This past Friday was our 1st junior high youthquest of the new school year! We listened to worship songs, played some getting to know you games, prayed a prayer written for the students to bless them as they start the new year (by a parent), and did a study on, "Feeling Small." Some key verses were:
Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being: you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Colossians 1:21-23
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven...
Matthew 18:12-14
What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
We talked about how we are each a special, gifted person created in the image of God. Everyone feels small sometimes - it's normal! Even confident people who seem to have it all together feel insecure at times. We can't forget that God loves us - He's our biggest fan!!! The challenge is to accept God's love and forgiveness, even when we don't feel loved or forgiven. God is always there for us, no matter how we feel about ourselves - junior high talksheets.