Sr. High Parents Update – Jan 30th
FAILED ATTEMPT
Jan 30 2013
Leaders,
All of us at various times in our life have attempted to do something for God and failed at it. It could have been a decision to do something or to stop doing something, or to behave in a certain way, or to talk to a certain person, and the list goes on. What is important for us to understand is that this is a normal part of being a follower of Christ. We all need to understand how to go through this process when we do fail at something and to not give up. Also, we all need to be encouraged throughout our journey to keep putting our hope and faith in God. We will be looking into the life of Peter to learn from the multiple failed attempts that he had.
Goals…
- To get to know your group and build relationships
- To understand the life of Peter
- To learn how to deal with failed attempts
Conversation Starters…
- High’s and lows
- Get the students to share something funny that you have tried and failed at
Dig a Little Deeper…
- 1) Know your area of failure/weakness
- God has called us all to do certain things in order to pursue relationship with Him
- See if you can come up with a list of 10 things
- Looking at the list … which of these things would be tough for most teenagers?
- What would be most difficult for you personally?
- 2) Understand repentance, grace, and forgiveness
- God calls us to repent and then to receive God’s grace and forgiveness
- Discuss why you think this would be important
- What damage is done if we neglect this practice?
- Do you find it easy or tough to ask God for forgiveness?
- Do you find it easy to receive God’s grace and forgiveness?
- What is destructive about purposefully sinning and asking for forgiveness over and over with no remorse?
- 3) Don’t give up
- What are some reasons why people get lazy and stop pursuing relationship with God?
- Why do you think that some people decide to give up and not serve God any more?
- What is tempting about “shifting into neutral” in your walk with God?
- Discuss some of the positives of trying, pursuing, pressing in, and running after God
- God calls us to repent and then to receive God’s grace and forgiveness
- God has called us all to do certain things in order to pursue relationship with Him
Personal…
- Share a time in your life where you failed at trying something in your walk with God
- You could talk personally about the benefits of repentance and grace
Applications…
- Pray with your students
- What are some needs that you have?
- Pray that past failure would not hold them back from their future
Key Scriptures …
John 21:15-25
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
more infoSr. High Parents Update – January 23rd
IT’S NOT OVER
Jan 23 2013
Leaders,
Tonight we will be using the stories of Joseph and Peter to illustrate the way we can view failures in our lives. We are going to talk about how God’s grace is poured out on us even when we don’t deserve it. Through some of the failures that we experience in life we quickly see that It Is Not Over and God is not through with us.
Goals…
- To get to know your group and build relationships
- To understand the stories of Peter and Joseph
- To realise that It Is Not Over
Conversation Starters…
- High’s and lows
- How are you feeling about exams
Dig a Little Deeper…
- Look at the story of Joseph below and discuss …
- Did you learn anything new about this story tonight?
- What could you apply from this story to your life today?
- What lessons could you learn from Joseph?
- Look at the story of Peter below and discuss …
- Did you learn anything new about this story tonight?
- What could you apply from this story to your life today?
- What lessons could you learn from Peter?
Personal…
- Share a time in your life where you experienced God’s grace
- You could talk about a time in your life when God used you
Applications…
- Pray with your students
- What are some needs that you have?
- Encourage them that It Is Not Over
Key Scriptures …
Genesis 37:29-36
29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. 30 He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?” 31 Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.32 They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.” 33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days.35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted.“No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.
Matthew 26:69-75
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. 71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” 73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
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Sr. High Parents Update – Jan 16th
FEAR OF FAILURE
Jan 16 2013
Leaders,
Sometimes even the fear of failure can be that thing which holds us back from our destiny. Looking again at the life of Peter, we see that he had the opportunity to walk on water in order to pursue Jesus. In this situation, he had many reasons to stay in the boat such as the water, the storm, fear of drowning, what the other disciples would think, and the list goes on. The bottom line is that Peter did not allow the fear of failure to hold him back from pursuing relationship with Jesus Christ. We need to move beyond our fears, and trust God, and have faith that He will strengthen us and carry us through.
Goals…
- To get to know your group and build relationships
- To understand the life of Peter
- To identify fear as something that will hold us back from our destiny
Conversation Starters…
- High’s and lows
- Share an experience where fear held you back
Dig a Little Deeper…
- Read Matt 14:22-32 and look at these questions
- What are some reasons why Peter would NOT want to get out of the boat?
- What are some things that might hold you back from pursuing relationship with Jesus?
- What are some of the “great things” that God has called you and I to do?
- What would be some fears that you have that would prevent you form pursuing God?
- Looking at the life of Nick Vujicic …
- What impacts you about his story?
- Can you apply anything to your life from his story?
- Does his story inspire you to live differently?
- Do you think that a “fear of what other think of you” holds people back from pursuing relationship with Jesus Christ?
- Do you ever think “God will use someone else?” or “God uses perfect people”
- “The perception that someone else is perfect is dangerous”
- Why do you think that this is dangerous?
- “NOT doing the right thing out of a fear of failure is a FAIL”
- Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Personal…
- Share a time in your life where you needed to look to God for strength in order to do the right thing
- You could talk about a time in your life when fear of failure held you back
Applications…
- Pray with your students
- What are some needs that you have?
- Pray that fear would not hold them back
Key Scriptures …
Matthew 14:22-32
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
more infoSr. High Parents Update – Jan 9th
PETER THE SELL OUT
Jan 9 2013
Parents,
The life of Peter is an incredible story of Amazing success and Epic failure. He walked with Jesus for years and saw first hand the incredible things that He did, and listened to His teachings, and was mentored by the Son of God. Then at a critical moment in after Jesus gets arrested and was about to be crucified, he denies even knowing Christ and he becomes a big sell out. This denial of Christ is and Epic Fail in the life of this biblical hero. There are many things that we can learn from this story and from the life that Peter lived following this moment. What we discover is that God was not done with him yet …
Goals…
- To get to know your group and build relationships
- To understand the life of Peter and the mistakes that he made
- To see how this story has any effect on our lives today
Conversation Starters…
- High’s and lows
- Did anything stick out from the message that you had questions about?
Dig a Little Deeper…
- Read the story and look at these questions
- What is something new that you learned about this story today
- Why do you think Peter was so afraid to admit that he knew Jesus?
- Describe a situation where a teenager could make the mistake of being a sell out like Peter in today’s society
- What does it mean to allow “Your mistakes define you?”
- In what ways could we allow our mistakes to define us
- What are some things that you could do to ensure that your mistakes do not define you
- What makes it hard to do the right thing when you are with your friends?
- Why do you think that it is so damaging to gossip about other people?
- Why do you think we like to do it?
- Why do you think we should not?
- Do you find it EASY or DIFFICULT to believe that God has a big plan for your life and that He is not “done” with you yet?
Personal…
- Share a time in your life where you failed in a situation like Peter’s and what you learned from that
- You could talk about a time in your life when God forgave you of something
Applications…
- Pray with your students
- What are some needs that you have?
- Pray for strength to do the right thing
Key Scriptures …
Mark 14:66-72
66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Sr. High Parents Update – Dec 5
Christmas Reverses Everything
December 5 2012
We are approaching the holiday season. The stores are packed with Christmas decorations and we see signs all over that say “happy holidays” and “seasons greetings.” The focus is on Santa Claus and Elves and yummy Christmas treats. We the church celebrate the birth of Christ in this season, but what is the big deal? How does the birth of Christ over 2000 years ago have a bearing on our lives today? Let’s take a look at the deep meaning and significance of the birth of Christ and how Christmas Reverses Everything.
Goals…
- To build relationship and trust with your group
- To gain a better understanding of the story of Christ’s birth
- To challenge the youth to look at Christmas through a different lens than just gifts and holidays
Conversation Starters…
- High’s and lows
- What are you hoping for this Christmas?
- Did anything stick out from the message that you had questions about?
Dig a Little Deeper…
- Jeff made the point that “Christmas reverses everything”
- What is something new that you learned about this today?
- What are some of the things that were reversed?
- How should this concept affect the way you live your life?
- What kind of impact would this story have on someone who does not have a relationship with Christ if they really took the time to understand it and believe it?
- What is the significance of the shepherds finding out first?
- Any thoughts on how this affects your life today?
- Were the thoughts on John the Baptist’s birth new to you?
- What are some of the similarities with John the Baptist’s birth and Jesus birth?
- What is the significance of John the Baptist’s birth?
- Does this have any significance to your life today?
- Would it have been different if Christ came to earth as a 30 year old man as opposed to a baby?
- Share some of your thoughts on that …
Personal…
- You could share your thoughts on Consumerism and Christmas
- You could share about your perspective on Christmas and how you focus on Christ
Applications…
- Pray with your students
- Talk about things that we could do to focus on Christ this Christmas
Key Scriptures …
Luke
more infoSr. High Parents Update – November 28
Baggage – Week 4
Nov 28th 2012
In our final week of the Baggage series, I would like to focus on the thing that usually can be associated with baggage and that is Words. Possibly there have been words spoken over you that have been like bricks in your backpack that are weighing you down. Perhaps you have spoken hurtful words to someone else and you have been a part of someone else’s baggage. The bible talks about the fact that there is the power of life and death in the tongue. The bible also mentions that the tongue is like the rudder of the ship. It also talks about how it is difficult to control the tongue. Your words and my words are powerful and God has called us to use our words to build up rather than to tear down.
Goals…
- To build relationship and trust with your group
- To gain a better understanding of how powerful our words are
- To challenge the students to use their words to build others up rather than tear others down
Conversation Starters…
- High’s and lows
- What is your favourite flavour of gum?
- Did anything stick out from the message that you had questions about?
Dig a Little Deeper…
- Can you remember any random things that were spoken over you as a child?
- Do you think that words spoken to you have the power to define you in any way?
- What would be reasons or motives why people would speak destructive words to someone else?
- Do you agree with scripture when it says that the tongue has the power of life and death? (Proverbs 18:21)
- Why do you think that scripture compares the tongue to the rudder of a ship? (James 3:4)
- How would you compare gossip and slander spoken to someone to putting bricks in someone’s back pack?
- How can forgiveness lighten the load that someone is carrying?
- Can you think of someone in your life that you need to forgive?
- Can you think of someone in your life that you need to ask for forgiveness?
- Have you ever been hurt by people within the church?
- Have you ever been hurt by family?
- Have you ever been hurt by friends?
- What do you think that the best thing is to do with those bricks in your backpack … carry them around or give them to God?
Personal…
- You could share a time in your life when you were hurt by someone’s words and how you dealt with that
- You could share about a time when you said hurtful words to someone else and had to make things right
Applications…
- Pray with your students
- Encourage them to use their words for good
Key Scriptures …
Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
James 3:4
“Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.”
James 3:8
“but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
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