Scripture: Romans, I and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I and 2 Thessalonians, I and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn Paul wrote many letters to people and churches.
- Students will learn God inspired Paul to write these letters to help people understand how to live a Christian life.
- Students will learn Paul’s letters can help us learn how God wants us to lives our lives as Christians.
- Students will participate in a service project that honors elders for their contributions to the church and work for God.
Guiding Question: How does working with those older and wiser than us help us learn how God wants us to live our lives?
Materials: Paper, pencils, pens, treats (will vary depending on choice)
Procedure: Review the purpose of Paul’s letters with the students. Explain that we can think of Paul’s letter as guidebooks on how to live a Christian lifestyle. Discuss with the students how it can be hard to be a Christian and ask the students what challenges they face. Explain how Paul’s letters offer Godly advice on many different situations and the books listed above are good places to start in the Bible when learning how to live a Christian lifestyle. Discuss how Paul used the letters today and how God has uses the Bible and Paul’s letters to help us with problems today. Tell the students how it is important to have older people in their lives they can go to for advice and encouragement.
Introduce the service project. Explain that Paul’s letters share the requirement for being an elder. Explain who and elder is and what they do for the church and for God. Have the students look up the requirements for an elder, interview elders and their wives to learn about the ministries they serve, and have each student become a secret pen pal for an elder. Students can leave special treats and notes in a special place for the elders.
Plan a “pen pal reveal” for the students and the elders. Work with the students to plan and host a fellowship night and encourage the congregation to come and show honor and gratitude to the elders.
Additional Questions: How can students use the scripture to encourage others?
Supplemental Activity: Have the students look through Paul’s letters to find several verses about encouragement and living a Godly lifestyle. Have the students write each verse down on an index card and decorate the card. The students can hand these cards out to friends, family, or those in the church who need encourag