LESSON 4
BEING, NOT PERFORMING
Teacher Preparation + Resources
This lesson invites students to slow down and rest in Jesus' presence. Before class, find a quiet moment to pray through Luke 10:38-42 and ask the Holy Spirit to lead both your heart and the hearts of your students toward stillness with Jesus.
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Lesson Summary
This lesson concludes Unit One's invitation to discipleship by highlighting that following Jesus is about being with him more than doing things for him. Students will explore the story of Mary and Martha, identify their own distractions, and practice praying Scripture so they can sit with Jesus and listen for the Holy Spirit's voice.
Main Point
Discipleship is not about outward efforts or performance but about being with Jesus and listening to him.
Lesson Objectives
- Students will recognize that the focus of discipleship is their relationship with Jesus, not the things they do for him.
- Students will practice listening to Jesus by praying Scripture.
Teaching Tips
As a leader, you set the tone for the classroom. Students can sense your stress or your calm. Lead by example by taking a few moments before class to pause, pray, and focus on Jesus.
Materials Needed
Phone, clock, or timer
Extra papers & pens
Two balls
Two textbooks
Getting Started 15 minutes
Slide 2
Welcome Activity
This game requires two student volunteers, two balls, and two textbooks. If you have more materials, invite additional students to play. Call volunteers to the front and give each a ball and a textbook.
Say
Today, we will play a game called Be Still. Our volunteers (say their names) will try to balance their ball on their book. The catch is that while one gets to stand still, the other must follow a series of commands without dropping the ball.
Choose which volunteer will stay still and which will follow the commands. Give a few commands (marching in place, turning in circles, squats, standing on one leg, etc.), inviting suggestions from the class. After a few rounds, ask students to return to their seats.
Slide 3
Introduction
Say
Now, let us talk about what happened. You all probably knew from the start how this would play out. [Insert the volunteer's name] was bound to drop the ball because they were doing too much. They were performing a balancing act.
Part of maturing is learning to find balance in our lives so we do not drop the things that are most important. But life has a way of getting busy, and finding balance is easier said than done.
Icebreaker Question
Ask
Think about your own life. What are the things that keep you busy and take up your time? Where in your life do you see yourself "dropping the ball" most often?
Write students' answers on the board so they can refer to them later. Answers may include school, work, sports, social life, family responsibilities, social media, hobbies, etc.
Digging In 30 minutes
Slide 4
Say
It is our natural tendency to live busy and distracted lives. We are so conditioned to seek value in the things we do that we lose sight of who God calls us to be. Today, we will read a story that reveals the most important thing Jesus wants from his disciples.
Slide 7
Observe
Ask
Why was Martha upset?
Ask
What is the "one thing" Mary does that Jesus says is "worth being concerned about"?
Answer should include sitting in Jesus' presence and listening to him.
Slides 8–9
Interpret
Ask
Where did Martha go wrong in her attempt to follow Jesus well?
Call on a few volunteers to share. Point out that Martha became so distracted by doing things for Jesus that she missed the opportunity to be with him.
Optional Follow-Up Question
What are some common ways you have seen yourself or other followers of Jesus make the same mistake Martha made?
Ask
How can you sit in Jesus' presence and listen to his words when he is not physically seated in the room with you like he was for Mary and Martha?
Answers may include praying, reading the Bible, encountering him in other believers, and growing in relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Slide 9
Say
Jesus does not just call us to follow him and leave us to figure it out on our own. He gives us the Holy Spirit to live inside us. Through the Spirit, Jesus makes his home in our hearts so we can always be in his presence. Before Jesus was crucified, he explained that it was good for him to leave because he would send the Holy Spirit to his disciples. Let us read what he said.
Slides 11–12
Discussion: The Holy Spirit
Ask
According to this passage, what does the Holy Spirit do for us?
Answers may include advocating for us, being with us, leading us into truth, and making God's home with us.
Ask
What does it mean that the Holy Spirit is our "Advocate"?
Explain that "advocate" translates the Greek word "paraclete," meaning "one who is called alongside" as helper, comforter, and teacher.
Slide 13
Apply
Have students form pairs or small groups to discuss:
Say
Martha made a common mistake, but notice how kind Jesus was to correct her. He does not want us living overwhelmed, distracted lives. Instead, he invites us to rest in a relationship with him.
Ask
How can you make more space in your life for your relationship with Jesus?
Ask
The distractions around us are loud. What are some ways you can practice quieting the noise regularly so you can hear the Holy Spirit's voice more clearly?
Bring students' attention back to the whole group.
Practicing Life with Jesus 15 minutes
Slides 14–15
Say
For the past few weeks, we have been practicing prayer as a key way of growing in our relationship with Jesus. Sometimes it is hard to recognize his voice with all the competing noise. One practice that can help us hear him better is praying Scripture.
The Bible is not just God's Word to us—it is also something we can speak back to God. When we pray Scripture, it sinks deep, shaping our hearts and minds and training us to recognize the Holy Spirit's voice. Read through the following passage with your students, then model a personal prayer based on it, using "I" and "me" language.
Slide 16
Model Prayer
Thank you, God, for saving me by your grace. I know I cannot take credit for it–I did not earn your love, and I do not have to. You give it to me freely. Keep me from the danger of relying on my own efforts. I believe you when you say that I am your work of art. You have made me a new person through your Son, Jesus, freeing me from my sins and filling my life with purpose. Help me to do the good things you have planned for me. My life is yours. Amen.
Slide 17
Response
Transition into an individual response time. Have students continue keeping a journal. Invite them to write their own prayer based on Scripture, making it personal with reflections, requests, and thanksgiving.
Journal Prompt
Say
Now it is your turn. Write a prayer to God based on this passage from Titus. Make it personal by putting it in your own words and adding reflections, requests, and moments of thanksgiving.
Closing
Encourage students to continue practicing praying Scripture throughout the next week. Wrap up the class by praying over your students and asking the Holy Spirit to help them rest in Jesus' presence.
