Sunday, May 3, 2020

Youth Group at Home - Week 7 (May 3, 2020)

   
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS  

4 PRACTICAL STEPS TO TRUST GOD

TRUSTING GOD – STEP 1: Decide to Fight.

“I am not going to worry.”
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, ESV)
Question: Have you ever said something like this? If so, how often do you say this?
 
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TRUSTING GOD – STEP 2: Constantly Monitor your Thoughts and Feelings.

 “I will train myself to capture the negative thoughts and feelings.”

 “I will train myself to detect negative thought and feelings.”

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:4-6, ESV)

Question: Do you intentionally monitor your thoughts and feelings? If so, do you recognize them immediately? Either way, what do you normally do when you realize that you are down and depressed? 

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TRUSTING GOD – STEP 3: Prepare for an Attack.

“I will sharpen my skill with the sword.”

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, (Ephesians 6:13-18, ESV)

We learned that the Bible metaphorically refers to itself as a sword, and it is the weapon we use to defend ourselves when negative thoughts and emotions attack us.
Question: I hope you are reading and studying your Bible daily or at least weekly; because, we all struggle with this from time-to-time…even Pastor Derrick. What keeps you from reading the Bible? Do you make it a priority or is there some other challenge that keeps you from studying it? 

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TRUSTING GOD – STEP 4: Replace Negative Thoughts and Feelings.

“I will replace my negative thoughts and feelings with God’s promises.”

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26, ESV)

Question: Have you ever detected negative thoughts and emotions and replaced it with a promise from God? If so, which is your favorite verse to use? What are some other promises from the Bible that we could say help us trust God?
 
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Weekly Challenge: This week, the challenge is to sit down with your mom and watch next week’s Mother’s Day video sometime next Sunday.

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Youth Group at Home - Week 6 (4/26/2020)

   
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 

1. What is something that you did not like or that you complained about before COVID-19 that you would be happy to have back? 

2. Had you heard the story of Samuel before tonight? 

3. What stood out to you from Samuel’s story of hearing God? 

4. The speaker made a lot of interesting statements tonight about faith and fears as well as miracles, opportunity and obedience. For our discussion tonight, you get to pick one of the statements below and then we will discuss it. 

Statement #1 – Faith does not eliminate fear, instead faith enables you to handle fear. 

Statement #2 – Miracles occur when opportunity meets obedience. 

Statement #3 – Faith is allowing God to set the direction of your life without seeking the details. 

Time to vote, which do you prefer…1, 2, or 3? 

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Statement #1 – Faith does not eliminate fear, instead it enables you to handle fear. 

1. What do you fear? What are you afraid of? 

2. Do you trust God to handle it? If so, what does that look like? Put another way, when you put your faith and trust in God, how do you respond differently to your fears? 

Weekly Challenge: Explain what your fear is and how you will act differently about it this week. 

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#2 – Miracles occur when opportunity meets obedience. 

1. Genesis 2:7 (ESV) says, “then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” You have probably heard the phrase, “the miracle of birth.” This is because living humans are only alive because they have the breath of God in them. Do you think of yourself as a living miracle? 

2. How does realizing that you are a miracle change your view of yourself? 

3. As a living miracle, we sometimes receive additional miracles from God. But there are also times God wants to you and me to be the answer someone else’s prayer for a miracle. Is there a time that you can remember being someone’s answer to prayer? 

Weekly Challenge: Explain how you will be the answer to someone’s prayer for a miracle this week.


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#3 – Faith is allowing God to set the direction of your life without seeking the details.

 1. We are constantly headed somewhere. Even nowhere is a destination. Sometimes the destination is summer vacation, the next grade, High School, College, starting a job…or even into the unknown? We are experiencing more unknowns than ever before. Where are you headed? 

2. What barriers or what things are blocking your path? 

3. Have you asked God to specifically remove those barriers or to provide an alternate path? 

Weekly Challenge: Explain what barrier you have in your life and how you will look for God to remove the roadblock or provide an alternate path.

Monday, April 20, 2020

#ChalktheWalk -- Sidewalk Chalk Competition!!!


Tired of being quarantined? Looking for an activity to do while still maintaining your social distancing?

The Edge Program is providing the chalk and simply asking that students chalk up a sidewalk with some great artwork or messages of hope and encouragement. Chalk can be picked up curbside at The Care Center in Dayton starting tomorrow (April 21).

All participants are only asked to posted pictures or email them to The Edge Program so they can make a video compilation.
    
All this information is available on their Facebook and Instagram pages.


Here is a link to their website...  

https://www.thecarecentertn.org/edge

#ChalktheWalk

Loving your teen...

Parents,

Looking for a way to connect with your teens? Do you ever feel like you love your teen so much but can't seem to express it in a way that speak love to them? 

If this is you, the Edge Program is offering a program for you and you can participate completely online. Information is below...

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Youth Group at Home - Week 5 (April 19, 2020)

 
Discussion Questions:
·      Why do you think Living a life changed by Jesus means we need to say “no” to certain things.
·      Why do you think Living a life changed by Jesus means saying "yes" to certain things?
·      What is our goal for living a Christ-like life and how does this list of “yes’s” and “no’s” help us achieve it?
·      Paul gives this list of things to say "yes" to: Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Meekness, Patience, Forgiveness.

But we all have spiritual strengths and weaknesses. Which of these characteristics are strengths for you? Which ones are weaknesses? What can you do to turn your weaknesses into strengths?



Weekly Challenge: Think of someone in your life who is hard to love. Got it? What is a specific way you will show them the love of God this week?

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Youth Group at Home - Easter (April 12, 2020)

HAPPY EASTER! 


 
* REMEMBER: No Small Groups tonight.
See you all Wednesday on Band at 6 pm. 
Check Band early for a short video introducing the game and the rules.

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Youth Group at Home - Week 3 (April 5, 2020)

 
Discussion Questions:
1.     Are you enjoying being able to stay home or are you getting stir crazy?
2.     Is there something new you are excited to start this week?
3.     Do you feel isolated from people? Have you found new ways (or old ways) to connect?
4.     How did you do with Last Week's Challenge? Were you able to share last week’s message of hope with someone? If so, how did it go?
5.     Of the three questions ("Who are you?" "What do you want?" and "Where are you headed?"), which one got your attention? Why?
6.     How does your identity in Christ influence the way you see yourself?
7.     How does your identity in Christ influence the way you see the world around you?
8.     Andy asked an important question, “How are we spending the life that Jesus purchased for us?” What are you “filling your bucket” with?
9.     “You will steer your life to achieve the things you think are important.” We all want to know where we are going. Based on what you are putting in your bucket, what do you consider most important?
Weekly Challenge: Who and how will you encourage someone in your family this week by reminding them of who they are in Christ?

Ideas for having fun together…
·      What could we do?
·      How would we do it?
·      When would be do it?
We need lots of details!!!

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Youth Group at Home - Week 2 (March 29, 2020)

 
See Discussion Questions below. 

Discussion Questions:

1. What has been your favorite part of your extended Spring break?

2. What has been your least favorite part of this extended Spring break?

3. What stood out to you from the lesson?

4. Sometimes you can feel like you just don’t have the strength to face everything going on in your life. Describe a time when you did not seem to have enough strength.

5. Like a new phone or a new car, eventually the newness starts to wear off. What do you do when you feel like the newness of your relationship with God starts to wear off?

6. Andy talked about a tall pine tree falling over during a storm because it’s roots were not deep enough. What things are you using to help grow deep roots in your relationship with God?

7. What are some ways that the world or Hollywood makes your feel like you are not good enough?

8. Andy said, “Jesus satisfies…He is all you need.” Do you believe that?

9. Paul explained that Jesus cancels our sin debt by nailing it to the cross. Do you know someone who needs to hear this message?

Weekly Challenge: Who and how will you share this message of hope in question #9?

Youth Group at Home - Mother's Day (May 10, 2020)

From all of the PowerHouse Leaders, Happy Mother's Day!!!