Live Differently
By Bethany Lockett
During my first summer away from home as a short-term missionary, I arrived in El Salvador ready to change the world.
However, I quickly realized that mission work is much more challenging and nuanced than I expected. My confidence took a sharp hit when I realized that being “fluent” in Spanish in a college classroom didn’t mean I could translate a church service. Everything was so new to me. I was 18 years old and in a foreign country without my family and friends.
It was a difficult time full of challenges, conflict, discontent, and disappointment. I wondered if I had made a mistake. But as I cried out to God, the Holy Spirit began to work in my heart using an old foundation to strengthen me in a new season.
A Strong Foundation
From my early days in BSF Level 1 to my Senior year of high school, my BSF leaders invested in me, encouraging an environment where my faith could flourish. They treated me like I was a real believer – they never made me feel like I had to wait to be an adult until I could have a strong enough faith to read and apply the Bible.
What I most loved about BSF was the ability to discover truth and dig into the passages myself. These skills helped me develop a daily habit of Bible study that steadied me when I didn’t have anyone directing my spiritual life like parents and church leaders.
This week, I looked back at my journal from that summer in El Salvador and found this reflection:
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)
“I love this verse because I am young. Paul never looks down on Timothy for his youth, but rather recognizes his importance as a next-generation leader with new ideas and a fresh spirit…I do have a purpose, I work to be holy as God is holy, not for myself but for my Savior. For He lives.”
BSF gave me to the tools to study the Bible and developed a love for God’s Word. Today I am in another season of new things. I graduated college, found my first full-time job, and got married. But God is just as faithful to me now as He was then, and His Word continues to call me to live differently. I am so grateful for the way God used my BSF leaders. Their commitment and heart to serve have inspired me to want to live my life for Christ.
Shaping a Generation for Christ
As leaders in the School Program, we have the privilege of shaping the next generation for Christ. Like Bethany, we long for our students to take God’s Word to heart and meditate on His truth. In their darkest moments, we want students to echo the words of Psalm 119:105, “Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.”
But with a busy class schedule, these discussions often feel rushed.
Bethany shared, “Application was rarely a primary focus. We barely ever got to the application section of homiletics because of the tight structure of our class.”
In the revised School Program, Live Differently is strategically built into the curriculum with extended time so you and your students can unpack God’s truth more fully. The curriculum is designed to meet your class’s individual needs. God’s Word will prove living and active as students see that the Bible is relevant to their struggles today and their hopes for tomorrow.
What will stay the same?
Learn More
- Lesson options could include Basic Truth, Scripture memory, and Take to Heart activities.
- Every lesson remains God-focused, Gospel-centered, and age appropriate.
- Interaction and application questions will help students identify what they learn about God, His Word, people, and how the passage applies to their own lives.
- The Live Differently component works with the rest of class time toward fulfilling the BSF Aim of studying and applying the Bible by the power of the Holy Spirit.
What’s new?
Learn More
- Students will explore why the passage they just studied in Discover Truth matters and how the truth they learned changes the way they think and live.
- Students will work together to apply the truth they have just learned.
- You have flexibility with content and timing, as you know your class best. Every lesson will include two options from which to choose for your class.
- Questions are key to help students process what they are learning. There are two to five key questions that help the student apply the main truth of the passage to their daily lives. You will be trained to equip students with tools to discern how Scripture informs the challenges they face every day.
What’s our goal?
Learn More
- Students are challenged to apply the truth they have discovered to their daily lives.
- Flexibility in the curriculum allows customization to make each School Program classroom accessible to the greatest range of students, allowing for age, cognitive ability, and spiritual maturity.
- All students are engaged and supported in learning and personal application.
- Students have options in how they show learning and application of God’s Word.
- Students take more ownership in their learning and application of Scripture.
Discovery Resource
Want to see what the new Live Differently component may look like?
This sneak peek is a bridge between what you are doing now and what will be used in the upcoming study. Use it in lieu of Discovery, Homiletics, or Basic Truth for Matthew Lesson 27!
“One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.”
Psalm 145:4
Hear from a Pilot Class
Seventeen classes participated in a three-week test of the School Program Redesign. Hear what some of them have to say!
Riz Mohammed
Children’s Leader
England
“Students are far more engaged than normal and take ownership of what they’re learning.”
Brenda Chang
Assistant Children’s Supervisor
Taiwan
“We always ask students to listen to us. Sometimes, we forget to see their needs. The training taught us from discovery, ownership, participation, and relationships to learn the students’ needs so we can give appropriate teaching for our little sheep.”
Walt Petticrew
Children’s Supervisor
United States
“In Live Differently, students engage in free form thinking within a context that is relevant in their lives. Many times, we will have the students draw on the white board to explain or depict how and why the Live Differently topic impacted them. This exercise not only enhances recall and engages more students into the conversation, but it also opens the door for second and third levels of additional thinking. It is within these levels that new revelations are found and ‘owned’ by the students.”
What would it look like to see the truth in God’s Word change your students’ lives?
How have you seen God working this year?
Please note that comments are monitored and approved by BSF staff. If you don’t see your comment immediately, please visit this page again to view your comment along with responses from staff and other BSF members.
Having looked through the redesign material so far, it looks as if students will no longer be doing daily questions on their own during the week and coming to class to discuss their answers. Is this correct?
Students will definitely be encouraged to study the passage on their own during the week, using the BSF take-home guide. These will be called Discovery Guides (instead of School Program Questions). One of BSF’s Aims is and will continue to be that students would study and apply the Bible daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. The curriculum will continue to promote consistent time with God through the take-home questions that students have the opportunity to accomplish throughout the week. Thanks for asking!
During the Redesign test, I was privileged to take part as a CL. Through the interactive lessons in the class, I have seen quiet children open up and share personal experiences in the classroom and how God is using them for His glory.
This is encouraging feedback, Eunice! Thank you for sharing, and for leading through the Redesign test! We are grateful for you and your ministry.
Our students are using chat and annotate to share their ideas about what the verse means and how it affects their lives. When asked about the temple, one of our girls said she was happy because now everyone had direct access to Jesus.
We thank God the students are showing a higher level of commitment in attending their classes and in their participation during the Bible Lesson time. There is also a higher level of seriousness compared to the past seasons. All glory goes to God Almighty.
This is a fun preview, but I’m a bit confused. The QR code for the secondary student (Try-it-yourself Discovery Resource download) takes me to resources for Lesson 20-21, not 27. Unfortunately, one of the songs is very specific to lesson 20. Probably operator error, what am I missing?
Thank you for bringing this to our attention! Check back in 24 hours and it will be the right playlist. Grateful!
Those playlists are updated now, @Cindy. Happy streaming!
Many thanks!