Read - Ephesians 6:1-4; Luke 15:11-32; Matthew 22:15-21

Examine - The parent-child relationship is a complicated one. There may be no other place where the levels of love and frustration reach such highs at the same time. A parent typically just wants what is best for their student. So when a student disobeys their parent, it can feel like they are rejecting the love that the parent has for them, even when that isn’t true. When we look at relationships between parents and their kids, we see that real relationships require real obedience. Obedience is submitting to greater wisdom than your own. If we want to establish relationships that last, we have to be willing to accept that God wants to use other people, especially parents, to protect us and to guide us to a deeper relationship with Him.

Apply - Discuss with your student the areas where it is most difficult for them to be obedient to you as a parent and ask why it’s so difficult. Listen to them to learn. In your response, emphasize how much you love them and want to use your wisdom to guide them to what is best.

Pray - Ask God to give you wisdom to lead your student in every area of their life, and to give you patience when they may not understand every decision you make as their authority.

LISTEN TO REVSTUDENTS CANTON MESSAGE | LISTEN TO REVSTUDENTS JASPER MESSAGE

Read - Genesis 50:15-21; Luke 10:38-42

Examine - Have you ever walked through the grocery store and heard bickering and fighting between two individuals? Odds are those voices aren’t two strangers arguing over a can of beans. It’s probably siblings, and they’re probably arguing over something even less important than a can of beans. The sibling relationship is one that is developed in the trenches. Screaming at each other and laughter with each other can happen mere minutes apart. That’s because the sibling relationship is built to know how to forgive. Siblings show us that real relationships require real forgiveness. There is no other relationship where forgiveness has to happen as frequently and is as accepted so easily. If we want to develop real relationships that last, we have to learn how to forgive in the way that God forgives us.

Apply - Talk with your student about what sibling relationships teach them about forgiveness. Ask them what they think real forgiveness looks like and how it impacts a relationship.

Pray - Ask that God builds a heart of genuine forgiveness in the hearts of each person in your family.

Read - Proverbs 27:17; 1 Samuel 18; 1 Corinthians 15:33

Examine - When you think about your closest friends growing up, you probably had a lot in common with them. You most likely had similar interests, and attended the same school, church, or played on the same team. And more often than not, the closest friends for girls are other girls, and the closest friends for guys are other guys. These friends are so important in our growth because they are usually the ones that challenge us the most. Not only do we build genuine trust with them, but we value their opinions. If one of them calls us out, we are very inclined to take that to heart. Same gender relationships teach us that real relationships require real sharpening. If we want to grow, we need people who will sharpen the duller areas of our lives. If we want to develop real relationships that last, we have to make sure that the closest people to us are challenging us to pursue the greatest relationship: God.

Apply - Ask your student how their closest friends of their gender help them grow closer to God. Discuss ways they can help sharpen their friends too.

Pray - Pray that God would bring Godly, wise friends around your student that will push them to pursue Christ.

Read - Romans 16:1-4; Romans 12:10

Examine - Friendships with the opposite gender can be some of the most confusing relationships students navigate. Lines can blur quickly, intentions can get mixed, and what starts as a simple friendship can turn complicated without clarity. That’s why real relationships require real support. Real support isn’t about attention, flirting, or emotional dependency. It’s about wanting what is best for the other person and pointing them back to Jesus, even when that means setting boundaries or saying no. If we want to develop real relationships that last, they need to be built on honor, encouragement, and support, so that they become healthy and life-giving instead of confusing or hurtful.

Apply - Talk with your student about their friendships with the opposite gender. Ask questions like: “Do these friendships bring clarity or confusion?” and “How can you support friends of the opposite gender in a healthy way?”

Pray - Pray that God would give your student wisdom and discernment in their opposite-gender friendships. Ask Him to help them build relationships rooted in honor, encouragement, and healthy support.

Read - 2 Corinthians 6:14; Micah 6:8; Proverbs 31:30

Examine - For the vast majority of students, dating is something that they will think about often. It’s ingrained in the culture and in their genetic makeup. Dating often starts with attraction, chemistry, or shared interests. However, we know that those things alone don’t sustain a relationship. Culture tends to tell students to prioritize feelings, popularity, or appearances when choosing who to date. Real relationships require real standards. Standards help students look beyond what looks or feels good in the moment and toward qualities and actions that lead to long-term health and growth. If we want to develop real relationships that last, we have to choose standards rooted in character, faith, and humility, which set ourselves up for relationships that honor God and protect our hearts.

Apply - Ask your student what qualities they think matter most in a dating relationship. Talk about what standards should guide their choices and why they think those standards matter more than appearances or popularity.

Pray - Pray that God would help your student value character and faith over temporary attraction. Ask Him to give them wisdom to set and maintain healthy standards in dating.

Read - 2 Timothy 2:22

Examine - Have you ever watched someone ignore every warning sign in a relationship and thought, “This isn’t going to end well”? Most regret when dating doesn't come from bad intentions, it comes from a lack of boundaries. Dating without boundaries often leads to confusion, pressure, and regret. While boundaries can feel restrictive, they actually protect what matters most. That’s because real relationships require real boundaries. Boundaries help students honor God, respect one another, and avoid putting themselves in situations they aren’t ready to handle. Dating well isn’t about how far you can go, but about how well you can protect each other’s hearts. If we want to develop real relationships that last, we need healthy boundaries to create trust, clarity, and safety.

Apply - Have a conversation with your student about boundaries in dating. Ask: “What boundaries help protect your heart and faith?” and “How can boundaries make relationships healthier instead of harder?”

Pray - Pray that God would give your student strength and self-control as they navigate dating relationships. Ask Him to help them set boundaries that honor Him and lead to healthy, respectful relationships.

Read - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12

Examine - No one figures out relationships on their own. Wisdom often comes from listening to others, learning from experience, and being willing to ask questions. Real relationships require real wisdom. Wisdom helps us slow down, think clearly, and make choices that lead to lasting relationships rather than short-term satisfaction. When students surround themselves with godly voices and are open to guidance, they are better equipped to build relationships that last in real life.

Apply - Ask your student what they learned during this series about relationships. Encourage them to identify one wise voice in their life, along with yours, that they can go to for guidance and accountability.

Pray - Pray that God would surround your student with wise, godly influences. Ask Him to help them seek wisdom in their relationships and trust His guidance as they grow.