SUMMARY OF THIS SERIES

There are many things that people seek , and some get closer to attaining it than others, but ultimately, they always come up short. Why? Because God didn't create us for "things" but a person: Himself. Our longings can only be ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

YOUR GOAL AS PREACHER

What is your goal this summer? To preach Christ. Our goal is to proclaim the Gospel and trust God to save souls. Then we follow up and disciple the converted.

What leads men to the Cross? Not scientific rationale, philosophy, or reasoning, but ultimately, God Himself, through His Spirit: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (Jn 6:44) It is God's sovereignty working through the presentation of the Gospel in the power of the Spirit. Therefore we must preach the Gospel faithfully in order for teenagers to be saved.

TIPS FOR A GOOD TEACHING SESSION

• PREPARE with careful STUDY and PRAYER! Don't "WING IT!"
• Your teaching should be a MAX OF 20 MINUTES .
• Use the ice-breaker to connect with the team and hook them into the discussion.
• Don't bury your head in notes during delivery - instead memorize the major points so you can communicate more freely.
• Command attention by using the following techniques:

• Obtain eye contact and keep it throughout.
• Check for understanding by asking questions
• Occasionally call on people at random to keep the team on their toes

• Avoid teaching in the cold, windy, and dark part of the evening! Teach in the nice sunny part of the day. The middle of practice is usually a good time.
• When teaching, have students face away from other teams, the sun, other distractions
• Be friendly and have fun with these students.

---

Anytime: Personal testimony

Talk about how Jesus was the end of your "seeking!"

THE OPENING

Identify a theme. What did your life revolve around that God used to help bring you to Him? Try to illustrate your theme with a wordw picture that your audience can identify with.

BEFORE CHRIST

You want to paint a picture of what your life was like before you came to Christ, but don't dwell on how bad you used to be, or glory in past sin . Share only the details that relate to your theme, and give enough detail to show your need for Christ . This is not the time to give your resume!

HOW YOU CAME TO CHRIST

Make sure you speak in such a way that the person you are talking with, and anyone who overhears you, can understand how you became a Christian, and how they can become a Christian, too. Give only the details that are important to communicate why and how you became a Christian . As you begin to work on it, consider what your life was like before you trusted Christ or you really began to see change. This is an educational aspect to your story, so that even if your listener is not interested right now, s/he'll be able to make that decision down the road because you've equipped them with the right information.

YOUR LIFE SINCE YOU CAME TO CHRIST

Share some of the changes that Christ has made in your life as they relate to your theme. Emphasize the changes in your character, attitude, and perspective, not just the mere changes in behavior . And be realistic. We will struggle as Christians. Life is far from perfect, isn't it? But what makes it different for you now? Be honest, and God will use your personal experience regardless of how "unspectacular" you may think it is. Tell them how Christ fulfills you ultimately with true satisfaction .

CLOSING

Close it out with a summary statement that ties your story together according to your theme .

June 11: Religion & Good Works

Nicodemus - John 3

• People seek : Academics, charitable works, religion
• Text to study : John 3:1-21
• Key verse : "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
• Key thought : You don't need a new religion, you need a new birth.

ICEBREAKER

1. What types of things do people seek to be successful in this world? For example, what kinds of credentials do you need to have to get accepted into a prestigious university? A job?
2. But what kinds of credentials do you need to have to get accepted by God?

TRANSITION

You are probably trying hard to secure a good future, and that's good. But what are you doing to secure a good eternity? Most people think God requires all kinds of good works, but that's not even in the ballpark.

TEACHING

• Nicodemus was a super righteous Pharisee--top of society in political, religious, social leadership of Jewish society. He approaches Jesus merely as a "Rabbi" and a "teacher" from God.
• Jesus cuts him off and says that if you want to even SEE the kingdom of God, "you must be born again."
• Why? " Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light"

• Men are inwardly corrupted and in spiritual darkness by sin and therefore cannot see God's kingdom.

• Jesus then explains that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom - man needs rebirth.
• It's not about your external credentials, but inner heart before God.
• How do you you become born again?

• It's a work of the Spirit when you BELIEVE (RECEIVE) the PERSON and WORK of the Son (John 3:14-18) and He causes you to be born again.

CALL TO REPENTANCE

• Drop what you are doing to gain acceptance with God, repent and believe in the Son of God.

---

June 18 - Relationships: "Obey Your Thirst"

The Woman at the Well - John 4

• People seek : Romance, boyfriends, girlfriends, marriage, sex
• Text to study : John 4:1-38
• Key verse : 4:14 "whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."
• Key thought : Romance is not an end to itself. It points to our need of a love relationship with God.

ICEBREAKER

Do you remember your first "crush?" Maybe tell your own story. Make it funny.

TRANSITION

These little "crushes" remind us that we are all creatures who seek to have a special love relationship .

TEACHING

The woman at the well sought satisfaction in romantic relationships. She had five men, and was currently on her sixth. Something wasn't working for her. But Jesus strikes up a conversation with her to show here that her "thirst" for men was really something deeper. ^[1] Jesus leads her in conversation to see that what she really needed was Messiah. And Jesus says: ""I who speak to you am He."

Young people seek to be fulfilled with that which cannot truly satisfy. Romantic relationships are exciting but when the flames cool off, we find that even the best romantic relationship cannot quench the thirst for our soul for God. People even go outside of God's design for marriage to fill this need, but they end up lacking, because romance is not an end to itself. It should points to a greater love: the love of God. Just as the love of a man and woman is supposed to culminate in marriage (Gen 1:27-28), marriage itself is even designed to point to a greater reality: The love of God for His bride, the church (Eph 5:31-32). Jesus gave his life for you on the cross to bring you to Himself. (1 Peter 3:18) Now that is true romance!

CALL TO REPENTANCE

Before you seek the perfect relationship, seek your primary relationship - your relationship with God. How can you start this relationship? Quench your thirst with Jesus Christ.

---

June 25: Partying

The hungry crowds - John 6

• People seek : The best food and drink
• Text to study : John 6:1-40
• Key verse : John 6:35 - "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst."
• Key thought : Your drive to eat food and drink and party should point you to the emptiness you have, and hunger you should have for God.

ICEBREAKER

What is your favorite food and drink? In what ways do people make food and drink an idol?

TRANSITION

Have you ever considered the fact that we as human beings are always hungry ? We must eat and drink constantly. We're not like plants that simply absorb their nourishment from the environment. Our need shows us key truths.

TEACHING

• We are completely dependent creatures. We need constant nourishment from external sources.
• In our quest for food and drink, we go too far and make an idol out of being filled. (gluttony, rich lifestyle, partying, drunkenness, etc). We forget that God should be our satisfaction.
• Our need to be physically filled points us to our need to be spiritually filled by God.
• Our sin causes us to quench our hunger and thirst in the physical only . John 6:35-36 "Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe."
• Our physical hunger should points us to spiritual hunger that can only be quenched in Christ . "Joh 6:27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life..."

CALL TO REPENTANCE

Do more than seek food and drink. Let your hunger drive you to be satisfied in Christ.

July 2: Money & Possessions

Rich young ruler - Mark 10

• People seek : Money and possessions
• Text to study : Mark 10:17-31
• Key verse : Mark 10:25 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
• Key thought : Earthly riches can thwart you from attaining that which is really important.

ICEBREAKER

• What would you do if someone gave you 1 Million dollars?

TRANSITION

• "Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth thrown in: aim at Earth and you will get neither." - CS Lewis ^[2]

TEACHING

• The rich man was respectful, and wanted to know how to inherit eternal life. He thought salvation was a matter of what HE could DO in an earthly sense to EARN IT. But can you earn an inheritance?
• Christ saw his self-reliance, asked him if he obeyed the manward 10 commandments (don't murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, defraud, honor parents). The man proudly & confidently responded "yes!"
• Then Christ tested his faith to see if would obey the next command, " Do not COVET. "
• Christ pointed out that he had a heart problem. He was covetous. Loved money and possessions.
• Salvation is not about what YOU CAN DO, but what Christ has DONE FOR YOU.
• True riches are only found in salvation in Christ. If you have Christ, you will eventually inherit the earth and heaven. If you don't, you will lose earthly possessions, and be destroyed eternally.
• Riches prevent you from receiving Christ's help. You think you can provide for your own salvation, but not receive Christ's provision on the Cross for you.

CALL TO REPENTANCE

• Is it your ultimate dream to seek riches in this life? You might be preventing yourself from seeing true riches - eternal life in heaven! Mark 8:36 "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?"

July 9: Spirituality

Legion - Mark 5

• People seek : Spirituality through self-sought sources like yoga, karma, horoscopes, cults etc.
• Text to study : Mark 5:1-20
• Key verse : Mark 5:8 "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!"
• Key thought : There is only one authority on the supernatural world, and only Jesus is the authority over it.

ICEBREAKER

Do you like horror movies? What is your favorite?

TRANSITIO N

IMHO, the scariest horror movies are the supernatural ones. We often fear the spiritual because we don't understand it. But the Bible tells us the truth about the supernatural realm.

TEACHING

• People seek to define their own spiritual reality through religion, yoga, horoscopes, cults, etc.
• But God tells us the truth about the spirit world in His Word, the Bible.
• We all know there is something beyond the physical . You don't see dogs & cats practicing religion. We are spiritual. We have an immaterial soul. We have eternity in our hearts. (Eccles 3:11)
• There is a supernatural world of angels and demons. For more info, see Ephesians 6.
• There are evil spiritual forces led by Satan that know they are doomed to hell, so they seek to drag you down with them, by deceiving you to think that Christianity and the Bible are false. (2 Cor 4:4 "...the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.")
• If you are NOT a Christian, you are being totally influenced by these evil spiritual forces (Ephesians 2:1-2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--)
• The only way to break free of evil spiritual forces is to be set free by a superior power: The only one who can is CHRIST. As Mark 5:1-20 demonstrates, only Jesus Christ rules over spiritual forces.

CALL TO REPENTANCE

If you receive Jesus, only He can protect you from evil demonic forces who want to destroy you in hell.

July 23 - Health & Fitness

The Woman with internal bleeding - Mark 5

• People seek : W ellness through exercise, diet, medicine, etc.
• Text to study : Mark 5:21-34
• Key verse : 5:34 "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction."
• Key thought : People try really hard to be well, but the reality is that no matter how hard we fight it, our bodies are slowly dying, and we need spiritual healing.

ICEBREAKER

What are some recent fitness and diet trends that you've noticed recently? Why do people diet?

TRANSITION

People seek health and fitness because they seek the proverbial fountain of youth. They want to stay young as long as possible. But no one escapes old age and death. It is inevitable.

TEACHING

• The woman with the hemorrhage tried everything to be healthy
• People seek wellness, but the reality is that no matter how hard we fight it, our bodies are slowly dying, and we need spiritual healing.
• The only way you can be truly healthy is in your SOUL. Christ tells us that it is not diet and exercise that makes us well, but our FAITH: (Mark 5:34 "Daughter, your faith has made you well ; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.")
• We all die physically because of our sin . But there is hope after the grave: ( Rom 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.")

CALL TO REPENTANCE

It is a good thing to exercise and eat right, but it will never prevent your ultimate death. And the worst tragedy is if you die twice: Physically and spiritually. Everyone dies physically, but you don't have to die spiritually. Faith in Christ will prevent you from dying spiritually in eternity.

July 30: Family

Raising Lazarus - John 11

• People seek : Security of family
• Text to study : John 11:1-46
• Key verse : 25 "Jesus said to her: "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?
• Key thought : Earthly family will pass away, but in Christ you can be part of God's family

ICEBREAKER

What is your favorite family activity? What are some favorite memories with family?

TRANSITION

We all seek the security of a stable family. But family should point us to greater spiritual realities:

TEACHING

Here are the greater realities:

• God is our Father

• In one sense , God IS everyone's Father (Acts 17:28-29).
• In another sense , God is NOT everyone's Father. Only Christians are of God. ( 1 Jn 3:1), and everyone else has the devil as father (John 8:44).

• God has a family: The Church

• Christ is the husband, The Church is His bride, Church = His children (Eph 5:25-32).
• You can be part of God's family if you receive Christ (Gal 3:7)

• Earthly family passes away . Earthly family dissolves (Mark 12:25). But you you don't have to say goodbye permanently to your loved ones. You can be part of God's family that will last forever.
• John 11:25-26 "Jesus said to her: "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?

CALL TO REPENTANCE

• Earthly family will pass away, but in Christ you can be part of God's family. Receive Christ and you can be part of God's family.

Option: Science & Knowledge

Doubting Thomas - John 20

• People seek : Knowledge through empirical evidence
• Text to study : John 20
• Key verse : 10:29 "Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."
• Key thought : People think truth is determined only by what they perceive with their physical senses, but truth transcends the physical.

ICEBREAKER

In your opinion: How did the world get here?

TRANSITION

Our opinions are one thing. But they have no bearing on what is truly real. People seek truth in knowledge. But the problem is that science relies only on what you can physically measure to determine reality. But there are realities greater than what we can physically perceive . There are spiritual realities that only God can tell us the truth about. God has done that through His Word, and ultimately through Jesus.

TEACHING

• Science is limited because it measures only that which a human being can physically perceive. Therefore even our best scientists only have LIMITED and RELATIVE knowledge.
• The physical world exists to tell us that God created it:

• Romans 1:20 "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made"

• Thomas only believed when he physically touched the body of Jesus. But Jesus wants you to walk by FAITH not by SIGHT. (2 Cor 5:7)
• Ultimately you are saved THROUGH FAITH. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

CALL TO REPENTANCE

Don't be like doubting Thomas. Don't just rely on what you can physically observe. There is a world beyond the physical. God

---