Love is a word that we use freely. I love coffee. I love french fries. I love this movie.

If we take a moment to stop and consider the word ‘love’, all other loves fall short when compared to God’s love for us.

Sadly, the students in your ministry can easily become immune to the ‘love of God’ talks.

It is pretty basic, right?

God loves us. No matter what.

Yet, many students think they have to earn his love or don’t feel worthy of it.

Use this free lesson, based on Romans 8:38-39, to help students understand how much God really does love them!

Nick Diliberto, Ministry to Youth

Looking for youth ministry curriculum? Check out the…

Thank FULL Series – A new 4-week youth ministry series about being FULL of thanks and appreciating the grace, faithfulness and goodness of God.

YOUTH GROUP LESSON ON GOD’S LOVE

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS LESSON

Bible:  Romans 8:38-39

Bottom Line: NOTHING can separate us from the love of God.  

SUPPLIES

  • Printed lyrics to love songs
  • Printed copies of Romans 8:38-39 (one for each student)
  • Heart cut outs
  • Tape
  • Black sharpies

OPENING GAME – LOVE, DON’T LAUGH

Have students stand in a circle and then sit down.

Choose one person to be ‘it’ and give them the lyrics to a love song. They go around the circle and choose someone to sign the words of the song to. The person being sung to cannot smile or laugh. If they do, then they’re “it” for the next round. If they don’t “It” continues until someone ‘breaks’.  Have a few current love songs lyrics ready to give to the students to use. Or, if you like, pick some popular love songs from the 80’s or 90’s.

TEACH – GOD’S LOVE

It’s a word that is used a lot these days.

I love that food….I love that new song….I love that team…I love that purse…. (add any current examples that might be relevant).

But, sometimes the way that we talk about love, we are really talking about emotions very different from ‘love’.

I’m not sure if any of you have experienced a ‘first love’, but it can be brutal.

Share a story of your first love and try to make it a light hearted one! If you don’t have one there are plenty of great stories on line. Especially, if you look for most embarrassing first dates! 

Love.

What words come to your mind when I say the word “Love”?

There is a great deal of study that has gone into the importance of love.

Let me ask it this way: What do you think are the things that are key to helping us to live? What are our basic needs?

Write down their answer on the board as they share such things as shelter, food, clean water, etc. 

There was this guy named Maslow who created this great tool showing us the importance of love.

Draw a simplified version of this diagram:

maslow-pyramid

As you can see from this diagram, we all have a basic need for things like food, water, warmth, rest, etc. Those are all basic needs we share.

As you move up the diagram, there are other needs we need once our basic ones are met. The next set of needs is security & safety, then a sense of “belonging and love”.

We ALL need love.

Notice it’s a real need…right after food, water, shelter, safety and security (which are all very basic).

Just think of all the books, songs, poems, and movie written about love.

Have students list some that come to mind.   

Think about all the fights and wars that have been fought in the name of love.

Love is a powerful powerful thing.

Why do you think that love is so powerful and important?

Here’s the thing about love, though.

As humans, we didn’t create it and we certainly haven’t perfected it, right?

What are some of the things that get in the way of love? Have youth name some of the issues humans face regarding love. 

But, there is one who has mastered love.

Give each youth a printed copy of Romans 8:38-39 and say:

We are going to read this amazing scripture together.

Each person will read one sentence of phrase and then another person can read the next and so on.

You don’t’ HAVE to read, but it will be very cool for us to read all of this together.

I will begin our reading.

Read Romans 8:38-39 as a group.

Take some time silently now to read this scripture again. Underline the words that stick out to you.

And as you read this, let the words really soak in: Nothing can separate you from God’s love.

Nothing will ever make Him stop loving you.

Give the youth 5 minutes to read the scripture silently. 

Which of these words stuck out to you?

Were you surprised by any parts of the verse?

Give the group a chance to share.  

Up front are hearts and Sharpies and tape.

Choose one of the words that stuck out to you or even just write a thought to God about the love that He has for you.

Then, come and get a heart and write your thoughts on the heart and tape it to the wall around us.

Play soft music as the youth come to write on their hearts and be available for prayer. 

When everyone has had a chance to write on their heart and tape it around the room say:

You are surrounded by love in this room.

Maybe you have never really experienced the love of God.

Maybe you still worry that you aren’t worthy of His love.

But, please listen to these words: God loves you.

And NOTHING can separate you from His love.

Spend some time just trying to wrap your brain and heart around that because it is huge.

God thinks that you are pretty amazing!  He loves you.

As you leave, walk around the room and read the hearts and take the scripture we read with you. Whether or not you feel the love of God….His love is real and it is yours.

He loves you.

So much.

And nothing, not even your doubt, can separate you from his love.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Which part of the scripture stuck out to you the most and why?

If you want to share, what did you write on your heart?

Why do you think it is hard for some to believe that God loves them?

Has there ever been a time when you worried that God might not love you?  If so, why?

How does it make you feel to know that not hing can separate you from God’s love?

Close in prayer.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS LESSON

End lesson.

Looking for youth ministry curriculum? Check out the…

Thank FULL Series – A new 4-week youth ministry series about being FULL of thanks and appreciating the grace, faithfulness and goodness of God.

Liked this lesson? You’ll also like this…

Youth Group Lesson on Doubt

16 Replies to “Youth Group Lesson on God’s Love”

  1. Joan Dunn
    • September 13, 2016

    Great lesson . Love all of your work !! Do you have any lessons for younger youth , grades 3rd- 5th???

    Reply 1 Response
    1. Nick Diliberto
      • September 16, 2016

      No, but one of our other websites is dedicated to preteen ministry – preteenministry.net. Lots of great stuff there for that age group.

      Reply
  2. Diane Labie
    • September 13, 2016

    Nick, I teach at a mission school and we make do with the resources we have but let me say how useful your free downloads are to me. I teach in the high school and sometimes it’s a real challenge finding resources. May you continue being blessed in your ministry.

    Reply
  3. Lindiwe Angela Mhlongo
    • September 13, 2016

    Hi. I’m Lindiwe from Johannesburg, South Africa. I teach Sunday school and teenagers. This site is close to my heart as it helps me with youth lessons which the teenagers in my class enjoy. Since I started using your lessons I’ve seen God invite more and more teenagers to the class. Your site is helping me spread the Gospel to more teenagers than I thought I would. Keep up the good work. God bless you.

    Reply 1 Response
    1. Nick Diliberto
      • September 16, 2016

      That’s great. So happy we’re able to help your ministry!

      Reply
  4. Patricia Nyandoro
    • September 16, 2016

    Thank you for this wonderful lesson. I will surely use it for my youth group session. God bless you for empowering us for ministry.

    Reply 1 Response
    1. Nick Diliberto
      • September 20, 2016

      Patricia…you’re welcome!

      Reply
  5. samuel
    • December 18, 2016

    hello!! my name is samuel from dar es salaam Tanzania, may our God almight bless you for this superb site that help to transform youth spiritually so much. may you continue prepairing more of this

    Reply
  6. Olubisi
    • February 22, 2018

    Thank you Nick for this great Bible lesson on God’s love. It’s been really helpful. God bless and keep you always. More grace

    Reply 1 Response
    1. Kristy Preston
      • February 22, 2018

      Olubisi, you are so welcome! We are glad to help. God Bless you as well.

      Reply
  7. Charlisa Dixon
    • August 19, 2018

    Great lesson! I am starting a FCA group at my daughter’s school. This is a fun wonderful lesson on Love. I love to get more lessons. Thanks!

    Reply 1 Response
  8. Sandra
    • September 14, 2019

    Thanking God for your generosity and heart to help us teach our youth to grow in their faith. Praying and thanking God for you guys!

    Reply
  9. cindy l evans
    • February 8, 2020

    I am a new youth teacher in our church. I have never taught older children before but feel that this is what God is calling for me to do. I did not have anyone to tell me about God’s love growing up, but thankfully after I married my mother in law helped me to find Jesus my savior and Lord. This lesson about God’s love will be perfect for this week of Valentines. I ask that you say a prayer for me that I might be able to reach our youth with this lesson and maybe help them to open their hearts to the Lord. God Bless you in your work for others.

    Reply 1 Response
    1. Kristy Preston
      • February 8, 2020

      Thank you for sharing your heart with us Cindy. We will be praying for you all.

      Reply
  10. Phumi Mdlalose
    • August 13, 2022

    I love what God Is Doing through and in you. I love the lesson plans. In all honesty they apply to me as well. I Believe I and The Future Leaders Will grow As we feast in The Word of God.

    To God Be The Glory and Honor In Christ Jesus.

    Thank you for the geeat work and sharing with us, In Christ Jesus Amen, amen 🙏

    Reply

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