Leader’s Guide for LESSON 2
Jesus: A Friend You Can Trust
Welcome (7 Minutes) Jesus
As the parents/mentors and children arrive, give each a warm Invites Us
To Trust
welcome. Encourage a young person to help you greet others as
they arrive. Begin your group time by inviting the participants to
share by asking, “Where have you seen God at work in your life
this past week?” (Acknowledge all responses.) Him
Say: Last week we learned about going on a discipleship
adventure with Jesus. Find someone who is not in your family to share with and briefly tell what
you did to show Jesus that you want to be His disciple.
Use the “M.M.” ball (see Curriculum introduction for instructions) to ask the families about their
use of Mentoring Moments for family worship at home.
Goals for this lesson
By the end of this lesson, participants will:
• Know they can trust Jesus
• Feel safe trusting Jesus
• Respond by giving their problems to Jesus
A disciple of Jesus is someone who lives every day
to love Jesus and bring others to Him.
Lesson Two - 1
The Bridge (10 Minutes)
You need
• Blindfolds (optional)
Ahead
Activity
Create an obstacle course in the
meeting room using desks, chairs,
Group the class into one or more single file lines.
etc.
Select one adult leader for each line to stand at the
head of the line. Instruct the others to put on
blindfolds, or close their eyes then put their hands
on the shoulders of the person in front of them.
Instruct the leaders to walk around the room offering verbal directions as they lead their group
around the obstacles. Encourage them to walk through doorways, around objects, etc. then return
to where they started. Allow 1-2 minutes. If time permits, select a child to become the new leader
for an additional 1-2 minute walk. Be sure to select a child mature enough to be responsible for
the safety of others.
Debrief
Ask: What did you like or dislike about being led around without being able to see?
(Acknowledge answers.) Was it easy to trust your guide? (Acknowledge answers.) Why or why
not? (Acknowledge answers.)
Say: Think about someone you trust.
Ask: What is it about this person that allows you to trust him/her? (They would never let you get
hurt; they protect your feelings; they listen well and offer encouragement, etc.)
Say: In this activity we experienced trusting another person. Just as some of us had a hard time
trusting in our leader, some people have a hard time trusting in Jesus. In this lesson we will
explore reasons why we can trust Jesus.
Prayer: Pray or invite a volunteer to pray for the Holy Spirit to direct this meeting.
Lesson Two - 2
Into the Word (25 Minutes)
You need
• White board or flip chart
Write this lesson’s Footprint on the board: • Markers
Jesus invites us to trust Him. • Bibles
• Pens/pencils
Ahead
Activity
Write the Bible Discovery Scripture
references for numbers 2-6 on separate
Say: We are going to read a story from the
slips of paper for distribution among
Bible. I would like you to imagine what it would
the families. Omit number 1 as the
have been like to be there. What would you see,
whole class will read this passage in
hear and feel if you were part of the story?
the “Activity.”
Read Matthew 14:22-33 NIV around the circle
with one person from each family reading one
verse.
Ask: What would you see? …hear? …feel? What would you think if you had been in that
boat? (Acknowledge all answers.)
Say: Peter trusted Jesus enough to step out of the boat. In our lesson today we will explore the
relationship that Jesus wants to have with each of us and discover how we also can trust Jesus
completely.
Lesson Two - 3
Bible Discovery
Distribute the Scripture texts to the families and instruct them to look up their verses and be
prepared to read them to the class. Encourage family groups to assign a student to read the verse
to the whole group when called. Allow 2-3 minutes.
Write on the board: Reasons why we can trust Jesus:
1 Review Matthew 14:22-33. As we review the story of Peter what reasons did Peter have to
trust Jesus? Write the answers on the marker board substituting “us” for “Peter.” If any of the
following are not suggested by the group, add them.
Write on the board: Jesus has the power to help us.
Write on the board: Jesus wants to save us.
2 Read Romans 5:8. What did Jesus do for us?(He died for us while we were still sinners.)
Write on the board: Jesus died for us.
3 Read Romans 8:38, 39. What is one thing about Jesus that will never change? (Nothing can
separate us from the love of Jesus.)
Write on the board: Jesus will never stop loving us.
4 Read John 15:15. What relationship does Jesus want to have with us? (Friends.)
Write on the board: Jesus wants to be our friend.
5 Read Matthew 28:20. Jesus has returned to heaven to prepare a special place for you and
me, but before He left He gave us an important promise. What is His promise? (He will be
with us always even to the end of the world.)
Write on the board: Jesus will always be with us.
Review/Quiz
Steps to follow:
1. Review the summary points written on the board.
2. Cover or turn the board around and quiz the class by asking, “Tell me why we can trust in
Jesus.”
3. Encourage parents to allow students to answer the questions and assist only if needed.
Lesson Two - 4
My Choice (5-8 Minutes)
Say: What actions showed that Peter
had complete trust in Jesus? (Stepping You need
out of the boat/ Calling for Jesus to save • One copy of My Choice
him.) handout for each family
• Pens/pencils
Leader Share briefly an experience of
trusting Jesus with one of your fears or
problems. What difference has being able to trust Jesus made in your life?
Distribute one My Choice handout to each family group.
Say: Parents and mentors, move your chairs into a family circle and follow
the instructions on My Choice with your child. When you are finished with My
Choice turn the paper over and continue with My World.
My World (5-8 Minutes)
Leaders: While the families are
working together, the leader and co-
leader pray for each of the parents/ You need
mentors and children. • One copy of My World handout
for each family
If some families finish early, as leader • Pens/pencils
you can: 1) engage those families by
asking them about their family circle
time or 2) give a time “warning” to the other families such as, “Please finish
in three more minutes.” Let them know they can finish their My World time
together at home.
Lesson Two - 5
Closing (2 Minutes)
You need
Call everyone back together as a large
• One Mentoring Moments
group.
handout for each family
Ask: How many of you thought of
something you can trust with Jesus?
Invite a child to assist you as you model this activity for the group. Instruct the
child to look directly forward, stand straight and stiff with his/her arms at his/her
side, and be prepared to fall backwards. Say: I want you to think of the fear or
problem you talked about in your family circle time. Think about trusting Jesus
completely with that fear or problem. When you are ready to trust Jesus say,
“Ready to trust” then wait for me to say “Trust.” When you hear me say “Trust,”
fall backwards, and I will catch you.
Stand one or two feet behind the child. When he/she says, “Ready to trust” say
“Trust.” Break the fall with your hands and gently push him/her forward onto his/
her feet again. Instruct parents/mentors to do this with their children.
Say: Do this activity only if you are physically able to catch your child. Ask for
assistance if you think you might need help. (If any parents/mentors need help,
stand beside him/her and help. Allow time for this activity.)
Say: Jesus is always ready to help you and hold you up. You can always trust
Him. Grace Point — Next week I will invite you to share what you did to trust
Jesus with a specific situation
Say the Footprint together: Jesus invites us to trust in Him.
Close with a prayer:
• thanking Jesus that we can trust Him completely.
• asking Jesus to help us trust Him with our problems and fears.
Distribute Mentoring Moments and instruct the families to use these at home to
build on the concepts developed in this lesson.
Lesson Two - 6
My Choice
1. Say the Footprint together: Jesus invites us to trust Him.
2. Parents/mentors: Review with your child the points made in this lesson by going over them
one at a time and asking, “Do you understand what this means?” or “Do you have any
questions about this one?” Clarify any points as needed.
Reasons Why I Can Trust Jesus:
1. Jesus has the power to help me............................................................Matthew 14:22-33
2. Jesus saves me......................................................................................Matthew 14:22-33
3. Jesus died for me............................................................................................ Romans 5:8
4. Jesus will never stop loving me.............................................................. Romans 8:38, 39
5. Jesus wants to be my friend..............................................................................John 15:15
6. Jesus will always be with me.................................................................... Matthew 28:20
3. Parents/mentors: Share briefly a time in your past experience when you trusted Jesus with a
difficult situation. What was the outcome? Share with your child something that you need to
trust with Jesus right now.
4. Say: Think about something that makes you feel afraid. Ask: Do you want to share it with
me? Say: Jesus wants you to trust Him with that fear. Think about some problem that
you have right now. Ask: Do you want to share it with me? Say: Jesus wants you to stop
worrying about that problem and trust Him to take care of it. Ask: What do you need to trust
Jesus with right now? THE CHOICE — Ask: Would you like to trust Jesus with this? If
your child says “Yes,” affirm the response; if “No,” Ask: Can you tell me why? Affirm your
child’s right to make his/her own choice.
5. Pray: Form a family prayer circle and pray for the specific things that you need to trust with
Jesus. Thank Him for being One you can trust.
A disciple of Jesus is someone who lives every day
to love Jesus and bring others to Him.
Permission to photocopy for local church use My Choice: Lesson Two
My World
1. Brainstorm for specific things you can do to trust Jesus in different situations such as when
you feel afraid, when you have a problem that you can’t solve, when you have an opportunity
to share Him, or when Jesus impresses you to do something for Him.
Things I can do to trust Jesus:
(Examples: Claim a Bible promise, say a specific prayer for this situation, ask Jesus to help you NOT to be afraid,
make a banner about trusting Jesus, write “T-R-U-S-T” on a stone to carry in your pocket, etc.)
2. Ask: What Bible promises can help us trust Jesus more?
List Bible Promises:
3. Parent/mentor: Share one specific thing you will do as a parent/mentor to trust Jesus with a
specific challenge this coming week.
4. Invite your child to select one thing he/she will do to trust Jesus with a specific challenge this
coming week. Affirm his/her response.
Grace Point — Next week you will be invited to share what you did to trust Jesus with a specific
challenge.
Next Week Parents/mentors, you will be asked to share an experience when you received a
surprise gift. Reflect on how receiving that gift reminds you of God’s gift of salvation.
Permission to photocopy for local church use My World: Lesson Two
Jesus: A Friend You Can Trust!
Mentoring Moments for Lesson 2
Mentoring Moments are meant to extend the lesson you studied with your small group. Each
Mentoring Moment choice contains a Scripture, an activity, discussion questions, and a prayer
point grouped around a particular topic. They are perfect for use in family worship. If time does
not permit the completion of the activity, using just the Scripture and discussion questions can
provide a Mentoring Moment anywhere, even in the car.
Choice One
Scripture: Psalm 62:8
Activity: Look up the word “trust” in a dictionary. Using that as a guide, write a Christian
definition. Decorate the paper where you have written your definition and display it in your home
where others can enjoy it.
For Discussion: A fourth-grader named Krista tells about a time when she was afraid and
decided to trust Jesus: “I tried all summer to learn how to dive but I was just too afraid to try.
One day my friend told me to pray to Jesus. I prayed that I could do it and not be afraid. Right
after that I jumped and nothing bad happened to me!” Has there ever been a time in your life
when you were afraid and decided to trust Jesus? What happened?
Prayer Point: Pray that your trust in Jesus will grow and will fill your heart and the hearts of
those around you.
Choice Two
Scripture: Genesis 22:1-18
Activity: Call friends or family members and ask them to share an experience that helped their
trust in Jesus grow.
For Discussion: In what ways do we show our trust in Jesus? What happens to those around us
when we trust in Jesus?
Prayer Point:Ask God to make you willing to trust Him with anything and everything in your
life, especially the things that are most important to you.
Choice Three
Scripture: Matthew 6:25-27
Activity: Fill a bird feeder, if you have one. If not, sprinkle some birdseed or breadcrumbs on the
ground and watch birds with your family.
For Discussion: What in your life is causing you worry? What do you need to turn over to God?
Prayer Point: Ask God to make you like one of His birds and to help you put your complete
trust in Him.
Permission to photocopy for local church use Mentoring Moments: Lesson Two - 1
Choice Four
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7
Activity: Think of something that is making you anxious or causing you to worry. Blow bubbles
with bubble solution and a bubble wand as you tell God that you are turning that difficult thing
over to Him. As your bubbles float away, imagine your troubles floating into God’s care. Talk to
God silently or out loud, whichever you prefer.
For discussion: Why is it sometimes difficult to trust God? What is the solution?
Prayer Point: Ask God to help you trust Him more every day.
Choice Five
Scripture: Psalm 63:7; Acts 16:25, 26
Activity: Compose a short song about trusting in God. Use a tune you already know or write a
new one. If you’re not much of a musician, sing a song about trust that you already know.
For discussion: Who does “your” refer to in this verse? What does it mean to be “in the shadow
of your wings?” Why do you think Paul and Silas were singing in prison? Does singing about
trusting God help you trust Him more or less? Why?
Prayer Point: Ask God to give you the peace and joy that come from trusting Him in any
situation.
Permission to photocopy for local church use Mentoring Moments: Lesson Two - 2
