LEAD IT: MIDDLE SCHOOL

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Maude Peters
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COLOSSIANS 1, 2 A SECRET GOD CAN T KEEP SESSION 5 LEAD IT: MIDDLE SCHOOL GOALS As students experience this session in Colossians, they will be introduced to the mystery Paul wrote about in Colossians.

MATERIALS: Group a white board and colored pencils MATERIALS: Each Student student journal pages for Session 5 Colossians Scripture sheets a Bible, pen, and notebook Optional: If you chose the

1 COLOSSIANS 1, 2 A SECRET GOD CAN T KEEP SESSION 5 LEAD IT: MIDDLE SCHOOL GOALS As students experience this session in Colossians, they will be introduced to the mystery Paul wrote about in Colossians. explore God s grand plan for the ages, which was put in place before the ages began. see how this grand plan applies to their lives. MATERIALS: Group a white board and colored pencils MATERIALS: Each Student student journal pages for Session 5 Colossians Scripture sheets a Bible, pen, and notebook Optional: If you chose the Post-it option under Taking It Inward, you ll need five blank Post-it notes per student. Prayer Remind your students of a prayer request and promise found in the book of James: If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 Then simply do that very thing ask for wisdom as you prepare your hearts to explore Colossians. Review To stay connected to the big themes in Colossians, ask a few review questions. Based on our study last time, what are two or three benefits we can enjoy because of what God has done for us? Among all the truths we uncovered about God in Session 4, what was the common theme we saw? God initiated all the action. Last week we made the point that Satan hopes we ll forget all the great truths about God from Colossians. How many of them can you remember off the top of your head? -God can fill us with the knowledge of His will. (1:9) -God has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (1:12) -God has rescued us. (1:13) -God reconciled us by Christ s physical body to present us holy in His sight. (1:22) -God made us alive with Christ. (2:13) -God forgave us all our sins. (2:13) Bonus: What specific word does the Bible (NIV) use to describe what God did to get us out of the dominion of darkness? -rescued (1:13) NOTHIN BUT CHRIST LEAD IT: Middle School SESSION 5 1

2 Transition into study by discussing one or two of these questions: What s the best mystery you ve ever read? What are some things you think of when you hear the word mystery? How good are you at keeping secrets? Have you ever blown a surprise birthday party? Do you think God has any secrets? What are some secrets He could be keeping from us? Before digging in, get your group ready for a grand adventure of diving into the best mystery of all. Let them know that the detective work they have done up until this point has prepared them for this session. If they are willing to put effort into this study, they will be amazed at the benefit not to mention having a solid grasp on part of the Bible that many do not understand. This is an intense session your enthusiasm and encouragement will take the group far!! DIGGING IN Ask your students to come up with a symbol they can use to mark the following words. (You could even have a quick drawing contest.) 1. Knowledge (along with related words like wisdom, understanding, learn ). Suggestions: an owl; a one-room school house, an apple 2. Mystery. Suggestions: a magnifying glass; a Sherlock Holmes hat Divide your group into two teams: 1. Knowledge Seekers 2. Mystery Solvers Then have your students read two chunks of Colossians and invite them to use their symbols to mark knowledge (along with related words like wisdom, understanding, learn ) and mystery wherever they appear. Colossians 1:6-10 Colossians 1:25 2:4 After a few minutes, call for the attention of your group and address each team separately. To the Knowledge Seekers: How many references did you find to words for knowledge? -7-9 references What does this tell you about the gospel? -learning, like we re doing here, and in other aspects of our youth ministry, is a key part of the Christian faith -if we want to deepen our faith, we need to learn as much as we can. Of all the references to knowledge that you found, which is the most inspiring to you? (Note these on your board as students share.) For leader reference, here are the possible references to knowledge found in this passage. 2 NOTHIN BUT CHRIST LEAD IT: Middle School SESSION 5

3 Info on Knowledge Chapter 1 -The Colossians understood God s grace in all its truth. (v. 6) -They learned it from Epaphras. (v. 7) -Paul prayed that God would fill them with the knowledge of His will. (v. 9) -This knowledge comes through spiritual wisdom and understanding. (v. 9) -Growing in the knowledge of God pleases God. (v. 10) -God chose to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery. (v. 27) -The way to be presented perfect in Christ is to be taught with all wisdom. (v. 28) Chapter 2 -Paul wants to encourage the Colossians in heart and unite them in love so that they ll have the full riches of complete understanding. (v. 2) -In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (v. 3) -The Colossians were in danger of being deceived by fine-sounding arguments the opposite of treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (v. 4) To the Mystery Solvers ask the following: How many references did you find to the mystery? -5-6 references What is the mystery? Can you solve it? -Christ is in us; Gentiles may now know this (note this on your board) Info on the Mystery Chapter 1 -It s been kept hidden for the ages. (v. 26) -It s now disclosed to the saints. (v. 26) -God chose to make it known to the Gentiles. (v. 27) -It s Christ in you, the hope of glory. (v. 27) Chapter 2 -It s God s mystery. (v. 2) -It s Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom/knowledge. (v. 2) -As we have complete understanding of this mystery, we won t be deceived by fine-sounding arguments. (v. 4) Now help the group process the info by discussing these questions. Does it sound like God was holding back on sharing some information? So what s the big mystery? Why is it a mystery? What can we gain by understanding this mystery? What s the benefit? Let this discussion be open-ended but eventually steer your group to the observation that Colossians 2:4 gives us the answer: I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. Understanding this mystery will keep you from being deceived by rationalizations that try to temp you or dilute your path to Jesus. NOTHIN BUT CHRIST LEAD IT: Middle School SESSION 5 3

4 CROSS CHECKING Emphasize that because the reward is so great that you won t be deceived by fine-sounding arguments (2:2 4) that you are going to spend a few extra minutes seeking to know and understand the mystery. You ll be working as a group to build a timeline of the mystery. You ll want to choose one of the optional experiences below. Options: Project the timeline onto a poster or whiteboard. You may want to create small cards or sheets of paper (4 x4 ) that students can use to affix to the timeline. Or you may want to simply draw the timeline on your whiteboard. Point out the timeline (based on which option you chose) and divvy out the five Points in Time Scriptures that are noted below and on their journal pages. Depending on your group size, you may need to assign more than one Point to a student, or more than one student to a Point. Share the following instructions: Take a minute to read your assigned Point(s). Then create something (draw, write) to place at the respective point in the timeline that represents the information in your passage. You can use the timeline on your journal page to practice. After a few minutes you ll place your creation on the timeline and explain your Point in Time to the group. By spending time in these passages, we will be giving ourselves a chance to know and understand the mystery, to grow in the knowledge of God, and to be filled with the knowledge of His will. All of this will keep us from being easily deceived. Not a bad deal, is it? The Points in Time Scriptures are noted below along with salient information related to the mystery. Point 1: Overview 2 Timothy 1:8 10 God s grace was given in Christ before the beginning of time. But it s only now been revealed through the appearing of Jesus. Point 2: Abraham Genesis 12:1 3 God said that all peoples on earth would be blessed through Abram (Abraham). Point 3: Isaiah Isaiah 49:5 6 God said that His people, the Jews (identified here as Jacob and Israel) would be a light to the Gentiles and bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Point 4: Jesus Matthew 28:18 20 Jesus later tells His disciples to go and make (The end of Jesus ministry) disciples of all nations (not just Israel). Point 5: Us Ephesians 3:1 6 This mystery is that through the Gospel (the Good News of Jesus) the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:23 29 Jew, Greek, slave, free, male and female are now all one in Christ. By belonging to Christ, we are now Abraham s seed. 4 NOTHIN BUT CHRIST LEAD IT: Middle School SESSION 5

5 After students have created something that expresses the information in their Point in Time, have them teach the rest of the group about their particular point. Invite them to draw (or affix) their creation onto the group timeline. After your timeline is complete process the information with the following questions: Did you have any idea that you were part of a plan that was set in motion before the beginning of time? Think back to the point when you became a follower of Christ. Do you get a sense that you were saying yes to something bigger than you thought at the time? Spend some time digesting all you ve just discovered. Write down any Wow! thoughts or conclusions. You may want to journal a prayer or write a paragraph of your thoughts. Before moving on to the next question, make sure that you have helped students process and summarize the Cross Checking activity. Then spend some time discussing the So what? factor: How would you rate this information on a Wow! scale, with 1 being Meh no big deal. and 10 being WOOHOO!? (Insert your own dramatic expression!) Explain your rating to the group. Paul said that our understanding of this mystery will keep us from being deceived by fine-sounding arguments (2:4). What are some fine-sounding arguments going around today? -Any rationalization we use to convince ourselves (or others) to cave to temptation. -Any arguments from the secular world, like: The Bible is full of contradictions; it can t be trusted. Jesus was a great moral teacher and reformer, but He wasn t God s Son. -Any thought or idea that tears down our identity in Christ, like: God doesn t love me. The things I ve done can never be forgiven. Why does understanding God s mystery keep us from being deceived by these fine-sounding arguments? How does this work? Let the discussion be wide open, but if the group gets stuck point out: 1. When we have a strong sense that we re part of something huge (like being included in God s plan before time began), we operate out of a position of strength rather than weakness. Our faith can be incredibly real, not a wornout cliché. 2. This mystery is an awesome picture of God s pursuit of sinful people. The more accurately we see this picture, the more we experience God s love. The more we experience God s love, the less likely we are to trade that experience for a fine-sounding argument. PUTTING INTO PRACTICE Make a big deal that your group worked hard at solving a mystery. Acknowledge that some of them might still have a lot of questions. In fact, this session may raise more questions than it answers. Help your students understand the payoff God promises comes from understanding the mystery and that it takes time and energy on the part of anyone who wants to grow in the knowledge of God. Encourage your students to hunt down more about the mystery in their personal study this week. Refer to your Leader Prep (see Putting Into Practice ) for resources that can help you and your group dig deeper. Before prayer, close by asking the group to write on their journal pages their Colossians Takeaway: something that will motivate them to explore God s mystery so that they won t be deceived by fine-sounding arguments. NOTHIN BUT CHRIST LEAD IT: Middle School SESSION 5 5

LEAD IT: HIGH SCHOOL

COLOSSIANS 1, 2 A SECRET GOD CAN T KEEP SESSION 5 LEAD IT: HIGH SCHOOL Note: We apologize in advance for a sevenpage Lead It guide. The session isn t as long as seven pages suggests; it s simply a lot