http://www.standardpub.com/Content/Site130/FilesSamples/40793pdf_00000005693

Volume 2, Number 3

TEACHER edition

A Preteen Curriculum

CD e! insigd s by Son y Yanc

 A Study in Faith Basics  A Study of Worship  A Study in How to Understand My Bible Large Group/Small Group easy to use connects preteens to god’s word 85040 SS7TBcover-SR.indd 1

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Volume 2, Number 3

A Preteen Curriculum

Inside 1 Preteens Don’t Quite Fit!

2 Check Out These SuperStart! Values 3 What’s Up with Amazing Illusions 101?

4 How to Use This Curriculum 6 Guide to Small Groups 8 Pre-Start Activities 10 The SuperStart! Web Site Is More Than Super!

11 Unit 1—The Ten Commandments and John 15: A Study in Faith Basics (Deuteronomy 5; John 15:1-17) Overview and Extra-Time Activities

13 19 25 31

What Do Christians Do? Lesson 1: Love God Lesson 2: Love others Lesson 3: Stay connected to God Lesson 4: Bear fruit

Note: If you need ideas for an extra lesson, go to www.superstartpreteen.com.

37 Unit 2—Romans 12: A Study of Worship Overview and Extra-Time Activities

39 45 51

ow Do I Worship with My Life?

H Lesson 5: Live rightly Lesson 6: Don’t conform to the world Lesson 7: Don’t think of yourself more highly than you should 57 Lesson 8: Use your gifts well 63 Lesson 9: Love all others 69 Unit 3—Proverbs: A Study in How to Understand My Bible Overview and Extra-Time Activities How Does the Bible Relate to My Life?

71 Lesson 10: The Bible tells us how to do what is right 77 Lesson 11: The Bible tells us how to choose good friends 83 Lesson 12: The Bible tells us how to be wise 89 Lesson 13: The Bible tells us how to avoid mistakes

95 Building a Preteen Culture

The CD on the inside back cover includes worship songs by Yancy and printable files.

Editorial team: Heather Dunn, Eric Epperson, Ruth Frederick, Elaina Meyers, Lu Ann Nickelson, Patrick Snow.

Designers: Jenette McEntire, Scott Ryan. Production: Creative Services.

SuperStart! A Preteen Curriculum (Volume 2, Number 3) is published quarterly by Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, Ohio, www.standardpub.com. SuperStart! is a registered trademark of Christ In Youth and is used with permission. Copyright © 2009 by Standard Publishing. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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Ministry to Preteens

Preteens don’t quite fit!

Preteens are no longer fully engaged by methods that are effective for middle elementary students, but they are not quite ready for full-blown teen programming either. What do you do with preteens?

Preteens describe students who are in their last two years before going into junior high (4th/5th grade, or 5th/6th grade). Preteens are in a transitional period of development. Physically, preteens are developing at different rates and often feel awkward because of that. Intellectually, preteens are beginning to understand abstract and symbolic thinking. Emotionally, preteens crave and respect empowerment from adults. They desire to have their opinions heard and respected. Socially, preteens are highly sensitive to peer pressure.

Spiritually, preteens can understand parables and Bible word pictures.

They are receptive to God’s offer of salvation, and they need caring, consistent adult role models to disciple them and help them grow in their faith. Preteens don’t want to just be entertained; they are interested in service and mission. They want to experience God, not just talk about Him. They are looking for ways to express their spirituality.

SuperStart! A Preteen Curriculum is designed to help you intentionally minister to preteens. Help prepare them for all the things they’ll face once they leave the relative safety of childhood and enter the world of teens. May God bless you as you partner with parents to help preteens get a super start to their relationships with Jesus and in living the rest of their lives for Him!

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Check Out These SuperStart Values SuperStart! began a few years ago as two-day events created by Christ In Youth for preteens.

SuperStart! events continue to provide ageappropriate worship, relevant Bible teaching, small-group sessions, and fun! These same values now make up this exciting SuperStart! curriculum, a joint effort between Christ In Youth and Standard Publishing. See the SuperStart! DVD for a welcome from Patrick Snow, Director of CIY’s SuperStart! events. You’ll also want to check out www.ciy.com/superstart for info about SuperStart! events. But don’t worry if you and your preteens have never attended a SuperStart! event. You can still use this curriculum!

Biblical Focus Students will spend more time on fewer Scriptures—going deep into God’s Word.

Preteens will internalize God’s Word so it sticks with them.

Relevant to Preteens Preteens need high energy, lots of variety, and multiple learning approaches. They need to see—and more importantly, experience—how every lesson is important to their lives right now.

That’s why there’s one big question in each unit.

Students dive into the Scriptures to explore different aspects of the big question each session.

Lasting Relationships Small groups allow students to build relationships with each other, a significant

adult (or teen), and most importantly, with Jesus. As students go deep into God’s Word and have fun together, their faith and relationships with Jesus develop and grow to last a life time.

Life Application Each week preteens give ideas of how to live out the life application—then they are challenged to do it! Fun activities and reminders help preteens get into the habit of living what they’re learning.

Fun Preteens still love to play, experiment, and be surprised. Give your preteens cool experiences—ones they’ll want to talk about with their friends and bring their friends to. The Pre-Start Activities are fun, not to mention the video clips, Countdowns, and Q&A segments. The preteen section of the Web site adds excitement too!

Parent Involvement You’ll be so much more effective when parents are on board. You’ll want to log on to www.superstartpreteen.com to download monthly parent newsletters to inform and encourage them and have their support.

Worship The prayer times and the worship songs on the CD will help preteens worship God and express their spirituality.

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What’s Up With

?

Every quarter of SuperStart! curriculum has a new theme. This quarter it’s Amazing Illusions 101. Patrick, Samantha, and Eric visit The Amazing Kent’s Illusion Study to learn how to do illusions. Kent is a great teacher and even arranges for an audience to watch them perform their illusions. As the cast learns how to do illusions and gets themselves into some wacky situations, students will not only laugh, but will think about their own lives and learn a lot too.

Students will get to know:

patrick

Amateur Illusionist

Patrick arranges for Samantha, Eric, and himself to visit The Amazing Kent’s Illusion Study. While there, Patrick tries to keep peace between Eric and Samantha, but it’s a big job. Patrick encourages Eric and Samantha to quit arguing and learn from Kent.

Amateur Illusionist

eric

Eric is eager to learn how to do illusions—he wants to turn Samantha into a rabbit. Eric has some crazy thoughts. He thinks he can do illusions without Kent’s help and thinks he will be a great illusionist if he just looks like The Amazing Kent.

samantha

Amateur Illusionist

Samantha is excited to learn how to do illusions, especially how to make Eric disappear. When only Samantha gets an illusion right, she does a victory dance and is anything but humble. Along with Eric, Samantha is nervous about performing in front of an audience.

The Amazing Master Illusionist

Kent

Kent finds out that teaching illusions to Patrick, Samantha, and Eric is challenging. Kent comes up with two rules: Patrick has to be with Eric and Samantha at all times and they can’t pick up any of the illusion props until they have been trained how to use them.

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How to Use This Curriculum Gather the preteens in your church, add at least one large-group leader, add one small-group leader for every six to eight preteens, and you’re ready for SuperStart! Pray that God will guide you as you help preteens get a super start to their relationships with Jesus. The following lists the components and how to use them. But only you know what works with your preteens, your timeframe, and your facilities.

Read the CD printable file “You Can Customize This Curriculum” to get some ideas about how you can use this curriculum in ways that best fit your ministry with preteens.

The teacher guide includes 13 lessons divided into 3 units.

One Big Question and one Scripture Memory per unit help students go deep into God’s Word.

Choose which Extra-Time Activities to offer.

Lessons aren’t dated; use them when they best fit your situation.

The CD has worship songs and printable files (posters, Challenge cards, articles, graphics).

Choose which Pre-Start Activities to offer.

Large group Small group If you have more or less than an hour, choose what works best for your situation.

Words in bold are for teachers to say.

Words in italics are possible student responses.

The DVD includes video clips and fun Q&A segments for each lesson, Meet the Cast, Countdowns, and an Intro Loop.

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There are a few pages students take home during the quarter, including lifeapplication tear-outs.

The magazine is used in each small-group time.

It’s a magazine, so most pages don’t tear out for preteens to take home each week.

Every student will want one to take home at the end of the quarter.

It’s not the typical student activity book!

Check out more great stuff at www.superstartpreteen.com.

See page 10 for details.

Real-life preteen interviews will challenge students.

Gives ideas for fun family projects.

How to Use the SuperStart! DVD Play the Meet the Cast segment on the DVD to introduce the Amazing Illusions cast to your students.

You’ll want to show this segment the first couple weeks and then play it whenever you need to help new students get to know the cast. Play the Amazing Illusions Lesson Clips each week so students can step into the Illusion Study and watch all the action. The Lesson Clips correlate with and introduce each week’s focus. Play the Q&A with Kent segments if you want your own fun Amazing Illusions review.

How to Use Other than for Sunday School Don’t worry—it will work! There’s no terminology that will make it awkward. Print out and read the CD printable file “You Can Customize This Curriculum” and go for it!

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Guide to Small Groups Small Groups Are Important Small groups serve many important purposes. Small groups help students get and keep connected to other students and adults. Students tend to open up more in small-group settings and feel freer to answer and ask questions.

Divide students into small groups by gender and age.

Provide a comfortable environment.You could provide beanbag chairs, large pillows, or rugs for groups to sit on.

Provide Bibles for students who don’t bring any. We’ve used the New International Version in this curriculum, but you can use whatever Bible version you prefer.

Keep the small groups small; no more than six to eight preteens per group.

Small-Group Leaders Small-group leaders play an essential role in this curriculum. Small-group leaders guide the preteens in their groups H in going deep into God’s Word, H in prayer, H in learning and memorizing important passages from God’s Word, and H in exploring how or what the students can do, say, or think because of lessons learned each week.

How to Use the SuperStart! magazine in Small Groups It’s best to provide a SuperStart! magazine for each student. Because this is a magazine, most pages don’t tear out for students to take home each week. Be sure to keep the magazines for use each week.

There are a few pages students take home during the quarter such as life-application tear-outs.You may want to cut or tear these out of the magazines before class time or let early-arriving students help.

When you send home the magazines with students at the end of each quarter, encourage them to look through the magazines. There are extra activities and pages that are meant for preteens to read and do at home, such as “Try this at home” activities, family projects, and real-life preteen interviews.

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Super Tips for Super Small-Group Leaders H Be sure to read the materials that are provided for you prior to coming to class.

H Spend time praying for the preteens in your group.

H Always provide a safe environment for all students.

Don’t let anyone make fun of or belittle someone.

Go out of your way to include those who are new or shy. Your example will speak volumes.

H Listen way more than you talk. Listen to what the students are saying. Ask questions to help them clarify their thoughts and explain what’s going on in their lives.

H It’s best not to read straight from the teacher guide. You can make notes before class and put them in your Bible.

H Don’t let one or two students dominate discussions. Give all the preteens in your group the opportunity to participate as they feel comfortable. You could use a fun object such as a toy microphone that preteens can pass to the person who’ll speak next.

H Encourage students to share and ask questions. Reassure students that all questions are good questions and that they won’t be made fun of.

H Set the bar high. Preteens can think and reason if you guide them.

H Value each preteen, not just the popular ones. See the students through God’s eyes.

H Become familiar with the Scriptures you’re studying and share how they apply to you. Tell your personal stories. When students see that you’re living God’s Word, they’ll want to do the same.

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Pre-Start Activities The Pre-Start is a time for students to hang out and become acquainted with each other and with the adult leaders. Students can choose what they want to do, even choosing to sit and talk. Pre-Start is a time when the adult leaders are paying attention to the preteens and talking with them, even participating in their games. But it should not be a time of chaos or wild running.

There are some big things that most successful preteen ministries seem to have in their spaces for students to enjoy. Set out as many of these as you’d like, but don’t try to do everything at once. You may want to ask for donations. You’ll be surprised how many families have at least one of the following items that they’d like to find a good home for: d Whiteboard anrs too) se ra (e rs ke mar

Video games

Exer cise Foosball Carpetball

bike

ith ot w s p s t ir g-ou cha Han et and carp

ll

tba aske b c i on ectr

El

key

Air hoc

Then, there are smaller games and activities preteens will enjoy. Start a bin or box of these and just put one or two of these out on tables in your preteen area. Rotate these frequently.

Kick

alls

sketb Mini ba

Mini skateboard

en Prete

s

Card ga several mes (collect and rot ate)

bags

Juggling scarve s or balls

zines

maga

Paper and art supplies

Mini white boar and markers ds

ly) otate frequent Board games (r

lls F ba es R E N gam and

ls

le bal

Padd

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The following are some ideas that you can try when you have your preteen area up and running. You may want to try a new idea or challenge each month.

Physical Challenges Challenge students to do push-ups, sit-ups, jump rope, jumping jacks, stand on one foot for several minutes, hula hoops, and wobble boards.

Invent an Illusion Set out a bin of various items that students can use to invent illusions such as plastic cups, marbles, pennies, stuffed rabbits, playing cards, craft sticks, paper clips, aluminum foil, rope, a wig, and other fun stuff from a dollar store.

Unusual Challenges Try these ideas or make up your own unusual challenges.

1. On the Internet or in books, look for optical illusions.

Print off several of the optical illusions and the accompanying instructions. Challenge students to follow the instructions.

2. Purchase some inexpensive illusions and set them out for students to try.

3. Attach a small basketball hoop high on a wall.

Challenge students to throw wads of scrap paper to make baskets.

Try to count the number of black dots on this image.

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The

SuperStart

Web Site Is More Than Super!

www.superstartpreteen.com You and your students will want to visit www.superstartpreteen.com for all these exciting things, and more!

For Leaders H Keep the parents of your students informed and in touch with downloadable parent newsletters for each unit. The newsletters will encourage the parents of your students with devotions and brief parent training articles. The newsletters will keep them informed about what their preteens are studying and even give parents a few questions they can ask their preteens each week.

H If you want to include a fun, messy activity or competition, then go to the Web site. You’ll find ideas for a messy activity or competition for each unit. You’ll especially want to use these outrageous activities if you’re using the curriculum for an evening program or retreat. Or, if you have a get-together with your students outside of class time, include these activities for added fun!

H Look for teaching tips and inspiration from preteen ministry leaders and teachers.

H Find out about SuperStart! events that you and your preteens can attend by checking out www.ciy.com/superstart.

For Students H Encourage your students to visit www.superstartpreteen.com. Preteens will enjoy the exciting games and participating in weekly votes.

H Downloadable wallpaper and icons will keep your students plugged into the SuperStart! themes. And they’ll enjoy the weekly devotions.

H Fun bios of the SuperStart! characters will help preteens get to know the characters better.

See page 95 for great ideas about decorating and building a preteen culture.

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Overview of Unit

1

Theme

Scripture

Big Question

Scripture Memory

The Ten Command­ments and John 15: A Study in Faith Basics

Deuteronomy 5:6-21; John 15:1-17

What do Christians do?

John 15:9-14

About This Unit During this unit, students will explore two rather deep but important Scripture passages that will help them discover what Christians do. Your students will learn that Christians do more than just follow a set of rules. They’ll discover that Christians, first and foremost, love God. Loving God leads Christians to stay connected to Him, to love others, and to bear fruit for Him.

Focus of Lessons 1: Love God 2: Love others 3: Stay connected to God 4: Bear fruit

Get a Super Start!

As a Christian, what do you do that’s different from those who aren’t Christians? One difference is how you show your love for God and others by teaching and leading a group of preteens. That’s a pretty big difference!

Visit www.superstartpreteen.com You’ll find a downloadable parent newsletter for this unit that you’ll want to send to all the parents of your preteens. You’ll also find a fun, messy activity you can use with this unit, and lots more!

Read Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Reflect on these commands and see how you’re doing. Are you keeping God first in your life?

Read John 15:1-17. If you have any doubts about how Jesus feels about you, you shouldn’t after you read this. Jesus loves you.

He wants you to share His joy. He calls you His friend. He gave His life for you. Being a Christian isn’t always easy and Jesus knows that. But when you stay connected to Jesus, He will see you through.

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Extra-Time Activities Have one or more of these activities available for students to do when you have extra time throughout this unit. If you have lots of extra time, you might want to let students choose two activities in which to participate. If you have lots of students, set up more than one of each of these activity centers so the groups won’t be too large.

Sing It Again, Sam Challenge students to create a song that explains what Christians do. They could use a tune they know or make up a new tune.

Students can add new verses each week based on what they’re learning. If there are more than four or five students doing this activity, you may want to divide the students into smaller groups. Let students perform their song(s) at the end of each lesson or at the end of the unit.

I’m All Torn Up Have students create torn paper murals that explain what Christians do. The murals might be one large picture or a series of pictures, depending on what the students decide. Using old newspapers and magazines, students could create words, symbols, or pictures of what Christians do. Provide large pieces of roll paper for students to glue their torn paper pieces on.

Encourage students to work together in small groups to create their murals. Display the finished murals and let students tell about their creations.

Create a Game Help students find Scripture passages in the Bible about what Christians do. Then challenge them to create their own game show using the information they found. They could make their game similar to Jeopardy®, Wheel of Fortune, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?, Family Feud, or some other favorite game show. Or students might want to make up their own game show.

If there are more than four or five students doing this activity, you may want to divide the students into smaller groups. Challenge students to use supplies on hand or bring in what they need. Play the game(s) the last week of the unit.

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Theme

Lesson

The Ten Commandments and John 15: A Study in Faith Basics

1

Big Question What Do Christians Do?

Scripture

Focus

love god (Deuteronomy 5:6-15)

Deuteronomy 5:6-21; John 15:1-17

Overview

John 15:9-14

Section Pre-Start

Large Group

Small Group

Extra Time

Scripture Memory

Students will . . .

Supplies

build relationships and have fun!

Pre-Start Activities (pp. 8, 9), SuperStart! DVD (Intro Loop), SuperStart! CD, CD and DVD players, TV or projection equipment

figure out what items have in common.

SuperStart! DVD (Countdown), DVD player, TV or projection equipment, SuperStart! CD (Commonalities List print file), pencils or pens

Teaching Time (15 minutes)

discover that Christians love God.

SuperStart! DVD (Meet the Cast; Amazing Illusions Clips, Lesson 1), DVD player, TV or projection equipment, Bibles, sticky notes, pencils or pens, roll paper, marker

Worship (10 minutes)

praise God for being their one and only God.

SuperStart! CD, CD player

Scripture Study (15 minutes)

study the Scripture to discover that Christians love God.

SuperStart! magazines, Bibles, scrap paper, pencils or pens

Scripture Memory Discovery (5 minutes)

learn John 15:9-14.

Bibles

Life Application (5 minutes)

discuss a challenge for this week.

Lesson 1 CD print files Challenge cards, pencils or pens

Recap (5 minutes)

be encouraged to love God.

(optional: Unit 1 Scripture memory reminder cards)

Extra-Time Activities

further explore the lesson.

Unit 1 Extra-Time Activities (p. 12)

Pre-Start Activities (15 minutes before class begins)

Get-Started Activity (5 minutes)

Things to do ahead of time:

1. Set out the supplies for the Pre-Start Activities.

2. Collect supplies for the small groups. Go to www.superstartpreteen.com for downloadable PDFs of the small-group time that you can e-mail to small-group leaders.

3. Make sure the DVD and CD players and projection equipment are cued and ready to go.

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Pre-Start

(15 minutes before class) Supplies Pre-Start Activities (pp. 8, 9), SuperStart! DVD (Intro Loop; Countdown; Meet the Cast; Amazing Illusions Clips, Lesson 1), SuperStart! CD (Commonalities List print file), DVD and CD players, TV or projection equipment, Bibles, pencils or pens, sticky notes, roll paper, marker

Before Class From the CD print files, print out the commonalities list (LessonHelps/Commonalities. pdf) and make copies. Have extra Bibles in your large-group area. Display 4 large pieces of roll paper on a wall. Title each separate paper: Deuteronomy 5:7; Deuteronomy 5:8-10; Deuteronomy 5:11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15. Draw a line across the middle of each paper. Write “Keeping It” across the top of each paper and “Not Keeping It” right below the line in the middle of each paper.

A Big Question poster and a Scripture Memory poster for Unit 1 and Kent’s photo are on the CD. You may want to print and display these in your area.

You can display the Big Question above Kent’s photo, as shown below.

Choose several of the Pre-Start Activities for students to do as they arrive.

You can play songs from the CD and show the DVD Intro Loop as students have fun and interact with the volunteers.

Large Group

(30 minutes) Get-Started Activity, Teaching Time, Worship Get-Started Activity (5 minutes) Play one of the Countdowns when you are ready to begin the GetStarted Activity. Have students form small groups. Give each group a Commonalities List and a pencil or pen. Go over the first items together and then challenge the groups to figure out what the other items have in common. After a couple minutes, let the groups share their answers and talk about what the items have in common.

Teaching Time (15 minutes) Play the Meet the Cast segment on the DVD to introduce your students to the cast of Amazing Illusions 101. Prepare students for the video by saying, For several weeks we’re going to watch what happens as Patrick, Eric, and Samantha learn how to do illusions at The Amazing Kent’s Illusion Study. In today’s clip, Patrick, Eric, and Samantha visit Kent’s Illusion Study for the first time.

Show the Lesson 1 video clip. After the video clip, ask these questions and solicit one or two answers for each:

 Why were Samantha and Eric arguing? (they each claimed to love the dagger chest more, they were tr ying to outdo each other)

did Eric define love? (thinking about someone or something all  How

the time, dreaming about being together)

 How is that like or unlike how we should love God? (it’s the same

because we should always think about God, it’s different because we don’t usually dream about being with God)

What do you think your list of commonalities and the video clip might have in common? Let students respond. Believe it or not, they’re going to help us think about what Christians do. You probably know that some of the most well known rules God gave us are the Ten Commandments. Let’s look at the first four commandments and see if we can figure out what they have in

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common. Divide the class into four groups and assign each group a commandment: Deuteronomy 5:7; 8-10; 11; 12-15. Ask the groups to read their assigned verse(s) and decide how they will explain the commandments. After a few minutes, groups should send two volunteers to the front. Have the volunteers read their verses and explain the commandments to the entire group. do these four commandments have in common? (they all talk  What

about how we treat God, they are all ways to show our love for God)

do you think God made the first four commands about  Why

Himself? (God wants us to know that He’s the most important; if we put God first, it will be easier to follow other commands)

Put God first, worship only God and not idols (tell students that an idol is “a false God; an object of extreme devotion”), treat God’s name with respect, and honor God on His special day. Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Hand out two sticky notes per person and pencils or pens.

Give the following instructions. (1) Those in the Deuteronomy 5:7 group: Write on one sticky note a way you can show God He’s number one in your life. Write on the other note who or what might be number one in your life if you didn’t love God. (2) 5:8-10 group: Write on one sticky note a way you worship God. Write on the other note something that might be an idol for you if you didn’t love God. (3) 5:11 group: Write on one sticky note a way you treat God’s name with respect. Write on the other note a way you might disrespect God’s name if you didn’t love Him. (4) 5:12-15 group: Write on one sticky note a way you honor God on His special day. Write on the other note something you might do that would not honor God on His special day. Have students place their notes at the top and bottom of the appropriate pieces of roll paper.

Putting God first. How do you do it? Read aloud several of the notes on the top half of the paper for Deuteronomy 5:7. Not putting God first.

What do you do? Read aloud several of the notes on the bottom half of the paper. Do the same with the other three papers. There are so many people and activities that compete for our time and interest. God knows all about it. But God isn’t OK with being number two or three in our lives. He tells us that He wants to be number one. We are to LOVE GOD above everything and everyone else.

Bible Insight Deuteronomy 5:6-15 The first four of the Ten Commandments tell how we can show our love for God. First and foremost we show our love for God by not having any other gods except the one true God. We show our love for Him by not worshiping anyone except Him. We’re reminded that God is a jealous God—He wants all of our love and devotion, not just some of it. We also show our love for God by not misusing His name and by keeping His special day holy. The special day in Old Testament times was the Sabbath day. The special day is now the first day of the week, celebrating Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

Teacher Tip If you have time and would like to add more thoughts from Scripture, see these passages: Deuteronomy 6; Joshua 22:5; Matthew 22:34-40. You can also use thoughts from John 15:9-14, the Scripture memory for the unit.

makes God so special that we would want to LOVE GOD and  What

follow these four commands? (He made the universe. He’s more powerful than anyone. He sent Jesus to die for our sins.)

When you stop and think about how awesome and powerful God is, it’s easy to see that we should put God first. He deserves our love!

Le sson 1

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For the next few weeks we’re thinking about a big question, “What do Christians do?” on what we’ve talked about today, what do Christians do?  Based

(Christians love God. Christians put God first.)

Christians love God by putting Him first, worshiping only Him, treating God’s name with respect, and honoring God on His special day. Christians don’t do these things, though, just to follow some rules. We do them because we LOVE GOD. Worship (10 minutes) Ask students to join you in praising God for being our one and only God. Lead in two or three songs from the CD, especially “Ask Me I Know.”

Lead in prayer, thanking God for being such a good and loving God. Profess your love for Him and your desire to put Him first.

Have students go to their small groups to go deeper into God’s Word and for relationship building.

Q&A with Kent If you have time, there are three fun review questions on the DVD for this lesson (Q&A with Kent, Lesson 1). You can have your own Amazing Illusions review by choosing one boy and one girl to be the contestants, or have the boys compete against the girls. Pause the DVD player after each question so students can answer. You can use this fun video clip in lots of ways: at the end of the large-group time, at the end of the small-group time while you’re waiting for parents to arrive, just before the lesson Recap in the small-group time, or during the Pre-Start Activities.

Review Questions 1. Samantha and Eric decided that they would love to

a. learn how to do illusions.

b. fly to the moon.

c. beat Patrick at checkers.

2. The first four commandments tell us

a. everything we shouldn’t do.

b. how to love God.

c. why we need the commandments.

3. When you follow the first four of the Ten Commandments, you’ll

a. be free from sin.

b. never be sad.

c. show God that you love Him.

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Small Group

(30 minutes) Scripture Study, Scripture Memory Discovery, Life Application, Recap Scripture Study (15 minutes) Hand out the SuperStart! magazines. Have students turn to page 3 to get better acquainted with the cast of Amazing Illusions 101. Then have them turn to page 17 and talk about what might be each person’s idol. could sports or money be an idol for someone? (spending way  How

too much time on sports; making sports or money more important than anything, even God; doing anything in order to get more money, even wrong stuff; using money only for yourself and not giving it to God or to help others)

could wanting to become famous or trying to be really smart  How

become an idol for someone? (spending way too much time tr ying to be famous or smart; doing anything, even wrong stuff, in order to be famous or smart)

does it seem so easy to make sports, money, being smart, or any  Why

of these other things number one, and put God second or even third?

(I can see money but I can’t see God. Everyone else is trying to have lots of money or friends. I’m expected to be good at sports and I have to make it a priority. Being smart or good at sports helps me be popular.)

Supplies SuperStart! magazines, Bibles, scrap paper, pencils or pens, Lesson 1 CD print files Challenge cards—print and cut out one per student (optional: Unit 1 Scripture memory reminder cards—print and cut out one per student)

Teacher Tip Be sure to be sensitive to your students’ reading abilities. Ask for volunteers to read aloud or be sure to call on those whom you know like to read aloud.

Include reluctant readers by asking them to listen as you or others read Scripture aloud and let them answer questions.

Have students turn to Deuteronomy 5:6-15 and ask for volunteers to read aloud the verses. Then have students turn to page 30 in their magazines and read “Patrick’s Amazing Fact.” Ask the following questions. Encourage all students to participate and be sure to give students time to think about the questions. a way that Christians can show God He’s number one on a  What’s

daily basis? (praying to Him, tr ying to do what He wants us to do, reading the Bible)

are some ways that we can misuse God’s name? (using  What

His name when swearing, making fun of God, using God’s name carelessly, saying we don’t believe in Him)

can Christians observe and keep God’s special day holy? (going  How

to church, worshiping Him, doing what honors God)

of these four commands is hardest for you to keep? Why?  Which

(the first one, because I don’t really understand the Bible; the third one, because I have a habit of swearing; the fourth one, because I have a lot of games on Sundays) Le sson 1

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For the prayer time, hand out scrap paper and pencils or pens. Ask students to write down which command is the hardest for them to keep and why. Challenge students to pray and ask for God’s help in keeping that command and loving Him more. After students have prayed, let them tear up the papers and throw them away, anticipating that God will help them get rid of their old habits and LOVE GOD more.

Optional Activity Let students take turns giving each other commands on how to read aloud John 15:9-14, such as standing at attention, sitting backwards in a chair, speaking in a deep voice, and so forth.

Talk about how these kinds of commands are different than the commands Jesus talks about.

Scripture Memory Discovery (5 minutes) Our Scripture memory for the next few weeks is John 15:9-14. Have students find these verses and ask for volunteers to read them aloud. Tell students that this is Jesus speaking to His followers. Ask students to count the number of times the words “love” and “loved” are used. does Jesus say about loving God? (Jesus had obeyed God’s  What

commands and remained in His love.)

is the result when we LOVE GOD? (we’ll keep God’s commands,  What

we’ll have joy, we’ll be friends of Jesus)

Jesus is the best example we have for how to LOVE GOD. He obeyed and honored God. As Christians, when we follow Jesus’ example, we’ll obey and honor God too. We won’t be perfect like Jesus, but He will be there to help us. Challenge students to mark John 15:9-14 in their Bibles, read it every day this week, and work on memorizing it.

Life Application (5 minutes) Get students’ ideas about what they can do in response to knowing that Christians LOVE GOD. One suggestion you can make is for students to think of specific ways they will show love for God by putting Him first.

Hand out the Lesson 1 Challenge cards and encourage students to write their ideas on the cards. You could also encourage students to talk with their families about how together they could show love for God by putting Him first. Remind students to come prepared next week to share what they did in response to knowing that Christians LOVE GOD. You may want to give each student a Unit 1 Scripture memory reminder card to take home.

Collect the SuperStart! magazines for use in the following weeks.

Recap (5 minutes) Christians do lots of stuff, but one big thing we do is LOVE GOD. And one way we show God we love Him is by obeying His commands. Briefly tell about a time, especially when you were a preteen, when you made a decision to LOVE GOD and what you did. Loving God and obeying His commands is not always easy, but it’s always right to do.

Extra Time

As you have time, let students participate in one or more of the ExtraTime Activities on page 12.

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