Many people have become discouraged by their church experience, many choosing to leave and never return. I meet teens nearly every day who are already sick of church and they're not even adults yet! The problem with this type of experience is not that Jesus is any less relevant or powerful today, but that some congregations are lacking a focus on Him. When people come together with a common love of the Lord, they don't want to say, "I never want to see you again!" They can't stand being apart from one another. If the Lord requires one of the "family" to leave, they've almost got to tear themselves apart! Find a church where Jesus is Lord and you'll find that type of Spirit at work! Find one where people continuously leave discouraged and you'll find man's spirit at work. "They all wept as they embraced him [Paul] and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put to sea and sailed straight to Cos." Acts 20:37-21:1a Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Who's the most important person in your church? Most people would immediately say their pastor or priest, but would that be true? What makes the boss more important than the janitor? The truth is that one is gifted in one thing, and another in something else. They are both equal and both equally important to the Body of Christ. You already know who preaches the sermons in your congregation. This week why not take a moment to find out who cleans the bathrooms and shake THEIR hand on the way out of the building--the pastor's sermon wouldn't have been half as good if he spent the whole week cleaning up the building... Or maybe it would have been better! "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!' On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable" 1 Corinthians 12:21-22 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Life is tough! You don't have to be more than a few years old before that realization no doubt comes full-force toward you. And although it's tough, there is also a lot to learn through those tough times. In fact, if you look back over your life to the times you've grown the most, I guarantee they will be some of the toughest times you've had. And the same is true of your walk with Christ. As you look back to the times you grew the closest to Him--the times when you were sure you had made great strides in the battle against sin, they'll be times when God tested you the most. Try to remember this truth the next time trouble comes your way. He is slowly but surely ridding you of your sinful ways. "Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin." 1 Peter 4:1 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Many things are supposedly done "for Christ's sake," but I often wonder if they really are done for Him, or for other motives. The fact of the matter is that man is sinful, and apart from the Spirit's urging, we rarely do anything for anyone other than ourselves. Fortunately for us, we were called to be gathered back to God (even though we were and are still sinful humans), and not for OUR sake, but for Christ's sake! "Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace to and apostleship to call people from among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ." Romans 1:5-6 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Often well meaning Christians take things that should be God's business into their own hands. When we stand in judgment of others, or even when we do the right things with the wrong motives, we sling mud on the bride of Christ. If we do good and then act as if it were our idea and take the credit, or if we do evil and say it was "just a mistake" or "poor judgment," do we not mock His name? The fact is that everything we do should be done with God's guidance and God's blessing, and doing anything less gives non-believers an occasion to slander our Lord. We are not our own and our actions (or inaction) have ripple effects far beyond our ability to see or understand. "As it is written: God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." Romans 2:24 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness." 1 John 2:9 The older I get the more I'm surprised by people who seem to be hateful toward nearly everybody they come in contact with, but still claim to know God intimately. From my studies of the Scriptures this is simply impossible. Kind of like oil and water if you will--the two don't mix well! All of us will have a grouchy day now and again, but, honestly, have you seen a change in the way you think about your fellow man? If you truly know the Lord, there will absolutely be a change in the way you think, the way you speak, and the way you act. "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Jesus of Nazareth (Luke 6:45)  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Did you make it to church last week? Did you read your Bible or pray today? Although I can absolutely understand the difficulties of getting all of those things done, I wonder if those of us who just can't make the time for God have any understanding of just how easy we have it. Would it really be that difficult to get up and go to church? A week after I baptized a 16 year-old man whose legs are so crippled that he cannot walk, his grandmother came up to me at church and told me that they almost didn't make it because there wasn't anyone home to help her get her grandson into the car. "He wanted to come so bad that he crawled to the car," she told me! Another friend of mine doesn't read very well meaning she literally struggles with every word as she reads her Bible. She often must stop to look up words, and yet she loves the Lord enough to make the extra effort. Another friend has terrible memories of a vicious attack as she closes her eyes to pray, and yet she prays anyway. So I must ask. Are you really trying to grow or are you just lying to God? "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Are you dabbling in things that dishonor God? Whether it's other religions, sexual things, or just being sucked-in by the world, Christians are called to separate themselves from impurity. That does not at all mean that we separate ourselves from caring for and witnessing to the world, but that we don't get caught up in their diseases--we are holy because of His Blood, and we should act like it. Consider today what God would say to you if you could clearly hear Him speak to you about how you are living your life? If you stay away from things that cloud your mind, you just might hear Him speak after all! "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." 2 Corinthians 7:1  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate