Series Overview

The phrase “hindsight is 20/20” is a popular one in our society today.  When we’re going through life, it’s sometimes difficult to see things from God’s perspective.  During the 20/20 series, we’ll take a look back at some key Old Testament characters and learn from some of their successes and mistakes.

Session One: David (May 20)

Have you ever been surrounded by people but felt completely alone? Maybe certain thing have happened to you in your life that have caused you to abandon your close relationships and just when you need someone to pull you through, you look up and you realize….you’re alone. In this message we’ll look at David during a time in his life when loneliness was the closest thing to him.

Session Two: Solomon (May 27)

Why do we always want more? More food, more money, more popularity… The Bible tells a story about a man who dealt with this same issue, and the lessons he learned still hold true today.

Session Three: Wisdom / Prophecy (June 3)

For the next while in our Project 4:4 reading, we’ll be in the sections of the Old Testament known as Wisdom Literature and Prophecy.  These books contain key Biblical passages ranging from heartfelt expressions to God, to prophecies from God to Israel and surrounding nations, to prophecies about the coming Messiah.  During this week, we’ll learn how to read and interpret these passages, as well as how to look for Jesus throughout these sections of the Old Testament.

I had a variety of emotions the first time I heard “project 4:4”. What was it? Why do it? Is it really possible? I had read my Bible for a year straight, hopping around of course, the Minor Prophets then Paul’s letters, just trying to get a feel for God’s love letter. But the problem was that I never finished, never saw the good work all the way to completion. When my grandma said she would be giving me a copy of the 1600 page book I said “grandma its nice, but you don’t need to, it’s not that important.” Looking back to late December I now realize how much more she knew, and how big her heart was to invest in a structured Bible for me.
Thankfully I am up to date in the reading…a couple days ahead, and it is amazing. I love David’s heart toward God and the people around him. He is such a great precursor to Jesus in his humble attitude. As I bet the reading has been for most of you, March was a hard month but I encourage you all to keep reading daily and not stop there. Reading God’s word is very important to learn more about our God and to know the history of Christianity, but don’t stop there. In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus commands all believers to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”…I know we have not read Matthew yet, but I urge you not to be stagnant in your faith and to live it out daily. Communication with God is also increasingly important with our days becoming increasingly busy as summer rolls around. My best advice is to be Jesus to the least of us because “in His light we will see the light” Psalm 36:9, because what good is a mute faith? Again, please do not just read the ‘book’, but encounter the living God, speak with Him and pray that His love would permeate your being and shine onto those you experience life with daily.

Guest Post by:

Andy Wicks – Junior in the CCC High School Ministry

Series Overview

We all can relate to the phrase “Today I feel…”  Sometimes we’re happy or content, other times we’re filled with anger, grief, or guilt.  We openly share our feelings with the people around us, but often hide our feelings from God.  Why is this?  Throughout this series, we’ll take a close look at the Psalms.  We’ll discover that not only does God want to hear the cries of our heart, He also wants to help us.  As we wrap our minds around the amazing reality of God’s character, our response will be Praise!

Session One: Anger (April 15)

Psalm 10 begins by saying, “Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?  Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”  The Psalmist was frustrated, even angry at God when he looked around and saw the wicked prospering what seemed like right under God’s nose.  Sometimes it seems like those who do right don’t get rewarded, and those who live life as they please have all the fun.  Is this really true?  And, it is OK to share our deepest emotions, even our frustration and anger with God?  We’ll answer these important questions in week 1.

Session Two:  Grief (April 22)

At one point or another we have all seen someone grieve or even experienced it first hand. Whether it is because of sickness, death, parents divorcing, moving across the country, or a host of other things, grief is a reality of a sin scared world. In Psalm 6 we see the depth of David’s grief as he says, “I am worn out from groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping.” This week we will discover that not only is God with us in the midst of our grief, but He also understands it more than we will ever know.

 Session Three:  Seeking Forgiveness From God (May 29)

Despite the fact that David gave in to lust, adultery, and even murder, he is known as a man after God’s own heart.  How is that possible?  Yes, God cares about our actions.  But, just as important is our response to the times where we mess up.  After his snowballing sins caught up to him, David became sorrowful and repentant of his mistakes.  He wrote Psalm 51, a deeply real and easy to identify with Psalm of David seeking forgiveness from God.  This week is a special You Own the Morning which will be led by our freshman class.

 Session Four:  Praise (May 5) 

There are dozens of Psalms that express praise and thankfulness to God.  During this final week of the series, we’ll take a look at Psalm 136, a Psalm where every verse talks about an amazing act of God followed by the phrase “His love endures forever.”  We’ll have opportunities to express our thankfulness to God, as well as be reminded that he is powerful, and that good things come from him.

 May 13 – Student Takeover – NO HS WORSHIP. Students will be running main church services in all venues. 

Series Overview

Leaders are always key in a movement of God.  During the Wanting More Series, we’ll talk about the different ways in the Old Testament God’s people were led – from leaders God selected, to judges, and eventually to kings.  Sometimes this went great, many times, not so great.  The cycle of good and bad shows us that we can only ultimately trust in Jesus, the perfect redeemer and leader.

Session One: Leaders (March 11)

When Joshua led God’s people into the promised land, he was taking them where God wanted them to be led. As a High School ministry, our goal is similar to Joshua’s: to lead you where God wants you to be with your life.  We don’t desire to make everyone fit into a cookie cutter mold, but our vision is to make disciples of Jesus for kingdom impact.  In week 1 of Wanting More, we’ll affirm that God has crafted each student uniquely; that we have many similarities with one another as Christians, and that we also have amazing uniqueness within the body of Christ.

Session Two: Legends (March 18)

This morning our Senior Class is “Taking-Over!”  Everything from worship, to announcements, to the message will be done by students.  Through the leadership of the seniors, we’ll take a close look at the cycle we see in the book of Judges.  Despite having great judges, Israel struggled to turn wholeheartedly to God.  What can we learn from this period in time?  Do we often find ourselves in the same cycle & how can we avoid it?

Session Three: Kings (March 25)

After the Judges period, God’s people were next led by kings.  Their first king, Saul did some pretty wild things to his successor, king David.  During week 3, we’ll take a look of some of the wrongs done to David, and how he maintained his commitment to God even in difficult circumstances.  From David’s story, we’ll get practical examples of how to submit to the authority in our lives – parents, coaches, teachers, and especially pastors (just kidding) – even when it’s really tough to submit to that authority.

 Session Four:  Jesus as Redeemer & Ultimate Leader (April 1)

In the period of the judges, we get a glimmer of hope in the book of Ruth.  Themes of integrity, honesty, high moral standards, & loyalty are seen throughout.  Ultimately, Ruth needed a Kinsman Redeemer, and so do we.  As we dive into the character of Ruth, we’ll discover our own need for a Kinsman Redeemer and how Jesus fulfills that in our lives today.

Series Overview

There’s no doubting that there’s some strange stuff in the Bible, especially the Old Testament.  But even though some of the practices might be strange to us in 2012, the spiritual practices and strange events in the Bible would have made a lot of sense in their original culture, pointing them to who God is and what he’s about.  In this quick 2 week series, we’ll take a look at some of the things related to the sacrificial system and priesthood and how they point us to Jesus Christ.

Session One: Priests (February 19)

To many modern day Christians – the word “Priest” seems to conjure up images of irrelevance or ancient Biblical history. Yet, the reality is that we are all called to be Priests. This morning we will dive a little deeper into what that calling looks like.

Session Two: Atonement (February 26)

In the second and final week of the Strange series, we’ll be talking about the ideas of atonement and that blood is necessary for the forgiveness of sins.  God could have chosen a number of ways to redeem his people, but for some really cool reasons, he chose the sacrificial system.  Eventually, this led to the most amazing and final sacrifice ever offered.

Since starting Project 4:4, I have learned to appreciate how God uses mankind to work His plans. As I was reading through Genesis and Exodus, God’s use of imperfect people caught my eye. I mean, I would not be happy if my husband lied about me not being his wife and then gave me away to another man – twice! Also, I would not be inclined to give my servant over to my husband. What I am trying to say is that God does not need perfect people to fulfill His plans, because He is perfect.  This gives me assurance that God can use me just as I am. My fear and faith in the Lord is enough to allow me to be led me down the path He wants me to take.

            Doing Project 4:4 increases my connection with God in many situations. One of the ways is that reading His Word daily helps me to grow spiritually beyond Sunday. It also is a great way to praise Him on the Sundays when I cannot attend church due to volleyball tournaments. Finally, it encourages me to look to God during troublesome situations when I am not in my best state. By the end of Project 4:4, I believe that I will have grown to know and connect with the Lord in more ways than I thought possible. I am excited to see where He leads me.

Guest Post by: Hannah Japp (CCC High School Sophomore)

Series Overview

The word “Promise” carries a lot of weight. Whether placing your hand on a Bible in a court of law or sealing a pinkie promise with a kiss, making a promise is a big deal. Unfortunately as we have all witnessed, not every promise seems to pan out. Is there actually anyone who keeps all of his or her Promises? Over the next several weeks we will look at the promises that God has made to his people, and how time and time again He has never broken one.

Stand Alone Week (January 8 )

Project 4:4 marks an exciting time here in the High School Ministry. As we set out on this adventure of reading through the entire Bible together, we want to kick it off with a party! This week we will combine our service with the Middle School students for a time of musical worship, Bible trivia, teaching, and fun. Come celebrate with us as we celebrate the start of year that will be life changing.

Stand Alone Week (January 15)

Before we dive into specific passages as part of Project 4:4, we’ll take a broad view look at the first 5 books of the Old Testament.  These books contain key Biblical passages like: creation, the fall, centuries of history of the Israelites, the law, and more.  During this week, we’ll learn how to correctly read and interpret these passages, as well as how to look for Jesus woven throughout each story.

Session One:  Serpent Covenant (January 22)

A talking serpent, deception, pride, and a couple bites from a piece of fruit was all it took to turn the world upside down. Sin entered the world and with sin, come consequences. But even in the midst of this bad news, God had a plan of redemption. This week we will talk about how sin entered the world and God’s promise that it will one day exit.

 Session Two: God’s Covenant with Noah  (January 29)

After the waters receded from earth covering flood in Genesis 8, God makes a covenant with Noah that never again will he curse the ground, and never again will he destroy living creatures.  In making this covenant, we learn that God is a never changing God, that even when everything else changes, he does not.

 Session Three: Abraham Covenant (February 5)

When God made a covenant with Abraham, He promised to bless his descendants & make them into a nation that God would call His own.  In return, Abraham was to remain faithful to God & serve as a channel in which God’s blessing could flow to the rest of the world.  In this covenant, we learn that God is always faithful even when we are not.  He brings about blessing in His time & way.

 Session Four: The Passover Covenant (February 12)

At the beginning of Exodus, God’s people are enslaved in Egypt.  When God is ready to free his people, he brings a series of severe plagues, the final causing death to firstborn all throughout Egypt.  But, God provides a path for people to escape this judgment.  The Passover covenant of Exodus 12 lets us know that God has power over everything and everyone, and the power to deliver us from what we come up against in life.

Project 4:4 is a challenge that Christ Community Church is taking to read the entire Bible in one year. During 2012, every ministry in CCC is taking the Project 4:4 challenge and will be teaching, studying and discussing the same content. It will be an opportunity for everyone to grow in Biblical knowledge and in their ability to know and love God. Most people haven’t read the Bible cover to cover and when everyone is doing it together, that’s some motivation! In the Daily Bible in Chronological Order, each day’s reading is only about five pages long and it’s all laid out for you.

In the High School Ministry, we are jumping in on the Project 4:4 challenge! Here are some ways high school students and families can get involved:

• By reading the Bible each day: You can pick up a Daily Bible in Chronological Order or follow along using the chronological plan found in the reading guide that CCC has put together. Both are available for purchase in the Student Center, at the Sarpy Campus and in the atrium. (Bible $15 / Reading guide $5)
• By taking on the challenge as a family: We are strongly encouraging families to take the Project 4:4 challenge together! As a family, you can talk about what you’re learning and how you’re applying it to your lives. We’ll be providing a key passage from each week’s reading that we think would be great to discuss as a family. Click HERE to download the key passages for the first few months!
• By participating in community: The series for Worship (Sundays / 9-10:15 AM) will discuss topics related to where we’re at in the Bible reading plan. The subject matter in Journey Groups (Sundays / 6-8 PM) will tie in as well and there will also be time for further discussion of what God’s teaching everyone.
• By staying accountable: Reading through the Bible in a year isn’t easy, but we believe that with the encouragement of others who are taking the challenge too, it will become much more doable! During both Worship and Journey Groups, there will be ongoing challenges to stick with it and keep spending time in God’s Word. By taking the challenge together, families can also encourage each other and keep one another accountable throughout the year.
• By checking out CCC’s online resources: From daily video blogs to videos that tackle the tough questions that may arise as you read, there will be tons of helpful resources available on the Project 4:4 website.
• By living out what you read: We believe that increasing Biblical knowledge is good, but a key component to fully understanding God’s Word is to live it out. The challenge for 2012 is not only to grow in knowledge, but also to apply that knowledge and live differently because of how God is speaking to each of us.

Our hope is that 2012 is a banner year of spiritual growth in the lives of our high school students and their families. We believe that reading the Bible and taking advantage of the other Project 4:4 resources are a key part of that spiritual growth. We hope that you will take the challenge with us!

Pastor Brad

Series Overview

Advent is about looking forward, anticipating the celebration of the birth of Jesus. During this series, we’ll be looking at the serving heart of God. That even though he is God, he still offers us hope in his generous and humble gift, his son, Jesus. The first 2 weeks of the series are “you own the morning” weeks – where students will completely plan, prepare for, and execute the service. The final week will be a combined High School and Middle School Experience.

Session One: Hope in the Generous Heart of God (December 4)

What does it mean to have hope in the Lord? This week, we will be discussing the plans that God has in place for our lives. Believer or non-believer, we all struggle at some point in our journey. God has blessed each and every one of us with weaknesses, but these struggles make us stronger. In times of hardships, who do you put your hope and trust in? Be ready to discover how to dive deeper in your faith by putting your hope into the generous heart of God!

Session Two: The Humility of Christmas (December 11)

The Bible is completely counter-cultural. In such a fast paced society where truth is often taken for granted, humility is an essential aspect for seeing the truth and accepting when we are wrong. But why was humility such an important aspect for Jesus, the one and only, all-powerful God? Why would the only one who was never wrong and who created “right” humble himself to a manger among farm animals? We’ll take a look at the value of truth and the humility of Christmas, while looking at the mysterious and powerful nature of Jesus himself.

Session Three: Special Christmas Morning (December 18)

This week we will have a combined Worship service as we combine both High School and Middle School ministries for the morning. We will both celebrate the birth of our Savior and serve others in our community as we close out the first semester of Student Ministry.

December 25 – No HS Worship – Christmas Break

January 1 – No HS Worship – Christmas Break

Series Overview

Every day students are faced with situations, or crossroads where they can choose to make God-honoring decisions or not. In this three-week sermon series, we’ll tackle some of the more difficult roadblocks that can hinder us from serving God freely. From our past, to conflicts, to fear of taking risks, we’ll talk about some of the more difficult roadblocks we face and outline a plan to help overcome these roadblocks in God’s strength.

Session One: When Your Past Is A Roadblock (November 13)

In The Lion King, Rafiki hits Simba in the head and says to him, “The past, you can either run from it…or learn from it.” We all have things from our past that, if we allow them, will negatively affect our future. Whether it’s something from this past weekend, this past summer, or past year, or whether it’s a relationship, or family stuff, or the result of some bad choices – God can help us overcome our pasts so they don’t become a roadblock for our present. In week 1, we’ll take a look at the life of Saul turned Paul and how God specializes in turning bad into good for his purposes.

Session Two: When Conflict Is A Roadblock (November 20)

One thing that we can guarantee in life is that you will have to live it with other people and because we deal with other people there will be conflict. Conflict between parents, teammates, siblings, co-workers, friends… and the list goes on. Sometimes conflict is our fault and other times that’s not the case at all. When conflict is a roadblock in our lives, we must learn the art of forgiveness. In week 2, we will take steps toward getting past conflict through forgiveness.

Session Three: When Fear Of Risk Is A Roadblock (November 27)

When you read the bible, you find countless people whofailed miserably & yet God used them for His purposes. In our culture today, nobody wants to be a failure & our fear of failure is often a roadblock to accomplishing what God wants in our lives. This week, we’ll look at one of Jesus’ followers who didn’t let a roadblock stop him, but rather looked past his fear of failure & took a huge risk.