High School Week 1 (May 21): Choices, Choices
Series Overview – Live Like “Next” is “NOW”
When it comes to living “built different,” few things matter more than the choices we make. And we make dozens of them every day.
Choices about what we do. Choices about where we go. Choices about who we spend time with.
What we’re choosing is what we’re chasing. So let’s take a look at the choices we’re making, and then ask ourselves a very important question — are those choices leading to what God wants for us?
Series Verses:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” (Psalms 1:1-3)
“You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.” (Deuteronomy 14:2, NLT)
Discussion Goal: Pay attention to your choices.
Start Talking (Conversation Starter)
Would you rather have someone else pick the only 10 shows you’re allowed to watch for the rest of your life or get to choose your own show, but you can only ever watch that one?
Think It Through (and Talk It Out)
Leader Tip: Choose questions that resonate with your group’s age, experiences, and current understanding. There’s no pressure to cover all the questions — pick the ones that fit your group the best.
Do you think God cares more about what we choose or why we choose it? What matters more — the outcome of your choices or the heart behind them?
Read Genesis 25:29-34. What were the choices Easu was facing? Think about a time you had to make a choice — maybe you were really hungry like Esau or just wanted something right now. How did that feeling affect your decision-making?
Every day, we face choices that pull us toward instant gratification – the now. Why is it so hard to stop and think about how those choices might impact our next (our future)?
What’s a modern-day “bowl of stew” — something that feels worth it in the moment but could cost you later? (e.g., skipping study time for social media, spending money you were saving, binge-watching instead of sleeping before a big test, giving up purity because I don't want to be lonely, starving your body because you want to fit in, etc.)
In his sermon “Starving Sons,” Pastor Steven said, “Beware of the temptation to give up what you want MOST for what you want NOW.” Can you think of a time when you made a choice that felt small in the moment but ended up having a bigger impact than you expected?
What did that experience teach you about the importance of your choices? What did that experience teach you about the power and importance of your decisions?
What’s one area of your life this week where you want to choose your “next” over your “now”? How can you remind yourself to pause and think before making a quick decision?
Pray: God, help us pay attention to our choices, both big and small, and help us live “built different” in each decision we make. We love You. Amen.
Additional Questions
Is there one small change you could make this week that might positively impact how you treat others — or even how you feel about yourself?
What are some influences in your life (like friends, social media, sports, or school) that affect your choices? How can you be more aware of which ones are helping you honor God — and which ones might be pulling you away?
What does it mean to be “built different” in decision-making? Does it mean always going against the crowd, or something else?