Tribe Student Ministry

03/24/2026

✨Who Am I...Really✨

If we're honest, a lot of teens (and adults) are asking:
👉Why do I keep changing depending on who I'm arround?
👉Why do I care so much what people think?
👉Why doesn't attention fix how I feel?

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🔥Series R.E.A.L. Men and Women🔥

R- Rooted in Christ
E- Equipped
A- Authentic in Faith
L- Love like Jesus

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This week we talked about identity. This is not the same version that the world gives us, but the one God speaks over us.

📖 In Genesis 2:18, God calls woman an "ezer" (EH-zer)- This does not mean weak, this does not mean less, but strong help.
Strength. Support. Purpose.

Throughout the Bible, women were not background characters, they were:
👑Leaders (Deborah)
🦁Courageous (Esther)
🧠Wise (Abigail)
🔒Faithful (Ruth)
⛪️Ministers (Pheobe)
👩‍💻Teachers (Pricilla)

And men?
They are not called to dominate. They are called to:
👉Lead with humility
👉Love like Christ
👉Honor and respect women

💡The truth:
Men and women aren't competing, they are complementary.
Different strengths. Same purpose. Together reflecting God's design.

🤔 This is not just about the church. This is about real life:
School. Sports. Friendships. Relationships.

👉 You were made on purpose, with purpose, for God's purpose.
👉You don't have to perform to be enough.
👉 When Christ defines you, culture stops owning you.

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💬 Family Conversation Starters

👩 Teens ask your parents:
* Did you ever feel pressure to be someone you're not? What did that look like?
* What helped you figure out who you really are?
* What does "strength" look like from a biblical perspective?
*How do you stay confident in your identity when the world is loud?

🧑‍🧑‍🧒 Parents ask your teens:
*Where do you feel the most pressure to fit in right now?
*What do you think it means to be strong? Where did that idea come from?
*When do you feel most like yourself?
*How can I better support you in becoming who God created you to be?

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Let's keep building homes where truth, grace, and identity in Christ are lived out every day.

03/11/2026

PARENT TRIBE UPDATE 03/10/2026

Sermon: When Bullying Hurts

Today in TRIBE we talked with our students about bullying. Bullying hurts... alot. Bullying can mean getting picked on at school, excluded from the group, or even the physical things. We talked about how God sees our pain, God gives us strength to face it, and God also heals us from the pain we have gone through.

QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS TO ASK YOUR TEENS

UNDERSTANDING BULLYING: What do you think the difference between joking and bullying is?

PERSONAL EXPIERENCES: How have you seen someone get bullied at school or online? What happened?

EMPATHY & PERSPECTIVE: How do you think someone feels when they are being bullied?

RESPONDING TO BULLYING: What do you think someone should do if they see bullying happen/happening?

SELF-REFLECTION: What kind of friend do you want to be when someone is being treated badly?

03/04/2026

TRIBE PARENT UPDATE!
What does it mean to be a follower of Christ?

Big Idea: Being a follower of Christ means being forgiven, adopted, empowered, at peace, filled with purpose, on route to heaven, all because of what Jesus has already done for us.

This week in TRIBE, we talked about what it truly means to follow Christ. Not casually, not halfway, but wholeheartedly.
We began with the familiar "Footprints in the Sand" poem. This reminds us that in seasons when we feel alone or weak, Jesus has not left us. He is carrying us. Following Christ does not mean walking alone; it means trusting the One who walks with us and carries us.
But we also learned something deeper: following Jesus is not just about comfort, it is about surrender.

CHRISTIANITY IS NOT MODERATELY IMPORTANT

We reflected on two powerful quotes from C. S. Lewis:
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Faith in Christ changes how we see the world. It gives meaning, clarity, hope, and truth.

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

We challenged students with this truth:
If Christianity is true, it cannot be something we treat as “just part” of our lives. It becomes the center of our lives.

FOLLOWING CHRIST MEANS DYING TO SELF

We also discussed the sobering words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

Bonhoeffer understood that following Jesus costs something. It means surrendering our pride, our selfishness, and our desire to control everything.

Jesus Himself said:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me…” (Matthew 16:24–25)

Following Christ means:
*Saying no to sin
*Putting God’s will above our own
*Choosing obedience even when it’s hard

It is not about losing life. it’s about finding true life.

CHRIST LIVES IN ME

We read the powerful words of the Apostle Paul:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…” (Galatians 2:20)

Paul teaches us that following Jesus is not behavior modification, it is transformation. Our old self dies, and Christ begins to shape who we are from the inside out.

This connects beautifully with what Dwight L. Moody said:
“The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.”
The goal isn’t just knowing about Jesus.
The goal is becoming more like Him.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR TEENS

Being a follower of Christ means:
*Trusting Him completely
*Surrendering daily
*Letting Him shape our choices
*Living by faith
*Loving sacrificially
*Walking closely with Him...even when it’s hard
*It means Jesus is not just Savior, but Lord.

QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS TO DISCUSS AT HOME
Here are some ways to help your child process and apply what they learned:

Understanding & Reflection

*What do you think it means to “deny yourself”?
*Why do you think Jesus says we must “take up our cross”?
*What stood out to you from the quotes we talked about?
*If Christianity is of “infinite importance,” what would that change about how we live?

Personal Application
*What is one area of your life where it’s hard to follow Jesus?
*Have you ever felt like Jesus was “carrying” you in a hard time?
*What does it mean for Christ to live in you?
*How can we as a family put Jesus at the center this week?

Family Challenge

*Pray together each day this week asking:
“Jesus, help us follow You with our whole hearts.”
*Identify one practical way to deny self and love others intentionally.

Final Encouragement for Parents

This is a big topic. Following Christ is not a one-time conversation, it’s a lifelong journey.

Your child does not need to understand everything perfectly right now. What matters most is helping them see:

*Jesus is worth everything.
*Following Him leads to true life.
*And they are never walking alone.

Footprints in the Sand – Poem One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints. This bothered m...

02/25/2026

Tribe Parent Update: Managing Anger God’s Way

Sermon Theme: Understanding and handling anger in a healthy, God-centered way.

Overview:
This week, Tribe explored how anger isn’t always sinful, it can be righteous when motivated by justice, like Jesus flipping the tables in the temple (Matthew 21:13). We also talked about how anger becomes harmful when left unchecked or motivated by selfishness (Ephesians 4:26-32).

Key Takeaways for Families:
• Righteous vs. sinful anger: Teach kids that anger itself isn’t wrong; it’s how we act on it and why we feel it that matters.
• Check your heart: Encourage reflection on the motivation behind anger. Ask, “Am I angry to protect or to hurt?”
• Influence of peers: Surrounding ourselves with calm, forgiving people helps manage our anger (Proverbs 27:17).
• Prayer as a tool: When emotions run high, encourage praying for guidance (James 1:5; Philippians 4:6-7).
• Forgiveness matters: Holding grudges can hurt our mental and spiritual health. Jesus models forgiveness for us (Matthew 6:14-15).

Simple Family Practices:
1. Anger check-ins: Have each family member share one thing that made them frustrated this week and how they handled it.
2. Prayer pause: Before reacting in anger, pause and pray together as a family for guidance.
3. Role-model reflection: Discuss people in your family, school, or community who handle anger well. What can we learn from them?
4. Forgiveness challenge: Pick one small disagreement to resolve this week and talk about it openly.

Conversation Starters:
• “Can you think of a time when anger was used for a good reason?”
• “What do you do when you feel angry? How can prayer help?”
• “Who is someone you admire for handling anger well?”
• “Why do you think forgiveness is important?”

Encouragement for Parents:
• You are your child’s primary example of handling emotions. Calm, honest conversations about anger teach life-long skills.
• Don’t shy away from talking about your own struggles with anger and reconciliation. It models humility and reliance on God.
• Celebrate progress, even small steps, in managing emotions and practicing forgiveness.

02/18/2026

PARENT FOLLOW UP GUIDE!
Hello Parents! Today we talked about lent.
Below is a parent guide if you want to talk to your child about what we learned.
TITLE: The Importance of Lent and Growing Closer to God in This Time.
Continuing Lent at Home: Simple Faith Conversations for families

This week your student learned about Lent-a season Christians use to slow down, refocus on God, and prepare their hearts for Easter.

Lent is not about guilt or rules.
Its about growing closer to Jesus together.

You dont need theological expertise- just conversation and prescence

WHAT YOUR TEEN LEARNED

*Holy means set apart (Hebrew: qadosh)- belonging to God.
*Lent helps remove distractions so we can notice God more.
*Easter celebrates Jesus defeating sin and death, bringing in new life.

SIMPLE FAMILY PRACTICES (No pressure)

1.) The 2-minute check-in
At dinner or in the car ask:
*Where did you notice something good today?
This builds spirtual awareness naturally

2.) High/Low/Grateful
Each family member shares:
*High moment of the day
*Low moment
*One thing they're thannkful for
This mirrors biblical gratitude practices

3.) Technology Sabbath (One Hour Weekly)
Choose one hour:
*No phones
*No TV
*Just conversation, games, or a walk
Explain: "We're making space to notice God and each other."

4.) Pray Like a Normal Conversation
Parents model simple prayer:
*"God, thank you for today. Help us this week."
No pressure for perfection.
Teens learn authenticity more than eloquence.

5.) Kindness Challenge (Family Lent Practice)
Each week choose one act:
* Cook for someone
* Encourage a neighbor
* Write thank you notes
* Serve quietly
Faith grows through action

Conversation starters
* What distracts you most right now?
* When do you feel closest to God?
* What do you think Easter means personally?
* What is something you wish God would help you with?

Encouragement for Parents:

* If your teen seems quiet or unsure- thats normal.
* Faith often grows slowly and internally during adolescence.
*Your cinsistancy matters more than having perfect answers.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 reminds families that faith grows through everyday conversations, not just normal teaching.

Simple Family Prayer:
"Jesus, help our home make space for You this season. Teach us to love You and each other more as we prepare for Easter. Amen."

-Tribe Team

01/06/2026

Tribe Student Ministry - CANCELED TONIGHT

Due to the weather and some potentially slick road conditions, we've decided to cancel Tribe tonight to err on the side of caution.

Your safety matters more than pushing through a sketchy night. We'll be back next week and can't wait to be together then.

Stay safe and warm

11/17/2025

Tribe Student Ministry will not be meeting next week (the week of thanksgiving)! Enjoy this time to be THANKFUL for everything God has provided you - Friends, Family, Church, Food, Celebration - and maybe use this time to extend blessings to someone who may need it!

09/09/2025

ALL 6TH THROUGH 12 GRADERS ARE WELCOME!

09/08/2025

That's Color Wars 2025!!! What an incredible time, an incredible message and activity from Krystal Hatfield. I think it's safe to say Pastor Aaron Spratling didn't get his revenge...what a good sport he is!! If you have pictures or video, please post them in the comments!!

08/19/2025

COLOR WARS IS RETURNING FOR ANOTHER YEAR! Register below!

https://gccpeople.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3103434

07/23/2025

Our Tribe ❤️ Thank you everyone for coming out!