40 Days Parent Cue (Week 3)

Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)

This blog is your cue.  Every Wednesday we’ll post a “Parent Cue” which will tune you in to what we are talking about at theEDGE and cue you in on some steps you can take to lead your student into taking their next steps.

Overview (2/29/12): The goal of the Bible is transformation, not information.  As we read the bible it is our goal to not just learn information but to allow what we learn to change how we live.  It is easier to read the bible than it is to do what it says.  This week we'll take a look at the story that Jesus tells about the wise builder and the foolish builder and which one we can relate to the most.

Method: The "Probe It!" bible study method is when you read a passage of scripture and ask questions to find out what our next steps are based on the scripture.  There are 9 questions that will help us apply the scripture and they are remembered by the acronymn S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S.

Is there a SIN to confess?

Is there a PROMISE to claim?

Is there an ATTITUDE to change?

Is there a COMMAND to obey?

Is there an EXAMPLE to follow?

Is there a PRAYER to pray?

Is there an ERROR to avoid?

Is there a TRUTH to believe?

Is there SOMETHING to praise God for?

Parent Cue:  This week your student will spend time using the "Probe It!" bible study method as they read through the final 8 chapters of the book of Mark.  This week after you and your child have spent time with God ask this question.  Today as I studied the bible, I decided that I need to ________________ (confess a sin, change an attitude, pray a prayer).  What action step do you need to take today?  This exercise is meant for you and your child to share together.  Be real and authentic in your response.  Your student will be able to see right through you if you come up with a fake answer that doesn’t really mean anything to you.  The more vulnerable and real you are, the more vulnerable and real they will be.

Day 15:  Mark 8:34-38 | Day 16:  Mark 9:33-35 | Day 17:  Mark 10:17-31 | Day 18: Mark 11:25 | Day 19:  Mark 14:3-9 | Day 20:  Mark 15:33-39 | Day 21:  Mark 16:1-20 

This blog is an interactive community for parents.  Use the comment section below to share exciting stories and challenges that you are having this week as you engage with your kids.

Planning a Graduation Gift NOW!

I had an interesting relationship with my sister in high school.  She was two years younger than I was and she was the youngest.  All through my senior year of high school I made it my goal to embarrass my sister whenever I could at school.  I walked her to her classes with my arm around her.  I talked to her teachers about her progress.  I talked to her friends as much as I could. And I yelled across the lunch room and waved at her.  It was so much fun.  I loved it, but then I didn't really know how much she loved it until I graduated from high school and she gave me a scrapbook.  She put picture collages together of my friends, my activities, and our relationship.  She wrapped up the book and gave it to me when I left for college.  It was very special.

Scrapbooks are special.  They shows someone how much they think of and care about a person.  Well, I recently read an article here, about a unique and meaningful graduation gift.  Here's what you do.

1. Buy a bible for your son or daughter.

2. Use it as your own personal devotional bible from now until they graduate.

3. Underline in it.  Write in the margins.  Keep little devotions, notes, or bookmarks in it.

3. Pray over it and pray for their spiritual journey.

4. Give it to them for their 18th birthday or their graduation gift.

This will show your students how much you care about them and will give you one of the most meaningful connection points that you can have with them once they are at college or out of the house.  It will be a constant reminder that they are loved, cared for, and prayed for.

Try this and share any other ideas you might have with the rest of us in the comment section below.

Adapted from Sticky Faith Blog

Meet theEDGE Leaders (Maddie and Ava)

Its time for another episode for "Meet theEDGE Leaders".  This is an opportunity for you as parents to get to know the other adults in your students lives.  This week, meet Maddie and Ava, two of our 8th grade girl small group leaders.

Hello Everyone! My name is Maddie Vetsch and I am 20 years old. I am a student at UWEC studying Communication Sciences and Disorders, which will essentially, hopefully, lead to a job in speech pathology. I am originally from a town called Monticello, MN which is about 40 minutes west of the Twin Cities. I am so excited that living in Eau Claire now has gotten me connected with Jacob's Well; what a wonderful place to be! 

I absolutely love the community that comes with serving at theEDGE. The students and leaders are wonderful, and as soon as I paid my first visit I knew this was a group I wanted to be a part of. Growing up, my home church didn't have a strong youth program and I longed for one so badly. I want all students to be able to be involved in a Christ-centered environment, so here we are!

As I have been leading 8th grade girls this semester, I have certainly learned a lot. All of your students are wonderful and I adore each and every one of them. An encouraging part of theEDGE is that you can come feeling any sort of way, but when you leave, you feel brand new again and free of worries (I hope this is true for your student as well!). I hope that your family is feeling at home both at Jacob's Well and at theEDGE. I hope to meet more students and parents in the weeks, months, years to come!  

Hey-o!  My name is Ava and I am one of the small group leaders for 8th grade girls.  I have been spending my Wednesday evenings at The Edge for 3 years now and I have been going to Jacob's Well for 5 years.  I am a public health nurse working for the Eau Claire City-County Health Department and I love my job.  I get to help people every single day, which is what I love to do (both at work and at the Edge)!

One of the ways that I serve at The Edge is on the worship team.  Playing guitar and singing has been a way for me to connect with God ever since I started playing guitar in high school.  I hope to encourage the students to do the same by giving them an example of authentic worship on a weekly basis and an opportunity to be on worship team if that is something they are interested in doing.

The main reason I wanted to be a leader at the middle school youth group is because that is the age I was when I first met the Lord.  I had a great small group leader from 6th through 8th grade who helped me find answers to some foundational questions I had, and without her in my life I don't know where I would be.  Since then I have wanted to give back in that same way and pour my gained knowledge and insight into the next generation.  The thing I didn't know is that it would be SO FUN!  Every week is crazy, exciting, full of energy and full of life.  I am blessed to be someone who can come along side them during their confusing middle school years and give what I can to try to bless them in their walk.  What a privilege!

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is the prayer requests of the students.  They really reveal their hearts when they ask God to work powerfully in their lives, the lives of their families, of their friends and neighbors, and even people across the world they haven't even met!  The faith they have in prayer is always impressive to me and challenges me to have a child-like faith just like theirs.  They have truly blessed me and I am very thankful for the chance I get every week to spend time with them growing towards God together.

Ask your student who their small group leaders are and what they think of them.  Do you have any stories about how a small group leader has impacted your child's life?  Share it in the comment section below.