Alex on #Crowd

A true encounter and connection with Jesus will cause you to step away from the crowd. -- Josh

Many people have the wrong idea about Christianity. One idea is that Christianity 'lives' at church. Like, if we're not at church, we don't have to be Christians. Another side of this idea is that Christianity exists in crowds -- that a Christian isn't different from non-Christians when they're alone. Or that the only place Christ can be found is in a group.

Believe me, Varsity is awesome. God definitely uses big group or "crowd" situations in his plans for us! Matthew 18:22 says, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

But if Varsity (or Christian friends, or a club or your church) is your only connection with God, then you're missing out. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God...". God's own son demonstrates this in Luke 5:16, "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

Are your "Jesus moments" associated with large crowds? Christianity isn't in a place. It's everywhere you are. It isn't a feeling you get around others. It's a relationship with your Maker, Savior and Friend.

Step away from the crowd, and don't do what everyone else is doing. Worship God however He calls you to worship. Live your life according to his plan, even if none of your friends are. The band Barlowgirl writes, "Be a voice, not an echo".

Alex W / Message Writer

Alex on #Identity

Who are you?
Well, we can start with the obvious. I'm a teenage girl. My name is Alex.
Okay, but who are you?
Um... I'm a high school student. I'm a member of Brookwood Church and some clubs and groups.
Yeah. But who are you?
I was born here, I have one brother, I like Mexican food, and my family is divided between Clemson and USC.
Okay. But, really, who are you?
...

This past Wednesday, Josh talked with us about identity. If you wear a shirt with pictures or words on it such as sport teams, schools, music artists/bands, hobbies, locations, sterotypes or businesses, you are identifying yourself with that group. Getting a tattoo is similiar. Tattoos are pretty much permanent -- and you've identified yourself with whatever is inked on your body.

Identity is really important. Have you ever walked into a room and everyone is in their own little cliques? Maybe it's the Mauldin group on the left, the JL Mann group on the right, and Hillcrest and Byrnes and St. Joe's and Riverside and Southside High and Southside Christian and Woodmont and Shannon Forest and TR are just randomly organized around the room. And if your school isn't represented, it just feels weird. Like you don't belong. And you almost feel identity-less.

This is important: God wants to give you an identity and a name and a purpose. He wants to brand you with his love. He wants to call you his own. He wants you to be his child.
Ephesians 3:16-19 says,

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you
with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make
His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your
roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the
power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how
long, how high and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of
Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that
comes from God.

Let God give you strength and change your heart with his Spirit. Let Christ make His home in your heart. He will live in you through a relationship with God. God will help you to understand His love, which you will experience. And God will never let you go. He loves you! He wants to brand you with his love.
So, who are you?
A child of God. A daughter or son of God. A believer in His power.

Alex W / Message Writer

Alex on #YouAretheChurch

You may have learned the little adage, "Here's the church and here's the steeple; Open the door and see all the people" when you were in Sunday school. It's a cute reminder of where we go on Sundays and/or Wednesdays, but it's also a bit misleading.

The first "church" was formed by a group of Jesus's followers after Jesus rose up into heaven. These guys and gals met in each other's homes or outside. In fact, the early church did not have an actual church building until 300 years after Jesus was around. This group is considered the first church because they were the first to organize and begin preaching -- not the first to build a building!

For information about the first church, we turn to the book of Acts, right after the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and right before Romans. (... Okay, don't lose me here! I'll post the verses.) The early church provides us with a great example of how a church should act. Keep in mind that the church is not a building. It's a group of people who love God and have accepted His son as their Savior.

1. Believers should be connecting with other believers!

Acts says: "...all the believers met together in one place" and "They worshiped together at the Temple each day [and] met in homes for the Lord’s Supper..." (2:44, 26)
We connect at Varsity on Wednesday nights, but also during the week at D-Teams and at Varsity Unplugged meetings.

2. Believers should be meeting the needs of others in love!

"[T]he believers devoted themselves to ... sharing in meals" (2:42). They also "... sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need." (2:45)
We serve the homeless through Homeless on Tuesdays with Varsity. You can also volunteer to serve at Varsity by working the lights or sound or checking-in or greeting students.

3. Believers should devote themselves to learning!

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching..." (2:42)
This is more than just hanging out at Varsity each week. This is grabbing a Bible and reading it for yourself. This is listening closely to Josh's message and relating it to your life.

4. Believers should be participating in people being saved!

"And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." (2:27)
Okay, it's important to note that God is saving people. We are just participants! You can bring your friends to Varsity or attend a Baptism service (the next one is June 28th, along with our Independence Day celebration).

5. Believers should be celebrating God in worship!

"They worshiped together at the Temple each day ... while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people." (2:46) Worship is not just singing to God. Worship is acknowledging that there is something greater than you and me. Worship is giving God the glory he deserves. We do this through singing, raising our hands while we sing, even obeying God's direction. It's saying: "God is more important than me. God has a plan for my life. It's His plan, not mine."

Are you living like a believer? Remember, you are the church.

Verses above taken from Acts 2:42-47, New Living Translation

Alex / Message Writer