Come, Follow Me for Teens

This week’s episode finishes our study of Psalms 102–150 and the theme: “Let Every Thing That Hath Breath Praise the Lord.”We begin in Psalms 110 and 118 by looking at passages written centuries before the Savior’s mortal ministry that Jesus Christ and His Apostles later connected directly to Him.Psalm 118 declares: “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.”We’ll explore how the Old Testament continually points toward Jesus Christ through prophecy, symbolism, ordinances, deliverance, and the experiences of God’s people—and why one of the most important questions we can ask while studying scripture is:What does this teach me about Jesus Christ?The more we learn to look for Him, the more we begin to recognize that He has been at the center of God’s plan all along.Next, we’ll return to one of the most familiar verses in Psalms:“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”—Psalm 119:105We studied this verse earlier while learning how to find the Psalm we need, but this time we’ll go deeper into what the image of a lamp can teach us when life itself becomes difficult.Sometimes what we want from God is a map. We want Him to show us where the road is going, why something is happening, and how everything will eventually work out.But a lamp may only give enough light to take the next step.We’ll talk about how God’s word can provide direction, comfort, hope, reassurance, and truth during grief, illness, unanswered prayers, uncertainty, and other experiences that may not come with immediate explanations.Sometimes faith is not seeing the whole road.It is trusting the light God has already given us enough to take the next faithful step.Finally, we’ll come to the closing chapters of Psalms.After 150 Psalms filled with fear, repentance, grief, questions, deliverance, gratitude, joy, worship, and hope, the final five repeatedly declare:“Praise ye the Lord.”We’ll explore why praise is deeper than simply thanking God when life goes the way we hoped.Drawing on President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s teachings about gratitude in every circumstance, we’ll discuss how gratitude can become an act of faith and testimony—something rooted in what we already know about God and Jesus Christ even when our present circumstances are difficult to understand.Over time, praise becomes less about what happened today and more about what we have learned about God through everything that has happened.So as we finish Psalms, maybe the final question is not simply:What did I learn?Maybe it is:What do I now have to praise God for?This week’s episode helps teens learn to see Jesus Christ more clearly in scripture, rely on God’s word when they cannot see the entire road ahead, and develop the kind of faith that can still say:“While I live will I praise the Lord.”—Psalm 146:2https://joshdowns.com/cfm-resources/p/psalms-102-150-come-follow-me• Join the Come Follow Me for Teens membership for full access to weekly lessons, early episodes, teaching guides, devotionals, and resources:https://joshdowns.com/cfm-membership

This week’s episode begins our study of Psalms 1–46 and the theme: “The Lord Is My Shepherd.”We’ll talk about how to read Psalms in a way that helps teens discover meaning for themselves, beginning with Psalm 1 and the image of a person who delights in the law of the Lord becoming like “a tree planted by the rivers of water.” We’ll explore why God’s laws can bring stability, protection, peace, and lasting happiness, and how noticing contrasts, images, and repeated ideas can help us better understand what a psalm is teaching.Next, we’ll turn to Psalm 23 and the declaration, “The Lord is my shepherd.” We’ll discuss what it means to make Jesus Christ our personal Shepherd, how to recognize His voice among all the other voices competing for our attention, and why following Him can bring peace, restoration, direction, and strength even when the path leads through difficult valleys.Finally, we’ll study Psalm 119:105: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” We’ll talk about how scripture and the words of living prophets can provide enough light to help us take the next faithful step, even when we cannot see the entire road ahead.This episode also introduces a special “Find the Psalm You Need” resource that helps teens search Psalms for themselves when they feel afraid, alone, in need of direction, in need of forgiveness, grateful, surrounded by opposition, unsure whether God hears them, or simply want to praise Him.This week’s lesson helps teens do more than understand a few familiar psalms. It helps them learn how to open the scriptures, discover truth for themselves, and find words from God that can speak directly to what they are experiencing. https://joshdowns.com/cfm-resources/p/psalms-1-46-the-lord-is-my-shepherd• Join the Come Follow Me for Teens membership for full access to weekly lessons, early episodes, teaching guides, devotionals, and resources:https://joshdowns.com/cfm-membership

This week’s episode focuses on the book of Esther: “For Such a Time as This.”We’ll talk about how the many seemingly ordinary events in Esther’s life reveal the quiet work of an all-knowing God; how fasting helped Esther place faith above fear and receive spiritual strength to do something difficult; and how the Lord completely reversed Haman’s plan so that what was intended for destruction was “turned to the contrary.” We’ll also connect Esther’s story with Joseph of Egypt, Bart Millard and the story behind “I Can Only Imagine,” and other examples of how Jesus Christ can take painful experiences and turn them toward growth, compassion, service, and eventual good. The book of Esther helps teens see that God may be preparing them long before they understand why, that prayer and fasting can strengthen them when the next step feels frightening, and that in the hands of Jesus Christ, their worst days do not have to become wasted days.• Get this week’s Study & Teaching Guide: https://joshdowns.com/cfm-resources/p/come-follow-me-esther-for-teens-study-teaching-guide• Join the Come Follow Me for Teens membership for full access to weekly lessons, early episodes, teaching guides, devotionals, and resources:https://joshdowns.com/cfm-membership

Study & Teaching ResourcesThis week’s episode focuses on 2 Chronicles 14–30: “Our Eyes Are upon Thee.”We’ll talk about Asa trusting the Lord when Judah faced an overwhelming army and how we must keep relying on God even when pressure increases; Micaiah standing for truth when 400 other voices told the king what he wanted to hear; and Jehoshaphat’s powerful prayer, “Neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” These chapters help teens see that faith does not always mean having every answer. Sometimes faith means turning our fear toward God, trusting His prophets, standing for truth with courage and compassion, and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ when the battles of life feel bigger than we are.• Get this week’s Study & Teaching Guide: https://joshdowns.com/cfm-resources/p/2-chronicles-14-20-26-30-our-eyes-are-upon-thee• Join the Come Follow Me for Teens membership for full access to weekly lessons, early episodes, teaching guides, devotionals, and resources:https://joshdowns.com/cfm-membership

Study & Teaching ResourcesThis week’s episode focuses on 2 Kings 2–7: “There Is a Prophet in Israel.”We’ll talk about the ministry and miracles of Elisha and how prophets point us to Jesus Christ; the widow’s oil and how the Savior can pay the debts we cannot pay and provide what we cannot provide on our own; Naaman’s healing and how simple prophetic counsel can lead to miracles when we are humble enough to trust and obey; and Elisha’s servant seeing the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire as a powerful reminder that when we stand with the Lord and His prophets, we are never as alone or outnumbered as we may feel.• Get this week’s Study & Teaching Guide: https://joshdowns.com/cfm-resources/p/come-follow-me-for-teens-2-kings-2-7-there-is-a-prophet-in-israel• Join the Come Follow Me for Teens membership for full access to weekly lessons, early episodes, teaching guides, devotionals, and resources:https://joshdowns.com/cfm-membership

Study & Teaching ResourcesThis week’s episode focuses on 2 Samuel 11–12 and 1 Kings 3–11: “Hear Thou in Heaven Their Prayer.”We’ll talk about the fall of King David and how small choices can lead the heart away from the Lord, Solomon’s request for “an understanding heart” and why teens need wisdom and discernment, and the blessings of the temple taught in Solomon’s dedicatory prayer — including forgiveness, direction, healing, protection, restoration, compassion, and hearts turned more fully toward God.• Get this week’s Study & Teaching Guide: https://joshdowns.com/cfm-resources/p/come-follow-me-teens-2-samuel-11-12-1-kings-3-11-hear-thou-in-heaven-their-prayer• Join the Come Follow Me for Teens membership for full access to weekly lessons, early episodes, teaching guides, devotionals, and resources:https://joshdowns.com/cfm-membership

Study & Teaching ResourcesThis week’s episode focuses on 1 Samuel 8–16: “The Lord Looketh on the Heart.”We’ll talk about Israel wanting to be “like all the nations,” what it means to judge righteously and see others the way the Lord sees them, and the powerful influence music can have on our hearts and ability to feel the Spirit.• Get this week’s Study & Teaching Guide: https://joshdowns.com/cfm-resources/p/come-follow-me-teens-1-samuel-8-16-the-lord-looketh-on-the-heart• Join the Come Follow Me for Teens membership for full access to weekly lessons, early episodes, teaching guides, devotionals, and resources:https://joshdowns.com/cfm-membership

Study & Teaching Resources• Get this week’s Study & Teaching Guide: https://joshdowns.com/cfm-resources/p/come-follow-me-teens-judges-study-teaching-guide• Join the Come Follow Me for Teens membership for full access to weekly lessons, early episodes, and teaching resources:https://joshdowns.com/cfm-membership

Study & Teaching Resources• Get this week’s Study & Teaching Guide: https://joshdowns.com/cfm-resources/p/deuteronomy-study-teaching-guide-for-teens-beware-lest-thou-forget-the-lord• Join the Come Follow Me for Teens membership for full access to weekly lessons, early episodes, and teaching resources:https://joshdowns.com/cfm-membership

Study & Teaching Resources• Get this week’s Study & Teaching Guide: https://joshdowns.com/cfm-resources/p/come-follow-me-teens-exodus-35-40-leviticus-holiness-to-the-lord• Join the Come Follow Me for Teens membership for full access to weekly lessons, early episodes, and teaching resources:https://joshdowns.com/cfm-membership

Study & Teaching Resources• Get this week’s Study & Teaching Guide:https://joshdowns.com/cfm-resources/p/come-follow-me-for-teens-study-teaching-guide-exodus-14-18-stand-still-and-see-the-salvation-of-the-lord• Join the Come Follow Me for Teens membership for full access to weekly lessons, early episodes, and teaching resources:https://joshdowns.com/cfm-membership

Study & Teaching Resources•This Weeks Study and Teaching Guide https://joshdowns.com/cfm-resources/p/come-follow-me-exodus-1-6-teens-study-guide• Or join the Come Follow Me for Teens membership for full access to weekly lessons, early episodes, and teaching resources here https://joshdowns.com/cfm-membership

Study & Teaching Resources•This Weeks Study and Teaching Guide https://joshdowns.com/cfm-resources/p/come-follow-me-genesis-37-41-study-guide-teens• Or join the Come Follow Me for Teens membership for full access to weekly lessons, early episodes, and teaching resources here https://joshdowns.com/cfm-membership