Every day we face situations that give us the opportunity to choose boldness in our faith in Christ.

Every day the students in your ministry face situations that give them the opportunity to make bold decisions in their faith.

Sometimes it’s easier to simply be silent or go along with the crowd.

In this lesson students will discover that God uses ordinary people who are bold to do amazing things!

Written by Tiffany Hollums

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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!

YOUTH GROUP LESSON ON BOLDNESS

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS LESSON

Bible: Acts 4:1-15

Bottom line: God uses ordinary people who are bold to do amazing things!  

SUPPLIES

  • Empty 2-liter soda bottles 
  • Balls that are soft and can be used for water fun
  • Water
  • Masking tape
  • Timer

OPENING GAME: BOLD BOWLING MAZE

Fill the empty soda bottles halfway with water.  

Divide the group into two equal numbered teams.  

Choose a space about the size of half a basketball court OUTSIDE to play.  

Explain: Each team will have a chance to set-up bottles in the shape of a maze.

Use the tape to make a single line the team has to follow throughout your maze. 

You will have these balls which you can use to roll through the maze to try and get the other team wet.  

BUT, your team has to stay outside of the maze while the other team goes through it.

If the team going through the maze tags one of you, you are out and have to sit on the side – which means it might be easy to lose teammates or balls in the maze.  

The other team is going to begin at the starting line of your maze and try to run through the maze (marked with the tape) one at a time, without getting wet.  

If they get wet, that person has to start back at the beginning.  

Each team will have a chance to set-up a maze and also to run through the other team’s maze.  

Each team will be timed and the team that goes through the other team’s maze the fastest – wins!  

TEACH

Share a time in your life when it was easier not to be bold about your faith – maybe a time when fear got in your way.  

Life can feel a lot like this maze game we just played.  

You are going along, following a certain path, and then you get hit.  

Now, I don’t know about you, but sometimes it can be tough to be bold.  

It’s tough to be confident in who you know you should be and not to bow to fear.  

Today’s scripture is a story about two men who were anything but bold in the first part of their lives.  

Peter was a disciple of Jesus and he actually denied even knowing Jesus three times!!  

Peter was truly afraid for his life and needed to be because being friends with Jesus was dangerous.  

But, let’s check in on Peter and John following the death and resurrection of Jesus.  

They have some serious words for the religious leaders… and it’s important to remember these are the same religious leaders who killed Jesus.  

They had every reason to be fearful.  

Read Acts 4:1-15.

Now, let’s put this situation into modern day.  

Sure, we are really lucky that knowing Jesus doesn’t put our lives in danger, but remember that around the world being a Christian can also mean you could be killed.  

I’m going to ask you to get in groups of three or four people.

Come up with some examples of situations in which it is easy to let fear get the best of you and influence your decisions.

Give the groups 5-10 minutes to come up with their own scenario.

If they need help, below are some suggestions: 

Their friends are making fun of someone and although they feel they should stick up for them, they don’t. 

Your friends are making decisions they shouldn’t, but you just go along with it.  

Give the groups a chance to share their scenarios.  

What are some reasons that it can be easier to be silent and not be bold in your faith?  

Give the students a chance to answer.  

One thing we see in the life of Peter is that even though he wasn’t bold when he denied Jesus, not once, but THREE times, Jesus forgave him.

At that point, Peter stood before all the religious leaders and BOLDLY spoke for Jesus.  

And what did the leaders think?  

They were amazed because they knew Peter and John and knew they were ‘just ordinary’ men – and the same is true for us.  

Is it easy? 

No.  

Could it cost you your reputation?  

Well, I guess it depends on who’s opinion of you matters: others or Jesus’. 

Your own opinion – because even if you are simply silent in situations in which you could stand up – nobody else might know….but you will know.  

Be bold.  

Speak up for what is right.  

Don’t be ashamed to share the difference Christ has made in your life.  

And get ready for people to see Christ in you.  

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  • Why is it difficult to be bold in your faith sometimes? 
  • Share a situation in which you were silent when you should have spoken up.
  • Share situations the group can pray for you to bold about your faith in and commit to pray for one another.
  • If you lived in a country where Christians are killed for their faith, what would you do?

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS 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!

Want another free lesson? Check out this…

Youth Group Lesson on Outreach

11 Replies to “YOUTH GROUP LESSON ON BOLDNESS”

  1. himangini David
    • July 8, 2017

    I am sunday school teacher of youth girls group. Can you send me some indore game and quiz in small class room.

    Thankyou

    Reply 1 Response
  2. Janice Moore
    • July 8, 2017

    Helpful. Need more lessons on youth boldness

    Reply
  3. Laura Ince
    • July 12, 2017

    Is there a series that includes dvds as part of study?

    Reply 1 Response
    1. Nick Diliberto
      • July 13, 2017

      Unfortunately, no. But that’s a great idea!

      Reply
  4. Kathy Dorough
    • August 11, 2018

    Many churches right now don’t have enough youth for 1 group of 5, much less 5 groups. Also, in this day of kids with special needs, playing games that amp up youth prior to discussing the lesson can totally derail the lesson plans. While your games are really great, for the most part, it would be helpful to have some quieter, less team-oriented activating activities with your lesson. Thank you!

    Reply 2 Response
    1. Regina
      • February 16, 2019

      Sometimes I have small groups and some times I have larger groups of students show up. I think we have to be prepared mentally to change our delivery at a moments notice. If I see I only have a small group show up, instead of breaking into groups I discuss the “small group questions” with the class as a whole. If I have two distinct ages show up, I split by age (older teens in one group and younger teens in another group) and have them discuss that way…. because a middle schooler has way different problems than a high schooler, yet they’re all In my class together.
      Hope this helps!

      Reply 1 Response
  5. Ashley Beasley
    • October 3, 2018

    Love all theses lessons!

    Reply 1 Response

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