Objective
Students will learn that true passion must be guided by humility and grace, enabling them to love others, including their enemies, the way Jesus did.
Warm Up
Trigger Warning Game – Call out a series of light-hearted scenarios that might “trigger” a reaction or strong opinion. After each one, students should quickly move to one side of the room if it annoys them and to the other side if it doesn’t bother them.
Example prompts:
- Someone cuts in line at Starbucks.
- A referee makes a bad call in your game.
- Your sibling borrows your hoodie without asking.
- Someone posts something rude about you online.
- You’re told to redo something you already finished.
After a few rounds, ask:
- Which prompts got the biggest reactions?
- Why do certain things make us lose patience faster than others?
- What does your reaction usually look like when you’re frustrated or feel disrespected?
Transition
In today’s clip from The Chosen, two of Jesus’ disciples (James and John) get “triggered” by people who insulted them. They wanted revenge and even asked Jesus to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans!
But Jesus didn’t react with anger or pride. Instead, He used the moment to teach them about humility, grace, and passion that serves God’s purposes instead of their egos.
In Jesus’ time, Samaritans were a people group despised by many Jews. Most avoided them completely, but Jesus went out of His way to show them love. This moment shows how Jesus began reshaping His followers’ hearts for a mission that included everyone – even their enemies.
The Clip
Let’s watch this scene from The Chosen and see what Jesus was teaching James and John.
Play the clip “Sons Of Thunder” from Season 2, Episode 1 of The Chosen.
Discuss:
- What stood out to you in the video? What emotions did it stir in you?
- The disciples responded to the Samaritans with passionate anger. How did Jesus respond to James and John?
- As they humbled themselves before Jesus, what did James and John begin to learn about their passion?
- Why do you think Jesus called them the “Sons of Thunder”?
- How would you feel if Jesus gently corrected you that way?
Bible Study
Love Your Enemy
Read Luke 6:27-28, 31, 36
Jesus calls His followers to respond to hatred with love and mercy.
- Who comes to mind when you think of an “enemy” in your life?
- Why is it hard to love someone who has hurt you?
- How have you shown love to — or received love from — someone you would consider an enemy?
- What does loving enemies reveal about God’s heart?
- How could you apply this command this week?
Peacemakers
Read James 3:17-18
James describes what it looks like to plant “seeds of peace.”
- Which of these traits stands out to you: pure, peace-loving, gentle, yielding, merciful, full of good deeds, impartial, or sincere?
- Can you share a time you gave or received one of these “seeds”?
- How does humility help a person become a peacemaker?
- How can you be a peacemaker in your school or family this week?
- How does this passage connect to how Jesus responded to James and John?
Humility Before Passion
Read 1 Peter 5:6-7
Peter reminds us that God lifts up the humble but resists the proud.
- What does humility mean to you?
- Why do you think God “opposes the proud”?
- What’s the difference between good passion and bad passion?
- How can passion become prideful if it’s not guided by humility?
- What would humility before passion look like in your school, home, or church?
Wrap Up
Jesus calls us to plant seeds that will last. We are no different from those we’re trying to reach—each of us needs God’s love and grace. He calls us to walk humbly among those who may be against us and to use our passion wisely for His purposes.
This week, look for a way to show grace to someone you struggle with. Pray that your passion will always be guided by humility and grounded in God’s love.