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Music Resources

Artist: NEEDTOBREATHE
Song: Survival - Live From The Woods
Album: Live From The Woods Vol. 2
Featured In: MVL 112

Resources for YLO Members

File Downloads:

NEEDTOBREATHE

Leader Guide

Artist: NEEDTOBREATHE
Album: Live From The Woods Vol. 2
Label: Elektra
Song: Survival - Live From The Woods
From: MVL 112
Writer: Joel Jackson | | Bernville, Pennsylvania

Theme(s): Sanctification Revival God's: Grace Spiritual Warfare

Objective

Help students know that, even as they struggle with sin in their lives, they have the strength to persevere through God’s gift of grace in Christ Jesus and the on-going process of sanctification.

Warm Up

Give kids one of the following words and instruct them that they need to use their phone (or a friend’s phone) to take a picture of something that represents their word. When they share the photo with the group, they have to defend why their image represents that word. (You can give one of the words to more than one student if necessary.)

Here is the list of the words: Endurance, Grace, Alienation, Reconcile, Holy, Sanctify, Revival, Survival.

Transition

Have each student share their picture and defend why it represents their word. If you have the capability, project each photo so the whole group can see them.

Explain that each of these words represents an important concept

concerning this lesson. Say, “We will look at how God enables us to not only survive in our faith but thrive in our faith, even as we struggle with temptation. In God’s grace, He does not just save us from our sin but enables us to grow in relationship with Him and in living as He intends. This truth is known as ‘sanctification.’ Let’s look at a new song from NEEDTOBREATHE called ‘Survival’ to help us understand this gift of sanctification.”

The Video

As the students listen to the video, have them use the designated space in their Student Guide to describe, in their own words, the experience of the person portrayed in the song.

Transition

Allow the students to share what they think is being narrated in the song. Then share the following, “The lyrics of this song tell the thoughts of someone who seems to struggle with the sin in their lives. Yet, with each struggle, the singer finds assurance in the knowledge of Christ and what He does. The river that the singer found is Jesus Christ, who washes clean. The rhythm he finds, also a symbol for Christ, helps him to break down the gates. The singer clings to the fact that Christ provides strength for perseverance amid temptation.”

Bible Study

Paul presents this same reality in Colossians 1:21-23. This passage will help us understand how God’s grace continues offering hope throughout our lives. It is God’s grace that strengthens us and helps us persevere when struggles or temptations come. The strengthening of our faith throughout life is known as sanctification. Take a look at Colossians and learn more fully about God’s amazing grace in Christ Jesus.

Why does Paul juxtapose the words alienated and reconciled? What does this reveal regarding the situation of a believer?
How does the narrator in the song, “Survival” show the same juxtaposition of alienated and reconciled?
How does this passage define holy?
What does it mean for you to be holy in Christ’s sight?
Verse 23 declares that free from accusation and blemish means continuing in the faith. How does God enable us to continue in our faith?

The Gospel is the Good News that Christ entered our world and forgave us from our sins. But it is more. The Gospel also declares that God enables us to overcome and persevere in our faith.

How does this more profound understanding of the Gospel give you comfort and encouragement?

Wrap Up

Have students complete the following in their Student Guide:

To overcome sin, God calls us to persevere in faith. In grace, God gives us spiritual practices that enable us to persevere. List at least five of these practices. Then circle two that you are going to, through God’s grace, commit to pursuing so that your faith is strengthened.

Playlist

This song is featured on “The Linc: Sanctification” Spotify playlist – which is the perfect way to remind your students what you’ve taught them in this session. To share it with them, click the live link on the web version of this study.