Coming up with great youth group lessons can sometimes be challenging. Planning lessons and finding ways to make the Bible come alive in relevant ways for teens is important to successful youth group meetings.
Three Youth Group Lessons
Below are three, Scripturally-based, print-and-go lesson plans that you can use with your youth group today. Note that in order to view and print the lesson plans properly, you have to have the most current version of Adobe reader, which you can download for free from the Adobe website.
This lesson focuses on putting on the full armor of God to battle the unique situation each teen deals with. To use the lesson plan, read the sheet all the way through and then print out a copy to take to class with you. You'll also want to gather the materials needed beforehand. If someone in the church has a shield, broadsword, etc., these can make interesting visuals for the activity.
Respecting Your Parents
This activity helps youth see why it's important to show parents and other authority figures respect. It also gives students a chance to admit to areas they'd like to improve on and release it to God. To use this activity, read through the printable carefully and then print a copy to help you gather the necessary supplies and as a reference while teaching the class.
Washing Sin Away
This activity helps students see more clearly how forgiveness works. To use this activity, you'll need some supplies you likely already have around your house. Read through the activity and then print a copy to use while you gather supplies and teach the class.
Subjects for Youth Group Lessons
Teens live in a volatile whirlwind of emotions and activity. It can be a crazy, frustrating time and having spiritual guidance and discernment is critical during the difficulties in adolescence. Subjects for youth group lessons might include:
- God's view on sex/making a stand for abstinence
- Making decisions/living a Christian life
- Witnessing to peers
- Scriptural answers to dealing with addictions and/or peer pressure
- Biblical messages about why gossiping and spreading rumors are destructive
- God's view on honesty
- What God says about language/cursing
- Christian help for getting along with parents/family
- How a Christian teen can avoid and respond to violence/fights at school
- Making sense of the Bible
- Trusting God during conflict
- Feeling far away from God/ how to draw closer to Him
- Discerning God's will
- Christian answers to dealing with emotions:
Many tangents from these topics are relevant for lessons as well. For example, teens may be aware that according to the Bible, sex outside of marriage is wrong, but they may have other questions about sexuality and the Bible or be unsure about where and how to set boundaries when it comes to being physical.
Because teens are experiencing such conflicting emotions and facing difficult choices, recurrent messages of God's love and forgiveness are important in lessons.
Tips for Lessons
Youth group lessons have important main ideas, but keeping sessions fun and relevant is just as important. Include lighthearted activities and humor in the lesson when possible (and appropriate). Practical suggestions and life application is vital to include. Knowing what the Bible says on specific matters is significant, but teens also need to know how they can apply what they're learning in their daily lives. At the end of the group meeting, give examples and ask the group to come up with additional ways to practice what they've learned.
Although leaders and youth pastors may each conduct youth group meetings according to how they feel led by God, general elements might include:
- Opening prayer
- Icebreakers/fun youth group activity
- Lesson or speaker
- Life application suggestions
- Closing prayer/prayer requests
Other aspects that might be included are adults or teens sharing personal testimonies of how Christ is working in their lives, youth group games, relevant DVD clips, and opening praise and worship music.
Having a plan for youth group security, such as sign ins, parent or leader assistance, and other safety precautions is also important for youth group sessions.
Go Where God Leads You
If there is one thing every youth pastor knows, it is that things will almost never go as planned. If you are holding a lesson about putting on the armor of God and a youth member suddenly admits that he got drunk last weekend and feels he has failed God, it is fine to get a bit sidetracked and deal with an important issue that many other youth members may be struggling with as well. If the students bring up topics, you can certain those topics are important to their spiritual walk with God. So, while preparing a lesson is vital, knowing when to set aside the printable and just minister to your youth is even more important.