Today’s Sunday school lesson on the topic of “Living Sacrifice: Surrendering to God’s Will.” As young believers, it is crucial for you to understand the concept of surrendering to God’s will and living as a sacrifice for Him. This topic is relevant to your lives as teenagers because it challenges you to trust God, make wise choices, and align your lives with His purpose. Today, we will explore what it means to surrender to God’s will and how it can transform your faith and impact the world around you
Bible Reading: Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Explanation For Teenagers:
- God’s mercy and our response: Begin by discussing God’s mercy and grace towards us, emphasizing that it is because of His love that we have the opportunity to surrender to Him.
- Living sacrifice: Explain that offering our bodies as a living sacrifice means surrendering our whole selves to God. Discuss the significance of this act and how it involves every aspect of our lives.
- Not conforming to the world: Explore the pressures and temptations that teenagers face to conform to the patterns of this world. Explain the importance of resisting these influences and instead following God’s will.
- Renewing of the mind: Discuss the role of renewing our minds through reading God’s Word, prayer, and seeking His guidance. Emphasize the transformative power of aligning our thoughts with God’s truth.
- Knowing God’s will: Encourage the teenagers to seek and discern God’s will for their lives, explaining that through surrender, they will gain a clearer understanding of His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Youth Group Discussion Questions:
- Why do you think surrendering to God’s will is challenging for teenagers today?
- How can we practically offer ourselves as living sacrifices in our daily lives?
- What are some ways in which the world tries to influence us and pull us away from God’s will?
- How can we renew our minds and align our thoughts with God’s truth?
- Share an example of a time when you felt God’s leading in your life and how you responded.
Youth Group Game:
“Surrender Relay”
Divide the group into two teams. Set up a relay race where each participant carries a bucket filled with water. The catch is that they can only use one hand to carry the bucket. The goal is to complete the relay without spilling the water. This game illustrates the need for balance, control, and surrendering our own desires for the greater purpose.
Bible Reading: Matthew 16:24-26 (NIV)
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?'”
Explanation For Teenagers:
- Denying ourselves: Explain that being a disciple of Jesus requires denying ourselves and our selfish desires. Discuss the challenges and rewards of self-denial.
- Taking up our cross: Explore the concept of taking up our cross, which represents the cost of following Jesus. Help the teenagers understand that surrendering to God’s will often involves sacrifice and challenges.
- Losing our lives to find them: Emphasize the paradox that in surrendering our lives to God, we find true purpose and fulfillment. Discuss the dangers of pursuing worldly success or pleasure at the expense of our relationship with God.
Youth Group Discussion Questions:
- What does it mean to deny ourselves? Why is it challenging?
- How can we practically take up our cross and follow Jesus in our daily lives?
- Share an example of a time when you had to make a sacrifice for the sake of following Jesus.
- Why do you think surrendering our lives to God brings true fulfillment?
- How can we avoid prioritizing worldly success or pleasure over our relationship with God?
Closing Prayer:
“Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the opportunity to gather here today and learn about surrendering to Your will. Help us to understand the importance of living as a sacrifice for You. Grant us the courage and strength to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Renew our minds and transform us according to Your good, pleasing, and perfect will. Guide us in discerning Your plans for our lives and empower us to surrender every aspect of ourselves to You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”
Remember, as you continue your journey of faith, surrendering to God’s will is an ongoing process. May this lesson inspire you to live as a living sacrifice, fully surrendered to God, and ready to impact the world around you with His love and truth.