What is God Like? Youth Sunday School Lesson

Intro Activity: Your God Is Too Small discussion starter using word association

First, try a word association test with the group. Have the kids give back to you the first word that comes into their minds when you say a word. You might have them write their word associations down on paper. Then you can read them back. Example: cat, boy, movie, red, home, sex, God (always end up with God—pointing out the different responses)

Lesson: Next, discuss descriptions of God with the students. Possible questions include:

• What does it mean that we are created “in His image?” Does he look like us?
• What does God do all day long?
• What might He look like if He appeared to us in the flesh?
• Does God have a sense of humor?
• What would you do if you were God?
• Why doesn’t God fix the world’s problems?

 

Continue with these rhetorical questions:

• Is your God a “family heirloom?” Do you only believe in God because your parents do?
• Do you think of God as being like Santa Claus, just someone to give you things?
• Is He a “nice old man” like a grandfather that thinks your perfect?
• Is your God a disappointment to you?
• Is your God just someone to blame when things go wrong?

Finally, define what God is:

 

He is all-powerful—the Creator of the universe. 

Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

He remains the same.

Psalm 102:25-27 - In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.

He always tells the truth.

Numbers 23:19 - God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

God is just and fair.

Romans 2:6-11 - ⁶God "will give to each person according to what he has done." ⁷To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. ⁸But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. ⁹There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; ¹⁰but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹¹For God does not show favoritism.

He is all loving.

1 John 4:16 - And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

 

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

He accepts you as you are.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 - Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Closing Activity: God Is Like... pencil and paper; finish the phrase based on your ideas about God’s nature and character. If someone asked you to describe God, what would you say? In small groups (or individually) have kids list on paper more creative, current descriptions of God beginning with this statement:  “God is like....” You could base some of the ideas on advertising slogans such as “God is like Coke...he’s the real thing,” or “God is like Allstate...you’re in good hands with him,” After 10 minutes have each group read its description and contrast and compare results.