A New Cornerstone Connections

Real. Solid. Stories

For quite some time young people, and those who teach them, have been registering their concern with and lack of interest in the now 30-year-old (+) Cornerstone Connections Sabbath School lessons. Those concerns have been heard—in conversations, surveys, e-mails, focus groups, and falling subscriptions. Unfortunately, the wheels of change move slowly, especially when those making the changes are trying to listen to all of the concerned voices.

This is what was heard from the concerned voices around the world:

We all care about our youth, so . . . we want deeper Bible study resources; we want material on relevant teen topics; we want more modern media resources; we want simple lessons that can be taught under a tree; we need better teacher training; we want resources that can help us be all things to all youth so that by all means we can save some (apologies to Paul in 1 Cor. 9:22).

In response, an international creative team held electronic dialogue for many months, and attempted to meet as many of the voiced concerns as possible in one, cohesive curriculum. The four years of new youth Sabbath School lessons:

Are based on the plan of salvation by grace, from Genesis through Revelation.
Are strongly correlated with the inspired commentary, the Conflict of the Ages series, of which a condensed and adapted version is to be made available, along with podcasts of selected passages.
Are supported by topical youth resources for leaders and teachers (including all the fundamental beliefs) on the Leadout Ministries Web site.*
Are printed in Insight magazine along with other complementary articles and stories, and are supplemented by the Insight on-line forum for related dialogue.

The goal of the new Cornerstone Connections youth Bible study curriculum is for both youth and their leaders to get back to the Bible and see the big story of God and people. Even though young people today have a desire to get into God’s word for themselves, they are not always sure how to accomplish that since the issues of their lives don’t always apparently connect with the inspired text written long ago. Reading the Bible can sometimes feel like walking in a fog to them.

But the Bible was never meant to be read, it was meant to be studied and reflected on and integrated into life. It takes work. The Bible is not simply a story to entertain. But it is about stories—true stories—that continue from the first generation in Eden to our generation today. It’s one long story of people as they interact with the God of the universe. Everyone is part of the story.

Neither are the stories written to be analyzed as much as they are to be followed and obeyed. The Bible is the tool of the promised teacher—the Holy Spirit. If we take firm hold of the storied messages of the Bible, we will find that “[y]ou will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah. 29:13). “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24).

The new lessons are each developed around a Bible story or passage. The students are led right Into the Story from God’s Word. Then, they are led to find truth in that story which they can apply to their own lives. From each lesson they will take something personal Out of the Story. We have been assured by Ellen White that “[i]n daily study the verse-by-verse method is often most helpful. Let the student take one verse, and concentrate the mind on ascertaining the thought that God has put into that verse for [them], and then dwell upon the thought until it becomes [their] own. One passage thus studied until its significance is clear is of more value than the perusal of many chapters with no definite purpose in view and no positive instruction gained” (Education, p. 189).

In order to help the students focus their minds on the weekly passage, the following supportive elements are also provided in each student lesson:

The Reading Plan and Flashlights which refer to the commentary of Ellen White, in which she first describes the story with colorful details that inspire the study, and then presents deep principles that apply to the church today.
The “What do you think?” and “Did you know?” mental activities and facts that prompt minds and hearts to get in gear for what is to follow, and help students approach every lesson from the perspective of the story in which they themselves are currently living.
Other verses from scripture that punctuate key concepts of the lesson, called Punch Lines, and quotes from various contemporary or historic sources that may open a slightly different perspective on the central message of the lesson—Other Eyes.
And finally, the Making It Real section which guides the student in making the truths about God in this story their own.

Each teacher’s lesson also includes:

Suggested topics to Explore which can be used to create a “program” on a topic which relates to the story, but is also relevant to their group (www.leadoutministries.com).*
Context and Background information that will make the story become more understandable for both students and teachers.
A weekly teaching tip—Rabbi 101—which will be helpful in the current lesson as well as be useful to keep for future reference.

Youth leaders and teachers can begin together by reviewing, exploring, and experimenting with all the resources, and deciding how best to cast the heart of their youth ministry—Sabbath School—in a whole new light, one that focuses on both the relevant and the back-to-the-basics issues of life. The ancient, but on-going story of grace and the great controversy is still being played out every day in the lives of both youth and their leaders. Only in the Word can they find reassurance that Grace has already won.