Brief instruction, typically at the beginning of a lesson, that reviews the content of the previous lesson and shows how the current lesson fits the study unit as a whole.

A short section of instruction. Do not linger on them—they may be read briskly and without additional comment or feedback.

A map, chart, or simple sketch that illustrates a principle.

An example, usually in the form of a personal story or book quotation, that helps apply the material in a lesson to the participants’ lives.

Brief instruction that explains how principles of the lesson relate to the essential gospel message.

Teaching point that demonstrates how our modern culture is in tension with a biblical worldview.

Teaching that introduces information about the cultural/historical setting of a biblical passage to illuminate the group’s understanding of the text.

Similar to the Old Testament Background; provides Old Testament setting to the Gospel passage being examined in a lesson.

Here you'll find a Summary, Outline, and Goals of the lesson, plus tips for Lesson Preparation.

The approximate duration of each point in a lesson is written next to the title of that point, both on the lesson title page and within the lesson itself. They are estimates to help you plan.

Questions in bold type are the heart of the material.

A concise, practical statement that the participants may apply to their lives.

Advice to the teacher about how to handle teaching or group interaction. Many tips to the teacher do not appear as a “Teaching Tip,” but as italicized text in brackets. Two examples:

• [Write their answers.] (Always seen with the “flip chart” icon, as it is here.) This indicates that you should write the group’s answers on the flip chart.
• [Teach what they do not say.] An indication that there are nuances in the answer to a certain question that you will probably have to teach after participants have had time to share their thoughts.