SYMCPreconferenceDevotion#1:

HeartConditionByKevinMahaffy,Jr.

(AdaptedfromTheCompleteNewTestamentResourceforYouthWorkers)

InMark4:1‐20,Jesustoldastorythatwe’reprobablyallfamiliarwith:

AgainJesusbegantoteachbythelake.Thecrowdthatgatheredaroundhimwassolargethathegotintoaboatandsatinitoutonthelake,whileallthepeoplewerealongtheshoreatthewater’sedge.Hetaughtthemmanythingsbyparables,andinhisteachingsaid:‘Listen!Afarmerwentouttosowhisseed.Ashewasscatteringtheseed,somefellalongthepath,andthebirdscameandateitup.Somefellonrockyplaces,whereitdidnothavemuchsoil.Itsprangupquickly,becausethesoilwasshallow.Butwhenthesuncameup,theplantswerescorched,andtheywitheredbecausetheyhadnoroot.Otherseedfellamongthorns,whichgrewupandchokedtheplants,sothattheydidnotbeargrain.Stillotherseedfellongoodsoil.Itcameup,grewandproducedacrop,somemultiplyingthirty,somesixty,someahundredtimes.’ThenJesussaid,‘Whoeverhasearstohear,letthemhear’Whenhewasalone,theTwelveandtheothersaroundhimaskedhimabouttheparables.Hetoldthem,‘ThesecretofthekingdomofGodhasbeengiventoyou.Buttothoseontheoutsideeverythingissaidinparablessothat,‘theymaybeeverseeingbutneverperceiving,andeverhearingbutneverunderstanding;otherwisetheymightturnandbeforgiven!’ThenJesussaidtothem,‘Don’tyouunderstandthisparable?Howthenwillyouunderstandanyparable?Thefarmersowstheword.Somepeoplearelikeseedalongthepath,wherethewordissown.Assoonastheyhearit,Satancomesandtakesawaythewordthatwassowninthem.Others,likeseedsownonrockyplaces,hearthewordandatoncereceiveitwithjoy.Butsincetheyhavenoroot,theylastonlyashorttime.Whentroubleorpersecutioncomesbecauseoftheword,theyquicklyfallaway.Stillothers,likeseedsownamongthorns,heartheword;buttheworriesofthislife,thedeceitfulnessofwealthandthedesiresforotherthingscomeinandchoketheword,makingitunfruitful.Others,likeseedsownongoodsoil,heartheword,acceptit,andproduceacrop—somethirty,somesixty,someahundredtimeswhatwassown.’

o Howhaveyouseenthetruthofthisparablesurfaceinyourownlife?

o Howwouldyou“translate”thisparablesothata4‐year‐oldcouldunderstandit?

o WhydoesJesustellthedisciplesthatiftheyhavetroubleunderstandingthisparable,they’llhavetroubleunderstandingeveryparable?(vs.13)

Devotion:“HeartCondition”continued…Ofcourse,thepointJesusismakingisthatwhilethemessage(seed)isthesame,theconditionofourheart(thesoil)determinesourresponsetoGod’sWord.Inotherwords,theeffectofthemessagedependsonthestatusofthehearer.Jesusdescribesfourdifferenttypesofsoilwhichrepresentfourdifferentheartconditions.

Surface—Thisisthepathalongwhichtheseedfell.Becausetheseeddidnottakeroot,itwasquicklysnatchedupbythebirds.Shallow—Thisistherockyplacesuponwhichtheseedfell.Becausethegroundwasrocky,theseedwasnotabletoputrootsdowndeepenoughtosustainlife.Strangled—Thisisthornypatchuponwhichtheseedfell.Theseedwasabletotakeroot,butbecauseitwascrowdedbythornsandthistles,itwasunabletoproducefruitorreachitspotential.Successful—Thisisthegoodsoiluponwhichtheseedfell.Becausethegroundwasfertile,theseedwasabletoputdowndeeproots;itwasabletospringtolife;anditwasabletoproduceanabundanceoffruit.

o InwhatwayshasSatanattemptedtostealtheseedoftheWordofGodbeforeithasachance

totakerootinyourlife?

o WhatkindsofthingscauseustorespondtoGod’sWordinashallowway?

o WhatkindsofthingschoketheWordofGod,andholdusbackfromreachingourpotentialinChrist?

o WhatkindsofthingscausetheseedofGod’sWordtoreallygrowinourlives?

o IfJesusweretotakeasampleofthesoilofyourhearttoday,whatwouldHefind?

o What’sonethingyou’vedone,oraredoing,tocreateafertileenvironmentinyourheartforGod’sWord?

Asyou’reheadingtowardyourtimeatSYMC,rememberthatthefruitthatcomesaboutasaresultofwhatisimpartedtoyouiscontingentuponyourlevelof

expectancyandopenness.Taketimeprayaboutwhatyou’vebeenthinkingaboutinthisdevotion.

SYMCPreconferenceDevotion#2:

JesusIsByKevinMahaffy,Jr.

(AdaptedfromTheCompleteNewTestamentResourceforYouthWorkers)

Haveyoueverjourneyedthroughahardseasonoflifeandfeltlikeyouwereallalone?Haveyoueverneededtotalktosomeoneaboutsomethingbutthoughtthatnoonecouldpossiblyunderstandwhatyouweregoingthrough?Oh,whoarewekidding?We’reyouthworkers,we’veallbeentherebefore!We’veallfeltthoselonely,frustrating,hopelessfeelings.

Wheneverwe’regoingthroughsomethingdifficult,andweneedsomeadvice,somehelp,orsomedirection,moreoftenthannotwewanttotalkwithsomeonewhohasbeenthroughwhatwearegoingthrough.Why?Becausewewanttohearfrompeoplewhoknowwhatthey’retalkingabout.Lotsofpeoplewithgoodintentionsmayhavethingstosay,butunlessthey’vebeenthroughwhatwe’regoingthrough,they’rereallyjustguessing.Whatwereallywantistohearfromthevoiceofexperience—fromsomeonewhohaswalkedinourshoes,feltwhatwearefeeling,andreallyknowswhattosayorhowtorespond.

Hebrews2:18,speakingofJesus,says:

“Becausehehimselfsufferedwhenhewastempted,heisabletohelpthosewhoarebeingtempted.”

HowcanJesuspossiblyknowallthatyouandIgothrough?Hecan’tpossiblyknowwhatit’sliketoleavethecomfortofHisownbedandthecompanionshipofhisamazingfamilytospendasleepless,prank‐filledweekendwithjuniorhighkids!Thereisnowayhecanunderstandtheintensetemptationtostrangleakidyou’vebentoverbackwardtohelpgotocampwhenyoufindhimsmokingpotbehindthecabin.Yet,theauthorofHebrewsgoesontosay,“Forwedonothaveahighpriestwhoisunabletoempathizewithourweaknesses,butwehaveonewhohasbeentemptedineveryway,justasweare—yethedidnotsin”(Hebrew4:15).

Theincredibletruthis,whilethespecificsofourtrialsmayvary,Jesusunderstandsandcanhelpusthrougheverythingwefacebecausehehasfundamentallybeenthrougheverythingwegothrough—Heknowshowtoshowusthewaythroughthechallengesweface.HeknowsbecauseHechosetogetoffofHisthroneinheavenandcometoearth.Hechosetobecomeahumanbeingjustlikeyouandme.I’malwaysinaweofthefactthatHedidn’tjustcomedownasamatureadultreadytohandleeverythingthatwasthrownHisway.Hecameandwasbornasababyinthehumblest,mostinconspicuousplaceimaginable—inastable,inabedofstraw.TheBibletellsusthatJesusgothungry,thirsty,angry,andemotional.Hewepthardandoftenfeltlonely—theseareallofthethingsthatmakeushuman.Jesus,aswesay,hasbeenthereanddonethat!

Notonlythat,butJesusdidn’tchoosetocometoearthandnotdealwithourproblems.Heenteredrightintothemessinessofourworld.

Devotion:“JesusIs”continued…

InTheMessageversionofJohn1:14reads:“TheWordbecamefleshandblood,andmovedintotheneighborhood.”

Jesusenteredintothehurt,thepain,thehostility,theinjustice,thecrime,thedeath…everything!Philippians2:5‐11tellsusthatJesusidentifiedwithusallthewaytodeath.Frombirthtodeath,Jesuslivedthefullyhumanexperience.JesusevenchosetoexposeHimselftothetemptationsthatweface.ThemostfamousaccountofJesusbeingtemptedisfoundinMatthew4:1‐11,whereSatancomestoJesusinthewildernessandtemptsHimfor40daysand40nights.Butmakenomistakeaboutit!ThatwasnottheonlyperiodinHislifethatJesuswastempted.Hewastemptedonadailybasiswithmanythings—bothgoodandbad—whichwouldderailHimfromthemissionHewason.InorderforJesustobefullyhuman,HehadtoexposeHimselftothesamethingsthatweallfaceonadailybasis;otherwiseitwouldnotbeaccuratetosaythatHefullyidentifiedwithus.Heknowswhatitistobetempted,justasyouandIaretempted.YetHewaswithoutsin.ItisbecauseofHisfullyhumanexperiencethat“Heisabletohelpthosewhoarebeingtempted.”Jesus—Godintheflesh—cametoearth,livedaperfectlife,overcamesinanddeath,andwasraisedtolifeinvictory.TodayHehasreturnedtoHisFatherinheavenwheretheBibletellsusHeisintercedingforyouandme(Hebrews7:25).Thatis,HestandingbeforeGodtheFatheronourbehalf,rightnow,advocatingforus,offeringushelpasweseektowalkinthevictorythatHehasalreadywon.

Takeaminuteandrespondtothefollowingreflectionquestions.Ifyou’recomingtoSYMCasagroup,considerdoingthisasindividualsandthensharingtogetherasagroup.

o What’ssomethingyou’regoingthroughinthisseasonofyourlifethatmakesyoufeelaloneorneedy?

o NowconsidertherealitythatJesuscanfullyidentifywithyouinthissituation.Whatmakesithard,oreasy,tobelievethistruth?Explain.

o NowgobacktothesituationyouwroteaboutaboveandwriteaboutwhoJesusistoyouinthatsituation.Example:I’mdealingwithaphysicalsickness.Write:JesusisHealer.

o AfteryouhaveproclaimedJesus’presenceinthatarea,prayyourproblembacktoGodandthankHimforprovidingtheanswerinJesus.

AtSYMCwe’reprayingforyou!YoucanpostspecificprayerrequestsbyvisitingourFacebookpage,andevenrequest

someoneonourprayerteamtocontactyouifyou’dlike.Andifyou’recomingtotheconferenceandfeelingalone,check

outtheConnectGroupswhenyougethere!There’saConnectGroupOpenHouseonFridayfrom4:30‐6:00pmintheConversationLounge!Andifyou’reneedingone‐on‐onesupport,counselingorcoaching,visittheShelteratSYMC—

it’sasafeplacethatyoucangotogetthehelporencouragementyouneed.

SYMCPreconferenceDevotion#3:

Hopes&DesiresByKevinMahaffy,Jr.

(AdaptedfromTheCompleteNewTestamentResourceforYouthWorkers)

AbriefsurveyofJesus’liferevealsthathewasconstantlysurroundedbypeopleinneed.TheycametoHimbecausewordonthestreetwasthatHehadthepowertohealandsetpeoplefreefromthingsthatweretroublingthem.TheycametoHimhopingandexpectingthatHemightbehealer,deliverer,Saviortothem.Amongtheinstanceswereadaboutinthegospelsonethingthatispresentmoreoftenthannotisanexpressionofthatneedbythepersondesiringatouch.

ConsiderthestoryofBartimaeusinMark10:46‐52:ThentheycametoJericho.AsJesusandhisdisciples,togetherwithalargecrowd,wereleavingthecity,ablindman,Bartimaeus(whichmeans“sonofTimaeus”),wassittingbytheroadsidebegging.WhenheheardthatitwasJesusofNazareth,hebegantoshout,“Jesus,SonofDavid,havemercyonme!”Manyrebukedhimandtoldhimtobequiet,butheshoutedallthemore,“SonofDavid,havemercyonme!”Jesusstoppedandsaid,“Callhim.”Sotheycalledtotheblindman,“Cheerup!Onyourfeet!He’scallingyou.”Throwinghiscloakaside,hejumpedtohisfeetandcametoJesus.“Whatdoyouwantmetodoforyou?”Jesusaskedhim.Theblindmansaid,“Rabbi,Iwanttosee.”“Go,”saidJesus,“yourfaithhashealedyou.”ImmediatelyhereceivedhissightandfollowedJesusalongtheroad.

Muchcouldbesaidaboutthisstory,butjustconsiderthisonepoint:BartimaeusisablindbeggarwhomakesanembarrassingscenetothepointthatJesusstopshisfinaljourneytoJerusalemandcallsforhimtobebroughttoover.Itwouldn’ttakearocketscientisttofigureoutthathecouldnotsee.YetJesus,thisverysmartman,askedhimwhatHewanted.WhywouldJesusdothat?Intruth,JesusalreadyknewwhatBartimaeuswanted.Ifhewasn’tseekinginformation,whydidheaskhimthissillyquestion?JesusaskedbecausehewantedBartimaeustoarticulatehisneedandexpresshisfaith.Throughhissimpleanswer—“Iwanttosee”—BartimaeusrevealedthathebelievedwhoJesuswasandthatHehadthepowertohealhim.ThatwasallthatJesuswaslookingfor—thatsimpletrust.

Weseethisoverandoveragainthroughoutthegospels...JesusaskingpeoplewhattheywantHimtodo.DidJesusknowwhattheyneeded?Absolutely.Buthewantsustoverbalizeourneedasanexpressionoffaith.

Devotion“HopesandDesires”continued…

Someofyoumighthavesignedupfortheconferencewithsomeveryspecificgoalsinmind.Othersofyoumightjustbecomingwithcompleteopennessandnorealagenda.Formostofus,we’reprobablysomewhereinbetween.

TheheartbeatofSYMCisour5CoreValues:Relationships,Jesus‐Centered‐ness,Innovation,In‐DepthLearning,andAuthenticity.Takesometimetothinkthrougheachoftheseareasusingthequestionsbelowsothatyoucancomewithabitoffocus.Don’tworry,it’snotacheck‐list.WejustwanttogiveyouachancetoexpressyourhearttoGodandcomewithanattitudeofexpectancy.

o Relational:Writearelationalgoalfortheconference:(Examples:Iwanttomeetsomeonefrommyareaandhaveaconversationwiththemoverlunch.Or,Iwanttofindarookieyouthworkertoencourage.Or,IwanttomeetwithaveteranyouthworkerandaskthemforsomeinputondealingwithatoughsituationI’min.)

o Jesus‐Centered:Wherehaveyougottenoff‐trackorlostfocusasafollowerofJesus?InwhatareadoesHeneedtoregainleadershipinyourlife?HowdoyouplantomaketimeatSYMCfortheOnewhomattersmost?

o Innovation:What’soneareaofyourministrywhereyouseemtobedoingsomethingwithoutpurposeor“justbecausethat’sthewaywe’vealwaysdoneit”?Wheredoyoufeelstuck?

o In‐DepthLearning:Asyouexplorethetrainingtopics,considerfocusingongoingdeeperwithatrackorhalf‐track,andseekingideasforapplicationinsteadofthefire‐hoseblastofinfo.Listoneortwokeyareasofyourministryorleadershipthatyouneedtofocuson.

o Authenticity:What’soneareaofpainorstrugglethatyouneedtoopenupaboutandsharewithsomeone?Whocanyoutalktoaboutit,andwhenwillyoudoit?(Note:Ifyouneedsomeonetotalktoattheconference,pleasevisitTheShelter—asafeplaceforyouthworkerstofindrefuge.)

o Writeanyothergoals/hopes/desiresfortheSimplyYouthMinistryConference:

LetushelpyoustayorganizedandmakethemostofyourtimeatSYMC!Inthefinalfewdaysbeforeyouleavepleasecheck

youremailforimportantdetailsandlogisticswe’llbeupdating!Also—planyourwholeconferenceschedulein

advancewiththeonlineschedulingtool(visityouthministry.com/symc)andaccessitfromyoursmartphone!