Unsung Hero

Objective
Parents will interact with the youth leader(s) about parenting teenagers and how the youth ministry can partner with them in that process.

Warm Up
Fill In The Blanks – Start your Parent’s Meeting off by having several volunteers fill in the missing words for each of these sentences:

• When I was 15, I thought that my parents were________ and my friends were ________.
• If I give my teenager a task to do, I can anticipate that he or she will say:
• As a teenager, my parents thought I was ________, but I was really ________.

Transition
Explain that navigating the teen world can be daunting, as it is both the same and very different from the teen world you experienced. This ministry wants to be a resource for you. We see your child in a different realm, and we can be your partner – in cahoots with you to develop hoped-for values for your kids.

The Video
Say something like, “The way your kids see you now is not the way they will think of you in the future. But, there IS hope that they will grow up and mature into adults who value you and your role with them. This video by For KING & COUNTRY offers a glimpse into your future. Pay attention to the message of the images and the lyrics.” Play the video.

Transition
What an emotional video! When the guys showed it to their mom, her response was very touching. You can watch that response here.

Explain that the parents in your meeting truly are “unsung heroes” – especially during their children’s teenaged years. Someday their kids will appreciate their parents!

Discussion
Generate some discussion about the role of the youth ministry and the church in raising teenagers. Here are some suggested questions:

• What do you appreciate about the youth ministry?
• How has this church helped your family?
• What do you hope the youth ministry can do for your kids? Your family?
• What do you think the role of the youth ministry should be?
• What do you wish the youth ministry would do more? Less?

Bible Study
Include this short devotional to enlighten the parents about what you are both wanting to accomplish.

1 Timothy 4:12 – “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
“Set an example” – We both want our teenagers to show a watching world what God is like. We hope our kids will be examples of godliness that will encourage and impress others in these areas:

• Speech – How a person talks does “say” a lot about his or her heart. (Luke 6:45) We encourage teenagers to avoid talking one way at church, another way at home, and even another way at school or around friends. Those who control what they say are examples of godliness.
• Conduct – There is tremendous pressure in the teenage world to conform to differing standards and compromise behavior to fit into the situation. We hope that our young people will have integrity with godly conduct in every situation.
• Love – Teenagers are naturally selfish, but love is the commitment to lay aside one’s desires to serve others. Love is THE value our families and ministry promote above all others.
• Faith – This area is one in which godly teenagers can teach a thing or two to adults. Kids are far more willing to take risks and step out in faith than many grownups.
• Purity – Purity is not a high value in the sensuality-saturated world our kids inhabit. But it is for us. We encourage teenagers to, as Peter wrote, “be holy in all that you do.” (1 Peter 1:16)

Wrap Up
Hand out the “So, Now You Own A Teenager” chapter from Rick & Dain’s Immensely Helpful & Sure-Fire Parenting Tips book. (Rick Bundschuh is a long-time Team interlínc member, a legendary youth leader, cartoonist, and pastor of Kauai Christian Fellowship. Dain Spore is one of the teaching pastors there.) Reiterate that you want to be a resource for the parents and a coworker with them in encouraging their teenagers to be godly people.

After you close in prayer, be sure to make yourself available to talk with any parent who might want some personal interaction.

Playlist
This song is featured on “The Linc: Family; Parents” Spotify playlist – which is the perfect way to remind your students what you’ve taught them in this session. To share it with them, click the live link on the web version of this study.