Youth Sermon: What Are You Holding Onto?

Introduction

Hey everyone! Today, we're going to talk where we put our hope; the thing we hold onto when life gets tough. What I want you to walk away with is: there's only one thing we can truly rely on, and that's Jesus.

Before we dive in, let me show you something. (Hold up a small, flimsy-looking anchor.) Check out this anchor. It's pretty small and weak, right? Imagine trying to hold a huge boat in place with this thing. It wouldn't work! Just like this anchor, there are things in our lives that we might think can hold us steady, but they're not strong enough.

What I want you to walk away with is: there's only one thing we can truly rely on, and that's Jesus.

Biblical Stories

Now, let's look at some stories from the Bible that show us what happens when we put our hope in the wrong things.

First, we've got the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-20. This guy thought he could find happiness by leaving his family and spending all his money on wild living. But when he ran out of cash, he realized he had put his hope in the wrong place. So, he went back home, and his dad welcomed him with open arms.

Then there's the story of the Rich Young Ruler in Mark 10:17-23. He wanted to follow Jesus, but he couldn't let go of his wealth. He was holding onto it so tightly that he couldn't grab onto Jesus.

The True Anchor

So, what's the deal with these stories? They show us that we often put our hope in things that can't really help us. We might think that having lots of money, being popular, or getting good grades will make us happy and secure. But those things can't hold us steady when life gets tough.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:19-21 that we shouldn't put our hope in earthly treasures because they can be destroyed or stolen. Instead, we should focus on the things that really matter, like our relationship with God.

This week, take some time to think about what you're holding onto. Is it something that can really keep you steady, or is it like that flimsy anchor I showed you earlier? If you find that you're holding onto something that can't truly help you, try to let it go and grab onto Jesus instead.

Closing Prayer

Let's pray together: "God, thank you for always being there for us. Help us to let go of the things we're holding onto that can't really help us. Show us how to put our hope in you, the one true anchor for our lives. Amen."

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. What are some things you are holding onto that you need to let go of?

2. How can you seek the Kingdom of God in your daily life?

3. How can you strengthen your relationship with Jesus?

4. Share a time when you realized you were holding onto something that wasn't firm or secure.

5. How can we support each other in letting go of false securities and holding onto Jesus?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Earthly Treasures vs. Heavenly Treasures
• Group Activity: Creating a Personal Anchor
• Youth Challenge: Letting Go and Holding Onto Jesus