Note to the Teacher

The key word in this scripture is hope. The discussion encourages students to talk about God’s promise of hope and grace and how people can participate with God in forgiveness. The activity helps youth understand that what we look for, we will find. Times are based on a fifty-five-minute lesson period but may be adjusted.

ICEBREAKER/GAME/ORGANIZING ACTIVITY (15 minutes)

“51 Youth Ministry Games & Icebreakers”

READ SCRIPTURE (5 minutes)

Today's scripture reading involves “the promise of hope.” As you read the psalm and listen to the song, look for images that promise hope and imply the idea of the resurrection. Remember that the rainbow is used as a symbol as part of the flood story found in Genesis.

Read Psalm 32.

Listen to “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves (If you or the youth have other songs they would like to include or make links within discussions, please be creative. It simply takes a bit more planning.)

DISCUSSION (15 minutes)

What does Psalm 32 say about confession and forgiveness? Do you think we must admit a wrong before we can experience true forgiveness? Think about that dynamic with people first, then God. What do you think our church says about that?
Is "Rainbow" by Kacey Musgraves primarily about hope? Or something else? Is “a promise of hope” the same thing as hope itself?
Psalm 32:5 says, "Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity." What parts of Jesus’ life in the Easter story have to do with sin, confession, and forgiveness?
How does our church talk about sin or understand the idea of sin? Do you have questions about sin as a concept? (Some answers might include: “Anything that tries to separate us from God”; “an action or belief without God in it”; “something that causes harm”; “something contrary to what God asks of us in behavior or life.” If you are uncomfortable talking about how your church understands sin, you may want to invite a pastor to be part of this discussion. You can also click here to watch a brief video on one way to understand the concept of sin in the United Methodist Church)
The song "Rainbow" speaks about carrying burdens, even when a rainbow is over your head. How do you think the promise of hope (and, in the Easter season, a promise of new life/resurrection) affects how we each carry our burdens?
Have you ever carried a burden of guilt or stress for too long before finally addressing it? How did you feel before and after? Does Psalm 32 or “Rainbow” talk about relief in a way that feels better to you?
Both the psalm and the song emphasize hope after struggle. How do these messages connect to the journey of Jesus’ death and resurrection?
Some people feel they have to “fix themselves” before coming to God, while others believe God welcomes us as we are. What do you think? How do Psalm 32 and "Rainbow" support your view?
“Rainbow” reminds listeners that they are already loved and seen, even when they don’t feel it. How does this message compare to the idea of God’s grace in Psalm 32?

ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSION (20 minutes)

Take this lesson to the next level by revisiting the crafts from last week and talking about how adjustments to how we see the world or where we see the light can give us hope.

By now, the glue-painted window clings from last week should be dry. Since they were painted on cling wrap or another plastic surface, invite the youth to peel their designs off the plastic. They should now be “window clings” that can be stuck onto a glass surface. If you have windows in your meeting area, invite youth to trim their clings and place them on windows. On each shape, invite the youth to write a word or short phrase that gives them hope.

If your group did not do the activity from last week, you can substitute dry-erase markers and simply write directly on the glass so that clean-up will be easy.

As you write and trim, ask questions like:

Why do you think having hope is important?
What about the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection can give us hope?
How does noticing the light that surrounds us change how we feel or what we focus on?
Are there ways you are a source of hope and inspiration for others?

Close in the traditional way for your group, including prayer.

TOTAL TIME: 55 minutes