YOUTH GROUP LESSON ON FATHER'S DAY
Lesson Overview
- Regardless of what kind of earthly father we have, we have a Heavenly Father who loves us deeply! Not everyone has experienced God as a Father, but Scripture shows us what the Father’s love looks like through the story of the Prodigal Son.
Breakdown
- Main Scripture: 1 John 3:1; Luke 15:11-32; John 16:24
- Bottom Line: Receive the Father’s Love
Capture: Grab their attention with an illustration.
- Illustration/Story: Have you ever missed out on something because you didn’t understand it? Share a story about a time when you thought a particular food was “disgusting” only because you had never tried it before! This is the classic predicament for most kids. They believe certain foods are gross but have never tried them to know!
- Father’s Day can be a conflicting time for people. Maybe you lost your father or never had him to begin with. Maybe your relationship with your earthly father is not one of love and security but pain. The Lord wants to reveal Himself to you as a Heavenly Father. Don’t miss out on His love only because you’ve never experienced Him!
Connect: Connect them to God’s word.
- Tension Question: Do you see God as a Father? Is your perspective of a father a negative or positive one? Have you “missed out” on experiencing God in this way? People have said before that we often see our heavenly Father through the lens of our earthly ones, but today, we’ll see in Scripture how God is the most loving Father we could ever have!
- Scripture: 1 John 3:1 — Sometimes it’s hard for us to believe that God’s love for us is as big as He says it is. Only in a relationship with God as our Father can we know His love!
Consider: What does this mean for us today?
- Scripture: Luke 15:11-32 — Focus intentionally on verses 20-24 and how the Father responds to the son’s return.
- We can easily recognize our sins and feel remorse, but returning home is challenging. Like the prodigal son, when we acknowledge the pain of life, we allow brokenness to lead us home — but that doesn’t have to be the case!
- If the prodigal son knew how his Father would respond in radical love and acceptance, there’s a good chance he would have come home much quicker.
- Don’t wait to experience God as a loving Father until you’re broken. Recognize His deep love for you and come home!
- This picture of God through Jesus’s parable should cause us to come home. If you are far from God, know that His love will run to meet you the moment you move to Him.
- Bottom Line: Receive the Father’s love.
Collide: How do we apply this in our lives?
- Scripture: John 16:24 — If you, like the disciples, haven’t asked before, know that you can ask God to reveal His love to you — and He will!
- Story: Share about a time when you missed out on a piece of information only to hear the phrase, “Well, you never asked!”
- Sometimes, we miss out on things simply because we haven’t tried or asked before! Ask God, “Lord, will you reveal your love for me as a Father?” Trust that if you are bold in asking, He is faithful to answer!
- Application: Ask God to reveal His love for you as a Father!
Call: How do we respond to the message?
- Altar moment: The Father wants to show you how much He loves you. Ask Him to reveal His love, and He will be faithful to meet you!
- Small Group Questions:
- Is Father’s Day a positive or negative experience for you? Why?
- Do you see God as a Father? Why or why not?
- Where do you receive God’s love in your own life?
- How can you ask God to reveal His love as a Father for you this week?
Enjoyed this Youth Group Lesson?
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