Thanks for allowing your teen to be involved at REMIX and THE MIX. Our hope is to partner with you as you invest in the spiritual life of your teen. If you want a weekly update just email from your teen's small group leader email us at michael@relevantstudents.com and let me know. Each week we will try to keep you up to speed with what went down at REMIX and give you some ideas as you talk with your teen.
The Mix and Remix Update // May 8
Bottom Line: Learning to honor authority now will pay off later.
It was great having Nate Edmondson, our new student pastor, with us tonight wrapping up the Upper Hand Series. For most teens the biggest authority in their life is parents. When teens know how to honor authority now, it will pay off later. In fact, the command to obey and honor our parents comes with a promise of a full life that Paul shares in Ephesians 6:1-3. Nate challenged our students with 2 basic questions:
1. Do I trust God that my life will be better if I obey and honor my parents?
2. What are 2 to 3 ways I can start honoring my parents NOW?
Hopefully, you'll see some differences as a result of this study in how God wants us to live under authority.
NEXT WEDNESDAY, MAY 15TH, IS THE LAST MIX AND REMIX OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!!! SIGN UP FOR CAMPS ASAP relevantstudents.comSession Three: The Pay Off
Bottom Line: Learning to honor authority now will pay off later.
The Mix and Remix Update // April 3
Bottom Line: Only God can give us what we want.
Van helped us see the difference between surface desires and heart desires. For example, surface desires tell us if I can just loose/gain X amount of weight I'll be happy with myself. The actual heart desire is to be accepted for who we are. When we seek after surface desires they'll always eventually disappoint. God is the only person that can truly satisfy all of our heart's desires. When we boil down desire they fit into 4 categories:
1. to matter to someone
2. respect
3. new adventure
4. intimacy
How have you sought to meet these desires with something/someone other than God? How did that go for you? Try initiating a conversation with your teen asking them which of these 4 things do they desire most, and are they looking for that desire to be met by God or something else?
The Mix and Remix Update // February 27
We began a new series tonight called SHIFT, calling us to SHIFT what we think about Jesus. Often we define Jesus on based on who we think He is rather than who He actually is. During Jesus' life on Earth, He fulfilled some people's expectations, but there were others who were disappointed in Him. He was supposed to be a KING, but didn't take over the Roman government like many people thought He should/would causing many to ask for His death. Often we treat Jesus the same way. We want Him to do what we want when we want. We must SHIFT what we think about Jesus accepting Him on His terms, and not our own. Try speaking with your teen openly about WHO they think Jesus is. Ask them if this seems to line up with what the Bible says about Him.
The Mix and Remix Update // February 20
Tonight Caitlin wrapped up the HOT MESS series by talking about partying. For many of our students, this hasn't become reality yet, but the day will come when they are invited to parties. We're not saying parties are bad. What we are saying is that some of the behavior that can accompany the party scene isn't honoring to God. In the book of Judges we can read the story of Samson and how he turned his back on God's plan for his life to pursue selfish desires and that it ultimately led to his destruction. The same can happen for teens with partying. Teens can know they've become a hot mess with the issue of partying when they are being warned by others but refuse to listen, begin to lie and hide things from parents, feel caught in a cycle they can't break.
The Mix and Remix Update // February 13
Tonight we looked at how we can become a hot mess with technology. We all have a tendency to treat God the way we treat technology-demanding of immediate answers, constantly at our beck and call, only present to meet our needs, etc. However, God lets us know in Isaiah 55 that His ways are not our ways. Michael helped our teens see 3 red flags that would help them know if they've crossed over into "hot mess land" with technology.
1. When you're addicted to constant connection
2. When online activity takes the place of loving others and loving God
3. When technology leads us to destructive habits
As a parent, there are several GREAT resources out there to help monitor and protect your child online. Here are a few: spectorsoft.com/eblaster, safe eyes, text blocker, AVG family safety, internetsafety.org, getnet wise, K9
The Mix and Remix Update // February 6
When it comes to teenage years, one of their terms can sum up someone's life, it's a hot mess! There are certain concepts that teens can get tangled in that creates a hot mess within their lives. One of these is dating. As followers of Jesus we are called to be holy. However, many teens don't keep holiness a priority in dating. When we date we should do so with self control and honor rather than passion and emotion. Some key indicators to help a teen know when they're dating relationship is a hot mess is they begin to dump friendships, break promises, and compromise values.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own bodyin a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;
The Mix and Remix Update // January 30
This week we talked about various appetites students struggle to control. We were created by God with a desire to be loved, feel secure, etc. Yet sometimes our appetites get magnified out of proportion. This becomes a major problem when we let temporary feelings and desires dictate the decisions we make. Essentially, we're trading our future for momentary satisfaction. The scripture for tonight centered around Jacob & Esau and the trading of Esau's birthright for a bowl of stew. For more info on the story, check on Genesis 25:29-34. Encourage your student to think about the goals they have for themselves for the future. Are the things they currently do setting them up for success? Or are they only pursuing things/relationships that will temporarily satisfy them?
The Mix and Remix Update // January 23
If we're all honest, we'd admit there are times we don't FEEL close to God, so what do we do about it? Paul was a mentor to Timothy and encouraged him to "Fight the good fight of the faith." We should FIGHT for our relationship with God. God clearly fights for us, by writing our names on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:15-16) and sending His own son to pay the penalty for our sin. We also need to fight. We fight by making our relationship with God a priority and remember exactly what we're fighting for, to know Him intimately and live the life He has for us. Talking with your child about how hard they're fighting for their relationship with God is a good conversation to have. Michael reminded us it's not about "feeling close" to God, it's about CHOOSING TO FIGHT.
The Mix and Remix Update // January 16
Due to school being caneled we did not have services. We will be back January 23! Remeber our policy with weather is when Clarksville / Montgomery County Schools are canceled we also cancel. Have a great week!
The Mix and Remix Update // January 9
We kicked off a new year by talking about how our relationship with God ebbs and flows. In all honesty, there are times we're just not that into God. Tonight Caitlin walked us through how we all react to God differently based on our circumstances. Some people have a tendency to forget God when things are great, and only cling to Him during the tough stuff. Others of us blame God and turn our backs on Him during the tough stuff. We challenged students tonight to be completely honest about the status of their relationship with God. This is a good challenge for all of us; to sit back and evaluate our relationship with or view of God. Ask your teen when they've felt closest to God and when they've felt distant. This will give you some insight into what circumstances (the good or the bad) push your child closer to God.
We're excited to see all that God does in 2013!!