Youth Sermon: Love is More Than a Theory

Understanding Love

You know how you have all these ideas about what you're going to do when you grow up? You've got it all planned out, right? But then reality hits, and it's not as easy as you thought. That's kind of like love. We all talk about love, we hashtag it, we post about it, but do we really know what it means to love?

[Read Matthew 22:35-40]

When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, He didn't hesitate. He said, "Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself." Sounds simple, right? But let's be real, love can get messy.

We all talk about love, we hashtag it, we post about it, but do we really know what it means to love?

How Did Jesus Love?

Jesus didn't just talk about love, He showed it. He hung out with people who were different from Him, who were looked down on. He knew their names, heard their stories, and even ate with them. He loved them in their mess. Love wasn't just a theory for Him, it was His whole life.

Love is Like a PB&J Sandwich

Think about making a PB&J sandwich. It's simple, right? But it can get messy. The peanut butter sticks to the knife, the jelly drips on the counter. But in the end, you have a delicious sandwich. That's like love. It can be messy, but it's worth it.

Turning Love into Action

Talking about love isn't enough. We need to show it. It might be hard, but it's also rewarding. Let's step out of our comfort zones and start loving the people around us. Start with your friends, classmates, or even that kid who sits alone at lunch. Let's pray for God to bring people into our lives who need love, and be ready to show them love. Let's turn our love into action this week.

Let's end with a prayer:

God, help us to see the people around us who need love. Give us the courage to step out of our comfort zones and show them Your love. Help us to turn our theories about love into action. Amen.

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. Who is one person you find difficult to love and why?

2. What are some practical ways you can show love to this person?

3. Share a time when you felt loved by someone else. How did it make you feel?

4. How can we love others despite the messiness and challenges?

5. How can we put our theories about love into action?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: BBQ Ribs Challenge
• Group Activity: Love in Action Project
• Youth Challenge: Love One Person Challenge