Youth Sermon: Seek and Save the Lost

Introduction

Today, we're going to talk about a story from the Bible that shows us how Jesus can change our lives. It's about a guy named Zacchaeus, who was a tax collector and not very popular because of it. But when he met Jesus, everything changed. What I want you to walk away from this with is that Jesus can save us from the bad stuff we do and help us live better lives.

Before we dive into the story, let's do a quick object lesson. I want you to think of a time when you got a stain on your favorite shirt. Maybe it was ketchup, or mud, or even paint. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn't get that stain out, right? That's kind of like the sin in our lives. We can't get rid of it on our own, but Jesus can help us clean it up.

Jesus can save us from the bad stuff we do and help us live better lives.

The Story of Zacchaeus

Now, let's look at the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. Zacchaeus was a tax collector, which means he took money from people for the government. He was pretty rich, but nobody liked him because he cheated people out of their money. One day, Jesus came to town, and Zacchaeus wanted to see him. But he was too short to see over the crowd, so he climbed a tree to get a better view.

When Jesus saw Zacchaeus up in the tree, he called him down and invited himself over for dinner. This was a big deal because eating with someone meant you respected them. The people in the crowd didn't like this and started complaining that Jesus was hanging out with a sinner.

But something amazing happened at dinner. Zacchaeus realized he needed to change his ways, so he promised to give back the money he had taken from people and to be more honest. Jesus said that salvation had come to Zacchaeus' house that day.

Lessons from the Story

So, what can we learn from this story? First, we need to remember that Jesus doesn't just save us from the consequences of our sin, but he also saves us from the power of sin. He can help us break free from the bad stuff we do and live better lives.

Second, we need to be more like Jesus and less like the judgmental crowd. Instead of looking down on people who mess up, we should try to help them and show them God's love.

Application

Now, let's think about how we can apply this to our own lives. Maybe there's someone at school who's always getting into trouble or who doesn't have many friends. Instead of avoiding them or talking about them behind their back, try inviting them to sit with you at lunch or hang out after school. Show them that you care and that Jesus loves them too.

Prayer

Let's pray: 'Lord, thank you for the story of Zacchaeus and the reminder that you can save us from our sins and help us live better lives. Help us to be more like you and to show your love to others, even when it's hard. Amen.'

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. How have you experienced Jesus' salvation in your daily life?

2. In what ways can you be more like Jesus in your relationships with others?

3. How can you practice table fellowship and build connections with those who may be far from God?

4. What are some practical ways you can help others experience Jesus' salvation in their lives?

5. How can our youth group better reach out to those who are lost or struggling with sin?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Tree Finding Race
• Group Activity: Table Fellowship Night
• Youth Challenge: Be Like Jesus Challenge