Sin and forgiveness - a youth group discussion starter

A youth group discussion starter helping your group to understand the way sin operates in our lives and God’s solution.


THE S WORD

Ask the young people to call out the first word that they think of when the word sin is mentioned. Write the answers on a whiteboard. Usually they will come up with a list of actions: stealing, adultery, murder etc. Make the point that these are just some of the results of sin, but the Bible reminds us that the cause of these actions lies deep within the nature of everyone (Mark 7: 21-23).


THE GRAVITY GAME

Stand a volunteer on a chair, holding one end of a broom or pole. Another volunteer stands on the ground, behind a line drawn a metre in front of the chair, holding the other end of the pole.

Explain to the volunteers that they must not let go of the stick, but by pulling and twisting, the first volunteer is to try and pull the second over the line. At the same time the second volunteer has to try and pull the first off the chair. Try this couple of times with different volunteers of similar height and weight.

The person on the chair will usually lose. This is because the volunteer on the floor has the extra benefit of gravity, a powerful force pulling downwards. The Bible also describes sin as a powerful force, pulling us down, and separating us from a relationship with God.