High School (January 21) Clean Slate
Series Overview:
There’s something special about a fresh start. A new year can bring new habits, new goals, and the hope of becoming a better version of ourselves. But Jesus offers something deeper than self-improvement. He doesn’t just help us try harder. He makes us new.
Scripture tells us that in Jesus, we are washed, set apart, and made right with God. That isn’t just a belief we hold but an identity we live from. Being made new means our past no longer defines us, and grace doesn’t just forgive what was — it forms who we’re becoming.
In this catalog, we’ll explore what it means to live out a new identity in real, everyday ways. As we look at what it means to be washed, we’ll see how a changed heart leads to changed choices — shaping how we lead, how we respond, and how we live on purpose as people made new in Christ.
Memory Verse:
“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11
Discussion Goal:
To help students understand that the identity Jesus gives us helps us choose better, lead stronger, and live on purpose.
Start Talking (Conversation Starter):
It’s a new year! What’s one new thing you want to accomplish in 2026? What are some steps you’re going to take to make it happen?
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.
Leader Say: “Think about the start of a new year. A lot of people set goals or make resolutions. But for followers of Jesus, change isn’t just about willpower or habits — it starts with who Jesus says we are.
This week, we’re kicking off a one-week study called “Washed” that dives into what it means to be made new in Jesus and how that changes the way we live. Today, we’re going to talk about how our identity in Christ (who Jesus says we are, not just what we do or how we feel) isn’t just something we believe, it actually shows up in the decisions we make and how we live every day. Let’s explore that together.”
When you hear the phrase “clean slate,” what do you think people usually mean? How is the kind of new life Jesus offers different from just starting over or trying harder?
Read 1 Corinthians 6:11. What’s one way you’ve changed since meeting Jesus? What’s one thing you still struggle with?
⬆️ Bible Bite: In this verse, Paul is telling us three things God has done for believers. 1. We are cleansed — God has removed our guilt and stain of sin (washed). 2. We are set apart for God (sanctified). 3. We are declared righteous and forgiven and accepted by God (justified).
Read Romans 12:1-2. Think about your daily decisions — what you say, what you post, how you treat people when no one’s watching, etc. What gaps are there between your new identity in Christ and your current habits?
What is one specific, concrete decision you could make this week that reflects your new identity in Christ — not to earn God’s approval, but because it’s who Jesus made you to be?
Pray: Jesus, thank You for washing us and making us new. Because of You, we can make better decisions that glorify Your name and encourage those around us. Help us to make choices every day that reflect what You’ve done for us. In Your name we pray, amen.
Additional Questions:
Being made new changes the choices we make, the way we lead, and how we live on purpose. Which of those three — choices, leadership, or purpose — feels most challenging for you right now to live in the new identity Christ gives us? Why?
If your life is a story, what story are your current choices telling people? (e.g., what you care about, what virtues you believe in, what you want to be known for, etc.)
Is that story pointing toward the “new life” Jesus offers or pulling you back toward an old way of living?
Read Ephesians 2:8. Grace doesn’t just forgive us; it forms us. What does it look like for grace to shape who you’re becoming, not just forgive or erase your past?
How is that different from the way culture usually talks about grace, freedom, or self-improvement?
Who or what has the biggest influence on your daily choices? (e.g., friends, family, social media, your faith, etc.) What adjustments could you make to those influences to help you live “new”?