The content will be updated on a weekly basis. (every wednesday)
August 23-Who came up with this?
The Point: The
Bible is inspired by God.
Scripture:
Matthew
5:17; John 21:24-25; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter
1:20-21
In class: We
talked about how much we really do know about the
Bible. We asked if it was possible to believe
some of the Bible and not all of it.
August 30-Isn't it just an old book?
The Point: The
Bible is Alive and Applicable. It's
relevant and practical for everyday living.
Scripture: John 1:1-5; Hebrews 4:12-13
In class: The students wrote down topics and questions. We broke into groups to discover what the Bible has to say. They learned how to use the concordance and index. We had some good discussions on practical living and what Scripture says.
Scripture: John 1:1-5; Hebrews 4:12-13
In class: The students wrote down topics and questions. We broke into groups to discover what the Bible has to say. They learned how to use the concordance and index. We had some good discussions on practical living and what Scripture says.
Sep. 6-Why should I care?
The Point: The
Bible Equips Us
Scripture: Psalm 19; Psalm 119:9-24; 105; Matthew 4:1-11
In Class: During class, we had the students list items that they would need to survive overnight on a desert island. They also listed items necessary for a beauty pageant. We used this exercise to parallel how God's Word is essential for our lives and it shows us how to live. It is like a compass or a GPS system for our lives.
We also discussed how important it is to memorize scripture and use it as a weapon against Satan's attacks. Kevin's sermon and Scripture from Psalm 19 was a great precursor to our discussion. We read in Matthew 4 how Jesus was tempted by Satan, but how he combated him with the truth in Scripture. When we don't like what we see in the mirror, we can quote Psalm 139 and know that "we are fearfully and wonderfully made".
At the end of class, the students were divided into different groups and asked to create a skit about a temptation they might encounter. They were then asked to overcome that temptation by finding a passage in Scripture that would fight it off. Some of the topics that were chosen were: drugs, cheating, and stealing.
We closed by emphasizing again how scripture is relevant to so many of the situations we encounter every day and pointed out how you can leverage a study bible and some cross references to find where God actually speaks to these situations. We also reminded everyone that in the Eternal picture, Satan has all ready been defeated and that we have victory in Christ but this side of heaven we still have temptations but not beyond what we can bare so this is why is so important to know, study and memorize Gods word.
Scripture: Psalm 19; Psalm 119:9-24; 105; Matthew 4:1-11
In Class: During class, we had the students list items that they would need to survive overnight on a desert island. They also listed items necessary for a beauty pageant. We used this exercise to parallel how God's Word is essential for our lives and it shows us how to live. It is like a compass or a GPS system for our lives.
We also discussed how important it is to memorize scripture and use it as a weapon against Satan's attacks. Kevin's sermon and Scripture from Psalm 19 was a great precursor to our discussion. We read in Matthew 4 how Jesus was tempted by Satan, but how he combated him with the truth in Scripture. When we don't like what we see in the mirror, we can quote Psalm 139 and know that "we are fearfully and wonderfully made".
At the end of class, the students were divided into different groups and asked to create a skit about a temptation they might encounter. They were then asked to overcome that temptation by finding a passage in Scripture that would fight it off. Some of the topics that were chosen were: drugs, cheating, and stealing.
We closed by emphasizing again how scripture is relevant to so many of the situations we encounter every day and pointed out how you can leverage a study bible and some cross references to find where God actually speaks to these situations. We also reminded everyone that in the Eternal picture, Satan has all ready been defeated and that we have victory in Christ but this side of heaven we still have temptations but not beyond what we can bare so this is why is so important to know, study and memorize Gods word.
Sep. 13-Will there be a test?
The Point: Studying the Bible helps us
Grow
Scripture: Psalm 119:81-112, Matthew 21:12-17
In Class: We started out by having different students talk about the sports they played and what type of workouts they did throughout the week and discussed why they spend so much time physically preparing their bodies. We then presented the question of what else besides exercise does our bodies need in order to grow healthy and strong. Finally, we talked about other ways people grow besides just physically....i.e. Mentally and Spiritually. We watched the video clip from the Grapple DVD, which basically posed the question, "if you are not going to be tested on it, then why do you need to learn it or do it." This brought us to the question of if we are not going to ever get a formal test, then do why do we need to study and memorize scripture.
This lead us in to the scripture passage of Psalm 119:81-112. We split the class up boys vs girls and had them try and find all the different words that David uses to reference "Gods Word". They came up with... Statutes, Precepts, Word, Law, Promises and Commands... Know understanding that all these "words" refer to "The Word", we dug in to Psalm 119:81-112 and pulled out how David felt about Gods Word and all the value he put on it. We talked about how David describes God's word as Eternal, how he gains understanding from it and how it is the Joy of
his heart.
Next we moved to the New Testament and Read Matthew 21:12-17 and saw how Jesus uses Scripture to accuse the money changers and clear the temple as well as how He uses scripture to defend the children who were praising him. I posed the question... "is it ok to use scripture to accuse someone" and then "is it ok to use scripture to defend someone or
themselves".... This sparked some good conversation around how if one of our friends is a Christian and we se them in sin, we can gently point them back to the Word and how God intends to protect us and keep us from Sin.
Then we looked at 1 John 2:14 and talked about how knowing the word of God will help us battle against Satan when we are tempted.
I wrapped up with Psalm 119:9-11 and challenged the students to invest time in God's word and "hide it in their Heart". By doing so, we are spiritually exercising, just like football or soccer practice during the week so when we get to the "Game" we are in shape and ready for competition.
Scripture: Psalm 119:81-112, Matthew 21:12-17
In Class: We started out by having different students talk about the sports they played and what type of workouts they did throughout the week and discussed why they spend so much time physically preparing their bodies. We then presented the question of what else besides exercise does our bodies need in order to grow healthy and strong. Finally, we talked about other ways people grow besides just physically....i.e. Mentally and Spiritually. We watched the video clip from the Grapple DVD, which basically posed the question, "if you are not going to be tested on it, then why do you need to learn it or do it." This brought us to the question of if we are not going to ever get a formal test, then do why do we need to study and memorize scripture.
This lead us in to the scripture passage of Psalm 119:81-112. We split the class up boys vs girls and had them try and find all the different words that David uses to reference "Gods Word". They came up with... Statutes, Precepts, Word, Law, Promises and Commands... Know understanding that all these "words" refer to "The Word", we dug in to Psalm 119:81-112 and pulled out how David felt about Gods Word and all the value he put on it. We talked about how David describes God's word as Eternal, how he gains understanding from it and how it is the Joy of
his heart.
Next we moved to the New Testament and Read Matthew 21:12-17 and saw how Jesus uses Scripture to accuse the money changers and clear the temple as well as how He uses scripture to defend the children who were praising him. I posed the question... "is it ok to use scripture to accuse someone" and then "is it ok to use scripture to defend someone or
themselves".... This sparked some good conversation around how if one of our friends is a Christian and we se them in sin, we can gently point them back to the Word and how God intends to protect us and keep us from Sin.
Then we looked at 1 John 2:14 and talked about how knowing the word of God will help us battle against Satan when we are tempted.
I wrapped up with Psalm 119:9-11 and challenged the students to invest time in God's word and "hide it in their Heart". By doing so, we are spiritually exercising, just like football or soccer practice during the week so when we get to the "Game" we are in shape and ready for competition.
Sep. 20-Who's perfect?
The Point: Who's
a Perfect 10 : Everyone Sins
The Passages: 1 John 1:5-10; 3: 3-10; 4:9
We gave the students a spelling test with 10 of the National Spelling Bee words. Of course, most of them were very challenging. We graded them in class and then talked about what it would be like if God made us pass a test to enter heaven. We all agreed that no one would be able to pass the test because no one is perfect and we all sin.
We then discussed the definition of "sin" and came to "missing the mark" as a generic definition. We asked the questions, "Why is it important to understand the definition of sin?" and "Do people really think that they don't sin?"
Some people just say that they make mistakes and that nobody's perfect. They don't understand how holy and perfect God is. Everyone in the class admitted that they believe they are sinners. We asked them to list sins and then rank them for the worst to not so bad. Some kids started doing that, but then the point was made that NO SIN is worse than another. God sees all sin as equally bad.
The 1 John passages reminded us to "walk in the light" and that "no one who lives in him keeps on sinning." God's Word is a flashlight that shows us which way to walk, but we must stay close because it only shines right in front of us.
The final point we discussed was that as Christians we won't be SINLESS until we are taken up to heaven, but we should desire to be more like Christ and therefore SIN LESS.
The Passages: 1 John 1:5-10; 3: 3-10; 4:9
We gave the students a spelling test with 10 of the National Spelling Bee words. Of course, most of them were very challenging. We graded them in class and then talked about what it would be like if God made us pass a test to enter heaven. We all agreed that no one would be able to pass the test because no one is perfect and we all sin.
We then discussed the definition of "sin" and came to "missing the mark" as a generic definition. We asked the questions, "Why is it important to understand the definition of sin?" and "Do people really think that they don't sin?"
Some people just say that they make mistakes and that nobody's perfect. They don't understand how holy and perfect God is. Everyone in the class admitted that they believe they are sinners. We asked them to list sins and then rank them for the worst to not so bad. Some kids started doing that, but then the point was made that NO SIN is worse than another. God sees all sin as equally bad.
The 1 John passages reminded us to "walk in the light" and that "no one who lives in him keeps on sinning." God's Word is a flashlight that shows us which way to walk, but we must stay close because it only shines right in front of us.
The final point we discussed was that as Christians we won't be SINLESS until we are taken up to heaven, but we should desire to be more like Christ and therefore SIN LESS.