Grace That Matters: A 3-Week Series

This series explores the concept of grace through a variety of lenses like fairness, judgment, and self-forgiveness. This will challenge youth to explore grace in a way that is more nuanced than your typical Sunday school lesson.

Details:

3 lesson plans and student handouts (PDF format)
Leader’s guide for activities and discussions
Social media and keynote graphics

$30.00

Weekly Summaries

Week 1 – Unfair

This lesson is an introduction to the grace of God through the lens of “fairness.” It includes an intentionally unfair game, the story of the prodigal son, some cultural conversation, and a time of personal reflection. The lesson will push your group to engage with the reality that God offers grace in a way that doesn’t align with our cultural narratives. Finally, it will encourage them to become better agents of God’s grace in their world.

Scripture – Luke 15:11-32

Week 2 – Judgement

This lesson explores the meaning of grace through the lens of justice and mercy. Students will begin with an activity where they act as “judges,” determining the correct punishment for a misbehaving child, only to find that the situation is considerably more complicated than it seems at first. Selections from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, personal reflection, group discussion, and more will expand their understanding. This lesson is meant to challenge students who may come in with a relatively black-and-white vision of what people “deserve” and encourage them to enter into Christ’s grace for others while also examining where they may have received that same grace themselves.

Scripture – Matthew 18:21-22

Week 3 – Loved and Accepted

Teenagers often struggle to forgive themselves or believe they’re truly loved and accepted by God for who they are. In this lesson, young people will use two case studies to dissect how they think about grace for themselves and others. They will then unpack cultural, personal, and other influences shaping those beliefs. Using theological concepts and a pastoral passage from Henri Nouwen’s seminal “Life of the Beloved,” students will be encouraged to embrace greater grace for themselves in their lives.

Scripture – Matthew 3:16-17

Testimonials

“Holy Disruptions is everything I've wanted in a youth group curriculum! It engages our teenagers' questions and ideas without offering overly simplified answers.”

- Laurel Capesius, Director and Campus Minister at Winthrop Wesley Foundation

“Holy Disruptions gave our leaders a teaching foundation while also creating and fostering space for our students to do their own theological exploration.”

- Nathan Wheeler, Youth Ministry and Young Adult Coordinator, Cumberland Presbyterian Church

“This material has allowed students to process through what God is teaching and speaking to them.”

- Kelsey Fisher, Program Coordinator, City Service Mission

What makes Holy
Disruptions different?

Holy Disruptions series are designed to delve into the unique experiences of today’s youth, spark deep theological reflection, and foster transformative discussions. Our three-part methodology empowers students to align with God’s vision and desires for the world.

Interruption

Facilitate a disorienting experience – where students are most receptive to growth.

Reflection

Invite students to investigate their reaction to the disorienting moment.

Holy Disruption

Ask students to explore what God says about it.