“This isn’t working.”
“The bsm isn’t enough.”
“I’m getting nothing out of this and I’m going nowhere.
“We are just wasting time, wasting money, wasting energy.”
Thoughts like these haunt me…
Thoughts like these haunt me…because they are true.
If you believe in Jesus,
If you want to really know him, If you are trying to live the life he has called you toward…
You must be really disappointed with the way things are.
You need something MORE.
I am asking you to try something. It’s a little different. It’s a little more. But it might just be what you are looking for:
I want you to try being a part of a dgroup this semester.
dgroups are where we, the bsm, are pushing students toward a stronger, more disciplined, commitment to Jesus Christ and his teachings.
dgroups are small collections of students and leaders who are committed to scripture, memorization, study and prayer.
dgroups could be the thing that makes all the difference for you…
…or it might not…it is almost entirely up to you.
You get to decide if you want to do it. You get to choose how much you put into your faith and your obedience to Jesus Christ.
Here’s what we’re asking you to do:
1. Commit to a dgroup for this semester. Once you do, you can’t quit!
2. Never miss your dgroup’s gathering (every Wednesday from September 12 through November—except Halloween and the night before Thanksgiving—from 6:30 to 8:00pm).
3. Read a book throughout the semester and be ready to discuss it.
4. Memorize 20 passages of scripture
5. Pray and contact the other members of your dgroup
6. Don’t quit.
That’s quite a lot. You are probably thinking that you can’t do it…that you shouldn’t do it. It’s okay to think those things. But are you going to be the kind of person that backs down because things are difficult? Isn’t that the problem?
Don’t you want to at least TRY something new…something different…something difficult?
In a few days, I am going to ask you to REGISTER for a dgroup. That will be your way of agreeing that it is time to start something new. There will only be a few days to register. After that, it will be too late. We will ask you again in December if you say no. We will keep asking you if you say no.
But don’t you want to say “yes”? Don’t you want to shout it!
“YES! I want something MORE!”
In the meantime, think about this decision:Don’t try to squeeze another commitment into your already over-packed schedule. Don’t try to “fit it in”. Start to make room by choosing a new priority. Tell yourself with your actions that this is something you are going to start, stick with, and finish.
We are praying that you will.
Here are a few other things you might want to know:
-dgroups are gender and age specific (all guys, all in middle school, for example)
-dgroups will have 4-6 students and 2 leaders (adult and/or high school student)
-dgroups are for middle and high school students
-There are two chances to meet and hangout with other dgroup students BEFORE you make the commitment: Wednesday, August 29 and Wednesday, September 5.
-dgroups will be chosen by the bsm staff (we will consider suggestions but not necessarily obey them)
-Being in a dgroup doesn’t cost you any money.
-When registration ends on September 5, dgroups will be "closed" to new members. (They will “open” again in December before the Spring semester.)
