LESSON 17: READ AND RESPOND
THEME: Following God
VOCABULARY: parents, younger, high school, intended, lead, steal, siblings, parties, smoked, cigarettes, marijuana, relies
STORY: There are two brothers. They are 19 and 20 years old. Their names are Ralph and Peter. They have a younger brother named Steve. They live at home with their parents. When they were young, Ralph and Peter were great kids. They went to school, had good friends, and behaved well. However, when they got to high school, they started to hang out with the wrong group of people. At the time, they did not think it was a problem. They went to a few parties and started spending more time out of the house. Then one day they tried drugs. (What did they try?) At first, it was just smoking cigarettes. Then, they smoked marijuana, and eventually, it led them down a path they never intended to take. Ralph and Peter knew that what they were doing was causing their family pain. They didn’t want to cause their family pain. They wanted to go back to who they were before, but they had fallen so deep into drugs that they didn’t know how to dig themselves out. They started stealing money to buy more drugs. Steve, their younger brother, was very sad that his older brothers were going down such a bad path. Steve wanted more than anything for his brothers to be healthy and safe. He knew that Ralph and Peter could get in a lot of trouble with different drug dealers if they ever did something to make them angry. But Steve had hope. He hoped that the Lord would bring the two brothers out of the darkness that they were stuck in. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Steve relies on the fact that the Lord has plans for us always. He believes that if he continues to pray and follow the Lord, one day the light will be shown to his siblings.
STORY WITH QUESTIONS: There are two brothers. (How many brothers are there?) They are 19 and 20 years old. (How old are they?) Their names are Ralph and Peter. (What are their names?) They have a younger brother named Steve. (What is the younger brother’s name?) They live at home with their parents. (Where do they live?) When they were young, Ralph and Peter were great kids. They went to school, had good friends, and behaved well. (How were Ralph and Peter when they were young?) However, when they got to high school, they started to hang out with the wrong group of people. (What happened when they went to high school?) At the time, they did not think it was a problem. They went to a few parties and started spending more time out of the house. (What did they start doing?) Then one day they tried drugs. (What did they try?) At first, it was just smoking cigarettes. Then, they smoked marijuana, and eventually, it led them down a path they never intended to take. (Where did it lead them?) Ralph and Peter knew that what they were doing was causing their family pain. (What was happening to their family?) They didn’t want to cause their family pain. They wanted to go back to who they were before, but they had fallen so deep into drugs that they didn’t know how to dig themselves out. (Did Ralph and Peter want to be this way?) They started stealing money to buy more drugs. (Why did they steal money?) Steve, their younger brother, was very sad that his older brothers were going down such a bad path. (How did Steve feel?) Steve wanted more than anything for his brothers to be healthy and safe. (What did Steve want?) He knew that Ralph and Peter could get in a lot of trouble with different drug dealers if they ever did something to make them angry. But Steve had hope. (What did Steve have?) He hoped that the Lord would bring the two brothers out of the darkness that they were stuck in. (What did Steve hope for?) Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Steve relies on the fact that the Lord has plans for us always. He believes that if he continues to pray and follow the Lord, one day the light will be shown to his siblings. (What does Steve believe the Lord will show to his siblings?)
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.
- Have students answer the following questions. Allow time for them to do it alone and then discuss it as a class.
- What are the names of the three boys?
- What problem do the two older boys have?
- How did Ralph and Peter fall into this problem?
- How does it impact the family?
- What does Juan hope for?
- Who is Juan relying on to help him through this time?
- End the class in prayer.