This week, we looked at one of the strangest (and one of the most disturbing) passages in the Bible, where Paul is writing a letter to the church in Corinth. Corinth was a multicultural city with multiple religions where the prevailing attitude was "If it feels good, do it". In short, it was like Las Vegas--only sleazier. When people first heard about Jesus and formed the church in Corinth, all of a sudden the Christians had to figure out how to follow Jesus while living in such a sin-sick environment. We have the same problem today. As Christians surrounded by people of different religions and values, where temptation is everywhere, following Jesus and living the way God wants us to do can be SUPER HARD.
The church in Corinth was pretty messed up. The Christians were still involved in idol worship, they were getting drunk off communion wine and they had even allowed temple prostitution to creep its way into the church (the pagan religions at the time were known for having sex in church as worship to their gods). In 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, Paul writes about a particular situation he got wind of-- a man in the church was sleeping with his stepmother (yes, the Bible has some racy stuff inside it). While Paul says that this was shameful, he was more shocked at how everybody in the church was minding their own business. Nobody talked to the guy about the way he was living his life, instead they just gossiped about it until the news traveled to Paul (over 500 kilometers away) at a time where there were no phones or Internet. Paul wrote to the church saying, "Shouldn't this break your hearts? Shouldn't it bring you to your knees in tears? Shouldn't this person and his conduct be confronted and dealt with?
The way we can best survive while living in a sin-sick culture is by being a part of a community that really cares for our well-being, where we can surround ourselves with people who look out for us and encourage us. The mark of a true friend is someone willing to confront someone you care about (in a loving way) and to do whatever you can to steer them in the right direction. That's why getting together as the church is so important. That's why a community of Christian teens is important. We need to surround ourselves with friends who ACTUALLY care about us physically and spiritually. Do we have friends like that? Are WE friends like that?
According to the Bible, friendship means minding EACH OTHERS' business. It means looking our for each other. It means having each others' back. What kind of person turns a blind eye to a "friend" who is in need or in trouble? What kind of person stays silent when their "friend" is making destructive choices?
DISCUSSION:
1. Take a look at these Bible verses with your teen and ask them what it means to them:
-Proverbs 27:10- "Never abandon a friend—either yours or
your father’s."
-Proverbs 27:17- "As
iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, "Two
people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one
person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is
in real trouble."
Proverbs 27:5,
"Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. Faithful are the
wounds of a friend".
Galatians 6:1-2, Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:1-2, Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
2. If you had a piece of spinach stuck in your teeth, would you want someone to tell you or stay silent? If you stunk REALLY bad, would you want your "friends" to tell you? What would a REAL friend do in that situation? Would it be easy or hard? Would you appreciate their help? Remind your teen that, while it might sometimes be awkward, a REAL friend looks out for the people in their life.
3. Does your teen know someone in his/her life who is trouble or is making some really bad choices? Are they worried about a friend? Take the time to pray for that person and encourage your teen to have the guts to confront their friend about it (in a loving way). It might be tough and awkward, but real friends mind each other's business.
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