Youth Group Lesson on Materialism
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Lesson Overview
• Materialism has sadly become a bedrock to our Western culture, even though it is in stark contrast to a biblical worldview. This youth group lesson discusses how to eliminate materialism and make space for Jesus in our lives.
Breakdown
• Main Scripture: Hebrews 13:5; Luke 12:13-21; Hebrews 12:1-2
• Bottom Line: Make space for Jesus.
Capture: Grab their attention with an illustration.
• Illustration/Story: How many of us love Christmas? Share a story about a time you were nearly obsessed with a new piece of technology, a new game, or even a new toy when you were a kid, and hoping you would get it for Christmas. Illustrate how Christmas presents can be a fun thing to celebrate, but when Christmas becomes about presents, we lose sight of the meaning of Christmas. When we prioritize our love for money or things over our love for Jesus, we disconnect from God. Connect: Connect them to God’s word.
• Tension Question: Does your love for God get clouded by your love for money or material things? Materialism is normal in our culture, but God has called us to be countercultural in our relationship with Jesus.
• Scripture: Hebrews 13:5 — Materialism falls into this description. When we fall for the love of money and lose contentment, we hurt our connection to God!
Consider: What does this mean for us today?
• Scripture: Luke 12:13-21 — This is a powerful illustration by Jesus on how we truly define the word rich.
• Illustration: What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word “rich?” (Take a few answers from students.) Many of us think of money, wealth, possessions — material things!
• It does not come naturally for us to think of “wealth” from the perspective of our relationships with God and others. Scripture, however, shows us that true wealth comes in our connection to God and His people!
• Materialism is a cultural lie that crowds out our connection to Jesus. This week, reject material things for more space with Jesus! • Bottom Line: Make space for Jesus.
Collide: How do we apply this in our lives?
• Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2 — Sin slows us down and trips us up. While material things aren’t inherently sinful, when we idolize them over Jesus and they keep us from relationship with Him, it becomes sin!
• Ask yourself, what are some of the material things that have crept into your relationship with Jesus and become an idol? What has taken up space from Jesus?
• This month, we’re going to challenge our “packed” lives with an “unpacking challenge” — a specific task that can help us to apply the message we’re hearing today. This week, our challenge is to get rid of one thing that is taking up space that Jesus could occupy. This might be a temporary fast for a day, a week, or the rest of the month, or it could be eliminating it completely!
• Prayerfully identify and remove one thing that could be keeping you from connecting to Jesus. Don’t allow the packed nature of your life to keep you from making God the priority in your daily walk!
• Application: Eliminate one thing that crowds your connection to Jesus.
Call: How do we respond to the message?
• Altar moment: Create a space where students can respond by writing the thing they are giving up on a card or paper and placing it on the altar. Lead students in a moment of prayer, giving their time to Jesus!
• Small Group Questions:
1. How and why does our culture worship material things?
2. How does materialism affect you personally?
3. What does it mean to make space for Jesus? Why can this be challenging?
4. What can you eliminate from your life this week to connect to Jesus?