Jeremy Mavis | husband | father | pastor

So This is What a “Cool” Christian Looks Like? (video)

September 20, 2011 in Laughs 0

HT Take Your Vitamin Z
source YouTube

World Record Water Balloon Fight (video)

September 19, 2011 in Random 0

Awesome!

HT Take Your Vitamin Z
source YouTube

Connections and Community vs. Isolation and Disconnection (video)

September 18, 2011 in Culture, Thoughts 0

HT life2getherblog.com
source Vimeo

Jesus at the Temple

September 17, 2011 in Main Street Teachings 0

This teaching contains the stories of Jesus being dedicated at the Temple when he was 8 days old (Luke 2:21-40) and when Mary and Joseph misplaced Jesus when he was 12, and was found sitting among the teachers in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52).

Unfortunetly, the LIVE teaching from 9.11.11 didn’t get recorded. There is a LIVE video teaching from three years ago that I have linked to.

Jesus @ the Temple [y3_w02]

Story Lesson (313.97kb, pdf)
Audio File (none recorded)
Video Link (@ vimeo.com | 9.14.08)

Backyard Camping

September 16, 2011 in Personal 0

A couple of weeks ago, the girls and I experienced our first backyard camp out. Amanda didn’t want to have anything to do with it! But Dad and the girls had a lot of fun.

Because the mosquitoes were horrendous at the time, the girls eagerly watched me erect the tent from behind the sliding glass door to the backyard. Once I had the tent setup, they couldn’t wait to get their sleeping bags, blankets, mattress pads, water bottles, and themselves in the tent.

Once they got in, it was wild… like a padded room! Amanda and I were laying on the main air mattress while the girls were running and laughing and chasing each other around the inside of the tent! We were chuckling at their extreme excitement over propped up, enclosed nylon.

Well, it wasn’t the best night’s sleep for me… a couple of middle of the night trips to the bathroom and a slow leak in my sinking air mattress… but the girls had a blast, was good relational, goofing off time with them as we fell asleep, and a really fun memory.

Now what do I say when they want to do it again?!

Implications of “Grenade” by Bruno Mars (video)

September 15, 2011 in Laughs, Youth Ministry 4

Well, it’s the 3rd Wednesday of Middle School Youth group (otherwise known as “msy” around these parts). We’re running the programming and teaching time with the students differently this year, and while we are all on a learning curve, we’re slowly getting used to small groups being the primary focus during the teaching time.

Last week we showed Bruno Mars’ music video for his hit song “Grenade” as a countdown to our official start time. I don’t normally play music like that at msy, but I wanted to show a follow up video to the official music video. You see, almost all of the middle school students have heard this song and love it. It’s currently a very popular song. I came across a video from three youth pastors who humorously talked through the “implications” of listening to “Grenade.” The students (and the leaders) really enjoyed listening to these three guys talk through actually doing some of the things mentioned in “Grenade” and how crazy and ridiculous it really is. It’s a humorous, yet wise way, to help the students think critically about the music they listen to.

The video is embedded and linked below:

HT JCISONLINE
source YouTube

Quotes from Kids in Followers #4

September 15, 2011 in Quotes from kids | Followers 0

During Followers 2010-2011, the students interacted with phrases, verses and Bible stories. On the last day of Followers, we had the students write down some practical applications of actually practicing these principles in real life. This series “Quotes from kids” will share what the kids wrote:

Say it Phrase: Whining makes me want to shout, but God’s love helps me to tune it out.

Say it Verse: His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything. Colossians 1:11

Quotes:

Think before you whine!
Don’t whine when we don’t get out way!
my little brother yells about me using a video game, but I show him God’s love by sharing
when Mom says to clean our room we will do it right away without whining
Think before you do it
to not whine, I think of what God and Jesus did for me
be thankful!
When my little brother wants a movie I let him watch it

Evaluating Curriculum? Here Are Some Tips…

September 14, 2011 in Curriculum 0

Recently, I’ve written about curriculum here and here.

Choosing and evaluating curriculum is tricky. In some ways it is an evolutionary process (at least that has been my experience). What I’ve used in the past, I wouldn’t necessarily use again. Our curriculum and programming needs at Hayward Wesleyan Church are changing and deepening each year. What worked 8 years ago might not work in the same way now. I’m maturing and different. Our community in the same way. Curriculum needs to be retooled, added to and subtracted from. And curriculum needs to be continually contextualized. What’s written in a cubicle at a publishing house or submitted over Wi-Fi at coffee shop, does not transfer to a particular church in a particular community in particular region of the country. Local leaders, teachers and volunteers must do that.

Choosing curriculum is a huge decision. There are so many options and there can be so many different facets to consider. Publishers always put their best foot forward, but how do you know if their materials are best for your church? Here are some important questions to ask as you evaluate curriculum.

Read more: How to Evaluate a Sunday School Curriculum

via ministry-to-children.com

Birth of Jesus

September 12, 2011 in Main Street Teachings 0

It’s Christmas in the Fall! Main Street | Year 3 focuses on the New Testament and starts with the birth of Jesus.

This Sunday we used a couple of clips from the “Story Keepers” (a series of videos which chronicle the stories of the life of Jesus in a post-resurrection, new-church community Roman world).