Driven Youth
Ministry – 242 October 2011
“I’m
A WAKE!!”
Week
#1 – “The Business of Heart Renewal”
Core Verse: 2
Corinthians 5:17
Week
#2 – “The Trouble with Costumes”
Core Verse: Ephesians 4:24 AMP
Week
#3 – “The Truth About Worry”
Core Verse: Luke 12:25-26
Week
#4 – “Pure Joy”
Core Verse: Hebrews
5:3-5a
Week
#5 – No 242 / “The Comparison Game”
Core Verse: 2
Corinthians 10:12
Week #1: The Business of Heart
Renewal
MEMORY VERSE:
2
Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the
old has gone, the new has come!”
BIG IDEA:
wake
[weyk] - the consequence of an event; a new creation.
Our
lives should be a living testimony of God’s redemptive plan.
The
purpose of this series is for students to evaluate their lives and consider the
impact that Christ has made. What are consequences of the event of knowing
Jesus Christ? Are there untouched parts of their lives that still need to be
impacted? Are the changes that have occurred evident for others to see?
Like a
wave behind a boat, our lives should be a consequence of God’s heart renewal.
DISCUSSION:
1. Did anyone get any new clothes
for the start of the school year? What is your favorite new addition to your
wardrobe?
2. The real point of the message
was how “heart renewal” is always more important that “wardrobe renewal”. The
speaker said that “everyone could use some heart renewal.” Do you agree or
disagree with that statement?
3. Have 4 different people look up
Psalm 51:10, Isaiah 40:30-31, 2 Corinthians 4:16, and 2 Corinthians 5:17 and
read them out loud for the group. What is the common message in each of these
verses?
God
is in the business of heart renewal.
4. Have everyone look up and read
Colossians 3:1-17 silently on their own. After everyone’s finished, read
through the same passage out loud as a group. As you read, stop periodically to
make a list of “old clothes” and a list of “new clothes”. Example:
Old Clothes = impurity, lust,
greed, slander, etc.
New Clothes = kindness,
humility, gentleness, patience, etc.
5. God desires to renew our
hearts. Are there any specific “old clothes” from that list that you think He
may want you to stop wearing? Are there any “old clothes” that aren’t on that
list that you think God may want you to stop wearing?
6. Are there any specific “new
clothes” that you know God wants you to put on?
APPLICATION:
Be a
“wake” in your school this year. Get rid of the “old clothes” and put on the
“new clothes”. Live like a new creation. Show people that God is real and that
he can make a difference in people’s lives!
Week #2: The Trouble with Costumes!
MEMORY
VERSE:
Ephesians 4:24 AMP “And put on the new nature (the
regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and
holiness.”
BIG
IDEA:
wake [weyk] - the consequence of an event; a new
creation.
Our lives should be a living testimony of God’s
redemptive plan.
Everyone has a costume – we all put on the costume
(mask) that we want the different people in our life to see us as. But God
wants us to come to Him as we are – not in some mask to try and impress Him. So
why should dealing with other people be any different – be real, be yourself
and stop hiding behind a costume.
DISCUSSION:
1. What
is your all-time favorite Halloween costume? Has anyone thought about what they
will be for Halloween this year?
2. Today
talked about how “everyone has a costume”. What do you think he meant by that?
3. Do
you believe people your age often put on masks to impress others or hide
things?
4. What
are some negative consequences to putting on costumes?
5. As
a group read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. What are the big ideas presented in this
passage?
6. How
could the truth in this passage eliminate the need for the following costumes:
·
“Impress my Peers” Costume
A
wake is the righteousness of God. God’s requirements have been satisfied.
Requirements of peers don’t matter.
·
“Don’t Disappoint My Peers” Costume
A
wake is reconciled to God. If reconciliation with God is possible, it’s also
possible with parents.
·
“Keep My Sin Secret” Costume
A
wake is not afraid of being defined by their sins. Forgiveness means that sin
is not counted against; freedom from condemnation.
·
“Avoid My Pain”
A
wake has been forgiven and can learn to forgive others. Trade a numb life for a
new life.
THINK
ABOUT THIS:
People may accept your costume, but you wonder if
anyone accepts you? People may love your costume, but does anyone really love
you? You may love the appearance your costume gives you, but can you keep up
that appearance? At least two people know about your costume: You and God. Can
you handle living a lie before yourself and God? Does your costume cover up the
glory of God’s work in your life?
APPLICATION:
You don’t need a costume. You can be a new
creation.
Which costume do you want to avoid putting on this
year? How can the Small Group encourage you and hold you accountable?
Week #3 – The Truth About
Worry
MEMORY VERSE:
BIG IDEA:
wake
[weyk] - the consequence of an event; a new creation.
Our
lives should be a living testimony of God’s redemptive plan.
The
purpose of this series is for students to evaluate their lives and consider the
impact that Christ has made. What are consequences of the event of knowing
Jesus Christ when it comes to worry? How should trusting Christ affect the
level of stress that we experience each day?
MEMORY VERSE:
Luke
12:25-26 “Can worry make you live longer? If you don't have power over small
things, why worry about everything else?”
DISCUSSION:
1. Today, the speaker talked about
worry and stress, what are the things in your life that you find yourself
worrying about the most?
2. Have someone look up and read
Matthew 7:9-11. What does this verse have to do with worrying?
If earthly fathers (who are
evil) know what to give their children, how much more does our Heavenly Father
(who is good) know how to give his children what they need?
3. Have someone read Matthew
6:25-34, what does Jesus mean by saying “is not life more than those things?”
What are the worries Christ might say to us “isn’t life more than just _____”?
Jesus says those things are
important (he calls them needs) but he also reminds us that life is
much bigger than the things
that we worry about so much”.
4. In verse 30 Jesus links the
problem of worry to having small or “little faith”. What does worry have to do
with the amount of faith we have or our faith in general?
When we worry we show that we
do not have faith or do not trust that our father is in control and
cares for us.
5.
Have
someone reread Matthew 6:32, Jesus says that when we worry we act like what
kind of people?
6.
So
what is the “wake” or the consequence of being a Christ follower when it comes
to worry?
7.
Who
is in control of everything? Do you really believe God is not only in control
but he wants to give us what is best in every circumstance?
APPLICATION:
Let’s
take a moment and give our requests to God right now. What are the things that
are causing you stress or worry. Then let’s pray for those things. No matter
how small they are the bible says that God cares for us, and wants us to be
people who trust in our Heavenly Father.
Week #4: “Pure Joy”
BIG
IDEA:
wake [weyk] - the consequence of an event; a new
creation.
Our lives should be a living testimony of God’s
redemptive plan.
This life is a war… there’s no doubt about it. The
enemy is out to get you at every opportunity – but Praise God, we’re on the
winning team!! But being in a war means we will see bad things go on around us
and trials in our own lives. With most people - trials rarely produce joy but
typically result in coping. There are 2 ways people tend to “cope” – escape
& attack. But the Bible has a different perspective on how we should deal
with trials – today we’re going to adjust our focus and see trials the way God
wants us to.
Focus on the example of Jesus…His was the ultimate
trial and He has the ultimate glory.
MEMORY
VERSE:
Hebrews 5:3-5a “But that's not all! We gladly suffer, because we
know that suffering helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which
gives us a hope that will never disappoint us..”
DISCUSSION:
1. What
are some things in your life that bring pure joy?
2. Look
up and read James 1:2. When is the last time you remember a trial resulting in
joy?
3. Trials
are common in each of our lives. What are some of the common trials that kids
your age deal with?
4. The
speaker talked about how trials rarely produce joy but typically result in
coping? Does anyone remember the two main categories of coping that he talked
about? Escape & Attack
5. Escape
was defined as “going somewhere else in an attempt to get away from a trial”.
What are some examples of things people might run to in an effort to escape
trials?
6. Attack
was defined as “lashing out in an attempt to harm or defeat the source of a
trial.” What are some examples of ways people might cope by attacking?
7. How
could escaping or attacking trials actually end up leading to more trials?
8. Look
up and read James 1:2-4 and Romans 5:1-5. What do these passages say about the
way a Christian should respond to trials?
9. Look
up and read Hebrews 12:1-3. What does this passage say about the specific
things a Christian can do in order to find joy through trials?
APPLICATION:
What method of coping do you need to confess and
“throw off”?
What trial are you facing today and what would
help you persevere through it?
Week #5: “The
Comparison Game”
BIG
IDEA:
wake [weyk] - the consequence of an event; a new
creation.
Our lives should be a living testimony of God’s
redemptive plan.
The purpose of this series is for students to
evaluate their lives and consider the impact that Christ has made. What are
consequences of the event of knowing Jesus Christ? Do Christians find
confidence in a different way than everyone else?
MEMORY
VERSE:
2 Corinthians 10:12 “We won't dare compare ourselves with those
who think so much of themselves. But they are foolish to compare themselves
with themselves.”
Things
to think about…
·
What are ways that people your age try to build
self-confidence?
·
Do you think it’s common for people to seek
confidence by comparing themselves to others?
·
There are two common categories of comparison:
1. Craving Comparisons: When you compare yourself
to people you want to be
like (popular peers, famous people, professional
athletes, etc.)
2. Comfort Comparisons: When you compare yourself
to something less desirable
in order to make yourself feel better (peers who
have worse problems than you,
your own
past, etc.)
·
If you pursue confidence by striving after
“craving comparisons,” how could things backfire?
The craving to be something you aren’t is never
satisfied, You end up feeling
bad about yourself (condemnation, hopeless,
depressed), You stop being
grateful for who you are, You become distracted
from God’s plan for your life
(Something else becomes king of your life)
·
If you pursue confidence by striving after
“comfort comparisons,” how could things backfire?
Comparing yourself to others destroys compassion
and love for them (to
make yourself feel better, you want others to look
worse), Makes you
prideful, Makes you judgmental, Ignores God’s
opinion of others
·
Read Philippians 3:4-9. A man named Paul wrote the
book of Philippians. It was a letter to a church in a town called Philppi. Why
would it have been easy for Paul to seek confidence through comparison?
·
What do you think Paul found in his relationship
with Christ that led him to stop seeking confidence through comparison?
·
Would you be able to say the same things that Paul
said in this passage? Why or why not?
APPLICATION:
Spend some time honestly evaluating how often you
pursue confidence through comparison. Write down the craving and comfort
comparisons that you most commonly make.
Pray about the impact that comparison has on your
relationship with Christ and His importance in your life.
What are ways you can pursue the “surpassing
greatness” of knowing Jesus Christ.
