The Celebration Of The Lamb--Saturday Evening

In order to put a "nutshell" on the week, Jeff Bogue, evening speaker, asked students to turn to 2 Corinthians 5.

Jeff told the story of winning a tug-of-war game by working together with his team.

“All the power was on our side of the rope because we were working in unison,” said Jeff.

The Gospel is this: The problem with humanity is that they’re imperfect. God is perfect. Human beings are imperfect. When Christ died on the cross, he created a reservoir of forgiveness. But you have to ask Him for it. There is a Savior and His name is Jesus Christ. “That’s what drives us,” says Jeff.

Jeff talked through verses 17-20 saying an ambassador speaks on behalf of the leader. In the Bible an ambassador speaks on behalf of the king. The Bible says that those who have received the Gospel are Christ’s ambassadors. “It’s as if Jesus were making his appeal directly through you and me,” said Jeff.

“The ‘Nutshell’ to take away from this week is to think of yourself as an ambassador,” said Jeff. “To think that wherever you go and whatever you do you are representing Jesus." Jeff told how one of his high school baseball coaches would take a player’s uniform away if he broke the code of conduct. The coach didn’t want players who didn’t respect his values.

The power of God is demonstrated through his Church, his body, his bride.

Jeff told the conference that if they’ve never made the commitment to agree that they are a sinner, then they need to. Then they should go home as God’s ambassador.

Dave Nicodemus came to lead the conference in focusing on the past, present, and future work of Jesus Christ. He started by encouraging students to go through a handout helping them understand better sin they might need to confess.

After about 10 minutes, students came and walked across the stage, one at a time, holding pieces of cardboard. One side was written what they were. The other side was written what they have become.

Front side: Pressured into using drugs: Back side: Listening to the voice of Jesus.
Front side: My Belief Gone: Back Side: Now His Word keeps me alive.
Front side: Never cared about God: Back Side: Now can’t get enough.
Front side: Lost in my sin: Back Side: Locked in his love.
Front side: Felt no love: Back Side: Known by the Beloved.
Front side: I was suicidal: Back Side: I died and my life is hidden in Christ.
Front side: Scared to talk about Jesus: Back Side: Can’t stop talking about Him.
Front side: Follower of friends: Back Side: Follower of Christ
Front side: Addicted to the world: Back Side:Addicted to God once more.
Front side: I couldn’t forgive myself: Back Side:Now God Has forgiven me.
Front side: Anorexic: Back Side:Made in the image of God.
Front side: Lost and hopeless: Back Side:Found and full of Hope.

Dave invited students to write their own testimonies on scrap pieces of paper and place them on the stage. Most of the conference came forward with scraps of paper and laid them on the stage.

Dave came back to the stage and read from John 13. He explained what Jesus did when he washed the disciples’ feet. He invited students to wash each others feet as a symbolic act of Jesus cleansing us from our sins.

After students were finished, Dave asked the conference to begin passing bread along the rows. Students came to read Scripture from 1 Corinthians 11. Students took bread, ate it, and focused on the body of Jesus. Another student read scripture talking about drinking the cup and students got up, got a juice cup, and drank it symbolizing Christ’s blood.

Then Dave read in Revelation about the wedding of the lamb. The Steve Fee Band sang, “We are the one” as students celebrated with cake and balloons symbolizing the incredible party that will and the incredible event that will take place in heaven when we are united with Christ.