Below is what we have been teaching in Youth Group.  It is listed and dated by week to make it easy to find the specific weeks someone is trying to find.  If you have any questions or concerns as to the topic or contents of the messages please feel free to ask any of the Youth Leaders or email us using the form on the Main page for the Youth Group.

February 12, 2012

Summary Statement of the Lesson: Through Jesus Christ sinful hearts are made clean and undivided so that Christians can see God now by faith and one day will see His face in heaven forever. Matthew 5:8

Three Questions to ask throughout the week:

1)What does it mean to be pure of Heart?

2)What are you chaging in your life after talking about the pure in heart yesterday?

3)How have you seen God?

January 22nd, 2012

Summary Statement of the Lesson: Those who truly embrace the undeserved mercy of God will overflow with mercy toward others and so be blessed with more mercy. Ps. 145:8-9

Four Questions to ask throughout the week:

1)Ask your youth to explain the definition of Mercy we talked about on Sunday night: [requires pity and desire to alleviate suffering along with extending forgiveness to those who have sinned]

2)God extends His mercy and goodness to mankind in two ways; (1) God restrains the evil that resides within the heart of everyone, believer and unbeliever. (2) God shows mercy and goodness to believers in forgiving their sins and changing their hearts. Ask your youth if they’ve seen how God has shown them mercy in their life.

3)Talk about motivation as Christians to show mercy to others and how the Beatitudes lead us to mercy. [Matt. 5:1-7 When a person realizes the extent of his sin- when he sees that he is poor in spirit and mourns over his sins, he will show meek character toward others as fellow sinners and will begin to hunger for righteousness. When he sees the offense someone has committed against him and remembers the offense he has committed before God he will be drawn to mercy and forgiveness]

4)Ask your student who they have chosen to show mercy toward this week and how it has been going. Pray with them and ask God to give them the strength and humility to show God’s mercy.

December 11th, 2011

Summary Statement of the Lesson: God’s kingdom belongs to the poor in spirit because they humbly recognize that they are undeserving of and desperate for God’s mercy. Matthew 5:1-10

Four Questions to ask throughout the week:

1)What is the kingdom of heaven? Is it something that is present now or something that will be realized in the future?

2)How does your answer to the first question effect the way you view this life and the way you interact with those around you?

3)What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”? Why is this the first Beatitude listed in Matthew 5?

4)As growing Christians we are supposed to become more and more like Christ in our character, actions, and interaction with others. How can you specifically display the Godly characteristic of “poor is spirit” this week to your friends and family?

December 4th, 2011

Summary Statement of the Lesson: Jesus is our perfect example of a heart surrendered to the Father and a will submitted to God’s purposes. John 6:38

Three Questions to ask throughout the week:

1)Christ was determined to obey God the Father and do His will instead of His own.  Are you that way?

2)In what specific ways are you demonstrating your answer to question 1?

3)In what specific areas do you struggle to obey God?

4)In times of weakness and difficulty what do you go to for strength? Is that the same thing that Christ went to?

November 20th, 2011

Three Questions to ask throughout the week:

1) A disciple is someone who pledges to follow another, who are you a following?

2)What appetite change do you still struggle with?

3)Can others see by your actions who you are following?

Remember these verses this week and if you are struggling with something ask the Holy Spirit to help you through it.

John 14:15-16  ”If you love me, you will keep My commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.”

November 6th, 2011

Summary Statement of the Lesson: Our fleeting lives have significance only when we die to self  and live for God and His purposes.

Three Questions to ask throughout the week:

1) What are you doing to actively live for God’s purposes?

2)Where do you find significance for your life?

3)In your day to day life, what do you need to change to focus more on God’s Purposes?

October 30th, 2011

Summary Statement of the Lesson: Obedience is the result and evidence of genuine and repentance. John 6:37

Three Questions to ask throughout the week:

1) Can someone know all the facts about Jesus Christ and the Gospel message and not be saved? (answer = Yes)

2) Have the students try to explain to you the three different areas of saving faith we talked about.
#1. Mind- understand the facts of the Gospel
#2. Heart- accept the facts of the Gospel as true, not just good information
#3. Will- the message of the Gospel and our need for a Savior becomes personal and we choose to live a life of obedience to God

3) Ask your students the following questions and discuss anything that may be keeping them from a saving faith in Jesus Christ:
- Do you understand the Gospel message with your MIND?
- Do you accept the message of the Gospel with your HEART?
- Are you willing to take what you understand to be the truth of the Gospel and make it personally by living in obedience to God?

October 23rd, 2011

Summary Statement of the Lesson: The Gospel must be embraced by the heart for us to be persuaded that the idols of our hearts are rubbish compared to knowing Christ.

Four Questions to ask throughout the week:

1) What makes it hard for you to reject the things of this world?

2) What in your life is worth more that Christ? Why?

3) How are you trying reflect the principle that nothing in your life is worth more than Christ this week?

4) What changes will you need to make in order for this reflection to be clearly seen?

October 9th, 2011

Summary Statement of the Lesson: God must give sinful man the spiritual appetite for Jesus, the Bread of Life.  John 6:35

Three Questions to ask throughout the week:

1) What Physical Bread can you exchange for Spiritual Bread?

2) What one thing can you do this week to make an eternal impact?

3) The Gospel must be accepted by the mind, heart, and will; can you say this about yourself?

October 2nd, 2011

Summary Statement of the Lesson: Man is without excuse when God rightly withdraws His restraining grace and gives man over to his sin. Romans 2:4

Two Questions to ask throughout the week:

1) In what ways have you exchanged worship of for worship of something else?

2)How have you shown true repentance in your life in the past and in this week?

September 25, 2011

Summary Statement of the Lesson: Man has rejected the worship of God for the worship of self and created things. Romans 1:21

Three Questions to ask throughout the week:

1) Can you please put into your own words the theme or topic from the lesson last night?

2) What idols do you have in your life? How are you going to begin the process of focusing your life on Christ?

3) How have you been able to apply the lesson to your life this week?

*Parents: Encourage your youth to pursue God this week and make Him their number one priority.

September 11, 2011

Summary Statement of the Lesson: We are created to worship God by delighting in Him. Psalm 16:11

Three Questions to ask throughout the week:

1) What is one concrete way that you have glorified God by delighting in him so far this week?

2) What is one thing that you need to remove from your life because it is hindering you from glorifying God?

3) What was the specific way that you applied the lesson from youth group to your life? How is it going for you?