FOLLOWUP | September 11, Sunday AM

GRADES 9-12 | Jesus' Family Tree

We’re continuing our series focusing on the theme “Friends and Family.” By studying different Scripture passages, students are discovering the eternal value of relationships with God and with one another. In this second lesson, we explored Matthew 12:46-50, where Jesus’ teaching is interrupted by the arrival of his mother and brothers, who want to speak to him. Jesus uses this opportunity to invite the crowd to become part of his heavenly family by saying, “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”

​This week, we hope you’ll consider spending a few minutes talking with your teenager about our lesson. You can build your conversation around one or all of these questions:

• If Jesus had pointed to you in a crowd and called you his family member, what thoughts would have raced through your mind, and why?
• Our relationship with Jesus transcends time and space because it’s eternal. Knowing that Jesus invites you into an eternal relationship, how can your love for him change the way you value your relationships here on earth?
• Jesus invites us to care for and love each other just as he loves us. What does it look like to love someone the way Jesus loves them?

GRADES 6-8 | Where Things Went Wrong

We’re continuing our series on the book of Genesis. Starting at the beginning of the Bible allows us to see how God intended things to be, what went wrong, and how God launched a plan to make things right.

Our second conversation focused on Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve gave in to the temptation to sin. Even though God had perfectly shown his love and protection, Adam and Eve put their trust in the crafty serpent—they chose to believe the lie that God was holding out on them. Adam and Eve both chose to sin and disobey God. And their choice to trust the serpent instead of trusting God resulted in destructive decisions and separation from God.

This week, I encourage you to spend a few minutes talking with your teenager about our lesson. Consider fueling your conversation with these questions:

• How do healthy boundaries help you withstand temptation?
• How can a series of small choices make you too weak to resist temptation?
• How are you trusting Jesus to help you with any temptations you face?

​Please remember that we are praying for you. Let us know if there is a specific way we can serve your family. May God richly bless you this week.