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:

When it comes to Christmas, there is a lot to look forward to. Candy canes, tinsel, twinkling lights, and—oh, right. The gifts. If you’re like most people, you’ve probably spent some time thinking about the gifts you’re hoping to receive this Christmas. Maybe you’ve even made a list so your friends and family know exactly what to give you. But while it’s fun to unwrap a gift you’ve been waiting and hoping for, have you ever been given a gift that took you entirely by surprise? A gift you didn’t even know you wanted until you opened it? A gift that was completely unexpected? Unexpected gifts have been at the heart of the Christmas story for more than two thousand years, beginning with the very first Christmas. And believe it or not, it was God who began the tradition. For the next few weeks, we’ll talk about three times God surprised the world with a gift that was entirely unexpected. And, as we do, we might just discover how much those gifts continue to matter today.

This Week's Recap:

Week #2 (12.07.2016): By My Side

Bottom Line: In Jesus, we get Someone who gets us.

What we talked about:

Think about your best friend. It’s probably someone you think is pretty awesome, right? They like the same things you like, they really make you laugh, they text you nonstop, and of course, they ‘like’ all of your Instagram pics. You probably feel like they really get you—and that’s a great feeling. When it comes to friendship, we’d all like to be close to someone who knows every part of our story—even the worst parts—and loves us anyway. But if you really think about it, can that kind of friend exist? Nobody is perfect, but what we’re looking for is the perfect friend. And the truth is even the very best friend can’t be a perfect friend. The good news is we do have access to Someone who truly gets us, Someone who has the ability to be the perfect friend to us. Looking back at the Christmas story, we’ll see how God reminded Mary and Joseph of the kind of friend He was to them and the lengths He would go in order to truly be the friend who understands everything about them. And through their story, maybe you’ll begin to see that He feels the same way about you