Week 3 Meeting            

Biblical Reference:

Proverbs 3.12

Purpose of the meeting:

Teach teenagers that God is our Heavenly Father and He reprimands us because He loves us.

Key verse:

“Because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” (Proverbs 3.12)

Initiating the meeting:

You will need: a battery and two alarm clocks (one with batteries and another without). It will be used for the conclusion.

Start the introduction by asking: ‘teens, how would you feel if you were prevented by your parents to go out with your friends or chatting on the internet to stay home and study? (Wait their participation). Many of you would be upset and would complain, right? However, if you do well in a test you would feel rewarded and would even change opinion about your parent’s attitude. On today’s study we will talk more about this subject.

Message that edify:

Reprimands that bless

How many parents say: “Boy, don’t do that!”  “Girl, don’t get involved with that young man, he is not a good person!” Before that son and daughter thinks that they do like this because they want to control their lives, because they don’t like your friends, etc. However, most of the times parents are right. Many teens decide to follow their own thoughts (or their friends) and end up damaging themselves.

         Real parents (biological or not) are those who love and care about the welfare of their children and will always advise and reprimand them; it is biblical. Let’s meditate on what is written in the book of Proverbs 3.12: “Because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in”.

         By reprimanding the child, the parent (or person responsible) demonstrates love and care, obviously for those who suffer reprimand the impression is another; at this time he/she thinks anything except that what they are doing is for the good of the child.

         According to this verse, God also works like this with us, for example: Have you ever done, said or thought something contrary to the Word of God and when you arrived in the Church, the preaching seemed to be all for you? You thought that someone had told the Pastor your mistake. How could this be? It’s God Himself who was reprimanding you, convincing you of your sin, giving you a chance to regret. Why does He do that? Because He loves us and He doesn’t want to see us away from His presence.

         Teenagers, God through His Word presents the path to be followed; however the charming and easy ways from the world attracts many people, many of them live according to their own decisions and, even knowing the Word of God and considering themselves children of God, violate the spiritual teachings and what they learned at home. We must be wise and attend to our God’s advice: “My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you” (Proverbs 7.1)

Conclusion:

        Teens, God is our Father and as every father wishes us to be obedient and practitioners of His Word, that’s why we must keep His commands. Let’s say that these clocks (show them the alarms) represent two teenagers. Observe that one of the clocks is working and the other one is not. In your opinion, what is missing for the other clock to work? (Wait for them to participate. They will probably say that the problem is the battery). Let’s see what is wrong! (Open the battery compartment and show them that one clock has a battery and the other one does not; then take the other battery and put on the clock). Say: now observe that both of the clocks are working.

         Know that as the battery is essential to the clock to work, the same happens when we practice the Word of God, everything works according to His will; we begin to see results of our faith. God becomes our Father and He will care for us. He will exhort us and correct where necessary, as does the earthly father (biological or not); so if something is keeping you away from your patents or your Heavenly Father (God), take this week and reunite with Him; you will certainly win a lot with this attitude.

        

            Activity for 3rd Meeting

Opening the heart

Read the questionnaire and honestly answer the questions. Then give to the educators; you don’t need to write your name.


Question                                                                                    Answer


1- Do you have a good relationship with your parents (responsible)? Justify.


2- How do you react when your parents (responsible) reprimand you?


3- In your opinion, can a bad relationship with your family (parents or   responsible) harm the spiritual life? Justify.


4- In your opinion what must be done to live harmoniously (parents-children relationship)?


5- Do you have anything about your behavior you would like to change? What would it be?