Youth Sermon: The War in Heaven

Introduction

Hey guys! I've got some news for you today. Some of it's bad, some of it's good. But don't worry, the good news always wins in the end. You know how in superhero movies, the bad guys seem to be winning at first, but then the good guys always come back stronger and save the day? That's kind of how life works too.

You know how in superhero movies, the bad guys seem to be winning at first, but then the good guys always come back stronger and save the day? That's kind of how life works too.

Biblical Story

Let me tell you a story from the Bible. It's like a real-life superhero story. It's about a king named Jehoshaphat and his son Jehoram. Jehoshaphat made a big mistake. He married his son to a woman named Athaliah, who didn't believe in God. When Jehoram became king, he killed all his brothers to secure his position. Then, when Jehoram died, Athaliah killed all the royal heirs. It seemed like all hope was lost.

But here's where the superhero part comes in. There was one heir left, a boy named Joash. He was hidden and protected by Jehoshabeath and Jehoiada. And when the time was right, Joash was revealed as the true king, and Athaliah was defeated.

Object Lesson

Now, let's do a little object lesson. I want you all to take out your phones. Go ahead, I'll wait. Now, imagine your phone is like your life. You have control over what apps you download, who you text, what pictures you take. But what if someone else started making those decisions for you? What if they started downloading apps you didn't want, texting people you didn't know, taking pictures you didn't like? You wouldn't like that, would you?

That's kind of what happened with Jehoshaphat. He let someone else influence his decisions, and it almost led to disaster. But God was able to turn it around.

Conclusion

So here's the takeaway: Be careful who you let influence your decisions. Surround yourself with people who will encourage you to follow God. And remember, even when things look bad, God is always working behind the scenes to bring about good.

Let's pray: Lord, help us to make wise decisions and to surround ourselves with people who will encourage us to follow You. And when things look bad, help us to remember that You are always working for our good. Amen.

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. How does the story of Athaliah's reign and downfall relate to our lives today?

2. How can we keep hope alive when we are surrounded by bad news?

3. What does it mean to be 'yoked' with believers?

4. How can we ensure our relationships align with our faith?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Historical Role Play
• Group Activity: Creating a Chain of Hope
• Youth Challenge: Aligning Alliances