How Can Students Live Out Their Faith at School?

A new school year brings a lot of change.

New classrooms. New teachers. New schedules. New friendships. For some students, even an
entirely new school.

But during Forward Church’s annual Backpack Blessing Service, students, parents, teachers,
and school staff were challenged to look at the beginning of the school year a little differently.

What if going back to school isn’t only about getting an education?

What if you’re being sent?

Throughout the evening, three of Forward Church’s Next Gen leaders shared one consistent
message: Jesus has already given us a mission, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to carry it
out, and our direction is simple.

Go.

Your Everyday Life Is Your Testimony

Mrs Sara began with the Great Commission in Matthew 28, where Jesus tells His followers to
go and make disciples.

For many Christians, sharing their faith can feel intimidating. We may think we don’t know
enough Scripture, don’t have the right words, or have made too many mistakes to tell someone
else about Jesus.

But sharing your testimony doesn’t require having all the right words.

In fact, your testimony isn’t limited to the moment you first met Jesus.

It’s the life you live afterward.

How do you respond when life gets difficult?

How do you treat people?

What do your classmates see from you Monday through Friday?

Our lives should consistently point people toward the same Jesus we worship on Sunday.

That doesn’t require perfection. It requires a genuine life of following Christ.

As Miss Sarah reminded the church, “Your testimony, it ain’t yours. It’s Jesus’s.”

Your School Is a Mission Field

Pastor Rod continued the message from Acts 1:8, where Jesus promises that His followers will
receive power through the Holy Spirit to become His witnesses.

Students aren’t simply walking back into classrooms.

They’re walking into mission fields.

Every school is filled with people carrying things we may never see.

Some students are anxious.
Some are hurting.
Some feel alone.

Others may have never experienced the love of Jesus at all.

That’s why God hasn’t called students to simply blend in.

He’s called them to be witnesses.

And He hasn’t asked them to do it through their own strength. The Holy Spirit empowers
believers to stand firm, love people, share Christ, and live differently in a world that desperately
needs hope.

You Don’t Have to Be Afraid

Living for Jesus at school can feel intimidating.

What will people think?

What if someone makes fun of me?

What if I don’t know what to say?

Pastor Rod reminded students of the promise found in Psalm 91: those who dwell in the
presence of God can trust Him as their refuge and fortress.

Students don’t have to walk into a new school year controlled by fear.

God goes with them.

Through the Holy Spirit, He gives His people the strength and power they need to live faithfully
wherever He sends them.

What If You Don’t Know God’s Exact Plan?

Pastor Jonston then addressed another struggle that extends far beyond students.

What happens when you don’t know exactly what God wants you to do?

Young adults especially can spend years worrying about whether they’re making the “right”
decision.

Which school?
Which career?
Which opportunity?
Where does God want me?

But sometimes we become so afraid of missing God’s plan that we forget what He’s already told
us to do.

Jesus didn’t give His disciples a color-coded itinerary.

He told them:

Go.

God isn’t asking us to perfectly predict every step of our future.

He’s asking us to faithfully follow Him with the step that’s in front of us.

God Is Asking for Faithfulness, Not Perfection

Using the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, Pastor Jonston reminded the church that God
entrusts His people with opportunities, abilities, relationships, and resources.

Then He asks us to be faithful with them.

We can become so concerned about whether we’re succeeding that we forget God’s definition
of success isn’t always the same as ours.

A difficult season doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve missed God’s plan.

An impressive season doesn’t necessarily mean you’re following it.

Faithfulness is the measure.

As Pastor Jonston put it:

“He’s not asking us to guess correctly. He’s asking us to be faithful.”

Parents Aren’t Just Sending Students Back to School

The service closed with a powerful picture from Psalm 127.

Scripture describes children as arrows in the hands of a warrior.

An arrow isn’t created to stay in the quiver.

It’s meant to be prepared and released.

For many parents, the beginning of a new school year can bring mixed emotions. We want to
protect our children, but we’re also called to prepare them.

This year, Forward Church challenged families to see sending children back to school
differently:

We’re not simply sending students. We’re sending missionaries.

Some students may reach many people.

Others may reach one.

Maybe it’s the student sitting behind them.

Maybe it’s a teacher going through a difficult season.

Maybe it’s a friend who has never heard the Gospel.

We may never know how God will use them.

Our responsibility is to prepare them, pray for them, and release them to follow Jesus wherever
He sends them.

Soaking Our Arrows in Oil

Rather than simply ending the service after the messages, families were invited to put what they
had heard into action.

The church moved through four prayer stations together.

Families prayed for local schools and committed to continue praying for them throughout the
year. They wrote down the names of teachers who will be intentionally covered in prayer.

Students chose classmates and friends they will pray for throughout the school year. Finally,
pastors and ministry leaders prayed personally over students and families as they received their
Backpack Blessing tags.

The image used throughout this time was that of a flaming arrow.

Historically, the cloth around a flaming arrow had to be soaked in oil before it could be lit.
Throughout Scripture, oil is often associated with the presence and work of the Holy Spirit.
That became the prayer over Forward Church’s students:

Before we send our arrows out, we want them covered in prayer and empowered by the Holy
Spirit.

Closing

This school year, our students aren’t going alone.

They carry a testimony.
They have a mission.

And through the Holy Spirit, they have the power to live it.

Parents, pray over your children.

Teachers, recognize the mission field God has placed around you.

Students, don’t underestimate what God can do through your everyday faithfulness.

You don’t have to know every step.

You don’t need all the right words.

You don’t have to reach everyone.

Know Jesus.
Live consistently.
Trust the Holy Spirit.

And when He gives you the opportunity…
Go.