Summer Trip 2010

blcym high school ministry has completed its 7th Summer Trip, this year to Arroyo Grande, CA. We were blessed to be able to call St. John's Lutheran Church our home and are so grateful to them for their incredible hospitality. While there, the students participated in numerous work projects around town and enjoyed growing together in their small group families. Make sure to check out more pictures on our smugmug page and the devotionals that our trip was centered around- living our lives in the glory-filled light of Christ!

Day 4: Light in the World

Day 4: Wednesday, August 4th

Light in the World

This morning’s time, prepare yourself for it by shutting out all distractions. Close your eyes and spend a couple moments asking the Holy Spirit to begin to break through the barriers of your heart and to fill it this day with everything that is Him...

Read Jeremiah 1:1-19.
What is the main job that God tells Jeremiah he is going to do for God?
What is Jeremiah’s response?

Here’s a bit of a different question for you- what emotions do you think God had while talking with Jeremiah?

Why do you think God asks Jeremiah to tell him what he sees not once but twice?

Once this entire encounter with God was over, how do you think Jeremiah felt? Why?

God doesn’t make the role that Jeremiah will be filling sound all that great in that he will encounter a lot of resistance. If you were in Jeremiah’s shoes, what steps would you take to emotionally prepare for the future?

Read 1 John 2:7-17.
The writer refers to the “true light” that is already shining. What is he talking about?
How is the darkness fading away because of it?

Verses 13 and 14 have portions addressed specifically to you. Why does the writer choose teenagers to be the ones that “have overcome the evil one?”

How does God’s word remain in you?

Why does the writer put such an emphasis on “loving the world” as a bad thing for our relationship with God?
What does it mean to love the world?


Jeremiah encountered God and knew God didn’t know what he was talking about. Yet, he remained open to the idea that God might have something cooking that Jeremiah might

eventually understand. You are on this retreat and God has been behind the entire event. Know that. Journal your thoughts and responses to these questions on the following page as you contemplate why God would want you to be right here, right now…
• Implant yourself into Jeremiah’s situation. What would God have to say to convince you that he had picked you to be his voice to his people?

• Do you think God still has a need for people to be his voice in the world? Why or why not?

• What other needs do you think God has for our times? What roles does he need filled?

• God encountered Jeremiah and called him from where he was. How might God be calling you to action?

• Paul refers to the “true light” already shining– how would you be able to include yourself in that light?

• How do you think that our youth ministry might join together to bring light into our community and the world?


Jeremiah committed himself to serving God just because God had confidence in him. Today is your opportunity to discover where God wants your to commit. It is not a day to dismiss or simply miss where your place is in his kingdom. Do not be lazy. God is calling you to be active, vital elements in bringing healing to the world. There is no doubt of this. Discern what you need to let go of– forgive– before you set fully into this. Now is your chance to commit to a life of service, a life of love, a life of light…
One Person I am praying for today is:
One change in me I am praying for today is:

Day 3: Light in Our Life

Day Three: Tuesday, August 3rd

Light in Our Life

To begin your time of reflection, recognize God’s hand in the week thus far. Understand that that the Spirit is guiding your studies today. With every sentence you read, begin to discover that, within these pages, God is calling you to integrate His very Presence into each moment of your life…

Read Luke 11:33-44.
How is the eye the lamp of our body?

What was Jesus’ purpose in saying this to the Pharisees (the religious leaders of Jesus’ time)?

Imagine you are a Pharisee sitting at this dinner with Jesus. How do you think you would respond when Jesus started ripping into you and the way you live? What emotions might cross your mind?


Read Luke 11:45-54.

What burdens could Jesus be referring to that the scribes in charge of teaching the scriptural laws are throwing onto the people?
Why did Jesus bring up the stuff about the monuments to the prophets?
Why do you think the Pharisees and scribes began plotting against Jesus after this exchange?



Read 1 John 1:5-9.

This talks a lot about living in the light that is God again. What does it mean to “have fellowship” with one another?
Why would that be important to our life in God?
Verse 6 says that, if we lie about walking in the light, “we do not live out the truth.” Explain what that might mean.
Verse 9 claims the God is “faithful and just” and will “forgive us our sins.” Why does it matter if he is faithful and just?


Read Romans 13:8-12.
What does it matter that we fulfill the Law?
The writer encourages us to lay aside works of darkness and put on the “armor of light.” Why would Paul choose that imagery? Why armor?

What is your impression of these verses? What emotion springs to mind as you read them?



Today is your day to work towards a light filled with God’s light. Spend the remainder of this time thinking about these questions and how they might help you translate the wisdom of Scripture into action in your life. Take some time with that thought as you journal with these questions on the following page…

• Imagine the dinner with Jesus happened today. Where would it take place? Who would be in attendance? How would people respond to those words of Jesus?

• What burdens do you create for others? What burdens have others dropped on you?

• How do you need help with both? Who in your life can walk with you through that? Be certain that you don’t pass over this answer– truly seek through your life to know legitimate support for you…
• What needs to be done so that you can be unhindered in fulfilling the Law of Christ as you radiate the light of Christ? What would that look like for your life?



This devotional time should be spent being 100% truthful with yourself. Don’t wait to have things happen on this trip for you. Seize these moments to examine what God’s true and unconditional forgiveness does for you and what you need to do in response to that. Make today your day to do that- to complete the glory of God. Spend these last moments taking in God’s presence surrounding you and how you are going to choose to respond to His forgiveness…
One Person I am praying for today is:

One change in me I am praying for today is:

Day 2: Light in Our Families

Day Two: Monday, August 2nd

Light in Our Families

Before you start into God’s Word, take some time in prayer to prepare your heart for what God is speaking to you. Open it to the presence of God’s Spirit and allow His Word to challenge your ideas of what He wants from you...

Read Ruth 1:1-1:22.
What emotions do you think Naomi was experiencing as she told her daughters-in-law to go back to their home countries?

Why would it be such a big deal that Naomi wanted Orpah and Ruth to return home?

What is your impression of Orpah since she chose to go back to her home? Why do you say that?

Read Ruth 2:1-9.
Why would Boaz react in this manner? She was literally stealing from him…

How do you think the servants of Boaz reacted to Ruth’s presence?

Read Ruth 2:10-13.

After reading a bit into the story of Ruth, what elements of her character stand out to you? Why?

Which is the most impressive to you?

Which of the people in these verses is closest to who you are on a daily basis? Naomi? Ruth? Orpah? Boaz? Why do you think that?
 Read Psalm 56:10-13.
What kind of “vows” do people enter into with God? Why do they do that?
How do they usually turn out? Why?
How do thank offerings play a role in the writer’s praising of God?

Why would they be so important for them?


Today’s readings involve different reactions to grieving and supporting those in our family. For today, spend some time thinking about your relationship with your family. Think about your attitude toward them and what that creates for your life. As you relates these stories and this wisdom to your life, contemplate and journal these questions...
• On a scale of 1-10 (1 = who? and 10 = best friends) how would you rate your relationship with your family?

• How does this number change based on the individuals in your family?

• Who has the highest rating with you? Who do you have the lowest with?

• What are some things that come into conflict with you improving that “lowest” relationship?

• What would it look like for you to actively work to create an environment of healing or growth for each of your relationships with your family?

• How would an improved life with your immediate family translate and affect the rest of your relationships?



Today is your opportunity to seek out moments for you to practice relationship. Understand that your small is group has been specifically constructed for a reason– for you. Those in your group are your family in Christ, so what can you do to work towards that? Whether that means introducing yourself to someone new and asking them about their life or maybe that means praying for the people in your small group and their experience on the Trip. It could even mean that you spend the remainder of this time thinking about sharing your gratitude with the individuals on this Trip, even if that means mending bridges or building new ones along the way. Today is the day for inward reflection while connecting with God’s family…
One Person I am praying for today is:
One change in me I am praying for today is:

Day 1: A Light in the Darkness

Day One: Sunday, August 1st

A Light in the Darkness

Before you start reading God’s Word, take some time in prayer to prepare your heart. Ask the Spirit to invade your thoughts so that you might enter God’s Word with a desire for wisdom and understanding...


Read John 1:1-5.
What is your first impression as you read this (confused, excited, wondering what’s for breakfast)?
Who is “the Word”?
Why would that name be given to them?
In your opinion, why would the writer of John think it was important to start their gospel with these confusing verses?
What difference could it make to know that “the Word” was with God in the beginning?
What do you think is John referring to when he mentions the “light” and the “darkness”? Try writing down your own definitions…
How does the darkness try to overcome the light?


Read 2 Kings 5:1-18.
Naaman was a man of great accomplishment and wealth. Why would he go to the king of Aram for permission to heal himself?

Why would the King of Israel react as he did in verse 7?

What was Naaman’s reaction to Elisha’s message in verse 10?

Why would he react like that?

How did his servants change his mind?

Why would Elisha not accept any of Naaman’s gifts of gratitude?

What did Naaman pledge to do instead? Why would he make this decision?



Read Ephesians 5:6-17.

How would you describe the “light of the Lord”?

“Live as children of light” is a short but very powerful command. What do you think that means for you and where you are?

The writer in Ephesians encourages us to “live carefully”- explain what he means by that...


Spend some time with these questions as you journal your thoughts on the next page...
• If Scripture references Jesus as “the Word” why does God need you to speak on His behalf?
• How can you “live carefully?”
• Whew- understanding the will of God- not an easy task! It doesn’t mean that we should stay away from trying, though. Write down three things that you believe God might want you to be thinking about doing for His Kingdom.

This week, you will encounter tons of opportunities to be active in a community in the light of God. Challenge yourself to seek out those opportunities and, as you participate in them, think about how you might translate your actions once you get back home. As you do these things through the week, write down a couple below or on the next page so that you have a source of reference when you get back. As you close this devotional time, spend the remainder of the time reflecting on your mind and heart at this moment. Are you in a place where you are open to living a life that others see as serving God? Maybe you want to get better at showing God in your life. Maybe you want to spend the time figuring out if God is really something for you. Maybe there are some things that you and God need to work through. Maybe there are some things that you need to work through with someone on this trip. Do not fail o understand that God put you here, this week, to make an impact on your life. How will you choose to respond? Will you simply go through the motions or will you take advantage and experience what freedom in Christ truly means..?
One Person I am praying for today is:
One change in me I am praying for today is: