Teaching Plan
Connect Activity
Purpose and plan: Connect activities get everyone ready to learn. Consider your small group’s learning style as you choose one or two of the activities below to introduce this week’s lesson.
Fun: Fast Advice
(5–8 minutes, easy set-up)
Learners will use a beach ball to help dispense words of wisdom.
Discussion: Winning Influence
(5–8 minutes, easy set-up)
Learners will discuss the influence of Christianity on culture and vice versa.
Life and Times: Leaving a Legacy
(5–8 minutes, easy set-up)
Learners will listen to a story about a professor’s last lecture.
Relational: Best and Worst
(5–8 minutes, easy set-up)
Learners will discuss their best and worst church experiences.
Explore Activity
Purpose and Plan: Explore activities lead people to study Scripture. Teach one of the Core Studies to focus on the Biblical Truth. If you choose, support the Core Study with one or two of the following activities.
Interactive Core Study: Let the Church Begin
(15–20 minutes, easy set-up)
Learners will study Matthew 16:13–20 and Acts 1:1–3 to understand the central belief of the Church.
Master Teacher Core Study: Let the Church Begin
(15–20 minutes, easy set-up)
Learners will study Matthew 16:13–20 and Acts 1:1–3 to understand the central belief of the Church.
Context Study: The Gates of Hell
(5–8 minutes, easy set-up)
Learners will discuss the literal “Gates of Hell” in Caesarea Philippi.
Closer Look: Ekklesia
(5–8 minutes, moderate set-up)
Learners will discuss whether the Church is a building or a group of people.
Comparative Study: Cornerstone
(5–8 minutes, easy set-up)
Learners will discuss Christ’s place as the cornerstone of the Church.
Transform Activity
Purpose and Plan: Transform activities challenge your group to live differently. Choose one or two activities based on the spiritual growth of your group. Keep in mind that the Holy Spirit ultimately brings about change, so help people draw near to Him.
Discoverers: Who is Jesus?
(5–8 minutes, easy set-up)
Learners will discuss how to use everyday conversations to tell people about Christ.
Owners: Shell or Solid?
(5–8 minutes, moderate set-up)
Learners will discuss how Christians can resemble a hollow egg and a solid egg.
Servants: The Body at Work
(5–8 minutes, moderate set-up)
Learners will identify some of the needs within their community of believers.
Shepherds: Faith Baton
(5–8 minutes, easy set-up)
Learners will discuss how to encourage younger Christians to become active in the life of the Church.
Prayer Option: A Praying Church
(5–8 minutes, easy set-up)
Learners will pray for God to give them the opportunities to demonstrate the purpose of the Church in front of others.