Good Afternoon Parents! I apologize for the delay on this weeks lesson but hopefully you've been able to connect with your teens in other ways. Although there was no Youth Group this week I pray you have been able to lead and disciple your teen(s) in ways that will set them up for success in the future.
We are continuing with the theme of "Mine! Making Faith Your Own" and I cannot stress enough how important this is with youth today! If we as parents and mentors simply tell teens what to do all of the time they will never understand how to make decisions on their own. If we allow that pattern to continue than friends or peers might push them to do things they know are wrong, yet they will do them because they have not been taught how to make their own decisions.
Faith is vital to continuing in a christian walk which glorifies Christ. My hope is that through this series the teens might understand that this is not something you as parents are forcing them to do or is simply a get out of hell free card. Rather I pray that the teens take faith and make it personal and find how they can best serve and honor our Father with what they have been gifted.
That being said, I hope that this week helps your family to connect in a way that causes growth in all of you.
Thursday/Friday: (combining 2 days because of the delay)
Sit down and watch part 2 of the "Mine!" series. You can find the video here or by going to YouTube and searching for the channel "Smyrna Samurai".
Start this week by discussing the idea of "The Apple not falling far from the tree". What are things that you and your teen(s) are both good at or do similarly? (ie My Father had an amazing mustache and I have been blessed with wonderful facial hair) What are things that you do differently or one of you are good at and the other is not. (ie My father was good at bowling, I am lousy at it) How do these things help you work together as a family or individually?
Prayer Guide: Talk to your kids about their plans for the weekend. Ask how they are actively making their faith their own and how they are going to do that throughout the weekend. Pray together for guidance in decision making this weekend.
Saturday:
Its Saturday, go do something fun together! Weekends are great for spending time together. Whenever you decide to get together tonight open to 1 Samuel 1 and take turns reading the chapter. Ask your kids what they did today and if there was any opportunity to make a decision for faith on their own. If there was, talk about it and why they made the decision they did. If not, then create an easy hypothetical situation and ask what they might do.
Prayer Guide: Pray together for strength for one another and that if there is a tough situation, that each one of you would make the wises decision.
Sunday:
Take a break from 1 Samuel and discuss Robert's sermon today. Try and discuss how specifically it might apply to your teen(s) and how they can use it in their life this week.
Prayer Guide: Making faith ones own is not something that happens over night. Pray for you kids that they will walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel and be given chances to test their faith.
Monday:
Open up to 1 Samuel 2 and read the chapter together. Talk about how Eli's sons misused their faith for their own selfish gains. Discuss why you go to Church as a family and in what ways you each are growing from it. I hope that there is evident fruit in both your life and the lives of your children and if not then perhaps its time to examine if you are simply going through the motions or perhaps are ignoring the Holy Spirit's call on your life. In that case what can you do to make your a worldview instead of just an activity?
Prayer Guide: Pray that as a family you would be active in your faith and make it more than simply something to do on Sunday and Wednesday night.
Tuesday:
Read 1 Samuel 3 as the last day for this week. Look specifically at how Samuel obeys the Lord and takes faith as his own personal relationship with the Lord, even though he is just a child. Ask your teen(s) if they had to find their own way to church, would they still go? Is their faith something they want to actively grow in and build upon? Tell your kids how you are making your faith personal and making it your own.
Parents remember it is YOUR job as Fathers and Mothers to lead your children by example! What kind of example are you setting for them? Are you actively and willingly pursuing opportunities to grow in your faith, to build on your faith, to understand more what faith in Christ means? I encourage you that if you are not involved with a church ministry, to find one and become an active participant. However please DO NOT do this if it is simply just for the sake of being seen by others. Real faith does not seek glory or recognition.
Prayer Guide: Start by praying separately for a minute or two and ask God how you might best serve Him this week. After a minute or so has passed come together with your kids and pray as a family that you might be able to exemplify Christ to one another in the weeks to come. Pray also for your teens to grow and to own their faith.
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