Youth Group

Our youth group exists to come alongside of parents in nurturing the faith of their youths (in some cases, showing them the relevance of the gospel for the first time). Our youth group meetings are held every Friday during the school year and the schedule runs parallel with Adventure Club (from August to May, with weeks off for the holidays and school breaks). Parents are always welcomed to stay and observe. Each night begins with dinner and games/activities, followed by a hearty study of God’s word, and we conclude with a time of singing to the Lord in response to what we have learned. All who have outgrown Adventure Club are welcomed to join as well as those who recently finished High School.

Curriculum

Our church leadership selects a theme for each school year to thematically study an area of doctrine or principle from Scripture. Several of the men of our church take turns teaching the youths one month at a time. Several adult volunteers (men and women) are always present to help run each meeting. The theme for the school year 2024-2025 is “Why Christ died.” At first pass, the answer may seem very simple, but the Bible gives a rich explanation for the death of Christ. There is a handout for each week’s lesson and it is available in the posts below. We use John Piper’s Fifty Reasons why Christ Came to Die as the springboard for the lessons for this school year.

Youth Group Lessons:
Christ Died: To Take Away Our Condemnation (Romans 8:1)

Romans 8 reveals three transformative truths about Christ’s sacrifice. First, there is no condemnation for those in Christ; He has freed believers from the penalty of sin—spiritual death and separation from God (Romans 8:1). Second, earthly accusations and hardships, even Satan’s attacks, cannot separate us from Christ’s love; through Him, we are victorious (Romans 8:37). Finally, with God on our side, we have an unshakable assurance that nothing can stand against us (Romans 8:31, Psalm 27:1). In Christ, we find freedom, victory, and eternal hope.

Christ Died to Complete the Obedience that becomes Our Righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21)

At the heart of the gospel lies an astonishing truth: Christ's death not only paid the price for our sins but also provided the perfect obedience we could never achieve. Through Jesus’ life of obedience and sacrificial death, He fulfilled God’s requirement for righteousness on our behalf. This lesson explores the depths of 2 Corinthians 5:21, showing how Jesus’ obedience “to the point of death” became our righteousness. His righteousness is imputed to believers, allowing us to stand wholly justified in God’s sight—not by our works, but by Christ's perfect obedience and grace.

Christ Died: to Justify Sinners Before God (Romans 3:24-25)

Christ died to provide a way for believers to be declared righteous and freed from guilt before God. All people are guilty of sin and deserve God’s punishment, yet God offers forgiveness as a gracious gift, not something that can be earned through good deeds. Justification—being cleared of blame—comes solely through faith in Jesus Christ, who took the punishment for sin upon Himself. Through faith in Christ, believers are released from condemnation and welcomed into a restored relationship with God.

Jesus Died: For the Forgiveness of Sins (Matthew 26:28)

In this lesson, we explored three main ideas from Matthew 26:28, where Jesus speaks of His blood being poured out for the forgiveness of sins. First, “My blood... which is poured out” refers to Jesus’ death. He knew He would die and explained to His disciples that His blood represented His sacrifice. Second, “the covenant” refers to the New Covenant promised by God in the Old Testament, a new relationship with His people made possible through Jesus’ death. Third, the outcome is the “forgiveness of sins,” meaning that through His sacrifice, Jesus paid the debt of our sins.

Only through Jesus' blood can we be released from the guilt of our sins, as He alone provides the ultimate path to forgiveness and redemption.

Christ Died: To Become a Ransom for Many (Mark 10:45)

Jesus' death was the ultimate ransom, freeing us from the captivity of sin. We learned 2 truths in this lesson: First, we need freedom—freedom from sin’s power, guilt, and the emptiness of life without God. Second, Jesus paid this ransom with His own life: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45). Just as Jesus served us, we are called to serve others, following His example of sacrificial love.