PowerPoints: A Bible Study Guide for Juniors

Have you ever waited to hear from a friend who had moved to another city? Perhaps you heard about them from others, but waited anxiously to hear from them personally. Did you begin to doubt their friendship?

Imagine what John the Baptist might have said to share the reason for his simple lifestyle with someone your age.

HHave you ever been confused over what someone was trying to say? It sounded important. It sounded right, but you just needed to think about it for a while. Imagine a young man asking John the Baptist about his message.

A piano recital, public speaking, jumping off the high dive at a pool. Do these things make you think of sweaty palms and butterfly stomachs? We all have to take risks sometimes. But Jesus took the greatest risk of all.

How would you feel if your family planned to move to a place where you had never been before? Scared, excited, or both? This week we’ll learn about some people who made a big move during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Think about a time you were away from home and were eager to get back. Maybe it was a week at summer camp or just a couple nights staying with a friend. Imagine what it would be like to be away from home for 70 yearn

You have always had questions. Why? Why? Why? Your parents may even have told you they didn’t want to hear the word “why” again. Habakkuk had questions too. When He asked God his questions, he found good reasons to trust Him. Habakkuk the prophet was trou

Have you ever attended a weeklong camp meeting? Interesting speakers and meaningful meetings take place. You see old friends, learn new songs, and discover new things about God. Hezekiah invites his kingdom to a sort of camp meeting where a revival among

Does your mom or dad ever get after you to clean your room? Is it a mess, with dirty clothes lying on the floor, piles of things you are “saving,” schoolbooks stacked up, your bed unmade? If it is, you can relate to the condition of the Temple before a ne

You may have heard countless offering appeals and pleas for more money to support the church budget. Well, this Bible story is about an offering appeal. The building of the Temple was in a state of utter disrepair. How did this congregation respond?

Family members are supposed to love and protect each other, right? Aunt Jehosheba showed love for her family when she rescued her nephew, Joash, who grew up to become a king.

Have you ever been, or seen anyone, “frozen with fear”? Many times we need to stand as still as if we were frozen in order for God to fight our battle and win the victory for us. A long time ago an entire army won a battle that way, just by standing still

Have there ever been times in your life you were not sure what you should do? Where did you seek help? One thing for sure, it doesn’t help to talk to someone who has already died. The Bible tells us the dead don’t know anything.

Have you ever met someone whom you felt could see inside you? Do you like what you see when you look inside yourself? Imagine David, the youngest of a large family.

Have you ever been frustrated because “bad guys” seemed to be in charge and “good guys” just stood around and did nothing? Have you ever wondered what God wanted you to do about it? Sometimes God asks us to wait, but sometimes He asks us to act in faith.

Have you ever chosen to be silent rather than to sing the hymns in church? Have you ever kept your eyes open during prayer or distracted others from listening to the sermon? How do your choices affect your ability to truly worship God?

Have you ever felt so sad you thought your heart would break? Or ever been so upset that you couldn’t stop crying? In this story a woman felt just that way. Thankfully, she was able to find a solution by talking to God about it.

Have you ever noticed the faraway look in the eyes of your grandparents when they start telling stories of long ago? This must have been the look that the old man Joshua had on his face as he began reminding the people of God’s care through the years he h

People are so different! Some of your friends love nothing more than being outside; other friends are more quiet. Most of the time our differences make our friendships more interesting. Sometimes, however, those differences lead to trouble.

Can you remember wanting something for a long time, and then finally getting it? Maybe it was a bicycle, a computer, a pet, or a brother or sister. It is the most precious thing you have. Now, can you imagine how you would feel if you were asked to give i

If you watch the TV news on just about any night, you’ll probably hear a story about the Middle East. This is not a new conflict. The people in the Middle East have been fighting for a long time—about 4,000 years, to be exact. Much of the conflict goes ba

Do you have a little brother or sister? If so, how did you feel when your parents told you that a baby would be added to your family? Did it seem like a long time before the baby was born? Were you very excited? Abraham and Sarah were even more excited wh

Waiting. It’s such a hard thing to do. Wait for Christmas. Wait for your birthday. Wait till school’s out. Wait till you can drive. “Be patient,” your parents say. That’s because parents know that the results of impatience are usually a disaster.

Have you ever had a hurtful argument? How did you feel? When there is conflict, someone usually gets hurt. Abraham discovered one way to avoid conflict. Imagine how it happened.

Has anyone ever said to you, “You look just like . . . ?” Have you ever thought that it is more than looks that get passed on from one generation to the next? Faith and family customs are also passed on from one generation to the next.