I recently taught this lesson to a group of Senior Highers. I have provided the outline for your use. I usually leave the blanks, but I will fill them in for you in the post so that you can know where to go with them. Feel free to use this in anyway to aid in your ministry. I’d also love feedback on this: What else should I add, what other points might be important, any other scripture that we could do. This was a 20 minute lesson as is. The outline is adapted from the July 15th entry in Nelson’s Annual Youth Ministry SOURCEBOOK, 2007 edition. http://www.ecampus.com/book/1418508977 I highly recommend this book for any youth ministry. Enjoy!!

Just a note, I refer to the Apostle Paul as “Grand Master ‘P’. It’s funny how sometimes the strangest things help kids to remember certain things…..

You be the Judge!!

Imagine the perfect person of the opposite sex. What do they look like? What are they wearing? What are they doing? Did you imagine anyone in this room? (C’mon, you know that you were thinking of me…. :)

We all have ______________standards_______________________________. We all have ideals. The question that needs to be asked is how do we use our standards to make our decisions?

When we use our standards to make our decisions, we call it: ___discernment_______________.
We discern things in a lot of ways, but there is a fool proof way of doing this.

Romans 2:1-16 What does The Grand Master “P” (Paul) say about judging?

We are judged in Three Ways by God.
1.According to the ________Truth_____________.
2.According to ___________Deeds__________________.
3.According to the _______Light a Person has__________________.

We need to use these same measures for Discerning things in life. I believe that God has given us some good tools as well that we need to use everyday.
Jason’s Rules for Discernment
1. Does it ___________Feel Right_________________________?
2. Does it ______Build Someone Up_________________________?
3. What are my ____Friends saying about it__________________?
4. Why am I _______Doing it_______________________?

Paul makes the point that “first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” I believe we can further that by saying “first for the Christian, then for the non-Christian.” We will be judged by our actions, by the truth, and by the “light” that we shine in this world. We have an immense responsibility to live a Christlike life, when we choose to call ourselves publically a Believer.

What are you holding back. What things in your life are you participating in that could corrode your Faith. Let God search your heart and give in to His Grace.

“With Great Power, comes Great Responsibility” Gandalf