Teaching Plan

The Customizable Teaching Plan is where you will find every activity needed for an amazing time of Bible Study with your students.

  • There are four different plans to choose from, Complete, Younger, Older, and Master Teacher. (Although activities have been carefully designed with age-appropriate behavior, topics, and learning styles in mind, you know your own group better than anyone – feel free to customize your plan to best fit your group’s personality and needs.)
  • Each plan is broken into three sections: Connect, Explore, and Transform.
  • Simply click on the activity titles below to see each activity.
  • Activity PDFs can be downloaded within the specific activity window.

Connect

Connect options are fun ways to introduce the lesson's theme(s). Your choices for Connect activities include:

  • Drama—A short drama script that can be performed by your students
  • Media Option—Media options are videos, photos, audio files, or slide shows
  • Age Specific Options—Activities to get your students ready for the lesson
  • Review Questions—Questions to review the previous lesson's content

Explore

Explore options are where Bible Study happens. Your choices for Explore activities include:

  • The Key Study—An interactive, small group Bible Study focusing on the Biblical Passage (includes Map and Timeline reference)
  • The Master Teacher Key Study—A sermon-style Bible Study focusing on the Biblical Passage
  • Age Specific Options—Bible Study activities developed specifically for younger and older students

Transform

Transform options help your students apply the lesson's truths. Your choices for Transform activities include:

  • Deeper Discussion—Questions to take your students deeper into the application of the lesson
  • Creative Prayer—Interactive ways to pray
  • Age Specific Options—Application activities developed specifically for younger and older students
Choose a Teaching Plan:

Connect

Connect activities get students ready to learn. Choose one or two of the activities below to introduce this week’s lesson.

Especially for Younger Students: Center Stage

(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will list the main characters of their favorite movies. 

Especially for Older Students: Proof of Identity

(10 minutes, moderate set-up)
Students will compete to name ways we can prove our identities.
Provide paper and pens, a dry erase board, and a marker.

Master Teacher Option: Center Stage

(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will identify the main characters of current movies.
Identify the top movies that your students have seen recently, and create a presentation slide with these listed.

Explore

Explore activities lead students to study Scripture. Teach the Key Study to focus on the Biblical Truth. If you choose, support the Key Study with one or two of the following activities.

Interactive Key Study: His Identity in Scripture

(15-20 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will study John 1:1–5, 14, and 5:31–47 to examine how Jesus is identified in Scripture.
Provide a copy of the Student Worksheet and a pen for each student. If desired, download a copy of a first-century map of Israel.

Master Teacher Key Study: His Identity in Scripture

(15-20 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will study John 1:1–5, 14, and 5:31–47 to examine how Jesus is identified in Scripture.
Print one copy of the Master Teacher Key Study for your use. Provide a copy of the Student Worksheet and a pen for each student.

Especially for Younger Students: What’s a Messiah?

(10 minutes, moderate set-up)
Students will discuss the meaning and significance of the title Messiah.
Provide three Bible dictionaries or three study Bibles. Be sure that these resources contain the meanings for the following words: Word (or logos), Savior, and Messiah. Also bring paper, pens, and a dry erase board and marker.

Especially for Older Students: Confrontation Countdown

(10 minutes, moderate set-up)
Students will examine one of the confrontations between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders.
Provide a dry erase board and marker. On the dry erase board, create two columns labeled “Offense” and “Exchanges.”

Transform

Choose one or two Transform activities to challenge students to live differently. Keep in mind that the Holy Spirit ultimately brings about change, so help students draw near to Him.

Deeper Discussion

(5-10 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will discuss their thoughts on Jesus’ place in history and Scripture as the Messiah.

Especially for Younger Students: Light in the Darkness

(10 minutes, easy set up)
Students will discuss Jesus’ role as the Light that illuminated the darkness.
Bring a trick candle that relights itself after it is blown out. Also provide matches.

Especially for Older Students: More Than a Religion

(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will discuss the difference between a religion and a relationship with Christ.
On separate pieces of paper, write a question and Scripture passage from the list below. Also provide pens.

Master Teacher Option: Light in the Darkness

(10 minutes, easy set up)
Students will discuss Jesus’ role as the Light that illuminated the darkness.
Bring a trick candle that relights itself after it is blown out. Also provide matches.

Take Home Activity

The Take Home Activity gives families the opportunity to study the biblical passage together and discuss how each member of the family might apply the truths from the lesson to his or her life.

Family Devotion

(10-15 minutes at home, easy set-up)
Distribute copies of the Family Devotion to students and encourage them to share the devotion with their family.