LESSON 6
MADE TO BE WHOLE
Teacher Preparation + Resources
Review each element of this lesson in advance—especially the Human Knot game instructions, Scripture readings, and discussion questions. Spend time praying over your group, asking the Holy Spirit to give you insight into their mental health struggles and to prepare your own heart to guide them toward holistic health with compassion and wisdom.
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Lesson Summary
This lesson introduces students to mental health from a Christian framework, helping them understand that everyone—including committed Christians—can struggle. They will reflect on the patterns of the world (Romans 12:1-2) which harm mental health. Then, they will consider what Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 means for how they walk through difficult seasons. The lesson builds on the practice of Scripture reading by introducing the Interpret step of the Observe-Interpret-Apply framework.
Main Point
God created you to be complete and healthy in body, mind, and spirit.
Lesson Objectives
- Students will recognize that God created them with purpose, and they are called to pursue holistic health.
- Students will consider thought patterns and social norms that negatively impact their mental health.
Teaching Tips
Mental health is a complex topic. Covering everything in one hour is impossible. Instead, focus on facilitating an honest, compassionate conversation that points your students in the right direction. After the lesson, invite them to reach out to you if they have questions, concerns, or any specific needs.
Familiarize yourself with this generation's mental health struggles by reviewing the Global Youth Culture research report.
Materials Needed
Extra papers, pens, or pencils
Getting Started 15 minutes
Slide 2
Welcome Activity
This game is called The Human Knot. Divide students into two equal teams. Have each group team form a circle, standing shoulder to shoulder. Then, everyone will hold hands with two people in their circle who are not directly beside them.
Without letting go of their hands, the students will work together to untangle themselves. The first team to form a complete circle again wins.
Introduction (5 minutes)
Say
Think about how it felt to be tangled up. It was frustrating, right? Sometimes, we can feel like that on the inside—like our body, mind, emotions, and spirit are pulling in different directions. God created us to be whole and healthy, but living in a broken world can leave us feeling out of balance.
Say
The good news is God desires to bring healing into our lives. When we trust him with our struggles, he can use even the hardest things to draw us closer to him and make us more like Jesus.
Say
Today, we are talking about mental health. Your generation is much more open about mental health than older generations, but there are still lots of stigmas and myths out there. Let us see if you can spot the myth:
Slide 3
Icebreaker Question
Ask
Which of the following three statements is false? (Have students write down their answers.)
- Teens who spend more time online report struggling more with their mental health.
- Committed Christians are less likely to experience mental health struggles.
- Physical habits–like sleep, diet, and exercise–affect mental health.
Slide 4
Reveal the answer:
Reveal the second statement as the myth. According to the GYC research, committed Christian teens reported similar levels of anxiety and depression and were more likely to report loneliness and suicidal attempts. The key takeaway: Christians are not exempt from mental health struggles. However, we do have hope – which is what you will unpack through this lesson.
Comment on the first and third statements: Our habits—whether our social media habits or basic physical habits—significantly impact our mental health. The reason is that God wove together our mind, emotions, body, and spirit to form one interdependent whole. So, as disciples, we cannot care for one part without caring for the whole.
Digging In 30 minutes
Slide 5
Say
God's Word has a lot of wisdom on mental health, but we cannot cover it all in one hour. Instead, today, we will look at two passages that can serve as a starting point.
Slide 7
Observe
Ask
What does this passage say we should do and not do?
Answers may include: offer your body to God; do not copy the pattern of this world; be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Slide 8
Interpret
Ask
What worldly patterns of behavior and thinking do you see harming peoples' mental and spiritual health?
Be prepared in case students respond from a non-Christian worldview. For example, a student may say that it is harmful when a person denies their sexuality. Be willing to engage in conversation, asking follow-up questions that challenge their assumptions and point to the truth.
If students need help, start them with a few examples:
- Pressures to perform push people to sacrifice sleep, relationships, and other aspects of a balanced life
- Comparison on social media leads to feelings of inadequacy, envy, and insecurity
- Cultural pressures to look a certain way cause body image issues
Slide 9
Interpret
Ask
What does it mean "to be transformed by the renewing of your mind"? How does that happen?
Take a few responses. Then, point out that when you give your whole self to God and commit to living according to his Word, he transforms your perspective, aligning your mind and heart with his truth.
Optional Follow-Up Question:
Has God ever helped you change the way you think about something? Can anyone share an example?
Slide 11
Observe
Ask
What does Jesus invite those who are struggling to do?
Slide 12
Interpret
Explain that a yoke is a farming tool that connects two animals, like oxen, so that they can pull a heavy load together.
Ask
How does the image of a yoke help us understand what it means to walk with Jesus? What changes when we share the load with him?
Slide 13
Interpret
Ask
What does Jesus tell us about his own heart, and why does that matter?
Slide 14
Apply
Have students turn to two or three classmates to discuss the following questions.
Say
Even faithful followers of Jesus may struggle with mental illness. The important question is how you struggle. When we experience hardships of any kind, we can view them as an invitation to deeper discipleship and reliance upon Jesus.
Ask
What unhealthy patterns have you been following? Remember the examples we discussed, such as comparing yourself to others or feeling pressure to overachieve.
Ask
What is one step you can take to break out of that pattern as you follow Jesus?
Say
After you have shared, spend time praying for one another.
Bring students' attention back to the large group.
Practicing Life with Jesus 15 minutes
Slide 15
Say
Last week, we started exploring how to read the Bible on our own. When we align our ways of thinking and living with God's Word, it impacts every part of us—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Like Romans 12:1-2 says, God changes the way we think and leads us in his will.
Say
Let's take a moment to reflect on the steps we practiced last week: Pray, Read, Observe.
Invite students to share how their practice of reading Scripture went in the past week.
Use the following questions:
Ask
What is one thing you heard God speaking to you as you read?
Ask
Did any obstacles or distractions make it hard for you to read Scripture?
Slide 16
Say
This week, we are continuing to build on our Scripture reading practice by taking the next step. After Pray, Read, Observe comes Interpret. This means thinking about what Scripture means in its context. Keep in mind that interpreting is not the same as applying. Applying is asking what Scripture means in your life. We will get to that next week. But in order to apply it well, we first need to understand what Scripture means in its own context.
Slide 17
Teach the following questions to your students.
- What did this passage mean to its original audience?
- What do keywords or phrases in this passage mean?
- What does the passage say about God or Jesus?
- What does the passage say about people?
Give students a minute to write these questions down in a notebook or their phone's notes app so they can use them while reading the Bible this week.
Slide 18
Response
Have students read John 3:16-21 in small groups, building on their conversation from last week by asking the interpretation questions.
Afterward, if time allows, invite a few groups to share.
Closing
Encourage students to use the steps they learned to read, observe, and interpret Scripture this week. Wrap up the class by praying over your students.
