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)

Get started by watching the lesson video as a group. In this lesson, we’ll look at Mark 7:1-23 and see why Jesus cared more about people’s hearts than simply following religious rules. The Pharisees focused on looking right on the outside, but Jesus showed that our real problem with sin starts on the inside. We’ll learn that following Jesus isn’t about being a perfect rule-follower or ignoring God’s commands—it’s about trusting Jesus to change us from the inside out. When our hearts are close to God, it should begin to show in the way we live.

Icebreaker (5-10 min)

Would You Rather — Rule Edition: Ask each question below one at a time and have students call out their answers.

  • Would you rather have to sing everything you say or whisper everything you say?
  • Would you rather have to wear a cape every day or wear a bike helmet everywhere?
  • Would you rather have to skip everywhere or run everywhere?
  • Would you rather have to make a sound effect every time you sit down or say “beep beep” every time you pass someone?
  • Would you rather have to announce “incoming!” before entering a room or say “mission accomplished” every time you leave one?

Transition: Thankfully, God doesn’t give us rules like those! But in today’s story, Jesus meets some people who were obsessed with rules.

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.

  • God cares about your heart, not just how you look on the outside. You can know the right answers and still be far from God. Mark 7:6-8, 1 Samuel 16:7.
  • God’s Word matters more than man-made rules. Make sure your faith is based on what God actually says, not just traditions or opinions. Mark 7:8-9.
  • Following Jesus isn’t about being a perfect rule-follower or ignoring God’s commands—it’s about trusting Jesus to change us from the inside out. Ephesians 2:8-10
  • Our biggest problem starts in our hearts. Pride, jealousy, greed, and other sins begin inside us before they show up in our actions. Mark 7:20-23.
  • Jesus changes us from the inside out. When we trust Him, He changes our hearts, and that starts changing our choices too. Romans 3:22-23.

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. Why do you think it’s sometimes easier to look like you’re following God than to actually have a close relationship with Him?
  3. Jesus says our bad choices often start in our hearts. What are some attitudes—like jealousy, pride, etc., —that can eventually lead to bad choices?
  4. What should we do when we realize we have these bad attitudes affecting our actions?
  5. Why can’t simply “trying harder to be good” fix the problem of sin?
  6. What’s the difference between obeying God because you’re afraid of getting in trouble and obeying Him because you love Him?
  7. What does it actually look like for Jesus to change someone from the inside out?
  8. What’s one practical thing you could do this week to grow closer to God instead of just going through the motions?