The Family Table
Feeding the Faith of LEFC Families
TFT: Why Is My Teenager Feeling Like This?
November 5, 2023
Dear LEFC Parents,
Here are items to set the table for family discipleship in your home this week:
“Jump Boots” and Jesus?
Has your child been following the adventures of TJ and Tory on the Tiny Theologians Podcast (which we recommended on The Family Table)? In their most recent episode, they have made it to the letter J in the ABC’s of God’s attributes. If your kids listen in, they will hear a jinormous jumping jumble of J-words. It’s really fun! And they will also get a clearer idea of what justice is and how committed our Lord is to it. One of the great things about podcasting is that earlier episodes are all still available, as well.
Help Deck the Halls?
Does your family like to decorate for Christmas? Maria Jackson is gathering a team of people to ready the church building for the Christmas season and is wondering what day/time works best. She is considering either Monday November 27 or Wednesday November 29th (5:30-7:00). Let Maria know in person or participate in this one question online poll to help her plan.
Resisting Gossip on YouVersion
Do you or your teen use the YouVersion mobile app? CLC Ministries has recently produced a 7-day devotional based on Pastor Matt’s book, Resisting Gossip, for YouVersion users. This might be a good conversation starter for you and your teen.
Challenge Conference – Advanced Planning
The 2024 Challenge Conference has been announced for July 1-5 in Kansas City. We’d love to send a group from LEFC as we have in past years. To do that we need interested youth (grades 7-12) and willing adult leaders. That seems like a long time from now, but it will be here before we know it. (Read more about Challenge on the official conference website.)
Snack and Yack
When the auditorium empties after worship, girls and boys (grades 3ish-7ish) who listened to the sermon (remember to fill out a handout!) are invited to Pastor Matt’s office for a tasty treat and a brief discussion with one of the LEFC elders and their wives (and sometimes guest preachers?!) about the message. Parents, if you would like to help host the discussion by providing the snack, see Holly Crumrine to get involved.
And for dessert…
Our recommendation for family discipleship this week is a set of books created to help teens (and their folks) deal with anxiety and depression. Theologian, author, pastor, and counselor David Murray has written a book for parents. Why Is My Teenager Feeling Like This?, and a book for the teens themselves, Why Do I Feel This Way?
For being about something so heavy, the chapters are actually fairly enjoyable. Murray introduces 18 different fictional teens (drawn from real-life composites) and their stories of dealing with anxiety and depression. Most teens can probably see themselves in at least one of the examples and hear about the hope and help available through biblical truth. It’s not an alternative to good counseling or necessary medical attention, but an insightful companion to them. The parents’ book goes deeper into how to talk with your teens about their feelings as well as discussion questions, prayers, and Bible verses for memorization.
Publisher’s Page for Parent Book – Includes Chapter 1
Publisher’s Page for Teen Book – Includes Chapter 1
FamilyLife Today Interviews with the Author
Pastor Matt has copies of these books in his office and would be glad to lend them out if they might help your family.
Matt Mitchell, Pastor
Holly Crumrine, 2023 Family Ministries Coordinator
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EXPLAINER: THE GOSPEL PROJECT AT HOME
For the last several years, our Children’s Church ministry has utilized The Gospel Project as our Bible study curriculum. The Gospel Project is really excellent–it takes our Little Learners and Bible Explorers chronologically through the whole Bible over the course of three years while always focusing on Jesus as the center of the big story. If your student was in Little Learners or Bible Explorers this morning, they received a coloring page and take-home sheet that corresponds to this lesson. You have also been given a full-color Big Picture Card that you can use to reinforce the lesson with your child, as well.
To reinforce what your kids are learning each week in Children’s Church, you can now access The Gospel Project At Home online. Each week in this email, there will be a link to follow to get this free resource which includes:
1. A guide to using the Gospel Project at Home.
2. Scripture to read and discuss with a recap video of the Bible Story (Preschool and/or Elementary).
3. Scripture memory verses and a song to sing together.
4. Prayer prompts and family activities that correspond to the lesson.
Please consider setting aside at least 10-15 minutes once a week for a family devotional time using this resource as a guide. We are hoping The Gospel Project At Home will help keep all of our LEFC kids “on the same page,” and feed their faith in Jesus.
This might be especially helpful if for some reason your child has to miss a week of Children’s Church. You can show them the Bible story video to keep them up to speed on what the other children are learning.
**Note: The first time you access the link, you will need to register a free account with Lifeway’s Ministry Grid. This will also provide you ongoing access through the “training” tab to many other discipleship resources including the Gospel Project at Home for previous weeks. Many hours of excellent things to absorb for free!