God Is The Best
The purpose of this session is to teach youth some of the basic attributes of God — that He is always there, that He is all-powerful and all-knowing — and because God is like this, He wants to have a relationship with us.
Activate Your Audience
The Best Thing
Ask ten people in your group to finish the following statement (if you have less than ten, let everyone respond): “The best thing I have ever seen or heard in my life is…” Allow each person to respond, then write the responses where everyone can see them. Briefly discuss what makes each thing so great.
Bring them Closer
Set the New World Record
Break your group in half to form two distinct groups. Make sure each group is about the same size. Give each group exactly five minutes to come up with some idea that has never been done before — something that would possibly put them into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first and best group to ever do that particular thing. It must be something that involves every member of the group. Then, at the end of the five minutes, ask each group to demonstrate what World Record they are going to set.
Transition: Explain to your group that tonight you are going to look at some of the World Records that God holds. He’s the oldest, strongest, and smartest person in the world.
Music
Lead your group to sing some songs that focus on God’s attributes. Examples include…
God is So Good
Lord, You are More Precious Than Silver
Our God is an Awesome God
Communicate the Word
I. God has always been and will always be (Psalm 90:2)
A. He had no beginning
Illustration: Draw a line segment on the board. Place a large dot at the beginning of the segment and at the end. Explain that humans have a beginning (when we are conceived by our parents) and and end (when we die). Then, in place of the large dot on the left side of the line segment, make an arrow. The arrow means that the line goes on infinitely in that direction. Explain that God has no beginning. He has always been there. Allow time for your group to ask questions about what this means.
Application: Explain that God has always been working in your life. There is never a time when He wasn’t thinking about you and planning good things for your life. When you were conceived, He was there, making sure you grew into a new baby. He was there when you experienced your most embarassing moment. He was there this morning when you woke up. He has always been there for you.
B. He has no end
Illustration: Now draw an arrow on the right side of your line segment so that both sides have arrows. God will never end because He is eternal. Allow time for your group to ask questions.
Application: Explain that God will always be there for you. When you have the greatest day of your life, God will be there. When you have the worst day of your life, He will be there to comfort you. He wants to be with you all the time. So, whenever you choose, you can talk to God because He is right there.
II. God can do anything He chooses to do (Matthew 28:18, 19:26)
A. God chooses to do whatever He wants — no one tells God what to do (ultimate authority)
Discussion: Let the group discuss what they would do in one 24-hour period if no one on earth could tell them what to do. They can do anything they want, and no one will get in their way. Anything is game. Write down some of the things your group comes up with. Chances are, the things they do will be very self-centered (stealing money & cars, eating all the food & candy you wanted, etc.) Don’t interrupt them. Let them live out their dream day.
Explain that God can do whatever He wants because He is God.
Application: Go back over the list and try to find things your group wanted to do that are not selfish — things that help other people. You may find only a few or none at all. Now think about God. Explain that though God can do whatever He wants, He has not chosen to be selfish. He has chosen to give each one of us a life. He has given us all the freedom to accept or reject Him. He came to earth to die for us because He loved us. God could have chosen anything in the universe to do, and yet His greatest desire was to create you and love you.
B. God has the power to do whatever He chooses (ultimate power)
Illustration: Explain to your group that you want to see who the strongest person in the group is. Ask everyone to stand up. Announce that the strongest person in the group will be whoever can stand on one foot for the longest period of time without holding on to something/someone and without moving. Say, “Go!” and let everyone start. When the last person standing, have that person come forward. Explain that now you are going to test the strengh of the strongest person in your group. Ask this person to, in front of everyone, pick his/her up and hold it up for ten seconds without using anyone or anything else. Of course, this is impossible.
Explain that, as humans, we have limitations. We cannot do everything that we want to do. Some things are just not possible. Explain that with God, however, everything is possible. He can do whatever He chooses to do. Allow time for questions from your group. Be prepared for some crazy questions. Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.”
Application: Explain if God is powerful enough to do whatever He chooses, then He is powerful enough to be your God. He can provide your every need, get you through the toughest times, take care of you through any problem, and be all that you need Him to be.
III. God knows everything (I John 3:19 – 20)
A. He knows everything about the universe
Illustration: Tell the following story. “Back in the early 1900’s, a man’s car broke down. He pulled off to the side of the road and began fiddling with the engine. He couldn’t locate the problem, and he began to be very frustrated. A few moments later, another car pulled up and a man stepped out and offered to help. He put his head under the hood and quickly found the problem. ‘How did you know what the problem was?’ asked the first man. The stranger responded, ‘Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Henry Ford. I invented this automobile. I know everything about it.'” Explain that God knows everything about the universe because He invented it — He created it.
Application: Explain that though science has made great strides in its study of the universe, we will never understand all there is to know. We can’t even predict the weather with 100% accuracy. God, however, knows everything about the universe. He created every planet, star, flower, sunset, river, mountain, and valley. This week, take the time to look around you at all of the things that God created.
B. He knows everything about you
Illustration: Ask someone to volunteer, or call on someone. Bring this person forward. Tell the person to take five steps across the room. Each step must be taken in a unique way — in a way that no one could possibly guess what the person will do. Everyone expects the person to just put one foot in front of the other, but perhaps the person could walk backwards for one step, hop one step, roll on the floor for one step, etc. The point is, no one should be able to guess what the person is going to do next. When the person has finished, explain that only God knew what this person was going to do.
Explain that God knows all about you. He knows where you have been, where you are now, and where you are going tomorrow. He knows how many hairs are on your head. He knows what you are thinking right now. He knows if you will be alive in five years or dead tomorrow.
Application: Ask your group to answer this question, “What makes a best friend?” One of the most common answers is, “Someone who knows you — someone who understands you.”
Explain that God wants to be your best friend. He knows you better than anyone else, and His whole point in creating you was to have a close relationship with you. He wants to be a part of your every waking moment.
Do Something About It
Read the following questions out loud to your group. Ask each person to listen for that one question that really hits home. Then, ask everyone to think about that one question and answer it honestly and quietly. Will it be God or the other thing?
God will be there when your parents/friends let you down. Who are you going to depend on?
God will be there when sinful pleasures don’t feel good anymore. Which one do you want?
God has more power than money, so which one do you want more of?
God is more powerful than the crowd, so who are you going to please?
God is more powerful than you, so which one are you going to spend more time with?
God knows who you are going to marry, so why not ask Him to help you find him/her?
God knows what you’ll do after high school, so why not ask Him to show you what to do?
God understands your deepest fears, so why not trust Him to take care of you?
God knows everything about you, so why not give everything you have to Him?
Pray that everyone in your group would recognize that God, because he is always present, all powerful, and all knowing, wants to be a part of everyone’s life on a daily basis.