Church Of Christ - Youth Group

Faith is trusting in what we cannot see.  Everyone has faith in something.  If we put our faith in God, we can’t go wrong.  Take a look at Colossians 2:6-15 and check it out.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.   See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.   For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

Have you ever driven down a road or through a town that has just been struck by disaster?  It may have been a tornado, hurricane, or maybe just a really strong wind.  You can look around and see that everything has been destroyed, except for possibly one thing, the trees.  The tree rarely ever gets knocked over or anything like that, because they have big, strong, deep roots.  The deeper the roots go the better chance the tree has of making it through hard times in its life.  That is how God says He wants all of us to be, deeply rooted.

In these verses it says that we are all dead in our sins.  The only way that we have a chance of living is through the fact that God sent His only Son to suffer and die for us all, and for all of our sins.

God said that we should be rooted in Him.  The only way that can happen is by getting the strength of Scripture in our lives.  If we try our hardest to stay connected to Christ in every way, our roots should run deep in the Word of God.

Points To Ponder:  Are our “roots” strong enough to hold us up through hard times?  How can we strengthen our “roots?”  In what ways have we shown we have strong “roots?”

Prayer Possibilities:  Pray to the Lord and ask Him to strengthen and guide us in everything that we do in our daily lives.  Ask Him to show us how to live a more pure life in His eyes.

When asked if we love God, many of us would say “yes” right away.  The truth is, we show that we love God by loving others.  Take a look at Matthew 25:31-46 this morning and see what that’s all about.  The passage is long, but please read it.  In the meantime, I’ve quoted a few verses below.

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’   “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’   “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.

There is always one kid in school who always gets picked on.  It’s the new kid, the boy with glasses, or the girl who doesn’t have the “coolest” clothes.  We always find one person to pick on.  Sure, it was worse in grade school, but it still goes on in high school.  I don’t think we realize when we say something cruel about someone, or when we have the opportunity to help people but don’t, that not only are we not living up to the title “Christian,” but we upset God.  God says in Matthew 25:45, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”

What does God say about those who do not help others?  He says, “They will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)  God has done one of the most wonderful things for us; He died that we might live.

So, the next time the “weird” kid has no one to sit with at lunch, or the new girl drops her books in the hall, remember who you are in Christ.  Remember what Christ did for you.  Showing your love for God through others is just one way of doing that.

Points To Ponder:  What kinds of things do you see people doing to hurt others?  What can you do to help those in need?  What is the one thing you’ve done today to show your love for God through others?

Prayer Possibilities:  Pray for those in need.  Pray that God will grant you the strength to stand up and do something for those people.  Pray that God will continue to use you to show love through others.

Sometimes it feels like nothing we do matters here on earth.  No matter how hard we try to do good - no one notices.  Take a look at Romans 8:18-23 and read about our future glory - what really matters.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.  We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Princess Diana was a woman who defined glory.  A bride on her wedding day is in “all her glory.”  Here on earth there are so many descriptions of glory.  The dictionary defines it as great praise and honor given to a person or thing by others.  Some think of the movie Glory and believe that Denzel Washington depicts what glory is.

None of these is what the Lord is talking about in Romans 8 when He says, “I believe that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”  The glory that Paul speaks of is when our bodies will be brought out of bondage and decay and brought into the glorious freedom of God.  God promises, “That we shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  This eternal life will truly be realized on Judgment Day when we and all people will be reunited with our bodies to face either everlasting life or death.  Those of us that God gathers into heaven will be without flaw and sin.

On the last day, our bodies will be reunited with our souls.  It won’t matter if we were Princess Diana or Denzel Washington here on earth.  The only thing that will matter is that we were given faith so we could know Jesus.  Like Paul says, on that day, we will be as Jesus, perfect in the best way, a heavenly way.  The bondage and decay of sin will have left us forever.

Points To Ponder:  If God were to ask you today how you know without a doubt that you will be in heaven and can look forward to your body being perfected on Judgment Day, what would you answer?  Why do you think the Lord has allowed us, terrible sinners, to be able to look forward to this future glory?  If you don’t think you are going to heaven, why do you think this or why do other people feel this way?

Prayer Possibilities:  Thank the almighty God that He has thought enough of sinners to send Jesus to save them.  Ask God that He may use you to tell others of His “future glory.”  Ask the Lord to give you strength that you might stay close to Him so you will receive heaven.

Have you ever done something so bad that you thought you don’t deserve to be forgiven - or loved?  Take a look at Romans 8:31-39 today.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sarah went out to a party on Friday night.  Her mom let her use the car.  At the party, Sarah had a beer or two and a few shots.  She thought she was okay so she decided to drive home.  On the way home, Sarah wasn’t paying attention and hit an elderly woman crossing the street.  The woman died instantly.  Sarah felt horrible and she even thought of killing herself.  Sarah felt so guilty that she didn’t think she deserved to be loved and without love, why go on?  Then one day she went to church and her pastor preached a sermon on love.

The part that really caught her attention was Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, angels nor demons, present nor future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Whether we steal from the cookie jar or murder someone, God still loves us.  He hates what we do, but He loves us.

The problem is that too many people try to earn God’s love which is impossible.  How can you earn something you already have?  That’s right, He gives it to us freely, so Sarah can be assured that there is nothing that would be strong enough to separate her from God’s love.

Points To Ponder:  Why can’t we sometimes tell anyone something we did wrong?  Why are we so insecure about love?  How do you know that you are loved?

Prayer Possibilities:  Pray for forgiveness for those sins you are too ashamed to admit.  Pray Jesus is always petitioning God for our sakes, no matter what we do wrong.  Thank God for always forgiving us and always loving us.

Pirates are all about treasure.  As Christians, God offers us some awesome spiritual treasures and we don’t even have to swab the deck or swing the jib to get them!  Read John 18:33-38 this morning as we start.

“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”   “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”   “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”   Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”   “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.  Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”   “What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.”

It was 9:30 AM Sunday morning and Sunday school was just starting.  The children formed a circle around their teacher, each one eager to hear God’s Word.  The teacher read John 18:33-38.  This was the account of Jesus before Pilate.  She restated John 18:36 where Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.  If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews.  But now my kingdom is of another place.”

The teacher explained to the children that the people of the past thought of Jesus as a king that came to live in a castle, rule over a country, or rule over the people.  One child then raised his hand and said very matter-a-factly, “Jesus is a special King that rules over our hearts, not in castles.”  He said it as if it was common knowledge.  They could see Jesus spiritually and not as an earthly king.

As we get older, we tend to lose sight of the importance of Jesus’ presence.  For children it is very easy for them to look and see Jesus and trust in Him without doubt.  As we get older, however, we are influenced by the corrupt world, and lean towards exploring other possibilities.

We need to remember to keep a simple “child-like faith” that turns to Jesus as a spiritual king.

Points To Ponder:  How often do we turn to our world for help rather than our Savior?  Do new clothes, cars, or other material possessions take priority in our lives?  What was Jesus’ purpose here?

Prayer Possibilities:  Thank God for the earthly blessings we receive.  Ask God to help you stay focused when it comes down to what is really important in life.  Ask God to give us that “child-like faith” that lets us trust simply Him.