April 17 - Middle School
What we’re doing this week:
Two students from the same small group and school grow up, graduate high school, go to college, and transition into adulthood; one of the students has a vibrant faith, a steady confidence, and a love for life while the other student has none of those things: What is the difference? The difference is found in how they answer three big questions. During this series, we will explore three big questions that can set the trajectory for our life and our faith: Who am I? Where do I fit in? & What difference can I make?
As a human being, you are a mixture of successes and failures, talents and insecurities, wisdom and foolishness; but what really makes you… you? As we begin this three-week series on identity, we will explore the many things people try to get their identity from and one secure and true answer to this all-important question: Who am I? When we trade comparison and shame for who God says we are, we can walk in confidence knowing that on our best days and worst days, God loves us.
Bottom Line: Let the one who made you name you
Scripture: Psalm 139:13-14, John 1:12-13
Small Group:
Work through some of the questions, share prayer requests, and pray together.
How did it feel to participate in the identity activity tonight before and after the teaching?
When answering the question, “Who am I?” Luke explained that we tend to climb the ladder of comparison or carry the burden of shame – which of these two statements resonates more closely to your experience?
I struggle to compare myself with other people.
I am often preoccupied with the ways that I have failed and the mistakes that I have made.
In what ways do you tend to compare yourself to other people?
Looks & attractiveness / Athletics / artistic or academic abilities / quantity or quality of friendships / family income and experiences
What do you think could help you overcome comparison?
Have you made a decision to follow Jesus and claim your identity as God’s child? If so - when did you do that? If not, what questions do you have that may be keeping you from making that decision?
Is there anything from your past that you are still carrying the shame from? If so, don’t leave tonight without a conversation with your leader or a staff member!
Extra Info
-
Don’t forget about the Lifeline Leader Toolkit. To learn more about this, check out this information page.
-
If you’d ever like to reference the Lifeline handbook, we have a digital version of that available here on our website.
