February 2012
75 posts
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WatchThe first entry in the “Grace” contest, from our dear friend Lee Younger and the high school and college folks at Christ Community Church in Oak Ridge, TN.
Contest details here
January 2012
35 posts
7 tags
Suicide and Breaking Down The Lie
Anonymous asked: If a christian commits suicide, do they go to hell?
I answered: No.
“He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—” Acts 16:30-31. Period, that is the answer, no additions or footnotes. Paul and Silas give that answer to a man who was about to kill himself. Even so, the answer is not...
giovannypanginda asked: What's the deadline to the Grace contest?
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Announcing A Contest!
Hey Tumblrarians,
We hope you have had a chance to listen to the awesome “Grace” by Bridge team member Tasha Lawson (written by our own Jed Brewer). We are going to have a little contest. Here’s the deal:
1) record you (or your youth group, small group, etc) singing the song, the lyrics are here and a .PDF of the chords is here.
2) post it on your tumblr and send us the link...
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On Leading a Small Group
Anonymous Asked: Hi! I’m leading a small group for the first time. There is a big range of age and experience with the Bible. I’m having a hard time coming up with a study to do. Any suggestions?
I answered: First of all, cograts on getting to lead a small group. If your awesome taste in blogs is any indication, you are going to do great. Your question is a good one. Obviously, you should pose it...
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Making the Most of Songs
Here is a little tip on how to use worship songs to enhance your message. Make song choice work for you. We will use the newest Bridge track “Grace” as our example. Now obviously if you are doing a lesson on grace, that pretty much explains itself. But we are going to go all next level on you. Any subject that focuses on forgiveness or trying to combat shame or moving past something have a...
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Talking about Porn
Anonymous asked: Every semester or so, my youth group will talk about sex and relationships. I try to tell the guys that if they have any problems with lust or porn, that they can come talk to me but no one has. I’m pretty sure most of if not all of these guys struggle with that. How do I get them to admit it so we can deal with it?
i answered: I think you can see things from their perspective....
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Major on the Majors
Anonymous asked: The guys in my youth group will occasionally let some cursing slip when we are hanging out. I don’t particularly care, but I feel like I should say something as the youth guy. How do I say something without seeming like I am judging?
I answered: Here at The Bridge, there are a number of pithy slogans that Unka Glen and Jed have developed over the years. The one that seems to...
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Lyrics to "Grace"
grace is the choice God made about me grace is the choice that he’d be for me grace is the choice to pay for my wrongs that’s what you did, up on the cross and you did it because you love me and you did it because you want me and you did it so i can come home and you did it to make me your own grace is a force that I can’t conquer your grace endures even though I wander grace is a...
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What Does Grace Mean?
Anonymous asked: I always hear that I should act with grace and speak with grace, but if grace is God forgiving our sin and not sending us to Hell, how do I do that?
I answered: I think grace is a term that gets used a lot, which is understandable because it is a wonderfully beautiful concept, but that can blur the meaning. Grace is defined as “the unmerited favor of God”. So it is not just that...
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Helping a Depressed Friend
jkhayz asked: Hey! First, I just wanted to say that the resource you guys are providing is great. Second, I need some advice on how to help a friend. He’s been struggling with depression, deeply, but won’t talk about it more than the surface level. In August, he leaves for the Marines. But he has recently been saying things like that’s he’s never coming back and that he is...
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Earning the Right to be Heard, Explained
Anonymous asked: In your post about what to say, you mentioned “earning the right to be heard”. Can you explain what that is?
I answered: I would be happy to. Earning the right to be heard is the first step in ministry. No matter how awesome and insightful your ideas are, if no one is inclined to listen, you aren’t really going to accomplish much. Some folks think that the way you get people to...
Unka Glen's Citadel of Enlightenment: Cutting,... →
unkaglen:
mercyshipdude asked: Hey Unka Glen, Congrats on launching the Bridge! I’m really looking forward to gleaning lots of good wisdom and advice from you guys. Lately, I find myself entrenched in a Tumblr sub-culture of depression/cutting/thin-living/Eating Disorder blogs. I admit that I…
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“grace is a force that I can’t conquer
your grace endures even though I wander...”
– “Grace” -Tasha Lawson, written by Jed Brewer listen here
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Being There For A Friend Who Was Abused
Anonymous asked: My friend has been sexually abused when she was younger and she feels like it is her fault that it happened. She continually puts herself down for not speaking out about it and she puts the blame all on herself. What do I say to her? How do I comfort her? What does Jesus have to say about this?
I answered: Well first of all, I am so sorry for your friend. And she is very blessed...
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Basic Tips on Giving Dating Advice
Anonymous asked: My friends talk to me about their relationship problems a lot. I want to give them advice, especially if something bad is going on in the relationship. The thing is, I don’t have much dating experience. So should I just not say anything? I want to help!
I answered: If you will allow me a guess, I think what you are most afraid of is the following scenario:
Friend: “my...
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New Leader, What Do I Say?
Anonymous asked: “I am starting as a volunteer Young Life leader this semester! I am soo pumped for our first club on monday :). But I have no idea what to say to kids when I first meet them…help?!
I answered: First off, congratulations. I was a Young Life leader for 6 years and it is an organization still very close to my heart. This is a question that pretty much everyone has starting out...
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On Your Calling
Anonymous asked: I am starting to look for a job in youth ministry, but how do I know if I am called to one job in particular?
I answered: Life would certainly be easier if we were guided in such decisions by clouds parting, a beam of lighting descending on the right choice, and a nice major chord emitting from out of nowhere. That’s not the way things happen, but there is still a part of us that...
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I Feel Like I Don't Know Enough Bible to Do...
Anonymous asked: I want to get involved in ministry, but I don’t think I know enough about the Bible. I feel like there are so many questions that I wouldn’t be able to answer. What can I do to address this?
I Answered: You could spend sun up to sundown pouring over the scriptures, digging into versions and translations and Greek and Hebrew and reading every commentary known to man. The problems...
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How to Handle Dating Within a Youth Group
Anonymous Asked: I do a youth bible study, and it seems like whenever kids start dating, it is only a matter of time before something goes wrong and drama erupts, which kills what I’m trying to do. How do I deal with this/stop it from happening?
I Answered: Yeah, who would have thought that when you put a bunch of kids who are essentially Molotov cocktails of hormones into the same room, they...
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Unka Glen's Citadel of Enlightenment: Dear Satan, →
unkaglen:
You sure do spend a lot of time trying to get me to feel bad about myself. And not just bad, but somehow…just not what God is looking for. Like I don’t measure up, and I never could measure up. But here’s the thing, if that was really true, why are you pressin’ that dang button so hard? Huh?
You…
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The Squeezings of my Brain Grapes.: How Do I Stand... →
jedbrewer:
This question was posed to me recently – how do I stand up for my Christian beliefs? It’s a great question, and a pertinent question, and an easy one to get wrong.
If you want to stand up for your Christian beliefs, start by sitting down.
If you want to be a great lion of the faith, start…
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Watchunkaglen:
Anonymous asked: My pastor is one of my followers, and I don’t want him to know that its me asking you this, but… can you come and speak at our Youth Conference… instead of him? No offense to him, but it would be amazing to have u come speak!
Thanks for thinking of me, but why don’t you mention me for next year, that way nobody’s feelings get hurt. I’ll still be around, and I’ll ...
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Unka Glen's Citadel of Enlightenment: Ministering... →
unkaglen:
uesinkim asked: hey Unka Glen. i am a 21 year old college junior and i have had a heavy burden on my heart to start a men’s ministry at my small korean church. i finally got the okay from the leaders and wanted to ask you advice on it. how do i reach out to the men in our community…
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Unka Glen's Citadel of Enlightenment: Taking Bible... →
unkaglen:
ofaquietmind asked: Unka Glen! You’ve given me plenty of helpful advice and words of encouragement in the past and I often find myself returning here when I’m not sure what to do next in my walk with God. So my question is, how do you go about really studying your Bible? I definitely…
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The Squeezings of my Brain Grapes.: Am I Bad At... →
jedbrewer:
belindabaker asked you: I have a friend who really, really needs Jesus. But, he seems so cynical. I’ve tried to share the Gospel with him, but I’m lacking in boldness. I guess what I’m asking is, how do I share the Gospel with someone who doesn’t seem to care?
Jed Brewer replied:
Hey…
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jedbrewer:
Hey Everybody,
This is a re-post of...
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Unka Glen's Citadel of Enlightenment: Knowing it... →
unkaglen:
clothedinwhite asked: Dear Unka Glen: What do you do when you get a question on your message board that you don’t know the answer to?
Unka Glen answered: Oh, I’ve got all the answers. I’ve forgotten a lot of ‘em, but ya know, deep down I know ‘em. LOL, actually, it’s an interesting…
The Squeezings of my Brain Grapes.: The people who... →
jedbrewer:
The people who persecute homosexuals? They don’t speak for me.
The folks that fear and hate Muslims? They don’t speak for me.
The voices that accuse the poor and downtrodden of laziness? They don’t speak for me.
No.
No, the one who said, “Judge not” – he’s the one that speaks for me.
