Eastview Students: High School

// PETER'S DENIAL // - February 11th, 2024 This week, Zach preaches from John 18 about Peter's denial of Jesus. In our lives, do we sometimes deny Jesus? How can we go all-in for Jesus in our daily lives?

// THE POWER OF SURRENDER // This week, guest preacher Jason Smith talks about how we are created ON purpose, and FOR a purpose.

// GROWING SMALLER // This week, Zach reminds us of the incredible importance of being in community, and being in small groups.

// THE POWER OF TOGETHER // In the 3rd week of our "Refocus" series, Zach preaches from Ephesians 1 about what it looks like to be apart of a body of Christ.

// GOD'S GRACE // This week, Zach preaches about the importance of remembering God's grace. When we know God's grace, we know our worth, and God's grace is crucial in our lives as Christ followers!

// GOD'S GREATNESS // To kick off our new series, "Refocus," guest preacher Connor Wood preaches from Ephesians 1 about God's greatness, and how His greatness informs our value as His creation. How can we call on the greatness of God throughout our daily lives?

// Behold, the Lamb of God // This week, Zach preaches from John 1 and Isaiah 53 about how Jesus's birth was the beginning of the life of Christ, which led to him being crucified for the sins of the world. With Jesus' resurrection, the story ends in victory, but Zach specifically focuses us on how Christ is the Lamb of God, and the sacrifice He made for us. How can we focus on that truth this Christmas season?

// The Word became flesh and dwelt among us // This week, Zach preaches from John 1:14-18, and reminds us that Jesus (the Word) is with us. In the midst of our hardship, the difficulties of the holidays, and even the joy of the Christmas season, Jesus never leaves us.

// The True Light was Coming into the World // This week, Zach preaches from John 1 and encourages us to remember the Light. Christ is our light in the darkness, even when we are going through hard and difficult seasons. How can we remember the Light this Christmas season?

// JESUS' PRAYER FOR UNITY // This week, Zach continues with Jesus' prayer from John 17, this time focusing on Jesus' plea for unity amongst His followers. How can we be better unified as Christians? How can we show the world our love for Jesus, and for each other? What would it look like for our ministry to be a place of love and unity?

// JESUS' PRAYER FOR PROTECTION // This week, Zach preaches again from John 17, this time focusing on Jesus' section of the prayer that focuses on His disciples and future followers. This morning's message centers around Jesus' prayer for protection and holiness.

// JESUS' PRAYER TO THE FATHER // This week, Zach preaches from John 17, where Jesus prays a prayer to the Father about glory. What are we seeking to glorify in our day-to-day lives? God is worthy of all the glory, yet oftentimes we can glorify other things that this world offers. Zach challenges us with the question: "who/what are you going to glorify this week?" (Note: Sermon from November 5th is unavailable due to recording malfunction)

// JESUS - AND THE WORLD'S HATRED // This week, Zach preaches from John 15 & 16 about how Jesus and His followers are hated by the world. We can't please the world while being a follower of Jesus, and Zach talks about how to navigate living in the world as a Jesus follower!

// JESUS, THE TRUE VINE // This week, guest preacher Connor Wood (online pastor at Eastview Christian Church) preaches from John 15 about how Jesus is the Vine, and what it looks like to remain in Him.

// JESUS SHARES ABOUT THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT // This week, Zach preaches out of John chapters 14 & 16 about the Holy Spirit, who He is, and what Jesus says about Him.

// JESUS, THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE // This week, Zach preaches from John 14 about how Jesus is the only way to salvation. In our darkness, in our pain, and in our struggles, Jesus is with us, and He is the One that remains true in the midst of the darkness.

// JESUS' NEW COMMANDMENT // This week, Zach preaches from John 13 about love, and how God's love for us compels us to love others!

This week, Zach highlights the amazing interaction between Jesus and Nicodemus, found in John chapter 3 (5/21/23).

What bitterness and anger do you need to release to God today? This week, Zach tells the story of Jesus clearing the temple in John 2. In this story we see Jesus' righteous anger towards oppression and unrighteousness. God cares about us, and He wants us to give our anger over to Him, instead of letting it continuously damage us (5/7/23).

What requests do you need to bring to God? How often do we refrain from asking God for things that we think are too small? This week, Zach preaches from John 2, where Jesus turns water into wine. Jesus deeply cares about us, as shown in the seemingly simple miracle performed at the wedding ceremony described in John 2. What miracle do you need Jesus to perform in your life? (4/30/23)

This week, Zach continues with John 1, hitting on different interactions that Jesus had with his first disciples. These interactions left the disciples changed them forever. In a similar way, how has Jesus impacted you? How can you continue to let Jesus change you? (4/23/23)

In the first week of our study of the Gospel of John, Zach sets up the purpose of the book of John (John 20:30-31), and sets up three prayers for us to pray as we continue to grow in our faith in Christ. Jesus doesn't just offer us life, but He offers as ABUNDANT life. How can we live in that today? (4/16/23)

Easter Sunday is a day where we remember the amazing truth that Jesus' has raised from the dead! To celebrate Jesus' resurrection, Zach preaches from Ezekiel 37 and the valley of dry bones. In the same way that Jesus resurrected from the dead, He offers us resurrection in our lives too. Praise the Lord! (4/9/23)

This week, Zach preaches from Ezekiel 34 and John 10 about how Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Our Father cares about us, and He wants to guide us and lead us. He is our firm foundation, and our true hope! (4/2/23)

This week, Zach preaches from Ezekiel 36 about how God changes our hearts. So often we feel the pressure to change ourselves, to try harder, and to do better. But God is the one that does that work for us. As we repent of our sin, He will make us more like Jesus, and will change us! (3/19/23)

This week, Zach preaches from Ezekiel 18 about how God offers us eternal life with Him. Our sin is heavy and destructive, but Jesus offers us everlasting life with Him! What a powerful truth. Note: Following this message, we celebrated 13 baptisms, where students publicly declared their decision to choose life with Christ. Praise the Lord! If you are interested in baptism, shoot us a message on our Instagram - @eastviewhsm, and we'd love to chat with you!

Are you feeling hopeless? Are you experiencing difficult battles and struggles? Are you walking through pain and/or loss? This week, Zach preaches about our trials, and how we can have hope in the midst of them. Because of Jesus, we can have hope that our mourning will not last, and that God will redeem our brokenness. He will turn our mourning into joy! (3/5/23)

This week, Zach preaches from Jeremiah 29 about God's plan for our lives. We can have HOPE, because our future is secure in Christ! (2/26/23)

This week, Zach takes us back to the basics of our Christian faith. What do we believe about heaven, hell, the trinity, and baptism? How do we view the scriptures? What is salvation? Zach answers all of these questions, and more! (2/19/23)

To kick off our new HOPE series, guest preacher Jason Smith preaches about how we can have hope in the midst of brokenness, sin, and the storms we go through. If you are struggling with a difficult storm or circumstance in your life, this sermon will be an encouragement! (2/12/23)

In the final week of our Daniel series, Zach preaches from the passage of Daniel and the Lion's Den. As believers, how can we be like Daniel and have the courage to live for Christ, even in a culture that seems to be against Him? How can we live in a way that points others to Christ, even when life is oftentimes not fair? We can live courageously knowing that Jesus is on our side, and that nothing can separate us from His grace and love (2/5/23).

This Sunday, Zach preaches out of Daniel 5 about patiently enduring. In the midst of living in a broken world, we can have patience and hope knowing that there is hope coming. We can follow the example of Jesus, who patiently endured the cross in order to bring us close to Him (1/29/23).

This week, Zach preaches from Daniel 3 about the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's deliverance from the fiery furnace. Be encouraged this week, knowing that God is WITH you in the midst of the hard things you go through in life. No matter what we go through, we are never alone (1/22/23).

Pray. Pray more. Pray often. Pray for the impossible things. This week's focus is on prayer. As we see in the book of Daniel, prayer is powerful and important, and God cares about the requests we bring to Him. We hope you are encouraged to run to our Father and bring your needs to Him! (1/15/23)

In our first HS service of 2023, Zach preaches out of Daniel 1 about Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and how they found resolve in the midst of living in Babylon. As Christians, what does it look like to follow Jesus in the midst of a world that oftentimes opposes Him? (1/8/23)

In a culture that tells us we should be moving constantly, what does it look like to prioritize rest in our lives? What does it look like to get true rest over Christmas break? What does the Bible say about the Sabbath? In this episode, Zach and Cooper dive into the topic of rest, and how it is very important in the life of a Christ-follower.

Is drinking alcohol a sin? What does the Bible say about drinking? Is it wrong to drink alcohol under the age of 21? In this episode, Zach and Cooper answer these questions, and discuss how Christians should approach drinking alcohol.

In the last week of our "Influencers" series, Zach preaches about the importance of how we see God and the world around us. According to A.W. Tozer, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." (11/27/22)

This week, guest preacher Brian Lowery dives into the important topic of friendships, and how followers of Jesus should approach their relationships with others (11/20/22).

In this part 2 episode, we answer questions from High School students about dating & relationships! Want more dating resources? Here are a couple books we recommend checking out: - "Sacred Search" by Gary Thomas - "Meaning of Marriage" by Tim Keller

How does the digital world influence us? How can we respond to its influence, and honor God by the way we engage in the digital world? This week, to kick-off our new "Influencers series," Zach talks all about media, phones, social media, etc, and how we can approach these things as Christ followers (11/6/22).

What does it look like to be in a dating relationship as a Christian? How do you know if you're ready to date? What does the world say about dating, and how can we date wisely as followers of Jesus? In this episode, Zach's wife Ratasha Thompson joins Zach and Cooper in the first part of a 2-part series on dating as they discuss these questions, and more!

In the final week of our Identity series, Zach preaches out of 1 Peter 2 about how we are meant to live differently than the world around us. We are extremely valuable sons and daughters of the King, and we are tasked with being a light, even though the world will likely oppose us. How can we live IN the world, but not be OF the world? (10/30/22)

Have you ever thought about how your friends have an impact on you? This can be a great thing, or it can be a harmful thing. Also, how do we deal with exclusivity and cliques? In this short episode, Zach and Cooper talk about the importance of friendships, as well as how to balance having close friends without being exclusive.

Have you ever doubted your salvation? Have you ever felt like you have to earn God's love and favor? If so, you're not alone. In the third week of our Identity series, worship pastor Cooper Smith preaches from 1 Peter about how our Identity is in Christ, and that we have a priceless inheritance in heaven to look forward to (10/16/22). **Note: Weeks 1-2 are unavailable due to recording issues

Is social media helpful? Is it harmful? As followers of Jesus, how should we approach it? In this episode, Zach and Cooper dive into the effects of social media, and the impact it has on high school students.

In the last week of our ALL IN series, Zach calls us to spread the Gospel throughout McLean County. As believers, God calls us to be light in our individual worlds, and Zach encourages us about the importance of leading others to Christ (9/25/22).

COUNTERCULTURE is back! In this episode, Zach and Cooper highlight what to expect in upcoming episodes.

In our fourth week talking about being All In, Zach dives into being generous givers for the Kingdom (9/18/22). *Due to audio issues, we unfortunately were unable to post week 3*

As Christians, we are called to make disciples. In the second week of our "All In" study, Pastor Zach dives into making disciples, and loving people around us. Who are the people that you are feeling called to witness to? How can we pray for God to open up doors for them to hear the Good News? (9/4/22)