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 and Student Page, 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.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
1 Corinthians 12:21
Have you ever tried to do something difficult on your own? Maybe no one offered to help. Maybe you were uncomfortable asking for or accepting help. Spend a moment thinking about all of your responsibilities at home, at work, at church, and in your area. Can you do them all by yourself? Probably not. But God did not create us to be alone. He created us to be together—as His body.
Consider your strengths and weaknesses. What do you struggle with? And what strengths have others noticed in you? Whatever your strengths are, ask God to help you use them to build others up. Whatever your difficulties are, ask God to help you to accept help from others. Remember, you are not meant to do everything alone. That is the beauty of the body of Christ. We work better and are stronger together!
Encourage your students to ask their family members, “What do you think your strengths are?”The students can affirm their family members by sharing strengths they have noticed.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Welcome the students as they arrive. Ask them about their recent fellowship experiences. Invite them to share their stories with you and with other teens as other students arrive.
Ask for 4 volunteers. Ask the remaining students to clear a large area for the activity. Divide the volunteers into 2 teams. They should go to opposite sides of the cleared area. One teammate on each team will sit down while the other remains standing beside him. Place the bucket, pot, or trash can in the centre of your space. (You can also mark a circle shape on the ground with sticks, string, or rocks instead of using a bucket.) Place 3 stones in front of each of the seated volunteers.
The standing teammates should close their eyes. (You can use blindfolds, if you have them.) Each seated teammate will give directions to help the standing teammate pick up a stone, walk to the bucket, and drop the stone in it. The seated teammates may not touch the stones. The standing partners may not open their eyes, and they cannot carry more than 1 stone at a time. The goal is for each team to put 3 stones into the bucket using clear verbal instructions and good listening skills.
Tell the teams to begin, and then give them 2–3 minutes to complete the activity. The other students can cheer for the teams. Watch so you can prevent the teammates with closed eyes from hurting themselves or others. If time allows, you can repeat this activity with new teams.
Ask the students who participated to answer the following questions.
Now ask the following questions of the whole group.
Teamwork is important. It helps us to complete tasks we could not accomplish on our own. Today we will look at what the Bible says about teamwork and the important part each of us plays in the body of Christ. We will also learn what the Bible teaches us about teamwork as part of God’s plan for marriage.
The Bible talks a lot about teamwork. In 1 Corinthians, Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth about teamwork. He explains the way all believers work together by comparing them to a body. As we read the verse, think about how teamwork is like a body, where all the parts work together to form the whole.
Have a student read 1 Corinthians 12:14–21 aloud from the Bible.
Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”
1 Corinthians 12:14–21
Guide the students to understand that the verses are talking about people working together as a team for the success of all. Answers may include these ideas: “We help one another in our weaknesses,”“We work together, enjoy success together, and suffer difficulties together,” or “We are all part of 1 body and all equally important.”
Now think about how our class works together like a body. This passage tells us that each one of us has something to contribute. We also have things we cannot do, just like eyes cannot hear. But when we all help each other, we can succeed together.
If possible, give examples of a few students in your class who contribute their gifts to make your class what it is. Perhaps 1 teen always helps you prepare for class. Someone else might be funny and make others laugh. Another student might be friendly and always greets others as they arrive. Someone else may always care for those who are hurting. Each one contributes to the class. Without each student, your class would not be what it is.
Allow students to share their thoughts.
Teamwork is part of God’s plan for marriage. No husband can do everything. No wife can do everything. But when they work together, they can help each other. The 2 different people become like 1 body. A husband and wife learn that they have different strengths and weaknesses. If they learn to work together toward common goals, they can have a strong marriage.
In 1 Peter 3:7, the Bible describes how God wants husbands to treat their wives. As we read this verse, listen carefully for specific ways a husband can be a good teammate for his wife.
Ask a student to read 1 Peter 3:7 aloud from the Bible. 3
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
1 Peter 3:7
Students might answer that husbands are bigger and stronger or that men are more important.
Calling women the weaker partner does not mean that they are in any way less valuable or less intelligent than men. It does not mean that they lack strength of character. It does not mean that their salvation and their value are dependent on men or their relationships with men. This phrase refers to women’s physical strength. In Peter’s time, women were vulnerable to attack, abuse, and financial difficulties without men to protect and provide for them.
Students might answer that 1 Peter 3:7 says that husbands should be considerate of their wives and treat them with respect. They should not hurt them either physically or emotionally.
Allow students to share examples. In many communities, husbands often beat wives. Pointing out that this is not God’s plan for marriage may be a new idea for many. God’s plan leads to good teamwork and good marriages.
Allow students to share examples of husbands treating their wives with respect. If they cannot think of any examples, you can share a story from your marriage or another Christian marriage you have witnessed.
The Bible tells husbands to honour, protect, and care for their wives with love, tenderness, and concern for their well-being. In fact, Ephesians 5:28 says that “husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.”
The Bible also describes how a wife can support her husband and be a good teammate. As a matter of fact, in the beginning when God created the first woman, He called her a “helper” suitable for Adam. Whenever this word is found after this in the Bible, it refers only to God as our Helper. That means a wife has a very important place!
As we read some verses in Proverbs, listen for how a wife can be a good teammate for her husband.
Ask a student to read Proverbs 14:1 and 31:10–12 aloud from the Bible.
A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.
Proverbs 14:1, NLT
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:10–12
Students might answer that a wife builds up her house or her husband. She is precious and trustworthy.
The Bible teaches us that both husband and wife bring their unique abilities and personalities into a marriage. They work together to honour and help each other. We learned that husbands and wives can grow in unity when they share fellowship. Now we see that when a husband and wife appreciate each other’s strengths and work together, they can grow in unity.
Divide students into groups of 3–5. They will be affirming each other, so it is best to place the students with others they know well. If there are new students in class, place them in a group with at least 1 friendly, outgoing student. Consider keeping boys with boys and girls with girls.
Teamwork is an important part of marriage. But it is also an important part of the Christian life, even when you are not married. We read in 1 Corinthians that the body of Christ functions in a similar way to a physical body. There are many parts that work together, and every part is important. It is easier to understand your unique role in the body of Christ when you know what your talents and areas of strength are. We will spend a few minutes affirming the people in our groups. The word “affirm” means to give someone a compliment or to share something positive you have noticed about him. These should be truthful things, not just things that are made up.
Think about each person in your group. What do you appreciate about her? What positive things have you noticed about him? What does she do well? Think about each person’s skills and personality traits, not his physical appearance. For example, you might tell a person that he is friendly and kind to everyone he meets. You might tell another person that she is really good at speaking in front of the group. You might share that someone is a fast runner or is always helpful.
Give students about 1 minute to quietly think about the others in their groups.
Select the first student in your group to be affirmed. The rest of your group will take turns saying something positive about that person. After everyone has affirmed that person, continue to the next person and have everyone share again. Continue until everyone in your group has been affirmed.
When others are affirming you, listen carefully. Someone in your group might point out a talent or area of strength you did not realize you had. It will help you be an even better teammate!
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, the students can record the affirmations shared by others on their pages.
Give students several minutes to affirm each other in their groups. Then discuss these questions as a class, allowing 2–3 students to share their thoughts for each question.
Allow students to share openly about what they experienced during this activity.
Let’s review our Memory Verses for today.
But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”
1 Corinthians 12:18–21
Now I will guide you through a time of thought and prayer. I will say a statement. Then you will have a few moments to pray and think about it. If you are praying, remember that your prayer is a conversation between you and God. Do not feel as if you have to talk to God the whole time. Spend some time listening to God as He speaks to your heart. If you are uncomfortable praying, think about what I say.
Close your time by blessing your students with these words based on 1 Corinthians 12:24–26.
Blessing: May our God, who created you in His likeness, continue to show you how special, unique, and talented you are. May you bless others through what you can do as a teammate in the body of Christ. May use your strengths to honour others and prepare for the wonderful future God has planned for you.
Lead the 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.
