BAND OF BROTHERS CONNECT SESSION 3 PART 1 PARENT SHEET

Transcription

1 TM P PARENT SHEET SESSION 3 BAND OF BROTHERS PART 1 It is so important for young men to have male role models who are good mentors and examples of what it means to be a man. It is also important to have brothers loyal friends who challenge them to grow in faith and partner with them on the journey toward heaven. The CONNECT section of the parent sheet connects you with the information that was presented to your teen in our small discipleship group. The DISCUSS section contains questions that you can use to start meaningful discussion on the topic covered and how it relates to your teen s life. The COMMIT section explains to you the commitment or challenge that your teen committed to as a way to grow in his/her faith. CONNECT When Jesus sent His Apostles out in their public ministry, he sent them out two by two. The Christian life is not intended to be lived alone. Jesus knows that we need support to follow Him and gives us a faith that is meant to be lived in community we thrive when we have friends who help us strive for virtue. A band of brothers can help support young men in their efforts to conform their lives to Christ and reach the goal of heaven. In this study, teens learned the importance of finding, forming, and journeying with a band of brothers a group of friends who challenge them to be men of faith, joy, and accountability. They also discussed the importance of finding friends who help build them up in the four key attributes of Christian brotherhood: friendship, loyalty, sacrifice, and purpose. Brothers who follow Christ together and who seek to grow and be strengthened in these areas can accomplish things they never thought possible. It is also especially important for young men to have mentors men who they can look up to as examples of what it means to be a man. SESSION 3 PARENT SHEET 1

2 DISCUSS TRUE STRENGTH: BAND OF BROTHERS, PART 1 Christian brotherhood is able to make men better. It pulls a man out of himself and allows him to do things he never thought he could do. There are four key attributes of authentic Christian brotherhood: friendship, loyalty, sacrifice, and purpose. Discussing brotherhood with your teen is a great way to help him find his band of brothers and build friendships that truly embody these attributes. Here are some conversation starters to help you discuss this topic with your teen. And remember to share your perspectives as well.» Describe a time when you were able to do something because someone had your back. How did their encouragement and support get you through it and help you accomplish your goal?» The key attributes of true brotherhood in Christ are friendship, loyalty, sacrifice, and purpose. Is there a person in your life who embodies all of these attributes? What are some examples of living these out?» Who do you consider to be a part of your band of brothers right now? Who are your close friends and your mentors? And he called to him the Twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them. So they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them. Mark 6:7-13 COMMIT This week, teens were challenged to do the one daily discipline that they have struggled with the most, with one important twist: it is now their responsibility to make sure that their accountability partner tries to practice his daily discipline as well. They are going to encourage each other every day throughout the week in the way that works best for them such as texting reminders, checking-in with each other on the phone, or meeting up in person and working on their daily disciplines together. SESSION 3 PARENT SHEET 2

3 TRUE STRENGTH: BAND OF BROTHERS, PART 1 PARENT TIP Scripture is full of wisdom about true, lasting friendship. For more insight and passages on friendship, read: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one Sirach 6:14-17 A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter John 15:12-17 I have called you friends Romans 12:9-21 Love one another with brotherly affection You can also read about some examples of true friendships in Scripture: David and Jonathan (1& 2 Samuel) and Ruth and Naomi (the Book of Ruth) SESSION 3 PARENT SHEET 3

4 TM P PARENT SHEET SESSION 4 BAND OF BROTHERS PART 2 There are multiple examples of true brotherhood that we can look to in Scripture, such as the story of King David and Jonathan. In this second session on brotherhood, the teens learned and discussed how brotherhood can pull them up and allow them to be even better men than they thought they could be. The CONNECT section of the parent sheet connects you with the information that was presented to your teen in our small discipleship group. The DISCUSS section contains questions that you can use to start meaningful discussion on the topic covered and how it relates to your teen s life. The COMMIT section explains to you the commitment or challenge that your teen committed to as a way to grow in his/her faith. CONNECT The friendship of King David and Jonathan illustrated in Scripture is an example of how two guys can be united in a friendship that brings the best out of them. The friendship of David and Nathan is an example of how men can also keep one another accountable and challenge each other to repent and return to God. Friendship not only allows us to be truly free to be ourselves, but it can also help us to become the people who God has created us to be. God can use friendship to help us grow in holiness. SESSION 4 PARENT SHEET 1

5 TRUE STRENGTH: BAND OF BROTHERS, PART This session is a continuation of our discussion on what it means to be a band of brothers. The teens heard these stories from Scripture, and they discussed how their brothers in Christ can help them be accountable to their values and their faith. They also came up with a mission statement for their discipleship group, to serve as a guide for them on their mission to help their brothers in Christ on the road to heaven. DISCUSS While having fun with friends is a good thing, God has so much more in mind for us than that. Friends can be the people who stand up for us, defend us, and help us become the men and women God created us to be. Here are some conversation starters to help you discuss this topic with your teen. And remember to share your perspectives as well.» What kind of impact do you think a love for God can have on a friendship?» Why is it difficult to really change your life for Christ on your own? How can your friends your brothers and sisters help you to be accountable to your values and your faith?» How can you help a brother or sister in Christ who is struggling to live out his/her faith? How can you be an encouraging support, or kindly call him or her to be strong in faith? How can you bring your friends closer to Christ? And when the Philistine [Goliath] looked, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, ruddy and comely in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field. Then David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD s and he will give you into our hand. 1 Samuel 17:42-47 SESSION 4 PARENT SHEET

6 COMMIT TRUE STRENGTH: BAND OF BROTHERS, PART This week, teens were challenged to reflect on the story of David, especially in 1 Samuel 17 (the story of David and Goliath) and 2 Samuel (the story of David, Bathsheba, and Nathan). As they read, they should imagine themselves in the story and reflect on the questions below.» 1 Samuel 17 How does Jonathan help David assume his role as king? What qualities does Jonathan have that make him a good friend? What characteristics of brotherhood do David and Jonathan share? How is God calling you to help your friends in the circumstances and challenges of their lives?» 2 Samuel How does Nathan help David repent of his sin and turn back to God? Have you ever been in a situation where you had to call someone out, or where someone was calling you out and you had to be humble and accountable? What ways does God use your friends to call you to be a better man? SESSION 4 PARENT SHEET 3