LEADER’S GUIDE
– The Getting Started Series –
CONFIDENCE . RECONNECT . PLUG IN . GROWTH
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Student Notes
The BIG IDEA
We can be 100% sure that we have eternal life if we’ve placed our trust in Jesus.
The PROBLEM
If we don’t trust in Christ, we will be separated from God for eternity when we die. Even if we have trusted in Christ, we may still lack confidence in our relationship with God because we don’t understand that our confidence is based on what Christ has done for us, not what we do for him.
Our RESPONSE
Be sure of our relationship with God because of what Jesus has done to forgive us and give us eternal life, not because of what we do for God.
I WANT MY STUDENTS TO:
- KNOW: If we’ve placed our faith in Christ, we can be confident that he’s forgiven our sins, made us a child of God, will never leave us, and has given us eternal life.
- EXPERIENCE: Confidence, peace, and joy because our relationship with God is secure.
- DO: Be excited and relieved that our relationship with God is ours for good if we’ve placed our faith in Christ—we can’t lose it.
- Share the Gospel with them – even if they have heard the gospel in a large group, it is still important for them to go through it one on one. [Gospel Training] [God Tools App]
- Focus on building a relationship with them.
- Encourage them to bring a friend – it will help them feel more comfortable.
- Share your Testimony with them – let them know you are real and willing to be vulnerable. [Testimony Training]
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
Note to Leader: Before you do this first study, consider reviewing the four points of the gospel with them using the “Knowing God Personally” section of the GOD TOOLS App, even if it takes the whole time. It’s worth it for the gospel to be clear before you do follow-up. You can download the app at godtoolsapp.com.
Note to Leader: The three most important elements in these follow-up lessons are relationship, relationship, relationship. Your relational connection with them will be the glue that causes them to come back and stay engaged. So don’t just rush through the content. Take some time on the front end and get to know them. Share your testimony with them and listen to theirs. Find things you have in common with them. Laugh with them. Connect with them. It’s the glue that will bring them back.
HAVING CONFIDENCE IN THINGS CAN BE IMPORTANT.
Leader: Start with this fun opener.
Be sure to use the scale from 1-10 as we will revisit that later in the study.
On a scale of 1-10 how confident are you that you…
- Can win a tuba playing contest
- Can eat an entire large pepperoni pizza
- Can brush your own teeth
- Can make five free throws in a row
- Can make someone laugh at a joke
- Can drive a car
- Will go to heaven when you die
FOUR THINGS YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT OF
If you’ve placed your faith in Christ
1) CHRIST FORGAVE YOUR SINS
- Read 1 John 1:9.
- How many of your sins were forgiven?
All of your sins were forgiven. When it says we are cleansed from all unrighteousness it means all our sins, past, present, and future sins. - What difference does it make to know your sins are forgiven?
Encourage whatever answer they give. Also answer that question for yourself.
2) CHRIST MADE YOU A CHILD OF GOD
- Read John 1:12.
- How does someone become a part of God’s family?
Receiving Christ and believing in Him. - What does it mean to you that you are a part of God’s family?
Encourage whatever answer they give. Also answer that question for yourself.
3) CHRIST WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU
- Read Hebrews 13:5.
- Under what circumstances would Christ leave you?
He will never leave you. - How does it make you feel that Christ will never leave you? Why?
4) CHRIST GAVE YOU ETERNAL LIFE
- Read 1 John 5:11-13.
- What does this passage say that we can know?
We have eternal life. We can know that we have eternal life. Eternal life means God is with us here on Earth and that we will be with him forever in heaven. - What is the difference between knowing something and just hoping for something?
So, let’s try that line again. On a scale of 1–10, how sure are you that you have eternal life and will go to heaven when you die?
Note to Leader: Do the 1–10 line activity again. If they understood the verses, they should be able to have a 10 out of 10 confidence. If they don’t have that, don’t push them, but you might want to dig into what is keeping them from having that confidence. Help them understand that Christ offers them complete confidence.
WHAT IF I LOSE THE “GOD FEELING”?
Although feelings are important, they do not determine what is true. A follower of Jesus lives by trusting in God himself and what He has said. Your feelings may come and go, but God’s Word (the Bible) is true forever.
It’s a lot like riding an airplane. If you get on a plane, you are trusting in the construction of the plane and the pilot. Your feelings don’t change the fact that the plane will carry you — but they do affect how much you will enjoy the trip!
In the same way, we can rely on God and trust what he has promised in the Bible, and not depend on how we feel. When you feel far from God, just remember, your relationship with God is not based on your feelings, but on the truth in God’s word. The more you learn of what the Bible says, the more your trust will grow. Your feelings will begin to respond to the truth of God’s word and not your circumstances.
What truth in this study is most important for you?
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 by clicking the FEEDBACK button or leaving a comment below.
I personally like to add Revelation 3:20 and the promise if you open your heart to Christ, He comes into your life. Since we give students the opportunity to receive Christ at most of our meetings some think they need to pray and ask Christ in over and over.
Thanks for the suggestion Nicole. You can find the PDF’s on the PRINT tab at the top of the page. We have considered making whole PDF packs (like all of the first year’s studies in one PDF) but because we are constantly getting feedback and making changes, that would involve more work that we can do right now. But it’s something we are considering doing in the future to make it easier for people. I’d love to hear more about your thoughts on this, though – anything that could help us improve the product and help more people go deeper in their walks with Jesus! Thanks!
A good ending question to help students see God as a personal being, “What kind of God must He be to have this written for us?”
My personal answer would go something like this, “He obviously knows how much we worry and waffle about if we truly have a relationship or not. He knows passages like Matthew 7 where Jesus says to an ‘elite ministry team’ who cast out demons and do MANY MIGHT works…’Depart from Me, I never knew you.’ He knows we will need assurance and He obviously wants to give us that. It would be hard to interact with a God who might ‘cut us from the team’ at any moment. But THIS GOD! He cares about my anxieties and wants to absorb them into Himself. What a good, good Father.”
Gospel music. You hear it?
This is minor. When you click on the bible verses, could you change the coding to open in a new tab instead of the same window? 🙂
I’m trying this study with a couple of 10 yr old girls who I don’t think have too many ideas about dating relationships (yet). So I would suggest changing the “Launch” situation to something like this: my friend’s parents are going through a divorce. And then you could use the same questions you ask in the Launch section of the study.
Thanks for the suggestion Nancy! That is a great launch tweak for younger students. Thanks for sharing your idea with the community!
Thanks for the suggestion, Casey. We actually made an intentional decision to not make the links open a new tab. Most of our users will be using these studies on our phones and on the phone browsers that we tested, it is easier to navigate a study if the links don’t open a new tab. But, as we’re testing, if anyone feels like we’re wrong on that, please let us know! We can always change it.
This material is so good! Its very helpful and very transferable. The only thing that I think would make it better if it were in an app. We have many students that use wifi to save data and if they could download an app to be able to use it when there is no wifi access that would be huge!
CJ, Thank for your input. We can look into making an app out of it but that probably won’t happen until we complete the three years worth of material. Thanks for the idea!
Hebrews 13:5 is amazing in the Amplified Bible. I would encourage leaders to read it from there to make it crystal clear as to God never leaving them.
I wasn’t able to print the leader’s guide for Confidence. And all other leader’s guide and student guide say “Error: limitcheck, Offending command: image.” Guessing you are aware of it and it might be a permissions thing.
On a first look though, I really like these.
Gilbert
This lesson lends itself so much to the train diagram. May want to build it in?