Season 5 - High School

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12


High school is such a unique time. Your kids, who used to be energetic and loud, now sleep a lot and barely speak. They also no longer despise the other gender but are actually interested in romantic relationships (maybe a little too much!) The temptation during this season is to check out; to give your teen space; to assume that they already have a strong faith so there’s not much more to do. Our encouragement is to avoid this temptation. Press in even more. Be intentional with how you spend time

with your high schooler and how you continue to disciple them.



                    Celebrations: We believe that there are significant moments in your child’s faith journey that deserve special recognition and celebration.
                    We don’t want to simply pass over what God is doing in their life. We want to make a big deal of these moments so that your child will remember
                    it for the rest of their lives.


                    Ministries: CLCC provides multiple opportunities to help you and your child in your spiritual formation.


                    Parenting Ideas: Each season has its own joys and challenges. We want to provide you with ideas to help your kids grow their faith during
                    this season of life.

  • Celebrations

    This is a wonderful season where your child may make some important decisions for Christ. They are also establishing lifelong habits and making choices which will carry into adulthood. Go to the web page (see link below) for ideas on how you might celebrate these decisions in your child’s spiritual journey.



    Faith Commitment

    Your child just prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior! What could be more exciting and worth celebrating than this moment!? Whether your kid is young or old, this is a time to celebrate what God has done in their life. We want to make sure that we don’t just pass over this moment. HERE are some ideas for how you can celebrate this beautiful moment in your child’s life.


    Baptism

    Once your child has made a faith commitment, the next step in their faith development would be to be baptized -  identifying with Christ and publicly declaring their faith. Please reach out to one of our pastors or ministry leaders to help you prepare your child for this important step.


    First Communion

    We celebrate Communion (also known as The Lord's Supper) each month at Canyon Lake Community Church. For those who've made a faith commitment to Christ, it is important that we follow His commandment to remember His sacrifice for our sins until He returns - regardless of age.  We'd love to suggest many ways that you can celebrate this step in your child's spiritual journey - just click HERE!


    Senior Night

    High School graduation is a big accomplishment worthy of great celebration! We take this opportunity to gather our seniors, their families and friends for a night of blessing: remembering with them, speaking over them and praying for them as they enter a new chapter of their life.


    Serving in Ministry

    There may be no greater way to cement your child’s faith than to see them serve the Lord in His church. In serving they will get the opportunity to see God at work in a personal way – in their life and in the lives of those they serve. It’s also a great way to connect them with other adult leaders in the church who can pour into your child’s life as well.


    Promotion Sunday

    Even at church we take the time to celebrate the fact that our kids are growing up and maturing in their faith and the way they interact with the world around them,. At the end of each school year we host a promotion event to celebrate just that!

  • Ministries

    Along with small groups and the Pursuit Adult Sunday School Class, here are some additional ministries for you and your child in this season of life:


    • Student Min. Sunday School
    • High School Youth Group (Wednesdays)
    • AWANA (Mondays)
    • Serving in Ministry
    • Mission Trip Opportunities

  • Ideas

    • Pray for your child and with your child.
    • Study the Bible with them. Consider going through a book, devotional, or Bible study with your kid on a regular basis.
    • Have open conversations about sex, sexuality, screen time, and mental health.
    • Take your kids out one-on-one for connection and conversation.
    • Rite of Passage:
      Most cultures have a ceremony to celebrate when a child becomes an adult, however, in American culture we don't really do this. It may be helpful to do this for your child when they graduate middle school and enter their high school years (if your child is already in the high school years that's fine. Better late than never, as they say!).This could look like mom taking their daughter on a mother-daughter trip and talking about things related to womanhood. Or it could look like a dad taking his son on a trip to talk about things related to manhood. Then as a parent you can intentionally walk with your child through their high school years by doing a devotional together every morning with them, or having a regular time together like going out for chips and salsa or getting ice cream once a week or once a month. The point is to clearly mark this new season for your child and then intentionally walk with them to prepare them for adulthood. For more ideas and explanation on what this looks like get a copy of The Intentional Father by Jon Tyson. The book applies to mothers as well. 
    • Gap Year:
      One way to help your child prepare to step into the world as they graduate high school and move on to whatever is next in their life, is to encourage a gap year. The year after high school could involve your child doing something like going on a short-term mission trip. Many mission agencies provide experiences like this. We can help get you connected with one that aligns with your child. Also,Worldrace has specific gap year missions study program for high school graduates.  
      A gap year gives students the opportunity to grow in their relationship with Jesus, learn leadership skills, gain a heart for the world and for missions, and learn how to serve their community. We encourage you to pray and consider this opportunity for your kid!

CLCC RESOURCES

“AT HOME” QUESTIONS FOR FAMILIES

Pick up a copy from your child's Sunday School teacher each week, download using the QR code on the bulletin each week, or get a link in the weekly children's ministry and/or youth ministry newsletter for parents.

Bibles & Devotionals

  • The ESV Study Bible was designed to help you understand the Bible in a deeper way. Created by a diverse team of 95 leading Bible scholars and teachers―from 9 countries, nearly 20 denominations, and 50 seminaries, colleges, and universities―the ESV Study Bible features a wide array of study tools, including extensive study notes, 200 full-color maps, 40 full-color illustrations, charts, timelines, articles, and introductions, making it a valuable resource for serious readers, students, and teachers of God’s Word.

  • A powerful mobile app! Keep the Word of God at your fingertips throughout the day. This app not only has the full version of the Bible in multiple versions, but use the daily reading plan, stay accountable with others, and take advantage of the daily devotional readings as well.

  • The Action Bible presents more than 230 fast-paced narratives in chronological order, making it easy to follow the Bible’s historical flow and building up to the thrilling climax of God’s redemptive story.

Resource Books

  • by Jon Tyson

    This concise book is filled with practical steps to help men raise sons of consequence--young men who know what they believe, know who they are, and will stand up against the negative cultural trends of our day. Jon Tyson lays out a clear path for fathers and sons that includes specific activities, rites of passage, and significant "marking moments" that can be customized to fit any family.

  • by Heath Lambert and Joshua Harris

    Eight gospel-centered strategies for overcoming the lure of pornography and finally breaking free. Finally Free is about hope. It's about discovering the freeing power available to those who trust in Jesus Christ, who can, will, and does set people free from the power of pornography.

  • by Timothy Keller

    Timothy Keller, the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, addresses the frequent doubts that skeptics, and even ardent believers, have about religion. Using literature, philosophy, real-life conversations, and potent reasoning, Keller explains how the belief in a Christian God is, in fact, a sound and rational one. To true believers he offers a solid platform on which to stand their ground against the backlash to religion created by the Age of Skepticism. And to skeptics, atheists, and agnostics, he provides a challenging argument for pursuing the reason for God.

  • by Kara Powell, Steven Argue

    Based on brand-new research and interviews with remarkable families, Growing With equips parents to take steps toward their teenagers and young adults in a mutual journey of intentional growth that trusts God to transform them all. By highlighting three groundbreaking family strategies, authors Kara Powell and Steven Argue show parents that it's never too early or too late.

  • by Jessie Minassian

    Unashamed breaks the silence about the sins girls think they have to hide. With daring and a touch of humor, author Jessie Minassian shares her own story of struggle and victory. God longs for you to live in the freedom He died for! So whether you’re caught in a cycle of sin yourself or just want to know how to help the silent sufferers all around you, let this book be the beginning of your journey toward health, healing, and freedom in His love for you.

  • by Christopher Yuan

    Dr. Christopher Yuan explores the concept of holy sexuality--chastity in singleness or faithfulness in marriage--in a practical and relevant manner, equipping readers with an accessible yet robust theology of sexuality. Whether you want to share Christ with a loved one who identifies as gay or you're wrestling with questions of identity yourself, this book will help you better understand sexuality in light of God's grand story and realize that holy sexuality is actually good news for all.

  • by Paul David Tripp

    Paul Tripp shows parents how to take advantage of their children's teen years, drawing on practical, hopeful strategies shaped by God's Word.

  • Many parents feel frustration and a real disconnect with their teens. Brian and Angela Haynes understand those feelings and provide great insight into loving and leading teens. While it may be tempting to step aside from parenting and avoid conflict, the authors encourage parents to do the hard things. The ultimate goal is to pass on a legacy of faith in God and strengthen the family relationship. Brian and Angela Haynes combine practical guidance and solid biblical truth to help parents who are navigating a challenging season of parenting. They offer readers hope and encouragement through outstanding advice laced with great personal stories. This book engages the hearts of parents by providing ideas for how they can stay connected to their teens. Topics include: words of power not pain, building identity, learning to listen, setting healthy boundaries, and the importance of home. Readers will find a compassionate yet challenging message to keep being the parent even when the road gets tough.

  • by Jonathan Pokluda and Kevin McConaghy

    Combining entertaining stories from his own experience, insights from the Bible, and compelling evidence from research, "JP" Pokluda lays out a roadmap for how to navigate life as an adult, addressing topics like friendships and dating, career and money management, interpersonal conflict, controlling anxiety, recovering from addiction, and discovering your purpose on this earth. Anyone struggling to find a footing in the world of adult life will welcome this witty, non-patronizing guide.

Books for Fun

  • by Andrew Peterson

    In a cottage near the edge of the cliffs above the Dark Sea of Darkness live three siblings: Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby. The trio unknowingly hold the secret to a lost legend and the Jewels of Anniera. But across the Dark Sea lurks an evil tyrant who plots the destruction of the land. To survive, the Igibys must flee their home and travel through deadly forests, dark cities, and frozen wastes, pursued relentlessly by monsters (hungry!), the venomous Fangs (poisonous!), and a multitude of villains (scoundrels, trolls, horned hounds, and the like). In this epic battle between good and evil, the intrepid heroes must confront danger and cling to one another in order to fight back the looming shadows that threaten to overtake everything they love.

  • by C.S. Lewis

    C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia has captivated readers of all ages for over sixty years, enchanting them with fantastical talking creatures, epic battles between good and evil, and magical doorways into new lands.

  • by J.R.R Tolkien

    "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." So begins one of the most beloved and delightful tales in the English language—Tolkien's prelude to The Lord of the Rings. Set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth, at once a classic myth and a modern fairy tale, The Hobbit is one of literature's most enduring and well-loved novels.

  • by J.R.R. Tolkien

    One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic fantasy has accumulated worldwide acclaim as the greatest adventure tale ever written. No other writer has created a world as distinct as Middle-earth, complete with its own geography, history, languages, and legends. And no one has created characters as endearing as Tolkien’s large-hearted, hairy-footed hobbits. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings continues to seize the imaginations of readers of all ages, and this three-volume paperback edition is designed to appeal to all.

  • by Jonathan Rogers

    Aidan Errolson, comes from a long line of storied adventurers, but he never has any real adventures of his own. That, he believes, is the one great injustice of his otherwise happy life. All that will change the day he hears the bark of the bog owl and meets Dobro Turtlebane. Dobro is one of the Feechiefolk-a tribe of half-civilized swamp dwellers who fight too much, laugh too loud, cry too easily, and smell just terrible. But another meeting will change Aidan's life even more profoundly. Bayard the Truthspeaker arrives with a startling pronouncement about the coming of the Wilderking, the long-prophesied wild man who will emerge from the deep reaches of Corenwald's forests and swamps to lead the kingdom back to its former glory.

  • by N.D. Wilson

    What dangers are locked behind the cupboard doors? Henry isn’t brave, but when he hears a thumping and scratching on the other side of his bedroom wall, he can’t ignore it. He scrapes off the plaster and discovers mysterious doors—cupboards of all different shapes and sizes. Through one he sees a glowing room and a man strolling back and forth. Through another he sees only darkness and feels the cold sense that something isn’t right. When his cousin Henrietta boldly travels into the worlds beyond the cupboards, it’s up to Henry to follow her. Now that he’s opened the doors, can he keep the evil inside from coming through?

Online Media Resources

  • We build lifelong faith by helping parents and caring adults talk with their kids about what they otherwise wouldn’t, one conversation at a time. No matter where you are on your parenting journey, the Axis community is a place for you. Whether you are facing a tough conversation with your child and don’t have the words to begin or you’re getting a jumpstart on the teenage years ahead, Axis is for you. We invite you to learn more about how to have better conversations that last a lifetime.

  • The New City Catechism is a modern-day resource aimed at helping children and adults alike learn the core doctrines of the Christian faith via 52 questions and answers. Available for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, The New City Catechism mobile app makes it easy to take all 52 questions and answers with you wherever you go. The free app also includes suggested Scripture readings, short prayers, and devotional commentary, as well as kid-friendly songs designed to help children memorize each question and answer.

  • We see your hard work to raise a kid with faith and character, and how much your kid matters to you! That’s why we created the Parent Cue app.

    We’re here to equip you with simple ways to make the most of the everyday moments you have with your kid—and hopefully, make the work of parenting just a little bit easier! Get curated content and cues that make it easy to connect with your kid while helping them grow in faith and character.

  • We believe the mission of the church matters. And we’ve seen how God can change lives through video resources. That’s why we developed RightNow Media. Now, every person in your church can access over 25,000 biblically-based videos for small groups, families, students, leadership development, and much more. We hope to help you equip and disciple the people of your church.


    SIGN UP FOR A Free ACCOUNT

  • Using visual imagery and animation to teach biblical truth.

  • Got questions? The Bible has answers. We’ll help you find them. Whether you are seeking guidance, looking for answers, or are curious about spiritual matters, we are here to serve you, support you, and share the profound truths of God’s Word with you. We provide biblically based answers to spiritually related questions through multiple different venues: personal Q&A, articles, translations, audios, videos, apps, social media, podcasts, and Bible studies.