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Rad: a 4-Week Teaching Series for Youth Ministry TOPIC: Loving Others SCRIPTURE: James DECORATING THEME: The 90s AGE GROUP: Students DISCIPLESHIP ACTIVITY: Get Small Group Party Kits, the discipleship activity that goes along with this teaching series, here ! When Jesus was on earth, he had a lot to say about love, but not everyone loved him. Instead, Jesus' opponents hated him, attacked him, and saw him as extreme - dangerous - revolutionary - a radical. And they had a point! The things Jesus taught about loving God and loving others challenged the status quo and changed the world forever. That's pretty radical. In this 4-week series from the book of James, we'll look at four ways Jesus invites us to love according to his revolutionary example. These ideas might seem simple, but when we choose to listen more than we speak, refuse to play favorites, watch our words, and fight for peace , we'll see just how radical Jesus' teachings really are. BIG IDEAS & BIBLE STORIES Radical people listen more than they speak. (James Teaches Listening and Doing: James 1:19-21; Psalm 15; Luke 10:25-28) Radical people don't play favorites. (James Teaches about Prejudice: James 2:1-17; Proverbs 22:1-2,8-9,22-23; Romans 2:11) Radical people watch their words. (James Teaches on the Power of Words: James 3:1-12; Mark 7:1-8; Luke 6:27-28) Radical people fight for peace. (James Teaches about Making Peace: James 3:13-4:3,7-8; Matthew 5:9; Hebrews 12:14a) WEEKLY CURRICULUM SUMMARIES: This week, we'll look at how to love others through James' instructions to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Being radical doesn't always look loud or wild-sometimes it looks like holding your tongue and opening your ears. This week, James calls us to love others by being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry-a way of living that totally goes against the norm. It might not get you likes or attention, but radical people listen more than they speak. This week, we'll look at how to love others through James' instructions on how to treat everyone with equity.It's easy to love the people who make us laugh, agree with us, or give us something in return. But this week, James shows us how radical love means treating everyone with the same value, no matter their popularity, appearance, or influence. In a world obsessed with status, radical people don't play favorites. This week, we'll look at how to love others through James' instructions about the power of the tongue. We live in a world where words fly fast-online, in group chats, and even in passing jokes. But James reminds us that real love means using our words with purpose, not just saying whatever we want. Choosing to speak life when gossip and hate are easier? That's what makes radical people watch their words. This week, we'll look at how to love others through James' instructions to be peacemakers through conflict. The world says, "Get even," "Pick a side," or "Cut people off"-but Jesus calls us to something far more radical. This week, James challenges us to lean into conflict with courage and compassion, choosing peace over drama, healing over hate, and unity over division. In a culture that thrives on chaos, radical people fight for peace. MEMORY VERSE: "Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise," - Ephesians 5:15 (NIV)

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