June 10, 2012 - Today was supposed to be the church picnic with the worship service and activities scheduled for the park. But due to rain and wet weather, the worship service was held in the church building. The topic was " Why Bible Camp" since today was fundraising day to support people from the church who decide to spend time working at camp during the summer. So the sermon was somewhat similiar actually to last Sunday's sermon. You will notice the similarities quite easily. Next Sunday the topic will be "money" so that should be an interesting lesson.
Sunday Sermon Review June 10, 2012 - "Why Bible Camp"
The preacher was the lead Pastor of our church.
A portion of Psalm 19 was read by the worship leader focusing on few verses especially verse 14: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. The entire chapter is posted at the end of this post.
The Pastor began by asking three questions - 1) "Why bother to support Bible camps?" 2) "Why not tell young people to go get a real job?" and 3) "Why would anyone want to give up the comforts of home, work that pays much more, time to spend with friends- why give all that up for camp where there are ticks, lice, mosquitoes, spending most of your time outside in the heat?"
Then he gave a four point answer to his questions:
1) Because at camp, you are outside in creation. It is a unique experience to worship God outside in creation since the beauty of creation draws a person into connection with God. He mentioned the beauty of a fragile flower, a thunderstorm, a sunrise or a sunset and how such causes us to be in awe of God and sense the mystery of God. Being out in God's creation raises questions such as - how can a hummingbird hover as it does, or why is the sky blue or how big is outer space??
Psalm 19: 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
So Bible Camp allows people to experience God in creation.
2) Bible Camp allows kids to step outside of the daily routine of life.
Camp allows a person to be more open to God's presence. It creates an opportunity to learn to rely and depend on God. In the routine of life we sometimes feel as though we are coasting through life and we end up not relying on God to meet our needs. Bible Camp allows a person to be stretched and it becomes necessary to to trust and rely on God. He then went on to quote C S Lewis but unfortunately I didn't grasp that enough to write much about the story of Aslan. God becomes bigger as we grow in Him. God is greater and bigger than we know.
The Pastor also mentioned that some kids come from horriffic home situations and being at camp gives them a break from being stuck in that environment.
3) Those who work at Bible Camp also expereince God's blessing and grow in their own spiritual life. So why not encourage young people to rather get a "real job" that will easier pay for their university and college fees? Camp is education - a different kind of education. It provides opportunity to develop leadership skills, dealing with crisis situations ( when the camp children become ill or scared etc ). Working at Bible Camp provides opportunity to develop interpersonal relationship skills and at the same time learn to do jobs that are not glamourous such as cleaning bathrooms and cleaning up other messes.
4) We support Camp because we believe it makes a difference in a child's life. Spending a week with these young adults who have a passion for God infects kids in postive ways. It can shift the direction of a child's entire life into a more positive direction.
The Pastor closed by saying - We are disciples of Jesus and we can extend God's kingdom through our support of Bible Camps.
A note from me :
As author of this blog I would highly recommend sending your children to a credible Bible Camp. We sent our kids to camp when they were younger and they were very blessed by it. One of our sons has been working at Bible Camp for the last several years and he has a great passion to see children come to know Christ. Here is a link to a credible Bible camp . http://www.pembinavalleybiblecamp.com/
Psalm 19:
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Sunday Sermon Review June 10, 2012 - "Why Bible Camp"
The preacher was the lead Pastor of our church.
A portion of Psalm 19 was read by the worship leader focusing on few verses especially verse 14: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. The entire chapter is posted at the end of this post.
The Pastor began by asking three questions - 1) "Why bother to support Bible camps?" 2) "Why not tell young people to go get a real job?" and 3) "Why would anyone want to give up the comforts of home, work that pays much more, time to spend with friends- why give all that up for camp where there are ticks, lice, mosquitoes, spending most of your time outside in the heat?"
Then he gave a four point answer to his questions:
1) Because at camp, you are outside in creation. It is a unique experience to worship God outside in creation since the beauty of creation draws a person into connection with God. He mentioned the beauty of a fragile flower, a thunderstorm, a sunrise or a sunset and how such causes us to be in awe of God and sense the mystery of God. Being out in God's creation raises questions such as - how can a hummingbird hover as it does, or why is the sky blue or how big is outer space??
Psalm 19: 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
So Bible Camp allows people to experience God in creation.
2) Bible Camp allows kids to step outside of the daily routine of life.
Camp allows a person to be more open to God's presence. It creates an opportunity to learn to rely and depend on God. In the routine of life we sometimes feel as though we are coasting through life and we end up not relying on God to meet our needs. Bible Camp allows a person to be stretched and it becomes necessary to to trust and rely on God. He then went on to quote C S Lewis but unfortunately I didn't grasp that enough to write much about the story of Aslan. God becomes bigger as we grow in Him. God is greater and bigger than we know.
The Pastor also mentioned that some kids come from horriffic home situations and being at camp gives them a break from being stuck in that environment.
3) Those who work at Bible Camp also expereince God's blessing and grow in their own spiritual life. So why not encourage young people to rather get a "real job" that will easier pay for their university and college fees? Camp is education - a different kind of education. It provides opportunity to develop leadership skills, dealing with crisis situations ( when the camp children become ill or scared etc ). Working at Bible Camp provides opportunity to develop interpersonal relationship skills and at the same time learn to do jobs that are not glamourous such as cleaning bathrooms and cleaning up other messes.
4) We support Camp because we believe it makes a difference in a child's life. Spending a week with these young adults who have a passion for God infects kids in postive ways. It can shift the direction of a child's entire life into a more positive direction.
The Pastor closed by saying - We are disciples of Jesus and we can extend God's kingdom through our support of Bible Camps.
A note from me :
As author of this blog I would highly recommend sending your children to a credible Bible Camp. We sent our kids to camp when they were younger and they were very blessed by it. One of our sons has been working at Bible Camp for the last several years and he has a great passion to see children come to know Christ. Here is a link to a credible Bible camp . http://www.pembinavalleybiblecamp.com/
Psalm 19:
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
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