Guiding Teens in Discovering God’s Will
Understanding the will of God is difficult even for the most experienced long-time Christian, but it can be especially challenging for your students who are simultaneously trying to understand the world at large and their role in it. Whether it’s through your general support or intentional lessons, as a Gospel Advancing youth pastor, you play a vital role in helping teenagers who are seeking the will of God. This article as well as the one on youth group lessons for the busy youth pastor are designed to simplify the process of shepherding students.
Although there is some inherent mystery and some differences in theology, tackling this subject is worth your effort because it’s a constant part of the stage of life your students are in. They are constantly trying to discover who they are and what decisions to make, regarding both the present and the future, and discerning the will of God will help them to do this and be motivated to share the Gospel with their friends.
PRACTICAL STEPS FOR YOUTH TO FIND GOD’S WILL
The Bible is one of the most important places to start when teaching teenagers about finding the will of God. Make sure they understand that God’s will and God’s Word will always agree with each other. Since they will be prone to forget this foundational truth, repeat it often. Let them know that God’s Word may not give them the exact answer for any given situation, but it will always align with God’s will.
Another important aspect to cover with students is simply explaining the meaning of the will of God. In other words, be sure to define some framework that helps teenagers understand concepts about God, humans, and Satan that relate to His will: His sovereignty, our free will, His goodness, our propensity to sin, the devil’s desire to distract us from God’s will, and others. Explaining these concepts and connecting them to understanding God’s plan will go a long way in guidance and decision-making for teens.
TEACHING YOUTH TO PRAY FOR GUIDANCE
An important aspect of finding the will of God is to spend plenty of time in prayer, asking God for His plans to be revealed and listening for an answer. Helping your students invest time in listening to God will be a struggle as they’ve grown up in a culture that is so fast-moving that it doesn’t allow much time for stillness, but it’s vital for them in discerning the will of God.
There are several ways you could teach teens to seek God’s direction through prayer. You could give them different prayer prompts every week in your gathering time and give them a few minutes to talk and listen to God about those things. Here are a few examples:
- God, where would you like me to serve others?
- God, who would you like me to share the Gospel with?
- God, what passion that you’ve given me do you want me to use for your glory?
- How can I pursue a career that has Kingdom impact?
TEACHING TEENS TO SEEK GOD’S DIRECTION
Finding the will of God can feel really intimidating and overwhelming, but when we help students understand that it’s simply about getting to know Him and His character it becomes more attainable. Fortunately, there is a free curriculum that effectively guides them through getting to know God’s heart.
Dare 2 Share’s Youth Group to Go: Knowing God digital curriculum bundle contains four Bible studies that explore and discuss God the Father, Jesus the Son, the Holy Spirit, and the Trinity as a whole. You’ll find this series is an easy, but effective way to teach your students more about the character of God. The Knowing God curriculum for teens bundle includes these lessons:
Youth Group 2 Go’s fully built-out lessons include an evangelism tie-in to help you keep a Gospel Advancing focus in your ministry. Each lesson’s practical application will encourage your students to be doers of the Word and not hearers only!
This resource can be used for: youth Bible study, Bible lessons for teens, youth devotional, Bible study for teens, or devotions for teens.
YOUTH BIBLE STUDY ON GOD’S WILL
If you prefer to create your own Bible study or add extra Scripture to a prepared study, these verses on discerning the will of God give multiple options in the direction you could take the lesson.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:17-20
YOUTH DISCERNING GOD’S WILL AND SHARING WITH THEIR FRIENDS
Because students’ lives are always changing, continuing to help students discern the will of God on an ongoing basis would be a great thing to incorporate into your youth group time. Train your leaders to consistently ask students about any decisions they have coming up. Then, instruct your leaders to follow up with encouragement to search the Scriptures and spend time in prayer to help them hear God’s voice in that decision—whether it’s big or small. This is a great way to incorporate Gospel Advancing Value 3: Leaders fully embrace and model it.
As students are discovering the will of God in their lives, it would be a great practice to encourage them to share what God has revealed to them with their friends and use this to segway into a Gospel conversation. Dare 2 Share offers high-quality free resources to help youth pastors easily equip their teens to share their faith with confidence. We also have a great community of Gospel Advancing youth leaders (who are committed to sharing the Gospel themselves and equipping teenagers to do the same) that you can connect with. Find out how to continue to grow through hundreds of resources and trainings by becoming a Gospel Advancing leader!
The Will of God Bible Study FAQs
Youth leaders can teach students about the will of God using Bible studies that focus on knowing who God is. You can also show students verses and Scripture about the will of God.
Youth leaders can talk about God’s sovereignty, our free will, the devil’s desire to distract us from God’s will, and so on.
Teenagers are in a stage of life where they are constantly trying to figure out what the next step for them is. Many of them desire to know if the choices they’re making align with God’s will.
Youth leaders can encourage students to ask God questions in prayer and wait patiently for answers. In prayer, students can ask God questions about what choices they should make that would most glorify Him.
