Spring Student Book 2017

SSwtuiftdeCrnetesk

being transformed

The aim of the Swift Creek Student Ministry is for us to
treasure Jesus and see him as far better than everything
else this world has to offer. We long to see all students, in
our church and in this city, be transformed into the image of
Jesus Christ in every way through the power of the gospel.
Our mission is to see this take place by:

Beholding Jesus through Christ-centered worship

(2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:8).

Belonging to the family of God through Christ-centered

relationships (Ephesians 4:15-16; Phil. 1:27).

Becoming leaders for Jesus through Christ-centered

discipleship & service (2 Tim. 2:2; Mark 10:45)

Bringing the good news of Jesus to the world through

obeying our Christ-centered mission (Matt. 28:19-20;
Acts 1:8).

2

To the students at Swift Creek,

As we begin a new year, I pray that God will transform
you to be more like Christ more than ever before in
2017. I pray that you set some goals for yourself this
year that will be for the purpose of growing you in your
own walk with Jesus, and I pray that God will give you
everything in order to see these goals accomplished in
your life. I long for you to love God with all your heart,
all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength. I long
for you to love others as yourself (Mark 12:30-31). My
hope and prayer for you in 2017 is that Christ will work
powerfully in you in order to see your heart become like
his heart. You all bring me incredible joy. I’m proud of
each of you. Love y’all.

Blessings in Christ Jesus,

Pastor Mark

3

SCHEDULE

Sunday Mornings Wednesday Evenings

Connect Group 9:30-10:45 Church family meal - 4:45 – 6:00 pm
Worship 11am Midweek Worship – 6:30-7:30 pm
Open Refuge – 7:30 – 7:55 pm

Mission Trip Interest Meeting Sunday, January 15

12:30pm | Refuge | Grades 7-12 | If you are interested in participating,
attend this meeting for more information.

9-Square in the Air Tourney Friday, February 17

6-9pm | Fellowship Hall | We will form teams to compete in a tournament
to see who is the best at 9-Square in the Air. Winning team will receive
a grand prize and we will have pizza and drinks for everyone. This is a
great event to invite your friends to. If you have never played 9-Square
in the Air, no worries! It’s incredibly simple. Come join us!

One Degree Retreats* Sunday, March 12 & 26

3-6pm | Locations TBA High School: March 12
Cost $5 Middle School: March 26

The Bible teaches us in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that as we look to Christ,
we are “being transformed from one degree of glory to another.”
The purpose of these Sunday afternoon retreats is to grow one degree
closer to becoming more like Jesus. We pray this time challenges,
encourages, and transforms students to live like Christ. Registration
opens February 12.

*registration required

4

SCHEDULE

Secret Church Simulcast* Friday, April 21

6pm-12:30am | Refuge | Deadline to register: April 16 | $5
This night is not for the one looking for a casual hangout. This is a time
of intense Bible teaching from Dr. David Platt, President of International
Mission Board, who will be simulcast to churches and groups all over
the world. This Bible study lasts about 6 hours, with multiple breaks
throughout. Dr. Platt will specifically teach on the authority of Scripture
in a world of skepticism. It is an incredible night of diving into deep
gospel truth in order equip us to live out our faith in a dark world. I
encourage all High School Students who are serious about growing
deeper in their relationship with Christ to join us. You will not regret it!
Snacks and drinks provided. High School only.

DNOW Weekend* Friday, April 28-30

Camp Piankatank | Deadline to register: April 2 | $75
Disciple Now will be a bit earlier than usual this year, but still just as
meaningful and the weather will be more pleasant. Our focus of the
weekend will be to see how the gospel changes everything. Our speaker
is Steve Yarber, a member of our church and a former long-time student
pastor. We will have a blast doing various rec activities including ropes
courses (zip-line included) and bumper ball. We will have focused
sessions of worship and small groups. Meals will be provided.

Saturday in the Park Saturday, May 13

11am-2pm | Pack a lunch and come hang out for a few hours outside
in the park. Parents are invited to join us. For all students and parents.
Location: TBA

*registration required 5

SCHEDULE

Keep your eyes open for these upcoming summer events!

Student Mission Trip: June 17-23
Atlanta, Ga*

This trip will be with Infusion Missions. We will be working alongside
current ministries in urban Atlanta dealing with social justice issues.
These issues are those such as homelessness, racism, unemployment,
hunger, widows and orphans, refugees, and other issues. It will be our
responsibility to help meet these real life needs through the lens of
the gospel, in order to address their ultimate need for a Savior. It will
help students better learn how to engage our culture with the gospel.
For more information go to infusionmissions.com. See Pastor Mark to
register. Payments can be made online or in person.

Cost: $360 (Adults - $180) Team meetings: April 2 & May 21
Grades: Completed 7-12 12:30pm | Refuge
Student Spots Available: 20
Requirements due April 16
Vacation Bible School
June 26-29

Students are highly encouraged to serve their church at Vacation Bible
School. Don’t miss an opportunity to live brightly for Christ by serving.
Mark 10:45. Email [email protected].

FUGE Student Camp* July 17-21

Liberty University | $290 Students, I cannot emphasize enough how

fun and beneficial this week will be. As we join a host of other churches

on Liberty’s campus we will enjoy unforgettable worship, small groups,

and extraordinary recreation tracks each day. We will be staying on

Liberty’s campus throughout the week and meals and travel are included.

For Grades 6-12. *registration required
6

Ongoing
Bible Studies

Girls Bible Study Parks’ Home
7424 Whirlaway Dr.
Every Other Sunday Night Midlothian Va 23112
6-8pm
Grades 6-12

High School Guys Breakfast Chick-fil-A at Winterpock
14101 Hull Street Rd,
Thursday Mornings
6-7am Chesterfield, VA 23832
Grades 9-12

7

It is the start of the New Year. I want you to set realistic goals to
accomplish in 2017. Since these are goals, that means they need to
be things that will challenge you. Make your goals specific and not
general, and give yourself dates for when you want to see goals
accomplished.
For instance, if you have a spiritual growth goal of reading your
Bible more, then don’t simply make your goal, “Read my Bible
more.” Instead your goal might be, “Read the book of John by the
end of January.” OR even “Read my Bible 5 nights a week.” Goals can
even be something you do less such as, “Do not get on Instagram or
Snapchat each day till I have read my Bible).”
Please use the three categories below to make your goals. I would
recommend you continue to look at these throughout the semester
to help you stay accountable to do them.

Spiritual Growth

8

SCHOOL

LIFE (sports, extra-curricular activities, health, savings, and anything else):

9

Bible Reading Plans

Each day you read I want to give you one goal,

Find just 1 verse that leaps out to you
and do something that will help you
remember it throughout the day.

(Ex. Write the reference on your hand, put a
post-it on your mirror, put it on a notecard in your
pocket, screenshot on your phone, put it on the
dashboard of your car, etc.).

JAN Joshua 1-14 OR Psalm 1-25
FEB Mark OR Psalm 26-50
MAR 1 Samuel 1-17 OR Psalm 51-75
APR 1 Samuel 18-31 OR Psalm 76-100
MAY Romans OR Psalm 101-119
JUN 1 Corinthians OR Psalm 120-150

Follow the reading plan given each week in your
Bible Study for Life book from Connect Group.

GIRLS OPTION My lovely wife, Renee, wrote a

2-week devotional called new bloom, and I would
highly recommend it to you. It also comes with an
additional Bible reading plan, which you could use
throughout the semester. Access it on her blog:
mullingovermymorningcoffee.blogspot.com

10

Scripture
Memory
Challenge

I challenge you to memorize the book of:

1 John

This book is 5 chapters. 105 verses. 19 paragraphs.
If you can memorize the whole book, and recite
it to me at least a paragraph at a time, you will
receive something very valuable.
Also, for every two consecutive verses you
memorize of 1 John you will receive 1 café buck.

11

One of the simplest and best
ways you can pray each day is by
following Jesus’ model for prayer in your own words (Matt. 6:9-13).
Follow along and pray this in your own words.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
Start by acknowledging that God is your Father who loves you and
cares for you. He finds joy in being your Father! Acknowledge that

God is holy, perfect, and in control of every area of your life.

“Your Kingdom Come”
Pray for people in your life that need to come into a relationship

with Christ. And for Christ to be the Lord of their lives.

“Your will be done”
Pray that God would help you to obey him and his Word.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”
Ask God to provide for your needs today. Give him all your worries
and anxieties. He knows what you need before you ask, so trust

him to take care you.

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Confess any sin to him that is on your heart. Pray that God would
restore your close fellowship with him that has been hindered by
your sin. Thank him for already forgiving you when Jesus died on
the cross. Ask God to help you forgive anyone in your life today

that has hurt you, just as God has forgiven you.

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Pray that God would keep you from sinning today. Ask Jesus to

help you run from those things that lead you into sin.

“For yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.”

Finish by praising God for who he is—Your Savior, and commit
everything you do today to be done to make Jesus known!

12

Transformation
Tracker

YY Bring your Bible to church every week.
YY Ask Pastor Mark how you can get involved

in serving our church.
YY Send a text of encouragement (or write a

note) to some one who needs it.
YY Ask your mom or dad how you can help

them today.
YY Memorize a verse from your quiet time

this week.
YY Bless your neighbors by taking cookies

to their house and attach a note of
encouragement that demonstrates Jesus’
love to them.
YY Ask someone in your Connect Group how
you can be praying for them this week.
YY Pray for an opportunity to share with
someone about what Christ has done in
your life and pray for the boldness to act
on it.
YY Set a reminder alert on your phone every
night to help your remember to spend time
reading your Bible.
YY Bring your Bible to school and in your free
time open it up and read it. Allow it to
create conversations.
YY Jot down 1 or 2 thoughts that come to your
mind in a notebook about what God is
teaching from a particular passage in your
Bible reading.
YY Put your phone in a different room,
and spend 5 minutes alone with God
in prayer.

13

Seven Principles of Encouragement

for raising Christ-centered teenagers

1) God never calls you to a task without giving you what you
need to do it. He never sends you without going with you.

2) Recognizing what you are unable to do is essential to good
parenting.

3) The goal of parenting is not control of behavior, but rather
heart and life change.

4) If you are not resting as a parent in your identity in Christ,
you will look for identity in your children.

5) You must be committed as a parent to long-view parenting
because change is a process and not an event.

6) You are parenting a worshiper, so its important to remember
that what rules your teenager’s heart will control their
behavior.

7) It is only rest in God’s presence and grace that will make you
a joyful and patient parent.
An exerpt from “Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles that can Radically
Change Your Family” by Pastor Paul David Tripp

Parent’s Corner

14

Recommended Books for parenting your teens

toward a love for God and toward life-change through Christ alone.

The 5 Love Parenting Without
Languages of Regret by Jimmy &
Teenagers by Laura Seibert
Gary Chapman

Parenting: Raising Grateful Kids
14 Gospel in an Entitled World
Principles that by Kristen Welch
can Radically
Change your
Family by Paul
David Tripp

Recommended Bibles for Your Teen

ESV Student Study Bible
ESV Single Column Journaling Bible
HCSB Essential Teen Study Bible
NLT Wayfinding Bible
NIV Life Application Study Bible

15

Swift Creek
Student Ministry

@studentsofSCBC

Swift Creek
Student Ministry