Youth Group Lesson – Relationship With God
Here is a free youth group lesson to help students see the importance of making time for God and growing their relationship with him.
On a personal note, one of the most meaningful habits I’ve built to grow closer to God is journaling. I’ve done it almost every day for about 8 years, and I’ve got a stack of journals in my closet to prove it. I write down my prayers, emotions, thoughts, and what’s happening in my life. Looking back, it’s helped me recognize how God has been working in me and through me.
There are so many ways to grow closer to Jesus, and investing time in that relationship is one of the most important things we can do. That’s why we created this lesson, to help you drive home that point to students.
My hope is that it helps your students take a real step forward in their relationship with Jesus.
Enjoy!
Nick Diliberto
Founder, Ministry to Youth
Looking for youth ministry curriculum? Check out the:
2026 One Year Bundle – Save 79% on our newest in-depth, year-long youth ministry curriculum designed to help students know Jesus, follow Him, and grow spiritually. Includes all our 2026 new releases!
Youth Group Lesson on Growing Your Relationship with God
Bible: Luke 10:38-42
Bottom Line: The most important thing we can do is spend time with Jesus.
OPENING GAME: WHAT’S YOUR SCHEDULE?
Divide students into groups of 3-5. Give each small group a large sheet of butcher paper. Ask leaders to write the days of the week (Sunday-Saturday) along the top of the butcher paper. Instruct the small groups to talk about their weekly “schedule.” Have students write their daily chores and activities on the schedule under the particular day. Encourage them to think of things like school, sports, homework, chores, family time, getting ready, etc.
The point of the activity is to get a visual representation of the extremely busy schedules we all have.
After the activities have been listed on the butcher paper, allow groups to share some of the activities with the entire youth group.
After the activity, say:
We all have some really busy schedules. From the time we wake up to the time we go to bed, we have to go-go-go to get it all done.
Do you ever feel like you’re going to forget to do something you’re supposed to do or be somewhere that you’re supposed to be? Do you ever get tired?
All of these things are good things. We have to do chores around the house, go to school, eat, and shower (hopefully)….right? And it’s a great thing to be able to play sports, play an instrument, spend time with friends, and all those things, right? But sometimes we get so busy with good things that we miss out on some great things.
Let’s read the story of 2 sisters, Mary and Martha.
Read Luke 10:38-40
While Jesus and his followers were traveling, Jesus went into a town. A woman named Martha let Jesus stay at her house. Martha had a sister named Mary, who was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him teach. But Martha was busy with all the work to be done. She went in and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me alone to do all the work? Tell her to help me.”
Jesus was very close to Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus. Jesus loved them enough to decide to come to their home and spend time with them.
Can you imagine if Jesus was coming over to your house? Do you think your parents would make you clean up if Jesus were coming over? Probably so, and this is exactly what Martha was doing. She wanted everything to be just right for such a special guest.
Martha was very busy playing hostess. She had to cook. She had to clean. She had to make sure everyone had a place to sit down and relax. She had to make sure that there was water and towels to wash everyone’s feet. The list went on and on. There was just so much to do!
Meanwhile, her sister Mary is not doing anything to help her! She’s just sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to Him talk and teach. You can imagine how this made Martha feel. She was MAD! In fact, she’s so made that she goes to Jesus and tattles on Marry.
She says, “Make her help me!” Now, listen to how Jesus responds to Martha.
Read Luke 10:41-42
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will never be taken away from her.”
Jesus understood why Martha was so upset. He understood why she was working so hard to make everything right.
But Jesus wanted Martha to see that there was something more important. She was doing good things, but she had missed our on the most important thing.
The most important thing is spending time with Jesus. Just like Martha, we can get so busy with other things that we miss out on the most important thing, spending time with Jesus.
In our busy lives, we need to focus on spending some time with Jesus. You still need to do those other things, especially the things you’re asked to do by parents or teachers. However, we need to be sure that we make time in our schedule to meet with God. He loves us and wants to speak to us, so we need to take the time to listen.
Jesus told Martha that Mary had “chosen what was better.” Mary has chosen to spend time with Jesus so that she could learn and grow closer to Him. Jesus wants us to choose time with Him over anything else. This is the most important thing.
We can get busy doing lots of important things, but we need to make sure that we remember the main thing. The main thing is spending time with Him and growing in our relationship with Him.
Spending time with God is a choice. Just like we put all our other activities on the calendar, we need to set a time to meet with God. Whether it is in the morning or evening, in the car or in our room, with our parents or by ourselves, find time to spend with God and grow in your relationship with Him.
CLOSING ACTIVITY – MAKING TIME FOR GOD
Take another look at the schedule from the opening activity. Give students a moment to think about where they could intentionally make time for God in their week. Encourage them to choose a realistic, consistent time they can commit to, and to consider what they’ll actually do during that time.
Give each student an index card and have them write down their plan. Ask them to place the card somewhere visible as a reminder of their commitment to spend time with God this week..
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- If you feel comfortable sharing, what did you write down on your card?
- In your own words, what was Martha worried about in the story, and what was Mary doing instead?
- Who do you relate to more: Mary or Martha? Why?
- How do you think life would be different or not different if you started making time for God daily?
End lesson.
Looking for youth ministry curriculum? Check out the:
2026 One Year Bundle – Save 79% on our newest in-depth, year-long youth ministry curriculum designed to help students know Jesus, follow Him, and grow spiritually. Includes all our 2026 new releases!
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