However, ask someone to put their ideas into actions, to do something about what they are so passionate about online, and I hear things like, No one will give me a chance. or Do you know what it would cost for me to do something that would even begin to scratch the surface of this giant problem? or Im just a junior higher. God is much more reliable than even your most trustworthy friend. You can cling to its truth when life throws you a curveball. He is either being sarcastic or self-defeating. How do you think fear and anxiety can reveal how were focused on ourselves? God is completely trustworthy, but He does not ask you to trust Him blindly. An issue has occurred. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. Have mice pick their choice, get on the starting line, put on the blindfold, and then spin them around. God knows you need somewhere to go when you feel unsure. But when times feel difficult, it is even more important to trust God. Object Lesson about Worry and Trusting God - Ministry-To-Children This is an object lesson to demonstrate how our hearts cannot be fully trusting the Lord and be full of worry at the same time. But, it does take some work to obey them. Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others. If they have chosen a guide, the person can talk to them but can not touch them. Not at all. If He seems to be silent, remember His promise that He is always hearing your prayers and responding. Even if you fail at a task, youre still secure God still loves you and you still have value because youre in Jesus. We worry about these things because they might reveal that we dont measure up? (beyond just making us hungry). . In fact, the Bible promises that when we reach out to Him in prayer, He hears us: Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. Creation is Gods gift to Himself, and creation is a gift that leads to celebration. He is with you in difficulty. Lessons and Resources In youth ministry, few things take more time and energy than planning and creating your weekly lessons. Have you ever felt like Philip? This lesson will inspire students to live a zealous and passionate life for Christ. We need more than a commitment to depend on Him; we need to cry out to Him to show that dependence. Props: 12 baskets and lots of Small paper fish. You dont have to be a genius to understand these verses. Read the suggested challenge in the small group part of the lesson to have something ready for your leaders.). You also act on obedience (doing what God says in His Word) and trust that He will ultimately take care of the rest. If you have not established that, it is never too late to start. For example, you wont be able to play the game. But were never alone in it: And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20b), This article first appeared at BibleStudyTools.com.Photo Credit: Unsplash/Benjamin Davies. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. Showing God in action in and through His people. To help the children understand this, play a game of flashlight freeze tag. Junior High Youth Group Lesson on Trusting God Written by Mike Sheley DOWNLOAD PDF OF THIS LESSON Bible Texts John 6:1-13 Ephesians 2:10 Opening Activity: Action! But how does that help us today? If were ever going to truly trust in God and flee evil, we have to know exactly where we stand. The Lord will forgive his sinful past and help him in times of need. Instead we made tea light holders out of air drying clay of the back of 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 and the youth really enjoyed it. How to Give Up Control and Trust God. Many of us want to trust God. Sometimes, the only way to live the life God wants us to live is by separating ourselves from the bad influences that keep dragging us down. Thank goodness! Many people in Scripture even reference other parts of Scripture to encourage themselves and those around them. As we go through our day, this same Holy Spirit guides us, too. We have to trust that Gods instructions in the Bible and the way Jesus lived out his obedience to God is the best way, even if it doesnt always seem like that to us at the time. Maybe it was trying out for a team or auditioning for a play. But have the rest hidden so that Jesus can easily keep handing out fish to the disciples to give to the crowd. You need a strong foundation of Scripture to stand on, especially when you feel uncertain. Cement them in your mind. In todays world, students feel very free to voice their opinions and ideas virtually through social media. Waiting on the Lord reminds you that you are not in control. A friend or family member betrays you. How do you do that? Help us to understand the significance of surrendering our desires and aligning our lives with Your will. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. Attach the top of the heart to a piece of white paper. How do you feed everyone?. Acting on something you learned from the Bible recently. Divide your group of students into three teams. Its like a little seed, hardly recognizable, but it will eventually sprout into a massive destructive weed until God needs to take him out by his roots. God has things for you to do that he planned long ago. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We also provide youth ministry games, icebreakers, youth worship ideas, retreat ideas, and youth group themes to foster community and fellowship among young people. Then, all of a sudden, life throws a curveball. Go to How Do I Hear Gods Voice? to learn more about how to follow the Spirits leading. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. He knows that God will take care of him no matter what and that he cannot have eternal life without God. Knowing that God is for you will strengthen your trust in Him during times of hardship and the unknown. Sometimes what you need to do is wait. Pick one person from each team who will be the mice. Please try again or contact website administrator. I is the subject of every sentence. We believe that God is the loving Father of all kids. May 27, 2023 by Micah Kummer Hey, incredible teenagers! It will chase all of the other students around the play area. There are ups and downs along the way. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. Youre in a new calendar year, but right now,youre still in the middle of your school year. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9). Are there other words you would add to this list? Life can be going along smoothly for a season. Read His Word. Set up 3 paths that each mouse will be walking down. We have to trust that God will help us when obeying and following is hard. Well, remember: Following Jesus is more about trust than understanding. And he said if we want to be first we have to be last. (and probably eating more than he originally brought with him!). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Ministry-To-Children.com helps you tell kids about Jesus by providing age-appropriate Bible study material and Sunday School curriculum all 100% free online. (Tough Questions Kids Ask #3), "Blessed are the Meek" Sunday School Lesson, Lesson: God made YOU special! Ephesians 6:10-18 Youth Group Lesson, Bible Lesson: Ruths Loyalty for Teenagers Ruth 1:1-18, David and Goliath: Overcoming Obstacles with Faith 1 Samuel 17:1-11, A Youth Ministry Lesson on Matthew 28:16-20: Becoming Disciples of Christ, Sunday School Lesson for Teens: Pauls Conversion Transformative Power of Faith Acts 9:1-19, Growing in Unity: A Youth Group Lesson on 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 for Teenagers, Youth Group Lesson on Psalm 8: An Important Topic for Teenagers to Grow Their Faith, Cultivating Faith and Worship: A Sunday School Lesson for Teenagers on Marys Song of Praise with Luke 1:39-57, Esthers Boldness: Courage and Influence for God Esther 2:1-11, Trusting and Following God: Teenage Bible Study on Jonah 1:1-3. And lets move from just imagining it to making it happen. Or sometimes people use that effect in videos when they want to stop and ask, What did he just say?, Jesus had just given the disciples what seemed to them to be an impossible story problem. Remember who He has always been. Trusting God in Youth Ministry: Living Our Faith Together. Instead, youll find the steps you need each day to truly walk with God. And, if youre hoping to read your Bible more this year, this is a great book to try for a one-month challenge. or we can go out and actually do something in faith, trusting that even though what we have to offer may seem like not much, to Jesus, it is more than enough. So, we have a service project lined up for us all to participate in. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Hey, incredible teenagers! To his credit, he realized that he was in over his head but unfortunately thats all he thought about. Does one actually accomplish more? Thats right. Instead, you'll find the steps you need each day to truly walk with God. Your goals, finances, health and outlook seem bright. Faithfulness Despite Circumstances Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. At the close of this article you will find a list of Bible passages which could be the focus of the lesson to be taught alongside this object lesson. Continue the good work and God will bless you. Share, if you have one, a day or even a week or year that was very tough for you. Ever give an answer or make a suggestion that you thought was not going to work the more you thought about it? He recognizes the futility of idols and pledges to offer sacrifices and fulfill his vows to the Lord. (Identity Study 2 of 3) Youth Group Bible Lesson, Youth Bible Lesson: John 1:29-42 Jesus is the Lamb of God, Armor of God Sunday School Lesson Teenagers? We, like Saul, will find ourselves hiding behind the luggage, trying to avoid hard situations that may show how much we dont measure up. Giving thanks fights the lie that everything is horrible. Have something your students can do in their small groups that helps a ministry or mission partner of your church. When we pursue Him, we find lifeabundant life. Lets move into our small groups and help you figure out what your first step is this week. Its like Andrew is saying, I found a sack lunch, but its just enough for one boy, much less the 13 of us. He cares about you, and you can trust Him with those things. The Bible records ways God has responded in difficult times in the past. Life is unpredictable and difficult at times, and that difficulty may persist for longer than you had hoped. You can freely license our resources under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. What would our homes, neighborhoods, schools, church and community look like if those of us in this room started taking these two little verses in Proverbs seriously? andput that into action this year and this week. Make sure you watch the clock and save 5 minutes at the end for the closing, even if that means you skip some questions and dont discuss them all. He never leaves. of Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Verse 2 Two men will tell you that your donkeys have been found. And for those who follow Christ, we have hope in God, even in the tough times. Or, you might contact a local restaurant like Chick-fil-A, explain what you are doing, and see if they would donate food for your lesson. Sometimes he does things wrong. Then you go into your everyday life with family, neighbors and school,tryingto figure out how to put all this into practice there. That He always keeps His promises. Just make sure you have lots of them. Pray for His strength and direction. Here are your choices: 1) do the race on your own; 2) have a fellow student be your guide; or 3) have a leader be your guide. Make sure you watch the clock and save 5 minutes at the end for the closing, even if that means you skip some questions and dont discuss them all. What kind of work do you do? Instead, it means we have to make a serious change: Its easiest to put ourselves first. In the moments when everything appears to be falling apart, it can be hard to see how the Good Father is at work, but know His mercy is consistent. If any mouse crosses a line/hits a chair, allow them two warnings. No longer do we see our setbacks as failures; we see them as moments when God, as our loving Father, works on us. If we can trust God with the first of our wealth, were truly showing how much we depend on Him. Say, David knows that he can trust the Lord just because He is God. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. Trusting God is more than a feeling; its a choice to have faith in what He says even when your feelings or circumstances would have you believe something different. You could even do this so that every student in your group gets at least one paper fish to take home. That means no permission is needed as long as you credit this Ministry-To-Children.com in the final work. They will examine a life (David) that was dependent on God and see what a life dependent on God looks like. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. He gives us what we need to thrive. And I dont know for sure, but it seems like more than a coincidence that there was so much food leftover that each of the disciples was able to fill their own basket with fish and bread! Lewis said, Thousands of humans have been brought to think that humility means pretty women trying to believe they are ugly and clever men trying to believe they are fools.. I think Paul reminds us with his image of a jar of clay that life can be really hard, and it can sometimes leave us feeling all these things we wrote on the pots depressed, alone, confused. How can you help them? You can agree with Him that all He says is true. Have you ever had a time where you prayed and asked God to provide, and when He did, it was not just enough, but so much more than enough? Can you think of a time when fear prevent you from doing something you thought God wanted you to do? He is always faithful. Have you ever been called by God to do something but were too afraid to even try? . #kidsministry #objectlesson #sundayschoolProverbs 3:5,65. You need only to look. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. Learn how you can know God personally. David isnt perfect. Fellow believers can remind you of Gods character through encouragement and accountability. There are two options below. His life illustrates a major theme in the books of Samuel is that God exalts the humble and brings low the proud. In the book of Romans, one of the early followers of Jesus, Paul, writes to believers about the present life. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. ), We can sit here and talk about how God can use us . This is really very helpful. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Check out the. Materials needed: Cooking Oil. When all of the balloons have touched the floor challenge the kids to play again and try to keep the balloons in the air longer than before. Does one look like they are doing more than another? What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. PursueGOD Youth This channel is all about Students talking to Students about stuff that matters! Have you ever had what seems to be a simple task, but it causes a bunch of anxiety? Paul, who wrote a huge chunk of the New Testament, had his fair share of tough times-. What can you do to be faithful? Then they cried out to the Lord, Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this mans life. Trusting in Him means believing what He says about Himself, about the world and about you is true. But Solomon, the famous king who wrote Proverbs, knew that trust is exactly where we must start: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Fear and Anxiety can reveal our self-absorption. And if you get done sooner than expected, simply run another time with three different people. Bottom Line:Following God is more about trust than understanding. Copyright Ministry-to-Children. Imagine if God called you to do something crazy. Thank You for the story of Jonah and the powerful lessons it teaches us about obedience, trust, and following Your plans. He said to pray for people who persecute us. We are hard pressed on every side,but not crushed; perplexed,but not in despair; persecuted,but not abandoned;struck down, but not destroyed. Heart Craft: Make a lift the flap heart craft by cutting out 1 large paper heart per child. This is a tough question!