Word of Life
FOR YOUNG TEENS (LEVEL I)
Sunday School Study Series
Word of Life |
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WORD OF LIFE FOR YOUNG TEENS Copyright Š 2003, 2004 and 2019 by Sunday School Network International (SSNI). All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the SSNI. For additional copies of this book or information on SSNI ministries, curriculum, or training needs, please visit SSNI website at: www.sundayschoolnetwork.org; or www.ssnak.org or write to: Sunday School Network International 11502 Bustleton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19116, USA. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations used in this book are from The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Copyright Š 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by Permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Scriptures marked NKJV are from the New King James Version. All Rights Reserved. ISBN 0-9749068-0-8 Printed in the United States of America.
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INTRODUCTION The Sunday School Network International (SSNI) Board is pleased to present the Sunday School Text Book "Word of Life" for young teens to the Indian community. The development of a Sunday School Text Book was assigned to the board in July 2001 to provide a culturally adaptable and age appropriate textbook for our future generation. A thirty member Curriculum Development Team consisting of theologians, ministers of the gospel, Sunday School Directors, Sunday School Teachers, and committed Christians of different professions have published this book. The careful and diligent efforts of these men of God and the blessings of God have made this work possible. The SSNI board developed a syllabus, which was distributed to various writers and reviewers. The syllabus was finalized after obtaining feedback from several people involved in this effort. A list of potential authors with Sunday school teaching experience, writing skills, theological knowledge acquired through education or life experiences was obtained from across North America. After ascertaining their availability and willingness, authors were asked to write lessons in the areas of their expertise. Following the carefully provided format, authors submitted their lessons to the editorial team. Unfortunately, all the lessons obtained from the authors are not included in this book. After careful review of various Sunday school materials currently in use in India and America, changes and suggestions were made to finalize the contents. These lessons are organized into four major units: Word, Christ, Church, and Living. A four-step process was used to review and edit the lessons. The editorial review began with a review for theological accuracy and correctness, followed by English language accuracy review. At this stage the readability standards were also considered before the formatting review. The final review was a cursory review to detect any omissions. The advice and guidance obtained from our consultants proved to be very beneficial. Thomas Idiculla, PhD General Editor Sunday School Network International
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NOTE TO THE READER
This book is a resource that you can use to learn the Word of God. It can be used in Sunday School and group Bible studies. The authors used the following criteria for developing lessons: age appropriateness, readability level, Christian beliefs and doctrines, and culturally acceptable practices common to the Indian reformed Churches and Pentecostals. HOW TO USE THIS BOOK: Please cover each lesson in one or two classes depending on the subject matter. Each lesson consists of a life issue, bible passages, memory verse(s), teaching aim, outline, lesson content, life application, and review questions. Life Issue: Each lesson is centered on a life issue that can be discussed through the Bible passage, and applied to students’ lives. Bible Passages: These Bible passages should be read before starting the lesson. Memory Verse: This verse emphasizes the main concept of the lesson and should be memorized. Teaching Aim: These are the goals to be achieved by studying the lesson. Outline: This is an overview of the lesson. Familiarize yourself with the lesson outline. Study each section. Life Application: This section helps to apply the lesson learned in your daily lives. Review Questions: Complete review questions, after you finish studying the lesson. (alternate wording: this section reviews the content with guided questions and should be completed after the lesson is taught). HOW TO PREPARE FOR A CLASS SESSION: Your teaching time may be limited. Make the most of it! Your teaching should touch the lives of children and meet their spiritual needs for salvation and discipleship. You may need approximately two hours of preparation to teach a lesson. Before you begin a unit, read the entire unit a few times. Familiarize yourself with the unit overview, objectives, life application and review questions. Prepare summary notes, visual aids or handouts for the lesson. When necessary refer to a Bible Dictionary, Commentary, Bible Maps, or online resources. Be fully knowledgeable and confident about the contents of the lesson you are teaching. The following is a suggested timeline for a one hour class: Prayer and Introduction (10 minutes) Teaching the lesson (35 minutes) Discussing the life application and Review Questions (15 minutes) Please give us your feedback. We would love to hear from you. Editors
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CONTRIBUTORS General Editor Thomas Idiculla, PhD Editors Sushil Mathew, MBA Leslie Verghese, PhD Albert Mathew, BE Advisors Joy Joseph (Rev. Dr.) Mathai Mathew Alummoottil Consultants Thomson K. Mathew, DMin; EdD Ezhamkulam C Samkutty, PhD Associate Editors J Anil Thomas, MS Finny Kuruvilla, MD; PhD James Samuel, BS Jean Johnson, MD Jenson Abraham Joycey Varughese Robin Cheriakalath, BS Stephanie Joseph, MST Cover Design Global Computers
Contributing Authors Bethel I. Johnson (Rev.), BE Ezhamkulam C Samkutty, PhD Finny Kuruvilla, MD; PhD Gee Joseph, BS George P. Chacko, (Rev.), MDiv James K. Thomas, MBA James Samuel (MIT) John Joseph (Rev.), MDiv John Thomas (Rev.), MS Joseph Mathew, MSME, MBA Joshua Mathew, BE Joy Joseph (Rev. Dr.) K.C. John (Rev.), MDiv K.V. Abraham (Rev.), MDiv Kunjunjamma John, BA Linda Thomas, BA Leslie Verghese, MSW Nissy Kurian, BA Sabu Flemington, MA Sam Kannampally, PhD Sam Ninan, MTh Samuel John (Rev.), MTech Shibu Thomas, MBA Susan Abraham, BS Sushil Mathew, MBA Thomas Idiculla, PhD Thomas Mathew, BD
SSNI BOARD Rev. Dr. Joy Joseph (President) Santhosh George, BS (Secretary) Rev. George Mathew (Treasurer) Mathai Mathew Alummoottil Rev. Thomas Idiculla, PhD Rev. Sushil Mathew, PhD Rev. Leslie Verghese, PhD Word of Life |
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The Printing of this book has been made possible in part by a grant from the PCNAK Boston 2018. The SSNI Board acknowledges the Executive Committee for their generous support of the Sunday School ministry.
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CONTENTS Unit I
WORD SERIES
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An Introduction to the Bible ................................... 11
2
How We Got the Bible in its Present Form .......... 15
3
The Authority and Infallibility of the Bible .......... 19
4
The Bible and Science ............................................... 23
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The Bible and End Times ......................................... 28
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The Commandments of God .................................. 32
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The Promises of God ................................................ 36
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God’s Plan for Mankind .......................................... 40
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The Message of the Bible ......................................... 44
Unit II
CHRIST SERIES
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Christ in the Old Testament .................................... 51
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The Unique Birth of Jesus ........................................ 54
3
Repentance ................................................................. 57
4
Acceptance ................................................................. 61
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Destiny........................................................................ 65
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Making a Difference ................................................. 69
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Unit III
CHURCH SERIES
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Church ........................................................................ 75
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Fellowship .................................................................. 78
3
Key Christian Doctrines .......................................... 82
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Praise and Worship .................................................. 85
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Water Baptism ........................................................... 89
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The Lord's Table........................................................ 93
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The Holy Spirit .......................................................... 96
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Healing ..................................................................... 100
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Mission of the Church ............................................ 103
Unit IV
LIVING SERIES
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You Belong to God ................................................. 109
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Fearing God ............................................................. 112
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Understanding our Parents ................................... 116
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Respecting Godly Leaders ..................................... 120
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Friendships .............................................................. 123
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Decisions - Right and Wrong ................................ 128
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Don't Compromise - No Matter What! ................ 132
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Dealing With the Internet ...................................... 136
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UNIT I
WORD SERIES The Psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.” The Word of God, or the Bible, written several thousand years ago, still guides and directs us. The Bible is a complete, consistent and accurate work of a perfect and loving God. As you move through the Word Series, we hope you gain a deeper insight into the word of God, which has the power to transform your life.
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LESSON AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE
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OVERVIEW
LIFE ISSUE: The Bible is the Word of God for our life. BIBLE PASSAGES: 2 Peter 1:21; Psalm 19:9-11; Hebrews 4:12 TEACHING AIM: To understand how the Bible is organized, and why we can trust it as the Word of God. OUTLINE: The Greatest Book Ever Written From One Comes Many How is the Bible Organized? How is the Bible Inspirational? LIFE APPLICATION: How Can You Use the Bible?
MEMORY VERSES: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. “(John 1:1)
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THE GREATEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN The Bible is the most influential book in the world. Abraham Lincoln said, “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this Book.” It is estimated that more than 6 billion copies of the Bible have been printed, making it the best selling book of all time. In fact, the very first book to be printed on a printing press was the Bible. While the Bible is the most studied and revered book, it also is the most attacked book by unbelievers. Christians must understand the Bible in order to live by it and tell the world about it.
FROM ONE COMES MANY The word “bible” comes from the Greek word biblia, which means “books”. Note that biblia is a plural word. Many incorrectly think that the Bible is one book; however it is actually a collection of 66 books. Did you know that more than 40 authors wrote the books of the Bible? These authors came from different walks of life – kings, shepherds, peasants, fishermen and government officials. They wrote these books in a time span of more than 1,500 years and were from three different continents – Africa, Asia, and Europe – guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible has been translated into hundreds of languages.
HOW IS THE BIBLE ORGANIZED? The phrase “2 parts then 4 parts” is handy to help us understand how the Bible is organized. First, the Bible is divided into 2 parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament, which focuses on the history of Israel, is then divided into 4 parts: law, history, wisdom and poetry, and prophecies about the birth and life of Jesus Christ. And the New Testament, which deals with the life and teachings of Jesus, is divided into these 4 parts: the gospels, the history of the church, the letters to the church and prophecies about the end times. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament was written in Greek. Here’s how the Old and New Testaments are divided:
THE OLD TESTAMENT: 1. Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy 2. History: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther 3. Wisdom and Poetry: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon 4. Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
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AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE
THE NEW TESTAMENT: 1. Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John 2. History: Acts 3. Epistles (or letters): Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, Jude 4. Apocalyptic (or prophecies about the end times): Revelation
HOW IS THE BIBLE INSPIRATIONAL? You may be puzzled why it took 40 different authors, rather than just one author, to write the Bible. So why did God do it this way? It's important to understand this because this differentiates Christianity from other religions, and the Bible from other religious books. Sometimes we hear information from our teachers or friends that are later found to be incorrect. How do you discover the truth? You may begin by checking its reliability with other sources such as newspapers, books, teachers, or parents. Religious books of Islam, Mormonism, or Buddhism were each written by one man and cannot be proven to be true. However, we can trust the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, because, though it is a collection of 66 books written by many, it delivers the same message. This makes it unique and powerful. If you have a penny in your pocket, look at the "tail" side and read the inscription above the building. What does it say? "E pluribus unum." It means "Out of many, one." This phrase can be applied to the Bible as well: Out of many books, one message. Because the message is one, the apostles often quote the prophets in their teachings and writings for confirmation. Not only are the authors of the Bible in agreement, but each also wrote the books without an error.
LIFE APPLICATION: HOW WILL YOU USE THE BIBLE? We should thank God for giving us the Bible to guide our lives. It is the most amazing book in history. It gives us complete confidence in our faith. While we can marvel at the authority of the Bible, the real question is "What will you do with it?" It is good to know that a book is important, but it is more important to know the book. True followers of God study, memorize, and practice what the Bible teaches. Concerning the commandments, Moses said, "Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when Word of Life |
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you lie down and when you get up. Impress them on your children" (Deuteronomy 6:7). There are specific benefits of knowing and following the Bible: Reading To be informed Learning To be instructed Meditating To be inspired Understanding To be wise Obeying To be blessed Followers of God study the Bible diligently - not just as part of Sunday school or church, but on their own. They ask questions about it and meditate on it. The Bible should be studied as a group and individually - neither way alone is truly effective. Finally, one of the best ways to judge your faith is to see how much time you spend studying the Bible on your own.
Review Questions: 1)
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Look up each of the following verses and write beside it the different ways in which the Bible refers to itself. “For example, in 2 Timothy 3:16, the Bible is referred to as the “Scripture” Jeremiah 1:4 Hebrews 13:7 Colossians 3:16 Matthew 11:13 1 John 5:9 Deuteronomy 5:22 Classify the following books of the Bible using the “2 parts then 4 parts” rule from memory. The choices are: a) Old Testament – Law b) Old Testament – History c) Old Testament – Wisdom and Poetry d) Old Testament – Prophets e) New Testament – Gospels f) New Testament – History g) New Testament – Epistles h) New Testament – Apocalyptic Beside each of the books below, write the letter (a, b, c...) corresponding to the part to which it belongs. Matthew Acts Esther Jeremiah Leviticus Proverbs Revelation Romans Explain three different ways how you can apply the Bible in your life. Spend a few minutes in prayer about studying His Word. Word of Life |
Sunday School Study Series
LESSON HOW WE GOT THE BIBLE IN ITS PRESENT FORM
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OVERVIEW
LIFE ISSUE: Trusting the Word of God. BIBLE PASSAGES: Deuteronomy 27:1-8; Jeremiah 36 TEACHING AIM: To understand that the modern Bible, written by many authors, was inspired by the Holy Spirit. OUTLINE: The Canon How was the Canon Formed? How Accurate is the Bible? LIFE APPLICATION: Memorizing the Scriptures.
MEMORY VERSES: I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (Matthew 5:18)
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WORD SERIES
THE CANON INTRODUCTION
Have you heard of the term canon? No, not the gun that shoots iron – that’s cannon with two ‘n’s. The canon we’re talking about refers to the collection of books in the Bible. The people of God were able to recognize which books were special and belonged in the canon. Initially, 39 books were recognized to be in the canon, and they became the Old Testament. Later, Christians recognized 27 more books, which became the New Testament.
HOW WAS THE CANON FORMED? The person who wrote a book had to be a recognized voice of God – like a prophet or an apostle. For example, Moses was the great deliverer of the Israelites from Egypt. People saw him do miracles, such as casting plagues upon Egypt and parting the Red Sea. They knew that he could talk directly with God. When Moses told the people the words of God, he also wrote them down and these became part of the canon. Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Other Old Testament authors, such as David, Samuel and Isaiah, also were recognized to be special voices of God. Their writings included words such as, “Thus says the Lord…” Because these writers were recognized to have a special relationship with God, their books became part of the canon. The New Testament was formed similarly, except that anything added to the canon had to be written or guided by the apostles of Jesus. Jesus’ promise that the apostles would be “guided into all truth” (John 16:13) gave them the authority to write the Scriptures. Let’s read the following verses penned by the apostle Peter. “Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15-16). Did you notice that Peter referred to the apostle Paul’s writings as Scripture? The apostles recognized that the letters they were writing were the Scriptures. Most of the books in the New Testament were written by the apostles; however, other books were written with the guidance of apostles. For example, the Gospel of Mark was penned with the help of the apostle Peter and the Gospel of Luke was written with the help of the apostle Paul. .
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HOW ACCURATE IS THE BIBLE? How do we know that the Bible accurately reflects the writings of the prophets and apostles? Throughout time, there have been people whose only job was to accurately make copies of the Scriptures. Let’s read an account of how such a person did his job: “The whole copy must be first lined; and if three words should be written without a line, it is worthless. The ink should be black, neither red, green, nor any other color, and be prepared according to a definite recipe. An authentic copy must be the exemplar, from which the transcriber ought not in the least deviate. No word or letter, not even a yod [the Hebrew letter represented by a simple dot], must be written from memory… Between every consonant the space of a hair must intervene; between every new parashah, or section, the breadth of nine consonants… Besides this, the copyist must sit in full Jewish dress, wash his whole body, not begin to write the name of God with a pen newly dipped in ink, and should a king address him while writing that name he must take no notice of him.” Do you know of anyone who is so meticulous in copying something down? People generally take much care in producing important documents – your birth certificate, for example. Those copying the Bible observed even greater care than this. There is another way to ensure that the original authors wrote the contents of our modern Bible. There were many people independently copying the Bible down. For example, we have all heard of Caesar. He wrote a book called Gallic Wars around the time of Jesus’ birth. We have 10 hand-written copies of this book today. But we have more than 5,000 hand-written copies of the New Testament today. Many scholars have pointed out that the Bible is the most wellpreserved book in all of ancient history. This is why Jesus said that not even the “least stroke of a pen” could disappear (Matthew 5:18).
LIFE APPLICATION: MEMORIZING THE BIBLE One of the gifts I received when I was young was a beautiful nature scene a friend painted for me. Though I received it almost 10 years ago, it still hangs in my room. Why? Because of the time and effort that went into that gift. Going out and buying something is easier than making something. It involves less time and effort. Time is the most valuable gift. Similarly, we cannot take for granted the time invested and the sacrifices of thousands of men and women who helped us bring the gift of the Bible. We ought to be thankful to God Word of Life |
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and our predecessors for this gift and cherish it. When we study the Bible, we honor God and the work of those who helped give us the Bible. When we ignore the Bible, we ignore them. The modern computer and printing capabilities no longer necessitate the use of hand copyists. But we must still copy the word of God – into our mind and heart. The Psalmist declares that the godly person’s “delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2). God delights when we memorize his Word, because He knows that it takes time and effort. This shows our love for the Lord. Let us strive to copy his Word into our heart.
Review Questions: 1)
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3) 4)
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Look up each of the following verses and write beside it the Read Deuteronomy 27:1-8. Moses is giving his final speech to the people of Israel. In addition to keeping the law, what else does he want the people to do with the law? Why? What material was used to write the words of the law in verse 8? Take turns reading the verses in Jeremiah 36: Who was Baruch? What was his job? What did God tell Jeremiah to do in verse 2? Why? Do you notice any similarities between this action and Moses’ words above? What is the attitude of the king to Jeremiah’s words? After the scroll is destroyed, what does God tell Jeremiah to do in verse 28? If he hadn’t obeyed, what would the consequences have been? What applications can you take away from this passage? Ask yourself how many verses you can recite by memory right now. Make a list of the references to those verses here. Now, set a goal to memorize as many verses as you can this month. Spend some time in prayer asking God to help you with this goal. You should spend time every week memorizing the Scriptures.
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LESSON THE AUTHORITY AND INFALLIBILITY OF THE BIBLE
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OVERVIEW
LIFE ISSUE: Defending your faith. BIBLE PASSAGES: Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 22:6; 2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 5:18; Psalm 33:4 TEACHING AIM: To understand why the Bible is authoritative and infallible. OUTLINE: Authority of the Bible Infallibility of the Bible Different Descriptions – One Story How is the Bible Inspirational LIFE APPLICATION: Defending God’s Word.
MEMORY VERSES: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. “(2 Timothy 3:16)
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AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE INTRODUCTION
The Bible is the most influential book ever written. But how much weight does it carry and how believable is it? In previous lessons, we learned about the organization of the Bible and how it was handed down to us. Now we will learn about the nature of its authority. After all, a document is only as valuable as its authority. One job I held for many years was to evaluate students applying to medical school. When students submitted letters of recommendation, I would look at the signature to see who was writing the letter, before I even read a word of the letter. This gave me a sense of how much importance I should give the letter. Any time we hear a story or hear a fact, we usually ask: “Says who?” In the Old Testament times, God would speak to a prophet and say, “Go tell the people this…” Then the prophet would say, “Thus says the Lord…” The people recognized the authority of the prophet and knew that if they disobeyed his words God would hold them responsible. In the New Testament, Jesus sent out his apostles on his authority. The apostles preached and wrote with the authority of Jesus himself. The whole Bible carries the authority of God Himself. So when we read the “letters” of the Bible, we should understand that the signature on the letter is God’s. This should help us realize the importance of the letters. The authority of the Bible is the very authority of God.
INFALLIBILITY OF THE BIBLE If the Bible has the authority of God, it is only natural to expect that the Bible would be infallible. The word infallible means “free of mistakes.” It also means that the Bible is internally consistent and has no contradictions. While people make mistakes, God does not. Many people, most of whom do not understand the Bible, have attacked the infallibility of the Bible. When you hear statements such as, “Isn’t the Bible full of errors?”, you can respond, “Please describe them so we can look at them together and see if they are actual errors.” Often those who say the Bible is full of errors have never read the Bible and only repeat something they have heard from someone else. It is important to know the difference between a real contradiction and an apparent contradiction. Sometimes the Bible describes ideas that are not simple to understand (the trinity, for example). But a complicated statement is different from an incorrect statement. The Bible, for instance, says that the Father is God. It also says Jesus is God. And it also says there is only one God! This is not a
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real contradiction. Let’s look at an example. We know that ice is water. But steam is water, too. Does this imply that water is not one substance, H2O? Of course not! This, too, is not a real contradiction but an apparent contradiction. Likewise, the Father, Jesus, and the Spirit can each be God – but there is still only one God.
DIFFERENT DESCRIPTIONS – ONE STORY In the Bible, we often see the same stories written by different authors in different books. The Holy Spirit has guided these writers to look at the stories from different perspectives. For example, the Bible gives us four different accounts of the life of Jesus! Why? Having these different views is extremely valuable. We have all heard different people describing the same event. Especially if we were not witnesses of the event, hearing different accounts helps us to piece together what actually happened. I grew up in the state of California. Several times in my childhood we experienced earthquakes. It would always be the talk of the school the next day. One thing that struck me was the different ways in which people described the same event. Sometimes it would seem like they were talking about completely different events – one person would describe the rolling motion, another person would talk about the sounds, another person would describe how the shaking caused things in their room to break. But all of them were talking about same event. This shows that we can get a wider picture from several accounts. Let’s look at the different ways in which the Bible describes the resurrection of Jesus. We have four accounts of the resurrection from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. When we first read their stories, they all sound different. But when we study them in detail we see that they are different perspectives of the same event. And the differences in their stories only reflect the fact that the authors weren’t just copying each other when they wrote the Gospels! Different people experience the same event and tell the story differently. This does not mean that the reports are contradictory. One of the founding professors of Harvard Law School was a man named Simon Greenleaf. He was an atheist who wanted to disprove the Bible by showing that there were contradictions in the resurrection reports. He ended up believing in the resurrection and becoming a Christian after concluding that the four gospel reports were actually four perspectives of the same event. The honest investigator will discover that the Bible is truly infallible. Notice that Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” It doesn’t say “Some Scripture is God-breathed.” Word of Life |
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LIFE APPLICATION: “DEFENDING GOD’S WORD A famous theologian named John Calvin once made this simple, but powerful statement: “A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.” The world constantly attacks the truth of God’s Word. Often they do not understand that by attacking the Bible they are attacking God himself. When God’s Word is attacked in your school, how will you respond? Will you be silent? Or will you stand up for the truth? To defend the truth, you must first understand God’s Word and know how to explain that the Bible has God’s authority. This takes time and effort. We must know the Bible well enough to lovingly show those who attack the Bible that they are in error and that the Bible is authoritative and infallible.
Review Questions: 1)
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Read the following two verses about God’s Word. Ephesians 6:17 Hebrews 4:12 Why is the Bible called a sword? Is the sword an offensive weapon, a defensive weapon, or both? How does this image help you to understand how you should use God’s Word? When Jesus was crucified, they placed a sign over his head which is written in the four gospels in the following references. Matthew 27:37 Mark 15:26 Luke 23:38 John 19:19-20 Carefully read the four different accounts above. Are these different descriptions of the sign a real contradiction? If not, how should we understand these descriptions? For the following verses, write in “A” if the verse is about the authority of the Bible, an “I” if it is about the infallibility, or “B” if it is about both the authority and infallibility of the Bible. 1 Thessalonians 4:8 2 Peter 1:21 Romans 3:4 Galatians 1:1 Revelation 22:6 2 Timothy 3:16 Matthew 5:18 Psalm 33:4
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LESSON THE BIBLE AND SCIENCE
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OVERVIEW
LIFE ISSUE: Science supports biblical truths. BIBLE PASSAGES: Proverbs 8:27-29, Job 26:7,10 TEACHING AIM: To understand the relationship between the Bible and science. OUTLINE: Science and the Bible God – The Effective Communicator God – The First Science Teacher LIFE APPLICATION: Christianity and How it Advances Science.
MEMORY VERSES: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.(Psalm 19:1)
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SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE INTRODUCTION
In school, you will learn the sciences. Your science teachers may or may not believe in God and sometimes students are misled into believing that science and the Bible do not agree. In reality, however, science supports the Bible. This is an important topic for the modern Christian since science is influential in our lives.
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A serious study of the sciences did not begin until the 1700's. Because this area of study is relatively new, people in the biblical times did not have an understanding of science as we do in modern times. Therefore, God did not talk to them in a scientific or unscientific style. He spoke to them in a pre-scientific language, because science had not yet been developed. When God speaks to people, He speaks in terms they can understand and in a language they know, using ideas from their culture. God is an effective communicator. Teachers use this principle. When they teach their students, especially the very young, they will speak using words they can understand. In fact, the best teachers are those who can explain difficult ideas in simple words. Word association is a useful tool in understanding pre-scientific style. Picture describing colors to a blind person. Perhaps you can liken the color red to heat or pain, or the color blue to cool or water. These descriptions help capture the essence of an idea to a person who otherwise cannot see. Similarly, the Bible explains science using words and ideas the biblical people could relate to. Let us look at some biblical examples of pre-scientific language. One is from the book of Isaiah: "I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you (Isaiah 41:9)." Does this verse imply that the earth has literal corners? Some have wrongly said that it does and that the earth must be flat. However, even today, we use the phrase "ends of the earth." Yet we do not mean that the earth has literal ends - we are simply using a descriptive term. Similarly, when we say "sunset" or "sunrise," we know that we are speaking figuratively because scientifically the sun neither rises nor sets. It is the earth that revolves around the sun. Let's now look at a verse that describes the motions of the heavens in this pre-scientific language. Science tells us that the universe is continually expanding, and has always been expanding. How is this idea described in the Bible? Isaiah said, "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a
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THE BIBLE AND SCIENCE
tent to live in" (Isaiah 40:22). This is an interesting verse. It describes expansion as "stretching," which someone who is not a scientist can understand. It also describes the earth as a "circle," which is a good description of the sphere it actually is. Scientists didn't know that the earth was round until about 2,000 years after this Bible verse was written! These examples show not only that the Bible and science are in harmony, but that science also supports that the Bible is from God.
GOD - THE FIRST SCIENCE TEACHER Let's look at another topic addressed in detail in the Old Testament - dietary laws and health codes. How many of you have Jewish friends? Have you noticed that observant Jews refrain from eating certain foods? For example, they don't eat pork or shellfish (clams, lobster, etc.). Why not? Because they keep kosher. Kosher is a diet that is compatible with what Moses described in the book of Leviticus. But why did God want His people to keep kosher? It's because foods that aren't kosher can easily make one sick. For example, shellfish are notorious, even today, to cause food poisoning. If not cooked properly, it can cause an upset stomach or worse. Therefore, God gave His people the best possible diet for an ancient society that did not have refrigeration. Scientists and doctors are still amazed at how advanced the idea of kosher food was in those days. This shows that the dietary laws God prescribed have a scientific basis. A popular health remedy practiced in the ancient world involved using leeches (creatures that suck your blood) or bloodletting (cutting oneself). However, the first five books of the Bible written by Moses, who was from Egypt, offer alternative remedies to cure the sick. Instead of bloodletting, the Bible emphasized washing and keeping the sick separate from healthy people - health measures we follow today. God prescribed a scientifically solid method to a culture with inaccurate ideas about sickness and disease. This is another example that shows that God's Word supports science. During the Middle Ages, the "Black Plague" raged across Europe. Thousands of people died - many feared the disease would wipe out the entire human race. This was before modern medicine developed. Then the church stepped in and said, "Let's try what they did in the Old Testament times" and began practices of quarantine, washings, burning of contaminated materials, etc. These measures worked. The Black Plague was stopped, and Europe was saved. It was God's revelation as seen in the Bible that saved Europe. We take many Word of Life |
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health codes for granted today but these concepts were established by God centuries ago. For thousands of years, people read the Old Testament and scratched their heads. Today, we know that though the Bible was written in pre-scientific style to a pre-scientific people, the content is scientifically correct.
LIFE APPLICATION: CHRISTIANITY AND HOW IT ADVANCES SCIENCE! Whenever you see an amazing thing, animate or inanimate -- a rainbow, a newborn, stars, the Grand Canyon - we ought to glorify God. As the Psalmist says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands" (Psalm 19:1). More than 95 percent of scientific advances have occurred in traditionally Christian countries such as the United States, England, Germany and France because Christianity and science are powerful allies and complement each other. When we study the world with science, we study God's creation and glorify Him. Christians should view science as their friend. However, today, science is increasingly being associated with atheism. It is the responsibility of the younger generation of believers to study science and take back this great field to its origins in Christianity.
Review Questions: 1) 2)
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In the following section, match the Bible verse to the scientific principle. Write the letter of the principle beside the Bible verse. Carefully read the two verses below. “This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant” (Colossians 1:23). For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). Now write the answers on the right side to the following questions: Job 36:27-28 a) A contaminated pot can carry germs and should be destroyed. Leviticus 11:33
b) Pigs carry diseases like Trichinosis.
Leviticus 11:25
c) Quarantine (living alone) can reduce the spread of germs.
Leviticus 13:55
d) Human excrement must be buried to keep the land sanitary.
Leviticus 11:7
e) Washing can help reduce germs.
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THE BIBLE AND SCIENCE Deuteronomy 23:13 f)
Rodents carry many horrible diseases.
Leviticus 13:46
g) Water moves in a cycle on earth.
Leviticus 11:29
h) Contaminated articles should be burned.
a) How is the gospel proclaimed to every creature under heaven? b) How are God’s invisible qualities clearly seen from what has been made? What is the relationship of this to science and creation? c) Many wonder how those who have never heard the gospel preached can be judged by God. Why do you think Paul wrote, “men are without excuse?” d) How can we apply these passages to our lives? e) How can we apply these passages when we share the gospel with others?
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LESSON THE BIBLE AND END TIMES
BIBLE PASSAGES: Luke 21:5-38 TEACHING AIM: To understand what the Bible says about the end of the world. OUTLINE: The End of the World Two Dangers What the Bible Says LIFE APPLICATION: Living a Prepared Life.
OVERVIEW
LIFE ISSUE: Preparing for the coming of the Lord.
MEMORY VERSES: He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.� Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.“(Revelation 22:20)
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THE BIBLE AND END TIMES
THE END OF THE WORLD INTRODUCTION - We all think about it. Environmentalists, politicians, and
business leaders all have their own perspectives about the end of the world. What does the Bible say about this important topic? Unfortunately, some well-meaning religious people have misinterpreted passages of the Bible and falsely predicted the end of the world. Several Christian movies have been made about the end of the world. It is important for believers to understand the Scriptures to distinguish between true and false teachings.
TWO PITFALLS Failing to understand what the Scriptures say about the end times can lead to pitfalls of making false predictions and sensationalizing the message. False predictions. Many times in history, well meaning Christians have misconstrued passages of the Bible and have predicted that the end of the world was at hand. As a result, they sold their possessions and encouraged others to do the same. However, their predictions turned out to be false. False predictions only spoil the name of Jesus and impair our witness in the world. There was a famous book written called “1994?” that predicted the end of world in that year. This book was broadcast on Christian radio and sold at Christian bookstores. Thousands of evangelical Christians bought it and believed the message. But 1994 passed and the book is an object of delight to those who attack Christianity. Sensationalism. Another pitfall, sensationalism, appeals to people’s emotions. Why do kids like to tell scary stories to each other? It is because there is a part of us that likes to be excited and stimulated by new and exotic ideas. The most popular Christian books in recent times are about the end of the world. A popular Christian movie, “Left Behind” is about the end of the world. These books and movies are popular among Christians because they appeal to our emotions – it is exciting to make up grand stories about how the world will end. However, Jesus did not use such tactics to preach God’s kingdom. His messages appealed to reason, not to emotions. Now let’s look at what the Bible says about the end of the world.
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS Most Bible teachings, such as salvation by faith, are clear-cut. But regarding the end of the world, Christians have different teachings. Be cautious when someone says, “It’s so simple – I have it all figured out, it’s like this…” Great Christian scholars like Augustine, Calvin Word of Life |
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and Wesley, themselves, had different views on this topic. But they all agreed on some basic things. It is crucial to focus on the things on which there is a general agreement. Some passages in the Bible that talk about the end of the world – found in books like Ezekiel or Revelation – use rich symbols and descriptions that are hard to understand. If any of you have read the book of Revelation you’ll know this first hand. Now let’s take a closer look at what the Bible says about the end of the world. 1) Sin will increase at the end of the world. Paul wrote, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). 2) Natural calamities and wars will increase. Jesus said there would be increased famine, disease, earthquakes, wars and revolutions (Matthew 24:6, 7). 3) Righteousness and gospel preaching will increase. Jesus said, “He who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:12-14).“ No one knows when the world will end. Jesus told us, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:13). So we can quickly discount anyone who claims to have this knowledge. Such teaching contradicts Jesus’ teaching. Since we don’t know the day or hour of Jesus’ coming, our best response is to act as if He were coming soon. Although we do not know the exact date of His coming, there’s evidence that His coming is near. Jesus taught us, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44).
LIFE APPLICATION: LIVING A PREPARED LIFE In a laboratory, scientists work with substances that are radioactive and dangerous. Because they are dangerous, the government regulates their use. Furthermore, the government sends inspectors to check on these laboratories without prior notice. If the inspectors come and find something that violates the codes, they can suspend the lab’s license, and the scientists can no longer do research. This happened at a local university and the entire lab was shut down.
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Because an inspector can come at any time, one must be careful to do his research within the limits that the government sets. In the same way, we do not know when Jesus will come. He could come today, tomorrow, or next year. If Jesus comes today, how will he find your life? Will he find you doing God’s work, or living a life of sin? The best way to live our lives is not in speculation about what it will be like when He comes, but doing as much of God’s work as you can before He comes. Jesus said that “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Preaching the gospel to our family and friends is the best response to our study of the future of the world. Ultimately, as Christians, we should trust in God and His word as we prepare for His coming.
Review Questions: 1) 2)
For each of the following passages, list a characteristic about what the future of the world will be like. After talking about the future of the world, Jesus uses three parables to help us understand what our response should be. Carefully read Matthew 25 and complete the following table. Verses
Characteristic
Matthew 10:22 Luke 21:8-9 Acts 2:17 2 Peter 3:3-4 Parable #
Main character
Best response to main character
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LESSON THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD
BIBLE PASSAGES: Exodus 20:1-17 TEACHING AIM: To understand the significance of God’s commandments and the importance of obeying them. OUTLINE: A Command is an Instruction The Ten Commandments The Greatest Commandments Obedience to God’s Command
OVERVIEW
LIFE ISSUE: The Bible is God’s commandment for our Life.
LIFE APPLICATION: What Will You Do?
MEMORY VERSES: This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)
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THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD
A INTRODUCTION COMMAND IS AN INSTRUCTION A commandment is an order to do or not to do something issued by a person in authority. It is an instruction that must be obeyed. In the Bible, we see many commandments that God expected His people to observe. In the New Testament alone, there are 1,050 commandments that the apostles conveyed to Christians.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS In the Old Testament, God gave His people many commandments. The most famous of these is the Ten Commandments. These commandments were literally written in stone and are sometimes called the Decalogue, which means “10 words� in Greek. God Himself gave the Ten Commandments, which were written on two tablets of stone and were given to Moses on Mount Sinai in the midst of fire, smoke, thunder, and lightning. You can imagine the importance that God gave these commandments! You can read these commandments in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. These commandments are divided into two groups. The first four commandments pertain to the relationship between people and God: 1) Being the one true God, He alone is to be worshipped and adored. Our God is a jealous God and He demands absolute loyalty from us. 2) We are not to make idols. This second commandment reemphasizes the importance of the first commandment. Anything in our lives that takes priority before God is considered an idol. 3) Even the name of God is holy! Therefore, His Holy Name deserves our worship and praise. We must be careful that we always give honor to His Name. 4) We must observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. That does not just mean that we stay at home and refrain from work. This day is to be reserved for worship only. The following six commandments pertain to our relationships with one another: 1) We are told to honor our parents because this is the first commandment with promise. Therefore, children who want to please God will obey their parents. 2) We are not to murder. (Remember, Jesus said that even being angry toward another person is like committing murder.) 3) We are not to commit adultery. (Once again, Jesus said that even having such a thought is as sinful as doing the act.) We are Word of Life |
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4) 5) 6)
supposed to respect others and their bodies. If we allow desirous thoughts to control us, we are not giving our total allegiance to God. We are not to steal. We must respect other people’s possessions. We must speak well of others. We must not bear false witness. God’s people must cherish their own reputation, as well as that of others. We are not to covet anything that belongs to others. We are to care about others. We do not harm people that we care about.
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENTS Once a lawyer came to Jesus and asked Him what is the greatest commandment. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is similar: Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).” Did Jesus reduce the significance of the Ten Commandments by saying this? Of course not! He simply stated what we have already done. All Ten Commandments can be summed up as: Love God and love others. Loving God and our neighbor sums up the teaching of the Ten Commandments.
OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S COMMANDS When God commands us to do something, our job is to simply obey. Obedience to God is carrying out His will and His word exactly as He has instructed. Our failure to obey God’s commands will result in judgment. However, obedience to His commands will be greatly rewarded. The prophet Samuel said that God’s pleasure was not in sacrifice but in obedience (1 Samuel 15:22). In the New Testament, the disobedience of Adam stands in contrast with the obedience of Christ. While the disobedience of Adam brought death, the perfect obedience of Christ brought grace, righteousness, and life (Romans 5:12-21). The benefits of obeying God’s commands include the following: 1) Obeying God’s commands offer life (Proverbs 13:13). 2) Keeping God’s commands can help us dwell in God (1 John 3:24). 3) Obeying God’s commands can make one wise (Psalms 119:98100, 103). 4) Keeping God’s commands can result in prosperity. (Psalms. 112:1-3).
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THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD
LIFE APPLICATION: WHAT WILL YOU DO? Many people today live in rebellion. They don’t serve God but live in sin. But God expects us to obey His commands and please Him. When God commands us to do something, we must do it with our whole heart. We must listen carefully to the instruction and obey it fully. We must obey the instruction as soon as we receive it, not when we feel like it. We should not ask, “How little can I do for God?” but “How much can I do for God?” We must find it a joy to serve God and keep His commands.
Review Questions: 1) 2) 3) 4)
Read 1 Samuel 3. How does Samuel show his obedience toward God? How does he obey Eli. Read Jonah 1. What is the consequence of Jonah’s disobedience to God?“ Read Jonah 3. What is the result of Jonah’s obedience to God? In each of the following verses, what is the commandment? 1 Thessalonians 5:17 1 Peter 2:2 Mark 16:15 Colossians 3:15 Philip 2:14 Hebrews 10:25
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LESSON THE PROMISES OF GOD BIBLE PASSAGES: Genesis 28; Acts 2:39
TEACHING AIM: To understand and believe in the promises of God and live each day accordingly. As Christians, we should claim God’s promises by trusting God in all areas of our life. OUTLINE: What is a Promise? Conditional Promises Unconditional Promises
OVERVIEW
LIFE ISSUE: Claiming God’s Promises.
LIFE APPLICATION: Claiming God’s Promises.
MEMORY VERSES: For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (Jeremiah 29:11-13) God says, never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.(Hebrews 13:5)
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THE PROMISES OF GOD
WHAT IS A PROMISE? INTRODUCTION A promise is a verbal or written agreement binding a person to do or not to do something. People make and break promises. Here are some promises that people make: “Mom and Dad, I will do better on my next report card” or “I’ll meet you at the ball field at 4 p.m. next Saturday,” or “I’ll be sure to pray for you.” When people break their promises they must take full responsibility for it. Maybe, they forgot; maybe, they changed their mind or maybe they just didn’t get around to it. Although people are unfaithful, God never breaks His promises. People may not keep their word but God always keeps His Word. There is a faithful, promise-keeping God in heaven. A promise is different from a command. A promise is something God will do. A command is something we must do. A promise must be believed. A command must be obeyed. When God gives a promise He says, I WILL (Exodus 6:6-8); when God gives a command He says, YOU WILL (Deuteronomy 6:5, NKJV; Matthew 4:7,10, NKJV). There are two types of promises: conditional and unconditional.
CONDITIONAL PROMISES Some of God's promises have two parts. In the first part, God tells us what to DO or what to BE, and then He delivers His promise. This kind of a promise is a “conditional” promise. God tells us what we must do or be before He will fulfill the promise. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The condition is “Come to me.” The promise is “I will give you rest.” God’s ultimate conditional promise is that whoever believes in Jesus Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
UNCONDITIONAL PROMISES When a promise is unconditional, God will do it no matter what. There are no “if’s” or “but’s” about it. If God says, “I will do something,” he will do it whether we like it or not or believe it or not. The first unconditional promise in the Bible refers to Jesus' coming as Savior (Genesis 3:15). Jesus says, “I will come again” (John 14:3). What if people do not want Jesus to come again? Will that change the promise? What if people do not believe that Jesus will come again -- does this affect God’s promise? Jesus is going to keep this promise no matter what! The smartest thing to do is to believe what God says! God called some people by their names and issued promises. God promised Abraham that He would make him a great nation Word of Life |
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(Genesis 12:2); God promised Hezekiah that He would add 15 years to his life (Isaiah 38:5); God promised Zechariah the birth of a son named John (Luke 1:5-7); God promised Mary a son named Jesus (Luke 1:31); and God promised Paul that his life would be spared so he could stand before Caesar (Acts 27:23-24). Even though you don't find your name in the Bible, God still has some promises for you. Do you know that God has promised you many good things? Did you know that he has promised you abundant riches in heaven and on earth? Jesus has already gone to prepare mansions for us! You have already familiarized yourselves with some of God’s promises in this chapter. More promises can be found below in the assignment section. The following verses present some of the greatest promises that God has made for His people: 1) The hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised ages ago. (Titus 1:2) 2) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus Christ], that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have an eternal life. (John 3:16)
LIFE APPLICATION: CLAIMING GOD’S PROMISES We can always depend on God’s promises. They are unfailing. This is God’s nature. But His promises are no good unless we believe in them. God’s Word will not profit us unless we claim it by faith (Hebrews 4:1-2). A promise is like a seed. Unless it is sown in the fertile ground, it cannot grow up into a plant bearing fruit. God’s Word is like a seed. It must be sown deep in our hearts and we must believe in it. Faith is believing God and trusting in His promises.
Review Questions:
Read the following verses and mark commands with "C" and Promises with “P”: Verse John 14:16 - And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.
Promise /Command
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray continually. John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
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THE PROMISES OF GOD Verse 1 Thessalonians 4:16 - For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Promise /Command
John 14:15 - If you love me; you will obey what I command. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 - The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 - Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Below are a few life situations and promises of God. Match the promises that you can claim to each situation.“ Situation When I am afraid of what others might do to me.
God’s Promise Deuteronomy 31:6-8
When I do not know what to do or how to do it.
John 10:28-29
When I am sad and discouraged.
John 15:11
When I wonder if my prayers will be heard and answered.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
When I worry about losing my salvation.
Philippians 4:13
When I am in need of strength.
Hebrews 13:6
When I face a difficult task (something that seems too hard for me to do).
James 1:5-7
When I feel all alone.
1 Peter 5:7
When I need forgiveness and cleansing.
1 John 1:9
When I feel that no one cares about me.
1 John 3:22; 5:14-15
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LESSON GOD’S PLAN FOR MANKIND BIBLE PASSAGES: Ephesians 6:10-16“ TEACHING AIM: To understand the struggle between humans and Satan; the promised one (Jesus) who will crush Satan’s head; and the two kingdoms. OUTLINE: The Fall The Messiah Two Kingdoms at War
OVERVIEW
LIFE ISSUE: God has a special plan, and it involves you.
LIFE APPLICATION: Recruits in God’s Army.
MEMORY VERSES: And I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you (Satan) will strike his heel.(Genesis 3:15)
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GOD’S PLAN FOR MANKIND
THE FALL INTRODUCTION The book of Genesis describes the creation and fall of mankind. God created mankind in a state of sinless perfection and gave them authority and dominion over all of God’s creation. However, God commanded Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He also warned that disobeying Him would result in death (spiritual death). The Fall occurred when man and woman ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The state of sin into which they entered is called The Fall. Man was no longer sinless, and when sin came into the world, mankind spiritually died. Because mankind died, a Savior was needed who could redeem and save the human race.
THE MESSIAH In Genesis 3:15, God says, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” The last sentence of the preceding verse says that the offspring of woman will crush Satan’s head. But it says “he” not “they.” The word “he” is singular! Who is this single man (offspring of woman) who will crush Satan’s head? This is the first reference in the Bible to a coming man who will destroy the work of Satan. There are many other passages that talk about this coming man. Some of the passages give him the title “Messiah,” which means “Anointed One” – similar to “Chosen One.” Messiah is a Hebrew word – in Greek, the translation of Messiah is “Christ.” Now, can you guess who this coming person is? Of course! It is Jesus. The New Testament details the life of Jesus Christ.
TWO KINGDOMS AT WAR Many scholars have made the case that the most dominant theme in the entire Bible is the idea of two kingdoms at war. These kingdoms are not earthly kingdoms fighting in the flesh, but spiritual kingdoms fighting in unseen realms. The kingdom of Satan fights against the kingdom of God. This idea of kingdoms at war is found in both the Old and New Testaments. When Jesus first began his ministry, he said, “Repent and believe for the kingdom of God is at hand.” There are many references to the “kingdom” throughout the Bible. For example, do you know what the origin of the term “preacher” is? It comes from an ancient word describing a person whose normal job was to yell out news in the town – like the price of meat or the victor of a sporting event. But when the kingdom was at Word of Life |
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war, the preacher was given a new task. He would go ahead of the army and tell the enemy to surrender. The preacher would be unarmed, but it was understood that he carried the weight of the King and his armies. The enemy treated the preacher as he were the King. Now when God calls us to preach His word, we are calling the enemy to surrender to God. We do not carry arms, but we speak words with the authority of the King of Kings. This idea of preacher has its origins in the word “kingdom.” Several other symbols and images from the Bible also draw on the idea of a kingdom. So who is the King of this kingdom? The Bible tells us that it is Jesus! He is called the “King of kings and Lord of Lords.” Jesus is crushing the armies of Satan. He is our leader and King.
LIFE APPLICATION: RECRUITS IN GOD’S ARMY You may wonder how God’s special plan for His kingdom involves you. The battleground of the struggle is in mankind. However, from mankind, Jesus – the chosen one – was born to destroy the kingdom of Satan. Our task today is to bring in people to march under the banner of Jesus and proclaim His saving truth to the enemies of God. However, the way that we fight is not with physical swords or guns – we fight by laying down our life for the truth. Jesus has already shown us the tactics to pursue – we have to love our enemy. Showing the truth in love to our enemy will win souls to the everlasting kingdom of Christ. This is an exciting thought! He calls us to be His warriors-- not warriors fighting worldly wars, but warriors who boldly proclaim the truth. We proclaim the truth, even if we are rejected. We become warriors who gladly lay down our lives for the truth. Are you a warrior? In the U.S. army, new recruits are amazed at the level of discipline they are forced to endure. Every detail of their lives from the time that they wake up to what they eat is given to them by their commanding officer. Their whole lives are consumed with the thought, “How can I serve my country?” They serve their country by obeying their commanding officer and disciplining themselves to be good soldiers. A Christian should do likewise. In the next series, we will look at the life of Christ so we can understand who our commanding officer is and what He asks us to do. Let this thought command our lives: “How can I advance the kingdom of Christ?” The kingdom of God will triumph – let us serve Him faithfully!
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GOD’S PLAN FOR MANKIND
Review Questions: Several times in history, Satan saw that he was going to be defeated by the Messiah. Thus he tried to prevent the Messiah from coming to earth. For each of the following passages, write down how Satan tried to prevent the Messiah from coming 2) Read Ephesians 6:10-16. The imagery that Paul uses in the passage is very powerful. How does this help you to understand your Christian walk? Spend some time in prayer about getting this armor so that you will be able to succeed as a warrior. 1)
Passage Exodus 1:15-16
Strategy used
Esther 3:13-14 Matthew 2:16
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LESSON THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE BIBLE PASSAGES: Romans 4 TEACHING AIM: To understand God’s plan for salvation. OUTLINE: The Bible and Its Popularity God Seeks Man Our Sins are Forgiven and Forgotten Our Past Is Paid Off LIFE APPLICATION: Claiming the Message.
OVERVIEW
LIFE ISSUE: To understand God’s plan for salvation.
MEMORY VERSES: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalms 119:105)
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THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE
THE BIBLE AND ITS POPULARITY INTRODUCTION All major religions base their teachings on some book written in ancient times. For example, Hinduism draws its tenets from the Vedas and Islam from the Koran. Buddhism derives its doctrines from Thripitika and Christianity from the Holy Bible. However, the Bible is more than a book. It is unique in many ways. It is no accident that the Bible is an all-time best seller. Neither is it mere chance that the New Testament has been translated into more languages than any other secular or religious book. Many great world leaders of the past have held the Bible in high regard. For example, George Washington, the first president of the United States, always kept a Bible close to him and read it regularly during his private devotions.
GOD SEEKS MAN We could spend days, months, even years attempting to read the many religious books of Hinduism, Jainism, Islam and Sikhism. Asia, especially India, is the cradle of several major religions and religious books. In the sacred books of the above-mentioned religions, we find man seeking God, looking for a Savior and searching for truth. In the Bible, however, we see God seeking man. In Christianity, we see God becoming a man to show us the Truth! The Bible is God’s love letter seeking sinners to Himself. Until a person admits that he is a sinner and claims the message of the letter for himself, God’s love cannot change him.
OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN AND FORGOTTEN We believe that God sees everything in our lives. The Bible says: “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.... Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day” (Psalm 139:7-12, KJV). But here is a fact -- there is one thing that God cannot see, no matter how hard He tries. God cannot see a Christian’s past sins because they are covered through the blood of Jesus Christ. They are far removed. In fact, as far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our sins, so that he will never see them again (Psalms 103:12). And once our sins are forgiven, he forgets them. The devil tries to tell a Christian, “Don’t you see how evil your heart was? Don’t you see all the sins you have committed?” But the message of the Bible can be expressed as: “My son, my daughter, I cannot see and I do not see anything in your life except a heart so very Word of Life |
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WORD SERIES
pure and clean, washed by the blood of My only begotten son, Jesus.” This message has lifted millions in this world. The greatest miracle in the world is taking an unholy person from this unholy world, making him holy, putting him back into this unholy world, and keeping him holy. Only Jesus can do this. Every child of God is a walking miracle!
OUR PAST IS PAID OFF Human beings are always looking for ways to atone for their past sins. For example, in the Lawrenn Monastery in Mongolia each year a priest is “given” to the devil; he must depart from the community forever bearing the sins of the community. King Henry II of England built a monastery in Chamille, France, believing it would atone for the murder of Saint Thomas A. Becket if it stood there for a thousand years. A few years ago, in Madras, India, a young man named Andrana walked 3,200 miles to receive forgiveness for being disrespectful to his guru. Hindu Vedas, Buddhist scriptures, Muslim Koran, and all other books are not satisfying when it comes to the subject of past sins. If you ask a Hindu guru, a Buddhist monk, or a Muslim Imam, “What shall I do to attain mukti (salvation)?” he will say, “Sin no more. That is the way for peace and mukti.” But that answer is insufficient because it does not provide atonement for sins already committed. The past is not paid off. Imagine that you borrow some money from a bank, and finding no means to pay your debt, you approach a friend and ask, “Buddy, there is no way I can pay my debt. What shall I do?” If your friend tries to comfort you by saying, “Friend, do not borrow money anymore,” he has given you an insufficient answer. You are looking for a friend who will tell you, “Buddy, don’t worry, I will pay your debt, but be careful when you borrow money next time.” This is the only satisfying answer. And we find this answer only in the Holy Bible. The Bible tells the sinner, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48); “ Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). The Bible commands us not to sin only after our sins are forgiven, and after our past is paid off. According to the Bible, God redeems our souls by absolving our past sins and performing a new, creative work in our lives. Bible commentator Earl Palmer aptly notes: “Redemption is not so much a medicine, or energy, as it is a new life and a new identity.”
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THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE
LIFE APPLICATION: CLAIMING THE MESSAGE If you take time to investigate the claims of the Bible, you will be rewarded. If you claim the simple message of the Bible personally, you will never have to worry about the past. The world witnesses the fast pace of history. Civilizations appear and disappear. Nations rise and fall. But the Bible remains unchanged. Its message is still vibrant and alive. Its saving message soars high above the loftiest peaks of Mount Everest and echoes over the waters of Galilee, the Ganges, the Thames, and the Mississippi.
Review Questions:
1) Many religions emphasize good works, pilgrimages, and sacrifices to attain salvation. What does the Bible say? (Romans 4) 2) Suppose your friend says, “I am not a bad person. I go to the temple. I don’t eat meat, and I pray every morning. Will I not go to heaven?” How will you respond to this question? 3) Look up the following verses and write them down below: Luke 19:10; Jeremiah 17:10; Psalm 139:1 4) Answers from the Bible. Life Situation I feel guilty about my past mistakes and sins
Bible Says Psalms 51: 7,17
I get nowhere trying to improve myself.
Ephesians 2: 8-9
I hear some people say that the Bible may lose its appeal as our world advances in the fields of science and technology
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Isaiah 40: 8
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