September–December 2022
Unit 1: Disciples Follow Christ
Whether your teenagers have grown up in a church setting or are being introduced to Christianity for the first time, discipleship probably doesn’t sound too appealing. After all, disciples have it tough; the most famous disciples were imprisoned, tortured, murdered, and had to write a lot of letters to try to solve other people’s drama. Today’s Christians face persecution all over the world and, at the very least, your youth probably fear how their peers will see them if they truly embrace discipleship. This series of lessons will help youth develop a faith strong enough to weather the struggles and challenges of adulthood. After all, discipleship at its most basic is composed of calling, study, prayer, service, and worship.
Unit 2: Pillars of Character
Strength of character has allowed many young people to persevere through difficult circumstances. One might describe character as moral excellence and strength of resolve. This unit focuses on four pillars of character that can serve as a solid and stable foundation on which youth can build their lives: fairness, responsibility, caring, and respect. These core values are explored through the study of four New Testament Scripture passages, encouraging teens to develop the character necessary to face the challenges of adolescence and their lives beyond.
Unit 3: Finding My Way
Not quite children and not yet adults—teenagers in your youth group often find themselves in a confusing transition period. They are learning to navigate their adolescent period and rarely have clear instructions or guidance. This unit explores stories of Jesus as an adolescent, Paul as a mentor, and the four young men in Daniel as examples of faithful Christians. Through them, your teenagers will come to recognize their own capabilities and identities as believers.
Unit 4: Immanuel—God With Us
This five-lesson unit welcomes youth to join the Church in waiting for and celebrating Jesus’ birth. During Advent, youth will spend time with Isaiah considering the kingdom of God—the path that leads to it, the peace that characterizes it, God’s strength that establishes it, and the Messiah who inaugurates it. In the weeks before and after Christmas, readings from Matthew and John will challenge youth to confront the great mysteries of God’s presence in the world.
January–April 2023
Unit 1: Old Testament Basics
This unit offers an important conclusion to this volume about changing and moving forward in our walks with Christ. Each of the four sessions focuses on introducing a broad collection of Old Testament books: Law, History, Writings, and Prophets. By exploring truths found in the main books of the Law, specifically, this unit will lead youth to consider how they can take their Christian history with them as they grow.
Unit 2: Jeremiah
In this unit, we will explore five stories in Jeremiah’s life as examples of stages in a prophet’s journey. First, we will examine Jeremiah’s calling from God. Second, we’ll consider numerous factors that might interfere with a believer’s relationship with God and their calling as a prophet. Next, we will focus on Jeremiah’s inner struggle and private pain in a time when he wondered whether what God was calling him to do was really best. Fourth, we will consider how to determine the truthfulness of opposing messages. Finally, we will explore the advantages of God’s discipline as a path to reconciliation. God has our best interests at heart, and the prophetic journey is an expression of God’s love and hope for us as well as our community.
Unit 3: Missions—Risk Yourself for God
Studying Scripture doesn’t usually sound like a risky activity, but each Scripture text in this unit asks youth to take some pretty serious chances. Youth face unique challenges at home, at school, and even in their church activities. These lessons will serve as a companion guide to young people who want to face their challenges bravely and prepared.
Unit 4: Easter—Luke’s Account
For many youth, the Easter story is as ingrained as the plot of a fairytale or classic movie. Accordingly, as teenagers approach Holy Week they frequently find themselves underwhelmed by or dismissive of the pastel plastic eggs, white lilies, and images of crosses. However, their lack of enthusiasm has little to do with their devotion. Teens keenly feel adults’ expectations that Easter “mean something new,” but young people often find they can’t meet these expectations. This series of lessons uses the metaphor of a play and provides a broad scope in the book of Luke to give a new angle on this well-known story.