THE BEST BOOK IN THE WOLRD
memory verse for this unit
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, NIV*).
objectives of this unit
This unit will help your preadolescents:• Understand that the Bible is different than any other book because it was inspired by God and understand how God inspired it• Understand that the Word of God shows us who God is and what he’s like and understand what God expects from them• Know that the Bible tells us about Jesus, who came to show us the love of God• Know that it is their personal responsibility to learn the Word of God and obey it.
the reason we teach this unit
Please allow adequate time as you prepare for each of your sessions. Nazarene Discipleship International (NDI) desires these children's discipleship lessons to both engage the teacher in personal discipleship as well as to be children's disciple makers. The pre-adolescent and early adolescent age is an age of discovery. Our pre-adolescents and early adolescents want to express their ideas. They are physically and mentally “mature” enough. They enjoy doing new activities. They enjoy discussions that require complete answers. They do not like “yes” and “no” answers anymore. They enjoy working as a team. They enjoy listening to stories, especially stories about Jesus. As a teacher, encourage them to daily discover their life in Christ. Challenge them to do God’s will. When considering the characteristics of the development stage of your students, we include some tips to improve the dynamics of your group. Inspire your students with the stories of heroes of the Bible. Take the opportunity to teach them to memorize the Word of God, songs, and inspiring stories. Ask for their participation in the search of biblical passages, preparation for the sessions, telling the Bible stories, doing dramas, looking for maps, doing puzzles, writing on the board or making posters about the lesson. Encourage them to participate with questions and answers to their group members. Encourage them to imitate the positive aspects of the biblical characters. It is an excellent time for them to form good habits such as daily reading of the Bible, prayer, attending church, giving their tithes, talking to others about Jesus. Some of them do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We must offer opportunities for them to accept him.
For those of this age who are growing as disciples of Jesus, we need to enable them to help others to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. They can also understand God's mission and become disciple makers. Do extracurricular activities (as much as you are able). Lessons are not only taught or learned in the meeting area. Always ask for the help of other Christlike adults. As we grow and learn, we begin to fully understand and obey God's mission for his disciples to go and reach out to unbelievers with God's love. Our story-centered methods of teaching the Bible provide a solid foundation for enabling these young disciples to learn the Bible and pass its message to their circles of influence. With the Psalmist we may ponder: "How can young people keep their way pure?" Let's help our children be able to respond to God: "By living according to your Word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:9-11). When we allow the Word of God to transform us, we are modeling to others the importance of learning God's Word. May many others be able to say with us: "You are my portion, O LORD, I have promised to obey your words" (Psalm 119:57).
* 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.™