Youth Sermon: 5 Biblical Truths About Time and Productivity

Introduction

Today we're going to talk about something we all wish we had more of - time. We're always running out of it, aren't we? Between school, homework, sports, friends, and family, it feels like there's never enough time in the day. But did you know the Bible has a lot to say about time and how we use it?

Let's start with a little object lesson. I want you to imagine a jar. This jar represents your day, and it's filled with big and small rocks. The big rocks are the important things in your life - God, family, school, friends. The small rocks are the less important things - video games, TV, social media. If you fill your jar with small rocks first, there won't be room for the big rocks. But if you start with the big rocks, the small rocks can fill in the gaps. That's what we're talking about today - making sure we're filling our days with the big rocks first.

That's what we're talking about today - making sure we're filling our days with the big rocks first.

Biblical Perspective

Let's look at what the Bible says. In Ephesians 5:15-17, Paul tells us to be careful how we live, to be wise, and to make the most of our time. He's basically saying, "Don't waste your time on the small rocks. Focus on the big ones."

So, how do we do that? Let's look at Jesus. He was the busiest guy around, but he always had time for the big rocks. He spent time with God, he helped people, he taught important lessons. He didn't waste time on the small rocks.

Lessons from the Bible

Here are five things we can learn from the Bible about time:

1. It's okay to want more time. We all wish we had more time to do the things we love. That's a good thing. God put that desire in our hearts.

2. Sin messed up our time. When sin entered the world, it made work hard and time short. We can't do everything we want to do, and that's frustrating.

3. God will finish what we can't. Even though we run out of time, God doesn't. He'll finish the work we can't.

4. The gospel gives us rest and ambition. We don't have to earn God's love. We already have it. That means we can rest and also work hard for God's kingdom.

5. We can learn from Jesus how to manage our time. Jesus was a pro at time management. He knew when to work and when to rest. He knew what was important and what wasn't.

Conclusion

So, what does this mean for us? It means we need to focus on the big rocks. Spend time with God. Love your family and friends. Work hard at school. Help others. Don't waste your time on the small rocks.

Let's pray.

God, help us to use our time wisely. Show us what the big rocks are in our lives and help us to focus on them. Thank you for giving us time and help us to use it for your glory. Amen.

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. How do you currently spend your time?

2. What changes can you make to use your time more wisely?

3. How can you apply the principles from Jesus' life to your own time management?

4. How does knowing that God will finish the work we leave unfinished affect how you view your own productivity?

5. How can you rest in the gospel and be ambitious in your work for God's kingdom?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Time Capsule
• Group Activity: Time Management Challenge
• Youth Challenge: Time Audit