Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. (Proverbs 23:12)
Each Truth78 curricula lesson is built upon two foundational pillars: the Large Group Lesson which emphasizes instructing the mind with God’s Word, followed by the Small Group Application which focuses on engaging the students' hearts and wills in response to God’s Word. Both are vitally important in nurturing faith. I've found in my years of teaching that Small Group Application, a vital tool in helping children obey the command to "apply their heart" to what they're learning in the lesson, can be the most challenging aspect of the classroom time. Trying to focus a small group of giggly 6-year-olds in responding to God’s Word can be a huge challenge. Trying to engage the hearts of sports-crazed 12-year-old boys in spiritual discussion is no less challenging. Small Group Leaders need all the help they can get.
We've developed a new Core Training Series document just for Small Group Leaders: Leading Small Group Application. This document will provide you with valuable insights and practical tips for preparing, leading, and engaging students' hearts and influencing their wills with the Word of God.
Also, don’t miss this inspiring short video in which David and Sally Michael explain the connection between instructing the mind, engaging the heart, and influencing the will (time segment: 2:46 – 8:38).
