WEEK 1 – Free Gift: Salvation

What's the best gift you've ever received—and why was it so special?

Quote for Reflection

“Grace is when God gives us what we don’t deserve.” – Unknown

Invite students to briefly share their thoughts.

SOAP UP

S – SCRIPTURE

Read the following passages together (out loud, in turns):

• Luke 18:9-14
• John 3:16
• Ephesians 2:8-9
• Romans 5:8

You can ask: “Which verse speaks to you most at first glance?”

O – OBSERVATION (What does it say?)

Here are some guided questions:

1. What do these verses reveal about God's role in our salvation?
2. What is the contrast between what we deserve and what God gives us?
3. What do the verses say about our works and earning salvation?
4. What role does love play in this free gift?

True (t) or False to Note (f): Circle Answer

• Salvation is a gift, not a reward ( t / f )
• God's love precedes our repentance. ( t / f )
• We are saved by grace, not by effort. ( t / f )

A – APPLICATION (What does it mean to me?)

Ask the group to reflect personally:

• How do I respond to this kind of love?
• Do I sometimes try to “earn” God's approval?
• How does understanding grace change how I live, study, serve, or relate to others?

 Challenge: This week, write a prayer of gratitude for God’s gift of salvation in your journal. Share the idea of salvation with a friend who may need hope.

P – PRAYER (Let’s talk to God)

 Suggestions:

• Thank God for His undeserved love.
• Confess areas where you've tried to earn His love instead of accepting it.
• Pray for someone who needs to experience the gift of salvation.

You can either pray as a group (open prayer or one person) or split into pairs.

5 Questions You Might Ask (with Biblical Answers)

• “Why do I need salvation if I’m a good person?”
  
• Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
  Isaiah 64:6 – “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.”
  Answer: Even our best efforts fall short of God’s perfect standard. Salvation isn’t about comparing ourselves to others—it’s about being reconciled to a holy God.

• “Isn’t believing in Jesus too simple to be true?”
  
• John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world...”
  Acts 16:31 – “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved...”
  Answer: Salvation is simple because God wanted it to be accessible to everyone. It’s not about how smart or good you are—it’s about trusting what Jesus already did.

• “What if I’ve done too much wrong to be forgiven?”
• 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive...”
  Isaiah 1:18 – “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”
  Answer: No sin is too great for God’s forgiveness. Jesus died for all sin, and grace reaches deeper than guilt.

• “Why did Jesus have to die?”
  
• Romans 5:8 – “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
  Hebrews 9:22 – “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
  Answer: Jesus paid the price for our sin with His own life, showing both justice and love. He took our place.

• “Can’t all religions lead to the same God?”
• John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life...”
  Acts 4:12 – “Salvation is found in no one else...”
  Answer: Christianity isn’t about being better—it’s about Jesus. He’s the only one who died for our sins and rose again. God’s offer is open to all, but the path is one: Jesus.