Why Are There Many Churches? - Teacher (Standard) (print)

Youths (ages 9-12) · 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; Ephesians 4:1-16 · Standard ·35 minutes

Teach now

Objective: Explain from the passage that christian division has historical and theological causes, and unity requires truth, humility, and love and locate the lesson on the whole-Bible timeline.

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; Ephesians 4:1-16

Opening: Ask one observation question before explaining the lesson.

Say:

The selected passage supplies the principal textual evidence for Why Are There Many Churches?.
Christian division has historical and theological causes, and unity requires truth, humility, and love.

Ask:

What does the text directly say?
What conclusion requires interpretation or synthesis?
What should we avoid overstating?
What is one faithful response?

Do: Complete Why Are There Many Churches? Evidence Grid.

Close: Restate the big idea, name one faithful response, and pray.

Materials: Bible; Why Are There Many Churches? Evidence Grid

Standard outline · 35 minutes

4 minConnect. Locate the lesson within Cycle 2 and activate prior knowledge.
4 minContext. Identify genre, audience, setting, and immediate context before making claims.
9 minRead and observe. Read selected portions of 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; Ephesians 4:1-16 and identify direct observations. Ask: What does the passage directly say?
7 minDiscuss. Test the big idea against the evidence and identify interpretive limits. Ask: What conclusion can we support from those observations? Where could someone overstate or misapply this passage?
7 minActivity. Complete the primary evidence-based activity. Activity: Why Are There Many Churches? Evidence Grid. Printable: Y4-L21-P01-why-are-there-many-churches-evidence-grid.
4 minRespond. Name one faithful response and pray. Ask: What faithful response fits the text?

Activity details

Why Are There Many Churches? Evidence Grid · 10 min

Materials: Bible; Why Are There Many Churches? Evidence Grid; Pens or pencils

Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; Ephesians 4:1-16.
Record at least two direct observations.
Test the big idea: Christian division has historical and theological causes, and unity requires truth, humility, and love.
Name one conclusion or application that would go beyond the evidence.

Low-resource option: Draw the categories on blank paper or complete verbally.

Closing

Memory verse: Romans 6:1-11; Galatians 3:26-29

Prayer: Thank God for what the passage shows and ask for wisdom to respond faithfully.

Take-home line: Baptism is presented in connection with faith, participation in Christ, and new life.