Compassion: Lesson 1

Dear Parents,

We’ve just finished the first week of our three-week study on “COMPASSION”. The lesson was entitled “Full of Compassion” and it focused on helping students understand that God is full of compassion for those in need. We helped students understand that they can trust and depend on Him during times of distress.

We looked at the following Scripture passages: 

• Exodus 34:1-7
• Psalm 86:15
• Psalm 121:1-2
• 2 Samuel 24:14
• Isaiah 49:13

You’ll enjoy reading these passages and seeing God’s mercy and compassion for His people.

Next Steps...

During this week when you talk with your teenager at the dinner table or riding down the road, consider asking the following questions:

• I know in your Sunday Bible study you talked a lot about compassion being a part of God’s nature and character. What does that mean to you? How do you think He demonstrates it to us

• So, God’s compassion for His people will ultimately lead to an eternity with Him where all things are made right. How can we keep this eternal perspective when there’s so much stuff, good and bad, going on in the world and our lives? In other words, how do we reconcile all the “bad” in this world and the fact that “God is Love” (last series)?

• What are some ways you’ve look to the Lord this week? Has that been different than other weeks?

Review...

I’m sure some of our students have probably gotten tired of hearing the phrase “God is Love” the past few weeks in our most recent series. But as we talked in our Sunday night Bible study with our adult leaders, this is one of the foundation pieces to our faith. If we understand that “God is love” and that if we are going to call ourselves his disciples (followers), then we have to love God and others (in the same way he loved us). If we don’t then the Bible says we don’t know God. That’s some heavy stuff! But what would this community (and North Side) look like if we as his followers actually practiced this daily. Watch out world! Something would be happening and lives would be changed. So let’s go love!

Be sure and check out the new e-mail dealing with family issues called “The Parent Point”. It typically will be out on Thursdays. If you don’t get it then please contact Linka in the office and we will get you set up.

Have a great week!
Jim & Eric

God's Love: Lesson 3

Dear Parents,

We’ve just completed our third lesson in our look at God’s Love. It’s been a great time of study and application for us. While it’s sometimes difficult to show love the way Christ did, we talked about how this plays a part in living out the gospel for others.

This week, the lesson was entitled “Loving Outward,” and it focused on helping students understand that God’s love for them sets in motion their love for others, and how this love is practically lived out in their daily lives.

We looked at the following Scripture passages: 

• John 13:34-35
• 1 John 3:16-18

In the previous weeks, we talked about how love is an essential facet of God’s character. We also looked at how God demonstrated this love to us by sending Christ as the payment for our sins. We put those lessons together this week as we talked about how this love becomes part of our own character and we demonstrate the kind of love Christ did – one that’s self-sacrificing.

Next Steps...

During the next week as you have time to talk with your child, consider asking the following questions:

• What do you think sacrificial love looks like in our world? Have you ever seen anyone demonstrate this kind of love?
• Why do you think it may be difficult for us to show this kind of love to others? Is this hard for you?
• How do you think loving like Christ loved us can show the gospel to those who don’t know Christ?

We hope there have been some great opportunities for discussion with you and your student. Our student ministry leaders here at North Side are thankful for the opportunity to partner with you as we seek to make disciples of students! If you have any questions about anything, please don’t hesitate to call us.

Next Series...

Compassion, a new 3-week study that will start on Sunday morning, January 31, will help students understand that God is full of compassion for those in need, that Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God’s compassion, and that a life void of compassion is a life that hasn’t been changed by Jesus.

Jim & Eric

God's Love: Lesson 2

Dear Parents:

Hello again! We’re already on our second week of our three-week study, God’s Love. It’s been great to receive feedback that parents and students alike are using these discipleship tools for personal and family growth.

This week’s lesson was entitled “Love’s Perfect Expression,” and it focused on helping students see that God’s unfailing love is most fully expressed through Christ, and how this perfect expression of love positively impacts their identity.

We looked at the following Scripture passages: 

• Romans 5:6-8
• John 3:16-17
• Romans 8:35-39

Last week we talked about how love is who God is. Love is an essential facet of His character. We used these verses to build upon that this week as we looked at how God demonstrated this love to us by sending Christ as the payment for our sins.


Next Steps . . .

During the next week as you have time to talk with your students, consider asking the following questions:

• What do you think about our Father’s unconditional love for you? Is it hard for you to believe that you don’t have to do anything to earn or keep His love?
• This week you looked at Romans 5 where Paul pointed out that we are powerless and sinful, and yet God still sent Christ. Why is that important? How would things be different if God only loved righteous people?
• Have there ever been times when you felt like God stopped loving you or loved you less, based on experiences? (Parents, this is a great opportunity to share about a difficult time in life when you questioned or doubted God’s love based on your circumstances.) How did you come to realize that God did still love and was working for your good? What was the outcome of this situation?)

“The Parent Point”

If you have any questions about anything, please don’t hesitate to contact Eric, Jim, or one of the interns. If you are not receiving weekly e-mails from Jim and Eric updating student families about what’s going on, then please contact Linka Wallace, youth assistant. (linka@nsbcweatherford.com)

Be on the lookout soon for a weekly e-mail that will deal with specific topics that parents face in raising teenagers. Hopefully it will provide some encouragement, instruction, and challenge to meet family needs. It is called – “THE PARENT POINT”.

Remember, we are here to serve you and your family. We look forward to being a part of God’s continued work here at North Side and in Parker County.

God’s Love: Lesson 1

Dear Parents,

This week begins our series God’s Love. The first lesson was entitled “God is Love.” In this lesson, we focused on helping students understand that God’s unfailing love is an essential aspect of His character, and how this understanding changes how they relate to God.

We looked at the following Scripture passages:

• Psalm 86:5
• 1 John 4:7-8
• Psalm 33:5
• Psalm 143:8

These verses remind us that God is not only loving, He IS love. Love is essential to His nature and our love is based on this.

Next Steps . . .

During the next week as you have time to talk with your child, consider asking the following questions:

·      One of the verses you talked about says that God is love. How do you think that is different from Him being loving?

·      When you think about God’s love being abounding (vast and great) and unfailing, how does that make you feel? Is it hard to trust and believe that this is even possible? (This could be an excellent opportunity for you to share a time you struggled to believe God’s love would either fail or not be enough for that situation. How did you deal with it? How did you see God’s faithfulness in this?)

·      As you’ve thought about God saying we are to love one another, have you thought of any practical ways to do this?

Thank you for all you do. I am thankful for the role you play in your child’s spiritual development. If you have any questions about anything, please don’t hesitate to call me.

New Weekly Devotions & Discussion Guides Especially for Parents

Beginning Monday, January 11 we will begin posting weekly devotional and discussion guide written for parents of teenagers