The greatest commandments, according to Jesus, are to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31). This calls us to love deeply, wholeheartedly, and without condition. What does it truly mean to love God in this way, and how does this love guide us in loving others? How can we show love to others, especially those we find difficult to love?

Scripture

Mark 12:30-31 ESV
"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these."

Bible Study Questions

Loving God Wholeheartedly
Loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is a commandment that requires our full devotion. Why do you think Jesus emphasized that this is the greatest commandment? How can we ensure that we love God with all of ourselves?

Mark 12:30 ESV
"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."

Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."

Loving Others as Ourselves
Loving others as ourselves means caring for their needs just as we would care for our own. What does it look like to love someone in this way, especially when it’s difficult? How do we balance loving ourselves with loving others?

Mark 12:31 ESV
"The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these."

1 John 4:19 ESV
"We love because he first loved us."

Demonstrating Love
Loving others is not just a feeling; it’s a choice and action. How can we show love to others, especially those we may not get along with? What are some specific ways we can actively love our neighbors this week?

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Prayer for Loving God and Others

Father, I come before You today, asking for Your help to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. May my love for You be the foundation of everything I do, and may it guide my thoughts, actions, and relationships. Teach me to love You wholeheartedly, as You have commanded, with all that I am.

Lord, help me to love others as I love myself. Open my eyes to see the needs around me and give me the compassion, kindness, and patience to show love in practical ways. Teach me to reflect Your love in all my interactions, and help me to serve others just as Jesus served us. When it’s difficult to love, remind me of Your grace, and give me the strength to love even those I struggle with.

God, give me wisdom and courage to show love in tangible ways, especially when it’s challenging. Help me to forgive as You have forgiven me and to remove any bitterness or unforgiveness in my heart. May I love without conditions, just as You have loved me.

Empower me through Your Holy Spirit to love others the way Jesus loved—sacrificially and unconditionally. Let my life be a reflection of Your love, so that others may know that I am Your disciple. Help me to love boldly and selflessly, just as You have shown me through the example of Jesus.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled”

Matthew 5:6

Welcome to "The Hunger and Thirst Games," an exciting new series where we dive deep into what it means to truly seek after God. Inspired by Matthew 5:6, this journey challenges us to hunger and thirst for righteousness, promising that when we do, we will be filled. Throughout this series, we’ll explore how to stay strong in our faith, even when faced with life’s toughest challenges.

• Lesson 1: Entering the Arena

  Theme: Facing Temptation
  Scripture: John 1:19-27 (The Testimony of John the Baptist)

  We start by looking at John the Baptist, who faced temptations of fame and recognition but remained committed to his purpose of pointing to Jesus. This lesson will help us understand that facing temptation is part of our journey, and true righteousness is found in fulfilling God’s calling.

• Lesson 2: Finding Your Strength

  Theme: True Satisfaction
  Scripture: John 4:1-42 (The Woman at the Well)

  In this lesson, we explore Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman. She came seeking physical water but left transformed by the living water that Jesus offered. We’ll discuss how true satisfaction comes from a relationship with Christ, meeting our deepest spiritual needs.

• Lesson 3: Standing Till the End

  Theme: Commitment to Christ
  Scripture: John 6:60-69 (Many Disciples Turn Back)

  This session focuses on the moment when many of Jesus' followers deserted Him after His challenging teachings. We will reflect on the importance of commitment and understanding who Jesus is—the Bread of Life—and how we can choose to stand firm in our faith, even when it’s tough.

• Lesson 4: Catching the Fire

  Theme: Empowered by the Holy Spirit
  Scripture: John 7:37-39 (Rivers of Living Water)

  We conclude the series with Jesus’ invitation to come and drink from the living water that the Holy Spirit provides. This lesson emphasizes the empowerment that comes from seeking Jesus, igniting a fire within us to live boldly and share the gospel.

• Lesson 5: Walking in the Light

  Theme: Following Jesus
  Scripture: John 8:12 (Jesus, the Light of the World)

  In our final lesson, we focus on Jesus as the Light of the World, guiding us in our spiritual journey. We’ll discuss how following Him illuminates our path and equips us to shine His light in the world, fulfilling our calling as His disciples.

Get a sneak peek into "The Hunger and Thirst Games" by watching the video below!

To anchor our "Hunger and Thirst Game" series, we're diving into some powerful worship songs that perfectly capture the themes we'll be exploring.

Prayer Points for The Hunger and Thirst Game Series:

1. Desire for Righteousness:

- Pray that God would cultivate a deep hunger and thirst for righteousness in our hearts, inspiring us to seek Him above all else.

- Ask for a renewed passion to live lives that reflect His holiness and love.

2. Strength in Temptation:

- Pray for the strength to resist temptation, just as Jesus did in the wilderness.

- Ask God to help us recognize and overcome the challenges we face, relying on His Word for guidance.

3. Spiritual Nourishment:

- Pray that we would find our ultimate satisfaction in Jesus, the living water and bread of life.

- Ask God to help us depend on Him for our spiritual needs and not be swayed by worldly distractions.

4. Perseverance in Faith:

- Pray for the courage to stand firm in our faith, even when it’s difficult or unpopular.

- Ask for the grace to remain committed to following Jesus, trusting that He will sustain us.

5. Empowerment by the Holy Spirit:

- Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill us with a fiery passion to spread the gospel and live boldly for Christ.

- Ask God to ignite a spiritual fire within us that never burns out, fueling our desire to serve and love others.

6. Unity and Support:

- Pray for unity within our youth group as we journey through this series together.

- Ask God to help us support and encourage one another as we grow in our faith.

7. Open Hearts and Minds:

- Pray that everyone participating in the series would have open hearts and minds, ready to receive God’s truth.

- Ask for the Spirit’s guidance to apply what we learn in practical ways in our daily lives.

8. Transformation:

- Pray that this series would be a catalyst for real and lasting transformation in our lives.

- Ask God to help us not just be hearers of the Word, but doers who live out our faith in tangible ways.

Join us on a six-week journey to discover, embrace, and amplify the power within us as we explore key biblical themes.

Week 1: Facing Our Own Fears (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)

Theme Verse: "For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ."

• Overview: Fear is real, but so is our faith! This week, we’ll dive deep into understanding how God’s light shines brightest in our darkest moments. It’s time to confront what holds us back and step into the fullness of His grace.

• Activity: Fear Buster Challenge – Write down one fear you’ve been struggling with, and let’s pray over it together. Watch how God turns your fear into a testimony!

Week 2: Finding Our Own Motivation (John 20:21)

Theme Verse: "Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’"

• Overview: What drives you? In this session, we’ll uncover our personal “why” and understand the mission God has for each of us. It’s more than just getting by; it’s about living with purpose and passion.

• Activity: Mission Board – Create a vision board that reflects your God-given goals and dreams. Let this be your daily reminder to stay motivated and focused on His calling.

Week 3: Mastering Our Message (Romans 1:16-17)

Theme Verse: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

• Overview: Are you ready to share your faith with confidence? This week, we’ll learn how to master our message and stand firm in the truth of the gospel. Let’s embrace the power of our story and be bold in sharing it!

• Activity: Gospel Pitch – Prepare a 2-minute pitch that explains the gospel in a way that resonates with your friends. Practice it and be ready to share it with the group.

Week 4: Sharing Our Stories (Matthew 5:14-16)

Theme Verse: "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."

• Overview: Your story matters, and it has the power to inspire others. This session is all about learning how to share our testimonies in a way that brings light to those around us. Let’s make our stories shine!

• Activity: Story Circle – Sit in a circle and share a personal testimony. It can be about a time God showed up in your life or a lesson learned. No story is too small!

Week 5: Engaging Our Circle (Acts 17:22b-25, 27-28)

Theme Verse: "He is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being."

• Overview: How can we impact those around us? This week, we’ll explore ways to engage with our friends, family, and community. Let’s become influencers for Christ and make a difference in our circles!

• Activity: Circle Impact – Write down three names of people you want to reach out to this week. Pray for them and think of creative ways to share God’s love with them.

Week 6: Continuing Our Conversation (Acts 17:32-34a)

Theme Verse: "Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed."

• Overview: The conversation doesn’t stop here! We’ll discuss how to keep the momentum going and continue sharing the message of Christ with those around us. It’s all about building lasting relationships and walking this journey together.

• Activity: Follow-Up Plan – Develop a plan to keep the conversation going with the people you’ve reached out to. Whether it’s a text, coffee meet-up, or Bible study invite, let’s stay connected and keep spreading the message.

Think you’ve got everything down from our six-week adventure? Test your knowledge with this quick quiz! 🧠✨

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https://forms.gle/VYjsEGZ1XqdAXwpa8

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

- Numbers 6:24-26