Second Youth Indy

  Adventure.   And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” (Mark 1:17)   “Follow me.” Jesus invites the disciples to join him on a transformative adventure. It is an adventure that we’ve been invited to join as well.    How might Jesus be inviting you to follow him? What adventure(s) are you currently on? What adventure(s) do you hope to pursue?

  Journey.  What comes to mind when you think of the word journey? What journey (or journeys!) are you currently on? In the Book of Genesis, the word journey shows up a lot and there are a lot of journeys taking place. Take a peek around Genesis. Where do you see journeys taking place? What is happening? Who is involved? In what ways is God showing up or not showing up during these journeys?

Despair. Ugh. This isn't a very fun word of the day. What are we to do with despair?  Have you ever been there - in a place of despair? What was that like?  The Psalmists talk about despair in really open and honest ways, "Insults have broken my heart,  so that I am in despair.  I looked for pity, but there was none;  and for comforters, but I found none." (Ps. 69:20) Ugh again.  One of the gifts (and challenges!) of the Psalms is that they're raw and honest about the many feelings, emotions, and experiences that we have as humans. Spend some time with the Psalms this week. What do you notice? What other feelings, emotions, and experiences do the Psalmists talk openly about?

  Sustenance.   “Instead of these things you gave your people food of angels, and without their toil you supplied them from heaven with bread ready to eat, providing every pleasure and suited to every taste. For your sustenance manifested your sweetness toward your children, and the bread, ministering to the desire of the one who took it, was changed to suit everyone’s liking.” (Wis. 16:20-21)   What is providing sustenance in your life right now? Where are you feeling depleted? Reflect on a time when you received sustenance at an unexpected moment. What was that like?

  Questioning.   What questions (big and/or small) are you currently pondering? In our current world, what questions do we need to be asking? What questions of faith are you currently asking? (Or, said another way, what are you and God in conversation about?)

  Curiosity.   “There the angel of the Lord appeared to [Moses] in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.  Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight and see why the bush is not burned up.” (Exodus 3:2-3)   What are you currently feeling curious about?  When in your life have you experienced the need to “turn aside” and see what is happening? Have you ever had a “burning bush” moment in your life?

Joy.   What brings joy to your life? When do you feel most joyful? How does joy play a role in your life of faith?  

  Laugh.   Think of a time when you laughed uncontrollably. What was that like? How did it feel? What is currently making you laugh? What role does laughter play in a life of faith?

  Stillness.   “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10)   In other words, Pause. Be calm. Breathe in God’s spirit deeply. Rest fully in God’s presence.    What does stillness look for you?  What do you do to find stillness? Where do you go to find stillness? How does God show up in the stillness for you?

Listen. How do we listen well? What voices/people have longed been silenced that we need to be listening to? What do our lives of faith have to say about listening?  

  Transformation.   Second Presbyterian strives to be a welcoming community of faith where Jesus Christ transforms lives.    Reflect on a transformative experience in your own life. What was that experience like? How did it feel?  How has your life been transformed by Jesus?

  Sadness.   We all encounter and experience sadness. A life of faith doesn’t protect us from this reality. Yet, what it can do, is offer us a foundation and a grounding - a rootedness - in knowing that God is with us in the sadness.    The Psalmists even remind us that God collects, holds, and carries our tears.    “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle.” (Psalm 56:8)   When have you experienced God meeting you in the sadness?

  Love.   Who or what comes to mind when you think of love? How have you experienced or offered love this week? 1 John 4:8 says, “God is love.” Reflect on a time when you’ve experienced God’s love.