The P.R.A.Y. Program

God and Life Lesson-by-Lesson Resources

Click on each lesson for more info

  • Introduction
    • Agree/Disagree Phrases
    • Bible Verses, NIV translation

    • Daily Bible Reading (Counselor Manual, page 7): You may want to challenge the young people to keep a “prayer journal” as they do their daily Bible reading. Prayer journals can be a way to converse with God without dozing off or losing focus. Having a written record allows one to look back and see growth and evidence of God’s work in one’s life. Make the prayer journal simple: First, respond to the scripture passages that you read (this is not a plot summary, but your response to them, i.e. How does it make you feel? How does it challenge you? How does it convict you? Does it bring to mind other people? Remind you of past events? What new understandings do you have? Second, write down your prayer requests. A spiral notebook is fine. A three-ring binder or folder will allow you to add pages or even choose special paper. Here is a link to some prayer journal pages with inspirational designs.

      http://home.comcast.net/~FREEChristianprintables.com/PrayerJournals_and_Lists.htm
    • Our God and Life class met for a total of 14 times (not counting the times for service projects). I divided the book of acts into 98 sections to make a daily Bible reading schedule for 14 weeks. In addition, I supplied selected verses from all Paul’s letters and had the students pick 14 to memorize, one each week. At the beginning of each class, we would spend a few minutes reviewing their progress on reading Acts and gave them the opportunity to recite the verse they had memorized. This helped tie together Acts and Paul’s letters which is what your lessons encouraged. - D. Sease, Indianapolis, IN
      God and Life Reading Plan
      Memory Verse List
       
  • Section One: God Calls All Kinds of People
  • Section Two: God Doesn’t Expect Us to Do It On Our Own
    • Question 2, Discuss (Counselor Manual, page 14) – Additional question: Can you think of a time when you wished someone would have pushed you? Perhaps you missed out of an opportunity and now regret it.
    • What About You? Question 4 (Counselor Manual, page 16) – The comment is made about prayer partners. Talk about prayer. Ask if any students completed the God and Me program and can remember the four parts of prayer that correspond to the acronym P.A.T.H. (Praise, Apology, Thanks, Help… Help me and Help others). Make a list of prayer concerns.

    • Reflect (Student Workbook, page 12) – Here are some questions to facilitate the writing process: How have you been challenged to help others? How will you seek to strengthen your relationships with the church body? How has your attitude changed in regards to accepting help from others? How will you seek to break down the barriers that tend to keep you isolated from others?
       

  • Section Three: Each of Us Must Make a Personal Response to the Call of God
    • Opening Activities (Counselor Manual, page 18) – Show your class some optical illusions.  Even though we’re all looking at the same picture, we respond in different ways. The same Holy Spirit is at work in our lives. Our responses may be different.
    • Reflect (Student Workbook, page 17) – Here are some questions to facilitate the writing process: How have you responded to God in the past? What is your response now? How is the Spirit nudging you?
       
  • Section Four: God Gives Strength to Face Adversities
    • What About You? Question 2 (Counselor Manual, page 24) – Instead of just writing down the Bible verse, print out bookmarks and have students color and/or decorate them.

    • Reflect (Student Workbook, page 22) – Here are some questions to facilitate the writing process: What strength has God given you in facing difficult situations? How has good come from bad? How has adversity actually prepared you for greater service?
       

  • Section Five: God Can Accomplish Great Things through Those who are Willing to Do God’s Will
    • Other Men and Women in the Bible, Question 3 (Counselor Manual, p. 26) – After reading about the widow who put all she had into the offering, take the time to talk about giving back to God. Discuss tithing and how important Christian giving is. Discuss tithing now, so that you can re-visit it when you assign the Statement of Commitment at the end of the program.
    • What About You (Student Workbook, page 26) – As you start this section, ask students to list all their accomplishments, i.e. special awards, recognitions, and achievements in academics, sports, music, clubs, Scouting, etc.  How much effort and determination was required for these accomplishments? How much effort and determination do you put into your faith, into growing as a Christian and in following Christ?

    • Reflect (Student Workbook, page 27) – Here are some questions to facilitate the writing process: Do you believe that God has chosen you for a special purpose? Do you believe that God can use you to accomplish great things? How can you be intentional about living your life open to God’s will?

    • My Statement of Commitment (Student Workbook, page 27) – Encourage students to choose an important Bible verse or verses for their statements. Here are some suggestions: Micah 6:8, Psalm 91:1-2, 2 Peter 3:18, Deuteronomy 10:12.


      As they make their plans to keep growing in faith, here are some things that your students may want to consider: personal devotions, daily Bible reading, prayer journals, finding a mentor, scripture memorization, tithing, small group fellowship, community service, mission trips, ministry through music, etc.
       
  • Wrap-Up