Dear parents,

One of the things you probably deal with as the parent of a teenager is obedience. Every household has certain rules and you expect your teen to obey those rules. Your guidelines are based on your experience and what you think is best for your child.

This week our students focused on spiritual obedience in our fifth lesson from the book of John. In John 14, Jesus said that people who love him would obey him and follow his teachings. Here are some questions you can ask your student to help him or her better understand this biblical truth:

• Why do you think it is important to obey the teachings of Jesus? What can happen when we don’t do that?
• How does obedience help us develop a more mature faith and a deeper friendship with Jesus?
• How might the Holy Spirit lead you toward greater obedience throughout the course of a typical day? When would you find it easiest and most difficult to sense the Holy Spirit’s leading?

Have a great week!

For HIS Glory!

Jeff

Weekly Announcements

1. Merge – June 25-29 in Millington, TN – This is our mission camp for Middle School Students.  Cost is $150, with $25 being due today!  If your middle schooler wants to go and you have not paid a deposit, please email Jeff ASAP so he can save them a spot.
2. Super Bowl Sunday Spectacular – Sunday, Feb. 5.  Flag football @ 4pm.  Watching the big game on the big screen in the gym @ 5:30pm.  Guys bring a 2-liter drink.  Girls bring cookies or chips.  The church will take care of the rest.  DADS (& MOMS too!) – Come play some flag football with us!!!

Dear parents,

Welcome back from the holidays!  I hope and pray that Christmas and New Years were great times for you and your family.  I know life was crazy in the James household!  As we enter the New Year, I pray that God continues to work in the hearts and lives of your teenager.

We are now halfway through our Sunday School study of the book of John. Our focus this week was on Jesus’ statement in John 10 that he came to give life and give it abundantly. To help your teenager think through this lesson here are some things you may want to talk about sometime this week:

• A shepherd is responsible for leading and protecting sheep. Why would Jesus use the illustration of a shepherd to describe his relationship with his followers?
• Do you think a rich, satisfying, abundant life includes having all of your needs met? What about having all of your desires met?
• What are some things our family could do together to experience the abundant Christian life?

Have a blessed week!

Jeff

Announcements

1. Calvary Rescue Mission - We’re heading to Calvary Rescue Mission tomorrow night to feed the homeless, and we’d love for your teen to come help us out.  We’ll be leaving the church @ 4:15pm and returning @ 9pm.  Students need to bring money for fast food on the way home.  Email Jeff to get more info.
2. World Changers - A $50 deposit is due TODAY for World Changers (high school mission camp).  For more info, follow this link.
3. Merge - A $25 deposit for Merge (middle school mission camp) is due January 25.  For more info, follow this link.
4. Wednesday Night Youth Group - This week, we’re diving into a 2 week series we’re calling “Labels,” where we will be discussing topics such as racism, prejudice, stereotypes that teens face every single day, focusing on how to see others through the eyes of Jesus.

Want to get into God’s Word on a more regular basis this year?  Then sign up for txt msg devotionals from our Student Ministry by clicking HERE.  You’ll receive a devotional 2-3 times per week.  Each devotional will consist of 3-4 text messages with a passage of Scripture and some type of challenge, question, or prayer request.

Want to help pick out verses for the devotionals?  Msg me and let him know!

Jeff

Dear parents,

Our small groups have finished their six-week study of Genesis. I hope it has been a meaningful study for all of our teenagers, one that will shape their character as they grow in their faith. In the final lesson, we looked at a couple snapshots from the life of Joseph. We learned that Joseph’s attitude was an expression of his faith; his resolve and perseverance in the face of great trials showed how deeply he trusted in God. We challenged our students to show the same attitude in the face of their own struggles, trusting in God to see them through.

You can continue to help your child dwell on this particular topic by finding some opportunities this week to strike up a conversation. Consider using these as a starting point:

• In what ways do our attitudes reflect our faith?
• How do you help lift someone whose attitude is not so great in the midst of a crisis?
• Talk about some negative situations your family has been through. If there were some ways you could have handled it better, use it as a learning experience. If you handled the adversity with great faith, remind your child of why this was possible.

For a modern day example of faith in the midst of adversity, my class (11-12 grade boys) took a look at a video featuring Bethany Hamilton (Soul Surfer).  Check it out here.

As always, let me know if there are specific ways I can pray for your family or for your teenager. Have a blessed week!

For HIS Glory!

Jeff

Announcements for the week

1.  Camp Sign-ups - We have started sign-ups for World Changers and Merge (both in the summer of 2012) and for Touched by an Angel Retreat (February 2012).  Check out these links for more info…

World Changers  –  Merge  –  Touched by an Angel

2.  Youth Choir - In case you don’t already know, Youth Choir has started back and meets on Sunday nights @ 6pm in the Choir Room.  If you’re teen is interested, see Emily Gourley for more info.

3.  December Newsletter - The December newsletter can be downloaded HERE.

4.  Schedule Changes for December -

• Sunday, December 25 – 1 worship service @ 10am; No Sunday School
• Sunday, January 1 – 1 worship service @ 11am; No Sunday School