It’s amazing to see so many young people coming together from all over the world in the name of Jesus Christ! The theme for Day 1 of the Global Convo is Unity with Christ! As Methodist young people come together for one purpose, they could bring glory to God!

The Opening Worship was great and affirmed the diversity of the Body of Christ. While the majority of the delegates spoke English, people who spoke German, Portuguese, French, Filipino and African languages were represented. With many tongues but with one voice, young people praised and worship God! Rev. Sidney Cooper from Africa delivered the sermon and spoke about the need for believers of Christ to hold hands together in unity. Once we unite under Christ, nothing is too impossible for us to accomplish!

Bishop Rosemarie Wener of the Germany Central Conference welcomed all the delegates. Karen Greenwaldt, the General Secretary of GBOD also spoke to the delegates. After all, the Division on Ministries with Young People is a Division of the GBOD.

The Planning Team and the Staff persons of the DMYP are doing hard work just to make things flow as smoothly as possible. We hope for a successful event!

Day 2 will be full of legislation works!

If you want to watch the Opening Worship of the Global Convo (GYPC-LA), head over the GlobalYoungPeople Blog

Thankfully, I was told to close the curtains to my room. Otherwise, I would be startled by a good stream of sunlight at 4 in the morning! Yes, I do remember that I am in the Northern Hemisphere in Western Europe and the position of the Sun is not like the Philippines, which is near the Equator.

Great breakfast of fruits, yogurt, coffee, eggs, sausage and guess what, NO RICE! I should probably keep up this low-carb diet for the next two weeks and continue on with it when I go back to Manila!

We’ve had meetings. And then more meetings.

As for me, I worked with Truong Le, the online presence coordinator of the DMYP in setting up the blog of the GYPCLA. Check it out at www.globalyoungpeople.org/blog. We’ll be posting some daily articles, news and updates, as well as videos and pics. We’re actually calling for volunteers to write their thoughts and reflections for posting at the blog. I sure hope it works.

Maybe, we can also do something like this during the Christmas Institutes in the Philippines. Day 0.2 was pretty busy. But I guess, we will get tired on Day 1 of the Convo! Gotta prep ourselves for busy days ahead!

After waiting for my Schengen visa, and going through the whole process of preparing for the trip, I am finally going to Berlin for the Global Young People’s Convocation and Legislative Assembly of the United Methodist Church!

If I had known that I will be going to Germany, I should have aced my Deutsch class back in College! Oh well, too late for me to rehash my Deutsch!

I didn’t sleep on the evening of the 18th to prepare for my trip to Germany. I had to pack my clothes for the Global Convo. My wardrobe had to be emptied because the Global Convo will last for a week and I need to attend the DMYP meeting for another week. Besides, I had to write several articles on the evening of the 18th.

Print e-ticket. Check!
Print invitation letter and schedule. Check!
Pack luggage. Check!
Prepare laptop. Check!
Get two books for reading on the plane. Check!
Medicines. Check!
Toiletries. Check!
Bible and notebooks. Check!
Passport. Check!

I went out of my door by 5:45AM, grabbed a taxi and went straight to the archaic Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1! I was joined by Earlie, the Co-Chair of the DMYP and Legislations Committee Head of the Global Convo!

Earlie’s trip to the Schengen area should have been from July 19 to August 3. But as it turned out, the German Embassy in Manila only granted her 15 days! Ugh! That calls for an entirely new blog post. But she had to spend $450 just to have her exit flight rebooked on August 2. Whew.

We paid for the travel tax and the terminal fee. Went through security. Had breakfast at the Sky Team Elite lounge. Boarded the plane at 10:10 Manila time and off we went!

Flight from Manila to Amsterdam took almost 14 hours. Uneventful. I just watched 3 movies on the flight. Slept a lot. Ate a lot. I had planned to write some but I was just too tired to think and write!

Arrived at 9:35 PM in Berlin-Tegel after a layover of 2 hours at Amsterdam Schiphol airport.
Mike Ratliff (my boss!), together with Alex and Emmanuel from the German hosting team fetched us from the airport!

Guess what, we even had a booboo at the airport. Earlie and I just walked out of our gate at the airport without getting our luggages! We ended up going to the Lost and Found section of the Berlin-Tegel airport! I didn’t feel so bad because my boss, Mike Ratliff, had the same experience! hahah. In any case, Mike, Alex and Emmanuel brought us to the hotel.

Finally a good night’s rest!

Text: Read Luke 18:18-30 and Isaiah 55:1-2;6-12

You can be creative in reading Luke 18:18-30 by choosing one participant to play the role of Jesus and another to play the rich young ruler. A narrator can also be assigned to read.

Introduction

As people living in the twenty-first century, we are confronted with so many options, so many choices. Everyday, we are bombarded by hundreds, perhaps thousands, of advertisements—in the streets, in the television and over the World Wide Web. As a result, we tend to buy so many things, accumulate so many products that we do not really need.

The result is that we spend more money than we should. We end up worrying about where and how to get more money. And if such love of money becomes entrenched in our hearts, it will lead to greed and other graver sins against God and against our neighbors.

More than just money, we also fill our houses with stuff, things that may be good to look at, but they may not have any practical value at all! Such stuff may contribute to lack of space in our houses and so we may have no breathing room.

But stuff can also fill our hearts. We fret and worry over the smallest things. We have messed up priorities and so we could not decide what to do and where to go. We end up with no breathing room in our soul and as a result, our mental, emotional and spiritual health suffers.

What do we need to let go in our lives? What do we really need?

The Rich Young Ruler

Luke 18:18-30 tells the story of a rich young man. In other passages in the gospels, they refer to this young man as a ruler. But one thing is certain; this young man enjoys considerable wealth, prestige and influence in the society. The loose equivalent in our society could be an influential businessman or a politician.

The rich young man asked Jesus what he can do to inherit eternal life. Jesus saw his intent and his heart. Jesus asked him about the commandments—a basic requirement for all Jews. Typical of politicians, the rich young ruler decided to boast and said “All these I have kept since I was a boy.” You can probably imagine the rich young ruler smiling and beaming with pride as he said that. Perhaps his intent was to show off to Jesus how good he already was.

But Jesus cut to the heart of the matter. He understood the heart of the rich young man and how he can be dealt with. Jesus said: “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

The rich young ruler was shocked? He must have thought: “What? Me? Sell my possessions and the riches I’ve accumulated? Are you kidding me Jesus?!”

Luke reports that “when the young man heard this, he became very sad because he was a man of great wealth.”

Ask the following question to the participants:

What do you think filled the heart of the young man? Why was he unable to follow Jesus?

Wealth. The heart of the rich young ruler was so attuned to his wealth that he was shocked to hear the prescription of Jesus for having eternal life.

What do you think happens to us if our hearts are filled with thoughts of wealth? How can wealth prevent us from following Jesus?

Influence. As a ruler or a politician in the society, the young man was afraid to let go of his status and his influence to follow Jesus. How can influence and prestige also prevent us from following Jesus?

The Eye of the Needle.

In the Middle East, the eye of the needle is not exactly the kind of needle that you use for sewing clothes. Rather, the eye of the needle refers to a gate where camels pass through. A camel has to bow low, guided by its master so that it can pass through. If the camel does not kneel and walk, it cannot enter such a gate.

The metaphor is important in relation to the rich young ruler. Unless he kneels before the Lord and allow himself to be guided, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. We therefore need a humble and contrite spirit before God in order for us to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Do you have an eye of the needle that you cannot pass through?
How can you hurdle such obstacle?

Let’s Talk

Go through Isaiah 55:6-12 and initiate the participants into a discussion of the following questions. Take note of their answers and sum it up after the discussion.

How can we seek the Lord now, given our busy schedules and the demands of life?
What wicked ways are in your heart? How can you forsake them?
Do you read the word of God? How do you experience God’s presence?
What simple things can you do to become obedient to God’s word?

CG Time: Cleaning Up My Closet

In their journals, ask the participants to list down the things that they need to let go so that they can follow Jesus more fully. Ask them about the things they need to empty out of the closet of their hearts so that they can make room for God. Towards the end of the Bible Study and CG session, you can burn these things as a symbolic gesture of letting them go and giving room for God.

Isaiah 55:1-2 is an invitation to empty our hearts out and make room for God: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy. Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.”

Close the session in prayer.

Text: Read Luke 22: 14 – 23:56

Introduction

Jesus Christ is the dividing line of time. That is why we have B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini or In the Year of Our Lord). He is one of the most controversial persons who have ever lived. Battles have been fought in his name. Martyrs have died for him. And countless enemies have reviled him throughout the centuries.

But he continues to exert an important influence to the world—spiritually, socially, and perhaps even politically.

But who is Jesus?

For this session, we will take a look at how you view Jesus. What the Bible says about him and what can we expect from him. We will study the resume of Jesus Christ.

Because a lot of us grew up going to church and seeing messages about Jesus everywhere, we easily become too familiar with Jesus. We know that he is the Son of God. He died on the cross to save the sins of many. If you believe in him you will have eternal life.

But the question is, Who is Jesus Christ to you?

Go around the group and ask this question. Come up with a creative answer. Something that is not usually being said of Jesus. Let go of your preconceptions and ask yourself what he really means to you.

After going through the answers of the group. Get a short survey done by showing a raise of hands if the following applies to the members of the group.

Is Jesus Christ your:

1. Banker (from whom you ask money and blessings)
2. Strict parent (who always tells you to follow the rules)
3. Grandparent (to whom you tell all your pains, sumbungan ba.)
4. Police (who blows his whistle every time you commit something wrong).
5. KillJoy classmate (who prevents you from having a good time)
6. Dentist (who can take out your bad tooth, but you’re too afraid to approach)
7. Driver (who takes you to places you would not usually go to).
8. King (somebody you have to follow even if you don’t want to).
9. Bestfriend (who walks with you always and to whom you tell everything about you)

Given these impressions, let’s look at the resume of Jesus Christ.

You can divide the group into 3-4 mini-groups to look at the Bible verses listed after each work experience so that the participants will have a better glimpse at who Jesus was and what it means for them.

Career Objective: “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

Personal Background

Name: Jesus of Nazareth
Sex: Male Age: 33
Address: Nazareth, Galilee; frequently seen all over Judea, Jerusalem and even in Samaria
Date of Birth: Unknown (celebrated on December 25)
Place of Birth: A manger in Bethlehem
Father’s Name: God, the Holy Spirit
Foster Father: Joseph Father’s Occupation: Carpenter
Mother’s Name: Mary Mother’s Occupation: Housewife
Phone number: +632-777-PRYR Email: letstalk@god.com
Website: www.bible.com

Educational Background

Taught by the Holy Spirit. Empowered by Scriptures.
Studied with Pharisees and Scribes but knew more than they do. (See Luke 2:41-52)

Work Experience:

Carpenter. Since Jesus’ father is a carpenter. He was certainly an apprentice in the carpentry business of Joseph, his earthly father.

Fisherman. He was frequently seen among fishermen. He also walked on water. (Mark 6:45-56).

Bartender. His first miracle was turning water into wine. (John 2:1-11)

Weatherman. He can actually calm the storm! (Luke 8:22-25).

Social Worker. He fed five thousand people. That was not easy to do, given the scarcity of food where he fed these people. (Luke 9:10-17)

Physician/Healer. Throughout his career, Jesus healed many persons including a man with leprosy and a paralytic (Luke 5:12-26); a deaf and mute (Mark 7:31-37), the child of a Phoenician woman (Mark 7:24-30).

Ophthalmologist. He healed a blind beggar in Jericho. (Luke 18:35-43).

Exorcist. He has battled demons and even faced extreme temptation in the desert (Luke 4:1-13) and he also exorcised a boy with an evil spirit (Luke 9:37-45).

Activist and Critic. He got angry when the temple of God was turned into a market. He overturned the tables and told these marketers to leave the house of God (John 2:12-17). He was also frequently at odds with hypocrites, namely the Pharisees and the Scribes, who looked holy but they were not really living up to their calling.

Preacher and Teacher. He taught many people wherever we went. That is why lots and lots of people followed him (See Matthew 5). He taught through parables and stories so that only those who truly want to learn would understand it.

Savior. The classic verse, John 3:16 outlined the main reason why Jesus came to earth. If you would just believe, you will have eternal life.

Although Jesus Christ was reported dead on the cross, he rose up from the grave and was seen by the disciples and a hundred more. He also promised the Holy Spirit to send the Holy Spirit to all who will believe in him.

What’s In It for Me?

Encourage interaction among the Bible Study participants. There are no right or wrong answers. They just have to say what they think.

What do you think of the resume of Jesus Christ?
Based on this resume, have you accepted Jesus in your heart?
How can you live in accordance to your relationship with Jesus?

Read Luke Luke 14:15-23

What are the usual excuses given for not following Jesus?
For our time and age, how do we use these excuses?
What are your excuses in not following Jesus today?

CG Time

Watch a short documentary about the life of Jesus Christ. Reflect on how unique Christ was and what it means for you. You can download the file at http://www.4shared.com/video/8sZG1D8z/The_story_of_Jesus_Christ.html

Close the session in prayer.