Youth Group Lesson on Character
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Lesson Overview
•A righteous character is the calling of every son and daughter of God who belongs to Jesus. This youth group lesson, grounded in the Sermon on the Mount, is a biblical calling to developing our character in the image of Jesus Christ.
Breakdown
•Main Scripture: Ephesians 4:23; Matthew 5:3-16; 1 Peter 4:1
•Bottom Line: Jesus teaches us an attitude of righteousness.
Capture: Grab their attention with an illustration.
•Illustration/Story: Share a story about a time you witnessed someone who had a serious “attitude.” Maybe it was a friend or loved one or even a snarky driver in the lane beside you who was angry, irritated, annoyed, or frustrated. Whenever we have an “attitude,” it typically results in a snarky or sarcastic response to others.
•Many of us have experienced someone with an “attitude” before. If we are honest, many of us would confess that we struggle with having an “attitude” ourselves! Jesus deeply cares about our attitudes and how we respond to things in life.
Connect: Connect them to God’s word.
•Tension Question: How do you typically handle having “an attitude?” Many people resort to pouting, getting angry, or any number of fleshly responses. Scripture encourages us that Jesus can teach us what a righteous attitude looks like!
•Scripture: Ephesians 4:23 — Scripture shows us that the Holy Spirit empowers us to renew not only our thoughts but also our attitudes!Consider:What does this mean for us today?
•Scripture: Matthew 5:3-16 — “The Beatitudes” listed reflect what righteous character looks like in the life of the believer and the blessings that result from it.
•Our word “blessed” comes from the Latin “beatus,” which is derived from the word beatitude. This powerful world illustrates “divine joy and perfect happiness.”
•The Beatitudes describe the type of attitudes that mark our lives as believers with righteous character. It is a set of attitudes towards life and circumstances that show an unbelieving world the righteousness and blessing of Jesus Christ.
•When we see ourselves with humility, we are blessed with the kingdom of heaven. When we mourn for our sins and hunger and thirst for righteousness, we are blessed with satisfaction. When we pursue mercy, purity, and peace, we encounter God. When we live as salt and light in the world, we reveal God to a lost generation.
•These are examples of the righteous attitude we choose in relationship to Jesus. Pursue Jesus in your attitude toward yourself, your sin, the Lord, and the world!
•Bottom Line: Jesus teaches us an attitude of righteousness.
Collide: How do we apply this in our lives?
•Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1 — Lean into the phrase: “Arm yourselves with the same attitude Jesus had.” This verse, which prepares Christians for persecution, is a great next step for us in our attitudes. We can’t let our circumstances dictate our attitude.
•Like Jesus, we must choose a Christ-like attitude that is righteous. The joy of the Lord superseded all circumstances for Jesus, even death on the cross.•Illustration: Share a story about someone you know who had an incredible attitude, even through negative circumstances. This is a picture of Christlikeness!
•Prepare yourself to take on a righteous attitude, regardless of how painful or difficult things might be. Ask yourself: “How would Jesus respond to this?”
•Application: Take on the attitude of Christ.
Call: How do we respond to the message?
•Altar moment: Choose a Christlike attitude. Change your attitude toward yourself, your sin, the Lord, and the world, and Jesus promises divine joy and blessing!
•Small Group Questions:
1. Share about a time you struggled with a bad attitude and what triggered it.
2. How do you typically respond to a bad attitude? How should we respond?
3. What is an attitude of righteousness according to Jesus?
4. How can you take on the attitude of Christ this week in your personal life?