The Complete New Testament Resource for Youth Workers, Volume 2

By Jack Crabtree

With lessons created, written, and tested by active, experienced youth leaders who work with young people every week … never before has there been a resource this comprehensive, this practical, and this relevant for teaching the New Testament to your students. Walking students through the New Testament used to feel like a daunting task—especially if you’ve tried to create studies that are relevant and engaging to your students. Now, you have a diverse team of nearly thirty youth ministry practitioners working for you—and they’ve put together more than 100 studies that will make your job easier while helping your students dig into the Bible. Whether you lead them yourself or hand the lessons over to your volunteers, each lesson is easy to implement and can be used alone or combined with lessons that have already been planned. You’ll also find a searchable CD-ROM, making it easier than ever to find exactly what you need to help lead your students deeper into the life-changing books from the New Testament.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Feb 22, 2011
• ISBN: 9780310296591

Jack Crabtree

For more than 35 years, Jack Crabtree has been working with young people and youth leaders on Long Island with Youth for Christ. He loves ministry settings where kids are engaged and honest, and he hates visiting hospital emergency rooms. Jack is married to Becky (his high school sweetheart) and is the father of two grown sons and a daughter-in-law. He also enjoys his precious new granddaughter - Jack prays that her future youth leader will read this book.

Book preview

MARK

Mark 1:35-39

TOPIC: Shhhhh!

OBJECTIVE: Teens will know how to cultivate time alone with God and will begin keeping a prayer journal.

BACKGROUND/OVERVIEW: Throughout the gospel we see that Jesus purposefully spent time alone in prayer with his Father. Before and after most of the major happenings in Jesus’ ministry we find him in solitude.

GAME/ICEBREAKER: Superhero charades

Before your meeting come up with a list of superheroes’ names. (The bigger the group, the more names you’ll need.) Divide into two teams. One team at a time, ask individual teens to act out the name of a superhero without using any words. The other members of their team should try to guess (as quickly as possible) the identities of the superheroes. Give each team a maximum of three minutes to act out the name so that their team can figure out who it is. Alternate teams and award 1,000 points each time a team guesses correctly within the time limit. Be sure to end with Superman.

ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS:

Why do people sometimes think of Jesus as a superhero?

What do Jesus and Superman have in common? (Answers: They can do amazing feats; they tend to stick up for the oppressed and abused; they are often misunderstood, etc.)

Where did Superman go when he needed to speak with his father, think, and recover? (Answer: The Fortress of Solitude.)

SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:35-39

Read the passage aloud.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

What example did Jesus give us to follow in the midst of a busy, hectic life? What are we to take the time to do?

Why was it important for Jesus to spend time alone talking to God the Father before he got involved in his public ministry?

Why is it that when we are busy, spending time with God through prayer or by reading the Bible is usually the first thing we skip?

TALKING POINTS:

Share the following:

Jesus set the example

Jesus regularly spent time praying in solitude, conversing with his Father. We’re not Jesus, but if we want to be close to God, we also need to practice the discipline of solitude. We may think of solitude as a punishment—as in solitary confinement. Many of us fear being alone—we need a constant stream of noise and crowds to fill up our day. But at the end of the day, after all the text messages, music, and phone calls have stopped, many of us go to bed feeling alone and unhappy. How can we still feel so alone when people and noise surround us all the time?

The discipline of solitude is God’s way to overcome your loneliness

For a follower of Jesus, solitude does not mean being alone. It means being intentional about spending time with God. You may wonder why you would want to seek solitude when you are feeling lonely or empty—it seems as though the logical response would be the opposite. It seems to make sense to call someone, seek out friends, listen to music, watch TV, or log on to the computer. But instead of taking away any inner emptiness, those things simply distract us for a while. The only way to really get rid of our inner emptiness is to spend time alone with God cultivating a relationship with him.

REAL-LIFE CONNECTION:40-day prayer journal

Give teens the following instructions:

Make the commitment to start spending time alone with God. Ask God to fill you up and reveal himself to you.

When you start don’t just sit and do nothing. Keep a prayer journal on your computer, or in a book you can carry with you.

Follow a Bible reading plan that allows you to systematically and consistently read through the whole Bible:

Read until you come across a verse that is interesting to you or speaks to an issue in your life.

Use the S.O.A.P method of journaling.

Scripture: Focus on and write down a specific Scripture.

Observation: Record your observations about what is going on in the text and any questions you have about the text. If you have a study Bible, you might write down some of the comments that help you better understand what is going on.

Application: Write how this Bible text applies to your life. Does it address any fears or questions? Does it give you direction for a specific area of your life or relationships?

Prayer: Finally, pray and write down your prayer, asking God to give you what you need for the day. You could ask for a sense of his presence in your life or direction on a specific issue you are facing.

A few times each week try spending 30-40 minutes alone with God writing in your prayer journal.

Keep a prayer journal for the next 40 days, and journal at least three to four times a week. If you do this for a few years, or even for a few weeks, you can go back in your journal and see how God has worked in your life. You will have a written copy of what God did, how he worked, or how he answered prayer. Seeing God at work reminds us that we are not alone and that God is always with us trying to speak to us.

MEDIA: Fortress of solitude

Obtain the original Superman movie (1978) and show chapters 12-13 (39:04-47:56) where Superman visits the Fortress of Solitude (a crystal ice palace) to find out his purpose.

Go to www.imdb.com (Internet Movie Database) and search for Superman. Select the video trailer for the 1978 movie. Then look in the related videos section for the Superman Combo Trailer. It is the best video combining all the Superman characters.

Show one or two of these videos during the Icebreaker section when you are discussing what Jesus and Superman have in common and where Superman went to get focused about who he was and his purpose for life.

Or go to www.lifejournal.cc where you can order the First Steps Life Journal. This journal comes with a Bible reading plan that guides teens in journaling using the S.O.A.P Method.

Mark 2:23-27

TOPIC: Rules, rules, rules

OBJECTIVE: Teens will know that their Christian faith is based on following Jesus Christ—not following a long list of rules.

BACKGROUND/OVERVIEW: The Jewish leaders watched Jesus and his disciples closely. The Pharisees wanted to catch Jesus breaking the Jewish law so they could discredit him as a teacher from God. When they saw Jesus’ disciples gathering and eating grain on the Sabbath, they thought they had an opportunity to lower the boom on him. Jesus refuted their accusation by focusing on the purpose of the law, not the strict adherence to the law.

GAME/ICEBREAKER: Turn-off survey

Items needed:

Index cards

Pencils

Pass out index cards and pencils. Have teens write on their cards Churches turn off people by … Then give everyone time to write one to three short answers. Then they should rank their answers with stars to indicate how strong the turn-off is (one star is the least and three stars is the most). Collect and read the cards. Take note of what makes people dislike the church. Be attentive to reasons related to legalism and rules.

ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS:

What answers to this survey surprise you?

What reasons do your friends give for why they don’t like the church?

Today we’ll talk about the Pharisees criticizing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath laws. What do people today say about the rules and commands associated with churches?

How important is it to keep the commandments?

SCRIPTURE: Mark 2:23-27

Read the passage aloud.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

What made the Pharisees so angry with Jesus and the disciples?

What was Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ accusations?

What experiences have you had with religious groups who have strict laws and rules?

What does Jesus do when a religious law conflicts with meeting the needs of a person?

In what ways do we not give enough attention to God’s laws?

What’s the connection between Jesus’ expectations and God’s laws?

TALKING POINTS:

Share the following points with your teens:

Don’t let rules become your faith

Jesus was born into a Jewish culture that focused on following the Law in order to please God. The Law was given by God to show us how bad we are and how much we need God’s grace and forgiveness, but the Pharisees thought they could keep the Law and win God’s approval. They wrote another 613 laws around the Law of Moses that would make it impossible to break the commandments—or so they thought. The Pharisees lived the letter of the law and felt proud about being so holy, and Jesus called them out on it. They did what was right on the outside, but they were sinful in their hearts and minds. They missed the whole point that humility and sacrificial love mark a true child of God.

Problem with rules-centered living

The problem with rules-centered living is the continual need for more rules to cover every situation and exception. Life becomes a list of what you can’t do—instead of freedom to do what God gives you opportunity to do. Rules can never anticipate every situation. Instead of responding to the unique needs of people, rule-keepers are constrained by lists of dos and don’ts, and rules religion promotes a spirit of criticism. Being judgmental of others comes easily—we judge people’s faith and relationship with God by what we see them do—their adherence to the law. We assume that outward issues and appearance mark a holy life. And some religious leaders spend their time watching everyone—looking for a reason to correct or condemn. That approach may be highly religious, but it’s not what God wants from his children.

Walk in the spirit of the law

Jesus loves God’s Law. He did not come to destroy it or weaken it. Instead, he came to earth to get our focus off the rule-keeping so we could turn our hearts toward knowing and loving God. The Law’s purpose is to show us how far our thoughts and actions are from God’s desires. God wants us to know we can come to him only by his grace and mercy. He loves us even though we are profoundly sinful and full of personal pride, and he makes a way to forgive us and make us holy through unexpected—and undeserved—grace. We are to pay attention to God’s Law because it leads us to life, and we are to follow the Spirit of the Law as Jesus did when he told his disciples to pick grain to eat on the Sabbath. We recognize the grace and mercy God has given us, and we give it to others without condemnation. Jesus tells the Pharisees that the Sabbath is made for people, not people for the Sabbath. God’s Law was not given to enslave us, but to set us free. Loving God’s Law means reading the Bible to see what he wants us to do and then doing it.

REAL-LIFE CONNECTION: Three questions

Instruct your teens:

Ask yourself three important questions every day this week.

What makes me right with God—is it my good behavior or God’s amazing grace?

Do I make decisions based on what I have to do or what I want to do to be like Jesus?

Is there any pride in myself or condemnation of others based on good behavior or do I offer forgiveness for others as God forgives me?

MEDIA: Legalism or love?

From The Boys Are Back, show the scene, Hog Heaven (1:08). In this clip Joe is adopting a new laid-back style of parenting. He explains the new foundational rules of the house to his boys. This video is available from www.wingclips.com. Or on the DVD: Chapter 8, 43:42-44:09. (Note: On the DVD bad language precedes and follows this scene.)

Use this video to introduce the Scripture reading by explaining—

At times we need to reassess the rules we follow to find out what is really true and important. Look what happens in this family.

Then follow up the clip and any comments about it by saying—

Jesus made his disciples think about why they followed the rules they were taught.

Mark 3:7-19

TOPIC: The Call

OBJECTIVE: Teens will know the two goals Jesus had for his original twelve apostles, and they will identify specific ways to know him better and do his work.

BACKGROUND/OVERVIEW: Jesus began to break away from organized Judaism. Although a large group was following him, Jesus withdrew from the crowds and spent the night in prayer (Luke 6:12). In the morning, he appointed twelve individuals for a special purpose.

GAME/ICEBREAKER: I’d like to know

Items needed:

• Paper

• Pencils/pens

Give everyone a sheet of paper and a pen or pencil. Have your teens write their names at the top of the sheets. Underneath their names they should write, One thing I really like about you is … and, halfway down the sheet, A question I’ve always wanted to ask you is.…

Now have them exchange papers and finish both of the sentences in regards to the person whose name is at the top of the page. Have everyone exchange sheets several times so each sheet has many affirmations and questions. When the sheets are returned to their owners, give the teens a few minutes to read what others wrote. Then, one at a time, have your teenagers read and answer one question asked of them. Even if your group knows each other pretty well, there are bound to be some surprises.

ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS:

Who did you get to know that you really didn’t know before this exercise?

What would it have been like if someone had written something negative or critical about you?

What qualities do you look for in a friend?

Do you select friends because of what you can give or because of what you can get out of the relationship? Explain.

SCRIPTURE: Mark 3:7-19

Have teens read this passage silently.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

What were the reasons Jesus called these men?

Jesus had a large group of people following him. Why would he invite such a small number of people into this unique relationship with him?

What is the relationship between being with Jesus and being sent out by Jesus? (Answer: Being with Jesus means deepening our relationship with him. We know him and what he wants from us. So when he sends us out, we can go as his representatives.)

TALKING POINTS:

Share the following:

Is bigger better?

These days it’s easy to think bigger is better. Yet Jesus seems to go against this way of thinking by selecting only a few people in whom to uniquely and strategically invest. Now, here we are more than 2,000 years later, and large numbers of Christ-followers can be found around the world as a result of Jesus’ small group strategy. His small group made a big impact.

Being and doing

The secret power of Jesus’ small group is found in the content of his calling, and great significance lies in the order of the twofold purpose for which Jesus called the apostles. The primary reason Jesus called them was not to do something, but to be something. He called them—and calls us today—first to be with him. Relationship is primary with Jesus. He invites us to come to him so we can watch him, listen to him, and learn from him. Then, after we have seen Jesus in action, he sends us out to share the message of his love with others. Jesus models for us that who we are is more important than what we do; that our doing must flow out of our being (Colossians 1:9-12).

Both/and

Some people emphasize being—they focus solely on their personal relationship with Christ without ever reaching out to touch the world. Others emphasize doing—they reach out and help others but do so without spending personal time with Jesus. Both are extremes—Jesus calls us to be both/and, not either/or.

REAL-LIFE CONNECTION: Be and do for Jesus

Ask your teens:

What does Jesus look for in people he calls? (Answer: Openness, vulnerability, willingness, submission.)

What does Jesus see in you?

What do you see in members of our group that makes them candidates for Jesus’ use?

What can you do to deepen your personal relationship with Christ? (This is being.)

What are you doing—or what can you do—to reach out to others with the love of Christ? (This is doing.)

What can you do this week to ensure that you are pleasing God in both your being and your doing?

MEDIA:

From the film Pirates of the Caribbean, show the scene, Able Bodied Crew (1:02). The clip is available from www.wingclips.com or you can rent the DVD from a local video store. (Chapter 8, 100:57-101:57.) In this scene, Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner attempt to round up a crew of sailors to go after Captain Barbosa.

Show this clip before reading the Scripture, putting the focus on how Jesus called his disciples. They were as unlikely disciples as the sailors Jack Sparrow recruited. Ask the group how being recruited by Jack Sparrow is similar to being called to follow Jesus.

Mark 4:1-20

TOPIC: Heart conditions

OBJECTIVE: Teens will be able to list the four types of metaphorical soil, list the outcome of seeds being planted in these soils as described by Jesus, and identify the real-life factors that will influence growth or decay of their lives as followers of Jesus.

BACKGROUND/OVERVIEW: Jesus tells a story of four soils that represent the four different conditions of the human heart and the ways people respond to God’s word.

GAME/ICEBREAKER: Revolving story—part one

Sitting in a circle, have teens (one at a time) make up part of a story or a fairy tale. Each person should tell a piece of the story for ten to fifteen seconds. When you say, next, the next person should pick up the story where the previous person left off. When the story begins to drag, begin another story. Here are a few story-starters:

Once upon a time, a weird little man …

What’s going on, thought Ty, as …

When the moon is just right, the farm animals …

Revolving story—part two

Explain that you want to shift gears for part two. Then give them the following stories to complete, as before, beginning with the first one:

April has just returned from a youth retreat where she made a decision to follow Jesus. What will her walk with Christ look like when she is 30 years old?

Ben had a dramatic encounter with Jesus at summer camp when he was in 10th grade. Ten years later, Ben is just going through the motions of life, no longer walking with Christ. What happened to Ben?

Naomi finds a bag of seed along the side of the road while riding her bike home from school. She has a large field next to her home. Tell a story about what Naomi does with the seed.

ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS:

(for part two):

(To the person who started each story): What inspired you to begin the story the way you did?

What was it like trying to pick up the story where the person before you left off?

What factors caused the story to either end in success or failure?

TRANSITION:

Say—

While our stories tended to be funny and probably didn’t make a lot of sense, Jesus often told stories (parables) in order to communicate important truths. In fact, Matthew 13:34 tells us that Jesus never spoke to a crowd without telling a story. In the passage of Scripture that we are looking at today, Jesus tells a seemingly simple story, but he says it’s the key to understanding all of his other stories.

SCRIPTURE: Mark 4:1-20

Have volunteers read the passage aloud, a few verses at a time, while everyone else follows along in their Bibles.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

What is the main point of this parable?

What does Jesus say each of the soils represents?

Why does Jesus say that understanding this parable is the key to understanding every parable? (v. 13)

TALKING POINTS:

Say—

The main point

Jesus’ point is that while the message (seed) is the same, the condition of an individual’s heart (soil) determines that person’s response to God’s word. In other words, the effect of the message depends on the status of the hearer.

Four heart conditions

Jesus describes four different types of soil that represent four different heart conditions. We can remember the four soils by remembering these four S words.

1. Surface—This is the path along which the seed fell. Because the seed did not take root, the birds quickly snatched it up.

2. Shallow—This is the rocky place upon which the seed fell. Because the ground was rocky, the seed was not able to put roots down deep enough to sustain life.

3. Strangled—This is thorny patch upon which the seed fell. The seed was able to take root. But because thorns and thistles crowded it, it was unable to produce fruit or reach its potential.

4. Successful—This is the good soil upon which the seed fell. Because the ground was fertile, the seed was able to put down deep roots. It was able to spring to life, and then produce an abundance of fruit.

REAL-LIFE CONNECTION: Our soil

Ask—

In what ways does Satan attempt to steal the seed of the word of God before it has a chance to take root?

What kinds of things cause us to respond to God’s word in a shallow way?

What kinds of things choke the word of God and hold us back from reaching our potential in Christ?

What kinds of things cause God’s word to be successful in our lives?

If Jesus were to take a sample of the soil of your heart today, what would he find?

What can you do to care for the field of your heart to ensure that when God speaks, his word lands on good soil?

MEDIA: What’s in the heart?

Show the video, X-Ray (:30). This video can be purchased from www.sermonspice.com. Use the search words x-ray human. This video is a simulation of a doctor’s analysis of an x-ray chart that reveals a fully functional human being, but leaves the condition of the soul unanswered. This video clip could serve as an interesting visual introduction to this talk about the heart.

You could also use the Sermonspice.com video The Parable of the Sower (3:56). Use the search terms sower callividgraphy. This is a visual animation of the parallel passage in Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23.

Mark 5:1-20

TOPIC: Real problems—real solutions

OBJECTIVE: Teens will understand that some problems can only be solved by God’s wisdom and power.

BACKGROUND/OVERVIEW: Several times Jesus delivered people from demons—this passage in Mark presents the most detailed description. Jesus gives us some insight into demon possession and our need for supernatural intervention.

GAME/ICEBREAKER: Three eggs

Cover a table with plastic and choose three competitors. Each competitor must be blindfolded. The goal is to see who can crack a raw egg first.

Participant 1: Can only use two fingers covered in Vaseline to crack the egg.

Participant 2: Can only use her mouth to crack the egg. (Make sure to wash the egg beforehand.)

Participant 3: Can only use his head to crack the egg.

Do several rounds with different competitors. Have some helpers prepared with clean up materials and supplies.

ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS:

What was more important, cracking the egg, or doing it according to the instructions?

Who followed my instructions and who didn’t?

Say—

Everyone did it right, but some ways worked better than others. Some approaches solve problems because they correctly address situations as they exist.

What problems have you seen mishandled because people took the wrong approach in solving them?

When you are facing a difficult problem, how do you decide what to do?

SCRIPTURE: Mark 5:1-20

Have everyone silently read the passage.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

How had the community tried to solve the demon-possessed man’s problem?

Why didn’t their approach work?

How did Jesus approach the problem?

What caused Jesus to be successful in solving the problem?

TALKING POINTS:

Share the following:

Old solutions don’t always work

The text says, No one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.

In this story the community tried their best to solve the problem using the solutions they thought would work, but this young man was too strong for the restraint devices they used.

Arresting people isn’t always the answer

The community had tried to arrest the man several times. But that failed. They could not bind the man because he had supernatural strength from the demons living in him. The forces of the dark side had overtaken this man. This isn’t a Bible version of Star Wars—evil forces actually do exist. Tom Wright the theologian has written: Two thousand years hasn’t given us much more insight into the strange condition they called demon possession, though there is plenty of evidence for such phenomena in our world too. Hollywood depicts this scene in movies like The Exorcist or Emily Rose’s Story.

The man was drawn to Jesus

The troubled soul of this man was drawn to Jesus. Every human being has a soul—that explains why even non-Christians can produce glorious works of art. The soul in us yearns to be in the company of its creator God. The soul of this man pressed towards Jesus.

Jesus responded

Jesus didn’t leave the man in the dangerous position where he found him. The man was tormented and cutting himself like so many teenagers today who need Jesus’ help to deal with their tormented thoughts and fears—not that they’re demon-possessed, but they sure need Jesus! Jesus responded and cast the evil spirits out of the man into a group of pigs. From that moment the man began functioning in his right mind. Jesus solved a major community problem.

The community responded

After Jesus accomplished what the community couldn’t, they decided to kick Jesus out of the town. It almost seems as though the community leaders were more concerned about losing the pigs than the man being healed. At least we don’t see any positive excitement about the healing. Remember not everyone will be excited about God saving a person in need. Notice Jesus’ response: He did protest, and he empowered the delivered man to go and spread the good news that the Messiah freed him from the evil spirits.

REAL-LIFE CONNECTION: Take it to the community

Say—

   Let’s have a ten-minute community action council meeting.

What are one or two problems in our community that are not being solved by the normal services available?

What can God do to help solve these problems?

What could God-empowered young people do to address these problems?

If you want to be empowered by God to start addressing these problems, step forward and we’ll pray for God to give you wisdom, power, and courage.

MEDIA: Amazing Grace

In the DVD Amazing Grace go to Chapter 7, 31:38-36:05. This film chronicles William Wilberforce’s struggles as he tried to end the slave trade in England. This scene shows how thinking led to action as Wilberforce’s friend presented him with some facts about what would happen in the future.

Show this clip and briefly tell the Wilberforce story of opposing slavery as part of the first Talking Point (Old solutions don’t always work). Emphasize the courage needed to do what God wants to see happen.

Mark 6:30-44

TOPIC: In his hands

OBJECTIVE: Teens will decide to give what they have to God for his use.

BACKGROUND/OVERVIEW: This is the account of the miracle of Jesus feeding 5,000 people.

GAME/ICEBREAKER:Scrap sculpture

Divide the group into teams of six to eight. Explain that each team should create a work of art using only items that team members have on their persons. (If you need to you can expand this to items found in the room.) Set a time limit for the project. Afterward, place the art projects on a table at the front of the room. Get everyone up to look at the projects—art gallery style—as you discuss them and award prizes for these categories: Most creative, funniest, biggest, and most pitiful.

ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS:

Who thought this endeavor seemed impossible?

Why did some of you immediately jump to the challenge?

Describe your team’s participation: Who took charge and who hung back?

What did you wish you had in order to make a better piece of art?

SCRIPTURE: Mark 6:30-44

Have someone read this aloud, with feeling.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

When you read this account, with whom do you most identify? The hungry people? The boy with lunch? The worried disciples?

If you were Jesus, how might you have done things differently?

If you were the boy with the lunch, how willing would you have been to give up your lunch with 5,000 hungry people surrounding you? How do you think this experience changed this young boy’s life?

When have you given away something that was important to you? What happened? Was God involved in it? How did that experience change you?

Why can we easily see and have strong opinions about what other people should give to help others but find difficulty in giving what we have?

TALKING POINTS:

Say—

Wrong thinking

Jesus didn’t waste any time fretting over what he didn’t have—he started with what he had: Just five loaves and two fish. Those—and his touch—were all that was needed. In a God-led endeavor, start with what you have at hand and watch him multiply your resources and efforts for the task. What stops us from seeing God use us is our wrong thinking that what we have isn’t enough, or thinking that if we had more, then the problem could be solved. It’s like me saying, If someone gave me a million dollars, then I could help people, instead of saying, I will give from what I have right now and let God use that. Don’t live your life saying, If only I had more, I would.… Nothing happens when we say that. Focus on what you already have and let God use it.

Divine combination

In most if not all of Jesus’ miracles, he combined human effort with supernatural power. In feeding the 5000, he could have supernaturally located and dispersed the food in the same way that he multiplied it supernaturally, but he involved the disciples in both securing the food from the boy and then distributing it to the people. God uses real people like you and me to do his work. When you give God permission to use you, you’ll be amazed by what happens. Often it’s quite unexpected—and it’s never about making you famous or powerful. This is scary because we are risking what we possess. We may see the results right away like the disciples did that day, or the results may be hidden for a long time. Our job is to obey God and leave the results to his timing and will.

Great adventure

This is the biggest adventure of being a Christian and following Jesus Christ. God wants you actively involved in helping people who need him. He asks you to step up and bring what you have when there is a need—God will use what you have. A lot of people miss this adventure because they worry about losing what they have or looking like a fool. Let God get his hands on what he has given you. The results will be unbelievable.

REAL-LIFE CONNECTION: Let God use you

Say—

God has not changed: He still wants to do amazing things in the world today. But God invites us to be part of the process. His supernatural power is still what brings about the changes—but he works through ordinary people.

This week look at what is happening in the world around you. What problems do you see? What do you have that Jesus would ask you to give to help meet that need? Don’t be afraid if you feel as though what you have is so small it wouldn’t make any difference—Jesus will use you and what you give to help others. Give something tangible this week to help resolve a problem. It may be something you possess, or it may be your time, or your efforts.

Write a short diary or journal as you do this and record what you saw and did and how God used it. Share it with our group during the next month.

MEDIA: True story

Tell this story after the second Talking Point. Practice reading this prior to the meeting so it can be read with feeling:

Let me tell you about a young man named Randy. Randy was caught in a dark web of despair, seeing visions and dreams of absolute evil.

But God somehow surrounded Randy with several Christian friends. Those friends told their youth pastor about Randy, and he tried to make a connection with him but was never successful. The youth pastor encouraged the friends to keep praying for Randy.

One night Randy went to his family medicine cabinet, grabbed a container, and swallowed all the pills inside. One of the friends found out and called the authorities. Randy was rushed to the hospital, and his life was saved because without knowing it he had swallowed time-released capsules, and they had not taken effect all at once.

The youth pastor was still unsuccessful in contacting Randy, but the Christian friends stayed connected and kept praying for him. A month or two later Randy opened his heart to Jesus, and in the same way that he was saved physically, he was then saved spiritually. Randy is now living his life enthusiastically for Jesus, and he shares his story with many others, encouraging them to surrender to Christ.

The youth pastor finally managed to connect with Randy. In fact Randy now serves as a volunteer in that youth ministry! God supernaturally reached into Randy’s despair and redeemed him—but he chose to use friends around Randy to help perform the miraculous change in Randy’s life. Randy’s family and friends have noticed and appreciated the change in his life. Now some of the members of his family are looking into the claims of Christ for their own lives! (This is a true story—the author of this lesson is the youth pastor, and Randy is not his real name.)

Mark 7:24-30

TOPIC: Surprise, surprise!

OBJECTIVE: Teens will know that Jesus can meet their needs.

BACKGROUND/OVERVIEW: Although Jesus came to the Jews first he often reached out to Gentiles. This story is a powerful example, as he honored the faith of this Gentile woman.

GAME/ICEBREAKER: Toilet paper game

Explain that you will be playing the Toilet Paper Game, and ask for volunteers. Bring your contestants to the front of the room and have them stand in line, facing the group. Hand the first person a roll of toilet paper and tell that person to take as many sheets of toilet paper as he wants. Then the person should pass the roll to the next person in line. That person also should take as many sheets as she wants, and so on down the line. Next, tell all the contestants to count the number of sheets they have. Then reorganize them so that the person with fewest sheets is first in the line and the person with the most is last.

Then explain that each person must reveal information about himself, and that the number of facts they share must match the number of toilet paper sheets they took.

(With a group of twenty or less, do this with the whole group, passing the toilet paper roll around the group, person to person where they are seated until everyone has had the chance to take some.)

ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS:

What went through your mind when you were taking the toilet paper?

How did you feel when you learned what you had to do with the toilet paper you took?

How many sheets do you wish you had taken?

What did you hear from someone that surprised you?

In a situation like this why might a person be reluctant to share anything personal?

SCRIPTURE: Mark 7:24-30

You may want to prepare ahead of time and have teens act this out. Otherwise, have teen volunteers read the passage aloud.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

How many of you ever heard or read this episode from Jesus’ life from the Bible?

What is it in this conversation between Jesus and the woman that surprises you?

Why do you think Jesus spoke to the woman in such a manner? Was he rude?

(In Matthew’s account, Jesus’ response seems even worse because he doesn’t answer her.)

If you were that woman, how would you have responded to Jesus?

What about the woman’s response impressed Jesus?

How did this mother get what she wanted from Jesus?

Why do you think this story is in the Bible? What does God want us to learn from it?

TALKING POINTS:

Say—

Surprise— Jesus is here

Surprising things happened when Jesus showed up—even the way he arrived on Earth was a surprise to most people. After all, who ever heard of a king being born in a stable instead of a palace? Throughout Jesus’ ministry he continued to surprise people with what he said and did.

This doesn’t sound like Jesus

The response of Jesus to this non-Jewish woman really surprises most people when they read it. We would think that Jesus would gladly welcome any who express interest in his work. But the context of this conversation is that it followed a discussion about Jewish tradition. In the Matthew account of this story (Matthew 15:21-28), we read that the woman addressed Jesus as Son of David, which to a Jew meant Messiah—their long-awaited deliverer. Jesus was essentially saying, You are not a Jew and therefore you cannot appeal to me on that basis.

By appealing to Jesus as Messiah she was putting herself (a Gentile) in the position of a dog, instead of that of a child. When Jesus called her a dog, it was more like he was saying she was a pet. Jesus was following an appropriate order, saying that he could not offer God’s blessing to Gentiles until it was first offered to the Jews, God’s chosen people.

This sounds like Jesus

The second surprise of the story is that the woman was not put off by Jesus’ response. She was desperate for her child, and she took a risk as a Gentile to speak to the Jewish rabbi. This woman believed so strongly that Jesus could help her daughter that she persisted and exercised surprising faith. Jesus rewarded the woman’s faith and healed her daughter.

Who is Jesus to you?

Like the woman, you’re probably a Gentile. But like the Jewish people of that day, you have some religious advantages: Tons of churches, youth group, a wide variety of Bibles to choose from, spiritual counselors, Christian songs, and on and on. So you know—or should know—a lot about Jesus. But do you really know him? All this woman knew was that her daughter was dying and that Jesus could save her child. So she took a huge risk and begged him to help.

Are you desperate for Jesus?

Jesus is the same today as he was when this event happened. (See Hebrews 13:5.) And he wants to surprise us with who he is and what he can do. What is your deepest need? Are you desperate enough to bring it to Jesus? Do you dare ask him to surprise you?

Desperate, tenacious, surprising faith pushes through to the Savior. What will it take for you to express your need to him?

REAL-LIFE CONNECTION: Take it to Jesus

Give the following instructions:

Make a plan to talk to Jesus every day—either aloud or by writing in a journal or letter.

When you talk to Jesus, ask him for his special help and healing for what you need. Wait patiently for his answer and believe that whatever happens is according to his timing and will. Come back to our meetings this month and tell us what God is doing in your life.

MEDIA: Miracles

From the film Henry Poole is Here show the following scene: I Can See (0:55)— Patience, who is plagued with terrible eyesight, claims to be healed by Henry’s wall. On the DVD, chapter 13, 100:50-101:58.

This clip is available from www.wingclips.com or you can get the DVD from a local video store.

Show this clip after the Icebreaker Questions and the Scripture. Introduce it as the unexpected happening at a time when help is needed most. Ask how open we are to God doing something new and wonderful in our lives. Can we believe God can do a miracle and meet our needs?

Mark 8:34-38

TOPIC: Saying yes

OBJECTIVE: Teens will understand the necessity of daily choosing to follow Christ.

BACKGROUND/OVERVIEW: Jesus is explaining what being his disciple will cost. His followers may lose everything in this world, but what they gain is infinitely more valuable.

GAME/ICEBREAKER:Flunking English, flunking life

Being a Christian means being obedient and sometimes doing things that just don’t make sense in this world. The sketch—where a teen chooses to fail English but honor God—illustrates God’s unexpected influence. You don’t have to wait until you’re an adult to make a choice for God. You will need two good actors to perform the sketch. Make sure they rehearse.

CAST

Paul

Mr. Johnson, Paul’s English teacher

PROPS

Table or desk

Two chairs

Paper and pencil

Newspaper

(MR. JOHNSON sits at the desk, and PAUL approaches timidly.)

(Blackout)

Positions are switched with PAUL sitting at the desk and MR. JOHNSON approaching timidly.

ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS:

Why did Paul fail Mr. Johnson’s class?

Tell about a time when you stood up for something even though you had to pay a price for doing so.

Why did you feel your cause was worth the price you paid?

TRANSITION:

Say—

Sometimes doing what is right can be difficult. Standing up for what is right and true takes courage. Jesus invited us to follow him, but he never said that it would be easy. In fact, more often than not, Jesus explicitly said the opposite. Today we are going to look at what it means to say yes to Jesus.

SCRIPTURE: Mark 8:34-38

Have a volunteer read the passage aloud.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

Pick a partner and tell them about when you made a decision to follow Jesus.

What do you think Jesus meant by his statement in verse 34: deny themselves?

What did he mean by take up their cross?

How about, follow me?

TALKING POINTS:

Say—

The salvation experience

Ask any Christian when she made a decision to follow Jesus, and she will likely describe a moment or an event when she had what is commonly referred to as a salvation experience—a moment when she said yes to the invitation of Christ. How many of you explained your experience that way just now?

Making a decision to follow Jesus is critically important

When we ask someone if he is a Christian, what we are usually asking is if that person has made a decision to accept Christ as Savior. Yet Jesus, in this passage, makes it abundantly clear that being a Christian, or a disciple as he called us, is much more than just raising a hand and saying a prayer.

Choosing to follow Jesus is a decision we make every day

Following Jesus is not a one-time decision. Yes, an initial decision is involved—the moment when we accept Christ’s invitation to follow him. But perhaps it would be more helpful if we understood that initial decision as a decision to make many decisions throughout the rest of our lives. It is a decision that says, every day I am going to decide to say yes to Jesus and his will for my life. Following Jesus is an ongoing process.

What does following Jesus really mean?

Let’s consider three implications of Jesus’ statement in Mark 8:34: First, deny themselves means giving up our will, taking the things we desire—our plans, our agendas, our hopes, our dreams, our aspirations, etc.—and surrendering them to the Lord. Jesus did this. Jesus asked the Father if it was possible to accomplish his mission in a different way. Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me.… Yet after voicing his request for a possible alternative Jesus prayed, "… yet not