Spiritual Maturity: Connect - Episode 3

In Episode 2 we started our conversation on "The Lord's Prayer" and got through the first half. We continue our talk in Episode 3 finishing out this magnificent prayer and how it should be a model of how we should pray.

The night finished with about 20 students coming to the alter, kneeling down, and giving a heart of prayer to their Savior.

This also was Ben's last Youth Group with us as he is about to start his journey to outreach in Japan.

Speaker: Scott McNiel
Priority Point: Spiritual Maturity
Title: Connect - Episode 3
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Spiritual Maturity: Connect - Episode 2

In Luke 11:1, one of Jesus' disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. Jesus had a unique way of praying and the disciples witnessed the relationship Jesus had with God through His prayers. He warned the disciples, and us, not to pray to "be seen by men" (Matt 6:5), but in a location of solitude. Our only prayer time shouldn't be at church where we are seen, but mostly alone where our connection with God can be deepened.


Jesus taught us the "Lord's Prayer" not so we can continually recite it, but use it as a model. This prayer in Matthew 6:9-15 is remarkably deep, wide, humbling, and convicting and should be a model in our own prayer time.



Speaker: Scott McNiel
Priority Point: Spiritual Maturity
Title: Connect - Episode 2
Listen Now | download .mp3 [right click and press "Save Target As.."]

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Spiritual Maturity: Connect - Episode 1

As Christ followers, prayer should be as natural as breathing. Many people have formed bad habits that eliminate effective breathing, and the same is true for prayer. When a vocalist or an athelete goes into training... one of the primary things they will learn is how to breathe so every breath is not waisted and is most effective.

To start this series on prayer, Scott walks us through a model we can use to be most effective in our prayer times. How we can get our hearts off of ourselves and putting it on God's agenda.

Speaker: Scott McNiel
Priority Point: Spiritual Maturity
Title: Connect - Episode 1
Listen Now | download .mp3 [right click and press "Save Target As.."]

You need flash to listen. click here

Authentic Faith - Grace Over Sin

The Bible says that sin has no light. Sin is from the kingdom of darkness which is ruled by Satan. We need to have a firm understanding of what sin does to our lives. Every time we sin we are allowing a bit of satans kingdom of darkness to enter our lives. It's an intruder that we allow into our lives many times, which ultimately causes pain, loneliness, regret, sorrow, depression and confusion.

We must look at sin through the lens of God's grace to truly see how we can bring the darkness of sin into the light. God sent his only begotten son to take away our sin, and if God took it seriously. . .so should we.

Speaker: Scott McNiel
Priority Point: Authentic Faith
Title: Grace Over Sin
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Authentic Faith - Grace Through The Word

How can we be sure that the bible is not just another good book? Isn't the bible just made up of fable stories? How is the bible today still the same as the orginal manuscript written for the bible?

These are all questions that question the reliability and validity of the Bible. During this conversation we will be investigating the reliability of the Bible in four areas called M.A.P.S., which was developed by Hank Hanegraaff.

M. - Manuscript Evidence
A. - Archeological Evidence
P. - Prophetic Accuracy Evidence
S. - Statistical Evidence

We hope you come and investigate the reliability of the Bible with us, and that God will reveal to you that the Bible truly is the Word of God.

Speaker: Scott McNiel
Priority Point: Authentic Faith
Title: Grace Through the Word
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Authentic Faith - Grace Through Christ

God created us in His image, meaning that we were created with God's attributes. He gave us His communicative attributes so we can have a relationship with Him. Could you imagine having a relationship with someone whom you couldn't communicate with? Not too much of a relationship. God's greatest desire is to have a relationship with us, His creation, but sin became a part of humanity and it seperates us from God.

In this first talk at The Edge youth ministries, Scott talks us through the foundation of the Christian faith.

Speaker: Scott McNiel
Priority Point: Authentic Faith
Title: Grace Through Christ
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New Youth Name

It Has Begun!

My months of relaxing have completed and I've started my full time ministry position at Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Canon City. I had an amazing week meeting with the key leaders for the youth! We started casting vision and are now in a make-over stage for the youth program. I got to share with the H.S. on Wednesday night some vision as well as let them ask me questions to get to know me. They are awesome!

I also worked with our youth band for the first time, and we will be getting after it pretty hard until we open up the doors to the youth again on September 2nd and 3rd.

It's truly amazing what God is starting to do. He has set up an amazing opportunity with GREAT leaders for me to work with. We have a lot to do, but God is placing vision and direction at our feet and I just pray we have the wisdom to just follow that path.

New Direction

It's amazing how

"...God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." [Romans 8:28],

which I have experienced my entire Christian life. Looking back at how God restored me, guided me, and now has called me to a greater purpose in my life, He has definitely been doing works for my good and His purpose. No matter what level of love I had, great or small, the fact that there was a seed of love in my life, a small part that knew of who Jesus was, was enough for Him to be there with me even when He was neglected. I'm a living testimony that once you are adopted by God, once you give your life to Christ, He will never let you go. His faithfulness doesn't hang on our faithfulness to Him (thank goodness)....It is always there, always true, never ending, filled with grace, and full of love.

God has been painting a picture of my life that I could not see because my focus and point of view was either too small or focused on my own needs for me to see. In the last few months that picture has been revealed to me in a small way and the portion of that picture has called me to full-time ministry working with the youth.

• Is Canon City a place I dreamed of living? No.


• Was this a part of MY plan to go into full time ministry working with the youth in a city opposite of my comfort zone? No.


• Is this pushing me to become more reliant on Christ? Definitely!

Usually when I'm partaking in something that isn't a part of MY plan my excitement level or my heart is only half there. But when you're on the verge of doing God's plan, that may not be your own, your passion and excitement is greater than ever. He knows my heart, my passions, my drive, my wiring and he took that into account as he unraveled this season of His plan for Grace and I. When a Creator reveals His plan for the created... TAKE NOTE, step out, be faithful because He knows more about you than you do and His plan will make you tick more than you will ever know.

I'm excited for this next season of our life, but Grace and I need your prayers as we start down this new path God has laid before us.

All glory to God and God alone!

in Him,
Scott