Youth Sermon: Courageous Love

Introduction

Hey guys! You know how we all love superhero movies, right? The hero always sacrifices for others, fights the bad guys, and saves the day. Well, guess what? We have a real-life superhero, and His name is Jesus. He showed us the ultimate love by giving up His life for us. And He wants us to be superheroes too, by loving others courageously.

We have a real-life superhero, and His name is Jesus.

Main Teaching

Let's start with a story Jesus told. Imagine you're walking home from school and you see someone who's been beaten up and left on the side of the road. Two people walk by and do nothing. But then, someone you'd least expect, maybe someone you don't even like, stops and helps. That's what Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan is all about. It's about showing love, even when it's hard.

John, one of Jesus' best friends, wrote in 1 John 3:16-18 that we should love like Jesus did. If we see someone in need and do nothing, we're not showing God's love. Love isn't just about saying nice things, it's about doing nice things.

Being a superhero of love means sometimes we have to change our plans to help others. Jesus did this all the time. He was always ready to help, even when it wasn't convenient. We need to be open to those unexpected moments when we can show love to others.

Superhero love is all about compassion. In the Good Samaritan story, the Samaritan felt sorry for the man and did something about it. We need to ask ourselves, are we showing compassion or are we ignoring those in need?

Sometimes, we might feel guilty for not loving others well. But remember, God knows everything and He's bigger than our guilt. If we mess up, we can ask for forgiveness and try again.

The cool thing is, God's Spirit lives in us, and His love never runs out. We can love like superheroes because we have an unlimited source of love. The more love we give, the more we get. So, let's look for those unexpected moments this week where we can show love to others.

Conclusion

Just like our favorite superheroes, Jesus showed us what real love is. He gave up His life for us and He keeps on loving us every day. Let's let His love overflow from our hearts to others. Be ready for those unexpected moments to show love. Let's pray.

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. Can you recall a time when you showed courageous love to someone? How did it make you feel?

2. Why do you think it's sometimes hard to show love to others, especially when it requires sacrifice on our part?

3. How can we cultivate a heart that is moved by compassion?

4. What are some practical ways we can show courageous love in our daily lives?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Pass the Compassion
• Group Activity: Act of Courageous Love
• Youth Challenge: Challenge of Compassion