Back to School Challenge

A new school year.

For some it's a beginning. Kindergarten.
Moms are you ready?

For some it's an end. Graduation from High School or College.

For the majority of the kids this is an exciting time of the year.

Time for many new things to occur:

New Back to School Clothes/Shoes/Book Bags
New beginnings.
New Teachers.
New Classmates.
New Friendships.
A New School.

I want to encourage you this year to take advantage of the many new opportunities that will be coming your way as you start school.

With all of the new fun things that you will be experiencing there will be some things that won't be much fun.

Getting up Early.
Homework.
Tests.
Peer Pressure.
Bullying.

All the new and not so good things are part of life's experiences. I want you to have a great school experience this year, so with this in mind, I want you to remember 3 things that I want you to be good at, as you start the 2006-07 school year:

3 Things to Be Good At This School Year:

1. Be a Good Student

I believe it is our responsibility to be the very best at whatever we are suppose to do in life. Kids it's your responsibility right now to learn, grow and mature and become the very best academic student you can be. How do you do this? Study. Do your homework. Get good grades. Do your very best in school. Get along with others. At Osage City we live by a motto: Hard Work, Respect and Responsibility. These are very Biblical concepts as each individual strives to do their very best and become the very best that they can be.


2. Be a Good Friend

The one thing that saddens me the most at school is watching a student eat their lunch by themselves. Or they stand on the playground all alone. The loner. Not a good feeling. Not something anyone wants to experience. My challenge to you kids is to seek out those kids this year that need a friend. Look for ways to include them in the group. Just talk with them. Invite them over to play after school. When you do this, you will impact a persons life forever.

When I was growing up, my dad was in the Navy. We moved about every year. Went to almost 20 different schools. Tough to make friends. But the best memories I have are those kids that went out of their way to include me.

Be a good friend this school year.


3. Be a Good Christian

This is the most important item. Do what's right, not what the cool thing is. Peer pressure will be very difficult at times. Kids you are living in some very difficult times. Toughest yet:

This year you are going to be tempted in several ways:

Cheating
Lying
Deception

Older Students:

Drinking
Smoking
Drugs
Sex

Remember who you are and whose you are.

You belong to Jesus Christ.

He can sustain you, he can take care of you if you fix your eyes on Him, and you can experience a great school year.

In Hebrews Chapter 12:

NIV Translation

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Message Translation:

Do you see what this means all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed that exhilarating finish in and with God he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Keep your eyes fixed on Him, you will need that adrenaline in your souls as you live for Jesus each day.

How Do We Remain Faithful This School Year:

1. Be Involved in the Central Youth Group (Support System)
2. Be in Bible Class and Worship
3. Talk to God Often
4. Parents/Central Members will Pray for you and Support You this Year

This will be a year of exciting opportunities in your life.

In May, what will you remember? Will it be the good stuff: Being a good student, a good friend, a good Christian? Or will it be things that you wish you wouldn't of done or things and opportunities that you didn't take advantage of.

Kids we want to make a commitment to you this evening as a Family. We are here for you this year. Any time, any hour we are here to serve you. Good and bad. We want to help you this school year become the very best that you can become as a person, but more so as you follow Jesus Christ.

Lets Pray....

Father:

Bless our kids this new school year. Help them as they begin school. Watch over them and protect them. Help them to make wise decisions. They will experience many challenges, allow them to use the training that they have received from your Word to make Godly decisions on matters that could impact their lives and souls.

We love our kids. We love you. Bless all of us as we support our kids this new school year.
In Jesus Name:

Amen


Back to School Prayer Night Challenge
Gage Park Shelter House-Topeka, Kansas
August 16, 2006
David Carriger