It's Not Wrong, but...

What our series "Siri-ously" is all about

We ask Siri thousands of questions every day, but she can’t tell us what to do about the things that matter most.  What if there was a question that could answer just about everything?

It’s Not Wrong, but…

We already know what we should do when something is “wrong,” we shouldn’t do it.  But there is a vast collection of things that aren’t technically wrong, but that just aren’t very wise.  This is why asking “what’s the wise thing?” helps us make better choices consistently, because more often than not big regrets follow a series of amoral, yet unwise, choices.  

1 Corinthians 10:23 encourages us to do only that which is beneficial, even though more options are allowed.  And for teenagers, some guidance from their parents and a small group leader can really help.

The Point: Asking "what's the wise thing?" helps us choose only the paths that make us stronger

At Home Suggestions

Talk with your teens about your willingness to help them make wise choices.  Explain to them that the more you can trust them to be wise, the fewer rules you have to make for them.  This may turn on a light bulb in your Middle Schooler!

Read Proverbs 13:10  Arrogance leads to nothing but strife, but wisdom is gained by those who take advice. (HCSB)

Ask: What is arrogance?  What is strife?  Why do those things go hand in hand?  According to this verse, where does wisdom come from?  How have you seen either of these two things play out in real life?

Explain that arrogance is pride, belief that you have it all together.  Strife is conflict, contention, and pain.  If we never listen to good advice, it eventually leads to difficulty.  But if we listen to those who offer me Godly advice, we gain wisdom.

Pray that everyone in your family would be willing to listen to godly advice so that you can all make wise choices.

The Wisest Choice

What our series "Siri-ously" is all about:

We ask Siri thousands of questions every day, but she can’t tell us what to do about the things that matter most.  What if there was a question that could answer just about everything?

The Wisest Choice

We have been learning to make wise decisions when it comes to the situations that life throws at us, but how unwise would it be to not make a decision when it comes to our eternity.  We are all born into sin, which is why Jesus says in John 3:3 that “Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  We need a new citizenship, and since we didn’t behave our way into being born in sin, we don’t behave our way into the Kingdom of God.  We need a Savior to forgive us.  And that forgiveness has come through Jesus; all we need to do is accept it.

This Weeks Point: Accepting Christ's forgiveness is the wisest choice you will ever make.

At Home Suggestions

Talk with your kids about your own relationship with Jesus.  If you know they are Christians, encourage them to follow and be reminded of what He has done for us.  If you don’t know or are unsure, encourage them to put their trust in Him.

Read Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (HCSB)

Ask: What does it mean to be “declared righteous”?  How are we declared righteous?  What is the result of being declared righteous?

Explain that to be declared righteous means that even though we sinned, God’s perfect Son took our place so that we could be made right in God’s eyes.  This happens not by our good works, but by our faith in His sacrifice.  When we do this, we finally have peace with God.

Pray that all of your loved ones would make the wisest choice ever by accepting the forgiveness that only comes from Jesus Christ.

Meant to be Broken

What our series "Siri-ously" is all about

We ask Siri thousands of questions every day, but she can’t tell us what to do about the things that matter most.  What if there was a question that could answer just about everything?

Meant to be Broken

 

No one lik es rules, especially if we don’t understand why they are there.  God makes rules, but it’s hard to follow them if we just think of them as stuff He expects us to do.  In Matthew 7:24 Jesus says “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” (NLT)  He says that doing what Jesus has said to do is going to be wise.  That it’s going to have positive outcomes in my life, my relationships, and my faith.  Following God’s commands, even if we don’t always understand why, is the best step toward wisdom in our lives.

The Point: God tells us what's right because He knows it's wise

At Home Suggestions

Talk to your kids about one rule you have that they don’t really like.  Talk about why they don’t like it, and why you believe it needs to be a rule.  Don’t let this become a complaining session, keep it to one rule, and don’t feel like you have to convince them.  Simply remind them that you make all your rules to protect them or to make them better people.

Read Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (HCSB)

Ask: What does “fear of the Lord” mean?  What do you think he means when he says the “beginning of wisdom”?  How can doing the right thing be the first step toward making really wise choices?

Explain that the way he uses the word “fear” here means more like respect.  If we respect an authority, we follow their rules.  But we don’t just follow God because He said so, we follow because that is how we learn to make wise choices.  Each one of His rules is for ourbenefit. 

Pray that your family would listen and follow Jesus’ teachings.

Ask It

What our series "Siri-ously" is all about

We ask Siri thousands of questions every day, but she can’t tell us what to do about the things that matter most.  What if there was a question that could answer just about everything?

Ask It

The concept for this series comes from Andy Stanley’s book “Ask it” which helps us all understand the power of choices.  Ephesians 5:15-17 says “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (NIV)  This means that God wants us to walk with wisdom, to let that guide every opportunity, every invitation, and every decision.  If we ask the question “In light of my past experience, my current circumstances, and my future hopes and dreams, what’s the wise thing for me to do?” we almost always see (sometimes with painful clarity) exactly what we should do next.

This Week's Point: Ask yourself "what's the wise thing for me to do?"

At Home Suggestions

Talk with your teens about how important you think wisdom is.  Tell them something you might have done differently at their stage in life had you asked yourself this question.

Read Proverbs 1:20-33.  In this passage “wisdom” is personified as a woman shouting out in the streets with one last warning.

Ask: That was a long passage, but what do you think it was saying?  Do you listen to wisdom?  What happens when we don’t?  How can you make more wise choices in the future?

Explain that there comes a time when, after making enough foolish choices in a row, we all run up against consequences.  And nobody likes consequences.   But wise people heed the warnings that God gives, follow them, and then have fewer regrets.

   

Pray that your family would make the wise choice.