One of our incredible Life Group Leaders put together a final few week of small group with his guys that was truly incredible. First, he wrote 24 Thoughts for Graduating Seniors – a final hit list of things he wanted them to know as a man and as someone who was finished with High School.

Beyond that, he planned a parent beach bonfire night where dads wrote letters to their sons that was incredible powerful as well. Terry is a great leader and after seeing his notes I asked if I could share them here on the blog – felt like it would be a win for others to read and maybe something other small group leaders could rip-off or adapt for their guys as well.

• See part 1 here
• See part 2 here
• See part 3 here

19) Enjoy Everything in MODERATION!!!  There can be too much of a good thing!

20) When you SIN / Fall Away – Confess your sin to God – He ALWAYS forgives

Prodigal Son Story – “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! ¹⁸ I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, ¹⁹ and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. ²¹ His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. ²³ And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. -Luke 15:11-32

21) Work hard at a job you love

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

God gives the birds their food, but He doesn’t throw it into their nests.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. -Colossians 3:17

22) Family first

I don’t care how poor a man is; if he has family, he’s rich.

Nothing can ever take you away from being part of your family.  Love them and care for them – There is no replacement.

23) Change will happen

The key to change… is to let go of fear.

Don’t Forget to INCLUDE God in the change process

This is an excerpt from a letter sent to President Jackson in 1829.  As you may know, Mr. President, ‘railroad’ carriages are pulled at the enormous speed of 15 miles per hour by ‘engines’ which, in addition to endangering life and limb of passengers, roar and snort their way through the countryside, setting fire to crops, scaring the livestock and frightening women and children. The Almighty certainly never intended that people should travel at such breakneck speed. Martin Van Buren Governor of New York

Don’t be afraid of change – Embrace it and learn through it.  It can be very exciting, it can be very challenging, but change is going to happen.

24) Live Life to it’s fullest

God came to give us a rich and satisfying life.  He has given you everything you need to make the most of your life.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. -John 10:10

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once told of an incident that may have seemed insignificant at the time, but had a profound influence on the rest of his life. The winter he was 9, he went walking across a snow-covered field with his reserved, no-nonsense uncle. As the two of them reached the far end of the field, his uncle stopped him. He pointed out his own tracks in the snow, straight and true as an arrow’s flight, and then young Frank’s tracks meandering all over the field.  “Notice how your tracks wander aimlessly from the fence to the cattle to the woods and back again,” his uncle said. “And see how my tracks aim directly to my goal. There is an important lesson in that.” Years later the world-famous architect liked to tell how this experience had greatly contributed to his philosophy in life.  “I determined right then,” he’d say with a twinkle in his eye, “not to miss most things in life, as my uncle had.”

In Everything Be A LEADER: Don’t let Fear get in the way

The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.

Courage is the discovery that you may not win, and trying when you know you can lose.

The world needs leaders. who cannot be bought;

whose word is their promise; who puts character above wealth;

who possess opinions and a will; who are larger than their vocations;

who do not hesitate to take chances; who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;

who will be honest in small things as well as in great things; who will make no compromise with wrong;

whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires; who will not say they do it “because everybody else does it”;

who are true to their friends through good and bad , in adversity as well as in prosperity;

who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success;

who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular, who can say no with emphasis, although the rest of the world says yes.

JG