YOUTH GROUP LESSON ON GRADUATION

When you’re a teenager, your entire life is ahead of you.

As graduation approaches, this truth becomes more real to your students and they may have questions about their future.

Entering college, moving out, or getting a job can cause young adults to feel excitement, anticipation, and fear… all at the same time.

They need reassurance that no matter what they face in the upcoming months and years – they have hope!

Use this lesson to encourage your students that God has an awesome plan for their future that is full of hope.

– Nick Diliberto, Ministry to Youth

Looking for youth ministry curriculum? Check out the…

SET APART – New 4-week youth ministry series about being holy (or set apart) in order to identify with God and live differently than those around us.

YOUTH GROUP LESSON ON GRADUATION

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS LESSON

Bible: Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)

Bottom Line: God has an awesome plan for your future that is full of hope.

OPENING GAME: MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

SUPPLIES

• Copy of Maybe/Maybe Not PPT Game – CLICK HERE
• 2 Signs – On one side write “Maybe” and the other side write “Maybe Not”

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

In this game, students will be shown a PPT slide with a photo, and a statement about someone who attempted a great feat.

They will guess whether or not the person was able to accomplish the achievement (MAYBE), or they failed (MAYBE NOT).

SAY: How many of you have ever tried to do something that people might say is impossible?

Today’s game is all about brave men and women who have put their all on the line to try to do something awesome.

Choose 2 volunteers to play the first round. Give each of them a Maybe/Maybe Not sign.

Each round of this game will go like this: You will be shown a photo and given a description of a great feat that someone has tried to accomplish.

You will then decide if you think the person was able to accomplish their achievement or not.

If you think they might have been able to do it, then display the “Maybe” side of your sign.

If you think that there’s a pretty good chance they couldn’t do it, then display the “Maybe Not” side of your sign.

You want to be the first one to guess because each of you have to guess a different answer.

The first one to display their answer determines what the other person has to guess.

The person who guesses correctly will get to stay for the next round.

There are 8 rounds… let’s get ready to play!

When a student answers incorrectly, switch them out for another player.

After the game us over, congratulate everyone on a job well done.

TEACH

Say: Do you think you’re ambitious enough to try some of the things we just saw?

Allow a couple of minutes for responses. 

Maybe some of you even had the thought, “I could have done that”, but honestly, unless you’ve tried what they were doing, you have no idea the amount of work and dedication that it took to even attempt some of those feats.

One thing I really admire about people that put it all out there for things that seem impossible is their willingness to try.

Let me highlight one of those people we just talked about in our game… the guy that took the time to fill out the Guinness World Records application to attempt to blow the biggest bubblegum bubble.

Here is a 43-year old man that is dedicated to blowing the world’s biggest bubble… he even has Twitter account dedicated to it!

If you read a little more about his story you discover that he has spent 20 years chewing 2 bags of Double Bubble bubblegum every week.

Here are some things he has learned about blowing bubbles: bubbles expand more in warm temperatures, that you need chew gum for at least 15 minutes before attempting to blow one (sugar decreases elasticity), and chew on the side of your mouth.

This man has bubblegum blowing down to a science!

At some point, in his young adult years, he started down a road that led him to a successful future doing something that was important to him.

That’s what we’re talking about today… your future.

Some of you are preparing to graduate this year, or in the next few years, and you have just started down this path into the future.

…And as exciting as that sounds, there are things that you just might not be sure of in your future… But, I want you to know that whether you start down a path to become the world record holder for bubblegum blowing, or you become the President of the United States, your future is full of hope.

Let’s read Proverbs 16:9 (NLT).

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

You see, right now, whether it is just an idea, or you know exactly what you want to do, there are things going on in your heart and mind that have to do with your future.

You might have a dream that seems unrealistic, or maybe you have been preparing for years to begin this journey into adulthood and you’re ready to go!

While you are making your plans, I hope you’re thinking about one part of this verse that we just read – the Lord directs your steps.

When God created you, it wasn’t accidental… He made you because He wanted to give you a life to live.

And God has an awesome plan for every person on the planet… there isn’t anyone who has ever been born that God doesn’t care about.

Keep in mind that what we view as an “awesome life” looks different for each person… and definitely looks different through the lens of God’s eyes.

“Awesome” might mean that you face circumstances that are hard, but you are able to encourage others in how you live through your hardship – that’s really awesome.

An “awesome life” may also mean that you are a mom or dad that takes care of a family, lives a modest life, and you feel contentment – also, awesome.

So, right now, there are dreams and plans that are being developed in your heart that are birthed from a loving God who wants the best for you.

As you travel down this road, there will be times, or seasons, when life is hard… when things aren’t fair and you wonder if God really does want good things for your life.

During these times, I hope you choose to put your trust in God.

Share a story from your own life that demonstrates how trusting in God helped you get through a difficult situation.

Think about this… You can choose to do whatever you want with your life because God has given you a free will.

But, one of the best decisions that you can make, right now at this stage in your life, is to offer up your plans to God, and allow Him to direct your steps… and then, trust God in where those steps lead in your life.

Who knows? We may have the next bubble blowing champion in this room!

Just remember that God has an awesome plan for your future that is full of hope.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS LESSON

Close in prayer.

Looking for youth ministry curriculum? Check out the…

SET APART – New 4-week youth ministry series about being holy (or set apart) in order to identify with God and live differently than those around us.