Parenting Teens, The Relational Approach

Joe Botti

Ephesians 6:4

Parents are ordained by God to play a part in their children's lives, and certainly in their teenage years, kids need help transitioning. Parents have a huge spiritual influence over their kids, and because of this, Christian parents need to tackle some key issues when parenting teens. First, a relational approach is needed in order to maintain positive influence. Second, parents should set some key goals that are centered around the Lord. Parents also should set a plan for how to transition their child from disciplined control to responsible independence. This includes avoiding unnecessary conflicts and choosing to focus on the most important issues.

Ruth: Friendship and Dating God's Way

Ryan Lowery

Ruth 1-3

The book of Ruth tells the story of 3 widows--Naomi and her 2 daughters-in-law Ruth and Orpah. While Naomi sees her situation practically, but without God in the picture, Ruth approaches it with trust in God. Ruth and Boaz offer important lessons for men and women on godly dating, protecting others, and trusting in God's provision.

Serving Love and Sexuality (Part 2)

Dennis McCallum

Matthew 19:1-6

The biblical ideal for dating relationships is loving the whole person through agape love. Within the context of dating and ultimately marriage, this type of love is deeply sacrificial and exemplified through action over time, as opposed to a primarily feeling-based, temporary taking type of relationship or marriage. Immature relationships produce co-dependent, romanticized, superficial relating that puts self at the center. What God desires is mature, God-centered relationships where we slowly and humbly try to serve another person and identify ways to push them closer to God. If people are trying to find the right person to marry, they should focus on being a godly type of person.

Succeeding in Sex & Marriage

Scott Risley

Matthew 19:3-8

Contrary to what many people might think, God really want you to have a successful marriage and a great sex life! For single people, try to view singleness as a gift from God. Don't take matters into your own hands while you are looking for a God-centered marriage partner. For folks already married, center your family around God and learn to be a love-giver. For everyone else, relationships are best when done God's way. So, start a relationship with Him!

Serving Love and Sexuality (Part 1)

Dennis McCallum

1 Corinthians 6:16-20

Jesus confronts the Pharisees about the issue of divorce. God's design for human sexuality is within the confines of a heterosexual monogamous relationship between man and woman. When the focus of sexuality is servant love, we understand that sex is highly intimate and thus can be highly damaging, so we want to listen to God's perspective on what will be the most fulfilling. The key to success in sexual relationships is that it is centered around God. When centered on God, sexuality is able to be freeing and highly unifying as both parties are secure in their position in Christ and can look to serve one another out from God's love, rather than needlessly taking from one another. This teaching also surveys people's thoughts about living together before marriage.

Spiritually Divided Marriage

Jim Leffel

1 Corinthians 7:12-16

The Bible says husbands and wives are united in one purpose and should nurture one another spiritually. What does the Bible have to say about a marriage when one spouse is a Christian and the other is not? Paul gives three principles for a spouse in this situation: 1) have influence over the other person by bringing God into the marriage and home; 2) bring peace into the relationship because God calls on us to be peacemakers; and 3) show your spouse who God is and the relationship He wants with them.\r\n

Single and Divorced: Honest Talk about Sensitive Issues

Jim Leffel

Matthew 19:3-9

What does God have to say about sex as it relates to being single, married or divorced? Is it better to stay single or get married? There are unique tensions in living a single life such as: 1) sex and your identity; 2) finding the right person or becoming the right person; 3) disappointment; and 4) legalism. Difficulties resulting from a broken marriage are discussed: 1) what does God say about divorce; 2) are there legitimate reasons to end a marriage; and 3) what's after divorce? A testimony from Paco, who teaches a class called "How not to fall for a jerk" is included.

Sex and Marriage

Jim Leffel

1 Corinthians 7:1-5

Following an overview of how sexuality and spirituality intersect, this teaching covers the dynamics of a sexual relationship in marriage. The proper place of sex in marriage avoids the extremes that the people in the Corinthian church were drawn to: namely seeking sexual gratification outside the marriage on the one hand, and denying sexual desire altogether on the other. The Bible advocates sexuality as both an expression of marital oneness and an act of self-giving love.

Teaching Kids to Love the Word

Kathy Steinman

Luke 6:39-40

There are several key principles to consider in teaching kids to love the Word. First of all, this is a supernatural work that is brought about by the Holy Spirit. We need to believe that children have legitimate capacity to learn spiritual truths and understand that children often have hearts and minds that are soft to God. We must ourselves love the Word and fight against letting children be bored with the Bible. Through prayer and training we can make ground in this area. At the end of this presentation, there is a panel of volunteers and workers in the children's ministry who participate in Q&A.