For the Week of February 14, 2010
Winter, Lesson 11 Upper Elementary: Mission: Impossible or Possible?
Students will learn that no matter the size of an obstacle, faith in Jesus can help get them through it.
Click here to download the lesson » Upper Elementary Resource Links: - Watch this video that shows the amazing rescue of a woman trapped in a collapsed building after the earthquake in Haiti.
- Watch Casting Crowns perform their song, "The Voice of Truth".
Middle School: Changing Teams
In today's lesson, students will see the difference that Christ has made in the lives of two men and how Christ can change theirs.
Click here to download the lesson » Middle School Resource Links:
- Colt McCoy, quarterback for the University of Texas, talks about the difference Christ has made in his life. Click here to hear Colt's testimony.
High School: Tongue Twister
Students will learn to untangle their lives by slowing down and focusing on Jesus.
Click here to download the lesson » High School Resource Links:
- Read this message from Seth Barnes that challenges us to step out of our comfort zones and try something new. He calls it "The Bigger Coat Principle".
- Click here to find a great list of tongue twisters.
Adults: Committed to Carry a Cross
This week's lesson focuses on what it takes for us to be fully committed to following Christ.We discuss why making a commitment to Christ involves some serious consideration and reflection, then look at what we need to lay down in order to take up our cross and follow Christ fully.
Click here to download the lesson » Adult Resource Links: - This Website, sponsored by Dr. Ray Vander Laan, has a slide show of Caesarea Philippi in Israel and tells the significance of this spot for Peter's confession that "You are the Christ".
- More information on Caesarea Philippi can be found at these Websites, including present-day photos and an illustration of what the area may have looked like in Jesus' time:
For the Week of February 7, 2010
Winter, Lesson 10 Upper Elementary: One Million Acts of Kindness
Students will discuss how God can use their small acts of kindness to make a big impact on other people.
Click here to download the lesson » Upper Elementary Resource Links: -
February 8-14, 2010 is the first annual One Million Acts of Kindness Week. Students across the country will take part in making their campus and world a better place by committing to a mind-set of showing kindness and caring for others. To find out more information about this event, click here. Middle School: Superhero Scrutiny
Students will discuss different "superheroes" to get them thinking about God's amazing power.
Click here to download the lesson » Middle School Resource Links:
- How well do you know your favorite superhero? Can you list the superhero's real name, special abilities, and villains? Click here to find out more information about superheroes.
High School: Spiritual Eyes
Students will consider how we focus on Jesus even in hard times.
Click here to download the lesson » High School Resource Links:
- Watch this inspiring video about a young couple that celebrated the life of their son in the midst of difficult circumstances. The video is called "99 Balloons".
Adults: Faith, Rewards, and Suffering
Students will discuss the suffering of the people of Haiti as part of a general discussion of what faith is and how God tests and rewards our faith.
Click here to download the lesson » Adult Resource Links: - Visit these Web pages for a history of the towns of Tyre and Sidon:
- Notes on Jesus' meeting with the Canaanite woman can be found at these Web pages:
- In light of the Haitian earthquake, a British philosopher discusses the centuries-old question of why does God allow natural disasters to happen.
For the Week of January 31, 2010
Winter, Lesson 9 Upper Elementary: Who Cares? Jesus Does!
Students will talk about caring for others and consider specific ways of showing care.
Click here to download the lesson » Upper Elementary Resource Links: - CARE is the name of one of the world's largest humanitarian organizations. The letters in the name stand for "Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere." They care for people, distributing food and other necessities to victims of war and natural disasters, such as the earthquake that struck Haiti a few weeks ago. To find out more about the emergency aid CARE is providing in Haiti, see http://www.care.org/emergency/haitiearthquake/index.asp.
- You may have heard of the term "CARE packages." The first CARE packages were parcels of food intended for U.S. soldiers in World War II. When the war ended, the Army didn't need them anymore, but there were thousands of people left homeless by the war who did. CARE arranged for this food to be sent to these people. To learn what foods were in the first CARE packages, go to http://www.care.org/about/history.asp.
Middle School: What Will You Do with Your Life?
Students will think about their life missions and consider life-situations that might interrupt those missions.
Click here to download the lesson » Middle School Resource Links:
- Dan Woolley was following his life's mission when he unexpectedly found himself in the middle of an earthquake in Haiti. To read about the goodbye letters that he wrote to his sons and his amazing rescue, go to the following link.
- Download the Game of Life to play on your mobile phone. This attention-getter will help illustrate some of the unexpected circumstances that students might face along the path of life.
High School: Improving Your Serve
Students will explore ways that they can follow the disciples'model in serving others.
Click here to download the lesson » High School Resource Links:
- Watch a short clip about one young man's decision to relocate to a "foreign land" (south Los Angeles) in order to build relationships with people in need.
Adults: Dealing with Rejection
Students will talk about people rejecting others and their own experience with rejection.
Click here to download the lesson » Adult Resource Links: - This Website tells you more about which countries the most "beautiful" people come from and why the founder of BeautifulPeople.com thinks the site has become so successful-and controversial:has information on Scientology and other cults compiled by the Southern Baptist Convention.
- Archaeologists recently announced that they had found the remains of a house in Nazareth that dates to the time of Jesus:
- Archaeologists have also recreated what they believe Nazareth looked like in the first-century A.D. This video gives you a tour of what Nazareth may have looked like at the time of Jesus..
For the Week of January 24, 2010
Winter, Lesson 8 Upper Elementary: E-mail to God?!
This lesson will help students think about how, even with all the different ways we can communicate today, there's just one proven way of communicating with God.
Click here to download the lesson » Upper Elementary Resource Links: - To get some ideas for teaching kids to pray, go to this web site.
Middle School: Jesus and Pineapples
Students will discuss the importance of showing love to people as they share Jesus.
Click here to download the lesson » Middle School Resource Links:
- Have you ever heard of "Servant Evangelism? It's a way to introduce people to Jesus that is based on showing people God's love in a practical way. It involves doing a "random act of kindness" for someone, with no strings attached. For more information, check out the following links:
High School: Re-sensitized
Students will explore how they can become desensitized.
Click here to download the lesson » High School Resource Links:
- To read a thought-provoking article about the media’s portrayal of “truth and reality”, go to this web site.
Adults: Laying Down Your Burdens
Students will discuss what Jesus meant when He said to bring your burdens to Him and how His "stress relief" is different from what the world offers.
Click here to download the lesson » Adult Resource Links: - This Website has information on Scientology and other cults compiled by the Southern Baptist Convention.
- This Web page has a critique from Britain of the Oxford Capacity Analysis test.
- This video is part of a BBC report on Scientology that shows where our problems come from—ancient aliens called Thetans that have attached themselves to us—and how Scientology can “rid” us of these problems.
- This MSNBC report on Scientology looks at its focus on celebrities, especially Tom Cruise.
For the Week of January 17, 2010
Winter, Lesson 7 Upper Elementary: Hide it in Your Heart
Students will learn from Billy Graham's example that, when God's word in hidden in your heart, temptation is easier to resist.
Click here to download the lesson » Middle School: The Donut Hole Temptation
Students will learn how to resist temptation by understanding how Jesus dealt with it.
Click here to download the lesson » High School: Alone Time
Students will learn the benefits of spending time alone with God..
Click here to download the lesson » High School Resource Links:
- Taylor Witcher began hiking the Appalachian Trail with her parents when she was only 10 months old. Taylor's family became known as the "Waking Witchers" about 8 years ago when they completed the trail in 6 months. Only a few families have completed the 2,168 mile trek from Georgia to Maine. Recently, Taylor decided to hike the Appalachian Trail on her own. Read about her story here.
Adults: Our Hands—God's Work
Today's lesson focuses on ways God works directly to intervene in human affairs, in what ways He does so indirectly by using the hands of His people, and what students can do to help others and in the process become God's hands at work.
Click here to download the lesson » Adult Resource Links: - For more insight into Jesus' healing of the blind men, look at these Web pages:
- Why did John the Baptist question if Jesus was the Messiah? Some possible answers to this question are at these Web pages:
For the Week of January 10, 2010
Winter, Lesson 6 Upper Elementary: The Ultimate Gift
Your students will watch a touching story of a little girl who shows compassion for her brother who has cancer, by cutting off her hair to give as a gift. Your students will compare the sacrificial gift of a child to the ultimate gift of Jesus.
Click here to download the lesson » Upper Elementary Resource Links: - Watch this video about a little girl who gives a special gift to her brother who has cancer.
Middle School: May I See Your ID?
After discussing the wacky ways that some teenagers identify themselves, students will study the power of identifying with Jesus Christ through water baptism.
Click here to download the lesson » Middle School Resource Links:
- To find information about different traditions concerning baptism, go here.
High School: Jesus the Rule-Breaker
Students will explore the idea that human laws and customs can interfere with God's laws.
Click here to download the lesson » High School Resource Links:
- In 1960, the Supreme Court outlawed segregation on public buses. However, there was still a deep-rooted tradition of segregation in the southern United States. So a small group of people, both black and white, decided to challenge the status quo. They called themselves "Freedom Riders," and they boarded Greyhound buses that would take them into Alabama. They intentionally rode in mixed groups to defy the unjust customs of the South. Watch this video clip that tells a little about their journey.
- You can also read more about the "Freedom Riders" story here.
Adults: It's So Tempting
This week's lesson focuses on Jesus' temptation in the wilderness after His baptism.We'll consider how what we set our minds on affects our decision-making, then make a resolution to read and meditate on Scripture more in the coming year as one way of gaining victory over temptation.
Click here to download the lesson »
For the Week of January 03, 2010
Winter, Lesson 5 Upper Elementary: Got Wisdom?
This lesson will encourage students to grow in wisdom by having a teachable attitude.
Click here to download the lesson » Upper Elementary Resource Links: - Michelangelo spent four years of his life painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. There are over 300 people in the different pictures-all depicting 9 major events from the Book of Genesis-from the creation of the world, to the epic flood of Noah's time. Take a look at Michelangelo's amazing work at this Website.
Middle School: Sorry? Prove it!
Students will contemplate a recent celebrity confession and discuss how true repentance requires action not just talk.
Click here to download the lesson » Middle School Resource Links:
- A recent celebrity confession has people talking about whether or not confessions are necessary and how much of a celebrity's life can and should remain private.
High School: Balancing Act
Students will learn how independence from their parents needs to be balanced with their dependence on God and other people.
Click here to download the lesson » Adults: Who Is He?
We must know exactly who Jesus is if we claim to follow Him.
Click here to download the lesson »
For the Week of December 27, 2009
Winter, Lesson 4 Upper Elementary: The Greatest Gift of All
Students will come to understand why Jesus is the greatest gift of all. They will also learn that through thanks and praise, they can give a gift back to God.
Click here to download the lesson » Upper Elementary Resource Links: - Name this movie. It's about a man named George Bailey who gets to see how the world would have turned out if he had never lived. Although at first he is unhappy about his life, he eventually learns that the world would have been a much poorer place without him. The producer originally wanted to call this movie "The Greatest Gift", from the title of the short story it was based on. To find the real title of this movie and more information about it, click here.
Middle School: The Problem With Being Human
Students will experience the crowded and uncomfortable conditions where Jesus was born.
Click here to download the lesson » Middle School Resource Links:
- The Temple Institute in Jerusalem has spent approximately 27 million dollars on preparations for the rebuilding of the Jewish temple. Read about it here.
High School: To Save or Condemn?
Students will explore and discuss God's role in the judgment and redemption of mankind.
Click here to download the lesson » Adults: Are You Listening?
Students will discuss how they can listen more when God speaks to them.
Click here to download the lesson » Adult Resource Links: - For more information on the StoryCorps project, visit their Website.
- This video celebrates the birth of Jesus with images focusing on the Magi and the song, "We Three Kings".
- For more information on the Magi, visit this Web page.
For the Week of December 20, 2009
Winter, Lesson 3 Upper Elementary: What Would Jesus Buy?
This lesson will ask students to analyze how society celebrates the birth of Jesus and determine how it could do a better job at making this celebration more meaningful and joyful.
Click here to download the lesson » Upper Elementary Resource Links: - Have you ever felt like everyone is too busy at Christmastime? Watch this funny video called the "12 Crazy Days of Christmas."
- A group of people got together a few years ago to see what it would be like to focus more on Jesus and less on shopping at Christmas. They called themselves Advent Conspiracy, and their ideas are catching on. Their motto is "Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All." Watch a couple videos that share about what Advent Conspiracy is doing.
- An excellent, provocative Advent Conspiracy video comparing how much Americans spend on Christmas versus what it would cost to fix water problems throughout the world can be found here.
Middle School: The Good News of Casting Crowns and Cha Sa-soon
Students will have an opportunity to experience how easy it is to share good news. They'll leave emboldened to share their faith with someone God has laid on their heart.
Click here to download the lesson » Middle School Resource Links:
- Cha Sa-soon was in the news in early November because she had recently achieved something wonderful; she had passed the written exam for a driver's license! Cha Sa-soon is an aspiring car driver who has spent more than $4,200 in application fees and had (up until early November) failed the written exam 949 times. She had been trying almost daily to pass the test since April 2005. Read more about her story here.
High School: The Unexpected Breaks In
Students will play a silly game to loosen things up and prepare them to talk about what happens when unexpected things happen in their lives.
Click here to download the lesson » Adults: Jesus is the Reason
Students will discuss what they can do to honor Jesus during the Christmas holiday and what they can do to keep His life, death, and resurrection in focus throughout the year.
Click here to download the lesson » Adult Resource Links: - The contemporary Christian group MercyMe wrote a song about how Joseph may have felt at Jesus' birth called "Joseph's Lullaby." You can listen to the song and watch a video based on it at this Web page.
- Michael Card and Steve Green perform "Immanuel, Our God Is with Us" in this video.
- For an article about what Joseph may have felt at the first Christmas, see this Web page.
For the Week of December 13, 2009
Winter, Lesson 2 Upper Elementary: Perfect Plan
This lesson will help students understand how they can follow God's plans which are perfect.
Click here to download the lesson » Upper Elementary Resource Links: - The Blind Side is a movie that depicts the remarkable true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American teenager, whose world is turned upside down one day when he's spotted on the street by Leigh Anne Tuohy (played by Sandra Bullock). Upon learning that the young man is one of her daughter's classmates at Briarcrest Christian School, Leigh Anne insists that Michael - wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the dead of winter - come in out of the cold. Without a moment's hesitation, she invites him to stay at the Tuohy home for the night. What starts out as a gesture of kindness turns into something more as Michael becomes part of the Tuohy family despite the differences in their backgrounds. To read more about Michael and his story, click here.
- To read more about the production of The Blind Side movie, please visit:
Middle School: Who's Confused?
Students we will take a closer look at Jesus' birth and clear up some of the confusion about Him.
Click here to download the lesson » Middle School Resource Links:
- Read about 40 different religions in the world at this website.
High School: Holy Boxing Gloves
Students will discuss how impossibilities can become possibilities.
Click here to download the lesson » High School Resource Links:
- Sara Groves was on the road. Noted as one of the most talented musical artist/songwriters, she had hit a roadblock. She was exhausted emotionally and physically, and she had eight more months of concerts ahead of her. Sara kept going. She went on stage and she did her best to honor the Lord with her music. Eventually a song came out of that experienced titled The Boxer comparing the Christian life to a boxing match. Sara found strength in the lyrics of The Boxer. She describes a moment when she says she was bobbing and weaving through life just like a boxing match but still getting beat up. She mentally went to a corner of the ring and started to remember who she was. She was not Sara Groves the singer nor was she Sara Groves the talented girl at college. She remembered she was Sara who God loved and in whom God lived.
Adults: Embracing the Unexpected
This week's lesson encourages us to think about times and ways in which God has given us unexpected signs to assure us of His promises.
Click here to download the lesson » Adult Resource Links: - As we read about Jesus' coming, you may want to listen to this rendition of the ancient German carol, "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming," paying special attention to the words. Click here to listen.
- In this video Mark Lowry, the author of "Mary Did You Know?" sings that song with the Gaither Vocal Band, and they also celebrate Christ's second Advent by singing "The King Is Coming."
- For an evangelical perspective on Mary, the mother of Jesus, read this article by Scot McKnight.
For the Week of December 6, 2009
Winter, Lesson 1 Upper Elementary: Fasten Your Seatbelt
Your students will learn how Christ's birth was foretold through many prophecies in the Bible.
Click here to download the lesson » Upper Elementary Resource Links: - Watch this video by Josh McDowell as he shows how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. Fasten your seatbelts and turn on your mind because he presents a lot of information and talks very fast.
- To see a list of prophecies that Jesus fulfilled, check out this website.
Middle School: Mission Impossible
Your students will learn to let God take control of their impossible circumstances.
Click here to download the lesson » Middle School Resource Links:
- Watch this video about a little girl who was faced with what seemed to be an impossible situation - either her brother would die or she believed that she would die giving a blood transfusion to her sibling. While she didn't understand that giving a blood transfusion wasn't life-threatening, she was willing to lay down her life for her brother.
High School: Formed in Love
Students will contemplate how God formed them with purpose by reflecting on a story of an operation done on a baby in the womb.
Click here to download the lesson » High School Resource Links:
- On August 19, 1999, a veteran photojournalist, Mr. Clancy, was hired by USA Today to photograph a surgery. The operation was for a child with spina bifida and this specialized surgical procedure was going to be performed on a twenty-one week old unborn baby. The baby, in his mother's womb, was operated on through a small incision. During the surgery, the baby's entire arm thrust out of the incision and then pulled back until just his little hand showed. As the doctor reached over and lifted the baby's hand, the baby squeezed the doctor's finger. Just then, a photograph was taken. This picture later would be seen by millions, referred to by the media as "the hand of a fetus that touched the world." Mr. Clancy calls the photo "the hand of hope"-having no idea that it would change his life forever. The photo and story related to this event can be seen at this website. To see a picture of the boy ten years after the surgery, click here.
Adults: Relationships and God's Plan
Students will discuss how God used the relationship of Naomi and Ruth in His plan of redemption and restoration for the whole world.
Click here to download the lesson » Adult Resource Links: - Since this week's lesson talks about older adults mentoring younger adults, you might want to read this article about how older women can mentor younger women.
- If you feel that the older adults in your church are not being honored and involved in church life as much as they could be, here is a website with multiple resources for senior adult ministries and ideas for a Senior Adult Sunday.
- Another classic Advent hymn is "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus" by Charles Wesley. You can hear a beautiful rendition of this hymn performed at this website.
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