Bible Studies for Life: Students - Info Guide

students

students

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

SESSION

1

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL WELCOME IN A NEW PLACE?

FACT: RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME IN A NEW SITUATION, WHETHER THEY’RE WALKING INTO A RESTAURANT, STORE, NEW SCHOOL, OR VISITING YOUR CHURCH, IS SIMPLY TO SMILE.1

REALITY CHECK

POINT

Many people who aren’t a part of the church have preconceived notions about what the church is. Some think we’re stuffy and legalistic, but many have heard that Jesus is a friend to sinners, that God loves the world, and that the people in church are kind and generous. Scripture calls God’s people to reflect Him, and we should therefore be the most loving people on the planet. However, when people enter our churches, what they find is often inconsistent with what God has called His people to be.

We might think we are welcoming, yet the reality can be entirely different. To ensure we are a welcoming church, let’s go back to the beginning. We welcome others because of the gospel.

OUR LIVES SHOULD SERVE TO WELCOME OTHERS INTO THE CHURCH.

THE

The summer before seventh grade, I was a nervous mess. I was entering junior high, and I’d heard from my older friends how difficult things would be. The subjects were a lot tougher, the teachers a lot meaner, and I’d be changing classes every period for the first time. There wasn’t enough time to make it from class to class, and as tardies accumulated, there were some pretty harsh consequences. Or so they said. However, it only took about two days to figure out that things weren’t nearly as bad as my friends had said.

TITUS 3:8

TITUS 3:9-11

3 What are some examples of good works

6 How might divisive people effect a

4 How have you seen good works really make

7 What are some ideas you’re tempted to

5 What’s the difference in being saved by good

8 What steps can we take to redirect debates

you’ve seen or experienced?

a difference?

TITUS 3:3-11

This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.

8

3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,

he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

5

church’s efforts?

debate or argue about?

TITUS 3:3-7

1 How have you personally experienced the kindness of God?

9 But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless.

works and devoting ourselves to good works?

Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning.

toward kingdom-focused conversations?

10

2 What elements of the gospel are present in these verses?

For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.

11

He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 6

When we don’t feel like giving up our comforts to reach out to others, remember that Jesus left heaven to reach out to us. #BSFLWelcomeHome

7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

6

BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

THE POINT

SESSION 1

BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

OUR LIVES SHOULD SERVE TO WELCOME OTHERS INTO THE CHURCH.

5

LIVE IT OUT

COMMUNITY The church is a community of believers united for the sake of demonstrating God’s goodness on earth.

11

CHRIST

What room for improvement do you see in your life or in your church to help make this a reality? (Make sure not to complain; talk with your leader about more serious issues.)

Living in light of the gospel means: Loving Jesus more and more each day Living in a way that reflects Jesus’ character

9 Briefly note a few ways you’ve experienced Jesus this week that have caused you to grow in loving Him.

EXPERIENCE #1

EXPERIENCE #2

EXPERIENCE #3

12 What steps will you take to grow where you see weaknesses?

CULTURE 13 How do you think it impacts your unbelieving friends when they hear of arguing in the church?

10 How will you use these experiences to better reflect Jesus this week?

14 How will you pursue unity with your church family for the sake of impacting your friends who aren’t involved in church?

8

SESSION 1

THE POINT

OUR LIVES SHOULD SERVE TO WELCOME OTHERS INTO THE CHURCH.

ENGAGE (15 MINUTES)

SESSION

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL WELCOME IN A NEW PLACE?

1

REALITY CHECK

THE POINT

OUR LIVES SHOULD SERVE TO WELCOME OTHERS INTO THE CHURCH.

LEAD OPTION 1

Tell students to break into groups of three. Within their groups, ask each student come up with three people not attending church, and together discuss ways they can love those people and draw them into the church. Say, “People feel welcomed to the church when they see believers living like Jesus.”

LEAD OPTION 2

Ask the students to enter the room without speaking and to sit far away from each other. Say, “It’s difficult to appreciate a church that doesn’t love people well. If we want people to be welcomed into the church, we should demonstrate love on a daily basis.”

THE

POINT

OUR LIVES SHOULD SERVE TO WELCOME OTHERS INTO THE CHURCH.

TITUS 3:3-11 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,

he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

5

BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

9 But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless.

10

LEAD OPTION 3

Search the Internet for “Church Hunters: Episode 1.” Play the video as you begin the session. Say, “We should seek to welcome others into the church by reflecting Jesus with our lives.”

NOTE: Always make sure you preview any video clip you show students and ensure that it is appropriate for your church and ministry.

For free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/ web/BibleStudiesForLife For free Midweek Options for your group, visit lifeway.com/BSFLWelcome18

LEADER PACK ELEMENTS If you have the optional Leader Pack, consider one of the following: ITEM 1: Introduce students to the unit by displaying the Unit 1 Welcome Home poster.

Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning.

For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.

11

6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

8 This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.

4 SESSION 1

BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 5

9

7

HELP STUDENTS CONNECT GOD’S WORD TO THEIR LIVES IN AN INTENTIONAL WAY.

HOW WILL THIS HELP? 1. God’s Word • Each session will view God’s Word through the lens of life circumstances that students face on a daily basis.

• Shows students how God’s Word applies to their everyday lives by connecting Scripture and reallife examples together.

2. Our Lives • Students who use Bible Studies for Life will find themselves growing closer to God and closer in community with each other.

• NEW Daily Discipleship Guide increases participation during group time and provides students with five daily devotionals during the week.

• Each session is rooted in real-life circumstances, so that the Christian can see that theology and application are connected together.

• Find a Cultural Connection in every session to better connect God’s Word to their lives right now.

3. Intentional Way • Discipleship doesn’t happen by accident. We grow in Christ as we intentionally embrace the work of the Holy Spirit.

• Weekly Bible reading plan gives students an intentional plan for engaging God’s Word daily.

• Challenges students to apply God’s Word to their lives personally, as a group, and to their everyday lives.

HOW IT WORKS 1. Clear Every session begins by connecting students through compelling biblical engagement, relevant teaching, and a visual design.

• A clean and compelling design engages students visually throughout each session.

• Every session begins by connecting God’s Word to real-life situations that are relevant to students’ lives.

• Clean design makes it easy to see the important content.

2. Interactive Each session uses interactivity, discussion, and reflection to connect God’s Word to students’ lives.

• Concise teaching makes biblical teaching clear and easy to understand.

• Creative interactivity with Scripture places emphasis on personal engagement with the text.

• Compelling group questions create discussion at a level that any group member can engage with.

• Reflective interactivity challenges students to see their faith practically while laying a biblical foundation in their lives.

3. Intentional Every session is designed to make an impact in students’ lives to equip them to impact their culture.

• Cultural action points place the lens of God’s Word on relevant issues and events happening every day.

• A full page of application-based interactivity.

• Live It Out section challenges students to apply God’s Word to their lives personally, in community, and to the world around them.

• Weekly reading plan for students connects the session material to help them apply God’s Word in an intentional way.

TO VIEW THE THREE-YEAR STUDY PLAN, VISIT

BIBLESTUDIESFORLIFE.COM/STUDENTS

STUDENT PRODUCTS LEADER GUIDE Purchase one per group leader for Bible commentary, leadership tips, engagement options, and online resources.

The Leader Guide equips leaders to spend less time searching for resources, and more time ministering to students. Order one per leader.

WELCOME HOME

HOW TO PRAY LEADER GUIDE

FALL 2018

DAILY DISCIPLESHIP GUIDE Purchase one per student to help them engage.

The Personal Study Guide drives students to focus on, interact with, and apply God’s Word in every session. Order one per student.

WELCOME HOME

HOW TO PRAY DAILY DISCIPLESHIP GUIDE

FALL 2018

LEADER PACK ONE CONVERSATION™

Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: How did we get here? Some people wrongly assume this question only has two views: either science has the answer in evolution or religion has the answer in faith. Many scientists, however, hold to neither evolution nor a specific faith, but they contend there was an Intelligent Designer. Intelligent design doesn’t tell us much; INT:it just presents a stronger argument POThe than the random, purposelessness found in evolution. irit goes beyond talking about an THE ly SpBible Ho of us intelligent designer; it gives us a picture of the character thetoCreator.

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2 Unit

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Help leaders prepare, present, and support the group study each week. Details on how each item enhances the group experience are included in the student Leader Guide. Order one per group.

•A DVD-ROM with 3-to-5 minute videos to introduce and illustrate the point for each session throughout the quarter.

• I llustrative posters to illustrate, inform, or create interactive opportunities within sessions to help engage students.

•P owerPoint® templates to help in presenting the sessions and a variety of posters and visual aids.

•A PDF of the Live It Out points and One Conversation™ for each session.