WEEK 4: PHILLIP TELFER

A. Time Spent this Week: 5.5 total hours
(Sunday School - 1hr, Worship Service - 1.5 hr, Youth Group - 3hr)

B. My Class this Week: What is Faith? (James 2:14, 21-24)
Beginning the class with a compliment, Mike thanked the youth for their intentive concentration and contribution to the last three week's lessons. He also shared that his hope of talking less than the students was becoming a reality.

After praising the class, he asked them to define the phrase "Better Christian." He went further to ask them if it was even possible. Multiple students had referred to this concept over the past couple weeks, and Mike wanted them to clarify what they meant.
It means you are "More mature - closer to God." It can "only be applied to yourself," because you cannot judge others. It means you have "more faith." These were three of the student's responses.

Mike was anticipating faith would enter the conversation and used this answer to transition into the questions of the week:
"Is faith a possession (you either have it or you do not)?"
YES: You believe in God as a whole, not partially
NO: You can doubt and still be a Christian
BOTH: There are multiple types of faith
"How is it measured? What does it mean to have faith?"
: Believing in something greater than yourself (more powerful - supernatural)
: Believing you can do ALL things with God
: Certain of what we hope for, even when it is not tangible - we cannot always see it
: Belief is not faith - you need to trust to have faith

The discussion was definitely thought provoking, and Mike achieved his goal of speaking less than the students. He closed the hour by reading from James 2:14, 21-24, and challenging the class to read James 2:14 to the end of the chapter. He asked them to think about "What is faith? What is NOT faith?"

C. Questions:
1. QUESTIONING QUESTIONS. I do not like the idea of leaving children out to dry by not answering their questions. I realize the effect of discovering the answer for yourself, but do we really want have that time to spare? Personally, I had a difficult time ironing out my own Christian doctrine. I actually became depressed as a result. I never figured it out alone. I came to a solution with the counsel of one of my closest friends. I think it's dangerous to close class with questions, especially pivotal questions on faith. I don't see the problem with giving them closure and challenging them to further research on the subject to confirm it. Youth need direction.

2. INCLUSION. Mike praised the class for their participation this week, but I have noticed that the same youth are giving responses; it is a partial class participation. Not one answer or comment was shared by the five or six people sitting by me this week. How do involve the entire class? Do you call on them individually, singling them out? Or do you simply trust the Holy Spirit to speak to them in their silence?