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. Today we’re looking at one of the most powerful stories in Mark’s Gospel. A man with leprosy had been rejected by everyone around him. He couldn’t be around his family, his friends, or even his community. But when he met Jesus, everything changed. This story reminds us that no one is too broken, too messy, or too far gone for Jesus. He doesn’t run away from our brokenness—He meets us in it, forgives us, and restores us.

Icebreaker (5-10 min)

Find Someone Like You: Have everyone stand up. Tell students they will have two minutes to find a different person for each prompt below. Encourage them to introduce themselves if they don’t already know each other before moving on to the next person. The goal is to meet new people and discover how much they have in common.

  • Has the same favorite color.
  • Was born in the same season (spring, summer, fall, or winter).
  • Is wearing the same color shoes.
  • Has the same favorite food.
  • Enjoys the same hobby.

Transition: It only took a minute to discover things we have in common with other people. But in Jesus’ day, people looked at the man with leprosy and only noticed what made him different. Instead of seeing a person who needed love and compassion, they saw someone to avoid. Jesus, however, looked deeper—and that’s what today’s lesson is all about.

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.

  • Sin separates us from God just like leprosy separated people from everyone around them. We all need Jesus to make us spiritually clean. Mark 1:40
  • Jesus isn’t afraid of our brokenness. He is full of compassion and willingly comes near to people who need Him. Mark 1:41
  • When Jesus touches our lives, He doesn’t become unclean—we are made clean. His power is greater than our sin. Mark 1:41-42
  • Jesus wants to do more than forgive us. He wants to restore our relationship with God and help us become the people He created us to be. Mark 1:43-45
  • No matter what you’ve done or how far away you feel, Jesus is willing to receive anyone who comes to Him in faith.

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 people sometimes avoid or reject others who seem different?
  3. The man asked Jesus, “If you are willing…” Have you ever wondered if God really cared about you? Why or why not?
  4. What are some ways sin can make our hearts less sensitive to God over time? *Extra Q: How do you see this in our culture today?
  5. Jesus chose to touch someone everyone else avoided. How can you show that same kind of compassion to someone around you this week?
  6. Have you made the decision to trust in what Jesus did for you on the cross so that you can be forgiven and made spiritually clean? If not, what’s holding you back?