Don't Believe the Storm :: Loneliness

• Use the lead app to check in students and make sure any students not listed fill out a connect card digitally.

• Do not move on until check-in has happened and any students not listed have filled out a connect card.

• Remind them they can ask us anything by texting AMA to 678-798-8338 or by dropping a card in the lobby AMA Box.

• A few starter questions:

  • Do you love storms? Do you hate them? Why?

  • Have you ever faced the storm of loneliness in your life? Tell us about it.

• Have one of the students grab a bible and find Matthew 8.

  • While they get their place let them know we will be looking at an event in Jesus life where he literally proved the truth we learned tonight. He is in the midst of healing people and proclaiming the gospel. And the crowd started to get pretty big and that is where we pick up.

  • Have the student read Verses 18-27

    • Here are the verses in case you need them:

      • 'Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” '

        Matthew 8:18-27

• As a reminder our main point tonight was “Jesus will be with you in the storm”

• You can start by just issuing OIA on the scripture in light of what we have learned:

  • Observation

  • Interpretation

  • Application

• Also considering the truth that we should be focused on the Savior next to us instead of our circumstance what were the apostles missing?

Here are a few other questions you might use to spur conversation in group:

• What are some things that you can praise God for even when you feel lonely?

• What would it look like if we lived like we knew Jesus never left us alone?

• Next Step

  • Spend a few moments asking the students to come up with one next thing they should do in their lives to focus on Jesus instead of their circumstances when it comes to loneliness.

    • Leaders feel free to help here. You are older and wiser.

• Finish by praying as a group.

We will know we have hit our target if:

-Students and leaders have digested the importance of focusing on Jesus and his purpose with your life over our circumstance.

-Students and leaders have commited to a next step in focusing on Jesus when they start to feel loneliness.

-Jesus will be with you in the storm.

-All the guys know Foundry is coming and they need to sign up. All the ladies know they can let their guy friends know they should go to the Foundry cause it rocks.