Welcome back to Season 1 of the Solid Rock Youth Podcast.

This episode keeps building on The Jesus Story series and honestly… it gets big fast.

In Week 1, we looked at Jesus being baptized and tempted in the wilderness. Fully human. Fully God. Completely without sin.

In Week 2, things level up.

We move into Gospel of Luke 4:16 to 21, where Jesus walks into the synagogue, opens the scroll of Isaiah, and reads:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…”

Then He drops the mic.

He declares that He is the One God promised. The Rescuer. The bringer of freedom. The One who sets captives free.

Not just a good teacher. Not just a moral example. The fulfillment of Scripture.

And that changes everything.

Big Theme This Week

Jesus is not offering advice. He is announcing rescue.

He reveals His mission:

• Good news for the poor
• Freedom for captives
• Sight for the blind
• Freedom for the oppressed

And then He says the boldest thing possible… that Scripture is fulfilled right now in their hearing.

That is not a small claim.

Youth Stories, Real Faith

This episode also features two powerful Jesus stories from Joel and Rio.

Joel shares about growing up in a Christian home, asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit at just four years old, and discovering real freedom in Christ. His story is one of learning humility, trust, and choosing Jesus again and again.

Rio talks about losing things she loved, feeling alone, and slowly realizing that God was drawing her back to Himself. What felt like loss became clarity. What felt lonely became purpose.

Two very different journeys. Same faithful God.

As Joel shared from Second Corinthians 3:17, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

That word shows up again.

Freedom.

Trivia Moment

If you had to give a 30 second TED Talk right now… what would it be about?

Cows? How to Train Your Dragon? Something totally random?

It is a fun question… but also a reminder that we all have something we are passionate about.

The real question is this… What would your 30 seconds about Jesus sound like?

This Week’s Challenge

Read Gospel of Luke 4:16 to 21 for yourself.

Then skim through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Watch for moments where Jesus speaks in the temple. Watch for how He reveals who He is.

And pray before you read.

Ask God to show you something new.

Bible In Public Contest

Reading your Bible in public?

Snap a photo and send it to youth@nmbc.ca for a chance to win a 20 dollar McDonald’s gift card.

The photo does not need to be perfect. Just real.

Random draw. Simple challenge. Maybe free fries.

Youth Group Reminder

Grades 6 to 12 Wednesday nights 6:30 pm

Main teaching, small groups, after hours… and a place to belong.

Invite someone. Seriously. Everyone can benefit from hearing who Jesus is.

Next week we keep building the story.

Two weeks in and we have already seen: He is sinless. He is the Rescuer.

That is a foundation worth standing on.

See you next episode.

Season 1, The Jesus Story

Welcome to episode 1 of the Solid Rock Youth Podcast with Alisha and Liam, two students from the Solid Rock Youth core team. This episode kicks off our My Jesus Story season, where youth share real testimonies about how Jesus has worked in their lives.

In this episode

1... Welcome and why we started the podcast

Last year at Solid Rock Youth, we did Youth Alpha in 2025. Before it started, we prayed a simple prayer, come Holy Spirit, write a story we could not tell ourselves.

God answered, big time.

This podcast is part of that same faith move, we are believing God will keep writing stories in our youth ministry.

2... Trivia time

Question, What is one thing you believed as a kid that makes you laugh now?

Alicia, If you swallow a watermelon seed, a watermelon grows in your stomach.

Liam, His sister thought you could swim underneath an island.

Just so we are clear, you cannot.

3... Contest alert, win a McDonald’s gift card

For episode 1 and episode 2, we are running a contest.

What to do Bring your Bible into a public place and take a photo showing you with it.

Examples Sports game, practice, out for food, hanging out in public.

Send your photo to youth@nmbc.ca

Prize Random draw winner gets a 20 dollar McDonald’s gift card.

Quality does not matter, silly photos are welcome.

4... Jesus story focus, Jesus is baptised and tempted

Alicia and Liam talk about what Pastor Jon shared on Wednesday, Jesus being baptised, and then being tempted in the wilderness.

Big idea Jesus is perfect, fully God and fully human, yet He chose baptism anyway.

Why that matters He identifies with us, and shows us what it looks like to live with God as our foundation.

They also talk about the Trinity moment at Jesus’ baptism, the Father speaks, the Spirit descends like a dove, and Jesus is there.

Then Jesus goes into the wilderness for 40 days and is tempted, but He does not give in. He answers temptation with Scripture.

5... My Jesus Story testimonies

We hear two youth testimonies in this episode.

Jack’s story Jack grew up around faith but tried to handle life on his own. He shares about feeling alone, carrying heavy stuff, and how opening up in grade 10 at Challenge became a turning point. He talks about Scripture that hit him deeply, and how following Jesus is for broken people, not perfect people.

Sarah’s story Sarah shares about anxiety and insecurity starting around grade 7. At Kingswood Camp, she felt a deep peace during worship and chose to make her faith her own. Later, she realized following Jesus is a real relationship, not one sided. She still has anxious moments, but she knows God is with her, and she is growing in confidence.

6... Prayer

Alicia and Liam pray for Jack and Sarah, and for Solid Rock Youth as a whole, thanking God for what He is doing in the ministry.

7... This week’s challenge

Read the Bible passages about Jesus’ baptism and temptation.

Read Matthew 3 to 4 Mark 1 Luke 3 to 4

Try this Read it once, then read it again slower. Ask, Why did Jesus get baptised, what does that show us Ask, How did Jesus respond to temptation Bring questions to your youth leaders.

8... Reminders

Send your Bible in public photo to youth@nbc.ca for the contest.

Come to Solid Rock Youth on Wednesday nights, 6:30 to 8:30pm at New Minas Baptist Church, for grades 6 to 12.

Quote of the episode

“It’s lit.”

Accurate, and also hard to argue with.