LifeTrak 4.3: Bible Studies for Younger Youth. Biblical Truth: You can learn how to pray by following Jesus teaching on prayer.

Transcription

1 Unit 1: On the Right Track (Prayer) Session 1: The Road Map Life Question: How do I pray? LifeTrak 4.3: Bible Studies for Younger Youth Biblical Truth: You can learn how to pray by following Jesus teaching on prayer. Bible Passage: Matthew 6:5-13 Key Verses: Matthew 6:5-6 Biblical Setting: During His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave an example of how not to pray and taught His disciples a Model Prayer. Session Focus: This session will teach teens a basic model for prayer, utilizing the Model Prayer (Lord s Prayer). Determine elements that are lacking in our personal prayers. Discover a biblical model of prayer we can use in our own lives. Begin or strengthen a daily prayer time.

2 Session 2: Going the Distance Life Question: How do I know if God will answer my prayer? Biblical Truth: You can be confident and persistent in prayer, because God willingly answers prayers asked according to His will. Bible Passages: Luke 11:5-13; 1 John 5:14-15 Key Verses: 1 John 5:14-15 Biblical Setting: Jesus told a story to contrast human reluctance to help others with God s willingness to help His children. In his first letter, John wrote that believers should pray with confidence, because God hears and answers prayers asked according to His will. Session Focus: This session will focus on the need for confidence and persistence in prayer, and will guide teens to understand what it means to pray according to God s will. Discover God s willingness to answer our prayers. Pray with confidence and persistence.

3 Session 3: Roadblocks Life Question: What hinders my prayers? Biblical Truth: Your attitude, actions, and desires can affect how God responds to your prayers. Bible Passages: Isaiah 59:1-2; Luke 18:9-14; James 4:1-3 Key Verses: Isaiah 59:1-2 Biblical Setting: In writing to the exiled Israelites, Isaiah noted that the people s sin was a hindrance to God answering their prayers. Jesus told a parable about two men to emphasize the importance of a right attitude in praying. In writing to Jewish Christians, James noted that wrong desires were a hindrance to God s answering their prayers. Session Focus: This session will help students discover the impact of their attitudes, motives, and sins on God s response to their prayers. Evaluate our lives for sinful actions or attitudes that can affect our prayers. Repent of our sins and seek forgiveness from God. Determine to pray with a right attitude and desires that please God.

4 Session 4: Getting Back on the Road Life Question: How can I be forgiven for things I ve done wrong? Biblical Truth: You can receive forgiveness for your sins as you confess them in prayer to God. Bible Passages: Psalm 32:1-11; 1 John 1:9 Key Verse: 1 John 1:9 Biblical Setting: David wrote of the results of unconfessed sin and the blessings of being forgiven by God. In his first letter, John noted that God is faithful to forgive those who confess their sins to Him. Session Focus: This session will help youth understand the meaning of confession and it s importance for a right relationship with God, and will lead them to practice confession as a part of their prayers. Identify unconfessed sin in our lives. Receive forgiveness as we confess our sins to God.

5 Unit 2: Faith Factor (Assurance) Session 1: For Sure Session Life Question: How can I know for sure that I am going to heaven? Biblical Truth: By trusting in Jesus as your Savior, you can know for sure that you're going to heaven. Bible Passage: 1 John 3:13-18; 5:1-5,10-13 Key Verse: 1 John 3:15 Biblical Setting: In 1 John, the writer explained that those who acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God are born of God. The writer further stated that those who have the Son have life. Session Focus: This session will show students that salvation is based on faith alone in Christ. It will help them understand that they can have assurance of salvation because of Jesus, not their circumstances. Discover God's promises regarding assurance of salvation. Evaluate reasons we doubt our salvation. Thank God that our salvation is based on faith in Jesus alone.

6 STUDENT SU N D AY SCH O O L E V A N G E LISM ST R A T E G Y Session 2: For Me (Easter Lesson) Session Life Question: What do Jesus' death and resurrection mean for my life? Biblical Truth: Jesus died and rose again for you so you could have eternal life when you accept Him as your Savior. Bible Passages: Mark 15:21-24a; 16:1-6; John 3:14-18 Key Verses: John 3:16-17 Biblical Setting: Mark recorded the death and resurrection of Jesus. In the Book of John, Jesus explained that those who put their trust in Him as Savior would have eternal life. Session Focus: This session will guide students to understand what Jesus' death and resurrection means for their lives. It will challenge them to place their faith in Him for salvation and to recognize that His finished work on the cross secures their salvation. Discover the reason why Jesus died and rose again. Examine Jesus' promise of salvation to those who believe in Him. Accept Jesus' offer of eternal life.

7 Unit 3: Tough Stuff from the Bible (Topical studies) Session 1: Turning Away Session Life Question: How should I respond when someone hurts me? Biblical Truth: God has called you to reflect His character by responding in love and forgiveness to those who hurt you. Bible Passage: Matthew 5:38-48 Key Verses: Matthew 5:44 Biblical Setting: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenged His followers to love their enemies and thus reflect His character. Session Focus: This session will challenge students to respond in love and forgiveness to people who hurt them. It will also challenge them to reflect God's character by not reacting in anger or retribution. Discover God's desire for believers to exhibit love to all people, even to those who hurt them. Identify ways in which we try to "get back" at those who hurt us. Identify ways in which we can love our "enemies."

8 Session 2: Poke Your Eye Out Session Life Question: What kind of attitude should I have toward sin? Biblical Truth: As a believer, you should hate sin and avoid it. Bible Passages: Mark 9:42-50; Romans 6:11-14 Key Verse: Romans 6:12 Biblical Setting: Jesus used the hyperbole of cutting off a hand to illustrate that His followers should forsake sin. In Romans, Paul challenged his readers to count themselves dead to sin and not to let sin reign in their lives. Session Focus: This session will challenge teens to adopt an attitude of hatred toward sin in their lives. It will also challenge students to strive to offer themselves as an instrument of righteousness instead of sin. Examine Jesus' teaching on sin. Discover God's desire for believers to walk in righteousness instead of sin. Develop an attitude of hatred toward sin that results in avoidance of it.

9 Unit 4: Be of Good Courage (Encouragement) Session 1: In Words and In Action Life Question: How can I encourage others? Biblical Truth: You can be an encourager as you pray for others, share affirming words with them, and maintain a positive outlook. Bible Passage: Philippians 1:3-14 Key Verse: Philippians 1:3 Biblical Setting: In writing to the Christians at Philippi, Paul noted his prayers on their behalf, shared encouraging words as he recalled their relationship, and pointed out the positive results of his imprisonment. Session Focus: This session will remind students of the importance of prayer, heartfelt words, and a positive attitude when seeking to be an encourager. Identify actions and attitudes that are necessary to be an encourager. Determine ways we will be more encouraging to others.

10 Session 2: Follow the Leader Life Question: How can I encourage others through my attitude? Biblical Truth: As you imitate the actions of Christ by humble submission to God, can be an encouragement to others. Bible Passage: Philippians 2:1-11 Key Verses: Philippians 2:1-2 Biblical Setting: Paul elaborated on the benefits of a relationship with Christ, and he encouraged the Philippian believers to follow Christ s example of humility, which resulted in Christ s exaltation by God the Father. Session Focus: This session will challenge students to follow Christ s example and the encouragement that comes from God and other believers as they follow Him. Acknowledge God as the Source of true encouragement. Seek the encouragement that comes from the Lord. Identify ways we will follow Christ s example of humility.

11 Session 3: It's Your Serve Life Question: How can I encourage others through my service? Biblical Truth: When you faithfully serve the Lord, your actions help others and bring encouragement to them. Bible Passages: Philippians 2:14-16a, Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:24 Biblical Setting: After encouraging the Philippian believers to imitate the humility of Christ, Paul commanded them to stay faithful in their service to God. He also presented Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples of faithful, sacrificial service to God. Session Focus: This session will focus on Timothy and Epaphroditus, two ordinary believers who faithfully served Christ and thus were an encouragement to Paul and other believers. Identify ways we tend to look to our own interests. Commit to faithful service to God. Specify actions we will take to serve God and others.

12 Session 4: Top Priority Life Question: How can I stay encouraged when so many things are battling for my attention? Biblical Truth: As you grow in a relationship with Christ and make Him your priority, you will experience the encouragement that comes from focusing on God and surrendering to His will. Bible Passages: Philippians 3:7-14; 4:4-7 Key Verses: Philippians 3:13b-14 Biblical Setting: Paul acknowledged the lack of significance in what he had accomplished previously in his life. His present priority was to know Christ and accomplish His will. Paul also encouraged believers to take their concerns to the Lord. Session Focus: This session help students discover that by staying focused on Christ and His will for their lives, they can stay encouraged despite the hectic pace of life around them. Identify ways in which our relationship with God is strong and/or weak. Discover the encouragement that results from a deepening relationship with God. Determine ways we will maintain our focus on Christ and His will for our lives.

13 Session 5: Giving and Receiving Life Question: How can I encourage others through my gifts? Biblical Truth: By sacrificially sharing what you have with others who are in need, you give encouragement to them and receive encouragement from God as He continues to meet all your needs. Bible Passage: Philippians 4:10-19 Key Verse: Philippians 4:19 Biblical Setting: Paul thanked the Philippian believers for their sacrificial gives to him, which were an encouragement to him, and he promised that God would meet all their needs through His unlimited resources. Session Focus: This session will remind teens of the encouragement that comes to others as teens give their resources to help meet others' needs. Also, students will discover that as they meet the needs of others, God will provide for all of their needs through His unlimited resources. Discover the value in giving to others. Identify people in need who can be encouraged by our giving. Commit to giving sacrificially to help others who are in need.