Youth Sermon: Looking Ahead (New Year’s)

Introduction

Hey guys, I heard this cool quote from a pro golfer named Tom Lehman. He said, “Everyone needs three things to live well: something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to.”

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

We all need something to do, right? School, sports, hobbies, even just hanging out with friends. And we all need someone to love. It's not just about being loved, but also about loving others.

But today, let's talk about the third thing: having something to look forward to.

“Everyone needs three things to live well: something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to.”

As Jesus followers, we don't need to regret our past.

You know that funny segment on Saturday Night Live called Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey? One of my favorites was, “If you drop your car keys into a river of molten lava, don’t stick your hand in to get them back. Because man, they’re gone.”

In the same way, our past mistakes are gone when we follow Jesus. Psalm 103:12 says our sins are removed from us “as far as the East is from the West.”

We often say, “If I had known then what I know now…” or “If I could do it over again…” But the truth is, we can't change the past. Regret is a useless emotion. God promises to use everything in our lives, even our mistakes, to bring about His ultimate purposes.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

God works in all things, including our own mess-ups! We learn more from our failures than our successes.

So, let's join the apostle Paul in saying, “But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Object Lesson

Imagine you're driving a car. There's a reason the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror. It's because what's ahead of you is way more important than what's behind you.

As Jesus followers, we're shaped by the future, not the past.

As Jesus followers, we're shaped by the future, not the past.

1 John 3:2-3 says, “Dear friends, we are now the children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”

Our hope for the future transforms us in the present. Just like a high school student shooting baskets all summer, driven by the hope of making the basketball team in the fall. Our behavior in the present is determined by our hope for the future.

In the concentration camps, Victor Frankl noticed that those who survived had something significant to look forward to. It didn't matter what the future goal was, as long as they had one. Our hope for the future shapes our behavior in the present.

So, as Fleetwood Mac sang, “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow.” The best is always yet to come!

Life Application

This week, I want you to think about your future. What are you looking forward to? What are your hopes and dreams? Write them down and pray about them. Remember, God has a plan for your future, and it's better than anything you can imagine.

Conclusion

As Jesus followers, we can face the future with hope. We leave behind regrets for the past because we believe that God works in all things to bring about His good purposes. So, let's keep thinking about tomorrow because that's where God is waiting for us with a bright future.

Let's pray: “God, thank you for the hope we have in you. Help us to look forward to the future with excitement and anticipation. Help us to leave our past mistakes behind and let our future shape us. In Jesus' name, Amen.”

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. What are some things you are looking forward to in the future?

2. How can you let go of past regrets and focus on the future?

3. How does your hope for the future shape your actions in the present?

4. How can you keep your focus on the future when things don't go as planned?

5. How does your faith in Jesus influence your view of the future?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Future Hopes and Dreams
• Group Activity: Creating Vision Boards
• Youth Challenge: Embrace the Future Challenge