coach guide - ag web servicesagwebservices.org/content/resources/3d-coach-studentall1.pdf · e-life...

This G0 3-D activity was created by the national BGMC office, © 2010 Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Permission to duplicate for local church use only. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Coach Guideby Jim Hall

with:

Lisa Lyons

Marshall Bruner

David Boyd

®

discoveries

E-LIFE Coach Instructions

It is suggested that a children’s leader, referred to within this context as a “coach,” work through each 3-D Discovery with the E-LIFE Kids. The 3-D Discoveries for church application are a perfect fit for Timothy Clubs, retreats, and special events. The 3-D Discovery handouts for kids are ideal for kid-to-kid mentorship and can be done at home, school, or church.

If applying the 3-D Discoveries during normally scheduled meetings, it’s easy to use since they are given in bite-sized portions. Be sure to review from lesson to lesson what the E-LIFE Kids have learned previously.

The 3-D Discoveries consist of two parts: the Coach Guide and the Student Handout. The Coach Guide includes additional information you, the coach, can share with the students that is not included in the Student Handout. As a coach, you will need a copy of this Coach Guide and a copy of the Student Handout.

The Student Handout is streamlined for easy application on the learning level of upper elementary (4th and 5th grades—ideal as well for 6th grade). The students can fill in the information with your help, if needed.

Since the E-LIFE Kids should be encouraged to first complete a given Discovery then, in turn, lead a schoolmate or friend through the same Discovery lesson or handout, the student handout includes easy fill-ins and puzzle games (referred to as “Check It Out!”) that make the kid-to-kid discipleship process fun and adventurous.

Once the E-LIFE Kids complete a 3-D Discovery, have them review (“DISCUSS”) the basic principles with you. Then, as noted above, they should find friends at school or in the community they can befriend by demonstrating the “Five Commitments of an E-LIFE KID” (Seek, Show, Share, Invite, and Invest). Students should then disciple those they are befriending by leading them through the 3-D Discoveries.

Free time and after school provide perfect opportunities for the E-LIFE Kid to mentor another schoolmate. Encourage the E-LIFE Kids through this mentorship process to do the puzzle games with others. The E-LIFE Kids can share, through this relationship process, what they have learned themselves in that given 3-D Discovery. In doing so, E-LIFE Kids can further develop a mentorship relationship by encouraging schoolmates to complete the entire Discovery from which the puzzle game was extracted. Encourage the E-LIFE Kids to begin at whatever level they can in both witnessing to and mentoring other kids.

It’s simply relationship building. It’s called mentorship / discipleship, and it’s very doable.

Here’s the challenge students will find at the conclusion of each 3-D Discovery:

q DISCUSS what God is saying to do (Bible study).

q DO what God is saying to do (obedience).

q DOUBLE yourself by helping another kid do all 3-Ds (discipling).

3-D discipleshipYou just completed a Discovery lesson. Way to go! Now it’s time to put this Discovery into ACTION!

The following information can be shared with the students as you introduce them to the 3-D Discoveries:

This 3-D Discoveries series is your chance to learn more about God. You will even learn how to help other kids at school and in your community learn about Jesus and how to live for Him. You’ll be encouraged not only to be discipled (meaning when someone teaches you about God and the Bible), but also to be a discipler to others. In doing so, you can teach other kids how to do their own 3-D Discoveries.

Think about it. How awesome would it be if you were to accept this challenge: To share about Jesus with other kids and then to help them grow spiritually? That is what being an E-LIFE Kid is about. And these 3-D Discoveries can help you do just that!

You see, many kids your age have no idea how very special they are to God. Kids right in your school and neighborhood need friends like you who can show them God’s love. The 3-D Discoveries series has three parts—the three D’s of Discipleship—that will help you learn God’s plan for your life.

The First D—Discuss: Always be learning what God is saying in His “letter” to us. That letter is called the Bible. To really learn something that is written, you have to read it and then talk about it with someone. When you discuss it, it helps you say it in your own words. Doing so makes sure you understand it. Find someone who knows more about the Bible than you. Hopefully that person will be a children’s pastor or leader in your church who will become your “coach” (or mentor).

The Second D—Do: God’s plan for us is to do the things He’s telling us to do. God’s plan includes how we act, not just what we know in our heads. To help you do what God wants you to, here’s a great idea: Tell your discussion partner or coach what you plan to do for God. Then from time to time, report (or share) with him/her how you’re DOing. Your coach or partner, then, can help you keep on track. This helps each of us to carry out God’s assignment to us from the Bible.

The Third D—Double U: Doubling is helping others Discuss and Do God’s plan for their lives. Think of this as math:

One E-LIFE Kid shares with another kid about Jesus, who then becomes an E-LIFE Kid:

1 + 1 = 2

Then you and your new E-LIFE friend each share Jesus with two other kids who don’t know about Jesus. In doing so, two E-LIFE kids sharing Jesus with two others can become four:

2 x 2 = 4

Do the math and double by helping others!


Suggested talking points, Coach to Student:

This Discovery is about how Jesus paid your bill, the price of your eternal life. Jesus was punished for all the things we all did that disobeyed God. Even though you have disobeyed God MANY times, Jesus can forgive you and has paid the price for your sins.

Many people worry about what will happen to them after death. Is there a heaven? How can I go there? Jesus came to earth to teach us that there is a heaven and that God our heavenly Father loves us. He also showed us that there is a price to pay to get to heaven. It’s a price that no human being can afford. Fortunately, Jesus was willing to pay that price for us.

How could Jesus pay such a steep price for all of humanity? The answer begins with the fact that Jesus was MORE than just a human being. Jesus was a MAN who was also GOD. He had lived forever in heaven as God’s Son and helped God create everything.

Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus left heaven to live as a human on earth for a time. He taught the people many things about God and the kingdom of heaven, but there was more that He came to do. He came to die for you and for me.

Jesus didn’t have to die. While He lived as a human being, He never sinned. He never disobeyed God. Death is a punishment for sin, and Jesus never sinned. He was free and clear of having anything to be punished for! That means He could have gone straight to heaven without dying.

Yet He was willing to die because He loves you and wants you to be in heaven with Him. All your sins were placed upon Him, and He was put to death for your sake.

Jesus paid your bill.

Jesus Paid Your BillCOACH GUIDE #1

®

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This 3-D Discovery was created by the national BGMC office, © 2010 Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Permission to duplicate for local church use only. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Pay Up!

Have you ever been to an amusement park? Or a movie theater? Can you imagine trying to get in without buying a ticket? What do you think would happen? You know from experience that if you want to get in,

you have to pay the price.

Would you like to go to heaven someday? There’s a price to pay for that too. What’s the price? You have to live a perfect life, without ever doing anything wrong. Impossible, right? It might seem impossible because there’s no one on earth who has lived that way.

Read Romans 3:10—

“There is no one righteous, not even one.”

If no one is perfect, how can anyone get in? Well, imagine someone else buys a movie ticket for you, or gives you a ticket for an amusement park. Now you can get in! It’s the same way with getting into heaven. Jesus paid the bill for you!

Good for Bad

EVERYTHING Jesus did on earth was GOOD. He lived a perfect life and always pleased God the Father. And yet God punished Him. Why? Jesus was willing to trade His goodness for the sins of everyone on earth.

4 Jesus took the punishment for all the wrong things WE did in God’s eyes (called “sin”).

4 As punishment, Jesus would be put to death on a cross. At that time, a cross was used for executing criminals.

Read 1 Peter 3:18—

Jesus Paid Your BillSTUDENT HANDOUT #1 (Coach version, with answers)

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This GO 3-D activity was created by the national BGMC office, © 2010 Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Permission to duplicate for local church use only. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.





For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

Why did Jesus die on the cross? Check the correct answers:

q Because we all have sinned and can’t make it to heaven without His help.

q So we could feel good all the time.

q To forgive us of our sins.

q So we could go to heaven.

q So God would give us stuff, like money and clothes.

Use 1 Peter 3:18 to fill in the blanks:

Jesus was R __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __,

but we are U __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

He D __ __ __ for sins to bring us to G __ __.

I G H T E O U S

N R I G H T E O U S

I E D O D

X

XX

4 Check It Out!

Find the Words

Read John 14:10,11,31—

“The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father [God], living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves…. But the [people of the] world must learn that I love the Father and

that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.”

Find these phrases as they appear in the verses above and underline them, then answer the questions.

This verse shows us that Jesus lived a life that was pleasing to God. He did not deserve to die because He had never sinned. But He was willing to pay your “ticket” to heaven by dying for your sins. Jesus paid your bill!

Believe me

Father is in me

I love the Father

I do exactly

Who lived inside Jesus? ______________________

Whose work did Jesus do? ________________________

Whose commands did Jesus obey? ______________________

(THE FATHER)

(THE FATHER’S)

(THE FATHER’S)

4 Check It Out!

I Got It!

Read John 3:16—

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Read Romans 5:8—

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Draw a line from each phrase on the left to the phrase on the right that completes the sentence.

God loves in Jesus.

Jesus is for me.

Jesus bore our God’s Son.

Jesus died eternal life.

I believe sins/punishment.

I can have the world.



In the last Discovery, we talked about Jesus dying for the sins of all people so that they could go to heaven. But there’s a little more to that. Just because Jesus died for all doesn’t mean everyone will automatically go to heaven. There’s still something each person must do.

Read Revelation 3:20—

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

Jesus did the work. Now you have to let Him in your heart. You have to “open the door,” as the verse says. This Discovery explains how to do that.

Here are additional Scripture verses you can use to support each step of the ABCs.

A (Ask forgiveness): Romans 3:10,23; 6:23. Students may need help understanding what sin is and why they need forgiveness. They may not consider themselves as sinners. These verses help them to understand God’s view of the subject: All have sinned and deserve eternal separation from God.

B (Believe in Jesus): John 1:12; 14:6; Romans 10:9. Believing in Jesus (and confessing that belief openly) is the key. “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

C (Cooperate with Jesus): Matthew 19:17; John 14:15,23,24; The A and B steps are just the first of many steps. It’s the C step that takes a lifetime. Help the students to understand that cooperating with Jesus means living daily in obedience to Him.

Learn Your ABCs(ABC spells U-Turn)COACH GUIDE #2

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Going Up?

Are you heading upward or are you on a downer? Heading upward means you know you’re going to heaven when you die. Do you know how to head upward? Learn your ABCs!

Once you learn your ABCs, you will start on an upward journey instead of the downer you were on. The ABCs will help you make a U-turn!

4 Check the steps you are ready and willing to take.

q A – Ask forgiveness from Jesus. Jesus took all the punishment for your sins. When you ask Him, He will forgive you. When you are forgiven, you are saved (rescued) from the punishment you deserve. You “shall not perish.” (See John 3:16 on the next page.)

q B – Believe in Jesus to be your Friend forever – starting now! This is the other part of Jesus saving us (being our Savior). You will “have eternal life.” (See John 3:16 on the next page.)

q C – Cooperate with Jesus daily as your Leader. This is what the Bible means when it says Jesus is your “Lord.” To have someone as your “lord” means he/she has authority over you and over everything you do. Cooperating is another way of saying obey Jesus and do everything with Him and with His help. You should “do what He commands.” (See Romans 10:9 and John 15:14 on the next page.)

Learn Your ABCs(ABC spells U-Turn)STUDENT HANDOUT #2 (Coach version, with answers)

A

C

B

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Read John 3:16,17—

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Read Romans 10:9—

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Read John 15:14—

“You are my friends if you do what I command.”

Make the Connection

Connect each box with a word on the left.

You are God’s Son. Jesus, I’m now on your team!

Lord, I’ve done wrong. Please forgive me!

Ask

Believe

Cooperate

When you make a U-turn and turn your life around, you become a new person! Read 2 Corinthians 5:17—

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

4 Check It Out!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn

the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16,17)

Make a U-Turn

Use the information in this Discovery to fill in the blanks as you make your way through the U-turn.

CA

B

A __ __

forgiveness from

__ __ __ __ __

B __ __ __ __ __ __ in

__ __ __ __ __

to be your friend forever.

C __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

with

__ __ __ __ __

daily.

S K

J E S U S

J E S U S

J E S U S

E L I E V E

O O P E R A T E

4 Check It Out!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Before & After

In the first three circles below, draw pictures that represent how you behaved before you made a U-turn by deciding to follow Jesus. In the second set of circles, draw pictures that describe your behavior after you made a U-turn (turned your life around). Use the pictures to show others how the ABCs helped you make a U-turn and put you on the right path to heaven.

Before making a U-turn:

After making a U-turn:



This Discovery is about staying connected with God by talking with Him. You “called home” when you asked Jesus into your heart. Now call home every day, several times a day!

The people Jesus led and taught (called His disciples) asked this of Jesus: “Teach us to pray.” Jesus taught them, and He teaches us too! This Discovery uses Jesus’ own words to show us how we ought to pray.

You may be wondering how you can actually talk with God—especially when God hardly ever talks out loud, and you can’t see Him or touch Him. Here’s the first step in learning to talk with God: Plan a regular time and place to be alone and quiet with God each day for at least 10-15 minutes. This is a time for you to read the Bible (God talking to you), and for you to pray (you talking to God).

Even though God knows our every thought and every word we speak, we still need to speak carefully and clearly. This means that you should be very intentional in what you’re saying to God. Simply repeating the Lord’s Prayer isn’t enough. God wants you to speak to Him from your heart. Even though He knows everything about you, He still wants you to tell Him how you feel and what your needs are.

NOTE: For a great game application to complement this Discovery, go to www.bgmckids > Just Pray It. In the second yellow box on the right, called PRAY, Give, Go, click on “iPray, iGive, iGo” lesson on PRAYER. This will open an activity called “iPray.”

Call HomeCOACH GUIDE #3

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When you think of prayer, think of it just like calling home to Jesus. You may have a cell phone or use your phone at home all the time to call a friend. Jesus can be your best friend ever, so talk with Him!

4 Check how you can “call home” to Jesus.

q By calling 911.

q By speaking to Jesus out loud.

q By speaking to Jesus in your thoughts.

q By using a cell phone.

What would you say to Jesus when you “call home”? Write your thoughts here:

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Read Matthew 6:6—

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Jesus talks about being alone with God and talking to Him in private. Pick a spot where you can talk to Jesus each day. Write down the time and place you will use to meet with God.

Time each day: _________________ Place: _________________________________

Call HomeSTUDENT HANDOUT #3 (Coach version, with answers)

HOME

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XX






Learning How to Talk with God

Below are Jesus’ directions on how to “call home” (how to talk to Him). To help you understand what Jesus was saying, the meaning is stated to the right of each Scripture passage. Use the language on the right to form your own “phone call” to God. Check each step that you have taken.

Matthew 6:9-13

q God, You are my perfect Father in heaven. I want everyone to know You are holy (perfect)!

q You are my King and I want to obey your commands. I want to see others obey you here on earth just like angels obey in heaven.

q God, please give me daily food and other things I need to be healthy and serve You.

q God, forgive me for the things I’ve done wrong. With Your help, I forgive the ones who have hurt me.

q God, help me to avoid situations that will tempt me to do wrong. Help me to resist when Satan tries to influence me to do wrong. Help me to do the right things instead.

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed (holy) be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”

4 Check It Out!

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed (holy) be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into

temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” (Matthew 6:9-13)

Call Home Checklist

Place a checkmark by each word or phrase below that describes your thoughts and actions about praying to Jesus before doing this Discovery. Then after two weeks, review your answers and see if you’ve learned how easy it is to call home to Jesus.

TODAY’S TEST

DATE: ___________________

I talk to Jesus:q neverq seldomq at least 5 minutes a day

Talking to Jesus is:q boring.q has its ups and downs.q exciting.

I pray:q for others.q for myself.q both of the above

I pray:q for specific things.q for things in general.q I don’t know how to pray.

My prayers are:q seldom answered.q often answered.q I don’t know.

TWO WEEKS LATER

DATE: ___________________

I talk to Jesus:q neverq seldomq at least 5 minutes a day

Talking to Jesus is:q boring.q has its ups and downs.q exciting.

I pray:q for others.q for myself.q both of the above

I pray:q for specific things.q for things in general.q I don’t know how to pray.

My prayers are:q seldom answered.q often answered.q I don’t know.


I’m ListeningCOACH GUIDE #4


Becoming God’s child means you now have constant (never stopping) personal contact with God. He is ALWAYS paying attention to you. Psalm 139:4 says, “Before a word is on my tongue [or “before I even speak a word”] you know it completely, O LORD.”

To get to know your new Father in heaven, you need to remember He is always with you. We’ve already studied the importance of talking to God. But there’s always two parts to a conversation. You also have to listen. God the Father wants you to always be listening so you will hear Him when He says something to you.

God speaks to us in many ways. He will speak through the words that you read in the Bible. He will speak to you through other Christians, especially those in leadership positions. And He will speak to you in your heart. God’s voice can be big and mighty, but most often it is like a quiet whisper in your heart.

Read 1 Kings 19:11,12

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

®

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In Discovery #3, “Call Home,” you learned about talking with God. In this Discovery you’ll learn about listening to God.

Read Romans 8:15,16:

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba,” (which means) “Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Romans 8:15,16 states that God’s ______________ is talking to you.

What is He saying to you? _______________________________________________________

According to the verses above, what does God want you to say back to Him?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Have you felt God say to you, “You are my child. You are mine!”

Check: q Yes q No q Not sure

Discuss your answer with your leader or with a friend.

I’m ListeningSTUDENT HANDOUT #4 (Coach version, with answers)

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(YOU ARE MY FATHER)

(SPIRIT)






Hearing God’s Voice

Read John 10:27—

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

When you belong to God, you don’t just talk to Him, you also listen to Him. God speaks to your spirit during prayer, and He also speaks to you as you read the Bible.

Are there times when a statement from the Bible kind of jumps out at you?

Check: q Yes q No

If so, that’s God using His highlighter in your mind and saying, “Be sure to notice what I just said!”

God is telling you to pay attention to the words that “jump out at you” as you read the Bible. Why? Because there is a situation in your life right now—or one right around the corner—that God is saying something to you about. So listen to what God is saying to you—and what He wants you to do.

Conversations

As you have conversations with God, during prayer and Bible reading, you will begin to feel that you are really getting together with God. Here’s how it works:

q You begin to feel in your heart that the story of Jesus in the Bible is true. That is God speaking to your heart, and you listening.

q When you ask God to forgive you and be your Savior, Friend, and Ruler, He listens and answers. The result is your new spiritual life (like a second birth).

Continue to have conversations with God through prayer and Bible reading every day!

4 Check It Out!

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)

Time with God

Search for the following words in the puzzle below. Words can run horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and even backwards. Can you find them all?

BIBLE

CONVERSATION

GOD

PRAY

READ

TALK

LISTEN

VOICE

FATHER

R R H Y K T L G O D D T N Z X L Y H V I W O A Y F U A Q J L U J S L E V A T W Q M B L B C T R D T P O D I U L V Y M E E H M T B D J V I Y P C N E S L Y G L L F M C M H R E U Y A E C I O V B N C O N V E R S A T I O N M W F H T O P X H W F G Q Q L C N A N S S Z K T N U P T D E T L A F X L



This Discovery is about God’s instructions to us. He has written these instructions in the 66 books we call the Bible. The Bible is our “road map” that shows us the direction for our lives—how to live, how to avoid sin, how to obey God, and how to get to heaven.

As God was giving His instructions, He gave messages to people and made sure they copied it down right. His Holy Spirit worked in them as they wrote. You can be certain that what you read in the Bible is God’s message.

The Bible is like a portable library—66 books under one cover. There are two main “parts” in the Bible:

The first part is called the Old Testament. It tells how God created the world and everything in it. It also tells about connecting (putting together) God with people—before He sent Jesus.

The second part is the New Testament. It starts off by telling us about Jesus’ life and then about what His followers did after He went back to heaven. Most of the parts of the Bible you will study will be in the New Testament for it contains the teachings that came directly from Jesus.

Optional Activity: Find a map of the area where you live. Photocopy it, if possible, for each student in your group. Help the students find the directions from their homes to their school. (Alternate: Use a GPS device to find directions.) Talk about the importance of knowing how to get where you’re going.

The Road Map(The Bible)COACH GUIDE #5

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Did you know the Bible is our “road map”? It gives us directions on how to live and how to make it to heaven. We MUST follow it carefully. If you fail to use the map and turn the wrong direction, you’ll never reach your destination (where you should be going).

Likewise, if you fail to follow God’s map, the Bible, you’ll make the wrong decisions. And you’ll fail to find your way to heaven—where eternal life is given by God to those who followed the road map.

God Said It!

Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

This means the Bible, God’s instructions to us, was written by man BUT from words given by God. The Bible is like a map with instructions on how we should live for Him.

Can you tell below what the Bible helps us do? (Use the verse above for clues.) To…

The Road Map(The Bible)STUDENT HANDOUT #5 (Coach version, with answers)

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T __ __ __ __

T __ __ __ __ E __ __ __ __

C __ __ __ __ __ __E A C H

R A I N Q U I P

O R R E C T






Read Psalm 119:105,106:

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.

What do you think is the “path” mentioned in this verse? _______________________________

According to this verse, what do you need to follow in order to stay on the right path?

____________________________________________________________________________

Follow the Directions

If you fail to use a road map and wind up turning in the wrong direction, you’ll never reach your destination. LIkewise, if you fail to follow God’s map (the Bible), you’ll make wrong decisions in your life. Those wrong decisions can lead you down the wrong road, away from heaven.

Which of the following are ways that you can learn to follow God’s directions? Check all those that apply.

q ReadtheBible.

q WatchTV.

q Gotochurch.

q StudytheBiblewithyourfriends.

q Readmysterynovels.

q MemorizeScripture.

q Gotoamovie.

q Talkonthephonewithyourfriends.

(LIFE. Answers will vary.)

(GOD’S RIGHTEOUS LAWS)

X

X

X

X

4 Check It Out!

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. (Psalm 119:105,106)

Map It Out

Search for the following words in the puzzle below. Words can run horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and even backwards! Can you find them all?

BIBLE

DIRECTIONS

GOD

OBEY

SHOW

MAP

TEACH

TRAIN

EQUIP

D B W T P I M T Y I N I A R T I E A V E O B R H Y A U Z P R M L T E C P B Q W H H E F H C A M Z E R G O D E M T Q X F P A Y X F N Y I T Q W Z Q J C N E C O O V O C U T Z B O H N Q T Q T U R O S D V S

4 Check It Out!

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,

rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the

man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2

Timothy 3:16-17)

Life Can Be a Maze

Going through life can be like going through a maze—you’re not always sure which steps to take to get you to the right place. You need God’s Word, the Bible, to direct you in the way you should go.

Take this challenge: Try to find your way through this maze. Two identical mazes are provided so you can do it with a friend. See who can finish first!

STAR

T

STAR

T



Sometimes you find yourself really WANTING to do something, like be in a certain music group. Or maybe it’s really NOT wanting to do something, like not wanting to be in a student activity because a certain other person is already in it. At those times, it can be hard to know what God’s will is because your desire to go a certain way is so strong.

An important way to being able to hear God’s voice clearly is to pray until God helps you give up your own desires. Pray until God places in your heart the one big desire to just do what HE wants. When that desire is really strong, it blocks out all YOUR natural desires. Then you will be able to more easily know what God is saying. And you will be able to go ahead and do it with faith in God for His help.

Depend on God’s help to always make the right choices.

ACTIVITY: Have the students pair up. They should each think about a situation they are in where it isn’t clear what they should do. Have them discuss these points about that situation:

q The reasons you are considering for choosing TO do that thing.

q The reasons you are considering NOT doing it.

Then have the students pray together, asking for God’s guidance. Encourage the students to continue talking with their partners about:

q Hearing God speak to them

q What they did in response

q What happened as a result

Making Right ChoicesCOACH GUIDE #6

®

discoveries


In previous Discoveries, we’ve talked about listening to God and following His road map, the Bible. When you do these things, you will begin to know what God wants you to do. But sometimes you’ll run into sticky situations where you will be faced with a choice. What can you do then?

One thing you can do is ask yourself this question: What does the Bible say about this?Or ask yourself: What would Jesus want me to do?

Focus Your Attention

If… one of the choices seems to feel stronger than the others,

and if… the thoughts that come to your mind about that choice agree with what you know in the Bible,

and if… the thought of doing that thing brings a feeling of PEACE in your heart,

THEN… it may be that God is speaking to you!

Read Colossians 3:15—

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Now fill in the blank, using the Scripture passage above:

Let the __________________ of God rule in your heart.

Making Right ChoicesSTUDENT HANDOUT #6 (Coach version, with answers)

discoveries

(PEACE)






Here’s another way to know what God is saying to you:

q When one of the choices keeps ‘bubbling up” in your mind while you are thinking about other things.

q In your heart you find a desire to do that thing. When when you pray about that particular thing, the desire to do it gets stronger.

Oftentimes that is God bringing HIS choice to your mind and heart. Remember: These desires can’t be in opposition with the truths the Bible teaches.

Doing Things Together

When you think about doing a specific thing, it is very important to ask this of God: “Can You and I do this together? Will You help me do this?”

If you feel, “No peace about this one!” in your heart, then DON’T do it on your own. It’s like facing a red light at an intersection. You have to come to a stop!

Read Colossians 3:15 again (above), followed by John 15:4,5—

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Remember Jesus’ words, “Apart from me [Jesus]” you can do nothing that is pleasing to God.

Just the Facts

If you feel a peaceful “YES” in your heart about a decision you have to make, then go ahead, depending on God to help you know exactly what to do and help you do it.

4 Check It Out!

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)

Scrambler

Unscramble the words below. They are taken from the Scripture verse in this Discovery—Colossians 3:15.

A E P E C __ __ __ __ __

A H T E S R __ __ __ __ __ __

N H K T A L U F __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Pray several times about a decision you must make. If the same peaceful feelings and thoughts keep coming to you while you are praying, you can begin to be sure that God is talking to you.

Do what the peaceful thoughts are telling you, and depend on God to help you. Don’t do anything until you have peace in your heart about what you think God wants you to do. (If you are not sure what the Bible says about what to do in a particular situation, ask your Christian friend or your children’s pastor.)

Answers: PEACE, HEARTS, THANKFUL

P E A C E

H E A R T S

T H A N K F U L

4 Check It Out!God and Me—Our BIG IDEA Plan

Write below some of the BIG ideas God has given you that you plan to do for Him:

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4,5)

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________



Now that you’ve learned how to talk to God, how to listen for His voice, and how to follow His road map (the Bible), you need to continue to grow in Jesus. That means that wherever you go and whatever you do, you always know that Jesus is right there with you, and you make the kinds of decisions that would please Him. You let Him help you make those decisions, and you keep listening to His directions.

There are several things you can do to grow in Jesus. Here are a few:

q Bible study

q Prayer (both talking to God and listening to Him)

q Fellowship with other Christians, particularly those in leadership positions

q Continuing to practice making right choices

The more you do these things, the better you will become at them, and the more you will grow in Jesus!

Growing in JesusCOACH GUIDE #7

®

discoveries


In the Discovery called “The Road Map,” you learned about how the Bible can give you directions for your life. Reading the Bible and talking with God (through prayer) are the best things you can do to start growing in Jesus. As you continue to practice these things, here are a few tips to help you on your way.

1. Ask God to help you understand what He is saying to you.

Read John 14:26—

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

What does Jesus promise you in John 14:26? _________________________________

2. Begin reading the Book of John.

Spend at least a week or longer in John chapter 1. Read it over and over every day. Notice how you’ll see something new each time! See the Check It Out activity called “My Journal” for tips on studying John 1.

Growing in JesusSTUDENT HANDOUT #7 (Coach version, with answers)

discoveries

(TEACH YOU, REMIND YOU)






3. Continue to discover what God has for you.

The conversation you started with God through prayer and Bible reading can last your whole life. You will discover that things go much better in your daily life when you obey God. You will also feel stronger after obeying what God is saying to you. Inside of you it will be like having your favorite food—it feels good (“tastes good”) to obey God, and it gives you strength (like food does) to keep on obeying.

Do you think obeying God makes Him sad or glad?

Check one: q Glad q Sad

Explain why: ______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Read John 4:34—

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

Do you think that what Jesus experienced is similar to what you are experiencing? Check the answer you think applies to your experience in obeying God in comparison to Jesus’ experience obeying God:

q Same q Different

4 Check It Out!My Journal

q On your first and second day studying John chapter 1, write down everything John is saying about Jesus. Then write down how those things apply to you. Just do your best as you get started on this new project.

q Ask an E-LIFE friend or your Christian leader to help you. Remember that learning is like growing a plant: it takes time, but it is worth working for! Almost everything good in life takes time and work in order to have it.

What John says about Jesus: ____________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

How it applies to me: ____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

q Underline the parts in John 1 that speak to you strongly, and put a question mark beside the parts you don’t understand. Write down what you think God is saying to you in the parts you understand. Then write ways you can obey the things God is telling you to do.

q Ask your E-LIFE partner to ask you in the next few days if you are obeying God. God will be happy when you do, and so will your E-LIFE friend—and so will you!

What God is saying to me: ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

What I need to do to obey: _______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

4 Check It Out!

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34)

Obeying Jesus is COOL!

Search for the following words in the puzzle below. Words can run horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and even backwards! Can you find them all?

BECAUSE

COOL

GOD

HAPPY

HIS

JESUS

MAKES

OBEYING

WHEN

WORD

Now try to unscramble these words. Here’s a hint: “Obeying Jesus is cool because it makes God happy when we obey His Word.”

SUJES __ __ __ __ __ YOEB __ __ __ __ DWRO __ __ __ __

B O S D N X W O G A N C A P O H P F N U J M J D A G Q B I C E S U A C E B Y Y O A Y H V W Q P I E O M S H H M P O D B L A A E T A R Y A O S K N K H J E S U S I X G O E Y G K R A H S B S X S D R O W K

J E S U S O B E Y W O R D

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