The world we live in today is troubling in many ways.

COVID-19 changed everything.

Racial tension and injustice is on the rise.

There is so much chaos is all around us.

Use this lesson to help teens understand that we have hope in God, even in the tough times.

– Nick Diliberto, Ministry to Youth

Looking for youth ministry curriculum? Check out the…

UNAFRAID – A new 4-week youth ministry series about facing and overcoming fear. In this series, students will learn how faith in Jesus empowers them.

YOUTH GROUP LESSON ON TOUGH TIMES

Note: If your youth group is meeting online, rather than in person, you’ll have to make some adjustments to the lesson. For example, you won’t be able to play the game. GO HERE for our list of game ideas to play on Zoom (or whatever online platform you use).

Written by Tiffany Hollums

DOWNLOAD PDF OF THIS LESSON

Bible: 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

Bottom line:  We have hope in God, even in the tough times.

Supplies: 

  • Clay pots of all sizes/shapes
    • Notes: Pots will get broken. The more pots you have, the longer the game will last.
    • Lay one pot aside for the lesson.
  • Various sizes of balls (foam, ping pong, tennis, basketballs, etc.)
  • 2 Buckets
  • Painter’s tape
  • Sharpie

OPENING GAME: JAR BOWLING

Set-up terra cotta pots in a straight line against a wall outside.

Have the students form two teams of equal size and create single file lines.

Next, use the masking tape to create a line for the teams to stand behind.

Place various sizes and types of balls in a bucket by each line – one for each team.

Designate a leader as the “scorekeeper.”

The goal of the game is to score the most points by knocking over the most pots.

Teams will take turns playing, one person at a time.

When it’s your turn, choose one ball and try to knock over a pot.

If the ball leaves the ground, or you throw it, you will lose one point for your team.

Each team gets a point for each pot they knock over.

If the pot breaks, you will win an extra point for your team.

When all of the pots are broken, or you have decided the game is over, add up all of the points and declare a winner.

Be sure to clean up any broken pieces after the game is over.

TEACH

Have the extra terra cotta pot and Sharpie on hand.

Say: Have you ever had “one of those days”?

You know… the kind where you think “Wow, I should just go back to bed and try this day again.”

Share, if you have one, a day or even a week or year that was very tough for you.  

Each of us go through tough times.

Allow a few students to respond after each of the following questions. 

Think about your own life and people you know: What are some of the difficult times you or others have faced.

How do you feel when you see the news?

What types of hard situations do you see other people facing?

Now, if you could sum up all this pain in an emotion – what words would you choose?

As they share, write the words on the extra pot in bold letters with the Sharpie – or invite the students to write the words on the pot.  

I wish that I could say that all of these things that happen and the hurt we’ve written here just didn’t exist, but that would be a lie.

Life can be very hard.

But, the good news is that God is always with you.

And for those who follow Christ, we have hope in God, even in the tough times.

Paul, who wrote a huge chunk of the New Testament, had his fair share of tough times-

Read 2 Corinthians 11:23b-27.

I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.  I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers.

I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

Allow the students to respond after each of the following questions.

Say: List some of the trials that Paul faced.

How would you feel if you were Paul?

How did he deal with all of this?

Let Paul tell you in his own words how he dealt with all of these things, because they are pretty inspiring:

Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-9.

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

Ask: What words did you hear that describe how tough times can make you feel?

Write the words on the pots being careful not to include the ‘but not’ words in verses 7-9.  

Paul doesn’t diminish or discount the pain.

He felt it… yet it’s the ‘but not’ part of his words that I want you to focus on…

Listen again to his words:

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  

Life is hard.

Our world and the people in it can be cruel.

I think Paul reminds us with his image of a jar of clay that life can be really hard, and it can sometimes leave us feeling all these things we wrote on the pots… depressed, alone, confused…

But with Christ we are not ever destroyed, in despair, abandoned or destroyed… why?

Because we hold in these breakable jars a treasure.

A treasure that will not be destroyed.

The treasure of Christ living in us gives us life.

See, with Jesus you are NEVER alone.

Paul could face anything because he knew that Jesus was with him and within him.

Close in prayer.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Share a tough time that you have encountered and how you dealt with it.
  2. How could knowing that Jesus is with you during tough times?
    Which of these words or phrases from the scripture stuck out to you, or described how you’ve felt during different times in your life: struck down, pressed, destroyed, or persecuted?
  3. Are there other words you would add to this list?
  4. Share any tough things that you are going through and pray together and for one another.
  5. Re-read 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 and choose the ‘but not’ phrase that connects the most with you.
  6. Have you ever thought of yourself as a “treasure”?
  7. How do those who do not have a relationship with God handle the hard times in life?
  8. How can you keep from making poor decisions during the tough times?
  9. As a group, come up with a “plan” that will help you when you face difficulty. Example: Pray, talk to someone who will help you tu rn to God, have Bible verses that you can read, etc.
DOWNLOAD PDF OF THIS LESSON

End lesson.

Looking for youth ministry curriculum? Check out the…

UNAFRAID – A new 4-week youth ministry series about facing and overcoming fear. In this series, students will learn how faith in Jesus empowers them.

Liked this lesson? View this…

Youth Group Lesson on God’s Power

3 Replies to “YOUTH GROUP LESSON ON TOUGH TIMES”

  1. Lee H
    • September 30, 2019

    This was a good lesson to share with the youth how ever we didn’t find the game very practical or ethical in terms of cost and waste produced but also we wouldn’t have had the space. Instead we made tea light holders out of air drying clay of the back of 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 and the youth really enjoyed it.

    Thanks

    Reply 1 Response
    1. Kristy Preston
      • September 30, 2019

      Hi Lee,
      Thank you for your feedback and we will take it all into consideration. We are glad to hear that you all enjoyed the lesson, and that you found another idea to do with your students!

      Reply
  2. Maudlyn
    • June 13, 2020

    This is really very helpful. Continue the good work and God will bless you.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

*