Just for Teachers

Welcome to The Bridge

The Bridge is designed to help junior high students build a biblical foundation while engaging with topics that matter in their everyday lives. Students will move through different topics and series that help them understand The Bible, develop godly character, and apply biblical truth to real-life situations. We’ve designed this with a Sunday school youth class or mid-week youth group in mind.

Our goal is simple: help students know Jesus, understand the Bible, and confidently follow Him in today’s world. We want to make full-circle pursuers of Jesus.

Quarterly Rhythm for Year 1

Each quarter follows a consistent structure that balances Bible study, character development, practical life topics, and wisdom for everyday living.

Quarter Structure

  1. Mark 
  2. Mark
  3. Mark 
  4. Hot Topic
  5. Character Study (OT)
  6. Mark 
  7. Mark
  8. Hot Topic
  9. Character Study (NT)
  10. Mark 
  11. Mark
  12. Mark
  13. Wisdom 

Why This Structure?

This rhythm helps students experience the Bible from multiple angles throughout the quarter:

  • Mark helps students know Jesus.
  • Character Studies help students learn from real people in Scripture.
  • Hot Topics help students connect biblical truth to everyday life.
  • Proverbs helps students develop practical wisdom for daily decisions.

We mix it up througout the quarter to keep each week interesting and fresh for students.

Weekly Lesson Flow

Every lesson follows the same basic structure. This consistency helps students know what to expect and allows leaders to focus on discussion and discipleship.

1. Snapshot (6–8 Minutes)

Start each lesson by watching the lesson video together.

The Snapshot provides a big-picture overview of the lesson and introduces the main biblical truth students will explore.

Teacher Tips

  • Videos can be found directly embedded in the topic online, or at the Bridge Youtube Channel. Take a look at the Year 1, 2 and 3 playlists for all the videos you’ll need.

2. Icebreaker (5–10 Minutes)

After the video, lead the group through the provided activity or discussion starter.

The purpose of the Icebreaker is to:

  • Build relationships
  • Get students talking and comfortable
  • Create a natural bridge into the lesson topic

Teacher Tips

  • Use this time for students to introduce themselves with their name, grade, etc.
  • Feel free to change up the ice breaker or examples if they aren’t relevant to your student’s age group/life.

3. Highlights (10 Minutes)

Next, read through the lesson’s key talking points and Scripture passages together. We encourage you to have students take turn reading them. This keeps them engaged and involved.

This section reinforces the lesson’s main ideas and helps students engage directly with God’s Word.

Teacher Tips

  • Encourage students to use their own Bibles whenever possible.

Goal

Students should leave this section understanding the lesson’s primary biblical truth and where it is found in Scripture.

4. Unpack (20–25 Minutes)

This is the most important part of the lesson.

Use the discussion questions to help students process what they learned and apply it personally. You as the teacher should ask the questions and encourage students to participate. Feel free to be involved in answering the questions yourself.

Teacher Tips

  • Ask one question at a time.
  • Feel free to change up questions or ask your own as you get to know your classroom better.
  • Give students time to think before answering.
  • Ask follow-up questions that help students go deeper.
  • Encourage students to interact with one another, not just the leader.

Helpful Follow-Up Questions

  • Why do you think that?
  • What stands out to you about that?
  • Have you ever experienced something similar?
  • What does this teach us about God?
  • How should this affect the way we live?

Creating a Healthy Discussion Environment

  • Listen carefully.
  • Appreciate every student’s contribution.
  • Redirect conversations gently when necessary.
  • Avoid turning discussion time into a lecture.
  • Keep bringing students back to Scripture.

Goal

Students should leave with a clearer understanding of God’s Word and one practical way they can respond to it.

Leader Expectations

You do not need to be a Bible expert to lead students effectively.

Your role is to:

  • Create a welcoming environment.
  • Facilitate discussion.
  • Encourage participation.
  • Build meaningful relationships.
  • Point students back to Scripture.
  • Help students take practical next steps in their faith and make disciples.

Remember: discipleship happens best through consistent relationships, meaningful conversations, and faithful engagement with God’s Word.

Final Encouragement

Students are looking for authentic adults who care about them and point them toward Jesus.

Don’t worry about having all the answers. Be present. Ask good questions. Listen well. Trust God’s Word and His Spirit to do the work.

Your faithfulness week after week can have an eternal impact.

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:15b

Lessons in Quarter 1

  1. Mark: The Action Gospel
  2. Mark: The Strangest Influencer
  3. Mark: The Mission Begins
  4. Hot Topic: Back to School Tips
  5. Originals: Noah
  6. Mark: The Upside Down Kingdom
  7. Mark: The Final Word
  8. Hot Topic: Can I Trust the Bible?
  9. The Sequels: Timothy
  10. Mark: Jesus’ Busy Life
  11. Mark: The Ultimate Outcast
  12. Mark: Rulebook vs Relationship
  13. Wisdom: Fear of the Lord

*Insert where necessary in the quarter.

Snapshot (6-8 min)

Get started by watching the lesson video as a group.In this lesson, students will learn what Jesus meant when he warned about the unforgivable sin in Mark 3:22-30. They’ll see that the religious leaders witnessed the good work of Jesus but chose to call it evil because their hearts were hardened toward him. The unforgivable sin is not one bad mistake, a doubt, or an accidental comment, but a final and ongoing rejection of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. Anyone who turns to Jesus can receive the forgiveness he offers.

Icebreaker (5-10 min)

Wrong Answers Only: Choose one student to stand at the front of the room. Ask them several obvious questions, but they are only allowed to give completely wrong answers. Keep it moving quickly and let different students take a turn.

Examples:

  • What color is grass?
  • What do you use an umbrella for?
  • What animal says “moo”?
  • What do you wear on your feet?
  • What happens when you turn off the lights?
  • Is helping someone a good or bad thing?

After a few rounds, ask:

Was it hard to call something obviously true completely wrong?

Transition: This connects to today’s passage. The religious leaders saw Jesus doing something clearly good—freeing people from evil—but they chose to call his good work evil. Their problem wasn’t that they were confused. Their hearts were becoming so hard that they refused to accept the truth about Jesus.

Highlights (10 min)

Take turns reading the talking points and Scripture passages aloud. These points help summarize the lesson and give students key takeaways for the day. Have students read the talking points and verses.

  • Jesus is far more powerful than Satan. They are not two equal forces fighting against each other. Jesus has complete authority over evil. Mark 3:23-27.
  • The religious leaders saw Jesus doing good but chose to call his work evil. We should be careful not to let pride or stubbornness keep us from recognizing what God is doing. Mark 3:22, 30.
  • Jesus offers forgiveness for every kind of sin to people who turn to him. No mistake you make is too big for what Jesus accomplished on the cross. 1 John 1:9
  • The unforgivable sin is not an accidental mistake, a doubt, or something bad you said once. It is a final and continued rejection of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. Mark 3:28-30.
  • You do not need to live afraid that you have messed up too badly for God. If you want God’s forgiveness, turn to Jesus, trust what he did for you on the cross, and receive the forgiveness he offers. John 3:16-18

Unpack (25 min)

Read through the questions one at a time and discuss them as a group. Encourage everyone to participate, listen well, and share honestly. This is an opportunity to learn from God’s Word and from one another.

  1. What part of today’s lesson stood out to you the most? Why?
  2. What is the unforgivable sin?
  3. Why do you think the religious leaders refused to admit that Jesus was doing something good?
  4. What are some reasons people your age might have doubts or questions about God? Do you think having questions is the same as rejecting God? Why or why not?
  5. Why is it important to read Bible verses in context instead of by themselves?
  6. Have you ever worried that you messed up so badly that God could not forgive you? What does today’s lesson teach us about that fear?