Parent Message from Pastor Jay
Every expedition needs a basecamp.
A place to come back together. To talk about where you’ve been. To listen to each other. To prepare for what comes next.
You don’t have to know all the answers. You don’t have to agree on everything. Whether you’ve followed Jesus for years, you’re not sure what you believe, or you’re just curious… you’re welcome here.
BASECAMP is a place for families to talk honestly, listen closely, and grow together.
WHAT WE EXPLORED
This week, we talked about the story of Jesus calling his first disciples and how He simple asked them to “come…follow me.” We have tons of things asking for our time. Let’s be real…you and I arent much different. How many of you would say “no, I dont need more time today. I had plenty of time. No one or NOTHING took time from me. The question isn’t whats robbing us of time…its “who are you letting be in charge of it?”
MAIN CHARACTER // WEEK 2
WHO’S IN CHARGE?
For Students…Parents…and the Journey Between
This isn’t homework. It isn’t a Bible quiz. It isn’t another thing to add to your week.
It’s simply an invitation to have one meaningful conversation together. Whether your family has followed Jesus for years…or you’re still figuring out what you believe…there’s room for everyone in this conversation.
THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA
Stop letting everything else lead you…and choose to follow Jesus one step at a time.
This week we talked about a simple but uncomfortable truth. Everybody follows something. The question isn’t whether we’re following…The question is…
Who’s in charge?
START HERE
Don’t ask…
“How was ORIGINS?”
Instead ask…
“What made you think tonight?”
Then…Listen. Don’t interrupt. Don’t explain. Don’t fix. Just listen.
LET’S TALK
Student…
If someone watched your life for one week…What would they say is most important to you? Why?
Family…
When you were your student’s age… Who influenced you the most? A coach? A teacher? A friend? A parent? Someone else? How did that person shape who you became?
A CONVERSATION WORTH HAVING
This week we asked:
“Who’s in charge?”
Think about an average day. What gets the first part of your attention? Your phone? Work? School? Sports? Email? Social media? The news? Something else?
Now ask this: Is that helping you become the person you want to become? Why or why not?
A FAMILY CHALLENGE
Choose one meal this week. Before anyone grabs a phone… Stack every phone in the middle of the table. Face down. Then spend twenty minutes simply talking. No notifications.
No scrolling. No distractions. After dinner…
Ask each other:
“What gets my attention the most right now?”
And then…
“Is that leading me where I want to go?”
You might be surprised by the answers.
I’m going to beg you, however…do not make phones a disciplinary thing. Phones are likely a large part of your life. They are a part of everyone’s life. No one gets “trained” by removing a phone. They learn rhythms by learning how to learn to manage the things that are asking for their attention. There is a difference.
OPEN THE COMPASS TOGETHER
Read Mark 1:16-20.
Notice what Jesus does NOT say. He doesn’t explain everything. He doesn’t answer every question.
He simply says… “Follow Me.” Talk about this together: Why do you think Jesus invited people to follow Him before He explained everything? Would you have gone? Why… or why not?
THIS WEEK’S PRAYER
Jesus,
There are so many voices competing for our attention every day. Help us recognize the voices that pull us away from You…and give us the courage to keep following Your voice instead. Help our family become people who listen well…encourage one another…and remind each other that You’re always worth following. Show each of us our next step this week.
Amen.
LOOKING AHEAD
NEXT WEEK AT ORIGINS
MAIN CHARACTER
WHO’S ON READ?
Sometimes the people who need us most…are the ones we’ve stopped noticing. What if following Jesus means paying attention to the people everyone else overlooks?
Wednesday • 5:30 PM
You are loved. You belong. You have a purpose. And your greatest adventure…is following Jesus.