Hi Small Group Leaders! We’re kicking off a new series this week called More Than Friends. In this series, we’re talking about what dating, relationships, and even breakups look like for your students, encouraging them to make wise choices when it comes to all three. We’re praying for you as you lead them.
WEEK ONE SUMMARY: Feb. 25
Whether you want to date someone or are dating someone, one thing is true: When you’re in high school, dating is on your mind. But for all the time we spend thinking about it, as soon as we actually start dating, the thinking tends to stop. This week, we’ll discover that the best thing we can do for ourselves and our dating relationships is to keep thinking.
BOTTOM LINE
Dating is great, but thinking is better.
THE GOAL OF SMALL GROUP
To help students begin to think clearly and long-term when it comes to their current or future dating relationships.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES & SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver” (Judges 16:4-5 NIV).
“How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it (Judges
16:15-16 NIV).
1.Do people at your school use the term dating? If so, what does that mean? If no, what terms do they use?
2.Whether you’re dating someone or not, what percentage of time do you spend thinking about it?
3.Why do you think the average high schooler wants to date?
4.Whether you’re dating someone or not, how does being obsessed with someone lead you to use poor judgment?
5.Do you think it’s possible for someone to be a good person, but not a good person for you to date? Why or why not?
6.God made you and has something great in mind for you. How could a dating relationship help or hinder the non-dating parts of your life today and in your future?
DEVOTIONAL
As Christians, we all know that there’s a difference between the way the world tells us to live and the way that God wants us to live. While the world tells us to pursue success at all costs, God tells us instead to pursue His righteousness. When the world says that having more will make us happy, God says that humility helps pave the way toward contentment. And when the world says that we should give in to temptations and self-indulgence, God says that trusting His plan and walking the path He sets for us are best.
The list could go on and on.
With all those conflicting messages coming, it can make following God’s path and plan difficult to do. With all the temptation urging us toward the way of the world, how do we choose instead the life God wants for us?
Take a look at what Paul had to say about it:
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will (Romans 12:2 NIV).
The pattern of this world is tempting, but it’s ultimately not the good, pleasing, and perfect will that God has for our lives. And isn’t that the thing we all really and truly want? To get there, we have to make the conscious choice to turn away from what the world offers and instead turn toward what God offers. We have to throw off our worldly perspective and allow God to renew our minds with His perspective. We have to be saturated in God’s truth and light.
What’s one pattern of the world you’re either struggling to break away from or tempted to follow? This week, take one step to renew your mind and turn toward God’s will. Memorize a verse, ask for accountability, or bring it to light in prayer.
QUOTE
“Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you.” —John Maxwell