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Middle School

Never Alone

  • Lesson 04
  • Spring 2026
  • By: RLD Editorial Team
  • April 19, 2026
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Lesson Focus:

Jesus understands our loneliness.

Bible Basis:

Matthew 26:36-41, 47, 56; 27:35-36, 45-46

Materials Needed:

Step 1:

  • Internet access

Step 4:

  • Internet access
  • Paper (1 sheet per student)
  • Scissors
  • Pens/pencils
  • Whiteboard and marker (or screenshared document)

Summary & Links:

After watching a video about using social media for intentional connection rather than passive scrolling, students will discuss what it means to feel lonely.

Memory Verse:

“Surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age.”
—Matthew 28:20b

Step 1:

After watching a video about using social media for intentional connection rather than passive scrolling, students will discuss what it means to feel lonely.

Materials Needed:

  • Internet access

When your students arrive, engage them in a discussion.

  • How would you describe the feeling of loneliness? (Accept all reasonable responses.) 
  • What things in our culture and society might contribute to feeling lonely? (Accept all reasonable responses.)

While social media can make us feel more connected, it can also make us feel lonelier. Let’s watch a video exploring ways to use social media in a way that fights, rather than contributes to, loneliness.

Share the following video [1:28]: Experts say mindful social media use can boost teen health 

  • This video described how intentionally connecting with friends on social media through posting and commenting, rather than passively scrolling, can help social media feel less lonely. Is it still possible a person to feel lonely even if they are connecting with others through social media? (Students will likely see the difference between connecting with people on the internet as contrasted with real connection.)
  • Have you ever been in a big crowd of people and still felt all alone? How is that possible? (Loneliness is more about feeling emotionally isolated than simply about whether you’re around other humans. In fact, sometimes just the opposite can be true; large groups can make us feel even lonelier when there’s no meaningful connection.)
  • Why do you think people who spend lots of time passively scrolling on social media might experience loneliness at a higher rate? What’s your theory? (Accept all reasonable answers. Perhaps it’s linked to comparing oneself to others. Perhaps happy videos and frequent postings give the illusion that everyone else has more friends than you do.) 
  • What do you like to do if you are feeling lonely? (Students may try to connect through video gaming or inviting a friend over. They may find a “friend” in a good book, etc. Accept all reasonable answers.)
  • Is something wrong with you if you feel lonely sometimes? (Absolutely not! Jesus felt lonely and He was perfect and sinless.)

It is natural for teenagers to feel lonely sometimes. But Jesus knows what it feels like—and He’s always ready to listen.

Looking for Steps 2 & 3?

You can find Steps 2 and 3 in your teacher’s guide. To purchase a teacher’s guide, please visit: Bible-in-Life or Echoes.

Step 4:

Materials Needed:

  • Internet access
  • Paper (1 sheet per student)
  • Scissors
  • Pens/pencils
  • Whiteboard and marker (or screenshared document)

If your class is meeting online, invite students to bring supplies with them to class.

If desired, view this video tutorial on how to create a mini-booklet so that you can share directions with your students when the time comes for them to make their mini-journal. An alternative would be to show the video to your class at the appropriate time, stopping after each step to allow your students time to keep up.

Watch the following tutorial [1:10]: How to Make a Quick and Easy 8 Page Mini-Book from One Piece of Paper

Loneliness is a very real emotion for young people. To diminish their need for community is to ignore how God created them for deep connections with others. Use this step to encourage even your most isolated students to find comfort in Jesus’ humanity and empathy.

Did you know that you don’t need a million friends to feel included and valuable? Sometimes just knowing that one or two people understand you is all it takes to feel like you belong. Let’s think about the people that God has placed in your life so far.

Let students “popcorn” names of people in their lives who offer comfort and connection. Encourage your adult leaders to participate as well, speaking out names of friends, family members, and other Christians who care for them.

When you are finished, distribute supplies (or invite students to have them ready at home). Walk them through directions for creating a mini-journal. Or, you may choose to let your students watch the tutorial; stop and start the video after each step to allow your students time to follow through.

Jesus knows exactly what it feels like to be all alone. His response? He talked openly with His Father God in the middle of His feelings. Some people like to use personal journals to pray and talk to God. Let’s spend a few minutes by ourselves, writing down the following sentences in our journals.

On the whiteboard (or screenshared document), write down the following sentence frames for students to copy. Encourage students to write in their journals by filling in the blanks in a personal way. If time allows, encourage them to use each sentence as a prompt to continue sharing their thoughts with God.

When I feel ___________, I know that Jesus ______________ me.
I am so thankful that God is _______________.
Jesus hears my _______________, and He always gives _______________.
I am never alone because God _________________________________.
Even when I am __________________, Jesus is ______________.

When your students have had time to construct their sentences, gather everyone together to answer the following questions:

  • It’s easy to feel sorry for ourselves when we feel lonely. But how can we identify someone else who might be feeling the same way? What are some signs? (Attention-seeking behavior like loud humor or inappropriate outbursts can sometimes be a sign of loneliness. On the other hand, extra quiet or isolated students may be hinting that they need love and affection.) 
  • If you identify someone who is feeling lonely, what are some things you might do to share Jesus’ love with them? (Answers will vary. Students might think that coming alongside with an encouraging word, eating lunch with them, or inviting them to youth group might be a good plan. Sometimes just offering a listening ear and praying for them is the best idea.) 
  • Can feelings of loneliness ever be a good thing? (Sometimes sad feelings drive us back to Jesus. It’s good to depend upon Him, even if it takes some sad feelings to get us there.)
  • Should you feel responsible for “fixing” a lonely person at school or church? What can you do if someone is really going through a hard time and they can’t feel the love of Jesus? (Discuss the importance of sharing concerns with a trusted adult or parent. Emphasize that they’re not responsible for keeping secrets or trying to solve someone’s problems alone.)

As you close, remind your students that even though Jesus lived on the earth thousands of years ago, He is still right beside them to comfort, listen, and love.

Spread the word

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