Measure Up... New Series

We’re kicking off a new series with your students this week called Measure Up. We all feel the need to compare ourselves to others, but when we do, we somehow never seem to measure up. In this series, we’ll see that we can be free from the trap of comparison when we look to God to find our worth.

Parents - this is so so critical for our amazing Middle School Students to talk about... how do we fight the constant pull to measure up in every facet of our lives?

In our desire to partner with you as parents, we’ve laid out a break down of each week’s theme, verse and talking points. Plus, there’s an added “remember this” section which lists the key verse for the series along with things you can be talking about and asking your students over the next three weeks.

Week 1

Working hard to measure up to others is both miserable and meaningless. Ecclesiastes 4:4-8

Whether we’d like to admit it or not, we all have a tendency to base some of our worth and value on one thing: how we measure up to the people around us. In other words, we compare ourselves to others. This week we’re taking a look at what Solomon had to say about comparison and what we can do to stop trying to measure up and start finding peace.

Talk about this:

As your teenager develops, they will be tempted to compare themselves to the people around them. But there’s no win in comparison. Try sharing a story of a time when you were compared to someone else and how it made you feel.

Week 2

Jesus fixed our broken relationship with God, Who now invites us to call Him Dad. Galatians 4:4-6

We all have a mirror—something or someone we

look to that tells us if we measure up. But what happens

when our mirrors leave us feeling like we’re not okay? This week we’ll discover that when we look to Jesus, we’ll always measure up.

Talk about this:

How your kid feels about themselves may go up and down, but God’s view of them never changes. He’s crazy about them. Next time they feel less-than, remind them, “Take your cue from the One who made you.”

Week 3

What you have isn’t as important as what you do with it.

Matthew 25:14-30

Sometimes we get so caught up thinking about what we don’t have that we lose sight of what we have right in front of us. This week, as we walk through a parable Jesus shared with His followers, we’ll learn that what we have isn’t nearly as important as how we use what we have.

Talk about this:

It can be interesting to ask your teenager, “What matters most: hard work or talent?” The truth is, it’s both. But this question could spark a conversation to help them remember that how much talent you have is never quite as important as what you do with it.

REMEMBER THIS

Am I now trying to win the approval of

human beings, or of God?

Or am I trying to please people?

If I were still trying to please people,

I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10 NIV

MAX YOUR TIME

MORNING TIME

Middle School is a sea of insecurity. Set a reminder to text your kid each day this week and tell them one thing about them that is both unique and wonderful.

MEAL TIME

At meal time, it can be tempting to talk about (or even gossip about) others. When your student brings up someone else, ask the question, “What’s one thing you want people to say about you?” It may be a gentle reminder to be gracious.

THEIR TIME

Students are often most frustrated with themselves when they compare themselves to someone else. Next time your student mentions a classmate or teammate who is better than they are, celebrate that person by saying, “I’m so happy for him/her,” and then remind your child of a few ways he or she is unique.

BED TIME

Just before bed, drop in and ask your student, “If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?” Then keep the answer in mind as an area where they may need extra compliments or affirmation.