Series: WITH US (November 28th - December 12th)

Big Idea of the Series: Sometimes, it’s difficult to enjoy Christmas when we’re too busy to stop and savor the holiday. For most of us, it feels like the Christmas season gets shorter and shorter each year. This sermon series takes congregations back to the foundation of the Christmas story, revealing the joy and celebration it brings to all those who place their faith in Christ. Christmas changes everything. God has come to us in the form of Jesus! He is literally “God with us.”

Week 1 No Ordinary Baby | Matthew 1:18-25 (11/28/17)

Jesus is no ordinary baby, but literally “God with us.” Jesus’ birth is not just a story, but a life-changing event that should give our lives purpose and direction. This lesson will focus on finding ways to bring the focus of Christmas back to the person of Jesus Christ. Sometimes, when we take the “Christ” out of Christmas we make Jesus’ birth feel like more of a story, and less of a life changing event in our own lives.

Week 2 Awkward | Luke 1:26-38 (12/5/17)

Jesus wasn’t born into a wealthy family with powerful connections, the situation was awkward at best; his earthly parents included a teenage girl and her middle to lower class fiancé. Your life, family, or situation might not be ideal, but don’t worry, the nativity story teaches us that God can use all for His glory.

Week 3 Unstoppable | Matthew 2:13-23 (12/12/17)

No matter how hard he tried, Herod could not halt the plans of God. Despite the difficult circumstances that come your way, know that nothing can separate you from God’s love, forgiveness, and redemption. He is God with us. God had a plan to bring grace and mercy to humanity through Jesus Christ. Nothing could stop this from happening. You might face difficult circumstances—even evil—but be rest assured that though those things may hurt the body, they cannot touch the soul that has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

Series: FREEDOM! (October 24th - November 7th)

Teenagers are starving for attention, popularity, recognition, and notoriety. They believe their identity is found in how their peers view them more than how Jesus views them. For too many young people, their worldviews are based around what society says is socially acceptable. Their “realities” and “truths” are based on false hope, the latest fads, and trending topics. This three-lesson series will engage our students in thought-provoking conversations about what it means to live a Jesus-centered life and how to systematical prioritize what matters most. They’ll discover God’s desire for them to rest in the truth that when they are in relationship with Jesus, they are his children and their identity is found in him. They will find liberation and freedom in knowing they do not have to please an audience of many; they only have to please an audience of one.

Lesson One: The Freedom Factor | John 8:31-32 (10/24/17)

When we believe Jesus is the truth and begin the journey of following him, we can experience freedom—freedom that comes from being Jesus’ disciple, knowing truth, and following a Jesus-centered path. This lesson will help teenagers discover that their true identity is found in knowing that Jesus is the truth and he can set them free from guilt, brokenness, judgment, shame, hurt, and pain. Jesus offers a promise and reassurance for those who believe in him. He said that if we are truly his disciples, we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free. Jesus’ point is simple, focused, and all-encompassing. It leaves no room for questioning or compromising. Remaining connected to or “dwelling” in Jesus and his teachings is the true measure of discipleship. It is what separates people who are really free from those who merely appear to be free. It also speaks to how our identity is found in Jesus and not in the ways of the world. Jesus is the pathway to truth and the only way to experience freedom.

Consider building your conversations around these questions:

• Do you find it difficult to believe Jesus’ love for you is unconditional? Why or why not?
• What does it mean to you to remain faithful to Jesus’ teachings?
• Have you ever felt like your relationship with Jesus was based on your behavior or how good or bad you were? If so, why have you felt that way? If not, how might you help a friend who feels that way?

Lesson Two: Be Real with Yourself | John 8:33-37 (10/31/17)

“Honesty is the best policy” is an age-old saying that reminds us that when we are candid and truthful about our life situation, we can effectively begin to move toward a better place. From a spiritual standpoint, we must be honest about who we are and how much we need God, because when we are in denial about our sins, we remain slaves to those areas of sin and struggle. This lesson will challenge teenagers to see that they are sons and daughters who have been adopted by God through Christ and that they have a right to experience all of the amazing benefits and blessings he has for them. In this passage, Jesus spoke about what being part of his family really looks like. Slaves have no permanent rights in the home; those rights are reserved for the children of that household. Jesus’ objective was to get people to understand the importance of being a son or daughter who is adopted into God’s family.

Consider building your conversations around these questions:

• What does it mean to you to be part of our family? What are some of the benefits?
• How can you be adopted into God’s family?
• Once adopted into God’s family, what do you think are the benefits to being part of his family? 

Lesson Three: Family Feud | John 8:38-47 (11/7/17)

Life is all about choices. Teenagers struggle daily to make the right choices because they want to identify with things they feel are right. Living the Christian life is all about making the choice to follow Jesus. This lesson will help teenagers discover how freedom and liberation can take place for those who are true disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. In our final lesson, we brought it all home by exploring John 8:38-47, where the conversation between Jesus and the Jews escalated to the point where it became pretty heated. It reached a place where Jesus drew a line in the sand and challenged people to consider if they were legitimate children of God.

It is so important for teenagers to learn how to choose well. The spiritual choices they make will determine whether or not they spend eternity with Jesus. As we conclude this series, challenge and encourage your teenager to understand the value and benefits of being part of God’s family—and how the most important thing in life is passionately pursuing a deep love for Jesus.

Here are some questions that can help fuel your conversation this week:

• What people have shaped or influenced your spiritual journey? How have they been like spiritual fathers or mothers to you?
• What are some characteristics or traits of Jesus that you’ve seen displayed in other people’s lives? Be as specific as possible.
• What are some spiritual truths God has been teaching you recently?

Series: UPSTREAM (September 12th - October 3rd)

Our ever-evolving society has an impact on every generation of young people, including your current students. But through Jesus, society will also feel the impact of teenagers who are following Jesus and living lives of service and influence.

This four-lesson series will encourage young people to stay fully connected to Jesus while being fully engaged in society. Through Scripture, students will examine how to remain faithful to him without removing themselves from—or being swept away by—the world Jesus has called them to love.

Lesson 1: For God So Loved the World | John 17:13-19 (9/12/17)

In our first lesson, we read Jesus’ prayer from John 17:13-19, which focuses on protection, wisdom, and purpose. He prayed not that God would take us out of the world but that God would protect us from the evil one. With God’s protection and love, we can be a shining light in our society.

This week, spend a few minutes talking with your teenager about the lesson. Consider building your conversation around these questions:

• Jesus prayed that God would protect us from the evil one. What’s it like to know that God is actively protecting you from evil?
• Why do you suppose Jesus would pray that we “not be taken out of the world”?
• How do people become so comfortable within our culture that Jesus is no longer their top priority? What can we do if we realize that’s happening to us?

Lesson 2: Abide—Stay Connected to Your Life Source | John 15:1-12 (9/19/17)

This week, we studied John 15:1-12, where Jesus uses a beautiful, clear metaphor to describe himself as our life source. He explains that he is the vine, and we are the branches.

In our culture, we often look for meaning and identity in many other sources. But only when we recognize Jesus as our life source can we experience complete, fulfilled joy. In verse 11, Jesus says he has spoken these things so our joy will overflow.

This week, spend a few minutes with your teenager reviewing our lesson. Here are some questions you can use to fuel your conversation:

• How does being connected to Jesus, our vine, make you feel more alive?
• In what ways is this connection evident in people’s daily lives?
• What are some things that might try to disconnect you from the vine? How can you be aware of those things and prevent them from interfering with your relationship with Jesus?

Lesson 3: At the Foot of the Mountain | Matthew 17:1-14 (9/26/17)

To continue our series on culture, we explored Matthew 17:1-14 this week. After some of the disciples climbed a mountain with Jesus, they witnessed his appearance change. God’s presence was so strong it was like Jesus’ face was the sun. But Jesus didn’t stay up on the mountaintop. He took the disciples back down, where people who needed healing and forgiveness waited to encounter Jesus. Similarly, he wants to take us to the foot of the mountain, where we can love and serve those who need him.

This week, I encourage you to spend a few minutes talking to your teenager about our lesson. Consider using the following questions in your conversation:

• What might it have been like to experience God’s presence on that mountaintop?
• What are some ways you encounter God during your day-to-day life?
• Jesus took the disciples up a high mountain to be alone with God the Father. When’s the last time you made this kind of effort to be alone with God?
• How did Jesus’ time alone with God fuel him for ministry at the foot of the mountain, with people who needed him? What “fuels” you for living out your faith?

Lesson 4: Jesus’ Irreplaceable Love | 1 John 5:16-21 (10/3/17)

As we wrapped up our series on culture this week, we discussed 1 John 5:16-21. This Scripture instructs us to keep away from anything that might take Jesus’ place in our hearts. With so many things in today’s culture clamoring for our time and attention, this can be hard to follow.

This week, I encourage you to take a few minutes to review our lesson with your teenager. Please consider these questions for your conversation:

• In your life and your daily schedule, what things sometimes take a higher priority than your relationship with Jesus?
• How can you tell when Jesus falls to second place—or lower—in your life? What needs of yours don’t get met when that happens?
• How does seeking Jesus first and making him the center of our life shift our attitudes? our actions? our outlook?

Series: THE BIBLE DOESN'T SAY THAT (April 28th - May 23rd)

Unfortunately, there are erroneous beliefs about God and Christianity that have snuck their way into modern church culture. These popular phrases or ways of thinking are in direct conflict with what scripture actually teaches. This 5-week series looks at different phrases the Bible doesn’t actually say, comparing them to what the Bible actually does say. This guide comes with a passage, topic, and “big idea” of the sermon. Also included under each week is a list of ideas, illustrations, and talking points to help you prepare for your message. Our aim is for this guide to spark your imagination, assist you in planning your sermon, as well as offer a boost to your study time.

Week 1 God helps those who help themselves | Matthew 6:25-33 (4/18/17)

In this passage, Jesus calls for us to seek after the kingdom of God first, not ourselves; if we do, everything else in life will fall into place. Our modern culture idolizes self-sufficiency. Everyone needs to take care of themselves, first. Look out for number one. Focus on your needs before anyone else’s needs. God’s plan for our lives is the exact opposite. Focus on the kingdom first, and God will take care of your necessities. Following Jesus is about living a selfless life. The key to this passage is verse 33. If we focus on seeking God, there will be nothing in life we need to worry about. Our relationship with God needs to be our top priority.

Week 2 Obedience always leads to financial blessings. | Philippians 4:10-13 (4/25/17)

As Paul illustrates in his own life, when you rely on God, you will find satisfaction in whatever situation (good or bad) that life hands you. There are some individuals and groups who believe that putting faith in Christ entails automatic financial blessings and favor. Their picture of an obedient, Christian life is one full of wealth, happiness, and relative ease. This simply, isn’t true. Take Paul’s life, for example (2 Corinthians 11:16-33). In this passage, Paul writes that there have been times in his personal life where he had much, and times where he had little. God taught him how to find joy in both situations. He can handle anything in life through Christ’s power. It’s easy to trust that Paul means what he says when we realize he’s writing this letter from prison. This passage provides a context for the often misused: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Christians often quote this phrase believing that with Christ on their side, they will find success in all their endeavors. What Paul says is nearly the opposite. Paul can handle the times that feel like success and the times that feel like failure because he relies on Christ for strength. Much of the prosperity gospel is meant to give hope to those who come to Christ, when, in reality, it can cause unnecessary doubt. If the apostle Paul was not secure in his theology, he might feel shame for the hard times. “I must not be a very good Christian if I’m going through this.” There could be people in your congregation with the same fears because of the trials in their life.

Week 3 Do not judge others. | 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 (5/2/17)

Paul emphasizes to the Corinthians that God set up the church as a family where brothers and sisters in Christ should hold each other accountable. While Jesus does say in Matthew 7:1-6, “Do not judge,” it is not meant, as some treat it, to be a blanket statement for all forms of judgement—as if we are all to mind our own business and never get involved in the lives of those around us. Jesus, in Matthew 7, is teaching against an inappropriate form of judgement. He’s warning against hypocrisy. Do not judge others as if you have the authority of someone who is perfect. In I Corinthians 5, Paul calls out the church in Corinth for their pride in the fact they weren’t judging a man in the church for having a sexual relationship with his father’s wife. Paul expects the couple to be removed from the church before their behavior causes more people to sin. There are a few distinct characteristics of this situation that warranted the type of church discipline Paul calls for. It was public knowledge. Everyone knew what was happening. It was consistent. This was not a one-time affair, but an ongoing relationship. It was unrepentant. In the eyes of those participating, there was nothing wrong with this wicked and destructive behavior. In vss. 9-13, we see that this situation is the result of the church not looking out for each other. They were concerned with not associating with sinners outside the church, but forgot to take care of the sin inside of the church. If someone claims to be a brother or sister in Christ, but their consistent fruit shows otherwise, it’s important to address that situation before it hurts others. This will also, hopefully, bring the wayward souls back into the fold. God formed the church for community, accountability, and honesty. We must be willing to submit ourselves to this design.

Week 4 Suffering always comes from sin. | James 1:2-4 (5/9/17)

No matter what the cause of our trials, we know that God will use it to strengthen our walk with Him. Job’s three friends wrongly claimed his suffering must be a direct result of sin. Many Christians deal with other believers in the same way. An article from Bradley Hospital gives helpful advice for talking to children about tragedy. It ends with this paragraph. “Finally, remember that tragedy is a part of every life—the job of parents is not to shield their children from tragedy, but to help their children become resilient enough to survive it. This is not often a job that anyone can do alone, and if you need help, ask for it, from friends, family, clergy, or helping professionals.” Job never found out why he was suffering. There’s not a point in the story where he learns about the conversation between God and the Devil. Things might happen in our lives where we never get to know why. But we can hold onto the fact that God will use them for good anyway.

Week 5 God won’t give you more than you can handle. | 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (5/23/17)

God will give you more than you can handle, but He will never give you more than He can handle. Paul felt like his affliction was more than he could handle, and he wanted to be open about his experience (vs. 12). All throughout 2 Corinthians, Paul makes a point to boast in his weakness and his need to rely on God for strength. It is easy for a Christian to talk themselves into thinking that a having weakness makes them a bad Christian. In actuality, recognizing your own weakness is an essential part of growing in your walk with Christ. When Jesus is the Lord of your life, you are trusting Him enough to hand over control of everything. You no longer rely on your strength to get through difficult times. God does the heavy lifting. Most of us could never complete two-hundred push-ups, but if we trust the strength of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to do the push-ups for us, then no amount of push-ups could stress us out. Paul leads by example in boasting in his weakness and need for God to get him through trials. If we want our church culture to be that of Christ followers willingly admitting their weakness and need for God’s strength, it starts with us wisely doing so from the stage.

Series: OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN (March 7th - April 4th)

Week 1 Worship | Matthew 6:5-9 (3/7/17)

When you’re putting together a piece of furniture, your child’s toy bike, or even a Lego set, the first step is always the most important. The first step determines how the rest of the project will look. If you get the first step wrong, the finished project will be distorted. In that same way, the “first step” of prayer is extremely crucial. It determines how the rest of your prayer will look. When we worship God (“hallowed be your name”), it changes what we ask for and what we feel like we need to confess. Pastor Timothy Keller once remarked, “What you think about in your private time is what you worship.” Jesus calls for us to make time to pray in private. If we are only committed to praying at church, have we really made God our God? We worship God by praying even when we don’t get recognition from others (vs. 6). During this series on prayer, set up a daily prayer text message group that sends out prayers of worship to God.

Week 2 God’s Sovereignty, Praying for Others | Matthew 6:10 (3/14/17)
When you pray, ask God to change our world so that it better reflects the perfect love and security of heaven. Often, when we look at the world, we can become so discouraged by what we see that we believe nothing good can be done—we are left only to sit back and wait for the consummation. While God will ultimately redeem and renew the world at the end of the age, he wants to start now—through us. This part of the Lord’s Prayer acknowledges this. As N.T. Wright says, “Jesus is coming—Plant a tree.” Have you given up hope on the world? Or, do you acknowledge God’s sovereignty to make a change?

Week 3 Praying for Our Needs | Matthew 6:11 (3/21/17)
We shouldn’t be ashamed of asking God to provide for our needs. After worshipping God, acknowledging His sovereignty, and prayer for others, we then get to the part of the prayer where we pray for ourselves. Asking God for things isn’t wrong, but does that comprise the majority of our prayers? Is it the first thing we think about? If we’re not careful, we can become consumed by our selfish desires. Notice that Jesus says “daily” bread. This emphasizes constant, daily reliance on him—not excess.

Week 4 Forgiveness | Matthew 6:12-15 (4/4/17)
God’s forgiveness should so consume our hearts that we are willing to forgive others.
Notice the conjunction that begins this verse. It connects the “physical” (daily bread) to the “spiritual”—“almost as if to say that life sustained by food is not enough. We also need forgiveness of sin and deliverance from temptation. If we have truly accepted God’s forgiveness as a gift, then we will naturally be led to forgive others. When we lose track of God’s grace, temptation and evil creep it (vs. 13).

Series: THE NEW RULES FOR LOVE, SEX & DATING (Feb. 14th - Feb. 21st)

Week One: The Right Person Myth | 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 (2/14/17)

Look around you. Rules are everywhere. And, generally, rules are set up to protect, to guide, and to help. It’s no different for relationships. There are rules. Lots of them. But what if the rules are wrong? What if the rules are misleading? What if the rules are actually dangerous? In The New Rules For Love, Sex & Dating, we will cover why these new rules don’t work, while telling us about the rules that do. Becoming the person who the person you are looking for is looking for is hard. But it is not as hard as getting married and being unprepared. Think about a couple of things you can do this week to become that person—the right person.

Week Two: Designer Sex | 1 Corinthians 6:18 (2/21/17)

Culture convinces us - and sometimes we convince ourselves - that sex is only physical. But if that is true, why is the pain of sexual sin so deep? Because sex is not just physical. It was designed by God to be so much more. In this message, we will addresses common myths about sex outside of marriage and has two specific challenges going forward. Exclusivity is the key to great romance in marriage, but to get it requires setting a personal standard in advance. Even though making choices that honor God with your body might seem like a sacrifice now, it will open the door for marital intimacy later. What decisions can you make today in order to invest in your marriage for tomorrow?

Series: BODY ARMOR (Jan. 4th - Feb. 7th)

In the same way, someone would not go into battle without equipment or play football without a helmet and pads, Christians must put on the armor God has given us to withstand evil temptations that come our way. Over the course of six weeks, this series will explain and apply each article in the armor of God—as described by Paul in Ephesians 6:10-18.

Week 1: The Belt of Truth | Ephesians 6:14a; John 8:31-36 (1/4/17)

In a world filled with a lot of wrong ideas about who or what will save you, having the truth of Jesus will set you free. When you know the truth that Jesus is the only one who can save and change you, the other approaches the world offers (be a nice a person, make your own god, etc.) start to look ridiculous. We know that in order to get healthy and lose weight, we have to eat right and exercise. We cannot simply close our eyes while we eat chocolate cake, expecting the calories to disappear. You cannot just eat foods that start with the letter “H” (for healthy) or eat cake in the shape of a banana. There is only one way. A belt in ancient times did not exist to hold your pants up. A soldier would belt up his skirt so he could easily run and fight without tripping on it. The belt allowed you to be ready for action. The truth about Jesus makes you ready for action. Putting on a belt in ancient times was like putting your hair in a ponytail before the soccer game or rolling up your sleeves before a fight. All of us are tempted to create “truths” about life that will make us comfortable. For example, some people believe “the only way I can deal with my anger is to let it all out and explode around the people I love.” We will remain trapped in our lies until we know the truth of Jesus.

Week 2: The Breastplate of Righteousness| Ephesians 6:14 (1/10/17)

We will be protected from making bad decisions by trusting in God’s righteousness, and working towards living a righteous life ourselves. Have you ever touched a hot stove even after someone told you not to? Have you ever been bit by a dog because you were trying to play with it after someone already warned you? You would have been protected from that pain if you had trusted the person warning you. If you live your life by always asking, “What does the Bible say about that?” before making a decision, you will know God’s will in your life. “What does the Bible say about how I treat my parents?” “What does the Bible say about how I should act around people who don’t go to church?” The more you do this, the more it will become natural for you to do the right thing. Practice makes perfect. Living a righteous life is not just about protecting ourselves, though. Living a righteous life allows us to worship God through our actions, and help others know him better.

Week 3: The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace | Ephesians 6:15 (1/17/17)

What Jesus did on the cross for us is a message of good news that will change the rest of our lives. Jesus’ resurrection is not simply an event we celebrate at Easter. It should be a mindset we celebrate every single day of the year. When we sing worship songs, we are singing because we are grateful that Jesus saved our lives. The gospel acts as “shoes” in the armor of God because it motivates us to go into the world to tell others about Jesus. He saved our lives and he can do the same for everyone at your school, so why not tell them about him? The Bible talks about a “cup of wrath” (Jeremiah 25:15-17, Matthew 20:22) that Jesus drank in our place But Jesus comes and drinks the cup for us.

Week 4: The Shield of Faith | Ephesians 6:16; Hebrews 11:4-7 (1/24/17)

You cannot genuinely follow God without putting your trust in him and his promises.

There are two definitions of “believe” that Christians get confused. It is not enough to believe that God exists. You must also believe in God, that is, trust Him. Do you trust God? If God asked you to do something, would you trust that it was a good thing to do? All of the pieces of the armor of God are connected. Knowing that God is righteous will help you trust Him more. You only have to trust someone when it is something you do not already know. No one has to tell you “2+2=4…Trust me.” Trusting God means walking into the unknown, still confident that God is going to take care of it. The enemy will try to destroy your faith by causing you to trust your own self, rather than God.

Week 5: The Helmet of Salvation | Ephesians 6:17a; 2:8-9 (1/31/17)

Salvation is offered to us, not because of anything we did to deserve it, but as a gift because of God’s love for us. Jesus is better than Santa Claus because Santa only gives gifts to those he thinks are good enough, but Jesus gives the gift of salvation to anyone and everyone. You do not have to be good enough to receive it because you cannot be good enough.

Week 6: The Sword of the Spirit | Ephesians 6:17b; Hebrews 4:12 (2/7/17)

Big Idea of the Message: Making the Word of God a part of our daily routine will cut away the aspects of our lives that keep us from becoming more like Christ. The word of God is your only offensive weapon against the enemy. This is how you fight back against the temptation and troubles in your life.