Since 2015

Friday - Love

Bible Studies

 

To do life big as Jesus did, you have to love in a big way.  Jesus summed up the moral rules for life and God's commandments like this:

• Love the Lord you God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength, then love others as yourself.

 

Another tool the Bible gives us to help us love in this life is:

• to remind us to think about the positive things in life

• Whatever is lovely, beautiful, true, noteworthy, praiseworthy.

 

Below are two possible bible studies:

to get a deeper understanding of a life focused on this world only or a happier and more purposeful life that God planned for us.

or

Check out (at the bottom of this web-page): Proof of Your Love by King & Country

 

 

 

LEADER GUIDE

 

Artist: Owl City
Album: Ocean Eyes
Label: Universal Republic Records
Song: Fireflies
From: MVL 67
Writer: Jeff Slack | | Chino, California

 

 

Theme
Worry

Objective
Your students will think through and discuss the idea that worry can cause depression, which will have a physiological (physical and psychological) impact.

Warm Up
Worry Wart – You need a deck of cards and a game spinner (pull one from a board game like Twister, or make your own.) If your group is large, split into smaller teams. Have a player spin the spinner. The one to whom the spinner points will draw a card. If the card is a black number, that person has to share something that he or she worries about at school; if it is a red number he or she has to share something he or she worries about at home. The number on the card determines how many suggestions people from the group (starting with the person to the right of the student who shared and continuing to the right after each suggestion) need to share to help with the problem. The last person to share then spins the spinner to find a new person to share what his or her worry is. Play the game for fifteen minutes.

Transition
Ask your group, without naming names, to share some of the worries that came up. Explain that worrying is normal; but when worrying takes over and we become obsessed and even depressed because of what we can’t fix, we should take notice and look for some help (from the Lord and from others we can trust) to get us through that time.

The Video
Explain that on the new album called Ocean Eyes from Owl City is a song that has a video getting a lot attention on YouTube (over a million views.) “Fireflies” sounds happy, but really is telling about the singer’s struggle to sleep at night because of what is on his mind. As you watch and listen, try to determine what might be causing the singer not to enjoy peace. Show the video.

Transition
Have students share what they thought of the video. Ask them to share what they heard and saw that goes with the idea of being worried and not getting necessary rest. Ask your group to share some of the side effects that a worrier might also experience.

Bible Study
List the following statements on the board, but do not include the Scriptures.

• The results of worry are negative and provide no help for the situa- tion. (Proverbs 12:25; John 6:1-3; Matthew 6:27)

• Instead of worry, consider the proper response. (1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6-7; Isaiah 41:10, 13)

• Anxiety is often fear of what might be rather then what really is. Concentrate on what is true and positive. (Philippians 4:8; 2 Timothy 1:7)

• God’s resources are adequate for every concern. (Philippians 4:13, 19; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

• Depression is a heavy burden and feels insurmountable. (Psalm 13:2; 88:1-5)

• God understands despair. (Psalm 38:9; Job 23:10; Matthew 26:38)

• God is the answer to despair. (Psalm 43:5; 46:1; 16:11; John 14:27)

• God provides hope and comfort.

(Psalm 16:8; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Ephesians 1:17-19; Hebrews 12:2)

Hand out the Student Guides. Have students get into groups and assign each group one or two sets of the Scripture references from their Student Guides. Have them look up their verses and then decide which statement on the board best fits. Then have each group read their verses to the entire group and explain which statement they chose.

Wrap Up
Explain that worry and depression are closely associated. We need to keep tabs on what we worry about so that our worry won’t lead to depression. That doesn’t mean we should lead a careless and carefree life – we should keep things in their proper perspective. When something begins to become overwhelming and our normal physical patterns (like sleeping and eating) get disrupted, we should let our parents and our youth pastor know so that they can help us through that time.

Have the students pray for each other about the issues that cause them to worry. 

 

 

 

 

 

Proof of Your Love by King & Country: