Program Distractions

  1. No love.
    1. Examples
      1. Jonah did not love the people to whom he was prophesying.
        Jonah 3:10–4:1 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them and he did it not. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
      2. Martha was busy doing “things.”
        Luke 10:41 Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
      3. Judas feigned his love for Jesus.
        Mark 14:10–11 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them . . . And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
      4. The Pharisees were concerned about keeping rules and regulations.
        Matthew 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
        Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
    2. Love for God, Love for Man
      1. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
      2. 1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
      3. Mark 12:30–31 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
    3. Characteristics of a Loving Person—we are a conduit of Christ’s love.
      John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

      1. Patient or forbearing
      2. Kind—“to show oneself useful” (Webster’s 1828)
      3. Not jealous
      4. Humble
      5. Prefers others, selfless
      6. Rejoices in truth
        Love makes a huge impression—it’s not natural.
  2. Inconsistency
    1. Inconsistent life—Jehu killed the worshippers of Baal, but did not remove all the former idols from Israel and he himself did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam.
      2 Kings 10:28–29, 31 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel….Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.
    2. Inconsistent love—the Israelites were selling themselves to each other and then made to pay interest and were thus going further into debt. If they loved each other consistently, they would not have exacted usury as the law commanded (Nehemiah 5:1–13).
      Leviticus 25:36–43 Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: But as a hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubilee: And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen. Thou shalt not rule over him with rigor; but shalt fear thy God.
    3. Inconsistent labor—scribes and Pharisees
      Matt 23:3–4 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
    4. God is constant in all He does; we should then follow His example—faithful, according to Webster’s 1828, is, “constant in the performance of duties or services; exact in attending to commands; as a faithful servant.”
      1. Daniel 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
      2. Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.
      3. 1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.
      4. 1 Corinthians 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
      5. 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
  3. Unknown Purpose.
    1. Purpose of God
      Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
      1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye imitators of me, just as I am of Christ.
    2. Purpose of group
      1. Communicate in advance and help them establish goals if they have none. Our purpose is to reach young people for the Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen families, and serve local churches.
      2. Never assume.
        Matthew 16:22–23 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
      3. Get everyone on board: communicate with speakers, and sponsors.
      4. Nehemiah knew his purpose.
        Nehemiah 2:5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchers, that I may build it.
        Nehemiah 4:6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
  4. Unknown Needs
    1. David did not recognize that he needed to stay home and protect himself in order to better rule Israel, but Abishai recognized that need (social).
      2 Samuel 21:17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.
    2. Jesus’ disciples recognized the people’s physical need for food.
      Matthew 14:15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
    3. King Artaxerxes recognized Nehemiah’s countenance (emotional need).
      Nehemiah 2:2 Wherefore the king said unto me, why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid.
    4. Jesus was able to perceive spiritual needs.
      John 4:10–26 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water . . . Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews . . . But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
    5. Needs of group—age range (juniors versus teens), group size (small groups and big groups cannot always do the same activities), gender, needs of individual
      Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.
    6. Pharisees, publicans, sinners—Jesus saw need
    7. Joseph interpreted dreams
  5. Communication—to communicate, according to Webster’s 1828 is to “impart, as knowledge; to reveal; to give, as information, either by words, signs or signals, as, to communicate intelligence, news, opinions, or facts.”
    1. Unclear—remember this may be the first time for campers. We understand the Ironwood lingo and how the schedule works, new staff and new campers do not, and we must communicate purposefully to them.
      1 Corinthians 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
    2. Unheard
    3. Unheeded
      Matthew 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.
    4. Untimely—talk, listen, think.
    5. Biblical examples—Balaam and the donkey, Pharisees with leaven, Jonah, 10 spies, Ephesians 4:17–32
  6. No Preparation
    1. Before camp/event
    2. Prepared physically and spiritually
    3. Biblical examples—Judgment seat, Noah, parable of oil in lamps, count the cost before building, Moses, Timothy, 1 Peter 3:13, Joseph know problem, plan, do
  7. Worldly Influence
    1. Reminders of world in programming
    2. Reminders in Staff
    3. Reminders in other campers
    4. People see us in town, discussions, quiet solitude, unmanaged risk.
  8. Unmanaged Risk—risk is a tool; any tool used incorrectly can become a weapon.
    1. By campers
    2. By staff
  9. Staff-Centered
    1. In conversation
    2. In fun—summer staff weekend plans, Ananias and Sapphira lying, Saul,
    3. In schedule and effort—Jesus was always others oriented even when it seemed inconvenient.
      Mark 6:31–34 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
      Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
      Romans 15:26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
  10. Never Go Individual—the needs of the group must be balanced with the needs of the individual; balance requires wisdom and guidance
    1. Go individual with “spotlight”
    2. Go individual with counseling
    3. Go individual with relationships
    4. Go individual with activities
      Examples of Christ—with Nicodemus, the woman at well, the lady in the crowd (“who touched me?”), Zaccheus