Youth Sermon: Would You Know Him?

Introduction

Hey everyone! Today, we're going to dive into an awesome story from the Bible that happened on the same day Jesus came back to life. It's about two regular people, just like you and me, who had an encounter with Jesus that changed their lives.

The main idea is that Jesus cares about each one of us, no matter how ordinary we think we are. He wants to open our hearts and minds to understand the truth about Him and set our hearts on fire with His love.

Before we get into the story, I want you to think of a time when you felt really excited or passionate about something. Maybe it was a sports game, a concert, or even a video game. Now, imagine trying to explain that excitement to someone who wasn't there. It's tough, right? That's kind of like what we're going to talk about today - how Jesus can set our hearts on fire with His love and how we can share that with others.

The main idea is that Jesus cares about each one of us, no matter how ordinary we think we are. He wants to open our hearts and minds to understand the truth about Him and set our hearts on fire with His love.

The Story of Cleopas and the Unknown Disciple

Alright, let's dive into the story from Luke 24:13-35. It's about two followers of Jesus, Cleopas and another person whose name we don't know, who were walking to a town called Emmaus. They were talking about everything that had happened with Jesus, and they were pretty upset and confused. Then, Jesus Himself joined them on their walk, but they didn't recognize Him.

Jesus asked them what they were talking about, and they told Him all about their hopes for Jesus as the Messiah and how those hopes were crushed when He was crucified. Jesus then explained to them, using the Scriptures, that the Messiah had to suffer and die before entering His glory. This was a mind-blowing idea for them!

As they sat down to eat together, Jesus broke bread and gave it to them, and suddenly they recognized Him. Their hearts were burning with excitement and love for Jesus, and they couldn't wait to tell others about their encounter with the risen Christ.

Application

So, what does this story have to do with us? First, it shows us that Jesus cares about each one of us, even if we feel like we're just ordinary people. He wants to open our hearts and minds to understand the truth about Him and set our hearts on fire with His love.

Second, it reminds us that Jesus is with us, even when we don't recognize Him. He's walking alongside us in our everyday lives, ready to reveal Himself to us if we're open to it.

Now, let's talk about how we can apply this to our lives. When our hearts are burning with love for Jesus, we can't help but want to share that love with others. But how do we do that? One way is to simply be genuine and enthusiastic about our faith. Share your excitement about Jesus with others, and let them see the difference He's made in your life.

Closing Prayer

"Lord, thank You for loving each one of us, no matter how ordinary we think we are. Open our hearts and minds to understand the truth about You and set our hearts on fire with Your love. Help us to share that love with others in a genuine and enthusiastic way. Amen."

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. Can you think of a time when you didn't recognize Jesus in your life? What happened and how did you eventually realize His presence?

2. Why do you think Jesus chose to reveal Himself to ordinary people, not just the "All-Star" disciples?

3. How does the idea of Jesus suffering for us impact your understanding of God's love?

4. What are some ways you can share the love of God with others without using arguments or debates?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Scripture Scramble
• Group Activity: Walk with Jesus
• Youth Challenge: Recognizing Jesus in Our Lives