls at the Werk Home (225 Salisbury Circle, Birmingham)
All High School Guys and Girls at the Carroll Home (132 Brynleigh Dr., Chelsea)
All High School Guys and Girls at the Davie Home (4006 St. Charles Dr., Birmingham)

Just for Middle Schoolers: This week is your first Gathering! We’re going to kick the year off with a tail gating party at the Student Building. We’ll provide the food, games, and prizes…you just show up (and bring friends)! Dress showing your team spirit! See you there!!

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We glorify Christ by making disciples of all nations

August 24th, 2009

We glorify Christ by making disciples of all nations.

So, the title is our mission statement here at Brook Hills. Over the last year we’ve been thinking and processing a lot about how this should look in our Student Ministry. As you probably know, we have recently made some transformations in an effort fulfill this mission.

In my own life, I’ve been thinking about this statement and wondering how it should affect me personally, outside of my “job” here at Brook Hills. I truly desire to glorify Christ with every facet of my life. As I’ve thought about this, there are two questions that continually fill my mind:
1) What is a disciple?
2) How do you make one?

I have some thoughts and I’ve found guidance in God’s Word. But I’m also curious to know what you think? How would YOU answer these questions? Leave a comment and let us know!!

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Building Relationships

August 21st, 2009

In recent days, I have come to realize some things about myself. One of those things is that I am not an extrovert. I love people, I am outgoing, but I don’t find my energy from being around groups of people. I require a certain amount of alone time to be at my best. That being said, after an incredibly full time in Beijing, a day that had been going on for about 36 hours, a delayed flight in Chicago, and 14 days surrounded by people (whom I came to love and care about), the last question I felt prepared to answer was “How was your trip?” The only way I could think to answer it at the moment was with the simple, non-descript answer, “It was amazing.”

While that answer told people very little, it served to sum it all up. The time I spent in East Asia with 3 high school students, 1 med school student, and 3 other adults was just that, amazing. However, to truly communicate God’s goodness and work on the trip, this one word answer is not enough. Now that I’ve been home a little while and have had some time to process, I think it’s time to share some about something God has shown me!

We arrived to find an incredible team of people waiting on us with a task prepared for our team. Our job was teaching English to two groups of children. One group was part of a private school. The other group was comprised of children who lost pretty much everything in the earthquake that hit this area a little over a year ago. We were to teach basic vocabulary, songs, and games. We were to love on them and enjoy the time with them. We were to fulfill a task. After all, isn’t that what trips like this are for? While I believe the task at hand on this trip was a good one and was important in many ways, I have found that it truly comes second to what we are really called to do.

In the Great Commission found in Matthew 28, Jesus doesn’t say to go into all the world and paint houses, fix roofs, give out candy, and teach English. He says that we are to go into all the world and make disciples. Don’t hear me wrong…I know that these tasks can serve to show the world Christ’s love. They can be a way to enter the lives of those who need to know about God’s great grace. However, making disciples comes through relationships. I have found that my mindset is often fixated on the tasks when I take such a trip. I don’t know that I have ever really taken the time to focus on building relationships for the sake of Christ and the eternal life he offers. It’s been more about completing the task.

So here’s the point. There are many people who do good things for others. If I go to East Asia with the purpose of simply doing good things for others, I am no different than any other humanitarian. I’m just another nice person. When I go and I serve with the intention of building relationships with those around me in an effort to speak and display the love of Christ, I am closer to fulfilling the Great Commission. There is no doubt that we are called to serve the world. We must just be cautious that we don’t see this as the end, but simply the beginning of making disciples.

So, how was my trip? It was amazing. The team there was amazing and taught us great things. They showed us a lot about the value of relationships in sharing for it is the way of life for them. God is good. He is also great and greatly to be praised!

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Get In It.

July 28th, 2009

So, it’s Tuesday. At Brook Hills, that means 10:00 am Staff Meeting. This morning in our Staff Meeting Chris Nichols, our Executive Pastor, walked us through Psalm 119: 25-32. He read it from his Bible as the rest of us read along and then we walked slowly back through each verse. Chris is pretty adament about the fact that he doesn’t use an NIV. He prefers the NASB (New American Standard) and, I do have to hand it to him that these verses in  the NASB were sweet. The intentionality is good stuff. So, here it is:

25: My soul cleaves to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.

26: I have told of my ways and You have answered me; Teach me Your statutes.

27: Make me understand the way of your precepts, So I will meditate on Your wonders.

28: My soul weeps because of grief; Strengthen me according to Your word.

29: Remove the false way from me, And graciously grant me Your law.

30: I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances {before me}.

31: I cling to Your testimonies; O LORD, do not put me to shame

32: I shall run the way of your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart.

This is a chunk of Scripture that Chris has been studying in his own time with the Lord. He shared it with us today as a challenge, one that I’d like to put out there for all of us. You see, there are only seven verses here, but they are full of meat. Studying the Word of God is challenging. Even with all of the modern translations, it’s not really our language. It’s not how we speak every day, it’s not the stuff we read for a light distraction from the world around us, and it’s not always fun. (If you’d like to challenge that last statement, first please read James Chapter 1, and convince me you had fun. Then we’ll talk.) Chris defined Spiritual Growth for us today as replacing ourselves (our thoughts, our comments, our responses, etc) with Scripture. That’s a very clear cut way that I’ve never heard it put. I got to thinking about it, though, and that means you’ve got to be IN the Word. John 3:16 is great but there’s so much more to the Word of God that you’ve really got to get in it. You’ve got to know God’s Word if it’s going to transform you. That challenged me. Really, you could say this post is just a reminder to myself but I thought I’d put it out there … in case anyone else needed to be reminded.

Ryann

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