How I’m Teaching the Parables at Youth Group
The stories of Jesus carry significant meaning. They’re important to teach in our youth ministries, but it can be overwhelming to know how to structure a series on them since there are so many. Youth workers, especially those who are newer, can often struggle to piece together a series in a way that’s not too short but not too long. With that in mind, I hope this article will bring you behind the scenes for how I’ve structured my own upcoming youth group series on “The Stories of Jesus.”
Series Description
In this new series we'll be reading and discussing the parables and other stories Jesus told. Some may be familiar to students, others will likely be new. But all of them carry a powerful message about God, humanity, and the gospel.
How I Chose the Stories
Jesus told a lot of stories and parables. I could have googled “stories Jesus told” or “parables of Jesus” to easily compile a list. But I wanted to make sure I didn’t gravitate towards my favorite parables. Since I did much of this while youth group was on our Christmas break, I had plenty of time to do my own research. I scanned through the four gospels on my own and wrote down each story, parable, and analogy Jesus told. When a story appeared in multiple gospels, I’d simply write that verse reference next to the story that was already listed. This made it apparent which stories and parables are told in only one gospel and which is repeated multiple times.
As this list of Jesus’ stories grew, and it became clear which were repeated more frequently, my series began to naturally take shape. I was reminded that the Gospel of John contains no parables, but a few stories and analogies are included. The parables that appear three times automatically got included as stories to include in the series. The twice-told stories got priority too, but I had to be somewhat choosy in order to fit my twelve-week timeframe and include some that are unique to one gospel. This approach means that some lesser-known stories are included in the series, like the Parable of the Mustard Seed & Leaven, and the Parable of the Fig Tree. It’s also an opportunity to revisit stories that church kids heard when they were growing up, but haven’t thought about in years.
The stories of Jesus proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God. They capture our attention by making us lean in, listen, and discover the gospel that Jesus preached. Over and over again he talked about the mercy of God for sinners, God’s judgment on religious hypocrisy, and the need to walk in the grace you proclaim to have received.
A Breakdown of the Stories
Parables in three gospels
Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23; Mark 4:1-9, 13-20; Luke 8:4-8, 11-15; )
Parable of the Mustard Seed & Leaven (Matthew 13:31-33; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-21)
Parable of the Vineyard Owner (Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19)
Parables in two gospels
Birds, Flowers, and Anxiety (Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 12:22-34)
Two Foundations (Matthew 7:24-29; Luke 6:46-49)
Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27)
Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35; Luke 12:41-49)
Parable of the Fig Tree (Mark 13:28-31; Luke 13:6-9, 21:29-33)
Parables in one gospel
Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)
Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21)
Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
I hope this encourages you as you prepare your own series for youth group, regardless of what you’re teaching. Don’t feel pressured into “dressing it up” because you underestimate their interest in Scripture. At the same time, youth workers will want to present the series in a way that invites students to lean in and receive God’s Word. Begin with a basic study of Scripture. Gain a big-picture view of the series, and pray for wisdom to know the best way to pastorally communicate God’s Word to teenagers. God’s Word is true and powerful. Teach with clarity and confidence.
