This lesson seeks to help students understand importance of not forgetting and following through with this “Experiment” experience.
Icebreaker:
This might be an opportunity for you to share a little bit about yourself and have students hear about something that’s important to you in your life. If you so desire, bring something that has been a reminder to you of something special (ex: a foul ball you caught at a baseball game, a seashell you found at the beach on a family reunion, a bookmark you got at church camp…whatever). Say…
Transition:
“This little piece of memorabilia is a reminder to me of something very special in my life. I keep this [object] to make sure that I don’t forget that very special experience. In The Bible, there is a similar story about a man named Samuel. He kept something to remind him of something very special that happened to him and Someone very special (God) who was with him.”
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 7:12 (Today’s New International Version)
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, [which means], “Thus far has the LORD helped us.” — What is an “Ebenezer Stone” in your life that serves a reminder of God’s faithfulness and help?
— What is something that you will take away from the things you have experienced over the last six weeks that can serve as a reminder to you?
Transition:
“When Jesus spoke to the disciples at the very end of their earthly journey together, he told them to remember all that he had shown them and taught them, and to go into the world and do what he did, say what he said, and live like he lived. Listen…”
Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:16-20 (Today’s New International Version)
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Discussion Questions:
- What is something that you have learned from Jesus’ life and teaching that has particularly spoken to you over the last six weeks?
- What do you think are some of the most important things for you to remember about what we’ve discussed about following Jesus?
- What changes have taken place (or would you like to take place) in your life as a result of this experiment in following Jesus?
Real Life Application:
So now that you are being sent out into the world to follow Jesus’ example in our own lives, what would Jesus do for…
- The “weird” kid in your class that everyone else ignores? Your friend who isn’t a Christian – and plainly doesn’t want to be?
- Your “annoying” brother or sister? Your worst enemy at school? Your next-door neighbor? The biggest “troublemaker” in your neighborhood? — The person you know who recently experienced a tragedy?
- The people in your community’s nursing home? The people in your community without food, clothes, jobs, or other resources?
Accountability:
“How are we doing this week with our 3 simple guides?” [1 Thessalonians 5:16-22] — “Doing No Harm, Doing Good, and Staying In Love With God”