You can also tell Him when its difficult for you to believe. He cares for your hurts. Dare to Be a Daniel provides a biblical role model for tweens in the prophet Daniel, because he faced several challenges when he was only 13 years old. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Imagine students who are usually lonely or bullied who now find people caring for them and loving them. While practicing at the archery range last summer, Joshua, who returned to Camp Daniel for a second year, said, Dare to Be a Daniel has empowered me and made my relationship with God stronger. Waiting on the Lord reminds you that you are not in control. There are two options below. Our way of living is supposed to look like Jesus. I am choosing to do this because I love people so much. God has things for you to do that he planned long ago. You can use masking or gaff tape on the ground or even set up chairs as barriers. Local: 704-401-2432 Because they could see things the blindfolded partner couldnt. That He always keeps His promises. Why? Have you ever been called by God to do something but were too afraid to even try? Paul was a follower of Jesus and a leader in the early church. Lessons and Resources In youth ministry, few things take more time and energy than planning and creating your weekly lessons. Maybewhen you moved up to middle school you werent sure how the older students would treat you. This sermon will be made available for free as a Gospel Partner episode in 3 weeks. So, you can read one chapter a day and be done in a month! Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach. Promote a specific date and time where your small group will get together to participate in a service project, especially if it is something you can do for your church in the local community. While adults get all excited about the change in the calendar year, its the middle of the school year for students in your youth ministry. OPENING GAME: 3 BLIND MICE SUPPLIES 3 blindfolds Chairs Masking or gaff tape HOW TO PLAY THE GAME Set up 3 "paths" that each "mouse" will be walking down. God causes the sun to rise, tides to form, rainbows and flowers to burst forth. To accept the gospel is to accept that you cant measure up and its only through faith in Jesus that you can be saved. Occasionally, when things got bad, God would raise up people, called judges, to bring justice and deliver people from oppressors. I want to pay the price for their sin, because they cant pay this price on their own. I want all of these things to happen, but if there is any other way to make it happen any other way that doesnt mean I suffer the pain and shame of the cross lets do it that other way. First, before you can start down the path, you have to spin around in circles five times. Panelists talked about fear and worrythat churches and youth pastors aren't doing enough to hold on to teens and that young people are . . Lets read these verses and see what they have to do with following Jesus and that strange game we just played. What would he have to do to convince you? As she removed the helmet, harness, ropes, and clamps that secured her, Kaley shared another experience that has been intimidating for her. Jesus demonstrated this humility throughout His life. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." ( 1 Peter 2:9) To his credit, he realized that he was in over his head but unfortunately thats all he thought about. But, for you as students, this is more like what you experience in the fall when school starts. When he appeared in human form. It is an intentional part of building relationships and setting up your group to have a great discussion time! What kind of things would we do at your party? Lets look at one more verse: This verse is talking about everyone who is a Christian even those of you in junior high! ), Can you imagine being Philip? The Holy Spirit will lead you to what you should do. Fear shows distrust to Gods power or trustworthiness. Lets move into our small groups and help you figure out what your first step is this week. Or sometimes people use that effect in videos when they want to stop and ask, What did he just say?, Jesus had just given the disciples what seemed to them to be an impossible story problem. These students need a little fun to help them relax and transition into this small group time. Mike Sheley has been in full-time youth ministry for over 17 years and is currently the Middle School Pastor at Mount Pleasant Christian Church in Greenwood, Indiana. Israel, the people of God, were living in a wild west scenario without a real government. There are a bunch of slang terms that you use without thinking that I have to have translated. 8he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminals death on a cross. Trust Ladder. Ann Marie Chilton This is a tough question! The Bible says that God cannot lie. The third time it happens, you are caught and out of the game. The length of the path depends on how long you want this race to go. Philips reply in verse 7 shows how exasperated he is. You also act on obedience (doing what God says in His Word) and trust that He will ultimately take care of the rest. He will not see the good things in his life. Spend time exploring aspects of His trustworthiness in verses of Scripture. God is bigger than your circumstances. 7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. But if you tell others, it shows that you believe.. If you have a good story about a new years resolution you kept or epically failed, share it here. Next read 25:4-7. Seek Truth in Scripture. I want to set them free, and give them hope, and make it possible for them to reconnect with us. Kaley was one of 87 campers who attended Camp Daniel last year. Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. He said were supposed to be like salt and light. Just like the boy in the story, you might not feel like you have much to offer Jesus or that what you have to offer will make much of a difference. Anyone have an unusually funny story of a time you tried walking through the house when you werent really awake or just couldnt see because of the dark? Read Proverbs 3:5-6. We believe that God is the loving Father of all kids. ], Jesus is saying to God, Father, I understand what I am about to do. He wants to help you grow your faith. Check out These students need a little fun to help them relax and transition into this small group time. When you choose to follow Christ, there is a change that takes place. Acting on something you learned from the Bible recently. The object is to lift the pole/stick over their heads. Need a game that takes some time or is more challenging? Community reminds you that you are never alone, even in hard times. He is with you in difficulty. But those good times often get overshadowed by other more complicated things going on. As the seeing partner, You Decide what your partner should do, and they have to decide if they will listen to you or not. Faith is trusting in and relying on God in every situation that comes to you. Dont let your emotions rule your life; bring them to God so He can help you address them. We need you. ), We can sit here and talk about how God can use us . He does not always give you the big picture, but He will show you the next step. A friend or family member betrays you. Have mice pick their choice, get on the starting line, put on the blindfold, and then spin them around. And, if youre hoping to read your Bible more this year, this is a great book to try for a one-month challenge. God wants you to learn to trust him with every part of your life. Most of us understand what it means, but its hard to explain. And then, in what might have seemed like a punch-line to a joke, Jesus the disciples to pick up the leftovers! Use this object lesson to help students discover their inability to fix the problem of their own sin and teach on God's abundant grace. God created the world to display His glory. Whether were in the shallows or the deep end, were still over our head, but were not over the head of the Father. How do you think fear and anxiety can reveal how were focused on ourselves? It is designed for any elementary aged Sunday School class, but you could easily modify the content for children's church or other age groups. Get back with your first mandatory-fun-time group and answer this question: what are some areas in my life right now where I can demonstrate humility by trusting God more than I trust myself? The question becomes: Do I really trust that Gods way is best, and it will bring the most rich and satisfying life? It is HIS divine will that young people come to faith in Jesus Christ and find salvation through the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit to bring them to faith. The job is too big for us!, Who was Andrew? 5You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Your identity is no longer in how well you can do a job or how well you perform, but in how well Jesus has performed on your behalf. He is in all of it. Second, you must choose one of the following, but once you choose, you can not change your choice. in all your ways submit to Him, and He will direct your paths.". You wont do this perfectly, but God is kind and patient with you while you learn to trust Him. It is not pretending that everything is OK when it isnt. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. He reminds them that this life will have hardship and that our bodies will fail, but God is still working for our good. If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Its a collection of wise sayings, similar to what you might find in a fortune cookie at a Chinese Restaurant, but these were inspired by God. Here's a better idea: LESSON SCRIPT: When I say the word "trust" what comes to mind? He shows a different kind of pride thats the other side of the same coin. He is always with us and ready to help us when we have trouble. Remind them that God also wants us to trust him and follow his commandments. The Lord is walking with you every step of the way. Humility means trusting God more than you trust yourself. But those things alone are not reliable enough to base your life on. Download the full lesson and all of its resources here. Download the printable message script below and then watch the teaching example video as you prepare your message. What about older adults like grandparents? So, why doesnt God answer my prayers specifically? When Jesus was telling His followers that He was going to be killed, He knew that they would be worried. Feature Story. Creation is Gods gift to Himself, and creation is a gift that leads to celebration. But how does that help us today? Trust grows as you look for Gods presence in what feels dark and heavy. We want to seem like we have it all together and we fear that everyone will see that were just a failure. We are like a child held up in the water by their dad, who moves into the deep end. C.S. But living the life God has called us to means unlearning that lesson. He also wants you to come to Him simply to spend time with Him. (Because we all know that good food in a room of junior highers is near left over! Someone you know gets sick. I think thats a great question, and I think you can probably come up with some good answers, if you take the time to think about it. According to Mark 9, a man brought his son to Jesus for healing from being possessed by a demon. Saul may not have been over-confident in his ability but he is self-absorbed, which means his mind is fixed on thoughts of himself. Give each actor a Bible. You need a strong foundation of Scripture to stand on, especially when you feel uncertain. Be sure to have them put extras on plates next to leaders around the room that will be collected at the end as leftovers. A common struggle in difficult times is feelings of helplessness and worry about an unknown future. Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world. But when you think about it, a lot of the stuff we learn by reading about Jesus is confusing. Showing God in action in and through His people. Follow-up lesson: . He will always want more and more and always worried about everything. There are four books in the New Testament that describe Jesus life on earth. God will give David the strength that he needs to overcome his enemies, the hope to overcome his fears, and peace when he is troubled. Have you ever hadwhat seems to bea simple task, but it causes a bunch of anxiety? Or has anyone spentthe night at a friends house or at a hotel and woke up, not realizing where you were and have a hard time finding the bathroom or something similar? Example: Maybe God has given you an opportunity to share Jesus with someone. It will chase all of the other students around the play area. Or thinks theyre really smart or a great musician, when they arent. This new lesson from Daniel 6 allows students to see Daniel's consistent Godly character even in his old age. He is bigger than any of your circumstances. Materials needed. Your feelings and circumstances matter and are very much worth paying attention to. He is always working in your life and in the world. Probably all of us have woken up in the middle of the night and tripped on something or walked into something. You can get to know God through personal time with Him and through His Word. He shared this with a fellow believer as encouragement. He sees them when they are sad, hurt or afraid. In the face of those difficulties, God shares His will for you and how you should respond to them. Im a lot more thankful. When I think of people that show great strength in their lives, no one is stronger than Jesus. Joshua explained Daniels faithfulness and said, Through everything Daniel went through, like Job, Daniel didnt curse God. He is either being sarcastic or self-defeating. Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. . You live in a day and age where people feel very free and empowered to put words, images and videos out into the world via social media. How can choosing to trust and obey God lead to gratitude in your life. You worry because you just might be over your head in whatever task you have to do. We could easily get overwhelmed with all the instructions that Jesus has for us, especially those that are confusing. When they depend on God and do what he tells them to do, he will be faithful in guiding them. Thats humility, and thats why we trust God more than we trust ourselves. Here is a Sunday school lesson or Bible study on the subject of trust from the Bible. Saul, the king of their dreams, would eventually fail spectacularly, because of his pride. Find resources for personal or group Bible study. Fellow believers can remind you of Gods character through encouragement and accountability. His life illustrates a major theme in the books of Samuel is that God exalts the humble and brings low the proud. Props: 12 baskets and lots of Small paper fish. You should not let your circumstances shape your relationship with God. He gave them His Holy Spirit. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. He cared about other people. 6Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Age group: . This object lesson is one kids can . Do you see the connection with trusting God? 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