Faith story. The session is rooted in this Bible passage.

Faith focus. This is the story of the passage in a nutshell.

Session goal. The entire session is built around this goal. What changes—in knowledge, attitude, and/or action—do you desire in your group?

Materials needed and advance preparation. This is what you will need if the session is to go smoothly. You’ll feel more at ease if you’ve taken care of these details before you meet your group.

FROM LIFE TO BIBLE TO LIFE

The teaching plan we use is called life-centered. However, when we write each session, we always begin with Scripture. We ask, what does this particular passage say, especially to youth? Each session moves from life to Bible to life. So the Bible is really at the center of this way of teaching. In every session we try to hit upon a tough question that youth might ask. Find out what questions on this issue are important for your group. Feel free to bring your own input and invite your group members to add their own experiences.

TEACHING THE SESSION

The five step-by-step movements will carry you from life to the Bible and back to life. Each session takes about 45 to 50 minutes. If there is a handout sheet for the session, take note of any complementary activities and stories.

1. Focus. Intended to create a friendly climate within the group and to draw attention to the issue.
2. Connect. Invites youth to express their own life experience about the issue, through talking, drawing, role playing, and other activities. Also uses memory, reason, or imagination to get the group thinking about why they view the issue the way they do.
3. Explore the Bible. What does the Bible say about the issue? With a minimum of lecturing, dig into the faith story and search for answers to questions raised in the first activities. The Insights from Scripture section will help clarify the faith story. Help youth discover how the faith community understands the Bible passage.
4. Apply the faith story. What does the Bible passage mean for contemporary life? This is the “aha!” moment when youth realize the faith story has wisdom for their lives.
5. Respond. Why does the Bible passage matter? What will the group do about the issue in light of what they have learned from their own experiences set alongside the faith story? How can we live the faith story rather than pass it off as a mere intellectual exercise?

Each Generation Why unit includes Insights from Scripture for each session, reproducible handouts, and an extender session.