Everybody’s doing it, why can’t I? I remember making countless arguments on this when I was kid. Fortunately it stopped there, no really it did. Ok, well maybe there where a few more lessons. I remember my mother saying well” if everyone was jumping off a cliff would you?” I recall being frustrated because that never had anything to do with what I was talking about. Funny how I can’t remember what my point was but that question echoes in my head. I remember being really upset when it was pointed out to me that that question is based on lemmings not being the most focus as to where they are going, but they will all get there.

Now I have been around the block once, I sort of know the route. No really come on we won’t get lost, everybody going this way, hurry up. I have vivid memories of being part of the problem with this thinking. Now I have memory and awareness. I still want to follow. I want others to follow. I would like to avoid the cliff.

The walk with God can be tricky at best, work with teenagers and you will know you did something at the end of the day. So help me take this thought and grow it. How do we say no you should not… yes you should…. And the like without “sounding like my parents”. Think about it, during the week you get two hours with the teens, most of that is not small group... so in the end I get 30 – 45 minutes to convey a message, answer needs, build a relationship and help them build a relationship.

So in closing this thought how do you take that and help God and them, and still walk away with more hair then my father. Well, ok that will not work in my case, but you get what I am asking I hope. So, please, input. God bless.

HelenPark wrote (View Post): › The walk with God can be tricky at best, work with teenagers and you will know you did something at the end of the day. So help me take this thought and grow it. How do we say no you should not… yes you should…. And the like without “sounding like my parents”. ... So, please, input. God bless.

Hello Helen,
I'm no expert in handling teenagers, but I know something about leading groups and young adults. If I were in your position, I would probably start by listing down what your group might consider fun, and you will need to filter out the bad kind of fun. These will become your props.

The most important relationship you need to help them build is with Jesus. You can use your own personal experience and walk with Jesus as an on going example and of course you can use others, particularly some inspirational ones. Your group's idea of inspirational may be different with mine so you have to work that out yourself. But here is an example and here is Nick Vujicic's website. Each member of the group however, should focus on their own relationship with Jesus.

Naturally you want to introduce to them the many bible characters looking specifically at their relationship with God.

Take for instance Elijah in 1Kings 17-19. He got sent to a brook (not a river) to hide, he got fed by ravens (considered unclean animal), what was that like, if it were you would you complain to God? Then consider what it would have been like watching the brook drying up day by day. Would we have been too anxious about resources getting low and take matters into our own hands and go somewhere else? Elijah waited for instructions before he took any action. He got sent to Zarephath God told him a woman was there that will feed him. 1. He got sent to enemy territory a long way away 2. He found a very poor widow who could not feed him 2. Gentile woman etc etc etc.

I hope that this adds to your list of ideas.

Thank you for your input. I have seen this video before but forgot about it, kind of funny you did that, this is usable with my group big time. this guy can certainly make you stop and think just how much you have if you look past the clouds. also reminds me to be thankful.

He's for real. He came to our church a couple of times a while ago and he used to live just down the road from me. But he recently got married and is now living in the US.