Sr High Parent’s Update – May 22nd
Navigate – Week 2
May 22 2013
Leaders,
If you are going to go on a trip, you must choose a destination and figure out how to get there. You must follow a map or a GPS or someone in order to Navigate your way to that destination. Scripture calls us to look to God as that way to navigate through life. Rather that following the crowd we need to follow God and understand that God will lead you places that the crowds won’t. Let’s take a look at what it means to pursue relationship with God and navigate our way through life.
Goals…
- To get to know your group and build relationships
- To understand that we need help to navigate through life
- To remember that God wants to have relationship with us
Conversation Starters…
- High’s and lows
- Would you rather … Always have a runny nose or the hiccups?
Dig a Little Deeper…
- Is there anything that stuck out to you from the message tonight?
- What would your life look like if God was your “GPS” to navigate through life?
- What does it mean that … “God will lead you places that the crowd will not?”
- Talk through the differences of these 2 statements …
“Relationship with God is something you do”
“Relationship with God is a part of who you are”
- What does it mean that your relationship with God goes through stages?
- Have you ever seen your relationship with God go through stages?
- Talk about the different stages that you have gone through in your relationship with God
- What are some practical ways that God helps us to Navigate through life?
- What are some things that you can do to develop your relationship with God?
Personal…
- You could share about a time in your life where God helped you navigate through a situation
- You could share something tough that you have had to navigate through
Applications…
- Pray with your students
- Challenge them to pursue relationship with God
Key Scriptures …
Hebrews 12:2
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Deut 31:8
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Jesus – Luke 6:12
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
Disciples – Mark 8:34
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Moses – Exodus 33:11
“The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”
Israelites – Exodus 13:21
“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.”
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Jr High Parents’ Update – May 21st
Parents,
As we continued on in our series ‘No Perfect People Allowed’ this week, we moved into the New Testament and looked into the lives of the disciples, and specifically at Peter. A lot of times as Christ followers we feel intimated by our faith, and can become doubtful of exactly what it is that we believe. Through the two stories that we looked at today, I think we can be encouraged to know that even through our denials and doubts, we can be used by Christ to accomplish His will. We want our students to know that they can be real in their relationships with God, and that they don’t need to hide their imperfections, but accept and overcome them to become the people that God has called them to be.
Here are the follow-up questions that I had their small groups leaders ask:
Question 1: Have you ever had a friend that denied that you were friends in front of other people? How did that feel? Have you ever done that to one of your own friends?
Question 2: Have you ever denied your relationship with Christ in front of other people? Be honest with your small group.
Question 3: Why do you think God was willing to use Peter after he denied his relationship with Jesus three times? Does that give you any hope in your own relationship with Jesus?
Question 4: Do you think that it’s ok to doubt that God exists? How are we supposed to overcome and accept that? How do you think that God would be able to to use us even after we have our doubts?
Out Key Verse:
60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lordturned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Luke 22:60-62
Here are three things you can be praying for this week:
1. That our students would begin to understand that despite their imperfections, they can be used by God.
2. That as parents, you would learn to accept your own imperfections and overcome them to follow God’s plan.
3. That our students would continue to seek God in everything that they do, and truly begin to live out a life devoted to Christ.
Thank you so much for the example that you set week after week.
Josh
more infoSr High Parent’s Update – May 15th
Navigate – Week 1
May 15 2013
Leaders,
Everyday we are forced to navigate through the challenges and opportunities that life brings our way. As we navigate through this mess, we need to follow Paul’s teaching and “Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (I Corinthians 9:24) We must keep our focus and attention on God in order to Navigate through the mess. There is constant temptation for us to put our focus and attention on the things of this world, but that will get us in a lot of trouble.
Goals…
- To get to know your group and build relationships
- To understand the mess that we need to navigate through
- To remember that God is the only “prize” that we should pursue
Conversation Starters…
- High’s and lows
- Would you rather … live in a world with no problems OR live in a world where you rule?
Dig a Little Deeper…
- Is there anything that stuck out to you from the message tonight?
- What are some of the big things that you need to navigate through?
- Is there anything specific that you are navigating through right now that you want to talk about?
- What does it mean to see God as the “prize?”
- What are some things that we can do to pursue God?
- Why is it good to keep your eye on the goal?
- What are some other things that you are tempted to pursue as the “prize?”
- How could pursuing these things get you in trouble?
- Do you find it easy or difficult to put your hope and faith in God?
- Do you think it is worth it to take that step of faith?
Personal…
- You could share about a time in your life when you put God first
- You could share some of the things that you have to navigate through
Applications…
- Pray with your students
- Challenge them to make put God first
Key Scriptures …
1 Corinthians 9:24
“Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
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Jr High Parents’ Update – May 7th
Parents,
This week we started our second last series before the summer hits! We’re only eight weeks away, and it’s incredibly hard to believe. This spring has flown by, but it’s been incredible. Our new series is titled ‘No Perfect People Allowed’ based on the book by John Burke. If you’ve never heard of it or read it, it’s definitely worth a read. It talks about how churches can truly approach the idea of imperfection. When it comes to our Jr Highs, a lot of times they know that they have imperfections. They know that they might not treat people perfectly all the time, they have not have the greatest devotional life, and they might think that they don’t have the necessary skills to succeed. Over the next four weeks we want to help them understand that despite their imperfections, God wants to use them. This week we talked about Moses and how he learned to overcome his imperfections to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, knowing that God would use him.
Here are the follow-up questions that I had their small groups leaders ask:
Question 1: What are some imperfections that you have in your life that you find tough to deal with?
Question 2: How do you think God could use you despite those imperfections? How has He done it in the past?
Question 3: Have you ever felt like Moses in the way that over and over again he refused to believe that God could use him?
Question 4: Why do you think we decide that God can’t use us, even though we know that God can use anyone?
Out Key Verse:
11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
Exodus 4:11-12
Here are three things you can be praying for this week:
1. That our students would begin to understand that despite their imperfections, they can be used by God.
2. That as parents, you would learn to accept your own imperfections and overcome them to follow God’s plan.
3. That our students would continue to seek God in everything that they do, and truly begin to live out a life devoted to Christ.
Thank you so much for the example that you set week after week.
Josh
more infoSr. High Parent’s Update – May 8th
Static – Week 4
May 8 2013
Leaders,
Life is busy and there are always so many things going on that grab for our attention. There are friends and family who we want to be with. There is school and studying that take up so much time. There are so many fun things going on around us to get involved in. In the midst of all of this, God has called us to filter through the noise and focus on Him and give Him our praise and worship. As we make the choice to focus on God above all things, the greatness of God drowns out the noise going on around us.
Goals…
- To get to know your group and build relationships
- To talk about worship
- To encourage the students to filter through the noise to hear truth
Conversation Starters…
- High’s and lows
- Would you rather … free starbucks for a year or free itunes for life?
Dig a Little Deeper…
- Is there anything that stuck out to you from the worship experience tonight?
- Why do you think some people raise their hands during worship?
- Why do you think that some people close their eyes during worship?
- Why do you think that God wants us to worship Him?
- What do you find difficult about singing and worshipping God?
- What do you love about worshipping God?
- What do you think it means to be genuine in your worship?
- What are other ways that we can worship God?
- Share something with the group that you learned tonight about worship
Personal…
- You could share about a time in your life when worship was helpful for you
- You could share some of the struggles you have faced in worship
Applications…
- Pray with your students
- Challenge them to make the best of the opportunities that they have in the future to worship
Key Scriptures …
Hebrews 13:15
Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
James 5:13
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
Psalm 95:1-2
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
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Sr. High Parent’s Update – April 24th
Static – Week 2
April 24 2013
Leaders,
The reality is that friendships are super important. It is important in scripture and it is important in society today and especially for teenagers; they value friendships a lot. Each of us must recognize that we need to choose our friendships carefully because each friendship has an effect on us either positive or negative. It is important for each of us to choose carefully a few people who are willing to walk close with us and to help us move towards a healthy relationship with God.
Goals…
- To get to know your group and build relationships
- To recognise the impact that friends have on us
- To encourage the students to choose their friends wisely
Conversation Starters…
- High’s and lows
- What station was the most fun for you?
Dig a Little Deeper…
- Is there anything that stuck out to you from the message tonight?
- Can you think of a friend who has a positive influence on your life?
- Can you think of a friend who has a negative influence on your life?
- “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”
- Do you agree with this statement?
- Why do you agree or disagree?
- Thinking of the chair illustration …
- Would you say that you have more people pulling you down?
- Would you say that you have more people pulling you up?
- Are there people in your life that you are walking alongside with?
- Why do you think it is important to be a part of a small group throughout your life?
Personal…
- You could share about a time in your life when friends were there for you
- You could share about a time in your life when friends led you down the wrong path
- You could share some personal experience to explain why choosing the right friends is super important
Applications…
- Pray with your students
- What changes could you make moving forward?
Key Scriptures …
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity
A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.
The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Matt 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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