If there’s one thing that graduating seniors have a real interest in, it’s the future. Everyone wishes that he had a crystal ball and could peer into the time to come. But, if you think about it a bit, not knowing the future isn’t a problem… but not knowing the One who has the future in His hands is! It’s only when we trust God’s guidance and direction will we feel confident about our future.

 

What’s of real importance for your Seniors is how they will respond to the freedoms and choices that become theirs in six months after graduation. For too many Seniors, when they graduate out of high school, they also “graduate” out of their faith. It will be of vital importance for you to talk through the issues of finding a church, involvement in campus ministries, personal disciplines, and discernment.

 

ConGRADulations! Table Game ⚠ This “table game” is found on pages 18-19. Copy and enlarge the game — and laminate it if you can. Do the same for the “Situation Cards” on pages 20-21. Make enough games for the number of four-player tables you’ll have. Provide each table with small toy cars and a die. Explain that this game is like the old “Chutes and Ladders” or “Candyland” games that they may have played as kids. Here’s how the game is played: the players each choose a car to be their “marker” and roll the die to see who goes first. Then, they simply roll the die and move their car the number of spaces on their roll, following the instructions found on each square. The first one to the FINISH square wins! (You don’t have to land on the last square “evenly” — if you are two spaces away and roll a six, you win!) Offer an appropriate prize for the winner at each table.

 

Pre-select three participants to perform the sketch and share the script with them (you’ll find it on the ConGRADulations! 2020 Online Resource Page). Encourage them to be bigger than life and use the props mentioned in the skit. During the performance, you should ask all others to mute their microphones so as not to interrupt.

 

When you present this sketch, follow it up with discussion questions like these:

Four of the songs from the ConGRADulations playlist fit in well with this subject: Each has a different take on the issue, so choose which one (or two, or all six!) to use, and play it (them) for your group.

⚠ Email the Student Guides to each student. Lead the group in a Bible study/discussion of these four points:

 

The natural reaction to that question is, “Sleep in!” However, as these verses show, you don’t do yourself any favors by not being part of a church. You need the encouragement and “spurring” that comes from being a part of a church community. And, this might surprise you, churches need you! They need your youth, enthusiasm, strength, insights and energy. On that first Sunday, you need to start looking for a home church!

 

The key phrase to look at in this verse is, “pursue [godly characteristics] along with those who call upon the Lord…” There are many excellent campus ministries that you can join. (Just don’t confuse them with being a part of a church.) Cru. Inter-Varsity. The Navigators. Campus Ambassadors. The list goes on and on. Check with your pastor and/or youth leader for more information on these and other groups, and be sure to go to campusministrylink.org!

 

This verse comes at the end of a description of a day in the life of Jesus. Take a look at that day (verses 21-34). Nothing you’ll experience in the months to come can compare with a packed-full, extremely-taxing, and draining day like that! So, what does Jesus do? He gets up before the sun does, and prays! The key thing to learn from this: personal spiritual disciplines must be maintained, even in the busiest of times!

 

In a world that doubts anyone who claims to have “the” truth, it’s difficult to maintain your faith. This is where you need to develop discernment and conviction. You need to learn the skill of seeing the truth and the lies in what you’re learning (discernment), without giving up the foundation of your faith (conviction).