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FUGE CAMPS 2020

BIBLE STUDYLEADER GUIDE

THOUGH THE EARTH TREMBLES

GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH

CREDITS PAGE

WRITING TEAM: Kyle Cravens, Amanda Craft, Julie Plunk,

Stacey Sapp, Carly Currier

EDITOR: Anna Miller

THEOLOGICAL REVIEWER: Dr. Paul Kelly

GRAPHIC DESIGN: Ross Funderbunk, Stacey Sapp

COMMENTARY SOURCE: Holman Old/New Testament Commentary

Copyright © 2020 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention- Printed in the United States of America.

All Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome to your most important job – FUGE Camps Bible Study Leader!!

This summer, you will stand before students and share the truths of Scripture almost on a daily basis! You have an incredible opportunity to help shape the lives of hundreds of students by pointing them to Christ! While you have a huge responsibility, this summer will be one of the most rewarding experiences you have ever had. Thank you for accepting this calling on your life!

This Bible Study Leader Guide provides you a detailed plan for teaching Bible study. It was created to prepare you in Bible study as a guide. It’s not something you memorize; instead, it’s something you customize to fit your group. But, you must follow this plan and not do your own study or only lecture to your group. These lessons were built around guided discovery for creative learning.

The best way to prepare to teach before the summer is to study the Scripture and use the lessons as your personal Bible study. As you interact with Scripture and the material in the Guide, take notes and answer the questions for yourself. Learn from the lessons before you attempt to teach them. If you teach a small group of students or young adults at your church or school, consider teaching these lessons before you get to camp. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you through this study and then allow Him to use you to teach your students.

The FUGE Camps’ tag line is, ‘life-changing camps’. While this change will occur as a result of the overall camp experience, small group Bible study is a very important part of the experience and the life-change. Prepare yourself and pray for your students. Then, sit back and watch God do His work. The goal is for God to work in the lives of students during Bible study.

Each day provides a teaching plan and commentary on the Scripture passage. The outline for each day is as follows:

INTRO This provides a daily overview with a life question, Scripture passages and key verse.

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GATHER THESE SUPPLIES This is the list of supplies you need each day.

PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME These are preparations to make before the session.

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MOTIVATIONThe motivation section includes learning activities designed to introduce the concept for the day and to create interest in the following Bible study material.

EXAMINATIONThe Scripture study includes learning activities to encounter the meaning and truth of each Bible passage, and it’s broken down into teachable sections.

APPLICATIONThe application section allows you as the leader a time to sum up the lesson in a personal way, and it allows the students to put into words what they have learned.

KEY VERSEThis activity will drive home the importance of the day’s Key Verse; it is intended to aid in memorization.

COMMENTARYThis section provides commentary from the Holman Old/New Testament Commentary series and will provide you background and helpful information on the Scripture passages.

We hope you have the time of your life, and we will be praying for you throughout the summer!

Your FUGE Camps Coordinators

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OVERVIEWIn the middle of difficult and overwhelming times, Christ followers can trust God to carry us through even the darkest of days and to guide our future. He is our Refuge.

LIFE QUESTIONWhere do you turn when life gets tough?

SCRIPTURESPsalm 46:1-3, Mark 4:35-41.

KEY VERSE: PSALM 46:1God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.

GATHER THESE SUPPLIES

• Blindfold

• Large sheets of paper

• Markers

• Tape

• Cloud and boat outlines (provided) - one for each student

• Four Boxes

• Copy of Bible verses (provided)

• Camp Guides

• Extra Bibles

• Key Verse Poster

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IN THE MIDDLE OF DIFFICULT AND OVERWHELMING TIMES, CHRIST FOLLOWERS CAN TRUST GOD TO CARRY US THROUGH EVEN THE DARKEST OF DAYS AND TO GUIDE OUR FUTURE. HE IS OUR REFUGE.

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PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME: • Print numbers 1-4, each on a sheet of paper and hang on the walls in each corner

of the room.

• Print each situation below on a separate note card to distribute to groups.

• You are locked out of the house after school.

• You left school due to a horrible stomach virus.

• You made a really low grade on an exam.

• A trusted friend betrayed you.

• Make four copies of these questions for groups.

• When was a time you experienced a physical storm? • What kind of storm was it?

• What were your responses to the storm?

• How did the situation end?

• Print “DISTRACTIONS” at the top of a large sheet of paper and “DISTRACTION-FREE” about midway down the sheet.

• Make copies of the cloud and boat outlines.

• Fold and tape the boxes and write the words of the Key Verse randomly on all six sides of each one.

• Cut apart the Bible verses to make Bible Verse Cards.

• Hang the Key Verse Poster on the wall.

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TEACHING PLANOVERVIEWRefer back to last summer’s theme, “Restored,” and share how we were created in God’s image, for relationship with Him. We were meant to dwell with God, but when Adam and Eve disobeyed, sin entered the world resulting in a broken relationship with God. However, the story did not stop there. God sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on a cross and rise again three days later. Through Christ, our relationship with God is restored so we can dwell with Him.

DWELL TOGETHER - MOTIVATION (15 MINUTES)Form two groups—a girls’ group and a guys’ group. Divide each group again so that you have four groups. Give each group a large sheet of paper and markers.

Instruct groups to write out things included in a typical teenager’s weekday during the school year—their activities, where they spend their time, with whom they spend time, and so forth. Once students have had a short work time, invite them to identify where they spend most of their time and circle it on their paper. Allow a brief time for each group to share with the big group.

Say: “In our culture, we have so many things grabbing our attention such as our phones, devices, social media, and social expectations. Along with the pressures of school and other activities, we often find ourselves overwhelmed, drained, and feeling empty.”

Ask: “When you hear the word ‘dwell,’ what comes to mind?”

Say: “A definition of dwell is ‘to remain or live with your attention directed on a single focus.’ ”

Ask: “How does the schedule you just created and this definition of dwell conflict?”

Say: “This week, we’ll discover how to dwell with God, rest in His presence, push past distractions, and focus on His peace. Spending time with the Lord changes everything!”

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Point students to page 8 in their Camp Guide to answer the following questions:

• Why do you choose to dwell in certain places or with certain people?

• Who are the people in your life that make you feel safe and accepted?

• Which of these words best describes your emotions when you are in the place where you feel most at home? Safe, secure, calm, accepted, joyful, other_________.

FOUR CORNERSExplain the rules of the game: Select one student to be the counter and to stand in the middle of the room. Inform this student (without others knowing) that one corner number is never to be called so that it’s a safe place. Inform this student to cover their eyes and count down from 10. All other players will quietly and quickly pick a corner to stand in before the student in the middle reaches 0.

When the counter reaches 0, he or she will choose a number from 1 to 4 (with their eyes still closed). Anyone standing in the corner they choose has to sit down. Anyone who isn’t in a corner when the counting is done has to sit down. Play the game a few times until the group catches on as to what the secret is to not getting out.

Ask: “How did you feel if you remained ‘safe’ throughout the game?”

Debrief by saying: “No matter what the circumstances or what is going on around you, dwelling with the Lord is a constant safe space that never changes and is always a refuge, just like the safe corner. Trials and troubles will come. God does not protect us from experiencing bad circumstances, but He is our strength and stability during these times, and He is in control.”

The game can be as long or as short as needed. You could do a variation where just a small group plays while the other students try to guess the secret to staying in the game.

Say: “This week, we will discover attributes of God and how spending time with Him changes things. Today, we will look at God as our Refuge. We can trust God to carry us through even the darkest days and to guide our future.”

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DWELL IN THE WORD — EXAMINATION (25 MINUTES)Psalm 46:1-3

Invite students to grab their Bibles and turn to Psalm 46. Explain that we will be looking at this entire chapter throughout the week. Enlist a student to lead in prayer, asking the Lord to reveal Himself through our Scripture study today.

Call on a volunteer to read aloud Psalm 46:1-3:

1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. 2 Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, 3 though its water roars and foams and the mountains quake with its turmoil (Psalm 46:1-3, CSB).

Point to the Key Verse Poster and instruct students to recite Psalm 46:1 in unison.

Guide groups to turn over their large sheet of paper and write a definition of the word “refuge.” After a brief discussion, ask each group to share.

Here are some definitions to share, if they are different from what students shared.

Refuge: a person, place, or thing that offers comfort, protection, or relief; a safe place, a shelter from danger or hardship; a place that provides shelter or protection from danger or distress.

Point out the word “helper” in verse 1. Give each group one of the following situations to discuss.

Whom would you go to for help in each of the following situations?

1. You are locked out of the house after school.

2. You left school due to a horrible stomach virus.

3. You made a really low grade on an exam.

4. A trusted friend betrayed you.

Ask the oldest student in each group to share the group’s discussion of their situation. Say: “God is our helper who is always available, in good times and in times of trouble.”

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Refer to the word “trouble” in verse 1. Say: “To have trouble means to be in a tight place or to be restricted. We are going to play a game called Human Knot.”

HUMAN KNOTInstruct students in each group to circle up with each person standing closely to the next so that you have a girls’ circle and a guys’ circle. Lead each student to reach into the circle with their left hand and hold hands with another student. Make sure students know not to hold hands with the two students to either side of them. Then, ask them to reach into the circle with their right hands. At this point, students have formed a knot. NOTE: If a student does not want to do this activity, give him a pass. This is challenge by choice.

Explain how the goal is to untangle the knot without letting go of hands. Students may need to readjust their grip at some point and may need to bend and twist to untangle. As the knot untangles, a circle will begin to form. Some students may be facing into the circle, while others may face out.

Allow time for students to strategize and attempt to untangle themselves. Do not allow this to go too long. Hopefully, at least one group will be able to figure it out. When you call time, ask students to share from their experience.

Debrief using these points:

1. When you formed the human knot, you were tight, cramped and knotted together. That’s exactly what trials feel like.

2. In order to untangle the human knot, you had to work together. When trials come, you can’t do it on your own; you need God and other believers.

3. Maybe you were not sure where to start or how long it would take to get the human know untangled. The same is often true when troubles come our way.

4. Just as you held hands with one another, God is with us holding our hand even when we are scared to take the next step. He is our refuge, strength and helper.”

Ask: “What does the word ‘phobia’ mean?” (an irrational fear or aversion to something)

Point students to page 8 in their Camp Guide to answer the question and to match the phobia word to its meaning.

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1. Acrophobia

2. Aerophobia

3. Hemophobia

4. Hydrophobia

5. Astraphobia

6. Emetophobia

7. Claustrophobia

8. Zoophobia

a. Fear of blood

b. Fear of animals

c. Fear of vomiting

d. Fear of heights

e. Fear of confined or crowded spaces

f. Fear of flying

g. Fear of thunder and lightning

h. Fear of water

(Answer key: 1d, 2f, 3a, 4h, 5g, 6c, 7e, 8b) Share the correct answers with students.

Instruct students to find a partner and discuss the questions below. Prompt them one question at a time.

• What are you most afraid of?

• What do you do when you are afraid?

• To whom do you turn?

Say: “Verse 2 tells us that we have no need to fear with God as our Refuge. We are to take courage—not in our strength—but in God’s.”

The remainder of verses 2 and 3 paints a picture of earthshaking and confusing circumstances. The word ‘earthshaking’ is so vivid. Hardships will come that can feel like the world is crumbling and shake us to our core. God never promised us a carefree and easy life. Satan is always trying to confuse and distract us. And, we live in a broken world. But, God is not shaken; therefore, we look and run toward Him and seek His refuge. He is steady, the control that we need.”

Say: “Now let’s look at what the disciples did when they were in a fearful situation.”

Match the phobia to the fear.

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MARK 4:35-41Lead students to turn in their Bibles to Mark 4:35-41. Ask a student to read aloud verses 35-38 and another one to read aloud verses 39-41.

35 On that day, when evening had come, he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” 36 So they left the crowd and took him along since he was in the boat. And other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die? ”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still! ” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith? ” 41 And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him! ” (Mark 4:35-41, CSB).

Ask another student (one who did not read) to put these verses in their own words.

Say: “At the beginning of this block of Scripture, we find Jesus in a busy season of miracles and interactions with crowds of people. He had spent the day teaching to a very large crowd gathered around the Sea of Galilee, followed by private explanations of these teachings to His disciples. At the end of that day, Jesus is clearly exhausted, so He asks His disciples to take Him across the sea in their boat so He could rest.”

Say: “Raise your hand if you have ever ridden in a boat of any kind.” Use this to form groups—those who have and those who haven’t. Then make smaller teams to get to four groups.

Ask: “When the disciples and Jesus made their way out on the water, what happened?” (A storm blew up)

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CREATE A STORMSay: “We are going to create our own storm.” Invite students to mimic the actions below.

SilenceRub hands (Wind) Pat thighs (Light rain) Snap fingers (Rain showers) Clap hands (Heavy rain) Stomp feet and clap hands (Thunder) Clap hands (Heavy rain) Snap fingers (Rain showers) Pat thighs (Light rain) Rub hands (Wind) Silence

Instruct groups to discuss the following:

• When was a time you experienced a physical storm?

• What kind of storm was it?

• What were your responses to the storm?

• How did the situation end?

If time permits, ask a couple of students to share.

Say: “The disciples were spending time with Jesus alone when a storm arose. This storm became a major distraction, to the point that the disciples doubted Jesus and even questioned who He was. Today, our lives are busy and full of distractions. In your groups, discuss what distractions you face as teenagers that keep you from dwelling with Jesus on a daily basis.”

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Hang the Distractions sheet on a focal wall. Allow time for groups to share as you make a list on the sheet. Share this 3-step process to overcome these distractions and instruct students to note these steps on page 9 of their Camp Guide. 1. Remove or limit the distraction. 2. In its place, dwell with God in prayer or by reading your Bible. 3. Tell a friend and ask for help and encouragement.

As a large group, discuss the following question: “Why was Jesus sleeping on the boat (v. 38)?”

Share: Jesus was sleeping because He was exhausted from performing miracles and teaching and being around crowds of people all day. This is one example of Jesus’ physical side. He was God, but He was also man.

Ask: “Why do you think they called Jesus, ‘teacher,’ and asked Him, ‘Don’t you care that we’re going to die’ as if they didn’t know who He was?”

Share: The disciples had been with Jesus for awhile now, witnessing miracles, yet they still did not fully comprehend who He was. They experienced doubt. Jesus saw the doubt in the disciples and rebuked them for it. We cannot say we have faith while we also harbor even a sliver of doubt. It’s a common thing to step in obedience where God is leading you, and then the second things get tough, turn and question, “God, why is this happening?”

Ask: “How did Jesus respond? What does ‘rebuke’ mean?”

Share: Jesus spoke and rebuked the wind, and the storm calmed. Rebuke means to reprimand. This was a demonstration of Jesus’ power and authority.

Ask: “What was the response to the storm calming?”

Share: They were terrified, and Jesus asks them why. He gets right to the heart of the issue. He does not scold them for complaining or worrying. Instead, He questions their motivations.

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Refer students to page 9 of their Camp Guide to answer the following questions:

• When was your faith most tested?

• Did you feel that God was ignoring you when you needed Him most?

• How has a trial that you have gone through strengthened your faith?

• Why can we trust Jesus to be with us in the storm?

Share: Jesus experienced the biggest storm of all—God’s wrath upon Him on the cross with all of our sins on His shoulders—and He defeated death. Because of that, we can rest in Him, who has conquered all for our behalf. Jesus knew He would have to suffer on the cross and experience separation from God for the first time ever. Yet, He kept the faith, trusted God, and followed in obedience.

Share: Jesus enters into the storm with us. He may quiet both the wind and the storm. But, He may only quiet the wind but not the storm. Ask rhetorically: “What will your response be if God doesn’t quiet your storm?”

Say: “Let’s look at other Scriptures that show us how God is our refuge.” Hand out Bible Verse Cards, each to a different student, to read aloud.

Ruth 2:12

“May the Lord reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

2 Samuel 22:3

My God, my rock where I seek refuge. My shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior.

2 Samuel 22:31

God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him.

2 Samuel 22:33God is my strong refuge; he makes my way perfect.

Psalm 5:11But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May you shelter them, and may those who love your name boast about you.

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Psalm 9:9The Lord is a refuge for the persecuted, a refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 18:2The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 31:2Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me.

Psalm 34:8Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!

Joel 3:16The Lord will roar from Zion and make his voice heard from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will shake. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the Israelites.

DWELL IN REFLECTION – APPLICATION (10 MINUTES)Pass out one cloud/boat outline page to each student. Lead them to write their “storms” on the cloud and spend time in prayer, turning these over to God and asking Him to help them to trust Him and His sovereignty. Instruct students to write words on the boat of who God is to them during these times or what can possibly happen if we allow God to calm our storms. Instruct students to fold their boat over the cloud and lead them to take a strip of tape and post this on the focal wall.

Say: “Whatever ‘storm’ in life you are currently facing, you can rest knowing that God the Father is sovereign and in control. With ONE word God can calm the seas, heal the lame, and stop the storm. That is the God we can trust. He is our Refuge!”

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Refer students to page 9 of their Camp Guide to answer the following questions:

• What is at least one way you can dwell with God this week and when you get back home?

• Look back to the Distractions sheet and make a note of the one or two biggest distractions you face.

• How can you adjust your life to replace these distractions with time spent dwelling with the Lord?

DWELL ON THIS —KEY VERSE (5 MINUTES)Psalm 46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.”

GIve each group a small box that has words from the Key Verse randomly written on the sides. Students are to treat the box as if it were a dice and take turns rolling it.

On the first roll, one student will write down the words on that side. If the same side is on top on the next turn, that student will pass the dice for the next student to roll. Rolls continue until all six sides have been rolled and all words have been collected. The group then must work together to put the words of the Key Verse in the proper order.

The first team to roll all six sides, write down the words, and put them in the correct order is the winner. Give them a small candy prize. Invite the entire group to recite the verse in unison again.

PRAYERPray or ask a student to pray and then dismiss the group.

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COMMENTARYPSALM 46:1-3Supporting Idea: The psalmist begins by announcing that God is a strong refuge for His people, providing safety from discouraging and devastating circumstances.

46:1. When we are attacked and assailed by the discouraging circumstances of life, God is our refuge in whom His people will find protection, strength, and stability. God is pictured as a refuge, meaning a strong shelter from danger, an unconquerable fortress, or a walled city where protection is found. Furthermore, when trouble found the psalmist, God was his strength, upholding and enabling him to stand through the fiery trials. To have trouble means to be in a tight place, to be restricted, tied up, or to be in a narrow, cramped place. The psalmist was between a rock and a hard place with no way out. Yet God was with him, an ever-present help in trouble, immediately present and instantly available to His people.

46:2-3. Having understood the all-sustaining power of God, the psalmist wrote, “We will not fear.” This is a bold statement of confidence in God inspired by the greatness of the Almighty. Regardless of what the psalmist and the people of God face, they have no reason to fear. God is in control. The psalmist continued, “Though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” This is a picture of confusion, represented as a momentous earthquake that caused an upheaval of the tall, lofty mountains. The mountains, representing stability and continuity, seem to collapse into the sea; and the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

This imagery conveys earthshaking circumstances. As the mountains crash into the sea, the sea responds by flooding outside of its assigned barriers. In spite of all this turmoil that pictures devastating circumstances seemingly out of control, we will not fear. God is in control.

[Anders, Max (2011). Holman Old Testament Commentary – Psalms (p. 249). B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com.]

MARK 4:35-41Supporting Idea: In order to validate the truths He has just spoken, Jesus performs four miracles that demonstrate His lordship.

4:35-37. After the time of teaching, the disciples got into the boat that Jesus had been teaching from and headed to the other side of Lake Galilee. Mark's Gospel is the only one that mentions that other boats were with them. Of these, Cole says, “It thus becomes a miracle of mercy on a wider scale than the mere salvation of the

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Lord’s own boatload of frightened disciples. We might perhaps compare the closing words of Jonah, ‘and also much cattle’ (iv. 11), with its undertone of the infinite mercy of God” (Cole, Mark, p. 96). While Jesus was concerned with His disciples, He was also concerned with people beyond the narrow context of His disciples. This mention of other boats in verse 36 shows that God’s grace extends to the entire world, that His grace falls on the just and unjust, that it rains (or in this case does not rain) on everyone.

While they were out on the boat, a squall blew up. Mountains surround the Sea of Galilee. Violent storms, rising without warning, are very common. In this particular storm, the waves were so strong they were breaking over the bow of the boat.

4:38. Jesus was sleeping on a cushion. He was not bothered by the storm. There is no doubt that He was physically exhausted, but more than this is probably communicated in this event. Because of Jesus’ words to the disciples about their lack of faith, it is clear that Jesus was sleeping because of His faith. He was not worried about the storm but was resting in God. The disciples, however, interpreted Jesus’ faith as lack of concern for them. They awakened Him and rebuked Him for His unconcern.

4:39. Jesus, the Creator of the universe, told the wind to stop—and it did. How could they not obey the One who had created them? Jesus’ command to the wind to be quiet was the same command He issued to a demon in Mark 1:25. This may mean that there was a demonic element in the storm. Whether there was or was not, the result was the same. The noise of the wind and the water and the shouts of the disciples suddenly stopped. The calm must have been as peaceful as Jesus’ rest had been.

4:40-41. Jesus rebuked the disciples because of their lack of faith. He had told them to go to the other side of the lake. Did they not believe that He had the power to see them safely across the water?

They were terrified. The words are literally, “They feared a great fear.” Some translations read that the disciples were “filled with awe.” A moment before they had feared for their lives, and now they had been delivered by One who was stronger than the waves.

[ (2011). Holman New Testament Commentary – Mark (p. 69). B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com.]

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OVERVIEWLiving in a broken world, we often find ourselves searching for community and peace. When we know Christ, we can rest knowing that God is with us always, even in the midst of the chaos. He is for us and with us.

LIFE QUESTIONHow does your brokenness isolate you and keep you from dwelling with God?

SCRIPTURESPsalm 46:6-7. John 4:1-30

KEY VERSE: PSALM 46:7The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

GATHER THESE SUPPLIES

• Blindfold

• Chair and other objects for obstacle course

• Large bowl of saltine crackers or four sleeves of crackers

• Four cups of water

• Five large sheets of paper

• Markers

• Tape

• Sticky notes

• Index cards

• Construction paper

• Pens

• Camp Guides

• Extra Bibles

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PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME:

• Print “spotter” on four index cards and “distractor” on four index cards.

• Print the names of these rivers on strips of paper, one per strip, and make

enough for each student to get one: Mississippi River, Nile River, Amazon

River, Danube River.

• Make four copies of these questions for groups.

• What are some of the uses or purposes of a river? Draw these on your pa-

per as you discuss.

• Who or what do you think the river in verse 4 represents?

• Print each of these questions on a sheet of paper and post one in each cor-

ner of the room. Also, print each of the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 on a separate sheet

of paper and post one in each corner of the room.

1. What do you like about God being everywhere?

2. What was a situation in which you were glad that God was with you?

3. Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable with the fact that God is

always with you, and that you can never escape from His presence?

4. Can you think of some reasons why a person would want to get away from

God?

• Print each of these on a sheet of construction paper. Place the number noted

in the lower right corner of each.

Jesus . . .

meets us where we are (1)

reveals who He is (2)

exposes who we are (3)

shapes us into what He wants us to be (4)

• Copy and cut apart the Bible verses (provided) to make Bible Verse Cards.

• Make copies of the Key Verse Puzzle (provided).

LIVING IN A BROKEN WORLD, WE OFTEN FIND OURSELVES SEARCHING FOR COMMUNITY AND PEACE. WE CAN REST KNOWING THAT GOD IS WITH US ALWAYS, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE CHAOS. HE IS FOR US AND WITH US.

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DWELL TOGETHER — MOTIVATION (15 MINUTES)Say: Say: “When I say ‘go,’ everyone take a big, deep breath and hold it. Go. Now, “When I say ‘go,’ everyone take a big, deep breath and hold it. Go. Now, exhale. This time, we will take another deep breath and see who can hold it for exhale. This time, we will take another deep breath and see who can hold it for one minute.” Say: “Go.” Time for one minute. Recognize the one(s) who were one minute.” Say: “Go.” Time for one minute. Recognize the one(s) who were able to hold their breath for one minute. Say: “Air filled our lungs when we took able to hold their breath for one minute. Say: “Air filled our lungs when we took a breath.” Ask: “Was there any air left in the room?” (Yes) “What about outside?” a breath.” Ask: “Was there any air left in the room?” (Yes) “What about outside?” (Yes) Say: “We cannot see the air, but we know it is there.” (Yes) Say: “We cannot see the air, but we know it is there.”

OBSTACLE COURSECall for a volunteer to be blindfolded. Distribute the “spotter” and “distractor” cards Call for a volunteer to be blindfolded. Distribute the “spotter” and “distractor” cards to eight volunteers. Place objects, including a chair, in the center of the room to to eight volunteers. Place objects, including a chair, in the center of the room to create an obstacle course. Give the blindfolded student simple instructions to walk create an obstacle course. Give the blindfolded student simple instructions to walk around the room without running into anything. The distractors can do and/or say around the room without running into anything. The distractors can do and/or say things to mislead the blindfolded student. Stay close to the student and lead him to things to mislead the blindfolded student. Stay close to the student and lead him to the chair so that he is standing in front of it in a position to sit, but don’t tell him the the chair so that he is standing in front of it in a position to sit, but don’t tell him the chair is there. Ask him to sit down without reaching or feeling, but just by trusting it chair is there. Ask him to sit down without reaching or feeling, but just by trusting it is OK to sit because you told him to. This is when the spotters are to be used so the is OK to sit because you told him to. This is when the spotters are to be used so the student does not fall. student does not fall.

Once the student is sitting down, he can remove his blindfold. Ask the student to share from this experience: How did it feel to need to listen for instruction when you couldn’t see? Was it easy or difficult? How did you feel relying on my directions? Would that have been different if another student in the group had been giving directions instead of me? What were your initial thoughts when you were instructed to sit in a chair without seeing it or reaching to feel for it? How did that change after you sat down? What role did trust play in this activity?

Compare this activity to our faith walk and the fact that we cannot see God but He is always with us.

Say: “Even though we may not be able to see God or how things are going to work out, when our lives belong to God, we can trust Him because He is constant in our lives. Today, we will discuss how God is with us always, even in the midst of the chaos. His presence in our lives changes everything.”

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DWELL IN THE WORD — EXAMINATION (25 MINUTES)

Psalm 46:4-7

Ask a student to share something they learned from today’s Quiet Time and ask another student to share a summary of what we studied and learned yesterday. Say: “We will begin our Bible study again today in Psalm 46.” Lead students to turn there. Invite a student to pray, asking the Lord to reveal HImself and His truth to us today.

Ask a student to read aloud Psalm 46:4-7:

4 There is a river —its streams delight the city of God,the holy dwelling place of the Most High. 5 God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns. 6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when he lifts his voice. 7 The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold (Psalm 46:4-7, CSB).

Distribute a strip of paper with a river name written on it to each student. Instruct students to find other students with the same river to form four groups. Assign each group a number from 1-4.

Give each group a large piece of paper and markers. Instruct students to draw a picture of a river on the paper. Lead them to discuss the following questions within their groups:

• What are some of the uses or purposes of a river? (water source, food source, habitat, recreation, travel) Draw these on your paper as you discuss.

• Who or what do you think the river in verse 4 represents? (God)

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Allow time for answers to be shared. Ask: “Why do you think God referred to Himself as a river?”

Say: “A river is life-giving. In this verse, God is the satisfying river who abides in Jerusalem with His protective presence, ready to destroy the enemies of His people. Unlike the turbulent, troubled ocean waters that roar and foam, the streams of God are continual, representing peace and calm. God is still this source of happiness, abundance, peace, security and joy.”

Point out that the reference to “the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High” in verse 4 and “her” in verse 5 represents Jerusalem. Ask: “What do you know about Jerusalem?” Share facts below in addition to what students share.

• Conquered by David and made the capital city of the kingdom of Israel

• Home of God’s temple built by Solomon

• Captured by the Babylonians and Romans

• The place where Jesus was crucified and arose from the dead

• Beginning place of the early church

Say: “Verse 5 tells us that God was physically within Jerusalem so that the city would not be toppled or overtaken by the enemy. Sometimes, this verse is misquoted to mean that if we are Christians, we are invincible. We will almost certainly experience pain, difficulty, and heartache, but we will not face those times alone. We can get much assurance from this verse that God is always with us.”

Ask: “What are some other physical representations of God in the Bible?” Share the given examples, if students are not sharing. (Burning bush, pillar of fire in the dessert, holy of holies in the temple, ark of the covenant) “What evidence exists that God is with us today?” (Creation such as a sunrise or sunset, other people, miracles, the Holy Spirit)

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Share: God dwelled in the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, but sin resulted in separation, and banishment from His presence. We studied this last year with “Restored.” God came in various forms such as when He appeared as a burning bush, a cloud, and a pillar. Then, Jesus came and lived among His people before He died on the cross and rose from the grave for us. Now, the Holy Spirit lives in and dwells among us, getting us another step closer to God. All of this is leading to His return to redeem us all to a new creation.

Say: “In verse 5, the psalmist shares that God will help His people every morning. He gives us strength each morning, day by day. He gives us the help we need for that moment, so we have to depend on Him daily.”

Refer students to page 13 in their Camp Guide to read Lamentations 3:22-23 and answer the first question.

Dwelling with the Lord on a daily, consistent basis is vital in order to know Him, His character, and the ways in which He works.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!

What are some ways to get to know the Lord more intimately? Check all that apply.

Pray

Read and study Scripture

Worship

Fellowship with other believers

Serve others

Dwell with Him

Circle the one you need to do on a more regular basis.

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Answer these questions with yes or no.

1. God is there for me when I have a bad day. Yes No

2. Sometimes God is too busy for me. Yes No

3. God is with me when I am afraid. Yes No

4. God sometimes seems far away. Yes No

5. God is with me when I am sad. Yes No

6. God is always with me. Yes No

Say: “At the right time, God sent His Son into the world to die for our sins. We get to know God when we enter into a relationship with Him - something we do by trusting the work of Christ on the cross and repenting of our sins. We continue to build our relationship with Him by spending time with Him. Verse 7 tells us that God is with His people, all the time, everywhere, in every part of our lives. When the walls seem to be crumbling, He is steady, constant, and always there. If God is not always with us all the time, we could never be sure He would be there when we need Him.” Note: You may want to spend some time on question 4 from the Camp Guide.

Instruct groups to move to the corner that matches their group number. Tell groups they will be rotating to each corner of the room and will have one minute at each corner to discuss the questions below that are posted on the walls.

1. What do you like about God being everywhere?

2. What was a situation in which you were glad that God was with you?

3. Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable with the fact that God is always with you, and that you can never escape from His presence?

4. Can you think of some reasons why a person would want to get away from God?

Tell them to begin with their first question. After one minute, instruct groups to rotate to the right to the next corner and discuss that question. Do this for a total of four times. Then, have groups rotate one last time to their original question and ask each group to briefly share from their discussion.

Say: “Verse 6 paints a picture of chaos.” Invite students to consider recent news events. Ask: “What current events would be considered chaos in the world today?

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Say: “When we know Christ, He promises to be with us in the good and the bad and the calm and the chaos, even when it seems like He might not be there.”

Point students to the word “stronghold” in verse 7. Ask: “What does stronghold mean?” (a well-fortified place; fortress to protect from attack; a place that is well defended or is the center for particular beliefs or activities)

Say: “You can’t build a stronghold last minute—it’s proactive, not reactive. God isn’t there as a back-up shield that we run to hide behind after things get bad. He’s a fortress that is always present around us, even before things try to attack us.”

John 4:1-30

SALTINE CHALLENGEAsk for four volunteers, one from each group. Give each group the saltine crackers and a cup of water. Instruct volunteers to sit on their large sheet of paper from earlier. Place the crackers and a cup of water on the paper.

Say: “This will be a competition to see who can eat the most saltine crackers in one minute. You must completely swallow the crackers. You are not allowed to drink the water.”

Invite a student from each group to serve as a counter in order to get an official count of how many crackers were eaten by each contender. Encourage groups to cheer on their contender.

Start the race. After one minute, award a winner and ask the following questions:

• What does your mouth feel like right now?

• How thirsty are you?

• What would you think if I said you couldn’t have any water until lunch?

Say: “I know all four of you are thirsty, so go ahead and drink the water, if you want. Water is the starting point of a conversation that Jesus has with a Samaritan woman.”

Lead students to turn to the fourth chapter of the Book of John in their Bibles. Ask a student from each group to be a reader. Give each one of the following blocks of Scripture: verses 1-6; verses 7-12; verses 13-18; and verses 25-30.

How can we make sense out of all the chaos in our world?” Say: “Think about this question: What chaos is in your life?”

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1 When Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard he was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples were), 3 he left Judea and went again to Galilee. 4 He had to travel through Samaria; 5 so he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar near the property that Jacob had given his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, worn out from his journey, sat down at the well. It was about noon.

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. “Give me a drink,” Jesus said to her, 8 because his disciples had gone into town to buy food. 9 “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? ” she asked him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would ask him, and he would give you living water.” 11 “Sir,”said the woman, “you don’t even have a bucket, and the well is deep. So where do you get this ‘living water’? 12 You aren’t greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and livestock.”

13 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.” 15 “Sir,” the woman said to him, “give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and come here to draw water.”

16 “Go call your husband,” he told her, “and come back here.” 17 “I don’t have a husband,” she answered. “You have correctly said, ‘I don’t have a husband,’ ” Jesus said. 18 “For you’ve had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”

25 The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Jesus told her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.”

27 Just then his disciples arrived, and they were amazed that he was talking with a woman. Yet no one said, “What do you want? ” or “Why are you talking with her? ” 28 Then the woman left her water jar, went into town, and told the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah? ” 30 They left the town and made their way to him (John 4:1-30, CSB).

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Share: Jesus was traveling from Judah to Galilee and chose to go through Samaria. It may have been more convenient but most Jews would have gone around Samaria and not through it.

Ask: “Why was there animosity toward the Samaritans?”

Share: Jews did not talk to or interact in any way with Samaritans. The strife between the two groups stretched back hundreds of years. The area of Israel in the North was conquered by the Babylonians. The peoples of the area were scattered and intermarried with peoples who did not follow God.

Say: “Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit through Samaria precisely for the purpose which unfolds in this chapter. Jesus pursued the Samaritan woman, and He pursues us.”

Ask: “How does verse 6 describe Jesus?” (Worn out and weary from travel) Say: “In our Scripture passage yesterday, we saw how Jesus had a human nature.” Ask: “Who can remember what that was?” (He was exhausted and needed to rest in the boat) Say: “In verse 6, we once again see the humanity of Jesus. He was tired, thirsty, and weary from travel. He is 100 percent human, as well as 100 percent God.”

Discuss as a large group:

• What time did Jesus get to Jacob’s Well? Why do you think the Scripture stated the time of day? (Noon—the hottest part of the day. The woman thought this was the time of day when the least amount of people would be at the well, hoping not to encounter others. )

• Whom did Jesus encounter at the Well? (A Samaritan woman)

• What was significant about this? (Men did not talk to women in public, especially a Jew to a Samaritan.)

• What was the woman there to do? (Get water)

Say: “The woman thought she was sneaking to the well to get water at a time when she would not encounter anyone. But instead, she had an encounter with Jesus. She had knowledge of a coming Messiah but she had no idea she was interacting with Him. Many of you who have been to church your whole life have head knowledge of Christ and the Bible but has it translated to your heart?”

Share: Jesus knew the woman intimately and did not hold back. He called out the sin in the woman’s life, the sin that was keeping her from a relationship with Him, for which He would ultimately die.

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Point students to page 14 in their Camp Guide to answer these questions:

• What sins are you struggling with currently?

• How does your brokenness isolate you and keep you from dwelling with God?

Turn these over to Jesus and allow Him to work in your life.

How do you describe your relationship with Jesus?

Non-existent NewDistantGrowingIntimate and personalOther__________________

Say: “If you do not know Jesus personally and have a relationship with Him, talk to me or an adult from your group today.”

Say: “The woman’s encounter with Jesus changed her life forever. She came looking for water and left having received Living Water. Dwelling with Jesus changes everything!”

Tape the sheet of paper with “Jesus . . .” on it to a focal wall. Pass out the following statements to a student in each of the four groups (make sure these are students who have not volunteered for anything to this point) and ask them to read in order based on the number on their sheet. Then, tape each one to a focal wall next to the Jesus sheet.

Jesus . . .

meets us where we are

reveals who He is

exposes who we are

shapes us into what He wants us to be

Ask students to repeat this in unison and then share their responses to this statement.

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Ask: “What did the woman do in verse 28?” (She dropped her water jar and left immediately, without hesitation. She didn’t fill the jar, take it home, and then go.)

Ask: “What did she leave to do?” (Share with others)

Say: “The woman’s response was to go and share immediately.”

Point students to page 14 of their Camp Guide to answer the questions there.

• What is your response to the gospel?

• What do you need to drop or let go of in order to go and share?

Give each student a small sticky note and a pen. Lay a large piece of paper on the floor.

Ask students to write the first name of a person who needs Jesus in his or her life on their sticky note. Say: “This could be a family member, friend, neighbor, or acquaintance. When you have a name, place the sticky note on the large sheet of paper.”

Say: “When we encounter Jesus, our response should be the same as the woman—tell everyone. We can do this because the Holy Spirit is with us. The woman’s response should challenge us to do likewise with the person we just named on our sticky note.”

Say: “Physical water was attained through hard labor at that time (walking to the well, drawing the water, walking back) but living water is a gift, easy to obtain, came at a cost—a cost that was paid for us. We should be over-the-top ecstatic about this truth!”

Remind students how God was referred to as the river in Psalm 46 and compare this to how Jesus was referred to as Living Water in John 4.

Say: “Let’s look at other Scriptures that show us how God is with us.” Hand out Bible Verse Cards, each to a different student, to read aloud.

Joshua 1:9“Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.

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Matthew 28:20“Teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Zephaniah 3:17“The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing.”

Psalm 23:4Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

1 Corinthians 3:16Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

Matthew 1:23See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”

John 1:14The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Revelation 21:3Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.

Romans 8:38-39For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

DWELL IN REFLECTION — APPLICATION (10 MINUTES)Refer to page 15 in the Camp Guide and answer these questions.

• How do you see God with you on a daily basis?

• In what area(s) of your life do you need the Lord’s direction and peace?

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Invite students to circle up around the large piece of paper that includes the names of people who need Jesus. Pray or invite a student to pray over these names, that God will provide an opportunity to share with them and that they will be open to Him.

Say: “He is always with us and for us. He is our peace in the midst of a broken and chaotic world.”

DWELL ON THIS — KEY VERSE (5 MINUTES)Psalm 46:7

“The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.”

Cover the Key Verse Poster. Give each of the four groups from earlier a copy of the Key Verse Puzzle and a key to decoding it below. Tell groups they will compete to see which group can decode it first. The first group to decode the message wins. Give this key for decoding: A = 1, Z = 26

The __ __ __ __ of __ __ __ __ __ __ is __ __ __ __ __ __; the __ __ __ of

12 15 18 4 1 18 13 9 5 19 23 9 20 8 21 19 7 15 4

__ __ __ __ __ is our __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

10 1 3 15 2 19 20 18 15 14 7 8 15 12 4

(Solution to the puzzle: The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.)

PRAYERPray, thanking the Lord for always being with us, in the good and the bad. Dismiss.

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COMMENTARYPsalm 46:4-7

Supporting Idea: God is the satisfying river who abides in Jerusalem with His protective presence, ready to destroy the enemies of His people.

46:4. Although the foundations of the earth were shaking and collapsing, there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God. Unlike the turbulent waters that roar and foam, the streams of God are continual and make glad the inhabitants of the city of God. Streams is perhaps a reference to the stream of Siloam, which was the only water supply for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This river may be the river that flows from the throne of God (Ezek. 47:1-12; Zech. 14:8; Rev. 22:1-2). Jerusalem was often designated as the city of God (Pss. 9:11; 48:1-2; Isa. 60:14). It was considered the city where the Most High dwells. The holy place is a reference to the temple mount where the temple and the ark of the covenant were located.

46:5-7. Perhaps Jerusalem had been under attack from a foreign invader, but the psalmist wrote of the city’s fate: God is within her, she will not fall. Although enemy forces were in uproar and threatened to attack Jerusalem at break of day, the time when the city would be most vulnerable, all was well because God would help.

Although nations might voice brazen threats of invasion and destruction, the Lord would lift up His voice to speak, drowning out all other voices, and as a result the earth would melt. Therefore, the sons of Korah could sing with confidence, The Lord Almighty is with us. The phrase Lord Almighty is literally “the Lord of Hosts.” He would guard His chosen city and His holy people (cp. Pss. 24:10; 48:8; 59:5). The psalmist continued, The God of Jacob is our fortress, meaning that the Lord of Israel, God Himself, was a high and safe place, a refuge (Pss. 46:11; 48:3; 59:9,16-17; 62:2,6; 94:22).


John 4:1-30

A. Demonstration of Gospel Witness (4:1-26)

Supporting Idea: Every heart contains a God-induced thirst for which the only adequate quenching is the Water of Life provided by Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

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4:1-3. Even as the chapter opens, the potential conflict with John the Baptist rises again, this time over the issue of baptism. As we read the text, we could ask, “Why didn’t Jesus baptize?” Perhaps because people might emphasize the ritual more than the spiritual reality—a problem sometimes encountered in today’s church. Or perhaps those people baptized by Jesus would be factious and proud. So the text tells us clearly no one could claim that kind of distinction.

The Pharisees were interested in anything that might look like a religio-political movement. They may have assumed that Jesus had now succeeded John in stirring up civil unrest. Some interpreters suggest that the Pharisees were secret admirers of Jesus but could not bring themselves to take the final step of faith because of the chains of tradition. Throughout his Gospel John portrays the Pharisees as theological conservatives who would let nothing disturb the Jewish way of life which had grown up over recent centuries.

Though John was not nearly as interested in geography as Luke, he did remind us of Acts 1:8 as the gospel spread from Jerusalem to Samaria, goaded by some pharisaical threat. Did Jesus and His disciples continue a baptismal ministry? If they did, John had no intention of talking about it for this is the last mention of baptism in this Gospel. He intended to emphasize the power of faith, not the procedure of ritual.

One more thought on these verses focuses on the name Lord. At the time when John wrote, the word was an expression of reverence or deity. However, throughout the Fourth Gospel it more likely means “sir” as it is translated throughout this chapter (vv. 11,15,19,49). Morris picks up on this with clarity: “It is also worth noticing that the Evangelist himself speaks of Jesus as ‘the Lord’ only here and in 6:23; 11:2; 20:20; 21:12. His reserve may be a mark of acquaintance with the primitive state of affairs. We should, however, notice that while the title ‘Lord’ was not characteristic during the earthly ministry the Lordship of Christ was there. The relationship established during the days of His flesh prepared the way for the full use of the title in later times” (Morris, p. 252).

4:4-6. To avoid comparison and controversy with John’s ministry and to move out of the scrutiny of the Jerusalem Pharisees, Jesus and His disciples headed north to Galilee through Samaria. But again a question haunts us when we read that He had to go through Samaria. Why? The common way would be to head northwest to Jericho, cross over the river Jordan and not set foot on Samaritan soil at all. But Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit through Samaria precisely for the purpose which unfolds in this chapter. As Tenney puts it, “The words ‘had to’ translate an expression of necessity. While the term speaks of general necessity rather than of personal obligation, in this instance it must refer to some compulsion other than mere convenience. As the Savior of all men, Jesus had to confront the smoldering

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LIVING IN A BROKEN WORLD, WE OFTEN FIND OURSELVES SEARCHING FOR COMMUNITY AND PEACE. WHEN WE KNOW CHRIST, WE CAN REST KNOWING THAT GOD IS WITH US ALWAYS, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE CHAOS. HE IS FOR US AND WITH US.

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suspicion and enmity between Jew and Samaritan by ministering to His enemies” (Tenney, EBC, p. 54).

Let us not miss the touch of Jesus’ humanity that comes to us when we read the words tired as he was from the journey. As Borchert points out, “It is absolutely crucial to recognize that all the Gospel writers were fully aware of the humanity of Jesus. The strategic Christian doctrine of the incarnation is not merely a theological assertion about the deity of Jesus; it is equally a theological assertion about His humanity. Heretical tendencies result when either element is omitted or submerged. Jesus was really a mortal who experienced the bodily weaknesses of being human, even though He did not suffer the human curse of sin (cf. Heb 4:15)” (Borchert, p. 201).

4:7-9. The conversation which ensued at this point was initiated and concluded by Jesus. He spoke seven times and the woman spoke six times. About noon the woman came to the well, obviously a social outcast since that hot hour would have been an unlikely time to lug a heavy water jar back into the city. It reminds us of the young women who were helped by Moses at another well about the same hour (Exod. 2:15-17). Not all interpreters agree on the hour, some suggesting that John may have been using the Roman time-reckoning system which would be about 6:00 p.m. or, as some argue, about noon. That seems so highly speculative as to be useless, since John consistently reflects the viewpoint of a Palestinian Jew throughout the entirety of this Gospel.

After having dealt with the way to Galilee, Jesus’ question opens a long section of the chapter which deals with the truth of personal salvation. The woman reminded Him that Jews and Samaritans had no social dealings. This situation dated back to 722 BC, when the Assyrian captivity was concluded by Sargon, who resettled nearly thirty thousand people from Samaria to other points in the Assyrian Empire. They were replaced by captives from other countries, and a pluralistic culture of sorts developed. Any Jew would become ceremonially unclean by using a vessel handled by a Samaritan.

Notice that the last phrase of verse 9 is a parenthesis, indicating that it contains John’s comment, not a part of the woman’s response to Jesus. Jesus broke through two levels of prejudice. The person with whom he spoke was not only a Samaritan but a woman. For a Jewish man to speak to a Samaritan woman was unheard of, and she probably had never experienced a similar conversation. She represents an oppressed minority, still a common reality in much Middle Eastern culture. But Jesus was neither racist nor sexist. He knew that His question would lead to far more than an exchange of words and water.

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4:10-12. Jesus cut right to the basics and offered living water. This confused the woman since she had no context for moving from physical to spiritual water. The expression gift of God appears only here in the Gospels, but it has become a vital part of modern Christian vocabulary. The gift of God is living water, the water of life, life itself through the Holy Spirit. Once again Morris helps our interpretation: “Jesus is speaking of the new life that He will give, a life connected with the activity of the Spirit. Notice that, although Jesus calls Himself ‘the Bread of Life’ (6:35), He does not refer to Himself as the living water. Living water rather, symbolizes the Spirit, whom He would send, than the Christ Himself. Oderberg shows that in a number of Jewish writings water symbolizes teaching or doctrine. It seems likely that the primary meaning here is the Holy Spirit. But, in the manner so typical of this Gospel, there may also be a reference to Jesus’ teaching. If so, it will be to His teaching as issuing forth in spiritual life” (Morris, pp. 260-61).

The woman seemed quite intelligent and quickly linked the well with its original digger, emphasizing the Samaritan connection with the patriarchs. Josephus suggests that the Samaritans traced their ancestry back to Jacob through Joseph, Ephriam, and Manasseh.

Boice provides an interesting comparison between Nicodemus of chapter 3 and the Samaritan woman of chapter 4. Here is an abbreviated look at those similarities:

Both thought they were spiritually secure.

Both were crudely literal or materialistic in their reaction to Jesus’ spiritual teaching.

Both were spiritually empty and sensed the need for God.

Both were spiritually lost, and that was the root of all their other problems (Boice, I, pp. 335-37).

4:13-15. The water that the woman had come to draw had to be obtained with hard labor in the sun. If the refreshing water of which this stranger spoke could be made available without all that effort, so much the better. And even that dimension of comparison is important in these verses. Jesus pointed out that the spiritual water of which He spoke is not something for which one strives in difficulty and struggle. Rather, a person receives it as it bubbles up from within.

People who depend only on physical water will be continuously thirsty. Either ignorant or resentful of their God-implanted need for spiritual water, they will always look in the wrong direction for satisfaction. Jeremiah had proclaimed this truth centuries earlier: “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jer. 2:13).

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What could the woman have meant by her request in verse 15? Deliberate sarcasm? “If you’re better than Jacob, make my life easier by producing this amazing water of which you speak.” Sincere confusion? “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but if you can channel a stream into our village so I don’t have to come out here and get the water, I’m all for it.” Caustic selfishness? “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but if you can produce some kind of water in some magical way, let’s see it.”

Perhaps we can best see here a sincere but confused appeal from one whose life must have been filled with social suffering. I would link her response with Nicodemus’ words in John 3:9: “How can this be?”

4:16-18. Beginning with verse 16, Jesus pushed all metaphors aside and dealt in straight talk. Like this woman, we must recognize our sin and understand that God sees us for what we are. Surely the change in topic must have seemed abrupt, but again the woman did not miss a beat. What she said was true—she had no husband—at the moment. And the fact that she spoke the truth was the very point at which Jesus pinned down the reality.

Family connections were important in the Jewish religion and would soon become a major metaphor for the church. Believers are the bride of Christ who will attend the marriage supper of the Lamb. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Christians are brothers and sisters in the family of God.

Here was a woman who lived outside the boundaries of any religious or cultural standards of her day. A string of five husbands followed by a lover is certainly not unknown in the twenty-first century, but it is hardly common even in our permissive society with its twisted tolerance for evil. In first-century Samaria, such a domestic arrangement was unthinkable.

The gospel has social implications. The first requirement for eligibility to receive living water is a recognition of sin for what it is. In a passage which shows us Jesus’ humanity (He was tired and thirsty) we also see His deity. He exercised the divine attribute of omniscience which we have already seen when He said to Nathanael, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you” (John 1:48). The woman picked up on this immediately and later told her neighbors, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did” (4:29).

4:19-20. Embarrassed by Jesus’ penetrating analysis of her moral condition, the woman turned the discussion to religion, notably the proper place of worship. She conceded she was no longer talking to a dusty stranger with peculiar ideas about the source of water, but a prophet. The Jews had a long line of prophets, and they used the term quite freely. The Samaritans, on the other hand, recognized no prophet after Moses other than the one of whom Moses spoke in Deuteronomy 18:18.

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It is possible that the woman connected Jesus with the promised Messiah.

To turn the conversation away from her personal morals, she raised what may have been the most important distinction in Jewish and Samaritan theology—the place of worship. Abraham and Jacob had worshiped on Mount Gerizim (Gen. 12:7; 33:20). According to the Samaritans, that was the very place Abraham had offered Isaac on the altar. Samaritans overlooked references to Jerusalem in the historical books (2 Chr. 6; 7:12) and acknowledged only the Pentateuch, so Jerusalem worship meant nothing to them. They had built on Mount Gerizim four hundred years earlier a temple that was destroyed by the Jews around 128 BC. The appropriate site of worship now became the topic.

4:21-24. In this passage we find one of the strongest worship statements in the New Testament. Ten of John’s thirteen uses of the Greek word for worship appear in these few verses. We learn immediately that place is irrelevant and that worship is not primarily in body—through physical motions and activities—but in spirit. The text does not refer to the Holy Spirit but an attitude of heart which acknowledges God and His sovereignty over our lives. Furthermore, worship must be done in truth—honestly, biblically, centered on Christ. This paragraph shows the difference between religion and the gospel: religion describes humankind’s search for God; the gospel describes the way God reached down to humanity.

But the repeated phrase “a time is coming” grabs our attention, especially in view of the addition in verse 23—“and has now come.” Is this the same “hour” as the one we encountered in John 2:4? Borchert thinks so and suggests, “The mention of ‘hour’ here is a Johannine theme which encapsulates the decisive moment in history of the crucifixion and resurrection that transformed and continues to transform human reality” (Borchert, p. 207). Yes, that is the common way the word is used throughout the epistle. But there seems to be something uncommon about this occasion, precisely because of the phrase has now come.

Rather than the hour of crucifixion, the emphasis here seems to rest upon the first advent. The Messiah has appeared; the gospel has already been proclaimed; life and light are available. True believers must stop this mindless, endless, meaningless bickering about sites and sounds of worship. God is not interested in Jews or Samaritans, Presbyterians or Methodists, Calvinists or Arminians. He is interested in worshipers who must worship in spirit and in truth.

Nevertheless, honesty and candor required that Jesus correct the woman’s theological error: the Samaritans were wrong since salvation is from the Jews. But that was an Old Testament argument and a new time has come, bringing with it a new attitude and aura of worship. Temples and tabernacles, mountains and cities were fading symbols of the past, shadows of the spiritual reality who now stood before her. Marcus Dods states the point eloquently:

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“Rich music, striking combinations of colour and of architectural forms, are nothing to God so far as worship goes, except insofar as they bring the human spirit into fellowship with Him. Persons are differently constituted, and what is natural to one will be formal and artificial to another. Some worshippers will always feel that they get closer to God in private, in their own silent room, and with nothing but their own circumstances and wants to stimulate; they feel that a service carefully arranged and abounding in musical effects does indeed move them, but does not make it easier for them to address themselves to God. Others, again, feel differently; they feel that they can best worship God in spirit when the forms of worship are expressive and significant. But in two points all will agree: first, that in external worship, while we strive to keep it simple, we should also strive to make it good—the best possible of its kind. If we are to sing God’s praise at all, then let the singing be the best possible, the best music a congregation can join in, and executed with the utmost skill that care can develop. Music which cannot be sung save by persons of exceptional musical talent is unsuitable for congregational worship; but music which requires no consideration, and admits of no excellence, is hardly suitable for the worship of God. I do not know what idea of God’s worship is held by persons who never put themselves to the least trouble to improve it so far as they are concerned. The other point in which we all will agree, is that where the Spirit is not engaged there is no worship at all” (Dods, pp. 156-57).

4:25-26. So the woman had faith after all; like most Samaritans, she waited the coming of the Messiah who would finally put an end to all bickering and confusion about the spiritual life. And since only the Messiah could straighten out religious confusion, there was no further point in talking about husbands or worship or any such complicated questions. But she was hardly prepared for the next statement—the only occasion of New Testament record other than His trial on which Jesus claimed to be the Christ. The literal translation of the Greek text is, “I am the one speaking to you.”

The use of ego eimi (I am) represents an important theological theme in this Gospel. Usually there is a metaphoric connection such as Bread of Life (6:35) or the Good Shepherd (10:14). But here it becomes what Borchert calls “the shocking reality of a confession of the divine-human presence” (Borchert, p. 209). An absolute declaration of deity. “You are waiting for the Messiah? Then you should be interested in this conversation because I have come and am speaking personally to you.”

Bible students know how strongly Jesus linked Himself with Yahweh of the Old Testament, notably the references in Isaiah 40-55. The announcement of the arrival of a Messiah represents an enormous fulfillment of promise. Jews and Samaritans had waited centuries to hear what this peasant woman heard from the lips of the Son of God. Westcott reminds us how this serves us even in the present hour:

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“It cannot have been for nothing that God was pleased to disclose His counsels, fragment by fragment through long intervals of silence and disappointment and disaster. In that slow preparation for the perfect revelation of Himself come in which was most inadequately apprehended till it was finally given, we discern the pattern of His ways. As it was in the case of the first Advent, even so now He is guiding the course of the world to the second Advent. We can see enough in the past, to find a vantage ground for faith; and, when the night is deepest and all sight fails, shall we not still endure, like the men of old time, as seeing the invisible?” (Westcott, p. 27).

B. Explanation of Gospel Witness (4:27-38)

Supporting Idea: Through honest testimony, people whom God has prepared will understand and believe the gospel.

4:27-30. The disciples had been in town buying groceries during Jesus’ conversation with the woman, but now they returned. Since it was midday, they urged Jesus to have some lunch. The conversion of the woman described in verses 27-30 and the personal concern for Jesus’ nourishment expressed by the disciples was followed by personal control that Jesus asserted over the disciples’ confusion regarding their mission that day. We’ve already noted why the disciples would naturally be surprised to find Him talking with a woman. But spiritual sensitivity and a sense of courtesy overcome their natural Jewish revulsion at this predicament. We can only imagine what Judas thought on this occasion.

A change in the woman is noted by several important elements of verses 28-29:

She had come to draw water, but she was so excited that she abandoned her water jar.

She rushed back into town and exclaimed the revelations of her personal life when, just a short time ago, she had come to the well alone, quite likely as a social outcast.

On the basis of Jesus’ omniscience, she raised the question of whether the Messiah had come.

Boice calls her report “the cry of a new life” and somewhat dogmatically draws his conclusion: “What had happened was that the woman had been born again. She is the first clear example in the Gospel. She had come down the hill a child of Adam’s race, thinking only of the life she had known and of her very mundane need for more water. Instead she had met the second Adam, Jesus, who had filled her with a desire for a quality of life that she had never dreamed of and who had revealed Himself to her as the One through whom that life is imparted to men and women. As a result of Christ’s words the woman believed on Him and became His witness” (Boice, I, p. 380).

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The NIV has done a nice job of rendering the woman’s question since the original text shows it to be tentative, not rhetorical.

Some question has been raised about the translation of people in verse 28 and the corollary pronoun they in verse 30. Anthropos is the common word for man. Borchert suggests, “I think we have here a woman who probably knew where to find the men of the town, and her story also may well have been their story!” (Borchert, p. 211). Perhaps that pushes the woman’s past just a bit too far in this story. If it means men only, she may have contacted the elders of the city on what surely was for Samaritans the most touchy theological point of all. More than likely however, anthropos means people in this context, since Greek contains a more specific term for adult males.

[Anders, Max (2011). Holman New Testament Commentary – John (p. 78). B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com.]

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OVERVIEWPersonal circumstances never exceed God’s power and faithfulness. Remembering how God has provided in the past gives courage for the future. He is faithful.

LIFE QUESTIONHow has God shown His faithfulness in your life and how does that give you future assurance?

SCRIPTURESPsalm 46:8-9. John 11:38-44. Psalm 46:8a

KEY VERSE: PSALM 46:1“Come, see the works of the Lord.”

GATHER THESE SUPPLIES• Four balloons• Stopwatch or alarm on phone• 200 cotton swabs• Masking tape• Toilet paper - enough for each student to get three squares• Pens• Camp Guides• Extra Bibles

PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME: • Blow up balloons.• Make four copies of these questions for groups.

• What does faithfulness look and feel like? • Whom can you describe as faithful? Why?• Do you think it’s possible to be a faithful person without having a relationship

with God? Why?• What would it be like if we served a god who wasn’t faithful?

• Place a strip of masking tape on the floor to divide the room in half.• Count cotton swabs into two equal quantities.• Copy and cut apart the Bible verses to make Bible Verse Cards. • Pull apart toilet paper in 3 block sections.

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PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES NEVER EXCEED GOD’S POWER AND FAITHFULNESS. REMEMBERING HOW GOD HAS PROVIDED IN THE PAST GIVES COURAGE FOR THE FUTURE. HE IS FAITHFUL.

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DWELL TOGETHER — MOTIVATION (10 MINUTES)

No Let DownDesignate each of the four corners as follows: January – March; April – June; July – September; October – December. Lead students to find the corner of their birth month. Lead each group to stand in a circle. Say: “This game is a competition to see who can have the most balloon touches in a certain amount of time.” Give these instructions: Don’t let the balloon fall to the floor. You may only bat at the balloon with your hands. No one is allowed to catch it or hold it. As the balloon goes from person to person, count until you reach 100. If the balloon falls, start again and continue counting where you left off. The game ends when the first group reaches 100 (or less if taking too long depending on age and ability of group). Toss a balloon in each circle and motion for the game to begin. Allow game time. Recognize the winning group. Take up the balloons. Discuss these questions:

• Did the balloon ever get let down? How?

• How do we sometimes let other people down?

• Is it hard to keep promises that we make? Why or why not?

• Can you depend on people who don’t keep promises?

Say: “We are all sinners. As such, we will let others down, and they will let us down. But, God is faithful and always keeps His word. We can depend on Him. In today’s study, we will learn more about God’s faithfulness and how He keeps His promises. Remembering how God has been faithful in the past gives courage for the future.”

DWELL IN THE WORD — EXAMINATION (30 MINUTES)Psalm 46:8-9Ask a student to share something they learned from today’s Quiet Time and another student to share a summary of what we studied and learned yesterday. Say: “Again today, we begin our Bible study in Psalm 46.” Lead students to turn there. Invite a student to pray, asking the Lord to reveal Himself and His truth to us today.

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Ask a student to read aloud Psalm 46:8-9.

8 Come, see the works of the Lord, who brings devastation on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; he sets wagons ablaze (Psalm 46:8-9, CSB).

Ask:

• What are some of the works of the Lord that you have seen or read about in the Bible? What about in your own life?

• With whom are you sharing what the Lord has done and is doing in your life?

• What do the works of the Lord prove about Him? (He is faithful.)

Instruct groups to discuss the questions below:

• What does faithfulness look and feel like?

• Whom can you describe as faithful? Why?

• Do you think it’s possible to be a faithful person without having a relationship with God? Why?

• What would it be like if we served a god who wasn’t faithful?

Read each question and allow responses.

Q-Tip WarsLead students to move to one side of the taped line or the other and then move students as needed for an equal number on either side of the line. Scatter 100 of the cotton swabs to one side of the taped line on the floor and the rest of the cotton swabs on the other side. Instruct students to get on the floor. They must either sit down, lie down, or get on their knees. Tell teams that when you say go, they will have one minute to clear their side of the cotton swabs. Share that the objective is to be the team with the least number of cotton swabs when time is up. Start the game, allow one minute of play, and then call time. Instruct groups to count the number of cotton swabs on their side. Award the team with the fewest number the winner and encourage them to celebrate their victory by doing a victory dance.

Debrief this game by asking students to share from their experience and to apply this to life. Lead students to think about what battles they have in their life.

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Say: “The battle against evil belongs to the Lord because He will fight the evil forces that threaten His people while bringing glory to His name. God protects His people and fights for us. He ultimately secures those who belong to Him. We are living from a place of victory. God has already defeated death. He has won the battle. He has already proven Himself faithful.”

Refer students to page 19 in their Camp Guide to answer these questions:

• When was an instance in your life where you know God was faithful to you?

• Do the influences in your life encourage you to be faithful? If so, how?

• How would you rate your faithfulness to God?

1------------------------------------------------------------------------10

Disloyal/Faithless Loyal/Faithful

Allow time for students to share, if they choose.

Share a story of how you have seen the Lord’s faithfulness in your life in the past.

Ask students to share ways God is showing His faithfulness this week at camp.

Say: “From the beginning, God has been faithful to Israel and His people. God has been faithful to you in your life as well. We mess up all the time, just like the Israelites, and there are still consequences to those mistakes, but He is faithful to His promises.”

John 11:38-44

Invite students to turn to John 11. Ask a volunteer to read aloud this passage:

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 “Remove the stone,” Jesus said. Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

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41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. 42 I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” 43 After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out! ” 44 The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go” (John 11:38-44, CSB).

Share this information from the first 37 verses of John 11:

Lazarus was a brother to Mary and Martha. He was sick, so the sisters sent word to Jesus to come to heal him. Instead of going immediately, Jesus waited a couple days so that He might be glorified in what was about to happen. Eventually, Jesus set out to visit Mary and Martha. When He arrived, Lazarus had already been dead for four days. Mary and Martha both questioned Jesus for not showing up earlier, and they believed that if He had come on, Lazarus would still be alive. But, little did they know that their brother was not going to remain dead.

How Long Is a Minute?Instruct students to stand when they think one minute has passed. Signal to begin and start your stopwatch. Call time at one minute. Recognize the student(s) who stood up closest to one minute. Debrief this activity and talk about how sometimes it seems like time flies by and other times it just drags on.

Say: “Our timing does not always line up with God’s timing. Sometimes, we want to get ahead of God when we may have to wait on Him.”

Point students to page 19 in their Camp Guide to answer these questions:

When has God not shown up on your timeline?

How did you respond?

a. Took control yourself

b. Lost faith

c. Waited actively

d. Other______________

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When have you seen that God’s timing was better than yours?

Ask if any students want to share.

Say: “God is always faithful and sees the bigger picture. Jesus knew the exact time and way to heal Lazarus for God’s glory to be known among the people. Belief of the day was that the spirit of the body remained with the physical body for three days and then departed. Jesus was strategic to stay away at least these three days so that everyone knew that Lazarus was for sure dead.”

Refer students to verse 35. Ask: “What do we see Jesus do in this verse?” (cry) Say: “Once again, we see Jesus’ humanity. In our first lesson, Jesus slept in the boat because He was exhausted from being with the crowds all day. In our second lesson, Jesus was thirsty and weary from travel when He met the woman at the well. Jesus was fully human and fully God. He has been where we are and has gone before us.”

Ask: “When have you had a chance to be involved in God’s work?” (mission trip, working in children’s ministry, visiting a nursing home, etc) Say: “Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, but He involved people in the process. They were invited to join in His miraculous work, but it was still very clear that the miracle was only from Jesus. God can do His work without us but chooses to allow us to be part of His work.” Ask: “How does that make you feel?”

Invite a student to read verse 45: “Therefore, many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what He did believed in Him.”

Say: “Many who witnessed this event left changed. When we dwell with Him, He changes things. Jesus had compassion not just on Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, but on the Jews. He recognized that the greatest need was not Lazarus’ sickness; it was the salvation of the people. He responded in a way that would bring God the most glory.”

Life-GiverInstruct students to get back in their original four teams, and lead each team to stand at a different wall. Designate one student as the “Life Giver” and direct her to stand in the center of the room. Give these instructions: When I say “Go,” I will give you 30 seconds, and everyone is to try to tag the opposite wall before I call time. (You may need to adjust the count based on the size of your room.)

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If you bump or touch another player when moving across the room, you and the other person must freeze and stay “dead” until tagged by the Life Giver. You can yell to get the Life Giver’s attention, and players made alive again can continue crossing.

Play a second round and this time allow students to tag each other. If they receive a tag, they must freeze and remain frozen until the Life Giver tags them.

Lead students to track the number of rounds in which they’re able to cross within the time limit. If a student is still dead at the end of a round, he or she can be made alive again in the next round and can continue to the wall within the new round’s time limit. Recognize the student each round who touched the opposite wall the most times.

Say: “Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Because of His sacrifice, we have forgiveness of sin and can live eternally with Him and the Father.”

Say: “Let’s look at other Scriptures about God’s faithfulness.” Hand out Bible Verse Cards, each to a different student, to read aloud.

2 Timothy 2:11-13This saying is trustworthy: For if we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

Deuteronomy 32:4The Rock—his work is perfect; all his ways are just. A faithful God, without bias, he is righteous and true.

Ezra 3:11They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord: “For he is good; his faithful love to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s house had been laid.

Job 10:12“You gave me life and faithful love, and your care has guarded my life.”

Psalm 6:4Turn, Lord! Rescue me; save me because of your faithful love.

Psalm 36:5Lord, your faithful love reaches to heaven, your faithfulness to the clouds.

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Psalm 25:6Remember, Lord, your compassion and your faithful love, for they have existed from antiquity.

Psalm 59:17To you, my strength, I sing praises, because God is my stronghold—my faithful God.

Psalm 100:5For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations.

Psalm 103:8The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.

1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

DWELL IN REFLECTION — APPLICATION (15 MINUTES)Remind students how Lazarus was already dead in the grave, wrapped in grave clothes when he was raised from the dead by Jesus. Say: “Grave clothes back in Bible days were strips of fabric wrapped around the body.” Give each student three squares of toilet paper and a pen. Point out that the toilet paper is symbolic of the strips of grave clothes. Instruct them to write these three words on their toilet paper, one on each square: family, friends, God. Lead them to note steps they can take to be more faithful to those listed on their paper. Challenge students to place this in their Bible as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and how we are to reciprocate that.

Refer students to page 20 in their Camp Guide and answer these questions:

• How has God shown His faithfulness in your life?

• How does that give you future assurance?

Say: “Personal circumstances never exceed God’s power and faithfulness. Remembering how God has provided in the past gives courage for the future. He is faithful.”

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DWELL ON THIS — KEY VERSE (5 MINUTES)Psalm 46:8a

“Come and see the works of the Lord.”

Divide the four teams into eight and give each team one of the words of the Key Verse. Instruct each group to recite their word in the correct order. Do this in several rounds—in a whisper, then inside voice, then loudly. Speed up each round.

Say: “A way to remember His faithfulness is to dwell in and remember His Word. His Word holds His promises for us. We can’t know He is faithful if we don’t know what He promised.”

PRAYERPray or invite a student to pray, thanking God for His faithfulness.

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Supporting Idea: The battle belongs to the Lord because He will fight the evil forces that threaten His people while bringing glory to His name.

46:8-9. Following the battle, the psalmist invited the reader to come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations He had brought on the earth. The works of the Lord were performed throughout the history of Israel, from the conquest of the promised land into the period of the monarchy. Perhaps the desolations were the fields that were covered with the mutilated, dead corpses of the enemies of the Lord and His people Israel.

Furthermore, the psalmist declared, God makes wars cease to the ends of the earth (cp. Isa. 2:4; Ezek. 39:9; Mic. 4:3; Zech. 9:10), meaning that He would enforce His peace upon His defeated enemies. This imposed peace is inferred by the following statement: He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, He burns the shields with fire (cp. Isa. 9:4; Ezek. 39:9-10; Hos. 2:18; Mic. 4:1-4). Be assured that at the end of the day, God would win the victory while delivering His people.


John 11:38-44

Supporting Idea: Still emotionally tense, the Lord came to this cave-like tomb with a stone across the entrance. He was about to display His authority, and everyone would see it publicly and dramatically.

11:38-40. The emotional intensity deepened as Jesus approached the tomb, deeply moved. The same word appears in verse 33. I have visited the Herod family tomb behind the modern King David Hotel in Jerusalem. This tomb is probably similar to the tombs of both Lazarus and Jesus. The tombstone was probably four or five feet in diameter and several inches thick. Since Martha had raised the protest, the response of verse 40 may be directed primarily at her, though it certainly established a general principle—one that we have repeatedly observed throughout this Gospel: Believing is seeing.

We might also conclude that Jesus was speaking to the disciples, since to them He had said, “This sickness . . . is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (11:4). So to the sisters in their grief, the disciples in their bewilderment, and to all who seek faith for life at any age since this dramatic event, Jesus calls for faith first and sight later.

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11:41-42. The power of Jesus is also seen in His prayer. These words must have been uttered audibly and publicly. The purpose of the prayer was to create faith in the hearts of those standing around the tomb of Lazarus wondering what would happen next. Here we get a glimpse into the relationship of the Trinity and particularly the Father-Son relationship within the Godhead that John dealt with so frequently in this Gospel.

All three of Jesus’ prayers recorded in John call upon the Father to support the mission on which He had sent the Son (11:41-42; 12:27-28; 17:1-26). Borchert points out: “Unlike the other prayers, however, this prayer focuses on thanksgiving and is not unlike the formula prayer in Ps. 118:21 (a psalm frequently cited by the NT writers). The prayer presupposes that Jesus knew the Father’s will concerning Lazarus, and what He was about to do would not be merely for the sake of Lazarus but for those who would witness the incredible act that was to follow. The prayer thus was not primarily for His benefit, but it was aimed at bringing the observers into the group of believers (11:42)” (Borchert, p. 362).

What exactly did Jesus mean when He said to the Father, “I said this for the benefit of the people standing here?” This public gesture of looking up and speaking aloud was unnecessary, since the Father always hears the Son and responds. But Jesus’ mission was to bring people to faith and John was mission-focused throughout this entire book. The unbelieving crowds of mourners heard Jesus’ rhetorical question of verse 40, watched Him, and heard Him pray openly to the Father. We learn later that “many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in Him” (11:45).

Boice emphasizes how Jesus involved people not only in watching and hearing but in the miracle itself:

“Although it was Jesus alone who could bring the dead to life, He delighted to involve the bystanders in the miracle. First, they were told to move the stone. Then, after the miracle, they were told to unbind Lazarus. True, we cannot bring the dead to life. But we can bring the word of Christ to them. We can do preparatory work, and we can do work afterward. We can help to remove stones—stones of ignorance, error, prejudice and despair. After the miracle we can help the new Christian by unwinding the grave clothes of doubt, fear, introspection, and discouragement” (Boice, p. 278).

11:43-44. Through this miracle we also see that Jesus is our power. How interesting that John should tell us Jesus called in a loud voice, for surely it was not necessary for that call to reach the ears of Lazarus. Perhaps He intended it for the crowd of mourners. No one present that day could possibly misunderstand what Jesus said or did.

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This is one of the great dramatic scenes of the Bible, but we must be careful using the word “resurrection” to describe it. In one sense, Lazarus did experience resurrection because he came back from the dead. But New Testament “resurrection” refers to a return to life in a state of immortality so that one never dies again. That was the pattern of the resurrection of Jesus, of course, but not that of Lazarus who would die again. Yet the word “resuscitation” used by some commentators seems insufficient. Let us just recognize the limitations of resurrection performed in biblical times as over against that promised believers in a future day (1 Cor. 15; 1 Tim. 6:16).

The Greek verb rendered here “called in a loud voice” (ekraugasen) appears only nine times in the New Testament, eight of them in the Gospels.

No Hollywood depiction of this event could possibly capture the drama of what actually happened that day as Lazarus stumbled and staggered into the sun while wearing his grave clothes. Borchert describes what he looked like: “A long, narrow sheet was folded in half, and the body was inserted between the folded halves. Then the wrap was bound together, and the body was secured. The head was wrapped separately, which explains the note both in the Lazarus situation (11:44) and the separate head wrapping in the case of Jesus’ grave clothes (20:6-7)” (Borchert, p. 362).

[Anders, Max (2011). Holman New Testament Commentary – John (p. 211). B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com.]

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OVERVIEWStop looking around for all the ways to find your purpose. Be still and seek Him. He is our rest.

LIFE QUESTIONWhat do you need to stop doing and turn over to God in order to find peace and rest?

SCRIPTURESPsalm 46:10-11. Luke 10:38-42

KEY VERSE: PSALM 46:10Stop your fighting, and now that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.

GATHER THESE SUPPLIES:• Favorite pillow

• Stopwatch or alarm on phone

• Large sheets of paper

• Markers

• Small sheets of paper

• Construction paper

• Index cards

• Pens

• Music

• Small, smooth stones

• Sharpie® markers

• Camp Guides

• Extra Bibles

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PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME:• Make four copies of these questions for groups.

• How many hours of sleep do you get on an average night? (8+, 6-8, 5 or less) How many did you get last night?

• How important is rest to our physical health?

• What happens when we don’t get enough rest?

• How is spiritual rest similar to physical rest?

• Print each of the statistics on sleep on separate slips of paper:

• About 35% of Americans don’t get the recommended 7 hours of sleep each night.

• On average, Americans currently get 6.8 hours of sleep each night.

• In 1910, the average person slept 9 hours a night.

• Roughly 20% of Americans have a sleep disorder.

• SInce 1985, the percentage of adults getting less than 6 hours of sleep each night has increased by 31%.

• Almost 97% of teenagers get less than the recommended amount of sleep.

• An estimated 7 out of 10 college students don’t get adequate sleep.

• Sleep deprivation costs the U.S. $411 billion annually due to loss of

productivity.

• Print these words on a poster or large sheet of paper: This is not a contemplative call for reflection but a redemptive call to surrender and to know God personally and intimately.

• Print each of these statements on a sheet of construction paper:

• Rest is a spiritual act where we trust God beyond what we can accomplish for ourselves.

• Rest requires discipline on our part to stop our mind from spinning on about what needs to be done next.

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• Rest allows us to focus on God and our relationships rather than on our task list.

• Make a copy of each of these to give one to each group.

• Martha’s misplaced needs and concern about the wrong things caused her to miss the bigger picture. We, too, often miss the bigger picture because we get wrapped up in less important stuff that we make a big deal. What are some examples of this in your life?

• Martha had a desire for approval. Mary wasn’t concerned with this. She was more enthralled with Jesus than with herself. What areas of your life do you desire approval from others and how does that affect your serving?

• Martha’s anxiety caused by her need to have everything perfect sacrificed her time and relationship with Jesus, but it also created a rift in her relationship with her sister. How has your busyness affected your relationships with others?

• Jesus’ gentle rebuke of Martha was an act of love—to her and to us. We are all Marthas at times. And through this correction Jesus is asking us: whom are we serving in our serving? No one’s motives are ever completely pure. What are some areas in your life where you are serving yourself instead of serving Jesus, and how can you change this?

• Copy and cut apart the Bible verses to make Bible Verse Cards.

DWELL TOGETHER — MOTIVATION (10 MINUTES)

Display your favorite pillow. Ask: “What comes to mind when you see a pillow? Who has a favorite pillow with them at camp this week?”

Point out an imaginary line in the middle of the room. Instruct students to take sides according to long nappers versus power nappers. From there, divide each side into two more groups, for a total of four smaller groups.

Lead groups to discuss:

• How many hours of sleep do you get on an average night? (8+, 6-8, 5 or less) How many did you get last night?

• Why is rest important to our physical health?

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• What happens when we don’t get enough rest?

• How is spiritual rest similar to physical rest?

Call on groups to share—one group for each question.

Distribute each of the sleep stat cards to a different student. Invite these students to take turns reading their stat aloud to the group. Ask for student reactions to each of these. Make students aware that these stats are in their Camp Guide on page 23.

• About 35% of Americans don’t get the recommended 7 hours of sleep each night.

• On average, Americans currently get 6.8 hours of sleep each night.

• In 1910, the average person slept 9 hours a night.

• Roughly 20% of Americans have a sleep disorder.

• SInce 1985, the percentage of adults getting less than 6 hours of sleep each night has increased by 31%.

• Almost 97% of teenagers get less than the recommended amount of sleep.

[Source: https://www.thegoodbody.com/sleep-statistics/]

Say: “We can tell from these stats that we do not sleep and rest as needed. Our society doesn’t like the thought of being still. Being still is another way of surrendering to God. Today, we will be challenged to stop being so busy and seek the Lord for peace and rest.”

DWELL IN THE WORD — EXAMINATION (30 MINUTES)Lead students to grab their Bibles and turn back to Psalm 46. Call on a student to read aloud verses 10-11. Ask a student to lead in prayer before diving into the Scripture.

“Stop your fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold (Psalm 46:10-11, CSB).

Ask students with different Bible translations to identify their translation and then read the first phrase of verse 10. Below are some different translations.

Stop your fighting (CSB)

Be still (ESV, King James)

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Attention all (The Message)

Stand Silent (Living Bible)

Ask: “What are other words for ‘stop’?” (Block, pause, halt, cease, layoff, finish, freeze)

Quick AerobicsSet an alarm on your phone or watch that will sound an alarm every 30 seconds. Instruct students to stand. Say: “We are going to do a morning workout with some quick aerobics. You are to follow my lead. When you hear the alarm, briefly stop and then follow me again.”

• Start with running in place. Stop briefly at the alarm.

• Do jumping jacks. Stop briefly at the alarm.

• Now, follow this by spinning in a circle. Stop.

Say: “In this activity, we stopped our busyness every 30 seconds.” Refer back to the typical teenager schedule activity that was discussed on opening night. Say: “All the busyness you identified on that list is what you are fighting, and we are told to stop and acknowledge God; we need to be still.”

Ask: “What are some practical ways to stop, be still, and reflect on God?” Ask for a volunteer to make a list of ideas shared on a large sheet of paper.

Refer students to page 23 in their Camp Guide for a definition of “exalt” and the questions that follow.

Psalm 46:10 refers to God as “exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”

What does ‘exalted’ mean?

One way to define it is: placed at a high or powerful level; held in high regard.

• How do we exalt ourselves?

• How can our lives exalt the Lord by resting in Him?

Point out how the opposite of exalted is being humble and taking the role of servant leader. Reference Philippians 2:8-9. Say: “While we are to exalt Him, we are to take on an attitude of humility and servanthood and not seek to be exalted ourselves. We can’t truly exalt someone we do not know. We get to know God by dwelling with Him on a regular basis.”

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Ask students to think about a time they received an award or won a victory. Allow a couple to share why they received their award and a couple to share what victory they won. You will need to be prepared to share personal stories, if students do not.

Say: “Often, we gain our self-worth from the achievements of our labor, and our lives are measured by hard-fought victories. Everything the world says will give our lives meaning is strapped to the busyness of endless labor and what we can accomplish for ourselves. We’re a restless people. Resting in the Lord and His provisions is the antidote for this restlessness.”

Distribute the three rest fact sheets to three students and ask them to read the statements aloud, one at a time. Discuss each, as needed.

• Rest is a spiritual act where we trust God beyond what we can accomplish for ourselves.

• Rest requires discipline on our part to stop our mind from spinning on about what needs to be done next.

• Rest allows us to focus on God and our relationships rather than on our task list.

Point back to the list made of practical steps we can take to stop and dwell with God. Say: “If we take these steps we identified earlier to stop and dwell with God, we will be closer to resting in and with Him.”

Luke 10:38-42

A Special GuestGive each group a large sheet of paper and a marker. Say: “A special guest is coming to your house. As a group, you must decide who this special person is, what preparations you will need to do before your guest arrives, and what activities you will need to do once he/she arrives and visits. Provide as many details as possible.”

After a few minutes, allow each group to present their guest and the top 3 preparations and the top 3 activities. Say: “Let’s take a look at a visit Jesus made to the home of two sisters.”

Call on a volunteer to read aloud Luke 10:38-42:

38 While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who

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also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”

41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42, CSB).

Discuss:

• What was Martha doing in these verses? How about Mary?

• What did Martha’s distractions keep her from enjoying?

• What distracts you on a daily basis?

As students share, point out that some of our distractions may not be bad, in and of themselves. Martha was trying to serve her guest, Jesus, well in her home. This is not bad. In fact, it was a sign of hospitality. But, it became a distraction when her busyness took her away from what was most important—spending time with Jesus.

Ask(rhetorically): “When was the last time you sat at Jesus’ feet?”

Say: “Let’s camp out on Luke 10:42. Jesus commends Mary for choosing to sit at His feet and hang on His every word. Though we can’t physically sit at His feet like she did, we are invited to linger in His presence through worship and Scripture. Choose what is most important. Set aside any distractions that might keep us from experiencing His grace and goodness on a daily basis.”

Point to the poster with this statement and lead students to recite it in unison: To stop our busyness and dwell with God is not just a reflective call but rather an active call to surrender and to know God personally and intimately.

Ask for feedback. Say: “To dwell with Jesus or sit at His feet is active. In this passage, Mary is actively listening, gaining knowledge, and spending sacred time with her Savior. She is taking action toward growing her relationship with Jesus by sitting at His feet and just being with Him.”

Say: “We are to make a decision to acknowledge God for who He is and allow that to be bigger and stronger than anything else we’re facing. We are called to surrender, as in a fight. We can’t win the battle alone. However, if we are with Christ, the battle has already been won and we live in a place of victory. When we dwell with Him, we develop a deeper relationship with Him and come to know His

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will and our purpose.”

Give each group one of the points below to read and discuss:

• Martha’s misplaced needs and concern about the wrong things caused her to miss the bigger picture. We, too, often miss the bigger picture because we get wrapped up in less important stuff that we make a big deal. What are some examples of this in your life?

• Martha had a desire for approval. Mary wasn’t concerned with this. She was more enthralled with Jesus than with herself. What areas of your life do you desire approval from others and how does that affect your serving?

• Martha’s anxiety caused by her need to have everything perfect sacrificed her time and relationship with Jesus, but it also created a rift in her relationship with her sister. How has your busyness affected your relationships with others?

• Jesus’ gentle rebuke of Martha was an act of love—to her and to us. We are all Marthas at times. And through this correction Jesus is asking us: whom are we serving in our serving? No one’s motives are ever completely pure. What are some areas in your life where you are serving yourself instead of serving Jesus, and how can you change this?

After a few minutes, instruct groups to choose a spokesperson to share from their discussion.

Say: “Martha was fulfilling social obligations just like we do. We think we need to post all the pictures, like all the posts, respond to the texts, and answer emails. But, are these needs? What we actually need is to live out our purpose by sitting at Jesus’ feet.”

Point students to page 24 in their Camp Guide to the priorities activity.

We spend lots of time and energy doing many things, but do we spend time on what’s really important? Indicate how important the following activities are to you. Then, estimate how much time you spend on each of these in any given week and write to the side of each.

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Answer these questions:

• Based on your answers above, is there an activity in your life on which you are spending too much time? Place a checkmark beside it above.

• Is spending time alone with God the top priority for you? ____yes ____no If no, how can you make this a priority over everything else?

Print each of these Scripture references on a separate note card and distribute to students. Invite these students to take turns reading their verses aloud.

Isaiah 40:30-31Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.

ACTIVITY LOW HIGH

Being on social media, Internet, emails, and/or texts

Spending time with friends and/or boyfriend/girlfriend

Working to make money for a car, gas, and insurance

Playing sports, being in band, or participating in other activities

Attending church group youth functions

Doing homework or studying for exams

Playing video games, watching tv, or listening to music

Doing chores

Spending quality time dwelling with God

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0

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Matthew 11:28-30“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jeremiah 31:25“For I satisfy the thirsty person and feed all those who are weak.”

Genesis 2:2-3On the seventh day God had completed his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation.

Psalm 4:8I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety.

Exodus 33:14And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Philippians 4:6-7Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 4:9-11Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his. Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.

DWELL IN REFLECTION — APPLICATION (15 MINUTES)Ask students to move to be alone by themselves and spend time reading Scripture, praying, or journaling—just being still. Provide sheets of white paper and pens. Consider playing soft music. Limit this time to five minutes.

Say: “Reflect on this question as you have your Dwell time: What do you need to stop doing and turn over to God in order to find peace and rest?”

After five minutes, say: “Just being still and dwelling with the Lord can be uncomfortable. It’s a discipline we have to learn. I encourage you to continue this

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when you get home.”

Give each student a small, smooth stone and Sharpies to share. Instruct students to print “dwell” on their stone and keep it in their pocket or backpack. Encourage them to use this as a reminder to make time for God when they get back home and the busyness of life as usual takes over.

Say: “God is our refuge, is always with us, is faithful, and is our rest. The more time we spend with Him, the more we get to know Him, His will, and His purpose for our lives. And, when we spend time with Him, things change!”

DWELL ON THIS — KEY VERSE (5 MINUTES)Psalm 46:10

“Stop your fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”

Use the link below to learn the sign for the verbs: stop, know, and regard (exalt). Teach students these signs. As you recite Psalm 46:10 in unison together several times, use the hand motions for these words. The last time you recite it as a group should be from memory.

https://www.handspeak.com/word/

PRAYERIf time permits, allow students who have made decisions this week to share. Pray over the students, thanking God for moving this week and asking Him to reveal Himself and His will as we go home and strive to dwell with Him daily.

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46:10-11. Here there is a shift in the speaker from the psalmist to the Lord himself, who gave a universal command to those who were in uproar: “Be still, and know that I am God.” This is not a contemplative call for reflection but a redemptive call to surrender and to know God personally and intimately before His swift judgment is unleashed (Hab. 2:20; Zeph. 1:7; Zech. 2:13). Furthermore, the Lord continued, I will be exalted among the nations.

God brought destruction upon the threatening nations so His name might be exalted before them. The psalmist repeated the stanza found in verse 7, telling the reader who this fortress was: The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. This God was the Lord Almighty or literally Jehovah Sabbath (see “Deeper Discoveries”). Furthermore, He was the God of Jacob, the God of the patriarchs, the fathers of Israel.


Luke 10:38-42

Supporting Idea: Dedication to Jesus takes precedence over all other responsibilities and obligations.

10:38. The long journey to Jerusalem continues. John 11:1 and 12:1-3 locate Mary and Martha in Bethany. Luke simply placed them in a village. Location was not important for him. Response to Jesus is. Martha responded in the typical homeowner’s way: fulfilling the social obligations.

10:39. Sister Mary responded in a different way. The rabbis had taught people to listen to wise men or teachers but not to talk much with women. Jesus, the wisest of men, welcomed Mary to His audience of learners.

10:40. Social obligations finally got the best of Martha, especially when her sister proved to be of no help. Rather than inviting her sister to help, Martha went straight to Jesus for authority to force her sister to work.

10:41-42. For once a person in need did not receive Christ’s blessing. The need was out of focus and misplaced. Martha was too stressed out about earthly things. Her life was out of focus, dedicated to fulfilling the world’s expectations rather than Jesus’. Life has one essential need: to hear and obey the Word of God (see 8:18-20). Mary made the right choice. Jesus would not take away from her the blessing and

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opportunity. At the crossroads of decision making, Martha had opted for worldly expectation and social obligation; Mary, for hearing Christ’s Word. Martha needed to change her priorities. When the Word is taught, listen. All else is secondary.

[ (2011). Holman New Testament Commentary – Luke (p. 168). B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com.]

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BIBLE STUDY 101GENERAL TIPS

1. Learn names. Find a way that works for you and do it. This doesn’t sound like much, but when you know their names, students feel you are interested in and care about them.

2. Study the student information card. The questions really help in starting relationships. You may want to think of some more questions such as favorite toy, movie, worst date, proudest moment, etc.

3. Do your best to hang out and talk with students during meals and hang time. Granted, sometimes they will be preoccupied with others, but find times to talk with them.

4. Be yourself. The Bible study materials, as written, are great, but allow it to take on your personality and teach it the way that is best suited to you.

5. Love students, but lead them. You will have times that you will want them to think you are the coolest, but make sure you lead them. Being a Bible study leader is not a popularity contest.

6. Do not compare yourself or your group to others. Anytime we compare, we will always come out the loser. Focus on your students and your call to the job.

7. Don’t focus on negatives, but believe you have a great group—because you do.

8. Don’t give up when you have a tough group or they don’t meet your expectations. They can and will be a great group if you lead them the way they need to be led. Study your group and meet them where they are.

9. Pray, pray, and pray some more for your students. Pray over the seats before opening night. Pray over chairs in your Bible study room daily. Pray with students. Pray!

10. Don’t just hang out with the “fun kids,” “popular kids,” or “pretty kids” in your group. Try to build relationships with all of them. Some may not be responsive, but you may just be surprised if you try.

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BIBLE STUDY 101

11. When you need help, ask for it. Other staffers and your leadership will be ready to help.

12. Your Bible study may flop one day. Do your best to fix it.

13. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak and teach through you. Pray for this each day.

14. See Bible study as a time of worship and lead that way.

15. Don’t stay up too late. Lack of sleep will eventually affect you in your Bible Study.

16. Keep personal time with the Lord a priority throughout the summer.

17. Be forgiving. They are kids.

18. Look for students who need encouragement and encourage them.

19. Build them as a group.

20.Challenge students to minister to one another.

21. Help them search for why they are in this specific Bible Study group.

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OPENING NIGHT (5-DAY)OPENING NIGHT BIBLE STUDY FOR 5-DAY CAMPS

A. Introductions

Call roll to account for every student who has been assigned to your group.

Introduce yourself and share a brief portion of your story.

Allow time for students to introduce themselves by sharing their name, church group and hometown.

B. Question Sheets

Pass out question sheets and instruct students to complete the questions.

Collect the question sheets. Later in the evening, make notes from the cards. These will be collected at paper party on opening night to be given to group leaders so they will know better how to pray for and minister to their students at camp.

C. Missions Emphasis

Draw attention to the mission posters and share the IMB (The Americas) and NAMB (Puerto Rico Send Relief) emphasis for the week.

International Mission Board - The Americas

The Americas are home to over 550 million people living without Jesus. From Mexico, through Central America, the Caribbean and South America, there are over 1,000 distinct people groups. More than 300 of those people groups are unreached with the gospel and 174 are unreached and unengaged with the gospel. That means there are 174 identified people groups with no access to the truth of Jesus, where no missionary or church is working to share the gospel.

The Americas is also home to a major refugee crisis. After twenty years of political and economic problems, the South American nation Venezuela is imploding at a rapid rate, with hyperinflation set to hit ten million percent this year. A professional salary for one month will not buy even one carton of eggs. Food and medicines are either too costly or are no longer available. Venezuela also has one of the world’s highest homicide rates. Venezuelans are fleeing their country by the millions (4.3 million, with more leaving daily).

Over the past several years, millions of Venezuelans have made the difficult decision to leave their country, their family members and their few belongings. They are

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OPENING NIGHT (5-DAY)

settling throughout the Americas seeking hope for a new life. This is a unique historical moment, an opportunity to share Christ at a time when Venezuelans are extremely open to spiritual conversations. One Venezuelan pastor has said he believes this is the most important phase of the Venezuelan church.

You can learn more here: https://www.imb.org/2019/02/20/venezuela-opportunity/

NAMB - Puerto Rico Send Relief

It may seem hard to believe that thousands of people in Puerto Rico are still struggling to recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria in 2017. This past January, the island was struck with a new disaster as a 6.4 magnitude earthquake damaged homes and knocked out power. Since then, multiple earthquakes are rattling the southern part of the island almost daily. People are fearful and yearn for normalcy.

The North American Mission Board is responding through its compassion ministry arm, Send Relief, by providing food, water and other emergency supplies to residents staying in shelters or sleeping in their yards because they are worried about the safety and stability of their homes. Send Relief already has a long-term presence on the island and is providing help and hope to residents in many ways. One tangible way to help people in Puerto Rico is through the Send Relief backpack ministry. You can help fund efforts to buy backpacks and supplies for Puerto Rico, and Send Relief will work with volunteers and Southern Baptist churches on the island to provide children and families with essentials—ranging from food and clothing to school supplies—as an expression of God’s love and care.

Say: Later in the week during worship, we will collect a mission offering. This money will be taken up in your church group.

Challenge students to give to the offering. Make them aware of which night the offering will be collected in worship. Share the name of your mission mobilizer and the location of the mission table.

D. Intro to Theme and Bible Study

Distribute a Camp Guide and pen to each student.

Say: Our theme for this week is ‘Dwell.’ Ask: What comes to mind when you hear that word?

Share: The relationship between God and man was broken by our sin but has been restored through Christ. Because of this, we can draw near to God, enjoy fellowship

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and relationship with Him and experience His ultimate peace and rest. In our culture, we have so many things grabbing our attention such as our phones, devices, social media and social expectations. Along with the pressures of school and other activities, we often find ourselves overwhelmed, drained and feeling empty. We discover how to dwell with God, rest in His presence, push past distractions and focus on His peace. Spending time with the Lord changes everything!

Explain that the Camp Guide has a daily quiet time and Bible study activities that we will be using during our Bible study time each day. Instruct students to write their name and church name in their book.

E. Bible Study Session 1

Follow the teaching plan for session 1 of Bible study.

F. Announcements

Communicate announcements and camp rules given to you by your leadership staff.

G. Prayer

Pray over the group and dismiss.

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OPENING NIGHT (6-DAY)OPENING NIGHT BIBLE STUDY FOR 6-DAY CAMPS

A. Introductions

Call roll to account for every student who has been assigned to your group.

Introduce yourself and share a brief portion of your story.

Allow time for students to introduce themselves by sharing their name, church group and hometown.

B. Intro to Theme and Bible Study

Distribute a Camp Guide and pen to each student.

Say: Our theme for this week is ‘Dwell.’ Ask: What comes to mind when you hear that word?

Share: The relationship between God and man was broken by our sin but has been restored through Christ. Because of this, we can draw near to God, enjoy fellowship and relationship with Him and experience His ultimate peace and rest. In our culture, we have so many things grabbing our attention such as our phones, devices, social media and social expectations. Along with the pressures of school and other activities, we often find ourselves overwhelmed, drained and feeling empty. We discover how to dwell with God, rest in His presence, push past distractions and focus on His peace. Spending time with the Lord changes everything!

Explain that the Camp Guide has a daily quiet time and Bible study activities that we will be using during our Bible study time each day. Instruct students to write their name and church name in their book. Collect the books and tell students that you will hand these out in the morning before quiet time.

C. Missions Emphasis

Draw attention to the mission posters and share the IMB (The Americas) and NAMB (Puerto Rico Send Relief) emphasis for the week.

International Mission Board - The Americas

The Americas are home to over 550 million people living without Jesus. From Mexico, through Central America, the Caribbean and South America, there are over 1,000 distinct people groups. More than 300 of those people groups are unreached

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with the gospel and 174 are unreached and unengaged with the gospel. That means there are 174 identified people groups with no access to the truth of Jesus, where no missionary or church is working to share the gospel.

The Americas is also home to a major refugee crisis. After twenty years of political and economic problems, the South American nation Venezuela is imploding at a rapid rate, with hyperinflation set to hit ten million percent this year. A professional salary for one month will not buy even one carton of eggs. Food and medicines are either too costly or are no longer available. Venezuela also has one of the world’s highest homicide rates. Venezuelans are fleeing their country by the millions (4.3 million, with more leaving daily).

Over the past several years, millions of Venezuelans have made the difficult decision to leave their country, their family members and their few belongings. They are settling throughout the Americas seeking hope for a new life. This is a unique historical moment, an opportunity to share Christ at a time when Venezuelans are extremely open to spiritual conversations. One Venezuelan pastor has said he believes this is the most important phase of the Venezuelan church.

You can learn more here: https://www.imb.org/2019/02/20/venezuela-opportunity/

NAMB - Puerto Rico Send Relief

It may seem hard to believe that thousands of people in Puerto Rico are still struggling to recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria in 2017. This past January, the island was struck with a new disaster as a 6.4 magnitude earthquake damaged homes and knocked out power. Since then, multiple earthquakes are rattling the southern part of the island almost daily. People are fearful and yearn for normalcy.

The North American Mission Board is responding through its compassion ministry arm, Send Relief, by providing food, water and other emergency supplies to residents staying in shelters or sleeping in their yards because they are worried about the safety and stability of their homes. Send Relief already has a long-term presence on the island and is providing help and hope to residents in many ways. One tangible way to help people in Puerto Rico is through the Send Relief backpack ministry. You can help fund efforts to buy backpacks and supplies for Puerto Rico, and Send Relief will work with volunteers and Southern Baptist churches on the island to provide children and families with essentials—ranging from food and clothing to school supplies—as an expression of God’s love and care.

Say: Later in the week during worship, we will collect a mission offering. This money will be taken up in your church group.

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Challenge students to give to the offering. Make them aware of which night the offering will be collected in worship. Share the name of your mission mobilizer and the location of the mission table.

Say: If you want more missions information, find the mission table and chat with the staffer at hang time.

D. Question Sheets

Pass out question sheets and instruct students to complete the questions.

Collect the question sheets. Later in the evening, make notes from the cards. These will be collected at paper party on opening night to be given to group leaders so they will know better how to pray for and minister to their students at camp.

E. MTET (MFuge only)

Follow the Ministry Track Evangelism Training (MTET) plan with your group. If you have time, feel free to proceed with F and/or G. If not, be sure to jump to H.

F. Name Game

Play a name game. Learning the names of your students should be a priority. Below is one example of a name game.

Option 1: Group Juggle

Instruct students to stand in a circle. Toss a ball to a student and say, “Here you go, (insert name).” Receiving student will say, “Thanks, (insert your name). Here you go, (insert name)” as he or she passes the ball to that person. Continue doing this until all students have caught and thrown the ball. The last person will toss it back to you. Instruct students to put their arms and hands behind their backs as soon as they have had the ball. Also tell them to remember to whom they threw the ball. Do this again in the same order as before. Then, introduce a second object. Continue this as long as you have time.

Option 2: Name Pantomime

Instruct each student to choose an action-word to go with his or her name (e.g. “Swimming Sam”). One at a time, invite students to show the action to the group. If

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time permits, lead students to repeat each one as you add another student (similar to singing “The 12 Days of Christmas”).

G. Get to Know Each Other Game

Play the game below so students can get to know one another.

Option 1: Color Share

Bring a bag of Skittles or M&Ms. Pass the bag around the circle and encourage students to take a small handful but not to eat them. Once the bag has made its way around the circle, inform students that you would like them to share about themselves based on the color candy they are holding. Assign each color of candy a different fact such as red=most embarrassing moment, yellow=happiest memory from childhood, green=most adventurous thing you’ve ever done, etc. Allow students to go around the circle and answer the question that correlates to the color they have the most of in their hand. Once everyone has gone, invite them to eat their candy.

Option 2: Questions, Questions

Before the session, write a variety of questions, each on a strip of paper. Place questions in a hat or bowl and allow each student to draw a strip of paper and answer the question listed. Consider using a variety of questions with some silly or light hearted and others more serious or spiritual in nature. Examples could include: Who is one person from history you would like to spend the day with? If you were given the opportunity to travel for a month, where would you go? If you could change one thing about the world, what would you change?

Note: If you have additional time, refer to your rec manual for more games to play.

H. Announcements

Communicate announcements and camp rules given to you by your leadership staff.

Share any additional information your director or assistant director gives you to cover during this time.

I. Prayer

Pray over the group and dismiss.

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BIBLE STUDY 101CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT TIPS

1. Set expectations from the beginning and hold students to that (especially day 1) to make the rest of the week easier. Be consistent from day to day.

2. Tell students on opening night that Bible study is God’s time, to respect that and be prepared to listen to what He is saying.

3. Do not be afraid to have students sit in a different area if they are being disruptive where they are.

4. Allow rowdy/active students to be active. Forcing an active student to sit alone in silence will most likely cause a larger distraction.

5. Be prepared! Do not procrastinate setting up for Bible study. If you are prepared, you will have confidence and in turn, Bible study will run smoother.

6. Set the tone the first night and watch your own attitude and enthusiasm. Students will feed off of you.

7. On your Bible study outline, keep a maximum and minimum time for each section.

8. Do not allow down time. In other words, know where you are going and move from one thing to the next with easy, smooth, and quick transitions.

9. Learn names of students. They have more respect for you, and it is easier to stop a behavior that is a distraction.

10. Know your material backward and forward so you are able to keep a flow of Bible Study regardless of time, tangents, etc.

11. Do not yell over your students. Silence is your friend.

12. Address disruptive behavior immediately. Pull students aside, make expectations clear.

13. If your group is sleepy, lead them to stand and stretch or take a move break.

14. Walk around during Bible study. Do not sit during group discussion time. Keep moving around from group to group.

15. Keep your frustrations to yourself. Do not allow this to show.

16. Give all students a note card to hold throughout Bible study if they are too nervous to ask questions out loud or if it is not pertinent at the time.

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BIBLE STUDY 101

17. Establish a healthy learning environment from the beginning. Students must feel safe. They must feel comfortable to participate and ask questions. Students must feel like what you are teaching is relevant.

18. Keep calm at all times. Do not panic. Never let them see you sweat.

CLASSROOM DECORATING AND MAINTENANCE TIPS

1. Classrooms should be neat, professional, colorful and distraction free. We want to create a learning environment where students can hear from the Lord and experience life change.

2. Be aware of what your location wants you to use to hang items on the wall-masking tape, painters tape, packing tape, sticky tack, push pins, etc. Do not use tape on walls that may pull off the paint. Do not use sticky tack if it will leave a greasy spot.

3. When taping items to a wall, roll the tape and place on the back of the poster, butcher paper or whatever you are hanging. Tape should not be seen on the outside of the item being hung.

4. When you cut an item to display, make sure you cut in straight lines.

5. Handwriting should be neat and readable. Get someone who has good handwriting to write your posters, if you need to. It makes a big difference.

6. Use color-coding. Pick one color to represent each day of Bible study and then make all of your posters, Bible study note cards, etc. match that color for the day. This can help both you and students keep things straight.

7. Use colored posters/butcher paper when you can, instead of white.

8. Display your Bible study name in your room. Consider creating a signing wall. Purchase a bed sheet or use butcher paper, write the Bible study name on it really big, then have students sign the sheet each week so you can take it home at the end of the summer.

9. If you have activities that need to be written out each week for Bible study, write them ALL out during prep-time during Training Week. That way, all of your BS prep for the whole summer is done.

10. Make sure you have a set place for everything. Don’t just keep markers in a pile on the floor, but have an actual place for them, etc.

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BIBLE STUDY 101

11. Include your students in keeping everything looking neat. Bible study isn’t over until everyone has helped get the classroom back in order.

12. During reset each week, make sure you have all butcher paper pulled and labeled for each day. Also, make sure you have enough index cards, pens, etc. Don’t wait for each day to grab your supplies. Your week will be much smoother if everything is already set.

13. Even after you have everything prepared, make sure you check your room before opening night. We are rarely the only activity on campus, so make sure that everything is ready to go where you left it.

14. Feel free to collect items to bring from home that are thematic, the color of your Bible study flag, or that relate to your Bible study name.

15. Consider purchasing a 3-drawer plastic storage organizer to store your supplies.

fuge camps 2020 bible study leader guide · 2020-03-21 · fuge camps 2020 bible study leader guide...

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