Youth Sermon: Do Not Conform

Introduction

Let's kick things off with a little experiment. I've got a video of a chameleon here. What's the first thing you notice about it? Right, it changes colors to blend in with its surroundings. It's a survival tactic. But here's the thing, we're not chameleons. We're not meant to blend in, but to stand out.

We're not meant to blend in, but to stand out.

Romans 12:2

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think."

Ever tried to act like someone else to fit in? We've all been there. But sometimes, we get so caught up in acting like someone else that we forget who we really are.

John 4:1-26

Remember the story of the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:1-26? Jesus didn't shy away from telling her the truth about her life. He offered her living water, a life that's way better than the one she was living.

[Read John 4:1-26]

Maybe you're trying to fit in by doing things that you know aren't right. But Jesus is offering you a better way.

John 5:1-9

In John 5:1-9, Jesus meets a man who's been sick for 38 years. He asks him, "Do you want to get well?" The man had gotten so used to his situation that he couldn't see a way out.

Are you stuck in a pattern that's not good for you? Jesus is asking you the same question, "Do you want to get well?"

The World vs God's Word

The world is like a big, loud speaker telling us to fit in, to want more, to be more. But God's Word is like a whisper in our hearts, telling us that we're already enough, that we're loved just as we are.

The world wants us to conform, but God's Word transforms us. If you're stuck in a negative pattern, maybe it's because you're not spending enough time with God's Word.

Challenge for the Week

So here's the challenge for this week: Spend some time each day reading the Bible. Let God's Word fill your mind and change the way you think.

Prayer

Let's pray.

God, help us to stand out and not blend in. Help us to break free from the patterns that aren't good for us. Transform us into the people you want us to be. Amen.

Remember, you're not a chameleon. You're meant to stand out. So, let's start living like it!

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. In what areas of your life are you conforming to the world?

2. How can you start transforming these areas?

3. What does it mean to renew your mind according to Romans 12:2?

4. How can spending more time in God's Word help you stand out for Christ?

5. Share a time when you chose to stand out rather than fit in. How did it make you feel?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Chameleon Challenge
• Group Activity: Transformation Journey
• Youth Challenge: Word Over World Challenge