Youth Group Lesson on Patience and Growth: Building Faith Little By Little

In today's fast-paced world, teaching patience and growth is crucial for our youth. This 4-week youth group lesson on patience and growth guides students through Joshua's journey to the promised land, emphasizing that God's promises are realized through trust, obedience, and daily faithfulness. This matters because it empowers students to navigate their spiritual growth, even amidst anxiety and comparison, with a deep, abiding faith.

Why Patience and Growth Matters for Today's Students

Today's students are bombarded with the pressure to achieve instant success, often leading to anxiety and chronic stress. According to CDC reports, anxiety among teens has escalated significantly, largely due to social media and societal pressures. The biblical principle of 'little by little' teaches them that true growth happens over time, fostering resilience and perseverance. It encourages them to focus on their journey and trust in God's timing, countering the pervasive 'instant gratification' mindset.

What Your Students Will Walk Away With

• An understanding of God's timing and how to trust in His promises.
• The ability to recognize and celebrate small victories in their spiritual journey.
• Strategies to overcome anxiety and comparison with faith and patience.
• Tools to identify and remove compromises that hinder their spiritual growth.
• Motivation to influence others positively through their faith journey.

Series Overview: Little By Little - 2020

This 4-week series guides students through Joshua's journey, demonstrating that God's promises emerge through trust and daily faithfulness. Each week builds on the last, helping students step into faith, understand their influence, and remove spiritual compromises. Explore the full Little By Little - 2020 series to access all resources.

Week 1: Little By Little

Scripture: Exodus 23:20-23, 29-30. God assures the Israelites that He will fulfill His promises gradually. This teaches students the value of surrendering to God in small things. Use a story about missing small details that lead to big mistakes to illustrate this. **Bottom Line:** Surrender to God in the small.

Week 2: Step Into the Impossible

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-3, Joshua 3:8-17. God calls Joshua to prepare for impossible tasks. This encourages students to trust God when stepping into unknown challenges. Use a personal story about a daunting task you faced to engage students. **Bottom Line:** God will always provide when you take a step of faith.

Week 3: Your Story Matters

Scripture: Joshua 4:1-7. God's faithfulness is memorialized through stones taken from the Jordan. Students learn that their actions impact others' stories. Share a story of your influence, positive or negative, to drive this home. **Bottom Line:** Your small steps set up someone else's story.

Week 4: Remove Compromise from the Camp

Scripture: Joshua 6:17-18, Joshua 7:1-5, Joshua 7:10-13. Compromise leads to defeat. This week challenges students to identify and remove compromises from their lives. Use a humorous story about a failed diet to connect with them. **Bottom Line:** Remove compromise from the camp.

Discussion Questions to Get Your Students Talking

1. Share a time when you focused on the "big" so much that you missed the "small."
2. Have you ever faced an impossible situation and realized: "I'm not ready!"?
3. Where are you remembering God's faithfulness as you cross your Jordan?
4. Have you ever had a moment of compromise? Where you intentionally went against what was wise or correct?
5. What "memorial" are you taking from this season to show others how God was faithful to you?

How to Teach This Series

Set up your room to create an inviting environment for discussion. Use the bumper video to grab attention at the start. Structure your teaching time with a 15-minute teaching, followed by a 15-minute discussion. Engage quiet students by using small group breakouts. Adapt your teaching to fit your group size, whether 5 or 50 kids.

What's Included When You Get the Full Series

The full series includes editable sermon outlines (PDF, DOCX, Google Docs), series graphics (JPG + PSD), title slides, a bumper video, small group discussion questions, and social media graphics. See everything in the Little By Little - 2020 series. Members get access to all 200+ series.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long does each lesson take? Each lesson is designed for a 30-45 minute teaching block, including discussion time.
• What age group is this series designed for? This series is tailored for middle and high school students, typically ages 12-18.
• Can I customize the outlines? Yes, all sermon outlines are editable in multiple formats to fit your group's needs.
• What scripture does this series cover? The series covers passages from Exodus and Joshua, focusing on Joshua's journey to the promised land.
• Is there a free trial available? Yes, a free sample lesson is included for you to teach immediately.
• How can I adapt the series for small groups? The series includes small group discussion questions and tips for different group sizes.