We’re Teaching This:
When you were a little kid,
did you ever try to light something on fire using a magnifying glass? Did you
love sitting around a campfire? Or dream about the day when you’d be old enough
to light the fireworks yourself? It seems there’s something in all of us that
is fascinated by the power of fire. But along with that power comes a lot of
responsibility. Depending on how it is used, fire has the power to make our
lives better or to destroy everything we care about. But flames aren’t the only
things with that kind of power. The Bible teaches that our words, our comments,
and our conversations, can have a lot in common with fire. We’ve all seen how
words used recklessly can quickly get out of control and leave everything a
charred mess. But imagine what would be possible if we began using the power in
our words for something good and beautiful instead? What if instead of using
our words to destroy, we used them to build something amazing?
Session 1 Summary: Out of Control (1/6)
Have you ever seen a fire get out of control? It
can be really scary. One minute you’re enjoying the smell of a candle. The
next, you’re watching flames climb the drapes.
One second you’re lighting a tiny campfire in your backyard. The next,
you’re explaining to your dad why all the grass is gone. While the initial
spark always seems small and weak, a careless mishap can catch fire and spread
faster than we ever imagined. In the New
Testament, James, Jesus’ brother, teaches that our conversations work the same
way. Words that seem minor and insignificant to us can spread like wildfire,
doing more damage than we ever intended and taking our lives in a direction we
never meant to go. But James gives us insight on how to take control of the
words we speak and determine whether we use our speech to cause harm or to do
good.
Session 2 Summary: (1/13)
You can’t beat a good
fireworks show. One little spark, one little match, and the whole sky lights
up. When you look at the tiny boxes fireworks come in, it’s hard to imagine
what they can become and how little a spark it takes to make them explode into
something mind-blowing. Our words work that way too. We can’t always see the
power of a single compliment. And, let’s be honest, sometimes saying nice
things can feel awkward. But as we take a closer look at a Proverb from King Solomon—a
man known for his wisdom— we see that those positive words may be one of the
most powerful tools we have—in the lives of others and in our own lives. Just
as careless words have the power to destroy, words well spoken have the power
to heal.
Session 3 Summary: (1/20)
Many
of us know the power of words all too well. Words someone said (or didn’t say)
to us have left us angry and bitter and our hearts are still a little charred.
Sure, it’s important to be careful with the words you control, but what do you do when you’re the one who has been
hurt? The Apostle Paul knew that part of having relationships with others is
the possibility of getting burned. In his letter to the church as Ephesus, he
reminds us that there is only one way to move past hurt and begin to really
live. It won’t come naturally, but if we’re willing to do the hard work of
forgiving, we just may find that we’re healthier and happier, after the fire, than we ever were
before.
Think About This:
Have
you ever noticed how sometimes one little thing going wrong can ruin your
entire day? Or maybe you’ve noticed the opposite. One small gesture, one kind
word, one solid compliment can turn a rotten day into a good one.
In
their book, How Full Is Your Bucket,
Donald Clifton and Tom Rath talk about how our daily interactions with people
have the power to shape our lives—for better or for worse. They say that we all have a bucket and
everything negative done to us, and everything negative we do to others works
to empty our bucket—poisoning our outlook. At the same time, every positive
interaction that we give or receive fills our buckets and improves the way we
view the world.These two authors believe that the daily effort made to fill our buckets (by choosing positive words and actions) could potentially determine a direction for our lives and the lives of those around us.
Whether
you buy into this idea completely or not, it’s hard to argue with the power of
positivity when you see it in action. And what if they are on to something? What if becoming more intentional about making
optimistic choices does intensely impact the relationships we have with those
closest to us? Or what if it actually does
impact our productivity at work and at home? Would
you be willing to try filling your bucket (and consequently your student’s
bucket) with positive words and actions this week? Make it an experiment.
Maybe, it will impact the quality of your day. Maybe it will improve the emotional
climate of your home.
Try This
For
whatever reason, the people that mean the most to us are often the ones we have
the hardest time encouraging. This week, try working to change that.
This
week, try telling your student just how proud
of them you really are. Choose the time of day: Maybe it’s best to talk to them in the morning. Maybe after school. Maybe in the car. Maybe before bed.
Choose the method: You can send a text, write a note they’ll find in their backpack, or say it to their face.
Whatever you decide to do, simply make the effort this week to fill your student’s bucket—and when you do, you just may be surprised at how full your own gets in return.