adult teen kit

Aim Higher.1 Timothy 4:12

Vacation Bible School

Adult & Teen KitLesson Materials for Adults and Teens!

Adult & Teen KitLesson Materials for Adults and Teens!

© 2007 TruthQuest® Ministries

www.truthquest.net

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 2

Adult & Teen Kit

Contents

Welcome to Flight School!.........................................................................................................................................................3Integrating Adults & Teens in VBS .....................................................................................................................................3Who Should Teach Adults and Teens ..............................................................................................................................3Flight School for Teens ................................................................................................................................................................3

Day 1 Adult & Teen Lesson 4-9Lesson Materials & Preparation ..................................................................................................................................4Day 1 Lesson Diagram ............................................................................................................................................................5Test Flight Paper Airplane ..................................................................................................................................................6Day 1 Lesson ...................................................................................................................................................................................7-9

Day 2 Adult & Teen Lesson 10-16Lesson Materials & Preparation ..................................................................................................................................10Day 2 Lesson Diagram ...........................................................................................................................................................11Instrument Panel Poster ....................................................................................................................................................12Day 2 Lesson ...................................................................................................................................................................................13-16

Day 3 Adult & Teen Lesson 17-23Lesson Materials & Preparation ..................................................................................................................................17Day 3 Lesson Diagram ...........................................................................................................................................................18Day 3 Lesson ...................................................................................................................................................................................19-23

Day 4 Adult & Teen Lesson 24-31Lesson Materials & Preparation ..................................................................................................................................24Day 4 Lesson Diagram ...........................................................................................................................................................25Drag Airplane................................................................................................................................................................................26Day 4 Lesson ..................................................................................................................................................................................27-31

Day 5 Adult & Teen Lesson 32-38Lesson Materials & Preparation ..................................................................................................................................32Day 5 Lesson Diagram ...........................................................................................................................................................33Day 5 Lesson ...................................................................................................................................................................................34-38

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 3

Adult & Teen Kit

Welcome to Flight School!Welcome to Flight School; an exciting adventure that will challenge children, teenagers, and adults alike to aim for higher standards of godliness!

A Family AffairVacation Bible School isn’t just a ministry for children; it’s a ministry for families! To that end, Flight School has included this kit; a collection of five lessons that, while being similar to the lessons prepared for the children, are geared for adults and teens.

Integrating Teens and Adults into VBSWhile adults and teenagers will learn the same basic principles as the children learn at VBS, the experience will be different. As the children jump from one activity to another in order to accommodate their shorter attention spans, teens and adults will be able to focus at length on the VBS lesson concepts. Although adults and teens will partake in the same basic object lessons as the children, the adult and teen lessons will also involve thoughtful discussion and fellowship. So, what will VBS look like for your adult and teenaged attendees? Take a look.

At VBS, Adults and Teens Will...

• Attend Opening Assemblies Teens and Adults will attend the opening drama assemblies

along with the children (about 20 minutes) at the start of each day of VBS.

• Go to Class At the conclusion of the opening assembly, as kids go to

their various rotating activity sessions, the teens and adults would go to their own classrooms, where they will remain until the closing assembly begins (about 90 minutes).

• Enjoy The Lessons Adult and teen lessons are comprised of object lessons,

looking up numerous Scripture passages, answering discussion questions, and group discussion.

• Rejoin Kids for Closing Assemblies Adults and teens will then rejoin the children for the

closing assembly each day of VBS (about 25 minutes).

Who Should Teach Adults and TeensTeaching adults and teens is entirely different than teaching children. Of course, adults and teens have longer attention spans than children, and hence they can sit still and listen to a lesson for a longer time than children can. Naturally, adults can also carry on more sophisticated discussions about the lesson topics than young children. However, this doesn’t mean that teaching adults and teens is easier. Unlike children, who have open minds and a childlike faith, adults and teens have often already made up their minds about the world and about spiritual things. As a result, they may not be as open or responsive to your teaching as children would be. In fact, they may even disagree with your teaching outright. As a result, we suggest that adults and teens be instructed by people who have appropriate experience.

PastorsPastors are good candidates to fill this role, since they’re used to teaching adults and often have a good understanding of the individual issues the class attendees may be dealing with.

Adult Sunday School TeachersPeople who have taught adult Sunday School classes are also candidates for the job of teaching the adult lessons of Flight School, since they are accustomed to teaching adults.

Youth PastorsFor teenagers, a youth pastor would be the obvious choice for teaching the lessons in this kit.

Flight School for TeensAs a youth pastor might tell you, teenagers may respond better to the lessons in this kit if you throw in a few extra elements, such as role-playing, games, contests, competitions, and the like. Consider the possibility that teens may prefer to have a separate praise & worship time than the younger kids, although we still recommend having teens attend the opening and closing drama assemblies each day of VBS, since that’s where the gospel is presented and the lessons are summed up. Think of the lessons in this kit as a baseline to start with. If you need to add elements to make the lessons come alive for teens, give it a try! Above all, remember that teens need to hear these lessons as much (and possibly more) than anybody. Do your best to make Flight School a life-changing experience for all ages, including teens!

Let’s Get to It!Now that you have a general idea of how adults and teens will fit into Flight School, it’s time to get started! Begin praying now that God would open the hearts and minds of your attendees and that He will guide you in wisdom, grace, and Truth as you serve Him, and prepare for takeoff!

Day 1

Adult & Teen Lesson

Welcome to Flight School!We want to sincerely thank you for serving as a teacher at VBS. Now’s your chance to challenge teens and adults to aim for higher standards of godliness! Use this time to impact your attendees with God’s Truth, and may God bless you as you do so!

Your Responsibilities...1. Read through the lesson you’ll be teaching, and familiarize

yourself with the Scripture passages and object lessons involved.

2. Gather all of the materials needed for this lesson as shown in the “Lesson Materials” section in the next column.

3. Prepare the lesson materials as shown in the “Lesson Preparation” section in the next column.

4. Fill out your “Teacher” name tag to identify yourself.5. Teach the teens and adults during this day of VBS.

Your Name TagWrite your name on the Name Tag to the right, cut it out, and insert it into a 4 inch X 3 inch top-loading clip-style name tag from Avery, which your VBS Director should have a supply of. Wear this Name Tag to identify yourself during VBS.

TEACHER

Flight Instructor

Lesson Materials & PreparationLesson Materials Needed• “Test Flight Paper Airplane” sheet (included)• Day 1 Lesson Diagram (included)• Two paper clips• A model airplane

Lesson Preparation1. Fold the “Test Flight Paper Airplane” as shown in the Day 1 Lesson Diagram.2. Familiarize yourself with the lesson and with the Scripture passages used.

Lesson Context: In Other Areas Of VBS Today, Kids Are Learning:

Flight can only be achieved by complying with the principle of “lift,” just as salvation can only be found in Christ Jesus.

1

What You Need:

Day 1:

• The Test Flight airplane sheet• Two large paper clips

Start with the “Test Flight” airplane sheet.

Flip the sheet over to the blank side.

Fold the corner inward as shown on the RED line.

Fold in the opposite corner, also on the RED line.

2Fold the top triangle down on the DARK BLUE line as shown.

3Fold up the lower tip of the triangle on the ORANGE line as shown. Then, flip the sheet over to reveal the printed side.

4At the PURPLE line, fold the sheet in half as shown.

5At the GREEN line, fold the corner in and tuck it into the triangle pocket as shown. Do this for both sides of the airplane.

6At the LIGHT BLUE lines, fold down the wings as shown.

7Your finished airplane should look something like this.

8When directed to do so in the lesson, put a large paper clip on the rear edge of each wing. The paper clips will cause the airplane to stall when thrown, illustrating a point in the lesson.

area

1. Fold this

FLAP AfFLAP Bf FLAP B

Fold this tip toward youso that it meets the dotted lines,

then turn the sheetback over.

1. Flip this sheet over and make the two folds on the RED lines (folding the corners over to the blank side of the sheet).

2. Fold along the DARK BLUE line so that the triangle is folded over the blank side of the sheet.

3. Fold the ORANGE line as shown. Then, flip the sheet over to reveal the printed side.

4. Fold the PURPLE line so that the blank side of the sheet faces out.

5. Fold the green lines and tuck the tips into the folded triangle.

6. Fold the wings down at the LIGHT BLUE lines.

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 7

Adult & Teen Kit

Day 1 LessonF•L•I•G•H•T SCHOOL

Welcome to Flight School! Over the next few days at VBS, kids and adults alike will be learning how to Faithfully Live In God’s Holy Truth, and we will use the principles of flight to illustrate to your children how our relationship with God should function. To this end, we welcome you to the world of Flight School, and as with the flight of an airplane, it all begins with the takeoff!

Action:Show the class a model airplane as you continue the lesson.

The Basics of FlightIn order to achieve flight, an airplane must be the right weight, have the right balance, and be the right shape. It has to be specifically designed to fly. The wings of an airplane must be slightly curved on the top surfaces and more flat on the bottom surfaces. In this way, when the aircraft moves through the air, the air must move faster to get around the top surfaces of the wings and slower to get around the bottom surfaces. When this happens, air pressure is altered above the wings and creates a vacuum, which lifts the aircraft upward. Like an airplane, we too have been specifically designed for one purpose, and that purpose is to worship and glorify God

Psalm 150:6 and Matthew 21:16

Q. What purpose were we created for according to these verses?

Ephesians 2:10

Q. What purpose were we created for according to this verse?Q. What happens when a tool is not used correctly?A. Injury, damage to the tool, etc.Q. What happens when we are not fulfilling our purpose as a

human?A. We also run the risk of becoming damaged and ruined

because we are not fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives.

Therefore, just as an airplane is ineffective for use as anything but a flying machine, we are ineffective if we fail to carry out the purpose for which we were designed. Although we may believe

we are “flying right,” if we do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we are like an airplane racing down a runway without wings to lift us up. And so without Christ, our journey will end in a crash at the end of a runway, having never left the ground.

Airborne or earthbound?In order to fly, an airplane needs to have enough thrust. Without enough forward thrust, there cannot be enough lift to allow an aircraft to leave the ground.

Object Lesson:Take the paper airplane included with this packet and show it to everyone. Instead of throwing the airplane, just let go of it and watch it fall to the ground.

Even a paper airplane needs thrust. If I don’t throw this airplane, it won’t fly on its own. All airplanes, including paper, must have thrust to get off the ground and start flying. It’s the same way in life. If you want your life to take flight, you must have God, who gives you thrust.

Object Lesson:Now take the paper airplane and throw it, illustrating the need for thrust.

Many people don’t believe they have a need for God in their lives. Yet, this leaves a void in the heart. While people may try to fill this void with things like pleasure, entertainment, or misguided spirituality, in the end, only God can fill the void. Like an airplane without thrust, our lives cannot take off unless we allow God to fill the void in our lives.

Have everyone turn to Acts 9 as you summarize Paul’s life.

In the Bible, we see this principle in the life of Saul; a religious and self-righteous man who believed he was flying high and doing the right thing for God. Saul was a very devout Jew, and he absolutely hated the Christians who were appearing around him. His hatred was so great that he began to persecute Christians with a vengeance. He imprisoned and killed many. After all, in his eyes, they were a blasphemy to his God. Saul thought he was flying high in the sky, convinced that he was pleasing God. The reality, however, was that Saul had never left the ground. Like an airplane without thrust and lift, he was careening down a runway toward certain destruction. And then, God opened Saul’s eyes by striking him blind. In Acts chapter nine, as Saul was on his way to persecute more followers of Jesus, the risen Christ stopped him on the road, struck him blind, and proved Himself to be the Messiah

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 8

Adult & Teen Kit

and Savior that the followers of Jesus had proclaimed Him to be. At that moment, Saul realized that he had been wrong. There was, indeed, only one way to fly, and just as an airplane must comply with the laws of physics to achieve flight, Saul had to come to terms with the fact that there was only one way to please God. And up to that point, he had been missing it. God would soon restore Saul’s eyesight and give him a new mission in life. Soon, Saul’s life would truly take off.

Acts 9:1-2 and Philippians 3:4-6

Q. What was Paul’s (Saul) religious background?Q. How do you think his Pharisaical background influenced his

hatred towards the followers of Jesus?Q. Why was Paul persecuting the Christians?Q. Paul was zealous for God, but was his zeal misplaced? How so?Q. Have you ever heard this statement, “It doesn’t matter what

you believe as long as you are sincere in what you believe?” Is this statement true? Why or why not?

Proverbs 14:12

Q. How can one’s beliefs lead to death?Q. Are there many ways to God?Q. Can someone be totally sincere in his faith yet be sincerely

wrong?Q. How can you approach someone who is convinced of his

beliefs, but is wrong?

John 14:6, Acts 4:12, and Hebrews 11:6

Q. According to the Bible, are there many ways to God or is there only one way?

Q. How can you respond to people who say this exclusivity of God is intolerant?

Q. How is Christ’s death and sacrifice minimized if there are many ways to God? Would that make Christ’s sacrifice irrelevant and unnecessary? How so?

Achieving FlightIn order for an airplane to fly, it must have lift. There is no way around it. As an airplane begins to speed down the runway, to get off the ground, the plane must work within the

parameters of the air pressure. As the plane goes faster and faster, air is forced over and under the wing. For lift off to be achieved, the air must move faster on top of the wing than it does underneath the wing. The air can no longer maintain the constant pressure on top of the wing, so since the pressure is greater under the wing than it is on top, the plane begins to rise and lift off the ground. It took people a long time to figure out how an airplane needed to be shaped in order to fly. What they learned is that wings always need to be shaped in pretty much the same way. No matter how many shapes people tried for airplanes, there was really only one way to shape airplane wings so they’d fly. It’s the same with us. After we’ve received Christ, we still need to go God’s way. Our will must match His will for us to maintain a healthy spiritual flight.

Proverbs 19:21

Q. According to this verse, whose purpose prevails?Q. Can you work against God’s will and still prevail?

James 4:13-15

Q. Have you fallen into this trap, trying to go your way instead of God’s way? What were the consequences of your choices?

Object Lesson:On your airplane, fold FLAP A upward.

This plane’s flap represents our will when it is contrary to God’s will. Let’s see what happens when our will does not match God’s will.

Object Lesson:Now throw the airplane. Instead of flying straight, it should bank to the left and crash.

You see, when we try to follow our plans before bringing them to God in prayer, we’ll often end up going the wrong way and will crash. If you find yourself in this position, submit to God and conform to His will.

Object Lesson:Return the flap back to its original position and fly the plane again to illustrate how we need to conform to God’s will.

Some people, even when they find themselves on the wrong path, will refuse to submit to God and conform to His will. Instead, they resist God and go into a stall.

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 9

Adult & Teen Kit

Object Lesson:Fold BOTH FLAP A and B up on the airplane. It should fly up for a moment, then come crashing down.

Those who continue to resist God, especially those who have placed their faith in Jesus, will find themselves crashing and burning.

Q. How can a Christian resist God’s will? What consequences do you think can result from resisting God’s will?

Job 22:21

Q. What is the blessing God promises to those who submit to His will?

Israel, God’s chosen people were given chance after chance to follow God’s ways. They had a form of godliness, but their hearts were far from God. Out of His love and mercy, God sent prophets over and over calling the Israelites to repent and follow God’s ways. If you read the book of Judges, you will see a cycle of blessing and deliverance when the Israelites turned to God. Once things were good again, though, the people turned away from God. Calamity and oppression came when the people turned to do what was right in their own eyes instead of God’s eyes. (Judges 21:25) Only when the Israelites followed God’s way did God bless them.

Psalm 81:11-14

Q. What happened to the people of Israel when they refused to submit to God?

Q. What is the consequence to their resistance according to verse 12?

Q. What can happen to us if we resist God’s will?

Romans 1: 21-23, 28-32

Q. What is the result when we resist the truth of God and subvert it?

Q. Do you see any parallels between Psalm 81 and Romans 1?Q. How can a Christian harden his heart towards God?Q. What can be the results for a Christian who refuses to

submit to God?

Romans 8:5-14

Q. What happens to our minds when we follow the sinful nature?

Q. What happens to our minds when we follow the Spirit?Q. Can we please God if our minds are being controlled by sin?Q. How can our minds be controlled by the Spirit?Q. Are we under obligation to obey the Spirit if we are believers

in Christ? (See verse 12)Q. What does this obligation entail?Q. How, then, should you live according to this passage?

Object Lesson:Now attach two large paper clips to the edges of the wings of your paper airplane as shown in the lesson diagram.

These paper clips represent those who have so resisted God that God has given them over to the hardness of their heart.

Object Lesson:Now throw the airplane with the two paper clips. The plane should go into a tailspin and crash.

When we refuse to submit to God’s will, we begin a downward spiral. The further away we get from God, the harder we crash. Our airplane went into a tailspin because it was weighted down. Sin weighs us down as well. Even a believer can be weighted down by sin. The solution is to confess, stop sinning, and follow God. Then your life can soar again, free from the weight of sin.

Are You Ready to Fly?We are designed by God to worship Him. If we try to live our lives in any other way besides serving Him, our lives will meet with failure. We can’t fly without Him. In order to take off and fly, we need to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Are you ready to fly?








TEACHER

Flight Instructor

Lesson Materials & PreparationLesson Materials Needed• Day 2 Lesson Diagram (included)• A swivel high-back office chair with arms• An adult or teenage helper• An open area measuring about six feet square• A blindfold• The included “Instrument Panel” sheet (included)• A model or toy airplane

Lesson Preparation1. Prepare the required materials as called for on the Lesson Diagram sheet.2. Familiarize yourself with the lesson and with the Scripture passages used.


Just as a pilot must trust his instruments instead of his senses, we must trust God’s Word instead of trusting our hearts and our feelings.

Day 2

Adult & Teen Lesson

3

What You Need:

Day 2:

• A swivel high-back office chair with arms• An adult or teenage helper• An open area measuring about six feet square• A blindfold• The included “Instrument Panel” sheet (included)• A model or toy airplane

Place your swivel chair in an open area of your room where all your class can see it.

1Hang the Instrument Panel sheet (from the back of this Lesson Pack) on a wall where all your attendees can see it.

2

4

Select a volunteer from the class to sit in the chair as shown. The volun-teer should sit cross-legged (his/her feet should not hang down), should keep his/her hands near his/her head, and should keep his/her head down.

5

When directed to do so in the Lesson, have an adult or teenage volunteer spin the chair around at a smooth, constant speed (not too fast!) This should be done in such a way that the volunteer in the chair cannot feel the helper’s contact with the chair. Throughout the next step, continue spinning the chair.

6

As the volunteer spins in the chair, ask him/her, while not changing position or looking around, to point in the direction which he/she is spinning. Every few seconds as you continue spinning the chair, ask the volunteer if he/she is still spinning.

Next, gently STOP spinning the chair and ask the volunteer, without moving or opening his/her eyes, to point in the direction he/she is spinning. The volunteer will BELIEVE that he/she is spinning in the opposite direction from before, even though the chair is no longer spinning. Every few seconds, ask the volunteer if he/she is still spinning, and continue until the volunteer believes the spinning has stopped.

This object lesson has been adapted in part from the Moody Science film “Signposts Aloft”

TURN

COO

RDIN

ATOR

HEA

DIN

G IN

DICATO

RV

ERTICAL SPEED

IND

ICATOR

AIRSPEED

IND

ICATOR

ATTITUD

E IND

ICATOR

ALTIM

ETER

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 13

Adult & Teen Kit

day 2 lessonLesson Preparation:

Acquire and prepare the lesson materials as directed in the Lesson Diagram Sheet.

Lesson Introduction:When flying an airplane, a pilot can either trust what he sees and feels, or he can trust what his airplane tells him. We are the same way. We can either trust what we see and feel, or we can trust what God tells us. Often, history gives us the perfect illustration of lessons we can all learn from. For example, there’s the story of a B-24 bomber during WWII called, “The Lady Be Good.”

Crash of the Lady Be GoodThe date was April 4, 1943. The B-24 bomber named, “The Lady Be Good” was about to complete her first mission. The crew had been sent with a squadron to bomb Naples, Italy, during WWII. Due to severe winds, the Lady Be Good became separated from its squadron. Around 9 p.m., the crew turned around and headed back for their base, knowing it should take several hours to reach it. Sometime around midnight, only three hours into the flight, the bomber’s instruments indicated they had reached the base, but it was far too early to have safely returned. Surely, their senses told them, their navigational instruments must be malfunctioning. No longer trusting their instruments, the crew began searching for flares being sent up by the base to help them find their way. Unfortunately, the flares were never seen, because the base was, indeed, far behind them, just as their instruments indicated. Four hundred miles past their base, deep in the heart of the Libyan desert, the bomber crashed. The crew had believed they were still over the Mediterranean Sea, but found themselves deep in the desert. All of them perished, not from the crash, but from the harsh conditions of the desert as they desperately searched for their base. Their trust in their senses had proved fatal. Their instruments had led them home, but their trust in their own senses led to their death.

Q. What did the crew of the” Lady Be Good” trust, their senses or their instruments?

Q. What was the result of their choice?Q. How does this story illustrate the danger of trusting our

senses?

Like a pilot who must trust his instruments instead of his senses, we must not trust our hearts or our feelings, which are

easily manipulated and deceived. Instead, we must trust the instruments God offers us in His Word and by His Spirit. The pilot who trusts his senses is headed for trouble.

Q. How many of you have ever had your eyes fooled? Q. Would any of you care to share your experience?

A pilot’s eyes can be fooled too. If an airplane pilot only trusts his eyes to tell him how he’s flying, he can easily get into trouble and crash! In fact, until a pilot is trained to trust his instruments instead of his physical senses, he is not allowed to fly in the clouds.. Known as IFR training certification, (Instrument Flight Rules), pilots who have not passed the IFR test are not allowed to fly in clouds because disorientation can occur in cloud cover if a pilot is trusting his physical senses.

Action:Pick a volunteer to come up and sit cross-legged (Indian style) in the rotating chair. Blindfold your volunteer, then have him bow his head into his lap. Have another volunteer spin the chair around at a smooth, constant speed (not too fast!) This should be done in such a way that the person sitting cannot feel the helper’s contact with the chair. Throughout the next step, continue spinning the chair.

Which Way Am I Going?As the volunteer spins in the chair, ask him/her, while not changing position or looking around, to point in the direction which he/she is spinning. Every few seconds as you continue spinning the chair, ask the spinning volunteer if he/she is still spinning.

How About Now?Next, gently STOP spinning the chair and ask your volunteer, without moving or opening his/her eyes, to point in the direction he/she is spinning. The volunteer will BELIEVE that he/she is spinning in the opposite direction from before, even though the chair is no longer spinning. Every few seconds, ask your volunteer if he/she is still spinning, and continue until he/she believes the spinning has stopped.

Q. Did our volunteer know exactly when he/she stopped or what direction he/she was going?

Q. What happened to our volunteer?A. He/she thought he/she was spinning in the opposite direction,

even though he/she was sitting still.

You see, our senses can be fooled! That’s why a pilot must trust his instruments to help him go the right way. IFR training is essential if a pilot wants to be able to fly in bad weather. A pilot must trust his instruments explicitly if he is going to arrive safely to his destination when he is in the midst of a storm. In

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 14

Adult & Teen Kit

the same way, when the storms of life come our way, we can’t always know which way we should go or what we should do in life if we trust in our own understanding. We can either choose to trust our senses or trust the instruments that God has given us. The Bible is our IFR training book for the soul. Naturally we are taught to trust our senses and to trust our hearts, but our eyes and hearts can fool us, just like a pilot’s senses can be fooled in flight. If we trust in what we see or what we know or how we feel, we can get lost and get into trouble, just like a pilot. Lots of people think they can trust their hearts to make the right choices, but let’s see what the Bible has to say about trusting our hearts

Jeremiah 17:9-10

Q. How does the Bible describe the human heart?Q. Based on Jeremiah 17:9, how would you answer someone

who says, “Trust your heart. It will always tell you the right thing to do.”

Q. Why shouldn’t we trust our hearts? How can they lead us astray?

Q. Is there an example of how your heart led you astray at some point in your life that you would be willing to share?

Q. What or whom should we trust instead?

1 Samuel 16:7

Q. How does man see according to the Bible?Q. Is the outward appearance a trustworthy judge of a person?

Why or why not?

2 Corinthians 4:4

Q. According to this verse, what state are our spiritual eyes in before Christ?

Q. So, what does this say about the spiritual vision of most of humanity?

Q. Therefore, can we trust our eyes unless we see things through Christ’s eyes?

Ephesians 1:18

Q. Who opens our eyes to see truth?Q. What did Paul do to pass on spiritual sight to others?Q. How can you use this verse as a prayer for your own life?

As you can see, as humans we cannot trust our spiritual senses. Our eyes are blinded, and our hearts are deceitful. We will always be led astray if we trust our eyes and our hearts.

Proverbs 14:12

Q. According to this verse, even though a man may think he’s doing the right thing, where are his choices REALLY leading?

Action:Point to the “attitude indicator” instrument on the poster.

One of the main tools that a pilot must trust to fly correctly is the “Attitude Indicator”. This instrument helps to keep the aircraft level to the ground, among other things. If a pilot doesn’t trust this instrument, his plane could be flying tilted to the right, to the left, or even upside down, and the pilot might not know! So, a pilot has to trust the Attitude Indicator to know whether he’s right-side-up and flying right.

Action:Show the model airplane to the class, and tilt the airplane to bank to the right.

If our wings were tilted to the right, the Attitude Indicator would tell us, and we would know that we need to level out our airplane.

Action:Show the model airplane as you tilt it again.

Q. What would happen if an airplane tried to land when its wings weren’t level?

It’s important that an airplane remains level. If an airplane isn’t level and the pilot doesn’t know it, he could crash! It’s the same way in our spiritual lives. Instead of trusting our deceitful hearts and feelings, we must trust in God and His Word, or we can get into trouble.

Proverbs 3:5-6

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 15

Adult & Teen Kit

Q. According to this verse, who are we supposed to put our trust in?

Q. What are we NOT supposed to lean on or trust in?Q. Why shouldn’t we trust in our own understanding?

Action:Show the model airplane as you tilt it again.

God tells us when we try to lean on our own understanding, it’s like flying tilted in the wrong way. Trusting in our own understanding can lead us into trouble. So, we need to trust in God to have the right direction in our life.

Action:Level the airplane out.

When we trust God, we will always be in a correct position in life, just like a pilot who trusts his attitude instrument.

Jeremiah 17:7

Q. What kind of blessings can one experience when he trusts in God instead of himself?

Q. Is there a moment in your life that you can remember when you trusted God instead of your own understanding? What were the results?

Action:Point to the Heading Indicator on the instrument poster.

Airplanes also have a Heading Indicator that tells them which direction they are flying. It tells them if they’re heading north, south, east, or west. Without this tool, a pilot could plan to fly to New York and end up in California instead. God has also given us a tool to help us go the right direction. The Bible is our main tool or instrument that will lead us in the right direction. It gives us all the answers we need for life and godliness. The Bible promises us that it has all the answers we need to live our lives here on earth. If the Bible does not deal directly with something you are struggling with, it will deal with the principles of your life struggle and give you guidance.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Q. What does Scripture do for our lives?Q. According to this verse, does Scripture only provide what we

need for some good works or for all good works?

2 Peter 1:3

Q. According to this verse, does God’s power provide us with a limited amount of what we need to live a life of godliness, or does it provide everything?

Q. How would you answer someone who says, “The Bible doesn’t have all the answers?”

Q. Knowing now that God provides us through His power and through His Word everything we need to live a godly life, how does that change your perspective on godly living?

God tells us to trust in Him and to trust in His Word. His Word will always lead us in the right direction if we trust and obey it. God’s Word gives us EVERYTHING we need to live a godly life, so we should trust in God and in His Word even if we don’t always understand.

Prayer: Another Heading indicatorAs mentioned earlier, the heading indicator is an instrument which helps a pilot know which direction he is going with respect to magnetic north. This is more reliable than just a magnetic compass because it isn’t as easily fooled by outside forces. This instrument must be calibrated regularly to maintain proper working order. Our prayer life is also very much like a heading indicator. We must pray daily to be in communication with God. Between that and regular Bible reading, we stay calibrated to God’s will. When we are in tune with God’s will, then we can always be sure we are headed in the right direction.

Jeremiah 42:1-3, Specifically verse 3

Q. According to this verse, how does prayer help us?

Philippians 4:6-7

Q. What is the result of prayer in this verse?

1 Peter 3:12

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 16

Adult & Teen Kit

Q. Why should we pray according to this verse?

Ephesians 6:18

Q. How often are we to pray?Q. With this in mind, how would you rate your prayer life right

now? Is it in need of re-calibration?

Proper ScanA pilot must continually scan all his instruments to make sure he is flying properly. Constant scanning of equipment helps the pilot know if one instrument is off and needs to be calibrated. The more a pilot practices scanning all his instruments, the less likely he is to rely on his own senses. If a pilot is scanning his instruments correctly and on a regular basis, he will be able to notice any slight changes in his flight and be able to correct it with minor adjustments. However, a pilot that stops scanning is in trouble. By the time he notices a correction is in order, he may be far off course–perhaps too far to return safely. The same is true in our lives. We must use all the tools that God has given us and continually scan our lives. Our consciences can help us determine right from wrong, but if it isn’t calibrated to God’s Word then it will be a faulty tool. Fellowship with other believers can help us to see our blind spots, but if we aren’t in God’s Word daily, we won’t know if their advice is sound. We must constantly cross-check all our instruments with the Bible. God’s Word should be the final authority.

Psalm 5:3 and Psalm 92:1-2

Q. How often was the Psalmist in prayer and in praise to God according to these verses?

Q. How often are you in prayer?

Psalm 119:9-11

Q. How can we know we are going the right way according to this passage?

Q. How can Scripture memorization help keep you properly calibrated in your walk with God?

Psalm 119:16

Q. Is this verse true of you, or have you neglected studying God’s Word? How can you avoid neglecting God’s Word?

Q. How can studying God’s Word daily, and praying daily keep you on track in your spiritual flight?

Q. What are some creative ways you can instill a life-time pattern of studying God’s Word? What has worked for you?

Q. What are ways you spend time studying God’s Word and praying as a family. What ideas would you share that may help others lead their families in a daily time of family devotions?

Q. Let’s say a Christian friend has just come to you for advice. His heart is telling him to pursue a romantic relationship with a non-believer. He says he’s going to follow his heart because he’s sure God wants him to be happy and this relationship makes him happy. How would you advise him according to the Scriptures?

Q. Imagine your salary has been reduced. You have committed to giving a certain amount to the church every week, but now that your income is lower, you are tempted to stop giving to the church in order to make ends meet. What should you do? How does this situation show trusting in God vs. trusting in your own understanding?

ConclusionOur own hearts are flawed, and they will deceive us. Just like a pilot must learn to trust in his instruments instead of his own senses, we must learn to trust in the tools God gives us for our lives. The two most important tools to keep us on the right track are the Bible and prayer. If we don’t use both of these daily, we will get lost. Continually check all areas of your life and see if they line up with God’s Word. Don’t be like the Lady Be Good. Trust God’s instruments. They will always safely guide you home.

Special Note:TruthQuest Ministries would like to gratefully acknowledge the help of the Moody Science Film, “Signposts Aloft” in research and ideas for preparing this lesson. Although this is an older film, it is still excellent resource which we would wholeheartedly recommend.








TEACHER

Flight Instructor

Lesson Materials & PreparationLesson Materials Needed• Day 3 Lesson Diagram (included)• Two pieces of craft foam measuring 5½” X 8½“ (any color)• One new, unsharpened pencil• One three-foot length of cloth ribbon (preferred) or crepe paper• One 28” length of fishing line or yarn• Felt markers, staplers, tape, scissors, and a hole punch

Lesson Preparation1. Build your “Jet Streamer” airplane as shown in the Day 3 Lesson Diagram.2. Familiarize yourself with the lesson and with the Scripture passages used.


If an airplane fails to maintain adequate thrust, it will stall. In the same way, we must maintain constant spiritual growth, or we too will stall!

Day 3

Adult & Teen Lesson

1 2 3

What You Need:

Day 3:

• Two pieces of craft foam measuring 5½” X 8½“ (any color)• One new, unsharpened pencil• One three-foot length of cloth ribbon (preferred) or crepe paper• One 28” length of fishing line or yarn• Felt markers, staplers, tape, scissors, and a hole punch• Decorating materials (glitter, foam shapes, etc )

Print copies of the “Jet Streamer” template onto heavy card stock.

Cut the handle, wing section, and fuselage out as shown. With a hole punch, punch the two holes on the handle template, the hole on the wing template, and the red hole on the fuselage.

Select a piece of craft foam measuring 5½“ by 8½“, position the fuselage and handle templates as shown, and trace, including the punched holes.

4Select a piece of craft foam measuring 5½“ by 8½“, position the wing template as shown, and trace, including the hole.

5 6 7Position a new pencil as shown on the fuselage section, using the traced circle to position the front end of the pencil. Tape the pencil in place as shown. The pencil may extend beyond the tail of the fuselage.

Assemble the handle as shown and staple it closed. Tie a 28” length of fishing line or yarn to the hole.

Roll the fuselage around the pencil as shown and staple it closed where indicated.

Tie the other end of your handle to the punched hole in the wing section. The finished Jet Streamer should have two tails and should resemble an F-18. Decorate with foam shapes, glitter, etc.

Use the Jet Streamer by holding the handle above your head and moving your arm in a large, clockwise motion, causing the airplane to fly in circles above you. The airplance can be flown in other motions as well. Have fun!

Pair the wings with the fuselage by matching up the wing slits with the fuselage slits as shown. You’ll have to bend the wing section momentarily to insert the slits into each other.

Staple a 3-foot length of ribbon or crepe paper to the wing section as shown.

8 9 10 11

punch holes

staples staple

staple

do NOT punch

punch hole

punch holes

traced circle

tie to hole

Cut out the wing, handle, and fuselage pieces from the craft foam. Punch 2 holes on the handle and one hole on the wings as shown.

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 19

Adult & Teen Kit

day 3 lessonLesson Preparation:

Build a “Jet Streamer” airplane as directed on the Day 3 Diagram sheet. You will use this airplane for an object lesson.

Lesson Introduction:Today at Flight School, we are going to learn about one of the greatest dangers a pilot can face–a stall in mid-air. A stall is when an airplane stops moving in the air and starts to fall to the earth. A stall can be caused by many things, such as a drastic change in speed, a wrong “angle of attack,” etc. . As we learn about stalls in flight, we’ll also learn the dangers of spiritual stalls. Let’s learn a little more about what can cause a stall in mid-flight.

Action:Hold the body of the Jet Streamer airplane, letting the handle and ribbon hang freely, and pretend to fly it level as you explain the following:

Angle of AttackTo maintain lift, an aircraft has to keep the right “angle of attack.” That is, the aircraft has to be oriented in such a way to create lift. Remember the important flight instrument called the “attitude indicator” from yesterday’s study? The attitude indicator gives a reading of the aircraft’s orientation in relation to the horizon. It tells a pilot if the aircraft is tilted to the right or to the left, or if it is pitched up or pitched down. An airplane must be pitched up to a certain degree to maintain lift. Without lift, the plane stalls. But, if a plane’s nose is angled up too much, this can also diminish lift, causing the plane to go into a sudden stall. If a plane goes into a stall because it is angled too high, a pilot can sometimes overcome the stall by pointing the nose down and increasing speed.

Action:Lift the nose of your airplane up above a 45 degree angle to illustrate an incorrect “angle of attack” which can result in a stall.

If an aircraft has too steep of an angle, it will be in danger of a stall. The same can happen in our spiritual walk with God. Isn’t it interesting that the instrument to determine the orientation to the horizon is called the “attitude indicator?” Our attitude also affects our relationship with Christ. If our attitude is wrong, we can stall in our relationship with Jesus. Think of it this way: Our eyes are supposed to be fixed on Jesus, so we should be looking up. But often as we go along in our walk,

we become proud and our nose gets a little too high. As our pride grows, we begin to think that WE are doing pretty well in our walk. We begin to rely on our own strength. Then all of a sudden, BOOM, we go into a stall! What happened? We let pride grow, our noses turned up, and we lost the lift we needed to maintain our walk with Christ.

Proverbs 16:18 and 1 Corinthians 10:12

Q. What often leads to a downfall?A. Pride.Q. How does pride lead to a downfall?Q. How can pride manifest itself in a Christian?

Uzziah: A story of a Proud HeartUzziah was one of the kings of Judah. His father was Amaziah, who was a fairly good king but according to 2 Chronicles 25:2, he did not follow God whole-heartedly. This pattern had an affect on Uzziah. At first, Amaziah followed the Lord, but after conquering the Edomites, he brought back their idols and began to worship them alongside of God. This half-hearted devotion led to Amaziah’s downfall. He was killed in battle and his sixteen year old son was made king.

2 Chronicles 26:1-15

Q. According to 2 Chronicles 26:5, what brought success to Uzziah?

Q. What are some of Uzziah’s accomplishments according to this passage?

2 Chronicles 26:16-23

Q. What was the cause of Uzziah’s downfall?Q. How do we see Uzziah’s pride manifested?

Only Priests were allowed to burn incense on the alter of God. This law was established by God Himself. No one, not even the king, was allowed to burn incense on the alter of God except consecrated priests. Uzziah disregarded the law of God and assumed he was above the law of God. For his pride and disregard for God’s authority, Uzziah suffered a miserable death. While the punishment may seem harsh, you must remember that Uzziah was the leader of God’s chosen people. If

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 20

Adult & Teen Kit

he disregarded God’s laws, the people would follow his example. God HAD to punish Uzziah severely so that others would not follow his example.

2 Chronicles 26:16 again.

Q. How did having great power affect Uzziah?Q. How did pride lead to unfaithfulness to God?Q. How can power or success lead to pride in people’s lives?Q. How can pride cause unfaithfulness to God?Q. Can you think of examples from current news stories that

illustrate the danger and downfall of pride?

Questions for Personal Contemplation (No public answer)

Q. Have you ever seen pride at work in your life?Q. How has pride manifested itself in your life?Q. What are some of the consequences you have faced as a

result of your pride?Q. What can you apply in your life from Uzziah’s story?

Stall Recovery: Lower your noseThe good news is, when we go into a stall, there is a chance to recover. Stall recovery is something every pilot is taught. The basics for recovering from a stall in mid-air is to point the nose of the plane down and increase speed. What a beautiful illustration of the solution to a stalled Christian life. Pride can stall our walk with Christ. When we take our eyes off of Jesus and focus on ourselves and how well we are doing, we will stall. The solution to a stall of this kind is the same for God’s people as it is for pilots. Put your nose down and increase speed. In other words, humble yourself and get back into the Word. Spend more time in prayer. Ask God for help. Get your eyes back on Christ and off of yourself. As you humble yourself, you start to get right with God again, and you gain momentum to recover in your walk with Christ. Let’s focus on how to “lower your nose.”

2 Chronicles 7:14

Q. What does God promise to those who humble themselves?Q. According to this verse, how does one humble one’s self?Q. How can confession and repentance bring humility?

Isaiah 66:2

Q. What is a submissive or contrite spirit?Q. How does God value a contrite and submissive spirit?


Q. What are areas in your life that need some humbling?Q. How can you humble yourself before God?Q. What do you need to confess and get right with God?Q. What changes will you make in your life to help you remain

humble?

Action:Tip the nose of your airplane downward during the following explanation to illustrate a stall recovery.

When an airplane stalls, it has to point its nose down and pick up speed. That’s the only way to put enough air pressure under the wings to lift it up again. It’s the same way with us. If we stall in our life with Jesus, we have to humble ourselves like this airplane, and we have to start growing with Jesus again. God desires humility. Humility comes when we confess our sins and change our actions to match God’s will. When we do this, we can correct our “stall” and start to rise up and fly the course God has prepared for us.

The Sloooowww StallAnother way a plane can stall is to decrease its speed. If a certain level of speed is not maintained, a plane will lose lift and go into a stall. You must keep moving forward at a steady rate of speed. This principle is true in life as well. If you don’t keep moving forward in your walk with Christ, you will stall. Apathy and complacency are two ways we can slow down in our walk. Apathy is the “I don’t care” attitude. Complacency is the “I’m satisfied with where I’m at” attitude. Both are dangerous because they will slow you down until you stall.

Apathy: The “I Don’t Care” StallThe Oxford American Dictionary defines apathy as a “lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern.” Let’s take those three defining words and apply it to the Christian life. A lack of interest can manifest itself in our walk with God. Interest is the “State of wanting to know and learn about something or someone.” (Oxford American Dictionary)

Lack of InterestLack of interest means we no longer have a desire to know about something. In our walk with God, this means we’ve lost the desire to know God. We no longer care to pursue our relationship with God. This manifests itself in our daily

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 21

Adult & Teen Kit

devotions, our prayer time, and our church attendance–or the lack of them. Are you interested in reading the Bible? Are you interested in going to church? Are you interested in praying? If the answer is not a resounding “YES!,” beware you may be slowing down and in danger of a stall.

Hebrews 2:3

Q. How can ignoring our salvation be dangerous?Q. How can one ignore their salvation?

Revelation 3:15-16

Q. What does God think of a “lukewarm” attitude?Q. How can one manifest a lukewarm life?Q. How can a lack of interest be the same as a lukewarm

attitude?

Proverbs 19:27

Q. What are the consequences of straying from God’s Word?Q. How can lack of interest in the things of God lead to

straying?

Lack of EnthusiasmEnthusiasm is the excitement and eagerness for something. Apathy is the very opposite of enthusiasm. In our walk with God, we should be excited and enthusiastic to read our Bible, to pray, to tell others about Christ, to attend church, etc. Once again, if there is little excitement and enthusiasm in your Christian life, you may be headed for a stall, crash, and burn.

Romans 12:11

Q. What is zeal?Q. How can we maintain our zeal for God?Q. Is it important to God that we be enthusiastic (full of zeal)?

Why or why not?Q. What is the danger of losing one’s zeal for the Lord?

Lack of ConcernFinally, the last word to define apathy is “concern.” This is a very subtle form of apathy. It’s a letting down of one’s guard. It’s being unaware of the small leak in the dam that’s threatening a flood. It is a crack in the armor with which the enemy can use to defeat you. Being unaware and unconcerned can quickly lead to a spiritual stall.

1 Peter 5:8

Q. What happens when we are unconcerned and let down our guard?

Matthew 24:12-13

Q. How can lack of concern for our walk with Christ lead to “cold love?”

Q. How can standing firm and being on our guard protect us from growing cold?

The Crash and Burn of ApathyAn apathetic Christian stops going to church, stops seeking God in Bible reading and prayer, and stops serving. He no longer cares if he’s walking with the Lord. This attitude will cause a nosedive in your spiritual flight.

Complacency: the “I’m Okay!” StallComplacency is the “I’m Okay” attitude. A complacent Christian still attends church, still reads his Bible, still prays, still serves, but is only going through the motions. He has no desire to grow or gain altitude. His life is defined by mediocrity. Going through the motions and mediocrity can be almost as dangerous as not caring, because you may not even realize that you are in a stall.

1 Corinthians 10:12

Q. According to this verse, what is a danger we need to avoid?Q. How can one fall into the trap of complacency?

Action:Take your Jet Streamer airplane and hold its handle above your head, moving your arm in a large, clockwise circle, causing the airplane to fly in circles above you. Continue this as you explain the following:

For an airplane to maintain lift, it has to keep moving forward at a high enough speed. If a plane slows down too much, it can

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 22

Adult & Teen Kit

stall. It HAS to keep moving forward. An airplane can only go forward in the air, never backwards. The same is true for a Christian. If you want to maintain your walk with Christ, you HAVE to keep moving forward. You have to keep growing closer to Jesus, and you have to keep seeking His glory. As long as we keep doing that, we can keep flying. But if we stop trying to grow with Jesus...

Action:Slow the motion of your Jet Streamer airplane until it stops “flying” and crashes into you.

You see? As soon as my jet plane slowed down, it stalled and crashed! If WE stop trying to grow with Jesus, WE will stall!

Isaiah 32:9-11

Q. What does God think about complacency? Is it something he tolerates?

Hebrews 5:11-13

Q. According to this passage, where should the believers have been in their walk with God? Where were they in actuality?

Q. What does this passage say about complacency?Q. What does this passage say about mediocrity?Q. Does this passage describe someone in a stall? If so, how?

Action:Spin the airplane above your head as you did before, flying it in circles as fast as you can until otherwise directed.

You see, we could be flying nice and fast with Jesus, but as we keep going, there might be some things that slow us down.

Action:The following question has several answers, so ask for several answers. Each time someone gives an answer, slow your airplane’s flight slightly.

Q. How might someone slow down in his/her walk with God?

Action:Stop spinning the airplane and let it “crash” into you.


Q. Do you see yourself in any of the answers given just a minute ago in slowing in your walk with God?

Q. Are you moving forward or going into a stall?Q. What areas are in need of increased speed? In other words,

what areas in your life need to be changed in order to keep moving forward?

Once again, the solution to getting out of the stall is to lower your nose in humility and repentance, and to pursue God with all due speed. Stop focusing on yourself, get off your lazy laurels, and start caring again. Don’t just go through the motions. Ask God for an excitement and a desire to grow. Get back in the Word. Don’t just read it, do what it says! As your attitude changes, your speed will pick up, and you will recover from your stall.

Phase Two of Stall Recovery: Speed Up!As we stated before, an airplane in a stall must point its nose down and speed up. We’ve talked about pointing our nose down by submitting to God in humility. Now, it’s time to learn how to speed up!

Colossians 3:23 (below):

Q. Does God want mediocrity or our best? Why?Q. According to this verse, how much effort are we to give in

our relationship with Christ?Q. If we apply this verse to our life, how will working with all

our hearts eliminate apathy and complacency?

Philippians 3:12-14

Q. According to this passage, what are we to forget?Q. Instead of focusing on past mistakes, what are we supposed

to do?Q. Does this passage seem to have an urgency or a push to speed

up and move on or is it a slow moving, gradual increase?Q. What can this passage teach us about recovering from a

spiritual stall?

Avoiding a Stall:The best way to protect ourselves from stalls is to never go into a stall in the first place. If your eyes are fixed on Jesus, your “angle of attack” will be correct, and you’ll maintain lift. If you keep moving forward at a constant speed, you will not stall.

Hebrews 12:2-3

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 23

Adult & Teen Kit

Q. Where is our focus supposed to be?Q. If our focus is on Christ, will we grow weary and give up?Q. How can one keep their eyes on Jesus?

2 Timothy 2:15

Q. What kind of effort are we called to give?Q. How can we give our best to God?Q. How can we avoid mediocrity?


Q. Are you giving your best to God?Q. If not, what needs to change?Q. How will you make changes so that you are striving for

godliness and not settling for mediocrity?

Press On Towards the GoalOur lives with Jesus are like flying an airplane. We have to keep flying right, growing every day with Jesus, keeping the right attitude and always giving God our very best. We have to love Him and serve Him with all of our hearts. If we do that, we’ll keep flying high!

Conclusion:Like an airplane, we should ALWAYS move forward and grow in Christ. In everything we do, we should work with all our hearts to bring glory to God. We should never slow down or stop growing closer to Him. Then we won’t stall, and we won’t fall! Don’t give up. Keep moving forward. Remain humble, but never lose your zeal for the Lord. May 2 Timothy 4:7 be your goal at the end of your spiritual flight. Fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith! And when we land in the arms of Jesus, let it be our goal to hear Him say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” An airplane cannot stand still and remain in flight. Neither can you.








TEACHER

Flight Instructor

Lesson Materials & PreparationLesson Materials Needed• Day 4 Lesson Diagram (included)• The “Drag Airplane” sheet (included)• Scissors• About 15 cans of food• Transparent tape• White paper• A black marker• Two plastic grocery bags

Lesson Preparation1. Prepare your 15 cans of food with labels as shown on the Day 4 Lesson

Diagram.2. Fold your ““Drag Airplane” as shown in the Day 4 Lesson Diagram.3. Familiarize yourself with the lesson and with the Scripture passages used.


Just as an aircraft must be free from things that hinder its performance, we must throw off everything that hinders our walk with God.

Day 4

Adult & Teen Lesson

1

What You Need:

Day 4:

• The Drag Airplane sheet.• Scissors• About 15 cans of food• Transparent tape• White paper• A black marker• Two plastic grocery bags

On the “Drag Airplane” sheet, cut all six RED DOTTED LINES, starting at the paper’s edge until they meet the blue dotted line.

2Flip the sheet over to the blank side. Fold the corners inward as shown on the RED lines.

1Acquire 15 cans of food. The food in the cans may still be used after the lesson.

2Cut 15 4” X 6” pieces of paper.

Tape your blank paper pieces to the cans like labels.

3 4

3 4

5

Fold the top triangle down on the DARK BLUE line as shown.

6

Fold up the lower tip of the triangle on the ORANGE line as shown.Then, flip the sheet over to reveal the printed side.

7 8At the PURPLE line, fold the sheet in half as shown.

At the BLUE DOTTED LINES on the rear, fold all four pink flaps as shown. Two flaps fold up and two fold down. This will cause drag.

9When directed to do so in the lesson, CUT OFF the four pink flaps at the BLUE DOTTED LINE. This will eliminate the drag.

At the GREEN line, fold the corner in and tuck it into the triangle pocket as shown. Do the same for the other side of the airplane.

At the LIGHT BLUE lines, fold down the wings as shown.

Preparing the Airplane (Before the Lesson)

During the Lesson

Preparing the Food Cans (Before the Lesson)

During the LessonHave two plastic grocery bags and a black marker ready. When directed to do so in the lesson, you will be writing the names of sins on the cans and placing them in grocery bags for a volunteer to carry. This will illustrate how sin can drag us down.

Fold this tip toward youso that it meets the dotted

lines, then turn thesheet back

over.

1. Cut all six RED DOTTED LINES (at the bottom of this page), starting at the paper’s edge until they meet the blue dotted line.

2. Flip this sheet over and make the two folds on the RED lines (folding the corners over to the blank side of the sheet).

3. Fold along the DARK BLUE line so that the triangle is folded over the blank side of the sheet.

4. Fold the ORANGE line as shown. Then, flip the sheet over to reveal the printed side.

5. Fold the PURPLE line so that the blank side of the sheet faces out.

6. Fold the green lines and tuck the tips into the folded triangle.

7. Fold the wings down at the LIGHT BLUE lines.

8. Fold all four pink flaps at the BLUE DOTTED LINE as shown.

up updown down

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 27

Adult & Teen Kit

Day 4 lessonLesson Preparation:

Acquire and prepare the lesson materials as directed on the Lesson Diagram. You will also need a volunteer.

Introduction:Today we will be learning about different forms of drag in flight. There are several forms of drag that can decrease the speed of an aircraft. As we learn about some of these forms of drag, we will also learn about spiritual drag and how sin can slow us down as well.

What is Drag?The next time you ride in a car, open the window and put your arm out with your palm extended. Do you feel the air pushing on your arm? You are causing drag. Hold your hand parallel to the ground and you decrease the drag. Put your hand perpendicular to the ground, and you can feel the pressure increase. Drag is the force that opposes forward motion. Airplane designers are always looking for ways to decrease drag. The better the design, the less the drag. How does this apply to our lives? Ask yourself, what opposes your forward motion in your walk with Christ? Is it busyness? Is it doubt or worry? Is it a prideful or unteachable heart? Is it a sinful habit? What is slowing you down? Let’s look at different forms of drag and see what we can apply to our own lives.

Action:Throw your “Drag Airplane” (folded as directed in the Lesson Diagram). It will not fly very far. Then, recover the airplane.

Q. Why didn’t this airplane fly very far?A. It’s form was dragging it down.

Form DragForm drag relates to the shape of an object. The shape of an airplane is very important. Engineers are always striving to create a plane with as little drag as possible. Have you noticed that you don’t see any box-shaped airplanes? Of course not, because a box creates a massive amount of drag. We also don’t have ball-shaped planes. While a ball creates less drag, this shape still creates enough drag to slow it down considerably. Imagine a basketball vs. a football. You may throw each ball with the same amount of force, but the football will go farther. A football’s shape allows it to travel through the air better than a basketball because it causes less drag. A good aircraft designer will consider how to create the best form that will allow a plane

to fly through the air with as little drag as possible. This process is called streamlining. Edges are made smooth and rounded. Wings are attached at a swept-back angle. The nose is pointed, yet smooth. All of these factors help to create an airplane that can fly through the air with as little drag as possible.

Action:Throw your “Drag Airplane” again. Then, recover the airplane.

Q. What’s causing the drag on this airplane?A. The flaps are slowing it down.

So you see? This is called “Form Drag,” because the shape of the airplane is what’s slowing it down. Just like our airplane is being slowed down by these flaps, we can be slowed down by things like sin and bad attitudes. When we try to fly with Jesus while being dragged down by sin, we can end up just like this airplane.

Q. What are some things that can slow us down in our flight with Jesus?

A. Sin, bad attitudes, temptations, etc.

Action:Have a volunteer from the class throw the airplane again and watch as it falls. Then show the airplane to the class.

An airplane has to be shaped in a way that makes it work WITH the air instead of fighting against it. A big, flat box can’t fly, because its big, flat sides would fight against the wind pushing against it. Instead, airplanes have to be shaped in a way that fights the wind as little as possible. We can learn from the design of an airplane. Too often, we work against the will of God, unwilling to conform to God’s will. Yet, if we will submit our will and follow Christ’s will, we will be transformed and our “form drag” will gradually be eliminated so that you are able to fly free in Christ.

Romans 12:2

Q. What does it mean to be transformed?A. To be changed into something new.Q. According to Romans 12:2, what must we renew to be

transformed?A. Our minds must be renewed.Q. How can we have our minds renewed?A. By imitating / being like Jesus.Q. What is the difference between conforming and transforming?A. Conform means to comply with or to be similar to.

Transformation is a complete change in nature.

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 28

Adult & Teen Kit

Conform means to comply or to be similar to. Transformed is a complete change in character. In order to transform into Christ-likeness, we have to conform to God’s standards. Conformation to God’s will result in a transformation of godliness.

1 Peter 1:14-15

Q. According to this verse, what are we not to conform to?A. Evil, sinful desires.Q. Instead, what are we called to?A. Obedience and holiness.Q. Who’s example are we to conform to in this passage?A. Christ’s.

Ephesians 5:1

Q. According to this verse, who are we to be like?A. God.Q. How can we follow or imitate God?A. Obey His Word, etc.

So, Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed, and Ephesians 5:1 tells us to imitate God. So, instead of conforming (or being like) the world, we need to streamline our lives to be like Christ. Instead of fighting AGAINST Jesus, we need to work WITH Him. And so, like with our airplane, we need to let Jesus transform us into something that can fly.

Action:Cut the four pink flaps off the airplane’s wings, and then show the airplane to the class.

Before we knew Christ, we were unable to fly. But the more we become like Christ, the better shape we’re in to fly free of form drag.

Action:Now throw the paper airplane and show how it flies better.

So, how’s your form? Are you full of rough edges, or is God smoothing you, streamlining your life to a life of godliness? The

less godly you are, the rougher your edges, and the more you will be dragged down by spiritual hindrances. Are you being transformed into His likeness? If not, what is keeping God from streamlining your life? Is it an unteachable heart? Is it fear? Is it an unwilling heart? Maybe it’s even ignorance. Whatever the case, God desires you to be like Him, and He is willing to transform you if you will allow Him.

Skin Friction DragDid you know that a dirty airplane contends with more drag than a clean airplane? Dirt, ice, and scratches can result in increased drag. Those tiny dirt particles can decrease the speed of the airplane. Isn’t it amazing that something so small can affect a large object’s forward motion? It’s the same in our own lives. A little sin can drag us down. That little “white lie” at work could eventually lose you a promotion because the boss may no longer trust you. If you’ll lie about something small, can you be trusted with something bigger? That gossiping tongue can spoil friendships. That one afternoon spent on the internet looking at inappropriate material leaves images in your mind that remain for a lifetime. That one harsh comment to your child can hinder your relationship with him. “Little sins” can have a great impact.

Action:Now pull out one of your labeled cans of food. Pick a volunteer of smaller stature to come up and name something they consider a “small” sin. Write this sin on the can, then have this person hold the can and walk to the end of the classroom and back.

Q. Did this little sin slow you down in your walk around the classroom?

All of us sin on a daily basis. We may get angry, or may complain, have an ugly thought, may gossip about someone, and the like. If you are able to go through the whole day with only one sin, then sin is not dragging you down. But “little” sins can add up quickly.

Action:Ask your class what people consider “little” sins. Write each mentioned sin on a can, then deposit it into one of the grocery bags. Try to get a list of at least ten or fifteen “sins” in order to weigh down the grocery bags. Then have your volunteer pick up the bags and walk across the room. It should be more difficult for your volunteer to carry it now.

One little piece of dirt is not going to slow an airplane down, but several tiny grains of dirt on the wings can cause drag and slow an airplane down. Pilots always check their airplanes before take off and try to have them as clean as possible in order to reduce drag.

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 29

Adult & Teen Kit

We should have the same mindset. We may think that those “little” sins are no big deal, but they add up and can drag you down. Think of David. He just happened to notice a beautiful woman bathing. Instead of turning his eyes away, he kept watching–and that small sinful choice led to a downfall that haunted him the rest of his life. Little choices matter. Let’s look at someone who made a small choice for righteousness.

Daniel in His YouthDaniel was a youth who was taken captive during the first raid of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar around 605 BC. He was chosen to be trained in Babylonian tradition in order to serve the king. During this training period, the students were given food and wine from the king’s table. Usually, this food had first been offered to various “gods” and would have been considered unclean and a defilement to eat by the Jews.

Daniel 1:1-8

Q. What circumstance did Daniel find himself in?Q. According to verse eight, what did Daniel resolve to do?

Daniel made a small choice that impacted the rest of his life. He could have said, “Well, I’m now a captive, I have to take what I’m given. I’d better just go along and obey whatever my masters say to do. I can still worship God secretly in my heart.” Instead, though, he chose to not eat the food he was given. Most of us consider what we choose to eat as a small choice, but for Daniel, his small choice to not eat meat that had been offered to idols was honored by God.

Daniel 1:9-20

Q. What did Daniel propose to do instead of eating the meat and drinking the wine offered to him?

Q. How did God honor Daniel’s decision to honor God even in what he ate?

Daniel in His Last YearsThroughout his lifetime, Daniel strived to honor God. He distinguished himself in service for not only Nebuchadnezzar, but also for Belteshazzar, the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 5). Now, even after the Babylonian empire had been conquered by the Persians and Medes, Daniel once again so

distinguished himself by his integrity and wisdom, that he was now being given great authority by the Persian King, Darius.

Daniel 6:1-11

Q. How did Daniel distinguish himself?Q. According to Daniel 6:4, what character traits are used to

describe Daniel?Q. What small choice of godliness did Daniel make?

Daniel could have prayed in secret rather than in front of a window where others could see. Yet, closing his window would have said to the others who were trapping him that his life was more important than his relationship with God. Daniel saw this law as a test of faith and realized that to close the window would not bring glory to God. The choice of closing the window would be considered a small and insignificant choice, yet because Daniel kept the windows open and allowed everyone to see him pray, God was glorified and a whole nation saw the power of God.

Daniel 6:25-28

Q. As a result of Daniel’s choice to honor God, what did Darius learn about God?

Q. How was the whole empire affected by Daniel’s choice to honor God?

Ezekiel 14:13-14, 20

Q. Who else is Daniel compared to?Q. What characterized these men that God would single them

out for honor in the Scriptures?Q. What principles can you learn about how to make Godly

choices from Daniel’s life?

In Spite of circumstanceOne more thing needs to be pointed out about Daniel. We need to remember that Daniel was not in some ivory tower serving God without worldly influences. Daniel was surrounded by a pagan culture. The Babylonians were known for their drunken and lewd carousing. They worshipped many idols. In fact, Daniel’s name was changed by the Babylonian official to Belteshazzar, which means, “Beltis (Baal) protect the king.” He was forced to have a name that cried out to a pagan god for help, which probably sickened Daniel every time he heard it. There

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 30

Adult & Teen Kit

was no church or temple for him to attend. And early on, all he probably had of the Scriptures were what he had committed to memory. Here was a man who had all the cards stacked against him for living a godly life, yet because he committed his ways to the Lord, he was able to live a life of integrity in spite of his circumstances. Too often, we allow our circumstances to determine our choices. Yet, our circumstances should not be our determining factor for the decisions we make. We should choose to honor God no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. Small choices can have major impacts on life. You can either choose the small “sinful” choice and have devastating consequences, or you can chose godliness and live a life of integrity where God can use you to bring glory to His name. Just as a pilot must keep his airplane clean to reduce drag, we must choose daily to live a life of integrity, clean from sin.

Streamlining Your LifeSo how can we live a life free from the drag of sin? We need to streamline. Streamlining an aircraft is the process of reducing drag to a minimum so that the aircraft can fly most effectively. Resistance causes drag. Therefore, in order to fly effectively as believers in Christ, we must eliminate the resistance that slows us down. What causes resistance in your own life? Is God convicting you of something? Are you resisting the change God is calling for? Is there an old habit in your life that doesn’t please God? Are you resisting God’s call into a new ministry? Are you resisting God’s call to surrender your old patterns of living? Your resistance is dragging you down. So, to put this into practice, how do you streamline your walk with God? Two passages will help to make this clear.

Hebrews 12:1

Q. What does this verse say about how to get rid of drag?A. Throw off everything that hinders / entangles.Q. Notice that Hebrews 12:1 has two categories of drag–spiritual

hindrances and sin. What’s the difference between the two?

A. Hindrances can be anything that distracts you from doing what you ought to do, while sin is doing what you shouldn’t do.

Hindrances can come in many forms, including a schedule that is too busy, an ungodly friendship, a hobby that consumes you, and so on. While friends, schedules, hobbies, interests, and the

like are not sinful in and of themselves, if they hinder your walk with God, you need to get rid of those hindrances or modify them so they won’t stand in your way.

Ephesians 4:22-24

Q. What is the principle of putting off and putting on found in these verses?

According to Ephesians 4, we are to get rid of the drag of sinful behavior, but there’s more to the process. Don’t just get rid of sinful behavior, replace it with Godly behavior. This is KEY in getting rid of sinful drag. Remember, streamlining an airplane means you design a shape that creates as little drag as possible. In other words, the form of the airplane needs to be good. In the same way, our form needs to be streamlined by doing what is right. Get rid of the sinful habits in your life replace them with godly habits. Let’s look at Ephesians 4 again and see what needs to be put off and what needs to be put on.

Ephesians 4:25

Q. What are you to put off in this verse?Q. What are you to put on in this verse?

Ephesians 4:28


Ephesians 4:29


Ephesians 4:31-32


©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 31

Adult & Teen Kit

As we’ve seen in this passage, God wants us to get rid of sin by replacing it with godliness. This is the secret to removing sin in your life. Rather than focusing on the “Don’t Do’s” focus on “What SHOULD I do?” Focus on godliness. If you’re striving to do what is right, you won’t have time for sinful behavior.


Q. What specific things are causing drag in YOUR life?Q. What do you need to “put on” in order to replace the sinful

habits that are dragging you down?Q. Specifically, how are you going to do this?Q. What are you going to do about it?

Soaring FreeSin is a drag that will pull you down, but faith and obedience will lift you up. If you will submit to God and His will, allowing Him to transform your life, you will fly fast and free. Replace sin with godliness and you will find your life in Christ reaching new levels. Soar to higher heights, set your mind on Christ, trust Him with your life, and fly free!








TEACHER

Flight Instructor

Lesson Materials & PreparationLesson Materials Needed• Day 5 Lesson Diagram (included)• Seven Lincoln Logs® logs (about 6” long)• Scissors and tape• Magnetic tape (optional; see the note on the diagram page)

Lesson Preparation1. Acquire and prepare your Lincoln Logs as directed on the Day 5 Lesson Diagram

page.2. Familiarize yourself with the lesson and with the Scripture passages used.


If we are willing to trust God in spite of our fears, we can break through barriers and make a sonic boom for God’s kingdom!

Day 5

Adult & Teen Lesson

1

2

3

5

What You Need:

Day 5:

• Seven Lincoln Logs® logs (about 6” long)• Scissors and tape• Magnetic tape (optional; see the note at the bottom of the page)

Cut out these five labels and the orange airplane shape.

Tape the labels to five of your Lincoln Logs® as shown. Set up the logs as shown in three rows of two. These will be your “sound wave” logs.

Tape the airplane wings to your seventh Lincoln Log as shown and position the airplane perpendicular to the “sound wave” logs.

When directed to do so in the body of the lesson, push your “airplane” through the “sound wave” logs and beyond as shown.

4

Once you’ve “broken the sound barrier,” you’ll need to reset the “sound waves” and the “airplane” so you can repeat the illustration as directed in the lesson.

NOTE:To allow more people to see this object lesson, you can fasten magnetic tape to the undersides of your “Lincoln Logs” and perform the object lesson vertically on a metallic surface or MAGNETIC dry-erase board.

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 34

Adult & Teen Kit

day 5 LessonLesson Preparation:

Prepare your lesson as directed on the Lesson Diagram page. To modify this object lesson for large crowds, mount magnetic tape to the back of the Lincoln logs. Then as you assemble the “Sound Barrier” with the blocks, you can mount the blocks on a magnetic white board. This will still allow you to demonstrate the sound barrier principle, but will allow a larger crowd to see what you are doing.

Optional Visual Lesson:Several YouTube movie addresses are given during this lesson which you may chose to incorporate in the lesson to further enhance learning. If you choose this option, you may need to obtain permission to use them from the creators of the videos. You will also need a computer and video projector or TV to show these video clips. Also, since YouTube is constantly changing, you may want to preview the clips before showing them to your class to make sure the links we have given are still accurate. As of April 2008, these links were active.

Lesson Introduction:At Flight School, we’ve been learning about flight and how we can fly higher with Christ, but today we’re going to learn one last thing. We’re going to learn how to break the sound barrier!

Before we begin by learning about the sound barrier, let’s begin by talking about what keeps us from sharing our faith with others.

Q. What keeps people from sharing their faith? Why?Q. How are these hindrances like a sound barrier?A. The hindrances tend to keep us silent when we should be

boldly sharing the gospel with others.

Action:With the next questions, rather than opening up the questions for public discussion, have your class write down the answers to the next questions for their own personal use.

Q. What personal fears prevent you from sharing the gospel?Q. Why do these fears keep you from telling others about

Christ?Q. Do you long to be more bold in your faith? How so?

Breaking the Sound BarrierWe’ve discussed the fears many or most of us have when it comes to sharing Christ with others. These fears are like a sound barrier preventing us from fulfilling the Great Commission. Let’s talk about the sound barrier now and see how two WWII heroes broke the physical and the spiritual sound barriers.

After WWII, there was a big push to create airplanes that could reach great levels of speed. Yet, there seemed to be an invisible wall in the sky that kept airplanes from flying any faster than about 760 mph. It became known as the “sound barrier.” Sound travels through the air in waves, like the ripples in water, except that sound waves move at about 760 mph!

Action:Take your “airplane” rod and push it toward your “sound wave” rods until it almost touches them.

Imagine this rod is an airplane and the other rods are the waves of sound from the plane. When an airplane flew fast enough to catch up to its own sound waves, the sound waves got compressed together like an invisible wall in front of the plane. This made airplanes hard to control, and many crashed.

A sonic boom cloud (optional youtube clip :09 Min.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHrwgRsX0BI&feature=related

This clip is an actual sonic boom cloud which is formed by the compressed air and sound waves as the sound barrier is broken.

Chuck YeagerFinally, on October 14, 1947, a test pilot and war hero named Chuck Yeager tried to break the sound barrier. But in order to do that, he had to overcome many problems, including:

Fear of failureOthers had died in crashes by trying to break the sound barrier. What if Yeager failed too? The result would most likely mean death. He would end up being just another statistic and a picture on a memorial wall of dead pilots. Failure was a very real and deadly possibility. Yeager could have chosen to not to try to break the sound barrier, but instead he moved forward, risking failure and certain death.

Fear of the UnknownNobody knew what would happen if the sound barrier was broken. Could anyone survive that? At the time, no one knew the physical effects of breaking the sound barrier. What would it do to the human body? What would it do to the mind? If one did break the sound barrier, would one be able to survive the feat?

Lack of TrustChuck Yeager had to trust his aircraft; a new airplane called the Bell XS-1. Would this airplane work as it was supposed to? Other

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 35

Adult & Teen Kit

test aircraft had been tried, but they all failed. Could this new plane also prove to be a failure? Could he trust this aircraft to break the sound barrier. Yeager had no guarantee of success, yet he put his faith in the plane and got into the cockpit to fly it.

DiscomfortA couple days before his flight, Yeager suffered two broken ribs in a horseback riding accident. But despite the pain, Yeager went ahead with his test flight. Imagine how painful the turbulence Yeager experienced must have been. He couldn’t even shut the door of the cockpit without using a sawed-off broomstick to help him, all because of the pain he was experiencing. Yet, he worked through the physical pain and broke the sound barrier.

Limited OpportunityChuck Yeager knew this was his only chance to make history, and he jumped at it, no matter what. So, what happened?

Action:Show the class your “airplane” rod and have them imagine that it is Chuck Yeager’s XS-1. As before, push it toward the “sound waves”.

Yeager’s XS-1 dashed though the sky so fast that it caught up to its own sound waves and compressed them together. All those compressed sound waves made an invisible moving wall in the sky, and Yeager’s airplane became hard to control. Would he crash, or would he be able to punch a hole in that invisible wall?

Action:Quickly push your “airplane” through and beyond the “sound waves” as shown on the Lesson Diagram, causing the sound waves to collide and make a “clack” noise.

Sonic BoomChuck Yeager continued to pick up speed and finally broke through the invisible wall his sound waves had made. When all those sound waves got compressed together as the XS-1 broke through them, it made a loud “sonic boom” that could be heard for miles. The sonic boom followed Yeager through the air at about 760 miles per hour, with Yeager ahead of it, flying faster than sound. He had done it.

Q. When Yeager broke the sound barrier, how did it affect others on the ground below?

A. Other people heard the sonic boom.

Chuck Yeager and the Sound barrier (optional youtube clip 2:17 min.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dke2i-xO1uo&feature=related

Nowadays, aircraft break the sound barrier all the time, but it all began that day in 1947. Chuck Yeager had a big impact on the world, but there’s another WWII pilot who had an even bigger impact by breaking through barriers. His name is Nate Saint.

Action:Reset your “airplane” rod (but not the “sound waves”) as shown in the Lesson Diagram.

Nate Saint:Nate Saint was a missionary pilot who flew people into the jungles to tell people about Jesus. Often, this meant landing in places where the people had never heard about Jesus--people who could sometimes be very dangerous. Nate Saint faced many of the same challenges that Chuck Yeager had faced. The date was January 8, 1956. For three months, Nate Saint had flown his fellow missionaries over a dangerous Huaorani settlement deep in the heart of Ecuador. These people were known as savage people who would attack any outsiders who dared to enter their domain. Yet Nate and his fellow missionaries believed with all their hearts that God wanted them to share the good news of Jesus to these lost and hurting people. For three months, Nate flew his plane over the settlement, lowering a bucket on a rope with gifts inside down to the people below to establish friendly contact. The Huaorani seemed very interested and pleased with these gifts. After three months of these “fly-overs,” the team of missionaries thought it was time to meet the people face to face. January 3, 1956, Nate landed his plane with fellow missionaries Jim Elliot, Ed Mccully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian. They set up a base camp near the settlement and waited to see what would happen.

Action:Show the “Fear of Failure” rod to the class and place it in its original position as shown on the diagram.

Fear of FailureThis represents a fear of failure. People could be killed for sharing the gospel. The “Aucas” were a fierce group of people who were known for their brutality. They killed outsiders, killed people within their groups, and were constantly killing for revenge of other killings. It was a vicious cycle of blood. Nate Saint knew that his mission was extremely dangerous. Failure of his mission, “Operation Auca” could possibly mean death. Just as Yeager knew failure could result in death, Nate Saint also knew failure would result in death. Failure to reach these people would also result in spiritual death for the “Aucas.” If they failed to share the gospel, this group of people would remain lost and would be forever separated from God.

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 36

Adult & Teen Kit

Just as Yeager faced death and the unknown, Nate Saint also had to face the real possibility of death. He and the other missionaries with him had no idea as to how the people would respond to their efforts to tell them the good news of Christ. Yet did it stop them?

2 Timothy 1:7

Q. What does that verse tell us about why we shouldn’t let fear of failure stop us from sharing the gospel?

A. God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but a powerful one!Q. Often we fear that we may fail to present the gospel properly.

We fear the questions others may ask and fear we won’t have the answers, so we remain silent. Have you ever been afraid of failing to know the answers to questions people might ask? How has this fear affected you or others you know?

Q. What is the danger of letting the fear of failure keep you from telling others about Christ?

Q. How often has the fear of failure kept you from sharing Christ?

Isaiah 55:11

Q. What does this verse promise us when we share God’s Word with others?

Q. Do we ever really fail if we have given our best effort to share the gospel with others even if someone does not respond?

John 4:35-38

Our job is to share the good news of Christ with others. It is not our job to “save” them. That is God’s job. He wants you to sow the seed of His Word in their hearts, but let God do His work. Sometimes He chooses to use one to plant a seed, and another to harvest. The point is, do YOUR job and let God do His. Share Christ with others even if you don’t see the result of your efforts.

Action:Show the “Fear of the Unknown” rod to the class and place it in its original position as shown on the diagram.

Fear of the UnknownNate Saint and his fellow missionaries knew that their efforts would not be in vain, no matter what happened. Yet, there was the fear of the unknown to overcome. What would happen if they tried to share the gospel with the Aucas? What would the tribal people think? Would they get mad at the missionaries for talking about Jesus? Just as Yeager faced death and the unknown, Nate Saint also had to face the real possibility of death. He and the other missionaries with him had no idea as to how the people would respond to their efforts to tell them the good news of Christ. Yet did it stop them? No! Not knowing what lay ahead did not stop them from sharing the gospel. Often, we fear the unknown as well. We don’t know how people will react to what we say. We fear their rejection of us. We fear the possible ridicule. And because we fear the unknown negative possibilities, we remain silent. We’re not alone in this fear. In John, we can learn about others who let their fear of the unknown keep them silent.

John 12:42-43

Q. In that verse, why didn’t some people confess their faith in Jesus?

A. They loved praise from men more than God.Q. Does rejection of others keep you silent as well?

Matthew 10:28 and Luke 12:5

Q. According to these verses, should we fear man? Why or why not?

Q. Who should we fear instead?Q. Why do you think people fear man’s opinion so much when it

is God’s opinion that really matters?

Action:Show the “Lack of Trust” rod to the class and place it in its original position as shown on the diagram.

Lack of TrustThis represents a lack of trust. Often, our choice to remain silent is because we do not trust God enough. Nate Saint had to trust God that He knew what was best. Nate had to trust his family’s welfare to God’s care. He had to trust God, knowing that no matter what happened, God was there. Trust is not easy for any of us. Too often we rely on our own understanding rather than trusting that God knows best.

Proverbs 3:5-6

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 37

Adult & Teen Kit

Q. According to these verses, what should we trust in INSTEAD of our own understanding, and what will happen if we do?

Q. What is the danger of trusting in our own understanding?Q. How does lack of trust in God keep others from sharing

Christ?Q. Is lack of trust an issue for you?

Action:Show the “Discomfort” rod to the class and place it in its original position as shown on the diagram.

DiscomfortThis represents discomfort. Most people aren’t comfortable telling people about Jesus. We’re afraid of what they’ll think of us or of bad things they might do to us.

Philippians 1:27-29 and 1 Peter 3:14-16

Q. What does Peter call suffering?Q. How can suffering for Christ be a blessing or privilege?Q. Instead of focusing on the suffering we may face, what are

we supposed to focus on according to 1 Peter 3:15?

Action:Show the “Limited Opportunity” rod to the class and place it in its original position as shown on the diagram.

Limited OpportunityThis represents the limited chances we have. Often, we let opportunities slip by us because we are too busy or too tired. When the doorbell rang and you saw the Jehovah’s Witness or Mormon at your door, did you see it as an opportunity or as a nuisance to be avoided? What about the person sitting next to you on the plane or in the subway? You may never see that person again, but you might just be given an opportunity to share Christ with that person if you are willing and looking for the opportunity God may give you.

Q. What can happen if we don’t share the gospel when we should?

Colossians 4:5

Q. What should we do with every opportunity to share Christ?Q. What are ways you can make the most of opportunities God

gives you?

Action:Show the remaining rod to the class.

Q. What else makes us not share the gospel?

Action:Set the remaining rod in place. All of the “sound waves” should now be in place.

Nate Saint had many of these barriers to face, and so do we. But God tells us to preach the good news.

Mark 16:15

Q. In spite of all the dangers, what does that verse tell us we should do?

So, like Chuck Yeager and Nate Saint, we have to overcome our fear and break through the barriers.

Action:Push the “airplane” through the “sound waves” as you did before.

Nate Saint broke through the barriers that stood in his way to bring the gospel to tribal people in the jungle. And, Nate Saint WAS indeed killed by the tribal people for doing so.

Q. Should Nate Saint have shared the gospel, since he died for it? Why or why not?

God Follower (optional Youtube video 9:59 min.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD8LZFht9i4&feature=related

Sonic BoomEven though Nate Saint was killed, the whole world heard about his sacrifice. Many people became missionaries because of Nate Saint’s bravery and the bravery of the other men who were killed with Nate. Later, Nate’s sister returned to meet the people who had killed him. When they saw her love and forgiveness, they wanted to know about Jesus, and many came to believe. The same people who killed Nate Saint and his fellow missionaries are now telling the others the good news of Christ. Nate’s sacrifice has reached a whole people group. Nate Saint had made a resounding “sonic boom” for God’s Kingdom that is

©200

8 Tr

uthQ

uest

® Min

istr

ies.

Perm

issi

on is

gra

nted

to th

e pu

rcha

ser o

f thi

s pro

duct

to p

hoto

copy

and

dis

trib

ute

this

pag

e fo

r VBS

min

istr

y pu

rpos

es. D

uplic

atio

n an

d di

stri

buti

on is

oth

erw

ise

proh

ibit

ed. •

ww

w.tr

uthq

uest

.net

VBS PAGE 38

Adult & Teen Kit

still being heard today across the whole world. Will you allow God to use you to break the sound barrier in someone’s life? We have a chance to do the same thing.

Conclusion:While Chuck Yeager made a sonic boom when he broke the sound barrier, Nate’s sonic boom can still be heard today. And in the end, Nate’s sonic boom will sound forever while Yeager’s achievements will grow dusty in the annals of history. God tells us to share the gospel with people everywhere we go. Barriers of fear, lack of trust, and discomfort may try to stop us, but we must be determined in God’s strength to break through anyway! Then, with God’s help, you can also make a sonic boom for God’s Kingdom! Go supersonic!

no greater love (Optional YouTube Video 3:50 min.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHMS3gWO4Z4&feature=related

youtube links

Chuck Yeager and the Sound Barrierhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dke2i-xO1uo&feature=related

A sonic boom cloudhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHrwgRsX0BI&feature=related

no greater lovehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHMS3gWO4Z4&feature=related

God Followerhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD8LZFht9i4&feature=related

adult teen kit

Documents