Fearless

What We Want Students to Learn: That they can be fearless in the face of temptation, leaning on the power of the Spirit to help them persevere.

Main Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Supporting Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13, Romans 6:22

Session Snapshot: Much of our spiritual fear is tied to our battle with our sin nature. We fear ourselves as much as anything. And there’s a good reason for this. Much of the time we’re our own worst enemies. But Jesus models for us what it looks like to be fearless in the face of temptation. Now, we know that Christ, though fully God and fully man, was ultimately sinless. This is something we can never say about ourselves. But, we can say that we have the power to choose NOT to sin. Paul reminds us of this in Romans 6:22. So, the purpose of this lesson is to encourage and remind your students that, if they have come to saving faith in Christ, they have been given the power to fearlessly choose righteousness in any given situation. And while none of us gets it right every time, we should never fear that our sin somehow disqualifies us from being used by God.

What We Want Students to Learn: That if they have a saving relationship with Christ, they have no reason to doubt their true identity. 

Main Scripture: Mark 2:1-12 

Supporting Scripture: Galatians 2:20 

Session Snapshot: Identity formation is a huge part of what it means to be a teenager. And much of the fear and insecurity teenagers face is tied to their identity, especially younger students. The fear of being singled out or ridiculed is a real one. So much of this is tied to doubt about who they are. In this session, Jesus was put in a situation where people very much doubted His identity. In a powerful way, Jesus fearlessly stood firm on His identity, proving that He was who He claimed to be. As Christ-followers, your students’ identities are hidden in Christ. Paul says their old life is gone. In its place is a life lived for Christ. As your students seek to navigate the world they live in, there should never be any doubt about the nature of their identities. They can fearlessly be who they are called to be because of their identity in Jesus.

What We Want Students to Learn: That while natural, being fearful of the hard parts of living out their faith shouldn’t keep them from being on board with God’s mission. 

Main Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Supporting Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Session Snapshot: Sometimes it’s hard to take a stand. Sometimes it seems like you’re the only person who is trying to stay true to what you believe. When it feels like this, it can be easy to want to find another way out. Jesus did. Hours before His crucifixion, He asked God if there was a different way. A way that wasn’t so difficult. And yet, even in His asking, Jesus was fearless. “Let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” As your students seek to live as Christ-followers, they are called to model Jesus’ boldness. Yes, the road is hard sometimes. But being a part of God’s mission to redeem the world makes it worth it. This lesson will challenge your students to embrace the tough times by imitating Jesus’ fearlessness.

What We Want Students to Learn: That no matter what the world throws at them, they can be bold in the face of opposition because of who God is. 

Main Scripture: Luke 12:4-7

Supporting Scripture: John 16:33

Session Snapshot: Let’s face it: it’s tough to be a teenager. Our students live in a world where people come at them from every angle, criticizing, ridiculing, and abusing trust. It can be overwhelming for our students to navigate the relational waters of their worlds. But students can take heart! These struggles are not a surprise to God. Jesus experienced great opposition. And He knew His followers would too. He reminds and encourages us to remember that He is with us, and that in the end, He and His people will be victorious. As you wrap up your study of Fearless, this lesson will help give your students confidence to face anything that others throw at them, all through their trust in God.