Friendship with God

Lesson 1 A Friend Worth It

Lesson objective: That young people perceive the call of Jesus, to establish a
relationship of friendship with Him.

Lesson 2 How to Be Sure You Are a Christian

Lesson objective: That young people confirm and be sure of their salvation
in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Lesson 3 God's Word for You

Lesson objective: That young people value God's promises by holding onto
His Word and committing to study and meditate on it.

Lesson 4 The Word of God in You

Lesson objective: For young people to apply a Bible study method that helps
them search the Scriptures.

Lesson 5 Accept the Word of God with all your Heart

Lesson objective: That young people keep the Word of God to obey God.

Lesson 6 The Rules of Prayer

Lesson objective: For young people to be sure that God hears their prayers
and answers each of them.

Lesson 7 let's pray

Lesson objective: Have the young people pray at all times.

Lesson 8 Let's meet with God

Lesson objective: For young people to set aside time to meet with God.

Lesson 9 The Role of the Holy Spirit

Lesson objective: For young people to be aware of the role of the Holy
Spirit in their lives to strengthen their relationship with Him.

Lesson 10 Seeking the Guidance of the Holy Spirit

Lesson objective: That the young people decide that God takes control of
their lives, through his Holy Spirit.

Lesson 11 The Filling of the Holy Spirit

Lesson objective: That young people seek to live the fullness of the Holy
Spirit and also that He guide their lives.

Lesson 12 The Sadness of the Holy Spirit

Lesson objective: For young people to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and
their relationship with Him.

A Friend Worth It
Bible passage: Revelation 3:20
Biblical teaching: Jesus desires to establish a personal and intimate relationship with those who
have heard his voice.
Lesson Objective: That young people perceive the call of Jesus, to establish a relationship of
friendship with Him.
What you need: Bibles, sheets of paper, pencils, reading: “Who would you date?”, blackboard.

Start
Ask each young person to share the best and worst thing that happened to them during the week.

Interactive Learning
Ask for a volunteer to read “Who would you date?” Then ask:
 Which of the two people would you prefer to date?
 Who is God like, the first person or the second person?

Make a list of the ideas that arise from the following questions, ask everyone to participate and have
someone write the answers on a blackboard.
 What are some of the elements necessary to establish a relationship with another person?
 What are some of the elements necessary for a relationship with God?

Biblical Teaching
Form two teams and distribute one of the following topics with the biblical quotations and questions
they include.

Why we can have a personal relationship with God

 Why is what Jesus said significant: “I chose them” (John 15:16)
 What does Jesus mean when he says he wants to dine with you? (App. 3:20)
 How do you respond to the promise that God will never leave us?

What has God given us to establish a relationship with Him?

 What did his Son achieve by giving us? (John 3:16)
 Why is the Bible so important in our relationship with God? (Mt 4:4)
 What does the Holy Spirit do for us? (John 16:13-14)

Have each team read the verses and share their answers. Then ask them to think about other
benefits we get from our relationship with God and mention them too.

Commitment
Distribute sheets and pencils so they can write their answer to the following question:
 What will your response be now that you have seen what God has done to establish a relationship
with you?

Closing
Let each one pray silently for this reason, after a few minutes finish with a prayer asking that God
help each one to fulfill what they have written.
 Creative Reading: WHO WOULD YOU DATE?

Suppose you have two invitations to go out on Friday afternoon, you have been in exams and the
truth is that you deserve to go out and have fun.

Now you have to choose which of the two people who invited you are going to go out with. The first
one is very affectionate and really interested in you. She listens to you carefully and is fun. You
know you can count on her at all times because she is always willing to help you. Surely their
friendship will last a lifetime.

The second person, on the other hand, is indifferent and selfish, he only communicates with you
when he needs something and the truth is that it matters little if you have a problem or difficulty. She
is quite possessive and authoritarian, she will surely manage to get you to pay for her movie ticket
or dinner again. You no longer know what to do to end the relationship, because you have realized
that a person like that cannot really become your friend.

Who would you date then?

Why we can have a personal relationship with God

 Why is what Jesus said significant: “I chose them” (John 15:16)

 What does Jesus mean when he says he wants to dine with you? (App. 3:20)

 How do you respond to the promise that God will never leave us?

What has God given us to establish a relationship with Him?

 What did his Son achieve by giving us? (John 3:16)

 Why is the Bible so important in our relationship with God? (Mt 4:4)

 What does the Holy Spirit do for us? (John 16:13-14)

 How to Be Sure You Are a Christian

Bible passage: 1 John 5:11-13

Biblical teaching: God has given us his Word, to reveal to us his
plan of salvation, so that we believe in the Son of God and know that
in Him we have eternal life.
Lesson Objective: That young people confirm and be sure of their
salvation in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
What you need: Drawings of the three categories of people in
relation to salvation, copies of the sheet: “False Assurance of
Salvation” , Bibles and copies of the sheet: “Test for Those Who
Want to Be Sure”.

Start
Start with the “Fall with Confidence” Game: Ask the young people to take off their glasses and
watches. Let them form two lines facing each other. Tell the young people to stretch their arms in
front of them with their palms facing up, as if to catch someone who falls on them. You should not
hold your arms, but alternate your arms to distribute the load. Encourage young people to
participate in this activity, but do not force them. The first person climbs onto a chair or a platform
approximately 1 meter high and falls on his back. Make it clear that the person who is going to fall
must do so completely upright since if they bend at the waist their weight will be concentrated in this
area and they will probably not be able to support them. After this activity ask:
1. How did you feel when you fell into the arms of the other young people?
2. Who had difficulty getting involved in this activity? Because?
3. What security did those who let themselves fall have?

Active Learning
Question: If you died tonight, how sure would you be that you would go to heaven? and asks
that some voluntarily share their response. Show the pictures with the three categories of people, in
terms of their security of salvation, and ask: which category best describes you?

Biblical Teaching
Give everyone copies of the “False Assurance of Salvation” handout. Divide the group into five
teams and assign each one of the statements they have on their sheet. Let each team answer:
4. What is your opinion on this statement?
5. What does the Bible say about it? Why is this a false statement?
6. How do they act or what would be some characteristics of people who think this way?
Ask each team to share their answers.
Question: How then can we be sure of our salvation? Have part of the group read John 1:2 and
another part read John 5:24. Write on the board what do we do? and what does God do? Ask
them to answer according to what they read in the Bible.
The Scriptures give us evidence that we can examine in our lives to confirm that God has
kept his promises to us. These trials are not “things we do,” but God has done them in us for
us to see.

Commitment
Hand out the “Test for those who want to be sure” sheet, so that each person can fill it out
personally. When they finish, explain that this test is to help them be sure of their salvation and that
if they answered some questions with “no” it would be highly recommended that they attend to
those aspects. Insist that those who have had a majority of no or have doubts can approach you or
any other church leader they trust.

Closing
Read 1 John 5:11-13 together. What does the phrase “so that you may know” mean to us?
Ask someone to finish with a prayer asking God to help us live assured of his salvation.

Those who live with the

confidence that they
have salvation
 Those who sometimes
doubt their salvation

Those who believe

they are forgiven but
are not sure
 I believe there is a God

I go to church and
I pray frequently
I was baptized and
FALSE SECURITY confirmed
OF SALVATION

I once prayed and asked

that God would enter Basically I am
in my heart a good person
 TEST FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE SURE

Mark (x) your answer.

1. Have you repented (changed your mind or turned to God) from the heart about the way of
life you previously led?
a) Yeah
b) No

2. Have you turned from disobedience (sin) and turned to God (obedience)?
a) Yeah
b) No

3. Do you feel shame/sadness for your disobedience and is it something you want to get rid
of?
a) Yeah
b) No

4. Do you feel the presence of God (Holy Spirit) and have peace or calm regarding your
spiritual condition?
a) Yeah
b) No

5. Are you sure that you belong to God, even if you sometimes let Him down?
a) Yeah
b) No

6. Do other people notice behavior in you that is different from that of others?
a) Yeah
b) No

7. Have you experienced changes in your behavior: new values and goals, changes in
character, love for your neighbor, concern for what God feels or thinks, sacrifice for others,
desire to break sinful patterns (also read Galatians 5:22-26 )

a) Yeah
b) No

Majority of Yes . You can be sure of your salvation! God has adopted you as his son/daughter and
will fulfill all his promises in you.

Majority of No. You are not sure of your salvation. If you want to see God's promises fulfilled for
your life, you must believe and receive Jesus as Lord of your life. Pray and if you have questions
ask for help from a leader in the church.
 God's Word for You

Bible passage: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Biblical teaching: The Bible is inspired by God and its purpose is to teach, rebuke, correct, and
instruct in righteousness, in order to perfect us and prepare us for every good work.
Lesson Objective: That young people value the promises of God by holding onto His Word and
committing to study and meditate on it.
What you need: Paper, sheets, envelopes, pencils, a short story or story, “the five ways to
hold on to the Word of God” sheet, Bibles, cardboard and colored charts, copies of 2 Tim. 3:
16, 17

Start
Write down the names of all the participants on pieces of paper and distribute them.
Give each young person a piece of paper and ask them to write a short message
for the person they were assigned to. If you can have envelopes to simulate the
delivery of a letter it would be better. They can write something that is encouraging
or just funny. Collect the envelopes and give each person their letter, ask:
 How did you feel when you received your envelope?
 How long did you wait to read the letter that was in the envelope?
 How does a call, letter or email from a friend make you feel?
It is surprising to think that many Christians are interested in knowing what God tells them, yet they ignore the
letters and messages that God has prepared for them. The Bible is a love letter for all those who trust in Christ.
So it makes sense that we learn everything we can about God's Word, because it is His primary means of
speaking to us.

Interactive Learning
Read a short contemporary story. Then distribute the reading for everyone to read. Question: Who
are the characters? What is happening? How does the story end? Ask them to try to memorize the
moral or an important point of the story. Finally, meditate together on what this story teaches you
and how you could apply it to your lives.
We can carry out this exercise that we carry out in our study of the Word of God, of course in a deeper way
and trusting that God, through his Holy Spirit and the Scriptures, speaks to us.

Biblical Teaching
Ask five volunteers to read the following Bible quotes. Ask the rest of the group to listen carefully
and think about what these verses say about God's Word. Romans 10:17, Revelation 1:3, Acts
17:11, Psalm 119:11, Psalm 1:2-3
After the readings have been completed, he motivates the young people so that everyone makes at
least one contribution. Show the pictures that illustrate the “Five Ways to Hold on to God's Word”
and ask someone to write down the ideas that others are sharing. Form teams of four people and
give each team two of the following Bible quotes to respond to: “What will the Word of God do for
me?” Also distribute cardboard and colors so that each team can select one of the benefits they
obtain from studying and meditating on the Word and draw a drawing or write a phrase that is
related to the benefit. 1 Peter 2:2, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 12:2, Joshua 1:8,
2 Timothy 2:15, Ephesians 6:17, Deuteronomy 6:6-7 .
Gather the entire group to present their drawings or phrases and comment: The Word of God itself
makes us aware of the benefits we obtain by trusting in his commandments and his promises. As we
have seen, we have many opportunities for God to speak to us personally through his Word, so let us
be attentive to listening to his voice and meditating on it.

Commitment
Ask someone to read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Question: what is Scripture useful for? What does each of
these words mean? Try to memorize the quote (preferably give everyone a more understandable
version of it). Finally, ask: What does it mean to you / how does it make you feel to know that the Word
of God causes these effects in your lives?

Closing
Let each person say a prayer thanking God for something that His Word taught them or helped
them face at some point, or that they would like to see accomplished.
 Study

Read

the 5 ways to hold Hear

on to the
GOD'S WORD
 To
meditate

Memorize
“ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING, FOR
REBUKING, FOR CORRECTION, AND FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, SO
THAT THE SERVANT OF GOD MAY BE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY
GOOD WORK.”
2ND TIMOTHY 3: 16-17

“ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING, FOR

REBUKING, FOR CORRECTION, AND FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, SO
THAT THE SERVANT OF GOD MAY BE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY
GOOD WORK.”
2ND TIMOTHY 3: 16-17

“ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING, FOR

REBUKING, FOR CORRECTION, AND FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, SO
THAT THE SERVANT OF GOD MAY BE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY
GOOD WORK.”
2ND TIMOTHY 3: 16-17

“ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING, FOR

REBUKING, FOR CORRECTION, AND FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, SO
THAT THE SERVANT OF GOD MAY BE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY
GOOD WORK.”
2ND TIMOTHY 3: 16-17

“ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING, FOR

REBUKING, FOR CORRECTION, AND FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, SO
THAT THE SERVANT OF GOD MAY BE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY
GOOD WORK.”
2ND TIMOTHY 3: 16-17
“ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING, FOR
REBUKING, FOR CORRECTION, AND FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, SO
THAT THE SERVANT OF GOD MAY BE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY
GOOD WORK.”
2ND TIMOTHY 3: 16-17

“ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING, FOR

REBUKING, FOR CORRECTION, AND FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, SO
THAT THE SERVANT OF GOD MAY BE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY
GOOD WORK.”
2ND TIMOTHY 3: 16-17

“ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING, FOR

REBUKING, FOR CORRECTION, AND FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, SO
THAT THE SERVANT OF GOD MAY BE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY
GOOD WORK.”
2ND TIMOTHY 3: 16-17
 The Word of God in You

Bible passage: John 5:39; Acts 17:11

Biblical teaching: By searching the Word we discover the truth of God and the salvation he
announces through Jesus.
Lesson Objective: For young people to apply a Bible study method that helps them search the
Scriptures.
What you need: Commonly used objects (cream, toilet paper, tissues, etc.), prepare
representations of the four approaches to personal Bible study, copies of the “The Five-Step
Method of Bible Study” sheet, Bibles, pencils .

Start
Form teams, and tell them that each one represents a company that monitors quality control on
different products. Distribute different objects to each team so that they can carry out a “study” of
them: they have to talk about their usefulness, durability, instructions for their use, etc. Let each
team make its presentation. Ask:
 When carrying out your study of the product, what results did you obtain?
 How does knowing the use and instructions of a product help us?

In this lesson we are going to analyze in depth the study of the Word of God. When we study the Scriptures,
we can discover and better understand God's precepts, his plan, his will, and above all, know Him more
intimately.

Interactive Learning
Ask four young people to represent one of the four approaches to personal Bible study. Give them a
week or a few days in advance the monologue that each one will perform. After the performances,
discuss your answers to the questions in your workbook.
 Which of these characters conducts an effective study of the Bible?

Give each young person a copy of the handout: “The Five-Step Method of Bible Study .” Ask each
person to personally answer the questions on their sheet. When they have finished ask:
 What do you think about this method? Do you think it can be effective? Why?
 What do you think of each of the steps of this method?
 What would be the most important part? Because?

Biblical Teaching
Ask everyone to look in their Bibles at John 5:39 and Acts 17:11 and read these Bible quotes
together. Ask:
 What does it mean to scrutinize?
 Why is it important to study, examine, investigate what the Scriptures say?

Form teams to study Luke 10:25-37. Tell them to do all the steps of the Bible study method they are
learning. Bring the group back together and ask each team to share their application to this
passage.

Commitment
Ask everyone to think of someone they can help this week and commit to doing so.

Closing
Have a team member finish with a prayer, asking God to help them in their study of the Word.
 FOUR APPROACHES TO PERSONAL BIBLE STUDY
(Representation)

Those who stay seated .

(Someone enters looking for his Bible to go to worship) Where did I leave my Bible?
Mamaaa! Haven't you seen my Bible!? I finally found it (he shakes it as if it had some dust
on it) . Well, now I'm going to worship to listen to the sermon, because if I don't bring my
Bible to church, the pastor has said that he is like a soldier who goes to war without his
rifle. How important it is to go to church to learn from the Word of God and receive spiritual
food for the entire week.

Superficial readers .
(A young man appears turning off the television, looks at the clock and yawns). Now yes,
I'm going to do my devotional . (Takes a Bible and an Upper Room or any other devotional
book, reads it, looks for a Bible quote that reads quickly). Thank you Lord for this day, I
pray that I do well tomorrow in the exam that I have to take. Amen. Mmmmm what a
dream.

The intellectuals .
(A pastor or theologian appears with many books and biblical commentaries, begins to
read). How interesting! The Eschatology referred to in the Apocalypse is really very
interesting. It seems to have been written between 81 and 96 AD. in the kingdom of
Domitian. This helps me a lot with my hermeneutical task of this book! What I do need to
investigate more is the symbology of the numbers.... (It appears that he will continue
studying)

The students .
(He enters with his Bible and a notebook). He begins to silently read a passage from the
Bible, Luke 18:18-30, after a few seconds, he begins to read it aloud). Well, here some
characters appear: Jesus, a main man, it seems that that is what some priests were called,
there is also Peter and it seems that some other disciples. This man wanted to earn
eternal life by his own means, but Jesus made him see that the most important thing was
to give his entire life to Him. I think there is an important teaching in the last verses (see v.
29 and 30). What does Jesus mean by this? I do not believe that I have to abandon my
parents or leave school, rather that my priority is God and that from now on everything I do
must be done in compliance with his will, reflecting on how I can extend his kingdom. (Pray
thanking God and asking for this).
The Five Step Method of Inductive Bible Study

First Step: the background

What kinds of questions could you ask to learn more about the background of any
book or passage you study?

Second step: read

Do you think it is a good idea to read an entire book of the Bible to analyze its
parts? Because?

Third step: Observe

What would be some observation questions in a passage?

Fourth step: Application

How do you apply what you learn from Scripture?

Fifth step: Memorization

Why is memorization important in personal Bible study?
 Accept the Word of God with all your Heart

Bible passage: Psalm 119:11

Biblical teaching: The Word of God helps us not to sin against God.
Lesson Objective: That young people keep the Word of God to obey God.
What you need: slips of paper writing down verses or phrases separately, copies of the “Great
Reasons to Memorize Scripture” sheet for each young person, strips of construction paper,
markers, copies of the “Memorization Aids” sheet and a copy of the “Heart” for each young person,
Bibles.

Start
Start playing “lion – lion”. You need at least five players and start by putting them in a circle.
Everyone chooses an animal, like lizard-lizard, cat-cat, fish, fish. Together with the animals they
have to make gestures. For example, lion-lion will raise his hand as if it were the lion's paw. The
person who starts the game is lion-lion, showing who he is through gestures and saying “lion-lion,
cat-cat.” The game is now for the cat-cat and passes to the players in no order. When someone is
confused or makes a mistake, they must pass and stand to the left of the lion-lion, and call
themselves “little pig-little pig” and they must make a pig's nose as their signal. If the “lion-lion”
makes a mistake he has to change to the place of little pig-lion and another becomes “lion-lion”.

Interactive Learning
Form teams and assign each one a trade or profession. Each team will have to say what tools or
materials they need to carry out their work and what could happen if they did not have them on
hand at the right time. After a few minutes ask them to share their answers. Ask:
1. Do you think that as Christians we need tools to fulfill our task in the world? Because?
2. What would be some of those tools?

Many Christians almost never take care to bring the truths and promises of God's Word into their daily
activities. They need more than just familiarity with Scripture, because it is not always practical to reach for the
Bible when faced with a difficult situation. Christians need knowledge of what God says at that precise
moment. One of the best ways to have His Word accessible is through memorization. This study will help us
understand the importance and benefits of memorizing Scripture.

Biblical Teaching
Before class, write down familiar phrases or Bible verses on pieces of paper. You divide them, fold
them and distribute them, pairs will be formed between the people who complete the phrase or
verse together. Each pair will conduct an interview about “Great Reasons to Memorize Scripture .”
”(Hands out the worksheet to each young person).
Each person has to play the role of interviewer and interviewee. Ask them to write what seems most
important to them and think about the title of a note for the newspaper. Give them strips of
cardboard to write the titles of their notes (two per pair).

Place a large strip of cardboard with a newspaper title (it could be something like: “El Vocero del
Cristiano”, “El Sol del Cristiano”, “La Jornada del Cristiano” or something like that) and ask them to
come and glue their grades.
As we have seen, there are great reasons for Christians to memorize Scripture. Now let's reflect on how we
can help ourselves to memorize Scripture.

Commitment
Ask someone to read Psalm 119:97 and hand out the “Memorization Aids” Sheet. Together answer
the questions and carry out the activities that appear on the sheet.

Closing
Give a “Heart” to each young person so that everyone can write something that the Bible says and
that they are willing to remember and do. When everyone has written, take time for some to share
what they wrote. Pray asking God to help you keep (memorize) His Word.
GREAT REASONS TO MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE

How can Scripture memorization...

1. Purify your thoughts? (Phil 4:8)

2. Increase your effectiveness in prayer? (John 15:7)

3. Be useful in testimony? (Acts 8:35-36)

4. Help meditate? (Ps 119:97)

5. Enrich your Bible study? (2 Tim 3:16)

6. Improve your counseling or teaching? (Pr 15:23)

7. Provide direction for decisions? (Ps 119:24)

8. Provide encouragement when you feel discouraged? (Rom 15:4)

9. Strengthen yourself when you face temptation? (Ps 37:31)

10. Increase your faith? (Rom 10:17)

GREAT REASONS TO MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE

How can Scripture memorization...

11. Purify your thoughts? (Phil 4:8)

12. Increase your effectiveness in prayer? (John 15:7)

13. Be useful in testimony? (Acts 8:35-36)

14. Help meditate? (Ps 119:97)

15. Enrich your Bible study? (2 Tim 3:16)

16. Improve your counseling or teaching? (Pr 15:23)

17. Provide direction for decisions? (Ps 119:24)

18. Provide encouragement when you feel discouraged? (Rom 15:4)

19. Strengthen yourself when you face temptation? (Ps 37:31)

20. Increase your faith? (Rom 10:17)

AIDS FOR MEMORIZATION

1. Focus on the benefit What benefit will memorizing this verse bring me?

2. Know the meaning . What does it teach me?

3. Use your imagination. What does it make me think about?

4. Don't forget the review. Personally reread the verse and try to memorize it.

5. Involve others. Repeat the verse together and encourage the person on your right side to do it,
telling him about the benefits that keeping Jehovah's sayings will bring him.

I HAVE KEPT YOUR SAYINGS IN MY HEART, SO AS NOT TO SIN AGAINST YOU.

Psalm 119:11
__________________________________________________________

AIDS FOR MEMORIZATION

1. Focus on the benefit What benefit will memorizing this verse bring me?

2. Know the meaning . What does it teach me?

3. Use your imagination. What does it make me think about?

4. Don't forget the review. Personally reread the verse and try to memorize it.

5. Involve others. Repeat the verse together and encourage the person on your right side to do it,
telling him about the benefits that keeping Jehovah's sayings will bring him.

I HAVE KEPT YOUR SAYINGS IN MY HEART, SO AS NOT TO SIN AGAINST YOU.

Psalm 119:11
__________________________________________________________