Artificial Identity Week 3
Middle & High School Students
Wednesday, October 16th
6:30 – 8:30

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2

Renowned author and theologian Henri Nouwen defined three lies about identity: I am what I have. I am what I do. I am what others think of me. This series encourages us to consider that our Creator determines our value, our worth, and what God thinks about us is the most important thing about us.

THIS WEEK’S BOTTOM LINE: 
I am created by a Creator

iGroup Discussion Questions

PREPARING FOR iGROUPS

BOTTOM LINE: I am created by a Creator. 

SCRIPTURE: Colossians 1:15- 16, Genesis 1:27, 1 John 4:8

GOAL OF SMALL GROUP: To point students away from putting their identity in what they can do or how much they achieve and to encourage them instead to root their identity in the God who made them.
 
THINK ABOUT THIS: The Western world has a way of tying who we are to what we do. As adults, our identities are often linked to our jobs, our career goals, and our successes. As middle and high school students, this is typically more about our skills, our gains, or our achievements. If we’re gifted at something, that becomes part of how others see who we are. Over time, it can even become part of how we see who we are. It’s important to remind students that the very things they may be finding a sense of identity in—their skills, gifts, and talents—were given to them by the God who made them. That in and of itself makes them good things! However, rooting our sense of self in those things alone is a fruitless pursuit. When they come and go (and they will!), we’ll be left lost as to who we are without them. That’s why finding our sense of identity in God who created us is a better foundation to build our lives on. It will never change, never fade, and never leave us lacking. 

TRY THIS: Encourage your students individually this week. Reach out and compliment something you see about who they are. The catch? Do it without tying it to their skills, talents, works, or achievements. Speak into who you see them created to be rather than what you see them created to do to set an example for them to begin to see themselves in a similar way.
AI: Artificial Identity
iGroups for October 16

Ask the group to answer…

1. List some achievements or talents you think your peers find their identity in.
2. Why do you think we put so much emphasis on what we can and cannot do? What makes this feel like such an important part of who we are? 
3. How can this impact our view of ourselves and others? 
4. Read Genesis 1:27. What does Scripture say about your sense of worth and identity? 
5. Do you think your life would change if you began to see your value in being loved and created by God rather than only in what you can do? Why? how?
6. God created you to be unique and has given you talents/gifts. How can this help you discover a more authentic identity? 

Bottom Lin... I am created by a Creator. 

Scripture... Colossians 1:15- 16, Genesis 1:27, 1 John 4:8

Memory Verse… Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2

Memory Verse Challenge…
Take a memory verse card with Romans 12:2 to memorize.
Quote the memory verse to your table leader OR a volunteer to earn a Llama Dolla!!  
On the back of your memory verse card write down the step you plan to take everyday this week to get to know and connect with God more.