We are starting a new series in MSM and HSM called If Only...
What's your "if only"? Every one of us has one, two or a hundred different scenarios in which we would do or say something differently. That e-mail we wish we would not have sent. That relationship that we should have avoided - or never began. We all have regrets, things we would do differently if given the chance. So if life inevitably brings those "if only" moments, how do we handle the regrets that haunt us? How can we turn the "if onlys" from our past decisions into something more, something that will help both us and others?
Have you ever had something really embarrassing happen? Like, something that happened to you that you wish wouldn't have happened, or something you did or said that you wish you could take back? I think everyone has moments in their life they wish they could rewind, or just take back all together.
My "if only..." statement would would have to be - "If only I would've spent more time with my grandmother before she got Alzheimer's..."
There are many things that happen in our life that we wish we could change or do over, and sometimes we let those instances go unresolved. If we never really deal with our regrets then we'll never get past them.
The Bible talks about a couple of brothers who had a big regret in their life. In fact, now would be a good time for you and the fam to read the story of Joseph. Go ahead and read it...Now, notice what happens in Genesis 42:21 - there's a big regret that pops up in the story. See if your family can find it...
Joseph's brothers were thinking to themselves...if only we hadn't sold our brother into slavery we wouldn't be in this position...Instead of dealing with the regret their whole life, fessing up, and trying to move on, this regret kept creeping up in their life.
Now, maybe you're like Joseph's brothers. Maybe there is something you did or said in the past that keeps creeping up in the present and you don't really know what to do with it. Well, today, if you are able to work on a relationship or talk to someone about it - do it.
Stay tuned to the series, "if only..." you won't want to miss it!
To discuss as a family...
Bottom Line: Yesterday’s regrets affect today.
1. What did you think of the talk this week? What did you hear the speaker say?
2. Have you ever had an embarrassing moment—something you wish you could go back and undo?
3. What’s the difference between something embarrassing that you can remember and laugh about and something that makes you sad or sorry?
4. What is something that made you sad or sorry when you were really little? Can you remember a story?
5. How does regret change as we get older?
6. Re-read Genesis 42:21. Describe what you think Joseph’s brothers were feeling.
7. How can regret from something in your past show up in your present situation?
8. What are ways that we tend to handle regret? What do you do when you start to feel sad or sorry about something?
9. Take some time to reflect on your life. What are some regrets that you have been ignoring or covering up?
CLOSING CHALLENGE:
Remind students that we all have regret. No matter how hard we try to do the right thing, all of us mess up and end up in situations we wish we could undo. Encourage students to continue reflecting on regret throughout the week.
** You may want to also challenge your students to read the story of Joseph. Many of them may have never read the story for themselves and it’s a great story for students who may be timid with Bible reading. Joseph’s entire story can be found in Genesis 37-50. **
What's your "if only"? Every one of us has one, two or a hundred different scenarios in which we would do or say something differently. That e-mail we wish we would not have sent. That relationship that we should have avoided - or never began. We all have regrets, things we would do differently if given the chance. So if life inevitably brings those "if only" moments, how do we handle the regrets that haunt us? How can we turn the "if onlys" from our past decisions into something more, something that will help both us and others?
Have you ever had something really embarrassing happen? Like, something that happened to you that you wish wouldn't have happened, or something you did or said that you wish you could take back? I think everyone has moments in their life they wish they could rewind, or just take back all together.
My "if only..." statement would would have to be - "If only I would've spent more time with my grandmother before she got Alzheimer's..."
There are many things that happen in our life that we wish we could change or do over, and sometimes we let those instances go unresolved. If we never really deal with our regrets then we'll never get past them.
The Bible talks about a couple of brothers who had a big regret in their life. In fact, now would be a good time for you and the fam to read the story of Joseph. Go ahead and read it...Now, notice what happens in Genesis 42:21 - there's a big regret that pops up in the story. See if your family can find it...
Joseph's brothers were thinking to themselves...if only we hadn't sold our brother into slavery we wouldn't be in this position...Instead of dealing with the regret their whole life, fessing up, and trying to move on, this regret kept creeping up in their life.
Now, maybe you're like Joseph's brothers. Maybe there is something you did or said in the past that keeps creeping up in the present and you don't really know what to do with it. Well, today, if you are able to work on a relationship or talk to someone about it - do it.
Stay tuned to the series, "if only..." you won't want to miss it!
To discuss as a family...
Bottom Line: Yesterday’s regrets affect today.
1. What did you think of the talk this week? What did you hear the speaker say?
2. Have you ever had an embarrassing moment—something you wish you could go back and undo?
3. What’s the difference between something embarrassing that you can remember and laugh about and something that makes you sad or sorry?
4. What is something that made you sad or sorry when you were really little? Can you remember a story?
5. How does regret change as we get older?
6. Re-read Genesis 42:21. Describe what you think Joseph’s brothers were feeling.
7. How can regret from something in your past show up in your present situation?
8. What are ways that we tend to handle regret? What do you do when you start to feel sad or sorry about something?
9. Take some time to reflect on your life. What are some regrets that you have been ignoring or covering up?
CLOSING CHALLENGE:
Remind students that we all have regret. No matter how hard we try to do the right thing, all of us mess up and end up in situations we wish we could undo. Encourage students to continue reflecting on regret throughout the week.
** You may want to also challenge your students to read the story of Joseph. Many of them may have never read the story for themselves and it’s a great story for students who may be timid with Bible reading. Joseph’s entire story can be found in Genesis 37-50. **
