Teen Scene 1st Quarter 2019 Online Activities

Transcription

1 Teen Scene 1st Quarter 2019 Online Activities Lesson 1 Why does God call us? (taken from page 7) Every individual is created with certain gifts that can be used for the glory of God. Whether our gifts include giving, speaking, teaching, hospitality, etc., we are designed to use our individual gifts for His glory and purpose. The reason God calls us is because He wants us to use those gifts to serve Him and spread His message. Even though we may not be a preacher or a missionary, we are still responsible for spreading the message right where we are to those who we see every day through those gifts. You may feel called to do things for the Lord like helping a homeless person or bringing a meal to someone who is sick. Showing the love of God through these small deeds is another way of answering the call of God. As Christians, we should always be attentive to the Holy Spirit s calling on our lives. If you feel a passion or desire for something, pursue it, and see how you can serve the Lord through that avenue. Think about this: How are you preparing yourself to answer God s call on your life?

2 Lesson 2 What does it mean to humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord? (taken from page 11) Jesus taught that when we do something for someone who is in need, sick, or under attack from the evil one, it is as though we are doing it for Him. Even though we aren t directly serving Jesus in the physical form, we are serving those whom He loves and cares about. Humbling ourselves doesn t mean that we simply allow others to think they are better than us. Rather, it means that we are to serve them and treat kindly those who need God s love. We shouldn t be too proud to talk to a mentally-challenged person, that kid in school who s just different, or even to our own parents in public. We should serve these people and help them feel God s love and His presence when we are around them. This even includes people we don t like. We are called to love those we don t care for and treat them with respect and compassion. This is a humbling experience, and one that the Lord will notice. Even if we never see the results of our humility, the Lord will use it for His glory and to expand His Kingdom. Think about this: How often do you think about the Lord watching how you treat others?

3 Lesson 3 How do you honor Christ within your discussions? (taken from page 14) When you are around your friends, even your Christian friends, it can be easy to talk about things that you really wouldn t want God to hear you talking about. Whether it is locker room talk about sexually intimacy, talking behind someone s back, or using bad language, these things can hurt your relationship with the Lord. It s easy to get sucked into these conversations due to peer-pressure and join in without stopping to consider what this does to your witness. When you are thrown into these situations, you have some options that will honor the Lord. The first option is to simply walk away, especially if you don t have the time to steer the conversation in another direction. The second option is to change the subject to something that is more wholesome or honoring to the Lord. The third option is to kindly address those involved in the conversation and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in telling them why what they are talking about or the language they are using is wrong. The next time you find yourself in that situation, pray and ask the Lord to help you make the best decision. Think about this: What in your environment (television, social media, etc.,) influences the language you use and the conversations you have with others?

4 Lesson 4 How are we to view one another as church members? (taken from page 18) If you are involved in your youth group at church, then you may notice cliques that have formed and people who seem like outcasts, just like in school. This may be the most disappointing aspect of modern youth groups. While your youth group may do many great things for the Lord, excluding people should not be a part of any church culture. Regardless of whether or not you hang out with that person outside of church or don t like them because of how they act, that person is a part of God s Church and a member of your local church. You should treat them as family because they are a part of your Christian family. But what about people who you know aren t followers of Jesus but are at your church? You should treat them with even more love and attention than your closest friend. That person was brought to your church by God to learn and know Him. Your interactions with that person are opportunities to spread God s love and the Gospel. Accept them into your youth group and allow them to feel normal. Even if they use bad language, smell badly, or dress inappropriately, understand this may be their first time at church, and they might not know how to behave or what goes on there. Welcome them, just as Jesus did when He interacted with people who didn t know Him but were willing to listen to Him. We are to treat all people in our church as our brothers and sisters in Christ. Think about this: What are you doing to prevent cliques from forming in your youth, school or social groups?

5 Lesson 5 How can you detect evil workers in your midst? (taken from page 22) Being aware of people who are out to destroy the Gospel should be important to Christians. Sometimes people can negatively influence our faith without us even realizing it. There is an easy and foolproof way to make yourself aware of whether or not what others are saying is true. Simply compare whatever is being discussed to what the Bible says. Use the Bible as your source for your beliefs. If what someone is teaching or explaining sounds odd or different than what you have ever heard or believed, then take it to the Bible. If it doesn t match up, disregard what they said. In order to make this process easier, study your Bible to make your beliefs even stronger. If someone is telling you untruths about the Bible and about God, you can tell that person what you believe and why. You just may find that you changed that person s heart. Just don t allow them to influence your heart and beliefs to go against the will of God. Think about this: What tools do you have to defend your faith whenever it is challenged?

6 Lesson 6 Why is Jerusalem mentioned so frequently in the Bible? (taken from page 26) In the very first book of the Bible, God promised land to His chosen people. That land includes Jerusalem. After His chosen people were freed from the Egyptians and wandered in the desert for forty years, they finally arrived at the Promised Land. On and off throughout hundreds of years, the people lived, were torn away from, and reclaimed their Promised Land again. At the time, this land provided the people with rich and fertile soil to grow crops and raise livestock. The Lord set this land apart from all others just for His people, the Hebrews. One day, the Lord will come again and establish a new Jerusalem that will include all of God s people who have accepted Jesus as their Savior. To Jews and Gentiles alike, it is a holy and special place. Think about this: How much do you know about the history of Jerusalem? Make an effort to learn more about this important part of your Christian.

7 Lesson 7 How should we honor God in our daily lives? (taken from page 32) Life gets busy for us all. There is no doubt that many of us hit the floor running in the morning and don t stop until we find ourselves laying back down at night after a long day. Being busy isn t something that we should feel bad about. But the important thing to consider is how we are honoring the Lord during our busy lives. God wants to be a part of your busy day. He wants to know that what you are doing and working toward is for His glory. No, you don t have to pursue becoming a preacher or a missionary to do work for His glory. How did you honor God at school or on the practice field? The choices we make affect how we live for the Lord every day. For instance, choosing to walk away from gossip or praising God for a good test score are small ways that we can grow our faith and relationship with Him. Even in our busyness, everything we do throughout the day should be focused on bringing glory to God. Think about this: How are your choices to live for the Lord influencing the people around you?

8 Lesson 8 Why is it important to make time for God? (taken from page 34) Sometimes we can get so caught up in school work, practices, rehearsals, and other extracurricular activities that we forget to spend time with God. Going to church on Sundays is a great, but that isn t the only time we should spend with God. Each person s relationship with the Lord is different and special. We are all at different points on our journey with Him. In order to seek what God wants for our lives, it is important to take a few minutes each day to read His Word and pray. When spending quiet time with the Lord, you will learn new things about Him and about the person He is molding you to be. It is a way for us to learn more about who we are in Christ. Make an effort each day to spend time growing in God s Word and in prayer. Think about this: How do you think your quiet time with the Lord changes your outlook and attitude toward others?

9 Lesson 9 How might you honor a person who feels like the least important person among the group? (taken from page 39) Most people have experienced being a part of a group as well as being an outsider. When we are an outsider looking into a group we wish to be a part of, we may be willing to do anything to be a part of it. But when we are a part of a group, we may forget to look out for those who are on the outside. Being a part of something is a great feeling. Maybe you have a close friend group or sports teammates, choir or drill team members, or cast members in a play. God wants you to to notice those who are missing out on the things you are enjoying and give them the opportunity to be a part. Think about the times that you felt badly about being an outsider and take the opportunity to show someone God s love and invite them to join you. By doing this, you have the opportunity to invest in another Christian s life or to share the Gospel. Never close your group to new members. Be accepting toward those who don t get noticed often or are considered outcasts. That person may turn into your best friend or make an impact on your life. Think about this: What can you do this week to bring outsiders into your friend group?

10 Lesson 10 What can you say to family and friends about following Christ? (taken from page 43) Sometimes, talking about your faith to your family and friends feels awkward. It is just easier to not bring up the conversation, especially if you know they believe differently than you do. As awkward as it may seem, Jesus calls us to have these kinds of conversations with our friends and family. Sometimes we don t have the discussion because we re afraid the conversation will be argumentative. But they should never be like that. Attacking someone because of what they believe is not an effective way to share the Gospel. If you feel you need to share your faith with a friend or family member, first listen to what they believe and know about the Gospel. Don t rebuke them or tell them that they are wrong. Instead show them why you believe what you believe by directing them to the Bible. Tell them about your relationship with the Lord and how it positively impacts your life. By showing them instead of telling them, you will have a greater impact. It may take several conversations before this individual begins to see the Gospel is true and God s love is real. But simply asking what a person believes, listening to them, and then explaining what you believe will have a lasting impact on that person. Jesus often listened, healed, and encountered people before He shared His Gospel with them. Follow in His footsteps and effective for His cause. Think about this: Who is someone that you could share your faith with? What steps will you take in order to share your faith?

11 Lesson 11 What should your response be at the return of a member of the Church? (taken from page 47) Questions like this seem to have an easy answer: We should accept them back into the church and help them grow in the faith. But what does this really look like? When a person you know that once rejected the Gospel now comes back to the faith, it may be hard to believe them at first. You may question whether or not they are sincere about their faith. However, this is not what the Word tells us to do. Our only responsibility to that person is to help them grow in their faith and walk alongside them. Even if they aren t sincere at first, welcoming them back into the Body of Christ can soon change their heart. The Holy Spirit can use us to help them find the One they are looking for. Welcome them back in. Don t scold them for what they have done or bring up their past. That is between them and God. Your priority is to encourage them and help keep them accountable to their new life in Christ. Pray that God will help you to encourage and lift them up when you encounter them. Think about this: Who is a person you are praying to return to the church? How would you encourage that person to come back to church?

12 Lesson 12 How does Jesus save the lost through our actions? (taken from page 51) When we become a Christian, we are supposed to model the life of Christ. People who are lost know this about us and will most likely hold us to a higher standard because of this. The way we live and treat others directly affects our witness to those who don t know the Lord. People at your school or on your sports team are watching how you live because they want to see if your faith is real. If we live similar to the rest of the world, how effective will we be when we tell others about our faith? People will not want to listen because our lives are no different than theirs. However, if we choose to live a holy life for the Lord, they are more likely to listen when we talk about our faith. The way we live is one of the best ways we can show others we are followers of Christ. Think about this: What behaviors or habits have you given up because you want to live in a way that pleases God?

13 Lesson 13 What would you say to a stranger who needs to hear the Good News? (taken from page 54) Sharing the Gospel with someone you don t know can be a bit scary. There are plenty of resources to help you share your faith, but the easiest way to share the Gospel is to take your time, calm yourself, and think about why you have faith in Jesus. One easy way is to start by saying that you believe God is the Creator of all things, and since the very first sin was committed, we have needed a Savior. No person is perfect because anyone who has sinned even one time is not fit to enter heaven or have a relationship with the Lord. Before Jesus came to die, people often had to sacrifice perfect, spotless animals to the Lord in order to have their sins forgiven. But when the Son of God was sent to earth, He never sinned. He was the perfect Sacrifice. When He was nailed to a cross, He took the punishment that we deserve for our sin. He died so that we could live eternally. We have to confess to the Lord we are sinners in need of a Savior. Then, we must believe that Jesus is that Savior. We must and confess to the Lord our belief that faith in Jesus is the only way we can have a relationship with God. We must turn away from our sins, tell God we are sorry for what we have done, and thank Him for the gift of grace that He has given us through Jesus. For the rest of our lives, we are to grow in our relationship with Him and sin no more. But if we do sin, we have faith that we are forgiven and should repent of that sin, making every effort not to commit that sin again. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct you to spread the Gospel to others and do good works for the Lord. This is the Gospel. When you are presented with the opportunity to share it with someone, the Holy Spirit will guide you in what you should say. There is no secret formula to share your faith. Just explain what you know to be true, and the Holy Spirit will take over. Think about this: How can you give yourself more opportunities to share the Gospel with people you don t know? Think of some scenarios and what you would do in response.