Sanctification
Notes
Transcript
The Need
The Need
THE NEED FOR SANCTIFICATION
THE NEED FOR SANCTIFICATION
Lesson 1 – Why Do We Need to Change?
Opening Prayer
(Invite a student to pray, or pray asking God to help you see sin clearly and Christ beautifully.)
1. Introduction: What Is Sanctification?
Today we’re starting a series on sanctification. That’s a big church word, but it’s a really important one—because it explains how God changes us after we come to faith.
Question:
What do you think sanctification means?
• (Allow students to respond)
Teaching Moment (Simplified Definition):
Sanctification is God making His people more like Jesus over time.
Now listen to how the Westminster Larger Catechism describes it (paraphrase for youth):
Sanctification is God’s work in believers where, through the Holy Spirit, He applies what Jesus accomplished on the cross to our lives—changing us from the inside out so that we die more and more to sin and live more and more for God.
“Be killing Sin be Sin Kills you” - John Owen
Encouragement:
That’s a lot—but don’t worry. We’ll spend the next several weeks unpacking it together.
2. Why Do We Even Need Sanctification?
J.C. Ryle says:
“If you want to understand holiness, you must first understand sin.”
Discussion Question:
How would you say that in your own words?
(Allow discussion)
Key Idea:
You won’t want to grow unless you know why you need to grow.
This is free of charge- from the school of Jackson Cole Fleming
When looking at a text in the bible when can almost always look at it under 3 points Observation, interpretation, application.
The Reality of Sin
The Reality of Sin
Read: 1 John 3:4
“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.”
OBSERVE
What word does John use to describe sin?
What does sin seem to be connected to?
INTERPRET
Teaching Point:
John says sin is lawlessness—it’s not just breaking rules, it’s living as if God is not King.
Illustration:
Imagine a city where every driver ignores traffic lights. No stop signs. No lanes. Everyone just does what they want.
That’s sin. It’s anarchy of the heart—living life our way instead of God’s way.
APPLY
Where do you see this kind of “lawlessness” in your own heart?
Are there areas where you say, “God, I know what You say—but I’m doing this anyway”?
Where Does Sin Come From?
Read: Romans 3:23 Romans 5:12 Psalm 51:5
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
OBSERVE
What do these verses say about who sins?
When does sin start, according to Psalm 51:5?
INTERPRET
Teaching Point:
The Bible teaches that sin is not something we learn—it’s something we’re born with.
Illustration:
You don’t have to teach a toddler how to lie, disobey, or be selfish.
But you do have to teach them how to say sorry, share, and tell the truth.
Sin comes naturally. Holiness does not.
APPLY
How does this challenge the idea that people are “basically good”?
Why is it important to know that sin is a heart problem, not just a behavior problem?
Are Humans Naturally Good?
Are Humans Naturally Good?
Question:
Is there any room for us to say people are naturally good?
• (Allow discussion)
Teaching Clarification:
People can do good things—kindness, generosity, helping others.
But Scripture says that apart from Christ, we cannot truly please God (Romans 8:7–8 “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Key Truth
It means sin affects every part of us—our minds, hearts, wills, and desires.
APPLY
Why does this make salvation by grace necessary?
How does this protect us from pride?
Sin Is a Family Problem
Sin Is a Family Problem
Read: Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—”
OBSERVE
Who does Paul say sin came through?
What came as a result of sin?
INTERPRET
Teaching Point:
Adam was our representative. When he sinned, sin and death entered the human family.
Illustration:
Think of a team captain who breaks the rules and gets the whole team disqualified.
Adam failed as our representative—but we needed a better one.
That’s where Jesus comes in.
APPLY
We cannot fix the sin problem on our own? we can not work harder or be better than what do we do?
Jesus lived the perfect life we couldn’t live.
He died the death our sin deserved.
By grace alone, through faith alone, we are fully forgiven and made right with God.
But the same Jesus who saves us also changes us.
He gives us His Spirit, a new heart, and a new direction.
So we don’t keep sinning comfortably—we fight it faithfully.
Not to earn God’s love—but because we already have it.
This is why sanctification matters.
This is why holiness matters.
And this is why the Christian life is not about trying harder—but trusting deeper.
2 Stories
John Newton was a sailor involved in the Atlantic slave trade and lived a very sinful life—addicted to drunkenness, profanity, violence, and moral darkness. He wasn’t just bad by culture’s standards; he was deeply lost and chained to sin.
One night during a storm at sea, Newton cried out to God for mercy. That moment marked his conversion—Jesus saved him from the penalty of sin by grace through faith. But the story doesn’t stop there. Over the years, Newton’s life continued to change as he walked with Christ. He became an Anglican pastor and one of the most influential Christian voices of the 18th century. His transformation was so profound that he wrote the hymn “Amazing Grace,” which expresses both his salvation and ongoing transformation:
“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see
Remember the Titans
At the beginning of the movie, the football team is completely divided by racism, hatred, and pride. The players are forced to live together, practice together, and face the truth about themselves.
One of the most important moments is when the team finally realizes:
Their problem isn’t just circumstances
It’s their hearts
When that realization happens, things begin to change:
Players who once hated each other now protect each other
They stop tearing each other down and start building each other up
Their actions change because their attitudes and loyalties change
They don’t just say they’re different—they live differently.
Jesus doesn’t just forgive us and say, “Good luck.”
He changes our hearts and gives us a new identity.
Closing Prayer
Thank God for His grace in Christ, for not leaving us in our sin, and for committing to finish the work He started in us (Philippians 1:6).
