Brothers & Sisters

We had a really great time yesterday during our Scavenger Hunt @ Ikea! "Team LesLee" won in a landslide. Check out the Relevant Tampa Facebook Group for photos!

At Youth Ignition Live, we kicked off a three-week series called "Family Drama." This Sunday, we focused on James 3:1-12 and the critical nature of the words we speak and the way we say them. We zeroed in on the brothers and sisters God gave us and how we can daily build them up or tear them down, often thoughtlessly.

The book of James is filled with wisdom that can help us grow into mature, passionate followers of Jesus. One of James' recurring themes is taming the tongue; it's an extension of his broader emphasis on demonstrating our belief through our behavior.

We talked with our middle schoolers about the positive power of the tongue -- we receive encouragement and support from positive words from friends and family members. We encouraged our students to practice God's gift of self-control with their brothers and sisters, particularly in how they react to common conflict.

This week, I encourage you to spend some time talking with your young person about the tongue. Here are some questions you might want to incorporate:

Why does it seem like so many people have challenges getting along with their brothers and sisters?

How have someone else's words encouraged you recently? Why did those words make such a difference?

What would family members, friends, and neighbors think if they saw you speaking more positively or getting along with your brothers or sisters more than you currently do?

Thanks for allowing your teenager to be involved in our small group ministry. Have a fantastic week!