Welcome to our online youth lesson for Port Ann Wesleyan. Catch up on previous online lessons by clicking here.
Because of youth camp next week and family camp the week after, there will be no in-person (or online) youth group at Port Ann Wesleyan the next two weeks (July 14 and July 21). We will resume in-person youth groups on Wednesday, July 28.
This week’s song kickoff is a new song from a newer artist that we have used a few times recently:
Prayers, first and foremost this week, are focused on youth-based camp ministries. Our district youth camp starts this coming Sunday and runs through Wednesday, July 14. Family camp begins on Wednesday, July 21, and runs to Sunday, July 25. For more on what to expect at family camp for the full family, click here.
Please continue praying for Pastor Paul Sheets and the church looking ahead to new transitions and preparations over the next year and a half before his retirement.
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For today’s lesson, let’s look at a few specific moments in Jesus’ on-Earth ministry. The first involves a busy stretch for Jesus as he starts by healing the fever-ridden mother of Simon and Andrew (two of his disciples) and suddenly a multitude show up for Jesus’ healing touch. From Mark 1:32-24 (NIV):
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
The next comes at the tail-end of another miracle moment … the feeding of 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. From Matthew 14:19-21 (NIV):
19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
The third moment we will focus on this week is right after Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples. They have tons of questions and he is preparing them for a life without Him in the flesh at their side. You can find one version of this fateful event in Luke 22:7-38.
What are the similarities in each of these Jesus-centric snapshots?
Each moment marks a milestone moment for Jesus’ on-Earth ministry. Each revolve around a moment of teaching. In each, he is talking to a group of people yearning for more answers, miracles and valuable time with Him. However, the most notable similarity in these stories is what comes next.
From Mark 1:35-36 (NIV):
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
From Matthew 14:22-24 (NIV):
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
From Luke 22:39-43 (NIV):
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
In each of the three stories, he was in the midst of a massively important teachable moment with large groups of people begging for more of Him and his teachings. Yet, in each, He purposefully stops what he is doing and withdraws into solitary outdoor locations where He is alone with God.
Jesus is all-knowing, all-powerful, and yet he takes these moments to recharge his internal battery with time alone with God. Those on the outside looking in could easily have shaken their heads at Jesus in walking away from each moment … that He was missing valuable ministry time with people who needed Him. Why would Jesus walk away? Why would he keep going back to solitary time with God in nature?
Ultimately, we know that Jesus did what He needed to do to further his mission to spread God’s Word and love. He was right where God needed Him to be, even if the people in His presence at the time couldn’t see that.
For six consecutive years, I (John) served as a counselor at the district kids camp. It was a week away from work, my wife and other things that deserve my attention, and it was definitely challenging at times, but I also really was blessed in serving in that role. My co-workers at that that thought I was crazy to spend valuable vacation time “working” as a counselor, but in each of those week-long experiences, it wasn’t a matter of where my co-workers wanted me to be … or even where I wanted to be, but more importantly where God needed me to be.
A year ago, the whole world seemed to nearly come to a stop due to COVID. Normally busy summer schedules suddenly opened up as events and other activities were cancelled. We were extremely grateful for the opportunity in the midst of that interruption to share our cherished family camp experience with a large number of our youth group members. It was a busy five-day stretch with numerous programs and tight schedules, but it was definitely one of the few highlights from an otherwise dreary year.
This summer looks a lot different for most of us. Summer venues are mostly open, families are going on vacations again, youth members — a year older — are working jobs and driving cars and spending time with friends. It can be easy to get caught up in the busyness of it all. I know I have … work for me has been super busy with numerous in-person events. While they have been great, and offer ministry opportunities in their own right, I also feel farther behind than I’d like to admit in making final family camp preparations.
I think it is valuable that when we are in the busiest moments of our lives — moments like Jesus experienced healing a bunch of people or feeding a bunch of others or preparing His cherished disciples for His imminent crucifixion and resurrection — that we take a moment to make sure that we are not just where others want us to be, or where we want to be, but more importantly, where God needs us to be.
At the moment, we have seven youths signed up for youth camp starting Sunday. We have a handful signed up for family camp starting on July 21. We get it that your summer is busy and you are trying to catch up for lost time, so to speak, but in the midst of that “chaos” don’t neglect the importance of taking a moment to step away from it all and refocus/recharge with God. Attending youth and family camps is a good way to do that.
We can probably squeeze you in quick for district youth camp … but can definitely accommodate you at family camp (held at our church family campground near New Columbia). More about that experience, including registration, can be found here.
