Middle School Week 1 (April 2): Keep The Faith
Series Overview – Turn Away From The World
We’re not going to grow our faith and live “built different” by simply believing something — we’ve got to do something.
Each one of us is called to teach with our life, and nothing sends a louder message than turning away from the influence of the world and embracing the kingdom.
How? By making a commitment to your faith and chasing after God’s kingdom. And for the next two weeks, we’re going to break down what that looks like.
Series Verses:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” (Psalms 1:1-3)
“You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.” (Deuteronomy 14:2, NLT)
Discussion Goal: Faith takes commitment.
Start Talking (Conversation Starter)
What’s something you or your family have kept for a long time (could be an item or a tradition)? What makes it worth keeping?
Think It Through (and Talk It Out)
Leader Tip: Choose questions that resonate with your group’s age, experiences, and current understanding. There’s no pressure to cover all the questions — pick the ones that fit your group the best.
Read Hebrews 11:1. This verse tells us that faith is “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” What does this mean to you? What are some real-world examples of what this could look like?
⬆️ Bible Bite: Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "confidence" and "assurance." Think of it like this:
Confidence is believing you'll ace a test after studying hard. Assurance is trusting in things
you can't see, like believing there's oxygen in the air you're breathing. Essentially, faith is a
strong belief without needing physical proof.
What are some things the world tries to tell us we should have assurance or trust in? (e.g., money, social media followers, grades, etc.) Why might having faith in something other
than God be a bad idea?Read Romans 10:17. How do things like reading your Bible, going to church, and spending time with your eGroup help you keep the faith?
Read 2 Timothy 4:7. Paul, the author of this book of the Bible, is writing from a prison cell. He was put in prison for preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom. It couldn’t have been easy for Paul to keep the faith. Faith isn’t easy — it takes hard work and commitment. What do hard work and commitment look like when it comes to our faith?
Pray: God, thank You for the Bible and prayer, which help us learn about and grow closer to You. Please help us make time to read Your Word and pray daily so we can live a life that honors You.
Additional Questions
1 Timothy 4:1 warns us that some people will give up on their faith as time goes on. What do you think giving up on faith looks like?
Have you ever had a moment where you felt like giving up on your faith? Talk about it with your group.
Imagine you’re talking with a friend, and they say, “Faith is easy. I can live however I want and still believe in Jesus.” How would you respond?
⬆️ LEADER TIP: Students may express a wide range of answers here, and that's okay! Once
they've finished sharing, make sure they understand that faith impacts the way we live.
"When we have faith in Jesus — when we believe in Him and choose to follow Him — it
changes the way we live. If we're living however we want, we're not living out our faith!"
Why is committing to our faith important in our relationship with God? What’s one thing you could start doing this week to commit to your faith?