The Traditional Olympics
The Traditional what?...That's right: The Traditional Olympics.
As the fall semester rounded the corner, I had to find a way to help students really plant their feet here. I want RHC Youth to be a place where students really feel like it's theirs. And after a summer of infrequent attendance and a busy season of development at RHC, I thought a fun competition would be a great way to get kids invested throughout the week, not just attend on Tuesdays.
And thus The Traditional Olympics was formed! An 8-week competition is easy to scope out but what theme would be worth initiating the 2026 school year? What sort of buy in would it create? I'm certainly not a fan of cheesy creative decisions nor do we need to always reinvent the wheel. So there it was, not a new theme but a...traditional...one. A theme that's been around since the dawn of scripture.
God has designed us specifically. He created both man and woman - two complimentary beings of equal value to each other and to Him. Men and women have different strengths, characteristics, and biblical roles - truths that have been thrown down the garbage disposal in today's culture. If students were going to invest in this ministry, plant their feet into this competition, then a piece of their identity was coming with it. Let it then be placed in the truths of God's design.
The Traditional Olympics therefore coincides with an 8-week sermon series titled Designed. Part 1: Designed to be Complimentary, and Part 2: Designed to be Set Apart. We are bringing it back to the basics, initiating this season in identity, and recognizing that competition is good for the blood.
As the fall semester rounded the corner, I had to find a way to help students really plant their feet here. I want RHC Youth to be a place where students really feel like it's theirs. And after a summer of infrequent attendance and a busy season of development at RHC, I thought a fun competition would be a great way to get kids invested throughout the week, not just attend on Tuesdays.
And thus The Traditional Olympics was formed! An 8-week competition is easy to scope out but what theme would be worth initiating the 2026 school year? What sort of buy in would it create? I'm certainly not a fan of cheesy creative decisions nor do we need to always reinvent the wheel. So there it was, not a new theme but a...traditional...one. A theme that's been around since the dawn of scripture.
God has designed us specifically. He created both man and woman - two complimentary beings of equal value to each other and to Him. Men and women have different strengths, characteristics, and biblical roles - truths that have been thrown down the garbage disposal in today's culture. If students were going to invest in this ministry, plant their feet into this competition, then a piece of their identity was coming with it. Let it then be placed in the truths of God's design.
The Traditional Olympics therefore coincides with an 8-week sermon series titled Designed. Part 1: Designed to be Complimentary, and Part 2: Designed to be Set Apart. We are bringing it back to the basics, initiating this season in identity, and recognizing that competition is good for the blood.
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2026
January
Solomon Thought About Life | Jan 4 | Lesson #3 | 12Let's Memorize the Books of the BibleSunday Focus – God Speaks from HeavenMessage Takeaways - God Speaks from HeavenHeard On Sunday - Unveiling Revelation: A Journey Through ScriptureBecause You Give - Thank you, from Alameda StudentsThe Queen of Sheba Visited Solomon | Jan 11 | Lesson #4 | 12Sunday Focus – A Vision of the Glorified ChristMessage Takeaways - A Vision of the Glorified ChristHeard On Sunday - A Vision of the Glorified ChristWisdom Of God's People | Jan 18 | Lesson #5 | 12Message Takeaways - Sanctity of LifeSunday Focus – Sanctity of LifeHeard On Sunday - Created in His Image: Understanding the Sanctity of LifeFamily Sunday | Jan 25Project Nehemiah - January 22nd UpdateMessage Takeaways - A Church That Doesn’t Love JesusSunday Focus – A Church That Doesn’t Love JesusHeard On Sunday - The Church That Lost Its First Love: A Journey Back to Passionate FaithA Kingdom Divided | Feb 1 | Lesson #1 | 13
February
Sunday Focus – Being Martyrs for JesusMessage Takeaways - Being Martyrs for JesusHeard On Sunday -The Blood of Martyrs: Finding Strength in SufferingIsrael's Evil Kings | Feb 8 | Lesson #2 | 13Sunday Focus – A Church that Compromises the TruthMessage Takeaways - A Church That Compromises the TruthHeard On Sunday -The Deadly Poison of Compromise: A Wake-Up Call for the Modern ChurchElijah Confronted Ahab | Feb 15 | Lesson #3 | 13Sunday Focus – The Jezebel ChurchMessage Takeaways - The Jezebel ChurchHeard On Sunday -The Danger of Tolerating Jezebel: A Call to Truth and HolinessProject Nehemiah - February 19, 2026 UpdateMessage Takeaways - An Autopsy of a Dead ChurchSunday Focus – An Autopsy of a Dead ChurchHeard On Sunday - The Autopsy of a Dead ChurchThe Reign of Ahab | March 1 | Lesson #4 | 13
March
Sunday Focus – A Church that Embraces the Great CommissionMessage Takeaways - A Church that Embraces the Great CommissionHeard On Sunday - The Power of Passion: Lessons from the Church in PhiladelphiaMessage Takeaways - A Church that Nauseates GodElisha the Prophet | March 8 | Lesson #1 | 14Jonah, Prophet to Ninevah | March 15 | Lesson #2 | 14A Vision of Flourishing | The FORGEHeard On Sunday - The Danger of Spiritual LukewarmnessHeard On Sunday - The Holiness of God: Understanding What It Means to Stand in Awe The Holiness of GodOur King is Holy! Empowering Families | The FORGEHosea, Prophet to Isreal | March 22 | Lesson #3 | 14Message Takeaways - Praise to the King of CreationThe Throne Room of Heaven: A Glimpse Beyond the VeilPraise to the King of Creation!Family Sunday | March 29Real Community Insight | The FORGEProject Nehemiah - RHC Transition SchedulePalm SundayMessage Takeaways - The Lamb is InspectedHeard On Sunday - The Perfect Lamb: Understanding Jesus’ Final Days Before the CrossEaster Family Resources
April
Project Nehemiah - Elvis Has Left the Building RHC In the NewsEaster Sunday - Resurrection DayMessage Takeaways - The Truth of the ResurrectionHeard On Sunday -The Unfiltered Power of the Risen ChristA Powerful and Practical Partnership | The FORGEThe Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed | April 12 Message Takeaways - The Lion, the Lamb, and the WorldEaster Sunday - The Lion, the Lamb, and the WorldProject Nehemiah - Thankful for the past and looking toward the future!Heard On Sunday - The Whole World in His HandsFamily Sunday & Open House | April 19Message Takeaways - When God Moves You!First Day at the New RHC - When God Moves YouHeard On Sunday - When God Moves YouFamily Sunday | April 26The Four Horsemen of the ApocalypseMessage Takeaways - Faith Endures in a World Under JudgmentWe need your input - Community Survey | The FORGE Heard On Sunday -The Four Horsemen: Understanding God's Sovereignty in a Broken World
May
Judah's Good Kings | May 3Message Takeaways - The Wrath of the Lamb — Standing Before the Sovereign JudgeThe Wrath of the LambAlpha & Omega Outfitters Sneak Peak | The FORGEProphets to Judah | May 10Heard On Sunday - The Wrath of the Lamb: Understanding the Fullness of JesusMessage Takeaways - The Lamb Shepherds the Nations The Lamb Shepherds the NationsThe Seal of the Living God: Finding Security in an Uncertain WorldGod Promised a New Covenant | May 17Message Takeaways - The Praise of His GloryThe Praise of His GloryStop Chasing Purpose — You Already Have OneCheck Us Out On Social | The FORGEJudah Was Taken Captive | May 24The Antichrist of LegalismThe Antichrist of LegalismThe Antichrist of LegalismOn-Site Counseling Partner | The FORGEFamily Sunday | May 31Prayers Above and Judgment Below