Parent Guide: Conversations With Your Teen
This guide is designed to help you have honest, grace-filled conversations with your teen throughout the week. The goal isn’t to force a “deep talk,” but to open the door for trust, curiosity, and reflection around relationships, attraction, and faith.
How to Use This Guide
-
Pick one or two questions, not all of them.
-
Share your own thoughts first—teens open up when they don’t feel interrogated.
-
Let silence do some work. You don’t have to fill every gap.
-
Listen more than you correct.
Sermon Snapshot (For Parents)
This week’s message explored relationships through the Song of Solomon, highlighting that attraction is real and God-designed—but it isn’t meant to stand alone. Healthy relationships grow through spiritual, emotional, and physical connection—in that order. Jesus is the one who heals brokenness, reorders love, and gives wisdom for every season of relationships.
Conversation Starters
These are things you can talk about with your kids to help further the conversation about what they may have learned on Sunday.
Attraction: What Catches Your Attention vs. What Lasts
Ask:
When you think about attraction—crushes, dating, or even friendships—what do you think most people focus on first? What do you think actually makes a relationship last?
Parent Tip:
This isn’t about saying looks don’t matter—it’s about helping teens recognize that character, values, and faith shape long-term trust and safety.
“Under the Hood” Matters
Ask:
What are some qualities in people that don’t show up right away but end up mattering the most over time?
Follow-up:
How does faith—or lack of it—change how people handle conflict, pressure, or temptation?
Strong Feelings & Strong Boundaries
Ask:
Why do you think it’s hard to slow things down emotionally or physically when feelings are strong?
Parent Tip:
Affirm that feelings aren’t bad—they’re powerful. Boundaries don’t kill love; they protect it and help it grow wisely.
Complaints Are Clues
Ask:
When people get upset in relationships, what do you think they’re usually really wanting underneath the frustration?
Bridge Thought:
Help your teen see that anger, jealousy, or withdrawal often point to deeper needs—like wanting to feel seen, valued, or secure.
Dating Without Acting Married
Ask:
What do you think it means to “act married” without actually being married? Why do you think that can be confusing or painful?
Parent Tip:
Keep this practical—talk about emotional dependency, physical boundaries, and spiritual leadership without shame or fear tactics.
Ask: Follow-up:
Ask: Parent Tip:
Ask: Examples: Setting a boundary Being honest instead of passive Asking God for help Showing kindness without expecting something back You don’t have to get every word right. Your consistency, humility, and willingness to listen matter more than perfect answers. These conversations plant seeds—God grows them in His timing.Running to Jesus Instead of Running Away
When people mess up in relationships, what usually keeps them from going to God afterward?
What do you think it would look like to actually trust Jesus with guilt, shame, or confusion instead of hiding it?Love Languages (Teen Edition)
What makes you feel most cared for—words, time, help, gifts, or physical affection like hugs?
This is a great moment to affirm your teen and also model how love looks different for different people.One Small Step This Week
What’s one healthy choice you could make this week in friendships, dating, or how you see yourself?
Final Encouragement for Parents