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 (6-10 min)

In this lesson, students will look at Mark 4:35-41 and see how Jesus responded when a dangerous storm hit. They’ll learn that storms are a normal part of life, but faith means trusting God even when things feel out of control. The disciples were afraid because of the storm, but Jesus showed that he has power over everything – especially the things we can’t control. This lesson will challenge students to think about how knowing who Jesus is can change the way they face fear, stress, and anxiety.

Icebreaker (5-10 min)

Would You Rather – Storm Edition: Ask the group of students each of the questions below and have them call out their answers.

  • Would you rather be stuck in a thunderstorm or a snowstorm?
  • Would you rather lose your phone for a week or have three tests in one day?
  • Would you rather give a speech in front of the whole school or sing solo in front of everyone?
  • Would you rather be on a tiny boat in huge waves or on a plane during bad turbulence?
  • Would you rather know exactly what will happen tomorrow or be surprised?

Transition: In real life, we don’t always get to choose the situations we face—but we do get to choose how we respond. Today we’re looking at a moment when the disciples were caught in a real storm and had to decide whether fear or faith would take over.

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.

  • Storms are going to happen. Following Jesus doesn’t mean life will always be easy, but we can trust that he is with us when things get hard. Mark 4:37-38.
  • Fear is a normal response when something feels dangerous, but anxiety can grow when we start believing everything depends on us. Instead of trying to control everything, we can bring our worries to Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 26:3
  • Jesus has authority over everything. The wind and waves obeyed him, reminding the disciples that Jesus is more powerful than the storm they feared. Mark 4:39.
  • The biggest question in the story is, “Who is this man?” The more we understand who Jesus really is, the more we can trust him when life feels scary or uncertain. Mark 4:41.

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. When you get stressed, are you more likely to fight the problem, avoid it, freeze up, or trust God? Why?
  3. Why do you think the disciples panicked even though Jesus was right there in the boat with them?
  4. What is one situation in your life right now that you are trying to control? What would trusting Jesus with it actually look like?
  5. Have you ever felt like God was quiet or not helping when you really needed him? What did you do?
  6. At the end of the story, the disciples ask, “Who is this man?” How does knowing that Jesus is powerful enough to calm a storm change the way you think about your own problems?
  7. If a friend asked you who Jesus is and why you trust Him, what would you say?