http://www.standardpub.com/Content/Site130/FilesSamples/40797pdf_00000005696

TEACHER edition

Volume 2, Number 4

A Preteen Curriculum

 A Study of the Real Meaning of Jesus’ Birth  A Study in Godly Leadership  A Study in Stewardship

CD e! insonigd s by S

Yanc y

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Volume 2, Number 4

A Preteen Curriculum

Inside 1 Preteens Don’t Quite Fit!

2 Check Out These SuperStart! Values 3 What’s Up with Battle of the Illusionists?

4 How to Use This Curriculum 6 Guide to Small Groups 8 Pre-Start Activities

37 Unit 2—David: A Study in Godly Leadership (1 Samuel 16–18) Overview and Extra-Time Activities

39 45 51 57

hen Can I Be in Charge?

W Lesson 5: When you’re ready in your heart Lesson 6: When you’re ready to serve Lesson 7: When you’re ready to trust God Lesson 8: When you’re ready to please God

10 The SuperStart! Web Site Is More Than Super!

11 Unit 1—Galatians 4: A Study of the Real Meaning of Jesus’ Birth (Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-7; Galatians 4:4-7) Overview and Extra-Time Activities

13 19 25 31

What Does Jesus’ Birth Mean to Me? Lesson 1: God’s promises happen Lesson 2: God is your perfect Father Lesson 3: You’re God’s son or daughter Lesson 4: You’re an heir, not a slave

63 Unit 3—2 Corinthians 9: A Study in Stewardship (2 Corinthians 9:6-15) Overview and Extra-Time Activities

65 71 77 83 89

hy Should I Choose to Give?

W Lesson 9: You reap what you sow Lesson 10: God gave first Lesson 11: It shows your thanks Lesson 12: It’s a way to serve Lesson 13: God is praised

95 Building a Preteen Culture Note: If you need ideas for an extra lesson, go to www.superstartpreteen.com.

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 4) 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 Battle of the Illusionists.

After successfully completing The Amazing Kent’s illusion class, Eric challenges Samantha and Patrick to a Battle of the Illusionists. Who will win? While laughing at the crazy antics of the cast as they prepare for the battle and perform their illusions, students will think about their own lives and learn a lot too!

Students will get to know:

patrick

Amateur Illusionist

Patrick helps Eric think about trusting God when Eric is afraid of performing his illusion. As usual, Patrick tries to keep peace between Samantha and Eric as they get ready for the battle.

Amateur Illusionist

eric

Eric makes some pretty outrageous promises including that he will be the best illusionist ever. The costume he chooses to wear for the battle is pretty outrageous too.

samantha

Amateur Illusionist

Samantha’s costume for the battle goes along with her new stage name— The Pink Princess of Pizzazz. Samantha asks Kent to judge the Battle of the Illusionists since he’s a master illusionist.

The Amazing Master Illusionist

Kent

Kent is really great about helping Patrick, Samantha, and Eric get ready for the battle. But Kent has a surprise up his sleeve. He’s not going to judge the battle—the audience will!

Teri

Illusion Assistant

Teri loves illusions and is a great assistant. She patiently helps Patrick, Eric, and Samantha with their illusions.

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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 cast of Battle of the Illusionists 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 Battle of the Illusionists 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 Teri segments if you want your own fun Battle of the Illusionists 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

Beads and jew string for neckelry or bracelets laces

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. Challenge students to come up with their own battles.

Possible battles include creating the best illusion, keeping a paddle ball going the longest, or naming all the books of the Bible.

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

Galatians 4: A Study of the Real Meaning of Jesus’ Birth

Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-7; Galatians 4:4-7

What does Jesus’ birth mean to me?

Galatians 4:4-7

About This Unit Using a passage of Scripture that doesn’t talk about the shepherds, magi, or angels, this unit helps students explore the meaning of Jesus’ birth. Students will dig deep as they think about why Jesus came to Earth. But they’ll also come away with a sense of God’s peace as they discover that they can be sons and daughters of the perfect Father.

Focus of Lessons 1: God’s promises happen 2: God is your perfect Father 3: You’re God’s son or daughter 4: You’re an heir, not a slave

Get a Super Start!

Jesus’ birth means lots of different things to people. To some, it means celebrations and making cookies. To others, it means shopping for the perfect gifts and sending cards. To those of us who know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, His birth means so much more. Jesus’ birth began His journey to the cross.

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 Galatians 4:4-7 along with Old Testament prophecies about Jesus’ birth.

Our perfect Father chose the perfect time to send His perfect Son to Earth for us who are not so perfect. God sent Jesus for one reason—to redeem us so we could become God’s sons and daughters. And our inheritance is eternal life in Heaven! Now that’s a reason to celebrate Jesus’ birth.

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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.

Extra, Extra, Read All About It! Challenge students to create a newspaper that might have been published in Bible times telling about the many events surrounding Jesus’ birth. If you have access to a computer and printer, let students create the newspaper using those. If not, provide large pieces of paper, pencils or pens, and newspapers. Guide them to look through the newspapers to get ideas about what they can put in their newspaper such as interviews, different kinds of stories, letters to the editor, ads, cartoons, classifieds, and photos. Also suggest that they name their newspaper. On the last week of this unit, let students present their newspaper and read some of it to the rest of the class.

Bethlehem Live Help students prepare to present a live talk show that deals with one or more aspects of the birth of Jesus. They will need to choose the host of the show, the guests, and a name for their show. It would be great if the host and guests could wear Bible-times clothing if you have access to that. Students should come up with questions and answers for the host and guests. Students could also create commercials if they’d like. Encourage students to have a dress rehearsal before the show is presented. You could video the production and show it to other classes and/ or parents.

Celebrate!

Have students plan a celebration for Jesus’ birth during the last week of the unit. The celebration could be just for the preteen students or you could invite some guests, such as a class of younger children, or maybe the students’ parents and grandparents. Work out all the arrangements ahead of time. Students can make decorations, plan games to play, songs to sing, and what food to provide. They might also like to make small gifts to give to everyone.

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Theme Galatians 4: A Study of the Real Meaning of Jesus’ Birth

Lesson

1

Big Question What Does Jesus’ Birth Mean to Me?

Focus

Scripture Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-7; Galatians 4:4-7

God’s promises happen (Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-7; Galatians 4:4-7)

Scripture Memory Galatians 4:4-7

Overview Section

Students will . . .

Supplies

Pre-Start

Pre-Start Activities (15 minutes before class begins)

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

Large Group

Get-Started Activity (5 minutes)

create situations about broken promises.

SuperStart! DVD (Countdown), DVD player, TV or projection equipment

Teaching Time (15 minutes)

discover that God’s promises happen.

SuperStart! DVD (Meet the Cast; Battle of the Illusionists Clips, Lesson 1), DVD player, TV or projection equipment, Bibles, 3 pitchers of water, ingredients (see activity), cups

Worship (10 minutes)

praise God for keeping His promises.

SuperStart! CD, CD player

Scripture Study (15 minutes)

study the Scripture to discover that God’s promises happen.

SuperStart! magazines, Bibles

Scripture Memory Discovery (5 minutes)

learn Galatians 4:4-7.

Bibles, Bible dictionary

Life Application (5 minutes)

discuss a challenge for this week.

pencils or pens, Lesson 1 CD print files Challenge cards

Recap (5 minutes)

be encouraged to trust God to keep His promises.

(optional: Unit 1 Scripture memory reminder cards)

Extra-Time Activities

further explore the lesson.

Unit 1 Extra-Time Activities (p. 12)

Small Group

Extra Time

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; Battle of the Illusionists Clips, Lesson 1), SuperStart!

CD, DVD and CD players, TV or projection equipment, 3 pitchers of water, ingredients (salt, unsweetened drink mixes, sugar), cups, Bibles

Before Class Pour water into three pitchers.

Add ingredients to two of the pitchers that would not make the water taste very good, such as lots of salt or an unsweetened drink mix without sugar. Add an ingredient to the third pitcher that would make the water taste good, such as an unsweetened drink mix with sugar.

A Big Question poster and a Scripture Memory poster for Unit 1 and Samantha’s photo are on the CD. You may want to print and display these in your area. You can display the Big Question above Samantha’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 Get-Started Activity. Have the students get into small groups. Challenge each group to make up a situation in which a person makes a promise that he or she doesn’t intend to keep. Then they should decide how to act it out. After a few minutes, let groups act out their situations for at least one other group. Choose one or more groups to perform their situations for the entire group.

Teaching Time (15 minutes) Play the Meet the Cast segment on the DVD to introduce your students to the cast of Battle of the Illusionists. Prepare students for the video by saying, For several weeks we’re going to watch what happens at The Amazing Kent’s Illusion Study. In today’s clip, The Amazing Kent congratulates Patrick, Eric, and Samantha for completing their illusionist training that included performing illusions in front of a live audience.

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

 What promises did Eric make? (he would be the greatest illusionist

ever, they would be on TV, he would beat the others in a battle of the illusionists)

 Why do people make promises? (to show they’re serious, because they think they can do something)

did someone make a promise to you that he or she didn’t  When

keep? (when my sister promised to take me shopping, when my friend promised to get me concert tickets, when my dad promised to come to my game)

I’ve decided to go into the flavored water business, so I brought you some samples of the flavors I’ve come up with. I promise that you’re

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going to love them. Serve everyone some of the bad-tasting water first from one of the pitchers. If you have a large group, invite a few students to come to the front to do the taste testing. After negative reactions, promise that the next flavor will be much better and then serve the next pitcher of bad-tasting water. After negative reactions, promise that the next flavor will be great and that they will love it. Serve the pitcher of good-tasting water.

 Did you believe my promise before you drank the first bad-testing

water? Why or why not? (yes, because I trust you; sort of, because sometimes you pull things on us)

Bible Insight Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-7 Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, God’s plan and promise of a Savior was announced through the prophet Isaiah. The name Immanuel means “God with us.” Jesus will be a light because of the salvation He brings. The titles used for Jesus reflect His many characteristics.

 Did you believe my promise the second time? Why or why not? (no, because you didn’t keep your first promise)

did you think of my third promise? (not much, didn’t believe  What

you)

I broke two out of three of my promises; that’s not very good. Since you earlier didn’t seem to have any trouble coming up with situations in which promises were broken, I think you’ve all had plenty of experiences with broken promises. The Bible tells about several people who were called prophets. Prophets listened to God and then spoke for Him. The prophets spoke prophecies or promises about what God would do in the future. Some of the prophets in the Old Testament were Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Jonah, and Isaiah. Ask for four volunteers to come to the front. Ask one of them to read aloud Isaiah 7:14.

Teacher Tip If you have time and would like to add more thoughts from Scripture, see these passages: Micah 5:2-5; Matthew 1:18-23; 4:12-16; Luke 1:31-33; 2:11, 14.

You can also use thoughts from Galatians 4:4-7, the Scripture memory for the unit.

is this prophecy or promise about? (Jesus)  Who

promises were made about Jesus’ birth? (He would be born to  What

a virgin. He would be called Immanuel.)

Isaiah made these promises 700 years before the birth of Jesus. Of course, prophecies or promises are only good if they’re kept. Let’s see if the promises happened. Ask another volunteer to read aloud Matthew 1:18-23. Ask the volunteer if the promises made in Isaiah 7:14 happened.

That’s not the only promises that were made about Jesus’ birth. Ask another volunteer to read aloud Isaiah 9:6, 7. Ask the last volunteer to read aloud Luke 1:31-33. Ask the volunteer if the promises made in Isaiah 9:6, 7 happened.

These promises were no illusions or tricks—the promises God made through Isaiah 700 years before Jesus’ birth happened just the way Isaiah said they would! In a world full of broken promises, it’s so good to know that GOD’S PROMISES HAPPEN! It was God’s plan and promise from the very beginning to send His Son. God promised that Le sson 1

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Jesus would be born to a virgin, that He would be with us, that He would be mighty, that He would bring peace, and that He would reign forever. God made some big promises—and they all happened! Jesus was born to a virgin. Jesus is with us. Jesus is mighty and brings peace.

Jesus is now reigning and will reign forever.

During the next few weeks we’re thinking about a big question, “What does Jesus’ birth mean to me?” One thing for sure—Jesus’ birth can help you know that GOD’S PROMISES HAPPEN. You can trust God; when He makes a promise, it happens. When He says He will do something, He will do it. And that’s really good to know.

Worship (10 minutes) Ask students to join you in praising God for keeping His promises. Lead in two or three songs from the CD, especially “Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas.”

Lead in prayer, praising God for keeping His promises.

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

Q&A with Teri If you have time, there are three fun review questions on the DVD for this lesson (Q&A with Teri, Lesson 1). You can have your own Battle of the Illusionists 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 smallgroup 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. Eric promised that

a. he could beat all the other illusionists.

b. Patrick and Samantha would get married.

c. he would start racing go-karts.

2. God’s promises about Jesus’ birth

a. all happened.

b. were kept quiet for thousands of years.

c. were never published.

3. You and I can be sure that if God promises something,

a. you’ll be zapped if it doesn’t happen.

b. you better work hard to make it happen.

c. it will happen.

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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 Battle of the Illusionists. Then have students turn to pages 20 and 21 and read the interviews. haven’t you kept a promise? (when I promised to clean my  When

room by a certain time, when I promised to study more)

do you feel when people keep promises they make to you?  How

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

(good, like they care about me, like I can trust them)

are the differences between Eric’s promises and God’s  What

promises we read about in the Bible? (Eric has no idea if he can keep his promises. Eric just makes stuff up. God keeps His promises.)

Have students turn to Isaiah 7:14 and 9:1-7 and ask for volunteers to read aloud the verses. Ask the following questions. Encourage all students to participate and be sure to give students time to think about the questions. could Isaiah predict or make promises about what would  How

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.

happen 700 years in the future? (he was a prophet, he listened to God and then spoke for God, God told him)

prophecies or promises about Jesus do you see in these  What

verses? (born of a virgin, called Immanuel, spend time in Galilee, will be a light, descendant of David, will reign forever)

many of these promises happened? How do you know? (they  How

all happened, some are still happening like Jesus being a light and reigning forever; by reading the New Testament)

can knowing that GOD’S PROMISES HAPPEN affect how you  How

live? (I can trust God. When God says He will do something, I know He will do it. If God has promised something, I can believe it.)

Lead students in thinking about some of God’s promises: His love and salvation (John 3:16, 17; Acts 2:38, 29), hearing our prayers (1 Peter 3:12), eternal life in Heaven (2 Peter 3:9, 13; 1 John 2:25). Tell students that the saying “Cross my heart and hope to die” is sometimes said to indicate that a promise will be kept and that people usually make an X over their heart while saying it. But God is the only one who always keeps His promises and is really the only one who can say, “Cross my heart and hope to die” (form a cross from two fingers) because that’s what He did.

Le sson 1

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God promised to send Jesus to Earth to be born so that one day He would die on the cross for our sins. And that’s exactly what happened!

Encourage students to use their fingers to form a cross while praying, thanking God for keeping His promises.

Optional Activity Have students find partners and ask one of the pairs to demonstrate. One student should stand behind the other.

The student in front should put his arms to his side. Read the first phrase from Galatians 4:4 and have the student in front repeat it. The student in back should put his arms and hands out in front of the student in front and use gestures to help explain what the phrase means.

Do the same for all the phrases of verses 4-7.

Scripture Memory Discovery (5 minutes) Our Scripture memory for the next few weeks is Galatians 4:4-7. Have students find these verses in their Bibles and ask for volunteers to read them aloud. Ask students to identify words they don’t understand and look them up in a Bible dictionary. Then have volunteers read the verses again. do these verses have to do with the birth of Jesus? (they tell  What

about God sending Jesus and Jesus being born)

are these verses different from Scriptures you usually hear  How

or read about Jesus’ birth? (they don’t give the details about the shepherds, angels, or wise men; they tell how we can be redeemed and become children of God)

When Jesus was born, it showed again that GOD’S PROMISES HAPPEN. Jesus was born just as the Old Testament prophets had promised. Challenge students to mark Galatians 4:4-7 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 GOD’S PROMISES HAPPEN. One suggestion you can make is for students to think of a promise that God has made that they need to believe, trust, take seriously, or share with someone. Hand out the Lesson 1 Challenge cards and pencils or pens. Encourage students to write their thoughts on the cards, including any specific things that they might need to do. Also encourage students to thank God for keeping His promise of sending Jesus to Earth as a baby. Remind students to come prepared next week to share what they did in response to knowing that GOD’S PROMISES HAPPEN.

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) Just like you, I must admit that I’ve broken a few promises during my life.

Briefly share about a time, especially when you were a preteen, when you broke a promise. That’s why it’s great to know that GOD’S PROMISES HAPPEN! It was God’s plan and promise from the very beginning to send His Son. He knew when it would happen, where, and how. And it all happened! It’s great that we can always trust God to keep His promises.

Extra Time

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

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