Dear parents,

This week, our Sunday school classes wrapped up their four-week series on loving God and loving others. In this final lesson, we examined the parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10. It’s a familiar story for teenagers who have been raised in church, and even many non-Christians know the importance of being a “Good Samaritan” to people in need. In fact, we’re so familiar with the teaching that we may fail to realize how radical Jesus’ words were.

The people who heard Jesus’ story would have expected either the priest or the Levite-a temple assistant-to help a person in need. After all, the victim was Jewish. These two religious leaders were Jewish. They would be considered “neighbors,” right? But the person who offers assistance was a “despised” Samaritan. He had compassion on this Jewish man, and he turns his compassion into action by dressing the wounds, transporting the man to an inn, and covering all the costs for this man’s care and accommodation. Jesus confronted stereotypes and prejudices while challenging his audience to turn compassion into action.

I’d encourage you to take a few minutes and talk with your teenager about this week’s lesson. As always, I want to offer some questions that you could use during your conversation:

• When was the last time you were a “Good Samaritan” who “stopped” and helped someone in need? Why did you make that decision? How did it affect you and other people?
• Jesus told this parable 2,000 years ago, so exactly how is it relevant to your life today? Which elements feel familiar, and which elements would you change if telling this story to a current-day audience-especially if you wanted to have the same impact Jesus’ story had on his audience?
• Think ahead to life after high school. How might the idea of “loving your neighbor” change? What new challenges might you face as you put this commandment into practice?

This has been a great study for our small groups, and I pray our discussions and readings in the Bible have had an impact on your teenager. Please let me know how I can continue praying for you and your family!

Also, make sure to download a copy of our October newsletter HERE.  Plenty of info on some great stuff coming up.

For HIS Glory!

Jeff

Hey Parents,

We’re continuing our Sunday School series on the topic of loving God and loving others. Jesus’ response in Matthew 22:34-40 to a religious leader asking about the greatest commandments has served as our foundation for these conversations. In this particular lesson, we examined the second greatest commandment-love your neighbor as yourself, which comes from Leviticus 19:18.

The more we love and worship God, the more we view life the way he does. Our love for God feeds our love for other people. Loving your neighbor as yourself is rooted in an understanding of who we are in Christ. The second greatest commandment actually has two components: Jesus wants us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

When we love God as the creator, to whom everything belongs, we recognize that we’re not an accident and we’ve been redeemed through his Son. How can we not love ourselves? God made us and saved us! We have value in Him. In this, we can look outward and love others as we love ourselves.

I’d encourage you to take time this week to talk about this lesson with your teenager. Feel free to use these questions to fuel your dialogue:

• What does it mean to “love yourself?” How is this expressed in a healthy, Christ-like way?
• Which people in your world are easiest to love, and why? Which people are toughest to love, and why?
• Think of one person in your “world” who is hurting right now. How can you show your love for this person in the coming week?

Thanks for your support and prayers for our ministry. Have an awesome week!

For HIS Glory!

Jeff

This semester, we’re walking through the book of Philippians on Wednesday nights in Youth Group.  Last night, we took a look at Philippians 2:12, which commands us to “work out our salvation,” which led to some good discussion about what it means to exercise our faith.

This coming Wednesday, September 21, I’m planning on walking through on Philippians 2:14-16, which commands us to “Do all things without grumbling or complaining.”  Pretty tough command.  As I started reading through it and jotting down some notes today on those verses, I got to thinking about all the things in life that I’m guilty of complaining and grumbling about.  From unfortunate circumstances, to bills, to arguments with others, to failures in my own life – the list could go on and on.  And what I also realized is that most of the time, my complaining was self-centered: I didn’t get my way or someone didn’t agree with me.

And yet, God’s Word commands me not to complain or grumble about any of it.  My thoughts were, “Seriously?  Any of it?  Why?”  And as I dug a little deeper into the Bible, I was reminded of passages like James 1:2-4, which teaches that those circumstances and struggles produce a stronger faith, and Romans 8:28, which reminds me that God is in control of each and every situation that I find myself in, and that He’s at work through it all.

So why not complain about our situations, our struggles, our circumstances, our disputes, or our bad days?  Because God is working in and through everything you’re experiencing.  And when we find ourselves complaining and grumbling, it leads to gossip, resentment, selfishness, and more anger, instead of godliness, forgiveness, understanding, and compassion.

This week, I want to challenge you to keep track of every time you find yourself grumbling or complaining about ANYTHING life throws at you.  If you’re like me, your list may end up being pretty long.  And in each and every situation, pray to God that He’d give you guidance and understanding to know how to respond as He wants.

For HIS Glory!

Jeff