[Summer Camp Edition] Redefined

What We Want Students to Learn: We were created by God so that our lives may glorify Him, and bring us great joy as a result.

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-28, Isaiah 43:6-7, Revelation 4:11, Psalm 84:1-2, 10

Session Snapshot: God is the Creator. He made all things; everything in the heavens and earth exists because God spoke it into existence. That includes us. The Bible tells us that God made us as the crowning achievement of His creative efforts, the only aspect of His creation made in His image. When God created man and woman, He stepped back and said it wasn't just good, but "very good." But the question is: why did God create us? God created us to bring glory to Himself. This is a radical redefinition of our understanding of our existence, especially in a world that says the glorification of self is a goal to be attained. This session will help your students grasp the truth behind their life and to explore the joy they can experience as a result of understanding this truth.

What We Want Students to Learn: In Christ, God redefines the reality of our lives, both future, and present.

Scripture: James 4:13–14, Ephesians 2:4–10, John 10:10

Session Snapshot: We all feel like we are in control of our realities. We put so much into lining up everything in our life "just so," getting it just like we like it. But the truth is that no matter how we shape our reality, we have very little say over what happens. So much of our life is at the risk of variables entirely outside of our control. James says the reality of our lives is that we're like a mist: here today, gone tomorrow. That is true for our reality apart from God. But in Christ, God dramatically redefines our realities. This session will help students see that through the salvation offered by God through faith in the person and work of Jesus, not only do we gain life eternal with God, but we gain a FULL life on this earth.

What We Want Students to Learn: When we come to saving faith in Jesus, God redefines our identities, adopting us as children into His family.

Main Scripture: Romans 8:14-17

Supplemental Scripture: John 1:12, Galatians 3:27-28, Ephesians 2:10

Session Snapshot: What does it mean to be a part of God’s family? When Jesus offers renewal to us, we participate in this new life along with Him. This redefining of our life comes with a readjustment of our identity as sons and daughters of God. Family life comes with perks and responsibilities. When Paul talks about adoption in his letter to the Romans, there was a cancellation of legal relationships; those who were adopted no longer had ties to their old identity. As believers adopted into God's family, we are made new. We are now heirs to an eternal Kingdom, and God redefines what family means to us.

What We Want Students to Learn: When we come to saving faith in Jesus, God redefines our purposes. Part of our purpose is to share the good news of the love of God with the world. 

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9

Supporting Scripture: 1 John 4:7-8, Matthew 5:16, John 13:35, John 15:8

Session Snapshot: When we know WHO we are in Christ, we get a perspective realignment about our WHY. God created us for His glory, redefining our existence. God called us to Him through Jesus, giving us new life in Christ, redefining our realities. Through His saving grace, God adopts us into His family, redefining our identity. And He doesn't stop there. As people who have been radically transformed by God, we are given a new purpose. Part of this purpose is to share the story of ALL of the amazing gifts of God with those who are far from Him, that they too may experience the redefinition we have known.