5 things God uses to Grow your Faith

This week we started using the resource by this blog titles name by Andy Stanley in our Young Adults small group.

The reason I chose it is because it has a powerful message and great teaching.

Great Teaching: Andy Stanley is one of my favourite speakers. He hits home about a lot of things and is engaging to watch and listen to.

Powerful Message: Its simple there are 5 things that God uses in our lives to grow our faith. If we are aware of them and glean from them we have a good chance to grow deeper in our intimacy with God.

The 5 Things are (All starting with 'P' so its fun and easy to remember):

1.Practical Teaching
-Listening to teaching that points us in the right direction. Not only is it God honouring but practical advice for us to follow

2. Providential Relationship
-People who direct us towards God. Maybe your parents, a colleague or that little old grandma figure who inspires your faith

3. Private Disciplines
- Yep, you guessed it. Bible reading, prayer, fasting, tithing, listening to God's voice, praising him

4.Personal Ministry
-We often like to ignore this one in the church, but we are all called to have a personal ministry. I think it is important to have a ministry you pour into in your church and outside the Church.

5. Pivotal Circumstances
-Some events in life just point us towards Christ more than others. Some of these things are good, but often they seem bad at the moment. Just remember God uses all things for his good. It might not be a good thing, but if we follow His guidance there can be some light at the end of the tunnel.

Cool things to think about. Looking back at your life seeing how God has shaped or begun to shape you.

-Kyle

Stratos Jump

As I'm sure almost everyone who would read my blog would know; Felix Baumgartner jumped from a balloon in space over 128,000 ft free falling to the point of breaking the sound barrier.

This dude is nuts! If you haven't seen the video check it out here!
Now I have never been skydiving or base jumping, but one thing I know for sure is this must have been a rush. Whether you think the guy is crazy or not, he had the experience of a lifetime. (no seriously he promises not to do it again).

The thing that amazes me about this video, is this guy has such a passion for his sports of jumping off high places and plummeting towards the earth. He has jumped off the tallest of ever structure he can here on earth, he has jumped out of the sky and now he has free fallen from space to be able to tell the tale.

What I find inspiring about this guy, is that he was willing to lay his life on the line for something he desired. While I would personally never take the risk, he did something that I think is astonishing.

I bring this up because our theme this year in my youth ministry is OWN IT. The idea behind it is this; no one else can choose/live your faith. You don't inherit it, you don't earn it, you choose to believe in it and live it out. So what does that mean: it means highs and lows, work and enjoyment, and sometimes sacrifice and being willing to lay it on the line.

Felix Baumgartner was willing to lay his life on the line for a rush, and a couple world records that will likely be beaten one day. And if he is willing to do that, it makes me think what would we be willing to lay our life on the line for. How solid is my faith? Would I be willing to do anything for it? I truly believe it is. But are my students there? If they aren't what steps do I need to take to get them there? These are questions I am working on answering. Are they questions you should be asking about your ministry?

-Kyle