LEADER’S GUIDE
– The Growing With God Series –
READ . PRAY . SHARE . MEET
Download Print Version
Student Notes
The BIG IDEA
The Bible is God’s word and he uses it to change our lives.
The PROBLEM
When we don’t take the time to read God’s word, we don’t know what he is like and cannot grow in relationship with him.
Our RESPONSE
As we read and respond to God’s word, we get to know him and grow in relationship with him.
I WANT MY STUDENTS TO:
- KNOW: The Bible is God speaking to us, telling us who he is and how he wants us to respond to him.
- EXPERIENCE: A hunger to know God through his word.
- DO: Take time to read the Bible, respond to what God has to say, and establish a regular time with God in his word.
The idea box is a place where you can find some creative ideas for leading this study. You might find videos, activities, or great illustrations that really bring the main point home. The ideas come from small group leaders like you, so if you have an idea that isn’t in there, click below to share it with the community!
GET AN IDEA I SHARE AN IDEA
*WHAT DO YOU THINK?
One of Shawntel’s friends invited her to a Bible study on campus, so she decided to go. But she felt really nervous as she sat down with the other students in the room. She had heard people call the Bible God’s word, so she knew it was important. But she didn’t know much beyond that.
- What’s it about?
- How does she understand it?
- What’s she supposed to do with it?
- It all felt very unfamiliar and intimidating. In what ways can you relate to Shawntel’s experience?
WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT THIS?
*1. Read Psalm 19:7-11. What words do these verses use to describe God’s word? Perfect, sure, right, pure, true, righteous, and desirable.
*2. What does God’s word do based on these verses?
It restores our souls, makes us wise, brings joy to our hearts, enlightens us, warns us, and rewards us greatly when we keep it. (In discussing this question, it might be helpful to ask “what does it mean to ‘make wise the simple’?” Almost all translations use this wording, but many students need an explanation since it’s not the way we normally speak.)
3. Read Psalm 19:12-14. What does the writer pray?
The writer prays God would forgive his hidden faults, keep him from sinning on purpose, make him blameless, and make his words and thoughts acceptable to the Lord.
4. Connect verses 7-11 with verses 12-14. How do you think the things mentioned about God’s word in verses 7-11 help us experience the things mentioned in verses 12-14?
Allow the group to discuss. Some possibilities: his perfect law restores our souls [verse 7] in a way that turns us back to God when we sin on purpose; his pure word enlightens our eyes [verse 8] to help us see our hidden faults [verse 12]; his true and righteous judgments found in his word [verse 9] contribute to our words and thoughts being acceptable to God [verse 14].
5. Of all the descriptions and benefits of God’s word in verses 7-14, which one do you like the most and why?
Allow the group to discuss.
*6. Read Matthew 4:4. When you think about how food sustains us and what it would be like to go a day without food, how does this compare with our need for God’s word and what happens when we go without it?
Allow the group to discuss. We need it in our lives regularly. It’s our very food to live by.
HOW DO WE APPLY THIS TO OUR LIVES?
*7. What’s a specific step you want to take to make God’s word a regular part of your life?
Allow the group to discuss.
*8. “Stop and Pop” is a simple way to make the most of your time in God’s word:
1) Pray for God to speak to you through his word;
2) Start reading;
3) Stop reading when something pops out to you. Pay attention to the word or thought that pops out to you and what’s happening in your heart.
4) Talk to God or write to God about what pops out to you on the page and what happens in your heart.
How can you see “Stop and Pop” making a difference in your life as you do it regularly?
Allow the group to discuss.
*9. Take a few minutes silently to read Psalm 19:7–14 again and try out the four steps of “Stop and Pop.” Then talk about what pops out to you.
Allow the group to discuss.
Our review cards are an excellent way to review your past lessons with your students before each study. Not every lesson has one yet but if we have them, you can find them on the PRINT page. Check them out and use them each week to help your students grab hold of the truths in these studies.
What ideas do you have that could improve this study? Are there creative things you do to bring this topic home to your students? Please share with the community clicking the FEEDBACK button or leaving a comment below.
The answer to question 6 on the study guide leaves a little to be desired. Can we flesh that answer out a little bit?
Wanted to share what I did as a hook/game to lead into the study:
I set up a tray in the room with lots of different random items on it. It was in the room for a good 15 minutes while the students had snacks. They could choose to go look at it or not. It was in plain view for anyone to see. (My thinking is that propbably most would not pay attention to it, even though it was right under their nose)
This is exactly what happened. After snacks, etc. We took the tray out of plain view and told the students they had a minute to write down what they could remember seeing on the try. Most students did not know what was on it. Or were very unfamiliar with the items. They had lots of time to look at it, etc. but never took the time to.
This is a picture we can refer back to in this study. We have lots of time to make to to spend with God in his Word. He is right there waiting to spend time wiht us. But we tend stay focused on other things going on around us, just like the students did with the tray in the room.
If we don’t take time to spend with God, we won’t know Him, His goodness, His gresat love for us and all the many attributes that are life changing in our lives. This is similar to how the students did’t know anything about what was on the tray.
Hope this is helpful. 🙂
Thanks Kristie! I think I will use it this week! Appreciate the idea.
Kristie,
I loved your hook, please keep em coming. I am asking God to help me be more creative with the lesson and this was awesome….