Our Youth Group
Thank you so much for visiting our Youth Page at Rehoboth Baptist Church! Take a look at our upcoming events below and come get plugged in! If you would like to reach our Youth Pastor, Jimmy Griffith, please email him at a2jfan1@yahoo.com or call him at 912-282-0187. Don’t forget to follow Pastor Jimmy on twitter
Also, follow us on Instagram and Snapchat: rbc.students
We have Small Groups at 9:30 each Sunday Morning and each Wednesday Night we begin our evening in the
Youth Room at 6:30.
Come join us for youth worship and Bible study! We begin at 6:30 with Praise & Worship, followed by Bible Study.
This Week 12/18/24 Bible Study Is on Luke 2 (NASB
Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem
1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was pregnant. 6While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. 9And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.”
15When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
Jesus Presented at the Temple
21And when eight days were completed so that it was time for His circumcision, He was also named Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22And when the days for their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what has been stated in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young doves.”
25And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28then he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29“Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31Which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples:
32A light for revelation for the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be opposed— 35and a sword will pierce your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the temple grounds, serving night and day with fasts and prayers. 38And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak about Him to all those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Return to Nazareth
39And when His parents had completed everything in accordance with the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. 40Now the Child continued to grow and to become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.
Visit to Jerusalem
41His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42And when He was twelve years old, they went up there according to the custom of the feast; 43and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days required, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware of it. 44Instead, they thought that He was somewhere in the caravan, and they went a day’s journey; and then they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him. 46Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48When Joseph and Mary saw Him, they were bewildered; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You!” 49And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” 50And yet they on their part did not understand the statement which He had made to them. 51And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued to be subject to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people.
S.O.A.P Study Method
I hope you‘re eager to deepen your relationship with the Lord this year. Here‘s my daily devotion system, which may prove helpful. If you want, text me and let me know how things are going and what God is doing in your life…would LOVE to hear about it!! 912-282-0187
Something I do is Life Journaling. I use the S.O.A.P. method of writing out the devotions. It may take you 30 min each day, the goal is to have daily encounters with the Lord…don’t be surprised if while your devotion is going on God calls to your mind some other scripture for you to read or brings to your mind things you may need to be praying about or repenting of, etc….God’s word is living and active…expect to be challenged and transformed as you dig into God’s Word!!
- Scripture…read through the scripture for the day and write out a verse or a passage that God draws your attention toward…don’t just write out the reference, but the whole verse…(i.e. don’t write out John 3:16…write out “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16)
- Observation… write about these things: who was the original audience, who were they writing about, what were they writing about…what would it have meant to the original hearers of the word?
- Application… write out how this passage applies to your life today…what did YOU learn from this passage and how will it impact your faith today?
- Prayer… write out a simple prayer…ask God to reveal Himself to you in new and real ways, to help you apply what you have studied to your life and to draw closer to Him, etc…these will be different each day and should come from the heart!
That’s how I do my daily devotions. I hope this benefits you all, and if so, I hope you decide to share that with me! Let me know if you have any questions or comments! Thank you for taking time and having the desire to “Go Deeper” with the Lord this year! See you soon!!
Pastor Jimmy Griffith
Come join us for youth worship and Bible study! We begin at 6:30 with Praise & Worship, followed by Bible Study.
Youth Advent 12/11
Note: This devotion material was purchased digitally from YM360 to be used for the Advent Season of 2024.
Day Eleven: The Manger of Hope
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be
registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of
Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house
and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while
they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and
wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them
in the inn.” — Luke 2:1-7
This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be
registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of
Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house
and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while
they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and
wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them
in the inn.” — Luke 2:1-7
Could you imagine this happening? Think back to a time when you traveled a far distance, perhaps on the way to vacation or moving to a new city. When you got to your destination, was everything how it should have been, or did things not go according to plan?
Joseph and Mary didn’t have time to plan for the worst because they entered Bethlehem by decree, hoping for a place to rest once they arrived. After all, Mary was not far from giving birth to Jesus, and traveling can wear you out! Their hope faded as they found no rooms available that night, but what came from this event was hope for the world as Jesus was born in a humble manger away from the crowds.
The Christmas hymn, “Away in a Manger,” details their experience like this:
“Away in a manger
No crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head
The stars in the sky
Look down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay”
No crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head
The stars in the sky
Look down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay”
It was a simple and peaceful nativity scene, emphasizing the humble beginning of Jesus’ life in a manger because there was no room at the inn. Through this, we can be reminded of the hope that God offers in both the planned and the unknown!
Questions:
1. Why do you think God chose Jesus to be born in a place like a manger instead of a grand palace?
2. What lessons can we learn from Mary and Joseph’s faith and trust in God’s plan despite their challenges?
Youth Advent 12/10
Note: This devotion material was purchased digitally from YM360 to be used for the Advent Season of 2024.
Day Ten: The Shepherds’ Response to Hope
“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us
go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to
us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And
when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these
things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for
all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” — Luke 2:15-20
go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to
us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And
when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these
things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for
all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” — Luke 2:15-20
Every good moment needs a hype person. When you’re playing your favorite sport and crushing the other team, how great is it to see your friends and family cheering you on from the sidelines? As you work up the nerve to talk to someone who interests you, isn’t it a great feeling to have your best friend giving you an extra boost of confidence? Of course! Hype people make awesome moments even better.
After hearing the Good News from the angels, the shepherds immediately travel to see baby Jesus and His parents. Overwhelmed with excitement over this newborn King, they spread the Good News about Him to anyone who would listen.
The shepherds’ willingness to follow God’s command is documented in the Christmas hymn “Rise Up Shepherd and Follow.” One line says, “You’ll forget your flocks, you’ll forget your herds; rise up, shepherd, and follow.” The author of the Scripture this song was written on does not specifically say if the shepherds took their flocks with them on their search for baby Jesus. However, this song lyric provides a poetic way to think about the shepherds’ dedication to the Savior. Shepherds were known for their deep care of their
flocks. To either leave their flocks behind or take them on a long journey to see Jesus illustrates how important He is to them above all else.
flocks. To either leave their flocks behind or take them on a long journey to see Jesus illustrates how important He is to them above all else.
Naturally, these shepherds are hype men. As soon as they meet Jesus face-to-face, they can’t help but tell everyone they see the amazing news that we have a Savior who is always worth celebrating. The exciting part is that we can be hype people, too! After experiencing what Jesus has done for us and knowing Him personally, we can share this amazing news about our Savior.
Questions:
1. What is something you are passionate about sharing with others?
2. Who are a few friends that you can share the Good News of Jesus with this week? Write their names down in a journal or on the notes app on your phone. Then, spend a minute praying that God would give you the courage to share with them this week.
Youth Advent 12/09
Note: This devotion material was purchased digitally from YM360 to be used for the Advent Season of 2024.
Day Eight: Mary’s Song of Hope
“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’” — Luke 2:8-14
Most people love an underdog or an outcast story. Take The Lion King, for example. Scar convinces Simba that his dad’s death is his fault and that he should leave forever. Simba leaves his home and teams up with two outcasts, Timon and Pumbaa. In a way, Simba becomes an outcast himself. Of course, it’s easy to cheer for Simba and his new friends. We want to see Simba back with his people and ruling over the Pride Land. We hope that the underdog is the “winner” in a story.
What we read above introduces us to a group of outcasts who are important to the story of Jesus’ birth. An angel of the Lord appears to the shepherds. As they are minding their business and taking care of their sheep, this angel announces that Jesus the Christ, the long-awaited Savior of the world, is here. These shepherds are expected to tell everyone they know about this hopeful, good news! These guys will eventually be the main people to spread the Good News about Jesus’ birth. Here’s the thing: shepherds were the outcasts in their culture at the time. So, it was a huge deal that God trusted them to spread the news about Jesus’ arrival!
The Christmas song “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” celebrates this message from the angels. “Hark” is a command to listen, and a herald is a messenger. This old English hymn is basically saying, “Listen up everyone, these angels have been sent to tell you something amazing!”
The amazing news is that God and sinners are reconciled, meaning that Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection made a way for all people to be considered “good” with God. Because of Jesus, we don’t have to live apart from God because of our sins! That is worth celebrating.
The Christmas song “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” celebrates this message from the angels. “Hark” is a command to listen, and a herald is a messenger. This old English hymn is basically saying, “Listen up everyone, these angels have been sent to tell you something amazing!”
The amazing news is that God and sinners are reconciled, meaning that Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection made a way for all people to be considered “good” with God. Because of Jesus, we don’t have to live apart from God because of our sins! That is worth celebrating.
Questions:
1. God chose shepherds to share the Good News with the world. What does that show you about who God is?
2. How do you feel about telling people about Jesus?
3. Who is one person you can share the Good News of Jesus with this week?
Youth Advent 12/08
Note: This devotion material was purchased digitally from YM360 to be used for the Advent Season of 2024.
Day Eight: Mary’s Song of Hope
“And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has
looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me
blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy
is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he
has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their
thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich
he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he
spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” — Luke 1:46-55
looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me
blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy
is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he
has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their
thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich
he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he
spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” — Luke 1:46-55
The best songwriters in the world write from a place of passion or heightened emotion. Relationships, experiences, and the desire to tell a story (and more!) can all drive the songwriting process. Whenever something unbelievable happens, you can’t help but break out in song!
That’s exactly what happened to Mary when she learned that she would be pregnant with Jesus. Can you imagine what Mary must have been feeling at the time?! These verses are often referred to as “Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat.” Mary pours out her heart to God in worship. She recognizes that she is just a normal person who God has chosen to do something extraordinary, and chooses to praise Him even more. Mary gives all glory back to God. She knows that He is the one worthy of praise, especially for sending His Son into the world.
That’s exactly what happened to Mary when she learned that she would be pregnant with Jesus. Can you imagine what Mary must have been feeling at the time?! These verses are often referred to as “Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat.” Mary pours out her heart to God in worship. She recognizes that she is just a normal person who God has chosen to do something extraordinary, and chooses to praise Him even more. Mary gives all glory back to God. She knows that He is the one worthy of praise, especially for sending His Son into the world.
Many famous Christmas songs draw inspiration from Scripture. One particular hymn, “The Song of Mary,” is a song that puts music to The Magnificat, the verses we read above. The Scripture and the lyrics of this song help us understand how Mary was feeling. We can’t help but join in the song that gives all glory and honor back to God.
Questions:
1. Mary recognizes that God has done great things for her. In what ways has God done great things for you?
2. During this Christmas season, what’s one thing you can do to remember what God has done by sending Jesus to Earth?
Youth Advent 12/07
Note: This devotion material was purchased digitally from YM360 to be used for the Advent Season of 2024.
Day Seven: Joseph’s Reassurance of Hope
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” — Matthew 1:18-25
There’s a common theme in the story of Jesus’ birth: angels. Anytime a theme is repeated in Scripture, we should pay close attention. Angels appeared to both of Jesus’ parents to tell them about His life. These angels were not sent by God to only deliver information. In their announcements of the Savior’s upcoming birth, they are filling hearts with hope.
Here, we read that Joseph is engaged to be married to Mary and already knows that she is pregnant. He decides that the best decision is to quietly end his relationship with Mary. However, an angel appears to him in his sleep, tells him to marry her, and that her pregnancy is fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies about the Savior of the world. Joseph does what the angel says and continues to live with integrity toward Mary. Joseph was tasked with displaying a strong level of trust in God. Joseph was not biologically
related to Jesus but was still His earthly father. Joseph’s family line is also essential to the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.
The angel of the Lord reaffirms to Joseph the hope that is coming with Jesus’ birth. The famous Christmas song “What Child is This?” is a reflection of how wonderful it is that Christ the King was born. The words of this song display the beauty of Jesus being fully God and fully man. He is King, but He is also a baby needing to rest on His mother’s lap. Today, listen to this song and remember this wonderful hope we have in Christ.
Questions:
1. On a piece of paper or in a notes app on your phone, write down what hope means to you.
2. Next, write down a few places, people, or things that you place your hope in.
Now, spend a couple of minutes in prayer, asking God to help you place your hope in Him.