The Darkness and The Light

What We Want Students to Learn: That God is real, active, and all powerful. 

Main Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5; 1 John 1:5-7

Session Snapshot: There is a God and we can know Him. The Bible is His story. He is the all-powerful Creator who spoke creation into existence with His word. He spoke into the chaotic void and suddenly the darkness was driven away. But He didn’t stop there. He is actively engaged in our lives. He did not set the world in motion and then step away. He is present, a God of action, one who brings light into every dark corner, even today.

What We Want Students to Learn: That Jesus is the light of the world, and what that means for Creation and us.

Main Scripture: John 1:1-13; John 8:12

Session Snapshot: Jesus is the light of the world. He is God incarnate, sent to bring life and light to all Creation. When we come to saving faith in Jesus, His light shines in us. It is the light of the life He purchased for us through His death and resurrection. If we are apart from Jesus, we are separated from God's light. This session will challenge students to evaluate their relationship with Jesus and ask, "Do I know the true light"?

What We Want Students to Learn: That part of why we have been saved is so that we will shine our light in the SAME WAY Jesus did, with the same purpose and the same results.

Main Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Session Snapshot: This is a really fun transition from Jesus as light to us as light. It's powerful when you see it in those terms. Jesus was the light of the world, and yet in Matthew 5, He looks at His followers and says YOU are the light. So often, we make the Gospel and salvation to be ALL about the eternity we'll spend with Jesus. That's a big part of it, and it's awesome. But part of why we have been saved is so that we will shine light in the SAME WAY Jesus did, with the same purpose and the same results. The light of God in us draws others out of the darkness. This is a huge part of our purpose as Christ-followers.

What We Want Students to Learn: That they are called to obey the command to live as children of light.

Main Scripture: Ephesians 5:6-14

Session Snapshot: This passage is a BIG challenge for students. It's about what taking faith and obedience seriously do for the Kingdom. This passage introduces three commands that form the heart of the message. As children of light, we can't "partner" with darkness. We must walk as children of the light, striving to know and do what God has for us. And we are to expose the darkness!