Dealing with Pressure: Being Different

Preached to: Middle School Students

Speaker: Pastor Amanda Hahn

In this week’s youth message, we explored the idea that following Jesus means standing out—not blending in. Through a fun cultural trivia game and a superhero illustration featuring Captain America and Iron Man, we unpacked the truth that Christians are called to live differently from the world. The Bible teaches that we are citizens of Heaven and only visitors here on Earth. That means our lives should reflect God's values, not the pressures of culture.

Using Scriptures like Hebrews 11, 1 Peter 2, and Galatians 5, we were reminded that even though it's not always easy to resist temptation or peer pressure, the Holy Spirit gives us strength to live a life marked by love, joy, peace, and self-control. When we live with eternity in mind, we find the courage to be different—and that difference can lead others to Christ.

Let’s keep choosing to be set apart, even when it’s hard. Because being different for Jesus? That’s a difference that truly matters.

Keep up with all that’s going on at Amplify Youth, including dates, times, sign-ups, and forms, on our main page.

Amplify Main Page

• Sermon Outline

  STARTER:
  The night kicked off with a fun boys vs. girls "True or False" cultural quiz game to illustrate how different customs around the world can feel unusual—but being different isn't always bad.

  MESSAGE:
  As Christians, we’re called to be different from the world—not just for the sake of it, but to reflect God’s values. Just like Captain America stood firm in his morals in Civil War, we’re meant to stand for what’s right, even under pressure.

  DIG DEEPER:
  Scriptures like Hebrews 11:13–16, 1 Peter 2:11–12, and Galatians 5:16–26 remind us that we are temporary residents on Earth, citizens of Heaven, and called to live Spirit-led lives that bear good fruit, resisting worldly desires.

  APPLY:
  Choose daily to live by God's Word, show Christlike character in your school and friendships, and lean on the Holy Spirit to help you resist pressure and reflect Jesus. Be different—and be proud to be different for Him.

• Scriptures

  1. Hebrews 11:13–16 (NLT)

  All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.

  Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own.

  If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back.

  But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

  2. 1 Peter 2:11–12 (NLT)

  Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

  Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

  3. Galatians 5:16–26 (NLT)

  So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

  The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

  But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

  When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
  envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

  Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

  Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

• Dinner Table Discussion Guides

  Night 1: When Is It Hard to Be Different?

  • Starter Question: Can you think of a time when you felt pressure to go along with the crowd instead of doing what was right?

  • Follow-Up: What helped you—or could have helped you—stand strong in that moment?

  • Family Challenge: This week, choose one small way to live out your faith differently (kindness, integrity, prayer, etc.), and share your experience at the next dinner.

  Night 2: What Does Being a "Citizen of Heaven" Mean?

  • Starter Question: If we are citizens of Heaven and only visitors on Earth, how should that affect how we live and make decisions?

  • Follow-Up: What values do you think matter most in God’s kingdom (i.e., love, forgiveness, generosity)?

  • Family Challenge: Pick one of God’s values to focus on as a family this week—find ways to show it at home, work, or school.

  Night 3: Are You More Like Captain America or Iron Man?

  • Starter Question: Captain America followed his convictions even when it was unpopular. Iron Man struggled with selfishness but grew over time. Which one do you relate to more—and why?

  • Follow-Up: How can our family help each other live out strong moral values like Captain America?

  • Family Challenge: Memorize one Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) together and talk about how to live it out each day.