Series Overview

Head-Heart-Hands is based on the “greatest commandment” as recorded in the ancient Hebrew Scriptures and repeated by Jesus in his teaching (see Deuteronomy 6 and Matthew 22:37-40): "You must love the LORD​ your God with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength."

The content focuses on becoming more like Jesus as a whole person — head, heart, and hands; or thoughts, attitudes, and actions.

List Of Lessons

There are 15 lessons grouped into three buckets:

• Foundation​ (discipleship basics)
• Formation (habits and practices that move us closer to Jesus)
• Fruition​ (attitudes and actions of a growing disciple)

Lesson Elements

Each online lesson includes the following:

• Intro (ideas to start things off)
• Media (song or video that can be used anywhere in the lesson)
• WarmUp (opening conversation starters)
• Read and Reflect (scripture, engagement, reflection, discussion)
• Try This (ideas for personal growth and practice)
• Additional Scripture (verses related to the theme)
• More Resources (relevant videos, books, podcasts)

Student Take-Home Elements

Each take-home printable student card includes the following:

• Scripture (main passage and additional daily passages)
• Personal Challenge (set a personal goal or action step)
• Head-Heart-Hands application (process whole-person learning)
• Daily Goal & Examen (prompts for morning focus and evening reflection)

Planning & Prep

Spend some time working through contents of the lesson yourself so that when you meet with students, the discussion, teaching, and learning will flow from your own healthy discipleship.

Adapting & Scaling Scripture

Each lesson has more content than you can process in a single meeting. After you’ve worked through the content yourself, determine which Scripture passages to focus on. We recommend the following:

Middle School:​ focus on just the example of Jesus

High School:​ focus on the example of Jesus and a teaching passage

College & Leaders:​ your choice

Adapting & Scaling Discussion Questions

You can user fewer discussion questions than are included and can adapt them for your group like this:

Middle School

• Make questions direct​ and one-dimensional by modifying​ and breaking down​ the question.
• Modify​ the question:

1. (original) ​ How have you defined or understood discipleship before now?
2. (modified) ​ ​What do you think discipleship is?

• Breakdown​ the question:

1. (original) What comes to mind when you hear “identity in Christ”?
2. (broken down) 1. What is identity? 2. What do you think it means to live “in Christ”? 3. What do you think this means: “My identity is in Christ”?

YoungLives​ ​

Include at least one discussion point about how the theme intersects with their role as a parent or parent-to-be.

Leaders

Include discussion about how the content shapes their leadership and their discipling of others.

Non-believers/pre-believers

If you have people in your Head-Heart-Hands group who don’t yet follow Jesus, engage them by slightly shifting some of the questions. For example, instead of asking, “What do you think God is saying to you in these verses,” you could ask, “What do you think this story is about? Did you know this is what Christians believe? Is this what you’ve heard about Jesus before? What do you think about that?”

Student Take-Home Card

Middle School & High School

Print front and back (flip on short edge) on cardstock if possible. Decide as a group what your “personal challenge” will be (ideas are included in online content). Complete the front of the card at the end of your meeting. The back side of the card is for follow-up, so the learning can continue throughout the week. Adjust the Scripture reading schedule to fit your meeting schedule in whatever way makes the most sense.

College & Leaders

The take-home card may feel too young for them

Head-Heart-Hands Printable Model

Middle School

The model may be too abstract for some MS students. Simply jump into the lessons with them. You can show them the model after finishing the series and allow them to connect the dots about how all the pieces fit together.

High School & College

Print off and distribute the first week. It will be the frame that supports the overall series and each lesson.

Reading Scripture

We believe that communal reading of Scripture is a life-giving and sacred experience. When you read Scripture, read it with respect, enthusiasm, and joy. Be familiar enough with all the passages to read them fluently and engagingly.

• Do not ask middle school students to read a passage aloud until you’ve read it to the group first.
• Read the passage from different versions when possible.
• Never put anyone on the spot by asking them to read aloud if they’re not comfortable doing so.
• Model good Scripture reading: comfortable pace, clear speech, appropriate emphasis, logical pausing.

Other Resources

On the main page you’ll find additional resources including an “Identity in Christ” self-assessment, “Convo Starters” to help kick-off your meetings, “Signs of Growth-Spaces for Growth” that provide a simple framework for observing the learning process for each elements of Head-Heart-Hands, and more.

Encouragement for You

The process of becoming more like Jesus (discipleship) is slow work. It’s not flashy or trendy. It is the most humble and humbling journey of this lifetime.

The process of helping others become more like Jesus (discipling) is also slow work. It's not flashy or trendy. It is the most humble and humbling part of ministry.

Whether it’s in a formal small group setting or an organic moment of hanging out together, your students are imitating you as they learn to imitate Jesus, just as Paul said in 1 Corinthians. Your life, words, actions, and attitudes are speaking all the time, not just to the kids who already follow Jesus, but also to those who don’t yet know or trust him.

You are disciples. And you are disciplers — which is a high and holy calling.

Thank you for walking alongside teens and leading them into a life of deep discipleship.