From David, Asaph, & Son—poetry and principles that will get you through life.

Use the ancient-but-oh-so-modern Psalms and Proverbs from the Old Testament to get your high schoolers talking about God, about themselves, their beliefs, their questions, their lives. About the things that matter to them.

Do it conveniently and effectively with High School TalkSheets Psalms & Proverbs—Updated!, part of the best-selling discussion-starting TalkSheets series from Youth Specialties, now updated for new-millennium high schoolers. Here are 50 creative discussions that focus on relevant, real-life topics:

• trusting God's plan
• sin
• spirituality & godliness
• fears
• wisdom
• parents
• integrity
• praise & worship
• sharing Christ
• Your reputation

...and 40 more subjects of perennial interest to teenagers.

TalkSheets are one-page reproducible handouts with provocative questions in a compelling design that will get churched kids and unchurched kids alike talking and thinking about the Bible—and how its principles affect their daily lives.

Use TalkSheets to launch your own lesson—or use them as stand-alone Bible studies. Each TalkSheet comes with detailed information and suggestions for discussion leaders: Bible references galore, Internet resources, further group exploration, and activities to pursue during and after the meeting.

High School TalkSheets Psalms & Proverbs—Updated! is the perfect discussion- starting resource for youth meetings, small groups and cell groups, Sunday school, and camps and retreats.

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Download a PDF of chapter 1 from High School TalkSheets: Psalms and Proverbs--Updated! You'll need the FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader to open the PDF sample.

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GOD'S GUIDE TO GODLINESS
[pursuing godliness—Psalm 1]

This Week
Psalm 1 deals with life’s most important issue—choosing to live as God wants his children to. Godly living is often overlooked in today’s society, even though it’s an essential Christian teaching. This TalkSheet gives your students a look at what godliness is and how they can strive for it in their own lives.

Opener
Start by asking your students to make a master list of some hard decisions that they and their peers are facing. These may include what college to attend, whether or not to use drugs, or how they’ll handle a dating situation. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being "This is a very easy decision to make"), ask your group to rank the difficulty of each decision. How many of your kids are facing these decisions right now? Have any of them made (or know of anyone who has) made a smart decision—or a poor decision? Point out that life is full of choices—some of which can be extremely difficult to make. Move into the lesson by pointing out that God has placed the ultimate choice in everyone’s path—to live for him or to ignore him. And this discussion will reveal the steps to take to successfully follow God’s plan for their lives.

The Discussion, By the Numbers
1. These two passages center on choosing to follow God’s way rather than some false or useless way. Ask a few of your students to explain what the passages are about—then ask if choosing to live for God is an easy or hard thing to do. How realistic is it to live for God day in and day out? What is the hardest part about doing that?

2. Be sure your kids understand that the psalm warns against lending an open ear to tempting words or sinful advice, following others into sin, and mocking (ridiculing or ignoring) God. Point out that there’s wisdom in relying on God’s wisdom, which is found in the Bible.

3. Explain that by positive steps, you mean steps that people can take to follow God and be blessed (leading happy, meaningful lives). To help explain the third and fifth steps, point out that thanking God can help them think of him often, while prayer and trust will help them get to know him. Is there one step in particular that is less important than the others? What do your students think?

4. These situations give your students a chance to think ahead about ways to deal with similar situations they may face in their lives. What other situations are they facing like these? Talk about practical advice that your students could realistically use in there and other scenarios.

5. Challenge each of your kids to think about what they can improve on. What areas in their lives do they need to give over to God? How can they begin to live for God today? What struggles will they face if they decide to make these changes?

The Close
Close by summarizing the steps mentioned in question 3—to seek and follow godly advice, keep godly friends, think of God (thanking him helps us do this), read and obey the Bible, get to know God (through prayer and trust), and choose to go God’s way. Reinforce this point—godliness results when people practice these steps. Living for God requires strength and encouragement from God—and from others like Christian friends, youth pastors, and others. It’s easy to give up and give in to the lies and temptations in the world. How can your students begin to find God’s way for their lives?

More

• The Christian life is a journey—with ups and downs. How have your students’ journeys with God been so far? What ups and downs have they encountered? You may want to have each of your kids describe their own walk with God, by mapping out their journeys—showing when the journey started and what ups and downs they’ve faced since then. How have they handled the struggles and temptations? How have their experiences brought them to where they are today?
• Give your kids some time to examine how well they are doing in the six steps listed in question 3. Challenge them to think of one area they’re determined to improve this week and from now on. You may want to sharing one area in your life that you will work on—and ask if any of them want to share theirs too. Be sure to follow up with them later and encourage them to rely on God for strength, patience, and forgiveness.

The hows and whats of TalkSheets

God's Guide to Godliness [pursuing godliness—Psalm 1]

Finding His Peace [God's peace—Psalm 3]
Precious to God [God's love for us—Psalm 8]
Being a Fool [foolishness—Psalm 14]
Not Shaken [godliness—Psalm 15]
Count Your Blessings [being blessed—Psalm 16]
Bring It On! [facing challenges—Psalm 20]
Following the Leader [following Christ—Psalm 23]
The Perfect Parent [parents—Psalm 27]
Standing in Awe [delighting in God—Psalm 37]
Taking It with You [treasures in heaven—Psalm 49]
Hang in There [spiritual stamina—Psalm 73]
Serving the Slums [helping others—Psalm 82]
Heavy-Duty Love [Christian love—Psalm 103]
Justice for All [justice—Psalm 106, 146]
Fear Not! [fear—Psalm 112]
PTL [praising God—Psalm 113]
Idle Idols [putting God first—Psalm 115]
Soul Pollution [purity—Psalm 119]
Asking Why [tragedies and suffering—Psalm 119]
Wasting Time [your purpose in life—Psalm 127]
Unity Christian [friendship—Psalm 133]
Better Than You [conceit—Psalm 138]
He Knows You [the sanctity of life—Psalm 139]
Divine Desert [spiritual dry spells—Psalm 143]
Smart Living [respecting God—Proverbs 1]
Corruption Abduction [unhealthy friendships—Proverbs 1]
Core for Living [trusting God—Proverbs 3]
Random Acts of Goodness [good deeds—Proverbs 3]
Slackers Anonymous [laziness—Proverbs 6]
One in Him [Christian unity—Proverbs 6]
Open-minded [being teachable—Proverbs 9, 10]
Honesty Counts! [integrity—Proverbs 10]
Sinful Nature [human wickedness—Proverbs 10]
Window to the Soul [inner beauty—Proverbs 11]
Give or Take [generosity—Proverbs 11]
Did You Hear? [gossip—Proverbs 11, 17, 20]
Livid or Let Go [controlling your temper—Proverbs 12, 15, 16, 19]
One True Thing [God's truth—Proverbs 14]
Truth or Consequences [intelligent Christianity—Proverbs 14]
How Great I Am [pride—Proverbs 16, 27, 29]
There for You [friendship—Proverbs 17, 18, 27]
To Talk or Not to Talk [speaking wisely—Proverbs 18]
Your Reputation and You [reputation—Proverbs 22]
Gimme, Gimme [greed—Proverbs 23]
Be a Lifesaver [sharing Christ—Proverbs 24]
Even My Enemy? [loving your enemies—Proverbs 25]
Coming Clean [confessing our sins—Proverbs 28]
Words to Live By [the Bible—Proverbs 30]
A Woman's Place [the role of women—Proverbs 31]