Youth Sermon: Impact

The Ripple Effect of Living Generously

You know when you toss a pebble into a pond, and it creates ripples that spread out? That's what we're talking about. Our actions, like that pebble, can create ripples that impact others. We've all been influenced by someone, and that person was influenced by someone before them. It's like a chain reaction that goes all the way back to God, who made us in His image and invited us to be part of His story. The impact of the Gospel and generosity spreads through this ripple effect.

In the early church, we see this ripple effect in action. Acts 2:42-46 tells us how the believers shared everything they had and looked out for each other. This was their way of responding to Jesus' love, who gave His all for us. The impact of Jesus' generosity created a ripple effect that kept going through the early church and still affects churches today. To keep this ripple effect going, we gotta grow in the grace of giving, just like Paul encourages in 2 Corinthians 8:7.

Our actions, like that pebble, can create ripples that impact others.

Sharing Stories of Generosity

To make our ripples bigger, we need to share stories of generosity. Jesus tells us to let our light shine before others, so they can see our good deeds and give props to our Father in heaven. Sharing stories of generosity isn't about getting a pat on the back; it's about giving God the glory. When we share these stories, we inspire others to be generous and keep the ripple effect going.

Living a Generous Life Leaves a Legacy

Living a generous life leaves a legacy. Legacy is like passing a baton in a relay race to the next generation. Generosity isn't just about what it does for us or the people we're generous to; it can impact future generations. Each act of generosity creates a ripple that can keep going even when we're not around. So, what kind of legacy do you want to leave? The most powerful legacy is one of generosity. By being generous today, we can impact people even after we're gone.

Practical Idea

Here's a practical idea: this week, find one way to be generous. It could be helping a sibling with their homework, giving up your seat on the bus, or sharing your lunch with someone who forgot theirs. Then, share your story with a friend and encourage them to do the same. Let's see how far our ripples can go!

Prayer

God, help us to get the hang of this generosity thing. Show us a chance to be generous today, and give us the guts to go for it. Amen.

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. Can you share a time when someone's generosity impacted you?

2. How can you be generous in your daily life?

3. What are some barriers to living generously, and how can you overcome them?

4. How does Jesus' generosity inspire you?

5. What legacy of generosity do you want to leave behind?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Ripple Effect
• Group Activity: Generosity Chain
• Youth Challenge: Generosity Challenge