UNITEDCHURCHOFGOD

Deuteronomy6ModelHandbook

AGuideforCongregationYouthInstructionImplementation

Updated

10/9/2016

ThishandbookwasdesignedasanoverviewandaguidefortheDeuteronomy6ModelforYouthInstructionthatisbeingusedinmanyUnitedChurchofGodcongregations.Itcanhelpcongregationsget

startedwiththe“parentsfirst”modelconceptforyouthinstruction.

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Index

1. VisionandPurposeThekeypiecestoaDeuteronomy6“ParentsFirst”Model.......... Pg.2

2. Howtoimplementthismodel..................................................... Pg.3-4

3. Generalquestionsandanswers..…..…………………………………........... Pg.5

4. The2016-17studies:God’sTenCommandmentsobjectives......... Pg.6-7

5. Wherecanwefindresources?..................................................... Pg.8

6. Addendum:WhatwelearnedinPhoenixwiththeprocess………… Pg.9

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UCGVisionStatement

TheUCGVisionstatementexplainsthatwemustbeachurchthatisguidedbytheHolySpiritandjoinedandknittogetherbywhateachmembersupplies.Deuteronomy6clearlyplacestheprimaryresponsibility

“supplying”godlyknowledgeandunderstandingtoouryouthupontheparents.ThisDeuteronomy6projectisintendedtosupportandassistparentswiththemoralandspiritualdevelopmentoftheir

childrenandinvolvetheentirechurchintheprocess.Itisourdutytosupportparentsinteachingyouthtodeveloptheirfullgodlypotential--whichistheircallingintotheBodyofJesusChristandtheworkoftheChurch--whilelearningthatGod'sspirituallawsarepracticalwaysofliving.(Deuteronomy6:6-9&11:19-

20;Psalm34:11;Proverbs22:6;Ephesians6:4).

Deuteronomy6ModelOverview

Purpose:Deutoronomy6:6{AMP}AndthesewordswhichIamcommandingyouthisdayshallbe[first]inyour[own]mindsandhearts;[then]7Youshallwhetandsharpenthemsoastomakethempenetrate,andteachandimpressthemdiligentlyuponthe[mindsand]heartsofyourchildren,andshalltalkofthemwhenyousitinyourhouseandwhenyouwalkbytheway,andwhenyouliedownandwhenyouriseup.

YouthInstructionresponsibilitybelongstotheparentsandbeginsinthehome. YouthInstructionincludesallchildrenfrombirthuntilleavinghome. YouthInstructionissupportedandreinforcedinourchurchprogramsandculture.

Parents:ShiftresponsibilitytotheparentsforteachingaboutGod,24/7.Itisnotjustatchurchandat“SabbathSchool.”ParentsareresponsibleforteachingtheirownchildrenaboutGodandHisprinciples.

Parentscanteachinthemoment.Biblicalprinciplesaremosteffectivelytaught“inthemoment”aslifehappens.(Deuteronomy6:7…whenyousitinyourhouse,whenyouwalkbytheway,whenyouliedown,andwhenyouriseup.)

Parentsknowtheirownchildrenandhowtheycanlearnbest. Parentscanteachtotheirownchildren’sgradeorknowledgelevel. Familystudiesareintendedtotiebiblicalconceptstoeverydaylife.

LocalCongregation:TheUnitedChurchofGod’scurrentinitiativeistoprovideapositiveenvironmentforgrowth.Involvingallmembersofthecongregationcanhelptodothis.Somekeythings:

EveryoneisawareofyouthinstructionandisinvitedtoattendYouthInstructionmeetingsanddiscussions.

Worktobuildparentandyouthinstructor-facilitator’s“teaching”expertise. Tielocalprograms,studiesandtopicsasmuchaspossibletothemonthlyYouthInstructiontopic(clubs,Biblestudies,youthinstructionandstudies,sermonette/sermonspeakers)

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ImplementationProcessHowdoweimplementa“D-6”modelinourcongregation?

1) PastorInvolvement.ItisimportantforthepastortohaveagoodunderstandingoftheDeut.6-“ParentsFirst”modelandhowUCGisusingittoreframeYouthInstruction.ThismodelemphasizesfirsttheimportanceofparentsincreasingtheirknowledgeofGod,andthenhelpingtheirownchildreninternalizeGod’sways.

2) DoaNeedsAssessment.Startwiththesekindsofquestions:

• WhatisthecurrentunderstandingofshiftingtoaDeut.6“ParentsFirst”ModelforYouthInstruction?

• Currently,isthereaSabbathSchoolprograminplaceandhowisitworking?• Whatarethefamilies’commitmentstoYouthInstruction?• Howmanychildrenareinyourcongregation?• Whataretheirages?(Remember-thismodelincludesallchildrenfrombirthtooutof

home.)• Whatareyourcurrentfacilitator-instructorandparentteachingexpertise?• Whatresourcesdoyoucurrentlyhaveavailabletouse?• Whatareyourmeetingfacilitieslikeandtimesavailable?Keythingstoconsider:

ü Identifyakeyperson(s)whocan“lead”ortakeontheprojectforthecongregation.Thispersonneedstohaveapassionanddesiretomakeitwork!Therearealotofparentsouttherewhoareveryexcitedaboutthisprojectandarewillingtohelp.

ü Identifythefirstareatofocuson.Takesmallstepstobeginwithratherthantryingtodoeverythingatonce.

3) Setameetingwithparents,leadership,andotherinterestedmembers.• DiscusstheneedtoshiftfromtraditionalSabbathSchoolprogramtoaDeut.6“ParentsFirst”

ModelforYouthInstruction.Whatarethebenefitsforparentsandtheirchildren?Howwillthewholecongregationbenefit?

• Youcanshoworuse:

ü GCESchreiberpresentationintroducingD-6https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D56DH5F7cCI&index=12&list=PLIHmLSKYShCy9gV60HqFMYbNwgZuQ6O7b

ü ShowSchreiberD-6Seminarhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p61ghDXW92w&feature=youtu.be

ü DevelopyourownD-6introductionusingPowerPointslidesfromSchreiber’spresentation.

ü ReviewtheUCGFamilyEducationWebpage.Informationandresourcescanbefoundhere:https://www.ucg.org/members/family-study-guides

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4) Decideonanimplementationtimeline.Suggestion:BeginyouractualprogramaftertheFeastofTabernacles,butstartacouplemonthsbeforehandtoputneededthingsintoplace.

5) Discusswithyourfamiliesthetopicofstudy.• Whatisthestudytopicthattheparentswouldlikeorismostneededbytheparentgroup?

• CurrentlytheUCG2016-17TopicofstudyisGod’sTenCommandments.ThemonthlyFamilyStudyGuideswillreviewindeptheachofthecommandmentswithwaystohelpthechildreninternalizeGod’swaysintotheirownlives.WewantthemtouseGod’sthinkingaswaystomakedecisionsintheirlives.Wewillhavelotsofpossiblequestionsandscenariostohelpstartrichfamilydiscussions.

• IfyourcongregationhasnotstartedtheDeuteronomy6program,itmightbebeneficialtoreviewthefirstfoundationallessonson“MakingGodReal.”AccessthepastandcurrentYouthInstructionlessonshere:https://www.ucg.org/members/family-study-guides

6) Developatimelineandimplementationplan.• Whenwillyoustartyourcongregation’sYouthInstructionprogram?• Whatwillbetopicofstudy?• Whoareyourfacilitator-instructors?• Willyouhaveformalinstructionaltimesatchurch?Ifsohowwilltheybestructured?(i.e.

numbersoftimes,amountoftime,format)• Howwillthisplanbesharedandimplemented?Developacommunicationsprocess.(When

willparentsandothersreceivefamilystudyguides;announcements;howwilltheybedistributed?)

Onceyourplanisdeveloped:

1. HowwillyouinvolveandconnectthewholecongregationtoDeut.6YouthInstructionModel?• WheneverpossiblehelpconnectandsupporttheotherUCGyouthandfamilyprograms:

UnitedYouthCamps,FeastofTabernacles,etc.2. Howwillyoubuildingrowthopportunitiesforraisingthelevelsof“teaching”expertiseinparents,

facilitators,leadersinchurch,andspeakers?3. WithinyourImplementationPlan,have3month,6month,andyearlyprogramassessments.This

shouldincludeallstakeholders.Thishelpstoseeprogressoranyneededprogramadjustments.Askthesekindsofquestions:

ü Howisitgoing?Whatdoparentssay?Whatdofacilitatorssayabouthowthechildrenarelearninganddoing?

ü Whatdoesthedatasay?ü Whatchangesmightneedtobeaddressedoradjusted?ü Whendochangesneedtobemade?ü Whoisinvolvedwiththechanges?ü Whatdifferentresultsareyouexpectingwiththischange/adjustment?

4. Finally,don’tforgettoshareresultsandcelebratebeforegoingontothenextyear!!!

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SomeGeneralQuestionsandAnswers1. Wedon’thaveenoughchildrentostartaYouthInstructionProgram.Howisthisrelevanttothe

congregation?Ifthereisevenonechildandoneparentorgrandparent,thelessonscanbetaughtandtheprinciplesapplied.Ifthereareafewmorechildren,evenbetter.Childreninsmallcongregationswithfewornoothersintheiragecategoryneedevenmoreinvolvementfromtherestofthegroup.Ifsermonettesorsermonsaregivenrelatedtothetopicofthemonth,andthemessagebringsoutpointsofthelesson,thechildwillperkupandlisten.Childrenwanttoknowthattheadultscareaboutthemwhattheyarelearning.Getcreativeonanimplementationforsmallnumbers.

2. OurparentsarenotinvolvedinteachingtheirchildrenaboutGod.Howcanwechangethat

culture?Theadage“Youcanleadahorsetowater,butcan’tmakehimdrink”certainlyappliestoYouthInstruction.Ifaparenthaschosennottohavetheirchildparticipate,thechildsuffers.Someparentshavechosennottoparticipatein“SabbathSchool”either.However,ifaparentissendinghischildtothereviewlessonsontheSabbathwiththeotherkids,wehavefoundthatpeerpressuresoonsetsin,andthechildwillprobablygohomeandasktheparentwhytheyhavenotstudiedthelesson.Wehaveseenmostparentsstepuptheirhomestudiessothattheirchildrenwillbebetterabletoparticipate.Instructorscanhelpbysettingupyouthinstructiontimetofocusondiscussingwhatfamilieshavelearnedsofamiliesobservetheneedtoprepareandteachtheirchildrenbeforereviewlessons.Inaddition,wheninstructorscommunicatepositiveresultstoparentsandfamiliesafteralesson,itisencouragementforfamiliestocontinuetobecomemoreinvolved.

3. Wedon’thaveanyteachersortalentedmembersinourcongregationwhocouldteachyouth

lessons.Howcanwechangethat?TheFamilyEducationwebsitewillhaveresourcesforinstructorswithtipsandstrategiesforteachingchildren.Thesethingscanhelpdeveloptheskillsofaninterestedadult.Dependingonthedemographics,youcangetcreative.Onecongregationhadtwosinglemotherseachwithaboy.EachSabbaththeboyshadan“adopted”parent,grandparent,uncle,oraunt.Onarotatingbasisthis“adopted”personorcouplehadthechildsitwiththematservices,andwouldreviewayouthlessonwiththemafterservices.Ithelpedthesesinglemothersandhelpedthechildrenbecomeapartofthecongregation.

4. Everyoneisbusywithlotsofresponsibilitiesandnoonecantakeonanotherproject.Whatdoyou

suggestwedo?Thefactis,oncethisprogramgetsstarted,itgetseasier.Parentswillbeabletoaccessthefamilystudiesonlineandteachtheirchildren.InstructorswillgatherthechildrentogetherontheSabbathsthatworkforyourcongregation’sschedules.Makesurethecongregationhasaccesstothelessonsandencouragespeakerstoinvolvethemselvesinthetopicofthemonth,asitisrelevantandappropriate.

5. WithoutSabbathSchoolformat,willwebelosingconceptssuchasSabbathSchoolgraduationand

recognitionceremonies,featuringthingssuchasstudentsbeingawardedBibles?Whatareyourthoughtsaboutthatgoingforward?ImplementingtheD-6processdoesnoteliminateSabbathSchoolorTeenStudylessons.Theintentisfortheemphasistochangesothatthesethingssupportandaugmentfamilystudiesnotreplacethem.End-of-yearcelebrations,reviews,skits,awards,etc.arestillanimportantpartofyouthinstructionandareencouraged.WedoourendofyearprogrameachyearinlateMayorJunewithourrecognitions,graduation,etc.

6. Whenwillthefamilystudyguidesbeavailableandhowcanwegetaccess?See“Resources”below.

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2016-2017God’sTenCommandmentsFamilyStudyGuides

LessonKeyObjectives Objectives:

• HelpyourchildrenlisttheTenCommandments.• HelpyourchildrendescribehowGodgaveMosestheTenCommandments.• HelpyourchildrenexplainJesusChrist'sviewoftheTenCommandments.• HelpyourchildrenexplainthepositiveresultsthatcomefromkeepingGod'slaws.

1stCommandment:YoushallhavenootherGodsbeforeme.

Objectives:• HelpyourchildrenlearnmoreaboutdevelopingarelationshipwithGodbyunderstandingthe

meaningoftheFirstCommandment.• HelpyourchildrencomparetheresultsofobeyingtheFirstCommandmenttotheresultsof

violatingtheFirstCommandment.2ndCommandment:Youshallnotmakeforyourselfanygravenimage.

Objectives:• HelpyourchildrenexplainthemeaningandimportanceoftheSecondCommandment.• HelpyourchilddescribeexamplesoftheSecondCommandmentbeingobeyedanddisobeyed.• Helpyourfamilygainessentialunderstandings:GodisouronlytrueGodandourprotector.We

cannotworshiporputanythingaboveGod.HowweworshipGodisimportanttoHim.3rdCommandment:YoushallnottakethenameofGodinvain.

Objectives:• HelpyourchildrenexplainwhyitiswrongtotakeGod’snameinvain.• HelpyourchildrendescribehowtoshowtruerespectforourCreatorGod.

4thCommandment:RemembertheSabbathdaytokeepitholy.

Objectives:• DescribehowtoobeyGod'scommandtoremembertheSabbathday.• Explainthebenefitsofobeyingthe4thCommandment.• ReviewwithyourchildrenhowGodtaughttheIsraelitesabouttheSabbaththroughthegivingof

manna.

5thCommandment:Honoryourfatherandyourmother.Objectives:• HelpyourchildrentodescribehowGodexpectsustofollowHis5thcommandment.• HelptounderstandthatGodrequiresactionasproofofobedience.

6thCommandment:Thoushallnotmurder.

Objectives:• HelpyourfamilydiscusswhatmurderisandhowJesusexpandedonitsdefinitionintheNew

Testament.• DiscusshowtheBiblicalexampleofCainandAbelillustratestheprocessofmurder:anattitude

ofjealousyleadstohatred,whichismurderintheheart.• Definetheactofmurderandhowtoavoiditthroughdiscussionofreallifescenarios.

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7thCommandment:Thoushallnotcommitadultery.

Objectives:• HelpyourfamilyexplaintheseventhcommandmentanditsNewTestamentapplication.• HelpyourchildrenfindBiblicalandmodernexamplesshowingthatthereareconsequencesfor

breakingGod’slaws,butthatGodisalsomercifulandforgiving.8thCommandment:Thoushallnotsteal.

Objectives:• Helpyourchildrentodescribetheprocessofhowcovetingcanleadtostealing.• DiscusslessonsfromtheexampleofAchanandthecityofJerichoasanexampleofstealing.• HelpyourchildrenexamineChrist’steachingconcerningstealing.

9thCommandment:Youshallnotbearfalsewitness:

Objectives:• Helpyourfamilyexaminewhatitmeanstobearfalsewitness.• Compareandcontrastbearingfalsewitnessandlying.Aretheythesame?• ExplainwhyGodhatesalieandhowlyingcanleadtootherproblems.

10thCommandment:Youshallnotcovet.

Objectives:• Helpyourfamilyexplainwhycovetingisaselfishwayoflifeandselfishnessisawayofsinning.• UseBiblicalandmodernexamplestodescribehowlustcanleadtobreakingmanyoftheother10

Commandments.

MonthlyYouthInstructionFamilyStudyGuidescanbedownloadedfromtheUCGFamilyEducationwebpage.https://www.ucg.org/members/family-study-guides

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Resources

ü During2016-17themonthlyFamilyGuideswillbeavailableontheUCGmemberssite.

ü AllpastDeuteronomy6topicseriescanbefoundhere:https://www.ucg.org/members/family-study-guides

ü 2014GCEPlenarysessiongivenbytheSchreibers.Thesessioncanbeviewedat:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D56DH5F7cCI&index=12&list=PLIHmLSKYShCy9gV60HqFMYbNwgZuQ6O7b

ü Deut.6Seminarvideocanbefoundat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p61ghDXW92w&feature=youtu.be

ü YoumayalsocontacttheSchreibersdirectlyinthismanner:

o RandySchreiber—randy_schreiber@ucg.orgor480-235-3981

o KaySchreiber—azkays@hotmail.comor602-909-8189

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AnoverviewoftheD-6processintheNWPhoenixCongregation:

Wemetasagroup(allparents,instructors,andotherinterested)atthebeginningofyeartodiscussandcometoconsensusonwhichtopicmostneededfortheyearlystudy.TheconsensusatthemeetingbecameourYouthInstructionstudytopic.• TheparentswantedastudyintotheFundamentalBeliefsofUCGandGod’sDoctrines.

Our2013-14topicwasMakingGodReal.Thisistheseriesthatisonthewebsite.• MonthlyFamilyStudyGuidesaredesignedandpreparedfortheyearlytopictheme.• Theguidesaredesignedtobuildfoundationalbasicbiblicalconceptsfortheparents.Theguidesarenot

writtenforthechildren,butforparentsasguidestoteachtheirownchildren.• EachfamilyreceivestheFamilyStudyGuideatthefirstofthemonth.• FamilieshaveBiblestudiesusingtheGuidesandotherresources.• Mid-monthCompassChecklessonswereheldatchurchservices.• EndofmonthSummaryLessonwithinstructors.

ü Selectionofinstructors(whenpossible:1experienced,1new,anobserver)ü Debriefafterlessonstoseehowitwentü QuarterlyFamilyConnectionsNewsletterwhichgivesteachingtipsandtricksü Quarterlymeetingswithallparents,instructors,andcongregationalspeakersfordiscussionon

howtheprocessisgoingandhelpingtobuildexpertiseasagroup

GeneralthingswelearnedfromourprocessinNWPhoenix:

ü Youneedacoupleofpeopletocarrythetorchandkeepitgoing.ü Pastorneedstostayinformedandinvolved.Taketheleadonaskingparentsandothershowthings

aregoingandwhattheirfamilyislearning.ü Haveavarietyofwaystocollaborateandinvolveabroadgroupofyourcongregationinthe

developmentoftheplanandtheprocess.ü Buildyourimplementationframeworkforchangethatworksforyourparents.Findoutwhat

parentsaskforandneedtostudy.ü Beflexible.Thereisno“onesizefitsall”model.Theongoingassessmentswillhelptoseeifthere

areadjustmentsneeded.ü Shareresourcesandaccesswithyourwholecongregation.Thesearenotjustforparentsor

instructors.ü Takesmallsteps.Ittakestimetoshiftthinkinginapositiveway.ü Buildingsuccesstakestimeandpersistence.Keepatit.ü Sharewithparentsthesuccessandgrowththatyousee.

-FromTheNWPhoenixYouthInstructionTeam