Imago Dei

Absolutely. I’d keep the sermon at about 20 minutes, but add a few strong illustrations so the students aren't just hearing information—they're able to see and feel the point.

Here’s a tightened version with biblical references and illustrations built in.

Who Am I? — Jr. High Sermon Outline ✓

God Given

A Jr. High Sermon on Identity

Big Idea: My identity isn't something I have to create. It's something I receive from my Creator.

Main Scriptures: Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13–14; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 2:9

Length: ~20 minutes

1. WHO AM I? — Everyone Is Looking for an Identity

0–3 minutes

Start by asking:

“Who are you?”

Let them think about it.

Then ask:

“Are you a basketball player?”

“Are you the funny friend?”

“Are you the smart kid?”

“Are you popular?”

“Are you shy?”

“Are you the kid who gets in trouble?”

“Are you what people say about you?”

Illustration: The Name Tag

Bring out a name tag.

Say:

“Imagine I put this name tag on you that says, ‘LOSER.’ Does wearing this name tag actually make you a loser?”

Obviously, no.

Then put on another:

“What if it says, ‘ATHLETE’?”

That might describe something you do, but it doesn't describe everything you are.

Then say:

“The problem is that we often take things that describe us and turn them into our identity.”

You might be good at basketball, but you aren't basketball.

You might struggle in school, but you aren't stupid.

You might have messed up, but you aren't your mistake.

Biblical Foundation

Genesis 1:26–27 “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

“So God created mankind in his own image…”

Before Scripture tells us what humanity accomplishes, it tells us who created us.

God made you.

That means your identity starts with your Creator, not your classmates.

2. GOD CREATED YOU ON PURPOSE

3–8 minutes

Read Psalm 139:13–14 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb… I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

The Bible doesn't describe us as random.

It describes us as made by God.

Illustration: A Handmade Gift

Has anyone made you a handmade gift?

Imagine someone gives you a handmade gift.

You look at it and say:

“Wow, someone spent time making this.”

You wouldn't throw it on the ground and say:

“This is worthless.”

Why?

Because you understand that the person who made it gave it value.

Now here's the connection:

“If a human-made object can have value because someone intentionally made it, how much more does a human being have value because God Himself created them?”

You aren't valuable because you're attractive.

You aren't valuable because you're athletic.

You aren't valuable because you're popular.

You aren't valuable because you get good grades.

You have value because God made you.

Important clarification

This doesn't mean:

“Everything about me is perfect.”

We all have weaknesses. We all struggle. We all make mistakes.

It means:

“My weaknesses don't erase the fact that God intentionally created me.”

Key phrase:

“You are not an accident. You are God's creation.”

3. THE WORLD WILL TRY TO TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE

8–13 minutes

This is where you can really connect with Jr. Highers.

Say:

“If God gives us our identity, why do we struggle so much with knowing who we are?”

Because everyone and everything around us is trying to tell us who we should be.

Social media says:

“Look like this.”

Friends say:

“Act like this.”

Culture says:

“Own this.”

Sports say:

“Perform this well.”

Grades say:

“Be this smart.”

And sometimes our own minds say:

“You're not good enough.”

Illustration: The Social Media Mirror

Say:

“Imagine waking up every morning and looking at Instagram like it was a mirror.”

You see someone else's body.

Someone else's clothes.

Someone else's vacation.

Someone else's friends.

Someone else's talents.

And then you look at yourself and think:

“What's wrong with me?”

But here's the problem:

Social media shows you everybody else's highlight reel while you're comparing it to your behind-the-scenes.

You don't see their insecurity.

You don't see their bad days.

You don't see their arguments.

You don't see their failures.

You're comparing your real life to someone else's edited life.

Biblical Reference

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world…”

Paul tells us not to simply allow the world to shape us.

Why?

Because the world doesn't get to define us.

4. GOD HAS A BETTER NAME FOR YOU

13–17 minutes

Read Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…”

The word “handiwork” means something God has made.

Think about that.

God looks at you and says:

“You are My workmanship.”

Then read 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…”

Look at those words:

Chosen.

Special.

God's possession.

Illustration: Being Picked for a Team

Ask:

“Have you ever been picked last for a team?”

For some students, that will hit hard.

Then say:

“Maybe you've experienced the feeling of standing there while everyone else gets picked.”

But then explain:

“The amazing thing about Jesus is that He doesn't look at you and say, ‘You're not good enough for My team.’”

Jesus chooses you.

Not because you're the fastest.

Not because you're the smartest.

Not because you're the funniest.

Not because you've earned it.

He chooses you because He loves you.

John 15:16

John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

Jesus says:

“You did not choose me, but I chose you…”

That is an incredible verse for a Jr. High student.

When the world says:

“Prove yourself.”

Jesus says:

“You belong to Me.”

5. JESUS SHOWS US HOW MUCH WE ARE LOVED

17–18:30 minutes

Now bring it to the Gospel.

Say:

“But how do we know God actually loves us?”

The cross.

Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus didn't wait until you were perfect.

He didn't wait until you had everything figured out.

He didn't wait until you became popular.

He loved you while you were still a sinner.

Illustration: The Price Tag

Hold up an object—maybe a water bottle, shoe, or phone.

Ask:

“How do you know what something is worth?”

Usually, we look at the price.

Then say:

“What if we put a price tag on ourselves?”

Maybe someone says:

“$1.”

Someone else:

“$100.”

Someone else:

“A million dollars.”

But here's the thing:

“Your value isn't determined by what other people are willing to pay for you.”

Then:

“God showed us your value by what He was willing to give for you.”

Jesus gave His life.

The cross says:

You are loved.

6. RESPONSE: WHAT LABEL ARE YOU CARRYING?

18:30–20 minutes

Slow down here.

Say:

“I want everyone to close your eyes for a moment.”

Then ask:

“What is one label you've believed about yourself?”

Maybe:

“I'm not good enough.”

“I'm ugly.”

“I'm stupid.”

“Nobody likes me.”

“I'm a failure.”

“I'm not important.”

“I'll never be good at anything.”

“I'm always going to be the problem.”

Pause.

Then say:

“Maybe someone else put that label on you. Maybe you put it on yourself.”

Then:

“But tonight, I want you to remember that a label someone gives you is not the same thing as the identity God gives you.”

Replace the lies with God's truth:

The world says: “You're worthless.” God says: “You are made in My image.” — Genesis 1:27

How precious is your soul that the creator of the universe yearns for your heart

The world says: “You're a mistake.” God says: “You are wonderfully made.” — Psalm 139:14

The world says: “You're not enough.” God says: “You are My workmanship.” — Ephesians 2:10

The world says: “Nobody chooses you.” Jesus says: “I chose you.” — John 15:16

The world says: “You're not loved.” God says: “Nothing can separate you from My love.” — Romans 8:38–39

CLOSING

Bring everyone back to the main idea:

“You may not know what you want to do when you grow up.”

“You may not know what you're good at yet.”

“You may still be figuring out what you like.”

“You may still be figuring out who you are.”

“And that's okay.”

Then:

“But you don't have to figure out whether you're valuable.”

“God already settled that.”

He created you.

He knows you.

He loves you.

And in Jesus, He calls you His own.

Final Line

“Don't let the crowd tell you who you are when your Creator already has.”

“I AM… WHO GOD SAYS I AM”

Closing Prayer

“God, thank You that You created every person in this room. Thank You that our value doesn't come from our grades, our appearance, our friends, our talents, or what other people think about us.

Help us believe what You say about us.

When we feel like we're not enough, remind us that we are Your workmanship.

When we feel forgotten, remind us that You see us.

When we feel unwanted, remind us that You chose us.

And most importantly, help us understand the love You showed us through Jesus.

Help us live from our identity in You instead of constantly trying to prove ourselves to everyone else.

In Jesus' name, amen.”

A few tips for making it actually land in 20 minutes

I'd practice it out loud once with a timer. The biggest danger isn't having too much material—it's getting excited and spending 5 minutes on an illustration that was supposed to take 60 seconds.

For Jr. Highers, I'd especially emphasize these three sentences throughout:

“God created you.”

“God defines you.”

“God loves you.”

And if you want one physical object lesson, I'd use the name-tag illustration at the beginning and then physically remove the false label at the end. That's something they'll remember after the sermon is over.