Sr High – OUTLOUD Week 3
Wednesday May 18 2011
In Luke 7:36-50, we see 2 characters emerge, and they are extremely different in many ways. We looked at how each of them related to Jesus. The Pharisee was very proud and unexpressive in his relationship with Jesus, while the sinful woman was very expressive. Jesus made a spectacle of one character, and honored the other one. As we looked at each character, we were able to learn some lessons about how to live our relationship with Jesus OUTLOUD. Here are some of the questions that the youth may have discussed in their small groups …
1) Please take a look at this parable and discuss it …
Luke 7:41-43
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
- Do you think that this parable means that different people within Christianity have different levels of sin?
- Does that mean that people who sin more, are able to love more?
- Does that mean that I need to experience more sin?
- If the answer is no, then what is the right explanation?
2) Compare the “Pharisee” and the “Sinful woman” in Luke 7:36-50
- Describe each of their characters
- Which one expressed their love to Jesus more?
- Why do you think that they expressed themselves in such different ways?
- Are there any attitudes in your own life that hold you back from expressing your love to Jesus and living your faith Outloud?
- Are there any lessons that you can learn from each of these characters?
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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.”
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Sr High Parents Update – The Greatest Journey Week 2
Wednesday March 23 2011
Parents,
Here is a glimpse of what we talked about on Wednesday night at youth. There may be an opportunity for you to have some great conversations with your youth in regards to fear.
Jesus desperately wants to have a deep, intimate and trusting relationship with us. So many times we miss out on an opportunity to be close to Him because of the many fears that we have. Peter did not let fear hold him back from being close to Jesus and he got to walk on water – now that is pretty cool. Fear is a very real thing, but God can help us get past our fears as we trust Him and have faith.
Discussion Starters
- Share some funny stories of when you scared someone or someone scared you
- What is one of your biggest fears?
- What if you were Peter in the boat … would you have had the courage to step out?
- Try to come up with a list of about 10 fears that teenagers may have about “stepping out of the boat” and growing close with God
- What are some things that would prevent youth from developing a close relationship with God
- Do you find it difficult or easy to connect with God?
- Would you say that you have a lot of faith, or a little bit of faith?
- In the story, do you see yourself more as the people in the boat who did not step out on the water, or as Peter more?
- Does Peter’s story inspire you to step out in faith and get close to God?
Matthew 14:22-33
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