This is the third and final installment related to the “How to Talk to God” Bible lesson series.
For Part 1, head over here; Part 2 can be found here.
During this final part of the lesson, we’re going to go over a small group discussion you can have with your students as well as “Help All Week,” which will help them remember and refer to this Bible lesson at home.
Bible Lesson Small Group Discussion
**Print out the following sheet for your students**
Why God Likes Talking to Us
To really “get” the value of talking with God, we first have to understand what he feels for us (as much as we can). These scripture LOOKUPS and questions should help.
1. Genesis 3:8 implies that God was in the habit of taking on human form to walk in the garden with Adam and Eve. Why would God like to walk and talk with humans? Why do you hang out with your friends? Why would God want to hang out with us?
LOOKUP: Zephaniah 3:17
2. Think of how you enjoy your friends. How is God’s love the same? How is it different?
LOOKUP: John 15:13
3. How close to death would you let yourself come to save one of your friends? How close to death would one of your parents come to save you? Does God love you more than friends and parents?
LOOKUP: Isaiah 49:15-16
4. Do you think that God misses you when you don’t talk to Him for days or even weeks?
LOOKUP: Isaiah 30:18
5. Have you ever been in love or had a mad crush? Have you ever been in a situation where someone else came along and went out with that person? Were you ever so jealous that you felt like your face or chest was burning? The saying goes, “You can’t feel truly jealous unless you’ve felt love.”
LOOKUP: Deuteronomy 4:24
6. Is God in love with you? How do you want to treat someone when you’re in love with them? Why are some of the reasons God holds back on blessing us?
Help All Week
**Print out the following sheet for your students**
Help All Week
Make Up Your Own Lord’s Prayer
Below are the ten parts of the Lord’s Prayer and what each means. Use the boxes to fill in what you would like to say that makes it personal to your life. You can use this as a prayer guide all week.
Our Father who art in Heaven”¦
1. THINK UP SOME NICE WAY TO SAY HELLO TO HIM OR START THINGS OFF:
Hallowed be Thy name.
2. TELL HIM IN YOUR OWN WORDS IF YOU ARE EXCITED TO SEE HIM SOME DAY:
Thy will be done.
3. TELL HIM OF SITUATIONS WHERE YOU’RE UNCLEAR ON WHAT TO DO. ASK FOR HIS GUIDANCE:
Give us this day our daily bread.
4. TELL HIM WHAT YOU’RE GRATEFUL FOR – AS WELL AS WHAT YOU WANT:
And forgive us our trespasses”¦
5. TELL HIM ANYTHING YOU MESSED UP AND TO TAKE AWAY YOUR GUILTY-STUPID-EMBARRASSED FEELINGS:
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
6. FOR YOUR SAKE AS WELL AS THE HURTFUL PERSON, TELL HIM WHO MESSED WITH YOU AND TO TAKE AWAY THAT PAIN AND SUFFERING:
Lead us not into temptation.
7. THINK OF THINGS COMING UP LIKE PARTIES AND SPORTS AND SCHOOL SITUATIONS. ASK HIM TO PROTECT YOU FROM DOING THE WRONG THING:
Deliver us from evil.
8. ASK HIM TO PROTECT YOU FROM ANYTHING YOU’RE FEARFUL OR NERVOUS ABOUT:
For thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever”¦
9. TELL HIM IN YOUR OWN WORDS THAT YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIM – THAT HE HEARS AND UNDERSTANDS AND HAS THE POWER:
Amen!
10. SIGN OFF IN A WAY THAT TELLS HIM YOU MEAN IT AND YOU’RE THANKFUL FOR THAT:
Bible Lesson Conclusion
It comes as a surprise to some that God really enjoys us. He likes our company. He designed us so He could hang out with us, even though things have gotten messed up on our planet. We get into trouble sometimes, but God does not design something that isn’t cool. He wants to take our troubles away, whether it’s our own guilt or somebody else’s meanness, or sickness or fear or poverty… So, we need to start the joyous work of really talking to Him if we haven’t already.
Talk to Jesus like a real friend! Every day!
If you think your teen students would get a lot out of this Bible lesson, be sure to follow my RSS feed so you never miss out on an activity or lesson! And don’t forget to Follow Me on Twitter, where I will share more great Bible lesson ideas!