Weekly Lesson Plans
1. The Sanctity of Life
2. Work Ethic
3. Choosing Music, Movies, and Television
4. The Gospel
5. Peer Pressure
6. Growing through Trials
7. Dealing with Death
8. Choosing Proper Friends
9. Responding to Parents and Authority
10. Refuting Moral Relativism
11. Dating Basics
12. The Sanctity of Marriage
13. Relationship Success through Sacrifice
14. Biblical Intimacy Ethics
15. The Damage of Pornography
16. Modesty
17. Living a Separated Lifestyle
18. Individual Responsibility
19. Gender Roles
20. Individual Identity in Christ
21. Dealing with Depression
22. Coping with Change
23. The Necessity of the Local Church
24. Wise Use of Technology
25. Overcoming Addictions
26. God’s Will
Lesson 1: The Sanctity of Life
Genesis 1:26-27, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.”
Not only didGod create us separate from the animals, but He created us above the animals as well. The reason we put importance on human life is because God does.
The "sanctity of life" really boils down to the "origin of life". If you are just a product of an accident or if you’re just here by chance, then you'll live and die and that will be the end of it all. Then why not just do what you want? Why not steal, lie, cheat, or even murder to get what you want? If we come from a "big bang" then where do we get the standards for right and wrong and good and evil? This is the kind ofthinking that leads tounder-appreciating or abusing life, because we don't see it as sacred.
Sanctity means holiness, or to be set apart for a holy use. God seeshuman life different than the animals because He made us to be unique. The Bible says in Genesis 2:7, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” The Bible also describes us in Psalm 139:14, “…I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
We see from the Bible that God highly values all life, BUT DO YOU?
Challenges: Fill out these questions from the lesson. Each challenge you complete is worth 100 points for your team.
1. What does the sanctity of life boil down to?
______.
2. Mankind and animals were created equal. [ True / False ]
3. Define sanctity: ______
______.
4. When God created man, what did He put him over (give him rule over?)
______.
5. What kind of thinking leads to under-appreciating or abusing life?
______
______.
Additional challenges:
· Memorize Genesis1:27 and quote it to your leader.
· List two things you learned or were reminded of tonight that made you put more value (sanctity) on life.
1.______.
2.______.
· Ask 3 friends "where did life come from?" and record their answers.
1.______.
2.______. 3.______.
Lesson 2: Work Ethic
When God looks at your life, does He see a good work ethic? Does it really matter? Does God have a work ethic? We know God is all powerful, so He probably never works, right? Many people think being successful means not having to work, and that if they achieve success, they will finally be free from work. But the Bible says work isn’t evil. We see in scripture that God works! He has all the power in the whole universe and still worked to create it.
Genesis 2:3, “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”
Think of the beauty of earth: oceans, mountains, landscapes, and wildlife. They are a result of his work. What if God had quit before He finished or did a half-job? We should follow the example that God has set for us and be hard workers.
It is important to remember that in having a good work ethic, we should not do it for money or success, but rather for God. If someone has a good work ethic, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s for the right reasons. The Bible tells us that whether we eat, or drink, or whatever we do, we’re supposed to do everything to the glory of God (1Corinthians 10:31). So, what are you working for? Yourself? Money? Success? Or are you working for God?
Challenges: Fill out these questions from the lesson. Each challenge you complete is worth 100 points for your team.
1. How do we know work is not evil?
______.
2. If we become successful enough, we don’t have to work. [ True / False ]
3. Why did God sanctify on the seventh day? ______.
4. What do people believe can free them from work? ______.
5. What are two examples (from this worksheet) of things we should be doing unto the Lord?
______and ______.
Additional challenges:
· Memorize Ecclesiastes 9:10 and quote it to your leader.
· List two things you learned or were reminded of tonight.
1.______.
2.______.
· Ask 3 friends to grade your work ethic on a scale of 1-10.
1.______.
2.______.
3.______.
Lesson 3: Choosing Music, Movies, and Media
Smart phones. IPods. Computers. TV. These are just some of the many devices that teenagers use on a daily basis to interact with each other or just to kill time. Do you ever find yourself watching something or listening to something that you know isn't right in the sight of God?
The Bible tells us that we are supposed to “guard our hearts with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life….” We have to guard ourselves from sin and stay right in the sight of God! The Bible tells us that God says "Be ye holy, for I am holy.” What do you think that means?
God’s word makes it really simple. It teaches, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.” A wicked thing is defined as worthless, good for nothing, and unprofitable. Let’s think about this for a minute: imagine the things you listen to, what you watch on YouTube, or what you post on the different forms of social media. To be right in the sight of God means that with everything you do you try to please Him.
Consider this thought: is what you are watching pleasing to God? Is what you are posting on the different social media sites pleasing to God? Does your music please God, or is it "worthless, good for nothing, and unprofitable?"
Challenges: Fill out these questions from the lesson. Each challenge you complete is worth 100 points for your team.
1. What does the Bible say about guarding your hearts?
For out of it are the ______.
2. Why does God tell us to be holy?
______.
3. How does God’s Word make it really simple?
______.
4. When we are not pleasing God with our music, movies, and media, our time is ______.
5. What is the definition of wicked?
______.
Additional challenges:
· Memorize Proverbs 4:23 and quote it to your leader.
· Memorize Matthew 12:34 and quote it to your leader.
· Memorize the principle for this week and say it to your team leader.
· Participate in a ministry this week at your church. Bring a signed statement from your ministry leader to Full Throttle next week confirming your involvement.
· Find five Bible verses that deal with music, movies and media and turn the list into your team leader.
Lesson 4: The Gospel
“Gospel” means good news, but what good is good news if it’s not shared?
We have been given the greatest news in all of history. Jesus Christ (God in human form) left all the riches and glory of heaven; came to earth and died for our sins; was buried in a tomb for 3 days; and then rose from the dead. This proved He was God and that He had the power to forgive sins.
Most people would agree that's a powerful, amazing, life-changing message. But where does responsibility lie for getting this awesome message out? This is where people of all ages are getting it wrong!
Jesus said: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) and “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt 28:19-20a).
God could have written the gospel across the sky and just left it there. He could have left the responsibility with the angels to get this message out but God did something else, He left the responsibility with the church.
And we hear about this responsibility that the church has; so what do we do? We hire pastors, support missionaries, and give money in offering so that others can get the message of the gospel out. These are all great thing to do but if we never go out and share the Good News ourselves, we're not obeying God’s command.
The church isn't a building, and the church isn’t a pastor – the “church” is a “called out assembly” (a group of believers). The church is the people in the building. And if the people in the church aren't going out and sharing God’s love, aren't inviting others, aren't spreading the gospel, then the church is not following God's plan and command! So ask yourself, when is the last time you shared the good news with anyone? When’s the last time you invited anyone to come to church and hear the gospel?
Challenges: Fill out these questions from the lesson. Each challenge you complete is worth 100 points for your team.
1. What does the word “gospel” mean?
______
2. What is the gospel?
______.
3. The "church" means a building. [ True / False ]
______.
4. Who is responsible for getting the gospel out?
______.
5. In the last year, have you shared the gospel with anybody? [ Yes / No ]
Additional challenges (100 points each):
· Memorize John 3:16 and quote it to your leader.
· Memorize Mark 16:15 and quote it to your leader.
· Invite one person to church with you next week.
· Hand out five gospel tracts throughout the week.
Lesson 5: Peer Pressure
Who are you trying to impress? We all have friends and peers; we all have classmates, teammates, and co-workers, and we all want to fit in with others. But what are you willing to do, in order to be accepted by your friends and peers? What kind of language are you willing to use or even allow to be used around you? Where are you willing to go? And what things are you willing to do?
What you need to understand is that you can't please everybody. Even if you try, you’re not going to impress everyone. So you need to figure out who you’re trying to impress. What many teenagers don't stop to consider is, if the things that they're doing, the places they're going, and the kind of language that they're speaking to fit in with the crowd, is actually setting them against God. James 4:4 says “…know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
The truth is that if you’re looking for acceptance, then you’re going to be more vulnerable to peer pressure. But if you realize your identity is in Christ; understand how loved you are; and know you have all the acceptance you need in Him; then as a result, you will want to live a life that pleases God and fits in with Him. Jesus says in Matthew 10:32-33, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
You wouldn't want Jesus to deny you in front of your Father in Heaven, so why would you deny him in front of your friends and peers? It all boils down to the question, who are you trying to impress?
Challenges: Fill out these questions from the lesson. Each challenge you complete is worth 100 points for your team.
1. What does peer pressure boil down too? ______.
2. What will make us the enemy of God? ______.
3. Why shouldn't we deny Jesus in front of our friends and peers? ______.
4. If we try hard enough, we can please everyone. [ True / False ]
5. What’s going to make you more vulnerable to peer pressure? ______.
Additional challenges (100 points each)
· Memorize James 4:4 and quote it to your leader.
· Memorize Matthew 10:32-33 and quote it to your leader.
· What’s going to make you less vulnerable to peer pressure?
______.
· Is there such a thing as positive peer pressure? [ Yes / No ] Explain:
______.
Lesson 6: Growing through Trials
Life is full of trials. It has even been said that you’re either about to be in a trial, in the middle of trial, or coming out of a trial. The question is not, “Are you going through trials?” All of us are! No matter where you’re from or who you are, whether young, old, rich, or poor, everyone has hard and trying times. So the real question is, “Are you growing through your trials?”
In the1980s, the Soviet space program had a problem with their astronauts who spent long periods of time in space. They discovered that at zero gravity, there was no muscular resistance and the astronauts’ muscles would begin wasting away. When returning to earth they couldn’t walk for weeks and had to undergo months of therapy for deteriorated muscles and weakened hearts. As a solution, the Soviets invented a special running suit laced with elastic bands. This suit provided resistance to every movement, preventing muscles from wasting away. This allowed astronauts to return to earth strong and in perfect health.