IDENTITY: TABLE TALK

Intro:

FORMAT:

I will explain and prompt you guys to get into discussion

You will then discuss the questions that staff have

Then we will come back as a group to share what we said

Everyone will write their name and put it in the cup so that when you go to answer a question, whoever's name gets pulled answers

PROPE: How you identify determines your day to day life and eternity.

TRANSITION: Maybe there is no more clear example than looking at the non Christian world. So as you go into your groups I want you to begin discussing the way the world views IDENTITY - by evaluating first at a scenario & then discussing it.

1. The World’s Identity

POINT: The world’s understanding of Identity is futile and leads to hardship

Prov 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”

Psalm 18:30 “As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the Lord is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.”

Prov 15:21 “Folly is joy to him who lacks sense, But a man of understanding walks straight.”

Prov 26:11 “Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly.”

QUESTIONS:

How would someone who is a man that identifies as a woman react if they were intentionally referred to as sir? Have you seen this? Why do they react that way?

What are some other areas that non Christians find their identity in? Does it typically lead them to joy or frustration? Why?

2. Your Identity

POINT: The non sinful skills & attributes you have must be an expression of your ultimate identity as a sinner saved by grace

THE DANGER is that we leave thinking that the only way to identify in Christ is to make everything OVER SPIRITUAL

Where every sentence you speak must have an explicit connection to God

And when I say how is it going you say “Good because I am saved by grace through faith in Christ alone”

Or how is your food (thats cold and moldy) and you say it is like Manna from heaven because God provided it for me

Or the only way to be an athlete is if you point to the sky after you score

Or that you can only play worship songs on your instrument

We need to find a balance and reconcile that there are things about us; skills, abilities and traits that are not BAD but are a part of the way God made us and then use those for His glory.

1 Cor 10:31 “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

TRANSITION: So let’s identify those things in your life that ARE NOT BAD but are a part of who you are.

If you were to write an instagram bio for yourself (that had to right now what would it say

How do you reconcile things THAT ARE NOT SINFUL but are a part of our identity w/ the ultimate identity of saved sinner

What is the negative way of identifying as something compared to God’s way?

3. The Christian’s Identity

POINT: Find your identity in Christ alone

Sinner - You may think “why do things unrelated to God like school or sports have to be forced into being for God?

I’d like to explain to you 2 things:

Being a Christian isn’t one piece of who you are - being a Christian means that your entire life has been saved and changed to live for Christ

You will never want to or even be able to find your identify in Christ unless God does choses to do that for you

Your life will be one of confusion, idolatry and frustration until 2 Cor 4:6 “For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

You cannot choose to identify as a sinner saved by grace, you must be saved by grace and allow that to change your identity

The only way you can be saved by grace is if you would repent of your life of sin and trust in the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ and the justification brought through His ressurection.

Saint - throughout the rest of your life, you will reach a crossroad

College option w/ no healthy church

Girl/ guy who’s interested in you but not in Jesus

Friend groups that provides approval but deprive you of Christian relationships

When you graduate and HS min is no longer synonymous w/ hanging out w/ your friends - will you stay faithful to the church or idolize new friends

So as you go out from here tonight let your answer to the question “How do you identify?” Be IN CHRIST ALONE! and allow that reality to drive you to worship God with your whole life.