Speaker: Justin Younger, Norris City Move Student Ministry Pastor
Main Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 5:14–21; Colossians 1:19–22
How to Use This Study Guide
This 5-day study guide is designed to help individuals, families, and Roads Groups dive deeper into the sermon and allow God’s Word to shape their identity, values, and way of life. Each day includes a daily focus and Big Idea drawn from the sermon, the full scripture text for meditation, a quote from the message, and discussion questions tailored for five groups: New Christians, Mature Christians, Jr. & Sr. High Students, Families with Young Children, and Families with Teenagers. A personal application step is also provided for each group. Set aside time each day to read, pray, reflect, and talk through the questions. Invite the Holy Spirit to bring the message to life in your heart.
Why Study the Sermon?
Studying the weekly message helps move the truth of God’s Word from our ears into our hearts. It deepens our understanding and opens the way for the Holy Spirit to apply truth in personal and practical ways. When we study as individuals, families, or groups, the message has room to take root and bear lasting fruit.
In this sermon, Reconciled to God – Living a Life That Reflects Jesus, Pastor Justin Younger brings clarity to one of the most important truths in the Christian life: we have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Too often we live from a place of insecurity, performance, or shame. This message calls us to:
- Understand our restored relationship with the Father
- See our value through the cross
- Let go of old identities
- Embrace our purpose as living reflections of Jesus
Use this study to reflect, reset, and realign your life with the truth of who you are in Christ.
Sermon Overview
Preaching from 2 Corinthians 5 and Colossians 1, Justin Younger highlights the heart of the gospel: we have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. We are no longer separated from Him by sin. Through the cross, Jesus exchanged His life for ours—not just to save us from something, but to restore us to relationship with the Father.
This message is a call to stop living for ourselves and start living as new creations—rooted in Christ, reflecting His image, and walking in our God-given purpose.
Day 1: Reconciled Through Christ
Big Idea: Jesus exchanged His life for yours so you could be restored to relationship with God.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18–19 (ESV)
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”
Sermon Quote:
“Reconciliation means to be called back into union and friendship. Jesus came to restore us to the Father—that’s what He died for.”
Discussion Questions:
- New Christians: What does it mean to be reconciled to God? How does that change how you see yourself?
- Mature Christians: How has the message of reconciliation shaped your spiritual maturity and the way you minister to others?
- Jr. & Sr. High Students: How do you think Jesus sees you? What does it mean to be restored to Him?
- Families with Young Children: Read the verse together and talk about what it means to be friends with God. Why did Jesus come?
- Families with Teenagers: As a family, talk about the difference between religion and relationship with God. How does reconciliation change the way we live?
Application:
- New Christians: Write a prayer thanking Jesus for reconciling you to God.
- Mature Christians: Look for a chance to share the message of reconciliation with someone this week.
- Jr. & Sr. High Students: Journal about how your relationship with God has changed since you gave your life to Jesus.
- Families with Young Children: Draw a picture of Jesus and you as friends. Talk about how we stay close to Him.
- Families with Teenagers: Set aside time to pray as a family, thanking Jesus for making a way to be close to God.
Day 2: Your Life Has Value
Big Idea: Jesus’ exchange shows how valuable your life is to God.
Scripture: Romans 5:8 (NKJV)
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Sermon Quote:
“If Jesus’ life was exchanged for yours, then your life must be just as valuable to the Father as His.”
Discussion Questions:
- New Christians: Why do you think God values your life so much?
- Mature Christians: How does understanding your value in Christ influence your obedience?
- Jr. & Sr. High Students: Do you believe your life is valuable to God? Why or why not?
- Families with Young Children: Say together, “Jesus thinks I’m valuable!” What do you think that means?
- Families with Teenagers: What are some things in culture that make people feel less valuable? What does God say about us instead?
Application:
- New Christians: Remind yourself today: “My life has value because Jesus gave His life for me.”
- Mature Christians: Encourage someone who may be questioning their worth.
- Jr. & Sr. High Students: Write down 3 things God says are true about you.
- Families with Young Children: Talk about one thing God loves about each person in your family.
- Families with Teenagers: Create a gratitude list together of the ways God has shown your family His love.
Day 3: A New Creation
Big Idea: If anyone is in Christ, they are completely made new.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Sermon Quote:
“You don’t have to live in the identity of the old man. You are a new creation—live like it!”
Discussion Questions:
- New Christians: What has changed in your life since giving it to Jesus?
- Mature Christians: What old mindsets still try to come back? How do you overcome them?
- Jr. & Sr. High Students: What’s something you want to leave behind as you walk with Jesus?
- Families with Young Children: What does it mean that Jesus makes us new? What happens to our old sins?
- Families with Teenagers: How do we keep reminding each other to live in the “new creation” identity?
Application:
- New Christians: Write a list of the “old things” that have passed away in your life.
- Mature Christians: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything you need to let go of.
- Jr. & Sr. High Students: Write a declaration: “I am a new creation.”
- Families with Young Children: Sing a simple song together: “Jesus makes me new!”
- Families with Teenagers: Choose a Bible verse to memorize this week about your new identity in Christ.
Day 4: Living for Jesus
Big Idea: The call of Jesus is to deny ourselves and live for Him.
Scripture: Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
Sermon Quote:
“Stop living for you and live for Jesus. That’s the call. That’s the altar.”
Discussion Questions:
- New Christians: What does it mean to live for Jesus instead of for yourself?
- Mature Christians: What are some areas you have learned to surrender to Him?
- Jr. & Sr. High Students: What’s something you can give up to grow closer to God?
- Families with Young Children: What does it mean to give Jesus our whole hearts?
- Families with Teenagers: As a family, what does it look like to live for Jesus in your daily routine?
Application:
- New Christians: Ask Jesus what one area He wants you to surrender today.
- Mature Christians: Renew your commitment to live as a living sacrifice.
- Jr. & Sr. High Students: Write down one change you will make this week to live more for Him.
- Families with Young Children: Draw a picture of giving your heart to Jesus.
- Families with Teenagers: Have each person name a way they can reflect Jesus this week.
Day 5: Identity Rooted in Christ
Big Idea: Your identity is not in what you do—it’s in who God says you are.
Scripture: Galatians 2:20 (NLT)
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Sermon Quote:
“Stop devaluing what Jesus died for. Your identity is not in what you do—it’s in who you are in Him.”
Discussion Questions:
- New Christians: Who does God say you are? What do you think that means?
- Mature Christians: Where do you see the Church struggle most with identity?
- Jr. & Sr. High Students: Do you feel pressure to be someone you’re not? What does Jesus say about you?
- Families with Young Children: Say together: “Jesus lives in me!”
- Families with Teenagers: How can we keep our identity in Christ when we face rejection or failure?
Application:
- New Christians: Begin a journal titled: “Who I Am in Christ.”
- Mature Christians: Speak over your life today what God says is true about you.
- Jr. & Sr. High Students: Create a social media post or text with a truth about your identity in Christ.
- Families with Young Children: Practice saying, “Jesus lives in me!” throughout the day.
- Families with Teenagers: Create a family reminder (note, whiteboard, etc.) that says, “Our identity is in Jesus.”
Let this week be a starting point. Live reconciled. Live renewed. Live for Him.