FPCOS YOUTH

7TH - 12TH GRADE

Our mission.

The mission of the Harbor (the youth ministry of FPCOS) is to develop a community of students growing in discipleship of Jesus Christ through unconditional love, in relationship with one another and the church and in service to others, equipped to serve in the world.

FPCOS YOUTH

Our students face a number of challenges in today’s culture that is continually trying to redefine who we are and what our purpose is. As our culture continues to become more secular, it is easy for our students to begin to drift spiritually and become apathetic to Jesus. Our world is successfully shaping what students experience and believe concerning friendships, relationships, academics, sports, extra-curricular activities, and social media, among other things.

We believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ speaks compellingly and beautifully into each of these. The purpose of youth ministry, then, is to bring the gospel to bear in the lives of our students. This happens most dynamically through relational ministry that is people-oriented, not program-oriented. The church seeks to disciple and train up our students through regular, intentional contact that is rooted in the truth of the transformative gospel of Jesus Christ. We also recognize that the most effective discipleship starts with parents and is then further supplemented by the church.

FAITH FOUNDATIONS

Meets on Sundays at 10 AM.

We study through a three-year curriculum called the Gospel Project that seeks to present the Bible for what it is: a broad scope of the redeeming work of God through the person of Jesus throughout the entire Bible.

7th-10th Grade: Gathers in the Harbor House to study Unfolding Grace. This study brings students chronologically through the Bible as we unpack specific passages that highlight how it is all one big story of God’s redemption of us. We study with an eye for what God is doing, who He is, and how Jesus solves problems that humanity cannot and could not.

11th-12th Grade: Older students are encouraged to plug into an adult group/class or serve in the Children’s Ministry. The purpose is for these students to begin to be comfortable plugging into the bigger church in their relationships and in how they serve.

YOUTH GROUPS

Youth Group is two hours. Typically, the first hour is about games, fellowship, and food. The second hour focuses on worship through music and study.

Both older and younger students will be examining what the Bible has to say about human sexuality. We will talk about everything from God’s purpose for people, why we are made male and female, how marriage relates to the gospel, and how we can live in this world with a holy sexuality.

Middle School: Meets on Wednesdays from 5:00-7:00 PM in the Harbor House. Dinner provided.

High School: Meets on Sundays from 4:00-6:00 PM in the Harbor House. Snacks provided.

SMALL GROUPS

In small groups, we delve a bit deeper. It is a place for fellowship and teaching but with a specific aim at prayer and accountability through Gospel dialogue.

They are split not only by age group but also by gender. High school small groups meet on Wednesday from 5:00-7:00 PM while middle school small groups meet on Sundays from 4:00-6:00 PM (reverse of youth group times).

Guys (older and younger): While they will meet on different days, both groups will be studying the classic work by J.C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men. Many of the things the boys/men have wrestled with are timeless things such as pride, thoughtlessness, pleasure, and the fear of man. These are still incredibly relevant today as they get at heart conditions, not just external behaviors.

Girls (older and younger): Likewise, the girls will be meeting on different days but studying the same thing. They will be working through the book, Friendish, by Kelly Needham which provides a robust and gospel-centric understanding of friendships and the inherent dangers of it when we elevate earthly friendships from a gift to an idol.