DISTINCT EPISODE 2 || DISTINCTLY YOU

If you're someone who likes to blend in, you may not have even volunteered to answer that question — and that's okay! We're all unique, and your uniqueness is beautiful . . . even if you don't love it when people notice. But if we're honest, this question isn't actually all that easy to answer. In some way, we all want to do both things at the same time: blend in and stand out.

We all want to be different and unique to some degree. We want to contribute something to this world that no one else can. We want our lives to mean something. But at the exact same time, we all want to blend in. No matter how loud, weird, or counter-cultural we want to be, we also want to fit in and be accepted — maybe not by everyone, but at least by certain people.

Talk about a time you changed in order to fit in.

I can't be the only one who's done this, right? Why do you think that is? Why do you think we try so hard to fit in? Maybe we don't want to stick out because we're afraid sticking out will mean . . .

TENSION

There are times, however, when the pressure to fit in is greater than our desire to be who we are or do what we were made to do.

Getting unwanted attention.

Being labeled as different.

Getting mocked or attacked.

Feeling vulnerable or ashamed of who we are.

Transition || Last week, we saw that Jesus is distinct from any person who has ever lived, because He's God! The fact that Jesus is distinct is really good news for us, but today I want to help you see that . . .

You are also distinct from any person who has ever lived. Your distinctness is also good news. Your distinctness could be good news for the whole world too. There's a guy in the Bible named John — but not the John we talked about last week. This John, John the Baptist, was . . .

Jesus' cousin. He was only six months older than Jesus, so they grew up together. He was pretty unique — like, the lived-in-the-desert-and-ate-bugs-for-dinner kind of unique. And he had a unique mission. He was a messenger sent to prepare people for Jesus' coming. But when John shared the news of Jesus' coming, some people were a little confused.

TEXT

JOHN 1:19-27

Teaching

John Was Distinct

JOHN KNEW WHO HE WAS NOT

John owned the fact that he was not the Messiah (which means the anointed or special one). He wasn't Jesus and he didn't need to be. When John heard the rumors people thought he was the coming Messiah, it would have been easy to say, "Yeah, that's me! Everyone come bow down and worship me!" But John didn't need to steal anyone else's identity in order to have meaning or purpose.

JOHN KNEW WHO HE WAS

He knew God had created him with a distinct purpose — a purpose he and he alone could fulfill. So John was very clear about who he was. He said it for all to hear. He was the guy who was going to tell everyone that Jesus was on the way, and he was confident in that identity. (And no, he wasn't going to apologize for eating bugs either.)

JOHN KNEW HOW HE FIT INTO GOD’S PLAN

That doesn't mean John knew every detail of his future or waited for God to tell him exactly what to do every five minutes. It just means he understood the big picture of God's big plan.

John didn’t decide what made him unique and distinct — he looked at how God had made and equipped him. He didn't decide on his role either. He looked at what Scripture said. It contained prophecy that proclaimed John's purpose long before he was ever born. He quoted these parts of the Bible often to let people know he was part of God's plan — he was the messenger that had been promised.

Thread TRANSITION

John's life and purpose was foretold by the prophet Isaiah. During difficult days in the history of God's people, prophets were sent by God to speak what God wanted people to hear in their times of need.

John would have known the words of Isaiah well, since Isaiah predicted John's whole existence. But that's not the only message Isaiah shared with us. Sometimes what the prophets said was hard to hear, but sometimes it was comforting and encouraging. We're about to read some of those comforting words Isaiah shared with the people of God.

Isaiah 43:1-7

These words were written specifically to the nation of Israel, God's chosen people. But the way God loves Israel in this passage is the same way God loves you. God, the Creator of the whole universe, who made the stars, planets, and galaxies, the one who made all living things, plants and animals, who created every single person who has lives, is living, and will live — that same God . . .

Created and formed you. Is with you. Cares for you. Makes sacrifices for you. Calls you a son or daughter. If you've ever felt the pressure to change or hide who you are, listen closely to what God says about you. You are beautifully and wonderfully made. You're deeply loved by your Creator. Just like John the Baptist realized about himself, you weren't designed to be just like everyone else.

Story of Peter Parkers Desire to be an Avenger in Homecoming. What made him distinct was the humility to be the friendly neighborhood Spiderman

God made you distinct.

When we read the stories of people like John the Baptist, we might find it hard to relate. After all, he's a guy who had it all figured out, while we're struggling with insecurity, self-doubt, and confusion about who we are.

But realize we don't have John's full story — just bits and pieces. We may not know about the struggles he experienced while figuring out who he was and what God had called him to do, but I'm sure they existed. There isn't a person alive who hasn't struggled to figure out their own identity in some way. That's part of everyone's story.

Take Away

YOUR DISTINCT JOURNEY

The journey to finding who God created us to be isn't always easy, but most journeys are like that. Your journey toward finding out who God created you to be will take an entire lifetime because who you are is always changing in some way — especially at your age. As you continue on this journey of discovering your distinctness, follow John's example.

DISCOVER WHO YOU'RE NOT.

Just like John, you don't need to steal anyone else's identity in order to have meaning or purpose. You don't have to be just like anyone else.

DISCOVER WHO YOU ARE.

Like John, when you find the things that make you distinct, celebrate them! Share them! Be confident in them! The things that make you unique were given to you by your Creator and they're good.

DISCOVER HOW YOU FIT INTO GOD'S PLAN.

Like John, you'll never know every detail of your future, so stop waiting for God to tell you exactly what to do every five minutes. Instead, look for the big picture of God's plan for you.

Think Generally and Move to Individually

What mission has God called you to do? How has God told you to live? What do you care about? And how do all of those things fit together? The Bible might not tell you which elective to sign up for this semester, or whether you should play soccer or lacrosse, or the name of the person you're going to marry. But it does tell you this:

You are created and formed by God. Your uniquenesses were created for a purpose. You are loved by God. God is with you. When you really believe those things, your confidence in who God made you to be will grow.

REFLECTION| Gratitude List

So what if you took some time this week to focus on the ways God has made you distinct — even the unique things about yourself that you're not sure you like? What if you actually made a list? Then, what if you thanked God for those things — all of them?

PHYSICAL: They could be physical traits, like your specific hair type, or that you're ridiculously tall, or that you use a wheelchair to get around.

CHARACTER: They could be character traits, like how you find it easy to be patient with people, or you're a natural leader, or you tend to give your friends good advice.

SKILLS: They could be talents or skills, like your love of writing poetry, or interest in science, or ability to make a successful YouTube channel.

EXPERIENCES: They could even be unique experiences that have shaped you, like the kind of family you've grown up in, or that difficult thing you survived, or an awesome opportunity you've had. All of these things shape who we are. Some are things we were born with. Others are things that developed over time. But all of them are important parts of who you are (and who you're not).

Connect ||

But don't let this discovery process end here! Talk to some trusted friends and adults who . . .

Know you well.

Can point out the distinct things about you that you may have missed.

Speak truth when you begin to believe the lie that your distinctness isn't important, beautiful, or lovable.

Sometimes we all lose sight of the ways God has made us unique — or maybe we never took the time to identify what makes us unique in the first place. Instead of finding peace and purpose in the distinct ways we're designed, we feel pressure to conform, hide, or change who we are. This week, if those feelings start to creep in, let me remind you what God says about you.