YOG - February 21, 2024

Intro

Puzzling Question

I’m tall when I’m young, I’m short when I’m old. What am I?

a candle

What is so fragile that saying its name breaks it?

silence

Two Truths and a Lie Select a student to go next week

Open in Prayer

Lesson

Intro

How important is family to you?

How do you treat your family?

What words would you use to describe your family?

Can you remember a time that you would say your parents were maybe “MOST PROUD” of you?

Scripture

Read Prov 30:11-12

Proverbs 30:11–12 CSB

There is a generation that curses its father and does not bless its mother. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filth.

What do you think this passage is telling us?

What is respect?

How do you show respect to your family?

(use kind and loving words towards parents, other ways?)

Read Prov 15:20 . How can you bring more joy to your family?

Proverbs 15:20 CSB

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

What is joy? Is it the same thing as happiness?

How can you bring more joy to your family?

from the text: seek wisdom and not foolishness. But students should have answers personal to their situation)

How do the following verses say that you can bring shame to your parents?

Prov 10:5 / 28:7 / 30:17

Proverbs 10:5 CSB

The son who gathers during summer is prudent; the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.

Proverbs 28:7 CSB

A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.

Proverbs 30:17 CSB

As for the eye that ridicules a father and despises obedience to a mother, may ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures eat it.

Read Prov 17:20-22 .

Proverbs 17:20–22 CSB

One with a twisted mind will not succeed, and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin. A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy. A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

What 3 things bring sorrow to the heart?

How do these verses relate to living in a family?

Read Prov 24:28-29 .

Proverbs 24:28–29 CSB

Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips. Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me; I’ll repay the man for what he has done.”

What does this Proverb have to say about getting revenge?

How does refusing to ‘get revenge’ on a sibling (or even an enemy) reflect the wisdom and heart of God? (see also Romans 12:19 “Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” )

Read Mark 3:31-35

Mark 3:31–35 CSB

His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent word to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him and told him, “Look, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside asking for you.” He replied to them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” Looking at those sitting in a circle around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus says a rather shocking statement about family. Who does Jesus say are his mother and brothers? (whoever does his will)

How does this verse encourage someone who is struggling with relationships within their own biological family?

(Leaders: you can also emphasize the blessing of belonging to the body of Christ, the family of God, as an encouragement for those students who find family life difficult)

Application:

No family is perfect – not matter what it may look like on the outside.

What things (or wisdom) can you apply from the study tonight that you can put into practice to be a blessing to your family?

Close in Prayer