Sr High Parents Update – The Greatest Journey Week 5



Last night we had the privilege to hear from the team of students who went downtown Toronto to Sanctuary during March break.  The 14 students and leaders sat in front of the group and shared stories, experiences and biblical things that they had learned.  We were challenged to work very hard at becoming a healthy, welcoming, Christlike Community.  We had some great discussions in the small groups.

 

Becoming a Healthy, Welcoming, Christlike Community

Drawing on your own personal experience and your understanding of what it means to be “Christlike” -(Philippians 2 vs 1-11 – is a great passage to read to remind ourselves what it means to be like Jesus)…

 

1. Brainstorm what you think a “Healthy, Welcoming, Christlike Community” might look like. What characteristics might such a community have?

 

2. Think about Wednesday night youth group at Northpark (when we are all together as one large group) In what ways are we “becoming” a Healthy, Welcoming, Christlike Community for one another and for visitors?

  • Are there barriers that you see standing in the way of us “becoming” this kind of community?
  • Are there ways that you personally (or with your friends) could help to remove some of these barriers moving us even closer to the type of community you brainstormed about in question 1?

 

3. Think about your small group on Wednesday night and/or a small group of your friends. In what ways is your small group “becoming” a Healthy, Welcoming, Christlike community?

  • Are there barriers that you see standing in the way of your small group – or group of friends “becoming” this type of community.
  • Are there ways that you personally (or with your friends) could help to remove these barriers moving us even closer to the type of community you would like your small group to be.

 

4. Think about your own life – what are some ways that you personally see yourself “becoming” the type of person that contributes positively to the various “communities” you find yourself in during an average week?

  • As you think about the various groups of people you interact with in an average week what is it that you find the most difficult about being the kind of person who is a Healthy, Welcoming, Christlike individual within those groups?
  • What is it that you find the easiest?

 

 

Philippians 2:1-11

“1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”