To give credit where credit is due: This post was inspired by youth ministry guru, Josh Griffin, and his HSM Weekend in Review posts over at More Than Dodgeball. Each week he posts about the weekend youth ministry service at Saddleback. I have been looking for a way to reflect and review my classes and this seems to be a good way to go. I’ve tweaked the elements of this a bit and hopefully over the next few weeks I can find a way to really utilize this format for my Wednesday and Sunday night teaching times. Thanks Josh! Love the site, love the podcast!
Wednesday Night Teaching Series: 1 Corinthinas (Week 3)
(Our Wednesday night is a combined class with Junior & Senior High students. It is designed to drive conversation from the biblical text and to connect biblical truths to everyday living.)
Big Question: Are you maturing in your walk as a follower of Jesus?
Bible: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Understandable Message: The church in Corinth was struggling to overcome sin and petty behavior that was stunting their growth as disciples of Jesus Christ. In this section, Paul tells the Corinthian believers that, while they think that they are mature, their actions actually show that they are still very immature in their faith. Specifically, they are arguing over who is the better teacher- Paul, Apollos, or Peter? He challenges them to see their leaders as the servants that they really are. Their focus should be on God not human leaders.
Discussion Questions:
- Paul says that the Corinthian believers were being immature Christians because they were jealous of and fighting one another (v3). What are other examples of Christians behaving immaturely?
- If you could wake up tomorrow and find that you had been magically transformed into “a mature disciple”, what would be the first sign that you would see that would confirm to you that you had become a mature disciple? What would be different? What actions would you be doing? How would you approach your life differently?
- Paul writes that he planted the seed of faith there in Corith and that Apollos watered it. Who planted the seed of faith in you? Who is, right now, watering your faith?
- Have you planted the seed of faith in someone that you know? Have you introduced someone to Jesus?
- Who are you watering? Is there someone that you are helping to understand their faith more fully? Who are you helping become a more mature disciple?
Element of Fun/Positive Environment: We had brownies!
Music Playlist: (I always play music as my students enter and leave the youth room) In Your Eyes, Times Like These, The Stand, All These Things I’ve Done
Favorite Moment: I loved hearing the teens tell stories about the people who have directly impacted their spiritual journeys. They talked about their parents or siblings, coaches and teachers.
Up Next: 1 Corinthians 3 pt. 2