Jesus Year RESOURCES

Genesis 32:24–25 (ESV)
Jacob wrestles with God through the night. He refuses to let go until he receives a blessing. God touches Jacob’s hip, wounding him, but also renaming him and blessing him.

The Question We’re Asking:
What happens when I stop fighting God and start surrendering?
Jacob spent his life grasping for control—scheming, deceiving, and striving to win. But at Peniel, he found out you don’t win with God by fighting harder—you win by giving up. God blesses not through our strength, but through surrender.

Big Idea:
God blesses us not by our strength but through surrender.

Point I: We Try to Control God but We Can’t Win
Jacob wrestled all night, refusing to let go. We do the same—we fight to control our future, our relationships, our image. But no matter how hard we push, we can’t overpower God. The only way forward is to surrender.

Point II: Jacob Walked Away Wounded but Blessed
God touched Jacob’s hip, and he limped the rest of his life. But that limp wasn’t failure—it was a sign of grace. God gave Jacob a new name and a new identity. Our wounds remind us we need God, and His blessing always comes through His strength, not ours.

The Scarlet Thread: Jesus Was Wounded So We Could Be Blessed
At the cross, Jesus took the ultimate wound—pierced for our sins—so we could receive the ultimate blessing: forgiveness, new life, and peace with God. Jacob limped away from the fight, but Jesus gave His life in the fight to save us.

Action Step: Stop Holding On. Start Letting Go.
What are you clinging to—control, fear, performance, your image? Stop holding on to your way. Start letting go and trust Jesus with your weakness. His blessing begins where your striving ends.

Note: There are a lot of questions here, so be aware of time. You don't need to hit every question in every category, but you need to make sure you're moving through each one. 

KNOW
Let’s get to know each other:
What’s the most competitive thing you’ve ever done? (sports, games, challenges, etc.)
Did you win or lose? How did it feel?

Now let’s talk about the Bible:
Read Genesis 32:24–25 together. Ask a student to read it.
What happened to Jacob that night?
Why do you think Jacob was wrestling with God?
What do you think it means that God touched Jacob’s hip and made him limp?

GROW
Read Genesis 32:26–28 together. Ask a student to read it.

Let’s talk about it:
Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Why do you think he wanted God’s blessing so badly?

God gave Jacob a new name—Israel. What does a new name show us about his new identity?

How can being wounded and blessed at the same time be a good thing? (Leader Tip: Jacob’s limp reminded him of God’s strength, not his own.)

How are we sometimes like Jacob—trying to fight for control instead of trusting God?

Where is it hard for you to surrender to God’s control? (examples: honoring your parents, not lying, etc.)


GO
Read Isaiah 53:5 together. Ask a student to read it.

Let’s make it personal:
The Scarlet Thread: Jesus was wounded so we could be blessed. What does that mean?

How does Jesus’ death on the cross show us the blessing of God’s love?

Why can we trust Jesus with our weakness?

What’s one area in your life where you need to stop holding on and start letting go?

APPLY
Let’s make this week count with a simple plan:
One Surrender: What’s one area of your life you need to surrender to God this week? (Examples: worrying about the future, trying to fit in, being perfect.)
One Step: What’s one way you can trust God instead of fighting for control?
One Word: Write or draw one word that will remind you to let go and trust God. (Examples: “Blessing,” “Trust,” “Jesus,” “Surrender.”)

PRAY
Let’s pray together:
Thank God that He blesses us through His grace, not our strength.
Thank Him that Jesus was wounded so we could be blessed.
Ask Him to help us let go of control and trust Him this week.

Collect prayer requests in the form at the bottom of the page and submit.

Note: There are a lot of questions here, so be aware of time. You don't need to hit every question in every category, but you need to make sure you're moving through each one. 

KNOW (Understanding the Message)
Let’s Talk Scripture:
Read Genesis 32:24–25.
What happened to Jacob that night?

Why do you think Jacob kept wrestling and refused to let go?

Read Genesis 32:26–28.
What did Jacob ask for?

Why is God giving him a new name (Israel) such a big deal?

Read Genesis 32:29–31.
How did Jacob walk away from this encounter with God?

What do we learn about God’s blessing from this story?

Leader Note: Big Truth to Remember → God blesses us not by our strength but through surrender.

GROW (Let It Sink In)
Make it Personal:
When do you feel like you fight to stay in control of your life?

Why do we sometimes try to control God instead of surrendering to Him?

Jacob walked away both wounded and blessed. How can weakness actually help us trust God more?

Let’s Talk Honesty:
Jacob’s limp was a reminder that he needed God. What’s something in your life that reminds you you’re not strong enough on your own (fear, stress, failure, insecurity)?

Why is it hard to let go of control in those areas?

How could trusting God bring freedom instead of stress in those situations?

GO (Live It Out)
Let’s Make a Plan:
Follow up on last week’s plan → Did anyone have a chance to trust God with something instead of performing for Him?

One Surrender: What’s one area of your life you need to surrender to God this week? (Example: your future, friendships, grades, sports, image.)

One Step: What’s one way you can stop holding on and start letting go?

One Friend: Who can remind you this week to surrender and trust God instead of striving on your own?

Leader Note: Reinforce the action step → Stop holding on. Start letting go. Encourage students to write down their three answers in their guide.

PRAYER
Ask:
What’s one area where you’ve been holding on to control instead of trusting God?

What’s one thing you want to let go of and give to Him this week?

Close in prayer:
Thank God that He blesses us through His grace, not our strength.

Thank Him that Jesus was wounded so we could be blessed.

Ask Him to help your group let go of control and trust Him this week.

Invite a student to pray if they’re comfortable.

GROW (Engage the Heart)
Leader Tip: Keep circling back to Jacob’s story. Jacob spent his life fighting for control, but he discovered that God’s blessing doesn’t come through winning—it comes through surrender.

1. Where in your life do you feel like you’re wrestling with God right now? (Examples: friendships, future, identity, choices, family.)

2. Why do we fight so hard to control things instead of trusting God?

3. Jacob walked away both wounded and blessed. How can weakness actually be a gift from God?

4. What’s a “limp” in your life that reminds you you’re not strong enough on your own?

5. Why do we see weakness as something to hide instead of something God can use?

6. Jacob got a new name (Israel) as a sign of a new identity. How has Jesus given us a new identity?

7. What’s the difference between clinging to control and clinging to Christ?

8. Do you honestly believe surrendering to Jesus is better than holding on to control? Why or why not?

GO (Engage the Hands)
Application:
Action Step to Reinforce → Stop holding on. Start letting go.

1. What’s one area of your life you need to stop holding on to and surrender to God this week?

2. What’s one way you can trust God with that area instead of trying to control it yourself?

3. If your friends looked at your life, would they see someone clinging to control or someone clinging to Christ?

PRAYER PROMPT
Ask:
What’s one area of control you need help letting go of this week?

What’s one thing you want to surrender to Jesus and trust Him with instead?

Close in prayer:
Thank God that He blesses us not by our strength but through surrender.

Thank Him that Jesus was wounded so we could be blessed. Ask Him to help your group let go of control and cling to Him this week.

Invite a student to pray if they’re comfortable.