What it Means to be a Christian – New Creation

ANNOUNCEMENTS (5 min) Confirmation Program Upcoming Dates Journal Reminder Youth Group Program Announcements Confirmation Requirement Reminders – Wed. Night, Retreat, Service Project

INTRODUCTION (5 min)Draw an outline of a church on the white board or a large piece of paper. Invite youth to come up to the outline and write words or phrases that they think of when they hear the word “Church” inside of the outline. These can be positive or negative and can be adjectives or action words. It is ok if more than one youth write the same word.

Invite youth to turn to 1-2 people and discuss the following questions. It may be best to do these one at a time. Have youth discuss in pair and triads for 1 minute then invite volunteers to share what they discussed before moving on to the next question.

DISCUSSION1. What is the purpose of the Church?

English author G.K. Chesterton wrote “The church is the only institution that exists solely for the benefit of nonmembers." Unlike most organizations that exist to make a profit to benefit its owner or stockholders, the church exists to serve. Church members are called to come together not for their own benefit, but to benefit others through service.

2. Why should a person be a part of a church?3. Why is it important for a Christian to stay connected to a church?

Does anyone remember the three kinds of grace that John Wesley used to describe God’s grace?

•Prevenient Grace: This describes the fact that God’s grace is there for us before we accept it or even recognize it.•Justifying Grace: This occurs when we accept God’s grace for ourselves. We come into a new life and are changed. •Sanctifying Grace: We increasingly experience God’s sustaining grace as we grow in our discipleship, or in Methodist terms, as we are “going on to perfection.” Sanctifying grace is what allows us to continue to grow throughout our life to me more like Christ. We have moments of what John Wesley called “backsliding” where we blow it, mess up, or move away from the things that help us grow in our faith, but this does not mean we cannot be restored or refilled.

Once a person has accepted God’s love for him/herself, they become a new creation. That person’s call as a Christian is then to seek to be more like Christ every day. Wesley believed this was difficult if not impossible to do alone. A Christian needs to have a community of faith that provides love, support, and encouragement. That provides opportunities to serve, study the Scriptures, and develop Christ-Centered relationships – to help each other and hold each other accountable.

LESSON (10 min)Christianity is…

Handout a copy of “Christianity Is” to each youth.

In small groups have them read through the sheet (front and back) together. There are 8 small pages (page 4-11). Start with the person wearing the most blue. This person should read page 4 out loud. Go to the right. Each person reads one page out loud to the group.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION1. Which description of Christianity was most interesting to you? Why?

2. What is a Christian?3. Why does a Christian need to be a part of a church?4. Why do you need to be a part of a church?

There are three levels of our faith:

Our personal faith: this is our personal relationship with God. This involves prayer, reading God’s Word, and growing in intimacy with God our Father.Our shared faith: this is our community of faith with other Christians. Our beliefs and morals, as well as our sense of belonging. Being a part of a faith community helps us to grow and provides opportunities for us to serve, lead, develop our gifts, and learn from one another.

Our historic faith: this is the faith that is practiced through tradition and ritual. It involves the sacraments (baptism and communion), the reciting of creeds, singing, community prayers, and

more. History and tradition filters out things that are ineffective and not of God. Only the best and most holy and helpful traditions stand the test of time.

REINFORCING (15-20 Min)

Searching the ScripturesHave youth look up the following scriptures and fill in the blanks in the statement below each scripture. You can write the scripture reference and statement on a card, giving one to each group, or write them on the board and assign each group one or more to look up and discuss.

Matthew 7:24-2724 “Everybody who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who built a house on bedrock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It didn’t fall because it was firmly set on bedrock. 26 But everybody who hears these words of mine and doesn’t put them into practice will be like a fool who built a house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It fell and was completely destroyed.”

The Christian Church is built on ______________________.Possible answers include: the life and teachings of Jesus, the solid foundation of faith in Christ.

Joshua 24:14-1514 “So now, revere the LORD. Serve him honestly and faithfully. Put aside the gods that your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt and serve the LORD. 15 But if it seems wrong in your opinion to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Choose the gods whom your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But my family and I will serve the LORD.”

Making a conscious and active decision to follow and serve God is important because _____________.Possible answers include: No one has to follow Jesus. It is a decision and a choice. We must claim our faith for ourselves.

John 13:34-3534 “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. 35 This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”

You can tell someone is a Christian by _______________________________________________.Possible answers include: How they live their life. If they show love to others. By their deeds and their faith.

Matthew 28:19-2019 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.”

One way people become Christians is _______________________________________________.Possible answers include: Hearing the good news from others and accepting it. Being taught God’s commandments and deciding to follow them. Being baptized and accepting God’s love.

REAL WORLD EXAMPLE OF CHRISTIAN LIVINGInvite youth to search the Internet – if they have phones – for a short (video, article, blog post) that tells a story about a person(s) who are working in Godly ways to transform the world around them.

Remember the church exists for the benefit of those who are NOT members. Christians are called to love and serve others because we have accepted God’s love for us. We are to go and do likewise.

If time is short, or youth have trouble finding a story, some are provided for you at the end of this lesson.

REMINDERS (5 min.) Recap and 2nd reminders of announcements

PRAYER (5 min.)