Small Group Guide for Families with Young Children
The Problem of Unbelief
John 5:41-47
Big Idea
Believing in Jesus is not just knowing facts about Him. True belief means trusting Jesus, loving Him, and wanting to live for God more than for ourselves.
Key Takeaways for Kids
1. Unbelief is a heart problem.
Some people know about Jesus, but they do not trust Him. They may hear Bible stories, sing songs, or come to church, but their hearts are still not close to God.
It is like knowing about healthy food but never eating it. Knowing is not the same as trusting and following.
2. God made us to love and honor Him.
God created us to worship Him and give Him glory. But sin makes us want to put ourselves first.
Instead of saying, “God, You are most important,” we often say, “I want to be most important.”
3. Doing good things is not the same as having a changed heart.
A person can be kind, helpful, and generous but still not know Jesus as Savior.
Good works are important, but they cannot save us. Only Jesus can save us and change our hearts.
4. We should care more about what God thinks than what people think.
Sometimes people are afraid to follow Jesus because they worry what others will say.
They may think:
- “Will my friends laugh at me?”
- “Will people think I’m weird?”
- “Will I still fit in?”
Jesus teaches us that God’s praise matters more than people’s praise.
5. We should not think we are right with God just because we go to church.
Going to church is good. Reading the Bible is good. Praying is good.
But those things do not save us by themselves. We need to trust Jesus with our hearts.
6. We should compare ourselves to God, not other people.
It is easy to say, “I’m better than that person.”
But God does not ask, “Are you better than someone else?”
God is holy and perfect. When we compare ourselves to Him, we see that we need Jesus.
Opening Question
Have you ever known the right answer but still chose not to do the right thing?
For example:
- You knew you should obey, but you disobeyed.
- You knew you should share, but you didn’t.
- You knew you should tell the truth, but you lied.
How does that help us understand that our problem is not always what we know, but what is happening in our hearts?
Discussion Questions
1. What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and trusting Jesus?
You can know facts about Jesus, like:
- Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
- Jesus died on the cross.
- Jesus rose from the dead.
But trusting Jesus means believing He is your Savior and following Him with your life.
2. Why do you think people sometimes want praise from others more than praise from God?
Talk about times when kids may want others to notice them:
- At school
- In sports
- With friends
- On a team
- At home
- Online or in games
3. Can doing good things save us from sin?
No. Good things are good, but they cannot take away our sin.
Only Jesus can forgive our sin and make us new.
4. Why is it dangerous to compare ourselves to other people?
If we compare ourselves to someone who made a bad choice, we may think, “I’m pretty good.”
But God wants us to see that everyone needs Jesus.
5. What are some ways kids might hide their faith because they want others to like them?
Examples:
- Not praying before lunch because friends are watching
- Not talking about church
- Laughing at something wrong so others will like them
- Being afraid to say they believe in Jesus
6. What does it mean to give glory to God?
Giving glory to God means showing that He is great, important, and worthy of praise.
We can give glory to God by:
- Singing to Him
- Obeying Him
- Thanking Him
- Telling others about Him
- Loving people
- Choosing what is right
Practical Applications for Kids
1. Ask God to check your heart.
Pray this simple prayer:
“God, help me not just know about You. Help me trust You, love You, and follow You. Please change my heart.”
2. Choose God’s praise over people’s praise.
This week, try to do one right thing even if nobody claps for you or notices.
Examples:
- Tell the truth.
- Be kind to someone left out.
- Obey the first time.
- Pray even if others do not.
- Help without bragging.
3. Practice saying what Jesus has done for you.
Try finishing this sentence:
“Jesus loves me, died for my sins, and I can trust Him because __________.”
Or:
“I believe in Jesus because __________.”
4. Stop comparing yourself to others.
Instead of saying, “At least I’m better than them,” say:
“God, I need You. Help me follow Jesus.”
5. Look for ways the Old Testament points to Jesus.
When you hear stories from the Old Testament, ask:
- What does this teach me about God?
- What does this teach me about sin?
- How does this show me that people need a Savior?
- How does this point to Jesus?
Simple Gospel Reminder
God made us to know Him, love Him, and give Him glory. But we have all sinned and gone our own way. We cannot fix our hearts by just being good or religious.
Jesus came to save us. He died on the cross for our sins and rose again. When we trust Him, He forgives us and gives us a new heart.
True belief is not just knowing about Jesus. True belief is trusting Jesus.
The Problem of Unbelief
John 5:41-47
Big Idea
Believing in Jesus is not just knowing facts about Him. True belief means trusting Jesus, loving Him, and wanting to live for God more than for ourselves.
Key Takeaways for Kids
1. Unbelief is a heart problem.
Some people know about Jesus, but they do not trust Him. They may hear Bible stories, sing songs, or come to church, but their hearts are still not close to God.
It is like knowing about healthy food but never eating it. Knowing is not the same as trusting and following.
2. God made us to love and honor Him.
God created us to worship Him and give Him glory. But sin makes us want to put ourselves first.
Instead of saying, “God, You are most important,” we often say, “I want to be most important.”
3. Doing good things is not the same as having a changed heart.
A person can be kind, helpful, and generous but still not know Jesus as Savior.
Good works are important, but they cannot save us. Only Jesus can save us and change our hearts.
4. We should care more about what God thinks than what people think.
Sometimes people are afraid to follow Jesus because they worry what others will say.
They may think:
- “Will my friends laugh at me?”
- “Will people think I’m weird?”
- “Will I still fit in?”
Jesus teaches us that God’s praise matters more than people’s praise.
5. We should not think we are right with God just because we go to church.
Going to church is good. Reading the Bible is good. Praying is good.
But those things do not save us by themselves. We need to trust Jesus with our hearts.
6. We should compare ourselves to God, not other people.
It is easy to say, “I’m better than that person.”
But God does not ask, “Are you better than someone else?”
God is holy and perfect. When we compare ourselves to Him, we see that we need Jesus.
Opening Question
Have you ever known the right answer but still chose not to do the right thing?
For example:
- You knew you should obey, but you disobeyed.
- You knew you should share, but you didn’t.
- You knew you should tell the truth, but you lied.
How does that help us understand that our problem is not always what we know, but what is happening in our hearts?
Discussion Questions
1. What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and trusting Jesus?
You can know facts about Jesus, like:
- Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
- Jesus died on the cross.
- Jesus rose from the dead.
But trusting Jesus means believing He is your Savior and following Him with your life.
2. Why do you think people sometimes want praise from others more than praise from God?
Talk about times when kids may want others to notice them:
- At school
- In sports
- With friends
- On a team
- At home
- Online or in games
3. Can doing good things save us from sin?
No. Good things are good, but they cannot take away our sin.
Only Jesus can forgive our sin and make us new.
4. Why is it dangerous to compare ourselves to other people?
If we compare ourselves to someone who made a bad choice, we may think, “I’m pretty good.”
But God wants us to see that everyone needs Jesus.
5. What are some ways kids might hide their faith because they want others to like them?
Examples:
- Not praying before lunch because friends are watching
- Not talking about church
- Laughing at something wrong so others will like them
- Being afraid to say they believe in Jesus
6. What does it mean to give glory to God?
Giving glory to God means showing that He is great, important, and worthy of praise.
We can give glory to God by:
- Singing to Him
- Obeying Him
- Thanking Him
- Telling others about Him
- Loving people
- Choosing what is right
Practical Applications for Kids
1. Ask God to check your heart.
Pray this simple prayer:
“God, help me not just know about You. Help me trust You, love You, and follow You. Please change my heart.”
2. Choose God’s praise over people’s praise.
This week, try to do one right thing even if nobody claps for you or notices.
Examples:
- Tell the truth.
- Be kind to someone left out.
- Obey the first time.
- Pray even if others do not.
- Help without bragging.
3. Practice saying what Jesus has done for you.
Try finishing this sentence:
“Jesus loves me, died for my sins, and I can trust Him because __________.”
Or:
“I believe in Jesus because __________.”
4. Stop comparing yourself to others.
Instead of saying, “At least I’m better than them,” say:
“God, I need You. Help me follow Jesus.”
5. Look for ways the Old Testament points to Jesus.
When you hear stories from the Old Testament, ask:
- What does this teach me about God?
- What does this teach me about sin?
- How does this show me that people need a Savior?
- How does this point to Jesus?
Simple Gospel Reminder
God made us to know Him, love Him, and give Him glory. But we have all sinned and gone our own way. We cannot fix our hearts by just being good or religious.
Jesus came to save us. He died on the cross for our sins and rose again. When we trust Him, He forgives us and gives us a new heart.
True belief is not just knowing about Jesus. True belief is trusting Jesus.