During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:13
From the time of Adam until now, generations of people have told God’s story to their children, friends, and neighbors. Human words may find a place in our minds and memories. But God’s Word, a beautiful tapestry woven of love, forgiveness, and salvation, transforms our lives and hearts and minds.
Can you remember when God’s Word first transformed your life? Do you recall a time when His Word inspired you at a moment when you truly needed Him? Pause and thank Him for His Word and its power to transform.
God has called and empowered you to share His story with the next generation. You are teaching them how to open this beautiful gift and let it transform their lives. Learning the value of memorizing Scripture and engaging with God through the Bible establishes a sure foundation for their lives now and in the future.
Encourage your students to ask their family members, “What is the most important story you have ever heard?” Then they can share that the Bible is a record of God’s love and truth for all people.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Greet your teens warmly. As they arrive, invite each one to share a favorite story with 2 other students.
Today we will start with a story activity. But rather than 1 person telling the story, 5 volunteers will each tell a part of it.
Ask for 5 volunteers. Tell them that together, they will create a story. They will each add 2 sentences to the story. However, they will not be allowed to talk to each other about the story. Give them the topic of the story. It should be something funny such as a lion that loves flowers or a man who walks everywhere on his hands. Ask them to step away from the rest of the class to a place where they cannot hear what is being said. While they are away, they will think of their 2 sentences. Remind them not to talk with each other. You will call the volunteers back to the rest of the class 1 by 1. It does not matter which order you call them in.
Call the first volunteer back to the class to share the beginning of the story. He will share his sentences as the beginning of the story. Call back the next volunteer, who will share her sentences. Repeat this with the other volunteers. The last student called back will share his sentences as the ending of the story.
Allow students to respond. Be sure they mention that it has a beginning, middle, and end and that it communicates a message.
Allow students to share their thoughts. They will likely say that the story was confusing and not really a story at all.
There was more than 1 person telling the story.
We could have asked 1 person to tell it.
Today we will talk about a story that was written by many different people. It tells of events that happened over thousands of years. The people who wrote the story lived in different countries. Many of them never even met each other or read what the others had written. When we heard the story by (say the names of the students who told the story), it did not make sense. The story we are talking about today was written over many years by many different authors in different countries and languages; however, it still makes sense!
The story I am talking about is God’s story. This story is written down in the Bible. Many different people told this story and wrote it down for us. The people who told this story were shepherds and kings, orphans and princes, teachers and prisoners, prophets and scribes, disciples and doctors, fishermen and followers of Jesus. The reason this book tells a miraculous and amazing story is this: God inspired all of it through these men. Today we will learn how God’s Word tells the story of His love and plan of redemption through Jesus.
God wanted us to know His story because He wants us to know Him! That is why we have the Bible. In it, we learn who God is. We learn the things that please Him and the things that grieve His heart. It is the story of His relationship with humanity, from creation to redemption. All of the Bible is God’s Word, and all of it is true.
The Bible contains 66 books, which were written by about 40 different writers over a period of about 1,500 years. Many of the stories in the Old Testament were told and retold for several generations before they were eventually written down. Most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew. The New Testament was written in Greek.
The Bible contains many types of writing. There is history, such as the events found in the book of Genesis. There are laws and rules, such as those found in the book of Leviticus. There are poems and songs, such as those found in Psalms. There are letters written to churches. Jesus often told stories in parables, which teach spiritual lessons.
You will recognize the names of some people who wrote parts of the Bible: Moses, David, Solomon, and Paul. There were many others, scribes and prophets, whose names you may not recognize.
With so many people contributing to the Bible, it is amazing how all of it fits together in a way that tells 1 long, beautiful story—the story of God’s love for His people. Things written in the Old Testament and things written in the New Testament all point to one person: Jesus. Passages in the Old Testament either directly point to Jesus or show how God was preparing people for Jesus. Listen to what 2 Timothy 3:16–17 says about God’s Word.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16–17
The Bible is filled with truths that God wanted to share with us. He inspired the authors to share these truths.
It is useful, or profitable, for teaching, reproof, correction, training in righteousness, and equipping us for good works.
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, allow the students to respond to this question on this page.
“All Scripture is God-breathed.” Each writer brought in his own perspective, his own experiences, and his own style to what he wrote. But God was the inspiration inside the writers, sharing His words for them to record for all of us. He loves you and knows all about you. He wants you to know Him. He wants to show you the best way to live as you respond to His love.
Think about all of the people who told God’s story and all of the years it took to write it. Think of all of the years that have passed since then and all of the people who have read it. Through all of this, God’s story has not changed. Would you like to read and respond to God’s Word? Let’s take a very short prayer walk to remember and respond to God’s amazing redemption story.
Explain that 1 side of the meeting area represents the beginning of the Bible—Genesis. The opposite side represents today. Invite the students to spread out along the side representing Genesis. Let them know you will read statements about God’s story of redemption. As you read each one, they can close their eyes if they want. They will think or pray in response to what you read. After a few moments of silence, invite the students to open their eyes and to walk a few steps forward. They should go about one-quarter of the way each time.
Listen as I tell you a little of the beginning of God’s great story. God speaks and creates the world and everything in it through the power of His words. Because of His love, He creates everything, including people. But the very first people reject His ways.
Pause for a few moments. Then tell your students to walk a few steps forward and stop. You might need to tell them when to stop. They can close their eyes again while you read the next section.
People continue to choose their own way and dishonor the One True God. Many years pass. God chooses a man, Abraham, and creates a special nation descended from him. The people grow in number, but they become slaves in a foreign land, Egypt. They cry out to God for rescue.
Pause for a few moments. Then tell your students to walk a few steps forward until they are about halfway across your meeting space. They can close their eyes again while you read the next section.
God hears His people’s cries. He provides a way for them to be free. He promises to be with them. He gives His special people His Law to help them follow and obey Him. He wants them to remember Him each day. But they forget easily.
Pause for a few moments for the students to think and pray. Then tell them to walk a few steps forward until they are about three-quarters of the way across your meeting space. They can close their eyes again while you read the next section.
God knows that people need a Saviour. So He sends His Son, Jesus. Jesus’ life and death show God’s love. His resurrection shows that God’s love is more powerful than even death. Anyone who wants to be part of God’s family can accept the free gift Jesus offers. God promises to give the Holy Spirit to those who are in His family. The Spirit will help them know God and follow His ways.
Pause for a few moments. Then tell your students to walk a few steps forward until they are at the other side of the space. They can close their eyes again while you read the next section.
It is today. God’s Spirit is still here for those who are part of God’s family. The Bible is complete, but God’s story is not finished yet. He still wants everyone to become part of His family.
God wants you to know Him. He loves you and knows you. He has preserved His story in the Bible so that you can know and love Him.
Pause and invite students to think about how they want to respond to God.
Remember how 2 Timothy 3:16 starts? Say with me: “All Scripture is God-breathed.”
Repeat the phrase together.
Let’s spread out. We will take some deep breaths as we think of how we want to respond to God.
Be sure to do this exercise with the students. Tell them to take 3 slow, deep breaths. With each breath, they will silently say, “God wants people to know Him.”
Now we will take 3 more deep breaths. With each breath, think again of how you want to respond to God. You might say, “I want to know You, God.” You might say, “I have questions about You, God.” Or “God, show me more of who You are.” However you choose to respond is between you and God.
Then have them take 3 more slow, deep breaths. With each breath, they can choose how they want to respond to God.
While it is still quiet and peaceful, remind the students that they can know God by reading and hearing His Word. Let them know that if any of them have questions about how to become part of God’s family, you are available to talk with them after class. You can use the Salvation Path at the front of this guide to help you.
Close class by blessing the students with this blessing based on Romans 15:4.
Blessing: May you know how much God loves you and wants you know Him. He has given you His Word so that you can be encouraged and filled with hope.
Lead your students in singing this quarter’s song if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
