Student Quest was a blast yesterday!  It’s always fun when school is back in full swing and all of our families who disappear over the summer return!  It’s like a giant family reunion at church!  We were in week two of a five week series working through the five purposes behind our student ministry purpose statement.  We’re using a series from the Live Curriculum from Simply Youth Ministry called ‘A Well Rounded Faith’ as a launching point for the series.  These purposes are specifically tied to our student ministry purpose state, ‘we are a real people in love with a real God, making a real difference in the world.’  This week’s lesson on fellowship specifically to how we are real people.

This week we continued our small group series on the five biblical purposes, with a lesson on connecting through fellowship. Chris Z taught the high school group while I was with the middle school group. We looked at some of Paul’s instructions on how we can live together as the body of Christ. In Philippians, Paul actually addressed a conflict that had arisen between two active believers. Paul encouraged them and others around them to achieve reconciliation because he understood that the church works better in harmony and unity.

We used Philippians 4:2-3 to address the commitment that true community may require and to acknowledge that friendships are important but can be messy. We also examined Philippians 2:1-4, to find Paul’s guidance on how to create authentic, caring community by being like-minded and by putting others’ needs and interests before our own.

When the opportunity presents itself this week, take a few minutes to talk with your student about being connected to others. Here are some questions that could help fuel your conversation:

• Are you experiencing the kind of friendship and community that Paul writes about in Philippians?
• What role does conflict play in achieving harmony in relationships?
• How can conflict strengthen a friendship? What are the keys to turning tough times into friendship-enhancers?

Consider asking your teenager about a time or a situation where conflict arose in a friendship and if the issue was ever resolved. Be willing to reflect on your relationships and the effort it takes to make them work—and the best example might be your relationship with your own teenager!

Have a blessed day, and be encouraged as you ponder and discuss the value of healthy friendships and healthy relationships!