The Search For Significance (Students)
The best place to find ourselves is in God, He is the one that pours value into our lives.
Talking Points:
- Self worth is key. We have to be careful about where we find our identity. It’s important that we find our worth in the right places.
- The best place to find ourselves is in God, He is the one that pours value into our lives. Titus 3:4-5
- We need to face the facts and be able to step back and truly evaluate our own lives. Psalm 139:23-24
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Describe yourself. What are some of your accomplishments?
- How do you define success? How do you handle failure?
- On a scale from 1-10, how much do you struggle with self worth. (1 being never and 10 being always). Explain the number you gave yourself.
- What experiences have shaped how you view yourself, both positively and negatively.
- Read Titus 3:4-5. What does this passage seem to be saying about our worth?
- Read Psalm 139:23-24. Why is taking a self assessment important in your journey to understanding your true worth? What are some thoughts we might have that would be offensive to God?
- What excites you about taking the journey of discovering your true significance? What scares you about it?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
Based on the book Search for Significance by Robert McGee
The Performance Trap (Students)
Your worth is not based on what you can do, but what Christ can do through you
Talking Points:
- If we are constantly worried about measuring our success against others, we will become self absorbed and distracted.
- God tells us that we have worth because of him. Jesus is the one who makes us right with God, not our own accomplishments. 2 Corinthians 5:21
- God doesn’t want us to think that if we make mistakes, then we’re not good enough. God’s got us covered, and he wants us to know that everyone makes mistakes. Romans 3:23-24
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- What would you say are your biggest accomplishments? What do those successes say about you? How hard did you work for that success?
- Describe a time in your life when you felt happiest. Can you think of a time you thought you would be happy about an accomplishment but you weren’t? Why do you think that was the case?
- What are some examples of empty pursuits people seek after to find happiness?
- Read 2 Corinthians 5:21. What stands in our way of having a relationship with God? What did Jesus do for us? What does his sacrifice mean to you?
- Read Romans 3:23-24. What does this passage say about us? How does this passage change the way you see yourself and your accomplishments?
- Moving forward, how will you respond to the lie of the performance trap?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
Based on the book Search for Significance by Robert McGee
The Approval Addict (Students)
Youth culture creates more pressure than ever to present the best version of ourselves so others will be impressed and maybe even envy us.
Talking Points:
- The lie we believe is that if we are approved by others, then we have value. We often worry too much over whether people like us or not, and we are willing to do anything to make sure they do.
- Living for others’ approval can lead us down a dark and lonely path. We can’t be our authentic selves if we’re constantly searching for others to like us. Galatians 1:10
- God’s answer for this is to have a personal relationship with him. Through Jesus, we are fully accepted by God. That is what gives us value, not other people’s opinions. Colossians 1:21-22, Romans 8:38-39
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- How big of a role does social media play in your life? Explain.
- What do you think people’s motives are in what they choose to post on social media? What would you say are typically your motives for what you choose to post?
- Who are the people in your life for whom you seek approval? What does their approval mean to you?
- Have you ever taken on more commitments than you should have? Why did you do it? What would you do differently today?
- Have you been rejected by someone before? Explain. How did that rejection affect your life?
- Read Colossians 1:21-22. Identify everything this passage says about Jesus and you. What does it mean to you that you can be a friend of God because of Jesus?
- Read Romans 8:38-39. How much does God love you? How should knowing that you are fully accepted by God change the way you view yourself? What’s holding you back from fully embracing God’s love and acceptance?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
Based on the book Search for Significance by Robert McGee
The Blame Game vs. Christ’s Sacrifice (Students)
If we make performance our main measurement for value, we will be desperate to find a reason for why we fail.
Talking Points:
- The lie we believe is that when we fail, we don’t deserve to be loved and should be punished. We think that one mistake makes our whole lives a mistake.
- When we fail, we either blame it on ourselves or on others. Either way, it can be hurtful to us and to the people around us.
- God’s answer to this is that he took away our failure when he sent his son to die on the cross for us. Jesus took the punishment that we deserved onto himself. Romans 5:7-11, 1 John 4:9-10.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Describe a time you failed in something. How did that situation affect you?
- Why do we have the need to find fault when failure occurs?
- When you fail, are you more likely to blame yourself or someone else? Explain.
- Define propitiation in your own words. What does it mean to you that Jesus absorbed the punishment you deserved?
- Read Romans 5:7-11. At what point did Jesus die for us? Why is that timing significant? What does that say about your value to God?
- 1 John 4:9-10. How different would our relationship with God be if we had to earn his love? What does it say about God that he loves us despite our failings?
- Based on this lesson, how should you view failure moving forward?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
Based on the book Search for Significance by Robert McGee
Shame vs. Rebirth (Students)
When we feel hopeless, it's really easy to play into the lie that we will always be hopeless.
Talking Points:
- When we feel hopeless, it’s easy to play into the lie that we will always be hopeless. It can trick us into making choices that only makes our lives worse.
- Believing this lie can make us want to sabotage ourselves. We might turn to bad things to try and numb the pain. This causes even more harm and it’s a cycle that is hard to escape.
- The good news is we are made new in Christ. The Bible says that when we come to Jesus, he makes us new people. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ezekiel 36:26-27
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Can you relate to the sentiment that you can’t ever really change? Explain.
- Why is true change hard to bring about? What are obstacles that stop you from making true change?
- What are some other common ways people self-sabotage when they feel worthless and hopeless? How have you self-sabotaged in the past?
- Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. What does this verse say about our ability to change? Why is it significant that we are new creations in Christ?
- Read Ezekiel 36:26-27. What does this passage say about our ability to change? How does the Holy Spirit help us?
- Read Titus 3:4-7. This passage says we have a new birth in Christ. How should you view your past failings in light of these verses?
- Moving forward, how should you look at your past? What will you do with your feelings of shame and hopelessness?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
Based on the book Search for Significance by Robert McGee
- Psalm 139 – A Psalm of Identity
- How Imago Dei Changes Everything
- Five Steps to Winning the War Within as a Christian
- Isaiah 53 – Jesus Takes Our Iniquities
- God’s Plan for Dealing with Habits
- Where Do You Find Your Identity?
- Finding Contentment in Who We Are and What We Do | Calm My Anxious Heart #3
- The 4 Identity Myths
- 3 Steps to a New Identity in Christ
- Shame and Regeneration | Search for Significance #5
- Applying EQ in Everyday Environments
- Blame Game vs. Propitiation | Search for Significance #4
- The Approval Addict vs. God’s Reconciliation | Search for Significance #3
- The Performance Trap vs. God’s Justification | Search for Significance #2
- The Search | Search for Significance #1
- The Identity Triangle for Christian Athletes
- How to Develop the Skill Of Self Confidence
- Overcoming Fear as a Christian Athlete
- Men – 3 Men Who Wasted Their Legacies
- The Good News Changes Everything
- Everything That’s True of Jesus Is True of You
- The Human Identity
- The Power of Union with Christ
- Humanity in God’s Image
- Live in the Light | Get Rich #6
