This Week in Peake Youth

This week, we kick off another exciting season at Journey with worship and games! Peake Youth Director, Adam Galemore takes us through a look at the big picture of God's love, grace, and forgiveness through the 66 books of the Bible. His love is deep and wide, and it's onto that stage that Joseph will enter.

On our own, life can seem meaningless at times. Wake up, eat, school, sleep, repeat. But when we begin to read God's Word and obey His commands, we'll learn what His will is for our lives. We'll begin to find our purpose. As God's love surrounds our lives, we'll want to love Him in return. As we love God, He brings meaning and purpose to our lives through serving others and sharing His love with other teens who don't know Him yet.

Fasting might sound odd at first. Skipping meals, giving up our phones or social media for a period of time...but when we try it, we'll learn how it goes hand in hand with prayer. Through fasting, we'll grow closer to our Creator. Through fasting, we'll focus intently on Christ. And as we do, we are humbled, realizing our complete dependence on God for literally everything, even something as basic as food.

Do you have that one friend who only calls when she needs something? That guy in your class who only texts when he doesn't understand the math assignment? God probably feels like that's us sometimes. Prayer is not a one-time thing or a desperate plea when we are in trouble. Prayer can be so much more!  As we grow in a relationship with Christ, He teaches us that prayer can be a constant conversation with our Heavenly friend!

Prayer can be intimidating. We start out praying for a pair of jeans or stumbling over our words. But, the more we learn to praise God for who He is and discover His will by praying His Word, the more we'll understand what prayer is all about. As we come to God with an undivided heart, we'll learn that it's all about a relationship with Him.

The Creator of the universe, the painter of glorious sunrises, the Savior of the world...God is worthy of our worship and praise just for who He is. But, sometimes, we start to let other things become "gods" in our lives. Activities, sports, social media...all begin to crowd out our praise for our amazing God. This week, as we explore the beauty of Psalm 96, we'll see that we were created to worship. The more we experience God's beauty, power, and love, the more we'll want to come to Him with open arms.

One of our Peake Youth college students shares from his heart what Psalm 51 means to him. Connor will share some of his own struggles as a teen, and how, when we live life with God, we can share our pain and challenges with God as a lament. Even this is worship, as we lean on God for strength and peace, giving over everything in our lives to Him.

The closer we come to Christ, the more He becomes our shepherd. He leads, guides, and comforts us, even in our darkest moments. When pitch black is all that I see, He holds my hand, walks alongside me, and keeps me safe. He's what my world spins around.

Joseph, engaged to a girl named Mary, found out she was pregnant. He could have done what the culture was telling him to do–divorce her, or even have her stoned for unfaithfulness. But, instead, he chose to be true to God's plan for the world. His faithfulness played a role in the Savior of the world coming to Earth as "God with us."

As we learn from Mary's story of humble obedience, we'll come to realize that we were designed to be vessels of God's love. We can strive daily to be pure and holy vessels by reading His Word and talking to Him through prayer.

As a middle schooler, it seems like everything in your life is changing. Your classes, your friendships, and even your body itself is changing. In the midst of all of this change, we can allow Christ to change us for the better. As we read His Word, obey God's ways, and join Him in His work in the world, we will be transformed!

Jesus is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish. As we wait for His return, this message reminds us to be watchful. The world will try to distract us, telling us to just have fun and enjoy ourselves, but in Christ, we can find true joy and meaning in our lives. Join us as we learn how to be found spotless and at peace with Christ when He returns.

Today's world tells us that we each have our own truth, but the Bible has a different message for us. As we read its words, we discover that so many false teachers and messages try to compete for our time and attention. This often leads us down a dark path as we give in to evil desires and temptations. We can escape a corrupt world by knowing our Savior, Jesus Christ...the Truth who will set us free.

The more we know Him, Christ's own glory and goodness begin to call us to live a godly life. This week, we will dive deep into the first chapter of 2nd Peter, learning how to study the Bible for ourselves. As we do, we'll discover ways that we can deepen our faith and qualities that we can develop that will lead us toward greater understanding, and ultimately, a deeper obedience to Christ.

We often think of the Bible as a boring, old book covered with dust. But, when we dust it off and open up its pages, we find a fascinating story...involving us! When we turn the pages, we'll be swept up into the story and ultimately find the Truth that will set us free!

These days, it's easy to be skeptical when something claims to be the Truth. The thing is, the Bible is just that. It's a book that can be fully trusted. Not only because it's historically accurate, but because it leads us to a relationship with a person, our Savior, Jesus Christ who is Himself the Truth. And the exciting thing is that He wants to know you personally! He wants to offer you the free gift that will save you from sin and lead you to life…forever!

The world today is constantly changing and things seem so unstable. In the midst of what seems like chaos, the Bible is our constant. The 66 books of the Bible provide us with wisdom for our everyday lives and guidance for life's important decisions. Most of all, the Bible is God's grand story of salvation through His son Jesus, who saves us from sin and leads us to eternal life. The Bible is full of God's never-changing promises for all of us!

It can be hard to know where you fit in. Your friendships are constantly changing, the world seems uncertain, and you've been through a lot. Here at Journey, you have a place to fit in and enjoy Christian friendships. These relationships remind us that we are never alone! Jesus experienced pain in His relationships, too, but He is here to offer healing and peace. And when we know the love of Jesus, we'll want to share it with others and help them feel less alone, too!

We all make mistakes and do things we regret. Sin can lead our lives and relationships into a dark place. Yet, because of Jesus, there is nothing so big that it can't be forgiven. Through His death on the cross, Jesus' grace takes away our shame, and we can be healed. Let's step away from the burdens we carry, and into freedom and healthy relationships through Christ's work in our lives.

Does "life to the full" mean having 1,000 Instagram followers?  Does following Jesus bring fame and fortune?  We'll explore these questions and come to understand that life with Jesus is the best life possible, but it's not pain-free.  As Jesus changes our perspective, we'll realize that even suffering has a place in God's plan.  Our enemy may have another thing in mind, but Jesus wants us to have life to the full!

You can invite others to know Christ. Many of us feel lonely at times. Maybe you've lost a friendship, your parents are getting a divorce, or you don't feel like you fit in anywhere. At Journey, there's always a place for you! Here, we'll discover that even Jesus felt lonely and betrayed by friends. We'll uncover His unconditional love for us and steps we can take to grow closer to Him. Through Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, He made a way for us to grow close to God…for eternity!

You pick your perspective. Whether you are in the midst of a difficult breakup, just thinking about who to date, or you still think girls have cooties…it's time for a change in perspective. The way we look at things can help us move on after a tough relationship, and it can help us keep our focus on the things that matter most. Dealing with disappointment in any part of life can be really hard, but when we change our perspective, we'll learn how to rejoice and focus on the right things, no matter what we are going through.

You look down at your phone, and all of a sudden, your world is rocked! That breakup text can send you right for a pint of Ben & Jerry's and an all-night vent session with your bestie. The thing is, a breakup doesn't have to break you…or the other person. This week, we'll explore what it means to be humble in our relationships and how to treat others with dignity. We'll explore healthy ways to cope and explore who we can reach out to…even before you're ready to start dating or ready to break up!

We are all obsessed with something, right? That binge-worthy show...that video game...that YouTuber...It's ok to have things we enjoy doing and people we enjoy spending time with, but when they take over our world, it can get a bit extra. This week, we'll learn how our friends and mentors can help keep us accountable when we start to go overboard. Sometimes we just need a little bit of wisdom and an outside perspective!

There's a lot of pressure related to dating, right??!! To have that Instagram-worthy photo of you and your boyfriend. To find the right girl to go on a Snapstreak with. But what if we stopped worrying so much about finding love and started working on our own heart instead? This week, we'll talk about love's greatest qualities, and how you can have them! Not by finding the right person, but by becoming the right person.

Developing habits can be helpful. Learning Algebra, doing pliés in ballet class, practicing your jump shot...something that seems like work at first becomes incredible over time. In a similar way, if we only do spiritual things at church, we'll never grow. We need to practice our faith! We can learn to connect with God personally through the things we do everyday. When we develop a daily spiritual habit, it can grow our faith into a faith of our own and bring us closer to God. And then we can encourage our friends to do the same!

Sometimes everything can be just fine and then...plot twist...rough road ahead! Even Jesus experienced tough times and deep emotions. We all want to find meaning in the world and understand why these things happen. We don't always know why they do, but we can allow God to use these turning points to change us. No matter what we are facing–our best day, or our worst–Jesus is right there in the midst of it with us. Weeping or rejoicing right alongside us.

We all want to find our purpose in life. What if we found our God-given purpose, and then went and lived it out? Stepping out and stepping up to serve can grow your faith into an authentic one as you find your unique gifts and put them into action. Don't miss out on joining God in what He is already doing in the world! Like the friends who brought a paralyzed man to Jesus, our serving in faith might just change someone else's life, too!

Real faith doesn't develop on its own when we are by ourselves.  The people around us affect our faith. Bad friends can corrupt us, but good friends help us stay strong and sharpen us into who God intended us to be. The more we surround ourselves with people who make us better, and Christian mentors who guide us in our faith, the wiser we'll become. If you want to move in a better direction, hang out with people who want the same thing!

Sometimes our faith can seem like the real thing, but it's really counterfeit. We aren't supposed to listen to the Word of God and then go back to our everyday lives unchanged. Instead, we should go out and do what it says! And when we do, we'll find that God changes us on the inside, for the better. The more you make your faith your own, the more you'll want to go out and put it into action!

Have you ever wondered if God hears your prayers, or if there even is a God? Because of Jesus, you can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is a God who loves you. And you don't have to prove anything to Him, because He's already crazy about you! The message of Christmas is loud and clear. God loves you so much that He sent Jesus to prove it. The love God demonstrated on that first Christmas is available to you, just as you are. And when you feel just how loved you are, you'll want to bring that love to others! Because the good news is for ALL PEOPLE!

Sometimes hope can feel like wishful thinking…“I'll just get disappointed, so why hope?” With God, your future can be better than your now, and you have a role to play in it! God's the WHO behind our HOPE, and we can count on His promises! He sent His only Son at Christmas to show us that there is always hope, no matter what we face. And when we put our trust in Him, we can bring hope to others and help make the world a better place!

As we gain influence and opportunities to lead, are we becoming the kind of leader whom we'd like to follow? God gives us all the power, love, and self-discipline we need to live the way He says is best. Developing healthy habits and self-discipline are important as we recognize the authority we have now and ways we can use it to love ourselves, others, and God. Power is for lifting up, not tearing down. The power is in loving Jesus and loving people!

In our culture, authority is often questioned as injustices or abuse are revealed. Still, there is value in honoring the authority figures in our lives. This week, we'll explore how David honored King Saul, responding in a powerful way to a powerful person. He knew that the best way to use his power was for good and that in the upside down kingdom, honor is greater than power.  We, too, can choose to be honorable, no matter what is going on around us.

Power and authority will always exist in our lives, in fact, they've existed from the very beginning of time.  Power is complicated. It can be used for good, or for bad. What's important is how we respond to those in authority over us and how we use our own power to make a difference. This week, we'll  rethink our ideas about power and authority  in light of Jesus' example, as He turned them upside down.

Out in the world,  it may be tough for you to find your place, but at Peake Youth, you always have a place where you belong!  Your small group is a safe place for you to be yourself and to share your struggles and joys with other teens and leaders who care about you. This week, we'll learn about Lydia, a woman who wanted to believe in Jesus, but she wasn't sure if she belonged.  A brother in Christ encouraged her and reminded her that all people matter to God.

This week, we'll look at your big questions about identity. We often try to base our identity on what others think of us and how we appear to them. The question we are all asking is “Who am I?” As you study God's Word and really get to know Jesus, you'll realize that what we have and who we are isn't enough. Rather God's power is perfected in our weakness and He is enough for us. Just like the boy in the story didn't need to prove his measly lunch was enough to feed the 5,000 because Jesus did it for him. Jesus is enough.

As two new disciples found out, God has a life in mind for you that is so much bigger and so much better than the one you are living right now. There are a lot of opinions out there about what following Jesus really looks like and what you have to give up to follow Him. This week, we'll learn what it really means to follow Jesus and encourage you to take the next step towards following Him with your life. Because when you really understand Who Jesus is, it changes everything.

If accepting Jesus is the only way to heaven – and a lot of people don’t accept Him – then doesn’t that mean that God is sending a lot of people to hell? Why would a good and loving God do this? This week, we’ll ask the question: “Is Jesus the only way to heaven?”

Sadness. Depression. Anxiety. These emotions are rampant in our world and in our hearts. How do we reconcile these dark emotions with the fact that Jesus is the Light of the world? Is there something missing in Him? Or in us? Or both? If God is joy, why am I so sad?

A child is killed by an active shooter. A young person is assaulted. Someone you love is diagnosed with cancer. Why does God allow suffering like that? Especially for good people? And why then does it seem like good things happen to bad people all the time?  Where’s the fairness in that?! This week, we’re going to tackle the question: Why do bad things happen to good people?

In a world where there is so much at our fingertips, there is still so much we don't know. Often, we’re seeking answers when we don’t even fully understand the question. How do we know what is true and what isn't? Who sets the standard for truth?

Before Israel was a nation, he was one man. And his name wasn’t even Israel – it was Jacob. Throughout his life, Jacob was always playing the role of the liar and the deceiver, tricking even his own family to get what he wanted. But one night, Jacob wrestled with God. And because of that one night, Jacob was changed forever – and we can be, too.

The story of Joseph and his brothers has it all: family drama, pride, envy, betrayal, and revenge. Powerful emotions for sure – and undoubtedly emotions that each one of us has encountered, too. Yet through it all, Joseph never lost his hope in God and God never turned His back on Joseph. But in the end, what takes Joseph from basic to amazing is the forgiveness that came out of it all.

Abraham, an ordinary guy, had been promised by God to be the father of a nation. Yet Abraham had only one son, another ordinary guy named Isaac. And then one day, God asked for Isaac back. It’s the story of two ordinary people with extraordinary faith in an extraordinary God.

Imagine this – you’re a 14-year-old daughter of a slave. And you uncover a genocidal plot to kill you, your whole family, and wipe out your entire nation. Well, that’s exactly the position in which young Esther found herself. But Esther was not alone. And not only was God with her, but He had uniquely positioned and equipped her for such a time as this.

David. An ordinary shepherd. Yet, by the power of God he would go on to defeat a giant, rule a nation, and compose a songbook that people still read today. Even so, just like each one of us, David was not without his faults, shortcomings, and failures. Despite all that, God still had a big purpose for David.

Centuries before Jesus was born, a poor, ordinary foreigner was traveling through Israel. She and her mother-in-law were picking up scraps of the harvest off of the ground just to keep from starving. Nothing about Ruth was extraordinary – except for the way she lived in obedience to God. And because of that, God used her to bless all creation.

A young man, captive in a foreign nation, specifically chosen to undergo extensive training to be qualified to serve the king in his palace. Daniel found himself in an esteemed position – but was still basically a glorified slave. Then his guard ordered him to disobey God. And Daniel had to make a choice between ordinary and extraordinary.

Picture this: An entire nation, conquered and taken away into captivity by a vicious dictator. Families separated. Parents murdered and children forced into slavery. And in the midst of all that, three ordinary, young men were faced with a death sentence – unless they bowed down and worshiped an earthly king. And even though these were just three basic guys, they knew they worshiped the God Who was anything but ordinary.