Jesus Year RESOURCES

Main Text: Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV)
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

The Question We're Asking:
What would happen if you walked with Jesus for one school year?
Notes: This question is our north star. Everything in this message (and in The Jesus Year) is meant to build around this idea: what happens when students take Jesus seriously—not just for one night or one retreat, but for one full year?

Big Idea: A Year with Jesus Changes Everything
Notes: This is what we believe. This is what we’re calling students to. If they commit to walk with Jesus over the course of a school year, their habits, identity, and relationships won’t stay the same. This year is an invitation to transformation—not by effort, but by presence.

Point I: Start The Walk
Notes:  
• "As you received Christ Jesus the Lord..." — Paul reminds the Colossians that they’ve already started the journey by receiving Jesus.
• “Start the walk” is about owning their faith, not just attending youth group or church.
• Emphasize: following Jesus is a daily, relational journey. Not a checklist, not religion.
• Encourage students to reflect: Have I truly started the walk? Have I surrendered or just spectated?
What we want students to get:
• You can't grow in your faith if you haven’t actually begun walking with Jesus.
• Starting the walk may mean trusting Christ for the first time—or choosing to stop coasting and take it seriously.

Point II: Build Real Faith
Notes:
• “Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith…” — this is a picture of a faith that’s deep (rooted), growing (built up), and strong (established).
• This point is about growth—not just emotional moments, but consistent investment in their relationship with Christ.
• Invite students to go deeper: open the Bible, ask hard questions, build habits.
• Be ready to share how God is growing your own faith.
What we want students to get:
• Real faith isn’t fake, shallow, or based on feelings—it’s honest, grounded, and built on Jesus.
• You build real faith through spiritual habits (Bible, prayer, worship, community) and through trials.
• This year is about depth, not just hype.

Point III: Live Out Loud
Notes:
• “Abounding in thanksgiving” — a faith that’s growing spills over.
• Gratitude is visible—it shows up in our words, our friendships, our priorities.
• This point is about living out your faith publicly: don’t keep it quiet. Don’t shrink back.
• Challenge students: Let people see the change in you.
• Tie it to mission—this year isn’t just for them, it’s for the people around them.
What we want students to get:
• If Jesus is changing you, it should be noticeable.
• Live like someone who knows Jesus.
• Be bold, be kind, be grateful—and be real about your faith.

Action Step: Make This Year Matter.
Notes:
• This is the invitation moment.
• We’re asking them to commit—not just to showing up, but to actually walking with Jesus this year.
What we want students to get:
• Don’t waste this year.
• If you give it to Jesus, He will use it to shape the rest of your life.
• Start. Build. Live. Make it count.

A full manuscript of this message is available here.

Note: There are a lot of questions here, so be aware of time. You don't need to hit every question in every category, but you need to make sure you're moving through each one. 

KNOW
Let’s get to know each other:
What are you most excited—or nervous—about now that you’re in Grace Students?
Now let’s talk about Jesus:
What’s one thing you already know about Jesus? What do you want to learn?

GROW
Read Colossians 2:6–7 out loud together. Ask a student to do it.
Let’s talk about it:
What’s something you heard in those verses that stood out to you?
Paul says to be rooted in Jesus. What happens if a plant doesn’t have strong roots?
Why do you think being thankful is part of walking with Jesus?

Leader Tip: Use examples like charging your phone daily, plants needing good soil, or wearing shoes on a long walk—simple metaphors stick with 6th graders.

GO
Let’s make it personal:
What’s one way you’d like to grow in your faith this year?
Who in your life helps you follow Jesus (like a friend, parent, or teacher)?
What’s one thing that makes it hard to remember Jesus during the week?

Leader Tip: Encourage them that this group is a safe place to ask questions and grow together—even if they feel like they’re starting from scratch.

APPLY
Let’s make this year count with a simple plan:
One Thing: What’s one thing you can do this week to walk with Jesus?
(Examples: pray before school, read one verse a day, thank God for something)
One Friend: Who in this group can remind you or pray for you?
Write It Down: Draw or write one word to remind you of your plan.

Pray
Let’s thank God for this group and ask Him to help us grow strong in our faith this year.
Leader Tip: Offer a short example prayer, then ask if one girl wants to pray. If not, you pray and keep it simple and sweet.

Collect prayer requests in the form at the bottom of the page and submit. 

Note: There are a lot of questions here, so be aware of time. You don't need to hit every question in every category, but you need to make sure you're moving through each one.

KNOW (Understanding the Message)
Starter Questions
What’s something that feels different about this school year for you—at school, with friends, or in life?
What are you hoping for from Grace Students this year?
Let’s talk Scripture
When Paul says “walk in Him,” what do you think that means?
Why do you think he uses words like “rooted” and “built up”? What kind of image does that create?
What’s the difference between believing in Jesus and walking with Jesus?

Leader's Note: Big Truth to Remember: Walking with Jesus isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being connected.
He wants to shape your everyday life, not just your Sunday

GROW (Let It Sink In)
Make it personal
What would it look like for you to start the walk with Jesus this year?
What part of your daily life do you think Jesus wants to change or grow in? (School, family, sports, phone, attitude, etc.)
What do you think it means to build real faith—not just know about God, but trust Him for yourself?

Let’s talk honesty
When is it easiest for you to walk with Jesus?
When is it the hardest?
What helps you stay connected to Him during the week?

GO (Live It Out)
Let’s Make a Plan
Here’s how you can take a simple step forward this week:
One Habit — What’s one simple habit you can start this week to walk with Jesus?
(Examples: read the Bible, listen to worship music, pray before school, journal, etc.)
One Change — What’s one part of your life you want Jesus to grow or reshape?
(Examples: how you treat people, how you use your phone, how you speak, how you handle stress, etc.)
One Person — Who in your life needs to see Jesus through you?
(A friend, sibling, classmate, teammate, etc.)

Leader Note: Encourage students to write down their 3 answers in their question guide.

PRAYER
Ask:
“What’s one thing we can pray about for you this week?”
Then close in prayer—invite a student to pray if they’re comfortable, or a leader can close with a prayer that asks God to help students walk with Jesus this year.

Collect prayer requests on the form at the bottom of the page and submit. 

Note: There are a lot of questions here, so be aware of time. You don't need to hit every question in every category, but you need to make sure you're moving through each one. 

KNOW (Engage the Head)
Opening Reflection
When you think about this phrase—“A year with Jesus will change your life”—what’s your honest reaction?
Hopeful? Skeptical? Intrigued?
How would you describe your current relationship with Jesus?
Coasting, growing, struggling, curious?

Dig into the Word
What do you notice about the order of Paul’s words in verse 6–7 (receive → walk → rooted → built up → established → thanksgiving)?
What does that progression tell us about spiritual growth?
What’s the difference between knowing facts about Jesus and receiving Him as Lord?

GROW (Engage the Heart)
Go Deeper
What does “walking with Jesus” actually look like during your school week?
Which part of the verse do you feel strongest in right now—rooted, built up, established, or thankful?
Which part do you feel weakest in?

Challenge Question
What helps you stay rooted in Jesus?
Who or what has helped you grow in your faith so far?
What do you need to leave behind to grow deeper this year?

GO (Engage the Hands)
Let’s Make it Practical
What’s one intentional step you can take to make this year matter spiritually?
(Think beyond just showing up—what habit, change, or risk will stretch you?)
What’s one thing you want to ask God to change in your life by the end of this year?
If Jesus is real, and Scripture is true—what would it mean for you to live out loud as a follower of Jesus at your school or in your family?

Encourage each student to write down:
🧍‍♂️ One area of growth
📖 One step of obedience
✝️ One way they want to look more like Jesus this year

PRAYER PROMPT
Ask:
“What’s something specific you want to ask God to do in your life this year?”
Then invite them to pray silently or out loud (depending on the group).
If time allows, close by praying as a group over the whole school year.

Collect prayer requests using the form at the bottom of the screen and submit.