Once Call Away

Main Point: No matter where we are, no matter what is going on, no matter what we’ve done, Jesus is just one call away.

Vital Info Before You Get Started:
The following info should help you contextualize this very popular song so you can have a great discussion about it with your kids.

• One Call Away is one of the latest singles from the young and uber-talented crooner, Charlie Puth. For a while, Puth has been teaming up with other artists, for example with Wiz Khalifa in See You Again and Meghan Trainor in Marvin Gaye. But with One Call Away, Puth goes solo…and is showing the world he doesn’t need any help.

• One Call Away contains a very simple premise. It shows Puth trying to win over the affections of one of his beautiful classmates. He wants the girl to know that he’s there for her should she ever decide to call on him. Pretty cool back story: the song was actually inspired by one of Puth’s real life friends who was commenting on his long distance relationship with a girl. The official music video has been viewed on YouTube more than 325 million times, and the single will be featured on his debut album entitled Nine Track Mind releasing in early November of 2016.

• The music video is completely clean, shows a simple love story, and provides a wonderful opportunity for us to share the Gospel.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO PARENTS: We at The Source for Parents believe that certain elements in our youth culture can serve as good discussion jump starters with students. At the same time, we would never hope to introduce students to a negative influence that they haven’t already encountered. This balance is a delicate one. In our experience most students, churched and unchurched, keep pretty current with music and music videos. Thanks to YouTube, MTV.com, and iTunes, the most popular music videos and songs are free to access only a click away.

Since this song is so popular, your kids have heard it. When you sit down to discuss this song, make sure to have a copy of the lyrics available (below) and access to the music video (which we provided in the link below, as well).

Above all, don’t appear as if you have a “canned” discussion in your head and rattle off questions like a teacher giving a pop quiz—your kids get enough of that in school. This is a guide, primarily—not a verbatim script. Just familiarize yourself with the content here and start a conversation in the most natural, unforced way you know how.

The Music Video Clip:
Click the following link for the YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxuY9FET9Y4

The Song’s Lyrics:

Q: What was the message that Charlie was trying to convey to the girl in the music video?

A: He wanted the girl to know that he was only one call away if she ever needed him.

Q: Who is that person in your life that you KNOW has your back? Who is the person who is just one call away?

Q: Do you think it’s fair to say that Jesus is just one call away? Why or why not?

A: According to the Bible, Jesus has a reputation of rescuing, saving, and helping people. So, yeah!

Where to Take It from Here:
Wherever it feels natural. If these questions lead to a longer discussion on the topic, wonderful! (There’s a guide just after this paragraph that helps you do just that.) If your kids are barely uttering grunts, don’t get discouraged—the next time it feels right, try out another song. Keep engaging them.

For Deeper Discussion:
If your kids seem into diving in deeper, the following discussion guide can help take you there.

Want help getting your teenager engaged in conversation? CLICK HERE for a helpful article from our “Parenting Help” page providing you with 3 Essentials to Talking with Today’s Teens.

Transitional Statement:
When listening to this catchy little song, it probably makes us think of a person in our lives who is always telling you, “I got your back. I’m there for you if you ever need me. All you gotta do is call.” Interestingly, the exact same can be said of Jesus. It doesn’t matter where we are, what is going on, what the situation may be, He is literally only one call away. I want to prove that to you by sharing a great Bible story with you.

More Discussion Questions:

1. HAVE ALL YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS ANSWER: Can you share a time when you had to call on someone for help? What happened?
2. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Have you ever been in a situation so deep, so dark, so bad that others couldn’t help you…even if they wanted to? What did you do then?

Read the following passage:

1. 1. Matthew 14:22-31 (NV)

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

1. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: How would you have reacted to being in that storm in the middle of the sea in a tiny little fishing boat?
2. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Would you have done what Peter did? Would you have stepped out of the boat in that situation? Why or why not?
3. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: What two things happened when Peter started walking to Jesus? (Parents – Peter began to sink and Peter cried out to Jesus.)
4. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: So, Peter was walking on water, took his eyes off Jesus, became afraid, and began to sink. In the middle of all that, he called out to Jesus. What do you think Jesus should do? Why?

Read the following passage:

1. 1. Matthew 14:31-33 (NIV)

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

1. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Why didn’t Jesus just let Peter sink? I mean, it was Peter’s own failure and doubt that caused him to sink?
2. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Have you ever been in a situation that compelled you to call out to Jesus? If so, what happened?
3. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Why is Jesus so eager to be with us, save us, and love us?
4. HAVE ALL YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS ANSWER: What is one thing in your life that you’re facing right now that you need to call out to Jesus about?

Wrap Up:
”One call away”…that’s what Charlie Puth was trying to tell the girl in his music video.

Chances are good that each and every one of us will be in a situation that we can’t handle. A situation that causes us fear–a situation in which we’ll need help. In that situation, I strongly suggest you call on Jesus. He is literally just a call away.

Close in Prayer