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Age Group
Youth
Materials Included
• 4 Teaching Guide Sessions
• Handouts
• 4 Youth Page Sets
Scriptures
1. Colossians 3:22-4:1
2. Ephesians 5:1-10
3. Mark 2:1-12
4. Mark 12:1-12
Sessions Included
1. Fairness
2. Responsibility
3. Caring
4. Respect
Brief Description
Intersection includes complete resources for teaching both younger and older youth, including learner’s materials, teaching guides, and handouts. The teaching guide is options-based, so teachers can customize sessions to match their favorite approach.
“Pillars of Character”
Strength of character has allowed many young people to persevere difficult circumstances. One might describe character as moral excellence and strength of resolve. This unit focuses on four pillars of character that can serve as a solid and stable foundation on which youth can build their lives: Fairness, Responsibility, Caring, and Respect. These core values are explored through the study of four New Testament Scripture passages.
Session One highlights fairness through the study of Colossians 3:22-4:1. This portion of the Letter to the Colossians is a practical and ethical admonition in which Paul spoke of fairness in relationships. He instructed these followers on how they were to treat others in light of what it meant to be Christian. Treating others fairly is a way of demonstrating our faith in Christ.
Responsibility is featured in Session Two. Ephesians 5:1-10 explores how Paul expected the Ephesians to be responsible followers of Christ. They were fairly new converts who were tempted by their culture to do anything they wanted, as long as they believed the right things. For Paul, Christian young people were responsible for their behavior and actions. His Letter to the Ephesians is no less relevant today. What we do and how we live indicates our level of responsibility.
Session Three deals with the quality of Caring. In Mark 2:1-12 Jesus responded with love and concern to heal the paralyzed man and forgive his sins. Interestingly, this man’s friends achieved the first act of compassion recorded in this story. Their tenacity in bypassing the crowd and their ingenuity in lowering their friend through the roof set the stage for Jesus’ response of love and concern. Our struggle is similar, with an added twist. How can we show care for others and balance that compassion so that we do not overextend ourselves?
Respect is the fourth and final pillar of character. Teenagers may cite various reasons for respecting a person or perceived authority. One thing seems clear, however: While respect must be learned, it must also be earned. As we continue to expect young people to do their part, we must also give our youth reasons to respect us. In Mark 12:1-12, the tenants of the vineyard showed great disrespect for the owner despite the owner’s incredible respect for and patience with them. Teenagers are led to struggle with how relationships can be improved when the respect themselves and others.
by Jennifer Price Smith
User License
The purchaser of this file has permission to print twenty copies of this Learners Study Guide. Neither the file nor the printed contents may be sold copied or transferred to another person or church. The purchaser may make a backup copy of the file.
The purchaser of this file has permission to print one copy of this Teaching Guide. Neither the file nor the printed contents may be sold, copied or transferred to another person or church. The purchaser may make a backup copy of the file.
