1.
We’re Teaching This
In any kind of competition or event, the winning is
almost always connected to the amount of preparation. The practice and the
skill building may not seem necessary in the moment, but when it’s Game On,
those skills are what take us all the way. Daniel was a young Jewish boy who
encountered his “Game On” moment over and over. Ultimately it was the
preparation of his faith skills that helped him through the most difficult of
moments.
Session 1 Summary: Captive (10/1)
Maybe when you think about the Bible it seems like
an outdated, black and white history book. Maybe you have opened it, hoping for
a life changing moment, and closed it without anything magical happening. We
can’t forget that what we read isn’t always about what’s happening in our lives
at that moment. It’s about building a foundation, preparing us for game
time. Daniel was a young Jewish boy in a
tough spot. Armed only with his knowledge of scripture, Daniel’s life and faith
flourished because he was prepared when it was Game On.
Session 2 Summary: The New Guy (10/8)
What is prayer? Why do
we pray? What happens if you pray for something and it doesn’t work?
At
some point or another, most of us have employed the ask-thank-ask for more
strategy of praying. At one of the
scariest times in his life, Daniel prays a different way. Daniel chooses to
focus on WHO God is instead of WHAT God can give him. Through prayer, knowing God’s character and
ability made all the difference for Daniel when it was Game On.
Session 3 Summary: Into the Lion’s Den (10/15)
Our faith can be a difficult thing to talk about.
What if you use the wrong words? Or the right words in the wrong way? What if
you don’t’ know all of the answers? It’s a lot of pressure! When Daniel was
called to appear before the king, it was not his words that so distinguished
him. It was the way he behaved even in a tough spot. Through his actions,
Daniel earned the right to be heard. When our walk matches our talk, we gain
influence and both become more powerful.
Session 4 Summary: It’s All in the Approach (10/22)
Sometimes,
as Christians there’s a lot of pressure to always get it right—to live with a
“checklist” of things in mind we should do for God. We think, “If we do this, then God
will be happy with me—this is worship.” Daniel understands that worship isn’t
about accomplishments and chooses to worship God by being honest about both his
successes and his failures.
2.
Think About This
by
Crystal Chiang
Your
student experiences so many influences each day. They receive messages from you—their
parents, teachers, other students, media, ministry leaders, coaches and a
variety of other sources. Do you ever wonder what is getting in? Whose voice do
they hear the loudest and who has the most impact on their actions?
Despite
all of the noise in their lives, studies show that students largely develop
their ideas about God at home. Believe it or not, they are still listening to you, and not just when you’re talking
about spiritual things. They are listening intently when you talk to them AND
when they hear you talk to other adults about money, relationships, faith,
culture, and life choices.
As
a teacher in a public high school, I often engaged students in conversations
that sound like this:
Student: The RIGHT way of doing (money,
politics, marriage, etc.) is _________.
Me: Why?
Student: Because it’s RIGHT.
Me: Why?
And
eventually we would end up at the same place. Because that’s how their parents
do it or say it should be done. Nearly
100% of the time students expressed “their” opinions in what was clearly their
parents’ language.
Students
take their cues on how to live from their parents more often than anywhere
else. This is particularly true when it comes to our faith. The spoken or
unspoken posture that we take toward Scripture, prayer, service, and worship
will ultimately be the model our students use as how things “should be done”.
So
how can you leverage your influence as a parent without resorting to lecturing
or re-preaching each Sunday’s sermon?
- Partner with the student ministry that
your teenager attends. Just because the sign out front says
“students” doesn’t mean that you are unwelcome. In fact, both the church
and the home are more effective when they choose to work on the same thing
at the same time. Connect with your child’s small group leader, be
proactive in determining what they are learning and how you can engage your
student in conversation about that topic at home.
- Be transparent about your own faith. Talking with your teenager about faith doesn’t mean that you have
to have a perfect message prepared at all times. It also doesn’t mean you
need to have all of the answers. It’s okay to be transparent with them
about how and when you pray as well as what happens when you don’t receive
an answer right away. If you spend time reading Scripture, do so in a
place where they might see you or ask him/her what he/she thinks a certain
passage means.
- Ask your teen what he or she is
learning. Silence doesn’t always mean inactivity.
Students process spiritual information in different ways. Just because
your teenage daughter doesn’t volunteer to tell you what she’s learning at
church doesn’t mean she simply goes to see her friends. Often students
simply do not know how to begin the conversation with their parents about
spiritual matters. Simply opening the door can allow you to speak valuable
words into their life. And remember, anytime you frame a question for your
teenager, be willing to answer the question yourself. Your transparency
opens the door to more transparency from them.
3. Try This
Here is an open-ended
conversation starter to encourage dialogue between you and your child about
faith. These can be asked at dinner, in the car, or anywhere that conversation
flows easily. Remember to model the way by answering the question first and then
asking your student.
- Week 1: What do you appreciate about God?
- Week 2: Where have you noticed God’s activity
around you?
- Week 3: How can we make God a bigger priority in
our family? (This is a great time to
make a commitment as a family. You can choose to pray together or at the
same time each day, read scripture, or read a devotional together. )
- Week 4: How can God use our family?