Identity In Christ
You’ve just spent all summer with your children. Whether those months were filled with high-energy travel, peaceful routine, or a mix of both, your kids deeply benefited from that extra time with you. Still, as the new school year begins, there is a fresh wave of excitement in the air.
But let’s be honest—for many children, returning to school also means facing real challenges, including bullying and attacks on their identity in Christ.
Before you send your kids off this season, I want to share a study guide I created to help them stand firm. I originally wrote and taught this lesson for my Wednesday night church Bible study. It was inspired by one of my students, who was being teased simply because his dad is a faithful Christian leader.
That might sound like a small thing on the surface, but the enemy’s strategy was clear: he was trying to plant seeds of shame and resentment in this young man's heart. Having Christian parents is a tremendous blessing, but the enemy loves to twist what is good and make it feel burdensome—just as he did with Eve in the Garden. She only knew good and the devil was crafty enough to make evil attritive. (That is a whole other post!)
Let’s jump in!
Identity in Christ
Think about all the things that make you-you. Your family, your team, your hometown, or the things you’re awesome at—like sports, art, or gaming. These are all part of your identity!
As followers of God, our single most important identity is being in Christ. Before we are anything else, we are Christians. Because God calls us to a higher standard, people should be able to see Jesus in the way we live, act, and treat others.
Have you ever been teased or left out because of who you are? If so, Jesus understands. While He was on Earth, He was tested, persecuted, and ultimately crucified simply for being who He was: the Son of God. In fact, even when Jesus was just a little kid, King Herod was so threatened by His identity that he tried to eliminate Him!
Matthew 2:13-16 The Escape to Egypt
13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, 15 and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”
16 Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance.
Proof and Temptation
Wearing the label of "Christian" makes you stand out—and sometimes, people will try to mess with you because of it. They might poke fun at what you believe or push you to see if you'll break God’s rules. But you don't have to take the bait. Remember, you never have to prove yourself to anyone. God knows you inside and out, your family loves you, and your real friends respect you—those are the only opinions that truly matter!
Jesus faced this, too! When the devil tempted Him, Jesus fought back with Scripture. When people challenged Him to prove He was God's Son, Jesus stayed humble instead of showing off. Don't ever let someone else’s words make you ashamed of your faith. Follow Jesus’ lead: know your Scripture, stay humble, and wear your identity with confidence!
Matthew 4:1-11 The Temptation of Jesus
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
3 During that time the devil[a] came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’
7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’
11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Matthew 12:38-40 The Sign of Jonah
38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”
39 But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
The Cross
Even though Jesus was the perfect Son of God, living in a broken world wasn't easy. He went through immense hardship, yet He handled every single situation with perfect grace and strength—right up to the very end.
Luke 23:32-43 The Crucifixion
32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull,[e] they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”[f] And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.[g]
35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”
40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.
Conclusion
Jesus is our ultimate role model. He knew Scripture, He was quick-witted, and He prayed for the very people who mistreated Him. Even on the cross—while enduring everything for us—He showed love and saved a man in His final moments.
Every single part of who you are is a blessing from God. If anyone ever makes fun of who God made you to be, try these steps:
1. Pause, calm down, and pray—for both yourself and the person teasing you.
2. Respond with confidence. You can smile and say a simple, "Thanks for noticing!" You can even let them know you're happy with who you are and ask, "Why do you feel the need to try and make me feel bad for who God created me to be?"
3. Be honest. It is completely okay to tell someone that you don't like how they are treating you, and to let them know you're praying for them.
Be careful about letting people who put you down into your inner circle of close friends. Most importantly, remember that it's okay if you make mistakes along the way—that’s why Jesus died for us. Just keep doing your best to stay faithful to Him!
Romans 12:1-2 A Living Sacrifice to God
And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.