Leader’s Guide for LESSON 4

Spend Time Alone with God!

Welcome (7 Minutes) Jesus

wants to
spend
As the parents/mentors and children arrive, give each a warm
welcome. Encourage a young person to help you greet others
as they arrive. Begin your group time together by inviting the
participants to share by asking, “Where have you seen God at time with
work in your life this past week?” (Acknowledge all responses.)
us every
Say: Last week we learned that Jesus wants us to know for sure day
that He has saved us, and that we will go to heaven with Him.
Find someone who is not in your family to share with, and briefly
tell what you did to show Jesus that you appreciate His gift of
salvation.

Use the “M.M.” ball (see Curriculum introduction for instructions) to ask the families about their
use of Mentoring Moments for family worship at home.

Goals for this lesson

By the end of this lesson, participants will:

• Know that spending time with God every day is important
• Feel the need to have daily Time Alone with God (T.A.G. time)
• Respond by planning personal T.A.G. for this coming week

A disciple of Jesus is someone who lives every day

to love Jesus and bring others to Him.
Lesson Four - 1
 The Bridge (10 Minutes)
You need
• 1 clear quart-size container
and lid
Activity • Large rocks to fill the container
(as large as you can fit into the
Show the filled container to the class. Empty it and mouth of the container)
challenge three volunteers to work as a team to fill the • Medium size rocks
container again. Allow them to put the rocks back in • Small rocks
any order they choose. (The rocks will not all fit back • Sand (optional)
into the container unless they place them in order by
size with the largest rocks on the bottom.) After they Ahead
finish, empty the container, and Say: This didn’t work Completely fill the container with
because __(names of kids)_____ didn’t know to put the the rocks -- larger ones at the
biggest rocks in first. The biggest rocks are the most bottom.
important for this activity because if you don’t put them
in first you won’t be able to fit all the rocks back into the
container. Invite three volunteers to refill the container.
Tell them to shake the container occasionally to help the smaller
rocks fill all the spaces. Allow time.

Debrief

Ask: What had to be done to make this activity work? (Put the larger rocks in first; plan and
organize; work together.) Which rocks were the most important to making them all fit? (The
biggest rocks.)

Say: In our lesson today we will discover one “Big Rock” that needs to be in place in our lives
each day.

Prayer: Pray or invite a volunteer to pray for the Holy Spirit to direct this meeting.

Lesson Four - 2
 Into the Word (25 Minutes)

You need
Write this lesson’s Footprint on the board: • White board or flip chart
Jesus wants to spend time with us every day. • Markers
• Bibles
Activity • Pens/pencils

Have the families read Daniel 6:10-22 by going Ahead

around the circle and having each person read Write the Bible Discovery Scripture
one verse. references on separate slips of paper
for distribution among the families. Be
Ask: How do we know that time alone with sure to include the number reference.
God (T.A.G.) was important to Daniel? (T.A.G.
was a daily habit — he continued to pray even
though this put his life in danger.) Say: Time with God was a “Big Rock” for Daniel. Ask: What
did Daniel include in his prayers? (Giving thanks to God and asking God to help him.)

Say: If you really want a friendship with Jesus, spending time with Him has to be an important
part of your day. It has to be the “biggest rock” that goes into your jar.

Lesson Four - 3
Bible Discovery
Distribute the Scripture texts to the families and instruct them to look up their verses and be
prepared to read them to the class. Encourage family groups to assign a student to read the verse
to the whole group when called. Allow 2-3 minutes.
Write on the board: Things we can do to make T.A.G. (Time Alone with God) special.
Ask: What does Daniel’s story tell us about T.A.G.? (Acknowledge all responses.)
Write on the board: Make T.A.G. a daily habit

1 Read Psalm 42:1, 2. How did the writer of this verse feel about the time he spent with God?
(He had a thirst for time with God.)
Write on the board: Make T.A.G important

2 Read Mark 1:35. How did Jesus get ready for His day? (Jesus prayed.)
Write on the board: Start each day by talking with God
Ask: Where did Jesus pray? (In a solitary place.)
Write on the board: Find a quiet place to be alone

3 Read John 14:26. Who should we invite to guide us as we spend time alone with God? (The
Holy Spirit.)
Write on the board: Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your Bible study

4 Read John 5:39. Who should be the focus of T.A.G.? (Jesus.)

Write on the board: Focus on learning more about Jesus

5 Read Hebrews 3: 7, 8 (first part). What does Jesus want us to do when we spend time alone
with Him? (When we hear His voice, do not harden our hearts.)
Write on the board: Open your heart to what Jesus is telling you

Review/Quiz
Steps to follow:
1. Review the summary points written on the board.
2. Cover or turn the board around and quiz the class by asking, “How can we make T.A.G.
special?”
3. Encourage adults to allow students to answer the questions and assist only if needed.

Lesson Four - 4
 My Choice (5-8 Minutes)
Leader Share briefly a time when your
T.A.G. was especially meaningful to
You need
you.
• One copy of My Choice
handout for each family
Distribute one My Choice handout to
• Pens/pencils
each family group.

Say: Parents and mentors, move your

chairs into a family circle and follow the instructions on My Choice with your
child. When you are finished with My Choice turn the paper over and continue
with My World.

My World (5-8 Minutes)

Leaders: While the families are working
together, the leader and co-leader pray You need
for each of the parents/mentors and • One copy of My World handout
children. for each family
• Pens/pencils
If some families finish early, as leader • Smooth rocks
you can: 1) engage those families by • Fine point permanent markers
asking them about their family circle
time or 2) give a time “warning” to the
other families such as, “Please finish
in three more minutes.” Let them know they can finish their My World time
together at home.

Lesson Four - 5
Closing (2 Minutes)
Call everyone back together as a large You need
group. • One Mentoring Moments
handout for each family
Ask: Did you think of the best time and
best place to have T.A.G. this week at
home?

Grace Point — Say: Next week I will invite you to share one T.A.G. experience.

Say the Footprint together: Jesus wants to spend time with us every day

Close with a prayer or invite a volunteer to pray:

• thanking Jesus for the Bible examples He has given us for spending time with
God every day
• asking Jesus to help each person plan T.A.G. this week

Distribute Mentoring Moments and instruct the families to use these at home to
build on the concepts developed in this lesson.

Lesson Four - 6
My Choice
1. Say the Footprint together: Jesus wants to spend time with us everyday.

2. Parents/mentors: Review with your child the points made in this lesson by going over them
one at a time and asking, “Do you understand what this means?” or “Do you have any
questions about this one?” Clarify any points as needed.

T.A.G. – Time Alone with God…

1. Make T.A.G. a daily habit...............................................................................Daniel 6:10
2. Make T.A.G. the most important part of your day . ................................... Psalm 42:1, 2
3. Start each day by talking with God...................................................................Mark 1:35
4. Choose a quiet place where you can be alone...................................................Mark 1:35
5. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your T.A.G......................................................John 14:26
6. Focus on learning more about Jesus...................................................................John 5:39
7. Open your heart to what Jesus is telling you............................................. Hebrews 3:7, 8

3. Parents/mentors: Share briefly a time in your life when your time alone with God was
especially powerful or meaningful. Were you wrestling with a decision or worried about a
problem? Did you praise God in a particularly meaningful way?.

4. THE CHOICE — Ask: Will you make a choice to spend time alone with God each day? If
your child says “Yes,” affirm his/her decision. If your child is not sure or says “No” or “Not
now,” Say: It’s all right if you need time to think about this or want to wait. Ask: Can you
tell me why? Is it okay if we talk about this next week?

5. Prayer: Form a family circle and ask Jesus to help you spend time alone with Him every day.

A disciple of Jesus is someone who lives every day

to love Jesus and bring others to Him.

Permission to photocopy for local church use My Choice: Lesson Four

My World
1. Share with your child the biggest obstacles you face in finding time to spend with God. How
are you seeking God’s help in overcoming these?

2. Help your child plan a time each day to spend alone with God.

What time of day is best for you?

Where is the best place?

Offer your assistance to facilitate T.A.G. Offer to wake your child up a few minutes earlier or
to remove distractions, etc

3. Activity: Invite each member of your family to select a rock then write “T.A.G.” on their
rock. Allow time to complete this activity. Ask: Where can you put this rock to help you
remember to set aside time to spend with God?

4. Give your child the T.A.G. handout. Review it together and encourage him/her to use it as a
way of starting to spend daily time alone with God.

Grace Point — Next week you will be invited to share one T.A.G. experience with us.

Next Week Parents/mentors, you will be asked to share a time when you were blessed by using
your time or talent or treasure for God.

Permission to photocopy for local church use My World: Lesson Four

Spend Time Alone with God
Mentoring Moments for Lesson 4
Mentoring Moments are meant to extend the lesson you studied with your small group. Each
Mentoring Moment choice contains a Scripture, an activity, discussion questions, and a prayer
point grouped around a particular topic. They are perfect for use in family worship. If time does
not permit the completion of the activity, using just the Scripture and discussion questions can
provide a Mentoring Moment anywhere, even in the car.

Choice One
Scripture: Romans 12:12
Activity: Create a calendar for the rest of this month and all of next month. Draw one yourself or
print it off the computer. Label it T.A.G. and hang it in your quiet place. Each day that you keep
your appointment with God write down the Scripture passage you read and draw a happy face in
the box for that day.
For Discussion: What do you like best about your T.A.G. time? How do you think Jesus feels if
you miss your appointment with Him? How is spending time with Him different from spending
time with your other friends?
Prayer Point: Ask God to help you remember to keep your daily appointment with Him.

Choice Two
Scripture: Philippians 4:6
Activity: Make a list of things you would like to pray about. Be sure to include both petitions
(requests) and thanksgiving (things to thank God for.)
For Discussion: Hannah, a fourth grader, said, “I always pray if I am going to read my Bible. I
mostly like to pray and read my Bible in my bedroom and at church. I pray a lot of times when I
am not reading my Bible, like one day when I broke my arm, I just prayed. I can pray anytime I
want to talk to God.”
Are you more likely to pray during happy times or unhappy times? Why? How is talking with
God like talking with a friend or a family member? How is it different?
Prayer Point:Pray for the things on your list. Thank God for always being there for us, any time,
any where.

Permission to photocopy for local church use Mentoring Moments: Lesson Four - 1
Choice Three
Scripture: Psalm 90:14
Activity: Begin a prayer journal. In a small notebook, write down your prayer requests and
the date. As those requests are answered, check them off and write down the date they were
answered.
For Discussion: What do you do to remember your special times with your friends and family?
What do you do to remember your special times with God? Will your friendship with God grow
as strong if you don’t spend regular time with Him? Why or why not? How can a prayer journal
help you sing for joy and be glad all your days?
Prayer point: Pray for the requests in your prayer journal. Thank God for pouring out His
unfailing love on us every morning.

Choice Four
Scripture: Psalm 143:8
Activity: Call one of your friends from your Footprints class and ask how T.A.G. time is going.
Encourage him or her to spend time alone with God.
For discussion: How does God show you the way you should go? What have you read in your
Bible this week that helps you know God’s plan for your life?
Prayer Point: Pray for the requests in your prayer journal. Ask God to show you the way you
should go.

Choice Five
Scripture: Luke 5:16
Activity: Study the gospels for information on Jesus’ prayer habits. Write down anything that
shows up more than once.
For discussion: What can you learn from the way Jesus spent time with His Father? Do you
think you can have the same kind of relationship with the Father that Jesus had? Why or why
not? If yes, what would you need to do to have that kind of relationship? If not, why not?
Prayer Point: Ask God to give you the same desire to spend time with Him that Jesus had.

Permission to photocopy for local church use Mentoring Moments: Lesson Four - 2
My World — handout
My T.A.G. — Time Alone with God
Name ________________________________ Date ________________

1. Begin your time alone with God by inviting the Holy Spirit to be with you.

2. Use S.O.A.P.
• Scripture – Select a text or passage to read. Write the passage down in a Bible Study
Journal or memorize it or use it to make something creative like a bookmark or banner.
• Observe – What’s going on in this text or passage? Ask: Who? What? When? Where?
Why? and How? You won’t be able to answer every question in every passage.
• Apply – Ask yourself: What does Jesus want me to know or to do based upon this text
or passage?
• Pray – Pray to Jesus about what you have read in His Word. Ask Him to help you
know how to use this passage in your life today.

3. Read through a book of the Bible like the Gospel of Mark. Read a few verses in Chapter 1.
As you read, use S.O.A.P. Keep track of how many verses you read each time. When you
have completed a whole chapter, record your progress by putting a check mark beside the
chapter number below or on a calendar.

The Gospel of Mark —

Chapter Completed: Chapter Completed:

____ Chapter 1 ____ Chapter 9

____ Chapter 2 ____ Chapter 10
____ Chapter 3 ____ Chapter 11
____ Chapter 4 ____ Chapter 12
____ Chapter 5 ____ Chapter 13
____ Chapter 6 ____ Chapter 14
____ Chapter 7 ____ Chapter 15
____ Chapter 8 ____ Chapter 16

Permission to photocopy for local church use T.A.G.: Lesson Four