KNOWN SS Parent Discussion Guide- Nov 09

Family Matters
A Study on Family

A Guide for Parents


Note: There is a free KNOWN Parent Podcast available at www.lifeway.com/known—just follow the podcast link. You can subscribe to the podcast for free or just listen online.

Use the following information and questions to reinforce the truths of this month of Bible study at home. Use one or two of the discussion starters to begin a conversation. Look for teachable moments—at home, in the car, or at a game. Pray and ask God to provide you opportunities to have spiritual conversations with your teenager(s).

Session 1
Family Is God’s Idea — Genesis 2:18-24, Deuteronomy 6:4-9
THE QUESTION
Why did God create the family?
THE POINT
The family is God’s unique environment for nurturing our development.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
What’s the purpose of a family anyway?
When did God decide that family was a good idea?
What are the benefits of being a part of a family?
On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best/very close), how close do you feel to your family?
What could we do as a family that would help us grow closer?
What could we do to help us (and you) grow spiritually within our family?
What role does following God’s will play in your family?

Session 2
Planned For You — Romans 8:28; Genesis 37:1-11; Genesis 45:4-15
THE QUESTION
Why am I in this family?
THE POINT
God is working out His purposes through your family circumstances.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
What do you think is God’s plan for our family?
What do you think is God’s plan for you within our family?
How has God used difficult situations within our family for good?
Is there such a thing as a perfect family? Why or why not?
What are some difficult situations we have faced as a family in the last year?
How have you been able to see God working through those situations?
How have you seen God bring restoration within our family?
What relationship within our family do you feel you need God’s help with right now?



Session 3
Your Responsibility — Ephesians 6:1-4; Exodus 20:12; Genesis 4:1-10
THE QUESTION
What are my responsibilities to my family?
THE POINT
God calls us to honor and respect family members.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
As a teenager, why is it important for you to obey your parents?
What does it mean to honor your parents?
When do you stop obeying your parents?
Is there ever a time in life when you stop honoring your parents?
What do you think the Bible means when it says you will live long if you obey your parents?
Why is it important to show respect to other family members?
What does it mean to you to show respect?
What are some ways you can show respect to family members?
In what ways can we show respect on a daily basis to our family members?

Session 4
Choices Matter — 1 Samuel 2:12,22-25,31-36; 2 Timothy 1:3-9
THE QUESTION
Do my choices affect my family?
THE POINT
Your decisions have lasting impact.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
How could the choices you make affect our family?
What are some choices you have made that had the opposite affect on our family than what you thought they would? What happened?
What are some choices that we make as a family that could have a negative impact on our family?
What are some choices that we make as a family that could that have a positive impact on our family?
What do you think we could do to help us make good choices so that our family is affected in a positive way?
What are some of the choices we have made as a family that have had a positive impact in your life?

From Living with Teenagers
Healthy Families
The strength of the home will not exceed the strength of the primary caregivers in the home. When faith is not rooted firmly and deeply in the home, the enemy is winning the battle to keep us away from God. We must re-establish the home as the primary place where faith is nurtured because God’s idea for passing faith to the next generation is through the family.

As parents, we are role models whether we like it or not and our faith is caught more than it is taught. So how do we strengthen our home in a way that has a positive influence on our children?

This is a preview of the full article available in the November 2009 issue of Living with Teenagers magazine.

Living with Teenagers is a monthly magazine designed to provide relevant information, practical ideas, and biblical encouragement to parents of teenagers. Go to www.lifeway.com/magazines and click on the Living with Teenagers link under "Parenting.”