Week 6 (Mar. 16)

Lent – Thin Places

-Have you had fun meeting together? Bust out a phone & take a picture together! Post it to the Prince of Peace Facebook page or tag us on instagram (@popyouthfamily)

-Last call! Make sure you take some time to talk about continuing to meet together in the next year/s. It is our hope that partners stick together through the kids’ Axis years & if the two of you decide, even beyond that! This could be just for Lent mentoring, or keeping in touch, worshiping together, etc. Please let Brent know your future plans!

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

• You walk out of your house & a crowd goes wild, just because you…

• What has been the most memorable “Thin Places” story for you? Why?

• Has hearing these stories impacted your beliefs/faith? In what way?

• What have you learned about sharing your faith? Do you think you can do it too?

• Who might you encourage by sharing about your faith?

• What historical person would you like to talk about his/her faith with? Why?

• What living person would you like to talk to about his/her faith? Why?

• How has God come close to you recently?
• Consider, how might you draw yourself nearer to God in your everyday life?

• If you & God took a walk, what would you talk about? What would you ask God? What would God ask you?!

• Right now, I really need God to…

• From our Thin Places series we have heard about experiences with God happening everywhere (in homes, out in nature, in health issues)…Going forward, how can we remember that God is with us at all times & in all places?

• Easter will be here soon! How will you be celebrating?

• Should we stay in touch throughout the year? How should we do that/what should we do? (Let Brent know your plans, we would be happy to help if needed!)

  

Bible reading & Discussion

Open your Bibles to John 12:1-8. Read this out loud together.

• Lazarus only recently had been resurrected by Jesus. What do you think they would have been talking about sitting around the table?

• Mary’s anointing of Jesus with costly perfume is an extravagant – some would say unnecessary – gesture. Are there times in your life when you feel it necessary to give extravagantly? When & why do you do it?

• Mary wipes Jesus’ feet with her hair, which was likely an act of deeply humbles submission & devotion. How do you show devotion to God in your life?

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 5 (Mar. 9)

Lent – Thin Places

-This week, make sure you take some time to talk about continuing to meet together in the next year/s. It is our hope that partners stick together through the kids’ Axis years & if the two of you decide, even beyond that! This could be just for Lent mentoring, or keeping in touch, worshipping together, etc.

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

• If you could attempt anything, & knew you would not fail, what would you do? (take this as seriously or silly as you like J)

• When it comes to decision making, do you usually take your time & think it through, or just go with your first instinct?

• If you say “It depends.” What does it depend on? What factors do you consider?

• Share about a time you saw, or heard about, something you just couldn’t explain…

• Do you believe in miracles? What makes something miraculous?

• What kind of miracles did Jesus perform?

• What do you think is possible, that others think is impossible?

• The top 3 moments in my life so far are…

• What events have had an impact on your faith?

• What gives you a sense of wonder & awe? Why?

• Tell about a time you took a risk that paid off…A time that it didn’t?

• At this point in time, what are your top “wants”? “Needs”?

• Who is someone in need that you know? What do they need? How might you be a part of helping them?

• How can you learn to trust God when the future seems uncertain?

Bible reading & Discussion

Open your Bibles to Luke 15:1-3, 11-32. Read it out loud together.

• The prodigal son (the runaway) was willing to eat what had been set out for the pigs. This was out of desperation, but ask yourself: do you ever make decisions that make your life more difficult? How can our relationship with God help us in our day-to-day lives?

• The prodigal did not expect to be welcomed back as a son. Do you think he was right? How would you have felt in that situation?

• The father’s response was immediate. Bring a robe! A ring! Plan a huge meal! What does this story-and the father’s reaction-tell us about God?

• The other brother’s response was less than enthusiastic. He never did anything wrong & yet his father had never planned a party for him. Who do you most identify with in this story?

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.

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.