What's Happeni' @ Collision

Below is a brief summary of what we have been talking about recently.  Most of the time we teach through a series for several weeks at a time that way students that miss can get caught back up quickly, and so we can dissect a topic more fully than just a one night deal. Use the overview and questions for both you and your teen to answer and have a dialog that continues outside the church walls and into your homes.  Use this opportunity to see what God is teaching your student and also allow your student to see what God is teaching/taught you.

Series Overview

When you were little, what did you dream about becoming? An astronaut? A ballerina? A professional wrestler? Whatever it was, chances are it was something that you felt was important. Something big.  That’s the thing about little kids— they dream big because no one has told them that they can’t do something yet. They literally have no limits.  But it’s different when we get older, isn’t it? In middle school and high school we start to see the areas we lack for the first time. We’re not the most popular or influential. We aren’t the most talented. And eventually we start to wonder if we can ever do or be anything significant. The big-dreaming days of our childhood feel long gone under the weight of our all-too-limiting reality. That’s exactly what happened in the life of a guy named Moses. With a tough past and not many real skills, he had no reason to believe that his life would be used do anything extraordinary. But after a few encounters with God, Moses’ perspective changed completely. He found that, with God, there is no limit to what you can do.

Week 3 (2014.10.15)

So much can happen in just one minute, one hour, or one day. Think about it. How many times have you watched a football game that came down to the last play in the last minute of the game? Have you ever been late to a movie and missed a crucial opening scene? Minutes can change everything! The truth is, time is valuable but we don’t always treat it that way. As students, it’s easy to feel like we have all the time in the world. And so we waste it—a lot of it. But what would you do if you knew your days were numbered? What would you change if you knew your time was limited? The truth is, our time is limited. We’ll never have more than we do right now. So, if we want to make wise decisions, to make the most of our time, we must learn to number our days.

Try This

Sometimes what we say and what the other person hears are two different things. Often, it’s hard to know if they could use a little extra encouragement or a little less pressure.  Try asking your student for feedback using the tool below. Chances are you and your student will have different answers. That’s okay! Don’t let it discourage you! Use it as a conversation starter. Afterward consider showing your student how you answered. No need to make it a formal meeting. And, this doesn’t mean that you have to give in when they say, “I want you to bug me less about my math grade”. It simply shows them that you care what they think and it gives you both a way to get on the same page as you move forward.

Use the section labeled “For the parent” to gauge where on the scale your parenting falls. Then cut along the dotted line and give the section labeled “For the student” to your student. Don’t ask them to complete it in front of you. Give them space to think about it and place they can leave it for you when they finish.

For the parent:

Draw a circle around the number you believe represents the level of pressure your student feels

Too few expectations                                                                             Too many expectations

Too little encouragement                                                                              Too much pressure.

1                2                3                 4                5                 6                 7                8                   9                10

cut along this line.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the student:

Hey, as your parent, I want you to know that I’m doing the best I can to give you just enough encouragement without making you feel a ton of pressure. I want you to give me some feedback on how I’m doing in this area. Just circle a number and leave it _____________________ (location) so I can see how you feel.  Be honest. Thanks!

I feel no one                                                                                                     I feel too much is

expects much of me.                                                                                        expected of me.                                                

I could use some                                                                                            I can’t handle the

encouragement.                                                                                               pressure.

1                2                3                 4                5                 6                 7                8                   9                10

If you answer 1-5, what’s one way I can encourage you more?________________________________________________________________________

If you answer 6-10, what’s one way I can help you feel less pressured?____________________________________________________________________