Like Glue: Love 1 John 4:7-12 (6/23/15)
We’ve probably all heard someone say, “I love him, but I don’t
like him right now.” In that attitude, we treat love as some sort of concept we
are required to embrace—especially with relatives—but there are no concrete,
day-to-day expressions of love. Yet the starting point for any strong relationship
is love—love that is expressed in both attitudes and actions. Jesus modeled
this kind of love for us, and calls us to do the same. Let love overflow into
every relationship. Are you known as a loving person? Why or why not? Who is
someone you can choose to love in a more intentional way this week?
Ways to Engage Your Student:
·
Discuss the following
quote: “Love one another dearly always. There is scarcely anything else in the
world but that: to love one another.” —Victor
Hugo
·
Memorize 1 John 4:7-8
with your student.
·
Help your student by
discussing what you’ve sacrificed because of your great love for him or her.
·
Encourage your student
to love others selflessly and sacrificially.
Like Glue: Encouragement Acts 9:26-28; 11:21-26 (6/30/15)
No soldier
wants to go into battle alone. No one likes to stand up and be the lone voice
in a meeting. We want to know someone has our back or is standing with us. We
carry out our responsibilities better when we encourage one another. We all
need encouragers in our lives. In turn, we can strengthen our relationships
when we offer the same support and encouragement to others. Encouragement
strengthens relationships.Who is the most encouraging person you know? What are some ways
you can encourage others?
Ways to Engage Your Student:
·
Discuss
the following quote: “When you encourage others, you in the process are
encouraged because you are making a commitment and difference in that person’s
life. Encouragement really does make a difference.”—Zig Ziglar
·
Make a calendar together of ways you can encourage others as a
family.
·
Think of ways to encourage your student this week.
·
Join your student in posting messages on social media that inspire
others.
·
Pray for your student to influence peers in a way that honors
Christ.
Like Glue: Service/Humility Galatians 5:13-15; 6:1-5, 10 (7/14/15)
Many people consider themselves “self-made”
people, but the truth is no one gets anywhere without the assistance of others.
Other people know they need the help of others, and they build their
relationships only around what they can get out of the other person. Our
relationships would have more success if, instead of focusing on how the other
person can help us, we focused on how we can help and serve the other person. Take
advantage of the opportunity to serve. Do you enjoy helping others? When was
the last time someone reached out and helped you?
Ways to Engage Your Student:
·
Discuss the following quote: “What does love look like? It has the
hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has
eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of
men. That is what love looks like.” — Augustine
·
Help your student find ideas for ways to serve others by searching
the Internet together.
·
Encourage your student to put the calendar in a place your whole
family will see it.
·
Invite your student to hold you accountable to grow in how often
and how well you help others.
·
Ask your student to pray for you as you serve others this week.
Ways to Engage Your Student:
·
Discuss the following quote: “It’s OK to disagree, but it’s not OK
to be mean.”—Kid President
·
Encourage your student to ask for your input about the different
opinions he or she is surrounded with daily.
·
Pray for your student to have discernment and to always show the
love of Christ.
·
Talk about how to be a peacemaker and love others without compromising
convictions.
·
Remind your student that his or her actions matter.