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I Have Questions: a 4-Week Teaching Series for Youth Ministry TOPIC: Doubts & Questions SCRIPTURE: the Old Testament DECORATING THEME: Wastelands AGE GROUP: Students Let's face it, life isn't easy. In times of loss, grief, pain, or doubt, it's normal to have questions - and it's okay to ask them. If you've ever tried to make sense of your circumstances, or wished life didn't have to hurt so much, or wondered why God won't fix what you're going through, you're not alone. In this 4-week series, we'll hear about a few people from Scripture who know exactly what it's like. With Esther, David, Peter, Amos, and John, we'll explore hard questions you thought you weren't allowed to ask, like "When people are hurting, where is God? When I'm hurting, why does God feel far away? If God is good, why do bad things happen? And when life hurts, is God listening?" BIG IDEAS & BIBLE STORIES When people are hurting, where is God? (Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help: Esther 4:11-16, 7:1-10; 1 John 3:17-18; Proverbs 29:7) When I'm hurting, why does God feel far away? (Jesus' Death on the Cross: Psalm 22, 42:9-11; Matthew 27:39-46; Hebrews 1:1-3a; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4) If God is good, why do bad things happen? (A Lament from Amos: Amos 5:10-15; Revelation 21:1-5a; Psalm 32:5) When life hurts, is God listening? (Faith in the Son of God: Psalm 91; 1 John 5:14; Lamentations 3:55-56) WEEKLY CURRICULUM SUMMARIES: This week, we're asking the question, when people are hurting, where is God? It can feel like God disappears when the world gets loud with pain, loss, and confusion. This week, we're asking the question, when people are hurting, where is God? In Esther's story, even though God isn't mentioned once, we see that God is still present - working through ordinary people, quiet moments, and courageous choices to bring hope and healing. This week, we're asking the question, when I'm hurting, why does God feel far away? Some days, God feels close - and other days, it's like God is miles away, especially when we're hurting. This week, we're asking the question, when I'm hurting, why does God feel far away? In the Psalms, David shows us that even in the silence, God hears us - and that feeling far from God doesn't mean God is actually far. This week, we're asking the question, if God is good, why do bad things happen? Watching the world break - through injustice, pain, or tragedy - makes it hard to believe God is still good. This week, we're asking the question, if God is good, why do bad things happen? Through the words of Amos, we see that God's goodness doesn't ignore pain but moves toward it, calling people to justice, mercy, and restoration. This week, we're asking the question, when life hurts, is God listening? Sometimes it feels like we're praying into a void, hoping someone's listening on the other side. This week, we're asking the question, when life hurts, is God listening? When John the Baptist doubted in prison, Jesus didn't shame him - instead, he responded with love, reminding us that our pain and prayers are always heard. MEMORY VERSE: "God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding."-Job 37:5 (NIV)

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