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Re:Tuned Mainstream Music

Artist: Justin Timberlake
Song: Say Something
Album: Man From The Woods
Featured In: YLO 110

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Discussion Guide PDF

Justin Timberlake

Discussion Guide

Artist: Justin Timberlake
Album: Man From The Woods
Label: RCA
Song: Say Something
From: YLO 110 (Winter 2017-2018 | Guys-Girls)
Writer: Albert Forsythe | Diocese of Knoxville | Knoxville, Tennessee

Theme(s): Evangelism: Witnessing Testimony Strength Faithfulness

Teaching Point

The truth of Jesus Christ is something that must be witnessed to, not something to be lost to this world. It is His strength that gives us the power to share and help others to know that salvation is freely given and is something to be desired.

Opening Questions

How do Christians have a message that is countercultural?
In what ways are Christians “not of this world”?

Discussion

Say something like, “How many of you have been in a situation when everyone around you was caught up in the moment – you knew there was something wrong and needed to say something, but were afraid and thought, ‘It’s better for me if I just stay quiet’?” Ask teens for examples – or better yet, ahead of time enlist a young person most of the group looks up to share a story that ties in with this question of a friendship, or righteousness, or witness to the faith and how they overcame this and something they did to reach out to God and others for support and strength.

Say, “I have some good news. There are times when we can all lose hope or feel afraid or just want to keep quiet, but once we come to realize God has never left us, and will give us the strength and hope needed, we can never be lost or alone with Him!”

When the love of God, His mercy and forgiveness are understood and God reveals their purpose, it makes sense to share the excitement with others. This is what witnessing is all about – sharing stories of personal transformation with some detail on how God worked things out. Spoken with love, God’s Word accomplishes much. Read Isaiah 55:11.

Some people have good arguments about why they don’t believe in Jesus or God. Some are confused, or just don’t care. Others get uncomfortable or upset when they are confronted with the truth. Therefore, it is important to become skillful at sharing God’s Word and offering a personal testimony. When witnessing, people will either choose to listen or they won’t. For those who hear, God can begin to use the words as seeds for the soul and to soften their hearts. You might ask:

What are ways we have had to turn to Jesus for strength to witness to the faith?
What are the graces we receive from God when we seek His help and wisdom?
How important is it for us to have faithful friends who will support us when we stand against the crowd?
How can we be a friend to one another like Jesus where we bring life and hope to people in need?
What do we need to do to turn the world upside down?

We have seen throughout this year a series of protests in many different forms. Some have become violent and lead to riots and others have been as controversial as taking a knee during the National Anthem. The song “Say Something” seems to lure us in to the fact that people know our hearts by our actions and we can’t help ourselves. While we may get caught up in the middle of it we must be sure of what it is we are looking for, something we can have. The Strength, Faith, Hope and Love of Jesus on which to stand. How will you be a faithful witness ?

Conclusion

Believers in Jesus Christ are simply in the world, physically present, but are not to be a part of it, not part of the world and its values. (John 17: 14-15) We should be set apart from the world. This is the meaning of being holy and living a holy, righteous life—to be set apart. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the characterless, corrupt mind that the world creates. Rather, we are to conform ourselves, and our minds, to that of Jesus Christ. (Romans 12:1-2)