Upended – DNOW / Retreat Study

What We Want Students to Learn: Students will have their understanding of what it means to be strong upended. As Christ-followers, our strength comes from the Lord and only from the Lord.

Main Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Isaiah 40:28-31

Session Snapshot: Most people see strength as a value. People spend a lot of time exercising to build physical strength. We are inspired when people show mental or emotional strength during challenging circumstances. No one wants to be seen as weak.And yet, in this session, we see Paul celebrating his weakness. Why? Because Paul understands how God upends our definitions of strength. To be strong is to be weak, relying wholly on God for our strength. In this session, your students will grasp this truth and learn how to apply it in their lives.

What We Want Students to Learn: Students will have their understanding of God’s rules upended, as they learn that God’s rules offer a life of freedom. Although sin promises freedom, it delivers death.

Main Scripture: Psalm 119:9-16

Session Snapshot: Although students seem to own the market on hating rules, the truth is that everyone gets bogged down by rules. Especially when the rules sound difficult, are hard to understand, or keep us from getting what we want. Sadly, God’s rules often get lumped in to all three categories. Your students will have their understanding of freedom upended as they interact with Scripture. This lesson tackles the question posed in Psalm 119:9, “How can a young man keep his ways pure?” by discussing God’s rules, why they matter, and how they actually give us MORE freedom.

What We Want Students to Learn: By examining the narrative of John 11, students will have their expectations upended regarding life, death, and what it means to believe in the promises of God.

Main Scripture: John 11; John 3:16-17

Session Snapshot: It is commonplace in the church to talk about the resurrection of Christ. But what about the resurrection of Lazarus? Sure, the death and resurrection of Lazarus don’t do anything to forgive our sins, but they do display God’s plan for those who put their faith in Him. As your group works through this lesson, students will encounter several verses in John 11 that challenge their understanding of life and death.Most importantly, they will discover God’s plan for His people, and learn why having faith in the One who defeats death is more important than anything else on Earth.

What We Want Students to Learn: Students will have their understanding of what it means to be influential upended. Culture says that to have influence, you have to live“loudly.” But God’s way says a life of impact comes through living “quietly.”

Main Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Session Snapshot: Our culture is pretty noisy, isn’t it? There are a lot of loud voices that surround us. And sometimes, we can be fooled into thinking that to have real influence, we need to be “loud” as well. We share our opinions. We speak without first thinking.We crave the spotlight. We want to have the most followers, the most likes, and the most comments. That’s what you have to do to live a life that matters, right? Not according to the Bible. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul challenges us to live a quiet life, at peace with one another, always mindful of our actions. To live “loudly,” your students must learn to live quietly.