Grades 9-12 | Who do YOU say Jesus is? 
Dear parents,
     While your teenager undoubtedly hears some negative or critical opinions about Jesus from the secular culture, they likely also hear opinions like this: “Jesus was a kind man who worked for peace” or “Jesus was a wise and good teacher.” These generally positive ideas about Jesus cloak a dangerous idea: Jesus was tame and innocuous.
     This type of stance toward Jesus fails to deal with the historical, biblical accounts detailing Jesus’ own claims about himself—and they were anything but tame! This week, as we continued exploring Jesus’ question “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15), our teenagers looked at the confrontational nature of Jesus’ identity claims and the response they demand from each of us. We must either accept Jesus at his word or reject him. There is no safe, tame, nice-guy option.
     Ask your teenager about our study, using questions like:

• What stands out to you as Jesus’ more radical claims?
• How would you describe the options for how people could respond to Jesus during his time and culture? How about today?
• What’s been most challenging or inspiring to you about this series so far? Why?

Thanks for all you do, and have a great week!

Grades 6-8 | Everybody's Good at Something 
Dear parents,
     We’ve launched a new series for our group that helps teenagers explore their spiritual gifts—what they are, why God gives them, and how kids can discover and use their gifts.
     Every child is special—a truth that you already know. Our first lesson focused on Romans 12:3-8—we experienced the way God has gifted every follower of Jesus with unique spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift is something God gives us when we become followers of Jesus. Everyone has talents—skills we develop, or abilities that seem natural to us. We can call them “God-given talents” because God created us, and we can use those talents for both “spiritual” and “non-spiritual” things. But only Christ-followers have spiritual gifts, which are designed to help others and to bring glory to God.
     I encourage you to continue the conversation at home with your child this week. Here are some questions that can fuel your dialogue:

• Why do you think God decided to give us unique spiritual gifts and not just give us all the same gift or gifts?
• If you think you know what spiritual gifts God has given you, how have you learned to develop them?
• If you have no idea what spiritual gifts God has given you, what can you do to discover them?
• How can I better help you discover and develop your spiritual gifts?

God bless you, and thank you for allowing us to minister to your child!

GRADES 6-12 | Who is Jesus? 
This past Sunday we had a combined class and expanded on the previous week's High School lesson. Below is the follow from it. Please use it again this week to continue the discussion at home: 

We’ve launched a new series focusing on the critical question Jesus asked his disciples: “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15). It’s a question we each must personally consider in our own interaction with Jesus. What do we really believe about him, about his purpose, and about his role in our lives?

This week we focused on the key theological ideas in Peter’s answer, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Teenagers dug deeper into the Old Testament idea of the justice, mercy, and hope the Messiah would bring. We also explored more deeply Jesus’ claim to be not only God’s Son, but to be onewith the Father (John 10:30).

​Teenagers are in a critical place in their spiritual development as they develop and deepen their own sense of conviction about Jesus’ true identity. This week, I encourage you to spend a few minutes talking with your teenager about our lesson. Consider building your conversation around these questions:

• What kinds of opinions about Jesus do you hear from your friends or at school? How do you normally react?
• What did it mean to Peter to say Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God? Why?
• What do these ideas—Messiah and Son of God—mean to you personally?

GRADES 9-12 | Who is Jesus? 
We’ve launched a new series focusing on the critical question Jesus asked his disciples: “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15). It’s a question we each must personally consider in our own interaction with Jesus. What do we really believe about him, about his purpose, and about his role in our lives?

This week we focused on the key theological ideas in Peter’s answer, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Teenagers dug deeper into the Old Testament idea of the justice, mercy, and hope the Messiah would bring. We also explored more deeply Jesus’ claim to be not only God’s Son, but to be onewith the Father (John 10:30).

​Teenagers are in a critical place in their spiritual development as they develop and deepen their own sense of conviction about Jesus’ true identity. This week, I encourage you to spend a few minutes talking with your teenager about our lesson. Consider building your conversation around these questions:

• What kinds of opinions about Jesus do you hear from your friends or at school? How do you normally react?
• What did it mean to Peter to say Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God? Why?
• What do these ideas—Messiah and Son of God—mean to you personally?

GRADES 6-8 | Who is Jesus? 
We’ve finished the second conversation in a three-lesson series about all the changes young teenagers experience. In our first conversation, we set the topic up, introducing the idea that these changes are part of God’s great love for each student. This week and next we’re briefly covering five specific areas of change: physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual. We covered the first two in this session, and we’ll discuss the remaining three in the next session.

While some kids are excited about the changes they’re experiencing in their bodies, the majority of them experience a sense of fear, and they wonder if something’s wrong. Most young teenagers, at some point in their journey of change, assume that they’re not developing normally. As a parent, you can have a profound impact on your child by encouraging them to see the changes they’re going through as normal and good, and that they’re going to turn out just fine.

The emotional changes they’re experiencing (which are directly tied to their developing brains, and their new ability to think abstractly) are usually more confusing than concerning. Kids might seem emotionally volatile or moody to you; that’s because they’re feeling things they’ve never felt before and don’t understand those feelings. Have patience!
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This week, I encourage you to spend a few minutes talking with your teenager about our lesson. Consider building your conversation around these questions:

• What’s the biggest question or concern you have about how your body is changing? [Parents: Your child might be uncomfortable with this question, so try to make it safe for them to answer. It’s amazing how much misinformation kids have about their bodies!]
• What emotions are you feeling strongly these days that you haven’t felt as strongly in the past? Do those emotions ever feel like they sneak up on you? Can you talk about that?
• If our emotions are a gift from God that will help us experience life the way God designed it, why do you think they sometimes feel so weird or strong?

​Thanks for all your prayers for our students and our ministry. Have an amazing week!

Grades 9-12 | Jesus' Return
We’ve wrapped up our series about “Jesus at the End of Time.” In the final lesson, we discussed Revelation 22:8-21, where Jesus says he’s coming back soon. After he died on the cross and rose again, Jesus went up to heaven. But he promised to return for us, to take us to our heavenly reward if we believe in him.

Jesus’ return is joyous for Christians. He advises us to be ready for his return, living lives that honor him and sharing his good news with other people.

Talk with your teenager this week about the lesson, and please continue exploring Jesus’ truths together. Feel free to start with these discussion questions:

• Why do you think people create bucket lists? What’s one thing you would include on this kind of list?
• If you could, would you want to know the exact day that Jesus is returning? Why or why not?
• To get ready for Jesus’ return, what do you need—or want—to do? Explain.
• Who do you know who’s anxious about Jesus’ return? How can you help that person get to know Jesus and prepare for his return?\

Grades 6-8 | You Can Reflect Jesus’ Awesomeness
We’re continuing our series titled “Created in God’s Image.” Each week, we’re exploring specific Scriptures that reveal the truth about who Jesus is and who we are. These lessons are designed to help teenagers find their identity and purpose through Jesus’ love.

In this second lesson, we explored 2 Corinthians 3:13-18, where Paul encourages the Christ-followers in Corinth to continue pursuing a Jesus-centered life. When we reflect God’s glory, people will recognize him—they will realize that we spend time with Jesus. This is an awesome thing. It means that people might come to know Jesus and experience his love because they know us.

This week, I encourage you to keep the conversation going with your teenager. Here are a few questions that might help:

• What’s the one “character quality” about God that you’re most grateful for?
• We don’t always realize it, but we’re surrounded by glimpses of God’s glory—what some people call “God Sightings.” Talk about a recent God Sighting, a moment when you saw God do something in your life or in another person’s life.
• To reflect Jesus’ awesomeness, it’s important to know how awesome he is. How have you come to know Jesus more closely in your life?

​Thanks for being a parent who talks about Jesus with your child. We’re praying for you because you are awesome and we love you. Have a great week!