WHAT A BLAST/GOD'S LOVE POURED OUT
By Lee De Groot
OUTLINE
I. ACTIVITY
II. BIBLE VERSE: ROMANS 5:5
III. STORY: GOD'S LOVE POURED OUT
IV. QUESTIONS
V. BIBLE VERSES: ROMANS 5:1-5
VI. ACTIVITY
VII. BIBLE VERSE: MATTHEW 26:28
VIII. STORY: HOW DADDY?
IX. BIBLE VERSES: EPH. 3:17-19
X. CONCLUSION
XI. ACTIVITY: OUR CUP OVERFLOWS
XII. YOUTUBE: MICHEAL W. SMITH: NEVER BEEN UNLOVED
XIII. PRAYER
XIV. ACTIVITY: WHAT A BLAST!
ACTIVITY: paper and pens
Have each youth write out what he/she thinks the two words “Poured Out” means and then have them write out an example of their meaning..EX. “Poured Out" means to have something run out of. Like when I turn the valve on our hot tub to empty it, the water pours out of the valve. Or “Poured Out” means to open a bottle of Mt Dew and tip the bottle to have the Dew pour out into my glass.
BIBLE VERSE:
Romans 5:5 “Now this hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
STORY: GOD'S LOVED POURED OUT
I once heard a story about the love of God being poured out. It was described like this...
Imagine yourself standing in the middle of an intersection where two streets join. Now picture a fire hydrant on each corner of that intersection. The fire department is called to this scene and they say they are going to open all four hydrants at the same time and you are to open your mouth and try to catch every drop of water. And you cannot get wet! Have you ever seen the power behind one fire hydrant?
That is the love of God poured out on you. Notice it does not say it is dripped out on you or sprinkled out on you or sprayed out on you. It says "The love of God is poured out on you!"
WOW...WHAT A BLAST!
THEN.....WHY THESE QUESTIONS:
How many of you have had tough times?
How many of you have felt lonely?
How many of you have felt unworthy?
How many of you have felt undeserving?
How many of you have felt undesirable?
How many of you have been unfaithful?
How many of you have felt unqualified?
How many of you have felt unloved?
BIBLE VERSES:
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
So when you read the first 4 verses ahead of Romans 5:5 you notice that even during hard times, times of suffering God is still pouring out His love into us. Because through suffer we build perseverance and through perseverance we build character and through character building we are given hope. And this hope does not disappoint because God's love has been poured out into our hearts.
ACTIVITY: paper and pen
Have each youth write out a time when he/she have had a time of suffering of any kind in their life. What were their feelings about the situation and about themselves? Were they feeling lonely, unworthy, unqualified, unloved....? Was God near or did He seem far away?
BIBLE VERSE:
Matthew 26:28
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
This is another verse that tells us about the Love of God pouring out for us. It is right before the death of Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to die for us and for the forgiveness of all our sins. Jesus' blood was poured out for our sins. His blood was not poured out for us because we deserved it. Instead His blood was poured out for us only because He loved us!
STORY: HOW DADDY? A little boy asked his dad “How much does God love me?” The dad not knowing how to truly explain to his son how much God really loved him came back to his son with these questions: 1. how many gallons of water are in the ocean? The boy replied... A whole bunch, daddy. 2. How hot is the sun? The son replied....Very, Very! 3. how far away is the moon? Way out there, it's out of this world, dad. The dad then said, God loves you a whole bunch, very very much, and His love is out of this world. Son, God's love is immeasurable and hard to grasp!
BIBLE VERSES:
Ephesians 3:17-19
...” And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
CONCLUSION:
So during those time that you feel like you are going through tough times and you are suffering, lonely, unworthy, undeserving, undesirable, unfaithful, unqualified, and unloved ...whatever the suffering may be...remember God loved you enough to send His son to die for you, to pour out His blood for you and to pour out His love in you! God's love is powerful...actually more powerful than 4 fire hydrants!
Activity: Our Cup Overflows Activity
Have a large glass bowl set up before the kids enter or on the alter before church for Youth Reflection. Put 4 small bottles of red food coloring in bowl. You cant see it if you are in the congregation. Have a pitcher of water and an empty glass. Talk about how our cup overflows with blessing and start pouring the water in the glass as you hold it over the bowl. When the water overflows out of the glass and into the bowl it turns red. End by saying our blessing of all blessing is when Jesus shed His blood for us and our sins so we could have everlasting life.
Youtube video by Michael W. Smith: Never Been Unloved:Archdelux
PRAYER:
Father, God, Abba-daddy, pa pa we come to You knowing Your love for us is bigger than we can comprehend. We thank You for loving us so much that You poured out Your Son's blood for us and for our sins. We thank You for pouring out Your love into us every moment of every day. Thank You to for walking along side us during the suffering times in our lives. Thank you for giving us hope. Father, thank You for loving us no matter what. In Your Son's name. Amen!
ACTIVITY: Have each youth student bring a water gun and towel to the meeting. Find a large outdoor place to do this activity that will not damage or make a mess in the church. This would be a good lesson to start off the year...when the weather is warm. It is also a good mixer...because it gets them thinking and yet it ends light and fun!
Have a water fight...goal...try to catch every drop in your mouth and do not get wet!
Is this impossible? So is trying to understand the power and fullness of God's love.
HAVE A BLAST! GOD LOVES YOU!