The Resurrection and the Life

John 11:1-54
It's been two days since Travis Slingsby's funeral (see earlier blog). This passage is a great reminder of the hope we have in Christ. While Travis' many friends and family no doubt continue to grieve his loss, they should also rejoice that the same power that raised Lazarus will resurrect Travis in the future. Although it was the climactic miraculous sign of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the raising of Lazarus “could be only a pale anticipation of what was yet to come” Because of Jesus' resurrection, all believers (including Lazarus) will one day receive glorified, incorruptible bodies. Then, Paul writes, “this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’ ” (1 Cor. 15:54) This week's lesson is here. You can download the Leader's Guide here.

Travis Slingsby on the Gospel

Early on October 22nd, 15-year-old Travis Slingsby was killed in a car accident while driving to Ansley High School. The accident was caused by a snow-slickened highway that made Travis lose control of his car and collide with an oncoming truck. Travis had been very involved with FCA.

Clay and Erin Mankin were very close to Travis as Clay coached him last year in Ansley and also worked with the FCA huddle. This year, Clay is teaching and coaching at Nebraska Christian Schools and Erin continues to serve with FCA in Central Nebraska. Clay had the privilege of speaking at his funeral to a gym packed with hundreds of friends and family. Clay read a Bible verse that Travis put in his locker to prepare for the upcoming football game with Loomis on Friday night. The sign had Romans 8:38-39 on it. I’m confident that it’s no coincidence that this was the Bible verse he selected to place in his locker.

You can download this week's lesson here. You can watch part of Clay Mankin's Eulogy here.

Reactions to the Son of God

John 7:1-10:42
The reading this week is very long so you may need to read just one of the chapters and focus on several of the questions in the lesson. The main point of this section of John’s Gospel can be summarized as high-intensity hatred, as the smoldering dislike of Christ erupts into a blazing inferno. Chapters 7 and 8 focus on Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. Chapter 9 features the healing of the blind man. This is followed by Jesus’ discourse on being the Good Shepherd in chapter 10. The lesson is here. The leader's guide is here.

I Am Second Sam Bradford

Here is a recent interview with quarterback Sam Bradford (OU). You can find all three videos on our website which also includes Colt McCoy (Texas). The lesson is here.

I Am Second Colt McCoy

Here is a recent interview with quarterback Colt McCoy (Texas). You can find all three videos on our website which also includes Sam Bradford (OU). The lesson is here.

I Am Second (Both Colt and Sam)

Here is a recent interview with college quarterbacks Colt McCoy (Texas) and Sam Bradford (OU). You can find all three videos on our website. The lesson is here.

A Narrow-Minded Pluralist Blitzes Tim Tebow

Erik Raymond (Omaha Bible Church) posted this article about Tim Tebow.

USA Today recently featured an article entitled, ‘And I’d Like to Thank God,’ by columnist and author Tom Krattenmaker that I found very interesting. Krattenmaker aimed to expose the unhealthy intolerance that is bred through the surge of evangelicalism within the big-time sports scene.

His issue really centers on the narrow beliefs of evangelicals and the overt effort by Christian leaders to baptize the sports scene in the waters of biblical exclusivity. The issue here for Krattenmaker is the resulting offense that fans feel when they find themselves on a different theological page then their favorite players.

Read the rest of the article here. Dr. Albert Mohler has also blogged on this USA Today article here. Pastor Kevin DeYoung wrote on this as well here.

Unheeded Miracles

John 5:1-6:71
Salvation is not through a creed, a church, a ritual, a pastor, a priest, or any other such human means—but through Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the bread of life,” Jesus declared; “He who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (6:35). There is a lot of Scripture to read this week so make sure you don't miss the main point which is salvation is through Jesus Christ only. You can download the Bible study here. You can download the Leader's Guide here.

Curenski Gilleylen on Trust

Husker receiver Curenski Gilleylen talked about the character trait of trust. You can download the lesson here.

The Gospel-Driven Life

Michael Horton’s new book, “The Gospel-driven Life” is helpful for any coach or athlete that wants to “Do Sports God’s Way.” The foundation for the Nebraska FCA is athletes and coaches being driven by God’s promises and directed by God’s purposes. Here is how Dr. Horton puts it in his book:

Are you driven by power, wealth, ambition, self-esteem, the acceptance of others? Or perhaps by nobler things, like making the world a better place, loving God and your neighbor, a sense of purpose and meaning? 

While affirming the importance of having clear goals and a worthy focus in life, I am urging us to put purposes in their place, as servants of promise. No longer under the law’s condemnation, the justified are free now to respond to God’s commands out of thanksgiving for the God whose character it displays and out of love our neighbors. The gospel saves us, giving us a reason to walk through the wilderness to the promised land, and the law guides us, giving us directions for that journey.

Christians are driven by God’s promises, and directed by God’s purposes

Read/Study Genesis 15 and Romans 4 for more on this point -- Gordon Thiessen

10 Leadership Lessons Learned in 50 Years of Leadership

Pastor Chuck Swindoll, accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award at Catalyst 09, offered the following lessons he has learned:
1. It’s lonely to lead. Leadership involves tough decisions. The tougher the decision, the lonelier it is.
2. It’s dangerous to succeed. I’m most concerned for those who aren’t even 30 and are very gifted and successful. Sometimes God uses someone right out of youth, but usually he uses leaders who have been crushed.
3. It’s hardest at home. No one ever told me this in Seminary.
4. It’s essential to be real. If there’s one realm where phoniness is common, it’s among leaders. Stay real.
5. It’s painful to obey. The Lord will direct you to do some things that won’t be your choice. Invariably you will give up what you want to do for the cross.
6. Brokenness and failure are necessary.
7. Attitude is more important than actions. Your family may not have told you: some of you are hard to be around. A bad attitude overshadows good actions.
8. Integrity eclipses image. Today we highlight image. But it’s what you’re doing behind the scenes.
9. God’s way is better than my way.
10. Christlikeness begins and ends with humility.

Reasons I Love Youth (FCA) Ministry

Here are some thoughts from Austin Duncan who serves as the High School Pastor at Grace Church. While he wrote these about high school ministry, I think they also apply to FCA ministry as well. I pray that you will be encouraged by them -- Gordon Thiessen

I love student ministry because:

1. I love evangelism (Matt 28:19). The wise youth minister is an evangelist at heart and desires to see young men and women give their lives to Christ. If we neglect to minister to students we lose an opportunity to preach the gospel.

2. Leadership is influence. It is a matter of fact that young people are easy to influence. Marketers use this for profit, schools further their agendas, and too often their influence over teenagers leads them away from the things of God and into worldliness.

3. I love the hope of their maturity. Colossians 1:28-29 encourages me to minister to students in such a way that spiritual progress will take place in their lives. I love seeing Christ’s maturing, sanctifying work in teenagers whose lives are devoted to Christ.

4. I love the thought of their potential. I look out at the young faces in our high school service on Sundays and see that ahead of them are life’s greatest blessings and challenges. Trials, temptations, battles, and joys await them. This is the outset of their walks with Christ. It is in these initial years they have the opportunity to learn spiritual disciplines they will benefit from for the rest of their lives.

Ron Brown on Motivation after the Virginia Tech game

Following the Husker's loss to Virginia Tech, Tight End Coach Ron Brown talked about motivation. You can download a lesson on motivation here.

The Living Water

John 4:1-54
If you're having trouble getting the group to talk, you might consider asking several opening questions like, "What one thing stood out to you in the encounter Jesus had with the woman at the well?" You can also go around the room and ask each person to answer the question. If the group is very large (more than 10 people) you might consider breaking into several smaller groups. You can download the lesson here. The study guide is here.

Roy Helu on the Gospel

Husker running back Roy Helu on the Gospel. You can download the lesson here. The Roy Helu player card can be downloaded here.