Bible Studies for Youth: In-Depth Teaching Material for Youth Leaders

By Emily Kepert

This book is a collection of Bible studies for young people. This leaders guide is comprehensive and easy to use. It includes in-depth teaching materials along with activities and discussion questions to help leaders study the Bible with teenagers. This volume includes studies on the Gospel, studies of the first half of the book of Luke, studies on hard questions, and studies on Christian living. It is a wonderful resource for leaders who want to teach the truth of the Bible simply and effectively.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Oct 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524518554

Emily Kepert

Emily has been writing and teaching Bible studies for over four years. She has qualifications in Christian theology and ministry and experience teaching to many different teenage audiences. Emily holds the truth of the Bible in high regard and is passionate about teaching young people effectively. Her greatest desire for teenagers growing up in the church is that they have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the Gospel. Emily loves seeing lives transformed by Jesus through the faithful preaching of the Good News of Christ.

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 by Emily Kepert.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-5245-1877-6

                eBook           978-1-5245-1855-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Rev. date: 10/28/2016

Xlibris

1-800-455-039

www.Xlibris.com.au

743648

CONTENTS

Introduction

LUKE BIBLE STUDIES

Study #1 – The Boy Jesus at the Temple

Study #2 – John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Study #3 – The Temptation of Jesus

Study #4 – Jesus Heals Many

Study #5 – Jesus Calls His First Disciples

Study #6 – Forgiveness of Sin

Study #7 – Judging Others

Study #8 – An Eternal Perspective

Study #9 – Love Your Enemies

Study #10 – A Strong Foundation

Study #11 – Jesus Anointed By a Sinful Woman

Study #12 – The Parable of the Sower

Study #13 – The Cost of Following Jesus

THE GOSPEL UNPACKED

Study #1 – Created perfect

Study #2 – Sin

Study #3 – The Consequences of Sin

Study #4 – God’s Planned Solution

Study #5 – Jesus

Study #6 – Jesus’ Death Part 1…What Happened?

Study #7 – Jesus’ Death Part 2…What Does it Mean?

Study #8 – Jesus’ Resurrection

Study #9 – Salvation

Study #10 – What Does it Mean to Follow Jesus?

CHRISTIAN LIVING STUDIES

Study #1 – The Heart

Study #2 – Assurance of Salvation

Study #3 – Gifts of the Spirit

Study #4 – Pursuing Righteousness

Study #5 – Trust & Obey

Study #6 – Forgiveness

Study #7 – Justice

Study #8 – Spending Time with God

Study #9 – How Does God Speak To Us?

Study #10 – Worship

ANSWERS TO HARD QUESTIONS

Study #1 – Was God Involved in Creation?

Study #2 – Is the Genesis Account of Creation Literally True?

Study #3 – Why Does God Allow Suffering?

Study #4 – What is Heaven & Hell?

Study #5 – What Does the Bible Say about Satan and demons?

Study #6 – How Do You Know That the Bible is true?

Study #7 – Is The Easter Story of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection True?

Study #8 – What Do Other Religions Believe and why is Christianity Right?

Study #9 – How Should Christians Use Technology & Social Media?

Study #10 – Who Am I and Why Am I Here?

INTRODUCTION

These are Bible studies I wrote while leading a group of young teenagers myself. I hope they are relevant and helpful to your young people and can give them a deeper understanding of the gospel. Included are four series, enough studies for a year. My intention was to teach young people the gospel well, help them wrestle with questions, and give them a solid understanding of the Bible. This way, if and when they decided to follow Jesus, they knew what they were committing to, and were sure that’s what they wanted.

There are four series’ of studies, one for each term of the school year if you decide to use them that way. The first goes through the first half of Luke, to give an overview of some of Jesus’ life. Next, a thorough look at the gospel, explaining what happened, why, and how Jesus’ death and resurrection give us salvation today. Series 3 is on Christian living, and the final one addresses some common hard questions teenagers may ask. The Bible references throughout are NIV.

I hope this resource can help you teach your teens more effectively, and grow the Kingdom of God. Blessings, Emily.

LUKE BIBLE STUDIES

STUDY #1

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

Introduction

A doctor wrote the book of Luke. Throughout the book, he is superb at getting details accurate. Luke wrote to Theophilus, and more widely, aimed at the Gentiles (non-Jews).

Activity: Get the students to read Luke 2:41-52 and write what they think the passage means/what the main point is, and questions they have about it. Share as a group their main points and take questions they may have.

The Feast of the Passover (v. 41-42)

Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.

The passage we’re looking at today is about an incident that happened during a family trip to Jerusalem, one Jesus’ family took every year. Each year Mary and Joseph took their family to a big feast to celebrate Passover.

Discussion question: What is Passover?

When God sent his final plague on Egypt to set the Israelites free from slavery. The angel of death came and killed the oldest son in every house, but God instructed the Israelites to paint the blood of a perfect lamb over their doorways. When they did this, the angel passed over their houses, and they were spared. Pharaoh let them go after this plague.

Passover is one event in the Old Testament that foreshadows the gospel. Like the Israelites, all of us are in slavery – to sin. We are trapped, and we can’t get out, and all of us deserve to die for what we’ve done. God, who rightfully could have punished us for our sins, provided a way for us to be passed over from his punishment (death). He sent his Son Jesus, to take our place and endure our punishment so we could go free. God killed his own Son, the perfect, sinless Lamb, so we are now covered by his blood if we repent of our sins and believe in him.

Every one of us will stand before God and be held to account for our actions here on Earth. Not one of us can say based on our actions that we deserve to spend eternity in heaven. The question you need to answer is, are you covered by the blood of the Lamb? Because that is the only thing that can save you.

Jesus’ family went to Jerusalem to celebrate what God had done for them in setting them free from slavery.

Discussion question: Does anyone know why they went all the way to Jerusalem to do this? They lived in Nazareth, and most likely would’ve walked. The distance in a straight line is 102km, and chances are it would’ve been further as the roads they had to follow wouldn’t have gone in an absolutely straight line from one place to the other.

Jerusalem was where all Jewish people went for big occasions like this, and to meet with God. The temple was there, and back in those days, the temple contained the Holy of Holies, where the presence of God dwelt among the people. That was where you went to talk to God, to make sacrifices to him, and for festivals like these.

Jesus Gets Lost (v. 43-45)

After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.

Some people consider it strange that Jesus’ parents took a whole day to realise he was missing. What is important to realise here is that there would have been many people on the road. All the Jews who lived in Nazareth would have been taking the same journey Mary and Joseph were, and back then it wasn’t unusual for children to be away from their parent’s side in such a large group.

Discussion question: Imagine you are Jesus’ parents. What do you think your reaction would be when you discovered your child was gone? What would go through your mind?

Jesus at the Temple (v. 46-47)

After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Mary and Joseph looked for three days. That’s a long time and a lot of stress. Eventually, they found him, at the temple chatting to the teachers and Bible scholars of the day. Jesus was no ordinary child. He was twelve years old, and the people with the most knowledge of the Scriptures were amazed at how much he knew.

Why did Jesus stay in Jerusalem without his family? He had taken this trip every year for 12 years and was aware of the routine. After the festival, he was to return home with his parents. But Jesus had his priorities in place – he put time with his Father, and the study of God’s Word, above the schedule.

Discussion question: What takes priority in your life? Look at what you do with your time to find out.

How often do we say: I’ll read my Bible after I do..., or I go to church once a week, that’s enough. Jesus’ priority was learning, studying the Bible, discussing it with other believers, and being with his Father. As followers of Jesus, we need to take on board his priorities. If we get to spend less time playing computer games to study God’s Word, so be it. Suppose we need to give up a hobby, or time with friends - we should. When you have something scheduled but feel you need to spend time with God and won’t fit it in, cancel your appointment if you can. Let’s get our priorities in order. Seek older more mature Christians to study the Bible with, discuss it with your peers, and spend as much time with God as you can

Jesus and His Parents (v. 48-50)

When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’ ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Finally, Jesus’ parents find him, and their response is understandable – anger and relief. Jesus’ response, though, is one I would guess they did not see coming! "Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?"

For Jesus, the compulsion and need to spend time with his Father was so great he had to do it. The right place for him to be is with the Father, and here we see that Jesus knows who he is. He knows that he is both God and man, even at this young age. As Christians, it is essential that we understand this, and when we think of and talk about Jesus, don’t diminish either one. He is both fully man and fully God, and our Saviour.

Another version of the Bible says: "Didn’t you know I had to be about my Father’s business?" (NKJV) The ‘world’s business’ as opposed to the Father’s, is this: educate yourself so you can get a good job, make money and have security, safety, and success. The Father’s business: Follow Me and make disciples.

Discussion question: Are you about the Father’s business, or are you following the world?

Jesus Returns (v. 51-52)

"Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men."

Jesus went home and was obedient to his parents. Even the Son of God came under the authority of his parents and was respectful and good to his Mum and Dad.

Wrapping Up

Reflection questions:

− Are you covered by the blood of the Lamb?

− Are you about the Father’s business?

− Do you want to spend time with God and study his Word?

Ask for questions and pray.

STUDY #2

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Introduction

Today’s story in Luke is about a guy named John the Baptist.

Discussion question: What do you know about John?

Back in John’s day, God’s people (the Israelites/Jews) didn’t have the Holy Spirit to speak directly to them, so they learned from God through prophets, and what they had of the Bible. By the time John started his ministry, the people hadn’t heard from God for over 400 years. There had been no prophets to give them God’s messages or direction, just silence for a long time. Finally, along comes John.

Activity: Get the students to read Luke 3:1-20 and write what they conclude it means/the main point, and questions they may have. Share main points and answer questions.

Repentance…

Discussion question: What was John’s message to the people?

John’s message was repentance for the forgiveness of sins (v.3).

Discussion question: What is repentance?

Repentance is being sorry for your sins and turning away from them. Imagine you and I are driving to Rosebud for the weekend. I am driving, and you put your headphones in, sit back and fall asleep. A few hours later you wake up and notice we are on a highway, and you see a sign saying Sydney 400km. After you point out we are going the wrong way, what do you expect me to do? I should stop, admit I was going the wrong way, apologise, then turn the car around and go the right way back to Rosebud. Repentance is like this. It’s not just saying sorry, it’s also admitting that you’re living the wrong way, stopping, and turning around to go the right way - God’s way.

Read: Luke 3:12-14. Tax collectors were notorious for taking more than what they were owed and keeping it for themselves; soldiers were known for stealing money by bullying.

Discussion question: What is John asking them to do here?

John is asking the people to stop sinning. Repentance is an attitude and an action - being truly sorry and turning away from your sin.

... For the Forgiveness of Sins

Discussion question: Why do we need to repent?

We need to repent because we have sinned and need to be forgiven. Romans 3:23 says "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Later in Romans (6:23), Paul tells us that "the wages of sin is death."

Discussion question: What is sin?

Sin is breaking God’s commandments, doing/thinking/saying anything other than what God would like us to. God’s standard is perfection. It doesn’t matter how far