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For the Week of August 30 2009
Summer, Lesson 13 Upper Elementary: A Lasting Vacation
By imagining the most perfect vacation possible, students will realize that even the best experience on earth is nothing compared to the glory of Heaven. Upper Elementary Resource Links: - For a brief, simple Gospel presentation, visit: http://www.theopedia.com/Gospel_presentations (see the section titled, "The Four Laws")
- If you are interested in using an interactive website instead of a typed gospel presentation, you may consider using this excellent resource by Living Waters/Way of the Master: www.NeedGod.com
Middle School: The Real Deal!
Students will discover how they can know for sure that Jesus is the true Messiah. Middle School Resource Links:
- Thousands of years ago, God promised that He would send ONE man who could fulfill every detail that was predicted about the coming of a Savior. God's prophets gave hundreds of clues to help people identify the true Messiah, and Jesus fulfilled them all! Check out some of the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled at: http://www.bprc.org/topics/fulfill.html
- Coca Cola was the first drink of its kind in the soda market. So when Pepsi created a similar drink, the two companies began what they called "cola wars." To set itself apart, the Coca Cola Company started using the slogan, "It's the real thing", to market their product? To check out their commercial, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVag7D85b24
High School: Soul Music
Your teens will discuss their musical taste in popular music and praise music. High School Resource Links:
- With the recent death of Michael Jackson and the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, there has been much news lately about music. A recent survey found a few preferences of different age groups. Over 65: Frank Sinatra and Classical. 50-65: The Beatles. 30-60: the Eagles. Under 30: Michael Jackson. See all the results here.
- As the country has shifted from Sinatra to Rock, the church has also shifted from hymns to praise songs. There is a magazine called "20 the Countdown Magazine" that has determined the 20 top praise songs: http://www.20thecountdownmagazine.com
- The Underground Church in China often uses simple praise songs for worship. A peasant girl in China named Xiao Min, who is a high school dropout with no musical training, has composed almost 1,000 simple hymns that are sung today across China and the world. Here is her story: http://waysoflife.info/Canaan%20Hymns.html
Adults: Making a Wise Choice
Students will discuss why we need God's wisdom in our lives and how we can find that wisdom in His Son, Jesus. Adult Resource Links: - Archaeologists have long searched in Israel for evidence of Solomon's glorious reign. One discovery that seems to confirm the Bible's description of Solomon fortifying the cities of Gezer, Hazor, and Megiddo (see 1 Kings 9:15) is the discovery of three six-chambered city gates, dated to the time of Solomon, at each of those city sites. The city gates were the places that court was held by the town's elders (see Deut. 21:19; Ruth 4:11; Prov. 8:2; 24:7; 31:23). Video about Solomon's gates can be found at these Web sites:
For the Week of August 23 2009
Summer, Lesson 12 Upper Elementary: The Power of a Penny
Students will discover that they really can make a difference in the world when they are able to share what they have. Middle School: Leaping Levites!
Students will discuss the meaning of "worship" and explore the different opinions on its definition. High School: Living Epitaphs
Students will develop a deeper understanding of the two most important ways we remember Christ's death: baptism and communion. Adults: The Joy of Giving
The class will talk about the relationship between giving and receiving—do we often give just to get something in return? What makes us truly generous people in God's eyes?
For the Week of August 16, 2009
Summer, Lesson 11 Upper Elementary: Stomp out False Gods
Your students will compare the health, happiness, and hunger rating scale of Webkinz to the health of their relationship with God. Middle School: The Barrier Buster
Students will discuss barriers and the need to break them down in order to have unity amongst the body of Christ. Middle School Resource Links:
- Download various pictures of groups of kids with various ethnicities, ages, and personality types:
High School: Sinking Ships, Irate Gates, and Listening Lambs
Students will recognize the importance of not only hearing God's Word, but also listening intently to what He has to say to us! Adults: A Slip of the Tongue
Students will discuss the importance of choosing their words wisely so that both they and their words reflect a godly character. Adult Resource Links: - The great New York Yankees catcher and manager Yogi Berra is especially famous for his humorous misstatements. (Interestingly, in 2005, The Economist magazine named him "The Wisest Fool of the Past 50 Years" for his success as an advertising pitchman.) Some examples of his Yogiisms can be found at this Web site: http://www.umpirebob.com/DATA/yogiisms.htm
- More seriously, if you agree with the old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me," read this Web site on bullying and the lifelong effect that words can have on children. Everyone with children and grandchildren needs to know the 10 myths about bullies:
http://www.education-world.com/a_issues/issues102.shtml - Marriages (and other close relationships) can be restored and improved with the use of the six powerful words described in this article:
http://www.marriagemissions.com/six-powerful-words-marriage-message-192/
For the Week of August 09, 2009
Summer, Lesson 10 Upper Elementary: What Would You Die For?
In today's lesson, students will examine different kinds of sacrifice—Old Testament sacrificial lambs; a modern-day sacrifice for Christ; and the ultimate, perfect sacrifice Jesus made. Students will discuss what sacrifices they can make in their day-to-day lives. Middle School: Fall In!
Students will learn to take responsibility for how they feel about church participation. High School: Prayer Team
Students will discuss why teamwork can be effective—especially when it comes to praying as a group. Adults: Tempted to Sin
Students will talk about ways we are lured into the snares of sin, and make a plan of escape using biblical counsel.
For the Week of August 02, 2009
Summer, Lesson 9 Upper Elementary: On My Honor
To help your tweens understand the concept of honoring God, they will discuss ways society honors well-known people. Middle School: Room for God?
Your class will learn that while God should be present in their homes, He desires most to live within their hearts. High School: Your Incredible Family
Your teens will discuss how family molds things like relationships, personality, and calling, and will view a video clip from the movie The Incredibles. Adults: The Wealth of Wisdom
Students will discuss how to gain godly wisdom and how much better it is than worldly wisdom.
For the Week of July 26, 2009
Summer, Lesson 8 Upper Elementary: Leap of Faith
Your tweens will discuss ways to deal with problems and learn the importance of putting their full trust in Jesus to help solve them. Middle School: Yo' Momma Knows Best
Students will discuss God's best plans for children and their parents. High School: On the Same Page?
Students will talk about what defines a Christian first and foremost, and then will discuss why Christians marrying Christians is a part of God's design and plan. High School Resource Links:
- Look at a Pew Forum survey to see how many American Christians think some non-Christian religions can lead to eternal life: http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=380
Adults: A Helping Hand
Students will discuss how they can help others, especially those who are the "powerless" people in society. Adult Resource Links: - Most Christian denominations have agencies that help the "powerless" both in the United States and abroad. Here are just a few Web sites you can check to see what your denomination is doing to help those who need help the most:
For the Week of July 19, 2009
Summer, Lesson 7 Upper Elementary: Parents Protect, Prepare, and Provide
Your students will compare worldly advice given by the media to the trustworthy advice of their parents. Middle School: Too Close for Comfort
Students will evaluate what's difficult and what's easy for them in relating to their families, and learn to turn to God for help in the rough places. High School: Total Temple
Students will learn that God cares about the whole body. Adults: Leave a Legacy of Truth
Students will be discussing what they should be teaching the younger generation about God and the Bible.
For the Week of July 12, 2009
Summer, Lesson 6 Upper Elementary: "Not My Job!"
By reflecting on our inherent desire for peace, students will see that they too have a responsibility to do everything in their power to get along with others, in order to make a stand for peace. Middle School: Learning Now for Later
Students will explore the impact their upbringing can have on their lives and discover that, no matter what kind of upbringing they've received, God is the perfect parent. High School: The Bigger Picture
Students will explore how family influences their view of God. Adults: A Song of Salvation
The class will talk about how God saves people, and students will identify a need for salvation in their own lives. Adult Resource Links: - Information on new life-saving devices for heart problems can be found in this Web article.
- The words of Psalm 67 were paraphrased by Henry Francis Lyte in 1834 into the hymn "God of Mercy, God of Grace." You can see the words and listen to the tune at this website: http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/g/g219.html
For the Week of July 05, 2009
Summer, Lesson 5 Upper Elementary: Make Your Sins Invisible
In today's lesson, students will explore the difficulty in confessing sins to God and others, as well as the relief that comes from confession. Middle School: Why Me, God?
Students will explore what it means to trust God with situations that cause them to wonder, "Where was God when that happened?" High School: Prepared to Be Amazed
Students will discuss reasons why it can be hard to experience genuine awe—and times when they have been truly amazed, especially by God. Adults: The Apple of His Eye
Students will discuss how much God loves and values us as the crown of His creation and how we should love and value each other as well.
For the Week of June 28, 2009
Summer, Lesson 4 Upper Elementary: God's Time is the Right Time
Your students will watch a video of United States astronauts repairing the Hubble Telescope in space and will empathize with the mission team who faced many disappointments as launch dates were delayed numerous times. They will focus remaining steadfast and trust God's timing even when plans are changed. Middle School: A True Best Friend
Students will talk about characteristics they admire about their best friends, discuss a story about a loyal dog, and reflect on why God can be the best friend of all. High School: Loopy Life, Level Love
Your teens will discuss the thrill of riding a roller coaster and then discuss how life can sometimes feel like a hopeless loop that never ends. Adults: Down to the Last Detail
Students will discuss how God is involved in the natural world that He created and in the lives of those He created—all of us.
For the Week of June 21, 2009
Summer, Lesson 3 Upper Elementary: Power of Prayer
Your students will learn that great things happen when believers come together and pray as a group. Middle School: Think on These Things
Students will look at people who have dedicated themselves to memorizing something for the sake of a meaningless hobby. Then they will contemplate memorizing Scripture so that God'sWord can be at work in their lives. High School: Hidden Corners
Your class will learn about the concepts of heartfelt admission and forgiveness of sins. Adults: Defining and Measuring Success
Students will discuss how God measures success and what they can do to be successful in God's eyes.
For the Week of June 14, 2009
Summer, Lesson 2 Upper Elementary: Heard and Healed
By reflecting on Susan Boyle's recent disappointment and the disappointments they may face in their own lives, students will learn that God hears our prayers and restores us when we need it most. Middle School: A Word for the Wise
High School: Fully Known, Deeply Loved
Students will explore the idea that God knows absolutely everything about them and loves them anyway. Adults: You Are Free to Speak
Students will discuss the role open communication in relationships and will commit to taking steps toward more open communication in their prayers to God.
For the Week of June 07, 2009
Summer, Lesson 1 Upper Elementary: Mind Reading
Students will first marvel at your ability to read their minds, but in the end they will realize that what looks like mind reading are really tricks that can be explained and that anyone can do. Only God truly knows everything, without needing any tricks to do so. Middle School: Excavating God's Word
Students will compare a movie where a book has all the answers, to how Christians have a Bible—which really does have all the answers. They will be encourage to really use their Bible as a guide, something they keep with them, and reference often. High School: By the Book
Students will compare a movie where a book has all the answers, to how Christians have a Bible—which really does have all the answers. They will be encourage to really use their Bible as a guide, something they keep with them, and reference often. Adults: The Squeeze of Suffering
Students will discuss how to react toward God in both the good and the bad times of their lives: embrace Him. Adult Resource Links: - For a somewhat lighthearted look at the Book of Job, watch this video set to "The Song of Job" by the early 1970s music group Seatrain.
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