A potpourri of ideas and helps for the Sunday school teacher or youth leader

Bible Studies

The lessons in this section can be a combination of a Sword Drill, discussion and Bible study. There are various ways to present these lessons. You can pass out the Scriptures ahead of time and have your class be prepared to discuss them. Or you can use the verses as a Sword Drill and then talk about each verse after it is read. Be sure to encourage class participation in your discussions.

Temptations
Tempt- To entice to do wrong by promise of pleasure or gain.
Yield- To give up or to surrender to.
Resist- To withstand the force of; to exert oneself to counteract; to
           exert force in opposition.

• Genesis 3:6
  What was Eve’s temptation?

• Genesis 13:10
  What was wrong with Lot’s choice?

• Mark 10:35-38
  When is ambition wrong?

• Joshua 7:21
  What is the relationship between eyes and temptation?

• James 1:13
  Where does temptation not come from?

• James 1:14
  Is everyone tempted in the same areas?

• James 1:15
  What is the end of temptation?

• 2 Corinthians 11:3
  Why was Eve tempted the way she was?

• Matthew 4:1
  How was Jesus tempted?

• 1 Corinthians 10:13
  What is the two-fold help in time of temptation?

• James 1:12
  What is the reward for overcoming temptation?

See also: 2 Peter 2:9, James 1:2

 

Wisdom

• 1 Corinthians 1:25
  What is the difference between man’s wisdom and God’s?

• Jeremiah 4:22
  Is all wisdom good?

• James 3:15-17
  What two types of wisdom do we have here?
  How are they different?

• Luke 2:40
  How does wisdom and the grace of God work together?

• Romans 11:33
  How much wisdom can a person receive from God?

• 2 Timothy 3:15
  How does the Bible help us acquire wisdom?

• James 1:5
  Will God give us all the wisdom we ask for?

• Proverbs 3:13, 14
  How is wisdom better then wealth?

• Ecclesiastes 7:19
  Why is wisdom better then physical strength?

See also: Isaiah 11:2, Luke 2:40, Proverbs 4:7

 

Prayer

Prayer- An approach to Deity in word or thought.
Pray- To address God with adoration, confession, supplication, or
          thanksgiving.

• Romans 8:27
  How does the Spirit help us in prayer?

• Matthew 26:41
  How does prayer help us overcome temptation?

• John 16:24
  Do we always receive what we pray for?

• 2 Corinthians 12:8, 9     Luke 11:9
  Does God always answer our prayer?

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17
  How can we pray without stopping?

• Luke 18:1
  How vital is prayer to our spiritual lives?

• Luke 18:11     Daniel 6:10     Ephesians 3:14     1 Timothy 2:8
  Is there any significance in the physical posture in prayer?

• Mark 1:35
  Is morning a good time to pray?

• Matthew 6:6
  What does Jesus mean here?

• 1 John 3:22
  What is the relationship between obedience and prayer?

• Luke 1:10
  What might be advantages to group praying?

See also Matthew 6:7; 18:19

 

Magic

Enchantment- To put a spell on; bewitch.
Soothsaying- The practice of foretelling events.
Sorcery- Employment of supernatural power over others through the assistance of spirits, witchcraft, etc.
Divination- The art of foretelling future events by means of a supernatural agency.
Necromancer- One who foretells the future through communication with the dead.
Witch- A woman who practices sorcery; one having supernatural powers to work evil.
Wizard- One who practices magic; a sorcerer.
Medium- One through whom the spirits of the dead communicate with the living.
Spiritualism- The belief that the dead communicate with the living as through a medium.

• Exodus 22:18
  Why does God pronounce this judgment on witches?

• Leviticus 19:26
  Is there anything wrong with horoscopes?

• Leviticus 19:31
  Why should we leave these kind of people alone?

• Deuteronomy 18:10-12
  How would knowing future events affect our walk with God?

• Jude 14
  What is the difference between Godly prophesying and fortune telling?

See also: Leviticus 20:6; Isaiah 8:19; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Acts 16:1

 

Home

Family- A group of persons of common ancestry; the basic unit in society having as its nucleus two adults living together and cooperating in the care and rearing of their own or adopted children.
Home- A family’s place of residence; the social unit formed by a family living together.

• Genesis 2:24
  Why does becoming “one” help in a marriage?

• Mark 10:9
  What are some of the basics for a successful marriage?

• Song of Solomon 8:7
  What part does love play in a home?

• 1 Timothy 3:4
  What are some of the responsibilities of the father in the home?
  What is the proper way for fathers to “rule”?

• 2 Chronicles 20:13
  Why is it important to see that our children attend church?

• Deuteronomy 4:9
  What are some of the ways parents can instruct their children in spiritual things?

• 1 Kings 22:52
  Comment on the influence we have with our children and why it is important to have a Godly influence.

• Ephesians 6:1
  Should children have responsibilities in the home? 

 

Psalm 23

Restore- To renew, to put back into a former state.
Rod- Speaks of discipline.
Staff- Speaks of comfort.

• Verse 1
  What are the responsibilities of a shepherd?
  Do we get everything we want?

• Verse 2
  What do the green pastures and still waters refer to?
  Why do we need times of being still before God?

• Verse 3
  In what ways do we need to be restored?
  There are many pathways in life. Why is it important to have Christ lead us?

• Verse 4
  Why is death something we are uneasy about?
  Why is discipline a part of the Christian’s life?

• Verse 5
  What kind of enemies does a Christian have?

• Verse 6
  What is the end result of following the Good Shepherd?

Giving

Liberal- To be generous, openhanded, bountiful.
Honor- To show great respect and esteem.
Tithe- A tenth part paid in kind or money.

• Proverbs 3:9,10
  What must we do in order for God to bless us with plenty?

• Leviticus 25:35   Exodus 23:11   Luke 11:41
  What are some things we can give besides money?

• Leviticus 27:30   Malachi 3:10   Genesis 28:22
  What do we do with our tithe money?

• 2 Corinthians 9:7   Matthew 10:8
  Why is the attitude of our heart in giving important?

• Proverbs 11:24; 28:27   Luke 6:38
  Can we out give God?

• Luke 12:33   Matthew 5:42
  What does Jesus say concerning our giving?

• Acts 11:29   Ezra 2:69   1 Chronicles 29:9
  Is giving a tenth enough?

• Luke 21:1-4
  What is Christ telling us here?

• Matthew 6:1-4
  What about our motive in giving?

Promises for the liberal giver-
     Psalm 41:1           Proverbs 11:25
     Luke 6:38             Isaiah 58:10
     Proverbs 3:9,10     Proverbs 22:9

 

Sunday

Holy- Set apart to the service of God; sacred.
Rest- To cease from action; to be free from anxiety or disturbance.

• Exodus 20:8
  What are some ways we keep Sunday holy?

• Nehemiah 10:31   13:15
  Comment on buying and selling on Sunday.

• Matthew 12:12
  What are some good deeds we do on Sunday?

• Exodus 34:21   Matthew 12:1, 2
  Are there exceptions to the rule?
  Why or why not?

• Mark 3:1, 2
  Are there limits on how far we go to help someone on Sunday?

• Jeremiah 17:27   Ezekiel 20:13
  What about those who desecrate Sunday?

• Genesis 2:2, 3
  Comment on the example God gives us for keeping Sunday holy.

• Isaiah 56:6,7   58:13,14
  How does the Lord reward those that keep Sunday holy?

See also Jeremiah 17:21-27   Exodus 16:22-30

Holiness

Holiness- The quality or state of being holy.
Holy- Set apart to the service of God; spiritually pure.
Sanctify- To free from sin; purify. To set apart for a sacred purpose.
Pure- Unmixed with any other matter; spotless; free from what pollutes.

• Hebrews 12:4
  Why do we need holiness to make it to heaven?

• Ephesians 5:27
  How does holiness help us in our walk through life?

• 2 Timothy 2:21
  What is the relationship between sanctification and the work God wants us to do?

• 1 Thessalonians 4:3
  Why does God want us to be sanctified?

• 1 Peter 1:22
  How does holiness affect our relationship with others?

• James 1:27
  If we do not keep ourselves unspotted from the world how will this affect those we are working with?

• 2 Corinthians 6:17
  How do we separate ourselves from the world?

• Ephesians 4:22-24
  When we are sanctified what happens to the “old man”?

See also 1 Corinthians 13