Introduction

The purpose of this type of series is to unpack and explain key Biblical teachings that fall under the heading of ‘Doctrine of Man’. We want youth to understand the world, including themselves, in relation to the good, Creator God and to see the beauty in the created order of things.

The secular messages of today are passionate but confused. On the one hand many champion the protection of nature and our collective responsibility towards it. At the same time, those same champion-ers will fiercely defend an individual’s right to self-expression, even if it patently contradicts the reality of nature.

The Bible provides us with a wonderfully positive vision. When we understand the world as Creation, we have more reason than anyone to celebrate and protect it. When we understand people as made in the image of God we value and cherish everyone equally. When we understand ourselves as designed by God we can celebrate and embrace our individuality, our differences and the fact that we are each precious to God and, through Christ, destined for a satisfying relationship with Him forever.

Video Teaching

The aim of each video is to communicate the main teaching points of the morning in an engaging and meaningful way.

You are not going to be able to communicate all there is to say in a 15 minute message, but you should aim to communicate the one or two simple and powerful truths as outlined below. As you’ll see, the format tends to start from a neutral point of view, not a Christian one. We’re not assuming our listeners are Christians.

It’s really important to demonstrate that we understand the ideas and pressures that young people are surrounded by in the largely secular environment they inhabit. As well as communicating a positive and hope-filled vision around the topics covered, that provides a response to the questions (and answers) that young people will otherwise hear (and maybe have accepted already), take opportunities to point out the contradictions and weaknesses of these prevalent but flawed opinions and worldviews.

Overview

Week 1 // Made by God - Tim Jones

Week 2 // Made in His Image - Suzi Hosier

Week 3 // Made Male and Female - Matt Carvel

Week 4 // Made, Broken but Loved - Rachel Fellingham

Week 5 // Made to Know Him (Part 1) - George Benson

Week 6 // Made to Know Him (Part 2) - Mike Spence

Week 7 // Made for Community - Ben Watson

Week 1 // Made by God

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Introduction
Climate crisis and environmentalism, valuing of the natural world, round the world travel, etc. people are pro natural world!
Science and technology help us to discover and study it more than ever

Small group questions

• Have you ever been in awe of the beauty, complexity or power of something in the natural world?
• What do you think the natural world tells us about God?
• How do you think God created the world? Do you think evolution fits with what the Bible says about creation?
• What about earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural disasters? Can you think of how they might connect to the saving work of Jesus?
• How can we steward (look after) the world that God has created and given to us?

Prayer Point: Thank the Lord for creating the universe.

Week Two // Made in His Image

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Introduction
Just like our attitude to the natural world, even if we aren’t Christians we can’t help but think of human life as valuable and special.
But where does this belief come from? Evolution would suggest there is nothing particularly special or more valuable about human life than any other type of life, but this does not quite chime with our feelings and instincts

Small group questions

• In what ways are you like your parents? Physically? In character?
• What do you think it means to be made in the image of God?
• What standards of “better” are there in your social circles?
• Why do you think we can see others as being not equal to us? (Whether that’s not as good as us or better than us)
• Are there any situations where you see someone being treated as unequal? Is there a way you can show them or others that they are made in God’s image and treat them with dignity and worth?
• God created us all to be different but equal. What unique things about you reflect God’s character as he made us in his image?

Prayer point: Pray for youth who feel undervalued/undignified due to their differences or beliefs about themselves. Pray that they receive God’s love and accept themselves.

Week 3 // Made Male and Female

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good…

Introduction

We live in a time that is very confused about boys and girls - it’s hard to keep up! On the one hand, some people say that because everyone is equal, everyone should be treated the same and the differences between male and female don’t matter at all. But on the other hand some people (sometimes the same people!) say that changing from male to female or the other way round is super important and will fiercely defend someone’s right to switch! So is male and female important or not?

Small group questions:

• Can you think of ways or situations where being a boy or girl doesn’t really matter?
• Can you think of ways or situations where being a boy or girl does matter?
• Have you met people who have, or want to, switch from boy to girl or girl to boy? What do you think about this?
• Are there expectations on you about who you should be that you can’t meet?
• In what ways is the fact that God made us just as we are a good thing?
• What has been spoken over you about who you are? (From teachers/friends/parents)
• Who does God say you are?

Prayer point: Thank God that he made us just as we are and doesn’t want us to fit the mould of anyone else. Pray for youth who feel uncomfortable with who they are and help them to find peace in God. Pray for people they know who might be confused or struggling with their sex and gender. Pray that we would treat them with respect and compassion, knowing that they are equally made in God’s image and loved by Him.

Week 4 // Made, Broken But Loved

Genesis 3:21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

Introduction:

So far in this series we’ve been thinking about our amazing natural world, and the wonderful specialness of human beings. But everyone also recognises that both of these are horribly flawed.

The natural world produces earthquakes and tsunamis that wipe out thousands of people. And these tragedies pale in comparison with the death and destruction that people have inflicted on one another throughout history.

Society tends to give us confusing and conflicted messages: often quick to call out the flaws in human beings and at the same time encouraging us to love ourselves and tell ourselves we are wonderful. If we are honest, these messages don’t ring true. We’re all flawed, and we don’t really know how to deal with it.

How do we make sense of this brokenness? This evil in the world and in our lives? If God exists, why does He not stop it?

Small group questions:

• What areas of brokenness in the world or in your life are difficult for you to understand?
• How can you see God’s goodness in some of these areas?
• How might you share God’s love in these areas?
• Is there an area of brokenness in our life that we need God’s help in?

Prayer point: For the youth to know that the Lord loves all of us as we are and that he is never against us. He is always for us.

Pray that the youth accept Christ into their lives.

Week 5 // Made to Know Him (Part 1)

Genesis 3:8-9 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

1 John 1:3 …that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Introduction:

What do we all want? You could answer that question in all sorts of ways, but few would argue with this answer: To be known and to be loved. Aren’t all films, TV shows, books, art, everything… all about that in the end??

The pandemic gave us a horrible example of what it feels like when we are cut off from community. People are not meant to be isolated. When they are, they actually become less and less ‘human’ in all sorts of horrible ways.

The Bible puts this desire of human experience at the centre of the story it tells. From Genesis onwards, the Bible is God’s story of the people He made, who turned away from Him, who He is winning back through His love through His Son, Jesus. We are all made to be known and loved.

Small group questions:

• How do you get to know someone?
• How can you apply the things you’ve mentioned to get to know God?
• Have you felt that as you’ve read the Bible or heard about God that you’ve begun to get to know him? What are some characteristics of God that you’ve learned by having a relationship with him?
• We can have a relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. Have you experienced the presence of God through the Holy Spirit? What was that experience like?

Prayer point: Pray we see Jesus more as we read the bible.

Week 6 // Made to Know Him (Part 2)

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Introduction

Last time we focused on the wonderful truth that God has revealed Himself through the Bible and invites us to know Him and enjoy a deep, eternal relationship with Him. Great! But how do we do it? How do we actually read the Bible?

Many people struggle to access the Bible because it is very long and was written a long time ago. It also contains a whole range of different books, spanning several different styles of literature. So where do we start?

Small group questions:

• Do you read the Bible regularly? What are you reading now?
• Are there parts of the Bible that you find hard to read or don’t read at all?
• What have you learned about God by reading the Bible?
• What is a good next step for you in reading the Bible? Reading it once a week? Following a plan? Reading a bit each day?
• What can you say to others to encourage them to read the Bible?

Prayer point: Pray that God helps you read the bible regularly and that God speaks to you whilst reading the bible. Pray that you don’t just read the bible as a chore but you take delight in reading the bible.

Week 7 // Made for Community

Ephesians 2:22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Introduction

It seems like every human community in the world is tribal. When we use that word we might think of far off cultures very different from our own, but people are no different everywhere you go. Think of your school or college. What tribes exist there? Who are the popular kids? Who are the sporty ones? Which groups are cool and which group definitely aren’t?

Though at times we might pretend we don’t care, there is something in us that wants to belong. We want to be accepted, appreciated, and respected by others. It makes us feel at home.

This instinct is not wrong (although it can be very destructive) and tells us something about who human beings are: we’re made for community.

Small group questions:

• What different communities are you part of in life? (E.g. school, clubs, family)
• What do you think it means to be in God’s family?
• What gifts have you been given by God that you can use to serve your church, small group or youth group?
• How do you think you can get to know God better through being in his family?

Prayer point: Thank the Lord for our church community and our youth team.

Pray for openness and friendship within our youth group.