SESSION 1 — ANCHORED IN TRUTH (HEAD)

Big Idea:
When my life is anchored in God’s truth, I don’t have to drift with the world.

Theme Verse:
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” — Hebrews 6:19

OPENING — WHERE WE’RE GOING

[SLIDE 1 — ANCHORED]

Before we jump into anything tonight, I want to slow us down for a moment… and tell you where we’re headed this weekend.

Because this isn’t four random talks. It’s not just a bunch of sessions to fill time.

This weekend is a journey. (Pause. Look around the room.)

And that journey is built around one big idea: Anchored.

Because whether you’ve realized it or not… every single one of us is already anchored to something.

Not just spiritually. Not just on Sundays. But in real life.

What shapes how you think about yourself. What tells you whether you’re winning or failing. What tells you who you need to be to be enough.

Something is holding your life in place.

[SLIDE 2 — BIG IDEA]

And the question isn’t if you’re anchored. The question is:

[SLIDE 3 — WHAT ARE YOU ANCHORED TO?]

What are you anchored to? And is it strong enough to hold you?

1️⃣ Interaction #1
“Don’t answer out loud. Just think.”
“If I watched your life this past week—where you gave your attention, where you felt pressure, where you looked for approval—what would it say you’re anchored to?”

THEME VERSE — HEBREWS 6:19

Our theme verse comes from Hebrews. I want you to hear it slowly:

[SLIDE 4 — HEBREWS 6:19]

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” — Hebrews 6:19

An anchor for your soul.

Not just for your grades. Not just for your performance. Not just for your reputation.

For the deepest part of you. The part that feels pressure. The part that feels confusion. The part that wonders at night: “Am I okay? Am I enough?”

(Pause.)

This weekend isn’t about pretending life is calm. It’s about discovering what holds you when it’s not.

THE JOURNEY AHEAD

Here’s where we’re headed:

[SLIDE 5 — THE JOURNEY]

• Anchored in Truth — how God reshapes the way we think
• Anchored in Love — how God heals and secures our hearts
• Anchored in Mission — how God gives purpose to our actions
• Anchored in Life — how daily habits keep us connected to Jesus

You could say it like this:

If your head isn’t anchored, you’ll believe lies.
If your heart isn’t anchored, you’ll live in fear.
If your hands aren’t anchored, your faith stays passive.
If your habits aren’t anchored, everything eventually fades.

Let me relieve some pressure:

You don’t have to figure this all out. You don’t have to say the right things. You don’t have to be good at church.

All we’re asking is that you stay open. Because anchors don’t work if you never drop them.

HOOK — DRIFT HAPPENS

Let me ask you something:

Have you ever been in a lake, or the ocean, or the gulf… you’re just floating… laughing… having fun… and then you look up and think: “Wait… I’m not even close to where I started.”

You didn’t choose to move. You weren’t trying to drift. But you did.

That’s how drifting works. It doesn’t necessarily take intention. It just takes not paying attention.

And that’s exactly how drifting happens in faith.

Most people don’t wake up one day and say: “I’m done with God.”

They just get busy. They get distracted. They stop noticing what’s shaping them.

No alarms. No announcements. Just quiet… steady… movement.

And one day, you look up and realize: “I’m far from where I thought I was.”

[HIT 5min here]

“DRIFT VS. DIRECTION”
Here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: Drifting actually feels quite normal.

2️⃣ Interaction #2
“Raise your hand if this sounds familiar— you didn’t plan to move away from something important… you didn’t plan on losing a friend… you didn’t plan on falling behind in class… you didn’t plan on losing your spot… you just stopped paying attention.”
(Pause. Let hands go up. Don’t comment.)
“Okay—hands down. So that’s what I call drifting.”

Drifting doesn’t have to feel dramatic. It doesn’t feel rebellious. It doesn’t even feel intentional.

Drifting feels like: “I’m still here.” “I still believe.”

But drifting isn’t just about what you believe. It’s about what you’re building on. Who or what you trust.

[SLIDE 6 — Direction matters more than intention]

Because direction always matters more than intention.

You can intend to stay close to Jesus… yet still slowly move away if something else has more weight in your life.

Grades. Sports. Relationships. Approval. Comfort. Control.

[SLIDE 7 — You don’t drift into deeper faith]

None of these are anchors for your soul…

And here’s the truth: You don’t drift into deeper faith. You drift away from it.

Anchors are intentional. They’re heavy. They’re even inconvenient to deploy.

Dropping an anchor means saying, “I’m not just floating anymore. I’m choosing where I will stay.”

And Jesus never shamed people for drifting. But He always invited them to stop… and come back. To follow. To stay. To build on something solid. To drop your anchor.

SCRIPTURE — JOHN 8:31–32

Jesus actually talks about this:

[SLIDE 8 — “If you hold to my teaching…”]

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:31–32

Notice what He doesn’t say:

Not: If you hear my teaching.
Not: If you agree with my teaching.

He says: “If you hold to my teaching.”

That’s anchor language.

To hold to something means you build your life on it. You trust it when you’re unsure. You stay with it when it challenges you.

Truth isn’t just something you learn. Truth is something that forms you.

WHAT YOU BELIEVE FORMS HOW YOU LIVE

[SLIDE 9 — What you believe shapes how you live]

Let’s be really clear: Truth is never neutral.

What you believe doesn’t just stay in your head — it shapes your life.

If you believe you’re only as valuable as your performance… you’ll study, compete, and treat yourself that way when you fail.

If you believe you have to earn love… you’ll carry anxiety in every relationship.

If you believe you’re on your own… you’ll carry fear about the future you were never meant to carry.

Beliefs become patterns. And patterns become your life.

That’s why Jesus treats truth not like information — but like a foundation… a foundation that leads to freedom.

Anchored in Truth means Anchored in Freedom.

WHAT IS TRUTH?

In a world that says, “Find your truth,” Jesus says:

[SLIDE 10 — Truth isn’t just an idea. Truth is a person. Jesus.]

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Truth isn’t just an idea — it’s a person. It’s Jesus.

And what He says is more real than what you feel, more true than what culture tells you, more secure than the opinions of others.

YOU’RE ALWAYS BEING FORMED

[SLIDE 11 — You are always being formed]

Here’s the thing: You are being formed every day — whether you notice or not.

Formed by what you see. By what you scroll. By the voices you believe.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” — Proverbs 4:23

Whatever has your attention… will eventually have your direction.

ADDITION #2
Here’s something important to understand: Following Jesus is not just about learning new things. It’s about becoming a new kind of person. More like Jesus in both our character and our calling.

A lot of people know things about God but haven’t let God shape how they live.

Jesus never said, “Go into all the world and make people smarter.” He said, “Make disciples.”

And disciples are formed. They are shaped. They’re anchored.

That means truth isn’t just something you should hear at this retreat and just forget when you go home.

Truth is something you return to when your emotions are loud, when culture is convincing, when pressure is heavy.

That’s why Scripture isn’t just a book you read. It’s an anchor you return to—every day.

That’s why prayer isn’t just something you do when life falls apart. It’s how you stay connected before it does.

That’s why community matters. Because anchors hold better when they’re not dropped alone.

This weekend isn’t about quick fixes or churchy rituals. It’s about formation. About letting Jesus slowly, steadily, reshape how you think—so when the world pulls, you don’t move.

[HIT 11min]

And when you do move… it’s because Jesus said so.

PERSONAL STORY (SHORT)

(*Jason's Story*)

ROOTED LIVES — SCRIPTURE

The Bible talks about people like trees:

“They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” — Psalm 1:3

A tree doesn’t panic when storms come. Because its roots are deep.

Anchors and roots do the same thing. They hold you steady.

Paul says: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2

If you don’t choose what forms your mind… the world will do it for you.

JESUS — OUR FOUNDATION

Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with this:

“And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.” — Matthew 7:25

[SLIDE 12 — The storm comes either way]

The storm comes either way. The difference is what you’re anchored to.

And Jesus is the only anchor who can actually hold.

The cross shows us His love is unshakable. The resurrection proves His victory is final.

His Word is not just true — it’s trustworthy. Jesus is trustworthy.

RESET MOMENT

[SLIDE 13 — Pause. Be honest.]

“I want you to put both feet on the floor. Hands in your lap. Phone face-down if you have one.”

Then say: “This isn’t time for solutions. This is just awareness.”

(Silence. Then continue with your reflection questions.)

REFLECTION — DROP THE ANCHOR

Let’s slow this all the way down. No talking. No fixing. Just honesty.

(Silence for 10–15 seconds.)

Ask yourself:

• What voice has been shaping how I think about myself?
• What’s been defining what’s true in my life?
• When pressure hits, where do I look for stability?

You’re not expected to change everything tonight. But you can’t anchor what you won’t acknowledge.

INVITATION

Maybe you’ve known Jesus for a long time. Or maybe this is all new.

But tonight is an invitation:

[SLIDE 14 — Drop your anchor]

To drop your anchor in Him. To choose truth over noise. To trust the one who will never let go.

You’re not alone. And you don’t have to be stuck.

[HIT at 14min]

TRANSITION TO GROUPS

Because anchors hold better in community—and we have each other… we are going to move from listening… to talking.

No churchy answers required. Just honest ones.

You can go ahead and head to your small groups.