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. What’s the Book of Mark All About? (1:1)
  2. Who Was John the Baptist? (Mark 1:2-8)
  3. The Mission Begins (Mark 1:9-15)
  4. Grid Series: Born Again
  5. Grid Series: All In
  6. Grid Series: Going Out
  7. Bible Basics: Where Did We Get the Bible?
  8. Bible Basics: What is the Structure of the Bible?
  9. Bible Basics: What to do When the Bible Doesn’t Make Sense
  10. Bible Basics: What is the Story of the Old Testament?
  11. Bible Basics: What is the Story of the New Testament?
  12. Dangers of Labeling Others
  13. Christmas Lesson*

*Insert where necessary in the quarter.

Snapshot (6-8 min)

Get started by watching the lesson video as a group. This lesson through Mark 1:9-15 teaches that Jesus understands what it’s like to be human because He experienced baptism, temptation, and hardship just like we face struggles today. Even when He was tempted in the wilderness, Jesus trusted God and relied on His Word, showing us how we can stand strong and follow Him.

Icebreaker (5-10 min)

Would You Rather – Wilderness Edition: Tell students they’re going to play a quick game of Would You Rather. Designate one side of the room as Option A and the other as Option B, then have students move to the side that matches their choice. If space is limited, simply have everyone call out or raise their hand for their answer as you read each question.

Would you rather:

  • Spend 40 days without your phone or 40 days without junk food?
  • Would you rather be stranded in the desert or in the middle of the ocean?
  • Have everyone know your biggest failure or your biggest fear?
  • Face one extreme challenge today or a bunch of small challenges all month?
  • Would you rather sleep outside for a week or only eat the same meal for a week?

Transition: Remember that first “Would You Rather?” Jesus didn’t have to imagine it—He actually spent 40 days in the wilderness wiht no food or water. Let’s look at what happened and what we can learn from it.

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’ baptism marked the beginning of His public ministry and showed His willingness to identify with humanity. Mark 1:9
  • At Jesus’ baptism, we see all three persons of the Trinity together: the Father speaking, the Son being baptized, and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove. Mark 1:10-11
  • Jesus faced real temptation in the wilderness, just like we face real temptations today. Mark 1:12, Hebrews 4:15
  • Jesus defeated temptation by relying on the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, giving us an example for our own spiritual battles. Matthew 4:1-4
  • Jesus’ message is still the same today: turn toward God, trust Him, and believe the Good News that He offers forgiveness and a relationship with Him. Mark 1:14-15

Unpack (25-30 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 Jesus chose to be baptized even though He had never sinned?
  3. Before Jesus did any miracles, God said, “You are my dearly loved Son.” What does that teach us about where our worth comes from? Where are some places we often try to find our identity and worth in?
  4. Have you ever felt like no one really understood what you were going through? Willing to share?
  5. Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. What are some temptations students your age commonly face? What might be some of the ways out that Jesus promises in these situations?
  6. When you’re tempted to do something wrong, what are some practical ways you can choose to follow God instead?
  7. Jesus began His ministry by calling people to repent and believe the Good News. What do you think that means for your life today?