WHY CHURCH MATTERS

High SchoolAmplify United
Written By Amanda Hahn

Preached to: Middle & High School Students

Speaker: Pastor Amanda Hahn

So many people say, “I love Jesus, but I don’t need church,” yet Scripture reminds us that following Christ was never meant to be a solo journey (Hebrews 10:24–25). The church isn’t a building or a brand—it’s a family of imperfect people growing together, encouraging one another, and fighting for each other’s faith. Isolation may feel easier, but faith fades alone and grows in community. When we shift from simply attending to truly belonging—serving, connecting, and engaging—we step into God’s design for spiritual strength. You weren’t meant to follow Jesus alone; community makes your faith stronger.

Next Steps:

  • Show up intentionally.

  • Choose one person to connect with.

  • Join the body, don’t just watch it.

  • Pray for your church.

You weren’t meant to follow Jesus alone—community makes your faith stronger.

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

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  • 🍽️ Night 1: Why Did God Design Church?

    Focus: You weren’t meant to follow Jesus alone.

    Read Together: Hebrews 10:24–25

    Discussion Questions:

    • Why do you think God tells us not to stop meeting together?

    • What’s the difference between believing in Jesus and belonging to a church family?

    • Have you ever felt stronger in your faith because of friends or community?

    • Why do you think isolation makes faith weaker over time?

    Family Challenge:
    Each person share one way someone in church has encouraged or helped you grow.

    🍽️ Night 2: What Happens When We Disconnect?

    Focus: Faith fades alone.

    Discussion Questions:

    • Why do you think people drift away from church?

    • What are some warning signs that someone is disconnecting spiritually?

    • How does culture get louder when church gets quieter in our lives?

    • Who in your life would notice if you started drifting?

    Family Challenge:
    Text or call one person from church this week just to encourage them.

    🍽️ Night 3: From Attendance to Belonging

    Focus: Shift from showing up to committing.

    Discussion Questions:

    • What’s the difference between attending church and belonging to it?

    • How can our family move from spectating to serving?

    • What does “engaging intentionally” look like for each of us?

    • Where could each of us serve or get more connected?

    Family Challenge:
    Pray together: “Jesus, help our family grow in community and not drift into isolation.”

  • I. The Tension We Feel

    • “I love Jesus, but I don’t need church.”

    • “Church is boring.”

    • “Church is full of hypocrites.”

    • Truth: Church is full of imperfect people

    • Clarification: Imperfect people ≠ flawed design

    II. God’s Design for Community

    Hebrews 10:24–25

    • We are commanded not to neglect meeting together

    • You can’t encourage “one another” alone

    • Isolation weakens faith

    • Big Idea: You weren’t meant to follow Jesus alone

    III. Jesus and the Church Are Connected

    • Matthew 16:18 — Jesus builds His church

    • Ephesians 5:25 — Christ loves the church

    • 1 Corinthians 12 — The church is the body of Christ

    • You can’t love the Head and reject the Body

    IV. What Happens When You Disconnect

    • Conviction fades

    • Priorities shift

    • Culture gets louder

    • Accountability disappears

    • Drifting happens slowly in isolation

    V. What Church Actually Does

    • Reminds you who you are

    • Encourages you when you’re tired

    • Corrects you when you’re off track

    • Provides accountability

    • Builds spiritual momentum in community

    VI. Shift from Attendance to Belonging

    • Attendance is passive

    • Belonging is personal

    • Ask: Am I attending or committing?

    VII. Practical Next Steps

    • Show up intentionally

    • Choose one person to connect with

    • Serve instead of spectate

    • Pray for your church

    Closing Big Idea

    • Faith fades alone.

    • Faith grows together.

    • You weren’t meant to follow Jesus alone.

  • Hebrews 10:24–25 (NLT)

    Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
    And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

    Matthew 16:18 (NLT)

    Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

    Ephesians 5:25 (NLT)

    For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her

    1 Corinthians 12:12–27 (NLT)

    The Body of Christ

Amanda Hahn
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WHY I FOLLOW JESUS