SESSION 3 — IN THIS HOUSE

INTRO — WHAT IF THIS WAS NORMAL?

I want you to imagine something with me.

Imagine walking into YTH on a normal Wednesday night this year.

Nothing special is scheduled.

It's not Encounter Night.

It's not retreat.

There's no guest speaker.

There's no big event.

It's just Wednesday.

But before YTH even starts, students are praying together.

Someone walks through the doors who has never been here before, and before a leader even gets to them, one of you notices them.

Nobody sits alone.

Worship starts, and nobody needs to convince you to engage because you didn't come to watch worship.

You came to worship Jesus.

Someone shares that they're struggling, and instead of saying:

"I'll pray for you."

Someone says:

"Can we pray right now?"

Students start bringing friends who don't know Jesus.

People start confessing things they've been hiding.

Students begin opening their Bibles because they actually want to know Jesus.

People get saved.

People get baptized.

Students start hearing from God.

Students start praying for their schools.

And eventually something happens:

This stops feeling unusual.

It becomes normal.

That's what I want to talk about tonight.

Because we've spent this weekend talking about revival.

Session 1:

Revival has a name: Jesus.

We're not chasing revival.

We're chasing Jesus.

Then we made it personal.

Revival around me begins with surrender within me.

And our prayer became:

Jesus, start with me.

But tonight we're moving from:

ME → US.

Because what happens when a room full of people who are personally hungry for Jesus start pursuing Him together?

Something changes.

Not just in individuals.

The culture of the room changes.

READ ACTS 2:42–47

Acts 2:42–47 NIV

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The book of Acts gives us a picture of what happened after the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost.

Thousands of people have just responded to the gospel.

And then Luke tells us what this new community looked like.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

I want you to notice one word:

DEVOTED.

It doesn't say:

They occasionally participated.

It doesn't say:

They showed up when they felt like it.

It doesn't say:

They attended when their schedule was open.

It says:

They devoted themselves.

There was intentionality.

There was hunger.

There was ownership.

They didn't just attend something Jesus was doing.

They became part of what Jesus was doing.

And that's the difference between a crowd and a community.

MOVEMENT 1 — SHOW UP

Acts 2:42

“They devoted themselves…”

This community was built by people who showed up.

Not simply physically.

They showed up spiritually.

Relationally.

Emotionally.

They brought themselves into the community.

And I think one of the biggest dangers for us is becoming consumers of community instead of contributors to community.

We walk into a room asking:

Did I like worship?

Was the message good?

Were my friends here?

Did I have fun?

Did someone talk to me?

And without realizing it, church becomes something we evaluate instead of something we help build.

But Acts 2 gives us a totally different picture.

These people didn't ask:

“What did I get out of this?”

They asked:

“What can I bring into this?”

That's ownership.

YOU SET THE TEMPERATURE

Think about a thermostat.

A thermometer tells you the temperature of the room.

A thermostat changes the temperature of the room.

And some of us walk into YTH like thermometers.

If everybody worships...

I'll worship.

If everybody prays...

I'll pray.

If everybody is welcoming...

I'll be welcoming.

If everybody is taking Jesus seriously...

maybe I'll take Jesus seriously.

We're constantly reading the room.

But what if you stopped being a thermometer...

and became a thermostat?

STICKY LINE:

DON'T JUST READ THE ROOM. HELP SET THE ROOM.

You don't have to wait for somebody else to create the culture you want.

If you want YTH to become a place of prayer:

pray.

If you want YTH to become welcoming:

welcome somebody.

If you want worship to become passionate:

worship.

If you want people to be authentic:

go first.

If you want people inviting friends:

invite somebody.

If you want people to know Scripture:

open your Bible.

Culture is created by what a community repeatedly chooses.

And every single person in this room contributes to that.

ONE AND ONLY POINT:

REVIVAL BECOMES A CULTURE WHEN EVERYONE TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRE.

APPLICATION #1:

SHOW UP — STOP ATTENDING THE CULTURE AND START BUILDING IT.

You are not just someone who goes to YTH.

You are YTH.

This ministry isn't primarily a building.

It isn't a Wednesday night program.

It isn't your leaders.

It's us.

So when you walk through those doors this year, don't only ask:

“Who's here for me?”

Ask:

“Jesus, who can I be here for?”

That one question could completely change this ministry.

MOVEMENT 2 — GO DEEP

Now look at what they devoted themselves to:

“the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

These people didn't just gather in the same room.

They shared life.

That's different.

Because you can be surrounded by people...

and still never actually be known.

You can have hundreds of followers.

Group chats.

Snap streaks.

Friends at school.

Teammates.

People constantly around you.

And still feel incredibly alone.

We are more connected than almost any generation in history...

and yet so many people feel unknown.

Why?

Because:

Being seen isn't the same as being known.

You can show everyone the version of yourself you want them to see.

But real community begins when somebody knows the real you.

THE MASK

We all learn how to wear masks.

Not physical masks.

Versions of ourselves.

The funny version.

The confident version.

The athlete.

The good Christian.

The person who doesn't care.

The person who's always okay.

And sometimes the mask works so well that everybody thinks we're doing great...

while we're falling apart underneath it.

But you can't experience deep community while constantly hiding.

Hebrews 10 says:

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…”

You can't really spur someone on if you don't know what's happening in their life.

And they can't really encourage you if you never let them in.

REVIVAL BRINGS THINGS INTO THE LIGHT

If we're going to become a community marked by Jesus, we need to become a place where people can say:

“I'm struggling.”

And nobody laughs.

“I messed up.”

And nobody gossips.

“I don't know what I believe right now.”

And nobody judges.

“My family is falling apart.”

And somebody stays.

“I'm struggling with sin.”

And somebody prays.

That's the kind of community Jesus builds.

Not a community where everybody pretends to be perfect.

A community where imperfect people are walking toward Jesus together.

STICKY LINE:

REVIVAL DOESN'T GROW WHERE EVERYONE PRETENDS. IT GROWS WHERE PEOPLE GET REAL.

JOHN 13

Jesus says:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Think about that.

Jesus could have said:

They'll know you're My disciples because your worship is incredible.

Or:

because you know a lot of Scripture.

Or:

because your youth group is huge.

Instead He says:

The world will recognize Me by the way you love each other.

That's massive.

Because that means the way we treat each other is actually part of our witness.

WHAT IF NOBODY SAT ALONE?

Let me make this incredibly practical.

What if this year...

Nobody sat alone?

Not because a leader told you to talk to them.

Because you noticed.

What if a new student walked through the door and immediately somebody thought:

“They're with me tonight.”

What if the person who normally gets overlooked...

wasn't overlooked here?

What if we became known as the place where you don't have to be cool enough?

Athletic enough?

Funny enough?

Popular enough?

Christian enough?

What if people walked in and thought:

“I don't know everything these people believe yet... but I know they love me.”

That looks like Jesus.

APPLICATION #2:

GO DEEP — CHOOSE TO BE KNOWN AND CHOOSE TO KNOW OTHERS.

Don't settle for surface-level community.

Ask better questions.

Listen.

Notice people.

Share what's actually happening in your life.

Pray for each other.

Protect each other's stories.

Celebrate each other.

Show up when somebody is hurting.

Because:

You can't build Acts 2 community with surface-level relationships.

MOVEMENT 3 — CARRY THE FIRE

Now watch what happens in Acts 2.

Verse 43:

“Everyone was filled with awe…”

Verse 46:

“Every day they continued to meet together…”

Verse 47:

“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Something started happening among them...

and then it began impacting the people around them.

This is where revival becomes bigger than one person's encounter with Jesus.

One person gets hungry.

Then another.

Then another.

Someone starts praying.

Somebody joins them.

Someone starts worshiping differently.

Someone else says:

“I want that.”

Someone becomes bold about inviting friends.

Somebody else starts doing it.

And suddenly:

What was personal becomes cultural.

A FIRE SPREADS

Think about an actual fire.

One burning log by itself can eventually go out.

But put burning logs together and something happens.

They feed one another.

The heat grows.

And when one starts dying down, the others around it help keep it burning.

That's community.

There are going to be weeks this year when you feel spiritually on fire.

There will also be weeks when you don't.

Weeks when prayer feels easy.

Weeks when it doesn't.

Weeks when worship feels powerful.

Weeks when you're distracted.

Weeks when you feel incredibly close to Jesus.

Weeks when you're struggling.

That's why we need each other.

Sometimes your faith carries me. Sometimes my faith carries you.

That's why Hebrews says:

“Let us spur one another on…”

We keep pointing each other toward Jesus.

BUT HERE'S THE CHALLENGE

Everybody wants to be part of a youth group that's on fire for Jesus.

But somebody has to carry the fire.

Everybody wants deep worship.

Somebody has to worship.

Everybody wants prayer.

Somebody has to pray.

Everybody wants community.

Somebody has to go first and be vulnerable.

Everybody wants new students to feel welcomed.

Somebody has to leave their friend group and walk across the room.

Everybody wants friends to meet Jesus.

Somebody has to invite them.

And that's why tonight's main point is:

REVIVAL BECOMES A CULTURE WHEN EVERYONE TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRE.

Not your pastor.

Not your worship team.

Not your small group leader.

Everyone.

APPLICATION #3:

CARRY THE FIRE — TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT YOU'RE PRAYING FOR.

Don't pray:

“Jesus, make YTH more welcoming”

and then ignore the new kid.

Don't pray:

“Jesus, make us a praying youth group”

and then wait for a leader to pray.

Don't pray:

“Jesus, save my friends”

and never invite them.

Don't pray:

“Jesus, give us deeper community”

while keeping everybody at arm's length.

There are things only God can do.

But there are also things He's asking us to do.

God changes hearts.

God saves.

God heals.

God revives.

God pours out His Spirit.

But we can:

show up.

love.

pray.

invite.

serve.

encourage.

confess.

worship.

obey.

STICKY LINE:

DON'T JUST PRAY FOR THE CULTURE YOU WANT. LIVE IT.

WHAT KIND OF HOUSE ARE WE BUILDING?

Acts 2 gives us a picture of a church where:

Jesus was central.

People were devoted.

Prayer mattered.

Scripture mattered.

People shared life.

Needs were noticed.

People worshiped together.

And people were meeting Jesus.

So here's the question tonight:

WHAT KIND OF YTH DO WE WANT TO BECOME?

Not:

What events do we want?

Not:

What games should we play?

Not:

What songs should we sing?

But:

Who are we becoming?

Because you are going to create a culture this year.

The only question is:

What kind?

BRING BACK THE GOD DREAMS

At Session 1, we asked:

“God, what do You want to do in YTH this year?”

Bring those prayers and dreams back out.

Read some of them.

Maybe students wrote:

Salvation.

Unity.

More prayer.

Boldness.

Baptisms.

Deeper worship.

People bringing friends.

Students knowing Jesus.

Freedom.

Then say:

These aren't just dreams we're asking God to accomplish for us.

They're invitations to become part of what God wants to do.

If we wrote unity, we get to become people who fight for unity.

If we wrote prayer, we get to pray.

If we wrote salvation, we get to invite.

If we wrote deeper worship, we get to worship.

If we wrote community, we get to notice people.

If we wrote boldness, we get to take risks.

RESPONSE — BUILD THE HOUSE

Tonight I would make the response very participatory.

Put students into groups of 5–8.

Give every group a large sheet of paper.

At the top write:

IN THIS HOUSE...

Then tell them:

“If Jesus really became the center of our YTH this year, what would define us?”

Give them 10–15 minutes.

Tell each group to come up with three commitments.

Not vague words.

Actual commitments.

Instead of:

“Community.”

Write:

“In this house, nobody sits alone.”

Instead of:

“Prayer.”

Write:

“In this house, we pray first.”

Instead of:

“Authenticity.”

Write:

“In this house, we don't have to pretend.”

Instead of:

“Evangelism.”

Write:

“In this house, there is always room for one more.”

Instead of:

“Worship.”

Write:

“In this house, we worship Jesus, not the room.”

Let the students create the language.

BRING EVERYONE BACK

Have each group share their three commitments.

As they share, write down repeated themes.

Then identify 4–5 commitments that seem to represent what the whole group is saying.

These can become your YTH commitments for the year.

And I would keep them.

Put them on a wall.

Bring them back throughout the year.

Ask:

“Are we becoming the people we said we wanted to become?”

FINAL RESPONSE — PUT YOUR NAME ON IT

Now take the commitments and put them somewhere visible.

Then say:

Tonight we're not just asking:

“Do I like these?”

We're asking:

“Will I help build this?”

Because culture isn't built by statements on a wall.

It's built by people.

One decision at a time.

One Wednesday at a time.

One invitation at a time.

One prayer at a time.

One person noticed at a time.

One courageous conversation at a time.

THE FINAL CHALLENGE

Last night our prayer was:

START WITH ME.

Tonight our prayer changes slightly:

START WITH US.

Jesus...

Make us a people who are hungry for You.

Make us a people who pray.

Make us a people who worship.

Make us a people who know Your Word.

Make us a people where nobody gets overlooked.

Make us a people where broken people don't have to hide.

Make us a people who celebrate each other.

Make us a people who invite.

Make us a people who take risks.

Make us a people who carry Your presence.

Make us a people where somebody can walk through the doors far from Jesus...

and encounter Him among us.

CLOSING PRAYER

Jesus, this is Your house.

This is Your YTH.

We don't want to simply have good services this year.

We want You.

Teach us how to love each other like You love us.

Give us courage to be real.

Help us notice people.

Teach us to pray for one another.

Make us hungry for Your Word.

Give us boldness to bring our friends.

And Jesus, forgive us for the times we've waited for somebody else to create the culture we wanted.

Tonight we take responsibility.

We will show up.

We will go deep.

We will carry the fire.

Holy Spirit, breathe on this house.

And let what begins in us spill into our schools, our teams, our families, and our city.

Revive us again.

Amen.

FINAL WORD

Before they leave, remind them:

Session 1: We aren't chasing revival. We're chasing Jesus.

Session 2: Revival around me begins with surrender within me. Start with me.

Session 3: Revival becomes a culture when everyone takes responsibility for the fire. Start with us.

And tomorrow:

We carry it out.

LAND THE MESSAGE

“Tonight we've talked about revival moving from me to us.

We all want a YTH that is hungry for Jesus. A YTH that prays, worships, welcomes people, reaches friends, and takes Jesus seriously.

But we can't wait for somebody else to create that.

Be what you're praying for.

If you want prayer—pray.

If you want worship—worship.

If you want community—build it.

If you want people welcomed—notice them.

If you want your friends to know Jesus—bring them.”

Then:

DON'T COME LOOKING FOR A FIRE. COME CARRYING ONE.

EXPLAIN THE ACTIVATION

Have the worship team begin playing.

Give every student one small piece of wood.

“In a moment, we're going to worship.

At some point during worship, when you're ready, I want you to take this piece of wood and walk outside by yourself to the fire.

This isn't a group moment.

It's between you and Jesus.”

Give them one question:

“JESUS, WHAT ARE YOU ASKING ME TO BRING?”

“What are you going to bring into our YTH this year?

Prayer? Hunger? Courage? Leadership? Worship? Encouragement? Invitation? Honesty?

Ask Jesus.”

AT THE FIRE

Tell them:

“When you get to the fire, take a moment.

Talk to Jesus.

Then, when you're ready, put your piece of wood into the fire and pray:

‘Jesus, this year I'm bringing _______.’

Put the wood in.

Then come back inside and keep worshiping.”

One student goes.

Comes back.

Another goes.

Worship never stops.

No pressure. No order. Let students move when they're ready.

WHEN EVERYONE RETURNS

Keep worship playing underneath.

Then say:

“Every one of you just brought one piece of wood.

Alone, it wasn't much.

But together, those pieces are feeding one fire.

That's us.

Different people. Different gifts. Different callings.

One YTH. One fire. One Jesus.

We don't manufacture revival. Jesus does what only Jesus can do.

But we can bring Him our yes.”

Then land it:

BE WHAT YOU'RE PRAYING FOR.

DON'T COME LOOKING FOR A FIRE. COME CARRYING ONE.

CLOSE IN WORSHIP

Pray:

“Jesus, take all of our individual yeses and make them an us. Make us hungry for You. Make us people of prayer, courage, worship, and love. Let this become a place where people meet Jesus. And teach every one of us to take responsibility for what You're doing in this house. Start with us. Amen.”

Then let the band go straight back into the final song.

Final line before you step away:

“WHAT JESUS STARTS IN YOU, WE CARRY TOGETHER.”