Youth Sermon: Mercy Over Judgment

Introduction

Today, we're going to talk about mercy. It's that thing where someone shows you kindness even when you don't deserve it. So, let's dive right in!

Biblical Story: Luke 13:10-17

First, let's look at a story from the Bible. In Luke 13:10-17, Jesus is teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath, and He sees this woman who's been crippled for 18 years. He calls her over, prays for her, and she's healed! But some people get upset because Jesus did this on the Sabbath, a day when no work was supposed to be done. Jesus points out that they're more willing to help their animals on the Sabbath than to help this woman. Ouch.

Jesus points out that they're more willing to help their animals on the Sabbath than to help this woman.

Object Lesson: Mercy

Now, let's do a quick object lesson to help us understand mercy a bit better. I have here a big bag of candy. Imagine that none of you did anything to deserve this candy, but I decide to give it to you anyway. That's mercy! It's getting something good even when you don't deserve it.

Biblical Story: Matthew 9:10-13

So, back to our Bible stories. In another story, Jesus is hanging out with some people who were considered "sinners" by the religious leaders. They get all upset, but Jesus tells them that He came to help people who need it, not those who think they're perfect. He says, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:10-13). Basically, Jesus is saying that showing kindness and compassion is more important than just following a bunch of rules.

"I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:10-13)

Application

Now, let's think about how this applies to our lives. We all mess up sometimes, right? And we're all super grateful when someone shows us mercy instead of just getting mad at us. So, our challenge is to show that same mercy to others.

Instead of getting mad at your sibling for taking your stuff, try to understand why they did it and show them some kindness. Or if your friend is acting weird, instead of just avoiding them, try to find out what's going on and help them out.

The cool thing is, when we show mercy to others, it can really make a difference. Just like the people in the synagogue who saw Jesus heal the woman, we can be amazed and inspired by acts of mercy. And when we show mercy, we're following Jesus' example and showing His love to the world.

Prayer

So, let's pray together and ask God to help us be more merciful.

"Lord, Thank You for showing us mercy even when we don't deserve it. Help us to be more like You and show mercy to others. Give us the strength and wisdom to know when and how to show kindness and compassion. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. How have you experienced God's mercy in your own life?

2. Why do you think it's important to show mercy to others?

3. Can you think of a time when you chose to follow rules instead of showing mercy? How did that situation turn out?

4. How can we be more aware of the needs of others and extend mercy in our daily lives?

5. What are some practical ways we can practice mercy in our relationships with friends, family, and others in our community?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Broken Rules and Undeserved Kindness
• Group Activity: Noticing Needs and Extending Mercy
• Youth Challenge: Practice Mercy Challenge