Youth Group Lesson on Valentine’s Day

Here’s a free youth group lesson on Valentine’s Day, based on John 3:16, on the incredible love of God.

The big ideas of the lesson…

God showed his love for us by:

  • Sacrificing his son
  • Giving us free will
  • Sacrificing time

Enjoy the lesson!

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YOUTH GROUP LESSON ON VALENTINE’S DAY

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS LESSON

Bible Verse: John 3:16 (MSG)

Introduction: (Nice touch would be to play the song “What is Love” by Haddaway while the speaker is approaching to talk to the audience)

Who here loves Valentine’s Day?

Why? (take a few answers from the audience)

So, the gifts, the candy, the fact that someone you love is expressing their love for you! Great answers.

For one day love is expressed…

It’s the focus…

It’s on display!

Anyone know the history of Valentine’s Day? (take a few answers from the audience).

Back in 496…that’s the year 496…not an area code…St. Valentine was martyred for marrying persecuted Christians.

There is also another story that says he prayed for the daughter of his jailor and she was healed.

Another story says right before he was executed, he wrote a letter to the girl that was healed and signed it “My Valentine”.

So why does this matter?

Because we can see parallels from what St. Valentine did, to what God did for us.

So to answer the question…what is love? It’s sacrifice!

How is the meaning of love sacrifice? Well let’s break it down.

St. Valentine SACRIFICED his freedom to marry persecuted christians.

St. Valentine SACRIFICED his integrity and reputation by having the faith to pray for the daughter of his jailor.

St. Valentine SACRIFICED his life and was obedient to God.

Speaking of God…what does all this talk of St. Valentine have to do with God?

Read John 3:16 (MSG)

You may be saying really…the most played out bible verse in history…and you want me to sit here and read this again?

Yes!

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.”

POINT #1: God sacrificed His Son.

It says it right there in the beginning of the verse…God loved the world so much, he gave his one and only son…

Do you know any fathers that would give up their one and only son so someone else can live?

Can you even imagine how difficult that is?

Tell me one thing that you can not live without (this doesn’t have to be deep and spiritual, it can be material).

Maybe your iPhone…

Your tablet or laptop…

Maybe your blanky…hahaha!!

Not take that thing…image it, picture it…

Now think about giving it away to someone you don’t even know.

You know what that is called…love, sacrifice!

POINT #2: God gave us free will.

What do I mean by that?

God is God. He created the universe and everything in it.

Mountains…

Mars…

Cute little puppies…

Coffee…

If He really wanted to, he could have accomplished everything he did in and through Jesus from heaven.

He could have snapped his fingers and made us believe in him…but that isn’t love…that’s control!

Just like St. Valentine didn’t have to go to these persecuted christians and marry them…

Just like St. Valentine didn’t have to pray for the daughter of his jailor…

God didn’t have to come to earth,

Wait 30 years to finally begin his ministry; go through 3 years of persecution and people hating on him; then die a painful, embarrassing death…to beat sin’s biggest weapon (death).

He could have done that some other way, He could have controlled all of us like robots, but he sent his one and only son, something very near and dear to him, and sacrificed it!

POINT #3: God sacrificed time.

From the creation of the universe to the Garden of Eden to Adam and Eve messing up to all of the events of the Old Testament to Jesus to the church as we know it…

God has sacificed a lot of time!!

Like I said, God could have fixed this thing in like 2 minutes if he wanted to, but he didn’t.

At the end of the day, how do you know that someone really loves you?

Because they buy you flowers and chocolate one time out of the year?

Because they spend a bunch of money on one present on one day in February?

Because they gave you a tear jerking greeting card that has a bunch of words that you never actually hear from this person through out the rest of the year?

No! When it seems like your life is falling apart, they are right there holding you hand…crying with you…spending time with you!

Why do you think Jesus waited 30 years to start his ministry? Because he took the time to be with the people he wanted to minister to!

He didn’t heal people just on February 14th…

He didn’t teach just one day out the year…

He sacrificed.

Life.

Control.

Time.

What is love? That is love!!

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

What is your favorite Valentine’s candy?

What is that one thing that you feel you can not live without? How hard would it be to sacrifice that one thing?

How does giving up control go hand and hand with love? In other words, how does giving up control of something show that you love it?

How does spending time with someone or something reflect your love? This could be relatives, boyfriend/girlfriend, hobbies, sports, etc…

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS LESSON

End lesson.

Looking for youth ministry curriculum? Check out the…

ONE YEAR PASS – For one year save 93% on $1,440 worth of youth group lessons, Bible studies, games, events & more. Only available through March 28!

If you like this lesson, then you’ll also like this Valentine’s Day lesson on True Love.

17 Replies to “Youth Group Lesson – Valentine’s Day”

  1. Johnson C Arthur
    • January 27, 2016

    I am just a beginner in preaching the word of God. This particular piece of message is really interesting and I look forward to incorporate in the Valentine Day’s message I will be preaching this year. Thanks.

    Reply 1 Response
    1. Nick Diliberto
      • January 28, 2016

      You’re welcome! Awesome!

      Reply
  2. Zoran Josea
    • February 1, 2016

    Awesome Lesson. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply 1 Response
    1. Nick Diliberto
      • February 2, 2016

      You’re welcome!

      Reply
  3. Norma
    • February 4, 2016

    Good lessons thank you so much.God bless you

    Reply
  4. Vanna Nhep
    • January 8, 2018

    Thank you very much for sharing, it is very good lesson. God bless you and ministry

    Reply 1 Response
    1. Kristy Preston
      • January 8, 2018

      We are so glad you benefited from the lesson. God Bless!

      Reply
  5. Becky
    • February 10, 2018

    Great Lesson on love! Thank you

    Reply 1 Response
  6. Troy
    • February 15, 2018

    Thank you. I intend to adapt and use this lesson in the youth group I am running.

    It really is good of you to provide such an easy adaptable, respectful way to engage with teenagers, this seems like it can work with non Christians and Christians alike. Will keep a close eye on this website for the future

    Reply 1 Response
    1. Kristy Preston
      • February 15, 2018

      Troy, we appreciate the feedback and we are so happy to hear these lessons are a good fit for your ministry. God Bless!

      Reply
  7. Emmanuel
    • February 17, 2018

    Thank you for this easy to digest message. more grace, please I intend to adapt this to my sermon tomorrow in our youth weekend service. Thank you so much

    Reply 1 Response
  8. Amusa moses o
    • February 14, 2021

    Very interesting lesson

    Reply
  9. Asake Kadiri
    • January 30, 2023

    Find the message Interesting and engaging. Thanks

    Reply
  10. Olubunmi Onagbeso
    • February 3, 2024

    Great lessons easily adaptable content, I intend using the lessons for our teenagers today- 4/02/2024 in Lagos, Nigeria

    Reply
  11. Rachel
    • February 13, 2024

    I love this. It’s very brief and powerful. I’ll like to share it with my teens today.

    Reply

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