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How a Venture Clubs meeting runs: Treasure Time, Discovery Time and the 3 R’s.
Treasure Time
Large group teaching time25 minutes
This is a time to minister to the hearts of the children, a time of singing, testimonies, and hearing from The Word of God. This will be done in a large group setting. The children and the leaders will sit by teams. This is for disciplinary purposes.
As the children are coming into the room and being seated (by teams) music is being played.
Suggested format for ‘Treasure Time’
- Two or three songs
- Announcements
- One last song
- Introduce the speaker
The speaker may
You may read the lesson (or a portion) from the Venture Clubs handbook and announce the question that will be answered, focusing in on the one Biblical truth to be taught in the lesson and the one question that will be answered, equipping the children to know how to defend the one truth taught.
Teacher Guide
The teacher may want to use the “Teacher Guide Lesson helps + PowerPoint slides” from the Venture Clubs resource center to assist in your teaching.
To restate the suggested format for the teaching time
- Open in prayer.
- Introduce the Bible topic that will be taught (the focus).
- State the question from the Venture Clubs book that we are going to answer.
- From time to time restate ‘the question you are answering’ throughout the teaching time.
- Close the time in prayer.
Suggestion
In closing, ask if there is anyone in the group who wants to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
You teach the lessonthen move to the 3 R’s
As explained below
Discovery Time (the 3 R’s)
Small group learning time25 to 30 minutes
Discovery Time is the primary learning time for children and youth. Here they learn Biblical truth and learn how to apply the truths to their lives. They will come to know what they believe, and they will grasp why they believe these eternal truths. Additionally with the question posed in each lesson, each young person will learn how to articulate their convictions with boldness and clarity.
The children come in an orderly fashion and are assigned to the same leader each week. This is of paramount importance. This allows the ‘adult / teen’ to get to know each child and their capabilities. Each leader / rehearser “may” have up to 8-10 young people (or more) in their group. Also, the arrangement of the room has a significant impact on discipline and the achievements of the young people. It is ideal to have the young people sit in a semi-circle facing their leader. This type of seating arrangement will have a significant impact on the discipline and achievements of the children.
During this interactive small group time, the leader and children will
- Rehearse the truth/doctrine that was taught. (Not discuss the teaching.)
- Memorize the Bible verse(s) that reinforces the truth/doctrine taught.
- Each child will articulate in their own words the truth/doctrine taught.
The key to your Venture Clubs. The other children are listening to each child’s response. In the “large group” the child is taught what to think, and now the expectation in the small group is that the child will mentally rehearse, “What was taught, what does the Word of God say, now how do I put all this into my own words.” Teaching the child ‘how to think’. The Church is a “safe place” for the child to share their beliefs and ultimately these teachings will become convictions that they will carry for the rest of their life, sharing confidently and accurately in their circle of influence.
For an apologetic result, use the 3 R’s
RehearseThe leaders will do a rehearsal of the lesson taught in the large group / Treasure Time message (getting each child to participate). Rehearse - not discussing or re-teaching of the lesson.
ReciteAfter memorizing the scripture verse(s) in the book that reinforces the doctrine that was taught in the Treasure Time.
Tip
A small rub/write board is very helpful in group memorization of the Bible verses.
RestateVery important - the primary question, the question that is answered each night on the topic that is taught, is of the utmost importance. This activity is allowing the children to think, putting their answer to the question in their own words. Their response will come from what they heard taught and what they memorized, then answering the question orally is imbedding their answer into their minds, equipping them to give an answer of “The Hope Within”!
Historically, the church has done an excellent job of teaching children what to think, but not how to think. The Venture Clubs method of teaching is a tool to assist in teaching children how to think, not just what to think.
Keep a copy at the club
Members can download this guide as a PDF from the Resource Center and print it for every leader.