About this Blog

This project arises from religious education courses at the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago but can be opened to other programs as well. Interested professors of religious education or faith formation should e-mail edaily@luc.edu if they want their students to be included.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Do I have a role in my Salvation?

Blog 3: http://www.simplyyouthministry.com/freebies-junior-high.html

Confident in Christ

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13).

What's On The Menu?
Have you ever been inside your house and heard a strange noise? Even if you know all of the windows and doors are locked, you still feel unsafe. You get out of bed, turn on every light, and check all the locks. Even if everything checks out, you still feel a little unsafe. Isn't it amazing that even though God promises in His word that all who believe in Christ will have eternal life, we still feel like we are not "really saved," that if we don't keep checking the "locks" on our salvation it could be stolen or taken away. In this lesson, we are talking about having confidence in our salvation and the promise God makes to us when we choose to believe in Christ. Having this confidence gives you the peace of knowing that nothing can shake your salvation or change the fact that you are "saved."

Appetizer:
Discuss salvation and what it means to be "saved."
Have you ever doubted that you are "saved"? Why or why not?
Have you ever been in a situation when you felt like you could lose your salvation? Why?
A promise is only as good as the honesty of the person who makes it. When we understand the total honesty of God, we can believe His promises. In order to have confidence that we are saved, we just need to believe God's promises! Let’s take a closer look at how to know we have eternal life . . .

The Main Course:
There is no better place than the Bible to find confidence in our salvation. Take a look at these passages and see what God has to say about our salvation, where it comes from, and who desires for us to have it and believe in it.
Read 1 John 5:11-12.
Who gives eternal life?
Where is eternal life found?
Who has eternal life?
According to Revelation 3:20 . . .
Where is Christ right now?
How does Christ enter your life?
What does Christ promise to do?
Read aloud Philippians 3:7-11(New Living Translation)
According to verse 7-8, what do we need to "lose" or throw away? Why?
What things in your life are worthless and stand between you and your walk with Christ?
Look at verse 9.
Do we need to do good deeds in order to be confident that we are saved?
Who do we need to trust? Why?
Check out verse 10-11. What is the only way to really know Christ?
Are you ready to do "whatever it takes" to experience life in Christ?
Check out 1 John 5:13 and John 20:31.
What reason does John give for writing this book?
What is the greatest thing that happens to us when we believe in Christ?
What is one thing we need to remember about God's promise to us?

Something to chew on:
If we trust ourselves and our feelings of doubt, instead of God and His promises, how will this affect our attitudes and actions?
If we put our trust in God, no matter how we feel, how does this change our attitudes and actions?
What is one thing that stands between you and Christ that you want to get rid of?
If you were to die tonight, are you confident that you would be in heaven with God? Or are you going to continue to let "stuff" get in the way of your walk?

Response: In this exercise students are asked to understand salvation as a tangible gift that requires the recipient to receive it in light of their Christian actions and life. There are many Bible verses that help substantiate the lesson plans objective. There isn’t as much youth interaction as I like in my lesson plans, but there is room for sharing and collaboration. This activity has the potential (if properly led) to reach James Fowler's fourth stage which is the point at which the adolescents assume responsibility for their own faith and lifestyles… I am not a big fan of the word "saved" in this context and might find a different way to express salvation... that better connects with the youth.

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