EXPERIENCING TIME WITH GOD· It is so important for students to begin the habit of spending time with God daily. Yesterday's lesson was designed to expose us to what spending time with God each day could look like. It was an opportunity for students to experience a variety of practical ways to worship God on their own.
We broke it down into 5 experiences:
1. The Word - Romans 12:1-2/Mark 12:30
· What or what has the biggest influence on your life?
· Do you feel like the “world” or your culture shapes most of your thoughts, or does God shape most of your thoughts?
· How often do you connect with God now?
· What does that connection time look like?
· Are there any obstacles in your life that keep you from connecting with God?
· Do you feel like the “world” or your culture shapes most of your thoughts, or does God shape most of your thoughts?
· How often do you connect with God now?
· What does that connection time look like?
· Are there any obstacles in your life that keep you from connecting with God?
2. Listen to a song (example, How Great is Our God or How Great Thou Art)
· What did you hear?
· How did this song make you feel?
· What point was the artist trying to communicate?
· What did this song make you think about?
· Is there a passage in the Bible that is associated with this song?
· How did this song make you feel?
· What point was the artist trying to communicate?
· What did this song make you think about?
· Is there a passage in the Bible that is associated with this song?
3. Be silent and listen to God for 2 minutes
· Does complete silence make you uncomfortable?
· How often to you come before the Lord in silence?
· How can silence on your part be a good thing your relationship with God?
· How often to you come before the Lord in silence?
· How can silence on your part be a good thing your relationship with God?
4. Spend 5 minutes with God
Read the Lord’s prayer – Matthew 6
a. Pray for one minute – thank God for who He is and what He has done for you
b. Pray for one minute – confess any sin in your life; lay it down before God
c. Pray for one minute – ask God for what you need
d. Pray for one minute – bring requests before God on behalf of others in your life
e. Pray for one minute – surrender to God and His will for you
Activity follow up questions
· Did the 5 minutes go by fast?
· How often do you spend a focused time of prayer with God?
· Do you think you could try to pray for 5 minutes each day?
a. Pray for one minute – thank God for who He is and what He has done for you
b. Pray for one minute – confess any sin in your life; lay it down before God
c. Pray for one minute – ask God for what you need
d. Pray for one minute – bring requests before God on behalf of others in your life
e. Pray for one minute – surrender to God and His will for you
Activity follow up questions
· Did the 5 minutes go by fast?
· How often do you spend a focused time of prayer with God?
· Do you think you could try to pray for 5 minutes each day?
5. Read and study a passage from the Bible (example, Philippians 2:5-11)
· Highlight or underline key words
· Who are the main characters?
· Where does this take place?
· Highlight or underline a key word or phrase
· Are there any terms you don’t understand?
· Does this verse speak to you?
· Does it have any relevance for your life right now?
· Stop and reflect on this passage for one minute
Activity follow up questions
· How often do you read and study God’s Word?
· Do you have a particular study method you use?
· Did the questions above help you understand this passage better?
· Who are the main characters?
· Where does this take place?
· Highlight or underline a key word or phrase
· Are there any terms you don’t understand?
· Does this verse speak to you?
· Does it have any relevance for your life right now?
· Stop and reflect on this passage for one minute
Activity follow up questions
· How often do you read and study God’s Word?
· Do you have a particular study method you use?
· Did the questions above help you understand this passage better?
6. Draw a picture or pictures while listening to the Bible (example of passage Psalm 100)
· What did you draw?
· What did this passage/song make you think about?
· Why is it important to connect with God as often as possible?
· Do you think God wants to connect with you?
· What do you think is the result of connecting with God each day?
· Do you feel closer to God after today’s activity?
· What did this passage/song make you think about?
· Why is it important to connect with God as often as possible?
· Do you think God wants to connect with you?
· What do you think is the result of connecting with God each day?
· Do you feel closer to God after today’s activity?
Take Home Challenge:
· Can you make a commitment to try to connect once a day with God?
· Fill out the six-day commitment on your student sheet and fill in what you are going to try to do this week to connect with God
· Fill out the six-day commitment on your student sheet and fill in what you are going to try to do this week to connect with God
* Taken from Active Bible Studies