YOUTH GROUP LESSON ON GOD'S GUIDANCE
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This lesson is a part of a larger series called Good or God. We have an entire sermon series library loaded with resources like this at youthpastor.co.
Lesson Overview
• We all want God to guide us, but how does this look practically? How do we learn to be led by God’s voice in our lives? This youth group lesson unpacks how to listen to the Spirit of God and receive His guidance in our lives.
Breakdown
• Main Scripture: Romans 8:14; John 16:5-8; Galatians 5:16
• Bottom Line: God’s Spirit convicts sinful decisions.
Capture: Grab their attention with an illustration.
• Illustration/Story: Share a story about a time you made a very bad decision on purpose. While we all desire to make good decisions, the reality is, we at times still make sinful decisions as we fight against our flesh!
• This week, we see an important part of learning discernment — the Holy Spirit! Often, the Spirit will give us a peace or a check when we live in tune with Him!
Connect: Connect them to God’s word.
• Tension Question: Are you sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit in your life? If we are not walking in step with the Spirit, it’s easy to miss His gentle nudging in our decision-making.
• Scripture: Romans 8:14 — Being led by God’s Spirit is a marker of those who are truly God’s children! We need the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives!
Consider: What does this mean for us today?
• Scripture: John 16:5-8 — The Holy Spirit is a gift and a promise for those who believe in Jesus. One of the key roles of the Holy Spirit is seen in verse 8: conviction.
• For anyone who has been a Christian for a while, we all know how it feels after you make a poor or sinful decision!
• Illustration: Share a story about how the Holy Spirit has convicted sin in your own life after a poor decision. Talk about the feeling in the pit of your stomach that felt like you had to repent! This is the power of the Holy Spirit’s conviction.
• While may not feel good, this is actually a blessing from God. We who are called to holiness were called out of sin. God, knowing we were broken vessels who would wrestle with sin, made a way for us to see and repent for our sins through the Spirit.
• Bottom Line: God’s Spirit convicts sinful decisions.
Collide: How do we apply this in our lives?
• Scripture: Galatians 5:16 — When we obey the Spirit and are guided by Him, we listen to His voice when He convicts our sinful decision.
• Don’t reject the conviction of the Holy Spirit! It is a gift from God! If the Holy Spirit is speaking through conviction, we must be listening.
• The benefit of obedience to the Spirit is His blessing! When we give into the craving of our sinful nature, it never feels satisfying. Sin always produces death in our lives.
• The guidance of the Spirit is often His conviction. Let the Holy Spirit guide your life by embracing His conviction when we choose sin over righteousness. Accept the Spirit’s conviction as He guides you into righteous living.
• Application: Accept the Spirit’s conviction as guidance.
Call: How do we respond to the message?
• Altar moment: Have an extended moment at the altar to give opportunity to listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit. Prayerfully ask Him, “Holy Spirit, is there anything in my life that is sinful that needs conviction?” Pause and pray and be willing to listen.
• Small Group Questions:
1. Why is it easy for us to make sinful decisions even when we know they are wrong?
2. Are you sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit? How do you hear from Him?
3. How has the Holy Spirit convicted you of sin before?
4. How can you accept the Spirit’s conviction as guidance this week?