RADIANT LIFE TEACHER GUIDE TEENS SUNDAY SCHOOL RESOURCE UNIT 4 Sunday October 2 2022

Enlargement Campaign Specials

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Who was our best friend when you were a teenager? Are you still in

touch with that person? If you asked your students about their best

friends, many would probably say they plan to be friends forever.

The reality is that friends may come and go throughout our lives. As

priorities, circumstances, and responsibilities change, it can be easy to drift apart. But there is one Friend with whom we must never lose touch.That Friend is God!

This is our month of ENLARGEMENT. This unit will encourage your teens, and even those that will be invited to your class during this Enlargement Campaign, to make lifetime commitment to the ultimate Best Friend.

Over the next few weeks, students and your visitors will discover the qualities that set God apart from all the rest. Most importantly, they’!l hear about His efforts to save lost people and His desire to be their personal Friend-forever.

Give each class member an inexpensive notebook to use as a personal. journal.

Over the next several weeks, have them make daily entries addressed to God as they interact with Him and meditate upon His person, His ways, and issues they encounter every other day.

Encourage them to write to Him as they would a best friend. They should enter anything important to them for that day as well as any question or concern they might have.

Take a few moments at the beginning of classes to let a few students report on what they’ve learned about God as a result of keeping the journal. Also create a way of carrying your visitor along.

Remind students and your visitors that God is a Friend to whom they can always turn for help, support, and companionship. He is interested in and wants to hear about even the smallest details of their lives.

Study 1:

A Friend Who Knows All About You

Text: Psalm 8:3-4,9; 139:1-6,13-16,23-24;

Jer 29:11; Matt 15:14

*Key Verse: Psalm 139:1-2*

Oh LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my down sitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. (KJv)

Focus

As humans, our knowledge and insight of one another are limited. From time to time, we experience betrayals and disappointments from people whom we thought we knew so well and trusted.

But God is never taken by surprise. He knows everything about everyone, including our

shortcomings. Yet, His boundless love for humanity never changes.

As you prepare for this study, spend some time reflecting on God’s omniscience God’s infinite knowledge and understanding.

Read the Scripture passages and ponder on the wonder that David experienced as he considered the Lord’s great power and tender care. Then ask God to help you communicate these thoughts and emotions to your students.

Help your students to understand that the purpose of God’s intimate knowledge of our personal lives is not surviellant –

it’s not out of suspicion, so He can catch us in our sins and punish us. No! While it is important that we obey the Word and maintain a reverential fear of God, we need to understand that His desire is not to punish us but to draw us into a deeper relationship with Him.

Use this study to help your teens realize that the One who knows them best also loves them most.

Explain to students.

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?

God knows everything about us and cares for us in spite of our shortcomings.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Our friendship with God is based on His mercy, not our worthiness.

HOW DO I LIVE IT?

Believe that God knows what best for you, acknowledge Him as your friend, and trust Him to direct your life.

Quote to the class the following statement made in 1911 by Ferdinand Foch (the French marshal and commander of the then Allied Forces):

“Airplane are interesting toys but have no military value.” Explain that Ferdinand made that statement just few years after the invention of the airplane by the Wright brothers.

Then ask students: What’s wrong with that statement or prediction? Why?

Guide:* Explain that people are often wrong because our knowledge is limited and our reasoning can be flawed.

But God is perfect; He is omniscient- all-knowing. Point out that this study focuses on the personal intimate aspects of God’s omniscience.

When circumstances seem uncertain, we can always take comfort in the assurance that we have a Friend who knows everything about everything.

Study Overview

Explain that today’s study considers:

How God knows everything about us and loves us completely.

How God has a plan for every person’s life.

How we can trust God to lead us.

a. God knows all about you..and loves you anyway

A friend has been described as someone who knows all about you and loves you anyway. In reality, no one really knows all about any of us- except God.

He knows everything we’ve done -the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Of course, it can be hard to understand why God would love and care about us passionately as He does, in spite of all He knows about us.

1. Read or have a volunteer read Psa 8:3-4,9. How do you feel when you think of God’s great love for you? Do you find it difficult to accept or understand? Explain.

Guide: Explain that God is not like people, who often reserve their love for those they consider worthy. God knows about our weaknesses and loves us anyway]

2. In what ways could you express your appreciation for God’s love? [Hint: Respond to this wonderful truth by worshipping God.

3. Read Psa 139:1-6. What does God’s deep knowledge about us and

interest in us communicate?

[Hint: He wants us to come to know Him. He desires that we understand His plan for our lives and develop a growing relationship with Him.]

Guide:* Remind students that all of the wonderful things God made, they are the objects of His special care and attention.

Throughout the session, help them to truly understand that they are loved and valued by God.

b. God knows His plans for you

1. Read or have a volunteer read Psa 139:13-16. Why is God’s plan for us ultimately the best?

Hint: God is more than just a Friend; He is also our Creator. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and had designed a wonderful plan for each of our lives.

Guide:* Point out that though God had designed a wonderful plan for each of our lives, yet He still allows us to make our awn decisions to choose for ourselves whether or not we will experience all that God has for us.

2. Read or have a volunteer read Jer 29:11, What does this passage

reveal about God’s plan for us? [Hint: God’s plans are designed for is glory and our benefit.

Because He understands us, He knows how best to bless us, protect us, provide for our needs, bring us closer to Himself, and direct our lives.]

Note:* Because God knows things we don’t know, He often acts in ways we don’t immediately understand. But when we understand that all His actions are based on His love for and perfect knowledge of us, we should be willing- even eager- to put aside our desires and trust in His plans. Even when we experience hardships, we can be assured that God knows our circumstances and desires what’s best for us.

3. How can you discover God’s plan for your life?

Hint: Some of the ways you can know God’s plan by maintaining fellowship with God through daily prayer and Bible study, obeying God’s Word, submitting to Him in every area of your life, and being open and sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Guide:* Remind students to not only talk to God, but begin listening as His voice speaks to their hearts. Emphasize that God will never direct a person to do something that contradicts biblical principles and commands. God’s plans always agree with His Word.

c. God knows how to lead you

1. Read or have a volunteer read Matt 15:14. What do you think this verse means? [Hint: It’s a bad idea to follow someone who can’t be sure of where he or she is headed.

2. In what ways have you seen this truth illustrated among your peers ?

Explain that teens often follow their friends when making important life decisions.

While we should always be open to good advice, God is the only Friend we should follow. He alone knows our circumstances, our heart, and our potential.

3. Read or have a volunteer read Psa 139:23-24. How should we respond to God’s all-knowing character?

Guide: Explain that we should respond to God’s all-knowing character as David did, desiring purity in our habits, thoughts, and motives; and trust Him to be the leader of our lives.

Involve Them: SIGNED, SEALED, AND DELIVERED

Discuss situations students are facing for which they need to trust God.

Remind students that because God knows and loves them, they can trust Him to meet every one of their needs- in His way and in His time

Pray with students over one area of their lives that needs to be turned over to God, asking for God’s intention, even as they yield themselves to Him.

Play the song “My Anchor” by Christy Nockels from the album Passion: Even So Come. You can access it via this link: https:youtube/sKplVoudc8

Discuss with students how God is always our Anchor; He loves us, even in our darkest times. Ask students about any difficult time when God was there for them and share from their experiences.

Inspire Them

Remind students THE BASIC MESSAGE of this study, explaining WHAT the Big ldea behind the study is;

HOW we can live the lesson captured in this study.

lnvitation Option:* Invite those who are not living for Christ to begin a relationship with Him. Explain that Jesus knows about their sins but didn’t come to condemn them (Jn 3:17).

Instead, He came to earth to die on a cross, paying the penalty for their sins and making a way for their forgiveness.

Encourage them to experience His friendship by making Him the Forgiver of their sins and the Leader of their lives. Offer to pray with those who respond.

Ministry Activity:

Distribute paper and pens or pencils, and instruct students to list several reasons why they are thankful for God’s friendship.

Allow those who want to share their lists with the class.

Encourage students to refer to their lists throughout the week as a reminder to make time, to communicate their thankfulness to God.

Conclude the session by praying that each of your students will develop a closer personal friendship with God.

Teacher Hint: Ask Yourself.

1. Do students understand that God knows everything?

2. Are students willing to trust and submit to God’s plans for their lives?

3. Do students express a desire to experience a closer relationship with

God?