The Sword and the Trowel: August 2009

1. Authentic Faith
This checkpoint focuses on a correct understanding of faith. Faith is confidence that God is who He says He is and that He will do all He has promised to do.
Principle: God can be trusted; He will do all He has promised to do.
Critical Question: Are your students trusting God with the critical areas of their life?
Key Passage: Proverbs 3:5-6

2. Spiritual Disciplines
The focus of this checkpoint is a student's devotional life. The apostle Paul assures us that transformation begins with a renewed mind. As students begin to renew their minds to the truths of Scripture, their attitudes and behavior will change.
Principle: If we could see as God sees, we would do as God says.
Critical Question: Are your students developing a consistent devotional and prayer life?
Key Passage: Romans 12:2

3. Moral Boundaries
Purity paves the way to intimacy. One of the most important things a student can do is establish limits. Students need to learn how to protect their body and emotions by honoring God's plan for sex and morality.
Principle: Purity paves the way to intimacy.
Critical Question: Are your students establishing and maintaining moral boundaries?
Key Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

4. Healthy Friendships
The people our students associate with the most will determine the direction and quality of their lives. This principle focuses on helping our teenagers build healthy friendships while avoiding unhealthy ones.
Principle: Our friends determine the direction and quality of our lives.
Critical Question: Are your students establishing healthy friendships and avoiding unhealthy ones?
Key Passage: Proverbs 13:20

5. Wise Choices
In light of past experience and future dreams, students need to ask themselves "What is the wise thing to do?" Good decision making is more than simply choosing between right and wrong. This principle focuses on the necessity of wisdom in decision making.
Principle: Walk wisely.
Critical Question: Are your students making wise decisions?
Key Passage: Ephesians 5:15-17

6. Ultimate Authority
Freedom and authority are often viewed as opposing concepts. But the Scriptures teach that freedom is found under authority. This principle focuses on the need for students to stay under the authorities that God has placed over them.
Principle: Maximum freedom is found under God's authority.
Critical Question: Are your students submitting to the authorities God has placed over them?
Key Passage: Romans 13:1-2

7. Others First
Selfishness comes natural. Selflessness must be learned. The hallmark of a believer is his or her willingness to put the needs of others ahead of their own. This principle addresses our student's propensity toward selfishness and self-centeredness. Principle: Others First
Critical Question: Are your students putting the needs of others ahead of their own?
Key Passage: Philippians 2:3-11

Tuesday

Pray For Our Students...

12 Ways to Pray for Young People
From the message, "What Parents Owe Their Children" by John Maxwell

1. Pray that they will know Christ as Savior early in life.

2. Pray that they will have a hatred for sin.

3. Pray that they will be caught when guilty.

4. Pray that they will be protected from the evil one in each area of their lives: spiritual, emotional, and physical.

5. Pray that they will have a responsible attitude in all of their interpersonal relationships.

6. Pray that they will respect those in authority over them.

7. Pray that they will desire the right kind of friends and be protected from the wrong kind of friends.

8. Pray that they, as well as their mate, will be pure until marriage.

9. Pray that they will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one.

10. Pray that they will totally submit to God and actively resist satan in all circumstances.

11. Pray that they will be single hearted, willing to be sold out to Jesus Christ.

12. Pray that they will be hedged in so that they cannot find their way to the wrong people and wrong places and that the wrong people cannot find their way to them

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