YOUTH GROUP LESSON ON DOUBT
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This lesson is part of a larger series from Youth Pastor Co called “Giants Fall.” We have an entire sermon series library loaded with resources like this at Youth Pastor Co.
Lesson Overview
- We all face giants in our lives. One of the giants so many come up against in their journey of faith is doubt. This youth group lesson on doubt walks students how to overcome doubt and prevent it from keeping them from God’s promises.
Breakdown
• Main Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 Samuel 17:1-53; Hebrews 11:6
- Bottom Line: Don’t let doubt keep you from God’s promises.
Capture: Grab their attention with an illustration.
- Illustration/Story: Do we have any super logical people in the room? As in, you don’t just want to know that something works, you want to know how it works! Maybe you know someone like this. If it doesn’t make sense to them, then they think it must not be true. (Tell a story about someone you know who is really logical — keep it lighthearted and fun.)
- The truth is, while we feel better when we can understand how and why things work, there is an aspect to our faith that simply cannot be understood. That’s where faith comes in — believing in something you can’t see or understand!
Connect: Connect them to God’s word.
- Tension Question: Did you know that doubt is a giant everyone faces that attempts to keep you away from what God promised you? Let’s be honest — sometimes it’s easier to doubt God than it is to believe Him. Tonight, Scripture is going to show us how to get rid of the giant of doubt in our lives.
- Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6 — It’s when we lean on God’s understanding, not our own, that the path for our lives becomes clear.
Consider: What does this mean for us today?
- Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:1-53 — Quickly summarize the story of David and Goliath.
- God had called the Israelites to victory, and yet, this giant was standing in the way. Similarly, we are God’s children, and there are still giants that try to stand in the way of what He has for us.
- Have you ever struggled to believe God? Maybe your situation just seemed too impossible to overcome. This is how the Israelites felt in this moment.
- They saw Goliath, and they knew it wasn’t humanly possibly to take the giant down.
- What their doubt caused them to forget is that it didn’t need to be humanly possible, because all things are possible with God and God had made them a promise.
- Similarly, God has made you some promises. You don’t have to question whether or not it’s possible, because we serve the God who does the impossible. You just have to make sure that doubt doesn’t cloud your judgement.
- Bottom Line: Don’t let doubt keep you from God’s promises.
Collide: How do we apply this in our lives?
- Scripture: Hebrews 11:6 — It’s impossible to please God without faith!
- Share a story about a time in your life that you struggled to have faith. How did yo overcome that obstacle.
- Doubt is simply a giant that screams, “God isn’t powerful enough or doesn’t care enough to show up for you in this moment!” But that’s a lie.
- Goliath could taunt the Israelites all he wanted, but it only took one small Israelite shepherd who had faith to overcome him.
- Application: Remind yourself of all the impossible things that God has already done, and believe he can take care of whatever giant you’re facing in your life now!
Call: How do we respond to the message?
- Altar moment: Maybe you have a hard time believing that God can or will show up for you. Maybe you’re a facing a giant that just seems impossible to overcome. Tonight, ask God what he thinks about the giants your life. Remind yourself that He’s the God of the impossible and He always shows up for His children!
- Small Group Questions:
- Do you struggle to believe things when you don’t understand them? Why or why not?
- How do you think the enemy uses doubt in our lives to keep us away from God?
- What are some “impossible” things in your life God has already done?
- What are some areas where you need to leave doubt behind in your life?