Weekly Gatherings

Here are our weekly opportunties for Middle School Students to gather at FBC. Each meeting fulfills a specific purpose in our quest of ministering Middle Schoolers.

Common Ground...Wednesdays: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Common Ground is our mid-week meeting and is essentially the front door or foyer to our Middle School Ministry. The night entails a blend of small groups, recreation, choir, teaching, and much more. It is the ideal place for our students to bring friends because there is something for everyone.

Sunday School... Sundays: 9:15 am - 10:15 am
Sunday School represent the living room of our ministry. It is smaller and much more intimate to go deeper in God’s Word and connect in relationships. This environment creates an interactive setting between leaders and students. This time includes discussion, prayer, and steps towards true community.

Grow U... Sundays: 4:45 pm - 5:45 pm
Grow U serves as the kitchen of our ministry. This is the place where students can begin to discover how to get their hands dirty. This meeting is much more in-depth targeting students who want to take their faith to the next level. This time provides accountability, deeper truths, and opportunities for students to do ministry.

Boys/Girls Studies

Today, we put a little twist on things. All the 6/7 grade boys met together to talk about manhood. All of the 6/7 grade girls met together to look at being the young women that God desires. This will be something that we do two more times this semester. Why?

#1) It keeps our approach fresh. It mixes things up and helps break the mundane.

#2) It provides us the opportunity to focus specifically on the needs of boys and girls. This is so crucial during the Middle School Years!

Amazing Race Pictures

Here are a few shots of the Amazing Race. As the teams returned, we were not able to get a picture of everyone. It was chaotic to say the least!

Amazing Race Results

We are now well passed the finish line for the second ever Amazing Race. This year's Amazing Race marked the biggest event that the First Baptist Middle School Ministry has ever hosted. There were more 6/7 graders in attendance for this gathering than anything that we have ever done! The night began as normal in the Gym with time to hang out and to connect new friendships. Then the kids feasted on chips and twinkies. We wanted to stay nourished for the competition. We had several kids pre-registered and ready to go. We were excited to see so many more show up at the door. This, of course, took some last minute tweaking to fit everyone into teams.

In each team's packet were instructions and a coat hanger. Everyone had 1 hour and 10 minutes to barter their coat hanger for something bigger and better. Once they traded their coat hanger for an item, they had to take that new item and trade it for something else! The idea was to leave with one item and bring one back that was bigger and better.

Then all 22 teams were unleashed on the city of Benton. Here are the final results of all those trades: drapes, a purse, golf clubs, a pool table, a dryer, a decor table, art supplies, a punching bag, candle holders, lights, a scooter, and many other items. All of the items were donated to the Habitat for Humanity Resale Shop. The top teams were placed according to the amount of money their item might bring to Habitiat for Humanity to build more houses. Finally, our winning teams were:

1st Place:
Jeff -Team Leader
Andru
Jesse
Wesley
Matthew
Russell
Chandler
Garrett

2nd Place:
Stephanie - Team Leader
Sydney
Haley
Olivia
Carly

3rd Place:
Robert - Team Leader
Jonah
Bret
Nathaneal
Jax

Final Indescribable Notes

Here is our final outline from "Indescribable." It has been a great series to open our minds to God. We have looked at God is, God is like, and now this one God gives. We could just go on and on about God and never really describe Him. Why? Because He is just that big and incredible!

These outlines can become a catalyst for conversation between parents and Middle Schoolers. This can happen from the dinner table to driving in the car. Help us reinforce the message outside the walls of the church.

#1) God gives Life. Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

#2) God gives Attention. Psalm 34:15, “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry.”

#3) God gives Judgement. Revelation 20:12, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.”

#4) God gives Heaven. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Encounters with Christ

God has blessed our Middle School Ministry with the privilege of seeing many students come into a relationship with Jesus Christ. These divine appointments are the sweetest of all because lives are eternally changed! A person can trust Christ anywhere, anytime, and any place! The evidence is clear as our Middle Schoolers have received Christ in a variety of places over the past couple of years. Here are just a few:

-Worship Center.
-Selph Hall.
-Upper Room.
-Foyer.
-Fellowship Hall.
-Sunday School Rooms.
-Party Central.
-Offices.
-Home.
-Car.
-Beach.
-Other Churches.

The Middle School Ministry Office is always open for students with questions about beginning a relationship with Jesus!

Amazing Race

The Amazing Race is just around the corner! Last year, our groups competed for points by using digital cameras. A wide variety of pictures were worth lots of points and penalties to each team. This year will be different, but we cannot reveal any information. We got the keep the playing field level.

All students can show up as normal to Common Ground. Just remember that we will not doing Common Ground...it will be the Amazing Race. The night will be this coming Wednesday, September 24. It begins in the Gym at 5:30 pm and wrap-ups at 7:30 pm. Here is what will happen…

Each group will consist of 4-7 Middle Schoolers and an adult leader. Next, each group will be unleashed on the city of Benton. The teams will be given a special task. The teams that do their tasks the very best will receive prizes!

Just to note: the original deadline was set for Sunday, September 21. All students can forget about the deadline and just show up! It must be noted that if a student's registration arrives early, he/she will be given a better chance of being on a team with friends. Each participant that attends the Amazing Race will need a completed form and $5.00. See you at the starting line!

Small Group Readings

Here are the Quiet Time verses for the week...

Monday: John 2:23-25

Tuesday: John 3:1-6

Wednesday: John 3:7-12

Thursday: John 3:13-18

Friday: John 3:19-24

Saturday: John 3:25-30

Sunday: John 3:31-36

More Indescribable Notes

Here are a few notes from our study last Wednesday night. You can take the message home by reviewing the notes and creating conversation. This coming Wednesday will bring our series "Indescribable" to a close.

#1) God is like Gravity. (He is everywhere.) Hebrews 4:13 - “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

#2) God is like a Rock. (He is strong.) Isaiah 26:4 - “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.”

#3) God is like a Gift. (He gave Himself for us.) Ephesians 2:8 - “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

#4) God is like an Artist. (He created everything.) Psalms 19:1 - “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

#5) God is like a Mirror. (We are a relection of Him.) Genesis 1:27 - “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

#6) God is like a Doctor. (He heals.) Psalms 147:3 - “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Sharing Project

This picture begins with a simple drop into the water. One small pebble, one small penetration into the surface of the water creates momentum. There are ripples to follow that initial splash. A Middle Schooler can be that one drop. One small student doing one small act of kindness can make a significant impact that spreads. Because of this, we will offer our students the opportunity to participate in "Sharing Projects." These projects will help to engage the students in being a blessing to others. We believe that Middle Schoolers can make the world a better place.

One way to do this is through giving. Our "Sharing Project” for the months of September and October will be to construct a Homeless Care Kit. All of these boxes will go to homeless men and women in Central Arkansas. It will not be long until it is going to be cold. Our kids can be good helpers for God by putting together a box. How do we make this happen?

Step #1) Get a shoe box.

Step #2) Choose to prepare one for a man or woman.

Step #3) Place toiletries, gloves, toboggans , scarves, small blankets, and whatever else you want to pack in your box.

Step #4) Wrap the box in nice paper and label it either for a "Man" or a "Woman."

Step #5) Pray that God would bless the person who receives the box.

Step #6) Bring it with you to church.

Step #7) Do another one if desired.

Small Group Readings

Here are the Quiet Time verses for the week...

Monday: John 1:35-39

Tuesday: John 1:40-42

Wednesday: John 1:43-46

Thursday: John 1:47-51

Friday: John 2:1-4

Saturday: John 2:5-8

Sunday: John 5:9-12

Grow U

Grow U began last Sunday night. It was a good night of connecting to a small group of students on a different level. This is a ministry that will help kids grasp Scripture memory, do ministry, and become better leaders.

This past week we focused intently on 4 verses: Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 3:16, and Romans 10:13. This next week we will camp out in Bible study on Psalms 1. Don't forget, a kid can jump in anytime during Grow U. We meet Sunday nights from 4:45 pm – 5:45 pm.

Common Ground is in Motion

Well, Common Ground is officially out of the starting block. It was good to get back in the swing of things. Our night began with playing Blind Volleyball.

The 6th Grade Girls and 7th Grade Boys were the winners. Then we broke into groups to talk about what "God is." Following our groups we had a time of music and began our series entitled, "Indescribable."

We will be spending a couple of weeks talking about God. Our first message focused on some things that we know about God. Here is a brief outline...

1) God is Everywhere. - Jeremiah 23:23-24 – Am I a God that is only close at hand? says the Lord. No, I am far away at the same time. Can anyone hide from Me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the Heavens and earth? says the Lord.

#2) God is Strong. - Job 42:1-2 – Then Job replied to the Lord: I know that You can do anything, no one can stop You.

#3) God is Smart. - Matthew 10: 29-30 - But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.

#4) God is Holy. - Revelation 4:8 – Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty the One who always was, who is, and who is still to come.

#5) God is Eternal. - Revelation 1:18 – I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end says the Lord God. I am the One who is, who always was, and who is still to come, the Almighty One.

#6) God is Love. - I John 4:16 – We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in Him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

All in all it was a good night. There are always kinks to be worked out and fixed. The weather and power outages certainly did not help attendance. Common Ground happens each Wednesday night. If you missed this past week, jump in this coming Wednesday.

Small Group Readings

Here are the Quiet Time verses for the week...

Monday: Luke 4:1-8

Tuesday: Luke 4:9-13

Wednesday: Luke 4:14-19

Thursday: Luke 4:20-25

Friday: Luke 4:26-30

Saturday: Luke 4:31-37

Sunday: Luke 4:38-44