12/09/2026
🚨 𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝟭𝟭 𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗬 🚨
𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗠 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗩𝗔𝗥𝗬
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” — Matthew 16:24
This week’s lesson challenges us to examine not only what we have, but what has our hearts. Consumerism is more than buying things; it is a mindset that makes us believe that having more will make us happier. Jesus calls us to something better—the way of the cross.
𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝟭: 𝗗𝗢 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨
The rich fool had plenty, but his heart was centred on himself. He had barns, crops and goods, but was not “rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).
Ask yourself: Do I own my possessions, or have my possessions begun to own me?
𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝟮: 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗠 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝗨𝗦 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦
Consumerism constantly asks, “What can I get?” Christianity asks, “What can I give?”
We must not become like the Dead Sea—always receiving but never giving. A Christian is called to contribute, not merely consume.
𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝟯: 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣𝗦 𝗨𝗦 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦
When we constantly compare what we have with what others have, we become dissatisfied.
Gratitude changes our perspective. Instead of always asking God for the next thing, we learn to appreciate what He has already placed in our hands.
𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝟰: 𝗚𝗢𝗗 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗨𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Giving is not only money. We can give our time, talents, strength, service, encouragement and resources.
Every young Christian should ask: 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗠 𝗜 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗗𝗢𝗠?
𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝟱: 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗢𝗗
The work of God requires people who are willing to give—not only their prayers, but also their time, talents and financial resources.
We should not always expect others to provide everything. If God has blessed us, we should learn to use what He has given us to advance His work.
𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝟲: 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗩𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗢𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗠
Consumerism says, “Give me more.”
Calvary says, “I give myself.”
Consumerism asks, “What can I get?”
Calvary asks, “What can I give?”
Jesus came “to serve, and to give His life” (Matthew 20:28). If we truly follow Christ, we cannot live only for ourselves.
𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝟳: 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗘 𝗝𝗢𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗢𝗗
The world says, “Buy more and you will be happy.”
Christ teaches us to give ourselves to God and serve others.
The happiness consumerism offers is temporary because there is always another thing to desire. But the joy of serving God, blessing others and supporting His work is deeper.
𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 🔥
Do not just read Lesson 11. 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗜𝗧.
Identify one area where consumerism has influenced you, and deliberately choose to give.
Give your time.
Give your talent.
Give your service.
Give your resources.
Support someone.
Support the work of God.
Let us become a generation that does not only ask, “What can the church give me?”
Let us ask:
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗜 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗢𝗗?
𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗜 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞?
𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗜 𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦?
At Calvary, Jesus gave everything for us. As His followers, we must learn to give ourselves and what God has placed in our hands for Him.
𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗠 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗩𝗔𝗥𝗬.
𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚.
𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘.
𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗦𝗦.
🙏 May God raise a generation of young people who are generous, sacrificial, committed and passionate about His work.
