Courage with Community
None of us live in a social vacuum. We are called to live in unity with other believers. It is so much easier to stand strong in our faith when we are not alone. Your family and you need to be connected to a local church. This week, we want to encourage your conversation with your teen in the area of being bold in your faith through your connections with others. Your teen has friends that can help build them up, and friends that they can help encourage to be more like Christ. As a parent, we want to help them see their opportunities to be a great friend.
In this month’s reading plan, we want to help you walk through the book of 1 Samuel. This book has so many great stories of courage and failure. We hope this narrative story gives you knew inside into having courage in your own life. Because there are 31 chapters in this book you will be doing a little more reading this month.
Chapters 16-25 of 1 Samuel
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4).
Lord, even when I am afraid, I will trust You. I praise Your Word that You have given me. It is in You that I trust. Because of that, I will not be afraid. There is nothing anyone can do.
And we exhort you, brothers, and sisters: warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone (1 Thess. 5:14).
I was reading in 1 Thessalonians 5, and it challenges believers to warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. Which friends would you be willing to walk through challenging times with? What makes them special for you?
Who do you think has helped you grow the most as a Christian? What did they do to help encourage this growth?
For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine (Rom. 1:11-12).
This passage talks about being mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. What are some ways you can encourage your friends by your faith?
How can we as a family work to strengthen each other’s faith?
How important do you think community is when it comes to Christianity? Why do you think so?
How can we become more connected with other Christians in our lives?
If you or your teens are serving in your local church, this is something we want to encourage you to continue. Community is important for our faith’s health. One of the best ways to get connected in your local church is serving. Make time as a family to meet with a pastor on your staff to see what opportunities there are to serve separately or together as a family.