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

In this step, students will be making a playbook to take home which contains several specific rules that God has asked them to follow. You might want to familiarize yourself with the following video before class and share it with them when they prepare their rulebooks: “How to Make a Quick and Easy Mini Book from one Piece of Paper”

When God gave us the Bible, He wasn’t just giving us a long list of rules to make life miserable. He knew that in order to live, we would need some instructions. Just like football players who often study playbooks that help them in a game, we’re going to take home reminders of some of the Bible’s instructions to us.

Divide students into two groups. (If your class is meeting online, you can use the breakout room feature of your video chat software.) Designate one group as OFFENSE and the other as DEFENSE. Each smaller group will write a list of at least 3–4 things that God in His Word has specifically commanded them to do. Provide one sheet of paper and pens/pencils to your students (or appoint a virtual note taker for each group) to use as they gather information for their playbook.

The offensive line will think of rules for serving God and others effectively (like loving our neighbor or obeying our parents). The defensive line will think of rules that protect them from the enemy (like praying, gathering together with other Christians, or studying God’s Word).

Your students may need help from adult leaders or find the following links helpful as they search topics for offensive or defensive instructions:

https://www.biblestudytools.com

https://www.openbible.info/topics/

After each small group has found at least 3–4 things they can write down in their playbook, hand out another sheet of paper to each student and make scissors available (or invite students to have supplies ready at home). Show your students the following tutorial: “How to Make a Quick and Easy Mini Book from one Piece of Paper”

Give students time to fold their paper into small books and to discuss several ideas with their group before finally writing them down. When they are finished, come together to discuss a final set of questions.

• Was it hard to think of specific things the Bible asks us to do? Why can’t we just write our own rules? (Families, schools, and governments are free to develop rules unique to their organizations. But God’s instructions in the Bible are specifically designed for His children.)
• What happens if we don’t follow these rules every time? (God knows our weaknesses. He always offers forgiveness and provides the Holy Spirit to help us obey Him.) 
• What is the benefit of having friends who share the same rulebook as you? (Friends who all try to follow the same set of rules will support and lift each other when it’s hard to obey. They won’t ask you to compromise, and they’ve got your back when the game of life is difficult.)

Before class is dismissed, have the students write their teammates’ names on the back of their books to remind them that they are not alone. Encourage them to put the rules into practice at home this week and add instructions to their playbook as they find new ones in Scripture.

Close in prayer.