Many of us learn a lot through bible study and quiet time (affectionately known as BS and QT). But to learn about BS and QT? Well, that's exactly what the YFers did on Saturday in the MinT, Study & Meditation, led by Kenneth.

Arthur and Joella led us in worship with songs and verses to tune our hearts and minds to the day's theme. When Kenneth took over, we had to -get this- read TWENTY EIGHT verses, which took up approximately 4 powerpoint slides. Now, if you don't think that's a big deal at all, turn to 1 Samuel 17:31-58, read it aloud, then close your bible (or web browser) and write out all of it you can remember, down to the last detail. Or, you can get someone else to read it for you and see how much of it you can retain. I'm quite sure you tuned out halfway through verse 46!

Even though it was a familiar passage (David and Goliath, if you don't know), majority couldn't be 100% sure of all 4 answers to the 'test' questions: What was the reason Saul gave for not wanting David to fight Goliath? Which city or town did David hail from? What did Saul clothe David with and whose was it? How did Eliab feel after David prevailed?

We learnt that in bible reading, we tend to switch-off, assume we know the passage, simply browse through without fully absorbing and thus missing many facts-something definitely preventable by simply spending more (quality!) time on bible study.

Here are more things we learnt:
BS and QT must be done deliberately, and one thing I took home was that we should set aside time for it and guard it jealously (hold me to this please!). QT need not be a mundane/routine activity: YFers and YAFers also do QT through singing songs and journalling. Other suggested ways to make QT more interesting include writing poems, discussions, and preaching to yourself.

Want to improve your bible knowledge and have a not-so-quiet QT without doing stuff like singing or praying aloud? A useful way is to meditate on God's Word, memorising it by repeating a verse/phrase with emphasis on a different word each time:

WITH emphasis on a different word each time.
With EMPHASIS on a different word each time.
With emphasis ON a different word each time.
With emphasis on A different word each time.
With emphasis on a DIFFERENT word each time...

For the month of March, you'll be missing a whole load of good stuff if you plan on skipping YF. March's activities are based on being more involved with the community, caring about God's fellow creations-Other People! So stop being selfish, leave your wet market boots behind and dress nicely for the first activity of the month:

"Poverty" by Jonathan Fuller from OMF. He's really good (Rachel says so), so feel compelled free to invite your friends and yourself!

(...With emphasis on a different WORD each time.
With emphasis on a different word EACH time.
With emphasis on a different word each TIME.)

Blogged by Tricia

posted by Joel / Rui @ 11:15 PM
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YF activity on the 10th of Feb: Valentine’s breakout -“Free (Hersheys) Kisses”.

What should our motivation for sharing the gospel with others be? Am I a “lizard” or a “frog”? The breakout stressed on the importance of evangelism in our lives as a Christian and had the YFers go out to get youths to do surveys in relation to “Valentine’s”. Purpose: To find the suitable ground to sow the seed of the gospel by getting as many youth contacts as possible so that we can reach out to them in the near future.

The song “I Love to tell the story” was sung during worship - a song which encompasses the essence of the breakout session. “To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His Love”

Benjamin shared about the 4 motivation factors and a story about the “lizard” and “frog” which would encourage us to evangelize to the lost. That like the lizard, we should be the active in evangelizing and not the passive frog .We learnt that the 4 motivations in relation to God namely:

1. Compassion for the Lost
2. Love of the Father – God loves Jesus, Jesus loves us (believers), We love Non-believers/the lost
3. The Wrath of God
4. God’s Purpose in our lives

Each of the 4 groups that we were split into had to come up with two drawings in relation to the motivation factors, discuss the discussion questions and come up with a prayer to pray for the entire YF. We learnt the reality of what the lost would have to go through if we kept the good news to ourselves and that the harvest is ready, if only we are willing to harvest.

All 4 groups set out to get youths to do the “Free Kiss” survey at different locations, bus stops and the link way to the MRT. Even though many rejected, we had 40 surveys completed with contacts which we hope to reach out to by organizing a YF activity specially for them and eventually sow the gospel seed. Thank God for that.

Thank God for the 15-20 youths who came down for the breakout.

Application: May we be spurred on to share the good news with out families and friends. :]

Have a blessed week and Chinese New Year.

No YF this week. Next YF: 24^th Feb - Ministry Time. (Hope to see you all!)

Posted by Julia

posted by Joel / Rui @ 10:37 PM
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The YF came together on the 3rd of Feb for our second Youth Worship of the year. It was a time of sharing, prayer and lifting up our voices to Him in songs and testimony. The event started out with welcoming new comers who were in our midst. Michelle brought her friend Jia Hui and we went one round introducing ourselves to her.

The Youth Worship was split into 3 main categories; 'God's greatness and goodness, Self check on how our Spiritual life is and finally, Fellowship'

The event then kicked into full gear with a medley of songs followed by an activity whereby each of us were given a slip of post-it paper. We were asked to divide it into three sections and write down a prayer item or issue that was bugging us that we would like to surrender to God for example a friendship or maybe exam results. Anything that we were willing to surrender to God and leave Him to control was written down. We were encouraged to be as open as possible and were told that if we felt comfortable, to share with the YF later.

With that, the 2nd category was introduced with a round of 3 songs again. We sang songs that reflected how we should purify our hearts and look at ourselves and how we are walking with God. We were then split into 6 groups of about 4-5 people each. Each group was handed out a different bible verse to discuss. After discussion, each group presented what they felt the verse was saying and how it applies to us as youth. In this way, the whole YF was able to learn about 6 different bible verses in the time span of 15 minutes. This helped the YF learn from each other and to maximize the usage of each other's efforts. With that in mind, it led us on into the 3rd category, Fellowship.

Our praises were lifted up to Him once again in the last 3 songs and the Youth Worship came to a very meaningful close when we were asked to share within our groups things that we could pray for each other for. Thanksgiving, Prayer Requests and something interesting that happened throughout this week. It was a time of sharing, joy and sincere prayer as the chapel was filled with God's children lifting each other up in heartfelt concern and prayer. The groups then slowly concluded their own worship this Saturday with sweet fragrances rising to His ears.

Finally, to wrap it all up, a big blue cross was brought out and we were asked to stick our post-its on the cross if we felt that whatever we wrote down, we could surrender to God. If we still felt that that issue we wrote was still something we couldn't surrender, we were encouraged to take that slip home and pray about it. The ball started rolling when youth came up to the front to share about how they were willing to surrender a friendship to God or exam results. One by one, we came up to the front and placed our surrendered items onto the cross. As the cross started getting populated, you could tell that the Youth understood what this meant but to re-enforce the lesson, we were told that each post-it note that we placed on the cross was like each prayer request or sin that Jesus had died for. He had already taken to the cross what we were about to ask for and all the burdens of our lives, He already knows and took.

Ending off with prayer, the Youth Worship came to a close and the atmosphere was one of edified spirits and heart felt sharing. What a way to spend a Saturday afternoon if you ask me.

posted by Joel / Rui @ 7:40 AM
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