Youth Group Lesson on Appreciation
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Lesson Overview
• Gratitude and appreciation are powerful tools that help us connect to God and to others. God designed us to appreciate Him and others, and it fills us with great joy! This youth group lesson is on the importance of appreciation and why Scripture calls us to it!
Breakdown
• Main Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:2; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11-13
• Bottom Line: Appreciation is God’s plan for His people.
Capture: Grab their attention with an illustration.
• Illustration/Story: Have you ever gotten a thank-you note, letter, or even a compliment that made your day? Share a story about a time when someone blessed you with their words. Illustrate how good it felt to be appreciated!
• Appreciation is a powerful tool that connects us to other people. The power of appreciation can change someone’s life!
Connect: Connect them to God’s word.
• Tension Question: Do you let people know how much you appreciate them? Many of us might feel nervous to appreciate others vocally, but Scripture shows us that it’s an important part of our spiritual life in the church.
• Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:2 — Appreciation is modeled for us from Scripture towards God and to others. How incredible would it feel to hear someone you love remind you how often they thank God for you?
Consider: What does this mean for us today?
• Scripture: Colossians 3:16 — This is the model of how God designed the church to function in community and fellowship. Notice how the message of Christ fills us to walk in love and appreciation of each other!
• Appreciation is so much more than kind words and thank-you notes. It’s a deep fellowship in the Spirit of God with each other, overflowing with worship to Him and intentional life alongside others in all wisdom and counsel together.
• Appreciation is not an optional part of life together. In fact, it is the fruit of a community of believers living in the will of God. Appreciation is God’s plan for His people!
• Bottom Line: Appreciation is God’s plan for His people.
Collide: How do we apply this in our lives?
• Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11-13 — Encourage someone by appreciating them! This could be a leader in your life, or a brother or sister in the faith, or someone who the Lord puts on your heart.
• Apply this truth this week by showing appreciation to others. In a moment, we’re going to pray and ask God to show us someone to appreciate this week.
• Choose now to find one person that God puts on your heart and show them appreciation this week. Practice appreciation through a thoughtful note, a kind message, or a small gift. Show appreciation to others this week!
• Application: Show appreciation to others.
Call: How do we respond to the message?
• Altar moment: As we pray together at the altar, ask God to put the name of one person on your heart to encourage and appreciate this week!
• Small Group Questions:
1. Why is appreciation important? How have you been appreciated before?
2. How is appreciation God’s plan for His people?
3. Is there someone God is placing on your heart to appreciate?
4. How can you appreciate someone practically this week?