First Class

First Class Ticket -  Week #1 (March 2 & 6)

Bottom line: It's a free gift, you can't earn it.
Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-9

Teacher: Steve Weatherford

Last Class - Week #2 (March 9 & 13)

Bottom line: A first class love is a last place attitude.

Scripture: Matthew 19, Mark 10

Teacher: Steve Weatherford

Everyone Is Welcome - Week #3 (March 16 & 20)

Bottom line: If you could write a first class ticket for someone else who would it be?

Scripture: parable of banquet in Luke 14

Teacher: Shibu Mathew

Takeaway: here’s a 1st class ticket to give to someone

Love Sick, an eros love series for students

It's February….so it's the month to fall in love right? The problem is, our culture focuses so much on only one type of love.  This eros love is what gives us butterflies in our stomach and makes us have a crush on someone.  Unfortunately, our driving motivation is what this type of love will do for us.  A relationship built only on Eros love will eventually die. How do we navigate and experience the God given attraction and excitement of Eros love, will not making it a selfish thing?

‣More than a Feeling - Selfish love, Week #1 (Feb 3 & 7)

Bottom line: Love has to be more than selfish eros love.

Scripture: 1st Corinthians 13

Teacher: Steve Weatherford

‣ Love Stinks - Week #2 (Feb 10 & 14)

Bottom line: When we only get eros love we will only have heartbreak.

Scripture: Judges 6-8

Teacher: Shibu Mathew

‣  Technomance - Week #3 (Feb 17 & 21)

Bottom line: do we love our phones more than anything else?

Teacher: Shibu Mathew

‣ It's not Me, It's You   - Week #4 (Feb 24 & 28)

Bottom line: People won't ever give us the significance that only God can Give. 

Scripture: Romans 8

Teacher: Steve Weatherford

Better Than Pizza

Parents, this week we taught students about "phileo" love, a love that is defined by being 'friendly towards.'
We challenged students to love the people they like! How can they say "I love you" in word or deed to the people they are already friends with.
In one sense, it's like asking yourself if you truly take the time to appreciate and thank the friends and family in your life.
And in a challenging way, are you being friendly towards (phileo love) to your immediate family? It's hard to show love to them because we take them for granted. And frankly we are up close enough to see the faults in our children, siblings and spouses.

How can YOU show phileo love to your family this week?

Take a listen to our Parent Podcast also!

A Dad Started a Daily Pledge with His Son

This dad, Jenabu Williams, recorded this FANTASTIC short video of his ride to school with his kiddo.
It inspired me to teach middle school kids about the importance of beginning the day with a positive outlook. I challenged students to never have a bad day in 2016. Impossible, right? Well, no, if we can just turn away from a victim's mindset about the 'bad' stuff happening during our day.
Jesus gave simple instructions to those who wanted to be his disciples in Matthew 16:24-25:

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take
up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Three simple but incredibly deep concepts:

1. Deny yourself - root out all selfishness
2. Take up your cross - live a life of sacrifice
3. Follow me - listen to the voice of Jesus, our Shepherd, and follow him where He leads

We ended our morning on January 3rd with an activity that led each group to create a pledge that they could begin their day with. Here are some of the things your students came up with!

Real Action Heroes, Coaches Podcast - Nehemiah

Here is the latest coaches' podcast. We're sorry we didn't get it sent out to you in time, gang!

Check out the Parent Podcast, now located on the Heartland app!

You can find the weekly Parent Podcast on the Heartland Community Church app. Here's the link to get it on iOS, Android and Windows.
This week we invited our guest teacher Kyla Hanson to be on it, check it out!
You can also always find the latest Parent Podcast on the HS and MS webpages at heartlandchurch.org

Coaches Podcast for Week 3 of Real Action Heroes - Esther

Take a listen to Kyla Hanson updating you on Sunday's teaching content. See you Sunday!