Not enough time? Don’t think you are smart enough? Don’t worry this curriculum is designed to help you. Each session is designed with brief overviews of the passage. The who, what, where, and when are answered for you, so you can teach with confidence.

Are your teens wild? Don’t worry. Each session is built with these active kids in mind. You will be able to choose different activities for the type of teens you may have and for the time and supplies that are available.

Is your group a diverse group? Do you get “pat” answers or are your kids clueless when you tell them to be Christ-like? This curriculum is intended for you to give the basics or, and when needed, you can go deeper for those who need a challenge and for those who desire to put feet to action in their walk with Christ.

We know that not everyone learns and teaches the same way. But, this curriculum is deliberate in giving you many forms of teaching techniques, learning styles, and methods to help students grow in knowledge and in relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Our goal in giving you these lesson plans is to help you, with the grace of God, to transform these young minds so they can have a closer walk with the Lord we so humble serve. May we take this journey together and do the best with what God has given us.

These lessons are specifically designed for ages 12-16 years but may be adapted to fit other ages. It is developed for most Jr-highers that attend schools in the United States of America. Activities, visuals, emotional stimuli, and projects are common to most Americans but again may be adapted to fit your particular need.

CEO of Tag Ministries:

Tom A. Griffin

Theme: Who Is Jesus?

Core Scripture: Mark 1:21-28

Lesson 1: Man and Holy (Mark 1:24)

Coming to grips with Jesus humanity and Jesus deity.

Lesson 2: Does Jesus really know what he

is talking about? (Mark 1:22, 27)

Realizing Jesus has authority and power.

Lesson 3: Can Jesus really help me?

(Mark 1: 23, 26)

It doesn’t matter what is in your life Jesus wants to heal you.

If you want to keep in series Order Unit II. Theme: Who are you? Lesson 1: Created for what? Lesson 2: Who loves you? Lesson 3: You vs. Self

Who is Jesus?

Unit I is divided up into three lessons. Each lesson is designed for a one hour learning experience. These three lessons are based upon seven verses out of the book of Mark. Get to know these verses and let the Holy Spirit talk to you. Remember any questions that come to mind. Your teens will probably have the same ones.

Core Verses:

Mark 1:21-28

21They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"

25"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Write your first impressions: __________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Questions that came up: ______________________________________

__________________________________________________________

These first initial thoughts might be the first questions that arise. Look over the overview of Mark and the scripture for some of your answers.

Authorship of Mark:

The most common consensus of who wrote the book of Mark is John Mark. This Mark was not an eyewitness to the events of Jesus but he is writing from the words of Peter who was a close disciple of Jesus. We believe Mark to be the same Mark as found in Acts (12:12,25; 13:5-13; 15:37-39) as well as the Mark in Philemon 24, Colossians 4:10, and 2 Timothy 4:1.

Date of Mark:

Mark is said to be the first gospel written. Matthew and Luke seemed to have used Mark as a reference to write their own stories of Jesus. Most scholars believe Mark to be written during the war between Rome and the Jews (66-74). The reference of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (Mark 13:2) can date it around 70 CE.

Location, Purpose, and Audience:

Mark seems to have written from Rome to Roman Christians. He may have been trying to strengthen them and to encourage them to stay true to the truth of who Jesus is. Not to falter in their faith and believe in Jesus the chosen Messiah.

Theme:

Mark is fast pace and the shortest gospel. He seems to be driving home that Jesus is the One chosen by God, the Holy One, the One foretold about, and the Messiah that was to come.

v. 21: Capernaum: A town on the Sea of Galilee (not present today) considered to be Jesus’ home ministry center. The home of Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew. Sabbath: A day of rest (no work was done) and a day where people went to hear or be taught about the words of God. Synagogue: a place where 10 or more Jews would gather to worship or hear the reading of the Torah.

v. 22: his teaching: It was common for someone in the gathering to read or teach something (a lot like small Bible groups today). Authority: Jesus did not just repeat words that were written or spoken but gave insight and understanding. Not as the teachers: Jesus understood what he was talking about. Others didn’t have the confidence and boldness about what they were saying.

v. 23: a man possessed: a man that is not in full control of himself. A man full of sin that has a grip upon him. Not seeking righteousness but evil. Evil spirit: something other than human, supernatural, a fallen angel or demon that can inhabit a human host that is in the grip of sin.

v. 24: Jesus of Nazareth: a human man from a specific place and origin. Destroy us: is it the appointed time? Being sent from the body is not being destroyed but the spirit was afraid that it was the time when Jesus cast all evil into the pit or hell. The Holy One of God: God’s chosen one, separate, different, set apart for a specific plan and purpose, the one to fulfill God’s will.

v. 25: Jesus has power to keep spirits quiet and to cast them out.

v. 26: Spirit has to obey but not happy about it and can’t speak so “shrieks”

v. 27: the people that saw and heard what happened. New teaching and authority; people have never seen such a thing. It was amazing and powerful.

v. 28: This was at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and the first miracle stated in the book of Mark. When something as new and miraculous as this happens people can’t help but to talk about it and so word of this spread all throughout the land so Jesus from then on had crowds around him.

This is by no means a complete introduction or review of the passage. But it does give you insight and knowledge to help you teach this unit. Refer back to this page while presenting the lessons. For further study or questions write to Tag Ministries.

Chose any of the three activities.

Depending on your group dynamics

You may want to mix, match, and

Modify for your group. Around 15

minutes.

Option 1: Game for all. Very active. No preparation. Need a large room or outside. Works best for 10 or more kids.

Option 2: Drama for a few kids that participate while others watch.

You may want to pick the kids out before hand and let them go over it once. They will reenact Mathew 26:59-68 when Jesus is brought from Gethsemane to the chief Priests. You will need a Narrator, Jesus, two false witnesses, and a high priest. Other Options. 4 or 5 kids up front in a line and they have to make a story by saying one word at a time. Start off the story with “A king ruled…”

You will pose the question or questions “what would they do if they could do anything they wanted?” “What would they do if they were a king for a day?” “What would they do if they were God for a day?” You can pass out paper and pencils and do it individually or as a group and write on a white board or projector.

Option 3: Relaxing thinking.

Give them a small overview of Mark and read our core passage in Mark 1:21-28. Ask them what they think this passage means or what is it trying to say? What is it talking about? What do you think this passage is saying to you? How do you apply it to your life today? Discussion is good and gets them thinking about this passage.

Lead them into the verse we want to talk about in this lesson. v. 24 “"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!" Ask them the same questions; what is this saying? Who are they talking about? What is so significant about what is being said?

Explore the term Jesus of Nazareth. What does this mean? Look up some verses: Matthew 4:12, Mathew 21:11, Luke 2:51 (these verses have to do with the town of Nazareth). Is this town special in any way? Yes or no and why?

Let’s look at the Name “Jesus” Look at the same verses plus John 1:45. Is this name special in anyway? Why or why not? What about in the time period of Jesus. Was his name common, unique, or special?

In this context Jesus of Nazareth is like saying it is Bob from Florida. Jesus is just a name of an actual person and that person is from an actual place of Nazareth. Jesus was basically unknown for 30 years. He was a man working and earning a living, a man called Jesus and from Nazareth. So, what is this statement “Jesus of Nazareth” in our passage saying to us? That Jesus was truly a man. Like you and me. He sweat, he got dirty, he ate, he went to the bathroom, and like us he had plenty of opportunities to sin…

Let’s look at the other part of this verse “the Holy one of God” Okay we have discussed Jesus of Nazareth so what does this mean?

Some verses to look up Luke 1:35 (angel talking to Mary) and John 6:69 (Peter’s confession)

What is Holy? And what is the Holy one of God? (Separate, chosen by God, God’s holy one)

What is this evil spirit, this supernatural being telling us by saying Jesus of Nazareth and the Holy one of God? Jesus was truly a man and chosen and anointed by God to be the Christ (Messiah). He was God and Man! Do you believe that today?

Option 1: Starting off with scripture and opening dialog.

Option 2: Starting with scripture and using a work sheet. Can be done

individually, big group, or small groups. Done alone or together.

Option 3: Acting the core verse out and video intro:

Option 1: Evangelizing

A. Set up before time to be able to go into an adult class or another class and read the core scripture and tell them what this verse now means to them. Who Jesus of Nazareth and the Holy One of God is. And what Jesus has done in their life.

B. Give a challenge and perhaps a “prize/reward” for those who would in the next week go out and tell someone about Jesus of Nazareth and the Holy One of God.

C. Get in groups of two and practice telling each other who Jesus is and what was discovered in the lesson.

Have students ask themselves if Jesus was truly humane and truly God and he knows every sin and has been tempted in every way, what sin or sins can he help me with today?

Have them in an atmosphere conducive to praying. Have note cards so that each individual can write the sin they are having trouble with and have a garbage bag, sealed box with slit in top, or something similar to put their “sins” in. No one will see and no one will read. Give these sins to God and because Jesus is the Holy One of God and has shed his blood for us he has taken away our sins. Confess, Believe Jesus is faithful, renew your life with Christ tonight and be a new creation.

Option 2: Self discovery

Have them write on note cards how they are going to be Holy this week. How they are going to be more Christ like. Jesus was a man but was still holy. How are you going to be set apart to God this week? How is God going to use you this week?

Let some students explain what they wrote on the note card and what they are going to do this week for Jesus.

Collect all note cards and explain that next week we will read these and see how well you kept your promise to God.

Option 3: Being Human and Holy

For Looking at