Deepen Relationships w/ parents of teens

Greater Theme: Deepening our dependance on Jesus

The theme of YWW 2025 is “Deepen,” looking at John 15 and Colossians 2:6-7 as passages that show our dependence on Jesus. We would like you to specifically share for the first session on Sunday morning (January 19th) on how leaders can deepen their relationship with the parents of students who are involved in ministry. The desire from the planning team is to have our leaders move past the small talk/casual stage and to set intentional goals for those times they connect with the students in their congregation.

Here are some details for you to consider:

The planning team would like you to lead one of our Sunday morning sessions (55 minute duration). The breakdown of that time would be about 35 minutes of teaching/training, allowing for around 15-20 minutes for discussion questions for our table groups to talk over together. 

Regarding compensation, we would like to offer you $125 for your session. Additionally, we will cover reasonable mileage to the retreat. You are also welcome to spend as much of the weekend with us as you’d like—your registration is waived for the whole weekend— recognizing that ministry responsibilities may call you back early.

The dates for YWW 2025 are January 17-19. The location for the retreat is 2372 30th Ave, Osceola, WI 54020.

John 15 ESV

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Colossians 2:6–7 ESV

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

God as our Heavenly Parent

Father:

Parable of the Running Father

Luke 15:11–32 ESV

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

Mother:

Isaiah 49:15–16 ESV

15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. 16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.

compassion - Heb. racham is related to “womb”

Matthew 23:37 ESV

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

Adoption language

Psalm 27:10 ESV

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.

“sons and daughters”

Questions:

In what ways is God like a parent/father/mother? How do the Scriptures describe Him in this way?

How does it make you feel that God loves you like a parent/father/mother?

In what ways is God like our earthly parents? In what ways is He different?

What does it tell you that God loves your teens as a parent?

God at work through parents

Ken Caster said yesterday that parenting is “God’s #1 plan for discipleship.”

Deuteronomy 6:1–9 ESV

1 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, 2 that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Baptism vows & understanding the calling/vocation of parents

Parenting in a dangerous world.

A Holy calling for sinful & weak people

Questions:

What responsibilities has God given to parents?

What kinds of challenges are parents facing in raising their kids? (Compare their kids challenges and their personal challenges.)

Putting yourself in their shoes, how would you feel as you consider the great responsibilities of caring for a precious child of God, created in His image? And being responsible for leading them to eternal life?

How would you want someone to treat your precious child? Physically? Emotionally? Spiritually?

How would you feel if someone put your child in danger? Physically, emotionally, or spiritually?

Your role in relation to parents

Understanding the love they have for their children & the sense of fear/worry/concern they WILL have for them. This can help you understand when they may get defensive, angry, or try to control the situation their child is in.

Building trust through open, regular, and thorough communication.

Collaboration. You are not the primary ministers to their children. They are. You will not have much success if you are working against them.

Adopting orphans.

Parents aren’t perfect. Being understanding of where parents are at and meeting them there to help them.

TR Halvorson story

Questions:

What ways can you show parents that you are keeping their child safe?

What ways can you show parents that you are on their team?

What ways can you come along side parents to help them fulfill their God given responsibilities of leading their child to faith in Christ, establishing them in the Word, and giving them a Christian example to follow?