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.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
God is faithful. When you are tempted, He provides a way out. How amazing our God is! He knows us. He knows how we face temptations that can seem overwhelming. Yet He promises that He has already provided a way out even before we realize we need help!
Spend a few moments thinking about temptations you struggle with. Perhaps it is not drug use, but maybe it is lust or lying. Write down the things that tempt you on slips of paper. Then, as you take them to lay at Jesus’ feet, tear them up. Jesus has provided a way of escape! He will give you strength and a way out. Praise Him!
Encourage the children to share with their families what they have learned about drug use. Perhaps they can memorize 1 Corinthians 10:13 as a family.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Welcome the children warmly to your class. Tell them you are going to talk more about saying no to destructive things in their lives.
The snack may have tasted good, but its purpose was not to replace a meal. A snack does not satisfy your hunger for long because it is too little and in some cases not very nutritious. It was simply a snack, and it was gone quickly.
Remember that last week we talked about the dangers of drinking alcohol. Today we are going to talk about using drugs. These things may seem appealing to some people, but the truth is they are like a snack. They can taste good at the first bite but ultimately, they do not satisfy.
Sometimes people abuse substances to feel better, but they may become addicted and need more and more to be satisfied. Eventually this will cause them serious physical harm. Instead of feeling better, these substances actually make people feel worse. Why? Because they are temporary fixes, not true help, like the snack was a temporary help for your hunger. Smoking, drinking, and drugs can all be addictive.
Take the nail and wood and begin to hammer the nail with the pot.
Next, set the nail and wood aside. Place the cooking pot on your foot to use as a shoe. Try walking across the room. Be very dramatic in trying to walk with the pot on your foot. Your children will probably laugh.
In both of these demonstrations I used a good thing in a way it was not intended to be used. It may have worked a little bit, but it does not work the best. And it will probably end up keeping the pot from its original purpose—cooking.
In the same way, sometimes people use medicines given to them by doctors in wrong ways. Medicine is good when it is used in the way the doctor says. But using it in the wrong ways could harm you! For example, if you shared medicine from the doctor with someone else, it could be bad for that person because it could affect that person in the wrong way. Or if you took much more than the doctor said to take, it could be bad.
Today, when we talk about abusing drugs, we mean illegal drugs and medicines that are used in the wrong ways. We are not talking about medicine given to you to treat an illness and that is being used in the right way.
Listen as I tell you more about drugs. Both alcohol and drugs can have different effects on different people because all people react differently to chemical substances. What is the same is that alcohol and drugs will alter a person’s behaviour.
Drugs can be things you breathe into your lungs, such as glue or paint. They can be pills or something that is injected with a needle. Drugs can be depressants or stimulants. Stimulants make someone have high energy and excited emotions. When the drugs wear off, the person will often feel worse than he felt before he took the drug. As we discussed last week, depressants make someone have low energy and usually calm emotions. But as we said, drugs can have different effects on different people.
Here are some reasons that people may take drugs.
Some people take drugs because they do not like themselves. They have low self-esteem. If people have low self-esteem before they drink or take drugs, the substances will only make them feel worse in the end. They do not realize how much God values them.
Another reason people may take drugs is because people may say that drugs are wonderful and promise that they will make you happier and more popular. These statements are lies!
Sometimes people take drugs because they have so much physical or emotional pain that they just want relief. But Jesus has something better for you! His love can help you feel better about yourself, even if you have faced hard things in life.
Answers could include ideas such as: They got addicted, someone forced them to take it, or they wanted to be popular or accepted.
Listen to these verses. We heard one of them last week.
Don’t you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit? The Spirit is in you. You have received him from God. You do not belong to yourselves. Christ has paid the price for you. So use your bodies in a way that honors God.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20, NIrV
Allow the children to offer their thoughts before continuing.
This means that you are so valuable to God that He wants to be your friend forever. God is perfect and good. He sent His perfect Son Jesus to take the punishment for every bad thing anyone has ever done. When you love Jesus and follow Him, you can be a part of God’s forever family.
Teacher Tip: If any children express interest in becoming a Christian, use the Salvation Path at the front of this guide to help you talk with them.
God really, really loves you. That is a great reason to say no to addictive substances! What a great reason to keep the body He gave you healthy!
Allow several children to answer.
Possible answers may include: sadness, anger, rejection, feeling left out, failure, depression, loneliness, fear, etc.
Possible answers may include: being alone, crying, hiding, holding something special, talking to someone about these feelings, talking with God, singing a song, hitting an object out of anger, yelling, etc. If the children do not mention substance abuse, remind them that smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs are also ways people try to handle unpleasant feelings.
Answers may include both positive and negative things. For example: Share our things with our friends. Listen to our friends. Try to be funny all of the time. Lie or steal to fit in. Make fun of children who do not seem to fit in. Tell stories about ourselves that are not true.
We need to be careful that our need to belong is not stronger than our desire to stand up for what is right!
Smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs may seem like exciting options. They are not! There are much better things to do for excitement that will not hurt you, such as playing sports, joining clubs, reading interesting books, or watching movies.
Addictive substances will lead you down the wrong path. Do not think you will not be hurt by these kinds of substances. You will. People think they will not get addicted. They are only fooling themselves. Addiction can happen very quickly.
Today we are asking you to choose a different path and to say no to these risky behaviours and yes to healthy ways of adding excitement to your life.
Listen to this verse that can help you when you are facing the temptation to use drugs or alcohol or anything else that is not good for you.
Show the Memory Verse poster if you are using it.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Children might answer that everyone faces temptation, but God will help.
Let me say a word to some of you who may feel sad all the time. You might think that drugs or alcohol might help. They will not. Do not take drugs. You may be experiencing depression. Please let a trusted adult know if you cannot seem to get rid of feelings of low self-esteem and depression. There are many people who can help you, but you have to be willing to ask for help!
If any of you already struggle with alcohol or drug use, let me know. There are ways to get help! The sooner you stop using this substance the less likely you are to become addicted. If you suspect you are addicted, do not be afraid to ask for help! You will not be able to overcome the addiction by yourself.
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, let your children draw a picture of someone using drugs alcohol, or cigarettes and a picture of someone who does not use those things.
Now we will practice the tips we learned last week on how to say no. Everyone find a partner.
Remember that God is with you in hard situations. He wants you to turn to Him and the Bible for answers. You are not alone when you face your own or someone else’s use of drugs.
Let’s learn hand motions to help us memorize 1 Corinthians 10:13.
Demonstrate the following motions and have the children repeat them after you. Go through the verse and motions 3 times.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
Shake head and wave open hands in front of you.
And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
Point up and shake head, then cross arms over your chest.
But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Hold hands in front of you, palms out as though saying stop; then stand up straighter.
After repeating the motions and verse 3 times, ask the children to stand with their hands open and lifted high to receive the blessing.
Blessing: May you know that you have great value! Jesus paid a high price for you. May you know how to honour God with your body.
Lead the children 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.
