Jesus Blog (Year 5 Leaders): October 2010

Charles Spurgeon, in a sermon dated November 2, 1884:

The best preaching is, “We preach Christ crucified.”
The best living is, “We are crucified with Christ.”
The best man is a crucified man.

The more we live beholding our Lord’s unutterable griefs, and understanding how he has fully put away our sin, the more holiness shall we produce. The more we dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard, where we can view heaven, and earth, and hell, all moved by his wondrous passion—the more noble will our lives become.

Nothing puts life into men like a dying Savior. Get close to Christ, and carry the remembrance of him about you from day to day, and you will do right royal deeds.

Come, let us slay sin, for Christ was slain.
Come, let us bury all our pride, for Christ was buried.
Come, let us rise to newness of life, for Christ has risen.

Let us be united with our crucified Lord in his one great object—let us live and die with him, and then every action of our lives will be very beautiful.

40 DOP

Discussion questions for session 1: What on earth am I here for?

Seven Questions to Ask Before You Preach or Teach the Bible

Francis Chan highlighted the importance of loving the people to whom he preaches. He mentioned seven questions that he asks himself in preparing to preach. Here are the seven questions:

Am I worried about what people think of my message or what God thinks? (Teach with fear)
Do I genuinely love these people? (Teach with love)
Am I accurately presenting this passage? (Teach with accuracy)
Am I depending on the Holy Spirit's power or my own cleverness? (Teach with power)
Have I applied this message to my own life? (Teach with integrity)
Will this message draw attention to me or to God? (Teach with humility)
Do the people really need this message? (Teach with urgency)

(HT: Andrew Jacobson, Desiring God)

What if I make a wrong decision? (24/10)

Thanks to Milton for the lesson.

http://www.box.net/shared/gc7asp2ohu

Really trusting that God provides 17/11

Leader's guide for Max Lucado's Experiencing the Heart of Jesus (Day 2)

To prepare: Read the whole lesson including the bible verses at the side.

We will start off the class with a debate. Gather together and we will split the class into two. One side must argue for and the other against. They will have 10 mins to discuss their ideas and then 5 mins to present their case.

The debate topic will either be ...

1) Non-Christians can live a good moral life. Do you agree?

2) Is human nature good or bad?

I have not decided.. am open to suggestions.

After we hear their reasons, I will wrap up, and close by asking them what they think the difference between Christians (C) and non-Christians (NC) is. The answer will can found in the book.

Skip (the introduction) and go straight to question 1, 2, 3. Don't spend too much time on them, but make sure you have their attention. After going through these questions, ask them again what the difference between Christians and non-Christians is. They should be able to articulate an answer now... Namely, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Then go through questions 4 and 5 which talk about how C and NC are different. Again, don't spend too much time on the questions.

Sum up with the Heart of the Matter, and after that, ask them whether they can tell that they themselves are different (from say their NC friends). Not a intellectual understanding of the difference but a practical, discernible difference. If they behave differently, is it because of God? Do they really trust that God provides? Experience God as described in questions 4 and 5? This is the most important part because you are getting them to critially engage with what you have been telling them. I suggest you go one round and share so that you can hear each of them out. You can guide them with 3 options... can tell, cannot tell, cannot really tell.

If they cannot or cannot really tell the difference between themselves and NCs, ask them to ask themselves why. The most likely reason is because they don't understand the significance of Jesus dying on the cross. And so we don't desire to be perfectly united with God. We read about Jesus supplying all our needs (Php 4:19) but still don't fully believe it. Another reason is because of sin hardens our heart (Psalm 97:10). If so we need to repent, to change our minds and turn to God. Either way, we must trust in God's grace and wait on God for his transforming work in our lives... This is important even for those who can tell the difference between themselves and NC.. or someday they may no longer be able to tell.

Close in prayer for your kids instead of asking them to pray. Pray that they will know that they know the Lord, and whatever else the Holy Spirit leads.

Experiencing the Care of Jesus (10/10)

Leader's guide for Max Lucado's Experiencing the Heart of Jesus (Day 1)

Asking the Tough Question

What is God doing when you are in a bind? Where is God when life starts to fall apart? What's God doing then, and does He even care? This is the question we will address today.

Ask your students what they think is their role and God's role in their studies. You don't have to given them the "right" answer, just share your experiences. Don't worry, God is sovereign ;)

Then read the 3 verses. 2 Cor 1:8 expresses helplessness, 2 Cor 4:8-9 expresses faith, and 2 Cor 12:10 expresses confidence. Ask your students which of the verses they tend to identify with. Remind them that it is not shameful to express helplessness... even the apostle Paul did!

Point out to them that it was probably tougher for Paul to make these statements and trust God then it is for them. How do I know? Paul did both work and ministry. Know the difference? If we think of work (or study) as what we do [for God] out of duty, we can think of ministry as what we do for God out of gratitude. Another difference is that in work, there is typically self interest e.g. money, good results. But in ministry, there is none. It should be an unadulterated act of service.

God's Care in Motion
Follow the book.

Entrusting Ourselves to His Care
Instead of reading this section, play Trust Fall. Have two people stand on the ground and ask the first person to lean and fall back. The second person should lunge forward and catch the first person. If it is suitable, you can also ask the biggest guy to fall and the smallest to catch. Just ask them if they dare.

Debrief: Expressing real trust God is like leaning back and falling. We can't break our fall. We depend 100% on God to catch us. It may be scary but it is the first step that helps us to move from helplessness to faith and confidence (Remember the first 3 verses above?).

His Care is Enough
Debrief: If we are going to trust someone, we want to know that he is capable of helping us. God is able, willing, and really dependable. Need evidence? Read Eph 1:19-20. He already died for your sins. He died for you. What further convincing could you need? But wait there's more... He rose again. A dead God couldn't really help you with today's problems. But God is alive!

Ask your students, "How do you think God will care for us?" Do question 5 to answer.

The Heart of the Matter
... is the conclusion.

If you're not sure what to do, allow God to take the lead.
God will fight and provide for us. We just need to trust.
That is not an excuse to shun our duties. Our calling as students is to study.
But God's power is very great for those who believe.

Have you trusted God with your studies, with your life?
(Consider asking for yes / no answer)

If the answer is no, begin trusting Him today.
Jesus calls to us, cares for us, and carries us home.

If the answer is yes, maybe it is time to consider serving.
Jesus calls us to a higher calling than to just be busy students.