Youth Group (60 Minutes)

God Rules Over All He Made

CONNECT — 0–10 Minutes

Icebreaker: “Who Gets the Final Say?”
Give students a few scenarios (curfew, phone use, money, plans).
Have them vote who usually has the final say: parents, school, culture, self.

Transition:
“Tonight we’re talking about authority — and what it means that God is King.”

ENCOUNTER — 10–20 Minutes

Leader Setup:
“As we read, pay attention to what the Bible says belongs to God and what that means for us.”

Scripture Reading

Psalm 24

Scripture (BSB): Psalm 24

The Earth Is the LORD’s

A Psalm of David.

1 The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.

2 For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.

5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from the God of his salvation.

6 Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O gates! Be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter!

8 Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, O gates! Be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter!

10 Who is He, this King of Glory? The LORD of Hosts— He is the King of Glory. Selah

ANCHOR — 20–35 Minutes

Teaching Point:
God’s rule is based on ownership. Because God made everything, everything belongs to Him — including us.

Psalm 104 helps us see that God doesn’t rule from far away. He is actively involved in sustaining, providing, and caring for creation. God’s authority is not controlling or careless; it is wise and good.

Scripture Connection:

Scripture (BSB): Psalm 104

How Many Are Your Works, O LORD!

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty.

2 He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent,

3 laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.

4 He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants.

5 He set the earth on its foundations, never to be moved.

6 You covered it with the deep like a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.

7 At Your rebuke the waters fled; at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away—

8 the mountains rose and the valleys sank to the place You assigned for them—

9 You set a boundary they cannot cross, that they may never again cover the earth.

10 He sends forth springs in the valleys; they flow between the mountains.

11 They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

12 The birds of the air nest beside the springs; they sing among the branches.

13 He waters the mountains from His chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His works.

14 He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth:

15 wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart.

16 The trees of the LORD have their fill, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted,

17 where the birds build their nests; the stork makes her home in the cypresses.

18 The high mountains are for the wild goats, the cliffs a refuge for the rock badgers.

19 He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows when to set.

20 You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the beasts of the forest prowl.

21 The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.

22 The sun rises, and they withdraw; they lie down in their dens.

23 Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until evening.

24 How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.

25 Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small.

26 There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there.

27 All creatures look to You to give them their food in due season.

28 When You give it to them, they gather it up; when You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good things.

29 When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to dust.

30 When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.

31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in His works.

32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smolder.

33 I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

34 May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the LORD.

35 May sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul. Hallelujah!

Key Line (Do Not Skip):
Being made in God’s image means we live under God’s authority, not our own.

RESPOND — 35–50 Minutes

Group Discussion:

• Where do you most want control over your life?
• Why is trusting authority hard?
• How does knowing God is good change how we respond to His rule?
• What might it look like to live as a steward instead of an owner?

Encourage honesty. Silence is okay.

SEND — 50–60 Minutes

Weekly Challenge

This week, notice one area where you usually insist on your own way.
Choose to trust God’s authority instead.

Memory Verse

Scripture (BSB): Psalm 24:1

1 The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.

Prayer

Invite students to pray silently, asking God for trust and humility under His rule.