4 weeks helping students navigate failure. A popular slang term that’s developed in the past few years for “fail” is “sold.” Chances are your students have sold a whole lot over the course of their lives. That’s because failure is a normal part of life and development. But because the enemy is a jerk, students can often develop their identity from their moments of failure. Those moments can define them. And that’s not healthy. Fortunately, the gospel gives us several reasons not to define ourselves by our worst moments, and if we can see through that lens, we’ll be a lot more likely to sell well.

Video Messages Included

Week 1 (Hebrews 10:11-14 NLT)

Intro: When we’re left sitting in the aftermath of our failure, we can start to feel defined by it.

Truth: But when the author of Hebrews wrote to the Jewish Christians in the first century, they highlighted the reality that Jesus, the Great High Priest, made a way for us to be perfect despite the fact that we aren’t perfect yet. In Christ, our actions do not determine our identity.

The Point: Failure is a result, not an identity statement.

Week 2 (1 Corinthians 12:12-18 NLT)

Intro: For a lot of us, “I just can’t wait to be ____” has a way of devolving into “I hate me because I’m not ____.”

Truth: But Paul was adamant that self-hatred has no place in Christ because every person has their own gifts and wiring, and God has placed each of us exactly where He wants us. That leads us to a healthier response to not being as good at certain things as others, but it only happens if we trust that God knows what He’s doing, and that His role for each of us is good. 

The Point: Don’t buy a lie if you want to sell well.

Week 3 (1 Peter 5:5-7 NLT)

Intro: For a lot of us, being made to wait for the things we want feels a whole lot like failure.

Truth: But as a guy who was very familiar with both failure and being thrown off balance by having to wait for the opportunities he wanted, Peter comes from a place of authenticity when he tells us to dress ourselves in humility—not directed ultimately at the other person in the situation, but at God. We humble ourselves under God’s power, and we can trust that He’ll honor that posture in due time.

The Point: Being put on hold doesn’t mean you sold.

Week 4 (1 John 3:2 NLT)

Intro: When you notice a pattern of falling short over and over again, it’s easy to begin feeling like failure is just your lot in life—almost like it’s your destiny.

Truth: But John shares the gospel reality that when Jesus returns to set up God’s perfect Kingdom on earth, we will become like Him. We’ll be perfect. Not just positionally, but experientially. For eternity. And that has to give us hope to hold onto even in the midst of repeated failures in different areas of life.

The Point: Failure is not an option in eternity.