Church Of Christ - Youth Group

Today we are looking at the reassurance that God gives us. We have nothing to be afraid of. Why? Read John 14:25-27.

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Are you worried about going to college? Sure, it may seem exciting, but does the fact that you will have to leave high school and all of the familiar things around you frighten you? You will have to leave your friends and family behind to start over in a new and unfamiliar way of life. Are you worried about all of the hard work and pressures you will have to face that are a part of college life? What about the fact that you will be living in a place other than your home for the first time in 17 years? If you are worried or even frightened about what the future holds for you all the new and unknown experiences, I suggest you read and really take to heart the words in John14:27.

These words are very comforting to anyone who is afraid. Jesus spoke these words to His disciples. He gave them the security they would need after He left them and went to heaven. He told them they could be perfectly secure in the dangers that come, and in all of the unknown experiences they would face. We don’t have to fear the future of whatever lies ahead. Jesus says to us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

God is always with us and holding us in the palm of His hand. So no matter how frightening the future may seem, always remember Jesus’ comforting words, and thank God for His perfect and everlasting peace!

Points To Ponder: What things about your future frighten you? How has God’s peace comforted you in past situations?

Prayer Possibilities: Thank God for peace. Ask God for guidance in your future. Ask God to help you remember that He is always with you.

Today we look at Psalm 22 and how we ought to trust our Heavenly Father. Please click on the link above and take time to read the whole chapter, I’ve only quoted three verses below.

“O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.”

Little Billy awoke in the night. His tiny lungs were filling with smoke, and his frightened little body shook with fear as a monster of a fire began to encircle him. He quickly ran to the window where he began to yell for help. Hopelessness began to overtake him when no one came. Suddenly, Billy heard a familiar voice say, “Jump; I will catch you.” Without hesitation, Billy leaped into the air where he soon was upheld in his father’s loving arms.

Little Billy trusted his father without a doubt. All he needed to hear was, “Jump; I will catch you.” In the same way, we know that we can trust our heavenly Father. Throughout the Bible the Lord reminds us to trust in Him. In Psalm 22 we have the assurance that the Lord will deliver us from all our troubles. “In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.”

We need the assurance that the Lord will always be there for us. When it seems that no one else will help us, we need to look to the one who has and always will provide for us. In full trust, jump; and let His loving arms uphold you.

Points To Ponder: In what situation don’t you trust God? How can you change that?

Prayer Possibilities: Ask God to help you trust in Him. Thank the Lord for all the times He has delivered you from your troubles. Pray that others will trust in Him also.

Today we take a look at Luke 11:1-13 and see how God wants us to pray. When it comes right down to it, God wants us to keep on asking. Below is the “Lords Prayer” but there is more to read at the link above.

“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.”

When I was younger, I could remember a time when I wanted a new bicycle. Every weekend, while my parents went shopping, I went to the bike section in the store and saw “my” bike. I wanted that bike so badly. Nearly every day I would ask my parents for a brand new bike, especially that one. Finally, on my birthday, I received that brand new bike I wanted so badly.

Nearly everyone can relate to that incident. And yet, in the same way, our prayer life with God should contain the same persistence that a little child has with his/her parents. God loves a persistent prayer.

In Luke 11:9 Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open to you.” God cares about us and promises us that if we ask Him, we will receive. Similarly, like good parents try to give their children only what is best for the child, so also God looks out for our best interests in our prayer requests. Our all-knowing Heavenly Father knows what is best for us and may decide that His children may not need everything they think they need or ask for.

Jesus wants us to remember the relationship we have with God by faith, so that we may feel free to pray to our Heavenly Father as boldly and confidently as dear children ask their dear father.

Points To Ponder: How did Jesus teach us to pray? Why does God love a persistent prayer? Why doesn’t God sometimes give us what we ask for in our prayers?

Prayer Possibilities: Ask God to keep us consistent in our prayer life and persistent in our prayers. Thank the Lord for giving us a way to communicate with Him. Pray for missionaries throughout the world.

Read Romans 5:1-11 as we begin today. I’ve quoted verses 1-5 below.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Frank and Jack had just gotten into a “big” argument. It was one of those arguments that we all have gotten into with someone, but that are so pointless they are virtually unnecessary. This little squabble was about worldly possessions. Jack teased Frank about how cheap his car was, but Frank turned around and teased Jack about his family and how his parents acted and dressed. They were best friends and there is no way this type of argument should have ever gotten in the middle of their friendship. It did, but not for long. A week later, they say how much their friendship meant to them and how dumb there little disagreement had been. They talked to each other and finally made peace.

That was a nice little story, wasn’t it? Well, when we make peace with someone, it is almost always necessary for two people to be in an argument and work to make peace. But this is not the case between us and God. We played absolutely no part in our receiving peace from God. Our peace came when God’s Son, Jesus Christ, died and rose for our sins. Because of this act, Christ is called the Prince of Peace. In Ephesians 2:14 we are told, “He himself if our peace…,” which means “spiritual” peace. We have eternal life in heaven through his peace which came only by God because He loves us. Christ is our peace and we did nothing to receive it but God gave it to us because of His great love for us.

Points To Ponder: How do we have peace with God? Explain how we fit into the picture of our peace with God.

Prayer Possibilities: Thank God that we have peace with Him. Pray that He will bring others to faith so they may also have peace with Him.

We’re taking a look at how God can help us today as we look at Mark 1:12-15.

“At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Have you ever wondered if God can really help us when we have problems? Have you ever felt alone when facing temptations? Well, if you have, you need to remember that Jesus lived on this earth for 33 years. We know that He was often tempted by the devil, who was trying to keep Him from doing His saving work. In these passages we are told, “And He was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan.” Through this we know that Jesus knows what we’re going through and He will be able to help us.

Have you ever been pressured by your friends to do something wrong? We need to remember that if it happens we need to walk away from it as Jesus showed us. When Jesus was telling of His suffering and death, Peter told Him not to do it. Jesus’ response was, “Get behind me Satan.” So next time you are tempted to sin, remember what Jesus has done and the He will be able to help you.

As you can see, we will never go through a situation in which we’ll have no help, because Jesus will be able to help us. He was able to overcome Satan’s temptations, and likewise, He can help us when we are tempted.

Points To Ponder: How can God help you through temptations? Why can He help us?

Prayer Possibillities: Ask God to help you overcome temptations Satan sends you. Thank God for sending His Son and for helping you when you are tempted.