Today when I met with the group of 10th grade girls I mentor we talked about our goals and plans for the year. As a part of planning some of our discussions, I had each of them brainstorm quietly on a piece of paper a few topics they’d like us to address. When I brought them home and started to read them, I was BLOWN AWAY by not only the depth of their thoughts but the breadth! I love to brag on these wonderful ladies, so I thought I’d share my compiled outline of their thoughts. I’ve reworded and done a tad of fleshing out (like on “sin”) to make it be a proper outline, but all the ideas are theirs — there is not a topic here that doesn’t come from what they wrote down!

Suggested Discussion Topics for 2013-2014

1. Who Is God?

• Character & attributes

2. How do we experience God?

• Do you have a personal relationship with God?
• Do you ever think God’s not listening or you don’t see him in your daily life?
• Talking to God (Prayer)
  • What is prayer?
  • Why should we pray?
  • How should / do we pray?
  • What experiences do we have with prayer? (Is God answering your prayers?)

3. Why does God matter to us?

• Sin.
  • What is sin?
  • What does God think about sin? / How does sin affect our relationship with God?
• Salvation.
  • How does God “fix” sin?
  • Repentance, Forgiveness, & Reconciliation.
    • What does it mean to “repent”?
    • What is forgiveness?
• Predestination vs. Free Will

4. What does it mean to be a Christian? / How do we respond to God?

• What is a Christian?
• Church history / denominational family tree
• What does the Bible say Christians should do / be like?

Love God

• What is worship?
• How can we love God (more) ?
• How do I be more Christ-like / How do I live out my faith?

Love Others

• What does it mean to love my neighbor? / Who is my neighbor?
• Loving my enemies
• The body of Christ: Community, Encouragement, etc.

General

• What is the Bible? How should / do I read it?
• How to be an example / mentor
• Dealing with tough stuff (e.g. death, depression, loneliness, etc.)
• The female body: body image, modesty, etc.
• School: Managing time wisely
• How to be a light at a Christian school (dealing with disagreement / hypocrisy)
• Revenge
• Witnessing: Being a light / telling others about Christ
• What does the Bible say about how to be a righteous woman?
• Being a Christian even in the midst of “coolness” / Dealing with peer pressure
• Healthy relationships
  • Family
  • Romantic
  • Friends
  • Dealing with conflict
  • Gossip / accountability

Ok, folks — there is PREDESTINATION on there! I am so impressed. (Not to mention my other mentee / friend, who just started her own blog with the question “What is sin?” I mean really — how do I get to be friends with all these fantabulous humans???)