Beneath The Surface Week 1- Discover
Beneath The Surface • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewGod helps us discover who we're becoming.
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WHAT? What are we talking about today?
POLL | Name That Fish
Welcome to the first week of our new series, Beneath the Surface. We are looking at stories from Jesus' life — that help uncover the depths of who God created us to be. To be honest, we are all complex human beings. . . kind of like the ocean. When we look deep below the ocean's surface, some of the stuff we can see can be pretty wild.
INSTRUCTIONS: For this poll, use the list of deep sea creatures and their alternate names (or come up with your own). Show the linked pictures on a screen and have students move to opposite sides of the room, use a service like slido, or raise their hands to vote on which one they think is the right name.
Now you are probably thinking . . . these fish, they are pretty gnarly! It could be that we are seeing them for the first time and aren't used to them, or they seem so wild looking they belong on another planet! Sometimes, when we look below the ocean's surface, it is similar to when we look below the surface of our lives. When we search even just a little deeper, we may encounter some things we don't recognize.
VIDEO | A Clip of a 100–Foot Wave
The ocean has so much happening under the surface and even on the surface too! Check this out: INSTRUCTIONS: As a teaching tool, play a short clip from a video like this (5:45–7:55) of what it takes to surf the largest and meanest waves in the world and slam into a headland in Portugal called Nazaré.
These surfers saw that wandering into the depths of the sea can be dangerous. When we look into the depths of our hearts, we may discover powerful parts of who we are that are simultaneously exciting and scary. If we dare to look deep inside ourselves, we may not be sure what we see. Thankfully we have access to a great God who wants to help us!
STORY | When I Started To See Who I Was . . . (Part 1)
If what happens beneath the surface is half as exciting as what is happening on the surface, there still would be so much happening down there and be hard to identify from the outside. Isn't that the same with us? Someone looking at us would never know what was happening in the depths of our hearts.
INSTRUCTIONS: Share a story about a time when something about you felt out of place — like something didn't belong, but as you stayed curious, you discovered who God made you be. Highlight how mysterious the experience was and how you didn't know how it would turn out. How did you know that God was the one to help pull you through?
I was totally out of place.
Here I was, in a dark, loud night club called “Silverados” in downtown Nashville, sitting on a barstool watching everyone around me act stupid.
Clubbing had been my life every Saturday night for the last few years.
I used to love it. But it just wasn’t the same.
Something was different now.
I was different now…
It takes effort to name what is happening within us. Like the ocean's depths, it can be scary to find out what is below — the truth of who we are that we carry deep inside us. When this happens, what if we started thinking about it, like when we saw the deep sea creatures? What if we stayed curious and hold what we are learning about gently with curiosity instead of fear?
SO WHAT? Why does it matter to God and us?
SCRIPTURE | Luke 2:40–52
Many of the questions we wrestle with, Jesus experienced and wrestled with in his life, too. One moment in particular can help us discover who God created us to be. One story in the book of Luke gives us a rare glimpse of Jesus before he was an adult. Jesus was fully God and fully man — so his childhood was distinct. In his humanity, Jesus totally gets what we are going through and can help guide us.
INSTRUCTIONS: Read Luke 2:40–52
And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2 opens with the story of Jesus' birth, and then suddenly, we transition to him being twelve years old. His parents had watched him physically, emotionally, and spiritually grow for years, knowing he was supposed to be something special. Even early on, we can already see everything that makes Jesus our savior.
Much like there is growth happening in Jesus as a teenager that we won't see, there is growth happening in us that we often miss or cannot see either. In these few verses, we see how Scripture says Jesus grew. Sounds crazy, but Jesus' family leaves Jerusalem without him. Only after they were gone for a day did they realize Jesus was missing. When they finally return to Jerusalem, they see Jesus sitting in the Temple, listening and asking the teachers questions. Although he was only twelve, Jesus grew in strength and wisdom, diving deep into who God is and starting on his mission. Jesus shows us that as we get closer to God, who we are and what God desires for our life become more evident. As Jesus did this, he grew in wisdom and stature. This is true for us too. As we grow closer to God, we gain insight and wisdom for what God has planned for us. God shows us the different ways we might play a part in what God is doing in the world. We'll even begin to desire to get closer to God, desire the things God desires. As we get closer to God and become more like Jesus — we learn that God shows us who we are and who we are meant to be.
IMAGE | The Unexplored Ocean
INSTRUCTIONS: As you teach, show an image of a group of people exploring the ocean.
Close your eyes and imagine standing on a beach. The waves are crashing onto the shore. You know there is so much more the eye cannot see. A whole ecosystem is waiting to be discovered beneath the waves dancing under the sun's light. According to National Geographic, the ocean covers over 70% of the planet's surface. More than 80% of the sea has not been explored or mapped out by humans. In some ways, we know more about the moon's surface than the ocean. Wild, right? There is no way that any one person could explore all of it. It will take a community of ocean explorers to discover what is happening in the depths of the water. The same is true of us. God knows we can't do it alone and shouldn't have to. God works through our communities, friends, and families — to help us discover who we are in God. Jesus modeled this for us, looking to his family and community, who helped show him that a relationship with God was important. Jesus saw teachers ask questions about Scripture to help their communities think deeply and thoughtfully about following God daily. Jesus shows us that when we pursue God, we grow in wisdom and favor — experiencing God's presence, favor, grace, power, and guidance.
SCRIPTURE | Proverbs 2:1–6
Just like Jesus grew in wisdom, we are invited to lean into God's wisdom too. The best way to do this is to learn to read Scripture.
INSTRUCTIONS: Read Proverbs 2:1–6
My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Reading Scripture and learning to understand it can be like coming up for air when swimming. It helps center, rejuvenate, and point us in the right direction. When we learn to read the Scripture in a way that is more than just checking a box, we can experience God calling us to be all that he created us to be! None of this happens by accident — becoming who God has made you to be happens beneath the surface . . . within your heart. Jesus invites you to take a courageous step and experience God's presence through reading the Bible and getting involved in a faith-filled community. For some of us, it may feel like we are treading water — trying to stay afloat for far too long. Coming up for air is necessary! The Bible and the presence of the Holy Spirit can help us continue the journey God has for us. We can keep learning and discovering who we are. We can start following Jesus' lead and allow God to take us below the surface. Becoming more like Jesus can start today! It may be challenging and new to us, but we don't have to do it alone.
God helps us discover who we’re becoming.
God helps us discover who we’re becoming.
NOW WHAT? What does God want us to do about it?
STORY | When I Started To See Who I Was . . . (Part 2)
INSTRUCTIONS: Finish sharing about the time God helped you discover who you are in him from above. What has God shown you about yourself now? What is it that you still don't know? How does that make you feel? This story can still be in process. It doesn't need to have a worked-out resolution.
The difference was evident in my life from the start.
The things I used to love doing didn’t appeal to me anymore.
The places I loved going to seemed toxic to me now.
Christ saved me through and through and changed me forever.
There were friends I had to leave behind.
Phone calls from people who wanted me to hit up the club had to be ignored… over and over and over again.
I left behind the drinking, the partying and that whole lifestyle that was destroying me and others around me.
My life was not my own anymore, it was Christ’s now.
He showed me who I was and showed me my true purpose.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
God is helping us discover who we are.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself this week to go even deeper.
WHEN CAN I TALK WITH GOD?
Create some time this week to ask God in prayer about how time with the Holy Spirit makes you more like Jesus.
WHO CAN I ASK FOR HELP?
Ask God how you can reach out to the people around you for help. Maybe you need some accountability or direction. Perhaps you're looking for a solid group to do a Bible study with. Maybe you would like to be more consistent in showing up in places where people farther along in following Jesus can help you.
HOW CAN I BE HONEST?
Everything we invite God into, God already knows about. This doesn't change the reality that we need to learn to be honest about our weaknesses and need God's help. We are all in need of God's grace, so be honest about where you are with God this week. Maybe some of you have questions for God, or some would like to invite God into your life for the first time! For some of us, God may be inviting us into obedience regarding misaligned priorities. You get the point. We are all on our journey with God, and at the end of the day — God wants you to know how much Jesus loves and cares for you and has great plans for us all. We can fully trust God and let him into the deepest parts of our souls and lives.
REFLECTION | Mad Lib Poetry
INSTRUCTIONS: For this reflection, you'll need enough handouts from Week 1 and pens for your group. Have students spend some time filling out the poem. Consider playing some music while this object lesson is happening. We suggest "No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus" (Steffany Gretzinger), but make sure you have purchased any required licenses.
Sometimes, it's hard to describe who we are. There are probably people in your life, like teachers, parents, and friends, who can describe you pretty well, but who do you think you are?
RESPONSE | The Poetry Slam
I am sure that you all wrote some fantastic poems, and we would love to give you a few minutes to share a little bit about what is happening beneath the surface of your life.
INSTRUCTIONS: For this activity, have those who feel comfortable share. Take turns affirming those who are willing to share. Making sure to affirm what they have self-disclosed in the poem — not what you know as their leader. Play some music as fun music that would resonate with your group as you read the poems. Please encourage students to snap when one of the poems resonates with them.
Remaining curious about what is deep down in the depths of our souls opens us to allowing God shows us who we are. We are just starting this journey of understanding what God is doing beneath the surface of who we are. As we ask God about who we are becoming and invite others to see what God is doing in us, we begin to trust that
God helps us discover who we're becoming.
God helps us discover who we're becoming.