Middle School Week 2 (April 1): Mindset #2
Mindset #2: Christ is in me. I am enough.
Action Step: Accept your Self.
Read Do the True You chapters 6-9 before your group meeting.
Watch the video: Encourage students to take notes on what stands out to them and what they want to remember.
What’s On Your Mind?
If you could instantly be amazing at one thing (no practice required), what would it be? Would you still pick that thing if no one knew about it?
Optional activity: Filtered or Real?
Read these scenarios out loud. Students will give a thumbs-up if they would be comfortable being real in that situation, or a thumbs-down if they would be tempted to give a filtered (not genuine) response.
Someone asks what you think about a movie EVERYONE loves, but you don’t like it.
A friend asks you to send them a pic of what you’re doing.
You get a lower grade than usual, and someone asks how you did.
Your friends are making fun of someone, and they look at you to join in.
You don’t understand something in class, but the teacher asks if everyone gets it.
Someone compliments you, but you don’t believe it’s true.
You feel left out, and someone asks if you’re okay.
Let youth know it’s normal to feel pressured to hide what we think are flaws. But when we believe we’re enough in Christ, we don’t have to feel like we need to edit ourselves.
Shift Your Mindset
Review the Week One mindset with your group before jumping into this week’s discussion:
Mindset 1: I’m not stuck unless I stop. (Action: Commit to progress.)
Think about the phrase, “I am enough.” What does that mean to you? Where do middle schoolers sometimes feel pressure to be “better” or “more”? (e.g., sports, school, social media, friend groups, etc.)
How does comparison usually make people feel? (e.g., motivated, insecure, jealous, pressured, etc.) Have you ever experienced that?
Read Psalms 139:14. What would change in your life if you really believed this about yourself? What makes it hard to sometimes believe how valuable our life is to God?
What do you need to do in order to believe you’re enough because Christ is in you? (e.g., study your Bible more, stop comparing yourself to others, ask God to help you see yourself the way He sees you, etc.)
Pray: God, thank You that our worth doesn’t come from our performance, popularity, or perfection. Thank You that because You are in us, we are enough. Help us stop chasing a version of ourselves You never asked us to be. When comparison creeps in, remind us who we are in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Go Further
Read John 14:19-20 and John 15:5. Jesus suggests that by being in Him, we are “enough.” Where do you struggle to believe you’re enough? How do Jesus’ words help you?
⬆️ Leader Tip: Being “in Jesus” means you’ve chosen to trust Him, follow Him, and let Him lead your life.
Another way to picture it is being plugged into a charger. Your phone can’t work for long on its own — it needs power. Jesus said in John 15:5, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit… apart from me you can do nothing.” Being “in Jesus” means staying connected to Him so He gives you strength, direction, and purpose.
Have you ever felt like you had to perform to be accepted — whether by friends, coaches, parents, or even God? How does knowing you’re already accepted change the way you perform?
What’s one part of yourself (e.g., personality, ability, weakness, background, etc.) that you struggle to accept? What would it look like to surrender that to God instead of hiding it?
WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Go and DO the True You
“You are more than what you’re missing.” (pg. 63)
This week, every time you feel like you’re not enough or you feel pressured to prove yourself, pause and say:
“Christ is in me. I am enough.”
Then do one of these:
Stop comparing, and thank God for one thing He uniquely put in you.
Pray for help in an area you feel weak instead of hiding it.
Refuse to put someone else down (whether out loud or in your own head) to feel better about yourself.
Show up as your real self instead of your “filtered” self.
The goal this week isn’t to become more impressive. It’s to live like you’re already accepted.