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:

“Are you in?” It’s a question we all answer over and over again. When there’s a party, when our coach says it’s time for tryouts, when we’re offered a summer job, when our friends go to the movies, or when someone invites us to church, we all have the chance to decide if we’re “in” or “out” for that particular activity. Sometimes the answer is an easy, “Count me in!” Other times it’s tougher. There are good reasons on both sides. Some of Jesus’ friends were faced with the same decision of whether they were “in” or “out.” They had good reasons to join the Jesus movement, but they also had some pretty compelling reasons to step out—things like doubt, guilt, pride, and the fear of what they might miss. As we get to know these sometimes famous and devoted followers, we’ll talk about the decision they faced, why they could have walked away, and what led them to say, “I’m in.”

This Week's Recap:

Week #2 (01.11.2017):

Bottom Line: Relationship > Rules

What we talked about:

When it comes to rules, most people fall into one of two categories: rule-keepers or rule-breakers. Think about it! There are those who are bound to following even the simplest of rules no matter what, while others are just as bound to breaking them. It seems like the two couldn’t be more different, but, believe it or not, there’s one thing both types of people have in common: they’re always focused on the rules. And sometimes there’s no place we see this more than at church. Whether you’re a rule breaker or a rule keeper, it’s easy to become so concerned with what you’re doing right­—or not doing right—that the rules become the point. But when we make the rules our primary focus in our faith, we tend to lose sight of what’s most important: a relationship. When God invites us to be in with Him, He’s not inviting us to live a rules-focused life, but rather a relationship-focused life with Him. And as we look this week at how that truth impacted someone close to Him, we’ll see that when we shift our focus from rules to relationship we’ll begin to truly step into the life Jesus called us to live.

Just for Parents: