Teen Scene 2Q 2018 Online Activities Lesson 1 Taken from page 6. Why is it important to believe that Jesus is alive? If we did not have this belief and hope, the foundation of Christianity would not exist. If Jesus didn t rise from the dead, how would we have salvation? We wouldn t. If Jesus wasn t capable of defeating death if He were just a man or just a teacher or just a prophet how could we live again in eternity? We couldn t. The story doesn t end with Jesus death because if He was just a nice guy who later died, then He would be no different from any other person who died. Jesus had to be fully God and fully man, and He had to resurrect in order to forgive us of our sins, offer us salvation, and defeat evil as we know it. In the space below, write what Jesus being alive means to you.
Lesson 2 Taken from page 12. How can you give God glory for your accomplishments? Instead of taking credit for your abilities or gifts, you can give the honor to the Lord. If someone compliments your painting or musical performance, you can say, Thank you, the Lord has blessed me with this talent. Or if someone asks how you were able to do something impressive or score high on a test, you could reply, Through hard work and the favor of God! Can you see the difference between an answer like that and just bragging on yourself? God isn t pleased or honored when you take the credit for a gift He gave you, and it isn t Christian behavior to be vain or pompous about your talents. Use the praise as an opportunity to witness for the Lord. In the space below, give an example of how you can give God the glory the next time you re praised for something.
Lesson 3 Taken from page 14. How did Jesus restore Peter? Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. This was in reference to the three times that Peter had denied Jesus before His death. With each time that Peter responded yes, Jesus was restoring Peter and forgiving him of what he had done. Furthermore, Jesus informed Peter that He would build His Church on Peter. Would Jesus have promised this incredible blessing to Peter if He were unforgiving or angry toward him? No. Jesus doesn t hold grudges and He doesn t hold our sin against us. Once we re forgiven, we re forgiven permanently. We simply have to ask for that forgiveness; He offers it freely. Similarly, if there s something you ve done that you re ashamed of, Jesus will forgive and restore you. In the space below, examine your own life and see if there are any aspects that need to be restored in God s eyes. Ask Him for forgiveness and healing.
Lesson 4 Taken from page 19. What is significant about the rainbow around God s throne? The rainbow is what God used in the Old Testament as a symbol to Noah that He would never flood the earth again; He would keep His promises. This happened right after the flood waters had receded and life was coming back to the earth. God told Noah and his family to be fruitful and multiply. To have the same rainbow surrounding the throne of God symbolizes that God did keep His promise, He does remember and keep the things He tells us, and it also promises new life. His throne isn t surrounded by storm clouds or lightning ready to strike and smite anyone who goes against Him; rather, He s poised and ready to breathe new life into anyone who asks for it. In the space below, imagine what you think heaven will look like. There are no right or wrong answers.
Lesson 5 Taken from page 22. Why did the Lamb have seven horns and seven eyes? As we know, in the Bible the number seven is the number of perfection and completion. The horns are symbols of power and authority. By the Lamb (Jesus) having seven horns, it shows His complete power and authority over all creation. The seven eyes represent the seven spirts of God. Though there are seven, there are of the same Lord. To explain differently, the Holy Spirit lives inside each Christian, but He works in different ways depending on the person. Though He may act differently or command various people to behave in various ways, He is still the only Holy Spirit. In the space below, describe how the Holy Spirit works in your life personally. Is there a particular area in which you need His help? Ask Him for it now.
Lesson 6 Taken from page 27. What are some ways you can give? You can donate old clothes, toys, or books to a local homeless shelter. Volunteer your time at a soup kitchen or a pet shelter. If you re talented in cooking, make goodies or a meal for a shut-in, someone who s recovering from an illness, just had a baby, or is in the hospital. If you can paint or sew, create something and share it with someone in a nursing home or rehab center. Giving doesn t have to just mean money, but you can definitely also contribute to the weekly tithe and offering in your church. It all comes down to whatever is in your heart to do. In the space below, come up with your own list of ways you can give in the following week, month, and year.
Lesson 7 Taken from page 30. Why did God want the first fruits? God wanted the Israelites to recognize that everything they had was because of Him. He was responsible for the land, the rain for the crops, the sunshine for their growth, and every other aspect that went into farming. While they could control how much they planted or what crop they wanted to grow, it was impossible for them to harvest anything without God s assistance through the weather and elements. Because of this, they should offer Him their first fruits, or the best of their crop, as a thank you for His goodness and an acknowledgment of His sovereignty. In the space below, determine how you can give your own first fruits to God.
Lesson 8 Taken from page 34. Why should we trust God s direction? God has an excellent track record. He s never gone back on His word, forgotten a promise, or led someone astray. He loves us and wants to bless us; He s overflowing with generosity. Picture your younger sibling on Christmas morning: bursting with energy and excitement, can t wait to see what will happen next. This is how much God is waiting and bursting to bless you. If you want some examples of how God has provided and blessed His people, look in your Bibles. Ask your friends, church elders, Sunday school teachers, parents, and others. Every Christian has a story and example of how God has blessed their lives and led them to something better than what they d previously imagined. He can be fully trusted with every aspect of our lives. In the space below, ask the Lord for the strength and courage needed to follow His path, trusting Him to guide your steps along the way.
Lesson 9 Taken from page 38. Why should we praise God? The biggest reason to praise God is because He sent His Son to die for us on the cross. Jesus took our place. It should ve been us who died, as the punishment for our sins is death. Yet He took on the punishment Himself because He loved us too much to let us die. Through His death and resurrection, we are offered forgiveness and eternal life. There is no one else who would make such a sacrifice for us, and no one else who could provide salvation. If God hadn t made this way for us, we wouldn t have any hope or love in our lives. Besides His love and selflessness, He deserves to be worshiped for His goodness, grace, leadership, provision, humility, faithfulness, and a million other reasons. There are infinite explanations for why God deserves our praise. Challenge yourself to think of a new one each day. In the space below, come up with your own reasons for praising the Lord.
Lesson 10 Taken from page 43. How can you represent Christ to others? There are several ways. One very important one is through our words. How we speak and how we live up to what we say carries a lot of weight. People aren t going to be impressed with a hypocritical Christian. If you swear or talk disrespectfully to your elders, how does that set you apart from the non- Christians? If you say one thing and do another, how does that represent Jesus? Other areas can be representative of His presence in your life. What kinds of TV shows and movies you watch, what you listen to, how you dress, how you behave around different groups of people, how you treat your family members and how you treat strangers, whether or not you cheat in school, etc. All of these areas are opportunities to witness for the Lord and represent Him through your words and actions. In the space below, set goals for yourself on how to represent Christ to your family, your friends, and strangers you come across.
Lesson 11 Taken from page 47. Why is it important to grow our faith? A stagnant faith is not a healthy one. 1 Peter 2:2 3 says, Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good (NRSV). Does a baby stay a baby forever? No, he will grow through nurturing and nourishment into a strong, healthy person. Likewise, a Christian should not stay spiritually as a baby. It s vital for your faith and for your example to others that you continue to grow through reading the Bible, prayer, worship, and fellowshipping with other Christians. If no one grows in their faith, then there would be no pastors, preachers, or teachers to raise up a new generation of Christians. In the space below, list some ways you can practice growing your faith this week.
Lesson 12 Taken from page 52. What are some steps you can take to keep your intentions pure? Whether you want to do some volunteer work, or complete a homework assignment, or interact with your friends and family, you need to check your motivations first. Are you doing your best on that project, or are you just doing the minimal required work? Are you volunteering so it will look good on college applications or do you genuinely want to improve the lives of those less fortunate than you? A way to keep your intentions pure is to ask God to examine your heart before proceeding. He will reveal to you the truth of your heart and mind. If you re doing something for selfish or impure reasons, then it won t be honoring to God. Ask Him to change your heart and perspective so that your motivation aligns with His. In the space below, write a prayer to the Lord, asking Him to change your heart and to point out areas that need a shift of perspective. Pray that you will always do things in order to glorify Him above yourself.
Lesson 13 Taken from page 56. How can you help others with your possessions? On a previous Sunday, we talked about how you can help others with your gifts and talents. Today is focused more on your possessions. How can they be used to help others? Once again, you can give away things and clothes that you no longer need. Is there someone in your class at school that has trouble finishing assignments because they don t have a laptop or Internet access at home? Invite them over one night to do homework together and share your technology. Is there someone who consistently skips lunch because they don t have enough food at their home? Pack an extra lunch and share it discreetly with that person. Ask God how you can impact others through your belongings, and He will show you. In the space below, make two columns. On one side, write a list of belongings that you no longer need or use, and determine where they should go (homeless shelter, women s shelter, etc.). On the other side, write down the possessions that you ll keep and come up with a way for each belonging on how it can help someone you know.