Yikes! I Only Have 45 Minutes to Teach the 4 Keys. Do You Have Anything to Help Me?

We sure do! Simply click here and our 4 Keys one-page handout is yours. Your situation is so common, whether it be Sunday morning sermons, Sunday school classes, home group meetings or conference speaking opportunities -- all we get is 45 minutes. So what do we do in this situation? Here is what I do and this is the handout I make available.

I give everyone this single page of notes so they can fill it in as I take 25 minutes to teach the four keys from Habakkuk 2:1,2. Then, the remaining 20 minutes will be a journaling application exercise and sharing time. It is crucial that we "practice truth" in the classroom. People want to experience God, not just hear about Him.

Most generally I will have the listeners write a two-way love letter, as that is by far the easiest initial journaling exercise to complete. I tell them they will have four minutes to write a short paragraph describing one reason they love the Lord so much. The next four minutes, they are to be using the four keys and letting the Lord share His love back with them. I tell them to make this easy by picturing themselves as a child (gets their doubts out of the way), and putting a big smile on their face (keeps them from striving, which cuts off the flow).

I say that they should picture themselves together with Jesus in a comfortable setting. He can be sitting next to them with His arm around them, or they can go skim rocks along the Sea of Galilee, or whatever feels good to them. The key is to be comfortable.

No doubt is allowed for the four minutes they are journaling. Journaling lets them test it later, so they don’t have to test while they are receiving. Testing is doubt and it will cut off the flow, as you must come to God in faith, believing, if you want to receive from Him (Heb. 11:6).

Generally I don't use music during this journaling session. However if I do, I put soft soaking music on, most often starting at minute 7 of our Sea of Galilee audio.

I let them know when four minutes are up so that if they have not yet switched over to writing paragraph two, they should do so, giving the Lord a full four minutes to speak back to them.

We then have them read paragraph two (the words from the Lord) to one other person. If you are listening to someone’s journaling and your heart feels it is God, you tell them that and build them up in faith. Then you share your journaling with your partner. So you have small groups of two for the next five minutes. This breaks the ice and gives everyone a chance to share in a non-threatening environment, and by being affirmed, they are ready to take the next step. When I ask for three or so volunteers to read their journaling for the entire group, it is quite easy to get three hands up.

No one is ever forced to share, and if they can’t read their journaling in a small group of two, then that is fine; they can simply listen to their partner read their journaling.

You will see many tears when participants read their journaling, as God is ministering powerfully to people’s hearts. Make it clear they are to read their second paragraph (God's words) only. No stories. No paraphrases, please, as we want to hear what God is saying.

Now you let folks know they should take 10 weeks and go through the entire 4 Keys training package, preferably in a group setting, as you always learn faster together than you do alone.

I have had tremendous success using this proven method of teaching the 4 Keys and now I invite you to use it, too. Share the overview sheet with everyone in your group so they can take notes on what the 4 Keys are, and then write their two-way love letter on the back. What could be easier?

Download the handout today!