Clocks: A Youth Sermon Series on Breakups

Breakups hurt, whether with a friend, a team, or a partner. Students can find themselves replaying what happened, carrying shame, or wondering how to move forward when a relationship changes.

Clocks is a four-week youth sermon series through Hebrews 8–9 that helps students trust God when life changes, let go of shame, and grow after loss. They’ll see how Jesus brings new life and shapes the way they treat an ex.

The gospel lens for the series is simple: In Christ, death brings new life.

Series Overview

Week 1 — Change is often part of God’s better plan. (Hebrews 8:6, 13 NLT)

A relationship ending can make students wish they could turn back the clock. Through the better covenant described in Hebrews, this opening week helps students consider how change can be part of God’s better plan rather than only something to resist.

Week 2 — Relationship with the Son means breaking up with shame. (Hebrews 9:13–14 NLT)

A breakup can leave students carrying more than sadness. This week points them to the cleansing work of Jesus and invites them to let their relationship with Him, rather than shame about the past, shape how they move forward.

Week 3 — In Christ, death brings new life. (Hebrews 9:18–22 NLT)

Letting an old relationship end can be painful. Students return to the series’ central gospel lens as they consider how Jesus brings new life and what it means to trust Him after loss.

Week 4 — Fight for a clear path between your ex and Christ. (Hebrews 9:27–28 NLT)

The final week turns toward how students treat someone after a relationship ends. They are challenged to consider that person’s relationship with Christ and let the gospel shape their response, even when their feelings are complicated.

Why Choose the Clocks Series?

Addresses more than dating breakups

Clocks speaks to the loss of a friendship, a place on a team, or a romantic relationship, giving students a way to think about changes that matter deeply to them.

Keeps the gospel at the center

Rather than offering a simple “move on,” the series connects change, shame, loss, and relationships to the new life Jesus brings.

Connects teaching with conversation

Message, hybrid, and small group guides give leaders options for teaching each week and helping students talk through its implications.

What’s Included

• Four full video messages
• Weekly message manuscripts in Word and PDF
• Hybrid teaching guides and small group discussion guides in Word and PDF
• Teaching slides in PNG format
• Series graphics, social media graphics, fonts, and a bumper video
• Series overview in Word and PDF
• A What’s Next guide with suggested follow-up series

Best Fit for Youth Ministries That Want To…

• Help students process breakups and relationship changes through a gospel lens
• Address shame and the difficulty of letting go
• Teach a focused four-week study through Hebrews 8–9
• Challenge students to treat an ex in a way that points toward Christ

Summary

Clocks helps students trust God through change, break up with shame, and grow after loss. Across four weeks in Hebrews 8–9, they’ll discover how new life in Christ changes both their perspective on a breakup and the way they treat the other person.