Breaking Free: A 6-Week Lenten Series

This Lenten series explores three sessions of Freedom FROM (Sin, Guilt, Fear) and three sessions of Freedom TO (Resist, Transform, Co-Create). In Freedom FROM, participants reflect on the things that God calls us away from, helping us strive to live a life free from burdens, fears, and the pain sin causes us and others. In Freedom TO, participants reflect on the things that God calls us towards, things that bring life and transformation in us, others, and our world. Throughout this series, participants will be invited to reimagine how Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection change how we experience Freedom in our everyday lives.

Details:

6 lesson plans and student handouts (PDF format)
Leader’s guide for activities and discussions
Social media and keynote graphics

$60.00

Weekly Summaries

Week 1 – Freedom From Sin

Participants explore how Jesus frees us from the power of sin. They will play a familiar childhood game to experience the feeling of freedom from things that distract from the mission to Love God and Love Their Neighbor. After identifying what those things are and realizing that they aren’t alone in the effort to participate in God’s mission, they will create a covenant to support one another in this holy work of living in the Spirit.

Scripture – Romans 7:15-8:2

Week 2 – Freedom From Guilt

Your group will reflect on how Jesus’ sacrificial love frees us from the guilt of our sins and frees us to live as a New Creation according to God’s Way of Love. Participants will listen to Anne Wilson’s “My Jesus” and reflect on the weight of carrying the burden of guilt and compare that to the freedom of a changed life as referenced in the song. They will then rewrite the song to articulate this changed life.

Scripture – 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Week 3 – Freedom From Fear

Students will learn how Jesus frees us from the power of fear. They will play a game to experience a small bit of stress as they make a list of supplies they would need to survive on a deserted island. Then, they will experience a sense of relief when they learn the rules are different from what they expected. The group will identify how Jesus invites us to experience that same relief and freedom through relationship and trust in Him, and will discuss how experiencing freedom from fear changes how they live every day.

Scripture – Esther 2 – 4; 1 John 4:16-19

Week 4 – Freedom to Resist

Participants will consider how God invites them to resist temptation and injustice. They will discuss some of their favorite movies and stories where good triumphs over evil and identify what led to that result. Then, they will identify the things in their own lives that God invites them to resist. Finally, they will explore examples in Scripture where Jesus practices resistance and then discuss how we can follow His example in our world.

Scripture – Matthew 4:1-11 and Matthew 12:11-13

Week 5 – Freedom to Transform

Your group will explore how God calls us to transform the world. Participants will watch a short video from the Pay It Forward (2000) movie and reflect on how our world would be different if people accepted this freedom to transform. They will consider God’s gifting to us of unique gifts and explore how we might use them to make a difference in this messy world.

Scripture – Ephesians 4:1-16

Week 6 – Freedom to Co-Create

Students will contemplate the invitation to be a part of bringing God’s Kingdom here. As we follow Jesus, we are invited to be active participants in restoring the world, making disciples, and demonstrating God’s goodness to the people around us. Your group will explore the act of co-creating by literally creating new creatures out of Play-Doh, both individually and as a group. Then, they will consider how God uniquely created them to be a participant in God’s Kingdom.

Scripture – 1 Corinthians 3:7-17

Testimonials

“Holy Disruptions is everything I've wanted in a youth group curriculum! It engages our teenagers' questions and ideas without offering overly simplified answers.”

- Laurel Capesius, Director and Campus Minister at Winthrop Wesley Foundation

“Holy Disruptions gave our leaders a teaching foundation while also creating and fostering space for our students to do their own theological exploration.”

- Nathan Wheeler, Youth Ministry and Young Adult Coordinator, Cumberland Presbyterian Church

“This material has allowed students to process through what God is teaching and speaking to them.”

- Kelsey Fisher, Program Coordinator, City Service Mission

What makes Holy
Disruptions different?

Holy Disruptions series are designed to delve into the unique experiences of today’s youth, spark deep theological reflection, and foster transformative discussions. Our three-part methodology empowers students to align with God’s vision and desires for the world.

Interruption

Facilitate a disorienting experience – where students are most receptive to growth.

Reflection

Invite students to investigate their reaction to the disorienting moment.

Holy Disruption

Ask students to explore what God says about it.