Hillvue Junior High Ministry

Hey guys, if you don’t know every Wednesday night through the month of February we will do one song a night that you all request. Request anything, but be sure it’s appropriate. We’ll make our best attempt at performing one live song each Wednesday! 

To request a song just click on “Ask Me Anything” on the right, type the name and artist of the song, and who knows you just might see it live.

Anonymous asked: I am 13, where is the best place in the bible to read right mow?

I would recommend starting in John or James. Both books are great, and they aren’t too long either. Or if you want to start reading scripture daily something I used to do is go to Proverbs. The cool thing about Proverbs is that there are 31 chapters in it which is the typical length of 1 month. So start on whatever day of the month it is (ex. Today is November 4th so read Proverbs 4 and tomorrow you would read Proverbs 5 and so on) and read 1 chapter a day until you read the entire book of Proverbs.

Question: How do I get my friends to become Christians?

Unfortunately we can’t get people to change their beliefs or the way they are, only Christ can do that. However, we can show them Christ’s love and who Christ is by living for him and of him daily. We can invite our friends to come to church with us where they will get to hear the Gospel and get to see what it means to be in the body of Christ and what that is like. And last but certainly not least we should pray for them. Pray for their hearts to be softened, pray that God make them curious, for God to work in their life and heart, and just pray that they may come to know him. One of the greatest things we can do is pray and seek God. He will work out everything else according to his plan and purpose.

“because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel,” - Colossians 1:4-5

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,” - Matthew 25:35

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God,” - Philippians 4:6

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,” - Ephesians 1:11

Question: How do you get over someone who has broken your heart?

Being hurt or getting your heart broken is not easy but unfortunately it happens. There is no magic formula that can mend a broken heart, it takes time and its not easy. I think one of the first things to do when your heart is broken is dive into the scriptures. Surround yourself with the words of the God who loves you. He doesn’t desire for us to be heart broken and promises to mend our broken hearts. I also think you need to realize/understand who you are in Christ because knowing who you are in Christ should define you not your broken heart because Christ is the ultimate healer. Also, you should know that everything we go through makes us stronger and prepares us for the future, therefore we should rejoice in suffering because God is strengthening us for future work.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted…” - Isaiah 61:1

“Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” - 1 Peter 5:14

^“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” - James 1:2-4

Question: What if I’m not allowed to date?

We are instructed to obey our parents so if you aren’t allowed to date because of your parent’s expectations for/of you, then you must obey what they have instructed you to do. God gave us parents to guide us and raise us in his ways. All parents are different so we can’t compare them, but ultimately your parents will answer to God for the way you were raised and you will answer to how you followed or obeyed their instruction and how you will one day raise your own children. If I’m being honest I wish my parents had not let me date until I was a senior in high school. That would have saved me a lot of hurt, a lot of wasted time, and kept me from investing myself before I understood what it meant to be in a relationship. I know this probably isn’t what you wanted to hear but parents are smarter than we think, and even though we think they are crazy or too strict from time to time, one day we will appreciate all they did for us.

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” - Colossians 3:20

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” - Proverbs 22:6

Some questions may be more personal and private in nature, because this is a public site we don’t want to publish those questions for everyone to see, and we want to keep your personal business personal even if you ask anonymously. So if you have a more personal question, or a question that is of a more private topic please send those to either Andrew at andreweaton@hillvue.com or Kayla at kaybush2009@yahoo.com

Question: Why do boys pressure us to do or say things we don’t want to?

I can’t even begin to explain why because I have no idea, I’m not a boy. I would say that they probably act this way because we live in a culture and society that tells them that is how they should act, or that those actions are normal. I will also say there are a lot of boys who won’t pressure you, and those are the boys that if you choose to date, the ones you should be dating. As we talked about in our time together, the enemy is real and wants to keep us from being our full potential any way he can both for girls and boys. Don’t fall into his scheme. Remember the standards and respect we discussed. If you are walking confidently with the Lord boys will know you won’t be pressured into anything, and they should respect you and not try to pressure you.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” - John 10:10

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” - Romans 12:2

“Honor one another above yourselves.” - Romans 12:10

Question: What do we do if we have a boyfriend who is not a Christian and doesn’t understand why we believe what we do?

You can’t make someone understand what you believe. Christianity is confusing and difficult to understand if the person doesn’t have a relationship with Christ because being a Christian isn’t human. The Bible says, “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?” -1 Corinthians 6:14. This scripture directly speaks to your question. Being in a relationship is like being a part of team. You all work together, you talk to each other, and couples usually serve some kind of purpose. But the scripture tells us not to team up with unbelievers. This isn’t saying don’t be friends with nonbelievers, or to not be kind with unbelievers, but its hard to be in a relationship where the two of you don’t have a common belief and a common goal…and that should be to honor the Lord. Relationships were designed so that the Lord may be glorified through them and if the person you are dating isn’t following the Lord the two of you can’t do that. Also, scripture says to surround yourself with those who can lift you up, and not that nonbelievers can’t be encouraging because they can, but its not to the same level or the same degree that a Christian boy could be encouraging.

“Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?” -1 Corinthians 6:14

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,” - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Question: I have been baptized and everything but I still feel like people will laugh at me if I tell them. What should I do?

Being a Christian is not something to be ashamed of or keep hidden. Following Christ is not a common trend in the world we live in, but it is something to be proud of. You have a hope and a future, a protector and a healer, a father and a friend, a relationship that can’t be found in any other God, or any other place. Its not easy standing by what you believe, or telling people what you believe in. That is something though we have to pray through and seek Christian friends to help us be able to stand strong. And 9 times out of 10 I bet people won’t laugh, they will either ask you a question, or pretend like you never said a thing. Be strong and be who you are, don’t be scared, live in Christ’s freedom and let him shine through you.

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, - 2 Corinthians 1:21

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

- Psalm 91:4