Big Time Truth Lesson 4 Writer: Carolyn Crowell Project Supervisor: Nick Diliberto Artwork: Designs Mattslid Editor: Jennifer Hooks PowerPoint Slides: Becky Forkel Created by PreteenMinistry.net 2016 Copyright PreteenMinistry.net 1
BIG TIME TRUTH Week 4: Why Share My Faith? Bible Connection: Mark 5:24-31; Luke 23:39-43; John 8:1-11 The Bottom Line: Sharing our faith offers hope to the world. What s That to Me? Preteens may hesitate to talk about their faith with friends and family. This lesson helps them understand why sharing Jesus with others is a critical part of our faith journey and theirs. God's Word is like a blueprint for our lives. SUPPLIES OPENING ACTIVITY: POPSICLE-STICK REWARD 10 popsicle sticks for every preteen Video player and Internet connection, ready to play How (Not) to Share Your Faith found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfsdajtudmm TEACH: SHARING THE CROSS Bibles Video player and Internet connection, ready to play Cardboard Testimonies Rokhawah 2013 found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j5hp_pzqsc until 3:21 timestamp 1 pencil per preteen At least 2 sticky notes per preteen Large cross, placed upfront Contemplative Christian music and music player SMALL GROUPS: NURTURE THE SEEDS Strips of paper with ideas, cut apart (1 per preteen) One package of seeds for each preteen 2016 Copyright PreteenMinistry.net 2
LESSON OVERVIEW In this lesson, preteens will dive into ways they can talk about their faith with friends and family. While sharing faith may not feel natural or convenient, kids will learn that it s very important to God that we talk about Jesus and help others understand the sacrifice He made. 2016 Copyright PreteenMinistry.net 3
OPENING ACTIVITY: POPSICLE-STICK REWARD Supplies: 10 popsicle sticks for every preteen Video player and Internet connection, ready to play How (Not) to Share Your Faith found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfsdajtudmm [Slide 1: Cover Slide] Say: Welcome back, everyone! It s time for the last week in our series Big-Time Truth. I hope all of you are feeling equipped for this school year with some great foundations to stand on. God s truth keeps us solid, stable, and steady in a world that is constantly changing. Ask: How are your plants at home growing? Say: That s awesome! Our plant reminds of us of the big-time truths we ve been talking about. As we water our plant, we re reminded that the Bible is nourishment for us. It is God s Word, it is completely His truth, and it will never change. As we see our plant grow, we remember that when we connect to Jesus, like a branch does to a vine, He promises to be with us always. Last week, we were reminded that when we look at the color of our plant we remember that the church brings color and life to those who follow Jesus. Just like sunlight brings color to the plants in our world. Say: There is one more big-time truth that our plants can remind us of as we finish today. Every plant has the ability to reproduce, to share its life so other plants can sprout and grow as well. This is possible because of the seeds they produce. If plants did not do this, we would eventually run out of plants. This would impact all of life on the earth. Followers of Jesus can also reproduce or faith. We can share the life that Jesus has given us with others so they can become connected to Jesus as well. We do this by sharing our faith and by telling others about God s love and forgiveness. Before we take a look at what at why that s important, let s do one final activity together. [Slide 2: POPSICLE-STICK REWARD] How to Play: Give each preteen 10 popsicle sticks to start. Players mingle around the room challenging another person to a duel. Duels can include Rock-Paper-Scissors, arm wrestling, or thumb wrestling. The player who loses the duel gives a popsicle stick to the player who won. Both players then find a new person to challenge. Allow 10 or 15 minutes for play. Players who lose all their sticks can continue playing in an attempt to win some back. The player with the most sticks at the end is the winner. Say: When we share our faith with others, sometimes it goes well, and sometimes it does not. Just like in our activity, sometimes your duel went well and sometimes it didn t. That didn t stop you from continuing to try, though. Let s take a look at a video where a person s attempts to share faith don t go so well. (Play How (Not) to Share Your Faith found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfsdajtudmm. Have preteens turn to someone beside them and discuss the following.) [Slide 3: Discussion Questions] Ask: Have you ever shared your faith with someone else? How did it go? Do you think it s important for others to get connected to Jesus? Why or why not? Why do people need to hear about Jesus? 2016 Copyright PreteenMinistry.net 4
TEACH: SHARING THE CROSS Supplies: Bibles Video player and Internet connection, ready to play Cardboard Testimonies Rokhawah 2013 found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j5hp_pzqsc until 3:21 timestamp 1 pencil per preteen At least 2 sticky notes per preteen Large cross, placed upfront Contemplative Christian music and music player Say: Those are great answers! People need to hear about Jesus because Jesus is the only way we can be saved. But what are we saved from? (Allow for responses.) Yes. We are saved from paying the penalty for our sins thanks to God s forgiveness through Jesus. We are saved from a hopeless eternity because we are promised that we will live forever with God. And we are saved from walking alone through the difficulties of life. Let s read some different stories in the New Testament together that will help us understand why people needed to know about Jesus. (Consider forming four separate groups, and have each group examine one of the stories below and report back on their findings.) [Slide 4: Mark 5:24-31] The woman with the issue of blood (Read Mark 5:24-31.) Say: When we share our faith, other people can find Jesus and He helps them. It says in the passage that this woman had heard about Jesus and so she came to Him. When she did come, she received healing for a problem that she had suffered with for 12 years. People in our world are suffering from sickness, disease, and tough times where they feel like they have no way out. Let s give people the opportunity to come to Jesus. [Slide 5: Luke 23:39-43] The thief on the cross (Read Luke 23:39-43.) Say: When we share our faith, people gain hope for eternity. The man on the cross knew he was guilty of his sin. He knew he deserved his punishment. Because he was with Jesus, however, he was able to ask if there was hope for his future. Many people in our world have little hope for the future. They need to be able ask Jesus what His plan is for them here on earth and for eternity. Let s bring the hope of Jesus to people. [Slide 6: John 8:1-11] The woman caught in adultery (Read John 8:1-11.) Say: When we share our faith, people can come to Jesus for forgiveness. This woman had regrets. The people around her saw her shame and thought she was worth nothing, that she deserved death. So many people in our world have made mistakes they regret. They may even feel unlovable because of what they ve done. Let s show people the joy of being loved and forgiven by Jesus always and forever. [Slide 7: Mark 2:1-5] The paralytic man (Read Mark 2:1-5.) Say: Sharing our faith may be the only way people discover and come to know Jesus. So many people in the world have never heard about Jesus. They don t even know 2016 Copyright PreteenMinistry.net 5
there is a way that is true. They need people to speak God s big-time truth to them and bring them to where they can find salvation. Let s tell people who ve never heard the Good News and introduce them to Jesus so they can be saved. Jesus changes our lives for the better. People won t know that unless we share. Here are a number of testimonies from people who were bold enough to tell their stories. Their stories inspire others to know Jesus. These were people who needed to know Jesus and connect with Him. When they did they were forever changed and filled with hope. (Play Cardboard Testimonies Rokhawah 2013 found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j5hp_pzqsc until 3:21 timestamp.) Say: Those are some amazing stories. These stories show us why people need to know Jesus and why it s important for us to share our faith. Ask: Did a friend introduce any of you to Jesus? Who would like to come up and to share what that was like? Say: If we didn t share our faith, then there would be fewer and fewer followers of Jesus in the world. This would impact all of life on the earth. Let s look at the image on the big screen to consider how this world might look different without followers of Jesus in it. Maybe you can tell me what it means. [Slide 8: Word image on the screen of the following word: more.] (Allow preteens to respond and come to conclusions about why this word is on the screen and how it answers what life would look like without followers of Jesus. Affirm and steer any responses to accuracy when needed.) Say: This was a tough one. When sin entered the world, it sent the world into chaos. God has always had a plan to restore order to the world, and part of that plan was to send Jesus to die and rise again. His plan is to forgive people of their sin and give them eternal life in heaven. Some day, God will restore perfect order. There will be a new kingdom. He has been working on this plan all along. When we connected to Jesus, choosing to follow Him, we became a part of this plan. We are seeds of order in a world that is full of chaos. God has asked us to share our faith with others so that more and more people will see God s plan unfolding. If there were no followers of Jesus in this world there would be more. More war, more hunger, more tragedies, more loneliness, more sadness. God s followers bring color to the world and offer life and hope in a place where there is chaos. Sharing your faith can offer hope to someone who feels like there is no hope. You introduce a strong foundation for that person that will keep him or her steady and stable in a world that is constantly changing. When you do that, your faith grows as well and you become more steady and stable, too. [Slide 9: The Bottom Line] The Bottom Line: The Bottom Line, or Big-Time Truth, for today is that sharing our faith offers hope to the world. Say: Before we go to our small groups, we re going to take some time to pray for those who need to hear about the hope we have in Jesus. Each of you will receive a couple of sticky notes and a pencil. As the music plays, think about people you know who need to hear you share your faith. Write a name on each sticky note and then come and place the notes on the cross. This is a reminder that Jesus died for the person whose name you wrote on the note. 2016 Copyright PreteenMinistry.net 6
Before we go to our last small group, we will pray for those whose names are on the cross and we will pray that God would give each of us courage to share our faith and our hope with those people. [Slide 10: Jesus died for.] (Play background music. Once kids have placed their sticky notes, pray for those whose names are on the cross.) Say: I would love to hear stories from you of how you shared your faith with those whose names are on the cross. Please come back and share with us how God is using you to share His love. In our small groups today, we re going to learn about ways we can start a conversation with someone else about God. 2016 Copyright PreteenMinistry.net 7
SMALL GROUPS: NURTURE THE SEEDS Supplies: Strips of paper with ideas, cut apart (1 per preteen) One package of seeds for each preteen Say: At the beginning of our time today, we watched a funny video about how not to share your faith. Sometimes the hardest part of sharing our faith is getting started. Let s look at a few ways to get started. (Have preteens find a partner. Give each partner a slip with one of the following ideas printed on it. Give kids one minute to practice the idea with their partner, then let the other partner have a turn for another minute. Once both partners have had a chance to practice the idea, have pairs switch idea slips with another set of partners. Play as many rounds as time allows.) Things You Can Say I noticed you are having a rough time with. Can I pray for you? Are you doing anything on? My preteen group is going to be. It would be great if you could come. Hey, guess what? I was at last week. When I was there, I learned this cool thing about the Bible. Can I tell you about it? Have you ever been to church before? What did you think? I really like mine and here s why. You asked me the other day why I don t swear or go to inappropriate movies. Can I tell you more about why? Do you know much about Jesus? Can I tell you what I know? Would you like to see this cool app I just downloaded? My preteen leader told me about it. It s pretty awesome because it helps me remember that God is with me always. Say: Great job everyone! Do you have any other ideas of ways we can open up a conversation about our faith? (Allow for responses.) Remember that sharing your faith is simply sharing your story. It s the story of what God means to you and what He has done in your life. Sharing your faith also means living your life in a way that shows who Jesus is, so that other people can see that you are just a little different. This makes people ask questions that will give you an opportunity to share. Each of you will receive a package of seeds today to take home with you. I hope that long after this series about God s big-time truths, these seeds will remind you of the importance of being nourished by the Bible, being connected to Jesus, being a part of the church, and sharing your faith with others. Close in prayer. 2016 Copyright PreteenMinistry.net 8