Christ-Centered Bible Studies for Kids, Students and Adults

Weekly Leader Training for Students: Unit 4, Session 5—They Will Bear It with You

| Alecia Bryant

We need community and encouragement from other believers.

SCRIPTURE | Exodus 17:8-16; 18:17-23

CENTRAL TRUTH

As believers, we are part of a community of other believers—the church. These are the people we can lean on to fight life’s battles: our struggles with sin, our heartaches, our losses, and our grief. These are the people God places in our lives to hold up our arms in a sense: to pray with us and for us, to hold us accountable, to guide us in wisdom. And we have the privilege of doing this for others too.

Key question

Why is it necessary to have other believers to help you fight life’s battles?

Keep in Mind

There is a push in current culture to isolate. It celebrates being antisocial or not needing other people—like it’s a badge of honor. It’s really easy for our students to be alone, scrolling on their phones or playing video games. But we must remind them that God didn’t design us to live individual, separate lives. While some of them may believe it’s less complicated to live disconnected, we’re designed to walk with God and with others. We’re even commanded to help carry each others’ burdens (Gal. 6:2), which means we have to know one another well enough to do so. We’re commanded to help one another in difficult seasons and to rejoice with one another during joyful seasons (Rom. 12:15). We’re commanded to hold one another accountable and draw one another away from sin (Gal. 6:1). And the only way we can do any of this is if we’re connected.

APPLICATION

How can you ask others for help this week? How can you help others?

THE WIN

FOR THE STUDENT: To walk in community, students may need to ask God to help them lay down pride. They may need to ask God to help them know His great love toward them instead of allowing shame to keep them silent. They may need to ask God to heal any hurt from the past so that they can trust people again. 

FOR THE LEADER: As leaders, we must continue to seek out godly community as well. It’s important for us to walk with other leaders and with mentors while we are ministering to our students. 

About Alecia Bryant

Alecia Bryant is the Publishing Team Lead for The Gospel Project for Students. She enjoys studying God's Word, leading worship, and traveling. Alecia and her husband live in Louisiana, with their two children and a goofy golden retriever. In her free time, you can probably catch her at a local Mexican restaurant eating chips and salsa with her family.