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User’s Guide For ELEVATE Resources

OVERVIEW

The ELEVATE Resource is divided into nine components:

  • Panorama (4 weeks)
  • Elevate Your Priorities (3 weeks)
  • Seek What Is Noble (3 weeks)
  • Return of the King (Christmas theme – 3 weeks)
  • Living Life At The Highest Level (4 weeks)
  • Elevating Your Vision Of God (4 weeks)
  • Join With What Is Good (3 weeks)
  • Wrap-Up (2 weeks)

    Each of the nine series begins with an introduction to help you understand the big picture. Then, each individual session provides session objectives, leader’s notes and small group questions – with ITALICIZED leader prompts or notes throughout.

    We have packaged each series in a specific sequence for a September-June ministry year, but you are free to use all or parts of these resources in any order. There are 30 weeks of material which does not equal every week in a 10 month ministry year. We are certain you will have weeks away, some weeks with other activities planned, etc.

    AUDIENCE

    This resource has been designed for use as a discipleship tool for the high school age group. Although each series may be adaptable to college ages, we do not suggest using this material for outreach programs or junior high age groups. There are many other great sources for teaching resources. Check your local Christian bookstore, or call Rob McAlpine at 416-622-8600 (ext. 315) for more assistance!

    WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR?

    With Rob McAlpine’s editorial leadership and our team of writers: Steve Brown, Paul Carter, Darren DeGraaf, Alvin Lau and Matt Wilkinson, this Elevate Resource was an endeavour from a growing team. Our team approach means that the style of each series will reflect the uniqueness of our team.

    We are also very excited about a new Teaching Tips section developed by Luz Lacey. Beyond providing curriculum, we hope that this section will help all of us to develop as master teachers.

    Also, as a response to your feedback, we have kept each series to a maximum of 4-5 weeks and added some experiential learning sessions.

    YOUR CONTEXT

    These resources are designed to be a starting point of options for your unique context of ministry. We encourage and expect you to adapt anything and everything to best suit your local context and environment – this includes:

    • Setting and Timeframe – These resources may need some adaptation depending on the size of group you are working with.
    • Illustrations – The illustrations included may spark ideas for more personal or relevant illustrations – please substitute and share your ideas too!
    • Media – Many of these sessions provide ideas and options for using movies or music. You should preview all media and make your own determination for suitability in your group. Also, you should consult with www.ccli.org to determine whether or not you need to purchase a copyright license.
    • Life Events – Events in our rapidly changing world or in your local community may require you to modify your session or to leave out a session – feel free!
    • Bible Translation and Theology – Several bible translations are used and the theology represents the author’s views. As with all teaching, we encourage you to do your homework and teach accordingly.
    • Preparation – As you go through the sessions you will discover that some require more preparation than others. We have always included a low prep option, but for the greatest impact, some of the extended prep ideas will require more planning and time. Always read the entire series BEFORE beginning!
    • Special Note: Several sessions move toward experiential learning. This means that the preparation component may require advanced planning and is more extensive. We recommend that you read ahead a few weeks at a time, as sometimes you will need a number of weeks to make preparations and give adequate notice to leaders or students.

    What this resource is not:

    • This resource is far from comprehensive. We do not often suggest crowd breakers or integrate important elements like music and prayer. This resource is meant to be a starting place to assist you with teaching materials for youth. The Internet and Christian bookstores are full of ideas to help you with fun games, or to give you other suggestions for your program. We don’t know your context, and we can’t predict coming cultural landmarks. Obviously you should adapt your teaching following an incident like Columbine, 9/11, or if a student in your ministry experiences a major tragedy, etc. All of these things will determine how you lead your ministry and what you will talk about. Please do not consider our work to be complete. Good teaching always adapts curriculum to the context. Please make additions and subtractions as the Holy Spirit and your own wisdom, experience and context dictate.

    FEEDBACK

    Each session section concludes with a short feedback/comments section. You can use this section to gather feedback from your small group leaders for follow-up, to keep track of your own reflections or to provide feedback to us. Please feel free to email us at compass@baptist.ca. Also, we will be posting ideas and feedback on our website – http://bcoqyouth.baptist.ca.

    Also, please feel free to email the session author to clarify, brainstorm ideas or provide feedback. Author emails are listed in each session.