Youth Sermon: Understanding the Story of Jesus

Introduction

Hey guys, let's dive into a cool story today. You know how we all love a good story, right? Well, the Bible is like the ultimate storybook. But sometimes, we get the story all mixed up. We're going to look at the first chapter of Mark's Gospel to help us get the story straight.

Let's pray: "God, we want to be part of your epic story, the one where you fix everything that's broken. We admit that we've made up our own versions of what we think you're about. Help us see your big picture today, and show us where we fit in."

Our Scripture today is from Mark 1:1-4; 14-15, and Luke 19:28-40.

We're going to look at the first chapter of Mark's Gospel to help us get the story straight.

The Story of Israel

So, Jesus did his thing in Israel, right? That's the group of people God picked to be his own. God had a plan to use these folks to fix the world that had gone wrong.

N.T. Wright, a really smart guy, says in his book, Simply Christian, that Israel's story is all about leaving and coming back, being slaves and then being free. It's like the story of Adam and Eve getting kicked out of the Garden and God working to bring us back.

So, the Old Testament isn't just a bunch of rules, it's a Story. It's all about God making a group of people and using them to fix the world.

But this story needs an ending. Near the end of the Old Testament, a prophet named Malachi talks about a messenger who will get things ready for God. This messenger will make God's promises come true.

All four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - say the same thing: that the big story of the Old Testament finds its ending in Jesus.

The Good News of Christianity

Mark 1:1-4 says, "The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way' - a voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" And then, John the Baptist shows up, telling people to say sorry for their sins.

Then in verses 14-15, Jesus says, "The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"

So, Christianity isn't just about being good or knowing stuff about God. It's about God fixing things and making us right.

Imagine this: You're playing a video game, and you're stuck on a level. You've tried everything, but you just can't beat it. Then, your friend comes over, takes the controller, and beats the level for you. That's the Good News of Christianity. Something amazing has happened, and we need to tell others about it.

But what if your friend came over and just gave you advice on how to beat the level? That's not as exciting, right? That's because advice is uncertain, but good news is certain.

Understanding the Real Story of Jesus

We need to understand the real story of Jesus. His friends often got it wrong.

James and John wanted to be big shots in Jesus' kingdom. Jesus tells them that the greatest in his kingdom is the one who serves others.

Peter didn't like it when Jesus talked about suffering and dying. Jesus tells him that he's thinking like a human, not like God.

Philip asks to see God the Father. Jesus tells him that if you've seen Jesus, you've seen the Father.

After Jesus came back to life, his friends asked if he was going to take over Israel. Jesus tells them that they will get power to tell others about him, not power to rule.

The problem is that we can believe the right things but still get the story wrong. We might think that God is far away and that we just need to escape this world. But that's not the story the Bible tells.

The Bible's story is that God sent Jesus to be the King we've been waiting for. Jesus died for us, taking all the bad stuff on himself. He came back to life to start making everything new, and we get to be part of it.

In Mark 1:14-15, Jesus tells us to rethink our understanding of his story and our place in it. We also need to rethink what God is doing to make everything new.

Conclusion

So, here's the deal: Don't miss out on the real story. Don't just be a spectator, be a player in God's epic game of life. And remember, it's not about getting the highest score or the most power-ups. It's about serving others, sharing the good news, and being part of God's team.

Let's pray: "God, help us to see the real story and our place in it. Help us to share the good news and to serve others. Thank you for inviting us to be part of your team. Amen."

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. How does the story of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark differ from your previous understanding of Jesus' story?

2. How do you see yourself in the story of Jesus?

3. What does it mean to you that Jesus is the long-awaited King of Israel?

4. How can we be part of God's project of New Creation?

5. What does it mean to rethink our understanding of Jesus' story and our place in it?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Story Swap
• Group Activity: Storyboard Creation
• Youth Challenge: Rethinking Our Story