We’ve been studying just how costly following Jesus Christ can be. But if we’re honest, sometimes what we might call PERSECUTION is really just CONFLICT. Think about it: when you disagree with someone about what’s right or wrong, for example, that’s not the same thing as real persecution. Persecution happens when we are targeted specifically for our belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Bible teaches that persecution (and conflict, too) is to be expected for the believer. We should expect to be different, to be misunderstood, and to suffer. These are not easy things to grasp when we live in a country that chases comfort and belonging so strongly.

If you are meeting in person, place three objects on a table: a piece of paper, a piece of cardboard, and piece of wood. If you are meeting online, you can show pictures of these three items using a shared screen. Ask students to imagine how all three items would hold up against strong wind.

• What do paper, cardboard, and wood have in common? (They are all made of the same wood fibers but of different density and composition.) 
• What makes paper and cardboard so much flimsier and easy to topple? (Even though they might contain wood fibers, they are weaker in structure. They don’t have as much weight behind them as the piece of wood.) 
• How are Christians a lot like these three materials? (The casual Christian is not mature or strong enough to withstand resistance, while the strong Christian has a lot of “substance” behind his beliefs.)

Persecution is a lot like strong wind to these three items. It pushes back against Christians, trying to knock us over and make us weak and useless. But Jesus is stronger than any opposition! Let’s see if we can take action and increase our strength so when we are confronted, we can stand firm.

There are two ways we can take action against those who want to destroy our faith. First, we must know what we believe in and why. This doesn’t happen in one class lesson—or even after a few months of becoming a Christian—but every time we learn more about what we believe, we add those wood fibers to our faith. Secondly, we must bond with other believers who can encourage and provide support.

Ask students to think of specific things that they can do to improve their “strength density” as believers. They can consider things like building relationships with other believers, consistent Bible study, being part of a Bible-believing local church, praying with other friends at school, and so forth. If you have time, allow students to share some of the best ideas with the entire class. Challenge students to incorporate at least one idea to strengthen their spiritual density over the next week.

Close your lesson with prayer, asking Jesus to strengthen and encourage the global Church in the face of persecution.