Leader Guide

Objective
Students will be challenged to consider who they should listen to in order to multiply peace and strength in their lives.

Warm Up
Listening Exercise – Explain that one person will be “It.” Send “It” outside the room for a minute. From the remaining students in the room, ask for a volunteer to calmly speak in a very soft and quiet voice. Let the other students know that they will be speaking sporadically and in loud voices. Explain that when you bring “It” back into the room, the “soft and quiet” voiced volunteer student repeatedly says, “Be still and know that I am God.” While the “loud crowd” students randomly say, “I don’t know what I’m talking about.” Make sure the loud students start speaking first. Allow this to go on until “It” becomes frustrated or “It” can repeat what the soft-voiced volunteer is saying.

Transition
Hand out Student Guides and pens. Use the Voices In My Head section to discuss:

• What made hearing the singular, soft spoken voice so difficult?
• Do you ever get frustrated with the things people say to you? Explain.
• Do insults and negative opinions of you get stuck in your head? Explain.
• Who do you go to for encouragement? Explain.

The Video
Point students to the quote on the Student Guide from Switchfoot’s front man, Jon Foreman: “Clarity is not found in the crowd. Clarity for me is found in the still small voice. The whisper rather than the scream.” Read the quote again before pausing to ask students what they think Foreman means.

Say something like, “Switchfoot’s latest hit, ‘Voices’, hits close to home for anyone whose life trajectory has been negatively affected by the words of others. As you will see, all the negative words in the video are actual insults Lindsey Stirling and Switchfoot have received. Let’s watch together.” Play the video.

Transition
Lead a quick discussion using the following questions from the Lyric Chat section of the Student Guide:

• My words come out like an avalanche in silence, and you’ve got oceans trapped in your eyelids. Do you believe your generation carries more pain than the one before it? Explain. Do the insults scream louder than the encouragement in your life? Explain.
• Why’s the sunlight hiding? Ain’t letting any light in. It’s a storm that I’ve been fighting. What does this lyric bring to mind for you? How do you cope when life seems dark?
• Every moment crowded with choices; speak to me and drown out the voices. What areas of life does your generation need the most advice on? Where do you turn for advice? 

Bible Study
Say, “The first voice we turn to for advice and wisdom is not usually God’s. But it should be, right? Let’s see what the Bible says about truly seeking and hearing God. And, let’s consider whether we trust Him enough to truly listen.” Direct students to the Psalm 46 section. Explain that Psalm 46 is about having confidence through God and His power. In order to truly drown out the negative voices in life, one’s focus must be on God. Let’s examine one powerful Psalm for truth that will cut through the negative noise.

Psalm 46:1-3

• What are some words used in these verses to describe God?
• When life feels as if it is falling apart, what makes God a reliable source of strength?
• How does trusting God make fear illogical? Explain.

Psalm 46:4-6

• Have you ever been beside a mighty river with huge rapids? Describe what you saw.
• How is God’s power like that river?
• If a person truly realizes that God can stop the mightiest of earth’s forces with just one of His thoughts, how might that affect who that person goes to for advice?

Psalm 46:7-9

• What do you know about God’s faithfulness throughout history?
• How did God play a significant role in ending the world wars you’ve studied in school? Explain.
• Is there anything bigger than God’s peace? Explain.

Psalm 46:10-11

• How difficult is it for you to be still?
• What benefits come from being still and quiet for the purpose of experiencing God?
• When can you pause more than once this week to connect with God?
• Since God has been with His people since the beginning, do you think He will ever leave you?

Wrap Up
Explain that God’s power and provisions have been evident since He made the humans. God has affected history as documented in the Bible and in secular history books—yet, He is a personal God. He wants to spend time one-on-one with you! He wants to give you peace and strength! He is more faithful than the most loyal friend. He loves you more than any human ever could. He wants you to stop listening to the negative and sin-filled voices of the world and start listening to His truth.