4himlesson

Lesson for Sunday, May 31

2009-06-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

Group Leader:
Have your group answer each of the following questions and then do the activity. Hand each student three note cards and a pen or pencil before reading the scripture.

1 Thessalonians 5:11-21 (The Message)

I.
9-11God didn't set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we're awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we're alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it.
Questions:
1. What does it mean that Christ died a death that triggered life?
2. Why should this make us want to speak encouraging words to one another?
3. What are some encouraging words we can speak to one another?
4. What words can you use to build a Christian friend up in hope?
Activity:
Choose the person on your right. Write a personal note to that person in which you speak encouraging words to him or her and build him or her up in hope. After you have written it, fold it, write the person’s name on it, and hand it to your group leader. Group leader give them out at the end of the lesson.

II.
The Way He Wants You to Live
12-13And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!
Questions:
5. What does it mean honor those leaders who work so hard ?
6. Who are some of the leaders in the church who work hard?
7. How do they urge and guide you along in your obedience?
8. Do you overwhelm them with appreciation and love
9. How could you do that?
Activity:
Have each person in your group choose one leader from your church to write a personal note. Now each group member write a short note to that person in which you overwhelm them with appreciation and love. First, thank them for urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Then, give one specific example of how they have done so. After you have written it, fold it, write the person’s name on it, and hand it to your group leader. Group leader is responsible for giving the notes to the appropriate leader after the SS class.
III.
13-15Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.
Questions:
10. “Among yourselves”—here Paul is talking specifically about Christian groups. In this case your SS class or youth group. When do people in your youth group not get along? Can you think of an example?
11. How could you have done/or do “your part” in helping them get along as Paul urges you to do? Paul calls us to help out, not ignore.
12. Do you look for the best in each other? Are you eager to share something good about one of your friends? Are you more eager to share something bad?
Activity:
Choose the person on your right. What is one of the best things about that person? Tell him/or her what you think is one of the best things about him or her.

IV
16-18Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
Questions:
13. When is it hard to be cheerful?
14. when is it hard to pray?
15. Do you find something to thank God about in those situations?
16. The difference between those who live in Jesus and those who don’t is that living in Jesus makes us able to always be able to find something to give thanks for.

Activity:
Think of the last time you were in a situation that you felt was just really bad. Maybe someone close to you passed away. Maybe it was something simple like getting in trouble with your parents. Think of one thing in that situation that you can give thanks about. Bow your heads and say a silent prayer giving thanks for that one thing.
V
19-22Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.
Questions:
17. This is a tough one. Some things that can be used for good can just as easily be used for evil. Can you think of something that can be used both for good and evil? (computers, cell phones, text messaging)
18. How can text messaging be used for good?
19. How can text messaging be used for evil?
20. How can you throw out what is tainted with evil? Do you think Paul means burn it or throw it in the trash can? What do you think he means?
Activity:
Think of a time when you knew that you were using a computer, a cell phone or text messaging for something other than good. (There is no neutral, guys. If it’s not being used for good, it is being used for evil). Think of what made you stop. Brainstorm ways that you can avoid such a situation next time.

Closing Prayer:
Dear God: Thank you so much for bringing us here today and allowing us to hear your word in freedom. Please help us to truly live in you. Help us to encourage one another, help us to love what is good, and help us to move quickly away from what we know to be evil. In your holy name we pray, Amen.

Lesson: March 15

2009-03-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

I. Power Point:
1.Today’s Scripture:
What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily. Galatians 2:19-21 (The Message)

II. Worship
III. Drama

IV. Personal Encounter Group
1. Read the scripture (Galatians 2:19-21) from The Message

Break it down and discuss these phrases from the scripture:
1. when have you tried “keeping the rules and working your head off to please God”, and then getting frustrated?
2. When have you tried to keep the rules to “please your peer group”:
3. How is a living relationship with Christ different from rule-keeping?
4. What does “grace” have to do with it?

2. Building the (Relationship)

How do you build a relationship with God?
Well, first think about how you build relationships with other people
-hanging out with them
-laughing with them
-going through hard times with them
-doing things together that help other people
You want to get to the same point with God that you are with your best friends: “What are we going to do next?” you ask in hopeful anticipation. You can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next!
You feel that way with a trusted friend because first, you love him/her, secondly, you’ve built a relationship with them, and thirdly, you genuinely like hanging out with them.

3. What you get out of the relationship (given you agree to go through the hard times as well as the easy ones!)
Have students take turns reading each of the following sentences from Romans 8:15 (The Message)
-This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life.
-It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Daddy?"
-God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are.
-We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.
-And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance!
-We go through exactly what Christ goes through.
-If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!
Romans 8:15

4. Make the “Romans 8:15 Promise-Teller”If you remember making paper fortune tellers when you were younger, you will remember how to do this! These are fortune tellers with a twist. While the Bible warns against fortune telling, the Bible is full of promises for our good! This promise teller lets you choose a Bible promise instead of choosing a fortune! You might want to fill it with your favorite Bible promises instead of the ones from Romans 8:15
1
... ... Take a sheet of paper of the size A4 (8 1/2" x 11"). Paper used for ink jet printers will do.
Fold the upper half down on the red line.

2
... Cut off the lower strip.

3
... ... The result is a square.

4
... ... Fold upwards on the red line and unfold.
The centre of the square is marked in this way.

5
... ... Fold four times, so that the corners of the square meet in the centre.
Folding on the red lines upwards is the same.

6
.. .... It must look like this.

7
.. .... Turn the paper over. The folded middle lines of the square are seen.

8
.. .... Fold upwards again four times up to the centre. Open up after folding, and write a bible promise in each of the four triangle corners.

9
... ... There is a half size square with four (actually eight) triangles, which meet in the centre. Number the triangles 1-8

10
... ... Turn the paper over. Four squares meet in the centre. Color each square a different color, or write the name of a color on each square

11
.. .... Fold the paper backwards on the blue lines and unfold.

12
... ... Fold the square a last time. Hold the paper and push the upper corners in direction of the arrows.

13
... ...
The figure on the left develops, if you lay the square sheets outwards.
The Bible Promise Teller is finished.

Now, play the game. The Promise teller’s partner first chooses a color. The promise teller then opens and shuts the promise teller once for each letter of the color (r-e-d; three times for red).
The partner now chooses a number from those visible.
The Promise teller opens and shuts the promise teller the corresponding time (6 for choosing 6 and so on).
The partner now chooses a number from those visible.
The Promise teller opens the flap of that number and reads the Bible promise.

Closing: Walk with God in excitement and anticipation. Ask “What’s next Daddy?” and trust that the answer will be an unbelievable inheritance.

Join Hands, right over left:
The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26

Thank you!

2009-02-23T10:29:00.000-08:00

Hello, all:
Thank you so much for your hard work on Sunday. It went well, and I really appreciate your being there!
This Sunday, I will be at a Girl Scout function with Morgan. I'm hoping that Denise or Kandra can lead. The Praise Band will play.
Thank you!
Please remember to pray for the members of your small group throughout the week.

Lesson for Sunday, March 1

2009-02-23T10:26:00.000-08:00

Lesson For Sunday, March 1
Lent, Why aren’t Christians any nicer than non-Christians
And Daily devotions

1. Lesson Introduction with Power Point (Denise)
2. Praise and Worship
3. Drama
4. Small Group Encounters

After Drama Discussion
1. What was going on with Kristen and Anna?
2. What else were they feeling bad about besides losing the soccer game?
3. What did the boys do wrong?
4. What made it wrong?
5. Has anything like this ever happened to you?
6. How did you feel/what did you think about when this happened to you?
How did you feel/what did you think about the person who did this to you?
7. Is this kind of “joking’ ok? Why or why not?
8. What face of God are the boys showing?
9. Who in this drama is in need of repentance?
Why?
10. What is repentance? (to repent is to turn around. When we allow sin to separate us from God, we are the ones who have changed our relationship with God. We are the ones who need to turn back to God. God is always there. Repentance is our recognition tat we have not loved God with our whole heart, that we have rebelled and turned away from God, and that we desire to turn toward God)
11. Do you think the boys had any idea that their actions would actually keep someone from coming to church?

Part II:(The following section of the lesson is taken from Claim the Name Teaching Plans)
Activity: Divide your group up into pairs. Have each pair face one another and take turns describing a great breakfast.
Then, have one of them turn around so that his/her back is facing the partner. Now, have them take turns describing to each other what makes a great dessert.
While they are still in this position, ask them these questions:
1. How did the two conversations compare?
2. What does this activity tell us about being in right relationship with God?

Ash Wedneday:
On Ash Wednesday, we confess our sins before God. Specifically, we confess our sorrow for not keeping God at the center of our focus. We remember the people and things we have harmed through our selfishness and by not loving others as God loves us.

The Ripple Effect:
Drop a grain of rice in the bowl of water and watch the ripples spread. Discuss how when we sin, when we hurt others, the ripple goes out and continues out even beyond our vision and understanding.
But, there is hope. God promises us in 1 John 1:9 that “if we confess our sin, He who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

A part of the service of Ash Wednesday is the placing of ashes on the forehead as a sign of our repentance.

Say: Close your eyes now, and for a moment consider your sins and ask God for forgiveness. (give students a few moments to pray)

Say: I’m going to ask you to kneel, in a moment, and I’m going to place the sign of the cross on your forehead as a reminder of our own sins, and of the forgiveness and new life offered through Jesus Christ.

Say: To make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel in the presence of our Creator and Redeemer as a community of faith. (students kneel)
Hold up the bowl of ashes and Say: We know, Jesus, that you love us. We know that because of your sacrifice we are forgiven and given new life. Thank you God for your gift to us.
Using the ashes from the bowl provided, make the sign of the cross on each student’s head, and say to each student. As you do so, say: (Student’s name), go in peace, knowing that you are a child of God, that you are loved and forgiven. And be thankful.

III. Closing Prayer

Stand, and pray linking hands right over left. Then close with the following verse:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD lift his countenance upon you
and give you peace."
Numbers 6:24-25

2009-02-18T13:00:00.000-08:00

Hearing God

Lesson February 22

2009-02-17T12:24:00.000-08:00

Small Group Encouter:
I. Discuss the scripture and drama
1. Who does Samuel think is speaking to him? (Eli)
2. Why? (because Eli is old and has probably woken Samuel before to get him to help him; because Eli is the only other person close enough for Samuel to hear; because Eli is the only person Samuel expects to be talking to him)
3. Why doesn’t Samuel know that it is God talking to him? (he is not expecting God to talk, God has not talked to the people of Israel for a long time; he is just a boy; he is expecting Eli to talk to him; he has never known God to talk to him; it is not a part of his known experiences or even a part of what he has heard anyone tell a story about except for the ones from long ago.)
4. Why does it take Eli so long to figure out what Samuel is hearing? (see above!)
5. Why do you think God chooses to talk to Samuel? (Samuel is a boy; he has not yet been corrupted by what he thinks God should be; he is open to the God who reveals himself; no preconception of God; Eli has not been a good father to his sons; he has allowed them to be wild and not disciplined them, therefore God is displeased with Eli; Samuel’s mother and father are pure and holy; so much so that Hannah, his mother, has given her only son dedicating him to God in fulfillment of the promise she made to God when God sent her a son though she was barren for many years.)
6. Do you believe God talks to you? (students responses here will be yes or maybe or I don’t know, or not in the way God talks to Samuel. Let them talk.)
7. How do you think God talks to you? (student responses will be varied. Let them talk, encourage open dialogue here. Don’t give them answers.)
II. Show Video clip: How God Talks to Me
Discuss the clip with your students. Possible questions:
1. What were you thinking when you heard these people you know talk about how God speaks to them?
2. When can you best hear God speak to you? (we want students to get in the habit of listening for God in the ordinary, the every day, every moment of every day rather than saving it all up for church!)
III. Craft
Read this verse:
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21
Explain to your students that staying in daily contact with God through devotion and prayer makes it much easier to hear God’s voice. But also, remind them of the promise that God makes: if they listen, they will hear God’s voice making clear to them, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
Make it:
Iv. Taking it with you
Read aloud: Oswald Chambers says:
When the spirit of God comes to us, He does not give us glorious visions, but He tells us to do the most ordinary things imaginable… his inspiration is to do the most natural, simple things –things we would never have imagined God was in, but as we do them we find Him there.
( From My Utmost for his Highest, “ February 17”)
1. What kind of ordinary do you think Chambers is talking about? (eating breakfast, being polite to your family, getting along with people on the bus, being kind to the bus driver, being nice to your mother/father, having a servant’s attitude with everyone you meet at school, on your way home, at sports or music practice, eating dinner with kindness, practicing God every minute of every day!!)
This week, hear God in the ordinary.
III. Closing Prayer

Stand, and pray linking hands right over left. Then close with the following verse:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD lift his countenance upon you
and give you peace."
Numbers 6:24-25

Lesson February 15

2009-02-16T05:26:00.000-08:00

Experiencing God Through Daily Devotions: Small Group Leader’s Discussion Guide

I.Read Psalm 119:104-106
• What does this mean in your own words?
• What do you think David meant when he wrote it?
• How does it apply to you today?

II. Discuss Daily Devotions
• With your group times when your devotions have helped you
• And times when not doing devotions has kept you away from God

III. Read Exodus 33:7-23
• This scripture outlines for us the importance of meeting with God face to face regularly. Moses is our model. But look closely at this scripture:
1. Moses meets God away from the hubub of the people: he goes alone
• 2. God is faithful and meets him there.
• 3. Look at the sort of conversation Moses has with God. He talks to him, as to a friend. He has developed this relationship with God by being with him every day, one on one.
• 4. And God responds to Moses. He answers his questions and responds to his needs.
IV. How do we “meet God” in our devotions?
• The only way to grow surely and securely in your walk with God is to do the following:
• Go to your devotion with questions.
• Go to your devotion expecting God to answer your questions.
• Be prepared to hear God, even when the answer is not as you expect.
• Walk through the rest of your day looking for God.

V. So, how Important is a daily devotion?
• How important is it to read your Bible or a devotion daily?
• Why?
• Is it difficult?
• Why?
• So what can you do?

VI. Group accountability
Help each other keep up with daily devotion. I as your small group leader, am going to keep up with your weekly devotions. Do five per week, and then tell me next Sunday! After you do six weeks of five per week, you will get your Bible and Bible cover. (Group leader, please figure out a way to keep up with this!!)
Class devotion site!! Go to 4himdevotions.blogspot.com for daily devotions for our class!

VII. What can we do daily to experience God?
• Read the Bible
• Listen/sing praise and worship music
• Look for God’s miracles in nature
• Look for God’s miracles in people

• Look for how God can use each experience in our daily lives to help us get to know him better.

Closing prayer: stand, and pray linking hands right over left. Then close with the following verse:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD lift his countenance upon you
and give you peace."
Numbers 6:24-25