Parent Time
Wednesday PM, April 22: Beauty for Ashes - Wk4

MESSAGE VIDEO:
LIVE 6:15-6:45pm: fbclagrange.online.church
Playback: link

ZOOM GROUPS:
LIVE 6:45-7:15pm
Each small group will be meeting separately each week!
For all links and codes, click HERE

BOTTOM LINE:
If you’ve been affected by the SAVIOR,
your SYMPTOMS will be obvious.

Matthew 5:16
“In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

Other Scripture referenced in message: 
Romans 10:9; Deuteronomy 31:6; 1 John 3:18

We are hardwired to make quick decisions and judgment calls. If you are about to check out at the grocery store, with your stockpile of quarantine snacks, you don’t blindly choose your checkout lane. You probably compare the number of people in each line and multiply that by the age of the cashier. Then life has taught you to divide that number in half if you see a swollen coupon folder. These days there are added disqualifications given to the lanes with people who are not wearing masks or gloves. All this happens within about three seconds. Really these kinds of things (life skills) are happening all day every day.
The processors we have developed over time and experience tell us how to notice signs and symptoms. We learn to quickly know if something is real, fake, impressive, or normal. Jesus, on earth, is far from normal. When anyone sees and processes the actions of those who are following Jesus they will quickly take note. God tells us we will stand out and that people will know we are His! We know Jesus’ love, compassion, forgiveness, patience, and really every attribute He holds lands in the category of supernatural. Time with Him makes us like Him, not Him like us. He never changes. We are becoming love. We are becoming like Jesus and as we do the world will take note! The attributes of Jesus in us are more contagious than any virus! We actually want to be symptomatic of a person who is following Jesus! 
            
 
CONSIDER ASKING FOR CONVERSATION:
-What did you hear tonight? 
 
-What are some of the “symptoms” you think about when you think about a follower of Jesus?
This should be the easiest pull them in question. Push in and past the easy answers and dig into the ones that are challenging and create real talk! EXERCISE: after everyone tosses out their symptoms have them find in scripture where Jesus is the example of it. This teaches that things aren’t true just because we say they are.

-How does courage play a role in our everyday decisions as Jesus followers?
Hopefully you can help your family turn this corner. The idea here is to realize that it takes courage to be different everyday! TRUTH: Followers of Jesus make different decisions than the rest of the world. That is not as easy as it sounds and it takes courage to live out!
 
-If someone were to diagnose your life based off the symptoms they see, what do you believe their diagnosis would be? I know you may think this is one of those “step on your toes” questions but actually it is not. If it feels that way then I have bad aim. I am aiming at the heart for this, because this is an important gauge for all of us. The world around us needs for this answer to be that we are followers of our Lord Jesus!!
 
Read Matthew 5:16.  How can you make your faith shine bright this week? Is there anything you could be doing differently BECAUSE of the social distancing?
Really, how can they be thinking about Jesus and others? How can they encourage, help, love on someone else? Then take the time and energy that could easily be used to do something else and let love, joy, patience, and forgiveness shine! This brings glory to our God.

WORSHIP:
We create a playlist for each series on Spotify that has songs that go along with our messages!
Our staff has also compiled a playlist of our favorite worship songs for you!

BIBLE PLAN:
We are starting a new Bible plan on Youversion tonight that relates to this series. Click this link to join our group and read with us!

As a family… use this time of “distancing” to connect. Thank the people in your lives who are people who will love you well. Call out in you the areas that you need correcting! Pray for them and pray to be able to be that kind of person for someone else… pointing others toward Jesus!

THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING US WITH YOUR STUDENTS. WE PRAY THIS NIGHT AND THIS RESOURCE PROVIDES GREAT CONVERSATION THAT POINTS YOU ALL TOWARD CHRIST!
Amy Major
Student Ministries Assistant
706-975-4705
FBCLGstudents
207 W Haralson Street
LaGrange, Ga
706-884-5631
Cody Turner
Next Gen
Pastor
270-348-0221