• Movies > Hollywood helps us understand the Gospel
• Plot lines: Man falls in a hole; Boy meets girl
• The Gospel isn’t just something to get you in church to make you act better – its a deep yearning in our hearts that can’t be satisfied by anything else
• Someone comes to the rescue at the end of the story and they all live happily ever after – we all want a happy ending and we love heroes because there is something deep in our souls that says we want a rescue.

Luke 24:44-47

• The focus of our life is message of God and mission of God – the Bible isn’t about us – its about God!! Too much pressure for it to be all about you!
• You are deciding how you are going to decide for the rest of your life.
• God created you in his image to chase his glory – to be a glory chaser
• The message of God: Salvation is here and is available through faith in Christ!
• The mission of God: share the message of God (salvation through Christ) with everyone!
• Soak in the vastness of creation anytime you start getting too big
• We live in an amazing world!
• The Bible isn’t a book about morality but a book about reality.
• Animals don’t come close to the uniqueness of people made in God’s image
• Malls, movie theaters, sports arenas – all designed to be places of worship
• Every person who has ever lived worships something.
• God made us in His image but something went very wrong – sin entered the world and death came with it! This is why Jesus came – to die as a substitute for our sins – to fix what was broken in us.
• When Jesus fixes us it changes our morality but the focus shouldn’t be on the result but on the cause – Jesus! We need to die to ourselves, not love Jesus a little more.
• Putting a puzzle together with no box and no border – give them the wrong box – this is what we do to people when we don’t share the whole story of why Jesus came.
• If you are a follower of Christ, you are called to take the Gospel to the nations! Don’t graduate high school before leaving he country at least once!!
• Rules are half the truth – the other half is this – God made you unique to display His glory! Theres something about us that wants to be part of something greater! God has invited us into His story – doesn’t get any better than that!!
• David Livingstone – his heart was buried in Africa before body was buried in Westminster abbey

> Some movements come and go but some last for centuries even millennia – the movement of the Gospel launched with Jesus and his band of believers. Movements can change the world!

Matthew 4:18-22

> Jesus offered for these guys to be part of a movement, not an institution. IMMEDIATELY they left everything and followed him. Church should not just a recreational sport! 

1. Christianity is a movement.

• You can’t follow Jesus without moving. We live in a culture where we do the bare minimum until we can do what we really want – industrial revolution led to this mentality – compartmentalize our lives so that what we do at church doesn’t affect the rest of our lives.
• We ask what the bare minimum is to follow Jesus so we can do what we want with the rest of our lives.
• YOU are the Church – haven’t been to church a single day in your life! We get to be a part of the great movement of God! He has given us a role to play in His eternal story!! Christianity is a movement we spend our lives advancing not an institution we spend our lives attending!!

2. This movement has a master

• There is a God and you aren’t Him!
• We have to learn how to identify the idols in our lives. If video games are more important that friends who don’t know Jesus, it’s an idol. Sports, materialism, etc. can be idols -
• We are an entitlement generation – the only thing we really deserve is hell because of our sin! Everything else is grace! We have a right to honor and obey God – so anything else we do is idolatry.
• Is Jesus really Lord in your life? What is the one thing that keeps you from following Jesus?

3. Christianity is a movement with a mission!

• China is the largest unsaved nation in the world!
• The US is the 4th largest!
• RDU is one of the most unsaved cities in the US! > If we don’t live like missionaries, we might not survive in this culture.
• Life is a mission trip! Take it!! There are far more unsaved people in your school than there are saved people! Your neighborhood is a mission field!
• We are the Church everywhere we go!! Lets BE the Church!

• We can have an intimate relationship with the God of the universe! > Be a part of he ultimate movement!
• Friendships > the friends you choose will determine your trajectory as much as anything else.
• Picking the wrong friends can ruin you.
• You need friends who aren’t believers – otherwise we are in a pathetic Christian bubble.
• Friends who don’t know Jesus help us stay on Gods mission for our lives.
• BUT our closest friends should love Jesus!!

1 Sam. 18:1-4

> Jonathan loved God and David more than he loved opportunity to ascend to the throne. Jonathan gave his most precious possessions to David.

1. A friend really cares.

• It’s not fake or superficial.
• When you pick your friends you pick your future.
• We need someone in our life (same sex) that is always there for us in our highest and lowest moments.

2. A true friend encourages.

• Jonathan loved David as he loved his own soul.
• Social media doesn’t help us make deep relationships – helps us stay connected. Because we travel so quickly our relationships tend to be shallow. In less technological cultures, relationships run very deep.

3. True friendship lasts.

• 2 Sam. 9 – David is king and discovers that Jonathan had a son and years later David looked for Jonathan’s crippled son and brought him into his home as his own son to honor the promise he made to Jonathan. Beautiful picture of the Gospel. 
• Aristotle -Nicomachean ethics – 3 kinds of friendships: useful friends; pleasure friendships – if all you have in a relationship is sarcasm its very shallow; the best friendship is a friendship of virtue – people who share the same character and focus.
• Hold each other accountable to be who God made you to be.

> FOCUS on the Gospel, influence, THE movement, and friendships!

• This generation needs godly men!
• Can’t dumb down the gospel for students!
• Need to talk about Jesus at home – should be normal.

The Gospel is more than just how to’s – we need to give students the “why”! > Deut. 6:5

3 things parents can demonstrate in the home:

1. We need to demonstrate a hunger for God!

• What would students say if they were asked what their parents crave more than anything else?
• 14 year olds are winning gold medals in the Olympics because of their discipline. Don’t sell them short.

2. How to hear from God

• 1 message in the bible – Jesus is the hero of the bible and of history!
• Get the Jesus storybook Bible!!
• Don’t set up certain environments as THE place to study the Word and worship – should be able to do that anywhere – Sunday am and Sunday night.
• There is a conspiracy that is trying to kill you!! I don’t trust you, the world, your friends, the flesh, or the devil!

• What we say is important! Our kids need to see us living out our faith!

Practical stuff…

1. There is a difference between a privilege and a right – millennials want to be part of a cause – but they are overprotected!

2. Life isn’t always fair but God is always good! Suffering happens all throughout Scripture because Jesus is worth it! Can’t teach the prosperity Gospel in communist China or where people could be hanged for their faith. Sometimes you do the best you can and still get fired! (Joseph)

3. Participate in gospel living – a heart for Jesus is caught more than taught.

4. How to have a Gospel centered family

• family meal time
• need to partner with youth ministry and parents
• family priority – as you live out your life share Jesus with others!
• The church is an institution we go to instead of a movement we advance!!! Need to share Jesus with our neighbors – more concerned about their dog pooping in our yard than we are about them spending eternity in hell.
• Take advantage of moments with your kids!
• family devotions
• talk to your kids about Jesus and your relationship with Him! The biggest thing this generation wants is a legacy that lasts
• Let the last thing they hear from you every day be something encouraging.
• There should be signs in your home for all to see what is important to you and that you love Jesus and others.
• Mentoring is a huge key to shaping young people – students need people in their life that are a little older than they are.

2. Had a great week of vacation with the family at Disney! Recharged, refreshed, and refocused! Ready to dive into the new year! The pics will be up soon!

3. God rocked us at Passion! We became aware of the massive problem of modern slavery – 27 million people enslaved around the world – including the US! Indifference is not an option! It was amazing that over 3 million dollars was raised to fight against slavery in 4 days!! We are praying about how we as a ministry can make an impact on this massive issue. On another note it was incredible to be together with 45,000 college students for one reason: to bring honor and glory to God!

4. Disciple Now weekend! It’s going to be an incredible weekend! I’m praying for God to move in really huge ways!

5. Crowder’s latest and last CD! Not excited its his last one but listened to it on the way back from vacation and loved it! It is epic! Can’t wait to see what will be next for these guys as they open a new chapter. They will be greatly missed!

6. The upcoming youth lounge facelift! It’s going to get a new coat of paint, the furniture will be refurbished or replaced, and a brand new 60″ tv and sound system installed! This space is in desperate need of attention and we will finally get to make some much needed improvements!

7. Coming back full circle to Passion - I am super excited about the Digital All Access Pass!! This is a card that they sold at Passion that gives you access to all kinds of content: Music & message videos, the live album (and a physical copy) when it is released and a lot more! It’s going to be awesome to relive and share with others what God did among us at Passion!

Jesus raised the widows son – interrupted a funeral procession at just the right time. Maybe Jesus is interrupting a funeral procession in your life. If we are living for anything other than Jesus, we are in a funeral procession – heading to death.

For some of us there some things that are leading us to our death. No matter what is killing us, Jesus can and will use it and empower you to overcome it for His purpose and glory. God wants to enable you to rise up above your situation and circumstances to accomplish His plan for you.

Jesus walked up and put his hand on a stretcher carrying a dead body – didn’t worry about being “ceremonially unclean” – didn’t do what he was supposed to do but what He came to do – majesty stepping into the mess “I say to you, get up!”

Jesus raises the dead! No problem is too big! There is no point that we are just too far gone as long as we are alive!

Ephesians 2 – we were DEAD in our sin! // ALL of us lived among them at one time…like the rest we were by nature objects of wrath! BUT because of His great love for us, God who is rich in mercy MADE US ALIVE in Christ Jesus! // it is by grace you have been saved through faith – not by works so that no one can boast!

The Gospel isn’t about a decision you made – it’s about who you are trusting in! When we trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus, God births in us new and everlasting life!

Falcons theme: “rise up!” > The message is the same for us here: it’s time to rise up!

When Jesus raised the boy from the dead, the people praised Jesus, “God is back”!

The town this happen in was called Nain which means beauty – prophet said God would bring beauty for ashes. He wants to take our ashes and produce beauty in and though us. Jesus is willing to step right into our mess and raise us up out of it!

First, you can PRAY for us! Here are some things you can be praying for…
> safety and health as we travel there and back
> for our minds and hearts to be ready and open to what God wants to do in us individually and collectively
> for the speakers and worship leaders to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit
> for the Spirit to move powerfully in every aspect of the conference – the main sessions, community groups, and the conversations that happen in between!

You can also watch the main sessions live on the Passion2012 website here: http://268generation.com/passion2012/#!/home/
Just click the box on the left that says “Join Us Live Stream”. Sessions are at 10:45am, 2:00pm, and 7:00pm. You can also get lots of other info about the conference at that site as well.

Follow what’s going on through Twitter! You can follow some of the members of our group on Twitter as we share what God is doing as it happens:
> Todd – @TCole98 / @wired_sm
> Trey –  @trrussll
> Matt - @Mdwills24
> Anna - @AnnaAverette
> Laura - @laurbarr

Also follow the official conference tweets here:
> Passion2012 - @passion268
> Louie Giglio - @louiegiglio
> Do Something Now - @dosomethingnow
> David Crowder – @crowderband
> Chris Tomlin – @christomlin
> Also follow the #Passion2012 hashtag!

Lastly, you can check back here every day as I will post notes and thoughts from the conference. Shoot us a message once in a while to let us know you are following along with what os happening!

Thanks for being a part of the Passion 2012 journey with us!

I LOVE roller coasters! There’s just something about going really fast with all kinds of unexpected drops, turns and loops! Living in pursuit of Jesus and striving to fulfill His plan for our lives is one of the greatest roller coaster rides we could ever experience! Some days it feels like the world is on top of us, like we have no real friends, like no one appreciates the work we are doing, every door seems to be closed, and we are just about ready to give up and walk away!

That must have been exactly what Paul and his friends felt like in Iconium. The work they were doing was making a difference but they were running into some serious opposition. It got so bad that they even had to leave the city because they found out people wanted to stone them to death! I’ve had some bad days in ministry, but I don’t think anyone has ever threatened to stone me…at least not that I know of.

When they left Iconium, they came to Lystra where Paul healed a man crippled from birth. This miracle amazed the people to the point that they began to worship Paul, Barnabas, and the others who were with them! So one day they were about to be stoned to death and virtually the next day people were trying to worship them! Of course they didn’t want to be worshiped and tried to convince the people that they were unworthy of worship – that God is the One they should be worshiping. However, it had to be a welcome change of pace from being fearful for their lives!

But it wasn’t long before those who wanted to kill them tracked them down, stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city thinking they had killed him. But As soon as his friends came around him, he was strengthened and recovered quickly. What an awesome testimony to the importance of true friends who will come to your side and help you only moments after you have been attacked and left for dead! He may have recovered without their assistance but he almost certainly recovered more quickly because of them. Amazingly, Paul was actually out preaching the very next day!

We need people around us that are willing to fight and even bleed and die with us if necessary as we advance the cause of Christ! I have observed in ministry and in my Christian walk that there are basically three types of people:
1. Co-laborers - Those who help advance the cause and are willing to do the work and get their hands dirty;
2. Bystanders - those who just show up and observe and never really get involved in doing the work of ministry; and
3. Attackers - Those who stand back and throw stones, criticizing the work being done and those who are doing it.

We would all benefit from a little self exam to see where we tend to lean in reference to these three kinds of people. We should all seek to be co-laborers and do anything and everything in our ability and giftedness to help each other advance the cause of Christ with the divine help of the Holy Spirit! Make no mistake: when we serve God, we are are going to be attacked by people who are being used by the Enemy to stop what God is doing.

A note about attackers…
Sometimes we get hit by “friendly fire” – fellow believers in the Church who are supposed to be fighting with us rather than against us! Many attackers don’t even know they are attackers. They often convince themselves and others that they are just “trying to help” by offering criticism disguised as advice. The criticism they offer tears the person down rather than builds them up and is not offered out of love for the person being criticized or even the good of the cause. These individuals (and sometimes groups) are most often working to advance a personal and possibly hidden agenda. (I could – and just might – write a blog post on this topic.)

When the stones start flying, we need to be there for those who are being attacked to offer our support, encouragement, and love so that they may recover quickly and the work can continue. Not only should we BE co-laborers, we also need to be on the lookout for other co-laborers to surround ourselves with – those who are willing to serve with us in the trenches, get their hands dirty, bleed with us, and if necessary die with us as we pursue Jesus and accomplish His will for us and His Church. You might be surprised to find them sitting next to you at school or working in the same office with you!

At the end of Acts 14, we see that the cause of Christ is being advanced and people are being impacted and changed through the work that the disciples were doing! We are going to have incredible ups and downs as we follow and serve Jesus. But no matter what we must keep going and never give up. This is the wildest and most challenging ride ever but nothing could be more worthwhile, fulfilling, and God honoring! Fasten your seat belt – it’s going to be a wild ride!

Our ministry is all about helping students connect personally and passionately with Jesus Christ and then go out and make Him famous everywhere we go!  Our ministry focuses on 6th grade through College students and we offer a wide variety of opportunities to help you get “wired” to other students and to Christ!

Below you will find some additional links to find out more about our staff, where to find us, how to get in touch, and see a video preview of some of the things we have done over the last year or so.  You can also get more info about us by downloading our Wired Info Booklet along with some of our other Brochures & Forms.  If you are interested in knowing even more about who we are, you can also check out our Purpose & Vision Description as well as our Core Beliefs.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, concerns, comments, ideas, or suggestions.  I sincerely hope that God blesses you richly as you pursue a closer connection to Him!