What's Happenin' @ Forward Mid-Week

Below is a brief summary of what talked about tonight. Most of the time we teach through a series for several weeks at a time that way students that miss can get caught back up quickly, and so we can dissect a topic more fully than just a one night deal. Use the overview and questions for both you and your teen to answer and have a dialog that continues outside the church walls and into your homes. Use this opportunity to see what God is teaching your student and also allow your student to see what God is teaching/taught you.

Current Series:

Have you ever been around an older person who talks about what it was like to be young? They reminisce about the music they listened to, the lack of responsibility they had, the freedom they experienced. They almost always talk about being young as if it’s awesome. And for the most part, they’re right. Being young is awesome. You don’t pay taxes. You don’t have to understand insurance. And someone, someone other than you, buys you snacks. It’s a pretty good set up. But just because being young is awesome doesn’t mean it’s easy. There are some tough parts to being a student. For starters, there’s school. Maybe you’ve heard someone say those are the best years of your life, but it sure doesn’t feel that way when you’re sitting in Geometry class. What’s worse is when people ignore you or treat you like you don’t matter because you’re younger—like somehow the date on your birth certificate disqualifies you from having an opinion. In fact, maybe one of the toughest parts of being young is feeling like you don’t count yet, like you can’t be heard or respected or even helpful until you’re older. And it’s frustrating because, deep down it feels like that shouldn’t be true, like there’s something wrong with that system. If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re in good company. As we take a look at two letters from the New Testament written to a young church leader named Timothy, we find not only why by but how to keep anyone from looking down on us just because we are young.

 

This Week's Recap:

Week #1 (09.07.2016): A Different Story

Bottom Line:Change their View by what you DO

What we talked about:

Being young has its perks for sure, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. There are some really tough parts to being a student. Things like homework and dating and balancing all of your after-school activities. Maybe one of the hardest parts of being young is that you feel like an adult, and yet you aren’t always seen that way. As a student, it can sometimes feel like adults are constantly looking down on you because of your age. Like what you say and what you think doesn’t matter. It’s frustrating to feel like you’re being treated differently just because you’re young. And it’s even more frustrating to feel like there’s nothing you can do about it. But what you may not know is that the Bible tells us there is something we can do about it. In fact, the Apostle Paul gives some really specific advice to the younger generation and one young leader named Timothy. As we look at what he says, we’ll find that we have the power to change the way people see us.

 

This Part is For YOU Parents:

Here’s a simple question to start thinking about, “Who are the other adults in your kids’ lives?” Personally, I think one of the biggest mistakes a parent can make is to try to
parent alone.

You should reject any notion that you are the only adult influence your kids will ever need. Reality suggests that, as your children grow up, they will look for approval and affirmation from someone other than you as a parent. So, the choice is simple. Either you are strategic about who else you will invite into their life, or they will pursue relationships with other adults on their own. But it will happen. It’s normal and natural for kids to desire a degree of attention from other adults or parents.
 

It is also important to realize that most research indicates that kids who have other significant adults investing in their life during their teenage years are better prepared emotionally and spiritually.
 

So, what will you do? You can resist, cooperate or compliment your children’s transition toward adulthood. Think about it, if your goal is to raise an adult who is independent of you, then you should start now. If you don’t like the idea of your children becoming independent from you then you may be parenting with a wrong motive.
 

But if you hope to unleash your kids to discover their potential, then open doors for your kids to connect to other adults. Why don’t you start by making a list of potential adults that could build a short-term or long-term relationship with your children.
 

Parenting with this in mind can make the difference in whether or not you limit the growth of your children, personally, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Here are some categories to help you start thinking.

ADULTS WHO SHARE INTERESTS
Find someone who specializes in something your kids are already interested in doing. (Look for a friend who shares their interest in art, guitar, carpentry, birds, baseball, etc.)
 

Don’t limit their experiences to what you enjoy.
 

ADULTS WITH SPECIFIC SKILLS
Find someone who can help them develop a critical skill for adulthood. Look for a friend who is good at managing money, health and fitness, cooking, etc.
 

Don’t limit their skill to what you are good at doing.
 

ADULTS WHO ARE EDUCATORS
You would be surprised at how many of your friends were teachers or are presently teachers. Who can you invite into your kids’ lives to help them in their education? Look for friends who can inspire and temporarily tutor them in math, science, history, etc.
 

Don’t limit their learning to what you know.
 

ADULTS WHO BUILD FAITH
Find mentors or coaches who can help them grow spiritually. This is where a good church is important. Look for a church that strives to put consistent leaders in the lives of your kids. Attending church consistently allows your children to bond with other adults who will help shape their faith.
 

Don’t limit their faith to what you have discovered about God.

NEXT Week we'll look a few others.....