Youth Sermon: Fullness of Life

The Story of Ten Lepers

So, Jesus is walking along and these ten guys with leprosy call out to him. They're like, "Jesus, have mercy on us!" And Jesus, being the awesome guy he is, heals them. But here's the kicker - only one of them comes back to say thanks.

Jesus is like, "Wait a minute, didn't I heal ten of you? Where are the other nine?" (Luke 17:11-19)

This one guy, he gets it. He's not just thankful for being healed, he's thankful for Jesus. The other nine, they got the gift but missed the Giver.

They took the healing and ran. They missed out on the real gift - a relationship with Jesus.

The Gift and the Giver

It's like this. Imagine your best friend gives you the latest iPhone for your birthday. You're super excited about the phone, but you don't even say thanks to your friend. You just take the gift and run. That's pretty lame, right?

The Bible talks about this in Romans 1:20-32. It says when we don't honor God or give thanks, we're basically living like atheists. And that leads to all kinds of bad stuff - sin, pain, and a lack of love for others.

But when we're grateful, when we say thanks to God for all he's done, we're living a life that's full and abundant. We're living a life marked by the fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-24)

The Challenge

So, let's get real for a minute. Are there areas in your life where you're taking the gift and running? Are you missing out on the Giver?

What if, instead of getting angry or frustrated, you chose to be grateful? What if you said thanks to God for all he's done?

Imagine how that could change your life. Imagine the fruits of the Spirit that could grow in you.

So here's a challenge for you this week. Every day, find three things you're grateful for and say a prayer of thanks to God. It could be anything - a good grade on a test, a beautiful sunset, a kind word from a friend.

Prayer

God, thank you for all the good things in our lives. Help us to see your gifts and to say thanks. Help us to live lives marked by gratitude and filled with your Spirit. Amen.

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. What are some things you are grateful for and why?

2. How can showing gratitude change your perspective on life?

3. Can you think of a time when you were grateful for something difficult or challenging?

4. How can we show gratitude to God in our daily lives?

5. What are some ways we can cultivate a habit of gratitude?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
• Group Activity: Gratitude Journaling
• Youth Challenge: Gratitude Challenge