2. BACK TO SCHOOL REMINDERS

3. USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE A FRIEND A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17 ESV)

4. He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:26-27 ESV)

5. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:19 ESV)

6. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. (Proverbs 27:6 ESV) Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. (Proverbs 27:9 ESV) Dangers in…  Language  Porn  Sensuality  Sexuality  Drugs  Alcohol

7. USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN IN THE LORD Godly reasons to develop one’s mind Understanding scripture demands good reading skills, grammar, figures of speech, and language skills Jesus’ disciples need to be able to provide and help others

8. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8 ESV) Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (Ephesians 4:28 ESV)

9. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, (Romans 1:21-22 ESV) Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. (1 Corinthians 8:1 ESV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7 ESV)

10. USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RUN TO WIN Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV)

11. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 ESV) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (1 Corinthians 9:24-25 ESV) So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:26-27 ESV)

12. Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17 ESV)

13. Too much focus on Competition leads to… –Cheating –Drug use –Wrath –False accusations –Depression –Malice –Resentment –Loss of focus on the right things Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV)

14. What is the point of all this? Be a friend, give counsel, be a leader Be a good student, learn what you can about life Be competitive in order to try harder, do better Enjoy life, have a good attitude, try new things, keep a God-focus Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. (Eccl. 11:9-10 ESV)