Dear parents,

In our Year With Jesus, we've launched a new series called “The Controversial Jesus.” During these four lessons, we’ll be looking at some events in Jesus’ life that were surprising, unexpected, and controversial. This week we looked at when Jesus cleared the Temple, based on the passage in Mark 11.

In this lesson we talked about how seriously Jesus takes sin. We saw how sin has consequences and can interfere with our ability to worship God properly.

​As you go throughout the week, help reinforce this teaching in your teenager’s life by asking these kinds of questions as you have the opportunity:

• How can sin interfere with your ability to worship God?
• Why is it so surprising to think of Jesus getting angry?
• How can you maintain your focus on worshipping God and living for God without interference?

Have a great week!

Next Week | The First Shall Be Last (Matthew 20:1-16)

Dear parents,

This week we wrapped up our series on the miracles of Jesus by discussing the time he healed a centurion’s servant, in Matthew 8. This final lesson showed us how the Roman officer recognized the power of Jesus, and he asked for a miracle without hesitation and with great faith. Our teenagers discussed how we can boldly take our requests to Jesus, too.

During the time you spend with your teenager this week, you can continue the conversation about the miracles of Jesus by asking the following questions:

• What do you find intriguing about Jesus’ miracles?
• If we know that God is all-powerful and can do miracles, why are we surprised and amazed when he does them?
• What miracle do you most want to see God do in your life? Why?

​Have an awesome week!

Next Week | The Temple (Mark 11:15-18)

Dear parents,

We are continuing our study on the miracles of Jesus, and this week we looked at the miracle of Jesus healing the blind man in Mark 8. What’s interesting is that Jesus actually spits in the man’s eyes in order to heal him so that made for some interesting discussion. We talked about the importance of obedience in our relationship with God, and how we can have faith in God’s promises.

You can reinforce what our group discussed by asking your teenager these kinds of questions this week:

• As parents, why do you think we make such a big deal about being obedient?
• When do you find it easiest to obey God? When is it most difficult?
• What are some benefits of listening to what God tells us in the Bible and doing what God calls us to do?

Have a blessed week!

NEXT WEEK | Jesus Heals the Centurion’s Servant (Matthew 8:5-13). Read ahead! 

Dear parents,

We’ve launched a new three-lesson study on the miracles of Jesus. These are great demonstrations of God’s power and faithfulness through Jesus.

The first lesson described the first miracle of Jesus found in John 2. This event reminded us that God cares about the little things in life, in addition to the big things.

Throughout the week, as you get the opportunity, ask your teenager the following questions:

• When do you find yourself not praying about certain things because you think they’re too insignificant for Jesus to care?
• What are some crazy things that you have seen God do that you would consider a miracle?
• How has your faith in Jesus been strengthened by reading in the Bible about miracles he performed—or by ways he has done miraculous things in your own life?

​Have a wonderful week!

NEXT WEEK | Jesus Heals a Blind Man (Mark 8:22-26). Read ahead!