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Not Yet: a 4-Week Teaching Series for Youth Ministry TOPIC: Identity SCRIPTURE: Old & New Testaments DECORATING THEME: Work in Progress AGE GROUP: Students Does life ever feel like a never-ending waiting game? Like you're always waiting to get a little older, to gain a little more freedom, or to find a little more clarity about your future? When you think about the person you're becoming and what your future holds, do you ever just want to skip ahead in your story to see how it all turns out, who you'll become, what you'll do, or what kind of difference you'll make? In this four-week series, we'll talk about all the questions, fear, frustration, and excitement that thinking about our futures can bring. As we explore passages from Ecclesiastes, Revelation, and more, we'll discover four truths about what God has in store for us: we're all a work in progress, your purpose is to be like Jesus, God's plans for you are good, and your next step is to get closer to God. BIG IDEAS & BIBLE STORIES You're a work in progress. (There is a time for everything: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11; Revelation 21:1-5; Luke 2:52) Your purpose is to know Jesus. (Isaiah's vision of God's throne: Isaiah 6:1-10, 42:1-4, 53:3-6; Matthew 28:16-20; 1 Corinthians 11:1) God's plans for you are good. (Peter declares Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus predicts his death: Psalm 40:1-5; Matthew 16:13-23; Romans 8:28) Your next step is to get closer to God. (Walk by the Spirit, not by the flesh: Psalm 27:1-8; Galatians 5:16-17; Proverbs 3:5-6) WEEKLY CURRICULUM SUMMARIES: This week, we'll explore how God's ability to make things new and beautiful gives us hope for today and for the future. Waiting isn't easy-especially when you're ready for what's next. But just like flowers bloom in time and caterpillars become butterflies, growth can't be rushed. This week, we'll see how every season has purpose and how God is already at work in the "not yet." You're a work in progress. This week, we'll compare God's calling of Isaiah with Jesus' Great Commission to discover the purpose behind why God created us. When we wonder about our purpose, we often look to the future-our careers, talents, or goals. But purpose isn't found in what we do; it's found in who we know. This week, we'll see how Isaiah's story reminds us that clarity comes not from striving to do more, but from seeking to know God. Your purpose is to know Jesus. This week, we'll compare King David's trust in God's plans with Peter's fear Jesus had gotten God's plans wrong. Even our best plans can shift in unexpected ways-but that doesn't mean we're lost. This week, we'll see how Peter wrestled with Jesus' future and his own, and how God's plans often stretch beyond what we can see. Even when the future feels uncertain, we can trust this truth: God's plans for you are good. This week, we'll compare King David's desire to seek God's presence with Paul's encouragement to be led by God's Spirit. When the future feels uncertain, we often wish someone would just tell us what to do next. But instead of handing us a map, God offers us something better-God's presence. This week, we'll see that clarity grows when we stay close to the One who leads us forward. Your next step is to get closer to God. MEMORY VERSE: "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry." - Psalm 40:1 (NIV)

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