MY STORY. WINTER December, January, February TEACHER. TEEN TESTIMONIES FEATURED IN ENCOUNTER The Magazine

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1 WINTER December, January, February TEACHER TM YOUNG TEEN RESOURCES: VIDEO CLIPS, DIGITAL GAMES, SKITS, POSTERS, AND MORE! Available Separately MY STORY TEEN TESTIMONIES FEATURED IN ENCOUNTER The Magazine Available Separately

2 AaAaA December, January, February WINTER Contents Unit 1 Your Possessions Lesson writers: Jason Jones, Kelly Carr, Jim Eichenberger December 2 Lesson 1 I Want More! Ecclesiastes 5:10, 11; Luke 16: December 9 Lesson 2 It s All Yours, Lord! 1 Chronicles 29: December 16 Lesson 3 Use It; Don t Abuse It! 2 Corinthians 9: December 23 Lesson 4 What More Could We Want? Matthew 1: Unit 2 Your Priorities Lesson writers: Christina Schofield, Kelly Carr, Jim Eichenberger December 30 Lesson 5 Be His Luke 10:38-42; John 15: January 6 Lesson 6 Stretch Seconds Ecclesiastes 11:9; 12:1; John 9: January 13 Lesson 7 Seek Success 2 Kings 18: January 20 Lesson 8 Take Psalm 62:5-8; Matthew 11:16-19, Unit 3 The Work of Christ Lesson writers: April Stewart, Alvin Kuest, Lea Clark, Kelly Carr, Jim Eichenberger January 27 Lesson 9 Building His Kingdom Luke 5: February 3 Lesson 10 Trusting in Jesus John 11:14-16, 18, 19, 21-26, 43-47a February 10 Lesson 11 No One Knows Like Jesus Matthew 14: February 17 Lesson 12 Are You Committed? Luke 9: February 24 Lesson 13 Become a Servant John 10:1-5, Young Teen Resources Get more out of each session with: 4 lesson-related audio skits 2 interactive games to introduce your study 6 videos 13 memory verse quizzes in digital format 6 full-color posters and a sheet of reproducibles n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n ENCOUNTER The Magazine Each week you ll find: stories, quizzes, interviews, and more to help your students deal with issues that affect their lives poetry, testimonies, and art created by teens challenging daily devotions so your students can encounter God s best for their lives Young Teen Teacher is published quarterly by Standard Publishing, Copyright by Standard Publishing, part of the David C Cook family, Colorado Springs, Colorado All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Volume 101 Number 2 Laura Derico, editor. David C Cook Creative Services, design and production. Scott Ryan, cover design. Andrew Quach, interior design. Stockbyte, cover photo.

3 HOW TO USE THIS BOOK LESSON PREPARATION: 1 Read the lesson Scripture. Review the Life Focus. This is the main theme of the lesson. 2 3 Look at the goals for the lesson steps. These provide a four-step road map for your lesson. Study the Scripture commentary in Encountering God s Word. Take special note of the points of the lesson. You will need to stress these in the last three steps of your lesson presentation. 4 Young Teen Teacher Guide 1

4 HOW TO USE THIS BOOK LESSON PRESENTATION: 5 Choose which option to use. Each lesson step has two or three activity choices. CHOOSE ONLY ONE for each step. Each option will appeal to a different learning style. Pick the ONE option type that will work best for you. 6 7 Items you will need from Young Teen Student, Young Teen Resources, ENCOUNTER The Magazine, or online are pictured in the margin. Keep the goal of each activity and the transition statement ending each activity in mind as you present the lesson. 8 2 Young Teen Teacher Guide

5 UNIT 1 UNIT Your Possessions GOAL: As a result of this study, students will learn to invest in their relationships with God more than in their material possessions. Most people love the things they own. They spend their hard-earned money on the items they buy and put much of their identity into them. That is not the type of reaction that God wants us to have toward our possessions. This unit will help your students understand the importance of putting their identity in God and not in their possessions. LESSON 1 I WANT MORE! Too often people get wrapped up with having the right clothes, cars, and even friends. This lesson will help your students recognize the dangers that come from striving to have the right possessions. LESSON 2 IT S ALL YOURS, LORD! In this lesson your students will recognize that God is the true owner of all our possessions and that He is just in deciding what things we need. LESSON 3 USE IT; DON T ABUSE IT! God has blessed each of us with many material possessions. Unfortunately, we don t always use them as wisely as God would like us to. This lesson will help your students understand the importance of managing in a beneficial way the material things God has given them. LESSON 4 WHAT MORE COULD WE WANT? Most of us have a favorite possession. We value it dearly and do as much as we can to keep it from being destroyed. During this lesson your students will realize that a relationship with Jesus is the greatest possession that they could ever own. Just as they value and protect their most treasured earthly possessions, they are to desire and protect their relationship with Jesus even more! RECOMMENDED BOOKS n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving by Randy Alcorn (revised and updated, 2017, Multnomah) Money, Possessions, and Eternity by Randy Alcorn (2003, Tyndale House) How Much Is Enough? by Arthur Simon (2003, Baker Book House) God and Your Stuff: The Vital Link Between Your Possessions and Your Soul by Wesley K. Willmer (2002, NavPress) Young Teen Teacher Guide, Unit 1 3

6 [For use in Lesson 3 on page 20 of this book.] Give Away by Jim Eichenberger Sung to the tune of Drift Away by Mentor Williams as performed by Dobie Gray, Rod Stewart, and Uncle Kracker. Verse one: Give generously because God will always give us enough to share (2 Corinthians 9:6; Proverbs 3:9, 10; Haggai 1:6). G D The more I gain, the more I lose. G D I can t get enough and I don t know why. G D But when of my best I give to You, Em A From out of the sky comes Your great supply. Chorus (2x): D Give me the faith, Lord, that I may know A How to take the grace that You bestow G And give away. Verse two: Give cheerfully because God only wants what we freely give (2 Corinthians 9:7; Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 6:1-4). When charity is just a show Or a thing that is forced on me, Its rewards and joys I will never know. Lord, set me free to give cheerfully. Chorus (2x) Bridge: Em You give the farmer seed G D And harvest s quantity and bounty. Em So when I plant Your way G A Please multiply, I pray, Your glory. Verse three: Give productively because God will cause our gifts to be used effectively (2 Corinthians 9:8, 9; Ephesians 2:10; Isaiah 60:17). Thanks for the tasks that You ve given me. Good works You ve prepared are not a chore. To serve You I have all I need. I come to You poor. You give me more! Chorus (4x) 4 Young Teen Teacher Guide, Encounter Curriculum Permission granted to photocopy for ministry purposes only not for resale.

7 I Want More! Lesson 1 Unit One: Your Possessions Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:10, 11; Luke 16:13 Life Focus: Materialism and greed are false and dangerous attitudes. Today s Challenge Do you own stuff, or does stuff own you? Participate in these activities and begin to have a godly attitude toward the things of this world. Step 1 Setting the Stage Describe a prized possession. Step 2 Searching the Word Explain the dangers of materialism. Step 3 Making It Real Give examples of the dangers of materialism in our world today. Step 4 Living It Out Evaluate your attitudes toward possessions. Because I m a Star That s Why! When a famous star agrees to perform at a particular venue, that appearance comes with strings attached. Examining contracts designed by these performers and their agents reveals much about what they consider important. The late Johnny Cash would insist that an American flag be in full view of the audience when he performed. Operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti demanded that he be supplied with a golf cart while in a particular town. Christina Aguilera wanted to make sure that there were plenty of Flintstones vitamins in her dressing room, while Britney Spears preferred strawberry Pop-Tarts. Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger had need of a pool table. One-time teen idols, The Backstreet Boys, had to have 24 peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. Jennifer Lopez expected a white dressing room with white flowers, white candles, and white carpet. We all have our preferences. We may even have our prized possessions. But how can we tell if we are placing too much emphasis on material things? The Bible teaches that materialism can lead to an absence of that which truly matters, a burden on the owner, and even competition with God himself. Continued on next page. Hide It in Your Heart Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 5:10 For a presession or take-home activity, use the puzzle found on the Young Teen Resources CD and lead students in memorizing this key passage. Ecclesiastes 5:10, Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. 11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them? Luke 16:13 13 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Young Teen Teacher Guide, Encounter Curriculum. Permission granted to photocopy for ministry purposes only not for resale. Young Teen Teacher Guide, Unit 1, Lesson 1 5

8 Encountering God s Word ABSENCE Ecclesiastes 5:10 Near the end of Jesus ministry on earth, a man of obvious religious and financial standing stood before Him. If ever anyone had it all together, one would think it was this rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-25). This man came to Jesus, seeking what most people thought that he had surely achieved the secret to eternal life. At first, Jesus allowed the man to talk about his own righteousness. But then the line was drawn. Jesus challenged this rich and religious man to go through the rest of his life without his great wealth. This challenge saddened the man and befuddled Jesus disciples. Possessions never completely satisfy. The incident demonstrates one danger of materialism. It teaches us to rely on creature comforts rather than the creator. When Paul sent Timothy to minister in the wealthy city of Ephesus, Paul knew that there would be many rich young rulers in that place. For that reason Paul told Timothy to warn such folks about the arrogance of putting their hope in wealth. Material goods are meant for our enjoyment, but they make very poor God substitutes (1 Timothy 6:17). Being a rich ruler himself, Solomon knew the dangers of a greedy lifestyle. When one looks to money rather than God for satisfaction, one never has enough and is never satisfied with their income (Ecclesiastes 5:10). American poet Edwin Arlington Robinson wrote of another rich young ruler in Richard Cory. The townspeople envied this man who was richer than a king. Yet the poem ends jarringly with the report that Richard Cory, one calm summer night, went home and put a bullet through his head (from The Children of the Night, 1897). Robinson understood the biblical warning against trusting in possessions to give one a full life. BURDEN Ecclesiastes 5:11 The lost son of Jesus well-known parable demonstrated another danger of materialism (Luke 15:11-32). Jesus told of this boy leaving home with a pocketful of money that he spent in wild living. Yet when the money ran out, so did his so-called friends, leaving him to fend for himself. Much of his money was spent not on his enjoyment but on the enjoyment of companions that wealth attracted. Again, King Solomon demonstrated that he knew the pitfalls of wealth. Possessions take time and energy to maintain. Wealth attracts many friends, but the closest friend of a poor person deserts them, he wrote (Proverbs 19:4). The lost son could not have said it better! Furthermore, Solomon argued that wealth has what is known in the business world as overhead. Overhead is the cost of maintaining what one has. The more cars one owns, the more garage space one needs. The more rooms in one s house, the more time and expense will go to housecleaning. Possessions are deceptive because as they increase, so do those who consume them (Ecclesiastes 5:11). One reaches a point when much of the wealth is not enjoyed by the owner of it as God intends but is spent simply to secure and maintain it. Possessions can quickly turn blessings to burdens. A major home-security company offers what it calls free burglar alarm systems to prospective customers. These systems are not free at all, because the customer is charged an installation fee and a monthly service fee for at least three years. This company knows that possessions are burdens to those with much and is glad to reap profits from those who seek to protect what they have. COMPETITION Luke 16:13 The church in Laodicea was situated in a very wealthy community. But their wealth led to apathy and eventually enmity with their Savior. They were like tepid water too warm to drink and too cold to bathe in making them repulsive in God s sight (Revelation 3:14-17). Their story was very similar to that of the Jews who gained an abundance of material goods after they entered the promised land and turned away from the God who gave them those possessions (Deuteronomy 6:10-12). Possessions limit Possessions can rival God for our loyalty to God. our devotion. Jesus compared a person who was enamored by wealth but still tried to follow Him to a slave who tried to serve two masters at the same time. Something has to give! In a situation such as that, neither master will get the absolute loyalty that he demands (Luke 16:13). Possessions limit one s loyalty to God by competing with Him for our allegiance. A Ukrainian Christian was visiting a family in the United States. The host family took their guest to a supermarket. The Ukrainian saw aisle after aisle of the abundance of food found there. He remarked to his hosts, It must be hard to be a Christian in America. You have so little to depend on God for. He understood what Scripture teaches about wealth. We all enjoy material goods. But we must own our possessions and not let them own us. Otherwise, what God has given us as a blessing can become a burden that will never satisfy and will draw us away from Him. Young Teen Teacher Guide, Encounter Curriculum. Permission granted to photocopy for ministry purposes only not for resale. 6 I Want More!, Lesson 1

9 Life Focus: Materialism and greed are false and dangerous attitudes. Use one of the following activities to help each student describe a prized possession. Setting the Stage Step 1 QUICK STEP Celebrity Demands As students arrive, have them turn to page 4 in the student books and work on the quiz found there. They will match actual contract demands to the famous person who made the demand. (Or you may prefer to do this same quiz as an interactive class activity, using the CD.) After all students have arrived and have had opportunity to complete the quiz, ask for students to share their answers. The correct answers are: 1=f. 2=a. 3=m. 4=e. 5=b. 6=i. 7=g. 8=d. 9=j. 10=o. 11=n. 12=l. 13=c. 14=h. 15=k. Discuss the quiz by asking: Select one of these celebrities and his or her demand. What does that demand say about what that person thinks is important? Which demands do you find the most reasonable? Which do you consider the most outrageous? Defend your answers. What would you demand if you had such a contract? What possession of yours is the most important to you? Explain. Lead into Bible study by saying: We all have our preferences. We may even have our prized possessions. But how can we tell if we are placing too much emphasis on material things? The Bible tells us about three dangers of materialism. Let s find out what they are. quiz 10 minutes Young Teen Student, pens (or Young Teen Resources CD, audiovisual equipment) Alphabet Game After all students have arrived, gather them in a circle and give them instructions for the game. Each person is to name a possession someone might value, beginning with the next letter of the alphabet. Ask the person on your left to go first. A sample round may begin: automobile, bracelet, cashmere sweater, diamond ring, electronics, etc. If someone can t think of an answer within 10 seconds, that person is out and must sit down. Keep going around the circle until only one person is left. Discuss the game by asking: Of all the items mentioned, which would you most like to own? Which would you least like to own? What is meant by the term prized possession? What possession of yours is the most important to you? Explain. Lead into Bible study by saying: We all have our preferences. We may even have our prized possessions. But how can we tell if we are placing too much emphasis on material things? The Bible tells us about three dangers of materialism. Let s find out what they are. The Scene For an opening activity based on a current news headline, download The Scene online. Go to There you ll find a free article with discussion questions to begin this week s lesson. 10 minutes none game news Young Teen Teacher Guide, Unit 1, Lesson 1 7

10 Step 2 Searching the Word Life Focus: Materialism and greed are false and dangerous attitudes. Use one of the following activities to help students explain the dangers of materialism. writing 20 minutes Young Teen Student, pens, paper, Bibles QUICK STEP Warning! Divide your class into groups of three to five students. Give each group one or more of the writing assignments found on page 5 of the student book. Students are to write a letter warning of the dangers of materialism to one of the Bible people or groups of people named on the page. Move among the groups as they work on their letters. Help them consider the questions and understand the lesson text. Refer to the commentary in Encountering God s Word to help you. When group work is complete, have students share their letters. Comment as needed, making sure that each of the main points in the lesson is made clearly and completely. Move into the next section of the lesson with words such as these: Materialism and greed are dangerous. They cause us to forget that focusing on our stuff will never satisfy us but only add burdens to us and separate us from God. Let s look at how materialism works that same way today. art 20 minutes Bibles, paper, markers (optional: poster board) Warning Labels Divide the class into groups of three to five students. Give each group paper and markers and one of the following Scripture assignments: Assignment 1 Ecclesiastes 5:10; 1 Timothy 6:17 Assignment 2 Ecclesiastes 5:11; Proverbs 19:4 Assignment 3 Luke 16:13; Deuteronomy 6:10-12 Each group is to design a warning label for personal wealth, based on their lesson texts. Their label can contain words and drawings. As groups work, move among them to help them with their labels. The commentary in Encountering God s Word and the following suggested labels will help you: Assignment 1 Counting on wealth to make you happy will leave you with an empty feeling. Possible drawing: a person with a large hole in his midsection. Assignment 2 This product may attract false friends! Possible drawing: a crowd of stick-figure people with dollar signs for eyes. Assignment 3 Too much wealth can make you forget who gave it to you. Possible drawing: a person with a thought bubble that says, God who? (Note that you may turn this into a discussion activity by creating the sample labels yourself on poster board and using them to lead a discussion of the corresponding Bible passages.) After group work is complete, allow groups to share and explain their art. Move into the next section of the lesson with words such as these: Materialism and greed are dangerous. They cause us to forget that focusing on our stuff will never satisfy us but only add burdens to us and separate us from God. Let s look at how materialism works that same way today. 8 I Want More!, Lesson 1

11 Life Focus: Materialism and greed are false and dangerous attitudes. Use one of the following activities to help students give examples of the dangers of materialism in our world today. Making It Real Step 3 QUICK STEP L Is for Loser Cue the CD to the first track. Introduce the L is for Loser skit by briefly reviewing the three dangers of materialism discovered in the Bible study. Ask students to listen for examples of those three dangers. Play the skit, and then discuss it with these questions: What material items attracted Megan? Why might someone like her find these things attractive? Tell about someone you know who has fallen into a similar trap. List as many negative behaviors and attitudes you can recall that Megan exhibited in this skit. Note the ones that you believe will later leave her empty. Talk about ones that could place an undue burden on her life in the days to come. Discuss ones that have put her on the opposite side of God and His desires for her life. Lead into the final step of the lesson by saying: People today still struggle with materialism and greed. But like the Bible promises, negative results come from those entanglements. Let s evaluate our own attitudes toward our possessions. audio skit 15 minutes Young Teen Resources CD, audio equipment Not Priceless Divide your class into groups of three to five students. Assign each group to cast and perform one or more of the role plays found on page 6 of the student book. Each role play deals with teens facing one of the three dangers of materialism discovered in the Bible lesson. Move among the groups as they work on their skits. Help them consider the situations and notice how the Bible texts for today apply to them. For example, note that Kayla has begun to discover that the many things she has do not bring lasting happiness (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Maria is learning that her new swimming pool is not giving her real friends, but just the burden of people taking more than they are giving (Ecclesiastes 5:11). Tyler has gotten to the point where he has to choose whether he wants to serve God or money (Luke 16:13). When group work is complete, have students perform their skits. Comment as needed, applying the lesson texts to the role plays. Lead into the final step of the lesson by saying: People today still struggle with materialism and greed. But like the Bible promises, negative results come from those entanglements. Let s evaluate our own attitudes toward our possessions. drama 10 minutes Young Teen Student, Bibles Young Teen Teacher Guide, Unit 1, Lesson 1 9

12 Step 4 Living It Out Life Focus: Materialism and greed are false and dangerous attitudes. Use one of the following activities to help students evaluate their attitudes toward possessions. 5 minutes Young Teen Student self-evaluation QUICK STEP Where Do You Keep Your Stuff? To get your students thinking about how they treat their possessions, have them turn to page 55 in the student book. Students will evaluate themselves by comparing their degree of materialism to a type of storage container. Give students a few minutes to read the descriptions there and choose which type of container they would be in relation to their possessions. After a few minutes allow volunteers to share and explain their answers. Then ask: What can you do to demonstrate a more biblical view of your material goods? Allow a few minutes for brainstorming. Then close your time in prayer. Ask God to fill your lives with His hope and happiness so that you and your students won t feel empty but, rather, rich in Him. Distribute ENCOUNTER The Magazine. 10 minutes paper, pens prayer Prayer Agenda Distribute paper and pens to every student. Ask each student to number that page from one to seven, listing seven of his or her most treasured possessions. On the bottom of the page, have them write: Am I counting on this possession to make me happy? Do I spend too much time with this possession? Is this possession keeping me from God in some way? Say: You have just created a prayer agenda for the following week. Each day choose one of the possessions on this list and in the presence of God, ask yourself the questions on this page. Ask God how He might want you to change your attitudes toward that possession. Give students time to have their first prayer session now. Close with an audible prayer for the group. Distribute ENCOUNTER The Magazine. Here s what s in ENCOUNTER The Magazine this week: Why we give presents A hoarder s story Are You Happy with Your Stuff? 10 I Want More!, Lesson 1

13 What Is Viewing the latest news through the lens of Scripture How would you like to be able to begin your Bible lesson by discussing something that is on your students minds today? The Scene allows you to do just that! IT S RELEVANT The Scene is a current events discussion activity based on this week s headlines. Each week a new article is written and posted on our website. IT S EASY Log on to Click on the tab for The Scene and follow the instructions to download a free lesson introduction activity each week. IT S ATTENTION-GRABBING The Scene may deal with national or international affairs, entertainment, sports, science, or even an unusual or humorous news story from the current week. The Scene is always different but never boring! IT S FREE Print this one-page activity and make as many copies as you need for your class. There is no charge for downloading The Scene. IT S FLEXIBLE Should you wish to use one of our other Setting the Stage lesson introductions, no problem! Why not The Scene to your students midweek to get them prepared for the upcoming Sunday s Bible lesson?

14 IN THIS CRAZY WORLD, IT TURNS OUT THE BIG STORY ISN T ABOUT US. MEGAN FATE MARSHMAN is driven by a desire to love God by overflowing His awesome love to others. She leads the Women s Ministry at Hume Lake, shepherds young adults at Arbor Road Church, and shares Jesus around the world. She is married to Randy and they live in Long Beach, California with their son, Foster. We reach here and there and everywhere, seeking to be filled but running on empty. Reach upward and receive much more than you can imagine by living out your part in the big story of God. Available from David C Cook or your Christian retailer ISBN: Price: $12.99 YT Young Teen Teacher Guide No ISBN