YTH COLLECTIVE

In this message from Proverbs 9, teacher Seth Phipps presents a powerful metaphor of two competing invitations: one from "Lady Wisdom" and the other from "Lady Folly." He illustrates this by contrasting a beautifully set, life-giving dinner table with a dirty, trash-strewn one. Phipps explains that while both Wisdom and Folly are calling out to us, especially to young people, their offerings lead to vastly different ends. Wisdom’s table offers growth, learning, and ultimately life, while Folly’s table, disguised as fun and secrecy ("stolen water is sweet"), leads to emptiness and death. The message concludes with four practical steps to choose Wisdom’s table: spend time in God's Word, surround yourself with wise people, ask for God’s guidance daily, and be quick to listen and slow to speak.

In this message on Proverbs 9 and 10, Byan Biggerstaff explores the nature of true wisdom versus folly. He begins by establishing that a key sign of wisdom is the ability to humbly receive correction, whereas a scoffer reacts with anger. The sermon contrasts the loud, seductive, and destructive path of folly with the life-giving way of wisdom, which is rooted in the "fear of the Lord". Biggerstaff then transitions to Proverbs 10, highlighting how our use of words and wealth reveals whether we are wise or foolish. The central challenge of the message is a call to reject a self-centered life and instead pursue a God-centered one, stewarding our resources and words not for personal gain, but to point others to Jesus and build His kingdom.

In his message, "When Things Go Wrong," Nathan Roper addresses the difficulty of navigating personal suffering in an age of constant information where answers aren't always available. He explains that since the fall of man, we all live in a "wave pool of sin," where we are affected by the sinful actions of others, ourselves, and even those far removed from us. Citing Ecclesiastes and Romans, Roper explains that while we cannot see the full scope of God's plan, facing trials helps develop endurance and character. The core of the message focuses on Peter walking on water in Matthew 14, illustrating that Jesus meets us in the middle of our storms and we must keep our eyes fixed on Him rather than the "waves" of chaos around us. Roper concludes by urging listeners not to limit their hope to what is known, but to find it in the unknown by trusting God.

In this message, Ellie addresses the central question, "Is God worth following?" Drawing from John chapter 10, she explores the metaphor of Jesus as "the good shepherd" and believers as His sheep. Fulmer contrasts the genuine, life-giving relationship with the Good Shepherd against the "counterfeit" satisfactions the world offers, which ultimately lead to emptiness. She emphasizes the importance of experiencing the Shepherd by hearing and knowing His voice, focusing on worship, and remembering God's character and faithfulness to understand why He is truly worthy of being followed, not just for His actions but for who He is.

In this message, part of a series that previously covered angels and demons, Kyle Shuler delivers a lesson on Spiritual Warfare. He emphasizes that believers are in a constant spiritual battle against Satan and demonic forces who aim to deceive, tempt, and destroy. Shuler encourages listeners to recognize these attacks, particularly in areas like social media comparison and personal insecurities. The core of the message focuses on equipping oneself with the "Armor of God" as described in Ephesians 6, detailing each piece and its significance. He stresses the importance of knowing God's Word, prayer, resisting the devil (even verbally rebuking him), and living in Christian community for accountability and support, reminding everyone that Christ has already won the ultimate victory.

This message by Seth Phipps, titled "Good Plans", explores whether God truly has good plans for us, even when circumstances seem to indicate otherwise. Phipps delves into Jeremiah 29, particularly verse 11, explaining that while the passage was directly addressed to Israel in exile, its principles about God's character and desire for us to prosper and have a future apply to believers today. He encourages listeners to understand that God is not trying to harm them but wants them to seek Him wholeheartedly to discover and live in His good purposes.

In this installment of his "Hard Topics" series, Kyle Shuler delves into the biblical understanding of Satan and demons. He begins by clarifying that Satan is not the opposite of God but a created being who fell due to pride, becoming the accuser and deceiver. Shuler explores the origin of demons as fallen angels who rebelled with Satan. The message outlines the capabilities of Satan and demons, including tempting believers, deceiving minds, causing physical harm, and creating division through false teachings, while emphasizing they are limited by God's sovereignty. Finally, Shuler provides practical ways believers should respond: by being alert, submitting to God, resisting the devil, knowing the Word, relying on the Holy Spirit, and walking in community with other believers.

Seth Phipps invites Hal Foster, the newly appointed Student Ministry Assistant, to share his personal testimony and a message. Hal recounts his journey from a 15-year career as a car dealer to answering a clear call from God into ministry, emphasizing the profound sense of obedience that guided his decision. Drawing from Luke 15, Hal’s central message is the comforting truth that "you can always come home" to God, urging students to overcome shame and recognize God's relentless pursuit. Seth further elaborates on the parables, highlighting the immense joy in heaven over one sinner who repents and God's extravagant welcome for those who return.

Bailey Barwick delivers a heartfelt and scripture-rooted message titled “The Importance of Being Equipped (or in simpler terms, Why Do I Need Wisdom?)”. Drawing from Proverbs 4 and personal experiences, Bailey challenges her peers to pursue genuine spiritual growth by seeking godly wisdom, staying rooted in Scripture, and equipping themselves to lovingly guide others. With a humble and relatable tone, she illustrates how being spiritually unprepared can limit our impact and reminds listeners that true wisdom sustains, protects, and ultimately leads to kingdom growth.

In this message, Kyle Kenyon, teaching as part of the Hard Topics series, gives an overview of the End Times, introducing students to key eschatological concepts and prophecies. Covering terms like dispensationalism, covenant theology, preterism, the rapture, and the millennium, Kyle also explains major biblical prophecies from the book of Daniel and how they connect to the second coming of Christ. Emphasizing a literal interpretation of scripture, he encourages continued study, personal discernment, and hopeful anticipation of Jesus’ return.