We are about to jump into the discussion questions for the episode
In Philippians 4:2-9 Paul outlines some great advice for our worry and concerns. First, tell God what you need. Second, thank God for all he has done. Third, reflect on all the good things.
You are running an impossible yet achievable race! If you get to the end and finish, you will no longer be here on earth but in heaven. It’s the most important race you will ever run, and you can’t do it on your own!
Bradon: Welcome back. Jon and I are about to get into questions regarding the episode Your Impossible yet Achievable Race.
Jon: Paul compared the Christian life to a race, with the final prize being a life in heaven with God. We learned that we needed others to run and finish this race. Other people help us grow in our relationship with Jesus. For those who have submitted their lives to Christ, Jesus will welcome us into heaven one day.
Bradon and Jon talk about identity and will challenge you to reflect on where your identity comes from. When we try and create our identity, things will go poorly for us. You can’t earn your identity it is bestowed on you by God.
Understanding that our identity is not earned but a gift bestowed on each of us will cause us to search and discover in scripture and prayer which we are verses through our imagination and our predominate emotion of the day or week.
Bradon: Hey, if you are a teenager, you know the challenge of being known as a Christian. Jon: You would think with God that he would make it easy for us. Bradon: Following Christ can be hard, but today’s episode has some good news.
Bradon: Hey, we will get into some discussion questions for the episode Be known as a Christian.
Jon: Bradon and I talked about the struggle of being known as a Christian, particularly in our friend groups where there are few, if any, other Christians. We talked about why it’s important for us to be known as a follower of Christ. We also learned that we are not alone in our faith and that it’s important for us to have others who are also growing in their faith too.
Jon: You heard the episode Your Attitude Matters, and I had some great rhymes, including.
Bradon: We will discuss Paul’s encouragement to us all to have the same attitude as Christ. Jesus gave up a lot and endured unimaginable things, and offers us forgiveness. All so we can live in a right relationship with him. Jesus’s attitude is marked by love.
Jon: Bradon, you need to have an attitude of gratitude and change that baditude into a gladitude. Bradon: If you make one more rhyme, I will turn off your mic. Jon: Sounds like you have a saditude and need a raditude. Bradon: Today, we will hear an example of the perfect attitude. It’s neither of ours.
Jon: Today, we learned what three of Paul’s obsessions are. Seeing people share the Good news, desiring to be with God, and seeing others live as citizens of heaven!
Bradon: We also asked you to make a list of how you live as a citizen of heaven or a citizen of the world. So if you have made that list, pull it out. If you haven’t, hit pause and make that list quickly because we are about to use it!
Jon: Bradon, would you describe the difference between being a citizen of heaven and a citizen of the world?
Bradon: I can give it a shot; feel free to add your thoughts. I think, at its core, it’s about with whom we belong. For instance, if a child is lost and a stranger comes to help them find their mom or dad. They know that they don’t belong with this stranger. They run to their mom or dad when they see them, even though the stranger may have been very kind and helpful.
Jon: I think we all have a sense of being a lost child from time to time. Maybe our actions, feelings, or thoughts lead us there. But we often hear people describe their first significant interaction with Jesus as coming home to a loving parent. No longer lost, but with someone who loves us unconditionally!
Bradon: I also think there is a longing to go home when we are away. Think of the last time you travelled somewhere or even had a sleepover at a friend’s house! There is often a sense of longing for a familiar place, and even though we have not been to heaven, we are created and designed to belong there. Which leads us to desire that as we grow in our relationship with God.
