Youth Sermon: Our Greatest Hope

Introduction

Hey guys! Today, we're going to talk about something we all experience: disappointment. You know, those times when things don't go the way we want or expect them to. And sometimes, it feels like God isn't showing up when we need Him the most. But I want to share a story from the Bible that shows us that even when God doesn't meet our expectations, He's still working in amazing ways.

Main Teaching

1. The story of Lazarus (John 11:1-45) Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, but when Lazarus got sick, Jesus didn't show up right away. When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Mary and Martha were disappointed and upset that Jesus hadn't come sooner. But Jesus had a bigger plan in mind. He raised Lazarus from the dead, showing that He is the resurrection and the life.

2. God doesn't always meet our expectations, but He fulfills our greatest hopes (Revelation 21:4) Sometimes, we expect God to protect us from pain and suffering, but that's not always His plan. God's ultimate goal is to bring us into His loving community and give us eternal life with Him. One day, He will wipe away every tear and make everything right.

3. Jesus calls us by name (John 10:3) Just like Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, He calls each of us by name to come out of our darkness and live in His light. We can trust Jesus because He knows us personally and loves us deeply.

So, what does this mean for us? It means that even when life is tough and God seems far away, we can trust that He's still working in our lives. He might not always meet our expectations, but He will always fulfill our greatest hopes. And the best part? He knows and loves each of us by name.

Let's remember that when we face disappointments, we can turn to Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life. He will help us through our struggles and lead us into His loving community.

Prayer

"Dear Jesus, thank You for being the resurrection and the life. Help us to trust You even when things don't go the way we expect. Remind us that You know and love each of us by name, and that You have amazing plans for our lives. In Your name, we pray. Amen."

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. Have you ever experienced a situation where God seemed absent or distant? How did you handle it?

2. How can we support each other and be the loving community of God when someone is going through a difficult time?

3. In what ways can we trust God to fulfill our greatest hopes, even when things don't go as we expect?

4. How can we respond to Jesus' call to "come out" of our fears, shame, and darkness, and live in the light of His love?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Name that Emotion
• Group Activity: Tomb Escape
• Youth Challenge: Come Out of the Tomb Challenge