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?