My Best Life—Obedience

Middle School

Lesson 8
Spring 2026
By: RLD Editorial Team
May 17, 2026

Lesson Focus:

Live on the edge— obey God.

Bible Basis:

Acts 5:17-20, 26-32

Materials Needed:

Step 1:

Internet access

Step 4:

Optional: Cardstock and art supplies to create an appreciation card

Summary & Links:

To examine what living on the edge looks like in relation to obedience to God, students will watch and discuss a video about teenagers choosing to help others.

Memory Verse:

“We must obey God rather than human beings.”
—Acts 5:29b

To examine what living on the edge looks like in relation to obedience to God, students will watch and discuss a video about teenagers choosing to help others.

Materials Needed:

Internet access

Welcome your students to class and invite them to participate in a discussion.

What recent news stories have you heard about that feature people helping each other? (Accept all reasonable responses.)

Let’s watch a video about teenagers choosing to help others.

Share the following video [2:07]: Long Island program pairs teens, seniors to build tech skills and connections

While HANK Services does have a few teenaged employees, many of these teenagers volunteer their time. Why do you think this teenager chose to help others? (Answers will vary but may include earning community service hours, wanting to do something meaningful for their community, wanting to serve God, etc.)
How might the teenager’s actions be considered living on the edge? (Answers will vary. He sacrificed his time that could have been spent at home, relaxing, or connecting with his friends online.)
Because these students were older, many were probably able to use a car in driving to help seniors. Middle schoolers can’t drive yet. In what ways could a middle school student help others without needing a car? (Answers will vary. Invite speculation and contemplation. Some ideas might be: Help neighbors who live within walking distance, ride along with someone who can drive and help carry supplies to the door, put pantry food and other staples in a nearby Little Library in the neighborhood. Designate a neighborhood spot like a corner with an interesting rock or tree as a supply area and make signs to distribute letting others know of these supplies. Call friends and use social conferencing technology to see friends and check in on them. Help parents and siblings around the house with chores and homework. There are many ways to live on the edge without a car.)

In today’s lesson, you’ll see other ways you can live on the edge and obey God. Let’s dig in and learn more.

Looking for Steps 2 & 3?

You can find Steps 2 and 3 in your teacher’s guide. To purchase a teacher’s guide, please visit: Bible-in-Life or Echoes.

Materials Needed:

Optional: Cardstock and art supplies to create an appreciation card

If your class is meeting online, invite students to bring supplies to class.

The apostles, Peter included, were arrested and brought before a crowd that wanted to judge them for their actions of living on the edge and obeying God. They had been freed by an angel of God. That would have shown them that they could do anything by God’s power. The apostles were compelled to “tell the people all about this new life”—a life changed by Jesus Christ.

The apostles said, “We must obey God rather than human beings” after they had been supernaturally rescued by an angel. This experience definitely empowered them to not be afraid of what people might do to them. They knew God was on their side. Yet as a middle school student this is very hard to follow because it is imperative to obey our parents and to follow the rules of our state and city and country.

Ask volunteers to read 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 and Philippians 2:4.

Keeping those verses in mind, how might you be able to live on the edge as a Christian young person obeying God foremost but also respecting the rules that have been put in place for you to follow? (Answers will vary. Invite conversation. Let your middle schooler know that there may be rules that come that would go against God’s Word and what is taught in the Bible; we need to find the balance to obey God foremost but also do what is right by others in charge. It is not easy to do. That is why it is important to read the Bible to know what it says and also pray for discernment and wisdom as well as ask spiritually mature people God has placed in your life for advice.)
Can you imagine Peter and the apostles in this situation living on the edge and obeying God no matter what it cost them? What do you think this scene looked like? Describe it. (Answers will vary. Obviously, the crowds and people in power coming after the apostles must have been surprised that they were freed. Even if they didn’t know an angel had freed them, they must have known that God was on their side! What a powerful witness!)

If you choose to have your students participate in this optional activity: You can live on the edge by making a difference in one person’s life. Distribute supplies (or invite students to have them ready at home). Have students make a card for a friend or family member to show them appreciation. This could be anything from thanking a friend for always being there or thanking a parent for loving and providing for them. Close the activity by encouraging students to send or share their card with the intended recipient in the coming week.

Your presence—be it online or on the phone—may be just what someone needs today to find encouragement. Who will you reach out to today to share with boldness what God has done and why you have faith in Jesus Christ? It isn’t easy to live on the edge in obedience to God, but He empowers us to live courageously. People around you are asking many questions about life and death, and they all have many “whys” that they can’t find answers to. If you know Jesus Christ personally, you have an answer for them. Reach out today to someone and share that answer in a loving, brave way. Live on the edge—obey God!

David C Cook COVID-19 Response

Middle School