NLC Youth Week 3

Week 3 Leader Guide (Teaching Outline)

(1) The Hook Question — 3 minutes

Ask:

“What’s harder: loving people you don’t like… or loving people who hurt you?”

Quick follow-ups:

“When someone annoys you, what’s your default response?”

“What does our culture call ‘love’ right now?” (feelings, attraction, agreement, loyalty to the group)

Leader note: Let honesty happen. Don’t correct yet.

(2) The Jesus Snapshot — 5 minutes

Read/retell: John 13:1–5, 12–15, 34–35 (or summarize in 60 seconds)

John 13:1–5 NLT

1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

John 13:12–15 NLT

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

John 13:34–35 NLT

34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Key points in teen language:

Foot-washing was the lowest job — servant work.

Jesus did it for people who would fail Him (Peter would deny; Judas would betray).

Then Jesus says: “Love one another… as I have loved you.”

Ask:

“Why do you think Jesus chose this moment to show love?”

“What would be the ‘foot-washing’ version of love at your school?”

“How is Jesus’ kind of love different than ‘be nice’?”

Core Truth (one sentence): 👉 Love looks most like Jesus when it costs you comfort, pride, or control.

(3) The Paul Connection — 5 minutes

Use one of these (or both briefly):

Galatians 6:2 — “Carry each other’s burdens.” Explain: burden = something heavy someone can’t carry alone (stress, anxiety, family stuff, shame, loneliness).

Galatians 6:2 NLT

2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Philippians 2:3–5 — “Do nothing from selfish ambition… consider others more important… have the mindset of Christ.” Explain: humility isn’t thinking you’re worthless — it’s choosing others when you don’t have to.

Philippians 2:3–5 NLT

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Ask:

“What burdens do students carry that nobody sees?”

“Why is it easier to post ‘support’ than to actually show up?”

“What would it look like to carry someone’s burden this week?”

Bridge line: 👉 Jesus shows what love looks like. Paul shows how to live it out with people.

(4) Real-Life Lens — 10 minutes

Pick 2–3 lanes based on your group. Keep it practical.

Friendships / Drama

“What does love look like when someone talks behind your back?”

“Is it loving to clap back… or to have a hard conversation?”

“What’s the difference between boundaries and revenge?”

Social Media / Group Chats

“Where do you see people get humiliated for entertainment?”

“What would love do in a group chat when someone becomes the target?”

“Do you defend people publicly, privately, or not at all?”

Stress / Anxiety / Loneliness

“Who at your school looks fine but isn’t fine?”

“How could you carry someone’s burden without trying to fix them?”

Dating / Relationships (clean + wise)

“Culture says love = getting what I want. Jesus shows love = giving yourself.”

“How do you know if something is love or just attention?”

Key Insight (say it clearly): 👉 Love isn’t proven by words when it’s easy. Love is proven by actions when it’s inconvenient.

(5) One Takeaway Challenge — 1 minute

Challenge: Choose one person to love in a way that costs you something small this week.

Give concrete options:

Sit with someone who’s alone (cost = social comfort)

Defend someone being mocked (cost = approval)

Apologize first (cost = pride)

Check on someone and actually listen (cost = time)

Do one hidden act of service at home (cost = convenience)

Close line: “Jesus didn’t love from a distance. He moved toward people.”