10:00 AM Talk #2: Where Are We Headed?

Song: Higher by Creed

(This song speaks of a passionate desire to see the world change for the better, to see dreams come true and souls to rise higher. The imagery is biblical, imagery of the Kingdom. It is also a very upbeat song to help everyone wake up!)

Last night we discussed how we all have baggage in our journey of life. Some of it can help us, some of it can hinder us. It depends on where we are trying to go. Sometimes we don't want to go on this journey. We want to stay where we are comfortable and safe, and not face the challenges and risks of life.

(Discuss a time you wanted to escape from life's challenges, or stay safe and avoid them. )

In the song, Higher, the singer says that even though he wants to escape into his dreams from the way his life really is he'd rather give up his escape for the reality. To do so would require love to replace hate. Like the song Walk On, love is the essential thing.

• Why do you think love is so important?
• What is love, anyway?

St. John says something powerful about love:
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." (1 John 7-9)

Each of us should know the most quoted verse of the Bible in the world, from the gospel of John. Write this verse down in your journal:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

The essence of Christianity is Love. Not just any love, but God's total love for us, by which we can come to know God and love Him and each other.

Small Group Discussion 1: Questions for Higher

• Where do you escape to?
• What do you escape from?
• What dreams would you like to make your own?
• Where is the place with golden streets, where blind men see?

Come back and discuss these questions. The answer to the last one is the Kingdom of God. It is based on two different ideas from the New Testament. Golden Streets refers to the vision of St. John, known as Revelation, specifically Rev. 21:21. That blind men see is the evidence that Jesus Christ gave that the Kingdom had come (Matt. 11:5).

• Where is our walk leading us? Does it matter?
• Do you know where you are going?
• Does God have a destination in mind for us?

God does have a plan for all of us and a place for us to head. It is not like anything we can imagine. He says to us in the Revelation: "Behold I make all things new." (Rev 21:5) The Bible says that in the Kingdom of God, "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Rev. 21:4)

This is the place that we have to believe to see, the place we need to be packing our bags for.

Small Group Discussion 2: All that you can't leave behind

Consider the things you put in the suitcase last night.

• What will help you get to the Kingdom of God? How?
• What will keep you from going? How?
• What are you willing to leave behind?

Come back to the main group and report. Take a 10 minute break before the next talk.

		Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry Orthodox Church in America PO Box 675 Syosset, NY 11791 http://yya.oca.org yyacm@oca.org The Hub | Back to top