YEA Lesson Library
Your Most Important Gift
About This Lesson
This lesson explains what the Holy Spirit does in a Christian’s life and that it is a gift from God when someone repents and is baptized.
Scriptures
Psalm 51:11
Luke 11:11-13
John 6:63
John 14:16
John 16:13
Acts 1:4-5
Acts 2:38-39
Romans 8:26
2 Corinthians 1:22
Galatians 4:6-8
Galatians 5:16-26
Galatians 6:8
Ephesians 1:11-14
Ephesians 4:25-32
2 Timothy 1:7
Words to Know
INTERCESSION - pleading on behalf of another person
The Lesson
Imagine this scene. Jesus has been tried and then crucified. He was resurrected on the third day and then He appeared to 500 people at one time. These momentous events all happened between Passover and Pentecost– in less than fifty days.
His apostles’ emotions had been jerked in every direction. But there was more to come. Jesus had explained to them that He would soon be going to heaven. The Apostles realized they would be faced with the task of getting the Gospel out. But if Jesus left them, they would have to do it without the strength of their Leader. This prospect left the Apostles faced with a very uncertain future.
The time for Him to ascend to heaven to be with His Father had come. And the Apostles were with Him. There was one more thing He needed to tell them before He disappeared in the clouds as He was lifted up to heaven. He commanded His apostles,“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4,5). The Apostles did as they were told. The Day of Pentecost came and the gift Jesus promised was poured out without measure on all the people there.
We all like to receive gifts. So what is this “gift” the Father promised – the gift the Apostles and the people received on this Pentecost? This “gift” is the Holy Spirit. Why is the Holy Spirit important to you? What can the Holy Spirit do for you?
John 14:16 calls the Spirit a helper. Then this gift of the Holy Spirit can help you. How can the Holy Spirit help you? “By our faith – the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how to pray as we should; but the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it cannot be expressed in words” (Romans 8:26). At times of great joy or gratitude, or when we are deeply troubled, our prayers can seem far too inadequate. But think what a gift it is to have the Holy Spirit making intercession for you to the Father – feelings that can’t be expressed in mere words.
Down through the ages the Holy Spirit has been helping teenagers to come to God. This Spirit communicates through the Word of God and will lead you into all truths (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit gives life (John 6:63). It even gives eternal life (Galatians 6:8).
To say the least, the Holy Spirit has exceptional abilities. What a fantastic gift it is that can do so much for you. Should it be one that you desire more than popularity, fame or fortune?
Then what do you have to do to get this gift? Jesus had just ascended to heaven and the day of Pentecost had come. Peter preached a powerful sermon and the people were “cut to the heart” and asked him and the other apostles what they should do. Their reply is just as relevant to you as it was to these people that day of Pentecost. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). These people were given power beyond their greatest expectations.
Do you want power in your life to resist sin, power to help others, power to make a difference in this world, power to be all that you can be, and the power to make it into God’s Kingdom? There’s no need to fear. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Can you think of any gift you should covet more than the gift of God’s Spirit? Can you think of another gift that can do more for you? Can you think of any gift you should try harder to get than the gift of God’s Spirit?
Life is hard for teenagers. Temptations are all around us. Peer pressure is overwhelming at times. And you want to resist sin, but you’re weak. What’s the answer? Repent of your sins and be baptized as 3000 people did on the Day of Pentecost. You too will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It can give you the power you need in your daily life. It can make a difference that you really need. Don’t delay. It’s a gift you need today!
Note:
The purpose of this lesson is not to prove or disprove the Trinity. As supplemental material to this lesson YEA recommends that you contact CEM and start the Bible Study Course. Lessons 2, 3, and 4 can provide you with an in-depth study of the Trinity.
Student Prayer
Almighty God and Father,
You promised to give us the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Life is hard for teenagers in this world. Every time we turn around we’re tempted with such things as smoking, drugs, illicit sex, lying, breaking your Sabbath, etc. You have promised to give me power through your Spirit to help me resist these things. Please bring me to repentance and baptism. I want and need your Spirit to help
me every day of my life.
I ask these things in Jesus Christ’s Holy name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday: Ephesians 1:11-14
Monday: Galatians 4:6-8
Tuesday: Galatians 5:16-26
Wednesday: Psalm 51:11
Thursday: 2 Corinthians 1:22
Friday: Luke 11:11-13
Saturday: Ephesians 4:25-32
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Give the last command Jesus gave to the apostles before ascending to heaven.
2. Discuss how the Holy Spirit is the most important gift they can have.
3. Explain ways that the Holy Spirit can help them in their personal lives.
4. Spell out what they must do to get the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Topics & Themes
Baptism
God’s Gifts
Holy Day, Pentecost
Holy Spirit
Jesus, Ascension of
Pentecost
Repentance
Sharing the Gospel
Sin
Temptation
Materials Needed
YEA students’ and teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse charts, marker pen, songbook, cassette/CD, music player, newsprint pad
How to Teach This Lesson
Open with prayer. Begin the class by giving each student a piece of paper and a pencil. Ask them to answer the following questions:
1. Will you be married in five years?
2. Will you have a degree in five years?
3. What kind of priorities will you have for family life in five years
4. What kind of relationship will you have with the church in five years?
5. List the three most important gifts someone could give you.
By sequentially following the questions outlined below you will be able to accomplish the objectives of this lesson in the time allotted.
How many of you think that you will be married in five years? How many of you think that you will have at least one degree in five years? What kind of priorities will you have for family life in five years? There are no correct answers to this. Encourage each student to give at least one priority.
What kind of relationship will you have with the church in five years? Listen and encourage discussion. The answers may give you real insight as to how well your students are grounded in the faith and things that may need additional attention.
Ask the students to give their three most important gifts in their order of importance.
How do you think the Apostles felt about Jesus leaving them and going to heaven? They probably had a lot of apprehension. Why do you think they probably looked on this more with apprehension rather than as a positive thing? Jesus presence and leadership gave them a lot of strength and confidence.
Can you think of a Scripture that shows the work the Apostles would be able to do would actually be greater after Jesus went to heaven? Ask one of the students to read John 14:12-14. What were some of the works Jesus did while He was on this earth? He healed the sick, raised the dead, feed over 5000 people with a miracle, cast out demons, etc. Write these on a newsprint pad as the students give them. Ask: What greater gift could you receive than being able to heal someone you know of cancer or some terminal disease? What about some friend or relative you know who has died. What greater gift can you think of than being able to raise someone from the dead? Do you think God will give these gifts carelessly? What kind of relationship would you have to have with God before He could trust you with these gifts?
Have different students read each of the Scriptures in their lesson. Ask after each one: What attribute of the Holy Spirit does this Scripture show? List each one as they give it on the newsprint pad. Ask: What is the most important gift the Holy Spirit can give you? Eternal life! Some of us may never have the gift of healing in this life, but in the resurrection when we attain eternal life, we will be a son of God with His powers. With that kind of power, do you think you can heal the sick or raise the dead? What’s it worth to have that kind of power? No sacrifice is too great.
Teacher-Directed Activity
The activity is the first part of the lesson.
Song
“By My Spirit” is on page 56 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Have the students form a circle and join hands. Ask one of them to lead in prayer thanking God for His Spirit, the greatest gift of all. Ask God for help that we might submit ourselves to Him so that we can share more in that power.
Printable Pages
