3 Story: GOD'S STORY

This week, we looked at CONNECTING TO GOD'S STORY. Our story is the story of who we are and how much we need Jesus. Their story is about them... where they are... what is going on in their lives... and noticing those connection points between their story, my story, and God's story.


When we take the opportunity to connect with God's story in our personal lives, we have more "God stories" to connect to our friend's story. If our kids have grown up in church, they probably know quite a few of God's stories... Daniel and the lion's den, Jonah, parables like the wise and foolish man building houses, the woman at the well... these stories have been told and retold, probably to the point that they have lost their "connectedness" to our story. But that's why we have youth group, church services, small groups... and why we should have personal time in God's story. Because the more of God's story we know, the more we understand God and the easier it is to point our friends to Jesus. As we have told the kids, "our main purpose for having friends is to point them to the Gospel." 

PARENT CUE: Depending on the age of your kids and how often they have been in church, see how many of the stories from the Bible you can name. Then discuss the following with your teen (make sure you answer it too):

Which of God's stories in the Bible do you connect with the most and why? 

3 Story: THEIR STORY

This week, we looked at discovering THEIR STORY. Our story is the story of who we are and how much we need Jesus. Their story is about them... where they are... what is going on in their lives... and noticing those connection points between their story, my story, and, as we will see this next week, God's story.


The challenge this week, was for students to listen... really listen to someone's story. They were challenged to ask questions (that don't have question marks)... like "Tell me about your family."... you know... those questions that don't allow you to say "yes" or "no". We parents us "how was your day?" And we know the problem with that question is that the answer can be as short as, "fine." How different of a response if we said, "tell me about your day". 

PARENT CUE: So show your kids "how it's done". Ask them a question that doesn't end in a question mark. Then take the chance to discuss how they can Discover their Friends' Story. Also, ask the following question and take time to pray for their unsaved friends. If they say they don't have any, this might be a good time to pray that God would bring someone into their life that really needs to know Jesus.

Tell me about your friends that aren't Christians.

3 Story: MY STORY

So this week, we begin a new series that is intended to help students share the Gospel with their friends. It consists of looking at 3 stories... and how these 3 stories link together is how the Gospel is shared.

This week, we looked at sharing MY STORY. Our story is the story of who we are and how much we need Jesus. It also is a chance for us to share how Jesus has shown up in the past... What's easy about sharing our stories is that we actually do this all the time. Your friend tells you something they did this week, which triggers a thought in your mind of something you did this week... and this story telling continues and builds into a relationship. 


The challenge this week, was for students to share their story... but not just the surface stuff... to recognize and share, within their story, a need they have or had in which they are trusting Jesus to meet. for young students, this is pretty tough... they aren't thinking this way very often. For older students, this is tough because they have learned to protect their reputation.

PARENT CUE: This might be a good week to help reinforce the lesson. Share a part of your life story in which you needed Jesus to show up. How did He show up? If He didn't, what were you feeling? Sometimes, the best way to teach something is to "go first"... you never know... this may open up a huge conversation about what your son or daughter is wrestling with... giving you the opportunity to know how to pray for them.

Share about a time when you need Jesus to show up?