The Hills Week 3
Middle & High School Students
Wednesday, November 20th
6:30 – 8:30

BOTTOM LINE: God's light in you brings light to others.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:22-23, Matthew 5:16

GOAL OF SMALL GROUP: To show students the value of seeing other people and their needs through the eyes of Jesus and to encourage them to take a step to shine a little light by meeting the needs they see around them. 
 
THINK ABOUT THIS: This week’s conversation encourages students to do two things: see the needs around them and bless the people around them. Sounds simple, right? In reality, it’s a much more complicated task. For starters, it requires self-awareness and humility to realize that you may not be truly seeing the needs around you every day. With that, it also takes an incredible amount of empathy to not just see those needs but be moved enough to want to meet them. Beyond that, it can be challenging for a high school student to find the confidence to step out and bless someone else by meeting their needs. They may think they don’t have what it takes—the resources, the words, the personality, the time, the money, and more. With all this in mind, remind your students that this isn’t something they have to do on their own. They serve a God who has equipped them with all they need to shine in the lives of others. If they’re not sure where to start, encourage your students simply to begin with a prayer that God would shine light into their lives, helping open their eyes to the needs around them and how they can step in to help when the time is right. 

TRY THIS: Commit to having your group try the challenge from the last question and plan for how you’ll all stick with it. Then, take it a step further and help each student plan a small service activity for them to try throughout this series. It can be done as a group or individually. Encourage them throughout the series to stick with the challenge. This is a simple and accessible way to practice shining your light individually and as a group.

The Hills
iGroups for November 20

Ask the group to answer and discuss…

**Small Group Leader: Be mindful that you may have students who are visually impaired or have family members who are visually impaired. This could bring along more questions or take more time to explain. Just remember you don’t have to get through all the questions if the conversation unfolds differently.**

1 On a scale of 1 to 10, how difficult would you say it is to view/understand the world in a generous way? 
2 In your own words, how would you describe the difference between what we see versus how we view the world? [Note for Leaders: The goal is to help them distinguish what can be objectively observed versus what their personal worldview is.] 
3 How might a personal view affect the way you see other people and their needs? 
4 What can we learn from Jesus about what it means to really see other people?
5 How might seeing people the way Jesus does help change the way you see… Others?  Their needs? Your ability to shine a light?
6 What is one need you see around you right now?
7 This week, what’s one step you can take to shine a light and meet that need?

Bottom Line…God's light in you brings light to others.

Scripture… Matthew 6:22-23; Matthew 5:16

Memory Verse… In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:16