Youth Sermon: Action

Introduction

Today, we're talking about being generous.

Here's the deal: wanting to be generous isn't enough. We've got to do something about it. It's like wanting to get fit. You can't just wish for it; you've got to eat right and work out. Same with generosity. We've got to do generous stuff.

So, what are you doing to be generous? What can you do today to make someone's day better? When we start giving, we start seeing chances to give everywhere. It's like when you get a new pair of shoes, and suddenly you see everyone wearing the same ones. Our brains start looking for more chances to give. It's pretty cool how God and our brains work together when we start giving.

We've got to do generous stuff.

Biblical Story

But sometimes, even when we want to give, we freeze up. Let's look at a story from the Bible to see why.

In Matthew 14:15-21, Jesus is hanging out with a huge crowd of hungry people. His friends, the disciples, tell Jesus about the problem, expecting him to fix it. But Jesus says, "You give them something to eat." The disciples freak out a bit, saying they only have five loaves of bread and two fish. Sound familiar? We see a need, but our first thought is, "I don't have enough." We let our limits stop us from doing anything.

But Jesus doesn't let his friends off the hook. He tells them to bring what they have to him. They have five loaves and two fish, but they also have Jesus. When they stop focusing on their limits and bring what they have to Jesus, he does something amazing. The food multiplies, and everyone gets fed. The disciples' action of bringing what they had to Jesus made all the difference.

Lesson

Here's the lesson: when we bring what we have to God, he can do amazing things. It's a simple formula: What We Have + Who God is = Enough. We need to trust God and not focus on our limits. God wants to use our giving to change lives, and it changes us too. Giving has real benefits, like feeling happier and less stressed. Giving makes everything better.

Let's do a quick object lesson. (Bring out a small bag of popcorn kernels.) This small bag of popcorn kernels doesn't look like much, right? But when we add heat (light a small fire or use a popcorn machine), these small kernels transform into a big bowl of popcorn. Just like these popcorn kernels, our small acts of generosity can transform into big blessings when we bring them to God.

Conclusion

So, how do we go from wanting to give to actually giving? Start small. Don't wait for big chances; start with the people around you. Trust that God will give you bigger chances as you're faithful with the small ones. Proverbs 11:24 says, "The world of the generous gets larger and larger." When we start giving, the world opens up, and chances to give are everywhere. Don't let your limits hold you back. Trust God to make your small acts big. Move from wanting to doing. You'll be amazed at what happens.

Let's pray together.

God, we want to live large by being generous. Show us a chance to give today. Help us see it and give us the guts to do it. Amen.

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. What is one way you can be generous today?

2. How can you overcome the limitations that hold you back from being generous?

3. How have you seen God multiply your efforts when you've been generous in the past?

4. What is one small act of generosity you can commit to doing this week?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Generosity Scavenger Hunt
• Group Activity: Generosity Challenge
• Youth Challenge: Small Acts, Big Impact