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 12/15
Note: This devotion material was purchased digitally from YM360 to be used for the Advent Season of 2024.
Day Fifteen: A Long-Awaited Hope Recognized
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” — Luke 2:25-32
When was the last time you felt joy? Maybe it was laughing with your closest friends, winning the game you played your hardest in, or being in a place that was so beautiful not even a camera could capture it accurately. Those moments of joy are some of the best, aren’t they?
In Luke 2:25-32, we meet Simeon, a righteous and devout man who had been waiting for the “consolation of Israel,” meaning the Messiah (Jesus) who would bring salvation and peace. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Simeon comes to the temple and, upon seeing the infant Jesus, he recognizes the fulfillment of God’s promise! His heart overflows with joy as he proclaims that he has seen God’s salvation. This brings the purest form of joy we could imagine!
A popular song at Christmas time is called “Joy to the World,” and it’s about the joy that surrounded Jesus’ arrival on Earth. Although often associated with Christmas, its message is timeless—celebrating the coming of Christ and the joy that His presence brings to all creation.
The Good News is that this joy is available to us now! It’s all around us if we choose to look for the ways Jesus is at work in us, through us, and in the world around us. When we actively look for joy in the world, we’ll find it because He is everywhere!
Questions:
1. What is something in your life that brings you joy?
2, Who or what is one person, place, and activity that brings you joy?
Youth Advent 12/14
Note: This devotion material was purchased digitally from YM360 to be used for the Advent Season of 2024.
Day Fourteen: Hope in the World Became Flesh
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14
What is the best news you’ve received this year? Think about how you felt when you received that news. Now multiply that feeling by a million! That is how those who had been waiting for Jesus, the Messiah, to arrive must have felt when they learned He was finally here.
John, the author of this verse, was summarizing this Good News. The Word, which was Jesus, became flesh and lived on Earth, which was predicted for many, many years before it actually happened. This promise from God being kept was worth a huge celebration!
Jesus, who was fully God, became fully human, too, when He came to Earth. The hymn “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” helps us understand this idea a little more. Let’s take a look.
Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord,— Jesus is eternally revered in Heaven and is the Lord who existed before the beginning. It reminds us that the baby born in Bethlehem is God forever! Late in time behold him come, offspring of the Virgin’s womb—The phrase “late in time” refers to the long-awaited coming of the Messiah (meaning anointed one or chosen one). “Offspring of the virgin’s womb” refers to the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’incarnate Deity,— “Veiled in flesh” means that Jesus, while fully God, took on human form, so if you were to see Him, you wouldn’t immediately know that He was also God. “The Godhead see” invites us to recognize and worship that Jesus is God. “Hail th’incarnate Deity” is a call to acknowledge Jesus as God who chose to be with us! Pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel.— Jesus, fully God and fully man, was pleased to live among humanity, experiencing life as we do. “Immanuel” means “God with us,” reminding us that through Jesus, God is with us through everything.
This hymn is a song of celebration and praise of the Good News that we celebrate at Christmas. We celebrate that God kept His promise of sending Jesus to Earth, and because of that, we can be close to God forever!
This hymn is a song of celebration and praise of the Good News that we celebrate at Christmas. We celebrate that God kept His promise of sending Jesus to Earth, and because of that, we can be close to God forever!
Questions:
1. Have you ever thought about the lyrics to “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!” before?
2. What’s one lyric that stood out to you?
3. Does knowing the meaning of these lyrics change how you relate to the song? How?
Youth Advent 12/13
Note: This devotion material was purchased digitally from YM360 to be used for the Advent Season of 2024.
Day Thirteen: Jesus is the Shining Light of Hope
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in
the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing
made that was made. In him was life, — John 1:1-5
the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing
made that was made. In him was life, — John 1:1-5
Have you ever heard Jesus referred to as the “Light of the World?” The author of these verses writes that in Jesus was “life, and the life was the light of men,” meaning that Jesus brought “light” or “hope” to the world. This hope changed everything!
Light is a common theme when we’re talking about Jesus, especially about His birth. One of the most popular Christmas hymns, “O Holy Night,” describes the night that Jesus was born like this:
“O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.”
This hymn invites us to reflect on the night Jesus was born, picturing the night sky lit up by the stars. Think about a time when you’ve stood outside under the stars at night. Now imagine that scene being the moment that Jesus entered the world. He was bringing light, or hope, to the world for us, just like the stars bring light to a dark night sky!
This Christmas season, we can celebrate the light of Jesus, allowing Him to light up the places in our lives that feel dark. We can celebrate His birth knowing that true light has come into the world!
Questions:
1. What does it mean to you that Jesus is the “true light” that “gives light to everyone”?
2. What’s one area of your life where you need the light of Jesus to shine?
3. What’s one way you can shine the light of Jesus to those around you?
Youth Advent 12/12
Note: This devotion material was purchased digitally from YM360 to be used for the Advent Season of 2024.
Day Twelve: Hope in the Humble Birth of a King
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form
of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the
form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled
himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” — Philippians 2:5-8
of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the
form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled
himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” — Philippians 2:5-8
Have you ever thought about the fact that Jesus was fully God and fully human at the same time? This means He felt all the emotions—both positive and negative—that we experience, too: sadness, joy, anger, happiness, pain, confusion, excitement, you name it! Jesus understands what we feel because He experienced it Himself while on this Earth. He understands that life is hard and that sadness and disappointment are part of our human experience. Jesus is more than a rescuer; He is Emmanuel, God WITH us. He is the One who created us. He is the One who knows us. He is the only One who can provide us with true life, joy, and forgiveness. He is the One who we are invited to come and behold.
The Christmas hymn, “O Come, Divine Messiah,” serves as a reminder to all people that the invitation to come and behold this promised Savior is still as wide open now as it was on the night when Jesus was born. In His full humanity, Jesus has firsthand knowledge of our human experiences, frailties, temptations, and feelings. But as the King, Son of the Father, Word of God now in the flesh, He is also the only one who has the power and the authority to bring us hope for when we experience these things and to make whole again what has been broken.
The Christmas hymn, “O Come, Divine Messiah,” serves as a reminder to all people that the invitation to come and behold this promised Savior is still as wide open now as it was on the night when Jesus was born. In His full humanity, Jesus has firsthand knowledge of our human experiences, frailties, temptations, and feelings. But as the King, Son of the Father, Word of God now in the flesh, He is also the only one who has the power and the authority to bring us hope for when we experience these things and to make whole again what has been broken.
So, the invitation is open–come and behold Him. Come and behold the light and the hope of the world! Come and behold the One who came once before and lived like us, but who will return in His full glory as our Redeemer King! Come one, come all. Come, let us adore Him!
Questions:
1. How does it make you feel to know Jesus experienced the feelings we experience?
2. Are the words of this hymn encouraging to you? Why or why not?
3. This Advent season, how can you choose to come and behold (experience) the joy, salvation, and hope that Jesus brings?
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?