LESSON 16: READ AND RESPOND
THEME: Following the Lord
VOCABULARY: youngest, joined, upset, struggled, involved, lame (not cool), trouble, suffers, unhealthy, cycle, restoration
STORY: There is a boy. His name is Juan. He lives at home with his two brothers, his sister, and his mom and dad. Juan is the youngest boy in the family. He is 15 years old. His brothers are 19 and 20. Juan has struggled a lot lately. His two brothers have joined the wrong group of friends. They have been spending a lot of time out of the house. They have been doing drugs and stealing things to sell for more money. Juan does not like this. He feels very upset that they have gotten involved in something so terrible. This makes Juan very sad because he always looked up to his brothers. He always thought his brothers were so cool and that one day he wanted to be just like them. But now they are trying to get him to join them in doing bad things. Juan really doesn’t want to join them but he doesn’t want them to think that he is “lame.” He wants his brothers to think he is cool and fun. However, deep down, Juan knows that it is not a good idea to go with his brothers. He knows they are going against God. He keeps hoping that one day they will find the light. John 8:12 says, “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” Juan knows that if he could just show his brothers the light and truth, then they could leave the drugs behind and look for a better way of living. Juan’s mom has a lot of trouble with his brothers. She is always busy worrying about them and trying to save them from the trouble they are getting into. This is hard for her and it makes it difficult for her to spend time with the rest of the family. Juan also suffers from watching his mother so upset. He hopes one day this unhealthy cycle will be broken and restoration will happen in his family.
STORY WITH QUESTIONS: There is a boy. (Is there a boy or a girl?) His name is Juan. (What is his name?) He lives at home with his two brothers, his sister, and his mom and dad. (Who does he live with?) Juan is the youngest boy in the family. (Who is the youngest boy?) He is 15 years old. (How old is he?) His brothers are 19 and 20. (How old are his brothers?) Juan has struggled a lot lately. His two brothers have joined the wrong group of friends. (What have his two brothers done?) They have been spending a lot of time out of the house. (Where do they spend a lot of time?) They have been doing drugs and stealing things to sell for more money. (What have they been doing?) Juan does not like this. (How does Juan feel?) He feels very upset that they have gotten involved in something so terrible. This makes Juan very sad because he always looked up to his brothers. (How does Juan feel about his brothers?) He always thought his brothers were so cool and that one day he wanted to be just like them. (Who did Juan want to be like?) But now they are trying to get him to join them in doing bad things. (What do the brothers want Juan to do?) Juan really doesn’t want to join them but he doesn’t want them to think that he is “lame.” (Does Juan want to join his brothers?) He wants his brothers to think he is cool and fun. (What does he want his brothers to think of him?) However, deep down, Juan knows that it is not a good idea to go with his brothers. He knows they are going against God. (Why is it not a good idea to go with his brothers?) He keeps hoping that one day they will find the light. (What does Juan hope for one day?) John 8:12 says, “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (Who is our light?) Juan knows that if he could just show his brothers the light and truth, then they could leave the drugs behind and look for a better way of living. (What does Juan want to show his brothers?) Juan’s mom has a lot of trouble with his brothers. (How does his mom feel about his brothers?) She is always busy worrying about them and trying to save them from the trouble they are getting into. (What does his mom trying to do?) This is hard for her and it makes it difficult for her to spend time with the rest of the family. (Does Juan’s mom have time for the rest of the family?) Juan also suffers from watching his mother so upset. He hopes one day this unhealthy cycle will be broken and restoration will happen in his family. (What does Juan hope for?)
ACTIVITIES
- Review the Vocabulary Words .
- Listen to Audio 1 as you read the story.
- Listen to Audio 2 – Story with Questions as you read the story and answer the questions.
- Put the story in order.
| Where does Juan live? | What have Juan’s brothers done? | How does Juan feel? | What are Juan’s brothers trying to get him to do? |
| What does Juan want to do? | Does Juan think he can help his brothers? | Does this hurt Juan a lot? | What does Juan hope for one day? |
5. Discuss some problems or pressures we run into that we don’t always want to be a part of.
6. Have a student pray in English.