FAMILY PLUS High School - April 14

Last night we began the final week of our study in Mark's gospel called "The Beautiful Trade." As you know by now the core of this study is the life that Jesus has asked us to trade in....our old lives for an abundant life with him. The past few weeks have shown us that letting go of our treasures can prove difficult - even for the sake of gaining His treasure.

We reinforced that point last night by talking about things that seem more tangible than the Christ. For example - most students wouldn't mind hanging on to $20 for a week, a month, or even a year if they knew they could utlimately trade the $20 for $200. They could probably even hold on to $200 for the same amount of time if they knew that a trade-up to $2,000 would be the payoff. But trading what we value in this life for the life that Jesus has for us is sometimes more difficult to see.

I did my best to draw a clear line about being a disciple of "action" and not just a disciple of "belief" without sounding too legalistic. I think the message was clear and Christ-focused. We will reinforce that teaching time this week in our small group meeting on Sunday morning. For your reference, the text is: Mark 8:27-29.

Some of the questions we'll use this week include:

1 - We often hear that Jesus was just a prophet or a good man. What do you think sets Jesus apart form other religious prophets or other good men or women who have been seen as important religious figures?

2 - Are there any traditions that you or your family have that Jesus might disrupt? How about traditions in your church? Where are the places where Jesus might upset the order in your life?

3 - If what you do is a reflection of who you say Jesus is, then what needs to change in your life to have your actions match your beliefs?


This series has provided several opportunities for you to be transparent with your teenager. I would recommend using these questions when you sense the opportunity is right to allow your student to hear the areas you're prone to struggle with regarding what you have been willing or unwilling to trade for God's Kingdom.

As always, please let me know if there is something I can pray about for your family.

FAMILY PLUS High School - April 7

Hey HS Parents!

Last night we continued our three week study called "The Beautiful Trade." In our teaching time we discussed how we all make judgments about people and how those judgments influence and drive our actions. In other words, our choice to interact with or associate with certain people is based largely on our judgment of people in general.

We transitioned our teaching to the environment in which Jesus began his ministry...a very closed environment where the rich, popular and healthy were the RELIGIOUS elite and the poor, outcast and sick were forced outside of the religious clique. Jesus spent His ministry teaching that His Father's kingdom was reserved for these unacceptable and unlovable people. He had SUCH a passion for them!

By now, you have no doubt seen the implication of Jesus' view on outsiders and the correlation of it to high school culture. I would suggest to you, however, that social and economic cliques are not reserved for the teenagers in your life. In fact, a self assessment might just reveal your own judgments, prejudices and reservations about certain people groups.

My challenge for you this week would be to allow yourself to be transparent with your teenager regarding these issues. I assure you that your judgment of other people is not masked from your children - they are WELL aware of it! But your conviction to have a more Christlike attitude about it and to trust your child enough to be vocal about it with them might tear down a significant barrier in your communication. It might be just the thing to spark your child toward a less apathetic view of those he/she considers unlovable. (just sayin').

We will continue this discussion in our small groups this coming Sunday. Our text will be Mark 5:22-27, 36, 41-42. Here are some of our questions:

1 - Do you ever feel kept out of something by other people? Are there certain people you try to keep out?

2 - Have you ever made some characteristics or some traits matter more than they should?

3 - Many times we decide who is in and who is out because we have been hurt. Can you think of someone who may have hurt you, which then led you to judge them and judge other people you thought were like them?

As always, please let me know if there is anything I can pray about for your family.

FAMILY PLUS Update - March 31

Hello HS Parents!

Last night we got back to our regular schedule and it was SO refreshing to me!  We began a new three week series that will lead us up to Easter.  The series is called "The Beautiful Trade" and focuses on trading our old life in for the new life Christ has for us - a life in His kingdom.

Our main point last night is that Jesus does not want to be a "bonus" or an addition to your already full life.  Rather - Jesus wants to BE your life!  We discussed our hesitancy to walk toward God and the fact that our hesitation is driven by our desire to hang on tightly to the things He is calling us away from.

We'll reinforce that message this week in our Sunday morning groups.  I think this study provides an excellent chance for you to be transparent with your teenager.  You can share with them the things that are difficult for you to release for the sake of focusing on God's kingdom.  Seeing your authenticity and y our struggle could go a long way toward your student feeling like you are in this together!

Please let me know if there is something I can pray about for you or your family.

Michael

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FAMILY PLUS Update - March 31

Last night we got back to our regular schedule and it was SO refreshing to me! We began a new three week series that will lead us up to Easter. The series is called "The Beautiful Trade" and focuses on trading our old life in for the new life Christ has for us - a life in His kingdom.

Our main point last night is that Jesus does not want to be a "bonus" or an addition to your already full life. Rather - Jesus wants to BE your life! We discussed our hesitancy to walk toward God and the fact that our hesitation is driven by our desire to hang on tightly to the things He is calling us away from.

We'll reinforce that message this week in our Sunday morning groups. I think this study provides an excellent chance for you to be transparent with your teenager. You can share with them the things that are difficult for you to release for the sake of focusing on God's kingdom. Seeing your authenticity and your struggle could go a long way toward your student feeling like you are in this together!

FAMILY PLUS Update - March 24

Hello HS Parents!

I trust your students have accomplished what I have not yet been able to do - recover from our trip last week! Seems the older I get the more difficult it is to function on 2 hours of sleep each night! All kidding aside, I hope your students have shared with you how God impacted their lives and the lives of others as we served in the New Orleans area.

This past Sunday Alan Pickerel led a share time during our Sunday morning group time and allowed students to talk about what they experienced on our trip. It allowed those who did not attend the mission trip to hear about the experience first hand from their peers.

Last night we watched a video of the trip compiled by Bryant Bural. We were also able to allow students to sign a section of quilting material that will complete a quilt being made for our friend Tommy Strong. As you know, Tommy and Shirley are dear friends of our ministry who were unable to serve wi th us on this trip due to illness.

This coming Sunday we will be tackling a one-week series entitled "What Happens Here." We will discuss the need for the things we talk about and learn at church to push beyond the walls of our church building. It should be a great punctuation mark to our focus on serving this month.

Please let me know if there is something I can pray about for you or your family.

New Orleans - Day 6

Late night tonight, but we're ALL sleeping in tomorrow to be fresh for the drive home.

See you tomorrow, TN!

New Orleans - Day 5

Today was probably THE longest day of our trip yet. The fatigue your students (and my adult leaders) really sets in hard on Thursdays. Sure, Friday will bring with it that little extra boost of adrenalin, but Thursday can be TOUGH!

Relatively smooth day with no injuries (at least none worth mentioning). Roger's team got to take the Chalmette Ferry in our church van and pulling the Metairie Baptist Church trailer.

A highlight for us today, though was being able to finish up laying some VCT (tile) for MBC. Their church is always so gracious to allow us to spend 7 long days in their building. Their pastor, Dr. Thomas Strong, told me today that it is how their church has chosen to support what God has called us to do in their community. I so appreciate our friendship and partnership with our sister church, Metairie Baptist.

Tomorrow is our last day on the job. For our seniors, this will likely be good-bye for them to the students they've grown close to in the elementary schools. Wait - I suppose they can come back as adult leaders at some point!