Students are constantly told to “find your passion” and “chase your dreams,” so it’s easy for them to expect God to serve as the driver who takes them to their preferred destination in life. In Elevate, students reframe purpose through the gospel: God isn’t just getting them where they want to go—He’s forming them into people of inner strength and deep roots in Christ, doing “more than we could ask or imagine.” This series helps students trade low expectations of God for a bigger vision of what God is doing in them and through them.
Many expect God to protect them from every bad thing, bless them with only good things, and keep them happy—then feel disappointed when life is harder than expected.
Some feel like God sabotages their plans, especially when setbacks hit the goals they care about most.
They gravitate toward obvious, tangible wins and miss the eternal pursuits God calls them to prioritize.
They worry whether God sees their needs and desires in everyday life and wonder if He cares.
Elevate raises students’ expectations of God’s purpose: God wants more for them than they want for themselves, leads them toward His destination, redirects their attention to eternal things, and shows them they may experience meaningful “wins” along the way as they seek His kingdom first.
The Point: God wants more for you than you do.
Scripture: Ephesians 3:13–19 (NLT).
Summary: From prison, Paul prays that believers would gain inner strength through the Spirit, be rooted in Christ’s love, and be made complete—elevating our expectations beyond an easy life to God’s deeper work within us.
The Point: God is taking you to His destination, not the other way around.
Scripture: Exodus 3:1–14 (NLT).
Summary: Like Moses, students see that God calls us out of comfort to be part of His redemptive plan; purpose is found by following where He leads, not by recruiting Him to follow our agenda.
The Point: Eternal pursuits are better than obvious preferences.
Scripture: Colossians 3:1–3 (NLT).
Summary: With lives hidden with Christ, students set their minds on things above; God’s purpose elevates their focus from temporary wins to the eternal life Jesus is shaping in them.
The Point: You may get your way along the way.
Scripture: Matthew 6:31–33 (NLT).
Summary: Jesus assures us the Father knows our needs; as students seek God’s kingdom first, they learn to trust His care—and often experience meaningful “along‑the‑way” gifts that make the journey joyful.
Video Messages
Teaching Guides (Message Manuscripts)
Small Group Questions
Series Graphics
Can I teach live without the videos?
Yes. Use the included message manuscripts and small‑group questions to teach it live if you prefer a non‑video delivery.
What’s the main outcome for students?
They’ll elevate their expectations of God’s work in their lives—learning to follow His lead, focus on eternal pursuits, and trust His care along the way.
Is this better for middle school, high school, or combined groups?
It’s flexible for either. The passages and takeaways are accessible for middle schoolers and still substantive for high schoolers.
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