Halfway Check in + Week 4 (Mar. 2) guide

Hello Mentors!

Well, we're already half way through our 6 weeks together. If you have any feedback to share as far as how things are going with you/your mentee/the process please don't hesitate to reach me. Email (brenth@princeofpeacechurch.org) or a call (763-744-7369) would be great.

Before you take a look at Week 4, I invite you to read a great blog I recently encountered. Perhaps it may be of some insight/help for you, check it out - Middle Schoolers don't know that middle school sucks!

Blessings,

Brent

Lent – Thin Places

-Start your meeting together by sharing your highs and lows from the last week.

-Then dive in to the discussion starters for this week.

-Included again is a Bible reading & some questions if you'd like to go that route.

Remember to pray together & be ready to worship at 7:00!

• The farthest away I have ever been is…

• How does your involvement with church help shape your faith? What do you think you would be like without being a part of a church community?

• Could a person sustain (keep it going) their faith without ever going to worship or being part of a church? Why/Why not?

• How would you illustrate your relationship with Jesus? What does it look like? How close/far apart are you? What do you do together?

• When you don’t feel close to God (or that you feel He isn’t close)…Where are you? Where do you think God is?

• What is one puzzling question you have about God or your faith?

• Can you share about a time your faith seemed especially weak or low? What was going on & how did you get through it? Can these hard times end up drawing us closer to God?

• Did you ever pray & feel that your prayer wasn’t answered? How did you feel?

• Note – God always hears our prayers. However, His answers are not always what we want them to be!

• Has there ever been a time you felt that God had abandoned you?

• On the flip side, can you think of an experience that caused you to thank God for His care?

• Respond to this verse (what do you think of it?),
• We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. –Romans 8:28

Bible reading & Discussion

Open your Bibles to Luke 13:1-9. Read it out loud together.

• Jesus’ followers were trying to make sense of some scary current events. Is there anything happening in the world that worries you?

• Repent means to apologize for doing something wrong. Lent is a time to repent. Who are some people that need to hear you say, “I’m sorry?”

• Fig trees grow to be over 30 feet tall. Imagine the process of cutting down a large tree. What are some challenges you might face?

• What does it mean to bear fruit in your life? How can your church family help you bear good fruit?

Prayer time – Pray for each other’s highs & lows.

          

Dear God, thank you for (highs). Please be with us as we deal with (lows).

          In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Week 3

Lent – Thin Places

-Start your meeting together by sharing your highs and lows from the last week.

-Then dive in to the discussion starters for this week.

-Included again is a Bible reading & some questions if you'd like to go that route.

Remember to pray together & be ready to worship at 7:00!

• Would you rather…be a yo-yo or a roller-coaster car? Why? What are the advantages/disadvantages of each? Has your life ever felt like one or the other?

• Share about a time you received something you really really wanted, or had been waiting a long time for…What was it? How did you feel? How did that affect you?

• Has there been a time when you didn’t receive something you had been really really been hoping for? What was it? How did you feel? How has that affected you?

• What’s something you’re really hoping for even right now?

• Why do you think we can’t always get what we want? Or even what we need?

• How does God factor in to your desires? Do you ask for stuff/things to happen? Do you ask what you should be desiring? (Check out Psalms 37:1-5).

• (finish the sentence) When things don’t turn out the way I had hoped, I…

• What does hopelessness look like? Feel like?

• How can we find hope in life? How could we give hope?

• How do you overcome obstacles in life?

• Life includes sorrow, hurt, disappointment, injustice, loss, pain & grief. How do you live with these as part of your life? How do you support & help others in their hard times?
• But life also includes fulfillment, happiness, gain, joy & fulfillment…How have these kinds of times been a part of your life? When have you celebrated with others?

• What are the things, or who are the people, that you put the most trust/faith in? What does it mean to trust in God? What does that look like?

Bible reading & Discussion

Open your Bibles to Luke 13:31-35. Read it out loud together.

• Some Pharisees told Jesus about Herod’s death threat. What do you think they were trying to achieve in warning Jesus about Herod?

• Have you ever felt like you were in danger? What did that look like? How would you respond if you knew someone was looking to harm you?

• What do you know about Jerusalem, both past & present? Look online to discover some important things that have happened in this city.

• Jesus talks about gathering Jerusalem together, “as a hen gathers her brood.” What do you think Jesus meant by that? Is there another metaphor you would choose?

Prayer time – Pray for each other’s highs & lows.

          

Dear God, thank you for (highs). Please be with us as we deal with (lows).

          In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Mentors, Just for You

Hi Mentors,

I am so glad you are all a part of this ministry. I hope you believe in what you're doing. Here's a great nugget that speaks to your value. Please take the time to listen...

#1 Reason Youth Leave the Church - And How to Reverse It


In Christ,
Brent

Week 2

Lent – Thin Places

-Start your meeting together by sharing your highs and lows from the last week.

-Then dive in to the discussion starters for this week.

-Included again is a Bible reading & some questions if you'd like to go that route.

Remember to pray together & be ready to worship at 7:00!

• Imagine, you have an unlimited budget to take a trip. Where do you go & what do you do?

• Do you like to spend time outside? Why/Why not? What do you do/What do you do instead?

• Share about a memorable experience you had outdoors…

• Compare & contrast being outside to being inside. What’s the same? Different? What’s unique to each? What are the benefits & drawbacks?

• Describe your favorite place/location…What is special about that spot?

• If God is somewhere, in a certain place, where do you think that place is?

• We are promised that we have the Holy Spirit in each of us (1 Corinthians 6:19, 2 Timothy 1:14), so God is always with us. But if you had to pick a place to go & be with God, where would it be? Do you actually do this?

• Share about a place, other than your house, that you feel “at home” or at peace, when you’re there…

• How about a time or place that you were out of your comfort zone…Where was that/what did you have to do? What was the result? How do you feel about it now?

• Where do you go, or who do you go to when you’re in some sort of trouble or hard time? How does being in that place or talking to that person help?

• How do you feel or sense that God is present? Or, how have you heard others describe it?

• Did you know that “wilderness” is used 284 times in the bible (NRSV), and “mountains” 363 times? That’s kind of a lot. Do a search of wilderness & mountains in the bible & see what kinds of things happen in those places. (www.biblegateway.com)

  

Bible reading & Discussion

Find Luke 4:1-13. Read it out loud together.

• It says the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Do you think this was the same Spirit that appeared during Jesus’ baptism? Why would the Spirit lead Jesus into temptation?

• The devil offers Jesus a loaf of bread. When was a time you remember being really hungry? How did it affect you?

• Jesus quotes Psalm 91, where God promises to send angels to protect people. What would you do if an angel appeared before you?!

• Temptation is everywhere. What do you do when you’re tempted? What tempts you to stray from your faith in God?

Prayer time – Pray for each other’s highs & lows.

          

Dear God, thank you for (highs). Please be with us as we deal with (lows).

          In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Returners Week 1: For partners that know each other

Hello again! Start your meeting together by sharing your highs and lows from the new year til now. What's been the best thing & worst thing that's happened? 

Then take a few minutes and get reacquainted/ catch up. You don’t have to answer all of the questions, but pick and choose ones that you are interested in asking and answering…

Also included is a Bible reading & some questions if you'd like to go that route.

Just make sure you get in to the Ash Wednesday service by 7:00!

v  How's your family doing?

·         Any recent joys or celebrations?

·         How about struggles or difficulties happening?

v  School & work: These take up the majority of our time don't they?

·         What are your classes right now?                               

·          How's the environment around school? (i.e. morale, big events, disturbances, etc)

·         Mentors, share in return about how your day to day is going.

v  Activities & Events:

·         What’s your schedule like?  Do you have any free time?

·         What’s the last big event you went to? (i.e. game, concert, party, etc.)

·         Are there any events you’re looking forward to? (i.e. birthday, break, etc.)

·         Are you in any sports/activities right now? How's that going?

v  Dreams:

·         What's something you're really looking forward to right now?

·         Are there any goals you're working toward?

·         If you knew you would not fail, what's something you would attempt?

Bible reading, Questions & Prayers

Find Matthew 6:1-16 & 16-21. Read it out loud together.

• Almsgiving is a way to give money to help others. When have you given something to someone in need? How did that person respond?

• Hypocrite is a strong word. Why would Jesus use it to describe someone who gets attention for praying in public?

• Fasting isn't always about food, it's about diverting your attention away from things that distract us from our spiritual life. It's a common practice to give something up for Lent, or take something on to better focus on Jesus. Are you giving anything up or doing something new?

• What do you truly treasure? Is it stuff? Is it an activity? A person or group of people? How do people know what you treasure?

• This year our theme for Lent is “Thin Places” & we’ll be hearing stories from different people who have had memorable “encounters” with God…Have you ever experienced something you consider a God moment? What happened?

• Tonight we’ll experience the practice of “the imposition of ashes.” Ashes symbolize our remorse for our sins and our dedication to repentance. They remind us of our need for God’s salvation. As you come forward for communion, ashes will be placed on your forehead in the sign of the cross to underscore Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our salvation.  Are there any occurrences in your daily life that remind you of Jesus?

*Prayer time – Pray for each other’s highs & lows.

          Dear God, thank you for (highs). Please be with us as we deal with (lows).

          In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Newbies Week 1: For pairs meeting together for the first time.

Mentors and Mentees: Start your meeting together by sharing your highs and lows from the new year til now. What's been the best thing & worst thing that's happened? 

Then take a few minutes and get to know each other with the following questions. You don’t have to answer all of them, but pick and choose ones that you are interested in asking and answering…

Also included is a Bible reading & some questions if you'd like to go that route.

Just make sure you get in to the Ash Wednesday service by 7:00!

v  Where:

·         Where do you live?

·         Have you always lived there?

·         What school do you go to?

·         What do you like/dislike about where you are?

·         What’s your family like?

·         The best and worst thing about being in your family

·         If there is one thing I should know about your family, what should it be?

v  Hobbies:

·         What are your hobbies?

                                                              i.      Sports? Music? Art? Etc…

·          Do you have a favorite?

·         Who got you started in your hobby?

·         What keeps you interested in it or pursuing it?

·         Have you ever been able to use them to serve another person before?

v  Activities & Events:

·         What’s your schedule like?  Do you have any free time?

·         What’s the last big event you went to? (i.e. game, concert, party, etc.)

·         Are there any events you’re looking forward to? (i.e. birthday, break, etc.)

·         By the way, when is your birthday?

·         What’s an event you hope to get to someday?

·         What makes something exciting/interesting to you?

v  People:

·         Who are your best friends? Why?

·         Who have you been friends with the longest?

·         What is the most important quality in a friend?

·         What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re hanging out with friends?

v  Places:

·         Have you taken any trips recently?

·         Where’s your favorite place you’ve visited?

·         Where’s somewhere you hope to go someday?

v  Share, Save, Spend

·         Let’s say you just won a crazy big lottery!

o   Who would you share some with & why?

o   How much would you save & what for?

o   What will you spend some on right away?

Bible reading, Questions & Prayers

Find Matthew 6:1-16 & 16-21. Read it out loud together.

• Almsgiving is a way to give money to help others. When have you given something to someone in need? How did that person respond?

• Hypocrite is a strong word. Why would Jesus use it to describe someone who gets attention for praying in public?

• Fasting isn't always about food, it's about diverting your attention away from things that distract us from our spiritual life. It's a common practice to give something up for Lent, or take something on to better focus on Jesus. Are you giving anything up or doing something new?

• What do you truly treasure? Is it stuff? Is it an activity? A person or group of people? How do people know what you treasure?

• This year our theme for Lent is “Thin Places” & we’ll be hearing stories from different people who have had memorable “encounters” with God…Have you ever experienced something you consider a God moment? What happened?

• Tonight we’ll experience the practice of “the imposition of ashes.” Ashes symbolize our remorse for our sins and our dedication to repentance. They remind us of our need for God’s salvation. As you come forward for communion, ashes will be placed on your forehead in the sign of the cross to underscore Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our salvation.  Are there any occurrences in your daily life that remind you of Jesus?

*Prayer time – Pray for each other’s highs & lows.

          Dear God, thank you for (highs). Please be with us as we deal with (lows).

          In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.