Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Andrew Hedges has been engaging students for more than a decade. He holds a B.A. in Christian Education from Cedarville University and a M.Div. from Columbia International University and has focused his efforts on family and intergenerational ministry. When he's not serving families near Dayton, Ohio, Andrew spends time loving on his little girls or sitting down with a cup of coffee and sharing life with his sweetheart.

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As a youth worker you have certainly spent much of your time addressing the current issues facing teens, but have you stopped to think about what may be behind students' behavior? Many of the not-so-wise choices students make are the result of a confused worldview that comes from uncertainty about who God is. It's easy for students to dismiss the truth when they learn from the world that all truth is relative.
Creative Bible Lessons: Essential Theology uses a conversational approach to give students a theological foundation to better understand God and his purpose for how to live their lives. Throughout the twelve sessions of this study students will--
• learn how creation provides evidence of God's existence.
• look at how God has chosen to reveal himself through his Word.
• learn to live lives that reflect God's love for them.
• understand their need for God's direction.
• commit to following God's will as they make life decisions.
• discover how God's invitation to enter his kingdom affects the direction of their lives.
• examine where they are with God on a personal level.
Following in the tradition of the bestselling Creative Bible Lessons series, you'll find audio, visual, and hands-on activities to engage your students in the pursuit of theology. And because every student learns differently, each lesson includes options to help you reach your particular group of students, whether they learn best from imaginative, analytic, common sense, or dynamic teaching styles. With all these tools at your disposal you are guaranteed to get your students fired-up for seeking God and his plan for them.

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Creative Bible Lessons in Essential Theology

Zondervan

Contents

PREFACE......................................................5INTRODUCTION.................................................9SESSION 1 WHY YOU SHOULDN'T GO TO CHURCH.....................15SESSION 2 IF ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER ...........................25SESSION 3 THE ALMIGHTY ... REVEALED!.........................35SESSION 4 DESCRIBING THE INVISIBLE...........................45SESSION 5 THREE IN ONE.......................................57SESSION 6 NATURALLY SPEAKING.................................67SESSION 7 IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE................................77SESSION 8 WHAT'S IN A NAME?..................................89SESSION 9 WHO'S IN CONTROL?..................................101SESSION 10 GOD'S MYSTERIOUS WILL.............................111SESSION 11 KINGDOM LIFE......................................121SESSION 12 KNOWING YOUR FATHER...............................131

Chapter One

OVERVIEW

This lesson is designed to provide students with a foundation for the knowledge and study of God. Students will discover proofs of the existence of God, understand how they can know God, and increase their belief in the possibility of God.

SETTING THE TONE

Students receive a wealth of information regarding the existence or nonexistence of God. Their friends come from various religious or nonreligious backgrounds. Their teachers share varying views of God in virtually any subject, especially in consideration of science, history, and literature. It's become apparent that the church should be more involved in teaching students what God has revealed about himself in Scripture.

Students desire to learn more about God-in spite of their initial responses. They long for purpose and meaning in their lives, too; yet they also want strong evidence upon which to stand. In these first three sessions, students who may not believe in God may be brought from a place of not knowing to an understanding of how they might begin to know God. This first session is just the beginning of a more logical development of the concept of God and personal faith. The ultimate desire is that students will come away with an understanding that there's only one true and living God (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 4:10) and that they can know him personally.

BREAKING THE ICE (7-8 MINUTES)

OPTION 1: DOES GOD EXIST?

Begin by saying something like-

If there were no God, would you have a reason to come to church? Of course not! Beyond a chance to see friends or a fun experience, church would be pointless if God didn't exist. But how can you know something exists if you can't see it?

Or grab students' attention from the start by playing the video "Does God Exist?" (You can find this and many other illustrations, including others used throughout this book, at www.highwayvideo.com.)

QUESTIONS TO ASK

1. How do most people feel when they're asked about God? What do they do or say?

2. What are some ways through which people believe they can know about God?

3. How can you know God exists?

OPTION 2: THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION

Begin by saying something like-

If there were no God, would you have a reason to come to church? Of course not! Beyond a chance to see friends or a fun experience, church would be pointless if God didn't exist. But how can you know something exists if you can't see it?

At this point hand each student a Super Ball. When everyone has one, tell the students to drop their Super Balls but not to catch them. When the balls settle, ask the students what they observed. They'll probably discuss how the balls kept hitting the ground. Ask them why. The logical response will deal with gravity.

QUESTIONS TO ASK

1. Can you see gravity?

2. How can you know it exists? (Note: Answers will have something to do with seeing the effects of gravity.)

3. Can we see God?

4. How can we know God exists?

TRANSITIONAL TRUTH

Though we can't see God with our eyes, we can see the effects and proofs of God's existence all around us. Just as a Super Ball will continue to return to the earth and settle, we should have a similar response to growing in the faith and knowledge of God. God has chosen to reveal himself to us-now the response rests with us. Deuteronomy 4:29 states, "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." For our time together, let's remain open to the possibility of the existence of God.

There are two presupposed truths that we need to accept by faith. This might sound a bit "out there," but think about your life for a moment. You exist. There was a beginning to you-and to all life. There's no way for you to scientifically prove the origin of life because pure science is confined to what one can observe in a controlled setting, including time. Since we can't repeat the experience, we can only create a theory about the origins of life. So regardless of how you think life began, you accept it by faith and probably based upon the information you've seen that would point to the origin.

With that said, let me ask you to suppose two things are true-just as you would with any other scientific theory in order to test it. Both ideas are found in Genesis 1:1-"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." In other words, (1) God is, and (2) God acts. The two go hand in hand. We couldn't know God exists if he never acted, especially since we can't see God.

We looked at this at the beginning of the lesson, but let's take a closer look at the proofs of God's existence.

SHARING YOUR PERSPECTIVE (8-10 MINUTES)

YOU ANSWER YOUR QUESTION

Begin by saying something like-

God's first recorded act-creation-provides a wealth of visible proof of his existence.

Then play "3D Animation of the Human Body" (which is downloadable from YouTube). (Note: This is just one of several pretty cool 3D animations available on that Web site. There are also some extremely eye-opening comments posted about this and the other videos that may help you formulate how you might respond to your students' comments regarding what they see and hear during this session.)

If a video isn't available, consider using a diagram of the human body from a student's health or science textbook or from a similar resource in your local library.

QUESTIONS TO ASK

1. What evidence is there that the world came together by chance?

2. What evidence is there that the world was created by an Architect or Designer?

3. Which theory do you think is more logical? Why?

TRANSITIONAL TRUTH

Psalm 19:1 states, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Romans 1:20 follows up on that thought with, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." The Bible says creation provides a logical, visible proof of the existence of God.

Just because God exists doesn't necessarily mean we can know God, though. We can know someone built the building we're in right now, but that doesn't mean we'll ever know that individual personally. Job 11:7 states, "Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" We can learn quite a bit about something if we can compare it to something similar. However, Isaiah 40:18 says, "With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him?"

How then can we know God?

David, who was called a man after God's own heart, even proclaimed, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain" (Psalm 139:6). But don't get up and leave just yet. Remember Deuteronomy 4:29-"But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul." So let's just consider how we get to know people in everyday life.

HEARING THE WORD (10-12 MINUTES)

OPTION 1: THE SILENT 20

Begin by asking how we can get to know a person. Answers may include talking with someone, learning about a person from someone else, or observing someone. Then ask which way would be the best way. Most will agree that the best way is to get the information straight from the person you're getting to know.

At this point have the students get into pairs, preferably with someone they don't know well. Have them spend five to seven minutes interviewing each other, but have them do so using only gestures and miming. When they're finished, ask the following questions:

QUESTIONS TO ASK

1. What did you learn about the other person?

2. What questions did you ask?

3. How can you apply the way you learned about your partner to how you might begin to learn about God?

OPTION 2: STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE

Have the students get into smaller groups. Hand each group a copy of the Straight from the Source worksheet found at the end of this lesson and give them time to answer the questions. You may want to assign just one or two questions to each group to allow them time to be more thorough in their answers. When most have finished, ask each group to share their answers with the rest of the students.

TRANSITIONAL TRUTH

In order to truly know God, we must believe that God really does exist and reveals himself to us. Without this faith, there'd be no need to even attempt to get to know God. If God doesn't exist and act, then church is only a social club or a feel-good activity. But if we accept by faith that he does exist and act-even as we accept the fact that gravity exists-then we can begin our search into the depths of God.

MAKING IT PERSONAL (5-7 MINUTES)

TWENTY MORE

Say something like-

Just as a game of 20 questions can help us get to know members of the group, we can use a similar idea to get to know God.

At this point pass out index cards and pencils and encourage students to come up with at least one question about God that they'd like to have answered at some point during the rest of the study. Pass around a hat or bowl to collect the questions, and then take time to read them aloud to the group. If possible, let them know when you'll answer their questions. And if some of their questions aren't answered specifically through your study, make sure to take time to research and provide the answers at an appropriate time. Let students know you'll discuss and attempt to answer all of their questions. Remember, it's okay to tell your students you don't know the answer to their great question, but you'll do your best to find the answer and get back to them.

BRINGING IT TOGETHER

Finish things up by saying-

As you see who your parents are or how they respond in everyday situations, you may choose to be like them. You may even find yourself acting like them simply as a result of their daily influence on your life. You'll also choose how to deal with those aspects of your parents that you don't like or don't agree with. If we want to know more about ourselves, then we'd be wise to get to know our parents better. And the same thing is true with God. In his book Our God is Awesome, Tony Evans states, "Knowing who He is defines who we are." Let's take some time to ask God to guide us and help us as we continue our search.

SESSION 1: WHY YOU SHOULDN'T GO TO CHURCH

STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE SMALL-GROUP WORKSHEET

1. If we can't see God, how can we know about him? (John 1:1-18)

2. How can we receive knowledge of God? (Romans 16:25-26)

3. How well can we know God? (1 Corinthians 2:1-16)

4. Who is the Source of information about God? (Ephesians 1:15-23)

5. What's the benefit of knowing God?

SESSION 1: WHY YOU SHOULDN'T GO TO CHURCH

STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE LEADER'S SMALL-GROUP WORKSHEET

1. If we can't see God, how can we know about him? (John 1:1-18) Ultimately, we can only know God if he reveals himself to us. This passage speaks of knowing God through both the Law and through the coming of Jesus.

2. How can we receive knowledge of God? (Romans 16:25-26) If they didn't catch it from the details before, this passage tells us we can only know God as he has determined to reveal himself to us. This is the key to knowing God-revelation.

3. How well can we know God? (1 Corinthians 2:1-16) While some debate whether we know God "absolutely" or "certainly," the fact remains that we can know God as well as the Holy Spirit opens our minds and hearts to know. We're all sinful and can't expect a clear understanding of the perfect apart from the work and revelation of God through the Holy Spirit, who guides our hearts and minds.

4. Who is the Source of information about God? (Ephesians 1:15-23) The key is in verse 17-"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." All information about God comes from God himself.

5. What's the benefit of knowing God? This is open for all sorts of responses. Take note of where your students are and seek to meet them there throughout this study.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Creative Bible Lessons in Essential Theologyby Andrew A. Hedges Copyright © 2009 by Andrew Hedges. Excerpted by permission.
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