UPstream Youth Group of Oakley, CA

What is sorrow?

How do you deal with loss?

What do others do when they are in emotional pain?

What did Jesus do?

“Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the
point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” [39] Going a little
farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father,
if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will,
but as you will.”

-Matthew 26:38-39 (NIV)

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no
regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

-2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)

Your sorrow should bring you to God for comfort and assurance,
otherwise it is worldly sorrow, and is destructive.

How can we fight these kinds of destructive thoughts?

-Ezra

2011/08/02

Have you seen a miracle?

What is a miracle?

God makes the rules of the universe, so He can bend them too.

Share about a miracle you have witnessed, if any.

A miracle can be something you have observed, but can’t explain. Have you observed something like that? Explain.

“Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,”

-Psalm 105:5 (NIV)

-Ezra

2011/03/29

Last week we discussed science.

Did everyone get a chance to say, “Praise Jesus” in a science class? Or see something that inspired you?

Oops! You guys were on spring break. hehe…

What questions do you have about the universe?

Are you frustrated by not knowing the answers to those questions?

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

-Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)

-Ezra

2011/03/22

What is science?

Do you wonder how things work?

Have you been amazed with nature and the vastness of the universe?

Why do some people think science is bad?

Do some people use science to try to discredit God’s existence or truth?

Do some people use the Christian faith to try to discredit the claims made by science?

Does God want us to be curious about our environment?

Science is not supposed to explain spiritual matters, and the Bible is not supposed to be a scientific explanation of all things. What is really the cause of controversy between the two?

-Ezra

2011/03/15

What is perspective?

What have you changed your views about recently?

What were your beliefs five years ago?

Have you ever been in an argument with someone and later discovered that it was all a misunderstanding?

What are the beliefs of the oldest people you know that differ from yours?

Why might their beliefs be different? What could change over time?

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; [6] and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; [7] and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. [8] For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.”

-2 Peter 1:5-9 (NIV)

God’s perspective is complete. He sees all things.

What do you know that you can’t see?

How could that hinder your decision making process?

“for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.”

-Job 28:24 (NIV)

Think about allowing God to direct your decisions small and large, because He knows the future, and understands the universe, because He set it in motion.

2011/03/01

-Ezra

What does it mean to be pure?

Why would you care about purity?

What types of things need to be pure in some way?
(Water, medicine, quality food, etc..)

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
-Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

-Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

-Ezra

2011/02/22

What do you look for in a good friend?

What makes you a good friend to others?

Have your personality flaws or attitude ever caused a fight or even brought about the end of a friendship?

Have you ever betrayed or really hurt a friend?

Has a friend ever betrayed or hurt you?

What does it mean to be cautious with your relationships?

What are some qualities that you would consider a ‘deal-breaker’ in
friendship? (for example, I can’t be close with someone who…)

Proverbs 12:26 (NIV)
A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked
leads them astray.

Why do you think God says it is wise to be cautious in friendship?

*When you grow in friendship with someone, your trust grows. Their
opinion matters. Their input matters. Their thoughts and feelings
matter. If you are not cautious about who you are allowing in, you may
be setting yourself up for straying from your own goals, morals and
values. Good, healthy, strong friendships are honest, loving,
encouraging and even challenging. We should challenge one another, in
gentleness and love, to be better… to grow closer to God, farther
from sin and to be a man or woman of integrity.

Evaluate your friendships. Are you being led astray? Are you leading
others astray? It’s always the right time to put God first and follow
His direction.

-Karyn

2011-02-15

What does it mean to be tempted?

What kinds of things can tempt teens?

How are temptations similar to each other?

How can temptations be very specific to an individual?

Can you ever escape a temptation? How?

It is easy to fight an enemy you hate, but with temptation, your enemy is disguised as someone you love. You are fooled to trust your enemy, and are pulled into sin.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

-1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

You are responsible for standing up to your enemies, and getting away from your temptations. God will always give you a way out. If you don’t see the way out, you are not really looking for it.

If you give into sin, you will still be tempted. Giving up one battle won’t make anything easier to deal with in the future. We are not meant to handle all of this in our own power, but with God’s, and the support of others as needed.

-Ezra

2011/2/1

What is shame?

What does shame feel like?

When do you feel shame?

Why do you feel shame?

Is shame a good thing? When?

When is shame not helpful?

How can you avoid shame?

“In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.”

-Psalm 31:1 (NIV)

Shame is social pain, and we are not meant to live in shame as a way of life, but we all have sinned. Only by being made right with God can we be saved from it’s strangling effects on our emotions. Like physical pain, it is not good to be in it always, but it keeps us from dying or becoming infected and sick, because it is an early warning of a greater injury, if we don’t deal with it appropriately right away.

What happens to people who can’t feel pain?

What may happen to those who don’t feel shame when they should?

“Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”

-Romans 1:32 (NIV)

2011/01/24

-Ezra

What is reverence?

*1. a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration.

Do you have an attitude of respect tinged with awe when God is the focus?

When is God the focus?

How do you show respect? How do others do this?

What may cause you to experience the feeling of awe?

What topics make you suddenly serious? What is a subject that is not okay to joke about?

Why do we protect the honor of people or things we love?

Should we act honorably toward God in the same way?

Even though other’s disrespect does not make God any less, we should stand up for Him.

“The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake.
[2] Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations.
[3] Let them praise your great and awesome name—he is holy.
[4] The King is mighty, he loves justice—you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right.
[5] Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.”

-Psalm 99:1-5 (NIV)

“To this day they have not humbled themselves or shown reverence, nor have they followed my law and the decrees I set before you and your fathers.”

-Jeremiah 44:10 (NIV)

2011/01/18

-Ezra

* – definition from dictionary.com