Happy Thursday parents! I hope that this message finds you discipling your children every day. Last week I did not upload a lesson update, because next week I'll be on vacation. So this week, I'm uploading two weeks worth of content, so that next wednesday you there will still be content to work from! (So in case you haven't figured out, there will be no youth group on Sunday or Wednesday of next week. But not to worry. There will still be content for you and your kids to follow this week and next week.
Below you'll find the lesson update for the latest series I'm' teaching, "Mine! Taking faith and making it your own."
According to one study, 65% of Americans age 65 or older claim to be Christians. But only 35% of Americans age 46-64 claim to be Christians. Even worse, only 16% of Americans age 33-45 claim to be Christians. And worst of all, only 4% of Americans age 32 or younger claim to know the Lord. Obviously, faith is not being passed down from one generation to the next. There is clearly a disconnect somewhere. I believe that part of that disconnect that is each generation is making their parents faith less and less their own. The average student attending church with their family is only living out their parents faith, never owning it for themselves. And as soon as obstacles to that faith arises, they leave it in their past. It's easy, because it was never theirs to begin with.
So how does a person take their parents faith and make it their own? How can parents help their kids own their faith? That's what this series is all about.
Thursday:
Sit down together with your kids and watch the first video of this series. You can find a copy of the video on YouTube by clicking here. Unfortunately, the video got cut short somehow at the end of the lesson, but you can find the rest of the main points by looking at my powerpoint presentation found here.
Discuss with your kids the statistics listed at the beginning of the lesson. Does this reflect what you see in your friends? Throughout the week, you'll discuss the rest of the lesson.
Prayer guide: Ask your kids what they'll be doing in school tomorrow to finish the week. Share with them what you'll be doing at work to finish out the week. Pray together about your Friday. Pray that God will help them to make their faith their own.
Friday:
Discuss the idea of Parallel play. Watch this section of the video again if needed. Ask your kids to honestly evaluate whether they feel that you as a parent are interacting with and leading them spiritually, or if they feel like you're just playing church next to each other. Some sample questions to ask include the following:
Do you feel like we're serving Jesus as a family, or are we just participating in church activities as individuals?
Do you feel like I'm actively leading you by not only showing you a godly example to follow, but also taking an active role in teaching you how to follow Jesus?
What would make you feel like we're doing this together?
Now spend some time strategizing. Figure out together how to make faith a shared experience. Be honest about where you are. If your kids feel like you're not setting the example, don't be offended. Take the evaluation with humility, and determine to do better. Tell your kids that you want to commit to doing all you can to lead them spiritually.
Prayer guide: Ask your kids to pray for you out loud, that you'll be the best spiritual leader you can be. Pray for your kids out loud, and pray for yourself, not only that you'll be the best spiritual leader that you can be, but also that they will follow Jesus with all their hearts.
Saturday:
I suggest this almost every week, but if you're able, do something fun together! When you sit down to discuss this week's lesson, first sit down to read 2 Timothy 1 together. Take turns reading about 4-5 verses each until you get through the chapter.
Yesterday you discussed your responsibility as a parent to lead. Today the onus is on them. Ask your kids what they are doing personally to "fan into flame the gift of god." Ask them if they are doing all that they can possibly to do own their faith, and follow Jesus. If not, discuss how they can.
Prayer guide: Like yesterday, pray out loud for your kids that they would be followers of Jesus, and would seek with all their hearts to obey him.
Sunday:
As always, take some time to discuss Robert's sermon together. Hopefully by now you're in the habit of taking good notes, or remembering main points to discuss. Ask your kids what part of the sermon was most impactful, and share with them what was most impactful to you.
Prayer guide: Today, spend some time praying for people in church who, for whatever reason, can't be there on sunday morning. Whether it's because of sickness, scheduling conflict, or just the decision to not attend, pray together that the Lord would minister to them where they are.
Monday:
Part of "fanning into flame the gift of God" is taking the time to examine your faith. To make it your own, you have to be comfortable enough with it to grab hold of it. If you have nagging doubts, or lingering questions, it will be difficult to do that. Tell your kids that they have the freedom to express their doubts to you without judgment. AND THEN BACK THAT UP. If your child opens up to you and says that they are doubting their faith, or even that they don't believe at all, don't jump down their throats. The fact that they were honest enough to tell you that was a step of courage, and one that you should honor. Thank them for their honesty, and tell them that you love them no matter what, and that you want to help them examine their doubts and questions.
Together, make a list of the things the questions and doubts they may have. Once you have that on paper, you can work together to find answers to the hard questions! I'll do whatever I can to answer those questions with you. Be open and honest enough with them to put your own doubts or questions on paper as well. I posted this link last week, but here's a really good resource to discuss those questions: "65 Apologetics Questions Every Christian Parent Needs to Learn to Answer."
Prayer guide: Pray together that God would help each of you as individuals and together as a family to examine all the doubts and questions you all have. Pray for clear wisdom. Pray for strong faith that will come from examining.
Tuesday:
Talk to your kids today about sharing their faith. Talk together about whether or not any of you are actively sharing your faith with anyone at work, school, home, in your circles of friends, or the people that you're around in various situations. A vital part of owning your faith is sharing your faith. Ask the following questions, both of yourself and of them:
Are you praying every day for opportunities to share your faith?
Are you afraid to share your faith? Why?
When was the last time you shared your faith with someone? When was the last time For the salvation of someone who is lost?
How can you share the love of God with someone without things being awkward?
Can you think of someone that you know who is not saved? Who are they? How might you share your faith with them in the future?
Prayer guide: Hopefully there are some people that you can pray for right now. Pray together for the lost people that you just discussed. Pray that God would save them. Pray that God would show you how to best influence them toward Jesus. Pray together that God would give you opportunities to lovingly share truth with them.
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