CONNECT WEEK
JESUS IS THE TRUE HUMAN
LEADER PREPARATION
Lesson Summary:
Note: These lessons are designed to be 30 minutes long. If your club time is shorter than this, we encourage you to be prayerful about parts of this lesson to put more or less emphasis on. If
limited on time, we urge you to prioritize Tool Time and summarize Dig In, as Tool Time is what prepares you for sharing the Gospel. As always, let the Holy Spirit guide your leadership.
Throughout this month, we have pulled back the layers of what it means to sin and how that sin affects both our daily lives and our eternal destinies. Today, we will conclude this conversation by narrowing in on the source of our salvation, to the One who never sinned, Jesus! Because Jesus, fully God and fully human, loved God and loved others without fail, he was able to become the perfect sacrifice that would allow us to live in God’s grace and forgiveness. We can find guidance, support, and accountability as we work to live like Jesus by being a part of a faith-community.
Main Point
We can find guidance, support, and accountability as we work to live like Jesus by being a part of a faith community.
Team Roles
Host: This Student Leader will lead the Start Up section of the lesson, helping create a fun environment, making everyone feel welcome and included.
Speaker: This student leader will guide the group in growing deeper in their faith by reading and reflecting on passages of scripture. They will then connect the content to the group’s daily lives by asking practical questions and leading the conversation.
Other Roles: Promo, Welcome, and Follow Up.
Scripture References
(7 minutes)
Welcome everyone and be sure to get the names of any new friends.
Icebreaker Game: The Human Knot
Break the group into teams of 5-8. Instruct the teams to stand in a circle facing each other. Ask them to reach across their circles and grab the hand of two other team members.
Key Rules:
- No one can grab the hand of a team member directly beside them.
- Once you hold someone’s hand, you cannot let go until the game is over.
- If anyone in the group breaks one of these rules, their team must restart the game.
On the Host’s command, the teams will “untie” themselves. The first team to unravel their knot and stand in an untangled circle is the winner. Repeat the game as time allows.
DIG IN
(5 minutes)
Say: The connections we create are powerful. Whether it be laughing with a friend you’ve known your whole life, singing off-key on a family road trip, or simply smiling at a random stranger, interacting with others reminds us that our existence is greater than our own individual stories – we are each small parts of a much bigger world.
Ask: How do you feel after you’ve spent time with someone you love? (Take a few moments for students to share.)
Say: Before we begin exploring what the Word says about our connections, take a second to let this truth sink in: To be human is to share a loving connection with God and His creation. If you have a pen, write that down. To be human is to share a loving connection with God and His creation. In other words, we live out God’s original purpose for our lives when we love Him and love others.
Read Scripture: [Jesus] committed no sin, yet he carried our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to our sins and live to do what is right. (1 Peter 2:22-24)
Ask: What stood out to you in that Scripture? What challenged you? (Take a few moments for students to share.)
Say: Even though He was tempted in every way, Jesus committed NO sin. He demonstrated exactly what it looks like to be truly human. He faithfully loved God with all His soul, mind, and strength.
He fiercely loved others, placing the needs of the entire world before His own. He took on the punishment for all our sins by dying on the cross so we could be made right with God.
TOOL TIME
(18 Minutes)
Say: So the big question is SO WHAT? Why does it matter that I have relationships in my life? (Let students think about this for just a moment.)
Think about your relationship with Jesus like a family road trip. You have a destination, a goal where you are headed. For us, this is being truly human, loving God and loving others in all we say and do.
But before you know it, distractions come our way that lead us away from our destination. Sin comes along like bright, neon, road signs, promising all kinds of pleasures but ultimately pulling us away from where we are meant to go and who we are meant to be. God knew we would need people to keep us going in the right direction. We need someone who will tap us on the shoulder and remind us of why we got in the car in the first place.
Ask: What are some examples of how sin can distract us in our faith-journey? (Take a few moments for students to share.)
Read Scripture: Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
Say: Remember, we were created to live in community with one another! Surrounding ourselves with like-minded people keeps us safe from wandering off the path on our own. It isn’t always easy to accept, but we need guidance and accountability if we hope to live out our purpose.
Likewise, you can help your friends maintain their connection with God by lovingly redirecting them to God and His Word when you see them becoming distracted by sin.
Ask: What is a benefit you have gotten from being in a Christian community, whether it be in a Youth Group, Sunday Service, Small Group or Summer Camp? (Take a few moments for students to share.)
Ask: If a friend has never been a part of a church community, what would you say is the best way to get involved in a church so that you can be a part of a Christian community?
Read Scripture: Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. (Galatians 6:1)
Say: There are two key words in this verse: gently and humbly. If we are harsh or proud as we hold each other accountable, we run the risk of creating division among ourselves. When the time comes to be that voice of redirection, remember we are all in this together!
Let’s remember that we can find guidance, support, and accountability as we work to live like Jesus by being a part of a faith community. Take a couple minutes to pray or share a verse from the Bible with a friend.
Closing: End your time together with prayer.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you don’t have a church home, talk to any one of the Student Leaders or adults here, and we would be more than happy to connect you with one! We will see you next week as we become better equipped to spread the Gospel by looking to God’s promises.
Note: A great way to make sure students are getting connected is by having students invite their friends or other club members who may not have a church, to go to church with them. If you have extra time in club, ask a few volunteers to share where they go to church.
Here are a few important things to have them mention:
- Where they go?
- What their youth group or church is like (what is a typical night like at youth group?)
- What time/day? Upcoming special events?
- If the student is able: offer a ride to anyone who needs it.
*If there is someone who wants to visit a youth group but doesn’t have a ride, talk to your Campus Coach to find a solution! They are there to help you!
