Hi Parents!
​We are not designed to live in a vacuum, struggling to follow Christ on our own.  God created us to live in community, to challenge and to encourage one another, for this is what keeps us strong in our faith.  In the early church, believers depended on one another, living in community and sharing their worldly goods.  Together, they preached the Gospel and grew in faith; and every day their numbers grew.  God calls us to serve one another as we follow Christ, for we fulfill God's purposes when we strengthen one another.  

​The Bible tells us that a friend sticks closer than a sibling (Proverbs 18:24), that two are stronger than one (Ecclesiastes 4:12), that a friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17), and that we are to build up one another (I Thessalonians 5:11).  I have found this and more to be true of my brothers and sisters in Christ, who truly are like family to me.  I know that I can always count on them!

Ask your teen...
A "spiritual ministry family" seeks to know Christ, to study God's word, and to love others.  With whom do you share this kind of friendship?
​How do you challenge one another to pray, to grow in faith, to be the body of Christ?

​Challenge your teen...
​Encourage a friend in faith this week, with a call, text, hug or prayer.

Prayer...
​Dear God, may those who need me find a listening ear.  Give me a calm and patient spirit to hear and to help.  Amen.

Hi Parents,
Every year, over 43.8 million (18.5%) American adults suffer from some type of mental illness, enduring conditions such as anxiety, panic attacks, depression, bi-polar disorder, or schizophrenia. Approximately 1 in 5 youth aged 13–18 (21.4%) experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during their life. For children aged 8–15, the estimate is 13%.  Others suffer from disabilities or conditions they live with day in and day out; chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines and headaches, heart defects, pain, etc.

Living with a chronic condition can cause one to question their trust in God.  Why me Lord?  Why do I have to go through this?  We may have all felt at one time or another that we were being tested.  Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight."  ​Do we trust the Lord with all our heart?  God wants the best life possible for us no matter what challenge or difficulty we encounter.
 
​Life is hard for teens with a chronic illness, desperately seeking a way to handle the pain.  God calls us to be Christ to others through acts of love and service.  Jesus says, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40b NIV)  God wants us not to judge, but to see all people as God sees them, as our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ.

Ask your teen...
​What situation in your life has led you to ask, "Why God?"
​Who or what enabled you to trust that God was with you, even before you could see the bigger picture?

Challenge your teen...
Step up and show the radical love of Christ to the hurting, the sick, the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the immigrant.

​Prayer...
Father, help us to find the joy, peace and hope that comes from trusting you in all circumstances. Amen.

​

Dear Parents,
​Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV) says "There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

One of the most prominent churches in the "church age" was at Ephesus.  It was established in 53AD on Paul's homeward journey to Jerusalem.  The book of Ephesians was written by Paul as a letter of encouragement to the church where he describes the nature and appearance of the church and challenges believers to function as the living body of Christ on earth.  Paul says "There is one body."  So what does that look like?  Churches come in all styles and shapes, along with differing practices and rituals.  Unity does not just happen, we have to work at it.  Differences among denominations, practices and rituals can lead to division, but this should not be true in the church.  Instead of concentrating on what divides us, we should remember what unites us: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God. 

Have you ever visited a church that had different practices or rituals that were unfamiliar to you?  We may have family or friends who belong to different denominations. As we claim our faith we can respectfully disagree with family/friends about certain practices, even as we try to understand the importance of these practices to their faith.  What truly matters when it comes to differing denominations is that we believe that God is at the center.  The ways we practice our faith are less important that each of us choosing to live for God.

Ask your teen...
Write or think about a time you visited a new church.  What rituals or practices were unfamiliar to you?  What did you learn about God and about your own church traditions from this experience?

Challenge your teen...
Choose a scripture verse or prayer to begin each day.  This time with God will help you stay true to your beliefs when temptations or challenges arise.
​
Prayer...
Creator God, guide me in learning about other religions while I am learning about my own.  Give me the words to tell people about my faith and ears to listen to my peers speak about theirs.  Amen.​