As a youth ministry in a small Bible-believing church, it’s crucial for us to guide our teenagers through the journey of faith with relevance and authenticity. The passage in Mark 8:31-38 is especially important for teenagers as it addresses the very essence of following Christ and the challenges that come with it. This topic is relevant to teenagers as they navigate their faith in a world full of distractions and competing ideologies. It’s an opportunity to engage them in a discussion about the real cost of discipleship and what it means to truly follow Jesus.

Bible Reading: Mark 8:31-33 (NIV)

“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.”

Explanation

• Jesus foretells His suffering, death, and resurrection.
• Peter’s response reflects a common misunderstanding of the purpose of Jesus’ mission.

Youth Group Discussion Questions

1. How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus told them about His upcoming suffering and death?
2. Why do you think Peter reacted the way he did? Can you relate to his response in any way?
3. What does this passage teach us about the nature of Jesus’ mission on earth?

Bible Reading: Mark 8:34-38 (NIV)

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘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 and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.'”

Explanation

• Jesus outlines the high cost of discipleship and the paradox of gaining and losing life for His sake.
• He emphasizes the eternal significance of following Him faithfully.

Youth Group Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean to “deny oneself” and “take up their cross” in the context of being a disciple of Jesus?
2. How can we practically apply the concept of losing our lives for Jesus’ sake in our daily lives?
3. In what ways do you see the values of the world conflicting with the values of following Jesus?

Youth Group Game: “Discipleship Challenge”

In this game, participants are given scenarios that challenge their commitment to following Jesus. They have to make quick decisions on how they would respond in each scenario, emphasizing the cost of discipleship.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the challenging yet beautiful call to follow Jesus. Help us understand and embrace the cost of discipleship, and give us the courage to live out our faith authentically. May we find our true identity in Christ and be willing to lose our lives for His sake. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jesus, the Suffering Hero (Mark 8:31-38) Children’s Sermon