What do you see?
key words
biblical reference
Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:21-22; Ephesians 4:26; James 1:19-20
lesson objective
To help students learn to submit their thoughts to God and not to let violence guide them.
memory verse
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mark 12:30-31a, NIV*).
prepare yourself to teach
Much of the world reflects a culture of violence. It just takes a quick look around to see how many ways of communication we are bombarded with on a daily basis, including magazines, books, video games, television, theater, etc., making the viewing of violence something normal. By the time the one reaches the age of 18, they have been exposed to multitudes of real or enacted media deaths.
Because of this, it is easy to become accustomed to this life of violence. It is important that throughout this lesson your students learn to not let themselves be influenced by the enemy. Every day some are confronted with violence: in school, their neighborhood and maybe even in their home. Some students are bringing weapons into schools. Gangs are growing because more and more students are joining them. In some places one in every five families is subject to domestic violence.
One of the Ten Commandments, “Do not kill,” teaches us to value others. Jesus extended this rule to show his followers the relationship between hatred and homicide. The students need to learn to control their anger before it becomes violence.
biblical commentary
Read Exodus 20:13. Life is a gift that God gives us. Because of that, taking it away from someone is like taking God’s place. The Lord gave his people a specific commandment to not murder.
Read Ephesians 4:26. In this passage, Paul tells us that it is better to resolve problems before the sun sets. It is not as easy as it sounds, but we should try to not go to bed angry if we do, this allows anger to stick around in our heart and it could turn into bitterness and resentment.
Read James 1:19-20. This passage contains advice on how to avoid problems that stem from annoyance and anger. It tells us that we should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. Our students will learn that violence produces more violence.
Pray that God directs the lives of our students and helps them avoid a life of violence.
introduce the lesson
My favorite television shows
Have the students look at Student Activity Sheet #318-A and give them time to write down their five favorite television shows, movies or video games. Then, have a few students tell the class what they wrote.
Tell them, “If we look around us we can find violence in almost every place, including books, television shows, movies and video games. What is violence?” Have them define violence.
Then ask them to classify each program, movie or game in the scale of violence found on the bottom of the page.
Talk about the results of the evaluation. How many television programs do not show violence? How many have a high violence content? Pay special attention to the programs that are at 2-3 points.
Ask them, “Why do you think that so many of our favorite books, television shows, movies and video games are so violent?” Listen to their answers and have a polite conversation.
To conclude this activity, tell them, “Violence and anger seem very common in our time. Today we’ll study what the Bible says about that.”
teach the lesson
Ask the students to pretend that they are in a city called “Megatropolis”, but since it is new, there are no rules. Each one should participate by adding a rule to the city.
Record all the rules and explain to them that these rules are important so we can live in harmony and have respect for each other.
Since the beginning of creation, God knew that it was essential to control humans’ feelings. Because of that, in his Word, he provides rules to help his people keep their feelings and emotions under control.
Divide into three smaller groups and assign the following questions:
Group 1: Read Exodus 20:13.
1. What is murder?
2. Why do you think God established a command against murder?
Group 2: Read Matthew 5:21-22.
1. Who deserves to be judged?
2. Why did Jesus say that anger deserves judgment?
Group 3: Read James 1:19-20.
1. Why did James warn Christians to avoid anger?
2. What does James suggest that we do?
Tell the group to answer the questions, based on the suggested biblical passage.
After each group has finished, let a volunteer from each team read the portion of Scripture that was assigned to them and give the answers that they found.
Explain to them that God wants us to stay far away from violence. That is why it is important to be careful what programs we watch or learn from our friends, and submit to the biblical principles that help us live better.
connect the lesson
Do not get angry!
For this activity, you will need sheets of paper and pencils. Distribute the materials to the students and ask them to fold their paper in half (or draw a line down the middle separating the sides). In the first part, they should write specific situations that make them angry. (People not paying attention to them, no time to play, not getting what I want, etc.)
In the second part, they should write some suggestions on how to resolve the situation and control their anger.
Allow a few students to give their responses. Challenge the students to look to God for guidance on what to do so that anger does not control their emotions and actions.
Laws against violence
See Student Activity Sheet #318-B and guide the students in developing one or more laws against violence.
PRACTICE THE MEMORY VERSE
Prior to the session, write the words to the Bible memory verse on heart-shaped cards: "Love - the - Lord - your - God - with - all - your - heart - and - with - all - your - soul - and - with - all - your - mind - and - with - all - your - strength. - The - second - is - this: - 'Love - your - neighbor - as - yourself'" - (Mark 12:30-31). Hide the cards throughout the meeting area. At the appropriate time, tell the group the memory verse, and inform them that they will need to find the heart-shaped cards to practice the memory verse toady. As they find the cards, have them assemble the verse on a table. Say the verse together several times during this activity. Keep the cards to use again in the next session.
wrap-up
Pray
Pray by giving thanks to God for his teachings today, and ask that he helps protect our eyes from everything that promotes violence and anger.
Encourage
As the group to share some of the ways they are respecting and obeying their parents or guardians. Encourage the students to live according to all of the 10 Commandments.
Invite
Tell the group that the next session is about “I’m Special”, and it is something very important. Dismiss them with a praise song. If possible, call them or visit them during the week to encourage them.
* Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™