ESL Teacher Reference Desk

Breaking Free

There’s a dark side to everyone that is usually uncomfortable to talk about. But denying the real issues like anger, envy, and laziness don’t lead to a healthy life. And for students who are discovering a new host of emotions, these can be especially tough to handle. In this 3-week Sermon Series, Doug Fields provides practical and easy-to-implement lessons that address the stuff we wish we didn’t feel. But when handled biblically, your students will be stronger spiritually and more prepared to do the right thing.Lessons cover: Anger — The fire that rages within Envy — The lies that steal joy Laziness — The curse that slowly destroys

Brady Bunch

Here’s the story of a lovely lady, a man named Brady, and spoof on that television icon of the 70s. This short spoof provides a fun and nostalgic avenue into some very current needs in the lives of students. Themes: Family, Fun, Choices, Priorities, Self-esteem

Building Character Assessment

Character is the foundation of leadership. LeaderTreks created the Building Character Assessment to help students see their character in light of God's standard. The profile itself allows students to step back and observe themselves from an objective standpoint. Most students' self-perception is somewhat middle-of-the-road. I'm not as "bad" as the worst people I know, but I'm probably not as "good" as I could be. Completing this profile guides students to measure where they are in many different areas of Christian character.The Building Character profile: raises awareness regarding biblical standards of character identifies areas of strength and weakness helps create a plan for personal improvement Biblical Background This tool is ideal for encouraging godly character growth on the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The nine facets measured include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The goal is to take students beyond the theoretical understanding of the Fruit of the Spirit to the everyday application of becoming more like Christ.Also available, Building Character Facilitator Manual.

Building Character Facilitator Manual

Character is the foundation of leadership. LeaderTreks created the Building Character Assessment to help students see their character in light of God's standard. The profile itself allows students to step back and observe themselves from an objective standpoint. Most students' self-perception is somewhat middle-of-the-road. I'm not as "bad" as the worst people I know, but I'm probably not as "good" as I could be. Completing this profile guides students to measure where they are in many different areas of Christian character.The Building Character profile: raises awareness regarding biblical standards of character identifies areas of strength and weakness helps create a plan for personal improvement Biblical Background This tool is ideal for encouraging godly character growth on the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The nine facets measured include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The goal is to take students beyond the theoretical understanding of the Fruit of the Spirit to the everyday application of becoming more like Christ.Also available, Building Character Student Assessment

Catch With Dad

Dad's teach us a lot of important things- how to catch a ball, how to catch a fish, how to grab a cookie when mom's not looking. In this funny Father's Day video, (a follow-up to the Skit Guys popular Mother's Day video), Tommy and Eddie communicate the simple truth that there is nothing better than playing catch with your dad.*Download includes both .mov and .wmv file formats.

Chaos

Is God really in control? Look around. There is war, hate, destruction, and brokenness. How can a good God allow this pain to happen? Music by Tim Hughes.

Chisel

When God chisels the dead weight out of our lives it can be very painful. This is a look at a typical believer having to go through the process of God’s discipline.

Blockbuster Movie Illustrations

More than 160 movie clips (none from R-rated movies) you can use to illustrate what the Bible has to say about the critical issues teenagers face! Youth ministry doesn't get more relevant that this!But don't forget to return (and rewind) your videos . . . we're not responsible for your late fees!You get: 160+ clips organized by themes alphabetically And for easy planning, each illustration has: Movie title and rating Scripture and Alternate Takes (other possible Scripture reference) Start time and visual cue, end time and visual cue, duration time Overview of scene Illustration Spiritual significance of clip Discussion questions Scripture Index Topic Index

Blockbuster Movie Illustrations - The Return

The trilogy is finally complete! The third book in the popular series of movie discussion-starters includes more than 175 carefully chosen scenes that teach teens about God’s eternal truth – and help them explore topics such as grace, love, and faith. Clips make great attention-getting openings, memorable closings, starting points to build a lesson on, and sermon illustrations.You get everything you need: Detailed start/stop times so you can prepare clips for viewing A Scripture focus for each scene Discussion questions that cement the learning Message illustration connectiosn to help you prepare talks Flexibility to use these illustrations as written, or spin them any direction you'd like! Includes movie background index, Scripture index, and topical index.Movie clips not included. You provide the videos!

Blockbuster Movie Illustrations - The Return

The trilogy is finally complete! The third book in the popular series of movie discussion-starters includes more than 175 carefully chosen scenes that teach teens about God’s eternal truth – and help them explore topics such as grace, love, and faith. Clips make great attention-getting openings, memorable closings, starting points to build a lesson on, and sermon illustrations.You get everything you need: Detailed start/stop times so you can prepare clips for viewing A Scripture focus for each scene Discussion questions that cement the learning Message illustration connectiosn to help you prepare talks Flexibility to use these illustrations as written, or spin them any direction you'd like! Includes movie background index, Scripture index, and topical index.Movie clips not included. You provide the videos!

Blockbuster Movie Illustrations - The Sequel

Reel in teenagers by using clips from popular movies such as Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Meet the Parents, Shrek, and Remember the Titans to vividly illustrate what the Bible has to say about critical issues teens face. These 170+ clips are great attention-getting openings, memorable closings, and super sermon illustrations!To help you: Each clip includes detailed start/stop times and visual cues, Scripture focus, and discussion questions! The convenient movie, Scripture, and theme indexes make lesson planning easy! More than 170 movie clip illustrations cover essential topics important to youth ministry such as prayer, God’s Spirit, loneliness, and self-image. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then scriptural impressions abound in Blockbuster Movie Illustrations – The Sequel. Reach students through a medium they appreciate and understand.

Boys and Grills

Whether chefs or not, most guys know how to grill. Many of those same guys love to “cook” occasionally so they can give their spouse a much needed “night off.” This video finally reveals who really does the work on these grill-out nights.Knowing that Christ came to serve, not to be served, this evening probably wasn’t what Paul had in mind when he instructed husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the Church. Perhaps a little reflection on the meaning of service is in order.

Body. Beauty. Boys.

Body. Beauty. Boys. gets right to the heart of the matter. Sarah introduces you to Someone who offers you a new identity and unconditional love. God made you unique and extraordinary. Truth is – He’s crazy about you!Millions of girls obsess about their bodies. Sarah Bragg used to be one of them. Recalling her own 10-year eating disorder, she offers girls a new perspective on how they should see themselves. Bragg reveals she hid her obsession so successfully that she was never hospitalized – she even won a tennis scholarship to college. Her friends would have been shocked to know she was lonely, sick, struggling with relationships, and living in constant fear.Then, one prayer experience changed her life. An accountability partner and mentor surrounded her. And as simple as it sounds, Bragg learned to see herself the way God sees her.Bragg is candid, down-to-earth, and empathetic – offering real answers so girls in this battle can be free. Journaling pages will help readers explore their body image and relationship with God in-depth.One reader of the book said this ...Dear Sarah,There are so many things I could say, but the easiest way to put it is: Thank You. I’ve struggled with an eating disorder for over three years, and it was only a mere month and a half ago that I took the steps needed to get help. I had gone with my youth group to a youth conference (BNYC) in LA, and for the week I was there I hardly ate anything...I lost so much weight, to the point of being in pain constantly – I knew if I didn’t get help I would die. It was that realization that hit me, “Was I really going to just sit around and allow Satan to have me so easily?” No. When I got home, I went out with my mom to find a devotional I could really get into. It’s always been hard for me to stick to daily reading the Bible and doing devotions. That’s when I found your book. I was feeling discouraged because I hadn’t found what I was looking for. I had wanted a devotional that specifically dealt with issues I faced every day in MY life; eating disorders, self-image, depression – and I felt like I hadn’t found what I was looking for. When I came across “Body. Beauty. Boys,” I thought, “OK, this could be good.” It wasn’t until I got home and was REALLY looking at it, that I discovered how it was EXACTLY what I needed.And I wanted to say thank-you. Because of “Body. Beauty. Boys.” I’ve truly been able to grow as a Christian and continue to move away from the girl I was. It’s meant so much to me that I found your book, because you know and understand what it’s like to struggle with self-image. I’ve felt so uplifted reading your book. So much of what I’m reading I’ve been struggling with, and it’s helped me overcome so many obstacles in my recovery.Thank you once again; your story has been a true blessing to me. Because God placed your book in my hands, I’m where I am today.

Boys and Groups

Community helps believers walk firmly in their faith. As this video humorously illustrates, we are quite vulnerable when we are isolated.

Crossroads

Every day people are faced with situations, or crossroads where they can choose to make God-honoring decisions or not. In this three-week sermon series, Doug Fields tackles some of the more difficult roadblocks that can hinder us from serving God freely. With humor, odd examples, and serious look at the Bible, this message series is great to take your students.Crossroads topics include: When Your Past Is A Roadblock When Your Conflicts Are A Roadblock When Fear of Risk Is A Roadblock

Curriculum Bundle

Save big with the Curriculum bundle!Curriculum bundle includes:Fresh Start The Fresh Start Production Pack is primarily designed for new believers, but it is also often used as a solid "Basics of Christianity" refresher for Christian students who want to take a new look at their spiritual journey. The material was designed for you to take the student through the first 4 lessons and to let them do the last 6 on their own. From there it is a good idea to have a follow-up conversation with that student to see if they have any further questions.The 2nd Greatest Story Ever Told If you have students who have a difficult time articulating their faith story, then this field-tested tool can help. This workbook guides students through a simple process to define and write out God’s work in their life—their story (or testimony).Rooted: New Testament We know all too well how many students “fall away” from the church and their faith when they graduate high school. If you have an interest in helping them create a foundation that will support them through the slings and arrows of college and a secular world, then check out Rooted: New Testament. This resource is designed to give students a deeper, more concentrated interaction with Scripture and the person of Christ.Living on Purpose If you're trying to build a purpose-driven youth ministry, your students should be purpose-driven with their lives as well. Living on Purpose production pack helps your students get there, enabling them to radically increase the momentum of your youth ministry. The Living on Purpose production pack includes five study booklets that will guide your students towards a better understanding and implementation of the five biblical purposes for their lives.One Minute Bible Curriculum With this 52-week curriculum for youth ministries, everything is done for you! All you need to do is read it, run it through a copier for your leaders and put it to work. Then presto – 52 weeks later you’re done! Each week of curriculum has an introduction to the week’s topic. Use it to start your study or scrap it and use your own examples. Next is the outline for teaching. It gives you the information you need to know and a train of thought to teach from. Following the outline is a small group portion. Each week the curriculum offers interactions so you can help leaders facilitate their small groups.

Dad Give Me My Money Now

It’s the Parable of the Prodigal Son in fast forward! Full of humor and truth, students will be able to get something out of this skit no matter where they are on the spiritual spectrum. Themes: Consequences, Selfishness, Forgiveness, Parables, Salvation

David

When Matthew opens up his gospel account calling Jesus “the son of David”, you gotta figure there was something pretty special to the guy. In this five-week small group series, students will study the life and heart of David, especially his successes and failures. Beyond the historical stuff, students will also be able to connect where they’re at in their life with the life of David. It’s a great opportunity for you to challenge them to pursue a heart like God’s in the midst of their own life experience. And with all the lesson materials planned out for you, you can jump right in to some great group discussions.Lessons Include: An Underdog in THE Epic Battle (Courage): 1 Samuel 17 What Does it Take to Be a Great Friend? (Friendship): 1 Samuel 18:1-9 David’s Dance Revolution (Worship): 2 Samuel 6:12-23; 1 Chronicles 15:16-29 Hot Coals for a Hot Head (Forgiveness): 1Samuel 24, 26 David’s Dirty Little Secret (Repentance): 2 Samuel 11-12, Psalm 51

Digital

Alter is a new video resource designed with creativity and versatility in mind. Fresh imagery, essential themes and identifiable metaphors make Alter a great source for adding depth to your creative programming. Each Alter theme features two different types of videos:the FOREGROUND Video This is the “feature” video for each Alter theme. With engaging footage and powerful imagery, the foreground video can provide a worshipful ambiance, unique pre-program atmosphere, or a thoughtful meditative piece. It also allows for your creativity, just by adding appropriately themed text, scripture, or music to the video.the BACKGROUND Video This is an “altered” version of the foreground video and can be used as a song background. It is simplified enough to be complementary, with the purpose of having text placed over it, yet powerful enough to enhance your worship experience.VIDEO SPECIFICATIONS Video Format: MPEG (720x480) Works With: Worship Presentation Software with video capabilities such as Mediashout, EasyWorship, Keynote, SongShow Plus or SundayPlus.

Direction

Alter is a new video resource designed with creativity and versatility in mind. Fresh imagery, essential themes and identifiable metaphors make Alter a great source for adding depth to your creative programming. Each Alter theme features two different types of videos:the FOREGROUND Video This is the “feature” video for each Alter theme. With engaging footage and powerful imagery, the foreground video can provide a worshipful ambiance, unique pre-program atmosphere, or a thoughtful meditative piece. It also allows for your creativity, just by adding appropriately themed text, scripture, or music to the video.the BACKGROUND Video This is an “altered” version of the foreground video and can be used as a song background. It is simplified enough to be complementary, with the purpose of having text placed over it, yet powerful enough to enhance your worship experience.VIDEO SPECIFICATIONS Video Format: MPEG (720x480) Works With: Worship Presentation Software with video capabilities such as Mediashout, EasyWorship, Keynote, SongShow Plus or SundayPlus.

Developing HABITS

Helping your students develop healthy habits for long-term, independent spiritual growth is the name of the game here. The HABITS Super-Series will bring them into the Word of God and give them tools to keep developing their faith, even after they’ve left your ministry. The HABITS sermon series outlines six spiritual disciplines for all believers, young and old: hang out time with God, accountability with another believer, Bible memorization, involvement with the church body, tithing and scripture study.6 sermons by Doug Fields and team:Week 1: Hang Time with God Week 2: Accountability Week 3: Planting God’s Word in Your Life Week 4: Involving Yourself in the Church Week 5: Money, Tithing, God and Me Week 6: Studying Scripture