GOD CALLS US TO LIVE LIKE HIS PROMISES ARE REAL.

SCRIPTURE | Zechariah 9:9-12; 13:1-2,9

CENTRAL TRUTH

Zechariah’s message was this: Yahweh remembers; return to the Lord in your heart; commit to obey Him; wait expectantly for God’s kingdom because God is faithful. And Zechariah’s message is for believers today: Repent, obey, and wait with hope.

KEY QUESTION

WHY DO YOU THINK GOD WANTED HIS PEOPLE TO HEAR ABOUT A FUTURE KING? WHY IS ZECHARIAH’S PROPHESY HELPFUL FOR US TO HEAR EVEN NOW?

KEEP IN MIND

Sometimes, students experience spiritual growth during seasons of joy, when life is good; sometimes, they become spiritually lazy and forget to depend on God when life is good. But what about when life hurts? When students walk through painful seasons of heartache, stress, disappointment, sickness, or loss, they may forget what they believe about God—what Scripture teaches about Him and about eternity. If so, they’re not alone. Many of us walk through these times as if we have no hope. We hyperfocus on what hurts and on what’s difficult, forgetting God’s promises rather than clinging to them. But what if we changed all that and helped our students to as well? What if when we experience the darkest seasons of life, we run to God and walk closely beside Him? What if instead of pulling away, we cling to our assurance of eternity with God—free of pain, sin, and sorrow? What if we lived like God’s promises are real? It would change everything.

APPLICATION

HOW SHOULD BELIEVING GOD’S PROMISES ABOUT HEAVEN AND JUDGMENT AFFECT OUR CHOICES, MINDSETS, AND PRIORITIES NOW?

THE WIN

FOR THE STUDENT: Students’ lives should reflect that they believe God’s Word. Their choices should be holy; their mindsets should be centered on what is true, pure, and lovely (Phil. 4:8); their priorities should revolve around loving God and helping others know Him.

FOR THE LEADER: Believing in God’s promises should motivate everything we do; believing in His judgment should cause us to live out and share the gospel with anyone who will listen—with family, friends, our students, and our peers.