Labels

     We finished up our Wednesday night series entitled "Identity" by taking a look at the labels that we sometimes place on others. We discussed how if labeled a certain way over and over again, that is the image that they begin to see in the mirror, so we need to be careful in regards to the way that we talk to and about people.

      We also talked about how the labels we can place on people can tarnish the fact that they are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). We also encouraged the students to examine their speech towards others in light of how Paul encourages us to speak in Ephesians 4:29.

Here are some questions you might want to use as you talk with your teenager about this week's lesson:

Why does it seem to come so naturally to label people?

What are some of the ways you have seen people labeled?

How are some of the ways that you have been labeled?

How have you been guilty of labeling someone?

Hello, My Name Is...

     This past Wednesday night, we kicked off our first series of the year which we are calling Identity. We are taking the next 3 weeks to take a look at our self esteem and the Biblical Truth behind what we should see when we look in the mirror. We started off the series by having the students take an honest look at what they see when they look in the mirror, both the good and the bad. Then we had them examine that in the light of what Psalm 139 tells us. We encouraged them to stop believing the lies that they are not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, athletic enough, etc. and begin to see themselves as God sees them; as His creation specifically made the way He desired them to be.

     Here are some of the small group questions that we used to facilitate some discussion after the challenge.

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

What are some things that you LOVE about yourself?

What is one thing you wish you could change about yourself?

What lies do you tend to believe about yourself? Why do you think you hear those things?