Who are we in Christ? That’s the question I wanted to answer for a bunch of middle school and high school students during a weekend retreat at Life For Youth Camp in Vero Beach, Fl. The answer I came up with: Supermodels.
After thinking and praying about what the text would be for the weekend I settled on I Timothy 4:12
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity
We geared the weekend around the idea that we are God’s models, supermodels if you will. Because of who we are in Christ, we put on display, wear on the outside, who God is in our actions, speech, etc.
It was a tremendous week filled with games, relationship building and many students coming to the Lord for the first time and some returning to their faith.
Because I’m so passionate about kids knowing who God made them to be, I want to share with you the first lesson I did with our group.
If you like this lesson, you might want to teach it in a series so I put together a five week series called Supermodels for your youth ministry.
The youth ministry lessons include messages, slides, small group questions, games, closers and more.
Here’s the full text of the first lesson,
Supermodel Session 1: You Are A Supermodel
Note: To keep students attention, I told them up front I would yell, “strike a pose” during the message, (usually to introduce a new point) and the person with the best supermodel pose got a prize like a mini-candy bar.
Opening: Good/Bad Example
Note: This will give you an idea of who your students think are good and bad models in various industries.
Say: Let’s play a little game. I’m going to put a title up and you give me a good example and a bad example of each. Give me the bad example first, then the good. (Go to the slides).
Say: The Apostle Paul wrote to a young man named Timothy,
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. I Timothy 4:12
Paul did not think Timothy was too young to set an example for others. I do not believe any of you are too young to be an example to others. There are a lot of models in the world, not just super models modeling clothes but hip hop stars, rocks stars, movie stars and athletes modeling lifestyles to us, and not all of them are good.
Transition: Strike a pose!
I want to talk to you about three models from scripture.
God had a plan. Some obsess over whether Adam had abs and long flowing hair or if Eve was a perfect ten with straight teeth. God wasn’t interested in sharing all those details because it wasn’t their physical features He wanted to model to us. God wanted to model what kind of relationship He wanted to have with us.
Adam and Eve were the original models
God made us in His image
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26
God breathed life into us
Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7
We’re able to be an example of who God is because we’re made in his image. Just like we carry our parents DNA, and sometimes we act like them even when we don’t mean to. Have you been told that? We’re built to show off who God is.
Adam and Eve are also a model of what not to do
Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not sin in the way that Adam transgressed. He is a pattern of the One to come. Romans 5:14
Adam and Eve modeled to us how not to be fooled by the devil.
Adam and Eve modeled to us not to not doubt God’s word
Adam and Even modeled to us that we should run to God rather than run away.
Transition: Strike a pose.
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Jesus was the perfect model
Jesus set right what Adam messed up.
Therefore, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.… Romans 5:18
Jesus modeled what it looks like to have a relationship with God. Jesus modeled 2 Timothy 4:12 for us. We can come out of the shadow of Adam’s mistake and be made knew in the perfect sacrifice of Christ.
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. I Corinthians 15:22
We’re the new model
Jesus said told his disciples (and anyone who would believe and follow him)
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
Jesus modeled so we could follow
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. I Peter 2:21
God wants to express His love, His kindness, and His joy through us. He wants us to, once again, point a world to who he is, like Jesus did. We are his supermodels!
Closing Ideas
Have as many candles set up as you have students (tea lights work well) and ask students if they would like to be models of Christ love and a light to the world, ask them to come light one fo these candle. (you may want to light the first one so there is some light so kids can see)
Have a cross up front with some cut out foot prints leading to the cross. On each of the steps you can have some of the words from 1 Timothy 4:12 written on them (speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity) Asks kids to step on each pair of soles and the a moment and ask God to help them into area of their life.
Close in prayer
Small Group Questions Session 1
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. I Timothy 4:12
If you could be any kind of model you wanted to be, what would you model? (Clothes, cars, cologne/perfume, food, etc.)
Our theme verse for the weekend is I Timothy 4:12 (Read Verse)
What does it mean to
Talk like Jesus
Act like Jesus
Love like Jesus
Trust like Jesus
Avoid sin like Jesus
Which of these, for you, are the toughest ones to model?
My mouth, my conduct, love, faith, or temptation?
Thanks for checking out the lesson.