In CORNERSTONE recently we have been discussing the "I AM" statements of Jesus.  

This week ask your youth - Why did Jesus say "I am"?

Below are two videos from the John series that cover John 6, 7 and 8 to help give you some background for this discussion.   

Go to minute 49 in this video for the information about I AM statements.  
​This whole video covers John 4-6.

This video finishes up the I AM statements and covers John 7-9.
The youth will study John 9 at the beginning of February. 

​Junior High Youth spent October studying John 3 and 4.  So below is the second video specifically on these passages from the Bethesda Bible Series study on the Gospel of John led by Pastor Seth.  

Watch this video to get a deeper understanding of the stories of Nicodemus and the Woman at the Well and engage in conversation with your youth around these stories (see some conversations starters below).  John, the author, hopes that through these stories you and your youth, "you might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20: 31).  

How to begin: 
1. Think of a time that you naturally gather together as a family:

•      In the Car
•      Bedtime
•      Mealtime
•      On a walk
•      Other

​2. Pick one of these times in the next week or so to read or listen to the audio Bible of John Chapter 1 and 2. Click here for a link to the Bible Gateway Audio Bible that you can use on your smartphone or computer
​  
3. Then pick one, two or more of the following questions/activities below to begin a discussion around these scripture passages. This doesn't need to take a lot of time - it is important that on a regular basis you are opening the scriptures together as a family. ​

• Have your child show you what they have colored/drawn/written during Bible Journaling time on Wednesday night from the book of John.  Have a conversation about why they did what they did. 
• Memorize together John 20:31 (the reason John wrote this gospel).  Practice saying it daily together in the car on the way to school or post it on the mirror in the bathroom.  This verse will continue to be very important in the rest of the study of John. 
• John 3: Nicodemus came to Jesus in the dark and doesn't understand that Jesus is the light of the world.  Look together at all of the references to "light" in John 1-3.  What does it mean to "love the dark instead of the light" in John 3:19?
• John 4: The woman at the well is also "coming to the light" and recognizing Jesus as the Messiah.  What does she do? She leaves her jars and runs to town to tell others about him.  The youth took candy bars with John 3:16 on them to the Care Center this month. Ask them about their experience sharing God's love in Jesus with others.                      Tell a story about a time where you shared about Jesus with someone.  

Come join us Sunday nights through December for additional studies on the book of John.  
We will be posting more videos as the youth study the chapters.  
​In January we will post videos on John 6, 7 and 8.  

Below is the first video of the Bethesda Bible Series study on the Gospel of John led by Pastor Seth.  The video gives us insight in John 1 and 2 and offers key concepts for the remainder of the series.  To help you grow alongside your youth, we encourage you to watch this video and to choose some questions below that you would like to engage as a family.  

Then come join us this Sunday night for the next study on John 3 and 4 beginning with a soup supper at 5:45 and the Biblestudy with childcare at 6:30 pm.  Some of our junior highers on Wednesday night expressed excitement about coming the study on Sunday nights.  One way to grow alongside them is to bring them along and jump into the deep end of Biblical scholarship - it will generate great discussion on what peaked their interest and what questions they have following the study.  

How to begin: 
1. Think of a time that you naturally gather together as a family:

•      In the Car
•      Bedtime
•      Mealtime
•      On a walk
•      Other

​2. Pick one of these times in the next week or so to read or listen to the audio Bible of John Chapter 1 and 2. Click here for a link to the Bible Gateway Audio Bible that you can use on your smartphone or computer
​  
3. Then pick one, two or more of the following questions/activities below to begin a discussion around these scripture passages. This doesn't need to take a lot of time - it is important that on a regular basis you are opening the scriptures together as a family. ​

John 1
1. Seth speaks of John having echos to other parts of the Bible.  What echo to you hear in the first verses of Genesis that connect with the first 5 verse of John? What do you think they say about the story John is going to tell?

2. John's prologue (1:1-18) is often read at Christmas time.  Share with your youth: memories of this being read and/or what ways this scripture has impacted how you view Jesus. 

John 2
1. In your family assign each person a character from John 2:1-12 to pay attention to and do a dramatic reading.  You can assign the roles of narrator, Jesus, Jesus' mother, and a steward.  After the reading what intrigues/puzzles them the most about each character.  

2. Read this story (2:1-12) and then immediately read John 19:16-30.  What similarities do you notice between the story at Cana and the story of the Cross.  These are the only moments in John were we see Mary.  What is Mary's role in both stories?  ​

​

Study the book of John alongside your youth this school year.  

Your youth are diving into the book of John this year each Wednesday night at CORNERSTONE. Here is an opportunity for you to dig deeper into the gospel too!  We are offering Sunday evening studies through the end of the year on the Gospel of John led by Pastor Seth.  Come at 5:45 p.m. for a meal followed by the study and childcare beginning at 6:30 p.m., and wrapping up at 7:30 p.m.  

This blog will be a resource to you as an adult and provide ideas for you to connect with your youth about the Bible.  We will provide:

• Video from the previous Sunday evening's study.
• Activities/discussion questions for you, your youth or your family. 

The blog posts will roll out following the schedule of your youth as they make their way through the book of John between now and May 2019.  Click here for more information about what chapter your child will be studying each week. 

Take this opportunity as parents, grandparents, etc. to model faith growth for your youth.  If you want your youth to have sticky faith the best thing you can do is to have conversations around the Bible!  

Video of the first session (October 14, 2018) and discussion questions coming soon!

Dear Parents:
Life can become a giant question mark as kids get closer to their senior year in high school: To which colleges should they apply?  Should they commute or stay on campus?  How will they score on the ACT test?  What career path should they choose?  Many have no idea what or where they will be going or doing in the future and often dread people's questions about the future and the pressure to have the perfect answers.

As we step out on our own, we all feel pressure to be successful and to achieve the goals we have set.  Yet the world tells us that some goals are worthier to pursue than others.  If our ultimate purpose is to gain financial success or the approval of others, then our path is clear.  But if we want to set more meaningful goals, we cannot be bound by the expectations of others.  
Meaningful success is internal and independent of others' approval.  Yet as we choose our own path, we are wise to seek the advice of trusted friends, counselors, and family members.  We can also dig deeper by asking God to help us discover what is worth pursuing so that we can give to these things our whole heart.
​
Mark 4:39 (NRSV) says [Jesus]... rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!"  Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.  Psalm 46:10 also tells us to "Be still, and know that I am God." Recognizing that God is in control 

Hi Parents!
Proverbs 16:9 (CEV) SAYS "WE MAKE OUR OWN PLANS, BUT THE LORD DECIDES WHERE WE WILL GO."
Imagine you are throwing a birthday party for a friend.  You have planned it down to the last detail.  But when the time comes, your guests are enjoying a lighthearted conversation with your friend and are too engaged to stop for the activity you have planned.  Are you disappointed?  Probably at first - you spent a lot of time planning this gig.  But does it really matter?  The whole point of the game was to bring everyone together in celebration, and that aim was accomplished.  

When you gather with your Bible study or youth group, you aim to bring yourself and others closer to God.  When your ideas are not give the consideration you would like or when things don't turn out exactly the way you have planned, ask yourself: Is what's happening in this group bringing people closer to one another and to God?  If so, find joy in knowing that you are part of that movement and RE-FOCUS your attention.  How you ask?  Try the following...

Rediscover the world around you.  Notice the things that form the backdrop of your days - the rays of morning sun streaming through your bedroom window, the buds on the tree you pass on your way to school, the white clouds against a cerulean sky, the spider web on the drain spout.
Savor your food.  Don't just eat and run; slow down long enough to think about and enjoy your meal.  When was the first time you had that dish?  What foods do you like now that you didn't like as a child?
Learn something.  Children don't have time to get into a rut because they are too busy discovering new things.  Take up a new hobby or activity.  Read a new author.  Travel, if only vicariously with a travelogue.
Reward yourself.  Set a goals for the week, and decide what your reward will be for reaching it.  Anticipation is one of the best incentives and works at any age.
Talk to a child.  If you want a fresh perspective, ask a child about almost anything.  Wit, wisdom, imagination, hope, pathos - they have it all.  Don't be surprised if you are revisited by some of your own childhood thoughts.
Take downtime.  Your world won't come crashing down if you stop doing and accomplishing for a few minutes.  Relax.  Contemplate happy thoughts.  Let your imagination run wild.
Be thankful for small things.  A child can be delighted by an inexpensive gift, a chance to go outdoors, a bit of attention, or an empty swing at the park.  Think of the little things you enjoy, and give thanks.

Ask your child...
How can you re-focus on life's blessings when you're having a horrible day?

Challenge your child...
God wants a relationship with us.  This week, take the time to read your Bible, to pray throughout the day, to surround yourself with uplifting people, or to host a study group with friends.  Make your relationship with God a priority.

Prayer...
I want to focus only on you, God; but the world distracts.  Help me to look beyond the glitter and noise of this world to see what really matters.  Please help me to let go of my plans and allow your surprises to being me joy.

Dear Parents,
What comes to mind when you think of abuse?  Sex trafficking? Bruises, and pain?  Cowering beneath a raised fist?  Abuse comes in many forms and can happen in any sort of relationship.  Wealth, neighborhood, age, gender, education, culture, religion - none of these protect us from abuse.  ​Being able to recognize the signs of abuse - physical, sexual, emotional, and verbal - as well as neglect is important.  We all want to be loved and sometimes our need causes us to stay in an abusive relationship.  Many people would rather be in a broken relationship than to be alone.  Some stay because they believe that loving others means forgiving them, even when they do us harm.  But God doesn't want us to abuse ourselves by welcoming others' abuse.  

How do you know if a relationship has become abusive?  When do you stop trying to fix it and when is it time to walk away?  Teens believe they know everything about the dating scene, but it's important that parents stay involved and notice the warning signs of an abusive relationship.  

It's time to leave when you partner makes you feel unworthy.
It's time to leave when you feel as if you could be replaced at any moment by someone better.
It's time to leave when your self-worth goes down the drain.
It's time to leave when your partner crushes your dreams and your spirit.
It's time to leave when you have been hit, thrown around, punched, etc.
It's time to leave when you have been abused sexually or emotionally.

God created you wonderfully and miraculously!  God sent Christ to die for you and to redeem you.  God chooses you, calls you and nurtures the gifts within you.  In God's eyes you are precious.  You deserve someone who values you, who celebrates your uniqueness, and who is happiest when you shine.  You deserve someone who will grow with you in your relationship with God and with each other.  Ask God for patience as you search for that person.  You will not regret the wait!  Read I Corinthians 13 today.

Ask your child...
Think of people you can trust when you are in trouble.  Make a list of people you could talk to if something bad happened to you.  Do you need to find a few more trustworthy people?  

Prayer...
God, please give us the courage to ask for help and the strength to speak up when we are afraid.  We know we are safe in your love.  Amen.

Happy Monday Parents!
Most athletes have a mental toughness.  When our bodies are pushed beyond their limits, that toughness helps us handle the pressure - by staying calm and making smart decisions.  So how do we develop mental toughness in our faith?  How do we handle the pressure when our spirit is weak, when we feel as if we can't take it anymore, or when doubt tempts us to stop believing?  

Our doubts may be strong: but with God, we are stronger and our spirit is tougher.  Philippians 4:13 (NRSV) says "I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me."  We can push ourselves not to give up, just as we do in sports.  We can exercise our spirit by reading the word of God.  We can strengthen our faith through prayer.  If we ask God to help us overcome our fears, God will help us build confidence and spiritual toughness as we explore our doubts and questions.  Spiritual toughness comes from keeping our focus on God.  When times are hard, when the pressure is on, both our faith and our doubts can lead us to God.

Ask your child...
What turbulence in your life leaves you feeling worried, scared, or overwhelmed?  
Who or what helps you stay anchored to the Rock?
What doubts do you have about yourself? your beliefs?
When has seeking answers or exploring doubts strengthened your faith?

Challenge your child...
What habits or practices might help you develop a sturdier spiritual core, making you more balanced, strong, and flexible? 
Which of these practices come easy?  Which ones feel more strenuous?

Hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our soul.  In fact, hope reaches behind the curtain and into the most holy place.  Jesus has gone there ahead of us.  Hebrews 6:19-20 (CEV)

Hi Parents!
From the time we start to talk, we begin to learn how to fudge, evade, or lie, especially when the truth could get us into trouble.  As we get older, we may learn to lie for personal gain, to put ourselves in a better light, or even to commit fraud.  We are surrounded by lies from Hollywood, the mall, the media, our politicians, and our neighbors.  We hear you are not beautiful enough, smart enough or worthy enough.  Eat this, and you will have the body you desire.  Drink this, and you will be cool. It's someone else's fault.  We hear the lies everywhere we turn and see people living out those lies.  Lies bind us to our insecurities.  They feed off of our fears.  Lies are like monsters under our beds, whispering in our ears as we sleep until we start to believe the lies.   

Even in the Garden of Eden, Adam stretched the truth to shift the blame to Eve.  But God commands us not to lie.  Jesus calls us to speak the truth.  Still, being truthful is not always easy.  How often do we fudge a bit when a friend asks, "How do I look?"  What do we do when a little white lie might seem helpful or even more loving?  On a much larger scale, who can blame those who risked their lives to hide Jews during the Holocaust or to help runaway slaves in America escape to freedom.  Are there times when it is OK not to tell the truth?

Take the example of David and King Saul...
Many people think that for a rumor to be harmful, it must be negative.  But David knew all too well that to be harmful, a rumor simply has to be untrue.  After David killed Goliath, the Israelite soldiers were returning home.  Women from the towns along the way ran out to greet King Saul with dancing and singing: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands" (I Samuel 18:7, NIV)).  David, the hero who had killed the Philistine giant, was only a teenager.  He had not killed thousands in battle, much less tens of thousands.  Yet that rumor spread through the nation of Israel; and years before David go close to the throne, it poisoned Saul's heart against David.

Jesus reminds us that HE is the truth.  The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth.  God shines a light into the darkness of the lies; and as we recognize the lies for what they are, we can be freed from our fears.  Jesus shows us that the truth can free us from fear, hate, and insecurity.  He reminds us that:

1. Our neighbor is someone to love and by whom we can be love.
2. The mall can't turn us into people who are loveable or loving.
3. Justice is the way God works in the world - feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and welcoming the refugee.
4. We are all unique and beautiful people whom God loves.
5. Forgiveness isn't a sign of weakness.  It's a strength, a way of life.
6. Be a truth teller.
   
7. Be someone who questions the lies - commercials, shopping hype, magazine ads, politicians - and who confronts them with truth.
   

Prayer...  Dear God, help me to know the difference between those who speak the truth in love and those who simply want to hurt me.  Give me courage to hear the truth I need to hear and to offer that truth to others.  Amen.

Hi Parents!
With tech at our fingertips 24/7, we can whip out our phones or tablets at the first sign of boredom and be entertained anywhere.  The stream of stuff we pump into our brains seems to have no "off" switch.  I confess, I'm the same way. I struggle with boredom, so I seek more and more stuff to do and often fail to enjoy the moment.  By constantly flitting from one activity to another, from one screen to another, we allow busyness to rule our life.  

So what do you do when you're bored?  Maybe you turn on the TV, reach for that half-empty bag of Cheetos, or scroll through social media.  If you are really desperate, maybe you even talk to someone.  You know, a no-tech, face-to-face conversation.  But do you ever think about doing something else - something more significant?  Instead of vegging out, get out your Bible and talk to God. Or use your technology to search a passage of Scripture, a historical place or event in the Bible.  Dig deeper.  Find out what the culture was like, what the terrain was like, what lives of Christians who have gone before us were like.  Read the stories of people who did great things for God. 

Break out of your rut!  When your routine starts to get boring, change it!  Find a different route to school or work.  Try a new food for lunch.  Talk to a different co-worker or new kids at school.  Remember, God has not called us to a life of boredom.  He wants us to have passion for life remembering the verse from Colossians 3:23 (GNT) "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people."

Ask you child...
What gets you excited?  What skills and talents do you have?  What social injustices rile you up?

Challenge your child...
Get involved in a ministry through your church or community.  Continue to develop your talents.  Pray for courage to see ways you can offer your God-given gifts to the world.

Prayer...
Dear Lord, let us not take for granted the time you have given us.  Help us to use our time to serve you and to get to know you better.  Amen.