Beloved Oasis Teachers...
As the end of the school year continues to creep up on us, I wanted to give you a glance at what's being planned for this summer in Oasis.  Below is listed the schedule and classes that are in the works for this summer.

Summer is a great time for leaders to take some time off and recuperate before a new year begins in the Fall.  I hope you feel encouraged to do so. 

However, there may be some of you who would be willing to step up and help out with one of the classes being offered this summer.  If that is something you might be willing to do, please let me know.  Your phonecall or email will most likely be received with trumpets and fanfare.

Thank you for all you've done this year to create a place for Middle School students to belong on Sunday mornings.

Matt Acton


Summer Oasis
June 17 - August 26, 2012

Summer Classes:
On The Edge (OTE)
This class is for those students and leaders who are going on the Summer Mission Trip to Ligonier, Pennsylvania.  The focus will be on team-building, examining our motivations for going, and beginning to develop servant-attitudes.
OTE Teachers: Matt Acton and OTE Leaders

Ring of Fire
This class is for all rising 6th grade students.  The focus is on helping students to navigate the transitions from childhood to adolescence, elementary school to middle school, and Children’s Ministry to Student Ministry.
RIng of Fire Teachers:

Summer Oasis 1 and 2
This class is for 7th and 8th grade students.  For this class, the summer will be broken into 2 sessions.  The first session will include 7th and 8th graders who are not attending the summer mission trip.  The second session will include all 7th and 8th grade students.  Each session will feature its own 4-week video driven curriculum.
Summer Oasis 1 Teachers:
Summer Oasis 2 Teachers:


Summer Calendar:
June 17 - All Together
June 24 - OTE, Ring of Fire, Summer Oasis 1
July 1 - OTE, Ring of Fire, Summer Oasis 1
July 8 - OTE, Ring of Fire, Summer Oasis 1
July 15 - No Oasis (VBS)
July 22 -Ring of Fire, Summer Oasis 1
July 29 - Ring of Fire, Summer Oasis 2
August 5 - Ring of Fire, Summer Oasis 2
August 12 - Ring of Fire, Summer Oasis 2
August 19 - Ring of Fire, Summer Oasis 2
August 26 - All Together

EXPOSED: The Naked Truth about Sex
April 20, 2012

By the end of Whirlwind, we want students to KNOW that sex is part of God’s creation and therefore good.  However, when it’s used outside of God’s plan, it can be dangerous

We want students to BE ABLE TO establish God-honoring boundaries that they will hold onto as they get older.


Talk Notes:
God’s Plan for Sex

• Be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28) was God’s first command
• Holy Act
• God’s plan for sex within marriage (Hebrews 13:4)
• Fire Illustration (Fire is good...providing heat and warmth... as long as it’s in a fireplace or campfire ring.  Outside of that it’s dangerous and hurtful.  Sex is good, as part of a marriage.  Outside of that it’s dangerous and hurtful.)

How Far it Too Far?

• Teenagers way of asking “What can I get away with?”
• Creating a plan to resist temptation (fire escape route)

Restoration and Redemption

• What do I do if I’ve already had sex or gone “too far”
• Seeking redemption
• The story of David and Bathsheba

Part 1: Time to Check-in

Open in prayer.

Part Two: Time in God’s Word
What reasons would students in middle school and high school give for having sex outside of marriage?

Which reasons seem completely unconvincing?  Which seem persuasive?

What reasons would students in middle school and high school give for delaying sex until marriage?

Which reasons seem completely unconvincing?  Which seem persuasive?

How sure are you about what you will or won’t do when it comes to sex before you’re married?  (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, 0%)  Why are you at that level of certainty or uncertainty?

Has since answer changed in the last year?  If so, why do you think it changed?

What messages about sex do you find in your world, culture, or media?

What is your understanding of God’s view on sex?  How does this compare with the world/culture/media’s view?

Read Genesis 2:24 and Hebrews 13:4.  What clues do these verses give about God’s plan for sex?

What are some of the benefits of pursuing God’s plan when it comes to sex?  What are some of the challenges?

Why do you think God want us to wait when it comes to sex?

Do you think God’s desire for us to wait until marriage applies only to the physical act of sex?  Is it possible to go too far physically and emotionally without actually having sex?

How would people in your school answer the question, “How far is too far”?  How would you answer it?

Tonight, Matt said that sometimes the question how far it too far is just another way of saying what can I get away with.  Would you agree or disagree with this?

Would you agree that boundaries are important when it comes to physical interactions with members of the opposite sex?  How important is it?

When you should you set up these boundaries?  (Now or when your actually faced with temptation.)

Read 2 Timothy 2:22 and 1 Corinthians 6:18-20.    How should you respond when faced with temptation?

Read Matthew 26:41.  How does this verse apply to resisting temptation?

Read 1 Corinthians 10:13.  How does this verse encourage you when it comes to facing temptation?

What boundaries do you think you need to set now?  What boundaries can you set up now that will help you as you get older and your relationships and interactions with members of the opposite sex change?

What can you do to make sure you stick to these?

Read 1 Timothy 4:12.  What challenge does this verse put on you?  What part of it applies to what we’ve been talking about?

What can you do to live up to this challenge?



Part Three: Time for Prayer

Close in prayer.

Creative Ideas:

• Develop a prayer ritual that you use every week.  This becomes part of your group identity.  For example, form a circle and hold hangs as you pray.
• Open a time for praising God and have each student say a word that describes God.
• Begin a prayer sentence and have each student complete the sentence.  For example, “God, this week help me to...”
• Spend a few minutes in silence before someone closes the prayer time.