Youth Sermon: Take My Yoke: Learning From Jesus

Jesus' Offer of Rest

Hey guys, let's chat about something Jesus said that's pretty cool. You know how sometimes life feels like you're carrying a backpack full of bricks? School, friends, family, future plans - it all gets heavy, right? Well, Jesus gets it.

He said in Matthew 11:28-30, 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.'

Imagine this: You're hiking up a steep hill with that backpack full of bricks. It's tough, right? Now, imagine Jesus comes along with a lightweight backpack and says, 'Hey, swap your backpack with mine.' That's what He's offering us. His backpack, His yoke, is light and easy to carry.

His backpack, His yoke, is light and easy to carry.

The Challenge

But here's the catch: To swap backpacks, you've got to let go of yours. That means letting go of your plans, your ways, and learning from Him. It's about trusting Him to guide you. It's not always easy, but it's worth it.

And you know what? When you take His backpack, His yoke, you find rest. Not just like a good night's sleep rest, but a deep, soul-level peace. It's the kind of rest you feel when you know someone's got your back, and that someone is Jesus.

So, here's the challenge: Are you willing to swap backpacks? Are you ready to learn from Jesus and find that rest He's talking about? It's not about having all the answers, but about trusting Him to guide you.

Prayer

Let's pray:

Jesus, we're tired of carrying our heavy backpacks. We want to take Your yoke and learn from You. Help us to trust You, to let go of our plans and ways, and to find the rest You promise. Thank you for being gentle and humble in heart. We're ready to swap backpacks. Amen.

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. What does it mean to you to take Jesus' yoke upon yourself?

2. How can we learn from Jesus in our daily lives?

3. What burdens are you carrying that you need to give to Jesus?

4. How can taking Jesus' yoke help you find rest?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Yoke Relay
• Group Activity: Building a Light Yoke
• Youth Challenge: Embrace the Yoke Challenge