Big Questions Semester 2 Student magazine

SEMESTER

2 REVISED

2018

LESSON 2

Luke 1–6; Mark 5

JESUS what was he really like?

Fill in the missing words in this list of the events of Jesus’ life. Use the Bible references to help you.

Luke 1:26–37 Mary receives a surprising visit from who tells her that Luke 2:8–20 Some shepherds receive a surprising visit from who tell them that Luke 2:25–35 Simeon receives a surprising visit from and he tells them that Luke 3:21–22 John the Baptist gets a surprise when he baptises Jesus, because he hears

saying

Luke 5:1–11 Some fishermen get a surprise when Mark 5:22–24, 35–43 Jairus gets a surprise when

‘Jesus loves and cares for everyone, no matter who they are.’

Luke 5:27–28 Matthew gets a surprise when

Is this true?

What are the reasons for your opinion?

Use the lines below.

2

Ј KEY VERSE

This very day in King David’s hometown a Saviour was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 (CEV)

TELLING

BLIND

L E S S O N 9 Acts 9:1–22

Are some people too bad for

to forgive?

Saul hated Christians, arrested them and had them thrown into prison. He was a persecutor of Christians. He believed that it was his job to track down Christians and put a stop to their beliefs.

What a surprise God had in store for him!

Read Acts 9:1–22 and complete the task below.

SON

V B A

D

A

A

ANANIAS

S L A

T

DAMASCUS

G

SAU

L

S FLASHED

Fill in the missing words in the sentences and add them to the right place in the puzzle above.

Saul was on his way to D __ __ __ __ __ __ __ where he planned to arrest and imprison all the Christians he could find.

On the road, a bright light suddenly f __ __ __ __ __ __ around him and he fell to the ground, stunned.

He heard the Lord Jesus’ v __ __ __ __ calling his name. When he got up he was b __ __ __ __ and had to be led by the hand into the city.

He stayed for three days in a house, unable to eat or drink. A follower of Jesus called A __ __ __ __ __ __ obeyed God and went to visit S __ __ __ . He prayed for Saul and he was healed.

Saul was b __ __ __ __ __ __ __ to show he now believed in Jesus.

Saul stayed with the Christians for several days. Then Saul went to the Jewish meeting houses and began to preach, t __ __ __ __ __ __ everyone that Jesus really was the S __ __ of God.

Almost everyone in Saul’s story was surprised by the way things turned out.

How was Saul surprised on the road to Damascus?

Why were the men travelling with him surprised?

Why was Ananias surprised?

Why were the Lord’s followers (Christians) in Damascus surprised?

Why were the Jews in Damascus surprised?

16

VOICE

BAPTISED

Are you surprised that God would forgive and use a person like Saul?

, e c a r G g n i z a m A , d n u o s e h t t e e how sw h c t e r w a d e v a That s , d n . . u . . o e f m a w like m o n t u b t s o l s a w e . e e s I onc I , w o n t u b , d n i l b Was . . . t h g u a t t a h t e c a r G s T’wa . r a e f o t t . r d a e e v h e i l y e m r s r a e f y m , e c a And Gr us did that o i c e r p How . . . r a e p p a e c a

r A G B S B F I B ?

Q P O

'

O R L E

B QE d n a s l i o t , s r e g n a d y n a m . e h g m o u c o r y d Th a e r l a e v a h e w . . . s s u e r t a h g sn u o r b t a h t e c a r G T’was . . . r a f s u . h e t m e f o a h s s ad u Acts 9:1–22

LESSON 9

CASE STUDY

Read the story of a cruel captain whose life changed completely.

A cruel captain gets a new life

A long time ago John Newton was an English sea captain who treated his crew harshly. Besidess that, he was responsible for taking hundreds of Africans across oss the Atlantic Ocean against their will to become slaves. Some died due to the terrible ed on the long voyage du conditions on board. John Newton showed no kindness to these people, even though God saved his own life from danger several ral times.

At last John realised how sinful he had been an and gave his life to God. He felt the enormous relief of knowing God had forgiven his sins, but wished he e could do something to make wrong things right. He thought and prayed ayed about his new life. What did God want him to do?

any new friends. One was a poet who encouraged him to write songs.

He joined a church and made many mazing grace’ and millions of people know and sing this song today.

John wrote his famous song ‘Amazing

John became a well-known Christian minister. One day an important politician, William Wilberforce, sent John a letter asking for advice. These two Christians, with many other people, worked hard to persuade the government to pass a law ending slavery. In 1807, shortly before John died, the law was passed saying England was no longer involved in the slave trade.

God’s grace

How is it possible for a person like Saul who was so opposed to Christianity to be changed into a Christian?

Both Saul’s and John Newton’s stories show us God’s grace at work in their lives. Grace means we do not get what we deserve. Saul didn’t deserve to meet Jesus, be forgiven and be used by God. God did it out of grace. How is it possible for a person like Saul who was so opposed to Christianity to be changed into a Christian?

What do you think about forgiveness and what the Bible says about God’s offer of forgiveness to all people?

Saul changed his loyalty and became a follower of Jesus.

He also changed his name to Paul. (See Acts 13:9.)

Ј KEY VERSE

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly surprised and asked, ‘How can anyone ever be saved?’ Jesus looked straight at them and said, ‘There are some things that people can’t do, but God can do anything’. Matthew 19:25–26 (CEV)

17

L E S S O N 15

Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 5:1–2; James 2:14–17

HOW DOES GOD WANT US TO LIVE?

Helping those in

need

How have we received help from God?

My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don’t do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you?

If you know someone who hasn’t got any clothes or food, you shouldn’t just say, ‘I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat’.

What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? Faith that doesn’t lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead! James 2:14–17 (CEV) What do you think is the main point in this passage from the Bible?

ou c

e ways y

List som 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

26

7.

8.

o people

w help t ould sho

aroun

eed.

t be in n

o migh d you wh

Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 5:1–2; James 2:14–17 L E S S O N 15

CASE STUDY

Caroline Chisholm 1808 – 1877

Caroline Chisholm was often heard to say,

‘Well, what are we going to do about this?’ his?’

She was a woman of action, who cared deeply eply for those in need. Her faith in God motivated her.

Caroline was born in England in 1808, and arrived in Sydney in 1838 when the colony of NSW was still young, and very ‘rough and ready’. She was shocked to find the conditions of many young women, who had come to Australia looking for a better life but found they had no job, no food and nowhere decent to live. They were forced to live on the streets in poverty because they could not find any suitable work.

What did she do? She invited some to live in her own house and started working to set up a group home for others. She got government support and started an employment service to help the women find good jobs.

Within two years she had found jobs and a place to live for over a thousand young women. For the rest of her life she worked tto o help those in need. eed.

Name so m has helpe eone you know an d and enc ouraged d admire who others.

Ј KEY VERSE Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (CEV)

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L E S S O N 17 Various passages

HOW DOES GOD WANT US TO LIVE?

Looking after

world

What is your favourite place in God’s creation? Why do you like it so much?

Draw or write about this place.

List some things that concern you about the way creation is being spoiled by people.

Unjumble the letters in the following to show what the Bible says about creation: 1. oGd

is the rtrceao

he put lppeoe 2. When lppeoe 3. ntrCeaio

, he made all things dgoo in grhcae

shows God’s yrlgo showed he is drLo

5. ssJeu

is still drLo

it all rhtgtoee 6. A new tcfrpee

30

.

disobeyed, creation was dlpsoie

4. ssJeu

;

and thgmi of ntrceaio

of ntrceaio

. .

, he sdlho

. creation is gnmcoi

.

!

Yuk!