Spiritual Mentoring of Teens

1

• Spiritual Mentoring of Teens
• Chapter 3
• Never Quit on a Child

2
Does this describe your teenager? (Y/N)

• ___ 1. Hes not very responsible at home and/or
  at school.
• ___ 2. She is moody (easily angered, upset, or
  frustrated)
• ___ 3. She is always on the phone with her
  friends.
• ___ 4. Sometimes she dresses inappropriately.
• ___ 5. He seems to listen more to his friends
  than me.
• ___ 6. She doesnt want to participate in family
  activities.
• ___ 7. He doesnt talk to me like like he used
  to.
• ___ 8. She doesnt think about her future
  enough.
• ___ 9. I wonder if he is thinking about being
  sexually active or trying drugs.

3
Finish the following sentences
regarding your Teen

• 1. I get a little frustrated when my Teen
  __________
• __________________________________________.
• 2. I become really angry when my Teen _________
• __________________________________________.
• 3. I remember a time I was ready to give up when
  ________________________________________.

4
Stages of Adolescence

• Whats Normal?

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13 Year Old The Baby

• Body changing quickly
• Hormones stirring
• Appearance
• Image
• Comparison with peers

• Open, naive
• Dependent, needy
• Easily upset
• Mood shifts
• Low attention span

6
14 Year Old The Dissenter

• Willful, argumentative
• Uncooperative
• Passionate
• Self-centered
• Inclined to tantrums
• Mood shifts (extreme)

7
15 Year Old The Fledgling

• Calmness
• Availability
• Desires to help others
• Sensitive to others
• Intelligence, cognitive development
• Conversation
• Learning

8
16 Year Old Sweet and Sour

• Values challenged
• New things are tried
• I know everything
• Sexuality
• Sweet to friends
• Sour to family

9
17 Year Old Romantic/novice

• Maturity stage
• Wants to be an adult
• Not able to be adult
• More sociable
• Connecting w/ people
• People as individuals
• Boyfriend/Girlfriend

10
18-21 Year Old World Leader

• Concerned about future, world, social causes
• Explore the world
• More independence
• Increase responsibility
• Forms own identity (Intellectual, rebel,
  crusader, etc)

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Summary of Teenager Traits

• Outward appearance is important
• Wants to have a sense of belonging
• Challenges the ways things are
• (rules, values)
• Influenced by peers
• Wants more independence, privacy
• Experiences shifts in moods

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Not all Teens are Rebels According to Researcher
George Barna

• 70 have daily conversations with mothers
• 53 with their fathers
• 92 are happy
• 91 are responsible
• 77 important to have clear purpose in life
• 56 (church) make a difference in this world
• Praise God, but its no time to Coast

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7 Habits of Highly Relentless Parents

• 1. Pray, Pray, Pray
• - pray without ceasing 1 Thessalonians
  517
• - Pray for the child and yourself
• 2. Choose to be active and involved (personally
  and spiritually)
• - Attend childs activities (sports, music,
  dance, etc)
• - Go out for ice cream or meals together

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7 Habits of Highly Relentless Parents (contd)

• 3. Dont take No for an answer too easily
• - Be persistent without being pushy
• - Be discerning as to WHEN is the best time to
  talk
• 4. Show our heavenly Fathers steadfast love
• - Though the mountains be shaken and the
  hills be be moved, yet My unfailing love for
  you will not be shaken Isaiah 5410
• - Let Gods faithfulness and love for you be
  the model to express and demonstrate love
  for your child.

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7 Habits of Highly Relentless Parents (contd)

• 5. Renew your mercies every day
• (Lamentations 322-23)
• - Just as Gods mercy toward us is constant,
  so should our mercy to our teen be.
• - If last nights argument was talked out and
  resolved, leave it behind.
• 6. Nurture yourself as you nurture your teen
• - Guard your own spiritual, emotional, and
  physical health.
• - Develop a network of supportive family and
  friends

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7 Habits of Highly Relentless Parents contd

• 7. Resolve to Never, Ever give up
• - No matter how frustrated, angry,
  disappointed, stressed out, exhausted you
  may be, resolve to be the best mom or dad
  you can be.
• - Be relentless, make it a commitment to God
• Let us not become weary in doing good, for at
  the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do
  not give up (Galations 69)

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Which of the 7 Habits do you need more of?

• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
• Ask God to help you develop these habits

18

• Chapter 4
• The Goal of Spiritual Training

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What should we desire for our teen spiritually?

• A personal, vibrant relationship with Jesus
• A head filled with wisdom from Scripture
• Skill in filtering through Christian worldview
• Ability to articulate and defend the Bible
• A desire to make Christ known through Life, Work,
  Service, and Witness

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Teens Traits of Great Parents, Pt. 2

• Loving acceptance, concerned with all areas of
  childs life
• encouraging presence
• Truly cares about whether their child succeeds
• Cares enough to tell a child he/she is wrong
• Genuine, honest, insightful in understanding
  where their
• child is at (emotionally, spiritually)
• Set the rules and make clear the purpose of them
• Share their own struggles as teens
• Are real with their teens, showing they are doing
  their best to walk with Christ also.

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Teens Advice to Parents About Nurturing
Spiritual Growth, Pt. 2

• Take a proactive role in your kids (earlier start
  the better)
• Equip them to study the Bible for themselves
• Be a good example of Christ in and out of church
• Need personal time to nurture their spiritual
  development
• Build up your teens and make them confident

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Why do you want your child to be spiritually
mentored?

• How can you help build up your childs faith?