Youth Resource Proposal

IT’S FOR REAL! (Lessons from the Life of Elijah) 1 Overview: We are instructed by Peter to be ready to “give an answer for the hope that lies within 2 us” (1 Pet. 3:15). The word “answer” in the Greek means “a verbal defense”. This means we must arm 7 young people with clear explanations to some of the challenging questions they face in our current 12 society so that they, themselves, will be able to explain why they believe what they believe. So, from 17 the life of Elijah, they will be presented with teaching about Creation, the Bible, the Resurrection, 22 the Rapture and the return of Christ to reign on the earth. These children will encounter many indi- viduals in their school and social settings who would label these things as mere “fairy tales”. “But”, affirms Peter, “...we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Pet. 1:16, em- phasis mine). Therefore, the theme of this series is: “It’s For Real!” LESSON 1: FIRE FROM HEAVEN Big Idea: The Creator God is for real Summary: Elijah confronts the prophets of Baal Key Passage: 1 Kings 18:19-40 Takeaway: Regardless of what other people say, we know there is one true God. Key Verse: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:20, NKJV). LESSON 2: GOD STILL SPEAKS Big Idea: The Bible is for real Summary: Elijah hides in a cave. God speaks to him in a “still, small voice.” Key Passage: 1 Kings 19:1-12 Takeaway: God still speaks to His people today — through the Bible. Key Verse: “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” (Mark 13:31). LESSON 3: THE FUNERAL THAT NEVER HAPPENED Big Idea: The Resurrection is for real Summary: Elijah raises the Widow’s son from the dead. Key Passage: 1 Kings 17:17-24 Takeaway: God still speaks to His people today — through the Bible. Key Verse: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live’” (John 11:25, NKJV). LESSON 4: A HORSE RIDE TO HEAVEN Big Idea: The Rapture is for real Summary: Elijah bypasses death and goes to Heaven on a Chariot of Fire Key Passage: 2 Kings 2:1-11 Takeaway: Christians alive at the rapture will bypass death and go to Heaven, just like Elijah! Key Verse: “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up...to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thes. 4:17, NKJV). LESSON 5: JESUS ALWAYS WINS Big Idea: The Coming King is for real Summary: Elijah appears on the Mount of Transfiguration with the King of Glory Key Passage: Matthew 17:1-13 Takeaway: Though the world thinks they have seen the end of Jesus Christ, He is preparing to reign on this earth in glory. Key Verse: “For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:25–26).

ROCK SOLID! (Lessons from the Life of David) 23 Overview: Many children have likely heard of David and Goliath. David picked up five smooth stones 24 (fully prepared for Goliath’s four brothers who’d come after him after slaying Goliath). In this series, 28 we are going to consider five aspects to David’s one Rock. Why is this important? Our culture is 32 changing rapidly, and people are intent on building their empires on sand. The objective of these 36 lessons is to help young people “set their feet upon the Rock” (see Ps 40:2). We seek to point them 40 to Christ, the Rock, Who is unchanging and unchangeable: He is the same yesterday, today, forever (Heb 13:8). Because of this, Christ must be shown to be the only Source of safety and security for both time and eternity. As David, himself, declared: “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2). LESSON 1: THE ROCK THAT SAVES Big Idea: Only Christ can save. Summary: David calls God “The Rock of My Salvation”. Key Passage: 2 Samuel 22:47 Takeaway: The salvation David rejoiced in is something we all need. Key Verse: David’s conclusion: “Blessed [Happy] is he whose transgression is forgiven!” (Ps 32:1). LESSON 2: THE ROCK THAT SECURES Big Idea: Build your life on Christ. Summary: David says God set his “feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand”. Key Passage: Psalm 40:2 Takeaway: In a world of constant change, true security is only found in Christ. Key Verse: David’s conclusion: “Blessed [Happy] is the man that trusteth in him” (Ps 34:8). LESSON 3: THE ROCK THAT SATISFIES Big Idea: Jesus brings true joy. Summary: David wrote about the “Rock that gushed out water in the desert”. Key Passage: Psalm 105:41 Takeaway: True and lasting joy comes only from Jesus Christ. Key Verse: David’s conclusion: “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed [Happy] is the man who trusts in Him!” (Ps 34:8). LESSON 4: THE ROCK THAT STRENGTHENS Big Idea: Christ gives us power. Summary: David calls God “The Rock of my strength”. Key Passage: Psalm 62:7 Takeaway: The power to live the life that pleases God comes from God Himself. Key Verse: David’s conclusion: “Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee” (Ps 84:5). LESSON 5: THE ROCK THAT SHIELDS Big Idea: God protects His own. Summary: David calls God “My Rock of refuge”. Key Passage: Psalm 31:3 Takeaway: God protects His own, both now in time and throughout eternity. Key Verse: David’s conclusion: “Blessed [Happy] are the people whose God is the Lord” (Ps 144:15).

MAKE YOUR CHOICE! (Lessons from Bible “2’s”) 41 Overview: The well-known evangelist, D. L. Moody, admitted that one of his greatest regrets in life 42 happened on a Sunday night, October 8, 1871. At the close of his gospel message based on the verse, 46 “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” (Mt. 27:22), Moody urged the people to “think” 50 about the message and to come back the following week with a decision to receive Christ. Before the 54 service was over, sirens were heard outside. Firefighters were responding to what is now famously 58 known as The Great Chicago Fire. By morning, much of the city lay in ashes and hundreds were killed and swept into eternity. To his dying day, Moody regretted that decision to suggest that people “think” about salvation.The gospel message demands that people “choose”, to “obey” and to do it right away because “today is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). Though it is the Spirit that does the work in the heart, it is still with an urgency that we present the gospel.We do not merely hold up a road sign showing campers the way to Heaven. We want to bring them to the “fork in the road” and impress on them that a choice must be made.And the choice must be made by them alone. Like Elijah, we declare: “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? Make your choice!” (see 1 Kings 18:21). LESSON 1: “2” EXPERTS Big Idea: Will you choose God or Man? Summary: Both God and Man claim to be experts. But only God can back up His claims. Key Passage: Isaiah 55:8-9 Takeaway: It is wise to put confidence in God, not man. Key Verse: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Cor. 3:19). LESSON 2: “2” BROTHERS Big Idea: Will you choose Now or Later? Summary: Esau lived for “now” and forfeited his birthright for “later”. Many do the same today. Key Passage: Genesis 25:29-34 Takeaway: We are eternal beings (see Mt 25:46). Use your “now” to prepare for “later”. Key Verse: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mk 8:36). LESSON 3: “2” DIRECTIONS Big Idea: Will you choose Up or Down? Summary: As eternal beings, we only have two choices where to spend eternity: Heaven or Hell. Key Passage: Luke 16:19-31 Takeaway: The choice we make for eternity is made before we die. After death, it’s too late. Key Verse: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23). LESSON 4: “2” ROBBERS Big Idea: Will you Receive or Reject God’s offer of salvation? Summary: Two robbers hung on either side of Jesus: Same opportunity, different decisions. Key Passage: Luke 23:32-43 Takeaway: What will you do with Christ? Key Verse: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2). LESSON 5: “2” BUILDERS Big Idea: Will you choose to be Wise or Foolish? Summary: Both the wise man and the foolish man had the same knowledge. Only one acted on it. Key Passage: Matthew 7:24-27 Takeaway: Instructions are only helpful if they are followed. Key Verse: “There is a way that seems right to man but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 16:25).

THAT’S AMAZING! (Lessons from Inventors) 59 63 Overview: This series will consider some “amazing” inventions throughout history. They may be or- 67 dinary, household items today. But people were “amazed” by them when they were first introduced 71 and radically changed the way people did life. These inventions will serve as illustrations to introduce 75 the most amazing Person who ever lived, Jesus Christ, and some of the “mighty acts” He performed 79 (see Psalm 150:2). LESSON 1: THE AMAZING GOALIE HELMET Big Idea: Masks can hide our faces from pucks (and other things). But they can’t hide us from God. Summary: Pharisees were people who tried to hide their sin behind the mask of religion. But Jesus saw through their masks. Key Passage: Luke 12:1-3 Takeaway: God’s Holiness is AMAZING. God sees our sin but offers forgiveness. Remove the mask and ask! Key Verse: “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb 4:13). LESSON 2: THE AMAZING GARBAGE BAG Big Idea: We all carry “spiritual” garbage bags around with us. What do we do with them? Summary: The woman whose “sins which were many” were dealt with by Jesus. Key Passage: Luke 7:36-50 Takeaway: God’s FORGIVENESS is Amazing! God wants us to trade in our trash for His treasure! Key Verse: “...everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins...” (Acts 10:43). LESSON 3: THE AMAZING WALKIE-TALKIE Big Idea: It’s possible to “walk” and “talk” with Jesus every day. Summary: God’s children are instructed to “walk” in obedience to His Word and “talk” to God through prayer. Key Passage: Luke 24:13-35 Takeaway: God’s FRIENDSHIP is Amazing! Other friends will come and go. But Jesus never leaves. Key Verse: “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (Jn 15:15). LESSON 4: THE AMAZING BATTERY (ALKALINE) Big Idea: Christ gives us power. Summary: Trying to live the Christian life on our own is doomed to fail. We are powerless apart from the strength God provides. Key Passage: Luke 22:54-62; Acts 4:8 Takeaway: God’s POWER is Amazing! The Spirit of God empowers the child of God to live for Him. Key Verse: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Rom 8:11). LESSON 5: THE AMAZING TELEPHONE Big Idea: God’s children are awaiting a special message from Heaven. Summary: God is going to send a message across the universe for His children to hear, similar to the first message across the telephone wire: “Come here! I want you!” Key Passage: Acts 1:9-11 Takeaway: God’s PROMISE is Amazing! Christians are just a “shout” away from being “with the Lord”! Key Verse: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout...” (1 Thes 4:16).

NOT ASHAMED! (Lessons from Paul) 80 Overview: We are living in days of deception! The Bible explicitly states that if anyone, even “an 81 angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be 85 accursed” (Gal 1:8). Yet there are many false gospels being declared today; messages that declare 89 that we are basically good and that the aim of life is to pursue God’s best life for us now. What’s 93 just as alarming is that many professing Christians don’t even recognize this counterfeit gospel. 97 This was Paul’s fear that he warned the Corinthian believers about, that when so-called preachers preached “a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” (2 Cor 11:4). The aim of this series is to set out in clarity and simplicity the pure gospel of Jesus Christ. These lessons are built on the acrostic “G.O.S.P.E.L”— God’s Only Son Provides Eternal Life. LESSON 1: “G” IS FOR “GOD” Big Idea: There is one true God. Summary: Our Creator-God made: the universe, us and the way back into relationship with Him. Key Passage: Romans 1:20, Revelation 4:11, John 14:6 Takeaway: God made us ON purpose and FOR a purpose: To know and enjoy God. Key Verse: “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come...” (Eccl 12:1 NKJ). LESSON 2: “O-S” IS FOR “ONLY SON” Big Idea: Jesus is God’s only begotten Son who came to show us how wonderful His Father is. Summary: Jesus not only claimed to be God’s Son: He proved it in 837 ways. Key Passage: Galatians 4:4-5 (read from the NLT) Takeaway: God’s only Son is the only way back to the Father (Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12). Key Verse: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). LESSON 3: “P” IS FOR “PROVIDES” Big Idea: Jesus came as the Light to provide sight to the spiritually blind. Summary: The blind man actually “saw” things we need to see to be saved. Key Passage: John 9 Takeaway: Will you remain blind in your sin or will you receive sight and be saved? Key Verse: “[God] has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind” (Lk 4:18 NKJ). LESSON 4: “E-L” IS FOR “ETERNAL LIFE” Big Idea: Jesus used the death of His friend to teach that true believers receive eternal life. Summary: When Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus was pulled back into this world. When Jesus rose from the dead, He triumphantly broke through death to the other side. Now, for all God’s children, death merely serves as a door to the other side, into the very presence of God . Key Passage: John 11 Takeaway: Jesus’ resurrection gaurantees the resurrection for all of those in His family. Key Verse: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (Jn 3:36). LESSON 5: ASHAMED OR NOT ASHAMED? THAT IS THE QUESTION! Big Idea: What is your response to the gospel? Summary: Pilate knew the truth but cared more about what people thought about him. Big mistake! Key Passage: Luke 23 Takeaway: It’s better to be thought a fool for time and wise for eternity than wise for time but a fool for eternity.. Key Verse: “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe” (Proverbs 29:25).