My Group

The funny thing about God's sovereignty is that at one time it wasn't even a sure thing that I was going to be at Breakaway. Antujan and Bigun are the keynote guys, while Bret handles the morning Bible study which would leave me to speak one night, humiliate myself in skits for the entertainment of students, and lead a discussion group based off of the Bible studies that Bret was teaching.

I haven't led a small group in about...well, it's been awhile, let's just say that. And, at 28, I confess I had some slight fears (nothing major) about stepping in to lead a group of high school students.

My biggest prayer request was for favor with the group, and as I walked in and took a flex shot in honor of Dave Kakish, things began to roll along. In this group were some of the most open young men and women I've had the privilege of being around. There was a genuine hunger for truth in all of them, and though it was evident that they were all in different places on their journey - each seemed eager to discuss truth and engage in conversation.

I said to them something that I will encourage each of you to do with your small groups: Tell them the truth that they are men and women. Tell them that they are safe to share, and uphold that honesty with them. Let them know that they are free to ask questions and call stupid things "stupid." Encourage them to laugh at some of the dumb things that we do, and tell them that you will honor them by keeping what is said in the room (unless they're doing something to inflict harm or something - have some sense). The reason I told them this was because I really wanted them to understand that they could be real. They didn't have to put on a face, and even if it was just for 3 days, we would be honest and it would be ok.

The result was that we had church. And I think we had church in a way that brought the Lord a lot of glory and honor. We talked a lot about the Gospel, and about what it means to be free. We talked about whether or not they really thought it was going to be different in 3 weeks when they went back home - these students were seasoned "camp" veterans who had been taught by experience what we're all seemingly afraid to admit and tackle: Camp is not working.

I told them that if they're commitments had worked, then they'd have worked the first time. We laughed with broken hearts about how deceived we've been in believing that this "rededication" or this time at the altar, or this committment was going to get us anywhere different than the last 300 we've made.

We opened the Word together and talked about how deep the blood of Jesus ran. We read Romans 8:1 and learned that we are no longer under condemnation. We talked about Romans 1:17 that demonstrates to us that Christ's righteousness has been given to all who are saved, which makes us all equally righteous at the feet of Jesus. In other words, if we want to compare righteousness, all we're doing is comparing filthy rags. Jesus' righteousness has been given to us as a free gift.

I was sad that I was not surprised that they didn't know this. I was grateful that God had allowed me to be sifted in August so I could tell them that the battle was for their minds - that the key to living a miraculous Spirit-filled life was believing the truth (Galatians 3:5). I rejoiced together with them that we are princes and princessess of the Kingdom of Heaven - that this is who we are, and that we are family.

I'll never forget out impromptu meeting on the last night, when we came together as family to pray as the last night wound to a close. I'll never forget what Frog said about adoption and how it continues to minister to me that I have a Father who will never miss an event. Thanks, man. I'll hope that these joint-heirs with Christ, my brothers and sisters, become forks and not just milestones.

I know they will fail, but when they do, I hope they understand why - and they renounce those acts and believe the truth and repent. I hope they understand without having to go through the Hell most of us a little older have had to endure, that they are saints and that if they believe the truth - they will abide and live up to who they are. I hope they understand that sin is beneath them - that they are the temples of God through the precious blood of Christ - and that are free from that bondage.

I hope they know that they model growth, not perfection.

I love you guys very much. What we experienced for 3 days is what Jesus died to give us. Hunger and thirst for real church - this is the essence of Acts 2.

Please continue to pray for us. For all who keep up with Try Dying, thank you for your prayers - the Lord is answering in amazing ways. Peace...


-Jamey