Wise Up Teacher Manual

WISE UP: WISDOM IN PROVERBS

Written by: Cherie Noel

Copyright 1993, 2007 by Positive Action For Christ, Inc.P.O. Box 700, 502 West Pippen Street, Whitakers, NC 27891-0700.

All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced in any manner without permission in writing from the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN: 978-1-59557-138-0

Published by Positive Action For Christ

Design by Shannon BrownChapter Artwork by Del Thompson

Published by

CONTENTSPreface 4

Lesson 1 What Is Wisdom? 14Lesson 2 Wisdom and Foolishness 27Lesson 3 The Example of Wise Men 40Lesson 4 Our Home Life 55Lesson 5 Honoring Our Parents 71Lesson 6 Freedom and Responsibility 85Lesson 7 How Attitudes Affect Actions 102Lesson 8 Right Attitudes About Myself 117Lesson 9 Good Friends and Bad Friends 130

Lesson 10 Choosing the Right Friends 140Lesson 11 How to Keep Good Friends 151Lesson 12 Loving All People 164Lesson 13 Dealing with the Flesh 178Lesson 14 Recognizing the Sins of the Flesh 191Lesson 15 Walking in the Spirit 200Lesson 16 What Is Character? 212Lesson 17 Love and Gentleness 226Lesson 18 Integrity 237Lesson 19 Meekness and Humility 246Lesson 20 Hard Work and Faithfulness 258Lesson 21 Self-Control 270Lesson 22 Courage 282Lesson 23 Submission and Obedience 293Lesson 24 Knowing God’s Will 304Lesson 25 Staying in God’s Will 315Lesson 26 Learning How to Use Money 325Lesson 27 Having Right Thoughts 337Lesson 28 Making Right Decisions 348Lesson 29 Keeping Our Promises 357Lesson 30 Controlling What We Say 365Lesson 31 What We Say Affects Others 378Lesson 32 True Success 388Lesson 33 Being a Success 401Lesson 34 Being a Good Leader 410Lesson 35 Spending Time with God 419

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PREFACE

The primary goals of Wise Up! (and of all the Positive action secondary level Bible studies) are to make the Word of God more meaningful and to have a life-changing impact on the lives of your students. as an administrator of a christian school, I have used a variety of curriculum approaches with my students. Too often, however, I found that my students had mastered a great deal of material and factual knowledge without really having seen the truth of the Scriptures at work in their own lives.

Therefore, it has been my goal as I developed this study that students would draw knowledge, wisdom, and understanding for themselves from the Word of God. They need to learn that God’s Word has something to say about guidance and direction for every area of their lives. They need to have realistic scenarios placed before them that teach them how to make choices based on God’s Word. They need to discern and follow God’s calling on their lives—now and in the future.

a key emphasis in this study is establishing students soundly in the Word of God so they can find answers for themselves. While it is important to begin with sound doctrine and factual knowledge of the Scriptures, students need to go beyond this and apply their knowledge. They need to be presented with the type of material that will help them comprehend, analyze, and derive personal applications in line with God’s Word. Wise Up! has been written in such a way that it should help students form personal convictions based on their own study of God’s Word.

In this study on “Wisdom in Proverbs,” students will encounter a variety of concepts that are applicable to their own lives. each lesson will use life application sections to help students learn specific applications of Bible truths. In addition, one objective for this study is to see the Holy Spirit use it to work in the lives of the students to “conform them to the image” of Jesus christ (rom. 8:29). Genuine character development requires the Holy Spirit’s involvement to grow the “fruit of the Spirit” within the life of each student. Wise Up! includes a variety of activities designed to help students “get” the connection between biblical wisdom and everyday life.

In order to accomplish our goals, two basic points must be emphasized. first, teachers must spend the necessary time teaching their students how to apply God’s Word to their everyday lives. The teacher is an integral part of Bible class. You cannot assume that the goals are accomplished simply because students have completed a workbook assignment. God’s Word is alive, and this should be evident in your dynamic teaching style and in the way you live it out yourself. Secondly, as you complete each lesson, use it as a launch pad for class discussion to make sure that the students are rightly understanding and applying biblical principles. General facts and Bible knowledge are important, but discussion and activities will help make these facts more real in the lives of your students.

Wise Up! provides adequate material and enough variety to keep Bible class both interesting and profitable. focus on the living Word of God and pray for the privilege of seeing your students walking in its truth.

Mrs. Cherie Noel

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CURRICULUM GOALS AND OBJECTIVESThis study recognizes the typical characteristics of the middle school student. Young teens desire to be independent and think for themselves, but they still need reliable guidance and direction. They may not realize their strong need for firm direction, but this need is profound. The middle school years are a time of questioning conventional rules and ideals. Students are trying to understand whether the customary boundaries and ways of interacting with adults still apply. They recognize that they are no longer children, but they also know that they are not yet adults. They are at a special place in their lives, and they need to be dealt with both in firmness and in love. Perhaps at no other time do they need to feel our love more than during these years when they are often unloving or less lovable themselves. Our example of firmness and strong love will continue to reinforce what they have learned about themselves in their earlier years.

Wise Up! focuses on the particular needs of a typical twelve- to fourteen-year-old student. from this study of Proverbs, your middle school students can gain great insight into the Word of God and into the worth and purpose of their own lives.

In addition to the above, this study is also distinguished by the following features:

• Studentswillreceivestrongbiblicalinstructionintruthsthatparticularlyneedtobereinforcedduringthis period of their lives. Through these truths, your students should recognize the importance of the family and the need to acknowledge the counsel and direction of their parents. They will also recog-nize the value of their teachers and other authority figures in their lives and the need to respect and heed their input. They will learn about godly interpersonal relationships and how to react in a variety of inevitable life situations that they will face.

• StudentswillberemindedofwhoGodisandtheimportanceofHisclaimontheir lives.Theywilllearn why they were created, where they fit into the scope of what God is doing, and how they can honor Him with their lives. They will learn that God has a plan and purpose for each of them and that their schoolwork fits into that plan.

• Studentswillexperienceastrongemphasisonlifeapplicationprinciplessothattheywilllearnhowtoapply Scripture faithfully and directly to everyday reality.

• A variety of activities and ideas included in thebookwill enable students touse scriptural truths.Suggested activities include skits, compositions, journals, story-writing, and poetry.

• Scripturememorizationselectionsprioritizethefollowingelements:

• PassagesofScriptureratherthanversesremovedfromtheircontexts

• Passagesthatareimmediatelyapplicabletostudents’lives

• Structurethatencouragesfamiliestomemorizepassagestogether

• Passagesthataremanageableandcomplementarytothestudents’otherobligations

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EFFECTIVE TEACHING STRATEGIES

classroom atmosphereThe “climate” of your classroom is so important! Teacher, make sure you prepare for success by establishing an atmosphere of welcome, openness, and collaboration. Discussion times will be crucial as you and your students work through the lessons this year. Your class periods should be a time when students are encouraged to get involved with candor and humility, yet with confidence that what they say will not be broadcast. as the teacher, you set the tone to help students feel free to share their opinions and questions without fear of embarrassment. Make sure your students understand that we cannot condone sin, but we must learn to overcome sin.

encouraging Deeper ThinkingIt can be tempting to present the material in Proverbs and drill the students simply for mastery of the facts. Do not take this easier route! Your students need to go beyond a superficial level of thinking. When reading a supernatural book, it is not enough to read it as though it were a dusty textbook full of superstitious axioms or pointless trivia. The material for this series should engage your students’ hearts as well as their minds. are they making the necessary connections between theology and practical living? There are crucial connections between doctrine (what they believe) and experience (how they really live out what they say they believe). Make certain that your students do not latch on to head knowledge merely so they might ace the next quiz. They need to form genuine heart convictions and personal standards based on the knowledge they are gaining. Teach them the difference between knowing religious principles from Proverbs and having an actual relationship with the living God who authored Proverbs.

• Lessonquestionsfocusonmultiple,progressivelevelsofthinking:

• Knowledge—learningbasicfacts

• Comprehension—understandingconceptsandideas;recognizingallusionsandpatterns

• Analysis—thinkingthroughthedifferentimplicationsofnewinformation

• Discernment—perceivingtruthfromrevealedfactsandconcepts

• Evaluation—drawingconclusions;interpretingvaluestoformpersonaldecisions

• Application—usinginformationlearned;applyingtruthstopersonallife

• Inorderthatyourstudentsmightlearntothinkonthesedifferentlevels,itisimportantforcertainattitudes to prevail in your teaching.

• Becomeanintegralpartofyourclass.Useeveryopportunitytotalktoandworkwithyourstu-dents.

• Evenifaworkbookassignmenthasbeencompleted,donotassumethatthelessonwillcertainlyhave been learned or that the student’s heart has been transformed.

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• Recognize,especiallyinteachingtheBible,thatfactualknowledgeisnotequivalenttoheartcon-viction. Students need to be guided in their thinking. Help them learn how to analyze material and reach their own conclusions.

• ABible-baseddiscussionshouldbecometheheartofyourtimewiththestudents.Spendadequatetime to help the students understand the Bible principles and that they are making life applications.

• Moststudentsareinthehabitofstoppingshortoncetheyhavelearnedthefacts.Ifthinkingbeyondmere facts is not customary for them, you cannot expect them to handle your questions without some difficultyatfirst.Youwillhavetoserveastheirguide.Leadthemgraduallybutconsistentlyintoahabitof thinking through information on a different level.

The following suggestions may help you encourage your students toward deeper thinking:

• Completethefirstquestionofeachlessonwithyourstudentsandletthemcompletetheremainingquestions on their own. This works well with charts and sequential types of exercises.

• Arrangeforstudentstoworkinpairs,sharingideasandcomingtoconclusionstogether.Theycanthen share their answers together, which may give them more confidence.

• Guideyourstudentsstepbystepthroughaseriesofquestions.LetthemlookupmaterialintheirBibles and complete the answers. When it is necessary to analyze a concept or draw a conclusion, work on the idea together. as the semester progresses, begin to give them more material to cover without your aid. always discuss their answers afterwards, so they will gain right insight into these concepts.

• Leadstudentsstepbysteptoanalyzewhattheyare learning.Donotgiveawayanswers,butdogive the discussion direction. ask a thought-provoking question to steer the conversation, or drop occasional hints if they seem to be getting off-track.

• Discussaparticularlydifficultconceptwithyourclassbeforetheyseethelesson.Afterathoroughdiscussion, have them turn to the lesson and complete it themselves. Have a review discussion afterwards to insure these concepts are understood.

• Neverconcludealessonwithoutsometypeofdiscussionorfollow-up.Talkingthroughthemate-rial will help your students learn to think more productively. They will discover aspects they had never considered previously. Otherwise, your lessons will become only an academic exercise rather than a convicting spiritual exercise.

• During discussion times, do not voice immediate or harsh criticisms in response to students’answers. accept all reasonable answers, redirecting the emphasis if necessary. Your students should not have to feel like they must walk on eggshells to avoid quickly-formed negative judgments from you or their peers.

Note:Thinkingskillsarelearnedskills.YouareteachingstudentshowtheyoughttothinkaboutGodandhow they can learn to live for Him. It will thrill you to see your students develop into wise thinkers and to see God work in their lives.

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Inner character DevelopmentOne of the primary goals of this study is to teach your students how urgently we all need the Holy Spirit to produce “the fruit of the Spirit” within us. Because we recognize that He must work change in our students’ lives to conform them to the image of Jesus christ (rom. 8:29), this study strongly emphasizes God-enabled inner character development.

You may give the self-evaluation quizzes periodically to encourage your students to consider their own lives and to what extent God is truly working in their lives. These quizzes are not meant to measure students’ comprehension but rather to provide them opportunities to be honest with themselves before theLord.Whentheseself-evaluationquizzesareused,exhortthestudentstohumblethemselvesbeforetheLordandtobewillingtorespondhonestlyastheHolySpiritrevealstheirshortcomingsthroughHisWord.

after taking a self-evaluation quiz, students should thoughtfully consider how God can change them to be more like His Son. You could encourage them to pray for His help to desire that kind of genuine change andtoobeywithhumilityandenthusiasm.Likeadults,yourmiddleschoolstudentsneedtolearnhowto be a “vessel” set apart for the Holy Spirit to work in and through. One aim of activities like the self-evaluation quiz is to help the students recognize God’s claim upon every area of their lives.

LifePrinciplesa profitable follow-up activity each week would be to have students write out life principles based on the material thathasbeencoveredduringtheweek.“Lifeprinciples”arebasictruthsappliedinapracticalway to our lives. Share ideas together and have the class determine a life principle for each lesson. These may be written in personal “life principle notebooks” or kept in a class notebook, for occasional reference and review throughout the year.

LifeApplicationSectionsTo further enable students to recognize God’s claim on their lives, most lessons include a “life application” section. The general design of these sections is to enable students to personalize the truths taught throughout the week. We want students to form personal convictions based on the Word of God—going from “head knowledge” to life application.

Students will therefore be expected to analyze and apply information and draw conclusions for their own lives. It is of utmost importance that an atmosphere of acceptance and openness be established. We do not want to condone sin but rather to recognize that we all have sin problems that require attention. Students need to feel free, not necessarily to admit specific sins openly in the classroom, but to discuss areas of common problems.

Your students will most probably feel somewhat inhibited at first. as you continue to guide their thinking and use discussion time to share common issues, this section should become the most engrossing activity of the week.

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Teacher’sLessons(OverheadTransparencies)OneuniquefeatureinmanyPositiveActionBiblestudiesisthe“Teacher’sLesson”designedtobetaughtthrough the use of an overhead projector. (The overhead masters for these transparencies are found with the teacher’s material for each lesson. Printed transparencies are available from Positive action for christ.) as the teacher discusses this material, students should complete the notes under the corresponding “Teacher’s Lesson”sectionintheirbooks.Thishelpsstudentstoidentifyandanalyzetheideasbeingpresentedandalsohelpsthemtokeepfocusedonthesethoughts.TheTeacher’sLessoncomplementsthestudent’slessonitself and supplements it with insights not previously covered. You will notice that, due to the nature or lengthofsomelessons,therearenoTeacher’sLessonsections(andthusnooverheadmasters)forthoseparticular lessons.

Weekly QuizzesThe weekly quizzes are intentionally short, and they tend to test the objective facts covered in each lesson. We cannot really test life application material via the short-answer quizzes, so that is not their purpose.

as the teacher, however, you should feel free to add questions relevant to any particular emphases you have made during the week. You may want to ask your students to write a few essay sentences or even a brief composition about some concept you highlighted repeatedly during the week.

If you are using the “life principle notebook” idea given above, you may want to ask your students to write the life principle from each lesson as part of the quiz. You may also want to ask them to give an example of a life principle at work—either an example from Scripture or from their own real-life experience. This would help you to evaluate how well they have grasped the principle and its implications for daily christian living.

WEEKLY LESSON PLANS

5-Day Week• DayOne:Introduce new Scripture memory verses for the week and discuss key ideas. Discuss “Target

Truths” for the week from the teacher’s supplement section. Have students begin working through the first sections of the student’s lesson.

• DayTwo: Drill Scripture memory verses for the week.

continue to work through sections of material in student’s manual. Provide discussion time to make sure that the concepts are well understood.

• DayThree:Drill Scripture memory verses. Drill overall passage for review. review material from the last two days.

finish student’s lesson, including life application section, focusing on internal conviction. Include discussion time to make sure concepts are well understood.

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• DayFour: Drill Scripture memory verses. review material for quiz.

Use “additional Teaching Suggestions” from the teacher’s supplement section. Teach and discuss the teacher’s lesson.

• DayFive: Give the weekly quiz.

check Scripture memory report sheets.

Discuss principles learned from the week’s material.

4-Day Week• DayOne: Introduce Scripture memory verses and discuss what they mean.

Discuss “Target Truths” for the week from the teacher’s supplement section and assign material from the student’s lesson.

• DayTwo: Drill Scripture memory verses.

continue to work through sections in the student’s manual. Provide discussion time to make sure that concepts are understood.

• DayThree: Drill Scripture memory verses for the week and the complete passage. Teach and discuss the teacher’s lesson.

Discuss the life application section in the student’s lesson, focusing on internal conviction. Provide overview and review for the quiz.

• DayFour:Give the weekly quiz.

check Scripture memory report sheets.

Do some activities from the “additional Teaching Suggestions” in the teacher’s supplement section.

3-Day Week• DayOne: Introduce Scripture memory verses and discuss them briefly.

Introduce key ideas from the “Target Truths” in the teacher’s supplement section. Introduce lesson and allow students to work on assigned material. evaluate which material you will focus on during the week and leave the remainder for extra-credit work or for use in another subject area (english, literature, or social studies).

• DayTwo: Drill Scripture memory verses.

continue to work through the student’s lesson together and focus on the life application section at the end. Teach and discuss the teacher’s lesson.

• DayThree: Give a quiz either weekly or bimonthly.

Use “additional Teaching Suggestions” if there is time. Discuss overall principles for the week’s lesson.* If there is too much material for the class as a whole or for the amount of time available, simply decide what you feel is most important to cover, based on the special needs of your class.* Some activities may be used for an English composition or a project in another related subject if you teach the same students in other class subjects.

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SCRIPTURE MEMORY PROGRAM

Purposesas touched upon under “curriculum Goals and Objectives,” the Wise Up! Scripture memorization selections prioritize the following elements:• PassagesofScriptureratherthanversesremovedfromtheircontexts:Wewanttoencouragestudents

to approach God’s Word rightly, rather than isolating and perhaps twisting verses away from their divinely appointed original context.

• Passagesthatareimmediatelyapplicabletostudents’lives:WewantthestudentstorecognizethatGoddoes intend His Word to be relevant to them individually today.

• Structurethatencouragesfamiliestomemorizepassagestogether:Wewanttoincludeparentsintheprocess and keep them an integral part of the spiritual training of their children.

• Passagesthataremanageableandcomplementarytothestudents’otherobligations:Wewanttoencour-age students to be attempting Scripture memory work in reasonable portions that also coincide with (rather than detract from) what they may already be learning at home or in their local churches.

How to Use the Program• Eachweekinclass,spendtimediscussingthemeaningoftheversesyouhaveassignedforthatweek.

If students are to learn these verses for life, and for real-life application, they must first know what the verses mean.

• Encourage students to reciteverses to theirparentsathome. (Otherarrangementsmayneed tobemade to accommodate some students whose parents may not wish to participate.) This accomplishes two purposes: (a) You need not spend class time listening to each student quote verses, and (b) parents can take this as a unique opportunity to involve themselves in their children’s spiritual training.

• YoumightcopyanddistributeaScripturememorizationreportsheetatthebeginningofanewschoolyear. each student could keep his sheet at home and bring it in once a week with a parent’s signature to assure you that he has successfully recited the week’s memory work. a sample report sheet form is provided on the next page.

• As youdrill the verses eachweek, continue todrill and reviewverses from thepassages thatwerelearned in previous weeks. We want these verses to become a part of your students’ lives so that the principles contained in them will not be forgotten.

• Noticethatreviewweeks(italicized)areprovidedduringwhichtheentirepassagethathaspreviouslybeen learned can be thoroughly reviewed and quoted together. If your students are drilled on the verses week by week, quoting the entire passage together during this review week will be easy for most of them.

• Thedanger inanyScripturememoryprogramis that thestudentsmemorizewordsonly tomeetadeadline and then move on to the next group of words. We should make sure that these Scripture verses become more than just words to our students and then do all we can to see that they understand their true meaning and make them an integral part of their everyday lives.

• Provideasystematicwayofrewardingstudentswhodemonstratethattheyhavetrulymemorizedallthe Scripture for the year.

WISE UP! SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION REPORT SHEET

Name __________________________________________________________________________________________

Teacher __________________________________________________________ Grade ________________________

Week Scripture Due Date Parent’s Signature

1 Prov. 1:5-6

2 Prov. 1:7-9

3 Prov. 1:10-11

4 Prov. 1:12-14

5 Prov. 1:15-16

6 Prov. 1:5-16

7 1 John 2:3-4

8 1 John 2:5-6

9 1 John 2:7-8

10 1 John 2:9-10

11 1 John 2:11-12

12 1 John 2:3-12

13 Eph. 4:22-23

14 Eph. 4:24-25

15 Eph. 4:26-28

16 Eph. 4:29-30

17 Eph. 4:31-32

18 Eph. 4:22-32

19 2 Pet. 1:2-3

20 2 Pet. 1:4-5

21 2 Pet. 1:6-7

22 2 Pet. 1:8-9

23 2 Pet. 1:2-9

24 Josh. 1:5-6

25 Josh. 1:7

26 Josh. 1:8-9

27 Josh. 1:5-9

28 James 3:3-4

29 James 3:5-6

30 James 3:7-8

31 James 3:3-8

32 James 3:9-10

33 James 3:11-12

34 James 3:13-14

35 James 3:3-14

TEACHER’S MANUAL

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L E S S O N 1

WHAT IS WISDOM?

TARGET TRUTHS• WisdomcomesonlyfromGod.

• Thereligionofhumanismisman'sviewoftheworld.

• WisdomisaPerson(JesusChrist).

• AwisepersonfollowstheprinciplesoftheWordofGod.

TEACHING STRATEGY

Man’s Ways Vs. the Ways of Godas this section is read, discuss the differences between humanism (man-centered thinking) and God’s ways. Write two headings on the board. as you discuss aspects of humanistic thought, invite students to explain how God’s ways differ.

for example:

Humanism

1. ThereisnoCreator.

2. Man is the center of all things.

3. There is no absolute or universal right or wrong (or, we each have the right to determine right and wrong for ourselves).

God’s ways

1. GodistheCreatorofallthings.

2. God is the center of the universe.

3. God has commandments and absolute principles by which we should live our lives.

The future of all Humanistic ThoughtWiththeabovelistofideasontheboard,havestudentsreadProverbs1:24-33anddiscussthefuturethatwill befall those who reject God and rely on self. explain that the natural tendency of our sinful flesh is to accept humanistic thought, so there are some areas in our own lives that will drift toward humanism if we are not careful. It is important to realize that God’s principles and commandments are there for our good—not to squelch the enjoyment of life. The truth is, only christians can truly enjoy the benefits of

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life within the framework that God designed. The humanists’ way of life does not lead to happiness but eventually to dissatisfaction. a life of seeking temporary pleasures and doing only what you desire to do without considering others will only cause you to keep on wanting more and more. Because you essentially make yourself a god, you are assured of having a god who cannot meet all your needs. Soon, you will find that nothing in life satisfies. The only way anyone can be fully satisfied and content is to yield to God’s way to live and His purpose for our lives. God created us to be content only when we are trusting in Him and seeking to please Him.

Thus, the first indication of wisdom is the understanding that there are two different points of view about the meaning and purpose of life: God’s view and man’s view. The truly wise person understands that the creator God has made him or her for a divine purpose that will bring great satisfaction and contentment.

Wisdom Is a PersonHave students read the verses and complete the section before discussion. as the material is discussed, make the comparisons between the passages in Proverbs and John very evident. after the discussion, write the following equation on the board and discuss its truth based on the Scriptures already studied.

God = Jesus = Word of God = Wisdom

How Wisdom acts/How the Unwise actTake time during these sections to share God’s plan of salvation. You may wish to ask your students to write a short paper sharing their personal salvation testimonies. If you do something like this during the first couple of weeks of school, you might gain a good idea early on about which students may not yet have a personal relationship with Jesus christ. Don’t forget the possibility that some of your students, even the ones who seem to say the right things and who hold “a good testimony” around school, may still be outside of christ. They may have gone through the motions of christianity and followed all the rules. They may even sincerely believe that they have done enough externally to prove they merit salvation, yet they still might not be truly trusting and obeying Him. Therefore, you must be careful not to give them a “pat answer” about biblical salvation. Salvation is a new life oriented toward and dependent on God, not just praying a prayer and making a public profession. You need to seek wisdom from the Holy Spirit to lead you in how to approach the topic with each student individually and with your class as a whole.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING SUGGESTIONS

commercialsIf your students watch television, ask them to take notes on commercials for a few days. ask each student to be prepared to give an example of a commercial that invites the audience to respond to its message based on foolish reasoning.

Share God’s Plan of SalvationUsing the discussions as a springboard, you should be sure to share the following basic facts about the gospel of Jesus christ.

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• AllofmankindisunrighteousandsinfulbeforeaholyGod.Weareunabletosaveourselvesbecauseof our sinful condition (rom. 3:23).

• Ifwedieinoursins,thenwehavenohopeofheaven.Arighteous,holyGodcannotallowsininHispresence. Therefore, sinners must die physically and endure an eternity of spiritual death (torment and separation from God) as well (rom. 6:23).

• EventhoughGodisholy,pure,andrighteous,Heisalsolovingandmerciful.Jesus,theSonofGod,cametoearthtodieforoursins.HehadnosinofHisownforwhichtodie;butoutofHisgreatlovefor us, He came to die for ours (rom. 5:8).

• IfwebelievethatJesusChristisGodandthatHetookourplaceonthecross,andifwereceiveHimasour Savior, our sins are forgiven. We become the sons of God and have the assurance of heaven (John 1:12).

TEACHER’S LESSON (OVERHEAD TRANSPARENCY)

Definition of HumanismHumanism is man’s attempt to solve his problems independently of God.

Instead of using the truth of the Word of God as the basis for solving problems and understanding the world we live in, humanists try to find another way of explaining truth. for instance, to explain the origin of the universe, humanists offered the theory of evolution—the idea that everything came into existence by itself. The theory is that from insignificant life forms to the most complex of beings (mankind), everything has evolved over millions of years. evolutionists reject the creator God, and thus they reject true knowledge and understanding. all of life is seen from this perspective. Science, history, philosophy, sociology, and political science—every avenue of study is based on this false idea.

God talks very specifically about such people when He says that when they claimed to be wise, they becamefools(Rom.1:22).Jeremiah8:9saysthatwhen“wisemen”rejectthewordoftheLord,thereisreally no wisdom at all in them, and they are put to shame.

TwoWaysofLookingatKnowledgeThus there are two ways of looking at the various fields of study. We can either look at all fields of study through the eyes of the Word of God, or we can look at the Word of God through the eyes of the various fields of study. These disciplines in and of themselves are not evil because they can be viewed in the light of God’s Word. But when those who study these things fail to acknowledge the absolute truth of the Bible and leave God out of their studies, they are bound to fall short in their efforts to discover and use truth.

Science that teaches evolution rather than creation must either reject the Bible or change the Bible to fit their notions.

History that records events as though mankind could control his own destiny or which fails to acknowledge God’s sovereignty and constancy over the centuries falls short of teaching the total truth.

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Psychology that theorizes man’s problems are merely mental or physical and able to be solved by personal resolve and various therapies (without factoring in the reality of spiritual needs and the sufficiency of the Bible) cannot truly offer lasting help to anyone.

Sociology that assumes drunkenness, aggression, homosexuality, or other sins are just diseases rather than grievances against God cannot offer any effective solutions to the social problems which pervade our culture.

Therefore, if you eliminate the Word of God, you eliminate your access to reliable truth! an education without God will not provide you with fullness of knowledge. education apart from God is not true wisdom.

QUIZ ANSWERS1.

• Silver• Gold• Rubies• Anythingelseyoumaydesire

2. • Man’swisdom• God’swisdom

3. Knowledgeistheaccumulationoffactsandideas.Wisdomisknowinghowtoapplyfactsandideassothat important choices can be made rightly.

4. Jesus christ5.

• Wisdomseekssalvationfromhell.• Wisdomisobedient.• Wisdomwinssouls.• WisdomfearstheLord.• Wisdomispeaceable.

6. Humanism is man’s attempt to solve his problems independently of God.

L E S S O N 1 S T U D E N T M A N U A L P A G E S

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5

L E S S O N 1

WHAT IS WISDOM?

This year we are going to center our study on the key word of the book of Proverbs— “wisdom.” Your years in middle school are a very important time in your life. No longer are you a child, but neither are you an adult. You are entering a time of life when you must learn what it means to be a mature, responsible young man or woman. You will have many important choices to make, and your parents will have to trust that you can make wise choices as you journey through the next few years. In some situations, learning to be wise will mean the difference between success and failure. Learn to be wise, and you will have success.

According to Proverbs 3:13-15, what four things cannot compare to the value or importance of wisdom?

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________________

Many people would value these things above anything else. But why is wisdom more valuable than any of these things?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What Wisdom Is Not

God’s Word is very specific about what wisdom is and what it is not. In the next few lessons we will study exactly what wisdom is. But first, let’s make sure we understand what it is not.

silver

gold

rubies

anything else you may desire

Wisdom is more important and will last longer than any material possessions.By wisdom we understand how to obey God and receive His blessing.


L E S S O N 1 | 19

6

According to 1 Corinthians 2:4-8, there are two types of wisdom. What are the two types?

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

How is the wisdom that comes from God described in these verses?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Read Proverbs 21:30. Explain in your own words exactly where wisdom is found and where it is not found.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Man’s Ways Vs. The Ways Of God

Anything that denies or belittles God is not wisdom. Without God, there can be no true wisdom. What does Isaiah 55:8 teach us about God’s thoughts and actions?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Therefore, atheism or godlessness in any form is not wisdom. One system of thought that teaches ideas opposed to God in today’s society is humanism. Humanists say:

God is not the center of all things. In fact, there is no God, and there is no Creator. Instead, the world came into existence by itself. There is no God to tell us right from wrong. Man is the center of all things and in control of everything that hap pens. “Right” is anything that pleases man and adds to his plea sure. “Wrong” is anything that man dislikes. It is good and right for us to “do our own thing” or whatever will bring us pleasure and contentment.

Humanists say that education is the source of wisdom. Many people in the world have learned much of the knowledge of the world, but that does not mean they are wise.

God’s wisdom

Man’s wisdom

It was ordained by God before earth was created. It is powerful and of the the Holy Spirit.

Wisdom can be found only in the Lord. It will never be found apart fromthe Lord.

They are different from the ways of the world.


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7

Humanists say that good grades are the measure of wisdom. However, you may be the most intelligent person in your school and make all the honor rolls, but this does not necessarily mean that you are wise.

Make sure you understand the difference. Education and good grades do not make us wise. God alone makes us wise. A truly wise person will study hard and get the best grades possible because a wise person knows that God has given us the opportunity to understand the world He has created.

Knowledge is the accumulation of facts and ideas. Wisdom is knowing how to apply facts and ideas so that important choices can be made rightly.

Humanism says: WisdomKnowledgeEducation

Good Grades

Christianity says: WisdomGodRight KnowledgeProper Education

Good Grades

Read 1 Corinthians 1:19-21 and 3:19-20 and answer the following questions.

• What will God destroy? (1:19) _______________________________________________________________

• What is the world unable to use in order to know God? (1:21) _______________________________________________________________

• What did it please God to use in saving those who believe? (1:21) _______________________________________________________________

• What is the world’s wisdom in God’s sight? (3:19) _______________________________________________________________

• In God’s sight, what are the thoughts of those who are “wise” in the worldly sense? (3:20) _______________________________________________________________

the wisdom of the wise

its own worldly wisdom

the foolishness of preaching

foolishness

vain or futile


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8

The Future Of All Humanistic Thought

Go back to God’s wisdom book, Proverbs, and see what God promises will happen to all those who do not listen to Him and follow Him. Read Proverbs 1:20-33 and describe what will happen to those who reject God and His wisdom.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Wisdom Is A Person

Read Proverbs 8:22-31. Compare what is said there with what is said in the New Testament in John 1:1-3, 10-12.

• Both passages are describing Whom? _______________________________________________________________

• Read Colossians 2:3. According to this verse, what is in Christ? _______________________________________________________________

The Christ of Creation is the very wisdom and knowledge of God. If you know Jesus, you know God. And if you know and fear the Lord God, you will have wisdom.

How Wisdom Acts

We now understand that true wisdom comes only from God and only through knowing His Son, Jesus Christ. What then does wisdom have to do with salvation?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When we know Jesus Christ, we have the capability to act wisely. He can instruct us in wisdom and enable us to be wise. If you are trusting and obeying Christ as the Savior and Lord of your life, then He will change you to help you be more and more like Him (including in His wisdom) in all aspects of life! As we continue through our study of Proverbs this year, we will learn how wisdom applies to every aspect of our lives. Match the following verses to see just a few of the ways that having wisdom will affect your life:

God will mock them when what they fear has come upon them. Destruction and calamity will come to them. They will experience distress and anguish. God will not answer them.

Jesus (wisdom personified)

all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge

The first step toward wisdom is trusting Christ as your Savior.


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9

1. Wisdom prepares for the future. A. Prov. 22:3

B. Prov. 11:30

C. James 3:17

D. Prov. 30:24-26

E. Prov. 28:7

F. Prov. 15:33

G. Prov. 15:24

2. Wisdom seeks salvation from hell.

3. Wisdom is obedient.

4. Wisdom wins souls.

5. Wisdom plans for the future.

6. Wisdom fears the Lord.

7. Wisdom is peaceable.

How The Unwise Act

Using the seven examples above that show how wisdom acts, describe how the unwise act. In your explanation, do not just write the exact opposite of what the verse says. Use different wording to explain your ideas. For example, for the first one, do not simply say that the unwise do not prepare for the future. Instead, you might say that the unwise are concerned only about what is happening right now. The unwise…

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________________

5. _______________________________________________________________

6. _______________________________________________________________

7. _______________________________________________________________

This year, as we study how wisdom works in our lives, we will be studying about our homes, our relationships with others, how we make decisions, what the future will be like, and many, many other ideas. To begin, look at the lists under “How Wisdom Acts” and “How the Unwise Act” and think through how wise you are in these seven areas. List

D/A

G

E

B

D/A

F

C

are concerned only about now (today)

do not worry about heaven and hell

are stubborn and rebellious

do not care about others

do not plan for the future

do not respect God

have problems getting along with others


L E S S O N 1 | 23

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each idea in one of the boxes below. For example, take item #1. Do you prepare well for the future? If so, write this statement in the first row under the first column: “I prepare for the future.” If this is not true of you, write this statement in the first row under the second column: “I am concerned only about now.” From this, you will begin to see those areas in which you need to grow in wisdom, and you will be able to plan how to respond wisely in particular situations.

Wise Unwise

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Answers will vary.


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Teacher’s Lesson

Humanism is man’s attempt to ___________ ________ ________________ independently of _______.

ChristianEducation

SecularEducation

solve his problemsGod

L E S S O N 1 Q U I Z

L E S S O N 1 Q U I ZWHAT IS WISDOM?

Name ________________________________________________________________ Date _____________________ Score ___________

1. AccordingtoProverbs3:13-15,whatfourthingscannotcomparewiththevalueorimportanceofwisdom?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

2. Accordingto1Corinthians2:4-8,whatarethetwotypesofwisdom?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

3. What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

4. AccordingtoProverbs8:22-31andJohn1:1-3and10-12,whoiswisdom? ____________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

5. Listfourwaysinwhichwisdomacts.(Hint:Onewaywisdomactsisthatitpreparesforthefuture.)

• Wisdom _____________________________________________________________________ .

• Wisdom _____________________________________________________________________ .

• Wisdom _____________________________________________________________________ .

• Wisdom _____________________________________________________________________ .

6. What is humanism? _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

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Hum

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’s at

tem

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sol

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s in

depe

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L E S S O N 2 | 27

L E S S O N 2

WISDOM AND FOOLISHNESS

TARGET TRUTHS• TheBiblemakesagreatdistinctionbetweentheactionsofawisemanandafool.

• Whetherwearewiseornotisnotamatterofage,butratherofknowingandfearingGod.

• Weneedtoevaluateourownlivesfromtimetotimetorecognizeanyfoolishtendenciesinourlives.

TEACHING STRATEGYas your students read the first paragraph of the lesson, emphasize that wisdom has nothing to do with age. Young people can have great wisdom if they are willing to listen to God’s Word and follow it. an adult who refuses to follow God and obey Him can be very foolish, or his additional experience in life can enhance biblical wisdom that comes from obeying God.

Wise and foolish reactionsOne of the greatest insights or keys as to whether we have wisdom or foolishness in our hearts is the way we react to such things as rules, correction, instruction, disagreements, and sin in our lives. Tell your students that as they take notes on each area, they should really consider how they react in such situations. This section can show them more than any other how wise they are. a wise person will take heed to areas that need to be corrected.

The reason for this is that a wise person is not filled with pride. Pride does not want to admit weakness. a person’s pride does not want to admit it when he has done wrong. Pride does not want to be corrected or admonished in any way and does not want to accept rules for his life. a proud person is not wise.

after students have taken notes on each section, spend time reviewing and discussing the differences between a wise person and a foolish person. explain that the word “reaction” means response. These are things we do not begin or initiate ourselves but must respond to when we are confronted by them. God is not as interested in the problems we face as in how we respond to the problems. God knows we will be faced with situations we do not enjoy, but our response in each case shows what our inner character is really like. It is our character with which God is most concerned.

TheKeytoWisdomandMaturityWhen a young child begins to try to walk, there is a day when he takes the first step. The first step to becoming a mature and wise person involves recognizing that we did not make ourselves. We were created by a loving and wise God to fulfill a unique and special purpose in life. To recognize that great God and the place He holds in our lives is wise indeed. Thus, the first step to wisdom and maturity is having great

28 | L E S S O N 2

respect for and trust in God. These verses say that God searches the earth for those who love Him, respect whoHeis,andtrustHim.UnlesswefeartheLord,wewillliveoutourlivesin“abominableiniquity”withno other hope.

More about the fool and the Wise Manread the directions with your class and do the first section together. Your students should look up what the Bible says about the fool and write the opposite characteristic that would be a part of a wise person’s life.

Letstudentscompletethisontheirownandthenshareideaswiththeclass.Attheendofthesection,askstudents to consider what areas in their lives are foolish and wise. They should look at the first section regarding reactions as well as this last section in completing their evaluation. consider leading in a time ofprayerbeforetheybegintothinkthroughthesethings.PrayingbeforetheLordwillencouragethemto take self-evaluation more seriously. Do not go over these but explain that later during the year, we will return to this section to check up and see how we are growing in wisdom.


The Meaning and Use of “fear” in ScriptureHave students use a concordance to look up the word “fear” as it is used in Scripture. See if you can find different meanings that this word has in Scripture. Be prepared to discuss the different meanings with your class.

compositionask the students to think of unwise actions they have observed in their own lives. The lists they made in this lesson may help them. Instruct them to write a composition on how their actions have affected others.

Making DecisionsHave students discuss some decisions they will have to make this week—in class, with friends, or at home. for each one, have students explain what would be a wise decision and a foolish decision.

courtesy and rudenessDiscuss the difference between the wisdom of courteous behavior and the foolishness of being rude.

The House on the rockreview the story of the house built on the rock and the house built on sand from Matthew 7:24-27. Give students the challenge of finding another similar analogy to emphasize wisdom and foolishness. They can write their own short parable or draw a picture of the comparison.

L E S S O N 2 | 29


Definition of a Proverba proverb is a short sentence expressing in a few words a well-known truth.

ThebookofProverbs ismadeupof 31 chapters andover 900proverbs thatwere spoken,written, orcollected byKing Solomon,Agur, andKing Lemuel. The vastmajority of the proverbswere those ofSolomon,whospoke3,000proverbs,according to1Kings4:32.Manyof theproverbs,asyouwill see,were written in the form of a comparison. In other words, a great truth was often compared to something common with which everyone could identify. Since the proverbs were written thousands of years ago, the comparison is sometimes difficult for us to understand, but the truth is everlasting from generation to generation.

The Main Purposes for Studying ProverbsProverbs1:2-4suggestsfivepurposesorobjectivesforstudyingProverbs.

• ToknowGod

Proverbs1:7saysthatthefearoftheLordisthebeginningofknowledge.Therefore,oneofthekeypur-poses for any study of Proverbs is to build a closer relationship to God by learning who He is and how He thinks. When we begin to learn who God truly is, we will begin to grow in wisdom and knowledge.

• ToknowtheWordofGod

as we study the Word of God, we learn to know God, how He thinks, and how to discern His wisdom. By learning how God thinks, we will begin to understand how He acts and how He intends to work in our lives.

• ToknowGod’sprinciples

God’s Word is filled with God’s principles that show us how to live our lives successfully. as we study Proverbs, we will learn how to make right decisions in life. Our life choices will be right when they are based on truth.

• TolearnhowtoapplyGod’swisdom

everyone has “rough edges” that must be smoothed away. The rough edges God is concerned about are primarily in our character and inner attitudes. When He smooths out these ugly aspects of our lives, our lives will follow a beautiful and wonderful path and demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit.

• Togivepurposetolife

The Bible talks about people being tossed about with no direction, purpose, or understanding in life. God wants our lives to have direction, goals, and a purpose.

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How to Understand Proverbs• Recognizeyouhaveaneed

If you think you know all you need to know for your life and that you have no more need to learn, you will not grow. Only by recognizing that we have problems and areas that we need to repent of our sin and change can we begin to grow in wisdom and knowledge.

• Hear

We must be willing to listen attentively to what we will be taught. But hearing in order to learn and grow must be done with the heart and not just the mind. If we just allow the message to affect our ears and part of our minds, we will not change. If we hear with our hearts, we will begin to see differences in our lives.

• Pray

Begin to pray and ask God to help you in two important ways. first, you need to pray that God will help you to understand the great and important truths that you will be taught. Second, you need to pray that God will help you to apply the truths you learn to your own life.

• Study

You need to apply yourself to your study of Proverbs this year. You will be looking up many verses in Proverbs and many other books to teach you great truths and principles for your life. You must be will-ing to apply yourself to your study, knowing that you will benefit from your study and perseverance.

QUIZ ANSWERS1-5.Manyanswersarepossible.Theiranswersshouldreflectportionsofthematerialstudiedunderthe

section “Wise and foolish reactions” in the student lesson.

6-9. answers for these should include concepts presented in the section “More about the fool and the Wise Man” in the student lesson.

10. thefearoftheLord(recognizingwhoGodisanddevelopingagreatrespectforandtrustinHim)


L E S S O N 2 | 31

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L E S S O N 2

WISDOM AND FOOLISHNESS

Proverbs contains many comparisons between a wise man and a fool. Being a wise person often has nothing to do with age. Usually an older person does have knowledge and wisdom because of all the experiences of life. One basic reason we need to listen to older people is that they have already dealt with many of the same problems we are facing. But just because a person is old does not mean that he or she is truly wise because true wisdom comes only from God. Sometimes older people still act very foolishly, while young people have great wisdom because they know and follow God.

Wise And Foolish Reactions

Read the following verses in Proverbs, and record how a wise man and a fool react to the following types of situations. Be ready to use your notes to discuss each section.

1. Reaction to Rebuke, Reproof, or Correction

Wise Man’s Reaction Fool’s Reaction

(9:8) _______________________________

___________________________________

(15:31) _____________________________

___________________________________

(17:10) _____________________________

___________________________________

(9:8) ______________________________

__________________________________

(13:1) _____________________________

__________________________________

(15:12) ____________________________

__________________________________

(17:10) ____________________________

__________________________________

loves the one who rebukes him

lives among other wise people

accepts it

hates the one who reproveshim

doesn’t listen

will not go to the wise foradvice

doesn’t accept it


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2. Reaction to Rules, Regulations, and Authority


(10:8) _____________________________

__________________________________

(10:8) _____________________________

__________________________________

(10:23) ____________________________

__________________________________

(17:11) ____________________________

__________________________________

3. Reaction to Advice, Instruction, Teaching, and Preaching


(12:1) ______________________________

___________________________________

(12:15) _____________________________

___________________________________

(15:14) _____________________________

___________________________________

(18:15) ____________________________

__________________________________

(1:7) ______________________________

__________________________________

(1:22) _____________________________

__________________________________

(12:15) ____________________________

__________________________________

(15:5) _____________________________

__________________________________

(17:16) ____________________________

__________________________________

(23:9) _____________________________

__________________________________

4. Reaction to Arguing, Fighting, and Disagreements


(11:12) ____________________________

__________________________________

(18:6) _____________________________

__________________________________

(29:11) ____________________________

__________________________________

receives commandments falls because he doesn’t listen

enjoy doing wickedness

seeks rebellion

loves knowledge

listens to counsel

seeks knowledge

seeks and gets knowledge

keeps quiet

despises wisdom andinstruction

delights in scorning or mockery

believes his own way is right

despises his father’s instruction

has no heart for wisdom

despises wisdom

creates contention

says everything he thinks


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5. Reaction to Sin and Wrongdoing


(14:16) _____________________________

___________________________________

(22:3) ____________________________

__________________________________

(14:9) _____________________________

__________________________________

(14:16) ____________________________

__________________________________

The Key To Wisdom And Maturity

As you have seen from the last exercise, the ma jor concern of the Scriptures is not whether people are rich or poor, athletic or musical, smart or slow to learn, well dressed or poorly dressed, outgoing or shy or friendly or lonely. In fact, foolish people judge others by some of these external standards, but maturity teaches us to view others as God views them. God judges us by whether we are wise or foolish. A fool rejects the one true God and does not recognize that the world was created and is held together by Him. A fool does not consider Who it is that provides everything we have. He does not even recognize Who gives him life. He is indeed a fool.

Read Psalm 14:1-3 and explain in your own words how King David described the fool.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

According to Proverbs 15:33, what keeps a person from being a fool?

______________________________________________________________________

When the Bible talks about fearing the Lord (as in Prov. 15:33), it does not mean being afraid of God in the way that we fear danger or pain. In this verse and many others, fear means to have a deep respect for God and to give Him great honor. Compare the above verses and explain what you think really is the key to growing up into maturity.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

fears God and departs from evil

anticipates evil and hidesfrom it

mocks sin

uncontrolled and carelessor reckless

He says there is no God. He is corrupt. He does abominable works. He does no good. He does not seek God.

the fear of the Lord

The key to wisdom and maturity is recognizing who God is and developinga deep respect for, submission to, and trust in Him.


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More About The Fool And The Wise Man

Each of the following areas are very important aspects of our lives. Look up each verse in Proverbs and think about what the Bible says about the fool. Then, in your own words, write the opposite attitude or action that a wise person would have or show. If there are words in the verses that you do not understand, use a dictionary to look them up.

1. Attitudes

12:15

14:3

2. Home Life

10:1

15:5

15:20

3. What We Say

15:2

15:7

29:11

A wise person is willing to admit that he is not always right.

A wise person does not allow pride to control him.

A wise person encourages his mother.

A wise person listens closely to his father’s instruction.

A wise person loves and honors his mother.

A wise person says the right thing at the right time.

A wise person disperses (spreads) knowledge and says wise things.

A wise person chooses his words carefully.


L E S S O N 2 | 35

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4. Attitude Toward Sin

13:19

14:9

14:16

5. Getting Angry

10:19

12:16

14:17

6. Setting Goals and Completing Tasks

10:14

15:14

21:20

Look over the verses in Proverbs that we have studied in this lesson. List some of the characteristics (both of the foolish man and the wise man) that you see existing in your life right now. A wise person evaluates himself and knows himself. As you evaluate yourself, God can help you weed out those foolish reactions and strengthen the areas in which you are showing wisdom in your life.

A wise person departs from his sin.

A wise person does not make light of sin.

A wise person fears the Lord and avoids sin.

A wise person does not say things he shouldn’t.

A wise person does not let his anger get the best of him.

A wise person controls his temper.

A wise person will not be destroyed for failing to use hisknowledge.

A wise person seeks knowledge about what he should do.

A wise person will be careful with his possessions and make wise use of what he has.


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18

Foolish Characteristics in My Life Wise Characteristics in My Life

Answers will vary.


L E S S O N 2 | 37

19

TEACHER’S LESSON

Definition of a Proverb

A short __________________ expressing in a ____________________________ a ____________________ truth

The Main Purposes for Studying Proverbs:

• To know ______

• To know the Word ____________

• To know ________________________________

• To learn how to __________ God’s wisdom

• To give ______________ to life

How to Understand Proverbs:

• Recognize you have a _________________

• ___________________________________

• ___________________________________

• ___________________________________

sentence few wordswell-known

God

of God

God’s principles

apply

purpose

need

Hear

Pray

Study


L E S S O N 2 Q U I ZWISDOM AND FOOLISHNESS

Name ________________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

Tell how a wise person responds or reacts to each of the following things:

1. Correctionorrebuke: ______________________________________________________________

2. rules and authority: _______________________________________________________________

3. advice and instruction: ____________________________________________________________

4. arguing and disagreements: ________________________________________________________

5. Sin and wrongdoing: ______________________________________________________________

Tell how a wise person shows his wisdom in each of the following areas.

6. His home life (relationship with his parents): ___________________________________________

7. What he says: ___________________________________________________________________

8. Getting angry: ___________________________________________________________________

9. Setting goals and completing tasks: ___________________________________________________

10.AccordingtoProverbs15:33,whatisthekeytobecomingwiseandmature? ___________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

LE

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A short sentence expressing in a

few w

ords a well-know

n truth.

The Main Purposes for Studying Proverbs

•Toknow

God

•Toknow

theWordofG

od•Toknow

God’sprinciples

•Tolearnhow

toapplyGod’sw

isdom•Togivepurposetolife

How

to Understand Proverbs

•Recognizeyouhaveaneed

•Hear

•Pray

•Study

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L E S S O N 3

THE EXAMPLE OF WISE MEN

TARGET TRUTHS• Itispossibletolearnwisdombystudyingtheexamplesofwisemen.

• Awisepersonknowshowtohandleconflicts.

• Itisimportanttochooseprioritieswisely.

TEACHING STRATEGY

KingSolomonAsyourstudentsstudyKingSolomon’svalues,use the followingsurveyofEphesians5-6 tohelp themunderstand what priorities are and why they are important to God:

ReadandexplainEphesians5:18-6:9andColossians3:14-25tohelpyourstudentsunderstandmoreaboutpriorities. Here is an outline of the ephesians passage:

1. Ephesians5:18-21—arightrelationshipwithGod

2. ephesians 5:22-33—a right relationship with your spouse

3. Ephesians6:1-4—arightrelationshipwithyourfamily

4. ephesians 6:5-9—right relationships with authorities at work or school

Young people need to see that their relationship with God is to be their first priority in life (just as it should be their parents’ first priority). Since your students are not married, their second priority ought to be their relationships with their parents and siblings. They need to make sure they follow through with theirobligationsathome.Nextinthelineofimportanceistheirrelationshiptotheirauthoritiesoutsidetheir family, particularly the leaders of their church and their teachers. These three areas must be of prime importance to them as God builds wisdom into their lives.

ask your students to show you where activities and friends fit into the ephesians outline of priorities. Does this mean that God is not interested in their friendships? The fact is, God is very interested in their activities and friendships, and there is nothing inherently wrong with them—just as long as they are kept in the proper perspective!

Having right priorities means that we put first things first and that we manage our lives decently and in order in accordance with God’s priorities as revealed in the Bible. This is how Solomon ordered his life—at least the first part—and he became the wisest man ever known. He had such great wisdom that God used him to write a book full of wisdom.

L E S S O N 3 | 41

as students complete the last part of this section, they need to do so with the above teachings in mind.

Before you leave the study of Solomon, however, explain that later in his life, Solomon strayed from the commands of God. He married heathen women and began to worship their gods. When this happened, he did not have the wisdom of God in his life like he had before. It is important for your students to realize that walking with God and learning His wisdom is a continuing need in our lives. We can never allow ourselves to assume that we can get along without God.

DanielThis section is self-explanatory for the most part. Have your students complete the material on their own andthendiscusseachconflictasaclass.AskthestudentstoreadJames1:5-8toseehowwecanobtainwisdom when we need it. Make sure to emphasize the following points:

1. WeneedtoaskGodforwisdom.

2. We need to ask in faith, not allowing our emotions or circumstances to toss us about with indeci-sion.

3. We should not be double-minded. We should not want God’s way and another way. God’s will must take first priority.

My Own conflictsas students evaluate their own conflicts, explain that for this assignment the most important aspect is not whether or not they handled the example conflict wisely. The important thing is that they learn through this example how to seek God’s wisdom faithfully in order to resolve future conflicts.

Blessings in Using the Wisdom of GodOne of the greatest blessings that comes in using the wisdom of God is the confidence we have that God knows the ultimate outcome and will work things out for the best as we trust and obey Him, even if the immediateresultsdonotseemtomakesense.Noteveryconflictorproblemwillberesolvedbecausewecannot change the hearts and lives of others. But we can have confidence that we have submitted ourselves to what God wants and that His way is best even when it is hard.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING SUGGESTION

WiseLeadersGodHasGivenMeHave your students list those people in their lives whom God has used to instruct them and teach them wisdom.Nexttoeachnametheywrite,askthemtodescribesomethingspecificthatthepersonhastaughtthem about living wisely.

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TEACHER’S LESSONWe have just studied the life examples of men who sought the wisdom of God and allowed this wisdom toguidetheirlives.InProverbs30,Godgivesusfourexamplesofwisdominaction.Heusesfourtinycreatures that have wisdom because of the way they were created to act and that can teach us some important principles.

TheAnt:ForethoughtandPreparation(Prov.30:25)• Preparesforthefuture

The ant prepares for the future by gathering its food during the long summer months in preparation for the winter when he cannot get outside and search for food.

You must prepare for the future in many ways. first, you ought to prepare for your eternal future by repenting of your sins and trusting in christ alone for salvation. Only in this way will you know that your sins are forgiven and that you can enter heaven one day. Second, you must prepare for the imme-diate future by getting the knowledge necessary for your life while you have the opportunity (such as during your years in school).

• Preparestofightagainsttemptation

We need to learn to recognize that Satan will tempt us again and again in many different ways, par-ticularly while we are young. He does not want us to find satisfaction in trusting and obeying God. He does not want our lives to be successful tools in God’s hands. We need to prepare in advance for Satan’s attacks so that we will know how to combat him and gain victory over temptation. (Throughout the year, we will continue to discuss ways to prevent and avoid sin.)

The coney (or possibly rock badger) : Security Despite Weakness (Prov. 30:26)The coney was some sort of creature, perhaps similar to a rabbit, that lived in the rocks and caves of PalestineandLebanon.Theconeyteachesustwooutstandinglessonsfromitstwomajorcharacteristics.

• Realizesitsfeebleness

We need likewise to recognize our sinfulness and inadequacy before God. as long as we think that we can live profitable lives without God, we will never see what wonderful things God can do with our lives (for His glory and for our good)!

• Hidesinrocksforitsdefense

Throughout the Bible, God compares Jesus to a rock. a rock is something that is strong and sure, something that we can trust not to budge if we put our weight on it. That is what Jesus is like after we trust Him as Savior. He is our protector and our defense. This is what the coney in its wisdom also realized it needed—protection and defense from its enemies.

L E S S O N 3 | 43

TheLocust:UnityandCooperation(Prov.30:27)Thestrengthofthelocustsisintheirunityandorderliness.Theyarenotindependentofeachother;rather,they depend on one another. even without a leader, they fly in perfect ranks and formation. We can learn the need to be unified in christ—not bickering or gossiping or being jealous and critical of one another, but relying on one another for counsel and strength.

TheLizard(orspider):Boldness(Prov.30:28)We do not possess enough linguistic evidence to determine with certainty whether this Hebrew word refers to a lizard or a spider. Whichever animal is in view, an outstanding characteristic of it is boldness. Though small and despised, these creatures live in the palaces of kings. This is a wonderful picture of sinful man. Though there is nothing in ourselves that merits a special status, we have the right (through Jesus) to enter daily into the very throne room of God.

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QUIZ ANSWERS1. Solomon2. an understanding heart to be able to discern between right and wrong3. any four of the following would be acceptable:

• withoutblemishordefect• handsome(maybetranslatedwell-favored)• skillfulinallwisdom(intelligent)• possessingmuchknowledge• giftedinunderstandinganddiscernment• abletoserveintheking'spalace• abletolearnanewlanguage

4. He was asked to eat the king’s food.5. He proposed a testing period during which he and his friends would only have vegetables and water.6. KingNebuchadnezzarhadadreamthatnoneofhiswisemencouldinterpret.Thewisemenwere

to be killed for their inability to interpret the dream.7. Daniel asked the king not to kill the wise men if he could interpret the dream, and God gave

Daniel the correct interpretation.8. any five of the following would be acceptable:

• safetyandlackoffearofevil• longlifeandpeace• happiness• pleasant,peacefullife• lackoffear;abilitytosleepeasily• protectionfromstumbling• goodhealth• favorfromtheLord• strength• reward

9. • lizardorspider• locust• ant• coneyorrockbadger

L E S S O N 3 H A N D O U T

SELF-EVALUATION

Do I Use Sound Wisdom?Rateyourselfonascaleof1to5foreachofthefollowing,withlbeingthelowestand5beingthehighestlevel of wisdom used in each situation.

1. ____I listen toadults’ instructionswillinglysoIwillknowhowtodiscernrightfromwrongand choose right.

2. ____IasktheLordtogivemethewisdomIneedfordifficultsituations.

3. ____ I study God’s Word on my own so I will be able to judge right from wrong.

4. ____ I do not make decisions frivolously. I carefully think through what I should do.

5. ____ I do not go along with my friends’ ideas without thinking through what is right and wrong.

6. ____ When my parents or a teacher must correct me, I listen closely to learn from my mistakes.

7. ____ I do not decide what I will do based on my feelings and what others are doing but rather on what the Bible teaches.

8. ____ I do not argue about obeying God’s rules when they are clearly set forth in the Bible.

9. ____ When I get involved in a possible conflict, I listen carefully and think through what I will do and say.

10.____WhenIamorganizingmytime,Ithinkaboutmyprioritiesandwhatisthemostimportantthing to do first.

• WhatdomyanswerstothesequestionssuggestabouthowwellIapplywisdom? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

• Whichareasofmylifemostneedtogrowinwisdom? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________


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L E S S O N 3

THE EXAMPLE OFWISE MEN

We are going to spend most of this lesson seeing how two men pursued God’s wisdom.

God had greatly blessed both of these men, King Solomon and Daniel. They both became

famous and were able to influence the lives of many people with whom they came in

contact. Not only were they wise, but they also enjoyed fame, fortune, and great success

during their lifetimes. Look carefully at how and why God blessed them and think about

how you could glorify God if He would bless you with wisdom and help you make right

choices throughout your life.

King Solomon

One great reason to study the life of Solomon is that he is the primary author of our main

“textbook” for this class this year—the book of Proverbs. God can use the life of this great

king to teach us the difference between the wisdom of God and the perceived wisdom

of the world.

King Solomon was the son of the great King David. He was fortunate to have had a

father like David who loved the Lord God all the days of his life. David taught Solomon

the value of trusting in God and having the wisdom of God above all else. If you read

Solomon’s story, you will see once again the value of having the fear of God as your first

priority. Our “priorities” are what we value as important in our lives. Read part of the

story of Solomon (1 Kings 3:3-15), and answer each question below:

What did Solomon learn from his father? (vss. 3 and 6)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

He learned to love the LORD and walk in His commandments and to have

truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart.


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22

How did Solomon view himself? (vss. 7 and 8)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For what did Solomon ask? (vs. 9)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For what did Solomon not ask? (vs. 11)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

List what God gave Solomon (in the order of their priorities). (vss. 12 and 13)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did God require of Solomon? (vs. 14)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What reward did He promise him? (vs. 14)

______________________________________________________________________

Solomon was the king of Israel. He was rich and famous, and—humanly speaking—he had no need of anyone or anything. Yet Solomon saw the need to seek God and the wisdom of God first. What conclusion can you reach about priorities for your own life? Make a list of things that are important to you. You might include friends, school, music, sports, family, church, or anything else that is important to you.

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________________

as a servant of God—a child who did not know how to act in the midst of agreat people

an understanding heart to be able to discern between right and wrong

long life, riches, or vengeance on his enemies

a wise and understanding heart, then riches and honor

Solomon had to keep God’s commandments.

God would lengthen his days.

Answers will vary.


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5. _______________________________________________________________

6. _______________________________________________________________

Of the things you have listed, which three do you think ought to have the highest priority in your life?

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________

Daniel

During the reign of Jehoiakim, Daniel and three of his companions were taken captive to Babylon. Their superiors recognized them to be excellent young men. Because of their special qualifications, they were selected to be trained for the king’s service.

Daniel 1:4 explains specifically what the Babylonians saw in Daniel and his friends that impressed them. List these things below:

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________________

5. _______________________________________________________________

6. _______________________________________________________________

7. _______________________________________________________________

All of these are qualities that people might admire in you, also. Good looks and a noble heritage are nice to have, but notice the emphasis on the wisdom of these young men and on their aptitude to learn and to teach.

Answers will vary.

without blemish or defect

handsome (may be translated well-favored)

skillful in all wisdom (intelligent)

possessing much knowledge

gifted in understanding and discernment

able to serve in the king’s palace

able to learn a new language


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24

Daniel and his friends got their wisdom from God! Their wise responses helped them through three conflicts with the Babylonians.

Read Daniel 1:8-16. What was the first conflict?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How did the wisdom of God help Daniel resolve the conflict?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Read Daniel 2 to find out about the conflict between pagan magic and the wisdom of God. What was the conflict?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How did the wisdom of God help Daniel resolve the conflict?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

They were asked to eat the king’s food, supposedly so that they could growstronger. But in order to eat that kind of food, they would be forced to violateGod’s law, and they did not want to go against God.

Daniel proposed a creative alternative. He respectfully proposed a testing period during which he and his friends would eat only vegetables and water.God blessed them and caused them to prosper during this period, so muchso that their authorities were amazed and gladly permitted them to continuehonoring God.

King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that none of his wise men could interpret. As a result, it was decided that the wise men were to be killed fortheir inability to interpret the dream.

Daniel asked the king not to kill the wise men if he could interpret the dream,and God gave Daniel the correct interpretation.


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Read Daniel 3 to find out about the conflict between heathen idolatry and loyalty to the true God. What was the conflict?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How did the wisdom of God help Daniel’s friends resolve the conflict?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You will learn that you will have conflicts of many kinds in your life. Friends will try to tempt you to do wrong. Situations will arise in which you will have to make important decisions for yourself. As in Daniel’s situation, your parents may not be able to help you make a decision. You will be responsible to make wise choices on your own.

Share a situation in which you had a conflict to resolve. What was the conflict?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How did the wisdom of God relate to the situation?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What choice did you make in the situation? Was it a wise choice?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Blessings For Applying The Wisdom Of God

God blesses our lives in many different ways as we trust in His wisdom—just as Solomon and Daniel received great blessings. Read the verses from Proverbs listed on the next page and write out each blessing God promises for using the wisdom that comes from Him.

Daniel’s friends would be thrown into the fiery furnace if they did not bowdown before the king’s image.

They remained loyal to God and were thrown into the furnace, but God diddid not allow them to be burned.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.


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26

After seeing some of the rewards and results of true wisdom, it is obvious why God says that those who reject Him are truly foolish.

• 1:33 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 3:2 ____________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 3:13 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 3:17 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 3:24 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 4:12 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 4:22 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 8:35 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 24:5 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 24:14 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

safety and lack of fear of evil

long life and peace

happiness

pleasant, peaceful life

lack of fear, ability to sleep peacefully

protection from stumbling

good health

favor from the Lord

strength

reward


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27

TEACHER’S LESSON

Proverbs 30:24-28

Forethought and Preparation Security Despite Weakness

Unity and Cooperation Boldness


L E S S O N 3 Q U I ZTHE EXAMPLE OF WISE MEN

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhowrotemostofthebookofProverbs? _____________________________________________

2. When God told this man He would grant his request, for what did he ask? ________________________________________________________________________________

3. Daniel1:4mentionsseventhingsthatimpressedtheBabyloniansaboutDanielandhisthreefriends.What were four of those things?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

4. What conflict did Daniel face in Daniel l? ______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

5. How did the wisdom of God help Daniel resolve this conflict? _____________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

6. What conflict did Daniel face in Daniel 2? ______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

7. How did the wisdom of God help Daniel resolve this conflict? _____________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

8. WenotedtenblessingsinProverbsforusingthewisdomofGod.Listfiveofthoseblessings.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

9. WhichanimalsareusedasillustrationsoftheseimportantlessonsinProverbs30?

• Boldness: _____________________________________________________________________

• Unityandcooperation: __________________________________________________________

• Forethoughtandpreparation: ____________________________________________________

• Securitydespiteweakness: _______________________________________________________

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L E S S O N 4 | 55

L E S S O N 4

OUR HOME LIFE

TARGET TRUTHS• ThefamilyisaGod-givenframeworkdesignedforGod’sgloryandourbenefit.

• AllthepeopleinafamilymustfulfilltheirGod-givenrolesandresponsibilitiesinorderforthefamilyto function in a way that glorifies God and benefits the whole family.

• Ayoungperson'srightattitudeisessentialtoharmoniousfamilylife.

TEACHING STRATEGYread the opening paragraphs together as a class and emphasize two key ideas:

• EveryoneinafamilyhasGod-givenrolesandresponsibilitieswithinthehousehold.

• Anymemberofthefamilywhofailstofulfilltheseobligationswillhinderthewholefamily.Forapar-ent or a child to shirk their family obligations is to disobey God and to disregard the way He created the family to function.

Parents’ responsibilitiesThe responsibilities of parents are spelled out in detail by God. Parents have a divine commission to fulfill these obligations. ask your to students complete the chart by themselves and then discuss each point together. Point out that no human being can ever hope to be a perfect parent. everyone’s parents will fail sometimes. everyone mishandles situations at one time or another. Therefore, one of the greatest responsibilities a young person has toward his parents is to pray for them that they would be the right kind of parents. Parents have great burdens to bear and need support from those who love them most—their children.

How Your attitudes and actions affect Your familyThis section follows the ideas expressed above regarding the need of young people to pray for and support their parents even when they are wrong.

Young people need to be told often over the next few years how very important their parents are to their lives and that they will be an important part of their lives long after they make new friends. This entire section thus focuses on the attitude of young people toward their parents. Young people need to realize their attitudes at home affect their lives in every area. even though they are young, they have a great responsibility for the attitudes and actions that will help to create a healthy atmosphere in the family.

explain that parents measure their own success by evaluating the attitudes of their children. More than anything else, they want to do what is ultimately the best for their children. Sometimes that means rewards

56 | L E S S O N 4

andencouragement;sometimesitmeansteachingchildrenhowtoworkandfulfillhomeresponsibilities;sometimesitmeanspurchasingthingsthatarebothneededanddesired;sometimesitmeansdisciplineandcorrection. In each unique situation, the children’s responses and reactions will reflect whether a parent has succeeded in their ultimate responsibilities. Young people should demonstrate by their attitudes that they are supportive of what their parents (and, therefore, God) are working to accomplish in their lives.

Parents are Human Tooread and discuss this section together as a class. allow students to discuss general scenarios that might happen in their own homes (not really specific examples, lest it degenerate into a gossip session). In every idea or situation they discuss, remind them of the first paragraph, helping students to see the big-scope picture of what their parents are responsible to accomplish in their lives. after the discussion, it might be helpful to read this section again in its entirety.

God’s attitude Toward rebellionHopefully, by this time we have set the background necessary for the students to recognize that rebellion against parents is never an option in the life of a young christian. The reasons for this are:

• Youngpeoplehave a responsibilitybeforeGod to fulfill certainGod-givenobligationswithin thefamily.

• Youngpeopleneedtorecognizeandacceptthattheirparentsarealsoimperfecthumans.Iftheyarechristians, they are still growing spiritually and are trying to fulfill their own obligations rightly.

• AspartofhisGod-givenresponsibilities,ayoungpersonmustalsodemonstratetheproperattitudesin response to each situation at home.

• RebellionisseverelycondemnedintheBible.

a root of BitternessIf we do not learn to react properly to problems that arise, we will allow a root of bitterness to develop toward those people whom we should love the most. a bitter attitude dishonors God because it reveals that you think you know better than God does what will be best for you. Though this attitude hurts your parents, you must also recognize that ultimately, the person you hurt the most is yourself. You may feel you are justified in holding a grudge because your parents have mishandled some situation, or perhaps you were treated unfairly or hurt by a decision they made, but if you allow yourself to develop a spirit of bitterness toward them, you will begin to reap more and more consequences at home. It can become a cycle—a downward spiral of negative situations and damaging responses. If you can learn to accept what your parents say and forgive them even if they have done something that is truly wrong, then God will honor your efforts to honor your parents. You will not continue the negative cycle by adding sin to sin. Instead, you will be supporting your parents and encouraging them to handle situations rightly in the future.

Remember, your response to what is happening is crucial. Your attitude is crucial. Life is not alwaysgoing to go thewayyouwant it to go; butbyGod’s grace, you can choose to respond rightly to your

L E S S O N 4 | 57

circumstances. If you strive to respond wisely before God, then you are seeking His kingdom first and the other things eventually will fall into place.

an Important PromiseMost of your students have probably already memorized portions of ephesians 6 at one time or another. This section emphasizes once again the truth of these verses, and it should also demonstrate that God makes the same promises multiple times in His Word. When God repeats Himself deliberately, it is obvious that He wants us to take note and to be assured that He means what He says.

Gratefulness Overcomes Wrong attitudesfinally, we should realize that if we are genuinely grateful for what our parents provide for us, we will find it impossible to be bitter, rebellious, resentful, or difficult. a thankful spirit cannot coexist with negative attitudes.

If they are willing, ask your students to share items from their lists with the class. Some students who have wrong attitudes now may have difficulty with their lists because of their personal problems. It will help them to see the positives in their own homes by hearing the items mentioned by others. also, there are always a few who consider it “cool” even at this age to talk negatively about their parents. It will help them to hear others speak positively about their parents.


courtesy at HomeThe real test of your character is how you behave and interact with others in your home. Discuss with the students how they respond to various family situations, particularly when their siblings don’t do things like they would like them to do. Have them list each member of their families, along with at least one act of courtesy they could do this week for each of those people. encourage them to follow through on these ideas and then share the results with the class. How did the family member respond to an act of kindness? Was there a difference in the family member’s attitude toward the student? Did the student discover in himself a different attitude toward his family member? What general life principle might we learn from this “experiment”?

compositionIt may prove beneficial for your class to write short essays on what it means to honor one’s parents. You might even require that their parents read, discuss, and sign their papers. This type of project will enhance the relationship between parents and young people and will help build communication at home. It will also serve to involve parents to an extent, drawing them into the discussions that are going on at school.

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five facts about DisciplineThis lesson brings out scriptural understandings of the purposes behind parental discipline. Neitherparents nor children enjoy discipline, but it is necessary for the following reasons.

• Disciplineisnaturalandcorrect(Heb.12:7).

first of all, disciplining children is a very normal thing for parents to do. It is natural for all parents to wanttoteachtheirchildrenhowtoact.Proverbs3:12tellsusthatthefatherwhodelightsinhissoncorrects him.

Secondly,itisscripturallycorrectforparentstodisciplinetheirchildren.Notonlydoearthlyfatherscorrect their children, but God the father also corrects and disciplines His children. In fact, one of the ways that you can know that you are a child of God is because He will correct you when you are wrong. Those who do not belong to God often get by with sin and never feel guilty. But God’s children cannot get by with it because God convicts us of sin. Our earthly fathers are following the example of our heavenly father.

• DisciplineiscommandedbyGod.

as we have shown in our lesson, a parent who withholds discipline when it is necessary is actually disobeying God. When a parent fails to discipline his child, negative results will no doubt occur later onforthatchild.OneofKingDavid’ssonswasnamedAdonijah.FirstKings1:5-6saysthatDaviddidnot adequately train and discipline his son. He allowed the child to grow up doing whatever he pleased with no hindrances. The result of this lack of correction was that adonijah eventually turned against hisownfather,triedtotakethekingdomforhimself,andwaskilledintheattempt(1Kings2:25).HadDavid taught his son to do right and to honor his father through consistent discipline, he might never have come to such an end.

• Disciplineisduetolove(Heb.12:6).

Toachild,itmayseemstrangetoequatedisciplinewithlove;butaswemature,wecometounderstandthat love and discipline are inseparable. consider a toddler who must take medicine for a bad cough. The cough medicine is made to taste like cherries. after taking a dose of medicine, the child wants more. Would it be loving for the mother to let this baby have more medicine, knowing that too much medicine at one time could be harmful? even if he cries and fights to the point of requiring discipline, ultimately the mother’s love keeps her from giving him something that would harm him.

as middle school students, you can understand this scenario because you are so much older than a toddler, and you are aware of more than he understands. You understand more from experience. But you need to learn to apply the same standard to situations when you do not understand why your parents say no to you. You must recognize that they are older and experienced enough to be aware of something you may not yet know. They understand better than you do what is ultimately best for you, and they are acting out of love rather than spite.

L E S S O N 4 | 59

• Disciplineproducesgodliness(Heb.12:11).

after studying the example of David and adonijah, we can see that proper discipline and training could do a much better job of preventing foolish thinking and evil actions. Proper training will also develop within young people the maturity to make choices that are wise instead of merely doing whatever “seems right” at the moment. Maturity is really a form of wisdom. It helps you do what you should, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not. Sometimes you will choose to allow your emotionstokeepyoufromrespondingmaturelyorwisely;ifso,youwillsufferconsequenceslater.

rules and regulations are like a high fence around a young person. We need to understand their true purpose. They remind you to respond maturely and wisely. a young person has a lot to battle already within his own flesh if he is striving to be godly. The high fence of rules and regulations also prevents damaging attacks from outside sources. rules and regulations are designed not only to keep you in but also to keep dangers out.

• Themostimportantfactorindisciplineisattitude.

This last point is a review of what you have already discussed in this lesson. If young people do not understand this key principle, they will have continual conflicts with their parents. Instead, they need tothankGodfordiscipline,andtheyoughttoprayfortheirparents.ParentsareGod'stoolsformold-ing your students into the grateful, wise, mature, godly people He wants them to be.

Thehammerandchiselartworkillustratesthisfact—thatparentsareGod'stoolstoturnachildfroman ugly “rock” into a sparkling “gem.” The hammer represents God. The chisel represents the father and the mother who are tools God uses to chip away at the rough edges of the young person. To get upset at the tools is to get upset at God because it is actually God who is doing the chiseling and chip-ping away at your life. His ultimate, loving purpose is to make something beautiful and useful out of you in the end. God is doing what He is doing—and He is using your parents to do it—for His own glory and for your best good.

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QUIZ ANSWERS1. Anythreeofthefollowingwouldbeacceptable:

• toteachthemthethingsofGodcontinuallyanddiligently• totraintheminthewaytheyshouldgo• totakecareoftheirneeds• tonotprovokethemtoangerbuttrainthemintheLord• toruletheirhomesandkeeptheminsubmission• tolovethem

2. He makes them glad.3. He brings him sorrow, grief, shame, and disgrace.4. He brings her grief, bitterness, shame, and disgrace.5. They were stoned.6. bitterness7. gratefulness8.

• natural• commanded• love• godliness• attitude


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L E S S O N 4

OUR HOME LIFE

To help us mature physically, emotionally, and spiritually, God has provided us with a family. We all need people who will love us and help us become godly young people. God intends for a family to be a place where you are loved and valued and cared for and protected from the world. Your home should be the place where you learn how to be the right kind of person, love others, and serve them.

For the home and family to be effective in this mission, everyone must share responsibilities. Your attitude and willingness to be a part of the family are important.

God has given parents special responsibilities for the love and care of their children. Parents who choose to avoid their obligations to their children are choosing to disobey God.

Parents’ Responsibilities

We are going to talk about the parents’ responsibilities first, and then we will see how your attitudes and actions affect the family. Read the verses below and explain the responsibilities indicated.

Verse Parents’ Responsibility

Deuteronomy 6:6–7

Proverbs 22:6

2 Corinthians 12:14

Ephesians 6:4

1 Timothy 3:4

Titus 2:4

teach the things of God to the children continuallyand diligently

train the children in the way they should go

take care of the needs of the children

not provoke children to anger but train them in the Lord

rule their homes and keep their children in submission

love their children


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30

How Your Attitudes And ActionsAffect Your Family

Sometimes young people do not realize the importance of their attitudes and how they will affect their future. There is so much for young people to do once they are in middle school. School life, studies, sports, church, hobbies, and friends take up so much time and energy. All of these may have a rightful place. But sometimes these outside things become so important that we forget about the most important people in our lives—our parents.

As young people, you probably do not realize that your parents will still be important long after you no longer have to study or long after you go to college and acquire new friendships. For most of you, your parents will not leave you or forget about you. That is difficult to realize right now because so many other things take up your thoughts and time. But it is still true.

God knows that the most important lessons for all of your youth are those you learn at home. If you learn from your parents and honor them, you will be better prepared to be a wonderful parent yourself. Part of growing up to be a mature person is understanding how much your attitudes and actions at home affect your whole life, and how you live reflects a picture to others about Jesus Christ. When you dishonor your parents, you dishonor Him as well.

Read the verses listed below, and record the effects your wise or foolish actions have upon your parents.

The Wise Young Person

Proverb Father

10:1

15:20

23:24

27:11

29:3

makes him glad

makes him glad

brings him joy

makes his heart glad

makes him rejoice


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31

The Foolish Young Person

Proverb Father Mother

10:1

15:20

17:21

17:25

19:13

19:26

28:7

30:11

Your attitude toward your parents affects them greatly because much of their happiness and success is affected by your attitudes and actions.

Parents Are Human Too

It is true that there will be times when your parents do things that make you angry. This can happen for many reasons. First, parents have bad days themselves and carry many concerns of which you are not aware. They have great responsibilities, one of which is to keep a good home for your family. Sometimes their hearts are heavy, and they don’t seem to be hearing your problems. This is probably not because they do not care. They might be preoccupied with matters they have not mentioned to you. Secondly, sometimes your parents must say “no” to your wishes for reasons that you might not understand. When this happens, you should accept that they have wisdom beyond your understanding. They are concerned with your protection and welfare. It is always difficult to accept a “no”

provokes sorrow; brings no joy

causes him to grieve

brings calamity to him

causes shame; brings disgrace

brings shame upon him

curses him

brings grief to her heart

despises her

brings bitterness to her

causes shame; brings disgrace

does not bless her


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from your parents, but when you realize that God works through your parents to bless you, it is easier to accept and submit to their final decisions as God’s will for you. He gave you your parents, and He is giving them their wisdom.

Mothers and fathers have their own particular problems that God discusses in His Word. When your parents married, God says they became one flesh. But this does not mean that you are one flesh with your parents. You are separate from them and will one day leave their home and have your own home. This can be a problem for your mother because she has nurtured you and cared for you since you were born. She knows that you must leave one day, but it is hard for her to watch you grow up. She wants to keep you close to her.

Often, a dad’s greatest struggle is in the area of discipline. Although he is commanded to discipline, a dad might be guilty of either under-disciplining or of over-disciplining. What does Ephesians 6:4 say about this second problem?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Although your dad may not always discipline you the way you think he should, remember that he loves you. The correction he gives is intended for your benefit. No one does everything perfectly at all times. You make mistakes, and so do your parents. When your parents mishandle a situation, you need to accept their mistake and forgive them. This is the same response you hope for from them if you make a mistake. You can trust that they will keep loving you anyway and not hold your past mistakes against you.

God’s Attitude Toward Rebellion

In the Old Testament, a rebellious and ungrateful young person received severe discipline. While this would not happen today, it shows us clearly how God feels about a young person who dishonors his parents. Read Deuteronomy 21:18-21 and answer the questions below.

What wrong attitudes did the parents find in their son?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Don’t cause your children to be angry, but teach them the things of the Lord.

stubbornness and rebellion; would not obey his parents or listen to them


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What discipline was given because of these attitudes?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other passages in the Old Testament show how seriously God takes the sin of dishonoring parents. Read Exodus 21:15; Leviticus 20:9; and Proverbs 30:17. Although you do not have to worry about this type of treatment today, what penalty was given for those who showed rebellion against their parents?

______________________________________________________________________

What do these stories prove to us about how God views our attitudes toward our parents?

______________________________________________________________________

A Root Of Bitterness

God does not bless a young person who is rebellious (inwardly or outwardly) toward his parents. If we do not accept what our parents tell us, if we cause them heartache and worry instead, and if we are not at peace with them in our own hearts, what will spring up in our hearts? (See Heb. 12:15.)

______________________________________________________________________

Some bitterness begins in the home with a wrong attitude toward your parents or brothers and sisters. Since it begins as a root in your life, it soon grows like cancer deeper into your heart, until it gradually affects your relationship with your teachers, your pastor, and even your friends. A bitter, rebellious attitude will affect everyone in your life, whether you want it to or not. Hebrews 12:15 describes two effects of bitterness in our life. What are they?

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

Be honest! How do you feel about your father’s instruction and advice?

______________________________________________________________________

The parents took him before the elders, who then had the son stoned sothat all would listen and fear.

death

He treats it very seriously.

a root of bitterness

It causes trouble.

It defiles many people.


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How do you react to your parents’ correction and punishment?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

An Important Promise

Read Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16; and Ephesians 6:1-3; and explain God’s promise to young people who honor and obey their parents.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It is also important to understand that if your parents were to allow you to have a wrong attitude. If they let you disobey or show disrespect without correcting you, they would not be helping you. In the long run, they would be keeping God’s blessings from you, and that would not be loving. Part of their loving you is their correcting you.

Gratefulness Overcomes Wrong Attitudes

One way to handle those times when you do not agree with your parents is to remind yourself of the wonderful things they have done for you. Remind yourself that your parents have loved you and provided for you and have been planning for your future. Remember the things they have done for you, and be thankful. A thankful attitude cannot hold on to bitterness and anger. List below some of the things that your parents do to show they love you, care for your needs, and want the best for you.

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________________

5. _______________________________________________________________

6. _______________________________________________________________

Answers will vary.

Their days will be prolonged on the land, and things will go well in theirlives. (This promise ultimately refers to eternal life in heaven—the land where God rules.

Answers will vary.


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7. _______________________________________________________________

8. _______________________________________________________________

9. _______________________________________________________________

10. _______________________________________________________________

Teacher’s Lesson

Five Facts About Discipline

1. Discipline is ______________ and ______________.

2. Discipline is __________________ by God.

3. Discipline is due to ________.

4. Discipline produces __________________.

Rules and regulations are not designed just ____________________________________but are also __________________________.

5. The most important factor in discipline is______________.

natural correct

commanded

love

godliness

to keep you into keep dangers out

attitude


L E S S O N 4 Q U I ZOUR HOME LIFE

Name ________________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ___________

1. ListthreeresponsibilitiesGodhasgivenparentsconcerningtheirchildren.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

2. How does a wise young person affect his father? ________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

3. How does a foolish young person affect his father? ______________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

4. How does a foolish young person affect his mother? ______________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

5. What happened to children in Old Testament times who were rebellious toward their parents? ________________________________________________________________________________

6. What springs up in our hearts when we resent our parents and do not have a good relationship with them? __________________________________________________________________________

7. What characteristic overcomes wrong attitudes of rebellion? _______________________________

8. complete the following important facts about discipline.

• Disciplineis____________andcorrect.

• Disciplineis___________________byGod.

• Disciplineisdueto______________.

• Disciplineproduces_____________________________________.

• Themostimportantfactorindisciplineis________________________.

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L E S S O N 5

HONORING OUR PARENTS

TARGET TRUTHS• Eachofusshouldhonorandrespectourparentsallthedaysofourlives.

• Wewilldefinitelysufferconsequencesinourlivesifwedishonorourparents.

• Godholdsparentsresponsiblefortheiractionstoo.

• Ourparentsaretobethemaininstructorsinourlives.

TEACHING STRATEGYread through the introductory paragraph together with the illustration of Jesus’ regard for His mother even while He was on the cross. as always, Jesus is our perfect example for how we should live and act toward others. By His actions, He showed that honoring parents should be an important goal in our lives.

Ways We Dishonor Our ParentsHelp your students to approach this section seriously and thoughtfully. for some of them, it will be difficult to list actions and attitudes they need to change in regard to their parents, especially since some of them may not want to admit wrong thinking or behavior. Be candid with them about your own struggles and lessons (as a child learning to honor your own parents, both when you were younger and now). review some of the key ideas from the first three chapters on wisdom, including the concept that we must be willing to admit when we are wrong. Give your students time to pray individually or pray together as a class,askingtheLordtoshowallofyouareasthatneedtobechangedinyourlives.

The Story of the Prodigal SonThis story illustrates a downward slide due to disrespect for one’s home and family. The prodigal son did not do anything directly aggressive against his family, but by his attitude he showed that he did not truly honor them. The transformation came when he saw the life he had created for himself and came to a place of repentance. The problem was not with his father, although his father surely was not perfect. But his father was still willing to forgive and welcome his son home.

Many times, it can be easy to paint parents as the bad guys—the guilty culprits—and to blame them for ourownwrongattitudes;but,liketheprodigalson,wemustrealizethatifwehaveaproblemhonoringour parents, it is usually a problem that lies within our own hearts. as soon as we recognize this, we can seek forgiveness and reconciliation with God and with our family members.

You will be able to tell from the paragraphs your students write whether they have learned what was taught inLessons4and5.Somestudentsmightbenefitfromprivatecounselinginordertoovercomesomeoftheir attitudes before they become worse.

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God also cares How Parents actThis section serves to acknowledge the balance of responsibility before God and between parent and child. God cares about how both sides handle themselves, and parents are not always right. Generally, however, children can trust the fact that their parents do know best based on their wisdom and experience. Unless asked to do something that blatantly violates God’s Word, they need to yield to their parents as though yielding directly to God.

reasons to Honor Our ParentsThis section gives examples of many parents who are worthy of honor and recaps legitimate reasons for honoring them.

receiving Instructionafter seeing the examples given in the last section, students should consider why their own parents are worthy of honor. Their parents have given them good instruction in many areas of which your students have probably not even been aware. ask students to share some of the ideas they have written in this section in order to help one another see the great worth of what their parents have accomplished in their lives.


LettertoParentsask your students to write a letter to their parents detailing why they love, honor, and respect them. Tell students to use specific examples in their letters to relate their feelings. If they have been failing in expressing love, honor, or respect, this letter could provide a way to admit their faults to their parents and ask their forgiveness. They should explain how they will show their respect in the future.

TEACHER’S LESSON (OVERHEAD TRANSPARENCY)There are three main categories of influential relationships in your life.

1. YourrelationshipwithGod

The relationship each family member has to God is the most influential because the well-being of the whole household is contingent upon the health of this relationship.

2. Your relationships with family members

The fifth commandment (as well as many other verses) exhorts us to honor and respect our parents.

3. Your relationships with others

from God’s point of view, our success with others stems from the success of our relationships at home. If we cannot honor our parents, we will have difficulty honoring a boss, a teacher, or later, a husband or wife. If we are respectful to one another at home, we will know how to be respectful to friends and others with whom we have contact. finally, if our relationships to God and family are right, we will

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probably choose right friends and affect others in a positive way rather than attracting wrong friends who will tend to pull us down.

Thus, the most important influence in a young person’s life is the home. The most important factor in that influence is not the circumstances or spiritual condition of the parents, but the young person’s attitude toward his home situation.

QUIZ ANSWERS1. byinstructingJohntotakecareofherandtreatherasifshewerehismother2. any two of the following would be acceptable:

• bycursingourfathersandnotblessingourmothers• bybecomingenemiesagainstparents• bybeingdisobedienttoparents

3. by taking his portion of the inheritance, leaving home, and wasting it4. He was repentant and willing to admit his guilt.5. eli6. eunice7. We will bring them grief, sorrow, and bitterness.8. because doing so will make me wise and mature9.

• God• yourfamily• others


SELF-EVALUATIONRateyourselffrom1to5foreachstatement,with1beingthelowestmarkand5beingthehighest.

1. _____Myattitudewhenmyparentsaskmetodosomethingisusuallytofollowthroughrightaway.

2. _____ I do not have to be reminded to complete my routine chores around the house.

3. _____ When my parents must criticize something I have done, I can accept what they say with a teachable attitude.

4. _____ Sometimes, I do something that needs to be done around the house beyond my routine chores without having to be asked.

5. _____ Sometimes, I ask my parents for advice.

6. _____ I have a positive and happy attitude around my family that helps to make my home a pleasant place to live.

7. _____ I often tell my parents that I love them.

8. _____ I can admit to my parents when I have done something wrong.

9. _____ I actively try to get along with my brothers and sisters.

10._____Inevertalkagainstmyparentsbehindtheirbacks.

What do you think causes your struggles in the areas you have identified above? _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________

How would trusting God more help you to overcome your attitude problems? _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________


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L E S S O N 5

HONORING OUR PARENTS

When Jesus was on the cross, He gave us one of the most important lessons of His ministry on earth. Jesus had just been through a court trial full of lies and false accusations. He had been beaten, mocked, bruised, and nailed to a cross where He hung for six hours. We can only imagine from our studies of how Jesus died just how great the pain and humiliation were.

If you were Jesus, under those circumstances, it would be easy to dwell on the pain, shame, and horror of the crucifixion. And yet even then, Jesus did not think about Himself. Even at this time, Jesus was thinking of others. He asked God to forgive those who were trying to kill Him. He also took time to make sure His mother would be taken care of.

Read the story in John 19:25-27 and describe the scene.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What exactly did Jesus do to make sure His mother would be cared for?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

That we understand the importance of honoring, respecting, and caring for our parents is always pleasing to God.

Ways We Dishonor Parents

There are many ways we might dishonor our parents. Sometimes we do it deliberately, and sometimes we dishonor them without even thinking. Read the following verses and write some of the ways we fail to honor and respect our parents.

Mary, John, and others were at the cross of Jesus.

Jesus asked John to take care of His mother and treat her as his own mother.


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Verse How Might We Dishonor Parents?

Proverbs 30:11

Micah 7:6

2 Timothy 3:2

After reading these verses, think of some specific things you have done that were dishonoring to your parents. Ask the Lord to help you remember some things you might have forgotten. He loves you and your parents, and He wants you to have a right relationship with both them and Him. He will convict you of the things that need to be changed, and He can teach you how to change them.

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________________

The Story Of The Prodigal Son

Sometimes young people find themselves in trouble because they have done wrong or have not handled themselves wisely in some way. There is a story that Jesus told about a young man who did not handle himself wisely.

This story shows us the downward steps a young person takes when he sets himself against his parents. Many times a young person forgets all the good that is in his home and thinks that what is outside is more important, more interesting, or more fun. When we let the things outside our homes become too important, we begin to slide downward as did the prodigal son. This story also shows that there is a way to overcome the problems we have caused.

Read the story in Luke 15:11-24. Beside each verse write what happened. Then select from the following list of descriptive words an attitude that is shown by the prodigal

by cursing our fathers and not blessing our mothers

by becoming enemies against our parents

by being disobedient to our parents

Answers will vary.


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39

son: self-will, selfishness, destitution, loneliness, humiliation, realization, repentance, admission of guilt, reconciliation, rejoicing.

Verse(s) What Actually Happened Descriptive Word(s)

11-12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20-21

22-24

Think of a situation in which you caused a problem for your parents. What was the problem? How did your parents learn of the problem? What was done to correct the

self-will

selfishness

destitution

humiliation

loneliness

realization

repentance

admission of guilt

reconciliation

rejoicing

The younger of two sons asked his fatherfor his inheritance.

He took his money, left home, and wasted all of his money.

There was a famine, and he was hungry.

He went to work for a man and fed pigs.

No one came to help him.

He remembered what it was like at hisfather’s house.

He decided to return home and tell hisfather he had sinned.

He would say that he should be one ofhis father’s servants.

His father ran to meet him, kissed him,and welcomed him back.

His father treated him like a prince.


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problem and to correct you? What was your attitude at the beginning? At the end? What decision did you come to regarding the problem? Write a paragraph below explaining what happened and the steps you took.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How could your attitude have changed the situation at any one of the steps?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Did you ever admit you were wrong? Yes No

Did the consequences help your understanding of how to handle yourself in the future? Yes No

Remember, if your inner attitude does not change, you will only face problems and cause friction between you and your parents that will affect all those around you. It is often difficult to admit we are wrong, but it is always for the best.

God Also Cares How Parents Act

Remember that the Lord is also very concerned about those parents who do not discipline and care for their children. Read the following verses and see what displeased the Lord. To determine who the parent was, you will have to read the context of the verse (other verses in the same passage).

Verse Parent What Displeased the Lord?

1 Samuel 3:13

1 Kings 1:6

Jeremiah 9:14

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Eli

David

the Israelites

His sons were wicked, and he did notrestrain them.

He let his son do whatever he wanted.

They taught their children to worship false gods.


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These parents pleased the Lord. Why?

Verse Parent What Pleased the Lord?

2 Chronicles 17:3–4

2 Chronicles 26:4

2 Timothy 1:5

Parents’ feelings are often directly related to the behavior of their children. Using Proverbs 17:6, 21, and 25, explain how what you do affects your parents emotionally.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

God has given your parents to you for your guidance and protection. When they discipline you, they are simply being obedient to God by acting out of love and concern for you. Maybe this scenario will clarify this concept: What would you do if you saw a baby crawling toward a fire?

______________________________________________________________________

Why would you do this?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What if the baby got mad and cried because you wouldn’t let him get into the fire? Would you still say “no”?

______________________________________________________________________

What if the baby were somehow able to articulate his feelings? What if the baby argued, “What a cruel person you are! You are not letting me ‘do my own thing.’ You just don’t understand me! You don’t want me to have any fun! Don’t you realize that babies like fire?”

Asa

Amaziah

Eunice

His son, Jehoshaphat, walked in the ways of the Lord.

Uzziah did right as his father had taughthim.

She demonstrated great faith in God andtaught Timothy.

If we are foolish, we cause our parents grief, sorrow, and bitterness. If we are wise, we bring glory and joy to our parents.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.


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Of course, you do realize all these things, but you also know something that the

baby doesn’t know. You know what fire will do to him, and you love him. Your love,

understanding, and experience cause you to tell the baby “no” and possibly to discipline

him if he fails to obey.

Now think about your parents. They understand you and your desires more than you

think they do. They also love you more than you will realize until you have your own

child someday. They have experience far beyond your years. Remember, they were once

teenagers, but you have never been a parent! Part of becoming a mature young adult is

recognizing the importance of these three things: love, understanding, and experience.

Reasons To Honor Our Parents

God has given many examples in the Bible of parents who showed great protection for

their children. Read each passage. Explain who the parent and child were and why the

parent should be honored.

Verses Parent and Child Why Should the Parent Be Honored?

Exodus 2:1-10

1 Samuel 1:9-11, 24-28; 2:18-19

2 Samuel 12:15-17

Isaiah 49:13-15

Mark 5:22-23

Luke 15:20-24

Moses and hismother

Hannah andSamuel

David and his child

God and Hispeople

Jairus and Hisdaughter

prodigal son and his father

She protected him from death.

She kept her vow, gave him to the Lord,and brought him clothing.

He prayed and fasted for his son.

God will never forget those who are His.

He prayed and asked Jesus to heal hisdaughter

He forgave his son and treated him asthough he had done no wrong.


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Receiving Instruction

In His Word, God is very clear about another aspect of your relationship with your parents that He wants you to understand: You will receive your greatest lessons in life from your parents. Their instruction is very important for your future. Read Proverbs 4:1-4 and 13:1 and explain what God has to say to you about receiving instruction.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The problem with receiving instruction is that sometimes we have too much pride to show we are interested in listening to instruction. We try to act disinterested or as if we do not really need more instruction. One of the most important lessons God wants you to learn as you go through your middle school and high school years is to learn to listen faithfully and attentively to your parents. When they instruct you or try to explain something to you, take the time to hear them—not just with your ears, but with your mind. A mature person listens to instruction.

Think of some of the things your mother and father have tried to teach you. If you cannot remember their instruction, ask God to help you so that you can list some of your parents’ ideas below.

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________________

5. _______________________________________________________________

Someday soon, there will be some very important things you will want to learn, and your parents will want to help you learn them. For example, learning to drive a car is very important to most teenagers. If your parents are going to trust you with something as important as driving, they will want to be sure that you are interested in and responsible with their instruction now. We will be talking more about freedom, trust, and responsibility in our next lesson.

We need to listen to the instruction of our parents and keep theircommandments so that we will be wise.

Answers will vary.


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Teacher’s Lesson

Three Main Categories of Influential Relationships in Your Life

Your relationships…

1. With

2. With your

3. With

God

family

others


L E S S O N 5 Q U I ZHONORING OUR PARENTS

Name ________________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. AsJesushungonthecross,howdidHeshowrespectforHismother? _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________

2. NametwowaysmentionedinScriptureinwhichwedishonorourparents.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

3. How did the prodigal son show dishonor and disrespect for his father? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

4. What was the prodigal son’s attitude when he decided to return home? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

5. What father’s sons were wicked because he did not restrain them? __________________________

6. What was the name of the woman who demonstrated great faith as she taught her son Timothy? ___________________________

7. AccordingtoProverbs17:6,21,and25,howwillweaffectourparentsifwearefoolish? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

8. Why should you be willing to listen to your parents’ instruction? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

9. What are the three main categories of influential relationships in your life?

• Yourrelationshipwith __________________________________________________________



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L E S S O N 6 | 85

L E S S O N 6

FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY

TARGET TRUTHS• Freedomandresponsibilitygohandinhand.

• Wemustassumeresponsibilityforallofouractions.

• Weneedtouseourfreedomwiselyinordertobuildtrust.

• WeneedtoliveourlivesbasedontheprinciplesGodteachesus.

TEACHING STRATEGYStudentsmay have difficulty discerning themeaning of Proverbs 9:12, Job 19:4, and Ezekiel 18:20. Itmight be best if you discuss these passages together. The major concept presented in this lesson is the need to accept personal responsibility, and these passages will help you communicate a biblical basis for this principle.

Making excusesThis section is an extension of the above verses. There is a root reason for our temptation to make excuses that goes back to the problem of sin when it first occurred in the Garden of eden. You may have students complete this on their own or do it as a class activity. either way, make sure you read the entire section with your class, helping them to understand why human beings struggle to accept the blame and to assume responsibility. Point out the fact that it is easy to assume responsibility if we have done something praiseworthy, but to accept responsibility when we have done wrong is difficult. This is due to the curse of the sinful nature that all of mankind has inherited from adam and eve. as they complete the section, make certain that students perceive the three major consequences of sin that have come into our lives because of what adam and eve did.

• Guilt

• Fear

• Blamingothersforourwrongchoices

Other examples of Blaming Othersas has previously been stated, since the beginning of history, man has had a problem accepting responsibility.HereweseetheexamplesofAaronandKingSaul.Thekeyproblemwithblame-shiftingisthat we can “get away with” our sins in the eyes of men from time to time, but we can never hide our sinsfromGod.Godalwaysknowsexactlywhatwehavedone;andlikeAdamandEve,wecannothidefrom Him.

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Becoming a Mature Young Man or WomanThe key emphasis in this section is helping students recognize that maturity is not a matter of age but of inner character and wisdom. again, you should read and discuss the first paragraph together with your class, and you should discuss the examples of Jesus and David after students have completed the activity individually.

Wisdom and responsibilityHave your students complete this section individually. afterwards, when you discuss the verses with them, explain that even the most responsible of people could never be perfect. all of us are human and will eventually stumble. We will all need to confess sin to God and other people from time to time. Willingness to seek forgiveness is a sign of maturity, as well. each of the proverbs discussed in this section reminds us that we will sin and that negative consequences are unavoidable if we refuse to address the sin (if we attempt to cover it or ignore it). Because God knows everything we do, we can be assured that we will always reap what we have sown. This is not because God is “out to get us” or that He is trying to “get even with us” for displeasing Him. God wants His children to be wise, and He is the only One who can really help us change. His purpose is to change us more and more into the image of His Son, Jesus christ—for His own glory, and for our best good.

Building confidence and Trustread through this section very carefully with your students since it indicates another key reason why they ought to accept responsibility. The key reason that has not been yet been mentioned is that assuming responsibility helps to build trust with others. as your students show that they can act responsibly, their authorities will have the assurance they need to grant them additional freedom as they grow. explain that trust is not the same as love. Parents may love a teenager very much—so much that they want to protect him or her from any danger. If the teenager has not shown that he can be trusted, love says, “I need to protect you and withhold certain freedoms until I can trust you to handle those freedoms responsibly.”

PrinciplestoLiveByas students complete this section, they will be putting into practice some of the concepts they have learned about a parent’s point of view. ask them to complete the section, and then invite them to share their various ideas aloud, writing and discussing a compiled list on the board of all their suggestions.


composition: The responsibility to Make right choicesHave your students write about a time when they had an important choice to make. ask them the following questions and have them answer those questions in their compositions: What choice did you have to make? What affected your decision to do right or wrong? Did you make the right choice? How

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did you handle the situation? What could you have done differently? If you made the wrong choice, what should you have done when you realized you were wrong?

Interview ParentsHave students hold a meeting with their parents to discuss the following:

• Whatobligationsdoyouexpectmetofulfillrightnow?

• WithwhatfreedomsdoyouthinkImightbetrustedrightnow?

• Whatwouldneedtohappenforyoutobebetterabletotrustme?

• Ifthereeverisaproblemthatcausesyoudoubtoranger,wouldyouletmeknowsothatIcanmakethings right?

When they have completed the interview, ask students to fill out a short form or write a paragraph-length essay to indicate how their parents responded to each interview question. Probe to see what positive attitudes and other results this interview opportunity might have occasioned between the students and their parents.

More Thoughts on responsibilityHave students look up each verse and use its content to complete a statement beginning with the phrase: “I am responsible....”


MORE THOUGHTS ON RESPONSIBILITYLookupeachverseanduseitscontenttocompleteastatement

beginning with the phrase: “I am responsible....”

Forexample,2Corinthians10:5—IamresponsibletobringallmythoughtsunderthecontrolofJesus.

• 1Corinthians10:31— ______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

• Ephesians5:16— __________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

• Colossians3:20— _________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

• 1Thessalonians5:15-18— __________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

• 2Timothy2:15— _________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

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• 1John1:9— ______________________________________________________________________

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• 1John4:7— ______________________________________________________________________

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L E S S O N 6 | 89


The Balance of freedom and responsibility: Building TrustLittle babies live in awonderful, pampered, protectedworld.Theyhaveno responsibility.Parents andothers take care of all their needs. Babies are fed, clothed, changed, bathed, played with, and loved. They do not have to think for themselves or worry about anything. Babies also live in a tiny, limited world. They enjoy absolutely no freedom.

The area in the middle of this chart [on the transparency] shows the level of responsibility and freedom of a preschool child. Think of the boundary as a fence in the back yard. The fence is locked, and the children areatplaywheretheirmothercanconstantlywatchthem.Littlechildrenmayplay,buttheycannotleavethe protection of their mothers, and they have very little responsibility. The mother cannot let them go out of the yard for fear they might be kidnapped, fall down, or wander into the street.

Soon the child isold enough togo to school.Now there ismore freedomand—with that freedom—alittle more responsibility. The child must learn how to cross a street or wait properly for a bus. at school, the child must be able to find the classroom and take responsibility for his personal behavior. at home, this child may have learned to complete certain chores such as putting toys away and feeding the pet. Still, there is little freedom and little responsibility. Parents and teachers still protect and guide the child through most of his activities.

Through the years, parents gradually allow additional freedom and additional responsibility. There is a time when the child learns to ride a bike and is allowed to go away from the house on his own. There is a time when the child can spend the night with a friend. But there are some additional responsibilities as well. There are more chores to be responsible for at home and more responsibility as a student at school. Nowthechildislearninghowresponsibilityandfreedomworktogether.

In middle school you are finding that there is much more freedom in your life, but there is also more responsibility. How you handle your responsibilities now will build the trust your parents need in order to give you more freedom in the future. If you understand how important it is always to be truthful and honest even when you do wrong, you will continue to build your parents’ trust. remember, your parents will always be concerned about guiding and protecting you. When you do something to break their trust, youwillneedtogivethemtimetobuildtrustagain.Loveisnotthesamethingastrust.Trustiswhatyoubuildbybeingresponsibleforyourownactions.Neverdoanythingthatisopposedtowhattheythinkisrightandproper.Neverdeceiveyourparentsinanyway.Behonest,andyouwillbuildtheirtrust.Thenwhen the time comes in a couple of years that you will want to drive or enjoy other freedoms, they will be able to trust you. They will know that you will be trustworthy on the highway and will not go places where you should not go. They will trust you because they know you will make the right choices.

as you continue to grow into adulthood and attend college, you will be taking on even more responsibilities. Trust is proportional to freedom plus responsibility. We can portray this as an equation, as on the overhead: Trust = freedom + responsibility.

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QUIZ ANSWERS 1.

• guilt• fear• blamingothersforourwrongchoices

2. • Aaron• Saul

3.

• David• Jesus

4.

Grade these based on how well they demonstrate that they understand the concepts presented, especially the material presented in the teacher’s lesson.


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L E S S O N 6

FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY

Proverbs 9:12 tells us about the importance of responsibility. Read this verse and explain what it says in your own words.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Two other verses support what this verse in Proverbs tells us. Explain the additional ideas given in Job 19:4 and Ezekiel 18:20.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now apply these concepts to your own life as a young person. What is God trying to make you understand about responsibility?

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Making Excuses

It can be very difficult to accept responsibility for our actions when we have done wrong. Perhaps if we understand where this pattern of avoiding responsibility began, we can learn why we act the way we do.

You have probably studied the story of Adam and Eve many times. God had placed Adam and Eve in a perfect place. There was no sin in the Garden of Eden, and Adam and Eve

Whether you are a wise person or a scorner is your decision. What you choose to do is your responsibility, and you must live with the consequences of your actions.

If we sin, it is our responsibility. Our sin does not belong to our parents.We are accountable for our thoughts and actions. We must accept theresponsibility for our own mistakes.

God wants us to accept responsibility for our own actions, whether good orbad. We should not blame others for what we do.


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were very close to God. God would walk and talk with them in the garden. But God did give Adam and Eve a choice to make, just as you have many choices to make in your life. God told them specifically that if they ate of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, then they would surely die (Gen. 2:17).

Notice the word “surely.” God had given Adam and Eve a choice, and He told them exactly what the consequences would be if they made the wrong choice. The problem with Adam and Eve was that they decided not to believe God. They chose to believe what they wanted to believe. You have similar choices to make. Your parents will teach you right from wrong, and they will describe to you the consequences of doing wrong. But you still have the responsibility to make a choice for yourself.

We all know that Adam and Eve listened to the wrong voice and made the wrong decision. In the garden, Satan talked through a serpent, and they chose to believe Satan. Satan tempts us in many ways. Always be aware of Satan’s devices. A serpent will probably not approach you and talk to you as he did to Adam and Eve. But can you think of some ways that Satan will try to tempt you to do wrong? Who or what might he use?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There were many consequences for Adam and Eve for making the wrong choice and disobeying God. These negative results still affect us today. Read Genesis 3:6-7, and you will see the first effect. We all know already how it feels to be guilty, but guilt was a new thing in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve had never felt this way before. They knew they had sinned, and they felt guilty. Our consciences (and, if we’re believers, the Holy Spirit within us) tell us when we are wrong.

The second result of sin is found in Genesis 3:8-10. Adam and Eve’s eyes had been opened, and they had realized they were naked. So they tried to hide themselves from God when He called them. They were ashamed. When God called out to Adam, why did Adam say he was hiding?

______________________________________________________________________

God knew that Adam and Eve were guilty and that they were ashamed and fearful because of what they had done. Each one of us has felt what Adam and Eve felt.

Answers will vary.

because he was afraid


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This story illustrates the negative consequences of sin. A middle school boy found a way to steal candy bars from the student store in his school. For a while, no one suspected him. Then he shared what he was doing with a friend, and the friend joined him in stealing the candy. Soon four boys were involved in the stealing. But finally one boy could not handle the guilt of what he had been doing. This boy told the truth. Now all of the boys felt guilt and fear. The one boy admitted what had been done. His punishment was to be suspended for a day and to pay back the money for the candy bars he had stolen. The other boys still would not admit what they had been doing. This temptation to deny the blame (instead of admitting wrongdoing) is the third result of sin.

Read Genesis 3:11-13. When God asked Adam if he had eaten the fruit, how did Adam respond?

______________________________________________________________________

Then, when God asked Eve why she had eaten the fruit, how did she respond?

______________________________________________________________________

Think through the responses of Adam and Eve and explain in your own words what the third basic result of sin is.

______________________________________________________________________

In the case of the candy bar theft, the three boys who would not admit what they had done began to blame one another, saying that they stole the candy because their friends had gotten them to do it. One of the boys even blamed a teacher for not locking up the candy well enough. What should the boys have said?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There were other consequences of sin as well, but these three are most important for us to focus on as we study wisdom. Watch for these three results of sin: (1) guilt, (2) fear, and (3) blaming others for our wrong choices.

He said Eve had given him the fruit.

She said the serpent had tricked her.

blaming others for our sin

“I was wrong to steal the candy. Please forgive me. I am ready to take the

consequences.”


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Other Examples Of Blaming Others

There are many examples of people in the Bible who made excuses for their choices. How did Aaron explain the making of the golden calf to Moses? (Exo. 32:22-24)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Doesn’t it almost sound as though Aaron did not deliberately form the calf? He made it sound like an accident—as though it happened by itself without anyone’s help. Sometimes we say, “I don’t know how it got there” or “I don’t know what happened—it just happened!” when, in fact, we ourselves did it.

King Saul tried to make excuses for the wrong he had done by blaming others. God sent Saul and his army to annihilate the Amalekites because of their wickedness. God told Saul not to save or take anything from the city. But when they destroyed the city, the Bible says they saved the Amalekite king and the best of the animals. They destroyed only those things they decided were not worth saving. When Samuel approached Saul about this deliberate disobedience, what was Saul’s excuse? (1 Sam. 15:19-21)

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Samuel was very specific in the way he responded to Saul. Read 1 Samuel 15:22-23 and explain Samuel’s response in your own words.

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Whether you are old or young, a king or a student, part of the consequences you have inherited from Adam’s sin is a strong tendency to blame others for what you have done wrong. Blame-shifting will never really work. God knows the truth, and others usually find out. When you have done something wrong, you must learn to deal with your guilt, fear, and pride.

Becoming A Mature Young Man Or Woman

Often, we think of becoming a mature man or woman as something having to do with age. Young people think that they become “men” and “women” when they can drive a

He said that the people gave him their gold. He simply threw it in the fire,and the calf came out of the fire.

The people took the spoil. It was not his fault.

Obedience is better than sacrifice. Rebellion is like witchcraft. God rejected Saul from being king because of his sin.


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car or go on dates, when they go off to college or turn 21, or when they have jobs and houses and families of their own. But many older people have never become truly mature men and women because they have never learned to take responsibility for their own choices. When they make wrong choices, they are always trying to find a way to blame their mistakes on someone else. To be mature means we can admit when we are wrong. It means we know that we will fail sometimes, but when we do fail, we can admit our responsibility and change our ways so that mistake will not happen again. There are many adults who are still immature in their hearts, and yet there are many young people who are mature because they have learned this principle.

Jesus was only twelve when He went to the temple during the Passover. David was also about that age when God chose him to be the next king of Israel. God used both Jesus and David at this age because of their maturity and wisdom.

Read the passages listed below and write what they tell you about the character, attitudes, physical attributes, and family lives of these two young men. Be ready to discuss these things with your class.

Jesus—Study Luke 2:49-52.

David—Study 1 Samuel 16:7-12, 21-23; 17:32; 18:14.

He knew He needed to follow His Father’s priorities.

He submitted to Mary and Joseph.

He grew physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.

He was the youngest son of Jesse.

He was responsible for caring for the sheep.

He was handsome and ruddy. (could refer to a healthy complexion or suntan)

He loved and served King Saul.

He had great courage.

He acted wisely.

The Lord was with him.


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Wisdom And Responsibility

Proverbs shows the wisdom of being honest about our actions. Look up the following verses and apply them to what we have been learning about responsibility in your own words.

Proverb How Will the Truth of This Verse Apply to Your Life?

3:24

12:14

12:19

20:11

20:17

28:13

Building Confidence And Trust

It is very important that you begin to understand the importance of accepting responsibility for your actions. Now that you are in middle school, you have been given a great deal more freedom than you had before. You probably have several teachers, rather than just one teacher in a single classroom. You may be allowed more freedom in attending activities at church and school. Life can be so much fun, and as you grow older, it can grow even more exciting. There are so many things to do as you grow older. Most of you are looking forward to the day you can learn to drive. When that day comes, you will have even greater freedom, since you will no longer need to have your parents take you everywhere you need to go.

But you need to realize a very important truth: The older you become, the more freedom you desire; and the more freedom you are granted, the more responsibility you will have

Confess your sins before going to sleep, and you will rest more easily.

You will be rewarded for right speech and actions.

Truthfulness will last forever.

Even when we are young, our actions tell others what ourcharacter is like.

Don’t be deceitful because you will reap what you sow.

Don’t cover up your sins but confess them.


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to accept. Freedom and responsibility are inseparable. The “glue” that holds freedom and responsibility together is trust. To put it simply, if your parents cannot trust you, they will not feel they can give you more freedom or responsibility when the time comes.

How do you show your parents that you can be trusted with more freedoms as you grow older? By accepting responsibility for your actions and choices now! Think now before you act. Make wise decisions now. Do not go places or do things just because your friends are pressuring you. Establish guidelines for yourself about how you will handle choices between right or wrong. Always seek to do right. When there are times that you do fail and make a wrong choice, be willing to admit it immediately. Don’t blame others for what you have done. Accept responsibility for what you have done. Then your parents will see you are growing in wisdom. They will begin to trust you as a mature young man or woman. They will have confidence in you.

The benefits to you personally from earning trust will be terrific. But it is extremely important for you to remember that the motivation for your maturity should not be limited to you getting what you want in this life. The gospel ought to direct our thoughts to what Christ has accomplished on our behalf. He has transformed the hearts of believers so that they want to show their gratitude and worship of Him by giving their lives to serve Him.

Consider again the four boys who were caught stealing candy. After the first boy started stealing and shared his secret with his friends, what should they have done?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What would this have prevented?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Even though all four boys had done wrong, which boy do you think was able to begin rebuilding some trust and confidence with his parents and teachers?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

They should not have joined him but should have tried to make him stop.

continued sin and the consequences of sin

the one who came forward and confessed his wrongdoing


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Why?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What should the other boys have done?

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Principles To Live By

A principle is a guideline to live by. It is an idea or rule that is so important we should never forget to use it. There are several important principles to remember from your lesson this week. If you could talk to the four boys before they started stealing, what principles about maturity and life would you share with them?

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________________

5. _______________________________________________________________

He showed that he knew he was wrong and wanted to make things right.

They should have admitted they had done wrong instead of blaming others.

Answers will vary.


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Teacher’s Lesson

Pre-School Child

RESP

ON

SIBI

LITY

FREEDOM

5-8 years old

9-11 years old

12-14 years old

_________________________=___________________+ _______________________ Trust Freedom Responsibility


L E S S O N 6 Q U I ZFREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY

Name ________________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhatthreeresultsofsincametousfromthesinAdamandEvecommittedintheGardenofeden? _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________

2. Who was an example of blaming others in each of the following references?

• Exodus32:24 _________________________________________________________________

• 1Samuel15:19-23 _____________________________________________________________

3. Who was an example of a mature young man in each of the following references?

• 1Samuel16-18 ________________________________________________________________

• Luke2:49-52 __________________________________________________________________

4. Write a short composition explaining how responsibility and freedom work together. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

LE

SS

ON

6O

VE

RH

EA

D

Pre-School Child

RESPONSIBILITY

FREEDO

M

5-8 years old

9-11 years old

12-14 years old

Trust=Freedom+Responsibility

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L E S S O N 7

HOW ATTITUDES AFFECT ACTIONS

TARGET TRUTHS• Ouroutwardactionsbeginwithourinnerattitudes.

• Weneedtolearntocontrolnegativeattitudestowardothers.

• JesusalwaysrespondedproperlybecauseHisheartattitudeswerecontrolledbylove.

• GodgivesuspromisesforobeyingHiscommands.

TEACHING STRATEGYWe need to discuss and understand two concepts regarding attitudes and actions. The first concept is that your inner attitudes are the “real” you, and your actions merely reflect this internal person—this real you. The second concept we will discuss is that what we choose to put into our inner selves will eventually come out through our actions. We cannot live around sin and not have it affect who we are and what we do.

Readthroughthe lesson’s first twoparagraphsandhaveyourstudentsreadProverbs16:20andanswerthe question in the student text. Discuss the fact that the “real” you is the part no one else can see. It is theinternalpartofyouthatincludesyouremotions,yourthoughts,andyourattitudes.InProverbs16:20,we see both parts of a person in action—the internal person and the external person. Have students read the part that explains the outward actions (the first half of the verse) and then the part that explains the inwardattitude(thesecondhalf).Bothareimportant;butiftheinternalpartofusisnotright,ourexternalactions will not be correct either.

four Wrong attitudesexplain how wrong attitudes spread. They will never help us, nor will they help others in any way. They will only pull everyone down.

explain the four wrong attitudes outlined in this lesson. Have students fill in the blanks after reading the verses indicated. Invite them to take some notes from the verses in preparation for a class discussion. Involve the students in a discussion of what they have learned about each of these four attitudes. Be sure that during the discussion your students consider the attitudes’ possible causes and effects.

The example of JesusJesus is the perfect example of One who had the right attitudes in the midst of great trials and tribulations. Have students complete this section on their own, and then discuss each aspect of what Jesus went through and His attitude in each incident. reiterate that Jesus never became angry or scornful, nor did He desire revenge. In every situation, He thought first of obeying His father and honoring Him.

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emphasize that believers are free and able to respond rightly and to choose the proper attitudes. If anger is a problem in our lives, we can determine beforehand how we will handle ourselves the next time a situation arises to which we would normally react in anger. Then when the testing time comes (and it surely will), we can exhibit a new, godly attitude because Jesus will be changing us and helping us to respond rightly.

It is important to explain the following facts:

• Wemustbewillingtoadmitthatwronginternalattitudesarejustassinfulasexternaldemonstrationsofthoseattitudes.Anger(evenifonlyintheheart)issin.Frowardnessissin;ascornfulorvengefulattitude is sin. We will not change if we do not recognize the sin and the need to change.

• WemustadmitoursecretsinstoGodandtrustHimforHisforgiveness.HehaspromisedtoforgiveusbasedonChrist’sshedblood(1John1:9).

• WemustaskGodtochangeourattitudesthroughtheworkingoftheHolySpiritwithinus.Hehaspromised to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to change us to become more holy.

• Whenatrialcomes,wemustsubmitourselvestotheHolySpiritsoHecanhelpusendurethetrialwith a right attitude.

commands and PromisesGod does give commands in His Word. He wants us to obey His commandments, and he wants us to admit when we are wrong. He desires that we would live according to His purposes for our lives. But as we follow Him, God also promises us great blessings. In fact, God enjoys doing good for His children. The reason we sometimes do not benefit from the blessings and promises of God is that we allow sinfulness to invade and permeate our lives. Take time to note specifically from Proverbs 3 each command and principle for how God blesses those who obey Him. Then, ask students to find other commands and principles from the book of Proverbs and share what they have found with the rest of the class.

finally, invite students to consider and share blessings and promises that we may all receive because of what Jesus did on the cross.


Patient and Impatient attitudesOne area in which Satan can defeat us very easily in the area of patience. an impatient attitude can defeat us as easily as anger, scorn, and revenge. Our normal attitude is to want our own way—now!

ask your students to think through the following situations and then tell you how a patient person would react to each.

• Youaretryingtofigureoutamathproblem,butitdoesn’tmakesensetoyou.

• Youknowtheanswertothequestionsbeingasked,buttheteachernevercallsonyou.

• Yourfriendcheatsatagameandinsiststhathehasnotdoneanythingwrong.

• Yourfriendhasaroomofhisown,andyouhavetoshareyourswithyourbrotherorsister.

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• Youwantedtowearaparticularsweater,butyourbrotherorsisterjustworeit,andnowit’sdirty.

• Youareanxioustogotoanactivitywithafriend,butyourparentshaveaskedyoutostayhomethat evening.

RespondingSpirituallyInsteadofNaturallyBecause of our fleshly, sinful tendencies, it is natural for us to respond in sinful ways. Jesus wants us to learn to respond in a different way—a response that will reflect His character honorably, and a response that will also bless us and prevent a lot of pain.

Have your students use the verses given next to each natural response below to learn how God would teach them to respond instead.

• Getevenwithanyonewhowrongsyou.(Matt.5:38-39saysthatifanyoneshouldhityouontheright cheek, turn the other cheek to him also. This means that you should leave yourself vulnerable rather than retaliate.)

• Hateyourenemies.(Matt.5:43-44saystoloveyourenemies.)

• Cursethosewhocurseyou.(Matt.5:43-44saystoblessthosewhocurseyou.)

• Doevilthingstothosewhohateyou.(Matt.5:43-44saystodogoodtothosewhohateyou.)

TEACHER’S LESSON (OVERHEAD TRANSPARENCY)Of the dozens of occurrences of “fool” in Proverbs, two Hebrew words are used in almost every occurrence. a study of these two words suggests that there are two kinds of fools in Proverbs.

first, there is the bull-headed fool. Its root meaning is “weak-minded.” Yet the word also carries the idea of being strong-willed and determined. This kind of person acts without counsel out of a will that is too stubborn to be influenced with wisdom. His only reason for what he does is that he has a mind to do it. This fool doesn’t want anyone to tell him what to do. He does what he wants to do. He is thus bull-headed and characterized by energy and determination to have his own way.

The other kind of fool is the pig-headed fool. The literal root meaning of this word is “fat.” Thus, the word implies one who is mentally fat, dull, and sluggish. We could say that in reference to his character, this person is a big blob. We are not talking about outward appearance here, but about character. Here then is a lazy, spoiled, inactive fool.

Thus we have two fools in Proverbs. One is self-willed, hot-headed, determined, and energetic. The other is fat, spoiled, self-centered, and lazy. In other words, we have a “bull” and a “pig.”

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Their attitudes

The Bull-headed Fool

• Confident(Prov.12:15)

The evil, strong-willed fool thinks that whatever he does is right, so he does not want to listen to any-one’s advice. He thinks that he always knows what is best for him. He is stubborn and cocky. He does not realize the problems he will have because of his stubborn, prideful attitude.

The Pig-headed Fool

• Complacent(Prov.1:32)

• Careless(Prov.14:16)

• Trustsinhisownideas(Prov.28:26)

This person’s attitude is dangerous because he feels very content and secure in who he is and how he lives. He is popular and feels he “has it made,” so he does not feel the need for God. Because he is com-placent (or self-satisfied), he eventually becomes careless and gets into a great deal of trouble. Part of this happens because he does not worry about what is right or wrong but believes he can do what he wants without ever suffering any consequences. He trusts in himself and will eventually fall.

Their Mouths


• BlamestheLord(andothers)forfailures(Prov.19:3)

• Quarrels,argues(Prov.20:3)

The bull-headed fool may reveal his attitude more through his behavior than his words, but when he does speak, he is often very angry and hot-tempered. He does not admit when he has done wrong, but instead hegetsangrybecauseofhisfailuresandblamessomeoneelse.Nothingiseverhisfault.

Instead of listening to advice and counsel, he enjoys arguing and constantly trying to prove that he is not wrong. He actually enjoys arguing about anything and everything. Perhaps he is enjoying himself at times, but those around him tire very quickly of listening to an argumentative person.

The Pig-headed Fool

• Spreadsslander(Prov.10:18)

• Brags(Prov.14:33)

• Poursoutfoolishness(Prov.15:2,14)

• Causesstrife(Prov.18:6-7)

• Lies(Prov.19:1)

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Slander is telling a half-truth, twisting the truth, or not telling all the truth, so that a wrong impression is given. Sometimes the slanderer even pretends to love the person he is slandering.

Pouring out foolishness describes the one who is always talking foolishly and whose mouth is a fountain of folly. This does not mean we cannot joke and have fun with one another, but when we can never be serious and talk with one another with wisdom, we are acting like fools.

another problem with the pig-headed fool is that when his anger or scorn come out, he causes strife between himself and others. With some people, he always exhibits a contentious attitude. relational problems seem to follow him wherever he goes.

One who brags can think only about himself and what he is doing or thinking. He is so concerned with himself that he is difficult to be around, because it is boring to listen to someone who talks and cares only about himself. God wants us to be interested in others more than ourselves.

as we have studied, the froward person is a deceiver and a liar. Since he enjoys doing wrong and being in trouble, he will try to get others in trouble also. Then he will lie to avoid trouble and discipline. Such a person can never be trusted and can never be counted on as a true friend because he will always lie to cover up his own sin rather than risk his own interests or reputation in order to be a friend to others.

Their Sinfulness


• Makeslightofsin(Prov.14:9)

This person thinks that it is funny to sin. He likes to shock others by what he says or does.

The Pig-headed Fool

• Enjoyssinasifitwereagame(Prov.10:23)

• Doesnotconsidertheconsequencesofactions(Prov.14:8)

encourage your students to consider the condition of their own hearts. Some of the following questions might be helpful: When was the last time you admitted you were wrong? What kinds of things most often make you laugh? When was the last time you very nearly did or said something, but held back because you weren’t sure it was wise? When was the last time you asked someone for advice? How often do you do something kind for someone else when you’re not expected to do so, and when there’s something else you would rather be doing?

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QUIZ ANSWERS1.

• anger• scornfulness• frowardness• vengeance

2. • Bull-headedfool• Pig-headedfool

3. any two of the following would be acceptable:• WhenthemobcametoarrestHim,Jesusdidnothidebutwentdirectlytothemandtalkedtothem.• WhenPetercutofftheman’sear,JesusrebukedPeterandhealedtheman.• WhenJesuswasscourgedandmocked,Hesaidnothing.• HecarriedHisowncross(aslongasHecould).• HeaskedGodtoforgivethosewhocrucifiedHim.• HemadesureHismotherwouldbetakencareof.

4. any two of the following would be acceptable:• KeepGod’scommandments.• Bemercifulandtruthful.• TrustintheLordratherthaninyourownunderstanding.• GetyourwisdomfromGodanddepartfromevil.• GivepartofwhatyouearntotheLord.• ListentotheLord’scorrection.

5. any two of the following would be acceptable:• Youwillhavealong,peacefullife.• YouwillfindfavorwithGodandman.• Hewilldirectyourpaths.• Youwillhavegoodhealth.• Godwillseethatyourneedsaremet.• TheLordwillloveyouanddelightinyou.

6. evaluate their paragraphs based on how well they have learned the concepts presented in this lesson.


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L E S S O N 7

HOW ATTITUDESAFFECT ACTIONS

Actions do not begin outwardly with how we treat others or how we handle situations in life. Actions begin in our minds. How we think—our inner attitude—affects what we do, how we act, and how we treat others. You will constantly meet situations in your life that you must learn to handle with wisdom. Not all of life is happy or fair and just. Circumstances will come up that will cause your true character to show through.

It is important to decide before difficult situations arise how you will act and what types of attitudes you need to avoid. In this lesson we will discuss four attitudes to watch out for because any of them could hurt us or keep us from success. These attitudes are anger, scorn, perversion, and vengeance. What does Proverbs 16:20 teach about the blessing God offers to those who handle matters well?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Four Wrong Attitudes

A law of nature is that what is polluted does not become pure by itself. Both pollution and wrongdoing spread—they are “contagious” in a harmful way. If you have a cold and cough near someone, you can spread your germs and make him sick also. But a healthy person cannot spread health by being near you. Anger is similar in that it that can spread from one person to the next and never leave anyone better off. Following are some detailed descriptions of anger and other wrong attitudes. Under each description, look up the listed verses and write what each verse says about these attitudes.

Anger

An angry person is provoked easily and easily loses control. He uses his quick temper and cutting words to hurt others. Anyone who knows an angry person wants to stay

One who handles a matter wisely finds good, and one who trusts in the Lord finds happiness.


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away from him. It never helps to be angry because anger never solves any problem. Anger always makes things worse. Your anger shows everyone around you that you cannot control your attitude.

• Psalm 37:8 ______________________________________________________

• Proverbs 14:17 ___________________________________________________

• Proverbs 15:18 ___________________________________________________

• Proverbs 16:32 ___________________________________________________

• Proverbs 19:11 ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 22:24-25 ________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Ecclesiastes 7:9 __________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Scorn

A scorner (or “scoffer”) is one who mocks what is right. The scorner will put others down, mock their ideas, and make fun of sin and those who want to do right. He enjoys making fun of teachers, parents, and others who are trying to help us grow up to have the right attitudes and values for our lives. He will only hurt those who listen to him. In the end, a scorner’s attitude will backfire. He will find he has hurt himself most.

• Proverbs 3:34 ____________________________________________________

• Proverbs 13:1 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 14:6 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 19:29 ___________________________________________________

Stop being angry.

An angry person acts foolishly.

Anger causes more strife.

One who is slow to become angry has great strength.

It is better to overlook a problem than to becomeangry.

Don’t be friends with an angry person, or you willbecome like him.

Don’t be quick to become angry.

God scorns the scorner.

A scorner will not listen to good instruction.

A scorner looks for wisdom but can’t find it.

The scorner will be judged.


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• Proverbs 22:10 ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 24:9 ____________________________________________________

PerversionSometimes words like “froward,” “devious,” or “crooked” are used to describe the attitude of perversion. A perverse person has the worst attitude of all. He does not merely lose control and get angry. He does not simply put down the good in others, as the scorner does. The froward person actually enjoys doing evil and wickedness. His heart attitude is actually to revel in sin and to delight in it. He takes pleasure in it. His actions are wrong because he has rejected the teachings of God. And worst of all, the perverse person wants to get others to follow in the way he is going.

• Proverbs 2:12-15 _________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 3:32 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 4:24 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 8:13 ____________________________________________________

VengeanceOne of the hardest things for us to do is to let God handle our problems. We want to work things out for ourselves. If someone hurts our feelings or does something mean to us, we want to get even. We want to fight back or get revenge. Vengeance is that attitude that wants to pay someone back for the wrong he has done to us. The problem is that a vengeful attitude only makes matters worse, and it always comes back on the person who is vengeful. When God takes care of the situation, He always takes care of it justly and thoroughly. We do not have to worry.

• Proverbs 20:22 ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Get rid of the scorner (or mocker), and conflict willcease.

People do not like a scorner (or mocker).

He walks in darkness. He enjoys doing evil andwickedness. His ways are crooked.

He is an abomination to the Lord.

He is an abomination to the Lord.

God hates a perverse mouth.

Don’t repay evil but, instead, wait on the Lord.


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• Proverbs 24:29 ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Romans 12:17 ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 1 Peter 3:9 ______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

The Example Of Jesus

Jesus knew all of the events that were going to happen to Him before they occurred. He knew that Judas would betray Him. He knew that He would be taken prisoner. He knew that He would be beaten, cursed, and mocked. He knew that He would go through an unjust trial. He knew He would be crucified on a cross between two thieves. Was He angry? Was He scornful or vengeful? Was He perverse? In all of his hardships, Jesus fixed his heart on the greatest priorities. He knew that whatever happened to Him was part of God’s perfect purpose for His life.

Remember, nothing ever happens to us that God has not allowed and even planned in order to accomplish a wonderful purpose in our lives. Jesus had a specific purpose to fulfill, and He was willing to do it in the right way. Jesus did not complain or scorn. He did not get angry. He did not become perverse. He did not try in any way to get revenge.

In fact, Jesus’ attitude caused Him to act in a totally different way. Read about the following situations concerning the last days of Jesus and explain what His attitude was and how He responded.

Verses What Happened? What Were Jesus’ Attitudesand Actions?

John 18:2-5

John 18:10-11; Luke 22:50-51

Don’t threaten to hurt someone who has hurt you.

Don’t repay evil with evil.

Return evil with a blessing because we will inheritblessings from God.

Judas came with soldiers totake Jesus captive.

Jesus did not hide. He wentdirectly to them and talkedto them.

Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant.

Jesus rebuked Peter and healed the man’s ear.


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John 19:1-9

John 19:15-18

Luke 23:33-34

John 19:25-27

In your own words, write a paragraph explaining Jesus’ attitudes and actions during the terrible trials He endured throughout His arrest, trial, and crucifixion.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Did Jesus ever seek revenge? Yes No• Did He ever become angry? Yes No• Did He ever scorn or scoff at those who were treating Him badly? Yes No• Did He ever turn against God? Yes No

Jesus offers a perfect example for us, but He endured suffering and died not only to provide an example, but also to provide salvation for us. This salvation makes it possible for us to overcome sin as He did. In which of these areas do you tend to have the most problems when things do not go your way?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What can you do the next time a difficult situation comes into your life?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jesus was scourged, mocked,and given a crown of thorns. Jesus said nothing.

Jesus was crucified. Jesus carried His own cross.

Jesus was crucified. Jesus asked God to forgivethose who crucified Him.

Mary and the other womenstood by the cross.

Jesus arranged His mother’scare.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

xx

xx

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How does the salvation Jesus offers give us the hope of handling difficult situations wisely?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Commands And Promises

God has promised blessings and good that will eventually come if our attitudes and actions are right. Remember that right actions begin with right attitudes. In the columns below, write God’s commands and God’s promises of blessing to show the pattern of how God works.

Proverbs Command Promise

3:1-2

3:3-4

3:5-6

3:7-8

3:9-10

3:11-12

Jesus had the right attitude during His trial and crucifixion and was able to act correctly toward those around Him. If you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, the Holy Spirit lives within you, and He will help your attitude and your actions if you allow Him to work through you.

Salvation through Christ brings the presence of the Spirit to our lives, whichenables and empowers us to live a life of wisdom.

Keep God’s commandments.

Be merciful and truthful.

Trust in the Lord rather than inyour own understanding.

Get your wisdom from Godand depart from evil.

Give part of what you earn tothe Lord.

Listen to the Lord’s correction.

You will have a long, peacefullife.

You will find favor with God andman.

He will direct your paths.

You will have good health.

God will see that your needs aremet.

The Lord will love us and delightin us.


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The Bible says Jesus kept His focus on the prospect of joy set before Him, so He endured the trials set before Him. Jesus knew that God would keep His promises to Him if He would keep trusting and obeying God’s will. Jesus’ perfect life, death on the cross, and resurrection all produce blessings for many people, not just Himself. What blessings came about because of what Jesus endured?

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

TEACHER’S LESSON

The Bull-headed Fool The Pig-headed FoolTheir Attitudes

12:15 1:32

14:16

28:26

Their Mouths

19:3 10:18

20:3 14:33

15:2,14

18:6-7

19:1

Their Sinfulness

14:9 10:23

14:8

We can have our sins forgiven.

We can know we will be in heaven.

We can have victory over sin.

confident

blames the Lord and others for failures

quarrels, argues

makes light of sin

complacent

careless

trusts in his own ideas

enjoys sin

does not consider the consequences of actions

spreads slander

brags

pours out foolishness

causes strife

lies


L E S S O N 7 Q U I ZHOW ATTITUDES AFFECT ACTIONS

Name ________________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. Whatfourwrongattitudesdiscussedinthislessonmustwebecarefulnottoallowinourlives?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

2. What are the two types of fools in Proverbs?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

3. Give two examples of how Jesus responded with correct attitudes and actions during His arrest, trial, and crucifixion.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

4. GivetwoofGod’scommandsincludedinProverbs3:1-12.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

5. GivetwoofGod’spromisesincludedinProverbs3:1-12.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

6. Write a short paragraph explaining how you can overcome wrong attitudes in your life. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

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L E S S O N 8

RIGHT ATTITUDES ABOUT MYSELF

TARGET TRUTHS• Godwantsustohaverightattitudesaboutourselves.

• Ourinnerattitudesaboutourselvesaffecthowwetreatothers.

• Weneedtounderstandtheplaceoftrialsandtribulationsinourlives.

TEACHING STRATEGYAttheendofLesson7,weemphasizedthecommandsandpromisesofGodinProverbs3.Nowwearegoing to focus on the connection between inner attitudes and the promises of God. Before your students study Psalm 37 for this exercise, ask them to explain how commands, right attitudes, and God’s promises relate to each other. Then show them the connection between all three aspects in the following equation. (Perhaps they may try to come up with an equation of their own before you show them this one.)

Our attitudes toward God’s commandmentsplus

Our obedience to God’s commandmentsresults in

God’s promises and blessings being a part of our lives.

The Story of JobMany times we want the promises of God, but are we willing to obey God’s commands and to keep a right attitude through difficult times of trials? all throughout the Bible, we see a pattern that God has set for us. This is the pattern:

Promises Principles Proving Provision

God does make promises to us based on certain rules, commands, or laws that we call principles of life. We want the promises, and we may be willing to follow His principles, but often we do not realize that a time of testing or proving may precede the blessings or provisions God has promised for us.

In school, our teachers teach us certain facts and principles, but there is always a testing time before we are finished. When we have done well on our tests, we receive the blessing of good grades and knowing that we have been wise and obedient to God.

If we try out for the basketball team, we know the coach will have rules for us to follow with the hope of a successful season in the future. But there is a testing time in which we must work hard and be tested regarding our abilities before we can have a winning season.

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This is the common pattern for all of life. It is part of God’s plan that learning life principles be followed by times of testing prior to a wonderful victory. But when we pass the testing time, the victory time is that much more exciting and satisfying because we have demonstrated faithful obedience. anytime the things of life are received without a cost, they are not valued as much. God wants us to value life and enjoy the victories that will come when we have a good attitude toward the trials of life.

The story of Job is a valuable lesson to teach us these things. after the discussion on Job, have students share the various types of trials they must face. If there is time, have them write a paragraph about their mostdifficulttrialandexplain(1)howtheycandealwiththetrialwiththerightattitude,and(2)whatthey learned about trusting God through the trial.

My attitude about MyselfMiddle school is a very important age. Many students have been wounded in their hearts sometime during their early years and have carried these hurts and attitudes about themselves for many years without really understanding why they feel about themselves as they do. Because they have allowed themselves to live with wrong attitudes about God and their own lives, they also have wrong thoughts, words, and actions. The external actions simply reflect what is going on inside.

When we understand that our external actions simply show our internal attitudes, we can take action to change. When we begin to think right thoughts about God and ourselves, when we begin to really understand how much God loves us and how beautifully He designed us, and when we begin to understand what a great plan and purpose He has for us, then we will not want to do those things that are going to dishonor Him and hurt ourselves in any way.


a forgiving attitudeInLesson7,wefocusedonpatienceandimpatience.Beingabletoforgiveothersoftengoesalongwiththeattitude of patience. Help students relate to the following types of situations and discuss the need to forgive for their own good in each situation. Some of the situations are similar to the ones given in our last lesson.

• Yourbrotherorsisterborrowsyournewshirtandruinsit.

• Yourbrotherorsisterborrowsabookyougotfromthe libraryforareportandthenleavesthebook at school—and your report is due tomorrow!

• Youexpecttobeoneofthestartersforthelastbasketballgameoftheyear,butthecoachmakesyou sit on the bench.

• Someoneinyourclassishavingaparty,andalmosteveryoneisinvitedexceptyou.

• Yourfriendcheatsatagameandinsistshehasdonenothingwrong.

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Our Personalities are UniqueGod has given each of us unique personalities, abilities, and talents. Sometimes we have wrong attitudes about ourselves because we have not understood how wonderfully God designed us. We need to accept the wonderful way God has made us.

Have students think through some of the following ideas concerning how God made them.

• Areyouquietoroutgoing?• Doyouliketohavelotsoffriends,ordoyouliketobeclosetoonlyoneortwospecialfriends?• Doyouhavesomespecialabilityortalent?• Doyouliketobealeader,orwouldyouratherletsomeoneelsebeincharge?• Areyouverycreative?• Doyouliketobebusywithmanydifferentprojectsandactivities,ordoyouliketohaveaquieter

life?• Whichdoyouenjoymore—beingoutdoorsorindoors?• Areyouinterestedinmusic?Sports?Reading?Math?History?English?

as students think through these areas, it will help them to realize that the way they are is the way they were intended to be. Quiet people do not have to wish they were outgoing, and talkative people do not have to wish they were quieter. We can learn to relax and be ourselves using our unique gifts to serve others.

Promises, Principles, Proving and ProvisionJust like Job, all of us will face trials and tribulations in our lives. This is the proving or testing time. During these times, if we obey God’s principles and trust in His promises, we will have greater victories ahead of us.

Use the chart below on a chalkboard to teach the principle that God will bring greater blessing and victory in our lives through tribulation if we continue to obey and trust Him.

TheUpsandDownsintheLifeofJosephHead Of

Potiphar’sHouse

2 5

6431

7

Sold IntoSlavery

Lied About;Sent To Prison

InterpretedDreams

Famine InEgypt

2nd To PharaohAs Ruler Of

EgyptReunited

With Family

Noticenumbers2, 5 and7.Theseare the timesofblessing from theLord.But alsonotice thatbeforeeach time of blessing, God allowed a tribulation. The next time you are going through a time of trial or temptation, know that God is planning a greater blessing.

Alongwiththeaboveexample,studyRomans5:1-5toseethisprincipleexplainedinstillanotherway.

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TEACHER’S LESSONOne other problem that must be dealt with is how young people view the world. Most christian young people see the world from the perspective of chart a. They are separated from the world out of duty or because this is how they were raised. But far too often, these young people think the world looks very good, and many times the young people in the world seem to be having more fun than the christians have in their lives. These young people are, in fact, envious of the worldly young people. Therefore, we need to show christian young people that God has separated them to a higher way of life that has more purpose and more pleasure.

See chart B. God is the creator God who wants to give us joy and purpose. Our lives should not be dull or boring or routine. God wants us to live a life that is fully satisfied because it is an indispensable part of His big plan. The problem is that we are too involved with seeing how the world has fun to allow God to show us how to have fun by fulfilling the purpose He has created us to accomplish. When is a fish happiest? When it is swimming in the water. When is a bird happiest? When is is flying or doing the other things God created it to do. In the same way, God has created us to worship and obey Him. We are happiest when we are pursuing those goals with our lives.

QUIZ ANSWERS1. Anytwoofthefollowingwouldbeacceptable:

• Don’tworryorbecomeenviousofevilpeople.

• TrustintheLordanddogood.

• DelightyourselfintheLord.

• CommityourwaytotheLord.

• RestintheLordandwaitpatiently.

• Don’tbeangryordoevil.2. He was mature and upright. He feared God and hated evil.3. Job was good and upright because God protected and blessed him.4. Job was good and upright because God protected his body.5. He realized that the wonderful truths about God were far beyond his understanding.6. He had twice as many possessions as before and had seven more sons and three more daughters.7. evaluate this paragraph based on how well they know and apply the principles taught in this lesson.


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L E S S O N 8

RIGHT ATTITUDESABOUT MYSELF

In Lesson 7, we looked at Proverbs 3 and saw that with every command, God gave a promise of a special blessing. In this lesson we are going to look at another passage and focus on a similar concept. But instead of finding commands, we are going to look for attitudes that the Lord wants us to have and what the Bible says will happen as a result if we obey. Complete the chart below.

Psalm Attitude Promise

37:1-2

37:3

37:4

37:5

37:7

37:8-9

The Story Of Job

One reason God is very interested in our attitudes is that He intends for our lives to be blessed and successful. Sometimes to have success we must go through trials. But

Don’t worry or become envious of evil people.

Trust in the Lord and do good.

Delight yourself in the Lord.

Commit your way to the Lord.

Rest in the Lord and waitpatiently.

Don’t be angry or do evil.

Evil people will be cut down.

God will take care of you.

He will give you the desires ofyour heart.

He will bring it to pass.

Evildoers will be cut off.


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throughout the trials, God is still in control and will see us through to a wonderful

blessing. If we are not allowing God to control our lives, then we will allow attitudes

such as anger, scorn, scoffing, and vengeance to become habits in our lives.

The story of Job most likely took place about the time of Abraham. The book of Job

therefore fits chronologically during the time of the book of Genesis. Read the first

chapter of the book of Job and answer the following questions with short answers.

Where did Job live? ______________________________________________________

How many sons did he have? _____ How many daughters? _____

What did he own?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

What kind of man was Job?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

What was Satan’s accusation against Job?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

To whom was the accusation made?

______________________________________________________________________

What did God allow Satan to do?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Which verse in Job 1 describes his response to all that was happening?

____________________________________________________________________

the land of Uz

7 3

7,000 sheep; 3,000 camels; 500 yoke of oxen; 500 female donkeys; and a

very large household

mature and upright; one who feared the Lord and hated evil

Job was good and upright because God protected and blessed him.

God

He allowed Satan to destroy everything that Job had and take the lives of

his sons and daughters. However, he could not harm Job.

Verses 21 and 22 would both be acceptable answers.


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Read Job 2:1-10 and answer the following questions about Job:

What was Satan’s new accusation against Job?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did God allow Satan to do next?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

According to Job 2:10, did Job believe that God had the right to allow bad things in his life as well as good things? Yes No

Through all that happened, do we ever read of Job having an angry, vengeful, or scornful attitude toward God? Yes No

There is a great deal more to the story of Job. We will be learning more about his story later. For right now, you need to see that what God has said is true. If our attitudes and actions are good and right, God’s blessings will come. This does not mean that we will become rich in this life and have lots of children, but it does mean that God will bless us beyond our imaginations in eternity. This book is evidence that God has the power to bless His people. Turn to the last chapter of Job and see the blessings that came to him. Read Job 42:1-3 and 10-17 and answer the questions below.

How was Job praying to God now?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Did Job ever lose his faith in God? Yes No

List all the blessings that God gave to Job at the end of the book and compare these with what Job had at the beginning of his trials.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Job was good and righteous because God protected his body.

He allowed Satan to take away Job’s health and give him boils.

x

x

He said that he could never understand the wonderful things of God because His knowledge was too wonderful.

x

He gave Job twice as many possessions as he had before. He gave him7 more sons and 3 more daughters.


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Describe the end of Job’s life.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

My Attitude About Myself

How we act has a lot to do with how we think about ourselves. If we do not have right attitudes about ourselves, we will tend to do things that backfire: We will end up hurting ourselves and others.

Jesus knew He was the Son of God. He knew that His Father loved Him and would love Him always. God would do only those things that would be a great blessing to Him. Jesus was not worried about Judas, Pilate, Herod, the soldiers, or the Jewish priests. It did not matter what they said or did to Him. Jesus knew He had come to earth to obey His Father and to fulfill an important purpose on the earth. He knew that what mattered most was that He accomplish the work God had sent Him to do.

Job had a similar attitude. He had a wonderful life, great riches, a beautiful family, and many possessions. He had good health. But he lost all of these things. He lost his wealth, his family, his possessions, and even his health. Even then, however, his attitude did not change. Job knew God loved him. He knew how important it was for him to obey God even in the midst of difficult circumstances. He knew in spite of it all that God cared for him and would bless his trust and obedience. His attitude stayed right, and God blessed him.

Young people get caught up in many actions and attitudes that are very wrong. Usually this happens because they think their purpose in life is to follow their feelings and take what they want. They do not think that the way they live their lives really matters, so they try to find a way to make their lives feel like they matter. This is why young people often make unwise choices. What they do not realize is that these kinds of things distract them from what is most important—trusting and obeying God. They do not realize that by serving their feelings, they are exchanging the far greater blessings God offers for the cheap things they can enjoy right away. They are sacrificing their greatest joys for smaller pleasures that will last only an instant.

There is a saying that goes like this: “God don’t make no junk.” When God made you, He made someone very important to His plan. Your life has a purpose in that plan, even if some days you don’t feel worthwhile and important. You will never be able to win true

Job had a blessed life and lived until the old age of 140.


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friends by damaging your body, abusing substances, or using foul language, because the kinds of people who are impressed by those things will never be true friends. Those who make unwise choices think wrongly about themselves and God. If they trusted God’s promises to bless their obedience, they would act differently. God elevated you to a high position when you trusted Christ as your Savior. Read Revelation 1:5-6 and explain in your own words what God thinks of you.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You need to make some very important decisions about the kind of person you want to be. Do you recognize that God created you for an important purpose? Do you trust God to keep His promises of blessing to you? Write a paragraph explaining your attitudes about who God is, who you are, and how you should respond with trust and obedience in difficult situations.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

God loved me enough to send His son to die on the cross for my sins. Hemade me to be a king and a priest. I will reign with Christ.

Answers will vary.


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Teacher’s Lesson

• God has chosen us ____________ the world to a better life.

• We are called to ______________ the world to minister to people’s needs.

out of

go into


L E S S O N 8 Q U I ZRIGHT ATTITUDES ABOUT MYSELF

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. NametwoattitudesmentionedinPsalm37thatwearetohave.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

2. What kind of man was Job? _____________________________________________________________________________

3. What was Satan’s first charge against Job? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

4. What was Satan’s second charge against Job? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

5. What did Job come to understand about God’s ways near the end of the story? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

6. What blessings did Job receive after the greatest trials of his life? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

7. Write a paragraph that answers the following questions:

• Whydomanyyoungpeoplebegintodrink,smoke,andtakedrugs?

• Whatcankeepteensfromgettinginvolvedintheseandotheractivities? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

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L E S S O N 9

GOOD FRIENDS AND BAD FRIENDS

TARGET TRUTHS• Wrongfriendsdonothaveourbestinterestsinmind.

• Atruefriendwillwantonlywhatisbestforus.

• Weneedtostayawayfromthosewhowouldencourageustodowrong.

• Wehaveaneedtobeaccepted,butwemustlearnnottoallowthisneedtoharmourtestimonybydoing wrong things just to be accepted by others.

TEACHING STRATEGYHave your students complete the first section on good and bad friends and review the concepts together as an introduction to our lessons on friendship. at the middle school level, the subject of friendships is extremely important. Young people at this age are very concerned about their friends, and they are often very petty in the way they handle themselves. They are often very gossipy and cruel in the way they treat one another. The primary cause of this is that middle school students, like older teens and adults, love themselves more than they love God. But they are immature, and they just haven’t learned yet how to conceal their selfish attitudes as well as adults have. They are trying to build themselves up and make themselves feel valuable. They have a great desire to belong and feel acceptance by themselves and from others. They want to be popular and involved, but they do not know how to go about these things in the right way. In their naivety and immaturity, they often tear others down to build themselves up. Discuss some of these concepts openly with your class and see if they can begin to understand why they do what theydo.Leadtheconversationtohelpthemtounderstandhowtheyaremoreinterestedinwhatpeoplethink of them than what God thinks of them.

relate this section to your students’ lives, helping them to understand why some young people join gangs or yield to peer pressure. Many young people obviously do not get involved in such serious groups. But we need to understand on a more common level why they get involved with groups at all. There is nothing wrong with being part of a group if the attitudes and motivations of the group are right.

How Wrong friends Hurt UsHave students complete this section on their own or complete it together as a class. either way, this section should be thoroughly discussed with examples shared by the students. read through the entire passage together and note the pattern that is involved.

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• Proverbs1:10-14—showinginterestinwhatwrongcompanionswantyoutodo;wrongpeer pressure

• Proverbs1:15—walkinginthesamepathaskidswhomakefoolishordangerouschoicesandget-ting involved in their mischief

• Proverbs1:16-19—runningtodothesameevilthingsthattheevilcompanionsaredoingwithnothought for the consequences of your actions

The example of JoashHave your students complete the work on King Joash on their own. Have students write paragraphsexplaining what happened in the two parts of Joash’s life. emphasize clearly the conclusion that must be made concerning the change in Joash’s life. Very simply, a wrong companion corrupted (made evil) a godly anduprightlife.Youmayneedtoexplainthemeaningof1Corinthians15:33ifyouareusingtheKJVinyour class. The Greek word translated as “communications” means companions in today’s english, and “manners” means actions.


Peer Pressure and True friendship• ReadProverbs1:10-16onceagainandhaveyourstudentsdiscussthekindsofthingstheirfriendstell

them to try to make them go along with wrong actions. Discuss again the feeling of wanting to belong that is natural to all of us. assure students that this is a normal feeling, but it can be very destructive if it is not balanced by the desire to do right no matter what others say.

• Discusswhattruefriendshipisinrelationtotheabove.Arealfriendwouldnotwantyoutodosome-thing against your convictions or that would get you into trouble. Those who put you down or who try to force you to do something you really don’t want to do are not your true friends. even if you decide to go along with them, they will eventually turn on you and show their true colors.

TEACHER’S LESSONWrong friends build wrong patterns for our lives. We must be very aware of this fact. We have studied this problem as it is discussed in Proverbs, and we have seen evidence of the problem in our own lives and inthelifeofKingJoash.Completetheoverheadtransparencyasyoudiscussthewaywrongcompanionsencourage us to build wrong patterns of life.

• Donotgowith them(Prov.1:15).Whenwegowith thewrongpersonorcrowd,weautomaticallyplace ourselves face to face with temptation. It is important that we do not go to those places that would invite us to be tempted to do wrong.

• Do not yield to theirways (Prov. 25:26). This verse talks about yielding orwavering in our com-mitment to do what is right. Sometimes we get caught off guard because we want to belong and be accepted.Thishappensintwobasicways:either(1)weoverlooktheirsin,or(2)wehonorthem.

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• By overlooking their sin (Prov. 28:23). By allowing sin to take place arounduswithout sayinganything or taking a stand, we are giving our stamp of approval to the wrong that is taking place. Some of the most common ways this happens is by allowing dirty jokes or words to be said in our presencewithoutoursayinganythingaboutthem;byknowingthatsomeonehascheated,stolen,orliedandsayingnothing;andbyhavingknowledgeofothertypesofsinwithoutspeakingout.Whenweknowthatsomethingiswrong,weneedtofollowMatthew5:21-26andMatthew18:15-20anddealwiththesin,oritwillcontinueandgrowevenworse.

• Byhonoringthem(Prov.26:1).Whenwegivehonortothosewhoareknowinglydoingwrong,we are hurting God, and we are hurting them. Those who have foul mouths or are known to have wrong attitudes and actions should not be allowed to hold an important office, be a team captain, or have leadership positions. It is not right that their attitudes and actions should go unchecked because it will become more and more difficult for them to change their ways if they are honored for their sin.

• Donotbecometheirfriend(Prov.22:24).Donotbecomefriendswithapersonwhoiscaughtupinwrong activities because soon you will become involved in some way yourself. But do remember not to confuse friendship with friendliness. God’s Word teaches us that we are to be friendly, cheerful, and kind to all. friendship, however, implies more than friendliness. friendship involves going with them to their favorite places and becoming involved with them. It is important to be friendly always to everyone but not to develop a close friendship with the wrong crowd.

• Donotbecomeacompanion to them in their sin (Prov.29:24).This is the final step inbecominginvolved in sinful activities.

QUIZ ANSWERS1. Agoodfriendhelpsusbewise,helpsusrejoice,givesusgoodadvice,andhelpsustobeabetterperson.

a bad friend encourages us to be angry, pulls us down, and makes our lives unstable and trouble-some.

2. toattractbyarousinghopeordesire;tolure;totempt3. to go with them to do wrong, to hurt other people, to desire to have things by stealing them, and to

be a part of their group4. HedidrightinthesightoftheLord.5. Jehoiada the priest6. the princes of Judah who worshiped idols7.

• patterns• go• yield• friend• companion


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GOOD FRIENDSAND BAD FRIENDS

It is good to be polite and friendly to everyone we meet. We should always assume the best about others. We should desire to be kind and helpful to everyone. In this sense, everyone can be your friend.

But there are other deeper levels of friendship. When we begin to choose our closest companions, it is important to choose wisely who those companions will be. You probably desire to have a friend who is interested in you and in what you like to do. You want friends whom you can trust and who can trust you. You want to be able to confide in a friend without fear that your thoughts will be shared with anyone else. Having true friends is a wonderful gift in life.

Read each of these verses and explain in your own words what a true friend will be like.

Proverb How a True Friend Will Help Us

13:20

27:9

27:17

Read these verses and explain what the wrong kind of friends will do.

Proverb What a Bad Friend Will Do

22:24-25

25:19

He helps us be wise.

He helps us rejoice and gives good advice.

He helps us to be a better person.

An angry friend will encourage us to be angry and will pull usdown.An unfaithful friend will make our lives unstable and troublesome.


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How Wrong Friends Hurt Us

Read Proverbs 1:10-19 carefully. Then go back and answer the questions below.

What command does God give us in verse 10 concerning the type of friends we are to have?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does the word “entice” mean? Use your dictionary if you need it.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do the following verses say that the wrong types of friends might entice you to do?

• Verses 11–12 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Verse 13 ________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Verse 14 ________________________________________________________

These friends are not what they seem. What are they really like, and what will be their end? (See verses 16-19.)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A Personal Example

At some time or another, everyone has been enticed to do wrong or to go along silently while wrong was being done. In the last few months, have you felt enticed to do wrong? If you can think of an example or two, explain what happened and how you handled it at the time. If you did not handle yourself wisely, explain what you might do differently if it were to happen again. Do not be afraid to explain what you did wrong if you did not handle it rightly, because sometimes it is through our failures that we learn how to do right the next time.

If sinners entice us to do something, we should not do it.

to attract by arousing hope or desire; to lure; to tempt

to go with them to do wrong and hurt other people

to desire to have things by stealing them

to be a part of their group

They are evil and will hurt innocent people. They are greedy. They will eventually hurt themselves and perhaps lose their lives.


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• An example: _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Another example: ________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

The Example Of Joash

Our friends have a great influence on us. Everyone wants his friends to agree with him

and be like him in the way he thinks and acts. Do you remember when we said that our attitudes affect our actions? If you rebel against God and choose friends who have wrong attitudes and actions, you will tend to become like them. On the other hand, if you are thinking in light of God’s wisdom and His good plans for your life, you will desire to seek friends who will help you live in a way that honors Him. You will choose friends who also want God’s will.

In the Bible, we can read about Joash, a young king who found out the hard way that his choice of friends would change the course of his life. Turn to 2 Chronicles 24 and read the chapter completely. You will find that the life of Joash could be divided into two parts. In a short paragraph below, explain what Joash’s character was like during the earlier and later portions of his life and what important events happened during each portion.

Part One (24:1-16)

• _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

He began to reign at 7 years old and reigned for 40 years.

He did right in the sight of the Lord.

Jehoida the priest helped him.

He restored the temple.

He collected money from the people in a chest and used it to pay theworkmen for restoring the temple.


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Part Two (24:17-27)

• _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

When did Joash begin to change his attitudes and actions?

______________________________________________________________________

Who encouraged this change in Joash?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do you think about the change that took place in Joash?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How might 1 Corinthians 15:33 be applied to the story of Joash?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What lesson(s) can you learn from 1 Corinthians 15:33?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After Jehoiada died, those who had turned against the Lord became Joash’s friends.

Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah, prophesied the Lord’s warning againstthe people for their idolatry.

Joash had Zechariah stoned to death.

Joash turned to idolatry.

Joash was slain by his own servants.

after Jehoiada died

the princes of Judah who worshipped idols

Joash turned to evil when he became friends with evil men.

Joash’s life is an illustration of how evil companions can corrupt someone’slife.

To avoid a corrupt life, I need to avoid evil companions.


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Teacher’s Lesson

Wrong ________________ build wrong __________________ for our lives.

• Do not ______________ them (Prov. 1:15).

• Do not __________ to their ________ (Prov. 25:26).

• By ______________________ their sin (Prov. 28:23)

• By ________________ them (Prov. 26:1)

• Do not become their ____________ (Prov. 22:24).

• Do not become a __________________ to them in their sin (Prov. 29:24).

friends patterns

go with

yield ways

overlooking

honoring

friend

companion


L E S S O N 9 Q U I ZGOOD FRIENDS AND BAD FRIENDS

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. AccordingtotheBookofProverbs,whatisonedifferencebetweenagoodfriendandabadfriend? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

2. What does the word “entice” mean? ______________________________________________________________________________

3. AccordingtoProverbs1,whatwillthewrongtypeoffriendsenticeyoutodo? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

4. What was Joash like when he first became king? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

5. Who influenced Joash to do good? ______________________________________________________________________________

6. Who influenced Joash to do evil? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

7. complete the following statements about wrong companions.

• Wrongfriendsbuildwrong _____________________________________________ for our lives.

• Donot ____________________________________________________ withthem(Prov.1:15).

• Donot __________________________________________________ to their ways (Prov. 25:26).

• Donotbecometheir ________________________________________________ (Prov. 22:24).

• Donotbecomea _____________________________________to them in their sin (Prov. 29:24).

LE

SS

ON

9O

VE

RH

EA

D

Wrong friends build w

rong patterns for our lives.

•Donotgow

iththem(Prov.1:15).

•Donotyieldtotheirw

ays(Prov.25:26).

•Byoverlookingtheirsin(Prov.28:23)

•Byhonoringthem(Prov.26:1)

•Donotbecom

etheirfriend(Prov.22:24).

•Donotbecom

eacompaniontothem

intheirsin(Prov.29:24).

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CHOOSING THE RIGHT FRIENDS

TARGET TRUTHS• Wemustbecautiousnottojudgeandcondemnotherswhenwedonothaveallthefactsabouttheir

problem.

• Weneedtolearntolistentoourfriendsandencouragethemwhentheyhaveproblems.

• Wearetostayawayfromthosewhowouldpullusdown.

• Weneedtochooseourfriendscarefully.

TEACHING STRATEGY

Job’s friendsHave your students work through this lesson in pairs and then discuss it together as a class, allowing eachofthemtogivehisorherinput.Emphasizethefollowingtwoattitudesthatcauseproblems:(1)ajudgmental attitude that assumes we know all the circumstances in another person’s life (remember that therearetwosidestoeverysituation,andwedonotalwaysknowthecompletetruth);(2)ajudgmentalattitude that assumes we know what is going on in the heart of another person (we cannot know another person’s heart attitude—only God can see the heart).

LearningtoListenMany young people have a difficult time knowing how to communicate. This is a problem that can last throughout a lifetime if it is not addressed. Middle school students tend to be absorbed in their own lives and interests and generally talk about things that they have done or things in which they are interested. Often there is little interaction. Go over the following guidelines to help them understand what true communication is.

• Listentowhatyourfriendissayingsoyoucanrespondtohim.Don’tbethinking,“WhatcanIsayaboutmyself?”Listenandyourturntotalkwillcome.

• Betrulyinterestedinyourfriendandtreathimasyouwouldliketobetreated.Youwantpeopletolisten to you and be interested in you, so you need to learn to do this to others.

• Askquestionsaboutwhattheotherpersonistalkingaboutsohewillknowyouareinterested.

• Askquestionswhenyouaretalkingtosomeonewhoisnotaclosefriendtoshowhimthatyouareinterested in him. Try to draw him out in this way, listen to him, be interested, and you will find that you will make many friends.

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companions to avoidHave your students complete this section on their own and use it as a basis for discussion or complete it together as a class. Make sure the meanings of words are clearly understood. Use the teacher’s lesson with this section.

evaluating My friendshipsBefore students complete this section, have them discuss again the main ideas about what makes a good or a bad friend by reviewing Lessons 9 and 10. Then have them list the qualities that they think areparticularly important for a close friend. By evaluating an unnamed friend, they can begin to evaluate whether they are making wise choices in this area. Do not allow them to share this second area openly so that they will be honest, and none of their friends will be embarrassed.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING SUGGESTIONHave your studentswrite a FRIENDSHIP acrostic.Usewords or phrases from the letters in thewordFRIENDSHIPorthephraseATRUEFRIENDtoformanacrostic.Usethebestonesasthebasisforabulletin board display. an example of an acrostic is given below.

Forever trueReal and genuineInterested in othersExcited about right activitiesNever carries talesDesires my best

TEACHER’S LESSONWrong companions have qualities about them that we do not want to associate with because they will bring us down to their level. We may not want to be like them, but sooner or later we will become like them if we aren’t careful. We need to be aware of how a wrong companion will act.

• Hismouth—usesunbiblicalwords

• Curses(Exo.20:7)—usingtheLord’snameoranywords thatrefer to theLord invainorusingother words that are considered cursing

• Usescrudewords

• Usesimmoralwords(Eph.5:4)—suchassextermsandfilthyandsuggestivetalk

• Gossips(Eph.4:29)—involvesrepeatingunhelpfulstoriesaboutpeople

• Criticizes—wordsthataresaidwiththeintenttodestroyorteardownaperson

• Tellslies(Prov.6:16-19)—includesalltheattitudesembodiedinthispassageincludingtellinghalf-truths

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• His eyes—Eyes speak inmanyways.Many sinsbeginwhenwe lookatwrong things andbegin todesire those things. We also convey certain feelings and attitudes through our eyes. (Have your stu-dents demonstrate and discuss what certain looks communicate.)

• Lustfullooks(1John2:16)—Thishappenswhenwelookatwrongpicturesinmagazines,inthemovies, on television, or on the internet.

• Jealousy (1Sam.18:7-9)—Webecome jealouswhensomeonehas somethingwewishwecouldhave or when we think another person is more popular than we are or better at sports. We often show our jealousy in our eyes.

• Fault-finding(Matt.7:3-5)—Asneering lookshowsthatwearemockingorcriticalof someoneelse, often with an attitude of ridiculing that person.

• Rebelliousness(Prov.30:17)—Thisevidencesitselfbyacoldstareorrollingoftheeyesinwhichwe show we are rebellious even if we do not say anything wrong.

• Hisfeet(Prov.6:18)—Theyspeakbygoingplacestheyshouldnotgo.Becareful thatpeerpressuredoes not encourage you to go places where you will find trouble.

QUIZ ANSWERS1. SinceGoddoesnotdestroyortroubletherighteous,Jobmusthavesinned.2. Job must have forgotten God. Job was a hypocrite.3. Zophar4. They had judgmental attitudes, and they did not know Job’s heart.5. to offer a sacrifice to Him and to let Job pray for them6. I should not be their close friends. I should avoid them, forsake them, and not get involved with

them.7. any two of the following would be acceptable:

• curses• usescrudewords• usesimmoralwords• gossips• criticizes• tellslies

8. any two of the following would be acceptable:• lustfullooks• jealousy• fault-finding• rebelliousness

L E S S O N 1 0 S T U D E N T M A N U A L P A G E S

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CHOOSING THERIGHT FRIENDS

We have already studied the life of Job and learned about his tribulations. We learned a little about how he continued to trust the Lord and have the right responses during his trials.

During the time that Job was having so many problems, three of his friends came to help him.

Job’s Friends

What did Eliphaz believe about God that led him to conclude that sin was the cause of all Job’s problems? Read Job 4:7-8.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The problem with this attitude is that it is very judgmental of Job, and it is simply not what the Bible teaches. This friend was drawing conclusions about Job’s problems and what God was doing in Job’s life. We should be careful not to think that we understand all that is happening in other people’s lives. The message of the first two chapters of Job is actually that very bad things sometimes happen to very godly people. God allows them into our lives for purposes that we do not always understand.

What did Bildad say was the cause of Job’s problems? Read Job 8:13-15.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bildad did not show true friendship because, like Eliphaz, he jumped to conclusions that were not true. In suggesting that Job was a hypocrite, Bildad was saying that Job was not telling the truth about himself. He said Job was pretending to be an honest and upright

God does not destroy or trouble the righteous, so Job must have sinned.

Job must have forgotten God, even though Job had been saying he wasfaithful to God. That made Job a hypocrite.


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man when he was obviously not so. This was a very cruel thing to say since Bildad did not truly know Job’s heart. No one can know what is in another person’s heart as God does. We need to learn to think the best of one another and not assume the worst.

In response to what Bildad and Eliphaz had told him, Job said that these things were not true. Job explained that if he had done wrong, God would judge him, and they did not have to judge him.

Then Job’s third friend, Zophar, told him what he thought. Read Job 11:1-6 and explain what Zophar told Job.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We have seen what was wrong with Bildad and Eliphaz’s attitudes toward Job. Now explain what was also wrong with Zophar’s attitude.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After all these things had taken place, God showed Job’s friends what He thought of their attitudes. Read Job 42:7-9. What did God say to Job’s friends about the advice they had given Job, and what did He tell them to do about this?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Notice that God was angry with Job’s friends because they had not spoken rightly about Him not because they said bad things about Job. We need to learn how the root of our sin is often that we present a false picture of what God is like. When we fail to trust Him or worship Him with our whole lives, we tell people around us that He is not worthy of our trust and worship.

Remember that these were Old Testament times. What is different about what God asked Job’s friends to do and what He asks you to do today?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

He said that Job lied and mocked the truth. He said that God was actuallylenient in His dealings with Job in the light of his sin.

He had a judgmental attitude. He did not know Job’s heart.

God was angry because they did not speak the truth about Him. God toldthem to offer a sacrifice to Him and to let Job pray for them.

God told Job’s friends to offer a sacrifice. We do not have to offer sacrificestoday because Jesus was our perfect sacrifice. We confess our sins to God


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__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What was Job’s attitude toward his friends through all of these events? Read Job 42:10.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did Job’s relatives and other friends do for him? See verse 11.

______________________________________________________________________

After reading about Job and his friends, what lessons can you learn and what conclusions might you reach about friendships?

• _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Sometimes our friends do not act correctly, and they say things that they should not say. When this happens and our feelings are hurt, we need to forgive them. Often, our friends do not understand what they are doing, and it is helpful to talk over a problem with them. We are commanded to speak the truth in love. Remember that Job prayed for his friends and forgave them for what they had said. Also remember that it is important to be kind and understanding toward your friends. When they are in trouble or need help, be a good listener and tell them that you care about them.

Learning To Listen

One of the most important aspects of being a friend is listening attentively. Many times young people are so busy talking about their own problems, interests, and activities that they forget that their friends also have problems, interests, and activities.

Being a good listener means that there is a time to give your friend your full attention and concern. Sometimes a friend just needs to talk, and we need to listen. Perhaps they don’t

Job prayed for his friends out of concern for them.

They comforted him and brought him gifts.

Don’t judge others when you don’t have all the facts.

Pray for your friends when they hurt you.

Forgive your friends when they do wrong.

when we sin.


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even want advice or input—they just want to talk to someone they can trust. We will be the most encouraging kind of friends when we help them think great thoughts about God and lead them to trust Him. Often our friends will be most willing to hear us talk about God after we have heard about the burdens on their hearts.

How could Job’s friends have been more faithful to God and Job when Job was sharing his problems and feelings?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Companions To Avoid

In Lesson 9 we found that wrong companions or friends can lead you to unwise choices that displease God. They can pull you down and cause you to have many problems. In this lesson, you will find specific types of people that you should learn to avoid as close companions.

Read each verse below and write (1) the type of person to be avoided and (2) what the verse tells you concerning your involvement with them. The first one has been completed as an example for you.

Proverb Type of Person How to Respond

3:31 oppressor Don’t envy him or choose his ways.

4:14

9:6

20:19

They could have encouraged Job by helping him to trust in God ratherthan condemning him. They could have prayed for him and supported him.

wicked

foolish

talebearer/gossip

Don’t go with him.

Forsake him.

Avoid him.


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22:10

22:24

23:20–21

24:21

If there are any words in the verses above that you are unfamiliar with, be sure to look them up in the dictionary and jot the meaning in the margins or the table above.

Evaluating My Friendships

Look over what you have studied about friendships in Lessons 9 and 10. On the left side of the chart below, list the qualities that you personally think are important in a friend. On the right side of the chart, think of someone whom you consider to be a friend. You need not write his or her name, but list in the tables below some qualities that this friend has. Is he or she a good choice for a friend?__________

Qualities I Want in a Friend My Friend Has These Qualities

scorner/mocker

an angry man

drunkards

Get rid of him.

Don’t become friends with him.

Don’t be among them.

Don’t be involved with them.

Answers will vary.

those given to change


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Teacher’s Lesson

How a Wrong Companion Acts

• His Mouth

• ____________ (Exo. 20:7)

• ________________________________

• ____________________________________ (Eph. 5:4)

• ______________ (Eph. 4:29)

• ____________________

• ____________________ (Prov. 6:16-19)

• His Eyes

• __________________________ (1 John 2:16)

• ________________ (1 Sam. 18:7-9)

• __________________________ (Matt. 7:3-5)

• ____________________________ (Prov. 30:17)

• His Feet: Go Place They Should Not Go (Prov. 6:18)

Curses

Uses crude words

Uses immoral words

Gossips

Criticizes

Tells lies

Lustful looks

Jealousy

Fault-finding

Rebelliousness

L E S S O N 1 0 Q U I Z

L E S S O N 1 0 Q U I ZCHOOSING THE RIGHT FRIENDS

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhydidJob’s“friend,”Eliphaz,saythatJobwashavingallhisproblems? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

2. What did Bildad say was the cause of Job’s problems? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

3. Who was Job’s third “friend” who said that God was actually being lenient with Job? ________________________________________________________________________________

4. What was wrong with the attitudes of Job’s three friends? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

5. What did God finally tell Job’s friends to do? ________________________________________________________________________________

6. according to Proverbs, how should you respond to people who are wicked and foolish and who are talebearers and scorners? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

7. Nametwothingsawrongcompaniondoeswithhismouth.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

8. Nametwothingsawrongcompaniondoeswithhiseyes.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

LE

SS

ON

10

OV

ER

HE

AD

How

A W

rong

Com

pani

on A

cts

•HisM

outh

•Cu

rses(E

xo.20:7)

•Usescrud

ewords

•Usesim

moralwords(E

ph.5:4)

•Gossips(E

ph.4:29)

•Criticizes

•Tellslies(P

rov.6:16-19

)•HisEyes

•Lu

stfulloo

ks(1

Joh

n2:16

)•Jealou

sy(1

Sam

.18:7-9)

•Fault-fin

ding

(Matt.7:3-5)

•Re

belliou

sness(Prov.30:17

)•HisFee

t:go

placestheysho

uldno

tgo(Prov.6:18)

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HOW TO KEEP GOOD FRIENDS

TARGET TRUTHS• Therearedifferentlevelsandexpectationsoffriendships.

• WecanseeanexampleofcommitmentinJonathanandDavid’sfriendship.

• BystudyingProverbs,wecanlearnspecificallyhowtobecomeagoodfriend.

TEACHING STRATEGY

LevelsofFriendshipMany books describe four, five, or even six levels of friendship. But for middle school purposes, these three levels are more basic to their levels of interaction. Use the chart on pages 87-88 as a basis for class discussion, having your students complete the chart as the ideas are discussed. each level of friendship carries the qualities of the previous level with it. emphasize that at all levels, the key attitude is friendship that denotes kindness, encouragement, and support.

Two common Problems to avoidafter completing this section, make sure your students remember the two problems to avoid:

1. Tellingeveryoneaboutotherpeople’sproblems

2. Being nosy and meddling in problems that do not concern you

TheExampleofKingDavidHave your students complete this assignment on their own and use it for discussion of what a close friendship really involves. Be sure to bring out the point that Jonathan had every reason to be jealous of David.JonathanwasKingSaul’sson.Accordingtotheusualpassageofthecrown,heshouldhavebeentheking when his father Saul died. But Jonathan knew that God had chosen David, and he was content with this.HelovedDavid;hewasDavid’sfriend.Therefore,hewouldneverdoanythingbutgoodforDavid.He only wanted what was best for his friend.

after discussing this section, ask your students what level of friendship was evident between David and Jonathan. How was this evident?

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How to Gain friendsOur natural interest is in how to pick a good friend, but now we are emphasizing how to be a good friend. each point in this section is important and needs to be taken to heart. as you go through this section, help your students to personalize each point as much as possible. Tell them to think through how they respond to others using these guidelines.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING SUGGESTIONS• Haveyourstudentswritethenamesoftwoorthreepeoplewhomtheybelievetheycanencouragein

some way. These people should be on the acquaintance or casual level of friendship. Beside each name have them write one specific thing they can do to help meet that person’s needs. encourage them to follow through on their decisions by actually doing these things sometime during the next week. after a week, have them report on what actually took place if they were able to follow through with their plans.

• ReadMatthew6:1-4and23:11-12andaskyourstudentsthefollowingquestions:

• Whyisitwrongtodothingsforothersjusttobenoticed?

• WhatisonewaywecanbesureofreceivingarewardfromGodinheaven?

• WhatdoesGodthinkwhenwesimplygoaboutourgooddeedsquietly?

TEACHER’S LESSONYoung people can be very cruel and rude to one another. Such attitudes can be eliminated if your students choose to handle themselves in a different manner. Help them recognize that they often hurt others because they themselves have been hurt. If they learn to forgive, and if they learn to deal with their own problems by letting God help them, they will grow in their ability to love others and show kindness in all situations.

What Is friendliness?• Definition:Friendlinessisshowinganinterestinthelifeandaffairsofothers(Prov.18:24).Putvery

simply, the key to having friends is to be a friendly person.

• Antonyms:Haveyourstudentssharetheirideasofwordsthatwouldbeanantonymtofriendliness.The root of the problem is selfishness or self-centeredness, which means that we are so wrapped up in our own interests, problems, and needs that we do not pay attention to others.

• Characteristics:

• Afriendlypersonlistensasmuchashetalks.

• Afriendlypersondoesn’tjustlistenbutcommunicateswiththeotherpersonbyaskingquestions,showing an interest, and sharing about himself when it is appropriate.

• Afriendlypersonsmiles.

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Sometimes we do not smile. This happens for several reasons. Sometimes we feel it is not “cool,” or we are too self-conscious and unsure of ourselves. Sometimes we are ashamed of braces or some such thing when we should realize that this shame reflects self-centeredness and pride. We are thinking more about what people think about us than about showing others that we have joy in the lives God has given us. It is important to smile for the following reasons:

• a smile shows that you are interested in others and that you are not self-conscious and filled with pride.

• a smile shows you are kind and approachable instead of cold and uncaring.

• a smile puts others at ease. Smiling relaxes you so you are not tense or nervous around oth-ers. When you are relaxed, others around you relax. This communicates a sense of peace and confidence in God.

QUIZ ANSWERS1.

• Acquaintance—littlepersonalcontact;conversationsareusuallyaboutgeneraltopics• Casualfriendship—havecommoninterests,activities,andconcerns;conversationsaremorespecific• Close,personalfriendship—sharepersonalgoals,feelings,andideas;cangivepersonaladviceand

make suggestions2. kindness, encouragement, and support3.

• Tellingsecretsandsharingwitheveryoneaboutotherpeople’sproblems• Beingnosyandmeddlinginproblemsthatdonotconcernyou

4. He gave David his robe, bow, and sword as a sign of their commitment to each other. He told David when his father planned to kill David. He promised to help David escape from his father.

5. any three of the following would be acceptable:• Showthekindoflovethatcoversallsins.• Befaithfulandconcealsecrets.• Loveatalltimes,especiallyinadversity.• Befriendlytoothers.• Helpthoselessfortunatethanyou.• Don’tbeapestandstayatsomeone’shousetoolong.• Rebukeonlyinlove.• Givegoodcounseloradvicetoyourfriend.• Don’tforsakeyourfriend.

6. • interested• kind;cold• ease;nervous

L E S S O N 1 1 H A N D O U T

SELF-EVALUATION

1. Foreachofthefollowing,rateyourself5,4,3,2,or1,with5beingthehighestand1beingthelow-est.

_____ I pray for the needs of specific people other than myself every day.

_____ When a friend is talking, I concentrate on listening to what he is saying rather than just think-ing about what I will say next.

_____ I am more concerned about others than I am about myself.

_____ I am genuinely glad when something good happens to one of my friends.

_____ It is easy for me to talk to a casual friend or an acquaintance.

_____ I am not a gossip or a meddler.

_____ I am courteous to everyone.

_____ When a friend confides in me, I can keep a secret.

_____ I am genuinely kind to others whether or not they are close personal friends.

_____ I generally smile at others.

2. How are you less self-centered today than you were a year ago? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

3. What are three specific ways you can take action to become less self-centered over the next year?

• _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ß


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HOW TO KEEPGOOD FRIENDS

Many young people do not make and keep good friendships because they do not understand how to be a good friend. By thinking about the different kinds of friendships we can have and by studying what Scripture teaches about friendships, we can grow in our ability to be and have good friends.

Levels Of Friendship

We can never have the same level of close friendships with everyone we know. Listen as your teacher discusses a helpful way to understand three levels of friendship. Then fill in the blanks in the chart below (1) to describe what each level of friendship is like and how it differs from the other levels, and (2) to explain what we need to do in order to be a friend to others on each level.

Level Distinguishing Characteristics How to Be a Friend on This Level

Acquaintance

• Little ___________________

contact

• Conversations are mostly

about __________________

topics.

• _______________________

• Be _________________ and

_______________________

• Demonstrate general

________________ in others

Casual Friendship

• Have common ___________,

_______________________,

and ____________________

• Conversations are more

_______________________

• Be _________________ and

_______________________

• Talk ____________________

about common interests

• Be an __________________

• ___________ for each other

personal

general

activitiesconcerns

interests

specific

Smile

kindcourteous

interest

kindcourteous

specifically

encourager

Pray


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Close, Personal Friendship

• Share personal ___________,

___________________ , and

_______________________

• Can give personal ________

and make _______________

_______________________

• Share personal ___________

and ____________________

• Be a good ______________

• Seek ____________ and give

_______________________

• Be an __________________

• ____________for each other

What attitudes should you display to everyone, no matter what levels of friendship you may have with them?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Two Common Problems To Avoid

Read Proverbs 25:9-10. These verses discuss a temptation that is common to all of us. Too many of us can’t seem to stop telling people about problems we are having with others. We give details of the problem or situation over and over again to as many as we can find who will listen. Naturally, others like to hear the details of such stories. Why do you think we enjoy hurting one another in this way?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Remember that a gossip, or talebearer, enjoys telling secrets. If he is willing to tell you a secret about someone else, it is likely he will also talk about you just as willingly behind your back.

A second problem is described in Proverbs 26:17. Read this verse, and you will see that Solomon is describing a nosy person. This is the other side of the talebearer’s problem as discussed above. A nosy person wants to know all the details of other people’s problems. Knowing details gives a nosy person a sense of superiority. He enjoys feeling that he “knows” all the details about everyone else. In Proverbs’ terms, he is a “meddler” because he likes interfering in other people’s affairs.

goalsfeelings

ideas

advicesuggestions

problemsconcerns

listener

counseladvice

encourager

Pray

kindness, encouragment, and support; never gossiping or lying about them

By telling secrets about others, we think we seem more important. We like to know more than others know. (Answers will vary.)


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Do you see either of these tendencies in yourself or your friends? _________________

What can you do about problems with meddling or gossip in your school? (Discuss ideas with your class.)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Example Of King David

According to Psalm 119:63, what kind of friends (companions) did King David want?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

According to 1 Samuel 18:1-4, what friend did God give to David, and how do you know they were friends?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jonathan’s father, King Saul, grew jealous of David because he had become popular with the people after he had killed Goliath. An evil spirit came upon Saul, and he developed a great hatred for David. King Saul hated David so much that he wanted to see him killed. Read 1 Samuel 19:1-7 and answer the questions below to see how Jonathan showed his friendship for David.

What was the relationship between King Saul and David’s friend Jonathan?

______________________________________________________________________

What did King Saul tell Jonathan?

______________________________________________________________________

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

those who feared the Lord and obeyed His precepts

Jonathan was David’s friend. He loved David as he loved himself. They made acommitment to show their love for each other. Jonathan gave David his robe,bow, and sword as a sign of commitment.

Saul was Jonathan’s father.

that he had told his servants to kill David


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How did Jonathan demonstrate his strong friendship to David?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What was the result?

______________________________________________________________________

King Saul decided not to harm David, but his change of heart did not last long. Over and over, the king would seek to kill David, and David would have to flee again for his life. Read 1 Samuel 20:1-4. How did Jonathan show his friendship again in this passage?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For several years, David continued running for his life. King Saul even took an army of men to hunt him down and kill him. Throughout all of these events, the Bible says that God was with David in all his ways. Finally, King Saul was killed during a battle, and eventually David was crowned king. Normally it would have been the king’s son who would have become king when his father died. If this had been true, who would have become king? ________________ But this was not God’s plan. It was God’s plan for David to be the next king. Even though Jonathan knew this, he was a true friend to David. How is Jonathan’s friendship with David described in 1 Samuel 20:17?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How To Gain Friends

We have already studied the qualities of a good friend and what kinds of people we should avoid as close friends. Now we should look at the other side of friendship. If you want to have good friends, you need to be a good friend. Read the following verses and list some ways to be a good friend to others.

• Proverbs 10:12 ___________________________________________________

• Proverbs 11:13 ___________________________________________________

He told David what Saul had said and then told Saul good things about David.

Saul decided not to have David killed.

He promised to help David escape from his father and do anything else that would help him.

Jonathan

Jonathan loved David as he loved his own soul.

Love covers all sins.

Be faithful and keep secrets.


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• Proverbs 17:17 ___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 18:24 ___________________________________________________

• Proverbs 22:9 ____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 25:17 ___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 27:5-6 __________________________________________________

• Proverbs 27:9 ____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 27:10 ___________________________________________________

Think about the friendship Jonathan had with David. Write down which qualities listed above were evident in Jonathan’s life. Tell what Jonathan did that showed each quality.

• _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Now look over the list of ideas that you have written from the verses in Proverbs. Using the chart below, evaluate your own friendliness. Put each idea in one of the two boxes to

indicate how you are doing in being a friend to others.

Love at all times, especially in adversity.

Be friendly to others.

Help those who are less fortunate than you.

Do n’t be a pest by staying at someone’s house too long.

Rebuke only in love.

Give good counsel or advice to your friend.

Don’t forsake your friend.

Jonathan was a faithful friend and kept David’s secrets.

Jonathan showed his love at all times, especially in adversity.

Jonathan gave David good advice.

Jonathan did not forsake David.


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My Good Friendship Qualities Things I Need to Work On

Teacher’s Lesson

Friendliness

• Definition

• Showing an _________________ in the __________ and ______________of others

• Antonyms

• ____________________________________________________________

• ____________________________________________________________

• Characteristics

A friendly person…

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

• ____________________________________________________________

• ____________________________________________________________

• ____________________________________________________________

Answers will vary.

Selfishness

Self-centeredness

Listens as much as he talks

Asks questions and shows an interest in what others are talking about

Smiles

to show he is interested in others and not self-conscious

to show he is kind and not cold and uncaring

to put others at ease by showing he is not tense or nervous

interest life affairs


L E S S O N 1 1 Q U I ZHOW TO KEEP GOOD FRIENDS

Name ________________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. Listthethreelevelsoffriendshipandbrieflydescribeeachone.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

2. What attitudes should you display to others at all levels of friendship? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

3. What two common problems should you avoid in order to be the kind of person who keeps good friends?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

4. How did Jonathan show David that he was a good friend? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

5. ListthreethingswearetoldtodoinProverbsthatwillhelpusgainfriendsbybeingagoodfriend.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

6. complete the following statements that tell about the benefits of smiling.

• Asmileshowsthatyouare ________________________________in others and that you are not self-conscious.

• Asmileshowsthatyouare___________________andnot __________________ and uncaring.

• Asmileputsothersat_____________byshowingyouarenottenseor ___________________ .

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ess

•Definition

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daffairsofo

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•Anton

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•Selfishne

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•Ch

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•Listen

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Friendliness (Continued)•Sm

iles•Toshow

heisinterestedinothersandnotself-conscious•Toshow

heiskindandnotcoldanduncaring•Toputothersateasebyshow

ingheisnottenseornervous

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L E S S O N 1 2

LOVING ALL PEOPLE

TARGET TRUTHS• IfweloveGod,wewillloveallotherpeople.

• ThereisnorespectofpersonswithGod.

• Bylovingothers,wecanhelpthemcometoknowJesusasSaviorandLord.

TEACHING STRATEGY

LovingOneAnother/HowWeTreatOthers/WritingaPrincipleStudents are to look up the commands God gives to us concerning the need to love one another and how we are to treat one another. emphasize that our treatment of others is very important to God, and we need to take these particular commandments very seriously.

for the third section, have them think through all the verses and commands from the previous two sections and write a principle on how to treat one another. Have your students share the principles they have written with the rest of the class. This will reemphasize the concepts from several different points of view.

Before leaving this section, ask the class to consider if there is anyone in their lives whom they dislike or often laugh at and make fun of. Do not allow discussion concerning this but ask them to consider why they act as they do or why they dislike someone. Tell your students to consider what this reveals about their own character. Then ask them to consider what they need to do to change their attitudes and behavior.

Prejudiceread through the discussion of the hostility that had developed between the Samaritans and the Jews. compare this to the hostilities that exist in our world today such as Muslims and christians, Jews and arabs, racial tensions in the United States tracing back to slavery, or other contemporary issues. Help your students recognize that this is an age-old problem, but we do not have to demonstrate these attitudes ourselves.

The Samaritan WomanThe purpose of studying this story is to show how much importance Jesus attached to overcoming prejudice. as a Jew, Jesus would have generally traveled around Samaria rather than through this country. He chose to travel through the country on purpose. One likely reason for this was to show His love for the Samaritan people. another reason was to show His love to a particular Samaritan woman and to show her how to be saved.

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The Good SamaritanIn this parable, Jesus could easily have chosen the priest or some other Jew to be the “good guy,” but He chose a Samaritan to teach that the goodness of a person has nothing to do with his race or what he does in life.

How We Show respect of PersonsHave your students show they understand what you have discussed and can apply it to their lives by listing specific ways in which teens have “respect of persons.”

ZacchaeusThis story has less to do with racial prejudice than it does with prejudice against a person because of what he does. Part of the impact of this story is the common problem of thinking wrongly about ourselves because we think wrongly about God. There are many reasons why people do wrong things. This does not make the sin right, but many times we must look beyond the sin itself to help the person address the root cause and learntoobeytheLord.Wedonotknowforsure,butperhapsZacchaeuswastryingtomakehimselflookimportant in the world’s eyes because he was so small in stature. Perhaps he thought that by having power over others, he would feel more important.

Discuss the perceived problem of “self-worth” a little at this point. Have your students discuss ways in which people try to feel important because they do not feel “good enough” in other ways. explain how this problem is really caused by thinking incorrectly about God. Jesus has an important plan for all of us, and in this plan we find great worth and purpose in this world. Our wrong view of our own value is caused by the fact that we do not trust God’s wise plan for our lives. If we learn to thank God for how He made us and trust Him to show us our worth and purpose, we will not feel like we have to do wrong things as Zacchaeusdidjusttofeelimportant.

JesussawthroughZacchaeus’sintothepersoninside.HereachedouttoZacchaeusintherightwayandchangedhislife.ZacchaeusbecameafollowerofJesusandgavebackallthemoneyhehadstolen.Lovingothersisaverypowerfulwaytohelpthem.

Think about YourselfIt might be a good idea to have a time of prayer before having students complete this section in class. Tell them to think through their attitudes toward others and really analyze anyone that they tend to reject and how they can change so they can show love instead.

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Service to Others• WheneverweareobedienttoGod’swillandHegivesusaparticulartask,servicetootherswillbea

part of that task. Have your students share examples of this truth in regard to parents, teachers, friends, or others.

• AccordingtoMark10:45,whatwasakeypurposeforJesus’lifeonthisearth?Haveyourstudentsusea dictionary or thesaurus to discover at least three synonyms for the terms “minister,” or “serve.”

• Theworld’swayisusuallytoputdownothersforthewaytheylook,thewaytheyact,orthethingstheydon’t have. Most people do not realize that the reason they enjoy doing these things is that it is their wayofbuildingthemselvesupandtryingtomakethemselveslookbetter.ThismaybewhyZacchaeusused his power and authority over people and stole from them. By putting them down, it made him feel “bigger.” What should you do the next time you think about treating someone else as being less important than you?

Special ProjectHaveyourstudentsreadMatthew9:36;14:14;15:32;20:34;Ephesians4:32;Colossians3:12;and1Peter3:8, and discuss the meaning of the verses together. Help students to analyze whether or not they have ever really made a difference in the life of another person by showing compassion—particularly in the life of someone to whom they are not usually close. Have them think of someone that they can reach out to and make a difference in that person’s life. They should not write down the name of the person, but they should list those things that they plan to do to make a difference. Then, have the class review this assignment from time to time to analyze how they are doing in their commitment to making a difference in the lives of others through compassion.

TEACHER’S LESSONThe principle of love for one another is one of the central principles of the Bible. Many other commands are built on this one principle. christ showed us this principle of love in many ways:

• Hebecamepoorsothatwemightbecomerich.

• Hediedsothatwemightlive.

• Hewenthungrysothatwemightbefilled.

• Hegrewwearyandtiredsothatwemighthaverest.

• Hegaveupheavensothatwemightenjoyheaven.

• Hegaveupallcomfortssothatwemightbecomforted.

• Hewasthirstysothatwemighthavethewateroflife.

• Heweptsothatwemightrejoice.

(See if your students might be able to add similar statements to the above list.)

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The basis of love is the character of Jesus. read the verses shown to emphasize the character and love of Christ:John3:16;15:13;Romans5:8;and1John4:9-10.Fromtheseverseslearnthefollowinglessons:

• God’sloveextendstoallmankind.Itdoesnotdependonwhoweare.Jesusdiedfortheworldinsuch a way that anyone who believes in Him can receive the offer of salvation.

• God’slovedoesnotdependonourlovingHim.(See1John4:10.)Infact,Hediedforuswhenwewere in our sins and did not even know Him. God wants us to learn to love others in the same way that He loved us.

• God’slovewasexpressedforusonthecross.Wemustrememberthatloveisanactionword.Loveis not simply expressed in word—it can only truly be expressed by our actions. Jesus’ death was love in action. We need to show our love to others by our actions and attitudes toward them.

Therefore, based on what we have studied, genuine love is meeting the needs of others. It will have these same characteristics as we have seen in Jesus.

• Wewillloveallpeople,notjustourbestfriends.

• Wewilllovethosewhodespiseusandhurtus.

• Wewillshowourlovetoothers,notjusttalkaboutit.

QUIZ ANSWERS1. Weneedtoloveoneanother.2. Hedoesnotthinkonegroupisbetterthananothergroup;Hedoesnotplayfavorites.3. They hated the Samaritans and did not want to have any contact with them.4. He wanted to share the message of His love with a certain Samaritan woman.5. everyone in our lives is our “neighbor”—not just those who are like us—and God calls us to show love

to everyone.6. He was a rich tax collector and had probably stolen money from them.7. He gave half of all he had to the poor and repaid fourfold all he had stolen.8.

• allmankind• ourlovingHim• onthecross

9. any answer based on what was taught in this lesson is acceptable.


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L E S S O N 1 2

LOVING ALL PEOPLE

You have been studying how to choose friends and how to be a good friend. But this topic of friendship extends far beyond what we have been discussing. It is one thing to think about whom God would want you to have as your best friends, but God also has much to say about your attitudes and love toward all people, everywhere.

Loving One Another

Read the following passages and write in your own words what God commands His people about loving one another.

• John 13:35 ______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 1 John 3:14 _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 1 John 4:20 _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

How We Treat Others

We see that God teaches us clearly about the importance of showing love to others. God also tells us how we are not to act toward others. Explain each of the verses below in your own words. The phrase “respecter of persons” means someone who is cliquish or shows favoritism toward one type of person or toward a special group of people, as though those individuals or groups are better than others.

• 2 Chronicles 19:7 _________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 28:21 ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

All people will know we follow Jesus because of the lovewe show to others.

We show we have spiritual life if we love others.

If we say we love God but hate someone, we are liars.

God does not sin or show partiality to certain groups.

Showing favoritism is wrong.


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• Acts 10:28 ______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Acts 10:34 ______________________________________________________

• Romans 2:11 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Ephesians 6:9 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Writing A Principle Based On Scripture

Look over the verses from the above two sections and notice that God is very firm in what He says about our attitudes toward others. In your own words, take the first section on love and the second section on respecting others and combine them into one principle that you should remember and live by.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Prejudice

When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, He told us to love our enemies. After all, anyone can love someone who loves in return. It is easy to love our friends. Many people of Jesus’ day (including the Pharisees) did not accept what Jesus taught about love. They had many enemies.

Two groups that were bitter enemies during those times were the Jews and the Samaritans. The Samaritans were a people who lived north of Judea, and the hostility between these two groups stretched back almost eight hundred years. Read the explanation below about the Jews and the Samaritans to understand the reason the hostility began:

No man that God made is common or unclean becauseof his ethnicity (the country or family into which he is born).

God does not play favorites.

God does not show partiality or respect of particular

people.

Do not threaten others because there is no respect ofpersons (or partiality) with God.

Answers will vary.


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Great numbers of Jews were deported during the time of the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, but some of them were left in the land. Eventually, foreigners moved into the area and intermarried with the remaining Jews, so they had children of mixed nationality. Years later, when the exiled Jews were finally able to return to Palestine, they refused to accept the “impure” Samaritans. The Samaritans were treated badly, but they also added to the problem by agitating the Jews. By the time Jesus came, great prejudices had developed between the two groups of people.

The Samaritans and Jews are just one example of what happens when one group or class of people cannot stand another, merely because they are different. By the time Jesus began His ministry, the hostility between the two groups had grown very strong. Sometimes, Jews would actually attack Samaritan villages, and Samaritans were known to murder Jewish pilgrims traveling to a feast in Jerusalem. Because of that, Jews usually would not even travel through Samaria. Instead, they would take the time to journey all the way around Samaria, very far out of the way. They wanted nothing to do with the Samaritans and did all they could to avoid any kind of contact with them.

There are a few stories in the Bible that mention relationships between the Jews and the Samaritans. We will look at a couple of these especially to consider how wrong it is to value some people more and others less—simply because of who they are.

The Samaritan Woman

Read John 4:1-30 and be ready to explain the story in your own words. In the light of what we are studying about prejudice, what is the significance of the following verses?

• Verse 4: ________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Verse 9: ________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Verse 27: _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Most Jews would travel around Samaria, not through it. Jesus specifically went into Samaria for a special reason.

The woman knew that Jesus, as a Jewish man, would notordinarily talk to her.

The disciples were surprised to see Jesus talking to a Samaritan woman, but they knew better than to question Jesus’reasons.


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Do you think that Jesus knew that He would meet a Samaritan woman at the well when He went there? Yes No

Why do you think Jesus sought her out to talk to her?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Good SamaritanRead Luke 10:25-37, in which Jesus tells a parable to teach a lesson to a lawyer. As a review of this parable, complete the chart below to show how each type of person responded to the wounded man.

Luke 10 Who Responded and How

Verse 31

Verse 32

Verses 33-35

Why do you think Jesus chose to emphasize that the Samaritan was the compassionate character in this story?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Read the discussion between Jesus and the lawyer in verses 25 through 29 again. What lessons was Jesus teaching the lawyer?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

He knew that she had needs. He wanted her to learn about God’s love forher so that she would be saved.

A Jewish priest passed by on the other side.

A Levite (Jewish religious leader) passed by on the other side.

The Samaritan helped the man who was in trouble.

The Samaritans were generally hated and not thought of as possessinggood qualities.

The lawyer wanted to know who his “neighbor” was whom he was supposedto love. Jesus taught him that everyone in our lives is our neighbor—not just those who are like us.

x


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Most of us would do well to study the same lesson Jesus was teaching the lawyer. In 1974, Human Behavior magazine conducted the following test: A group of students who were studying to become pastors were asked to prepare a short devotional on the same story you just reviewed, the story of the Good Samaritan. They were instructed to report to a building to deliver their devotions on the radio. An actor had been placed outside the radio station to pretend he was sick. More than half of the students walked past the “sick” man because they were in too much of a hurry to stop and help. We need to think through what our own attitudes are toward anyone who is different from us and ask ourselves if our attitudes are what Jesus would want them to be.

How We Show Respect Of Persons

Middle school students can be very rude and even cruel to one another for reasons far less important than the problems between the Jews and the Samaritans. Some young people desire popularity. They might choose only certain friends whom they think will help them become more popular. Some athletes may think they are more important than those who are not interested or as good at athletics. Those who want to make good grades might be tempted to ignore or despise those who struggle academically. Sometimes, some students even shun those who do not have the resources to buy clothes or fancy material possessions. Middle school students are often “respecters of persons.” Can you make your own list of situations where you have witnessed “respect of persons” among teens you know, or even situations when you might have been directly involved?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Zacchaeus

In the days of Jesus, a “publican” was a tax collector, and he was someone hated by everyone. The Romans occupied the land of Palestine. They had a system of taxation in which franchises were sold to Romans who would collect the local toll taxes. Toll stations were placed on major roads, at seaports, and at the gates of cities. All who passed by the toll station had to pay a toll tax. The Romans hired men under them, who in turn would hire other men (usually Jews themselves) to do the actual collecting of taxes from the Jews.

Answers will vary.


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100

Zacchaeus was one of these publicans. He was the chief tax collector at Jericho and controlled one territory. There was great room for dishonesty in this job. The tax collector had to pay the government a certain amount each year, but he could collect as much money as he wanted from the local people. The people who paid the taxes were greatly abused and taken advantage of, and they knew it. The Jews felt that anyone who became a tax collector had lowered himself and was betraying his own countrymen. With all of this in mind, read the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10, and answer the following questions.

For what reasons would the people have hated Zacchaeus?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why do you think Jesus chose to spend time with Zacchaeus at his house?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Did Jesus heed the stereotypes or the people’s reactions? Yes No

What was the result of Jesus’ treatment of Zacchaeus?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Think about your own attitudes toward different people. Do not use anyone’s name, but explain why you might be tempted to put a particular person down and treat him badly. How could you change and reach out to that person as Jesus reached out to those around Him?

How Others Are Different from You Whom Do You Reject? What Can You Do to Change?

Race, Skin Color

Personality

He was a rich publican (tax collector) who had probably stolen money fromthem.

He wanted to show that He was not a partial respecter of persons and did notplay favorites.

Zacchaeus experienced salvation. He gave half of all he had to the poor.He repaid fourfold what he had stolen.

Answers will vary.

x


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How They Look

How They Act

What They Like to Do

Other Example

Teacher’s Lesson

The basis of ________ is the character of __________ (John ________ ; __________ ; Rom. ______ ; 1 John ____________).

God’s love...

• Extends to ______________________

• Does not depend on ____________________________

• Was expressed for us ________________________

Genuine love is __________________________________________________________ .

Showing genuine love means we will...

• Love ____________________, not just our ________________________

• Love those who ______________ and ________ us

• __________________ our love to others, not just ________ about it

Answers will vary.

love Jesus 3:16 15:135:8

all mankind

our loving Him

on the cross

all people best friends

despise hurt

Show talk

4:9-10

meeting the needs of others


L E S S O N 1 2 Q U I ZLOVING ALL PEOPLE

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhatthemeormessagedoJohn13:35;1John3:14;and1John4:20allhaveincommon? ________________________________________________________________________________

2. What does it mean that God is “no respecter of persons”? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why did the Jews travel around Samaria and not through it? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why did Jesus choose to break tradition and travel through Samaria? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

5. InLuke10,whatdidJesusteachthelawyeraboutwhohis“neighbor”was? ________________________________________________________________________________

6. WhywasZacchaeushatedbythepeople? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

7. WhatdidZacchaeussayhewasgoingtodoafterhesawhowmuchJesuslovedhim? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

8. complete the following three truths we learned about God’s love.

• God’sloveextendsto ____________________________________________________________

• God’slovedoesnotdependon ____________________________________________________

• God’slovewasexpressedforus ___________________________________________________

9. What changes should you make concerning the way you treat others based on what you learned in this lesson? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

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L E S S O N 1 3

DEALING WITH THE FLESH

TARGET TRUTHS• GodisveryspecificaboutthosethingsthatHeconsiderstobeworksoftheflesh.

• Therearedefiniteconsequencestolivingfortheflesh.

TEACHING STRATEGYread and discuss the first section with your students carefully. Help them to have a clear understanding of the difference between living according to the flesh and allowing the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in our lives.

The Works of the fleshStudents can complete this section by themselves or by working in pairs before you review the definitions they have written. The teacher’s lesson supports this section by further defining the terms and showing how the concepts interrelate.

ResultsofLivingCarnallyHelp your students understand the importance of not falling into carnality. They need to know that they harm both themselves and the world’s understanding of christ with their fleshly sins. The Bible emphasizes that sin is enjoyable for a season, but then the consequences take over and things soon begin to fall apart. for example, it may look “cool” or make one feel important to engage in various kinds of behavior under the influence of peers. But all of these unwise forms of behavior lead us to places, patterns, and consequences in our lives that we know from the beginning that we do not want. There are always consequences to sin, but at first we do not focus on the consequences.

characteristics of a PaganDiscuss the meaning of paganism and ask students to explain the kinds of things for which pagans live.

examples of PaganismSpend time discussing the problems cain had. as explained on the chart in the teacher’s lesson, cain’s sinsweresinsoffaithlessnesstowardGod.ThepaganismofthepeopleinNoah’sdayillustratesthesinsof wrong values.

another good example of someone who sought fleshly desires first was esau. esau was more interested in having food and being satisfied than he was in preserving his birthright. He valued the immediate over

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the future. This led to the consequences in his life. ask students to think of other Bible characters who put fleshlydesiresfirstandfounddireconsequencesfortheir lives.Jacob,Judas,Lot,Saul,andSamsonaregood examples. The Bible abounds with stories of those who put spiritual values first and were rewarded. Havestudentsprovideexamplesofsomeof these. Joseph,Daniel,Noah,Elijah,David,andGideonaregood examples.


Interview adult christiansHave your students interview three different adults they know who are christians and ask the following question of each: What do you consider to be the most important values in life? Have your students bring the results back to class and share these with the class. as the ideas are shared, make a list on the board and note the similarities of values given by those interviewed. This activity will be a strong contrast to the concepts of wrong values that are being studied this week.

TEACHER’S LESSONWearegoingtolookattheworksofthefleshinGalatians5:19-21fromadifferentviewpointthathopefullywill help you to understand the nature of these sins even better.

Moral Sins• Adulteryisoneoftheworstofthesinsofmankindbecauseitbreaksthetrustandcommitmentof

marriage, which is a sacred and wonderful relationship that should never be taken lightly. Marriage is intended to paint a picture of christ’s relationship with His church. Trust and fidelity or faithfulness are key parts of marriage that should always be kept sacred. fornication is any kind of sexual impu-rity, but it often refers specifically to the sexually immoral sin that can happen between two unmar-ried people. The word “fornication” comes from the same Greek word as the word “pornographic,” which involves looking at sex-oriented pictures or movies. These two words are linked because often pornographic pictures can influence a young person to commit fornication. We are to keep ourselves pure so that we will be pure for our marriage partner. Some of the oldest manuscripts of the Bible in the original language do not include a specific reference to the sin of adultery in this passage, but refer only to fornication. Whichever manuscripts are correct, two things are clear. first, the Bible specifi-cally condemns the sin of adultery in other passages. and second, the condemnation of fornication in this passage is a broad condemnation that includes the sin of adultery.

• Moral impurity,oruncleanness, includesnotonlyadulteryandfornicationbutalsodirty jokesandwords and other types of immorality.

• Debauchery,or lasciviousness, is the typeof shameless conduct that leadsaperson todo immoralthings to the point that it does not bother him at all. When you begin by listening to bad language or dirty jokes, soon you will allow things into your life that are even more immoral. It is a natural course down an immoral path.

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Sins of Wrong Values• IdolatryisputtinganythingonthisearthaheadofyourworshipandallegiancetoGod.Itisnotthat

the things themselves are wrong but that they are more important in your life than God. Such things could be clothes, friends, sports, video game systems—anything that you covet more than you desire to know God.

• Witchcraftand theoccultarevery important inoursociety today.Even theworshipofSatan isanimportant part of the lives of many young people. The drug culture is often a part of the occult and Satanism because they can open our minds to demonic intrusion. We need to stay completely away from any of these influences.

Sins of attitude• HatredishostilitytowardGodandothers.Itisthebeginningofarebelliousattitude.

• Strife,orvariance,speaksofambitiouscontentionwithothers.Itmeansthatonewantshisownwayand therefore becomes argumentative.

• Jealousy,oremulation,referstothedesiretoproveoneselfbetterthantheotherperson.Itincludesadefinite attitude of pride.

• Wrathisangerthathasbeenputintoaction.Ratherthanexistingwithinapersonashatred,itisnowcoming out of the person as anger and outbursts of rage.

• Selfishambitioninvolveswraththatissostrongthatitcreatesfactionsorgroupsthatareatoddswithone another. each side has an “I must win at all costs” attitude.

• Dissensionsaretheendresultofstrifeinwhichdivisionbetweengroupshasdefinitelytakenplace.Groups are out-and-out rivals, and there is jealousy against one another.

• Factionsreferstothefactthatatthispoint,everyoneisarguingandtakingsidesagainstoneanother.Their attitudes and disputings are based on opinions rather than facts. There is no interest in finding out the truth or listening to the other person’s side of a matter.

• Envyincludestheattitudeofbeingantagonistictowardsomeoneelse’ssuccess.Itmeansnotwantingthe other side to succeed at anything and having bitterness if they do succeed.

Sins against Society• Murderscanbe theeventual resultof theattitudesins that startedwithhatred.Hatred taken to its

extreme leads to murder. and murder can be either something that is done physically with a weapon or something that we do to kill the heart and soul of another with our wrath and bitterness. Some old manuscripts also do not contain this term, but the Bible obviously condemns such behavior.

• Drunkennessisadeadlysinbecauseitcausesaddictionandsicknessandwreckshomesandlives.TheBible is very specific about the abuse of alcohol and why it is a sin against God.

• Carousing,or revelings are the actionsof adrunkardatwildparties. It is theuncontrolled, lustfulbehavior that occurs at wild drinking parties.

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QUIZ ANSWERS1. F2. c3. H4. a5. e6. I7. D8. B9. G


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DEALING WITHTHE FLESH

A person who is not a Christian is someone who has never trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior. He has never turned from his life of sin to believe in Jesus’ work on the cross to pay the penalty of his sin. Often, the unsaved person thinks his goodness and good works will persuade God to allow him into heaven when he dies. But we know this assumption is untrue because God says that unless you come through Christ, you cannot come to God. Unless the Savior’s death on the cross has been applied to your name through faith as payment for your sin, you will die in your sins and cannot enter heaven.

But once a person has trusted Jesus as his Savior, he still may not always walk as a Christian should walk. Many times a Christian walks and talks just as though he were not saved. This is because he is acting carnally (or fleshly) and not spiritually.

When we are saved, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. The Holy Spirit helps us to become more and more like Jesus. But we have to yield to the Holy Spirit to change us on the inside. The Holy Spirit is the one who will make us spiritually minded. When we refuse to yield to the Holy Spirit or to let Him work in our hearts, we are acting in the flesh. Then we feel guilty and fearful because we know that our lives are not right.

To understand this better, turn to Galatians 5:19-23. Look first at Galatians 5:22-23 where we see what the “fruit of the Spirit” is. List the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit here:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This “fruit” is the way we will think, feel, and act if the Holy Spirit is controlling us. When our lives produce this kind of fruit, the Bible says we are walking in the Spirit and are spiritual. We will be discussing more about how to walk in the Spirit in another lesson.

love, joy, peace, patience or longsuffering, kindness or gentleness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness or meekness, self-control or temperance


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The Works Of The Flesh

In this lesson, we will look carefully at what God means when He warns against fulfilling the lust of sinful desires (the flesh) (Gal. 5:16). God lists the specific kinds of things that He considers to be of the flesh rather than of the Spirit. Begin with Galatians 5:19 and provide a definition of each characteristic of fleshly living. Some of the words used in your Bible may not be used even by adults today, so you will find a modern term for the sin below to help you remember it. You will have to use your dictionary for many of the words, but this is important to understand exactly what kinds of sins the Lord wants you to do away with because they are “works of the flesh” instead of “fruit of the Spirit.”

1. What is the difference between fornication and adultery?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

2. Moral impurity:

_______________________________________________________________

3. Debauchery:

_______________________________________________________________

4. Idolatry:

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

5. Witchcraft:

_______________________________________________________________

6. Hatred:

_______________________________________________________________

7. Strife:

_______________________________________________________________

Fornication refer to sexual immorality of any kind. Adultery refers

specifically to sexual unfaithfulness in marriage.

any form of immoral behavior

repeated, public immoral behavior

worshipping anything less than God in place of God

sorcery; dabbling in supernatural powers

great hostility and animosity

continual, combative disagreement


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8. Jealousy: _______________________________________________________________

9. Wrath: _______________________________________________________________

10. Selfish ambitions: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

11. Dissensions: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

12. Factions: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

13. Envy: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

14. Murders: _______________________________________________________________

15. Drunkenness: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

16. Carousing: _______________________________________________________________

In Paul’s letters to the Romans and to the Corinthians, you can find other lists of attitudes and actions that are rebellious against God. Read Romans 1:29-31 and 2 Corinthians 12:20-21. Compare each of these passages with the above list from Galatians. Many Christian leaders and churches today do not discuss sin very much. Why do you think

striving against others to be better than they are

violent outbursts of anger; rage

pursuit of personal advancement at the cost of unity with otherbelievers

a disagreeable spirit that destroys unity and fellowship

creating exclusive groups to cause disunity in a church

grudging desires for things that belong to others

unlawfully killing other people

drinking quantities of alcohol that reduce judgment and self-control

wild partying


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these lists were so important that God wanted them included in His Word? Why do you think it might be very important for us to understand them and think about them?

Results Of Living Carnally

Throughout your life, you will have to deal with the desires of your fleshly nature. Many of those things that you just studied and defined could be problems for you even now. God does not expect you to be perfect in any way, but rather He wants to help you by the Holy Spirit to overcome your sin problems. It may take time to change, but God never wants you to accept your sinful habits as “okay.” Instead, He wants you to be free from them.

There are people, even Christians, who do not seem to care about getting rid of fleshly problems. In fact, some who claim to be Christians seem to enjoy their sins. God says that there are consequences guaranteed to those who think this way, and we need to be aware of His warnings. Look up the verses below and write what God says will happen to the person who continues walking according to the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit.

• Romans 8:6 _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Romans 8:7 _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Galatians 6:8 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Characteristics Of A Pagan

We need to understand accurately how serious the idea of carnality is to the Lord. Before we become Christians, God views us as pagans. A pagan is someone who has little or no religion and delights in seeking after sensual pleasures and material goods as the only or chief purpose of life. He is one who is interested primarily in satisfying his flesh. Most people eventually realize that simply satisfying the flesh is an empty goal. God has not just given you a fleshly body but also a spirit, and your spirit’s needs must be met before you can ever be truly happy.

A mind controlled by the flesh leads to death.

A mind controlled by the flesh is opposed to God and isnot yielded to the law of God.

If you sow to the flesh and live for the flesh, you willreap corruption.


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When we begin to walk in the Spirit and seek God’s kingdom first, then God orders our

lives to bless and satisfy us. It is not that God does not want us to be happy or enjoy life

here on earth. He knows that we will only be truly satisfied by worshiping and obeying

Him.

What does Psalm 37:4 say about God’s willingness to give us good things we desire?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Now read 1 John 2:16-17, and you will find what a person who minds earthly things

(a pagan or a Christian who is living carnally) desires most of all. Which phrase from

these verses describes a person who looks at and covets things that gratify his desire for

“more”—such as pornography, wrong movies, or a desire to own many things?

______________________________________________________________________

Which phrase describes a person who is always concerned about what others think of

him—whether people respect and approve of him?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Which of the phrases describes the person who devotes himself to things in an attempt

to satisfy his physical and emotional desires—things like obsessions with personal

appearance, wrong friends, alcohol, drugs, and immoral relationships?

______________________________________________________________________

What will happen to our earthly ambitions and the things we gain when we follow them?

______________________________________________________________________

What will happen to those who walk in the Spirit and seek after the will of God?

______________________________________________________________________

If we find delight in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart.

the lust of the eyes

the pride of life (who one is and what one does)

the lust of human desires (the flesh)

They will all pass away.

They will live forever.


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Examples Of Paganism

What characteristics of a pagan did Cain exhibit? (Read Gen. 4:3-9.)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What characteristics of a pagan did the people in the days of Noah exhibit? (Read Gen. 6:5, 11–12.)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What pagan characteristics do people exhibit in our day?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Teacher’s Lesson

The Works of the Flesh (Gal. 5:19-21)

Moral Sins Sins of Attitude

• _______________________________ _______________________________

• _______________________________ _______________________________

• _______________________________ _______________________________

• _______________________________

• _______________________________

• _______________________________

• _______________________________

• _______________________________

• _______________________________

• _______________________________

He was angry and disrespectful to God. He did not repent of his sin. He hadhatred in his heart and committed murder.

wickedness, evil thoughts, corruptions, and violence

Answers will vary.

Adultery and fornication

Moral impurity

Debauchery

Strife

Jealousy

Wrath

Selfish ambitions

Dissensions

Factions

Envy


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Sins of Wrong Values Sins Against Society

• _______________________________

• _______________________________

• _______________________________

• _______________________________

• _______________________________

Idolatry

Witchcraft

Murders

Drunkenness

Carousing


L E S S O N 1 3 Q U I ZDEALING WITH THE FLESH

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

Match each of the following works of the flesh with the correct corresponding definition.

1. fornication A. Striving against others to be better than they areB. Grudging desires for things that belong to others

C. Includes not only adultery and fornication but also dirty jokes and words and other types of immorality.

D. Violent anger; rageE. “I must win at all costs.”F. Any form of sexual immmoralityG. Uncontrolled, lustful behaviorH. Having things in our lives that are more important to us than GodI. The end result of strife

2. Moral impurity

3. Idolatry

4. Jealousy

5. Selfish ambition

6. Dissensions

7. Wrath

8. envy

9. carousing

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RECOGNIZING THE SINS OF THE FLESH

TARGET TRUTHS• WehaveatendencytosinthatresultsfromAdam’ssin.

• Therewillbedefiniteconsequencesinourlivesifwecontinueinoursin.

• Weneedtolearntodefendourchoicesonbiblicalprinciples.

TEACHING STRATEGY

What Proverbs Says about Some Sins of the fleshHave students complete this section before class. Use the following outline (on the overhead transparency) to discuss the sins of the flesh that the Book of Proverbs emphasizes. complete the chart as your students share ideas. There are no specific answers given in the overhead answer key section because this overhead is for discussion purposes only.

Type of Sin Effect on My Life

Drunkenness

Immorality

Strife

Lying

Self-centeredness

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The Sons of eliThis story is a perfect example of sons who decided to follow after their fleshly desires rather than to obey God as their father did. emphasize that each person must make these choices on his own. We are not spiritual just because our parents are spiritual or because we are in a christian school and have christian friends. Spirituality begins on the inside with God’s work in our hearts and is a choice we make about the kind of person we want to be. If we decide that we want to have the best kind of life possible—the life that God Himself designed for us—then we have no choice but to follow His ways. If we decide not to obey God, then we will have consequences for our sins just as eli’s sons had consequences to face.

God rewards Works of the Spirit and the fleshWe will be rewarded for our actions, whether they are right or wrong. God’s commands and promises will come true in our lives. Wisdom is learning to make our choices from God’s perspective rather than from a foolish, worldly point of view.

Let’sReviewandExamineOurselvesMake this last section very serious and provide time in class for students to analyze themselves. explain what they are to do and pray with them before they complete the lesson so that they might focus on their actions and attitudes. The purpose of an activity such as this is not to focus on the negative and be down on ourselves but to see realistically what our values are so that we can yield to God’s plan to change us into something better. The next lesson will show more specifically how to overcome the problems we have seen in our lives. We cannot find a solution until we realize that there is a problem.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Defending Biblical StandardsMany times young people have only adopted the standards of their parents and church and have not made clear, biblical choices for how they will live. Middle school students need to begin to evaluate what they believe so they can stand for right when the time of challenge comes.

Divide the class into groups and have them choose one topic or one key principle they have learned. Then have them search a concordance to find as many verses as they can that deal with that topic or principle. Keepthegroupssmall—usuallythreetofivestudents.Haveeachgroupchooseonetopicforresearchandclasspresentationanddiscussion.Providesometimeinclassfortheirwork;thiswillalsoenableyoutohelp them find passages in the Bible that could be helpful to them.

Some useful topics might include:

• WhyshouldInevertrysmoking?Whataboutdrugs?

• WhyshouldIbecarefulwithwhatIwatchontelevision?WhatstandardsshouldIusetomakechoices about what I watch?

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• WhyshouldIbecarefulaboutthemusicthatIlistento?Whattypesofmusicaredestructiveandwhy?

• WhattypesofmagazinesandpicturesshouldIstayawayfrom?Whatisthedangeroftheinternet?What kinds of video games might not be helpful to my spiritual growth?

• Whyareimmoralandimpurethoughtsandactionswrong?Whatproblemscanthiscauseformyfuture?

• WhatdoestheBiblesayaboutdrinkingalcoholicbeverages?WhatdecisionsshouldImakeaboutdrinking alcohol and why?

QUIZ SCORE

Grade the students based on the quality of their research project.


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RECOGNIZING THESINS OF THE FLESH

We live in a very self-centered and materialistic world. Most people are primarily interested in having pleasure, fun, and money. They think success means being able to buy the things they believe are necessary to enjoy life. The problem is that there will always be something new to buy or some new way to get fun and excitement. Most people live by their feelings and their impulses. Sins such as drunkenness, immorality, drug abuse, and viewing pornography are the natural result of an uncurbed, unconfronted desire for excitement and pleasure that feeds our flesh.

The sins of the flesh that we studied in our last lesson are common to the human race. Why do human beings tend to be this way? Part of it is simply because of the sin nature we inherited from Adam. Adam’s sinfulness passed down to his descendents from generation to generation, and we have to face this natural tendency to give in to temptations to do wrong.

Because of our sinful inclination toward pride, for example, we are tempted to compare ourselves with others. We become jealous of what others have and want to have the same things. We want the approval of people, so we go along with wrongdoing in order to be accepted. We might be afraid to stand against wrongdoing if doing so will risk popularity.

What Proverbs Says About Some Sins Of The Flesh

Some of the sins of the flesh that Proverbs discusses are listed in the following section. For each of them, Proverbs explains the problem and then gives a warning about the consequences of each sin if it should become a part of your life.

• Drunkenness

According to Proverbs 20:1, what are three results of being controlled by alcohol?

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

It is a mocker, it causes conflict, and it deceives us into losing control.


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What are six effects of drunkenness, according to Proverbs 23:29-32?

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

• Immorality

What must we always remember about “secret” sins such as immorality, according to Proverbs 5:21-22?

_______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

What does Proverbs 6:32 say about someone who acts immorally?

________________________________________________________________

• Strife

What does God say will be the result for those who stir up strife, according to Proverbs 17:19 and 25:8?

_______________________________________________________________

• Lying

What is God’s attitude toward liars according to Proverbs 12:22 and 19:5?

_______________________________________________________________

• Living for Our Own Satisfaction

According to Proverbs 1:24-28, what three things will God do to those who live for their own satisfaction?

_______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

woe, sorrow, conflict, senseless complaining, wounds without cause,bloodshot eyes

God knows everything we do. Our sins will fall on us and take hold.

He lacks understanding and destroys his own soul.

They will find destruction and will be put to shame.

Lying is an abomination to God, and liars will be punished.

He will laugh at them, mock them, and will not answer them.


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The Sons Of Eli

We cannot depend on the merits of our own parents to help us obtain favor with God. Parents ought to live godly and spiritual lives, but you will not have God’s blessing on your life just because of the way your parents have lived. By grace, through faith, we must choose to live godly lives ourselves in order to please God.

Eli was a godly priest in the temple of God, but his sons were not godly. Read 1 Samuel 2:12-17 and 22-36. Answer the following questions about Eli and his sons:

According to verses 12 and 17, how did the sons of Eli live?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

According to verses 23-25, what did Eli ask his sons?

______________________________________________________________________

What warning did he give them?

______________________________________________________________________

How did they respond to their father and to the Lord?

______________________________________________________________________

According to verse 34, what did God tell Eli would happen to his sons?

______________________________________________________________________

According to verses 30-31, what promise was God carrying out because the sons had not honored Him?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

They did not know the Lord. Their sin was very great before the Lord.

He asked them why they lived in such sin.

They would be judged by the Lord.

They would not listen.

They would both die on the same day.

He has promised to honor those who honor Him and despise those who

despise Him.


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God Rewards Works Of TheSpirit And The Flesh

According to Luke 12:42-48, the wise servant received a reward for his faithfulness, and the unwise servant received a “reward” for how he had lived according to the flesh.

Servant How Did He Live? What Was His Reward?

Wise

Unwise

Let’s Review And Examine Ourselves

Look carefully over the lists of the works of the flesh that you made in Lesson 13. Every one of us has particular problems with the flesh. Which problems are the biggest for you? List the main problems that you think you should deal with first and explain specifically why they are problems for you. How do these problems usually come to the surface in your life? This study will help you to recognize them when they appear in your life the next time.

Problem How It Shows Itself in My Life

When the master returned,he was doing what he had been asked to do.

He was made ruler over thehousehold.

He began to sin because themaster was away, but the master came back and caught him.

He was cut to pieces and assigned a place with the unbelievers.

Answers will vary.


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In our next lesson, we will begin to study how we can overcome our problems by walking in the Spirit so that we produce the fruit of the Spirit. But for now, we need to begin to recognize them for what they are and understand how very important these concerns are to God. He wants our lives to be satisfied and blessed, but we will not be blessed if we are walking in the sinfulness of the flesh.

Teacher’s Lesson

Type of Sin Effect on My Life

Drunkenness

Immorality

Strife

Lying

Self-centeredness

Answers will vary.

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Type of SinEffect on M

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Drunkenness

Immorality

Strife

Lying

Self-centeredness

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WALKING IN THE SPIRIT

TARGET TRUTHS• ThefruitoftheSpiritisthecharacterofGod.

• ThefleshfightsagainsttheSpirittokeepusfromhavingsuccess.

• GoddesirestoconformustotheimageofHisSon,Jesus.

TEACHING STRATEGY

The character of Godas we study the fruit of the Spirit, we will really be discussing the character of God Himself. The character of God has many facets. We can see that we cannot talk about one aspect, such as His love, without remembering another aspect of God’s nature—His righteousness. Thus, we cannot say that His love covers the world and that He would never allow anyone to go to hell because the righteousness of God cannot allow sin to dwell freely in His presence. The love of God and the righteousness of God came together in what Jesus did on the cross. We need to realize that the character of God cannot contradict itself.

GodLove righteousness

Mercy Holiness

Goodness Justice

The fruit of the SpiritThe fruit of the Spirit tells us more about the character of God. Have students study each word and provide a clear definition. Discuss each word and characteristic as a class to make certain each word is understood. emphasize that it is God’s desire to build these things into the life of every christian. He does this through the work of the Holy Spirit who lives within every believer.

conformed to His Imagecomplete this section together as a class, reading the material together to make sure it is fully understood.

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The War Between the flesh and the SpiritHave your students read and work through this section by themselves. Then have different students explain the meaning of the section in their own words. finally, read through the section again together, helping them to understand what they are feeling inside when the Spirit and the flesh are at odds. remind them of the lesson that we studied about the results of sin in the lives of adam and eve: guilt, fear, and blaming others. relate these feelings to our inner feelings when we have given in to the flesh and the Spirit convicts us of sin.

first Things firstThe priority for a young person who wants to grow spiritually is to allow the Holy Spirit to have control of our lives. When we submit to the will of the Spirit instead of the will of the flesh, we will have spiritual victory. Thus we must allow God to be first in our lives. We must allow Him to guide us in what we do.

The application section will help to make the concepts in this lesson understood. allow students to share the “fights” within that they have experienced. Make sure they understand that the key point is to learn how to yield to the Spirit by learning from the mistakes we have made.

TheFruitIsLove...See the teacher’s lesson.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING SUGGESTIONBeing controlled by the Holy Spirit includes every part of your life—what you say, what you do, and what you think. Give examples of types of things you might say or do both positively and negatively for each of the following:

• Showingpatience

• Showinggratefulness

• Showinglove

• Showingcontentment

• Showingforgiveness

• Respondingtotemptations

• Showingpeace

Students may give examples from their own experiences or get together in groups to put on skits showing the effect of the flesh as compared to walking in the Spirit. examples used should be based on the above list.

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TEACHER’S LESSONThe overhead for this lesson deals with the fruit of the Spirit. The information below is a discussion of loveasthebasisofthefruitoftheSpiritfromthelastsectionofthestudent’slesson,“TheFruitIsLove....”

The information below describes how each aspect of the fruit of the Spirit comes from a spirit of love.

• Joy:overflowsfromaheartthathasresolvedallproblemswithothers.Whenweloveothers,wecannotbe angry, bitter, or envious.

• Peace:comesfromaheartthatholdsnogrudgesorhardnessagainstanyoneoranysituationbecausewe trust God and know He loves us.

• Patience(orlongsuffering):Itisnotdifficulttoacceptsituationspatientlyeveniftheyaredifficultifwe are controlled by love because we know that at the end of our tribulation, God will bring good in our lives.

• Kindness(orgentleness):Apersonwhotrulylovesotherswillbegentleinhisactionsandattitudesbecause he will never wish to hurt or bring undue harm in any way to another person.

• Goodness:Ifyouarefilledwithlove,youwillonlydesirethatwhichisgoodandwholesometohappento others.

• Faithfulness:IfyoulovesomeoneandconsistentlytrustGodtoworkoutHisplan,youcanhavefaithboth in God that will lead you to right relationships with other people.

• Gentleness(ormeekness):Loveallowsustobesubmissivetoothersandnotalwaysinsistonhavingour own way. We can easily put others ahead of ourselves and our desires because we know that a lov-ing God will give us the desires of our hearts.

• Self-control(ortemperance):Lovewillkeepouractionsfromgettingoutofcontrolbecausewewouldnever wish to do anything to bring reproach against God or others if we truly love them.

QUIZ ANSWERS

1.• Love• Kindness(orgentleness)• Gentleness(ormeekness)• Joy• Patience(orlongsuffering)• Self-control(ortemperance)• Goodness• Peace• Faithfulness

2. that we be conformed to the image of His Son—that we have the character of Jesus christ

3. Walk in the Spirit.

4. the flesh


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WALKING IN THE SPIRIT

The Character Of God

God has many qualities that show He is the one true God. God is holy, righteous, just, and merciful. God is perfect love and goodness. There is no sin in God. God’s love is so strong and so pure that it has overflowed on earth through Jesus Christ to those who repent and believe in Him. God’s work in His people demonstrates His love by living in us, helping us overcome sin, and transforming us into the image of Christ. We have already learned about the works of the flesh, and now we need to see what God’s true character is. The characteristics of God (the fruit of His Spirit) are described below. Complete the lists below to learn what God is truly like and what He wants us to be like as we learn more about Him.

The Fruit Of The Spirit

You read Galatians 5:22-23 during your study of Lesson 13. List once again the aspects of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Write a short definition for each aspect of the fruit. Use a dictionary if necessary.

1. _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Love: a giving, unselfish relationship with others

Joy: happiness that comes from inner contentment

Peace: an inner sense of calmness and deep contentment based ona right relationship with God

Patience or longsuffering: extended endurance of trials and otherpeople’s sins against us


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5. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

6. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

7. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

8. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

9. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Now turn to 2 Peter 1:3-9 and read it carefully. Beginning in verse 5, God gives another list that teaches us about His character. Add these evidences of God’s character to your list if they are not already on the above list. Again, write a definition for each word you list.

1. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

5. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

6. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Kindness or gentleness: being peacable and kind to others; notbeing harsh.

Goodness: uprightness; moral character

Faithfulness: unfailing belief in God

Gentleness or meekness: a humble and submissive spirit

Self-control or temperance: successful resistance of fleshly desires

Goodness or virtue: consistent moral purity

Knowledge: information learned (particularly about the Word of God)

Perseverance or patience: tested character; showing calmness and restraint under trial

Godliness: becoming more like God in our attitudes and actions

Brotherly kindness: a gracious, giving attitude toward others, particularly believers

This blank may remain empty depending on the translation you use.


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Now look at 2 Peter 1:8. What does God promise if you let Him build these attributes into your life?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Based on verse 9, what is true of someone who does not practice these things by God’s power?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Conformed To His Image

Now that we have studied the differences between the works of the flesh and the works of the Spirit you should be able to see quite clearly the difference between the two. Please remember that if you give in to those things that are of the flesh, you are acting as if you were pagan and not even a Christian at all.

If you are responding rightly to the Holy Spirit’s work in you, you will develop the fruit of the Spirit, and you will become spiritual.

Read Romans 8:28-29 and answer the following questions.

What are two characteristics of the kind of people for whom all things work together for good?

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

Into whose image or likeness does God the Father plan to change us?

______________________________________________________________________

What do you think it means to be changed into His image?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

These verses explain very clearly what God’s plan for us is. His plan is to change us into the image of His Son. In other words, God wants to help us have the inner character of Jesus. By image, God does not mean that we are to look like Jesus did outwardly while

I will be fruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

He is blind and cannot discern that Jesus paid the penalty for his sins.

They love God.

They are called according to God’s purpose.

His Son’s

Answers will vary.


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He was here. Instead, we are to become like Jesus on the inside—in our character. God wants to replace our anger and pride with love and joy. He wants to replace our laziness with diligence. He wants to replace our rebellion with responsibility. He wants us to bring honor to Him as we live through Jesus’ strength, following His example.

The War Between The Flesh And The Spirit

There is a great hindrance to having the character of Jesus formed in us. The problem is not with God. The problem is with us. We still have many things within us that are of the flesh, and therefore are sinful. We must learn to put aside the desires of the flesh and allow God to fill us with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This is not always easy because we do not always behave properly. When we do not behave properly, we feel guilty and afraid or sad. Read Galatians 5:16-18, and you will understand what the problem is. Read these verses and answer the questions below.

What command is given?

______________________________________________________________________

If we do this, what will happen?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The word “lust” means to desire something intensely or to fight against something else. For example, if you know that you should be doing you homework, but you would rather spend the time talking on the phone to your friends, you would probably feel a strong desire to talk in your heart. That desire fights against the knowledge that you ought to be doing what you ought to be doing.

According to verse 17, why is it so difficult to do the things we should?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How should we be led if we are to do the things we should? (verse 18)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Walk in the Spirit.

We will not fulfill the lust of our human desires (the flesh).

The flesh fights against the Spirit, and the Spirit fights against the flesh. They oppose each other.

We should yield to the Holy Spirit’s leading.


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If you do need to do homework, and yet you desire to talk on the phone, you should depend on the Holy Spirit to lead you and enable you to do the right thing. This means that you must be willing to choose obedience over your internal desires. You should forget about the phone and simply sit down at a table and complete the work you have to do. Then you can spend the extra time you have later talking to a friend. If you do this, you are walking in the Spirit and not fulfilling the desires of the flesh, which are wrong desires. Afterwards, you will know true success and joy because you have done right, and God has rewarded you.

If you had not obeyed, and if you had chosen instead to pick up the phone “just for a minute,” you might have found your whole evening gone. You would realize that you did not have the time to accomplish what you should have, or maybe you would have been too tired to study profitably. The results of rebelling against the Spirit and following the flesh would have been guilt and unhappiness because you had not prepared yourself for your classes as you should have.

First Things First

Remember, God does not want to hold truly good things away from us. He wants us to enjoy our friends and all the other good things in our lives. But He does want us to learn to put first the One who ought to be first: God Himself !

What does Matthew 6:25–33 (especially vs. 33) teach should be the first things we seek?

______________________________________________________________________

What is the result when we have these priorities?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How does this verse apply to what you have been learning?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As you have been studying this section, God has probably brought something to your mind concerning the fight between the flesh and the Spirit inside you. Perhaps it has to do with your responsibilities or attitudes at home, something to do with your friends

the kingdom of God and His righteousness

We will receive all the other things we need.

God will bless my life if I put Him first and treasure His kingdom more thanall the things in this world.


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or some aspect of some activity you really enjoy doing, such as computer games or sports. Tell about the “fight” that is going on as you face this situation.

• What would you do if you were yielding to the Spirit? ____________________ _______________________________________________________________

• What does your flesh want to do? ____________________________________

• How does it feel to be in the middle of this “fight” against temptation? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• What do you need to do in order to win these battles? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

• If you walk in the Spirit and resist temptation, what will the results be (both external and internal results)? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Teacher’s Lesson

The Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________________

5. _______________________________________________________________

6. _______________________________________________________________

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience or longsuffering

Kindness or gentleness

Goodness


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7. _______________________________________________________________

8. _______________________________________________________________

9. _______________________________________________________________

Faithfulness

Gentleness or meekness

Self-control or temperance


L E S S O N 1 5 Q U I ZWALKING IN THE SPIRIT

Name ________________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ___________

1. WritethecorrectnameforeachaspectofthefruitoftheSpiritdefinedbelow.

• _______________________________ : a giving, unselfish relationship with others

• _______________________________ :beingpeaceableandkindtoothers;notbeingharsh

• _______________________________ : a humble and submissive spirit

• _______________________________ : happiness that comes from inner contentment

• _______________________________ : extended endurance of trials and other’s sin against us

• _______________________________ : successful resistance of fleshly desires

• _______________________________ : uprightness

• _______________________________ : an inner feeling of calmness and deep contentment

• _______________________________ : unfailing belief in God

2. according to romans 8:29, what is God’s plan for us? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

3. WhatcommandarewegiveninGalatians5:16? ________________________________________________________________________________

4. AccordingtoGalatians5:17,whatfightsagainsttheSpiritbecauseitiscontrarytotheSpirit? ________________________________________________________________________________

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The Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)

•Love

•Joy

•Peace

•Patience(orlongsuffering)

•Kindness(orgentleness)

•Goodness

•Faithfulness

•Gentleness(orm

eekness)

•Self-control(ortemperance)

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L E S S O N 1 6

WHAT IS CHARACTER?

TARGET TRUTHS• GodwantstobuildstrongChristiancharacterintoourlives.

• Godhasmanypromisesforthosewhodevelopgodlycharacter.

• Wecanchoosewhethertobuildwiseorfoolishlifepatternsintoourlives.

TEACHING STRATEGYread through and discuss thoroughly the main section on the meaning of character. as this is done, have your students take out a separate sheet of paper and divide the paper into three sections as follows:

• ExternalAttributes

• InternalAttributes:Strengths

• InternalAttributes:Weaknesses

Under the external attributes column, have them list external things such as their looks, their family, their abilities, their special talents, etc. Then, as they think about their internal attributes, have them think through both their strengths of character and their weaknesses of character. The strengths are qualities God has given to us to use for good in our lives. The weaknesses are things of the flesh that He wants to help us overcome. for example, a strength might be “hardworking” while a weakness may be “easily angered.” each student will have to think through his or her own external and internal characteristics and listthem.Forsome,thistypeofassignmentwillbeeasy;forothers,itmaybeverydifficult.

as you study and discuss the four concepts to be developed if we are to be conformed to the image of Jesus, have students begin to apply these four concepts to their own list of weaknesses. for example, if a student is easily angered, he must...

• DesiretobecomemorelikeJesus.

• Recognizewhenheletshisangergetoutofcontrol.

• Confesshisangerassineachtimeithappens.

• AskGodforthehelpofHisSpirittoovercomehisproblemwithanger.

RememberNoah?Noahwasnotaperfectmanbecausenoonecanbeperfect,buthedesiredtobegodlyinhiswalkwithGod.FirstwelearnthatNoahfoundgraceorfavorintheeyesofGod(Gen.6:8)Intheverynextverse,welearnthatNoahwasagodlyman.BecauseweknowthatgraceisGod’sgifttothosewhodonotdeserveit,

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wecanunderstandthatGod’sgracehelpedNoahtobecomerighteousandtoapplyinhislifetheprincipleswe have discussed above.

God’sPromisesforThoseWhoLoveandObeyHimApplyeachofthepromisesfromthissectiontoNoah’slifeasanexample.GoddefinitelydirectedNoah’spathsduringoneoftheworsttimesontheearth.HewasveryawareofeverythingthathappenedtoNoah.Noah’senemiestauntedhim,buttheydidnotharmhim—Noahwassafe.AllofNoah’sneedsweremet,and God protected him from all harm.

consequences of Improper attitudesagain we can see a comparison between the people of the worldduringthedaysofNoahandwhattheyreceivedfromtheLord,andthefamilyofNoah and what they received. The world had strife, shame, and condemnationfromtheLordbecauseoftheirways.Noahreceivedwisdom,favor,andmercyfromtheLord.Eventhoughhelivedamongevilpeople,hewasnotsubjecttothedestructionoftheflood.Instead,theLordsatisfiedhimineveryway.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING SUGGESTIONLifeisfilledwithsomanygoodthings.Butitalsohastribulationsandproblemsthatwewillallneedtodeal with. It is easy to “walk in the Spirit” when things are going well. We need to learn to “walk in the Spirit” when things do not go our way.

for each of the following, decide which fruit of the Spirit needs to be evident in order to respond properly and what the proper response should be if we are allowing the Holy Spirit to develop the right character in our lives.

• Whenyourmotherremindsyoutocleanyourroom

• Whenyouhavelotsofhomeworktofinish

• Whensomeonetalksnegativelytoyoutohurtyou

• Whenyoudon’tgettheclothesorotheritemsyouhavebeenwanting

• Whensomeonetellsalieorgossipsaboutyou

• Whenyou’retalkingonthephoneandyourparentsaskyoutogetoffanddosomethingforthem

• Whenyourlittlebrotherorsisterdestroyssomethingthatbelongstoyou

• Whenyourbrotherorsistergetsintoyourthingswithoutasking

• Whenyouareaskedtodosomethingoverbecauseitwasnotdonerightthefirsttime

• Whenyouarenotinvitedtoapartythatallyourfriendswereinvitedto

TEACHER’S LESSONcharacter is a word of German origin and refers to an engraving instrument. This can be an illustration of the distinctive engraving or mark that is placed on a person’s pattern of behavior over a period of time.

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If we continually “engrave” good habits and moral attitudes into our minds, our character will be right beforeGodandothers.Likewise,ifwecontinuallyallowwrongattitudesandbehaviortobeengravedintoour minds, wrong character will develop.

for example, if we have a problem with anger, and we continually allow ourselves to vent our anger in any situation, our anger will grow stronger and stronger. We will lose control over ourselves and our actions. But if we begin to yield to the Holy Spirit and let Him guide our actions by confessing anger as sin whenever we give in to it and by learning to control it, we will develop a different life pattern. It is our choice—either we will engrave anger more and more strongly into our pattern of life, or we will learn to eliminate it from our actions and even our inner attitudes.

a good definition of character is living and acting by a predetermined set of life principles that engrave right patterns of behavior into my life.

If we are to have character traits that please both God and other people...

• WemustbeconsciousofthequalitiesGodwantsbothtoeliminatefromourlivesandtobuildintoour lives.

• Wecannotbediscouragedwhenweslipbackintoourbadcharacterpatterns.

• WemustlearntoconfessthosewrongtraitsassinbeforeGod.

• WemustyieldourselvestothepowerandinfluenceoftheHolySpiritsowewillhavevictory.

Building a life of strong moral character must be done step by step just as is done when building a house.

• Whoarethecarpenters?Therearefivecarpentersthatmustworktogetherinthebuildingprocess.

• Parentsandfamily

as we have already studied, your parents have the primary responsibility in the building of your character. Your part is to listen and learn from them so God can work in your life.

• Friends

We have also discussed the importance of choosing right friends that will help build you up rather than tear you down. Your friends will affect your attitudes and values.

• Environment(school,church,nation,culture)

Where God has chosen for you to live will have an important impact on you. Where you attend church and school will also greatly affect your life and character.

• Personalchoices(orselfeffort)

Ultimately, nothing keeps you from developing strong character other than your own wrong choices. You must choose to listen to good instruction at home and at school. You must choose who your friends will be and how much peer pressure will affect your life. You must make many important decisions for your own sake. But it’s also important to remem-ber that you can’t create good character on your own. You also need help from the . . .

• HolySpirit

The Holy Spirit is the key instrument for building a life that is strong because He can change you from within. But again, He will help you as you submit your life to His care

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and control. The more you allow Him to live through you, the more you will become like theLordHimself(conformedtoHisimage).

• Whatisthefoundation?ThereisnootherfoundationthatshouldbelaidbutsalvationthroughJesus christ. If you have not trusted Jesus as your Savior, He will not begin to build the house of true character that will last forever.

• Whatisthestructure?YoumustchoosetobaseyourlifeontheprinciplesfoundinGod’sWord.Aprinciple is a rule or law based on the character of God that never changes and by which we govern our lives.

QUIZ ANSWERS1. Noah2. any three of the following would be acceptable:

• Hewilldirectourpaths.• Heknowseverythingthathappenstous.• Hewillmakeourenemiestobeatpeacewithus.• AllourwaysaredirectedbyHim.• Wemakepreparations,butsafetycomesfromHim.• Hewillmakesurethatourneedsaremet.• HewillshieldusfromharmifwetrustinHim.

3. an engraving instrument4. predetermined;life;principles;“engrave”5. salvation through Jesus christ6.

• parents• friends• environment• personalchoices(orselfeffort)• HolySpirit

7. rules;laws;character;change;lives


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WHAT IS CHARACTER?

God has made us to have external characteristics and internal characteristics. The external things are “the outside.” They include those things about us that everyone can see—how tall we are, what we look like, how good we are at music or sports or art, how well we do in our schoolwork, what we wear, and many other aspects of our lives. Human beings naturally tend to place the most importance on these external things. They are very concerned about what they wear and whether they have clothing that’s popular. They are concerned about the cut and style of their hair. Even the brand of the shoes that they buy can seem greatly important. People are even picky about the other people with whom they are willing to be seen in public.

It is not wrong to look sharp and wear stylish clothing. It is not wrong to succeed in school. It is not wrong to excel in soccer, basketball, music, or art. These are good things to desire. But your “outside” characteristics are not the most important things about you! Part of growing up and becoming a mature man or woman is knowing what is really important and what is not really so important.

The most important part of you is the internal part called your character. The reason this is important is that sooner or later, what you are really like on the inside will show on the outside. If you are a liar and think you can get away with it, you will soon find yourself lying more and more often. Eventually, you will be discovered, and then both your external and internal character will be evident to all. If you have too much pride in some ability, soon others will notice your pride and will not want to acknowledge the ability God has given you.

They will not care how good you are at something then. In fact, they will not even want to be around you. But if you respond to God with trust and obedience as He works to change your inward character, your inward changes will begin to show on the outside too. The change in you will be evident to others. If you are genuinely a giving and sharing person, others around you will be happy for you when something good happens to you. If you are self-centered and think only of yourself, others will not be glad for you when something good happens to you.


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Why is it that some pretty girls can seem less pretty after you have gotten to know them a little better?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why is it that the best-dressed boy with the most money is often not the most popular?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why is it that sometimes very smart young people do not have many friends?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

One reason that some people have a hard time keeping friends is that they may not be truly wise, beautiful, or good on the inside—even if they seemed that way on the outside. It might not show up right away, but what we are on the inside will become obvious to everyone else eventually.

Just to remind yourself of what is really important, list at least ten fleshly attitudes and nine spiritual attitudes to complete the chart below. Try to write these without looking back at Lessons 13-15 for help. If you have forgotten some of them, look them up so you can complete your list.

Works of the Flesh Fruit of the Spirit

• ______________________________ ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________ ______________________________

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

fornication and adultery

moral impurity

debauchery

idolatry

love

joy

peace

patience or longsuffering


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• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________ ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________

• ______________________________ ______________________________

• ______________________________ ______________________________

As you study the difference between walking in the Spirit and walking in the flesh, it will become painfully obvious which aspects of our character are of God and which are of the flesh. If we are to grow in our character and be conformed to the image of Jesus by the Holy Spirit working in us, we must remember some very important things.

• You must desire to be like Jesus and consciously choose to walk in the Spirit.

• You must recognize that from time to time you will fall back and choose to give in to the desires of the flesh. When you do give in to the desires of the flesh, you must realize that you have sinned and confess your sin to God. He promises in 1 John 1:9 that if you confess your sins to Him, He will forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

• After a failure, you ought to get back up again, repent, and renew your determi-nation to be like Jesus. If you are a believer, you can do this because of what Jesus has already done for you and what He continues to do in you.

witchcraft

hatred

strife

jealousy

wrath

selfish ambitions

dissensions

factions

envy

murders

drunkenness

carousing

kindness or gentleness

goodness

faithfulness

gentleness or meekness

self-control or temperance


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As you stay conscious of these things, you can also be sure that God will be working to make you more and more like Jesus. Look again at the fruit of the Spirit, the spiritual attitudes that you have listed. This is the way you should want your life to be—filled with love for others, with peace and joy in your hearts, with longsuffering and patience when things do not go your way, with gentleness and goodness in your attitudes toward others, and with faithfulness when God wants to use you to do something good. When you are walking in the Spirit, you will not have to suffer guilt, anger, rebellion, and all the other harmful attitudes and feelings that come along with sin. You will be free to be all that God wants you to be.

Remember Noah?

We recently reviewed what happened when the people of Noah’s time were indulging in the lust of their human desires and did not desire to seek after God. It was not long before God destroyed them all because their hearts were sinful and wicked.

Noah and his family were not perfect people, but God says in Genesis 6:8 that Noah found grace or favor in the eyes of the Lord.

What did God mean by this?

______________________________________________________________________

How many examples can you find of God’s blessings to Noah? See Genesis 6-9. Write down verses that support your answers.

• __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

• __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

• __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

• __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

God chose to show His undeserved goodness to Noah and blessed him.

God designed the ark to hold Noah’s family and the animals that

were to be saved (6:14,18).

Though He destroyed all others, God spared Noah and his

family (7:1).

God took care of Noah and his family while they were in the ark(7:21-8:1).

God made a covenant with Noah and promised never again to flood the earth (9:8-11).


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God’s Promises For ThoseWho Love And Obey Him

Noah’s testimony can be an encouragement for all of us. God does not expect us to be perfect either, but He does want us to learn to walk in the Spirit and to desire to become like His Son. When those are the desires of your heart, God promises to bless you in many ways. These verses in Proverbs will remind you of some of the ways God has promised to bless those who find grace in His eyes. Write God’s promise beside each reference from Proverbs.

• 3:6 ____________________________________________________________

• 5:21 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 16:7 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 20:24 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 21:31 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 27:26-27 ________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 30:5 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Consequences Of Improper Attitudes

One of God’s promises to Noah was that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood. But God does tell us many times that if we continue to walk in the flesh and have no desire to learn to walk like Jesus, there will be consequences in our lives that are not good. Just as your parents might give you consequences of punishment for misbehavior, so does God warn us of consequences of allowing ungodly attitudes to dominate our lives.

He will direct our paths.

He knows everything that happens to us.

He will make our enemies to be at peace with us.

All our ways are directed by Him.

We make preparations, but safety comes from Him.

He will make sure that our needs are met.

He will shield us from harm if we trust in Him.


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Read the verses from Proverbs and complete the following chart.

Results of Fleshy Attitudes Results of Godly Attitudes

10:12

11:2

12:2

15:29

19:23

28:13

28:14

Teacher’s Lesson

Character

• Original Meaning _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Definition

Living and acting by a ________________________________________ set of________________________________ that _______________________ rightpatterns of behavior into my life.

strife

shame

condemnation

will not be near

no prosperity

mischief or calamity

love that covers all sins

wisdom

favor from the Lord

hears the prayers of the righteous

life, satisfaction, andfreedom from evil

mercy or compassion

blessing or happiness

predeterminedlife principles engrave

an engraving instrument


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Building Christian Character

• Carpenters:

• __________________________

• __________________________

• __________________________

• __________________________

• __________________________

• The Structure:

Bible ________________________ :_____________ or __________ based on the __________________ of God which never ____________ and by which we govern our __________

TemperanceMeekness

FaithGentlenessGoodness

JoyPeace

Longsu�eringLove

Foundation:

principlesrules laws

characterchange

lives

Parents

Friends

Environment

Self-effort

Holy Spirit

Salvation through Christ


L E S S O N 1 6 Q U I ZWHAT IS CHARACTER?

Name ________________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhoismentionedinGenesis6asanexampleofgoodcharacter? ________________________________________________________________________________

2. ListthreepromisesGodmakesinProverbsforthosewholoveandobeyHim(whohavegoodchar-acter).

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

3. What was the original meaning of the German root word for “character”? ________________________________________________________________________________

4. complete the following definition of character.

Living and acting by a ___________________ set of ___________ _________________________ that ____________________ right patterns of behavior into my life.

5. What is the foundation of christian character? ________________________________________________________________________________

6. Who are the five carpenters involved in building christian character?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

7. complete the following statement.

Bible principles are______________________ or _____________________________ based on the

________________________ of God which never _______________ and by which we govern our

_____________________________.

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Love

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L E S S O N 1 7

LOVE AND GENTLENESS

TARGET TRUTHS• ToloveoneanotherisoneofthegreatestcommandmentsofGod.

• Godwantsustolearntoloveourneighbors,thepoor,andevenourenemies.

• Weneedtolearntoforgiveotherssothatwecanlearntolovethem.

TEACHING STRATEGYWe have just completed a four-lesson study on the need for christian character development by allowing the Holy Spirit to build the fruit of His Spirit in our lives and by overcoming the works of the flesh.

This lesson begins a six-lesson study emphasizing particular character traits and qualities that are involved inthisprocess.AswasdiscussedinLesson15,loveisthekey,andtheotherqualitiesareanoutgrowthofthe quality of love. It is for this reason that we begin this part of our study with learning to walk in love.

The Greatest commandmentThe lesson begins by seeing the importance of this quality from Jesus’ point of view. Jesus is very emphatic about the need to have this quality in our lives. allow students to complete this first section by themselves as they coordinate several thoughts into a cohesive principle and use examples to illustrate the concepts. read several of the best ideas to the class and discuss them.

HowtoShowLoveThis section is an overview and will show both how Jesus demonstrates His love to us and how we are to demonstrate love to others.

ProverbsTeachesUsHowtoLoveOneAnotherThis section on Proverbs is much more specific, giving detailed explanations of how we should act toward others. Spend time discussing each aspect of this section and having students give examples of each type of situation from their own experiences.

BeingKindtoOurEnemies/JesusForgaveHisEnemiesThis is the most difficult area of all, and, therefore, it is probably the most important. explain to your students that when they have learned to truly forgive others and allow God’s love to reach even their enemies, then they have truly learned what it means to love.

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Jesus is the perfect example of loving the hardest people to love—our enemies or those who seem to be against us. as you study this with your students, have them picture someone with whom they have had problems as they see the response of Jesus. at the end of the section, have a time of prayer with your class,leadingthemtoforgiveothersthattheyneedtoforgiveandtoasktheLordtohelpthemovercomebitterness, jealousy, resentment, or any other sin that is hindering them from loving another person.

Before ending this section, discuss the difference between conditional and unconditional love and the acceptance of one another. conditional love is the type of love that most people in the world have for one another. They love others if they are treated kindly, but they do not love an enemy or others that may appear unlovely.

To love unconditionally means that we do not withhold our love for any reason—no matter what the other person has done or how the other person treats us. Our love is unconditional. This is the kind of love Jesus offers us. He loves us without condition. He does not always like the things we do, and He often has to discipline us when we sin, but even that comes out of His unconditional love. He will never put conditions onHisloveinanyway.Nomatterwhatwedo,Hisloveisjustasstrong.

• Conditionallove:“Iwillloveyouif...”or“Iwillloveyouwhen...”

• Unconditionallove:Iloveyou.

The Story of ruthas you discuss the story of ruth, have your students also note the negative aspects that are missing from ruth’s life. for example, we do not see bitterness in her when her husband died. We do not see her upset becauseNaomiwouldnotstayinherhomeland.Wedonotnoticehercomplainingwhenshehadtoworkin the hot fields to gather food to eat. We do not see her complaining about the poor condition in which she found herself.

Instead, ruth accepted her situation and found ways to make her life the best it could be through a good attitude that was loving, gentle, and kind. She honored and obeyed her mother-in-law and trusted the Lordtohelpherfindherwayinlife.TheLordblessedhergreatlybygivingherawonderfulhusbandwhoownedfieldsandhadmuchwealth.ThenHeblessedherinanevengreaterwaybyhavingKingDavidandtheLordJesusbornfromherdescendants.

TEACHER’S LESSONUse the overhead transparency to review the truths you have discussed concerning (1) how Ruthresponded to difficult situations with a good attitude, and (2) how God blessed her for her loving attitude.


ProjectsHave your students choose one of the two projects below to work on for a week. as each person is listed, have them use a fictitious name or initials so no one else will see their project and know the person with

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whom they are having a problem. each project may include several people, or it may include one particular person. What is most important is that they are learning to let God work His love through their lives and actions.

• Project1:Eachdaythisweek listapersontowardwhomyouhavebeen less thankind.Itcouldbesome cutting, biting remark you made to someone. It could be a harsh statement you made while you were mad. It could have been an act of rudeness toward someone with whom you wanted to get even. Whateveritis,recordadifferentincidenteachdayandconfessitassintotheLord.Then,thenexttimeyouseethatperson,asktheLordtohelpyousayakindwordordosomethingkindtothatpersonand then record what you have done.

• Project2:Eachdaylistthenameofapersonwhohashurtyouoroffendedyouinsomewayorwhohaspersonality traits that you do not like. Perhaps this person is arrogant or loud or too shy or is always complaining.Listthisperson,prayforhimorher,andasktheLordtohelpyousayakindwordortodo something kind for that person. Then record what you have done for this project.

ParaphrasingRead1Corinthians13:1-7toyourstudents,discussingtheideasinthisimportantpassage.Havestudentsparaphrase (write in their own words) these verses. Then have some of them read their paraphrases to the rest of the class.

Give the self-evaluation handout to students and discuss.

QUIZ ANSWERS1.

• LoveGodwithallyourheart.• Loveothersasyouloveyourself.

2. TheLordwillmakeourenemiestobeatpeacewithus.3. He asked God to forgive them.4. ShedidnotstayinherhomelandbutwenttoCanaanwithher;shewaswillingtoworkhardtoprovide

for them.5. discouragement, bitterness, resentment, and complaining6. accept all reasonable answers.


SELF-EVALUATIONBesideeachnumberrespondtoeachstatementbywritingnumbersfrom1to5,with1beingtheleastand5 showing the most love in each situation.

1. ______IcanhonestlysaythatIamusuallynotjealousofothers.

2. ______ I am courteous and not rude to others, including those who are not my close friends.

3. ______ I am courteous and not rude to my parents, my brothers, and my sisters.

4. ______ I hug my parents and tell them that I love them regularly.

5. ______ I am a good listener when someone wants to share a problem with me.

6. ______ I hold doors open for others when it is appropriate.

7. ______ I am kind to others, even to those who tend to irritate or frustrate me.

8. ______ I do not laugh at others when they make mistakes.

9. ______ I try to encourage others, including those who are not close to me.

10.______Iamespeciallykindandlovingtothosewhohavespecialneedssuchasolderpeople,handi-capped people, and young children.

11.______Icancontrolmyselfinareasofangerandhostility.

12.______Iamopenlysupportiveofmyteachersandparentsanddonottalkagainstthem.

13.______Idonotgossip.

14.______IstandupforotherswhenIhearnegativethingsaboutthem.

15.______Igenuinelytrynottohurtotherpeople’sfeelings.

16.WhydoInotshowloveinthewaysthattheabovequestionshaverevealed? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

17.WhatdothesequestionssayaboutwhetherIloveGod,others,ormyselfmost? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________


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L E S S O N 1 7

LOVE AND GENTLENESS

When we studied the fruit of the Spirit, we learned that the entire fruit of the Spirit emanates or comes out of love. Love is the true character of God, and everything springs from this foundation.

The Greatest Commandment

When Jesus spoke of His love for us and our love for Him and others, He said that nothing in our lives is more important. In Mark 12:28, a man asked Jesus, “Which commandment is the greatest?”

In Mark 12:29-31, you can read the answer Jesus gave this man. Then read John 13:35 and 1 John 4:7-8, 20-21. Think about all these verses and explain in your own words the meaning of these two most important commandments.

• Most important command: _________________________________________

• Second most important command: ___________________________________

Give some examples of how you can obey these commands.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How To Show Love

Our love for people is shown by how we treat them. Read each of the following verses and match the references to the correct corresponding thoughts about kindness. Some of the words that mean the same as “kindness” are gentleness, goodness, and manners.

Love God with all your heart.

Love others as you love yourself.

Answers will vary.


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1. Romans 2:4 A. We serve God and show our love for Him by our kindness.

B. God’s goodness leads us to repentance.

C. Learn to be gentle instead of angry.

D. Wrong friends will hinder us from being kind to others.

E. We should want kindness to characterize our lives.

F. In the ages to come God will continue to show kindness.

G. Do not be glad when your enemy falls or stumbles.

H. Kindness is an evidence of genuine love.

2. Ephesians 2:7

3. 2 Corinthians 6:4-6

4. Proverbs 19:22

5. 1 Corinthians 13:4

6. 1 Corinthians 15:33

7. Proverbs 24:17

8. Proverbs 15:1

Proverbs Teaches Us HowTo Love One Another

Proverbs has much to say about how we ought to treat one another. Much of what the Bible teaches us to do involves simple and obvious things that should come naturally for those who walk in the Spirit. Read the following verses and explain (1) what we should do, (2) why we should do it, and (3) for whom we should do it.

Verses What Should We Do? Why Should We Do it? For Whom?

Proverbs 3:27

Proverbs 3:28

Proverbs 3:29

Proverbs 14:21, 31

B

F

A

E

H

D

G

C

do good when it is in our power todo it

because peopledeserve it

those to whom itis due

give if we have it togive

because we haveit to give now our neighbors

don’t think up evilagainst others

because they feelsecure in yourfriendship

our neighbors

have mercy on them and honorthem

to honor God andbe happy the poor


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Proverbs 24:28

Proverbs 25:21-22

Luke 6:35-36

Being Kind To Our Enemies

Loving enemies may be the most difficult part of learning to love others. In the Bible, Jesus says that it is not to our credit when we are kind to those we care about and have as our friends. To be kind and loving to someone who is kind and loving to us is easy. It is easy to love someone we like!

But when someone has mistreated us and hurt us in some way, it is very difficult to treat him kindly. What we need to do is learn to let God’s Holy Spirit work in our hearts and help us to respond in the right way. Jesus says that He can make even our enemies to be our friends. How does Proverbs 16:7 explain this?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jesus Forgave His Enemies

• The greatest example we have of forgiving and showing kindness to an enemy

is what Jesus did on the cross. Jesus had done no wrong, yet many people want-

ed Him to be crucified. Read Luke 23:33-37 and answer each of the following

questions: What groups of people persecuted Jesus?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

don’t witness against him without cause

no answer your neighbor

give him food anddrink; meet hisneed

because the Lordwill reward us, andit will heap coals offire on his head

your enemy

love them, do goodto them, lend to them, and be merciful to them

because this reflects the way Godtreats His people

your enemies

When our ways please the Lord, He makes even our enemies to be at peacewith us.

soldiers, the people, and the rulers


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• What kinds of things did these groups do? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• What did Jesus ask God on their behalf? _______________________________________________________________

The Story Of Ruth

The story of Ruth and Naomi is a beautiful story of love, devotion, gentleness, and kindness in action. Consider Ruth’s story carefully with these characteristics in mind.

This story begins with another woman named Naomi. Naomi’s family, including her husband and two sons, left the land of Canaan (the Promised Land) because there was a famine there. They went in search of food and what they thought would be a better life. While in a foreign country, Naomi’s sons married heathen women. But soon Naomi’s husband and both of her sons died. So Naomi decided to return to her people and her homeland.

When Naomi decided to go back, one of her daughters-in-law chose to stay in her homeland. The other, Ruth, had learned about the one true God and wanted to stay with Naomi, so the two women went to live in the town of Bethlehem. They were very poor, but God took care of them.

Back then, it was customary for the poor people to gather the grain that was left over after the farmers had harvested the fields. Ruth went into these fields to gather leftover grain for food. The field where she gathered grain belonged to a man named Boaz. As she gathered her grain, Boaz began to watch her and noticed her beauty and her gentle, loving ways in the midst of hardship. God brought them together, and they were married.

Although Ruth was a poor foreigner from a heathen nation, God honored her devotion to Him and her loving and kind ways. He helped her meet someone who would take care of her and love her. In this way the Lord graciously blessed her life and even honored her with a place in the lineage of His Son! Ruth eventually became the great-grandmother of King David.

Who was King David’s most important descendant?

____________________________________________________________________

They cast lots for His clothes, derided Him, mocked Him, and askedHim to save Himself.

He asked God to forgive them all.

Jesus Christ


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Read the following verses in the book of Ruth and explain how the spiritual qualities of love, gentleness, and kindness can be seen in Ruth’s life.

• Ruth 1:16-18 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Ruth 2:2-3 ______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Ruth 2:8-12 _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Ruth 3:11 _______________________________________________________

How Do We Become Kind?

The story of Ruth illustrates how gentleness and kindness could be a part of your life. God will bless you for your loving attitudes and your strength of character. As you have already studied, there is only one way to build your character in these areas and all others. You must allow the Holy Spirit to change you from the inside. You must also fulfill your responsibility to submit to His commands. Developing godly character involves both trusting Him and obeying Him.

Teacher’s Lesson

Ruth’s Situation Attitude(s) Shown Attitude(s)Not Shown Blessing(s)

She suffered the death of her

husband.

She left home and moved to Canaan.

She worked hard in the fields.

Ruth showed love, loyalty, and commitment to Naomiby choosing to go to Canaan with her.

Ruth was willing to work hard. She had a gentle, helpfulattitude.

Ruth had been k ind, loving, and loyal to her mother-in-law.She gave up the land of her birth.

Ruth was virtuous.

acceptance

commitment

gentleness

resentment

complaining,bitterness

new home

learned to trust God

food; met Boaz

discouragement,bitterness


L E S S O N 1 7 Q U I ZLOVE AND GENTLENESS

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhatdidJesussaywerethetwomostimportantcommands?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

2. WhatdoesProverbs16:7saywillhappentouswhenourwayspleasetheLord? ________________________________________________________________________________

3. What did Jesus ask God to do to His enemies as He hung on the cross? ________________________________________________________________________________

4. HowdidRuthshowherloyaltyandcommitmenttoNaomi,hermother-in-law? ________________________________________________________________________________

5. even though ruth faced many hardships, what attitudes did she not allow to be a part of her life? ________________________________________________________________________________

6. What are some specific things you can do to show love to the following types of people?

• Thepoor: ____________________________________________________________________

• Yourneighbors: _______________________________________________________________

• Yourenemies: _________________________________________________________________

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INTEGRITY

TARGET TRUTHS• Integrityistheinnercoreofourcharacter.

• Othersshouldknowthatwecanalwaysbetrustedtotellthetruthandthatwewillneverbedeceptive.

• Theprincipleofsowingandreapingiscontinuallyatworkinourlives.

TEACHING STRATEGYHave your students discuss the word “integrity” before they even open their books and begin this lesson. Do not use the word “honesty” in the same context yet. after they have discussed the meaning for a few minutes, have them write a definition for the word. collect the papers and save them.

at the end of this lesson, have them write a new definition of integrity on the same sheet of paper so they might see how much more they understand about this concept than they did at the beginning.

The Principle of Truth and HonestyThe purpose of this lesson is to help your students understand the concept of integrity and how important it is to their lives. Most young people do not understand the concept and how important it is to their character. Integrity is who you are as a person, and a person of integrity is worth the price of gold to all who come in contact with him. This section emphasizes the different facets of what the word integrity stands for.

Discuss the results of having a reputation for lying. Some results might include:

• Tellingliestocoverlies

• Havingaguiltyconscience

• Beingafraidyouwillbefoundout

• Notbeingtrustedbyfriends

• Notbeingtrustedbyparentsandteachers

• Nothavingthefreedomthatyouwouldlike

Discuss the deception of telling half-truths and “white” lies. Have students share examples of this type of deception and dishonesty. also discuss how you can say something tactfully and still be honest so that you do not hurt someone’s feelings.

The Principle of Sowing and reapingThe concept of sowing and reaping is a key to our study of integrity for two reasons.

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• God’sprinciplesoperateintheworldwhetherornotoneisaChristian.Theprincipleofsowingand reaping is an integral part of all our lives. God’s principles are a part of our lives whether we acknowledge them or not.

• Ifintegrityisatthecoreofourcharacter,wewillreapthatwhichisgood.Butifwearedishonestand devious, we will reap that also. The reason the story of Jacob and esau is included is because of the problem with deviousness. Deviousness is a sin that strikes at the core of integrity. Basically, to be devious means to have no integrity. Deviousness includes cheating, lying, stealing, gossip, deception, and many other sins.

Before completing this section, write the word “devious” on the board and have students list other sins related to the sin of being devious.

after the section is completed, include in the discussion time the ways in which your students are devious. Have them share specific ways in which deviousness evidences itself, without having them name names or situations. They will be more open to share and recognize the problem if personal situations are not shared.

Use the following information in your discussion of deviousness.

• Deviousness ischeating.IamdeviouswhenIamnotcompletelyhonestwithmyparentswhenthey ask me questions about how I spend my time, who my friends are, or what happened at school today.

• Deviousnessisbeingdeceitful.IamdeviouswhenIamsneaky—Iamsupposedtobestudying,butI am watching TV or talking on the phone.

• Deviousnessisstealing.IamdeviouswhenItakemoneyfrommymother’spurseormyfather’swallet, and I think they will never notice.

Before finishing the section, emphasize very clearly the consequences in the lives of rebekah and Jacob for their deviousness. We may seem to get away with our actions for a while, but sooner or later, God’s principle of sowing and reaping will begin to work.

Other examples of Young People with Integrity/Pure Motives/Walking in IntegrityThe examples of Mary and David show the basic ingredients of integrity—a pure heart and pure motives. Sometimes we will fail and do wrong, but God will be faithful to bring us back through discipline and natural consequences because He knows whether or not our motives toward Him are pure. If we truly desire to do right, God will help us direct our lives and be successful. Help your students think through each question in this section to discern what their motives truly are.

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commercials and advertisingThe world uses half-truths and “white lies” continually. Good examples of these are found in advertising in magazines or on television commercials. Have students bring in ads from magazines or written examples from television commercials in which claims are made that are not completely truthful.

ProjectHelp and encourage your students to select each day one thing to do purely because they want to please God and have right motives. It could be something they do for someone else in particular or something that will benefit their family or school in general. They should do what they have decided upon quietly without tellinganyone. It isonly for theLord toknow,soselect something thatwillbringnogloryorpraise and that will go unnoticed by others. encourage them to remember that God will notice, and they will reap wonderful blessing for what they do. God Himself will reward them.


• Honestywillguidetheupright,butalackofhonestywilldestroyyou.• Honestytellswhatisright.• Honestywillbeestablishedforever,butliarslastonlyamoment.• HonestyisthedelightoftheLord.• Honestywillcauseyoutoescapepunishment.• Honestyshowsourtruecharactertoeveryone.• Honestymeansnoteverhavingtoworryaboutfeelingsofguilt.• Honestyinvolvesconfessingoursinsandreceivingmercy.

2. We will reap whatever we sow—whether we sow sinful deeds or righteousness.3. He used craftiness to bargain for esau’s birthright, and he used deception to get the blessing that was to

have gone to esau from his father, Isaac. as a result, he had to flee from home and was later deceived byhisUncleLaban.

4. any three of the following would be acceptable:• tellsomeonethatyouplantogivehimsomethingandthenlaternotgiveitormakepromisesyou

cannot keep• takewhatdoesnotbelongtoyou• sayanythingintendedtoinjurethereputationofanotherpersonorslander• beatalebearerandtellfalsestoriesaboutothersorstart,repeat,orlistentogossip• lietoanyoneaboutanything• acceptagiftorpaymentofanysorttodowrongortrytomakemoneybytellinglies• failtoadmitwhenyouarewrong• dowrongthings,thinkingthatnoonewilleverfindout• dothingsthatdispleasetheLordanddeceiveyourself

5. answers will vary.


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INTEGRITY

In our last lesson we studied the most important commands. The Bible says, “God is love” (1 John 4:7–10). When we demonstrate true love and kindness to people, we are showing them God. In this lesson we are going to learn about another quality that is a key in the development of our character. Like the quality of love, it should be part of every aspect of our lives.

To have integrity is to live consistently according to a code of core values. It means to be completely honest in all matters, to be sincere and faithful, to be strong and steadfast, and to have the courage to do right. A person who has integrity is a trustworthy person. He lives righteously in all he does. He does not lie, he does not cheat, and he does not steal.

The Principle Of Truth And Honesty

Making truth and honesty a basic part of your life will show all who know you what kind of person you are. If you have integrity, you will be trusted.

Read the following verses in Proverbs and explain what God says about the importance of truthfulness in our lives.

• 11:3 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 12:17 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 12:19 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 12:22 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Honesty will guide the upright, but a lack of honesty will destroy you.

Honesty tells what is right.

Honesty will be established forever, but liars only last for amoment.

Honesty is the delight of the Lord, but He detests liars.


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• 19:5 ___________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ .

• 20:11 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 20:17 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 28:13 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

The Principle Of Sowing And Reaping

One of the recurring ideas in the Bible is the principle of sowing and reaping. Read Galatians 6:7 and state the principle in your own words.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A Bible story that illustrates the meaning of this principle is the story of Jacob and Esau. Jacob and Esau were twin brothers. Esau was the first of the twins to be born. Being the first-born son held many advantages for boys in those days. One advantage was that Esau would inherit the birthright. However, Esau was not the favorite son of his mother, Rebekah. She wanted Jacob to have the advantages of being the first-born, so she helped him deceive his father, Isaac. Read a part of their story in Genesis 25:27-34. In your own words, explain how Jacob used craftiness to obtain Esau’s birthright.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Later, Rebekah and Jacob together used deceit to take what they wanted. By this time Isaac was very old, and his eyes were weak. Isaac wanted to give the traditional inheritance blessing to his first-born son Esau before he died, so he called Esau and sent him to hunt and prepare food for them both before he gave the blessing. Read the rest of the story in Genesis 27:1-41 and complete the following.

Honesty will cause you to escape punishment.

Honesty shows our true character to everyone.

Honesty means not ever having to worry about feelings ofguilt.

Honesty involves confessing our sins and receiving mercy.

We will reap whatever we sow, whether we sow sinful deeds or righteousness.

Esau was very hungry when he returned from hunting. Jacob offered him food in exchange for his birthright, and Esau accepted the offer.


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1. Isaac was old, and... A. ...to kill his brother.

B. ...take food to Isaac to receive the blessing before Esau came.

C. ...he believed Jacob was Esau.

D. ...that his father had been deceived.

E. ...his eyes were weak.

F. ...give him his blessing before he died.

G. ...covering his neck and arms with goatskins.

H. ...to Jacob.

2. Isaac asked Esau to get food for him so he might...

3. Rebekah told Jacob to...

4. Jacob tricked Isaac by...

5. Isaac was deceived because...

6. Isaac gave the blessing...

7. Esau came back and learned...

8. Esau was so upset that he planned...

Now the sowing and reaping principle began to take effect in the lives of Jacob and Rebekah. Read Genesis 27:41-45. What happened and why?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jacob never saw his mother alive again. When Jacob left home, he went to Haran to live with his Uncle Laban. Laban was Rebekah’s brother. Soon after he arrived at his uncle’s home, Jacob met Rachel and wanted to marry her. Laban said that if Jacob worked for him for seven years, he could have Rachel as his wife. So Jacob worked for his uncle for seven years until Rachel could become his wife. God used Laban’s dishonesty to show Jacob the importance of the principle of integrity and honesty. Jacob was deceived just as he had deceived his father, Isaac. Read Genesis 29:21-28 and explain how Laban deceived Jacob.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

E

F

B

G

C

H

D

A

Esau hated Jacob and wanted to kill him. When Rebekah heard about this,she told Jacob to flee to Haran where his Uncle Laban lived.

When the seven years wasup, Jacob thought he was marrying Rachel, butLaban tricked him into marrying his other daughter, Leah. Jacob had to work seven more years to marry Rachel.


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Now we see the principle in action. The things we do, whether they are good or bad, will come back to us. Jacob sowed deception, and he reaped deception. He sowed dishonesty, and he reaped dishonesty. If you hurt others, others will hurt you. But if you spread love and kindness, love and kindness will be returned to you. If you sow honesty, that too will be returned. God has set this principle into action, and it will happen as He says.

Integrity is a key ingredient in your character. Integrity means that you have pure motives and honesty. You are dependable to do what is right. God always focuses on our motives and purposes. If our inner motives and inner purposes are pure and right, our lives will be right. Others will see that we can be trusted.

Pure Motives

Read 1 Samuel 16:7. When Samuel was seeking out the young man God had chosen to be the next king of Israel, what did he say about the difference between the way man judges and the way God judges?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Lord showed Samuel that David was the young man that He had chosen to be king. Why? Because David had a pure heart and pure motives.

Walking In Integrity

The concept of integrity relates to many areas. Read each of the following verses and match it with the correct statement.

1. Do not tell someone that you plan to give him some-thing and then later not give it. Do not make promises you cannot keep.

A. Exodus 20:15

B. Proverbs 11:9

C. Proverbs 15:3

D. Proverbs 18:8

E. Proverbs 21:6

F. Proverbs 25:14

G. Colossians 3:9

H. James 1:22

I. James 5:16

2. Do not take what does not belong to you.

3. Do not say anything intended to injure the reputation of another person. This is slander.

4. Do not be a talebearer and tell false stories about others. Do not start, repeat, or listen to gossip.

5. Do not lie to anyone about anything.

Man looks on the outer appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

F

A

B

D

G


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6. Do not accept a gift or payment of any sort to do wrong; do not try to make money by telling lies.

7. Openly admit when you are wrong.

8. Do not do wrong things, thinking that no one will ever find out.

9. Determine to do those things that are pleasing to the Lord so you will not deceive yourself.

It is important to look inside yourself and think about your own motives. Why do you do what you do? Is it because you want to do what is right or because you are afraid of punishment? Why are you nice to others? Is it because you want to be loving and kind or because you want something in return? Impure motives should be taken out of your life by confessing wrong attitudes that you see inside yourself.

Seeing The Sowing And ReapingPrinciple In My Life

It is a sign of maturity to begin to understand how the principle of sowing and reaping works in our lives. We can see how the principle works both when we do wrong and when we do right.

On the following chart, share several instances from your own life when this principle was at work. Share both good and bad examples.

I Sowed... I Reaped...

1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

E

I

C

H

Answers will vary.


L E S S O N 1 8 Q U I ZINTEGRITY

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ___________

1. WhataretwothingstheBookofProverbssaysabouthonestyandintegrity?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

2. explain the principle of sowing and reaping. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

3. How is this principle seen in the life of Jacob? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

4. according to the section in your lesson titled “Walking in Integrity,” what are three things that you will not do if you live a life of integrity?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

5. explain in your own words what the word “integrity” means. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

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L E S S O N 1 9

MEEKNESS AND HUMILITY

TARGET TRUTHS• Meeknessconsistsofinnerstrength.Itdoesnotmeanweakness.

• Prideandarrogancewillendindestruction,butmeeknesswillbehonoredbyGod.

• AmeekpersonisabletosufferunjustlybecauseheknowsthatGodwillputallthingsright.

TEACHING STRATEGYread the first paragraph together and emphasize the inner strength necessary to develop meekness. Many middle school students want to be seen as strong and courageous. It helps them to understand that it is the weak person who gets angry or who must always have his own way. The strong person is in control of his emotions. Being meek takes inner strength.

results of Humility and PrideAswelearnedfromthesowingandreapingsectioninLesson18,thereareconsequencestoeverythingwe do—both good and bad. This means that there are consequences for humility as well as for pride and arrogance. Have several students share the paragraphs they wrote explaining their conclusions regarding pride and humility.

EsthertheQueen/KingNebuchadnezzarHave your students work individually or in pairs to complete these sections. Discuss each situation, emphasizing the sowing and reaping principle at work in each of the following lives: esther, Haman, Mordecai,andNebuchadnezzar.(TwodifferentresultsareevidentindifferentpartsofNebuchadnezzar’sstory—one kind when he showed pride and the other when he repented and showed humility.)

arrogance and Pride/Meekness/Humility or Pride?as these sections are completed, help your students compare the characteristics found in each section.

WhatAboutYourLife?follow up the material that has already been discussed by having students complete the project in this section.

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compositionMordecai was to be hanged because of another man’s pride and arrogance, but he remained meek and quiet. He did not try to “get even” but rather allowed God to work out the results. The Bible teaches us thatrightstovengeancebelongonlytoGod(Rom.12:19).Jesuswasalsounjustlyaccused,butHeallowedGod to work out the results instead of “getting even” with His accusers.

Have your students write about a time when they had to suffer unjustly and wanted to “get even.” Tell them to describe the incident, explain how they responded or reacted, decide if they had the proper reaction, and decide how they should respond in the future.

Play-actingPlay-actthestoryofQueenEstherand/orKingNebuchadnezzarbydividingtheclassintogroupsandallow them time to organize themselves. Tell them to emphasize the qualities of arrogance and meekness throughout their plays, focusing particularly on God’s sovereignty and individuals’ dependence on Him.

TEACHER’S LESSON

Definition of MeeknessMeekness is an inward attitude of mind that yields all rights and expectations to God. Meekness says, “God is in control of everything, and I can trust Him to take care of my life in all situations.”

antonymsThe opposite of meekness is arrogance and pride. arrogance is selfish and wants its own way in all situations.

SynonymsTwo other words related to meekness are humility and submission.

The Principle of Meekness in actionWhen we are meek, we do not...

• Argueanddemandourrights• Pushtobefirst• Seekto“geteven”• Rebelagainstauthority• Boastofouraccomplishments• Worryaboutrewardsforeverythingwedo

DiscusstheseaspectsofprideandarroganceasseeninthelivesofHamanandNebuchadnezzar.

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• wisdom• personalpropertyprotected• honor• riches• life• prosperity

2. any two of the following would be acceptable:• shame• conflictwithothers• house(orheritage)destroyed• destructionandafall• sin• conflict

3. Hamanwasproudanddidnotrepent.Nebuchadnezzarrepented,showedhumility,andcametohonorandworshiptheLord.

4. He was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.5. His kingdom was returned to him.6. an inward attitude that yields all rights and expectations to God7.

• Arrogance• Pride

8. • Humility• Submission


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MEEKNESS AND HUMILITY

The idea of developing a meek and humble attitude is not generally appealing to young people because they do not understand its true meaning. Many think that meekness and humility show weakness. But this is far from the truth. Actually, meekness and humility in the life of a Christian result from the recognition that God has supplied us with everything that we are. Because His power has broken into our lives, and because He has a purpose for our lives, we realize that we do not have to show everyone how great we are. We have nothing to prove because we depend on God for everything, and He supplies it all. This trust in God produces patience, love, wisdom, control over anger, and courage. A person who is not dependent on God does not have these qualities. This kind of person is impatient, angry, proud, haughty, and arrogant because he believes he has to accomplish everything on his own. Thus meekness and humility have at their core strength and courage that are grounded on faith in God.

Results Of Humility And Pride

Compare Proverbs 8:13 and Isaiah 13:11. What does God think of arrogance and pride?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We need to begin to recognize the problem of pride and arrogance so that we can begin to develop the strength of humility and meekness in our lives. Pride says that we are in control, not God. It says that our desires and plans are more important than God’s.

Read the following verses in Proverbs and record what they say about the results of humility and pride.

God hates them. He will stop these attitudes and bring down those whoare haughty.


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Proverb Results of Humility Results of Pride

11:2

13:10

15:25

16:18

18:12

21:4

22:4

28:25

Review what you have written in each section above and think of some ways you need to have humility in your life. What will happen if you allow pride to control what you do?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Esther The Queen

The book of Esther is the story of a young Jewish woman who became the queen of King Ahasuerus of Persia. Esther had been raised by her Uncle Mordecai, who at one time had saved the king’s life.

Answers will vary.

wisdom

wisdom

personal propertyprotected

no results here

honor

no results here

riches, honor, and life

prosperity (literally,be made fat)

shame

conflict with others

house or heritagedestroyed

destruction and a fall

destruction

sin

no results here

conflict


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The king decided to promote a man named Haman to a very important position. Read Esther 3:1-6 and complete the following questions.

• What were the people commanded to do? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Who would not do this? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Why was Haman so angry? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• What did Haman decide to do? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• What was Haman’s heart problem? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

After what you have studied about the results of arrogance and pride, what do you think God caused to happen to Haman?

_______________________________________________________________________

The king did not know that his queen was also a Jew, so he agreed to Haman’s plan. So Queen Esther and Mordecai began to pray and ask God to show them what to do. God showed Esther that she should have a banquet to show her husband the truth of what was happening in his kingdom. Haman was invited to the banquet. How did Haman evidence even more pride at this invitation? See Esther 5:11-12.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

bow to Haman and reverence him

Mordecai

because Mordecai would not bow to him

have all the Jews in the kingdom killed (since Mordecai was a Jew)

pride and arrogance

He would be brought down and destroyed.

Haman boasted about his wealth and position in life and that he alone wasinvited to dine with the king and queen.


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Haman was so filled with pride and arrogance that he thought he could do anything he wished. He ordered a gallows to be built on which Mordecai would be hanged. But God reminded the king that Mordecai had once saved his life and had not been rewarded. So the king caused Mordecai to be honored by having him led through the streets on a richly arrayed horse with Haman leading the parade. Haman was mortified. At a second banquet held by Queen Esther, Haman was present once again.

Read Esther 7:1-10 and answer the following questions.

• What did the king learn at this banquet? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• What was the king’s response? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• What happened to Haman? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

King Nebuchadnezzar

During the days of Daniel, there was a very powerful king named Nebuchadnezzar. King Nebuchadnezzar developed the same attitudes of pride and arrogance that we saw in the life of Haman. But there is a difference in the story of Nebuchadnezzar. See if you can discover the difference between the two men. Read the story in Daniel 4:28-37.

• How did Nebuchadnezzar’s arrogance and pride evidence themselves? _______________________________________________________________

• What did God allow to happen to the king? _______________________________________________________________

• What attitude began to change in Nebuchadnezzar’s heart? _______________________________________________________________

• What happened to the king then? _______________________________________________________________

Esther was a Jew and would be destroyed with her people.

He was angry at Haman.

He was hanged on the gallows he had made for Mordecai.

He thought his kingdom had been built by his power.

He was driven out of his kingdom and made to live like an animal.

He repented before the Lord and began to honor and praise Him.

His kingdom was returned to him.


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Compare Haman with King Nebuchadnezzar. What was the key difference between these two men, and what results did God provide because of this difference?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Arrogance And Pride

One of the key ingredients of pride is arrogance. An arrogant person exaggerates his own importance before others. He acts cocky and thinks he knows everything.

Read the following verses in Proverbs and record what each says a foolish, prideful person does.

• 15:5 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 15:20 __________________________________________________________

• 30:11 __________________________________________________________

• 30:12 __________________________________________________________

• 30:13 __________________________________________________________

Meekness

The Bible has much to teach about meekness. Read the following verses and place the correct reference beside the statement that best matches each verse.

1. Meekness cooperates with others and seeks unity. A. Matthew 21:12

B. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9

C. Galatians 6:1-3

D. James 1:21

E. Ephesians 4:2-3

F. 1 Peter 3:1, 4

2. Meekness humbly helps those in need.

3. Meekness is teachable.

4. Meekness is submissive.

5. Meekness nourishes and cherishes others.

6. Meekness is not the opposite of courage.

Haman did not repent. Nebuchadnezzar repented and came to honor andrespect the Lord. Nebuchadnezzar became humble and meek.

He will not listen to his father’s instruction.

He despises his mother.

He curses his parents.

He thinks evil is okay.

He acts haughty and proud.

E

C

D

F

B

A


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Humility Or Pride?

Look up each verse listed on the following chart and indicate who the passage is about and then whether the person is showing humility or pride.

Passage Person Humility or Pride?

Genesis 32:9-10

Exodus 5:2

2 Kings 5:9-12

2 Kings 5:13-15

2 Chronicles 26:1-5

2 Chronicles 26:14-16

Matthew 3:13-15

Luke 15:11-13

Luke 15:14-19

What About Your Life

List those areas where you have exhibited pride, arrogance, self-will, a bad temper, the determination to have your own way, and rebellion toward your parents.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In which of these areas do you face the greatest struggles?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jacob

Pharoah

Naaman

Naaman

Uzziah

Uzziah

John the Baptist

younger son

younger son

humility

pride

pride

humility

humility

pride

humility

pride

humility

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.


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With this in mind, give yourself a project to do that will help you exhibit patient, quiet submission to someone.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Teacher’s Lesson

Meekness

• Definition

An inward attitude that _________________all ____________________ and __________________________to ______

• Antonyms

• ____________________________________________________________

• ____________________________________________________________

• Synonyms

• ____________________________________________________________

• ____________________________________________________________

When we are meek, we do not...

• __________ and ____________ our rights

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

Answers will vary.

Arrogance

Pride

Humility

Submission

Push to be first

Seek to get even

Rebel against authority

Boast of our accomplishments

Worry about rewards for everything we do

yields rightsexpectations God

Argue demand


L E S S O N 1 9 Q U I ZMEEKNESS AND HUMILITY

Name ________________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. AccordingtoProverbs,whataretworesultsofhumility?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

2. according to Proverbs, what are two results of pride?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

3. WhatwasthekeydifferencebetweenHamanandNebuchadnezzar? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

4. What finally happened to Haman? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

5. WhatfinallyhappenedtoNebuchadnezzar? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

6. What is the definition of meekness? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

7. What are two antonyms of meekness?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

8. What are two synonyms of meekness?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

LE

SS

ON

19

OV

ER

HE

AD

Meekness

•Definition

Aninw

ardattitudethatyieldsallrightsandexpectationstoG

od•A

ntonyms

•Arrogance

•Pride•Synonym

s•H

umility

•Submission

When w

e are meek, w

e do not...•A

rgueanddemandourrights

•Pushtobefirst•Seektogeteven•Rebelagainstauthority•Boastofouraccom

plishments

•Worryaboutrew

ardsforeverythingwedo

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L E S S O N 2 0

HARD WORK AND FAITHFULNESS

TARGET TRUTHS• GodwillhelpustosetgoalswithinHiswillforus.

• Faithfulnessandhardworkwillhelpusachieveourgoals.

• Wewillhavetolearntoovercometribulationsandobstaclestoachieveourgoals.

TEACHING STRATEGYBasedonthelastfourlessons,apatternhasbeenestablishedforthedevelopmentofcharacter.LoveisofGod and is a foundational aspect of the character of God. Thus it was the first step that we discussed in character development.

The second level, integrity, deals with many areas of life that hit at the core of who we are as a person. Lying,cheating,stealing,gossiping,slander,hostilities,andamultitudeofothersinsmustbeeliminatedto establish a life of integrity, which should be the core of our character.

The third level is meekness or humility. These will eliminate pride and arrogance from our lives. If pride gains a foothold in our lives, we will fail and not succeed.

This lesson emphasizes a fourth level of importance—that of faithfulness to God and to a task and hard work to complete our God-given tasks.

after discussing the above points, discuss the first section of this lesson together and then have your students answer the questions about the life and mission of christ. follow the three-point outline in your discussion as christ’s faithfulness to God’s will and goals for His life are carried out.

faithfulness and Diligence Will Bring SuccessHave your students work in groups, by pairs, or individually to complete this section and then review the key ideas presented here. Have various students read the proverbs they wrote based on what they learned.

Making excusescomplete this section together as a class. as students list common excuses, encourage them to be specific in the way they are stated and then discuss why each excuse is eventually going to hurt them.

Johann Gutenberg/Setting Personal GoalsThis short biography teaches the story of a great man of God and also illustrates the key ideas that we have been studying. at the end of the story, the same three key ideas are provided as an outline to evaluate

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Gutenberg. Then students are to think through a goal they have for themselves and to consider the problems that they may face as they achieve this goal.

faithfulness in real-life SituationsThis section should help your students see how some of the principles they have learned should affect their everyday lives.


Setting GoalsIt is also important that middle school students begin to think in terms of goal-setting. Many times, young people who graduate from high school have not learned to look ahead and set goals for themselves.

Goal-setting is important inmanyareas foryoungpeople: (1) theyneed tosetgoals for their spirituallivesandcommitareasofgrowthtotheLord;(2)theyneedtolearntosetgoalsintheirpersonallivesconcerningtheirattitudesandactionstowardtheirparents,brothers,andsisters;(3)theyneedtosetgoalsregardingtheirschoolworkandstudyhabits;(4)theyneedtosetgoalsregardingextracurricularactivitiesand service. Have your students write down goals for each of the following areas.

• Myspirituallife

• Myhomelife

• Myschoolwork

• Myfriendships

• Myextracurricularactivities

• Areasofservicetoothers

collect their goals and save them for a few weeks. Bring them out after time has passed and have each student evaluate how he or she is doing. Then review the excuses we make for not completing our goals and commitments.

InterviewingandWritingaNewsStoryHave the class break into pairs. Have one student take the part of Gutenberg and the other student assume the role of an interviewer. Have the class decide together what types of questions could be asked and then have each pair of students conduct an interview of Gutenberg about his life.

ThenhavetheinterviewertakethepartofeitherMordecai,QueenEsther,Ruth,orKingNebuchadnezzar.Nowtheotherstudentwillbetheinterviewer.

after the interviews are complete, have each student write a newspaper story based on the key ideas they wrote during their interviews. each news article should answer the questions Who?, What?, Where?, When?, and Why? Tell them to begin their articles with an interest-catching statement and then tell the key events in such a way that the news story will be interesting to the reader.

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QUIZ ANSWERS1.

• KnowthewillofGodsoweknowthatweareobeyingHim.• Learntobefaithfulandworkhardsothatourgoalsmaybeachieved.• Learnthattrialsandobstacleswillcomeintoourpathsandnotallowourselvestousetheseasexcuses.

2. • Lazy,indolent,sluggish• Alazyperson;someonewhoisidle

3. any two of the following would be acceptable:• Becomerich• Beawiseson• Ruleoverothers• Bemadefat(prosper)• Standbeforekingsandnothavetoworryaboutordinarymen

4. any two of the following would be acceptable:• Bepoorandhaveshame• Experiencebondageandslavery• Desirethingsandhavenothing• Behungry• Begandhavenothing• Bepoorandclothedinrags

5. Make excuses (such as, “There is a lion in the streets.”)6. accept all reasonable answers.7. accept all reasonable answers.


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HARD WORK AND FAITHFULNESS

All of our talents and abilities come from God. God has a purpose for all of these things that He has given us. As we have already studied, God has a purpose and plan for us and wants to direct our paths so we will be successful. To achieve the goals He has for us, we must learn several things.

1. First, we must know the will of God so we know we are obeying Him.

2. Second, we must learn to be faithful and work hard so that our goals may be achieved. A lazy person will never succeed in any area.

3. Finally, we must learn that trials and obstacles will come into our paths, and we must not allow ourselves to use these obstacles as excuses. Instead, we need to persevere and be faithful in our tasks.

Let’s analyze the life of Christ to see how this fits into the pattern we have outlined above.

Jesus had a definite purpose and goal for coming to the earth. What was His purpose and goal? (Luke 19:10)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Was God directing Jesus to complete this goal? Yes No

Using John 17:3-6 as an example, list some of the other goals God had given Jesus to accomplish.

• ________________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________________

to seek out and save the lost by dying for their sins

To cause people to know God

To glorify God’s name on the earth

To reveal God to people

x


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These are goals God wants all of us to accomplish.

Was Jesus faithful to complete this goal? ______

How do you know that He was not lazy?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Trials and obstacles definitely came into Jesus’ path and threatened to defeat Him. What was His greatest trial?

______________________________________________________________________

What other trials did He face?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Was Jesus defeated? Yes No

How do you know? What happened to show that He was not defeated and instead completed the goal set before Him?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Faithfulness And Diligence Will Bring Success

Using a dictionary, find and record definitions for the following words.

• Slothful: ________________________________________________________

• Sluggard: _______________________________________________________

• Slack: __________________________________________________________

• Diligent: ________________________________________________________

Read the following verses in Proverbs and record how God views a faithful, diligent worker and what He thinks about laziness.

He traveled steadily for three years, healing and teaching people. When the time came for Him to go to Jerusalem, He went there even though He knewHe would be killed.

His crucifixion

Some people were always against Him, especially the religious leaders.

He never stopped doing what He was called to do. He endured the cross.

lazy, indolent, sluggish

a lazy person; someone who is idle

dull, sluggish, not busy

industrious, persevering

yes

x


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Proverb Hard Worker Lazy Person

10:4–5

12:24

13:4

19:15

20:4

22:29

23:21

Read and observe the lesson that can be learned from Proverbs 24:30-34. Then complete your own proverb based on this lesson, substituting a situation that would fit into your lifestyle.

A _________________ young person ____________________________________, but a __________________________ young person _______________________________________________________.

Making Excuses

When faced with criticism, verbal abuse, mockery, hard work, or failure, we tend to have one of these responses:

• We carry a grudge.• We quit.• We become discouraged.

• We retaliate by trying to get even.• We make excuses.

Answers will vary.

becomes rich; is a wiseperson

will rule over others

will be made fat (experienceprosperity)

will stand before kings and not have to worry about ordinary men

will be poor and have shame

will experience bondageand slavery

will desire things and havenothing

will be hungry

will give excuses for not working and will beg and have nothing

will be poor and clothed in rags


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Read Proverbs 22:13 to see a type of excuse that people make for not completing a goal. What is it?

___________________________________________________________________________

List some of the excuses that you and your friends make for not completing the tasks you have.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Look back over your list carefully. Check those types of excuses that you tend to use. What should you do instead of making excuses?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Johann Gutenberg

God uses our hard work and faithfulness to Him to accomplish great things through us for His people. Let’s study one example of how God used one man’s hard work to change the world by making Bibles available to ordinary people. As you read this story, pay close attention so you will be able to answer the questions at the end.

For hundreds of years, copies of the Bible were made by monks one copy at a time. They copied the Word of God by hand, and they believed that this was the only proper way to make the Holy Bible live on. They also believed that those who were priests and monks were the only ones who should read the Word of God because others could not interpret God’s Word properly. They did not believe that common people like us could ever understand the Bible for themselves.

Johann Gutenberg was born in Mainz, Germany around 1400. As a boy, he went to school for only five years, which was all that was required. He became an apprentice in the Mainz mint, where his father was director. At work he learned to make gold coins, but at home he carved wooden blocks in the shape of the letters of the alphabet and used these to make copies of his grammar book. Johann loved to read, but books were far too expensive for someone like him to be able to buy.

There is a lion in the streets.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.


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From his experiments with wooden letters, Johann decided that wood was not clear enough for printing. He wanted to find a way to use a cast metal strong enough to take constant use, so he began to experiment with a variety of molds and frames. God had given Johann a special interest and goal. His goal was to invent a new way to make books so they could print books for everyone to read. He had a dream of giving the Bible to the common people.

Constant problems came along that could easily have defeated him and kept him from his goal. In those days guilds of craftsmen had rules about what a person could make in their shops. According to the guild, Johann was to work only at goldsmithing as he had been apprenticed to do. They learned that Johann was going against the guild rules by experimenting with other things. As a result, the guild prevented money from being sent to Johann’s shop. Now he could not pay his bills. Lawsuits were brought against him, and his lenders wanted their money. Johann then printed the grammar book used by wealthy children. This enabled him to borrow money from Johann Fust so he could continue his work.

This caused further problems because Fust knew of Gutenberg’s dream to print the Bible. Fust decided to control the market of all Bible printing so he could receive all of the money from these sales for himself. Gutenberg was not interested in profit. His primary goal was to let all the common people, not just the priests, have the Bible to read. So Fust had his son-in-law work in Gutenberg’s shop since he was now Gutenberg’s biggest creditor. The son-in-law watched to see when the invention was finished. Just as Johann had gotten his start on the New Testament, Fust took him to court and legally forced Johann out of his shop to pay back his bills. Fust began to print Bibles on Gutenberg’s printing press for a great profit.

Gutenberg then went back to his home and set up his own shop and printing press. A very important man in politics and in the church became his patron and helped him. Through Gutenberg, God caused many thousands of Bibles to be printed and brought into the hands of common people all over the world. When we realize how many libraries and stores are filled with books of every description, it is important to realize that the first books printed on the printing press invented by Gutenberg were Bibles. God had given Gutenberg a dream; and though there were many obstacles, Gutenberg did not allow his dream to leave his heart. He worked hard, persevered, and saw his dream come true.

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accomplish His purposes. Review the three concepts that we studied at the beginning of the lesson and that we applied to Jesus. Think about the life of Gutenberg from the same perspective.

What had God planned for Gutenberg to accomplish in his life? What dreams and goals did He put into Gutenberg’s heart?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What background did Johann have to allow him to achieve this goal?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In what ways did Gutenberg evidence faithfulness and hard work to achieve his goal?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What trials did Gutenberg have to overcome to achieve his goal?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Did he use the trials as excuses, or did he achieve his goal?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Setting Personal Goals

Everyone goes through the same process to achieve their goals in life. God gives us goals to achieve. Trials and problems come into our paths, and we must work to overcome our problems. Finally, then, we achieve our goals. Perhaps your goal is to get better grades. Perhaps it is running for a student office or being a part of a sports team. Perhaps it is to complete some service in your school or youth group.

to build a printing press so that God’s Word could be printed and given toeveryone

He worked in a mint, making coins using cast metal.

He worked hard to find a way to make moveable type and a printing press, and he was faithful despite many obstacles.

The guild would not allow him to print. When he did print, they did not lethim receive money so he could pay his bills. Later, his shop and press weretaken away from him.

He achieved his goal by setting up a press in his home.


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Choose one area of your life in which you believe you would please the Lord to set a goal. What do you believe would be a reasonable and profitable specific goal?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In what areas and ways must you demonstrate hard work and faithfulness to achieve this goal?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What problems and trials might hinder you from reaching this goal?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What attitude must you have to overcome these problems?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Faithfulness In Real-life Situations

A number of real-life situations are listed below. Describe what it will take to be faithful to the Lord in each specific situation.

You are given a difficult assignment at school.

You are alone with friends, and your parents are not home.

You borrow money from a friend and promise to repay him the next day.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.


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You decide to go out for a team sport.

The teacher gives an assign-ment to be done individu-ally and steps outside the room.

Your parents give you a chore you do not want to do.

You are asked to watch your younger brother or sister for the afternoon.

You return to school after being sick for three days.

You have offered to help organize a youth activity at church.

Answers will vary.


L E S S O N 2 0 Q U I ZHARD WORK AND FAITHFULNESS

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhatarethethreethingsemphasizedthroughoutthislessonthatwemustdotoachievethegoalsGod has for us?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

2. Define the following two words.

• Slothful: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

• Sluggard: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

3. according to Proverbs, what are two results that a hard worker can expect to see in his life?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

4. according to Proverbs, what are two results that a lazy person can expect to see in his life?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

5. AccordingtoProverbs22:13,whatisonethingpeopledothatkeepsthemfromreachingtheirgoals? ________________________________________________________________________________

6. What are some goals that you want to set for yourself this month? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

7. What are some goals that you want to set for yourself for the rest of this year? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

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SELF-CONTROL

TARGET TRUTHS• Godwantsustohavecontroloverbothouractionsandouremotions.

• TheHolySpiritlivingwithinuscanhelpushavethecontrolweneed.

• Weneedtoliveadisciplinedlife.

TEACHING STRATEGYReadthefirstsectionwithyourstudents,reemphasizingthefollowingprogressionfromLessons17-21.

Love Integrity Meekness/Humility Hard Work/Faithfulness Self-Control

What Proverbs Says about Self-controlHave your students complete this section individually and review the concepts together. To make the truths in this section come alive in their lives, have them prepare skits as indicated below.

Skits:

Divide your class into four or five groups and have them prepare skits depicting a typical middle school problem. Have your students demonstrate a situation in which the student is self-controlled in his response and then the same situation in which the student is not under control and responds in anger, impatience, or some other emotional outburst.

Sample Ideas:

• Howtohandleyourselfwhenyourealizethatyouhavebeentalkedaboutbehindyourback.

• Howtohandleyourselfinaballgamewhentherefereemakesanunfaircallagainstyou.

• Howtohandleyourselfwhenacoachorteachersaysyouneedtoworkharderinsomearea.

• Howtohandleyourselfwhentwoofyourbestfriendsareignoringyou.

The Holy Spirit comes to live in us when we trust Jesus christ as our Savior. Once He lives within us, His goal is to take control of our wills, our emotions, and our minds so that our character will become like the character of Jesus. The more we allow the Holy Spirit to control us, the less we have to worry about anger, bitterness, jealousy, and other types of attitudes controlling us. When we are not controlled by wrong emotions, we will no longer be controlled by wrong actions.

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HowtoLiveaDisciplinedLifeas you discuss each of the five areas, emphasize the maturity that it takes to make these things a part of your life. remind your students that maturity has nothing to do with age, but rather with how we treat others in love, integrity, faithfulness and control over one’s own body and emotions. as they complete the project section, they will learn that analyzing one’s own problem areas and setting goals is a step toward maturity.

Self-Discipline in the Book of DanielHave your students read each passage and describe the self-discipline evidenced in the lives of Daniel and his friends. If there is time, have students write a short composition on self-discipline in their lives, using Daniel as a supporting example of how they should respond to life situations.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING SUGGESTIONS• Haveyourstudentslistareasintheirlivesinwhichtheyfinditdifficulttoexerciseself-control.These

might involve external problems such as eating patterns or laziness, as well as internal attitudes such as anger or jealousy.

• Haveyourstudentsuseaconcordancetolocateversesconcerninganger.WhatdoestheLordhavetosay in these verses about how anger shows a lack of self-control?

• Note:Severaltimesinthis lessonandthosethatfollow,yourstudentsmayencounterbiblicalrefer-ences to being “made fat.” If so, you should explain that being fat is a common biblical idiom that means health or prosperity. In ancient cultures where malnourishment was common, being well-fed was an indication of both health and prosperity.

TEACHER’S LESSONIn the teacher’s lesson, we will take a closer look at the subject of self-control.

• Definition

What exactly does self-control mean? Self-control is the discipline of the whole life—body and spirit. In the Greek, the word for self-control literally means “strength” and speaks of one who has control over himself. We must recognize, however, that this control must come from the power of the Holy Spirit who lives inside the christian. We can work to control our actions ourselves, but that control will not be complete or lasting unless we are depending on the power of the Holy Spirit.

• Antonyms

The antonyms are chaos and defenselessness. We are defenseless when we are out of control and are at the mercy of sinful attitudes such as anger.

• LosingControloftheBody

When we lose control of any desires of our body, we allow laziness, food, drink, bad habits, sex, or any number of things to control us. They have gained control over us instead of our controlling them.

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• LosingControloftheSpirit

When we lose control of our attitudes and emotional stability, we allow anger, envy, jealousy, or other emotions to control how we respond to others. Then we no longer control our emotions, but our emo-tions control us.

• Synonym

The synonym is Spirit-controlled, or mature stability, which means we are controlled by the Holy Spirit instead of being controlled by other things.

• BasisofSpirit-Control

The basis of Spirit-control is having His power working in us even when we are under pressure. Self-control thus requires power. christ possessed this inward strength and power of the Spirit as we saw evidencedinHislifeinLesson20.HewasaccusedofcrimesHedidnotcommit,Hewasgivenaguiltyverdict, and He was sentenced to death by crucifixion. Think through the way Jesus acted under pres-sure and the ways others acted during this situation. Jesus was silent, peaceful, meek, dignified, and loving. However, the soldiers and religious leaders were hateful, deceitful, and vengeful.

To be under control when things are going well is not a remarkable feat. But when we allow the Holy Spirit to control us during times of stress and pressure, then we can say we have power under pressure. also, two other facts will become very evident in our lives and to others.

• Ittakesmorepowertoholdyourtemperthantoletitgo.

• Thosewhocontroltheirspiritsarerespectedbythosewhodon’t.

Pilate thought he was in control of what happened to Jesus. after talking to Him, Pilate realized that Jesus was not guilty. He tried to have Him released, but he could not release Him and keep everyone happy at the same time. Since Jesus was truly the One in control, Pilate was actually under His control.

• Principle

The major principle or spiritual truth to be learned in this lesson is that we need the power of the Holy Spirit to lead a disciplined life.

• Proverb

In ancient times, the most important part of a city was its walls. Because armies could easily attack an unprotected city, strong walls around the city were essential. Thus, no walls meant complete destruc-tion, ruin, and disgrace.

When Solomon wrote Proverbs, he used the analogy of a walled city to describe a person who could not control himself. In Proverbs 25:28, he wrote that one who has no control over his own spirit is like a city with broken down walls—completely defenseless against attack.

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QUIZ ANSWERS1. Anyofthefollowingwouldbeacceptable:

• Willnotachieveapositionofleadership• Willcometopoverty• Hasgoodintentionsbuthasnoaccomplishments• Willbringshametohisparents

2. any of the following would be acceptable:• Willruletheundisciplined• Iswise• Preparesaheadoftime• Willberich(andfat)

3. • Startwiththeroutinethings.• Disciplineyourbody.• Beontime.• Dothehardtasksfirst.• Learnself-restraint.

4. any of the following would be acceptable:• Inthewayhetalkedtothoseinauthorityoverhim• Inwhathechosetoeatanddrink• InchoosingtoobeyGodratherthanmen• Incontrollinghisemotionsevenwhenhewasthrownintoadenofhungrylions

5. The discipline of the whole life: body and spirit6. controloverhisownspirit;brokendownwalls


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SELF-CONTROL

Two words, “temperance” and “self-control,” are often used in our English Bibles to describe a very important quality—the quality of a disciplined life. Self-control will provide stability and inner character for your life. Self-control is the balance between freedom and responsibility. You cannot have true character without discipline and control over yourself.

We have already discussed the important balance between freedom and responsibility. Teenagers desire to have more freedom to be on their own. But, as we have discussed, many teens do not realize that with more freedom comes more responsibility. And responsibility requires self-control.

Self-control is the ability to say “no” when an acquaintance offers something that would be wrong for you. It is the ability to say “no” when somebody wants you to go somewhere that would be wrong. It is the ability to choose to do your chores without being told. It is the ability to choose to complete your homework on time. It is the ability to control your actions so that the choices you make will honor God, and God will continue to work in your life to accomplish His purposes and to bless you.

What Proverbs Says About Self-control

Read the following verses in Proverbs and match them to the following descriptions. You may use more than one verse for some descriptions, and you may use some verses more than once. Here are the verses: Proverbs 6:6-8; 6:9-11; 10:4; 10:5; 12:24; 13:4; 20:4; 23:21; and 24:30-34.

Characteristics of the Undisciplined

• Will not achieve a position of leadership ______________________________

• Will come to poverty _____________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

12:24

6:9-11; 10:4; 20:4; 23:21; 24:30-34


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• Has good intentions but has no accomplishments _______________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Will bring shame to his parents _____________________________________

Characteristics of the Disciplined

• Will rule the undisciplined _________________________________________

• Is wise _________________________________________________________

• Prepares ahead of time ____________________________________________

• Will be rich and satisfied (or “fat”) ___________________________________

Answer the following questions that deal with the subject of self-control based on the verses in Proverbs in parentheses after each question.

• How much should we eat? (25:16) ___________________________________

• What is one thing that wise people control? (10:19) _____________________

• Who is better than the mighty who conquer a city? (16:32) _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Who is like a city that has lost its defenses? (25:28) _______________________________________________________________

• What happens to the man who has control over his speech? (13:3) _______________________________________________________________

• What happens to the man who has no control over his speech? (13:3) _______________________________________________________________

• What happens to those who linger over wine and get drunk? (23:29-30) _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

13:4; 20:4; 24:30-34

10:5

12:24

6:6-8; 10:5

6:6-8

10:4; 13:4

only what we need

their lips

one who is slow to anger and rules his spirit, or attitude

one who lacks self-control

He keeps his life.

He will be destroyed.

They have woe, sorrow, conflict, and harmful physical effects

because they lack control.


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How To Live A Disciplined Life

It is absolutely essential to realize that we cannot change our lives on our own. We need God’s help through the ministry of the Holy Spirit to transform our lives from the inside out so that we can become what He wants us to be (Rom. 8:22–30). Otherwise, we will never be able to please God. But God also holds us responsible to be fighting against sin and yielding control of our lives to God (Rom. 6:14–15). Here are five steps to follow that will help you yield control to God and live a disciplined life.

Start with the Routine Things

Take responsibility to complete the routine activities of life. Remember that when you avoid your responsibilities, it makes unnecessary work for others or causes others to have to nag you to complete the tasks you should do naturally. Therefore, hang up your clothes, make your bed every morning, pick up your clothes and towels after taking a shower or bath, and complete your routine chores around the house. The beginning of maturity is accepting responsibility for the ordinary things of life.

Discipline Your Body

Eliminate those things that irritate others and show you have little control over your own body. Stop fidgeting, shifting, biting fingernails, constant tapping, or anything else that causes frustrations for others. Take control over what you eat so that it is balanced and healthy while you are growing so fast. Take responsibility for taking showers, washing your hair, brushing your teeth, and all the other things that keep you sharp and healthy.

Show your maturity by listening to others. Look into the eyes of those who talk to you, pay attention to what they say, be willing to listen to counsel and criticism if it is necessary, and be willing to communicate.

Don’t allow griping, whining, and worrying to become a part of your life. Control your attitudes toward the little frustrations of life because they will always be there. Take control of the frustrations rather than allowing them to control you.

Be on Time

Practice consistent punctuality. Determine to be in control of time rather than allowing it to control you. Get to bed in time to get enough sleep so you can get up on time.


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Tardiness indicates a lack of control and discipline and is rude to others. Don’t allow yourself to put off your schoolwork, especially memorizing Scripture, reading a book for a book report, or beginning work on a major project. Often such tasks are put off to the last minute. With this in mind, read the next section.

Do the Hard Tasks First

Most people make the mistake of completing easy tasks and leaving difficult things until last when there is the least time and energy to do these things well. Attack the most difficult tasks first so you have time to do them well and then complete the easier things.

Learn Self-Restraint

Curb your temper and control how you talk to others. The greatest indicator of your ability to control yourself is your ability to control your temper and your countenance. Don’t say things that you wish you could take back later. Don’t get angry and frustrated with others. A mature person will control himself in the way he treats others.

Project

For each of the above areas, list specific things over which you have the most difficult time gaining control. Then list some things you can do to show more self-control in these areas.

• Start with the routine things:

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• Discipline your body:

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Answers will vary.


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• Be on time: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Do the hard tasks first: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Learn self-restraint: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Remember, none of these are actions that you have the power to accomplish in your own strength. Pray for God’s help as you desire to develop self-control and bring your life under His control.

Self-discipline In The Book Of Daniel

Read the following passages in Daniel and tell how each shows the characteristic of self-discipline in the lives of Daniel or his friends and how God acts in each of these stories to bless His people.

• 1:8-16 _________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 3:1-28 _________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Answers will vary.

Daniel showed wisdom and self-control in the way he talkedto those in authority over him and in what he chose to eat and drink.God caused the official to show favor to Daniel and gave Daniel andhis friends knowledge and understanding.

Daniel’s friends kept their emotions under control when they were opposed and controlled their actions by pleasing God insteadof men. God protected Daniel’s friends and caused Nebuchadnezzarto recognize His power.


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• 6:1-27 _________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Teacher’s Lesson

Self-Control

• Definition

The ____________________ of the whole life: ________ and ____________

• Antonyms

• ____________________________________________________________

• ____________________________________________________________

• Synonyms

• ____________________________________________________________

• ____________________________________________________________

• Basis of Spirit-control: _______________________________________________________________

• Principle

We need the __________ of the Holy Spirit to lead a ______________________ life

• Proverb

One who has no __________________________________________________is like a city with __________________________________ (25:28).

Daniel continued to pray, chose to obey God rather than men,and controlled his emotions even when he was thrown into a den ofhungry lions. God sent an angel to shut the lion’s mouths and caused Darius to decree that all people in his kingdom were to fearand worship Daniel’s God.

Chaos

Defenseless

Spirit-controlled

Mature stability

His power under pressure

control over his own spirit

discipline body spirit

power disciplined

broken down walls


L E S S O N 2 1 Q U I ZSELF-CONTROL

Name ________________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhatisonecharacteristicoftheundisciplinedthatismentionedinProverbs? ________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is one characteristic of the disciplined that is mentioned in Proverbs? ________________________________________________________________________________

3. Listthefivestepstolivingadisciplinedlifeandgiveaspecificexampleofeachfromyourownlife.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

4. How did Daniel show self-discipline in his life? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

5. What is the definition of self-control? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

6. fill in the blanks to complete the principle taught by Proverbs 25:28.

• Onewhohasno_____________________________________________________islikeacitywith ______________________________________________.

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Self-Control•D

efinitionThedisciplineofthew

holelife:bodyandspirit.•A

ntonyms

•Chaos•D

efenseless•Synonym

s•Spirit-control•M

aturestability•BasisofSpirit-control—

________________________________________________________________

•PrincipleWeneedthepow

eroftheHolySpirittoleada

disciplinedlife.•Proverb:O

newhohasnocontroloverhisow

nspiritislikeacityw

ithbrokendownlaw

s(25:28).

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L E S S O N 2 2

COURAGE

TARGET TRUTHS• ThefearoftheLordisatrustingrespectoftheLord.

• Weneverhavetofearwhatmancandotous.

• CourageisaresultofGod’spowerinourlives.

TEACHING STRATEGY

TheFearofManVs.theFearoftheLordread the first sections together as a class, having students explain the differences between the fear of man andthefearoftheLord.Asyoudiscussthethoughtstheyfindintheverses,emphasizethatthefearoftheLord isnot thesame typeof fear thatwegenerallyassociatewith theword“afraid.” Instead, it isareverential trust or awesome respect for the One who is much greater than we are. Then emphasize that because the power of God is so great, we really have no need to fear men or the situations men devise because we can trust God to work through fearful situations on our behalf.

The Problem with Fear

complete this section together, having students share the types of situations or things that cause them to be afraid. Discuss such concepts as:

• Thefearofrejection• Thefearofbeinglonelyorleftalone• Thefearofnotbeingacceptedbyfriends• Thefearofnotdoingwellonatest• Thefearofnotdoingwellifyoutryoutforateam

These are the types of things that most teens are afraid of. You may have to bring some of these up in the discussion because they may be hesitant to mention them.

How Do We Get rid of fear and Develop courage?True courage emanates from the power of God in our lives. If we have learned to allow God to have control over our lives, His power will give us the courage to overcome our fears. review the following and explain how courage is an outgrowth of control of self (Spirit-control).

Love Integrity Meekness and Humility Hard Work And Faithfulness Self-Control Courage

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Write the sentence, “courage is a result of God’s power in our lives,” on the board. after students have looked up the verses given, discuss how each of them illustrates the truthfulness of this statement.

examples of courage and fearStudents may work individually or in pairs to complete this section. You may also want to divide the class into four groups and make each group responsible to discuss one of the four sections. Have them find a creative way to present the information they have reviewed. They may put on a skit, plan a television news program explaining the event, or plan some other method of illustration.

again, as you discuss each example in class, make certain students relate it to the same sentence that was written on the board previously: “courage is a result of God’s power in our lives.”

Having the courage to choose the rightThis section discusses the importance of dealing with peer pressure. Most problems that students face are brought on by friends who want them to be a part of their sin. Usually, young people do not realize the ramifications of getting involved in such activities.

Spend whatever time is necessary discussing the point that they need to think about themselves in the way that God thinks of them. Usually, when young people begin get caught up in some activity that will eventually hurt them, they do so because they have determined that something else is more important to them than God. They have created an idol in their hearts—something that is their real object of worship. It is not helpful to build them up and encourage them to feel good about themselves unless their good feelings are grounded in complete confidence that they are obeying God and accomplishing His purposes through the power of His Spirit. They need to understand how valuable they are to God because He has chosen to save them by His grace alone. God has made them in a unique way and has a unique plan for their lives. He wants them to stay pure so they will find blessing in the life that He intends for them.

also, discuss the fact that when others try to get them to do wrong by calling them “chicken” or other such names, they are only “chicken” if they give in. Truly courageous people can stand up for themselves because they understand the value of God’s purpose for them. They will not hurt themselves to please anyone else. Discuss sinful habits from the perspective not only of the consequences that result from them, but also for how these sins are incompatible with God’s purpose for their lives.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING SUGGESTIONS• Composition

Describe a situation in which you had to have the courage to do something that was very difficult for you to do, but you knew it was the right thing to do.

• Skits

Help students act out how they can respond when they are enticed to take part in wrong activities, showing how the fear of man can become a real hindrance during such times. Divide the class into groups and let each group put on a short demonstration skit.

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TEACHER’S LESSONThere is a direct connection between having the courage to do right and the temptations that Satan will put before you. Satan will entice you in many ways. His goal will always be to hurt you and pull you down in some way. He will never want what is best for you. That is why it is so important for you to realize how important and worthwhile your life truly is, not because of what you have accomplished, but because of what christ has accomplished on your behalf. God is very clear about the problems Satan will bring into your life and how you should deal with him. The verses and truths listed on the overhead transparency summarize what the Bible says on this subject.

• TheCommand:Bestrongandcourageous(Josh.1:9).

• TheDanger:Wewrestleagainstspiritualpowersofwickednessanddarkness(Eph.6:12).

• God’sProvision:Godhasgivenuspower,love,andasoundmind(2Tim.1:7).

• OurAttitude:Beserious-mindedandalert(1Pet.5:8).

• TheResult:TheDevilwillfleefromusaswesubmittoGodandresisthistemptations(James4:7).

QUIZ ANSWERS1. agreatandtrustingrespectandaweforonewhoismuchgreaterthanweare2. any two of the following would be acceptable:

• Bestrong.RememberthattheLordiswithyouandwillnotfailyou.• BestrongandobeyGod’scommandscompletely.• Meditateon(thinkabout)God’sWord.• RememberthattheLordiswithyouandtrustHimtocareforandcomfortyou.• Departfromevil.• ThankGodandtakecourage.• AllowtheloveofGodtocastoutyourfear.

3. • Iftheydidnotbowdownbeforethegoldenimage,theywouldbethrownintoafieryfurnace.• Somemenweregoingtostonehim.• ThePhilistinegiantnamedGoliathwasthreateningthearmiesofIsrael.• Thepeopleinthelandweregiants.

4. Be strong and courageous.5. He will flee from us.6. accept all reasonable answers.


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L E S S O N 2 2

COURAGE

Courage is doing a right but difficult thing under adverse circumstances. In this lesson we are going to look at two aspects of courage. First, we will look at the problems fear can cause in our lives when we allow it to keep us from trusting God to take care of us when we do what is right. Second, we will talk about having the courage to do right, to take a stand when it is important, and to accomplish God’s purpose for our lives.

The Fear Of Man Vs.The Fear Of The LORD

We need to remember that there are different kinds of fear. The fear of the Lord is good because it means we have a great and trusting respect for God because we understand who He is. Many young people do not have courage because they do not have this great fear and respect for God. Courage is a direct result of having the power of God in your life because you have confidence that God will help you do what you ought to do and will bless you for doing it.

Another kind of fear actually hurts us. Fear that hurts us comes when we have sinned, and we have fear in our hearts because of our guilt. We also have fear of other people for many reasons that we will talk about later.

Explain what the verses below say about fear of man and fear of the Lord.

Fear of Man Fear of the Lord

Psalm 56:4 Psalm 19:9

Psalm 118:6 Psalm 111:10

We do not have to fear what men can do to us.

It is clean and endures forever.

If the Lord is on our side, we do nothave to fear men.

It is the beginning of wisdom.


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172

Fear of Man Fear of the Lord

Proverbs 29:25 Proverbs 14:26

Hebrews 13:6 Proverbs 14:27

The Problem With Fear

Everyone is fearful at some time or another. Fear is common with man, and God knows this very well. The greatest fear is the fear of death, and Jesus overcame this fear by dying on the cross so we can be assured of going to heaven. We have nothing to fear in death if Jesus is our Savior.

We also have many other situations to contend with while we live on the earth. List the kinds of fears that come into your life from time to time. Don’t forget to mention the fear that comes when you have done wrong because this is also common to all of us.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How Do We Get Rid Of Fear And Develop Courage?

Read each verse and explain what God says you must do to eliminate fear and develop courage inside your heart so you will not have to be afraid of anything.

• Deuteronomy 31:6 ________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Joshua 1:7 ______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

The fear of man brings a snare(or trap).

In it is strong confidence and a placeof refuge.

Since the Lord is our helper, we don’t have to fear men.

It is a fountain of life.

Answers will vary.

Be strong. Remember that the Lord is with you andwill not fail you.

Be strong and obey God’s commands completely.


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• Joshua 1:8 ______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• Psalm 23:4 ______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 3:7 _____________________________________________________

• 1 John 4:18 _____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Examples Of Courage And Fear

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Dan. 3:13-18)

What did these young men have to fear? If they did not bow down before the golden

image, they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. How did they respond? They said that

God could deliver them. They did not bow down. They obeyed God and trusted Him.

Stephen (Acts 7:54-60)

• What did Stephen have to fear? _____________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• How did he respond? _____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

David and Goliath (1 Sam. 17:20-37)

• Why were the Israelites afraid? ______________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Meditate on (think about) God’s Word.

Remember that the Lord is with you and trust Him to care

for and comfort you.

Depart from evil.

Allow the love of God to cast out your fear.

the men who were going to stone him

He saw Jesus in heaven and asked Him to

forgive those who stoned him.

They were afraid of the Philistine giant,

Goliath, and fled from him.


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• How did David respond? __________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

The Twelve Spies (Num. 13:16-33)

• What did these men have to fear? ____________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• How did the majority respond? _____________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• Who responded differently, and what was his attitude? ___________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Actually, Caleb and Joshua stood together against the other spies, saying that God would be with them in the land of the giants and that they would be victorious. But because of the unbelief of the other spies and the Israelites themselves, the nation wandered in the wilderness for nearly forty more years until all those who feared man instead of God had died. Then God took Joshua and Caleb and allowed them to enter the Promised Land and win victory after victory. Because they feared only God and not what man could do to them, God showed Joshua and Caleb great and wonderful things by allowing them to enjoy the blessings of God’s promises.

Having The Courage To Choose The Right

Just like those we have looked at who showed courage, we must understand that to have the courage to do right is a conscious choice we make.

To have courage you must choose...

• To care more about what God thinks than what your friends think.

• To do what is right rather than follow a crowd that is choosing to do wrong.• To be more concerned about being honest than getting your own way.

He believed that the Lord would be with him and would help him defeat Goliath.

The people in the land were giants.

They did not want to enter the landbecause of the giants.

Caleb said they

should enter the land and not be afraid of the giants because the

Lord was with them.


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• To follow God’s purpose for your life, not your own immediate desires. God

does not ever want you to become involved with anything that will hurt you in

any way.

Remember: Courage is a result of trusting God to provide His power in our lives.

Having courage to do right is a choice that must be made. When we trust God to give us that power to do right and we decide not to do evil, we are well on our way. Remember, the courageous person is not the one who gives in to his friends and goes along with the crowd. The courageous person is the one who can stand alone. That is the person who will be victorious.

Consider those who go along with their friends and decide to do things under pressure from their friends that they otherwise never would have. What choices did they have to make?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Who has won the victory when they decide to yield to the influence of others, and how will these young people eventually face defeat?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If they had chosen to have the courage to stand for right, how would they have been victorious?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Think of some other areas in which others might tempt you to do wrong or when situations might be a temptation to get you to do wrong. List some of these below.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.


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What must you do when such temptations come into your life so that you can overcome the fear of man and make wise decisions for your life?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Teacher’s Lesson

Courage and Temptation

• The Command:

Be ____________ and ____________________ (Josh. 1:9).

• The Danger:

We wrestle against the ______________________________________________________________________________________ (Eph. 6:12).

• God’s Provision:

_____________, _____________, and a ______________________________(2 Tim. 1:7)

• Our Attitude:

Be ____________________________ and __________ (1 Pet. 5:8).

• The Result:

The __________ will ________ from us (James 4:7).

Answers will vary.

strong courageous

Power love disciplined mind

serious-minded alert

devil flee

spiritual powers of wickedness and darkness


L E S S O N 2 2 Q U I ZCOURAGE

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. Whatdoesthephrase“thefearoftheLord”meanasitisusedintheBible? ___________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

2. ListtwothingsmentionedinScripturethatwecandotogetridoffearanddevelopcourage.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

3. explain why each of the following had reasons to be afraid at some point in their lives.

• Shadrach,Meshach,andAbednego: ________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

• Stephen: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

• David: _______________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

• Thetenspies:__________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

4. WhatcommandwasJoshuagivenbytheLordinJoshua1:9? ________________________________________________________________________________

5. according to James 4:7, if we submit to God and resist the devil, what will the devil do? ________________________________________________________________________________

6. What advice would you give a friend who is caught up in sins that control him, but only because he wants his friends to like him? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

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•Th

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L E S S O N 2 3

SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE

TARGET TRUTHS• Submissionandobediencearesomethingwedoforourowngood—notjustoutofdutytosomeone

else.

• Ourattitudeisasimportantinobedienceasouractions.

• Whenwearedisobedienttoauthority,wearedisobedienttoGodaswell.

TEACHING STRATEGYThus far in our study we have discussed the following character qualities: love, integrity, meekness and humility, hard work and faithfulness, self-control, and courage. This lesson brings us to the qualities of submission and obedience. These character qualities could just as easily have been the first we studied, but we have kept them for last on purpose. The only way we will be successful in any of the areas we have studied is if we are obedient and submissive to the principles and commands of God. Thus it ties all the character qualities together.

Noone,especiallya teenager,enjoys the thoughtofobedience just for thesakeofobedienceandduty.But that is not God’s way or God’s plan. Obedience and submission to God bring about the promises and provision of God to enable us to live lives that count—lives that have purpose. God’s blessings rest on those who trust Him and obey Him. Therefore, as we study this lesson, we will realize that stubbornness, self-will, and rebellion do not hurt others as much as they hurt us. The principle of sowing and reaping is firmly in place. If we sow rebellion, the same attitude will return to us, and harm will come to us. If we sow scorn, that same attitude will return to us from others. But if we sow love, goodness, faithfulness, honesty, and courage, we will receive in the same measure as we have given.

Self-Will and StubbornnessYou may have to show some students how to use a concordance, and you may want to have some extra concordances on hand for those who do not have one in their Bibles. Some online resources, such as BibleGateway.com, work like concordances but offer additional features as well. Have students complete this section individually and then go over the ideas they have examined. review the words and phrases God uses for attitudes of self-will so that students fully understand how God feels about such attitudes.

Then have students share the verses they found regarding scorn and list them to see how many different verses were found by the class. emphasize how strongly God warns against this attitude since He had so much to say about it.

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The example of cain and abelThis story provides an excellent example of the difference between self-will and submission. as you discuss the answers to this section with your students, help them to see the inner attitudes of cain and abel. cain was angry inside, and his face showed his anger continually. He was very unhappy and dissatisfied, and he was discontent with his life. abel, however, was content and satisfied with his life. He showed no evidence of the internal anger that his brother had.

NotealsothatthesetwoyoungmenwerethesonsofAdamandEve.Suchattitudeshavebeenwithussincethe beginning of mankind on earth. cain’s attitude is a direct result of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.AbelwouldhavehadthesameattitudehadhenottrustedintheLordandsubmittedhislifetoHim.

Walking in Submission and Obedienceafter discussing the story of cain and abel, the two verses showing the importance of God’s command to obey and submit to His authority are very important. We can readily understand the importance of these commands for our good.

another point of emphasis needs to be made here. explain that the Bible tells us to obey those who have theruleoverusandtosubmitourselvestothem(Rom.13:1-7;Heb.13:17).ThisisacommandofGod.Therefore, when we disobey or have unwilling attitudes toward our authority, we are also disobeying God.

The Story of ruthThis section reviews, from a different point of view, the story of ruth that we studied in a previous lesson. OuremphasishereisonRuth’ssubmissiontotheLordandothersinherlifeandtheresultsthatcametoher because of that submission.

comparing Self-Will with SubmissionThe key emphasis in this section is that of attitude. everyone will have trials and problems as we have discussed in an earlier lesson. What is most important is not the problem itself but how we respond to the problem. That shows the kind of person we are. cain and ruth responded completely differently. actually, ruth had more problems and trials to overcome than cain did. But while cain was disciplined severely, ruth was greatly rewarded—not because of the amount of her trials, but because of her attitude through the trials.


finding a Bible exampleHave your students find another Bible character to illustrate the concept of self-will or stubbornness. Students should provide the text and an explanation of what took place and then show the results of the character’s attitudes for his or her life. Have several of these shared with the class.

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Inappropriate Types of ObedienceDiscuss the differences in the following types of obedience. Have your students give their own meanings before you help with the ones given below. Have the class provide examples of each type of obedience. If your students enjoy doing skits, they would enjoy illustrating the different types of obedience as they apply them to everyday life in skit form.

• Legalisticobedience:Weobeysimplybecausewemustsubmitoutofdutyratherthanfromaheartthat is right before God and that is obeying out of love.

• Procrastinatingobedience:Weobeybutonlyinourowntiming.

• Resentfulobedience:Wedowhatisaskedbutwithanantagonisticattitudethatshowswearenotpleased to do what we have been asked to do.

• Incompleteobedience:Weobeybutdonotcompletethetask,orwedoahalfheartedjob.

• Spiritualobedience:Weobeyanddoagoodjobwitharightandlovingattitude.

acrosticsHave students complete an acrostic for one of the words we have been studying. Use the best as a part of a bulletin board display. Your students should choose one of the following.

• Courage

• Faithfulness

• Meekness

• Humility

• Integrity

• Obedience

• Self-control

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• stiffnecked• rebellious• uncircumcisedinheartandears• boldandself-willed• scorner

2. He killed his brother (and was cursed by God).3. Submit yourselves to God.4. She gleaned leftover grain in the fields.5. HehadheardabouthowshehadleftherhomelandtohelpNaomi.6.

• CaindidnotwanttoobeytheLord,wouldnotrepent,andremainself-willed.• RuthwaswillingtosubmittoGodandshowedloyalty,lovingsubmission,gentleness,andawilling-

ness to work.7. how you respond to the problem


SELF-EVALUATIONForeachstatement,scoreyourselfonobedienceandsubmissiononascaleof1to5,with5beingthebestscore.

1. ______MyfacialexpressionandmytoneofvoiceusuallyindicatethatIamwillingtodowhatIamasked to do.

2. ______ When I am with my friends, I speak very respectfully of my parents.

3. ______ When I am with my friends, I speak very respectfully of my teachers.

4. ______ I do not argue to get out of having to do things that I am asked to do.

5. ______ I obey promptly without having to be reminded.

6. ______ I do not complain about schoolwork assignments.

7. ______ I am willing to go to a teacher to find out what I can do to better my grades.

8. ______ I am willingly obedient to commands from the Word of God.

9. ______ I am obedient to God in the area of personal devotions and Bible study.

10.______IdonotcomplainaboutstandardsthatIamexpectedtofollow.

11.______IobeyevenwhenIdon’tunderstandthereasonforwhatIhavebeentoldtodoortostopdoing.

12.______IamobedienttoGodbybeingsubmissivelyobedienttoallauthorityHehasplacedoverme.

13.WhataretheareasofmylifeinwhichIammostresistanttotheauthorityofothers? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

14.HowdoesthisresistancetoauthorityrelatetomywillingnesstosubmittoGod’sauthority? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________


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SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE

Obedience and submission to God bring about the promises and provision of God to enable us to live lives that have purpose and worth. God’s blessings rest on those who trust Him and obey Him completely. Therefore, as we study this lesson, we will realize that stubbornness, self-will, and rebellion do not hurt others as much as they hurt us.

Self-will And Stubbornness

Read the following verses and write what the verses say about self-will and stubbornness.

• Exodus 32:9 _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Deuteronomy 1:43 ________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 1 Samuel 8:19 ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Zechariah 7:11 ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Acts 7:51 _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 2 Peter 2:10 _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

The people who worshipped the golden calf were stiff-necked.

They would not hear but rebelled against theLord’s commandment.

The people refused to listen and obey.

They refused to listen and closed their ears.

The people who resisted the Holy Spirit were stiff-neckedand uncircumcised in heart and ears.

Those who indulge the flesh are bold and self-willed.


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The Example Of Cain And Abel

Read Genesis 4:1-12 to review the story of Cain and Abel because it is an excellent example of a stubborn and self-willed man.

Who were Cain and Abel?

_____________________________________________________________________

What was the difference between the offerings they each brought to the Lord?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why do you think Cain was angry and his face showed disappointment?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

With what sarcastic question to the Lord did Cain evidence that he was still stubborn and self-willed?

________________________________________________________________________

What was the result of Cain’s rebellion?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Walking In Submission And Obedience

Many verses show us how important it is to submit to God and obey Him. What commands concerning submission are contained in each of the following verses?

• Romans 6:13 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• James 4:7 _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

the sons of Adam and Eve

Cain brought an offering of fruit, and Abel brought lambs from his flock.God was pleased with Abel’s offering but not with Cain’s.

The Lord was not pleased with his offering, and he was too proud and stubborn to change.

“Am I my brother’s keeper?”

He killed his brother and was cursed by God.

Don’t yield your members as instruments ofunrighteousness to sin, but yield yourselves to God.

Submit yourselves to God.


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The Story Of Ruth

We have previously studied the story of Ruth from a different viewpoint. We saw her as a young woman who showed love and gentleness wherever she went. Now we will see how she also displayed submission and obedience to the Lord.

The story of Ruth is one of the most beautiful in the Bible. The story found in this book is one of hardship and many trials. But because the people in the story were submissive to God and did not become hardened through their experiences, God gave them great rewards. The story actually begins with a woman named Naomi. Naomi, her husband, and their two sons had to leave their homes and move to a new country because they faced a great famine. They went to the land of Moab to find food. While they were in Moab, the two sons married. Their wives were named Orpah and Ruth. After a few years, Naomi’s husband and both of her sons died. So Naomi decided to return to her homeland to live. She did not expect that her daughters-in-law would want to return with her. Orpah decided to stay in the land of Moab. But Ruth, despite her hardships, had come to know the God of Naomi and decided to go with her. Read about Ruth’s response in Ruth 1:16-17.

What decision did Ruth make?

______________________________________________________________________

Why had she decided to do this?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For how long was her commitment to last?

___________________________________________________________________

Ruth and Naomi then returned together to Bethlehem. For what reason is this city important?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You will learn later how this fits with this story.

to return to Israel with Naomi

She had taken Naomi’s God as her God.

for the rest of her life

It was the city in which Jesus was born.


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After they returned to Bethlehem, life was still very difficult. Read Ruth 2:1-12. How did Ruth find enough food to eat?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Who was Boaz, and how did he help Ruth?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why had he decided to help her?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After a time, God allowed wonderful things to happen in the lives of Ruth and Naomi. What happened to Ruth in Ruth 4:13-15?

______________________________________________________________________

What happened to Naomi in Ruth 4:16-17?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Read the last verse of the book of Ruth, and you will see how years later, King David was born to her descendants. From the line of David, Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Comparing Self-will With Submission

The lessons we need to learn about submission are great and valuable. If you compare the life of Cain with the life of Ruth, you will see how and why God blesses one person and not another.

She gleaned the leftover grain from the fields.

He was a relative of Naomi’s husband, and he allowed Ruth to gather grainin his fields.

He had heard about how she had left her homeland to help Naomi.

She married Boaz and had a son.

She got to care for Ruth’s son as if he were her own.


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Cain Ruth

What trials or problems did they face?

What was different about their attitudes?

How did they evidence their attitudes toward God?

What was the result of these attitudes in their lives?

Remember: God is not as concerned with what the problemin your life is as He is with how you respond to the problem.

His offering was notaccepted by the Lord.

Her husband died. She lefther homeland and was very poor.

He did not want to obeythe Lord.

She was willing to submitto God and obey Him.

He would not repent butremained self-willed.

She showed loyalty, lovingsubmission, gentleness, and a willingness to work.

He killed his brother, wascursed by God, and liveda hard life.

She married a wealthy manand gave birth to an ancestor of Christ.


L E S S O N 2 3 Q U I ZSUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE

Name ________________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhatisanothertermintheBibleforsomeonewhoisself-willedandstubborn? ________________________________________________________________________________

2. What did cain do as a result of his stubbornness? ________________________________________________________________________________

3. What command are we given in James 4:7? ________________________________________________________________________________

4. WhatdidRuthhavetodotofindfoodaftersheandNaomireturnedtoIsrael? ________________________________________________________________________________

5. Why did Boaz allow her to do this? ________________________________________________________________________________

6. What was the major difference between the ways the following two people reacted to problems in their lives?

• Cain: ________________________________________________________________________

• Ruth: ________________________________________________________________________

7. complete the following statement.

• GodisnotasconcernedwithwhattheprobleminyourlifeisasHeiswith ________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

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TARGET TRUTHS• Godhasapurposeforus,andfindingGod’swillissimplylearningwhatthatpurposeis.

• Weshouldnotexpecttoknowhowtomakegoodchoicesintheunclearareasoflifeifweareunwillingto obey God in the areas He has already made clear.

• KnowingGod’swillisfirstofallseekingandknowingGodHimself.

TEACHING STRATEGYThe first section of this lesson may be difficult for your young people to think through and give examples for, so you may want them to work together in pairs. This exercise of thinking through a concept for themselves is invaluable and will enable them to understand the concepts taught in future lessons.

ObedienceIsStilltheKeyRelate thisaspectof the lessonbacktoLesson23.Youmaywant toreviewthekeyconcepts fromthatlesson as you discuss how obedience relates to knowing God’s will.

Use the teacher’s lesson along with this section. Students need to understand that each of the men and women who followed God’s will for their lives understood this truth: God made us for a purpose, and finding God’s will involves accomplishing that purpose.

as each Bible character is mentioned, briefly review the purpose that God had for each person.

abraham Obeyed God’s WillHave your students complete this section and then discuss each step thoroughly, showing abraham’s response to each step of God’s plan. as you review abraham’s life, make sure the following concepts are emphasized.

• GodhadadefinitepurposeandplanforAbraham.

• AbrahamwasobedienttoGodandfollowedHisplan.

• Abrahamwasnotperfect.He sinnedand reaped theconsequencesofhis sins,buthe repentedbefore God and continued to obey and follow Him.

Make Sure Your conscience Is clearMany students do not realize the importance of keeping a clear conscience before God. explain that we do not have to worry about whether we have sin to confess or not because the Holy Spirit will convict us

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if we have sinned. If we feel guilty about something we have done, we can know that the Holy Spirit is convicting us of that sin, and it needs to be confessed quickly. God will not answer our prayers until that sin is confessed or repented from. Thus if we have not confessed our sins to God, and He has not cleansed us of sin, we cannot be in His will.

Sometimes keeping a clear conscience also involves asking forgiveness of another person such as a teacher, parent, or friend. If the Holy Spirit is convicting us that we need to ask forgiveness of someone, then it is imperative that we do this so that God will work in our lives once again. God means it when He says that we need to keep a conscience void of offense toward both God and man.

Jesus Obeyed God’s WillThe first question regarding prayer is very important for students to consider. Jesus knew what was about to happen to Him and still knew it was necessary to be in prayer before His father. He wanted to spend time in prayer at this crucial moment in order to submit Himself to the father’s will. Do not allow students to be flippant about their answers in this section. Help them realize the seriousness of talking and listening to God. review the first paragraph from this lesson. finding God’s will is first of all seeking and knowing God Himself. as we communicate with God and depend on Him, He will give us wisdom to choose a good path.

HowtoKnowGod’sWillStudents are asked to make their own list of ideas about how to know God’s will. This should be based on this lesson and perhaps on the interview they have done of christian adults (see below). Have your students share what they have written and have them come to some conclusions as a class. The final class list should include some of the following ideas.

• BeachildofGod.

• BeobedienttoGod’scommands.

• HavenounconfessedsintowardGodorman.

• PutGodandHiswaysfirstinyourlife.

• BeintheWordandinprayer.

• SubmittoGodandtrustHimtoguideyourpaths.

• HavearelationshipwithGodsoHecanguideyou.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING SUGGESTIONHave each student interview two or three adults for whom they have great respect. The purpose of the interview is to learn how they serve God in their lives and how they knew they were making wise choices throughout their lives. Have each student prepare a written report of their interviews to be shared with the rest of the class.

Have the class work together to discuss the types of questions that should be asked. Their lists should include some of the following:

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• Whatisyourcareer?

• Howlonghaveyoubeendoingthis?

• Whatpreparationdidyouhave?

• Didyoualwaysdothis,orhadyouthoughtofdoingsomethingelse?

• Howdidyoumakethedecisiontopursueyourcareer?HowdidyouseekwisdomfromGod?

• Howdidyouknowforsurethatthisdecisionwaswise?

• HowdoyoubelievethatGodrevealsHiswill?

as the interviews are shared with the class, discuss the common ideas that come out regarding how to know God’s will.

TEACHER’S LESSONThe major point to be emphasized here is the question: Why should we desire to know God’s will? There are two responses that need to be considered.

• Godmadeusforapurpose.

We know that God not only made all people but that He also made each of us individually for a particular purpose. That is why we have different personalities, different emotional compositions, different talents, gifts, and skills, and come in different sizes and shapes.

• ObeyingGodwillleadmetoGod’spurposeforme.

a lawn mower would not be a success at cutting hair, and neither would a pair of barber’s clippers be successful mowing Yankee Stadium.

What does it really mean to “do God’s will”? How can we make right decisions in the areas where the Bible does not give us specific commands to follow? He is doing what his entire body, soul, and spirit were designed to do. His abilities, talents, special gifts, and skills are being used for their intended purpose. This kind of person will be . . .

• ObeyingtheclearcommandsofScripture.WehavenoreasontoexpectGod’shelpinunclearmat-ters if we are rebelling against the aspects of His will that He has clearly revealed.

• Doingwhathewasdesignedtodo.Godhasgiveneverybelievergiftsandabilitiesthattheyaretouse for His glory. Using those gifts for God’s glory demonstrates a desire to follow God’s will.

• PleasingGod.PeoplewhowanttoobeyGodwillbemotivatedbyadesiretoseekHisinterests,nottheir own. even when decisions are difficult, they make decisions based on what pleases God.

QUIZ ANSWERS1. GodhelpsusaswefollowHisways.2. before God and men3. Grade your students’ paragraphs based on how well they demonstrate that they understand the con-

cepts involved.


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The first lesson that the book of Proverbs teaches us regarding knowing God’s will is that the first step is to learn to know God. As we seek God, we will find His will along the pathway toward Him.

Thus, Proverbs, the book of wisdom, tells us how to find God’s will. Read Proverbs 3:5-7. What do these verses say about how we find the right ways to go in our life? If we trust in the Lord with all our heart, do not depend on our own understanding, and acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will help us choose the right path for our lives.

Short summaries of the main parts of these verses are below. Explain in your own words what these principles mean. Then give examples of how you can practice each one in your life.

1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your ownunderstanding.

Meaning: Example:

2. Acknowledge Him in all your ways.

Meaning: Example:

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.


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3. He will help you choose the right path.

Meaning: Example:

4. Do not be wise in your own eyes.

Meaning: Example:

5. Fear the Lord and avoid evil.

Meaning: Example:

Obedience Is Still The Key

Remember what we learned in our last lesson? The unifying character quality that

makes Christianity work is our obedience to God. Without a submissive spirit, we will

never know God’s will for our lives, and we will never be completely happy, content, and

satisfied with our lives. Something will always be missing.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.


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As you study God’s Word and read of great men and women who were truly successful, you will find that they were successful because they loved and obeyed God and fulfilled His plan for their lives. Their priorities were to put God first. Some, like Elijah and Elisha, were preachers and prophets; some, like David and Gideon, were kings, judges, and statesmen; some, like Abraham and Job, owned land and herds of sheep and cattle. It does not matter what kind of work we have to do. If we are to be truly happy and satisfied in this life, we need to obey God and yield to His control.

Read each of the following verses and write the name of the person(s) who obeyed God.

• Genesis 6:22 ____________________________________________________

• Genesis 22:2-3 ___________________________________________________

• Exodus 36:1 _____________________________________________________

• Joshua 11:15 ____________________________________________________

• 2 Kings 18:1, 6 ___________________________________________________

• Luke 2:33, 39 ____________________________________________________

Think of others in the Bible who had great success because they obeyed God. What are some other names you can think of?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Abraham Obeyed God’s Will

The life of Abraham was based on obedience to the commands of God; and because of this, God greatly blessed Abraham’s life. There were times when Abraham sinned. Twice he lied and said his wife, Sarah, was his sister. Another time, he tried to fulfill God’s promise of a son by having a child with his wife’s maid. In instances like these, Abraham had consequences because of his sins, but he did repent and choose to follow the right path once again.

Complete the following chart by telling (1) what command or promise of God is recorded

in each passage and (2) what Abraham did in response.

Noah

Abraham

Bezaleel and Oholiab

Moses and Joshua

Hezekiah

Joseph and Mary

Answers will vary.


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Genesis God’s Command or Promise What Abraham Did

12:1-5

12:7-8

15:1-6

22:1-14

Make Sure Your Conscience Is Clear

A clear conscience before God is one more key to obeying God’s will. If we have sinned, and God has convicted us of that sin, we should confess it to God so it can be put aside. The following verses are very specific about the need for repentance before God.

Acts 24:16 is a very strong statement regarding this point because in it Paul says that he always tried to _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ .

Psalm 66:18 says that if we permit sin to remain in our heart, _________________________________________________________________________________________ .

First John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins, God is ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ .

Look at these three verses again and explain the principle of repentance in your own words.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Leave your country, go to a newland, and I will make you a great nation.

He took all his family and possessions and left to go toa new land.

I will give this land to yourdescendants.

I promise to give you a childand many descendants.

Take your only son, Isaac, andoffer him as a sacrifice.

He built an altar to the Lordand prayed.

He believed the Lord.

He obeyed God and was prepared to offer Isaac, but Godprovided a substitute (a ram).

keep a clean conscience before God and men

the Lord will not hear us

faithful and just to forgiveour sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

Answers will vary.


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Jesus Obeyed God’s Will

Just before Judas betrayed Him, Jesus and His disciples went to a garden on the Mount of

Olives to pray. Why do you think Jesus was concerned about talking to God at this time?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Based on Luke 22:42, what did Jesus say to the Father?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

What was His attitude concerning what was about to happen to Him?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Why did Jesus tell the disciples that they should also be praying? (verses 45-46)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

What do you think He meant by this?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Apply what happened in the garden to yourself. What can you learn for your own life

from what happened there?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Answers will vary.

He prayed that the Father would remove this cup (the crucifixion) from Him

if the Father was willing. But He also prayed that the Father would do His

own will, no matter what.

His desire to obey the Father’s will was greater than His desire not to have

to suffer on the cross.

so they would not be led astray by temptation

Jesus knew they would be confused by the events that were about to happen,

and He knew they would need to be strengthened spiritually.

Answers will vary.


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How To Know God’s Will

Based on what we have studied in this lesson, make a list of what you believe to be important if you are to know that you are in God’s will. Be ready to share your ideas with the rest of your class.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Teacher’s Lesson

Why should we desire to know God’s will?

• God made us ___________________________________________________ .

• Finding God’s will is finding __________________________________________ .

Doing God’s will means...

• Obeying the clear ________________ in Scripture

• Doing what we were ________________ to do

• ___________________ God

Answers will vary.

for a purpose

God’s purpose for me

commands

designed

Pleasing


L E S S O N 2 4 Q U I ZKNOWING GOD’S WILL

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhatdoesProverbs3:5-7teachusabouthowwefindtherightpathsforourlives? _____________ ________________________________________________________________________________

2. AccordingtoActs24:16,beforewhomshouldwekeepaclearconscience? ____________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

3. choose one of the following statements and write a paragraph to explain its meaning.

• PeopleareonlysuccessfulwhentheyknowanddoGod’swillfortheirlives.

• FindingGod’swillisfirstofallseekingandknowingGodHimself. _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

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TARGET TRUTHS• ThereisapatternoffailureifwestrayfromGod.

• TherearedefiniteconsequencesfordisobediencetoGod.

• God’swillbeginswithwhatishappeningtousrightnowandextendsintoeveryaspectofourfuture.

• SatanwilltrytoblindussowecannotfindGod’swill.

TEACHING STRATEGY

Blessings of Obedience/Penalty for DisobedienceTeenagers need to understand that God’s Word is filled with commands and promises. There are definite blessings for obedience and definite consequences for disobedience. This is an aspect of the principle of sowing and reaping that they need to understand well.

Steps away from GodInLesson24westudiedthelifeofAbraham.WesawthatGodbroughtgreatblessingsintoAbraham’slife,even though he sometimes disobeyed, because he truly repented of his sin and desired to follow God with his whole heart. abraham was a very successful man because he obeyed God’s revealed plan and purpose for his life.

AsstudentsstudyLot’slife,makethecomparisonbetweenAbrahamandLot.TheprimaryproblemwithLotwasnotthatherebelledagainstGod,butratherthathedidnotseemtodesiretomakeservingGoda priority in his life. He did not pray to God and seek God’s wisdom for his decisions or pause to build altarsandworshipGodasAbrahamdid.Lotsimplydidwhathewantedtodo.Hedidnotseekevil,butevil found him because he was not living according to God’s plan for him.

This is what happens to most young people who get into trouble. They do not set out to find trouble and hurt themselves. But their natural fleshly desires take them in that direction because they have not set themselves to do right and follow God.

Usetheteacher’slessonasyoustudywhathappenedtoLotbecauseitwillexplaininmoredetailwhyapersondoesnotfindGod’swill.YouwillneedtoconsiderhowtohandlethestoryofLotsinceitendswith particularly heinous sexual sin. consider carefully how much of the story would be best to share with your students. although we do not want to minimize the depths to which sin can take us, we also need to be wise in how much detail we teach to younger students. consider communicating with your students’ parents prior to a detailed discussion of this story.

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KnowingGod’sWillThis is the culmination of everything we have been learning in the last two lessons. Have students discuss eachpointandapplythemtoAbraham,toLot,andtotheirownpersonallives.

God’sWillforYouRightNowYour students need to learn to apply these principles to their daily lives. In a few years they are going to need God’s wisdom as they choose a college or a career or a life’s mate. God is preparing them for those decisions right now. If they learn to obey and follow God’s will now, God will help them to make wise decisions in these important matters later on. as they are faithful now in the simpler decisions during middle school, God will reward their faithfulness by helping them with high school decisions, college decisions, and lifelong decisions.

The last questions are given to enable students to restate once again the basic principles that they have learned.

TEACHER’S LESSONThe topic for our discussion is reasons why people do not know and do God’s will.

Satan Blinds Us...• ByMakingUsThinkGod’sWillMakesUsMiserable

Jonah was a perfect example of this type of blindness. He knew what God really wanted him to do (gotopreachinNineveh),buthethoughtthatwouldbetheworstthinghecouldpossiblydo.Why?NinevehwasthecapitalofIsrael’sgreatestthreat—theAssyrianempire.TheIsraelitesfearedthecrueland savage armyofNineveh.The Israeliteswouldhave likednothingmore than forGod to judgeNinevehanddestroyitcompletely.God,however,wastellingJonahtopreachtothemsotheywouldrepent, and He would not have to judge them.

Thus Satan went to work on Jonah’s mind and heart attitude. He might have made Jonah think, “If you preach to those people, you will surely cause them to repent (after all, you’re a great preacher), and then Israel will be doomed. Those fellows will come in here and take all of you captive, and it will be your fault!” Or he could have told Jonah, “What if they don’t repent? You will look like a fool! Your friends will think you’re a traitor and a failure!”

as we see the ending of Jonah’s story, we see the hand of God in the life of Jonah as well as in the repentance of an entire nation of people. By submitting to God’s will, Jonah was part of a great victory.

• ByMakingUsJudgebyOurFeelingsandbyOutwardAppearance

Lotwasagoodexampleofthiskindofthinking.LotneverevenstoppedtoconsiderGod’swillwhenAbrahamgavehimchoiceoftheland.Lotwentpurelybyhisowndesires.Helethiseyesandhisfeel-ings dictate his choice, but little did he realize the consequences. How could such a perfect choice lead todestruction?Yetitdid.LotfailedtorealizethatGodcouldseemuchfurtherintothefuturethanhecould.Lotcouldonlyseethepresent;Godcouldseethefuture.HadLotseenthingsfromGod’s

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perspective, he would have seen that to go toward Sodom would lead eventually to utter poverty, and Lotwouldendhisdaysasadrunkenpauper,livinginacavewithhistwodaughters.

We must realize that God has better knowledge of the future than we have. We also need to recognize that our feelings and our eyes will often lead us in the opposite direction from where God would have us go.

Satan has a way of making the wrong way look the best. He fills his way with temporary fun and excite-ment, knowing that we cannot see the future. recognize Satan’s deception and realize that the fruit maytastesweetnow,buttheendofitisdeath(Prov.14:12).

BelieversAreNotinaPositiontoKnowGod’sWillWhen...• SininOurLivesKeepsUsfromSeekingandFindingGod’sWisdom

When we are living in disobedience and rebellion to God’s Word, God will not direct or guide us. Why should He? We aren’t obeying what His Word directs us to do, so why should He give us further direc-tions? If we are to find God’s will, we must be sure that we are already trying to do what God’s Word tells us to do. Is there unconfessed sin in your life? are there strong desires to disobey God’s Word in your heart? as long as sin remains in our lives, we can forget about knowing any more of God’s will than that His immediate plan is chastening.

• FailingtoListenKeepsUsfromHearing

Some people do not have specific sins or willful disobedience in their lives, but they still don’t obey the voice of God because they aren’t sensitive to His voice. In other words, they aren’t listening for Him. The Bible is full of people who refused to hear God’s Word so much that they became unable to hear it. God took their opportunities away.

Samuel is a good example of this. as a small child, He heard the voice of God and listened to His instructions. We need to become more sensitive to “the still small voice” within us. We have to expect that His Word contains the direction we need.

QUIZ ANSWERS1. Anythreeofthefollowingwouldbeacceptable:You will be God’s special treasure; God will be an

enemytoyourenemies;Itwillbewellwithyouandyourchildren; You will be prosperous and success-ful;Yourdayswillbelengthened; You will eat the good of the land (enjoy God’s blessing in this life and eternity);Godwillabidewithyou;Yourprayerswillbeanswered.

2. Lot3. the one who does the will of God4. understandingwhatthewilloftheLordis5. Grade your students’ answers based on how well they demonstrate that they understand the concepts

that have been presented.


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STAYING IN GOD’S WILL

As we have learned, finding God’s will is not difficult if you know the blessing that comes with obedience. There is no other way to be in the will of God than through obedience. Some people think that they can do as they please without giving much thought to what is right and still find success. They may find some pieces of temporary success that way, but they will miss out on the blessing that they could have had. God wants only the best for us, and He will bless us if we obey Him.

Blessing Of Obedience

Read the following verses and note some of the blessings God has promised to His people for obedience.

• Exodus 19:5 _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Exodus 23:22 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Deuteronomy 5:29 ________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Joshua 1:8 ______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 3:1-2 ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Isaiah 1:19 ______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• John 14:23 ______________________________________________________

• 1 John 3:22 _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

You will be God’s special treasure.

God will be an enemy to your enemies.

It will be well with you and your children.

You will be prosperous and successful.

Your days will be lengthened.

You will “eat the good of the land” (enjoy God’s blessingin this life and eternity).

God will abide with you.

Your prayers will be answered.


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Penalty For Disobedience

What do the following two verses say about the importance of your obedience to the Lord?

• 1 Samuel 12:15 __________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Ephesians 5:6 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Steps Away From God

When we rebel against the will of God and live in disobedience, we must realize that we have started on a path that can lead to more and more failures. Failure does not happen all at once. But when we disobey God once and do not confess that sin, we are more apt to do something else in disobedience to Him. Sooner or later, we will have great problems and will experience failure.

Lot, Abraham’s nephew, took a great step away from God and did not return to God to confess his sin. That made it easier and easier to sin again and again. Finally, Lot lost everything that was important to him in his life.

Read the story of Lot in Genesis 13 and 18-19 and complete the following chart.

Genesis Steps to Lot’s Failure

13:1-7

13:8-11

The hand of the Lord will be against those who donot obey the voice of the Lord and rebel against His commandments.

God’s judgment comes to those who disobey Him.

Lot left Egypt with Abraham. Both of them were very wealthy, and the land was not large enough to support both of theirherds.

Abraham let Lot choose the land he wanted. Lot chose thebest land and separated from Abraham.


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13:12-13

18:20-33

19:12-15

19:30

Remember, the world, like Sodom and Gomorrah, will pass away, but the one who does

the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:17).

Also remember that we are not to be unwise as Lot was, but we are to understand what

the will of the Lord is (Eph. 5:17).

Knowing God’s Will

We know God’s will as we know and obey God’s Word. The difficult decisions in life will

become more clear when we are faithful in obeying God’s clear commands. Here are some

things that will be taking place in our lives if we are seeking to obey God’s commands:

• Have a clear conscience before God and men.

• Spend time in prayer to God.

• Be honest with God about your feelings.

• Be willing to do what the Lord has commanded you to do.

Lot lived near Sodom, a place of wickedness.

God was going to destroy Sodom because of its wickedness.Abraham begged Him not to destroy it if He could find tenrighteous people there.

The angels told Lot that God was about to destroy Sodom andthat he and his family should leave. Lot tried to get his familyto leave with him, but some of them laughed at him and refused to come.

Lot and his two daughters escaped from Sodom and lived ina cave in the mountains.


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196

What steps could Lot have taken so that he would not continue on the pathway to failure?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

God’s Will For You Right Now

Many times we do not even have to think about whether something is consistent with God’s will or not. List some of the things that God has called you to do that you do not have to pray about. You simply have to do them willingly.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There are also many times when we must make a decision about how we should respond in a particular situation. We may wonder whether we should try out for the basketball or soccer team, try out for the cheerleading squad, run for a class office, take part in a speech contest, volunteer for a special project, or help in Sunday school with little children. These are only a few of the things we might consider doing, and we need to be sure that we are making wise decisions.

Sometimes if we are very good at something, we might think that God wants us to follow through and do it. But that may not be true. You may be a great soccer player, but perhaps it would be wiser to take more time with your grades before you play school sports. Or maybe you do not think you are good at soccer, but it would be a wise choice to try it and learn to be a part of a team. You see, there is not a right or wrong answer to some of these things, and that is why you must learn to make your choices for the right reasons. What your friends do is between them and God. God wants to show you what is best for you, and that is between you and Him alone.

What does Psalm 37:4–5 say about the kind of motivations we should have as we make decisions in our lives?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

We should seek joy in serving God and trust that His way is best for our lives.


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What does James 1:5 say about how we gain the wisdom we need for our lives?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What activities are you interested in doing?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How will you know if these things are wise and are motivated by a desire to please God?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Teacher’s Lesson

Why We Don’t Do God’s Will

• Satan blinds us...

• By making us think God’s will makes us ____________________

• By making us judge by our ________________ and by ______________________________________

• Believers are not in a position to act wisely when...

• ________ in our lives keeps us from __________________________________________________

• Failing to ____________ keeps us from ______________

If we ask for wisdom from God, He will give it to us.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

miserable

feelings outwardappearance

Sin seeking God’s wisdom

listen hearing


L E S S O N 2 5 Q U I ZSTAYING IN GOD’S WILL

Name ________________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. ListthreeblessingsofobediencethatarementionedinGod’sWord.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

2. WhatmaninGenesistookstepsawayfromtheLordandendedhislifeinfailure? ______________

3. Accordingto1John2:17,whoabidesforever? __________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

4. AccordingtoEphesians5:17,whatistheoppositeofbeingunwise? _________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

5. When you have a really important decision to make, what should you do to find out what God’s will for you is? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

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L E S S O N 2 6

LEARNING HOW TO USE MONEY

TARGET TRUTHS• Godentrustsuswithmoney,andHeexpectsustospenditwisely.

• Whatwedowithourmoneytellsussomethingaboutourvalues.

TEACHING STRATEGY

LearningfortheFutureread the first paragraph of the lesson together as a class. Then have your students fill out the first section,LearningfortheFuture,individuallytogivethemanopportunitytothinkthroughtheseissuesfor themselves. as they share the thoughts they have written with the class, list the concepts under the following three headings on a chalkboard or overhead.

• Thingsmyparentspurchaseforme

• Myfinancialresponsibilitiesnow

• Financialresponsibilitiesinmyfuture

as this section is completed, emphasize that your students must begin now to learn how to handle money. Then when the time comes that they have greater responsibilities with money, they will have the necessary wisdom.

How to Handle MoneyHave your students complete this section individually or in pairs, having them write a principle in their own words based on the verse(s) being read. as you go over their concepts, make sure each verse is well understood and that all unfamiliar words are defined.

The Problem of Greed and covetousnessMany of the problems with money come from problems created by envy and jealousy. We see something that belongs to another person, and then greed and covetousness take over. Teens need to discuss the areas in which they are most covetous and jealous. Sometimes it becomes very important to have certain name brand tennis shoes or clothes. clothes designers deliberately create new “fads” or fashions to cause us to want things that we do not really need. When our friends have these things, it creates an even greater desire within us to have the new styles. We think that the new fad or name brand styles will help us to fit in with our friends. adults have the same problem—sometimes to an even greater extent than young people. Many adults get into great financial problems because they want all the things that others have or

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that are advertised on television. We all need to learn to say “no” to the desire always to have the newest and most expensive things.

Parable of the TalentsWhatever God gives us is our responsibility to use wisely. If He gives us a certain ability, we need to put it to use for His glory and for His purposes. If He gives us money, we need to take responsibility for this also. We need to learn to give some to God, to save some, and to spend some wisely. Money should never be spent foolishly. But remember also, God does want us to enjoy life, and it is not wrong to spend some money for fun and enjoyment.

ProjectHave your students work on this project in groups of two or three. as they decide how to spend their money, have them state one of the principles from Proverbs beside each item to support what they are doing. Have each group present their ideas. Point out that, if we live by God’s principles, there are a great variety of ways we can use money.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING SUGGESTIONGod has promised to meet all of our needs, but we are often so used to this that we forget to be grateful. It is good that we thank God at mealtimes for our food because it is a reminder that all we have comes from God. for each of the following areas, name at least three things (or people) for which you are grateful to God.

• Spiritualpossessions

• Materialpossessions

• Specialpeople

TEACHER’S LESSON

Develop a Thankful attitudeThankfulness will always overcome envy, greed, jealousy, and covetousness. Thankfulness will lift us up. Greed and covetousness will pull us down and keep us discontent and unhappy. Giving thanks in everythingisthewillofGod(1Thess.5:18).

Money Is a Gift from God• Blessings

• Moneyisabenefitforthewise(Prov.14:24).Knowinghowtousemoneywiselycomesfromfol-lowing the principles we have studied in this lesson. as we apply God’s principles to our use of money and act wisely, we will be blessed by God.

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• Wealthprovidesus away tohavemany friendships (Prov.14:20;19:4).Whenwehaveenoughmoney to take care of our needs, we do not have to worry about ourselves and our needs. Then we can be free to help others and give to others which will give us the opportunity to have more friendships.

• Havingmoneyprovidessecurity(Prov.10:15).Goddesiresthatwebesafeandsecure.Hedoesnotwant us to be worried about the routine things of life.

• OurResponsibility

• Thosewhoarediligentwillhaveenoughmoney(Prov.10:4).Wehavealreadyhadalessononhardwork and faithfulness. It is important to recognize that these two things are extremely important if we are going to earn the money we need and have the things we desire. This is part of the sowing and reaping principle. If we work hard and sow diligently, we will reap the rewards of our work. This is true in regard to practicing for sports or music, getting good grades, and earning money and receiving raises.

• Takegoodcareofthethingsyouown(Prov.27:23-25).Whenwedohavenicethings,weneedtolearn to take good care of them. Our rooms need to be kept clean and free from clutter. Our clothes need to be kept clean and put away so they will not be ruined. Other things that we own that are important to us need to be taken care of.

• Thingsthatweownwillnotlastforever(Prov.27:23-25).Weneedtorecognizecontinuallywhatis truly important and what is not as important. The things that we buy or gain with money will last for only a short while and are external only. The important things are the internal things of our spirit that will endure forever.

• Everythinghasauseforourgood(Prov.27:25-27).GodexplainsintheseversesthateverythingHe has given us on the earth is to help us in our lives—so that we will have clothes and food and the things we need and desire. God desires that we find satisfaction in the life He gives us on this earth and enjoy the things He has provided for us.

• Godpromisestoprovideallourneeds(Prov.27:27).Weneedneverworryabouthavingthethingswe would like to have because God is interested in everything about us. He will always provide for us.

• RemembertheImportantThings

ItisbettertohavelittleandfeartheLordthantohavegreattreasurewithgreattroubles(Prov.15:16-17).

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QUIZ ANSWERS1. Anyfourofthefollowingwouldbeacceptable:

• GivetotheLordfromthemoneyHegivesyou,andHewillsupplyallyourneeds.• Itisbettertohavewisdomthangoldorsilver.• Donotpromisetoberesponsibleforthemoneyyourfriendowes.• Donotlieorstealtogetmoney.• Thepersonwhousesmoneywiselywillhaveenoughtomeethisneeds.• Donotborrowunlessyoumustbecauseyouwillbetheservantofthelender.• Don’tlaborjusttoberichbecauserichesarefleeting.• Donotchargeunjustlyformoneyyouloantoothers.• Ifyougivetothepoor,youwillneverlackforanything.• Don’tdesirerichestothepointthatyouneglecttogivetheLordHisrightfulplaceinyourlife.

2. Judas3. achan4. Zacchaeus5. parable of the talents6. a thankful attitude7. Score their answers as you see fit.


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LEARNING HOWTO USE MONEY

Learning how to use money is not the most important part of life, but it is still very important. As you have more freedom in life, you will see that you have more and more responsibilities that require money. For example, as soon as you have the freedom to drive a car, you will have the responsibility of keeping it filled with gas, keeping it in repair, buying insurance, and many more expenses that come with the ability to drive.

Learning For The Future

Right now, your parents probably still help you with most of your needs. What kinds of things do your parents purchase for you with their money?

You may receive an allowance, or perhaps you do some work for your parents or others to earn money. How do you earn your money? What responsibilities do you have with your money right now?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What additional financial responsibilities do you think you will have over the next few years?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Since you will begin to take on more responsibilities for your own money through the years, it is important to begin now to decide how you will best use your money. Some people never become mature about money. They do not know how to save their money, and they do not know how to buy things that they need or desire without going into debt. Many times they mishandle their money so badly that they must go into bankruptcy and begin again. When you must begin again, it is never the same because your reputation with money has been badly damaged. Learn now to handle your money wisely. If you

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.


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200

begin to possess more and more money, manage it wisely and ask God for wisdom to help you use it. After all, it ultimately belongs to him.

How To Handle Money

God has given us many instructions in the book of Proverbs concerning how we should handle money wisely. Read the verses from Proverbs listed below and write the principle by which God wants you to live.

• Principle 1 (3:9-10): ______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Principle 2 (16:16): _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Principle 3 (17:18): _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Principle 4 (21:6-7): ______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Principle 5 (21:20): _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Principle 6 (22:7): ________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Principle 7 (23:4-5): ______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Principle 8 (28:8): _________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Give to the Lord from the money He gives you,and He will supply all of your needs.

It is better to have wisdom than gold or silver.

Do not promise to be responsible for the moneyyour friend owes.

Do not lie or steal to get money.

The person who uses money wisely will have

enough to meet his needs.

Do not borrow unless you must because you willbe the servant of the lender.

Do not labor just to be rich because riches arefleeting.

Do not charge unjustly for money you loan to others.


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• Principle 9 (28:27): ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________

• Principle 10 (30:8-9): ____________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

The Problem Of Greed And Covetousness

In Luke 12:15, Jesus said that we need to guard against greed because life does not consist of

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ .

Proverbs 15:27 tells us that greed brings ____________________________________ .

First Timothy 6:10 warns us that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil so that some _______________________________________________________________ .

Read the story of Judas in Matthew 26:14-16. What did Judas do?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Which of the principles that we have discussed above did Judas violate?

__________________________________________________________________________

Read the story of Achan in Joshua 7:1-26. What did Achan do wrong?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Which principles did he violate?

______________________________________________________________________

Read the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. What had Zacchaeus done wrong?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you give to the poor, you will never lack for anything.

Don’t desire riches to the point that you neglectto give the Lord His rightful place in your life.

the abundance of the things we posess

trouble to your family

leave the faith

He betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

principles 2, 7, and 10

He took from the spoils that were to be destroyed.

principles 2, 4, 7, and10

He had used his position as tax collector to steal from the people.


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Which principles had he violated?

______________________________________________________________________

Parable Of The Talents

Matthew 25:14-30 contains the parable about three men who were given different amounts of money. Read the parable and explain what God is teaching you about money.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What else could God be referring to besides money when He speaks of talents? Give examples from your own talents.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What similar lesson is God teaching you about these talents?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Project

Pretend that you have been given $1,000 to spend as you think best. This is a great responsibility, and you need to consider how you will use the money that has been given to you. Read over the ten principles that we studied earlier in this lesson. Then explain what you will do with the money. Be very specific.

Teacher’s Lesson

Develop a Thankful Attitude

• Thankfulness overcomes:

• ____________________________________________________________

• ____________________________________________________________

principles 2, 4, 7, 9, and 10

Don’t hide or hoard your money, but invest it and save it wisely.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Envy

Greed


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• ____________________________________________________________

• ____________________________________________________________

• Thankfulness __________ us up. __________ and ______________________pull us down and keep us ____________________ and ______________.

• Giving thanks in everything is ______________________________________(1 Thess. 5:18).

Money Is a Gift from God

• Blessings

• A benefit for the ________ (Prov. 14:24)

• Many ______________________ (14:20; 19:4)

• ________________ (10:15)

• Our Responsibility

• Be ________________ (10:4)

• Take __________________ of things (27:23-25)

• Remember... (27:23-27)

• Things do not ________________________.

• Everything has a ______ for our ________.

• God promises to provide __________________________.

Proverbs 15:16-17

It is better to have ________________ and ____________ the Lord than to have great ____________________ with great ___________________.

Jealousy

Covetousness

the will of God

lifts Greed covetousnessdiscontent unhappy

wise

friendships

Security

diligent

good care

last forever

use good

all our needs

little feartreasure troubles


L E S S O N 2 6 Q U I ZLEARNING HOW TO USE MONEY

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. ListfourofthetenprinciplesfromProverbsdealingwithhowtohandlemoney.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

2. Who violated some of these principles by betraying Jesus for thirty pieces of silver? _____________

3. Who violated some of these principles by taking from the spoils of Jericho? ___________________

4. Who violated some of these principles by using his position as tax collector to steal from the people? __________________

5. WhatparabledidJesustellinMatthew25:14-30abouthowthreemenhandledthreedifferentamounts of money? ________________________________________________________________________________

6. What kind of attitude overcomes envy, greed, jealousy, and covetousness? ________________________________________________________________________________

7. When you are old enough to get your first job, you will have to make some decisions about how to useyourmoney.Answerthefollowingquestionsaboutwhatyouplantodowiththefirst$500youmake.

• HowmuchmoneywillyougivetotheLord? ________________________________________

• HowwillyougivethismoneytotheLord? __________________________________________

• Howmuchmoneywillyouspend? ________________________________________________

• Whatthingswillyoubuywiththismoney? _________________________________________

• Howmuchmoneywillyousave? __________________________________________________

• Whywillyoubesavingthismoney? ________________________________________________

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HAVING RIGHT THOUGHTS

TARGET TRUTHS• GodispureandunselfishinHisthoughtlife.Histhoughtsarebeyondourunderstanding.

• Godwantsustoguardwhatweputintoourminds.

• Godhasspecificprinciplesforwhatweshouldthinkabout.

• Wecancontrolwhatweputintoourminds.

TEACHING STRATEGYcomplete the beginning paragraphs together. Proverbs 23:7 provides the key principle for this lesson.

The Use of Your MindOurmindsweregiventousbyGodandarethemostremarkablepartsofourremarkablebodies.Noonehas yet been able to understand exactly how the mind works, how it controls the rest of the body, how it organizes our thoughts and emotions, or how it accomplishes any of the thousands of tasks it does in our lives each day.

and yet, as remarkable as it is, we still control how it will be used. We determine what types of information, feelings, and attitudes we feed into it. Thus, we should be aware of the warnings God gives us concerning how we use our minds.

as each of the three verses in this section are discussed, have your students state the meaning of the verse in the form of a principle by which to live.

Help your students complete the last section, listing good and evil thought influences by considering the following categories of thoughts:

• Spiritualthoughts

• Mentalorintellectualideas

• Emotionalattitudes

Have students complete the section on their own and then share their ideas with the entire class. as ideas are shared, list them on the board under each of the categories shown above. Have students be specific as they share their ideas. for example, rather than just saying television, they should suggest television shows that are right and wrong and explain the reason for their statements.

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What Does God Think about?as we discover what God thinks about, we discover the nature and character of God. explain that in the same way, as we consider what we think about, we will discover the nature and character of ourselves. This is true because of the concept we have studied in Proverbs 23:7, which states that what we think about is what we are in our character and will also dictate our actions.

Wise and evil ThoughtsHave the students complete this section individually and then emphasize what each verse says about our thought lives.

God’s Promise of PeaceObviously, it is very important to God that our thought lives be right. That is why, as we have shown before, God has special promises and blessings for those who obey His commands and principles. This is no less true in regard to our thought lives. In fact, this promise may be even more important because so much of our lives is based on the way we think.

after this discussion, ask your students: can you control your thoughts? How can you do it? Most people do not believe it is possible to control their thoughts. It is as if they feel that they are at the mercy of their thought lives. But God says He can renew our minds, and He has given us the Holy Spirit to control us. Therefore, if we yield to the Holy Spirit’s control within us, we can control our minds.

Have your students discuss this concept and make sure they include the following in their discussion.

• WemusthavearelationshipwithGodthroughreadingHisWordandprayerinordertohavethethoughts of God in our hearts.

• WemustnothaveunconfessedsinbeforeGodorbeholdingagrudgeagainstanyotherperson.

• Wemustactively restrainwhatweput intoourminds—thepictures,movies, television,music,words we hear, etc. remember: output equals input!

• When we are tempted by Satan in some form, wemust flee from him and not entertain evilthoughts.

Three Scriptural IllustrationsBegin by having several students give their explanations of how each illustration applies to our minds. add the following ideas to the ones presented by the students.

• TheWrestlers

Thiswillbeagood reviewofLessons13-15,whichdescribed thebattlebetween the fleshand theSpirit. You may want to have your students review some aspects of those lessons. In this illustration, then, we see that the flesh and the Spirit are engaged in constant warfare. Our responsibility is to be constantly yielding control of our hearts and minds—our entire lives—to the authority of the Spirit of God.(SeeRom.6:1-14.)

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To cultivate this yieldedness to God, we need to expose our minds to the renewing work of God’s Spirit through His Word and cut off contact with influences that weigh us down. We need to read God’s Worddaily;weneedtostaywiththerightfriends;weneedtoreadandthinkaboutgoodthings.Theflesh, on the other hand, needs to be deprived of those things that keep him strong.

We are in a battle, and the battle begins within our minds.

• AComputer

earlier in our lesson, we used a computer phrase, “output equals input,” to describe how a computer works. This is exactly the same way our minds work. If we dwell in our minds on wrong concepts (data), we will speak and act out those same thoughts. Wrong data produces wrong actions!

• AFountainofLife

Our minds are like the source of a river. What comes out of the source will determine the character of the river. If salt pours forth, the river will be salty. If mud pours forth, the river will be muddy. If pure, clear water bubbles forth, the river will be pure and crystal clear. What is the source for the thoughts that come from your mind?

Ifyouhavetime,studyPsalm1anddescribehowwearelikethetreediscussedintheseversesifweallow our roots to draw from the pure source of the Word of God.


compositionWrite a composition using Proverbs 23:7 as the key idea. Use specific examples to emphasize your ideas. Think of creative ways to illustrate and explain the concepts.

artworkHavestudentsdrawapictureillustratingPsalm1andwriteashortexplanationatthebottomofthepictureof what the different parts of the picture symbolize: the roots, the tree, the river, etc.

TEACHER’S LESSONThe things we think about influence other aspects of our lives.

• OurThoughtsAffectOurHealth(Prov.14:30).

Proverbs15:13discusseshownegative thoughts can cause a “broken spirit.”Wecanactuallymakeourselves sick or give ourselves headaches through worry or negative thoughts.

• OurThoughtsAffectOurFaces(Prov.15:13).

Many people can conceal their thoughts behind a false face that makes others believe everything is fine. But sooner or later how we really feel inside will begin to show on our faces and betray our true feelings. Our eyes or face will show sadness, rebellion, hatred, or hurt feelings. If we control our thoughts, we will be able to have a good countenance.

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• OurThoughtsAffectOurSpeech(Prov.15:28;16:23).

Think about the things you talk about the most. are they encouraging and positive things, or are they crude, foul, and negative? What we think about becomes what we talk about.

• OurThoughtsAffectOurAttitudesTowardSin(Prov.16:6).

When our minds are filled with the good and right things of life and when we fill our minds daily with the Word of God, there will be no room for sinful thoughts. Then it will be much easier to “depart from evil” that is around us.


• God’sthoughtstowardusaremorethancanbenumbered.• God’sthoughtsaboutusarepreciousandgreat.• God’sthoughtsarehigherthanourthoughts.• Godthinksofuswiththoughtsofpeacetogiveusagoodfuture.

2. WewillhavepeaceifwetrustintheLord.3.

• Wrestlers—OurfleshlydesiresareinconflictwiththeSpiritsothatwecannotdothethingswewant.• Computer—Don’tputwronginstructions(ideas)intoyourmindthatwillproduceerrors.• Fountainoflife—ThelawofthewiseandthefearoftheLordspringupinourlivesasafountainand

enable us to depart from the snares of death.4.

• Ourhealth• Ourfaces• Ourspeech• Ourattitudestowardsin


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HAVING RIGHT THOUGHTS

Computer technology coined a new phrase: output equals input. This axiom of computer science holds true in our thought lives. The mind, like a giant computer, works according to the type of information it is fed. What you put into your mind and think about affects what you become. And what you think about will come out in the way you talk and act. Therefore, the real you is not just what you say or how you act, but what you think.

The Use Of Your Mind

How then are you to use your mind? What kinds of ideas should you be putting into your mind? What should you be thinking about? Read the following verses and state God’s principles for what you think about.

• Romans 12:2 ______________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

• 2 Corinthians 10:5 _________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

• Philippians 4:8 ____________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Based on the principles found in these verses, make two lists that you can share with your class that identify things you should think about and things you should be careful not to think about. Include those external things that can be good for you or bad for you.

Instead of thinking like the world, be transformedand renewed in your mind.

Bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and worthy of being spoken well of.


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Good Thought Influences Evil Thought Influences

What Does God Think About?

Read the following verses and tell how they describe God’s thoughts.

• Psalm 40:5 ______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Psalm 139:17 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Isaiah 55:8-9 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Jeremiah 29:11 ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

What does this tell you about the character of God and what His interests are?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Wise And Evil Thoughts

As you read each of the verses listed on the chart, decide if the verse is describing wise or evil thoughts (or both) and explain why they are wise or evil.

Answers will vary.

God’s thoughts toward us are more than can be numbered.

God’s thoughts about me are precious and great.

God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts.

God thinks of us with thoughts of peace to give us agood future.

His thoughts are beyond our understanding and include love and concernfor us.


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Wise or Evil Thoughts? What It Says About Thoughts

Proverbs 12:5

Proverbs 16:3

Proverbs 24:9

Psalm 94:11

Psalm 119:59

Matthew 9:4

Matthew 15:19

God’s Promise Of Peace

In Isaiah 26:3, God promises ______________ peace to the one who ____________ in

Him.

Three Scriptural Illustrations

Look at each of the following pictures and then read the Scripture verses. In your own

words, describe what the picture is illustrating about the working of our minds.

wise and evil

wise

evil

evil

wise

evil

evil

The righteous think right thoughts,but the wicked are deceitful in theiradvice.

God will establish our plans when wecommit our lives to Him.

Foolish plans are sinful, and mockingleads to hatred.

Many people’s thoughts are worthless.

David thought about his ways and thenchanged them to obey God’s laws.

Jesus knew the evil thoughts of men.

Evil thoughts come from deep withinthe heart of man.

perfect trusts


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Galatians 5:17

Proverbs 19:27

Proverbs 13:14; 14:27

Our fleshly desires are in conflictwith the Spirit so that we do notdo the things we want.

Don’t put wrong instructions(ideas) into your mind that willproduce errors.

The law of the wise and the fear of the Lord spring up in our livesas a fountain and enable us to depart from the snares of death.


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Teacher’s Lesson

Our thoughts affect our...

• _________________________________ (Prov. 14:30)

• ______________________________________ (15:13)

• _________________________________(15:28; 16:23)

• _______________________________________ (16:6)

Health

Faces

Speech

Attitudes toward sin


L E S S O N 2 7 Q U I ZHAVING RIGHT THOUGHTS

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhatisonethingtheBibletellsusaboutGod’sthoughts? _________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

2. What does Isaiah 26:3 tell us about our thoughts? ________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

3. What lesson about our thoughts does each of the following illustrations teach us?

• Wrestlers(Gal.5:17)— __________________________________________________________

• Computer(Prov.19:27)— ________________________________________________________

• Fountainoflife(Prov.13:14;14:27)— ______________________________________________

4. according to Proverbs, what are four things that our thoughts affect?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

LE

SS

ON

27

OV

ER

HE

AD

Our Thoughts A

ffect Our...

•Health(Prov.14:30)

•Faces(15:13)

•Speech(15:28;16:23)

•Attitudestow

ardsin(16:6)

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MAKING RIGHT DECISIONS

TARGET TRUTHS• ThekeydecisionoflifeiswhetherornotwehavedecidedtofollowGodcompletely.

• Wemusttakedecisivestepstostayawayfromevil.

• Wemusttakedecisivestepstostandforright.

• Learningtomakerightdecisionsisasignofmaturity.

TEACHING STRATEGYas the first section is studied, write the words “God” and “gods” on the board. emphasize that there is only one true and living God, and He stands alone as the basis of truth and right and wrong. Under the word “gods,” have students help you make a list of all the things that can become gods in our lives. Help them consider whether they can make themselves a god. Point out that there is no difference between these “gods” that they have just listed and Baal or the gods of the amorites or the many gods of the egyptians.

This is why it is so essential that we decide once and for all whom we are going to serve. If it seems appropriate and you feel God is leading you to do this, have a time of prayer in which students have the opportunity to ask God for His help in giving Him first place in their lives. Tell them to name those things in their lives that would take the place of God and become gods in His place. encourage them to turn from this form of idolatry in a heart of repentance.

Deciding to Stay away from evil/Deciding to Stand for rightThese two sections discuss the need to make two kinds of decisions. We must make decisions against those things that are wrong and evil. We must also make decisions to do those things that are good and right. The character of a person is defined by the decisions he makes. Most people do not know how to make decisions;theysimplydowhatevercomesnaturallytothem.Everydayofourlivespresentssituationsinwhich a decision must be made. Usually these decisions are insignificant, but we need to learn to choose correctly in the small things so we will be prepared when the really important decisions come along. With this in mind, we should realize then that there really are no small or insignificant decisions because every situation builds for the future.

Tell your students: “When you become an adult, you will want to have meaning for your life and be a responsible, decisive person. You are in the process of learning to become just such a person. Being mature does not happen in one day or at one birthday. Being mature is taking responsibility for the decisions we make.”

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The Story of Martin LutherAsthestoryofMartinLutherisread,havestudentsfocusonthedecisionsthathehadtomakeinhislife.Lutherhadtostandagainstsomeattitudesandpracticesandforotherattitudesandpractices.Someofhis decisions were very difficult because he, like Daniel, had to go against what many people believed to be correct. But by taking his stand for right, he was able to influence the hearts and minds of millions of people.

HavestudentslistthedecisionsLutherhadtomakeandthenapplythesamechoicestothemselves.


recognizing the Importance of Decision-MakingHave your students keep track for a period of time (a few days or a week) of the decisions they have to make. Most students do not realize how many types of decisions they must make during the course of a day. This will help your students realize that they are making decisions continually and need to be more attentive to this area of their lives.

researching a Bible characterassign students a choice of the following reports to research and write. You may wish to have students choose a character and work together in pairs on their reports. You may also wish to assign each student a different person to write about so you will have a variety of stories to present to the class.

• HavestudentschooseanotherBiblecharacterbesidesDanielwhohadtomakeadecisiontobedifferent and take a stand for God. They need to find and read the story of that person in the Bible and be ready to share a report before the class regarding the person they have chosen. The key concepts that need to be learned are:

• WhatpurposeGodhadforthem

• Whatobstaclestheyfaced

• Whateviltheyhadtostayawayfromordealwithintheirministry

• Whatgoodtheyhadtostandfor

• Whattheresultsoftheirministrywere

Many Bible characters could be chosen for this assignment including John the Baptist, Paul, Stephen,Elijah,Elisha,Noah,Joseph,Moses,Joshua,Esther,Deborah,andCaleb.

• HavestudentschooseaBiblecharacterwhodidnotmakewisedecisions,andhavethemshowhowwrong decisions affected him adversely. They need to find and read the story of that person and be ready to share a report about their person. Many of these people did make right decisions at times, but often their wrong decision greatly affected their lives in a negative way. Have them discuss the following about the person they choose.

• WhatpurposeGodhadcalledforthem

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• Whatobstaclestheyfaced

• Whateviltheydidnotstandagainstthataffectedthemadversely

• Whethertheyeverrepentedandstoodforright

• Theresultsoftheirministryorlife

examples of Bible characters that could be chosen for this report are aaron, Judas, Samson, Jonah, cain, or ananias and Sapphira.

QUIZ ANSWERS1. WhetherornotIwillfollowandservetheLord2. He purposed in his heart that he would obey God and would not defile himself.3. They refused to bow down to the king’s golden image.4. He continued to pray even though the law said that everyone was supposed to pray to the king and

that anyone who refused would be thrown to the lions.5.

• 500• Germany• thefalsebeliefsandtraditionsoftheRomanCatholicChurch• thetruthoftheWordofGod• HehadtoleavetheRomanCatholicChurchforhisbeliefs.• He startedamovement thatbecameknownas theProtestantReformation (and reestablished the

truth of salvation by grace through faith, not by earning it through good works).6. count all reasonable answers as correct.


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MAKING RIGHT DECISIONS

One basic decision in life is the foundation upon which all other decisions will be based. Study each of the following verses. Then tell who is talking and what basic decision he is asking the people to make.

Verse Person Decision That Needs to Be Made

Exodus 32:26

Deuteronomy 30:19

Joshua 24:15

1 Kings 18:21

In your own words, state the one basic decision that everyone must make for their lives.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Every other decision that you make will come from this one basic decision about whom you will follow and obey in your life. As you study in this lesson some of the decisions that Daniel made, you will see that this basic decision to obey God was the foundation of everything else. Based on this decision, you will find that there will be certain things in life that you must stand for and certain things that you must stand against. Such types of choices are very clear in the life of Daniel.

Moses

Moses

Joshua

Elijah

Who is on the Lord’s side?

Will you choose life or death andblessing or cursing?

Whom will you serve—the gods ofthis world or the Lord?

Will you follow the Lord or Baal?

We must decide whether or not we will follow and serve the Lord


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Deciding To Stay Away From Evil

In the story of Daniel, we see a young man who has been taken away from his home and family to a strange land. He had some friends who were also taken away from their homes and families and who were also godly young men. These four young people helped each other to obey God. But before they could help each other, they had to come to some decisions about their own individual lives. To understand the decision Daniel made from the beginning, read Daniel 1:8. What does it mean that Daniel determined not to defile himself?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In the situation in which Daniel found himself, Daniel decided not to eat the king’s food or drink the king’s wine because it was not what the Lord wanted him to eat and drink. Later, Daniel’s three friends had to take a stand. What did they decide not to do in Daniel 3:14-18?

______________________________________________________________________

Now think about yourself! You live in a different world than Daniel and his friends. But in your world today, there are things that are wrong for your body and things that would not be right to do as a Christian. What are some things that God would have you make up your mind not to do?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Deciding To Stand For Right

Many years later, Daniel was placed in a position where he did not have to decide to abstain from evil, but rather he had to take a stand for right. Taking a stand for the Lord could have cost him his life.

Review the story of Daniel and the lions’ den in Daniel 6. What law was made to hinder Daniel’s Christian stand?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

He knew that eating these foods would disobey God’s commands, so he made up his mind not to do it.

bow down to the king’s golden image

Answers will vary.

People were not supposed to pray to anyone except the king.


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What stand did Daniel make?

______________________________________________________________________

Did Daniel have to take a public stand? Yes No

Why did he do so?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What happened to Daniel as a result, and how was Daniel protected by God?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Story Of Martin Luther

It has been said that more books have been written about Martin Luther than about any other person except Jesus. It is impossible to know completely how great an influence this man has had on our lives and on our world.

Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483, in a province of Germany. His family was very humble since his father was a copper miner. It was unusual for someone from his background to be educated, but Luther went to a university to become a lawyer. When he was a young man at the university, he narrowly escaped death in a terrible thunderstorm. He realized that life was very fragile and that God should be important in his life. Therefore, he made a vow to God to serve Him. Luther decided to join a monastery, and in 1507 he became a priest. His superiors soon realized what an intelligent man he was and wanted him to teach theology at a university.

Luther devoted his life to God and the church. He did everything the Roman Catholic Church asked of him. He fasted and punished his body; he prayed and studied constantly. He would not allow himself to have any of the pleasures or goods of the world, but he lived in poverty and humbled himself to do the most menial tasks. But in spite of all of his works for God and all of his self-discipline, Luther was unhappy and empty in his heart. He knew that something was very wrong.

The church leaders thought so highly of Luther that they chose him to represent them in Rome. He was to go to all the shrines and perform penance (acts to demonstrate his

He prayed openly three times a day.

so everyone would know that he served the one true God

Daniel was thrown to the lions, but God shut their mouths so they would nothurt him.

x


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sorrow for his sins) at each one. Luther looked forward to being in Rome and seeing the glories of the Church firsthand. But he was greatly disappointed because the worldliness that he found there shocked him. The wealth of the priests, the constant feasting while the poor suffered, and the wickedness that he found seemed such a contrast to how the priests in Germany lived and to the example of Christ Himself.

Still, he went to the church that contained the steps where people claimed Christ had walked during His last trials and began to climb up these steps on his knees. At each step, he would stop and say a ritual prayer to gain forgiveness from God. Suddenly a verse from Scripture came to his mind that changed his life. The verse was Romans 1:17, which says that just or righteous people live by faith. Remembering this verse immediately caused him to stand and leave the staircase. What did it mean? What about the penances? What about all the works he had done for God? Didn’t they mean anything?

Luther went home and began to study God’s Word closely, and his studies deeply affected his life. For a long while, he still taught the church doctrine at the university, but in his heart his ideas about the truth of God’s Word began to change. Luther had realized that salvation is a free gift from God—that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and we can do nothing on our own to pay for our sins. We must simply believe what Christ did and turn from our life of sin to trust in Him alone.

Then in 1517, the pope (leader of the Roman Catholic Church) wrote out a new set of indulgences (pardons for sin) to sell to the people. The people flocked to buy the new indulgences, and Luther finally had to say what he now believed. He wrote out his objections in a special paper that today we call the “95 Theses.” Only one of the theses had to do with the indulgences because Luther had many points of disagreement with the beliefs of the church. Nailing the “95 Theses” to the door of the Wittenberg church was the same as putting them on television or in the newspaper today. It did not take long for everyone to hear about them. They were copied and sent all across Germany and then across Europe.

Luther did not want to leave the Roman Catholic Church. He wanted to remain a part of it and help it to become scriptural. But this was not to be. Luther was eventually forced to leave Roman Catholicism because of his beliefs. Throughout the rest of his life, he spoke out strongly and wrote books about his beliefs. His stand for scriptural truth started a movement that we now know as the Protestant Reformation. Though he faced many trials, he continued all his life to take a stand, and the impact of his life is still felt today.


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What basic decision did Martin Luther make in his life?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did he decide he had to stand against?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did he decide he had to stand for?

______________________________________________________________________

Because Martin Luther stood for right, how did God use him to change history?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Have you made the basic decision to follow God instead of following other gods? ____

What have you decided to stand against?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What have you decided to stand for?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

He stood for the truth of God’s Word, which teaches that salvation is a giftfrom God, not something that we can earn.

the beliefs and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church

the truth of the Word of God

He started a movement that became known as the Protestant Reformationthat restored the truth that salvation is a free gift, not something we canearn by good works.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.


L E S S O N 2 8 Q U I ZMAKING RIGHT DECISIONS

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. Whatonebasicdecisionmustyoumakeinlifethatwillaffectallyourotherdecisions? ________________________________________________________________________________

2. WhatdoesDaniel1:8saythatDanieldidwhenhewasfacedwithanimportantdecision? ________________________________________________________________________________

3. What did Daniel’s three friends have to take a stand about in Daniel 3? ________________________________________________________________________________

4. What did Daniel have to take a stand for in Daniel 6? ________________________________________________________________________________

5. AnswerthefollowingquestionsaboutMartinLuther.

• Abouthowmanyyearsagowasheborn? ___________________________________________

• Inwhatcountrydidhelive? ______________________________________________________

• Whatdidhedecidetostandagainst? _______________________________________________

• Whatdidhedecidetostandfor? __________________________________________________

• Whatproblemsdidthiscauseforhim? _____________________________________________

• Howdidthedecisionshemadeaffectotherpeople? ___________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

6. What are some things that you need to take a stand against? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

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KEEPING OUR PROMISES

TARGET TRUTHS• JesusmadepromisestousthatHewillneverbreak.

• WhenwemakeavowbeforetheLord,wemustnotbreakourword.

• Weneedtolearntoseekwisecounselwhenwemustmakeanimportantdecision.

• OurpersonalconvictionsneedtobebasedonGod’sWord.

TEACHING STRATEGY

Making a Vowcomplete this lesson together as a class, reading the material together and having your students look up the verses and then share their answers. as you discuss this section together, help your students begin the study with a very serious attitude. Help them realize that some decisions they need to make should continue all through high school and into their adult lives. There are some things God never wants us to do, and these should be settled early in our lives so we will not have problems later. Have students discuss the obvious things that we should never do—not even once. We should never lie, cheat, or steal. We should not abuse our bodies and yield control of our minds to alcohol or drugs. We should keep ourselves morally pure—before and after marriage.

HannahFulfillsHerVowtotheLordThestoryofHannahisabeautifulexampleofonewhomadeavowtotheLordandkepthervow.Godrewarded her in many wonderful ways for her commitment to Him. Samuel grew up to be a judge over Israel.Thebooksof1and2Samuelbearhisname.ByhonoringSamuel,Godalsohonoredhismother,Hannah.

AKeyPartofMakingDecisionsThis section is left to the end, but it is still a very important issue to discuss. When we make decisions, usually we talk to others to get their advice. Most young people turn to their friends and share their thoughts and ideas with them.

friends are very important to teenagers. It is not wrong to ask the advice of friends in many instances. But teens often turn to friends for advice when they really should be asking for help from those who have more wisdom and experience. This section is designed to help students understand when to ask advice from friends and when to seek counsel from adults. emphasize to your students that their parents will always be

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the most important source of wise counsel for them simply because no one loves and knows them as well as their parents. The verses from Proverbs emphasize the need to get good counsel. friends cannot always provide this, and we need to be wise enough to know how to seek wise counsel.


receiving adviceHave your students give specific examples of times in which their parents’ advice and instruction have been valuable.

Have your students keep a record during the week of times in which they need help or advice. Have them choose one or two of the situations and answer the following questions about the specific situation.

• Towhomdidyougoforadvice?

• Didyoureceivewisecounsel?

• Couldyouhavechosenawiserandmoreexperiencedperson?

• Whatadvicedidyoureceive?

• Didyoufollowthroughandactontheadvice?

• Whatweretheresults?

Thinking Through Personal convictionsThis assignment may be approached in several ways depending on the amount of time you wish to spend and the emphasis you wish to make.

Discuss the following concepts:

• OurconvictionsmustbebasedontheWordofGod.

• Noonecanforcetheirconvictionsonyou.

• TheymustcomefromyourheartbecauseyouhavechosentoputGodfirstinyourlifeandserveHim.

• IfweareseriousaboutwhatGodwantsustodo,wecanmakeavowtotheLord,determininginourhearts to keep the vow we make.

a list of areas that many would consider important convictions are given as a basis for research and discussion.

• Youmayhavestudentsworkindividually,inpairs,orinsmallgroups,tofindScripturethatsupportseach item contained in the following list.

• Youmayhavestudentschooseoneoftheconceptsanddotheirownresearch,muchasisoutlinedintheteacher’ssupplementinLesson14.

• Youmayusethelistasaself-evaluationquiztohelpyourstudentsdiscerntheirlevelofconvictioninthese important areas.

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You may discuss the items in the list and have your students consider their own personal commitments before the Lord. Help students consider making a vow before the Lord concerning any or all of theconcepts listed. remember that you cannot force others to decide what they will or will not do. This type of vow or commitment must come from their own hearts and must be their own decisions. Discuss this with them, explaining that they are old enough to decide important issues and make some decisions before theLordforthemselves.

Help your students understand that they will surely fall into sin in many, if not most or perhaps even all of the below areas. The sweet truth of christianity is that God forgives all those who respond to their sin with sorrow and genuine repentance. The basis of this forgiveness is the finished work of Jesus christ.

AListofPersonalConvictions• Iwillobeyandhonormyparentseachdayofmylife.• IwillobeyallauthorityGodhasplacedoverme.• Iwillnotlie,steal,orcheat.• Iwillkeepmyselfmorallypurebothbeforeandaftermarriage.• IwillmonitorwhatIseeinbooksandmagazines,ontheinternet,andonTV.• Iwilllistenonlytomusicthatisconsistentwithbiblicaltruth.• IwillmakewisechoicesintheclosefriendsthatIchoose.• Iwillnotuseprofaneorcrudelanguage.• IwillnotknowinglyhurtanyoneelsebythethingsIdoorthethingsIsay.• Iwillnotabusemybodyoryieldcontrolofmymindtoalcohol,tobacco,ordrugs.• IwillconsistentlyreadGod’sWordformyself.• IwilladmitwhenIamwrongwitharepentantheart.• IwillnotallowothergodstotaketheplaceoftheonetrueGodinmylife.

QUIZ ANSWERS1. Godtakesourvowsseriously,andweshouldneverbreakavowthatwehavemadetoGod.2. Hannah3. IfGodwouldgiveherason,shewouldgivehimbacktoGodanddedicatehimtotheLord’sservice.4. The advice we get will affect our decisions, and our decisions affect our lives.5. any two of the following would be acceptable:

• Thereissafetyinamultitudeofcounselors.• Listeningtocounseliswise.• Ifyoulistentocorrection,youwillbehonored.• Amultitudeofcounselorsestablishespurposes.• Listeningtocounselwillmakeyouwiseinthefuture.

6. the Word of God7. so that we decide for ourselves what we should and should not do, based on the Word of God and not

on pressure from our friends


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KEEPING OUR PROMISES

It is very easy to make promises. We often promise to do little things for a friend or family

member. We promise the Lord that if He will just help us out of a situation, we will do

something important to show our gratefulness. Usually, however, promises or vows like

that are made to overcome a problem or to get something we want. We usually do not

take these vows seriously, and they are soon forgotten.

Making A Vow

We need to learn that when we make a vow before the Lord, we need to take it seriously.

When God makes a vow to us, He never goes back on His word. He established a

covenant (a promise or vow) with Abraham thousands of years ago, and He has not gone

back on this vow. He established a covenant with mankind after the Flood, saying that He

would never again flood the earth. He has kept His promise. The most important vow is

the New Testament (or new covenant), made by Jesus in Matthew 26:28, which says that

Jesus shed His blood to pay for the forgiveness of our sins.

We need to learn to keep vows to the Lord in the important areas of our lives. In your

own words, explain what each of the following verses says about making vows to the

Lord.

• Numbers 30:2 ___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• Deuteronomy 23:21 _______________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

If a man makes a vow to the Lord, he needs to do what

he has promised and not break his word.

If you make a vow to the Lord, it would be a sin

to break the vow.


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• Ecclesiastes 5:2, 4-6 _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Proverbs also has much to say about saying things in haste that you do not mean. Match each verse with the phrase that explains the key idea of the verse.

1. Proverbs 4:24 A. Don’t be a hypocrite and use your words to destroy your neighbor.

B. A righteous person thinks before he talks.

C. A fool speaks words in haste.

D. God will establish truth forever.

E. A righteous man will not lie to God or anyone.

F. Don’t allow the wrong kinds of words to come from your mouth.

G. God hates lying lips.

2. Proverbs 11:9

3. Proverbs 12:19

4. Proverbs 12:22

5. Proverbs 13:5

6. Proverbs 15:28

7. Proverbs 29:20

Hannah Fulfills Her Vow To The Lord

One of the most beautiful stories in the Bible is the story of Samuel and his mother, Hannah. Hannah had been married for a long time but had not had any children. According to 1 Samuel 1:8, why was her husband concerned about her?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Then on one of her trips to the temple to give a sacrifice to the Lord, Hannah went before the Lord in a different way. What happened in 1 Samuel 1:10-11?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Don’t be hasty to make a vow before God. When

you make a vow, keep it. It is better not to make a vow than to make

one and break it.

F

A

D

G

E

B

C

She wouldn’t eat, and she was always crying.

She made a vow to the Lord that if He would give her a son, she wouldgive him back to the Lord and dedicate him to the Lord’s service.


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Eli, the priest at the temple, watched Hannah praying before the Lord and approached her in verse 17 to tell her that ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ .

With this in mind, what attitude did Hannah have now, and what happened to her? (vss. 18-20)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did she do to keep her vow to the Lord? (vss. 25-28)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A Key Part Of Making Decisions

One of the most important aspects of learning to make decisions is learning to seek good advice. The Bible is very clear about the need for wise counsel. List those whom you would consider to be the ones who would give you the best counsel.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For what kinds of situations or problems would you need counsel from the people you listed above?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Should you get advice from your friends? Yes No

Under what types of situations would you receive wise counsel from a friend?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

God would answer her prayer, and she couldgo in peace.

She was no longer sad and began to eat. She praised the Lord, and soon she had a son.

She took her son, Samuel, to the temple to give him back to the Lord for God’s service as she had promised.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.


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The following verses from Proverbs show the need for wise counsel. When you receive wise counsel, you will be more likely to make a good decision. Look up each verse and write under the appropriate column the problems or rewards you will experience based on the kind of counsel you seek. (Some verses will need to be recorded under both columns.)

• Proverbs 11:14• Proverbs 12:15• Proverbs 13:18

• Proverbs 15:22• Proverbs 19:20

Problems Rewards

11:14—Where there is no counselor guidance, the people fall.

13:18—If you refuse instruction,you will have poverty and shame.

15:22—Plans fail when there is nocounsel.

11:14—There is safety in a multitudeof counselors.

12:15—Listening to counsel is wise.

13:18—If you listen to correction,you will be honored.

15:22—A multitude of counselorsestablishes purposes.

19:20—Listening to counsel will make you wise in the future.


L E S S O N 2 9 Q U I ZKEEPING OUR PROMISES

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score __________ _

1. AccordingtoEcclesiastes5,whatisimportanttorememberwhenyoumakeavowtotheLord? ________________________________________________________________________________

2. Whomdowereadaboutin1Samuelwhowasagoodexampleofsomeonewhokeptavow? ______________________

3. What was the vow that she made to God? ________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why is it important to get good advice when you have a decision to make? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

5. ListtwothingsthattheBookofProverbssaysabouttheimportanceofgoodadviceorcounsel.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

6. What should our convictions be based upon? ________________________________________________________________________________

7. Why is it important to have personal convictions for your life? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

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CONTROLLING WHAT WE SAY

TARGET TRUTHS• WecannottameourtonguesandourspeechwithoutthecontroloftheHolySpirit.

• Thetonguecanbeusedforbothgoodandevil.

• Weneedtolearnhowtotalktoothersaswellaslearntobecomeagoodlistener.

TEACHING STRATEGYHave your students read and complete the first paragraph on their own. Then discuss with your class from their notes how christ talked to others. as ideas are offered, list them on the board under the heading: “How Jesus Spoke.” Some of the following concepts may be included in your discussion.

• Hewasalwayskind.

• Heshowedangeronlyagainstsinfulpractices.

• Heknewwhentotalkandwhentobesilent.

• Hesaidthingsthatwouldhelpothers(edifythemandbuildthemup).

• Heneverswore,usedcrudelanguage,ortolddirtyjokes.

• Heenjoyedtalkingtopeoplefromallwalksoflife.

• Hewasagoodlistener.

• HerevealedGod’struth.

The TongueBegin this section by asking this question: “according to the Bible, the tongue is the greatest force for evil in our bodies. Why is this so?” Have your students discuss the answer to this and then have them complete this section and share their answers when they are finished.

Use the teacher’s lesson portion of this chapter after this section.

The example of PeterReviewwhatwasstudiedlastweekconcerningmakingvowsbeforetheLord.Oftenwemakerashpromisesto God and others without thinking through whether we really mean what we say. We need to remember that God always knows the true condition of our hearts. If we are not ready to make a commitment to the Lordorsomeoneelse,andwemakearashpromise,thenwewillsufferlater.Weneedtothinkbeforewetalk and not allow ourselves to get caught up with saying things we really don’t mean.

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The key lesson we learn from the life of Peter is the inner control that he learned to have when the Holy Spirit came to live within him. He changed from a man who wanted to do right but could not follow through—amanwhowantedtobeboldfortheLordbutwasactuallyafraid—toamanofgreatboldnessand courage who spent the remainder of his life preaching the gospel of Jesus christ.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING SUGGESTIONMany people do not really know how to talk with others in a positive way. The following outline discusses some of the things we need to remember when we are having a conversation with someone. Share these concepts with your class and have them read the verses indicated. If it seems appropriate with your class, have each person sit with someone who is not a close friend and have a conversation based on these principles.

• Beagoodlistener.Whentheotherpersonistalking,don’tconcentrateonthinkingaboutwhatyouwillsaynext.Concentrateonwhattheotherpersonissaying(James1:19).

• Beinterestedinwhattheotherpersonhastosay(James1:19).

• Askquestionsaboutwhattheotherpersonissaying.Ifthepersonisshyortimid,askingquestionswillhelphimtoopenupabouthimselfandsharehistruefeelings(1Cor.9:19-23).

• Donotbe intimidatedby theotherperson.At the appropriate times,begin to shareyourownthoughtsandideas(Ps.119:165).

• Iftheconversationbeginstoincludegossiporothernegativeremarks,redirectitinapositivewayby asking about something else or simply stating, “I’d rather wait until so-and-so is here before we talk about him or her,” and then quickly ask another question.

TEACHER’S LESSONWhateverproceedsoutofthemouthisanoutwardevidenceofwhatwearelikeinside.Listentosomeonespeak, and you will learn a great deal about the condition of the person’s heart. Thus, the tongue reveals our character. So you need to ask yourself, what does my speech tell others about my character?

Let’slearnthefollowinglessonsaboutthetonguefromJames3.

• Itneedstobecontrolled(James3:2-4).

• Abridleisneededforanuntamedyouthwhoisnotreadytorunhisownlife.Thehorseisawon-derful picture of a young person who is high-spirited and excited about life and who has great energy. everything is new, exciting, and wonderful. But sometimes, in his enthusiasm to enjoy all of life, a young person can begin to think: “I can run my own life. I don’t need anyone telling me what to do anymore.” Thus, a young person still needs a bridle to control his activities and keep him on the right path.

• Ahelmisneededforadultstospeakintherightspirit.Itisnotjustyoungpeoplewhoneedtocon-trol their tongues. adults must also control what they say and how they say it. So the helm of a ship is a good picture for adults who need to say what needs to be said in the right way. The Bible tells

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fathers not to provoke their children to wrath (eph. 6:4). Thus it is important that adults instruct, teach, and explain with the correct tone of voice and with the right words.

• Ofcourse,bothofthesetruthsapplyequallytochildrenandadults.Itisuseful,however,forustoconsider how these similar truths speak into the lives of both age categories.

• Uncontrolled,ithaspowertoharm(James3:5-8).

• Thetongueisaragingfirethatcandefileyourselfandothers.Theideaexpressedhereisthatthetongue can rage out of control like a fire and spread to produce rage and anger in others. Have you ever said something when you were mad, and you could tell the minute you said it that you shouldn’t have? You had set off an angry spirit in the other person as well as yourself. Or, if you say something in bitterness, you can wound and deeply hurt the other person.

• Thetongueisadeadlypoisonthatcandestroyfriendships.Thefollowingtypesofspeechcanhurtour relationships with others:

• Sneersandmockingwords

• Unnecessarycriticismthatismeanttoputsomeonedown

• Cutting,unkindwords

• Filthywordsthatdegradeallwhohear

• Gossipandbackbiting

• Liesanddeceptivewords

• Controlled,ithaspowertobless(James3:9-12).

Proverbs15:4teachesusthatourtonguecanblessothersasatreeoflife.TheseversesinJames3useafountain and a fig tree to teach the truth that a pure fountain and a fig tree cannot produce both good andbadatthesametime.Thefountaincannotpouroutbothfreshandsaltwater.Neithershouldweallow our mouths to bless and curse. We need to make a covenant with God to allow our tongues to be used only to bless and build up others (eph. 4:29). There is a great need to be positive and encouraging to others and to build up everyone we meet.

It is also important to realize how our tongues can be controlled. If we try to do this completely on our own, we will be trying in the flesh without God’s help, and we will undoubtedly fail. But if we ask God and depend on Him to help us from within, He will remind us and convict us when we are wrong and help us to change the way we speak to others.

QUIZ ANSWERS1.

• bits(orbridles)thatcontrolahorse• asmallhelmthatcontrolsaship

2. Smallthingscancontrolalargehorseorship;inthesameway,thetongueisasmallthingwithgreatpotential.

3. any four of the following would be acceptable:• Itboastsgreatthings(3:5).

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• Itisaworldofiniquity(3:6).• Itdefilesthewholebody(3:6).• Itsetsaperson’slifeonfire(3:6).• Itissetonfirebyhell(3:6).• Itcannotbetamed(3:8).• Itisanevilthatresistscontrol(3:8).• Itisfullofdeadlypoison(3:8).

4. any of the following would be acceptable:• Arighteoustonguefeedsandnourishesothers(10:21).• Agoodwordmakesothersglad(12:25).• Asoftanswerstopsanger(15:1).• Pleasantwordsbringjoyandhealth(16:24).

5. • BeforeChrist’scrucifixionPeterwasafraid,hemaderashpromises,hisbehaviorwasrash,hedenied

christ, and he watched from afar.• AfterPentecostPeterwasboldtospeak,hepreachedstrongmessagesaboutJesus,hehadcourageto

suffer, and many people were saved through his ministry.6. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He allowed the Holy Spirit to change and control him.7.

• controlled• powertoharm• powertobless


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CONTROLLINGWHAT WE SAY

When you think of Jesus and the way He reacted to others, what characteristics do you think marked His speech and the way He talked to others? Make some notes below about some of the things that come to your mind about the way Christ talked to others. Be ready to discuss these with your class.

The Tongue

The tongue is one of the most important parts of our bodies. Though it is a very small muscle, it contributes to how we enjoy life in several ways. First of all, it has that wonderful ability to allow us to taste. Taste buds on our tongues are separated into four categories—sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. Much of our enjoyment of life would be gone if we had no taste because all of our enjoyment of food comes through our ability to taste.

The other capability of the tongue is to enable us to form words. Many times we form our thoughts into words without considering the role of the tongue. What we think in our minds simply comes out our mouths through the enabling ability of our tongues. Obviously the tongue is very important to us. Because of it we can be understood, and our ideas can be heard. But the Bible says that it is also a great force for evil in our bodies. With our tongues we can build up and tear down others, we can speak good and pure thoughts, or we can use our words to speak evil.

James 3 explains the problem that we have because of our tongues. Read verses 2-4 and list the analogies made about the control of the tongue.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What point is James making?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bits and bridles control a horse, and a small helm controls a ship.

Small things can control a large horse or ship. In the same way, the tongue isa small thing with great potential.


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Now read James 3:5-8 and see if you can find nine charges that James makes against the tongue.

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________________

5. _______________________________________________________________

6. _______________________________________________________________

7. _______________________________________________________________

8. _______________________________________________________________

9. _______________________________________________________________

Just as the tongue can be used for evil, it can also be used for good. We have discussed some of these ways. Read the verses below and list other ways it can be used for good.

• Proverbs 10:21 ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 12:25 ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 15:1 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Proverbs 16:24 ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

According to James 3:8, it is impossible for us to tame our own tongues. We all too easily fall into the problems of lying, gossiping, rudeness, angry words, and other sins that hurt others. According to Matthew 12:34 and 15:18-19, why is this true?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A righteous tongue feeds and nourishes others.

A good word makes others glad.

A soft answer stops anger.

Pleasant words bring joy and health.

Our hearts are filled with evil thoughts. The source of evil is what is in our hearts, which comes out in what we say. What we say is the outwardevidence of what we are thinking inwardly.

It boasts great things (3:5).

It is a world of iniquity (3:6).

It defiles the whole body (3:6).

It sets a person’s life on fire (3:6).

It is set on fire by hell (3:6).

It cannot be tamed (3:8).

It is an evil that resists control (3:8).

It is full of deadly poison (3:8).

(extra blank for students who may have seen another aspect)


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What we say is the outward evidence of what we are thinking inwardly.

Since we cannot tame our own tongues, we need to learn how what we say can be controlled. The answer is in learning to allow the Holy Spirit to control our thoughts and our speech. As you study part of the life of Peter, you will see how greatly the Holy Spirit can change you if you give Him the freedom to work in you.

The Example Of Peter

Sometimes we make bold promises to the Lord about how we will act and what we will or will not say and do.

The Vow or Promise:What bold promise did Peter make to the Lord just before Jesus was to be crucified? (Matt. 26:33-35)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jesus Knew His Heart.

Did Jesus know the true condition of Peter’s heart? Yes No

How do you know?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did Jesus tell Peter would happen before the night was over? (Luke 22:34)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jesus also made another statement in Matthew 26:40-41 concerning the flesh and the spirit. What did Jesus say, and how did it apply to Peter?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

He said he would never deny Jesus and would willingly die with Him evenif others were embarrassed by Him.

Jesus is God, and God knows the true condition of men’s hearts.

Before the rooster crowed, Peter would deny Jesus three times.

Jesus said that Peter’s spirit was willing, but his flesh was weak. Peter wantedto stand strong for the Lord, but he was still weak in his inner man.

x


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More Rash Behavior:

Peter was obviously very emotional about the things that were happening to Jesus. He probably did not understand it all, even though Jesus had told His disciples what to expect. Read John 18:10-11 and Luke 22:49-51 and explain what other behavior showed Peter’s emotions. Explain, also, why you think Peter did what he did.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Denials:

Was Jesus correct in His predictions of what Peter would do? Yes No

What did Peter do to prove Jesus correct? (John 18:15-18, 25-27)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mark 14:70-71 explains even more about the way Peter was talking. What do these verses say about Peter?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now we realize that Peter had made a promise that he did not keep. Jesus knew that Peter would not keep his promise and that he would fail. But Peter had to learn that great lesson for himself.

If we make promises and our hearts are not right, we will fail. Our mouths will easily say things we do not really wish to say. Can you think of some times when you said things that you did not intend to say, and you were sorry later? Think about things you have said to your parents or friends that you wish you could have taken back.

Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Jesus then healed the man’sear. Peter wanted to show his support for Jesus but did not understand whatwas happening. He reacted the wrong way.

x

Peter watched from a distance away and then denied three times that heknew Jesus or was one of His disciples.

Peter cursed and swore at them and said that he did not know Jesus.


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New Boldness and Courage:

Now we are going to look forward a couple of months and see what has happened to Peter. You will notice that his speech and attitude have completely changed. What does he say in each of the following verses, and under what circumstances is he speaking?

• Acts 4:19-20 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Acts 5:27-29 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Acts 5:40-42 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

In your own words, explain what is different about Peter now. Is he afraid to stand up for Jesus under persecution?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Source of New Power:

Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, He made a new promise. What did He promise in Acts 1:8?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The promise came true just as He said, because on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came and filled all the believers. There were many evidences that the power of the Holy Spirit had

Peter was speaking to the Jewish leaders about Jesus and said that he could not help but speak about the things he knew.

The Jewish leaders told Peter to stop preaching aboutJesus, but he said that he had to obey God rather than man.

Peter was beaten and told not to speak about Jesus,but he wouldn’t stop preaching in the name of Jesus.

He is very bold and is no longer afraid to speak out for the Lord.

They would receive power when the Holy Spirit came on them, and they would be witnesses for Jesus throughout the world.


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indeed come. People began to speak with other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them the ability (Acts 2:4). Everyone was astonished to understand those who spoke in a different language, but many who were watching thought they were simply drunk and mocked them. Then in Acts 2:14, Peter began to speak with great authority. To whom was he speaking?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

According to Acts 2:40-41, what were the results of this first sermon after Pentecost?

______________________________________________________________________

Compare Peter with Peter:We have seen how Peter acted before he had the power of God in his life and after the Holy Spirit filled him. Review what you have studied about Peter and compare the Peter before with the Peter after in regard to his speech, his attitudes, and his actions.

Peter Before the Crucifixion Peter After Pentecost

to the men of Judea and Jerusalem (the same ones he had been afraid ofbefore)

About 3,000 people were saved.

afraid

made rash promises

rash behavior

denied Christ

watched from a distance

bold to speak

preached strong messages aboutJesus

courage to suffer

many people saved through hisministry


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It is very important to realize that the power of the Holy Spirit can change how you speak and how you act. He can also change your attitudes. You do not have to react to the things you see and hear as Peter did when he cut off the servant’s ear or denied Christ. You can allow the Holy Spirit to change everything you say and do and give you boldness and courage. One important way this happens is to trust and depend on Him, not on our own strength.

Teacher’s Lesson

Our Tongues Reveal Our Character

• The tongue needs to be ____________________ (James 3:2-4).

• A ____________ is needed for an __________________________ who is not ready to run his own life.

• A ________ is needed for and __________________________ to speak in the right spirit.

• Uncontrolled, it has __________________________ (James 3:5-8).

• It is a raging ________ that can ____________ yourself and others.

• It is a deadly ____________ that can destroy ______________________.

• Controlled, it has ____________________________ (James 3:9-12).

controlled

bridle untamed youth

helm adults

power to harm

fire defile

poison friendships

power to bless


L E S S O N 3 0 Q U I ZCONTROLLING WHAT WE SAY

Name ________________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhataretwothingsJamescomparedourtonguestoinJames3:2-4?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

2. What point was James trying to make by making these comparisons? ________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

3. ListfourchargesthatJamesmakesagainstthetongueinJames3:5-8.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

4. according to the book of Proverbs, what is one way that the tongue can be used for good? _______ ________________________________________________________________________________

5. ListonecharacteristicofPeterbeforethecrucifixionandonedifferentcharacteristicafterPentecost.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

6. What changed Peter? Why was he so different? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

7. complete the following three lessons we learned about the tongue from James 3.

• Itneedstobe ____________________________________________________________ (3:2-4).

• Uncontrolled,ithas _______________________________________________________ (3:5-8).

• Controlled,ithas _________________________________________________________(3:9-12).

LE

SS

ON

30

OV

ER

HE

AD

Our Tongues Reveal O

ur Character

•Thetongueneedstobecontrolled(James3:2-4).

•Abridleisneededforanuntam

edyouthwhoisnot

readytorunhisownlife.

•Ahelm

isneededforadultstospeakintherightspirit.

•Uncontrolled,ithaspow

ertoharm(Jam

es3:5-8).

•Itisaragingfirethatcandefileyourselfandothers.

•Itisadeadlypoisonthatcandestroyfriendships.

•Controlled,ithaspowertobless(Jam

es3:9-12).

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WHAT WE SAY AFFECTS OTHERS

TARGET TRUTHS• Thethingswesaycanaffectothersforgoodorbad.

• Wedonotalwayshavetosaywhatwethink.

TEACHING STRATEGYIn our last lesson we touched on several topics. Two of the key ideas were:

• Thetonguecanbeusedforbothgoodandevil.

• Whatwesayistheoutwardevidenceofwhatwearethinking.

Write these two sentences on the board and review what was studied. Then discuss the meaning of the word “edify” (building up one another).

The effect of Our Words on OthersHave your students look up each verse and record a word or a phrase that brings out the point of the verse. They are to write the reference and the key word or phrase in the correct column.

GossipingandLyingafter the verses under these two headings are read and discussed, have your students explain the problems of lying and gossiping from two viewpoints: (1) how it hurts others, and (2) how it hurts ourselves.emphasize once again how the principle of sowing and reaping applies to these situations.

controlling Your TongueHave your students tell what the verses from Proverbs say about our words. Then have them write a principle based on the verses they have studied.

Have various students write on the chalkboard the biblical principle they have written in their books. Have others read theirs aloud. Then have the class decide which are the best ideas, and use them to write a principle for the entire class to follow. Write it in a prominent place on the board for a few days. challenge them to make this principle a part of their lives.

ReviewtheconceptsfromLessons13through15regardingwalkinginthefleshandwalkingintheSpirit.Whether a person is walking in the flesh or walking in the Spirit is very evident by the things he says and the attitudes that are behind his words. Write the following two headings on the board and have students

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giveexamplesofkindsof speech thatwould fitundereachheading: (1) speaking in the flesh,and (2)speaking in the Spirit.

Jesus, of course, is the perfect example of one who always spoke in the Spirit. One of the key points made in the section on Jesus is that often it is wise to say nothing at all. To speak in the Spirit may mean not to speak at all. Have your students share situations when it may be better to be silent than to speak.

Use the teacher’s lesson in conjunction with this section.

Think of a Better Way to Say It!Students will enjoy sharing better ways to say these statements. as you discuss each sentence, have your students think of some reasons why these negative statements may have been made. We make negative statements because we do not like what is happening. But just because a situation is undesirable does not mean we must respond negatively. We can learn to change the entire attitude and situation by responding positively.

TEACHER’S LESSON• Don’tsaywhatyouarethinkinguntilyouaresurethatitwilledifytheotherperson.

Therefore, always consider...

• Whattosay(thewordsyouuse)

• Howtosayit(yourinnerattitude)

• Whentosayit(ifthetimingisright)

• Whyweshouldnotalwayssaywhatwethink

Wisemen thinkbefore they speak (Prov.15:28; James1:19).The reasonwisepeople thinkbefore theyspeak is because often the first things we say are reactions from our fleshly nature. We might react in anger, sarcasm, ridicule, or bitterness. If we stop to think first, we can give the Spirit a chance to direct our thoughts first and then also the things we say.

Wisemengetthefactsbeforetheyspeak(Prov.17:27-28).Wemustalwaysrememberthattherearetwosides to every situation or story. Many times we react wrongly because we do not take the time to hear both sides and to get all the facts. When this happens, we can find ourselves in an embarrassing situation because we spoke too quickly.

Wisemenconsidertheconsequencesbeforetheyspeak(Prov.21:23).Weneedtorealizethatwhenwespeak rashly, we can ultimately hurt ourselves. We may react to some authority—our parents or teachers—with a wrong spirit. If we do this to a boss, such an attitude may affect our job or an upcoming raise. We also need to remember that hasty words can hurt friendships or cause discouragement in others. We don’t ever want to hurt the feelings of someone unnecessarily. Most importantly, they demonstrate concern for the holiness and glory of the name of God and how their speech can affect how people view Him.

Wisemenspeakonlythethingsthatedify(Prov.10:21;12:18,25;15:1,2,4).Thisstatementtiestogethereverything else we have said. To edify means to build up others. We should never want what we say to tear another person down.

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QUIZ ANSWERS1. W;F;F;W;W;F;F;W;F;W2. G;L;L;G;L;G3.

• edifytheotherperson• what;how;when• think;facts;consequences;edifiy


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The Effect Of Our Words On Others

Read each of the following verses and decide on a word or phrase that describes the effect of the words the verse is discussing. Then list the verse and a descriptive word or phrase in the correct column below. Some verses may fit under both columns.

• Job 16:3• Proverbs 15:1• Proverbs 15:23• Proverbs 16:24• Proverbs 25:11

• Proverbs 29:20• Ecclesiastes 10:12• Ecclesiastes 12:10• Isaiah 50:4• Malachi 3:13

• Colossians 2:4• 1 Thessalonians 2:5• 2 Peter 2:3• 2 Peter 2:18• 3 John 10

Foolish or Evil Words Wise or Kind Words

Job 16:3—vain words

Prov. 15:1—grievous words

Prov. 29:20—hasty words

Mal. 3:13—strong (harsh) words

Col. 2:4—deceptive, persuasive words

1 Thess. 2:5—flattering words

2 Pet. 2:3—false words

2 Pet. 2:18—arrogant, worthless words

3 John 10—malicious words

Prov. 15:1—gentle words

Prov. 15:23—words spoken at the right time

Prov. 16:24—pleasant words

Prov. 25:11—words spokenappropriately

Eccles. 10:12—gracious words

Eccles. 12:10—upright and truthfulwords

Isa. 50:4—words spoken to encouragethe weary


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Gossiping And Lying

Our speech becomes a tool of sin in two key ways. These are two of the most difficult problems to overcome. They are gossiping and lying. We enjoy gossiping because we enjoy sharing what we know or think we know about one another. We lie because we are afraid of what will happen if we speak truthfully in all situations.

Summarize what the following verses in Proverbs say about these two problems.

Gossiping:

• 11:13 __________________________________________________________

• 16:28 __________________________________________________________

• 20:19 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 26:22 __________________________________________________________

Lying:

• 12:19 __________________________________________________________

• 12:22 __________________________________________________________

• 13:5 ___________________________________________________________

• 14:5 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 19:5, 9 _________________________________________________________

Controlling Your Tongue

Read the following verses in Proverbs and tell what they say about our words.

• 10:14 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 10:19 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

It reveals secrets and is unfaithful.

It sows strife and separates friends.

It doesn’t pay to associate with someone who practices it.

It wounds deeply.

It lasts for a moment.

It is an abomination to the Lord.

It is hated by a righteous man.

It is not practiced by someone who is faithful.

It will punished.

The mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

Sin is in the midst of many words. It is wise to control what yousay.


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• 17:28 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 18:6 ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 29:11 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• 29:20 __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

In your own words, state a biblical principle that you can conclude from the above verses.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Probably the most difficult thing to learn about our speaking habits is that many times it is best not to say anything. Controlling ourselves in this way can be the most difficult lesson of all. After looking up each verse, note in your own words when it is wise to keep silent.

• Joshua 6:10 _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Psalm 34:13 _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Ecclesiastes 3:7 __________________________________________________

• James 4:11 ______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Those who control their tongues are considered wise evenif they are fools.

The lips of a fool get him into trouble and can be responsiblefor his receiving a beating.

A fool tells everything he knows, but a wise man knows howto control his tongue and keep quiet about some things.

There is not much hope for someone who is hasty in his words.

The wise person controls his tongue and does not say everything he thinks. The fool hastily says anything that is on his mind.

when you have been instructed not to speak until a certain time

when you might say something evil or untrue

until the time is right

if you are going to speak evil of another person


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Jesus knew when to speak and when to be silent. Usually when we are rebuked or accused of something, we want to defend ourselves. But sometimes we need to wait until it is the right time. Otherwise, we may respond in anger and hurt ourselves even more. Read the following verses and explain the situations when Jesus remained silent.

• Matthew 26:62-63 ________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Matthew 27:13-14 ________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Luke 23:8-9 _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Think Of A Better Way To Say It!

Beside each statement listed below, write a better or more edifying way to say the same thing.

• You’re lying. _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• That’s a stupid thing to say! _________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• What makes you think I would want to go with you? ____________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Why didn’t you say that in the first place? _____________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Wait your turn! __________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• That’s the ugliest shirt (or dress) I’ve ever seen! _________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• He always gives us too much homework. ______________________________ _______________________________________________________________

when He was being unjustly accused by the high priest

when Pilate wanted Him to defend Himself

when He was being accused and questioned

Are you certain that what you’re saying is true?

Maybe it would be better to say it this way.

I’m sorry I won’t beable to go with you.

I didn’t understand what youwere trying to say.

It will be your turn in just a minute.

I’m glad that you gotsomething new.

Don’t say anything; go talk toyour teacher about it.


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• I’m tired of her—she acts too childishly! ______________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Composition: Should a person always say what he thinks? Why or why not? Write a composition to answer these questions. Read Proverbs 29:11 before you answer. Give good examples of when you should say what you think and when you should hold your tongue.

Teacher’s Lesson

• Don’t ______ what you are ________________ until you are sure that it will __________ the other person.

Always consider...

• ________ to say

• ______ to say it

• ________ to say it

• Why we should not always say what we think

Wise men...

• __________ before they __________

• Get the __________ before they __________

• Consider the ________________________ before they __________

• Speak only the things that __________ (build others up)

Don’t say anything; try to benice and friendly to everyone

say thinking

edify

What

How

When

Think speak

facts speak

consequences speak

edify


L E S S O N 3 1 Q U I ZWHAT WE SAY AFFECTS OTHERS

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. Tellwhethereachofthefollowingisfoolishorwisebywriting“F”(forfoolish)or“W”(forwise)inthe blank.

• _____ Proverbs15:1—gentlewords

• _____ Proverbs29:20—hastywords

• _____ Malachi3:13—strong(orharsh)words

• _____ Isaiah50:4—wordsspokentoencouragetheweary

• _____ Ecclesiastes10:12—graciouswords

• _____ colossians 2:4 — deceptively persuasive words

• _____ 2 Peter 2:3 — false words

• _____ Proverbs16:24—pleasantwords

• _____ 3John10—maliciouswords

• _____ Proverbs25:11—wordsspokenappropriately

2. Tell whether each of the following statements applies to gossiping or lying by writing “G” (for gossip-ing)or“L”(forlying)ineachblank.

• _____ Proverbs 26:22 — It wounds deeply.

• _____ Proverbs12:22—ItisanabominationtotheLord.

• _____ Proverbs14:5—Itisnotpracticedbysomeonewhoisfaithful.

• _____ Proverbs11:13—Itrevealssecretsandisunfaithful.

• _____ Proverbs13:5—Itishatedbyarighteousman.

• _____ Proverbs20:19—Itdoesn’tpaytoassociatewithsomeonewhopracticesit.

3. complete the following statements.

• Don’tsaywhatyouarethinkinguntilyouaresurethatitwill ____________________________ .

• Alwaysconsider(1)______________________tosay,(2) _______________________to say it, and (3) _________________________ to say it.

• Wisemen(1)______________________beforetheyspeak,(2)getthe ___________________ before they speak, (3) consider the ________________ before they speak, and (4) speak only the things that ___________________ .

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•Whattosay

•How

tosayit•W

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hyweshouldnotalw

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en...•Thinkbeforetheyspeak•G

etthefactsbeforetheyspeak•Considertheconsequencesbeforetheyspeak•Speakonlythethingsthatedify(buildothersup)

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TRUE SUCCESS

TARGET TRUTHS• SuccessfortheChristianbeginswithinternalcontentmentinGodratherthanexternalpleasureinthe

things of the world.

• GodgivesspecificguidelinesonhowtoprosperasaChristian.

• InnercontentmentandjoyaregiftsfrombytheHolySpirit.

TEACHING STRATEGYHave your students write their own definitions of success and list the attributes of success that they think are important. allow them to discuss these without making judgments about their ideas. During this lesson and then again in our next lesson, they will re-evaluate what they have written and have the opportunity to rewrite what they think makes a successful person.

Some of the aspects of success that they will probably include are:

• Beinghappy

• Havingagoodjob

• Havingplentyofmoney

• Havingagoodfamily

• BeinginGod’swill

• Havinggoodcharacter

• Havingagoodeducation

To Prosper and Have Good SuccessThisphraseisbasedonJoshua1:8andexplainsGod’sgoalforallofusasweliveourlivesontheearth.remind your students that God designed us and gave us the necessary abilities, talents, and personalities so that we might be successful in the purpose to which He has called us.

Discuss how the world’s view of success is different from that of the christian. The world looks at success from an external viewpoint. Wealth, money, prestige, and power are the hallmarks of success to them. Sometimes we think that to be a success as a christian, we cannot have money or nice homes and cars, but this is not true. The difference is that, to the christian, these are not the essential ingredients to success. Success for the christian has nothing to do with earthly possessions. Success consists of obeying God’s will and fulfilling our purpose for being created. It means having inner satisfaction and contentment because we know our lives please and honor God. It means finding satisfaction in serving others sacrificially. To

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the christian, success begins on the inside, and other things come from the inner power given to us by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said it best when He commanded His disciples to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33).

as students complete and discuss this section, help them align their lives with the life of christ. christ was not rich, but He owned everything. His priorities centered on meeting the needs of others and fulfilling His father’s will.

at the end of this section, have your students evaluate their lists of what it means to be successful, and then add those things that they think are important.

How to ProsperGod gives specific guidelines and principles to show us how to prosper in our lives. If we live by His principles, we will be prosperous and successful in whatever we do. Students are to look up the verses and write their responses under the correct column.

as you discuss the principles as a class, have your class write a proverb of their own that compares what wemustdotoprosperwithwhatwemustdotofail.SeeProverbs10forexamplesofcomparisonproverbs.

TheLifeofWilliamTyndaleHave your students read the story of Tyndale’s life. Have them write answers to the following questions or use them as a basis of discussion.

• WasWilliamTyndale’slifesuccessful?Whyorwhynot?

• WhatwasGod’spurposeforTyndale’slife?DidTyndalefulfillGod’spurposeforhim?

• WhatbiblicalprinciplesdidTyndaleobviouslyuseinhislifeinordertohavegoodsuccess?

• HowdidTyndalehelpchangethecourseofhistory?

• WhydoweconsiderTyndaletobeasuccesseventhoughhespenttimeinprisonforcrimeshedidnot commit and was finally burned at the stake?

ADDITIONAL TEACHING SUGGESTIONDiscuss the following ideas and attitudes necessary for success and have your students think of situations in which it would be necessary to use each principle in their lives.

• Focusonthefutureratherthanonimmediateproblems.(Forexample,aweightliftermustfocuson the strength and power he will have rather than the hard work he is enduring at the present time.)

• PlacenolimitationsonGod.(Donotthinkyouarenotsmartenoughonyourowntodohighermath. God will help you to understand what you need to know if you work hard.)

• Finishwhatyoustart—inallareasofyourlife.

• Forgivethosewhooffendyou.Neverholdgrudges.

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• Bewillingtoadmitwhenyouarewrong.

• Listenratherthanretaliate.

• Learnratherthangiveup.

• Bepatientwhenthingsdonotgoyourway.

• TrustGodforyoursuccess.

TEACHER’S LESSONWilliam Tyndale was burned at the stake. With his last breath, he asked God to “open the king of england’s eyes.” It was not long after he died that the same king of england ordered that Bibles be distributed and read throughout the kingdom. Think about what Tyndale must have been thinking when he was waiting to be burned alive. In spite of his impending execution, he seemed to be at peace. The only way a person can have that kind of peace is through the power of the Holy Spirit working in his life. This is a key reason that Tyndale was such a success. He knew he had fulfilled his life’s calling and that he was at peace with God, others, and himself. He must have also believed that God would answer his last prayer request.

Principle of Peacefrom the lives of Jesus and William Tyndale, as well as many others, we can learn more about what true success is. It includes having inner peace in all circumstances of life. When we have such peace within our hearts...

• Wewillnotbecomeirritatedwhendeprivedofsomethingwethinkweshouldhave.

• Wewillnotretaliatewhencriticizedorabused.

• Wewillnotbecomejealousofothers.

• Wewillnotworryaboutwhatmighthappen.

Definition of PeacePeace is realizing that God has provided all I need. When we truly understand that God is in control of our lives, we can relax and trust Him to work everything together for our good.

ThreeKindsofPeaceThere are three kinds of peace that God wants us to possess.

• PeacewithGod(Upward)

This type of peace comes when we realize we are a sinner and need to trust Jesus christ as Savior andLord.Colossians1:20saysthatChristhasmadepeacethroughthebloodofHiscrossandhasreconciled all things unto Himself. So, first of all, we need to ask ourselves if we have been saved, if we have truly trusted Jesus as our Savior. If this is true, we have peace with God.

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• PeaceofGod(Inward)

all christians have peace with God. But not all christians have the peace of God. The peace of God is the inward peace that we discussed above. It is the peace that does not allow feelings of jealousy, retaliation, or anger to gain a foothold. See Philippians 4:6-7.

• PeacewithMen(Outward)

This peace works outward to others. When we have peace with God through salvation and the peaceofGodinourhearts,thenwecanlearntohavepeacewithallmen.Romans12:18tellsusto live peaceably with all men as much as possible. God wants us to have a right relationship with every other person we meet.

antonyms of PeaceTwo antonyms of peace are anxiety and worry. These come when we begin to look at our circumstances instead of focusing on God and trusting Him to work things out for our good.

Synonym of Peacea synonym of peace is contentment. This will come when the peace of God is alive inside our hearts.

QUIZ ANSWERS1. HefulfilledtheFather’swill.Besides,truesuccessisnotmeasuredintermsofmaterialpossessionsand

prosperity, but by obedience to God.2. any three of the following would be acceptable:

• KeepyourcovenantwithGod.• KeepGod’slaw.• DorightintheLord’ssight.• TrustGodevenwhenpeoplelaughatyou.• Delightandmeditatein(thinkabout)God’sWord.• Confessyoursins.

3. accept any accomplishments that were mentioned in the story and are consistent with biblical teach-ing on success.

4. realizing God has provided all I need5.

• PeacewithGod(upward)• PeaceofGod(inward)• Peacewithmen(outward)


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TRUE SUCCESS

We began our study this year by learning the definition of true wisdom. We found that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and that apart from God, there can be no true wisdom. Therefore, as we conclude our study this year, we need once again to remind ourselves that the wise person will continually acknowledge God.

Before we begin to study how to be successful, think through the idea of success and try to come to your own conclusion of what success is.

What is your definition of success?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Think through your definition and then list several aspects of success that you would consider important.

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

To Prosper And Have Good Success

The Bible usually refers to success as prospering. The thing most people think of when they hear the word “prosper” is having money. But there are many ways in which we can prosper. We can be prosperous in having good friends, in getting good grades, in encouraging others spiritually, and in enjoying special talents. Many people are very prosperous in their enjoyment of life even though they have little money. Success and

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.


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prosperity can take many avenues. But to prosper and have good success, God must be at the center of our lives, as He shows us in His Word.

Jesus was the greatest person who ever walked the earth. Even many people who are not Christians acknowledge Him to be a great man and teacher. Think about Jesus’ life in terms of prosperity and success.

Do you consider Jesus’ life to be a success? Yes No

Was He prosperous in regards to money and earthly goods? Yes No

Explain. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What was Jesus’ primary goal in life? (Mark 10:45; John 6:38)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Did He accomplish this goal? Yes No

What were His other goals? (John 1:18; 8:28; 1 Pet. 2:21)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How did He accomplish these goals?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Look at your list of important aspects of success at the beginning of this lesson. Do you think that any of the items on your list should be changed or that certain things should be added?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

x

x

Even though He created all things, He chose to live without wealthand riches while He was on earth.

to do the Father’s will by dying on the cross for our sins

x

to introduce us to God, to teach us the truth, and to show us how to live

by living among people and showing them love through His life and

teachings

Answers will vary.


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How To Prosper

Read each of the verses listed below and explain what the verse says under the correct column.

Verse(s) Do This, and You Will Prosper Do This, and You Will Not Prosper

Num. 14:41

Deut. 28:15

Deut. 29:9

1 Chron. 22:11-12

2 Chron. 26:3-8

Neh.2:19-20

Ps. 1:2-3

Prov. 28:13

The Life Of William Tyndale

As you read the story of William Tyndale, think through the reasons he was such a great and successful man.

Even though John Wycliffe (1330-1384) was the first one who promoted the idea of translating the Bible into English, William Tyndale (1492-1536) has been called the true father of our present English Bible. It was Tyndale’s desire for every person in England to have the Holy Bible in his own hands to read. William Tyndale had made a vow years

keep your covenant with God

keep God’s law

do right in the Lord’s sight

trust God even when peoplelaugh at you

delight and meditate in (think about) God’s Word

confess and forsake your sins

disobey God’s commands

not listen to God’s voice or obeyHis commands

cover up your sins


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before. “If God preserves my life,” he had said, “I will cause a boy that driveth a plow to know more of the Scriptures than the Pope.” The pope was the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Tyndale felt that each person should be able to learn as much as possible from God’s Word for himself and not have to depend on the accepted teachings and interpretations of the church.

Tyndale was arrested by the king of England for speaking out against some of the common church beliefs. But while he was in prison, God greatly used him because there he worked on his translation of the Bible. He was a great man, and the story of his life is one that should be read by all. Part of his story follows. It is from History of the Reformation in Europe by J. H. Merle d’Aubigne (1794-1872), a man who devoted his entire life to the study of the Reformation.

“This man Tyndale, so active, so learned, and so truly great, whose works circulated far and wide with so much power, had at the same time within him a pure and beneficent light—the love of God and of man—which shed its mild rays on all around him. The depth of his faith, the charm of his conversation and the uprightness of his conduct touched those who came near him. The jailer liked to bring him his food, in order to talk with him; and his young daughter often accompanied him and listened eagerly to the words of the pious Englishman. Tyndale spoke of Jesus Christ; it seemed to him that the riches of the divine Spirit were about to transform Christendom. The jailer, his daughter, and other members of their house were converted to the gospel by Tyndale’s life and doctrine.

“However dark the machinations of his enemies, they could not obscure the divine light kindled in his heart, and which shone before men. There was an invincible power in this Christian man. Full of hope in the final victory of Jesus Christ, he courageously trampled under foot tribulations, trials, and death itself. He believed in the victory of the Word. ‘I am bound like a malefactor,’ he said, ‘but the Word of God is not bound.’ The bitterness of his last days was changed into great peace and divine sweetness.

“Friday, the 6th of October, 1536, was the day that terminated the miserable but glorious life of the reformer. On arriving at the scene of punishment, the reformer found a large crowd assembled. The government had wished to show the people the punishment of a heretic, but they only witnessed the triumph of a martyr. Tyndale was calm. ‘I call God to record,’ he said, ‘that I have never altered, against the voice of my conscience, one syllable of His Word. Nor would I do this day, if all the pleasures, honors, and riches of the earth might be given me.’


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“The joy of hope filled his heart—yet one painful idea took possession of him. Dying far from his country, abandoned by his king, he felt saddened at the thought of that prince, who had already persecuted so many of God’s servants and who remained obstinately rebellious against that divine light which everywhere shone around him. Tyndale would not have that soul perish through carelessness. His charity buried all the faults of the monarch; he prayed that those sins might be blotted out from before the face of God; he would have saved Henry VIII at any cost. While the executioner was fastening him to the post, the reformer exclaimed in a loud and suppliant voice: ‘Lord, open the king of England’s eyes!’ Those were his last words. Instantly afterwards he was strangled, and flames consumed the martyr’s body.

“His last cry was wafted to the British Isles and repeated in every assembly of Christians. A great death crowned a great life. ‘Such,’ says the old chronicler, John Foxe, ‘is the story of that true servant and martyr of God, William Tyndale, who, for his notable pains and travail, may well be called the Apostle of England in this our later Age.’

“His fellow-countrymen profited by the work of his life. As early as 1526, more than twenty editions of Tyndale’s New Testament had been circulated over the kingdom; and others had followed them. It was like a mighty river continually bearing new waters to the sea. Did the reformer’s death dry them up suddenly? No. A greater work still was to be accomplished; the entire Bible was ready. But could it be circulated? The king had refused his consent to the circulation of Coverdale’s Bible; would he not do the same with this, and with greater reason?

“Henry ran over the book: Tyndale’s name was not in it, and the dedication of his Majesty was very well written. The king regarding (and not without reason) Holy Scriptures as the most powerful engine to help him to emancipate England from the Romish domination, came to an unexpected resolution: he authorized the sale and the reading of the Bible throughout the kingdom.

“For centuries the English people had been waiting for such a permission, even from before the time of Wycliffe; and accordingly the Bible circulated widely. The impetuosity with which the living waters rushed forth, carrying with them everything they met in their course, was like the sudden opening of a huge floodgate. This great event, more important than divorces, treaties and wars, was the conquest of England by the Reformation. ‘It was a wonderful thing to see,’ says an old historian. Whoever possessed the means bought the book and read it or had it read to him by others. Aged persons learned their letters in order to study the Holy Scriptures of God. In many places there


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were meetings for reading; poor people clubbed their savings together and purchased a

Bible, and then in some remote corner of the church they modestly formed a circle and

read the Holy Book between them.

“In all the towns and villages of Tyndale’s country, the holy pages were opened, and the

delighted readers found therein those treasures of peace and joy which the martyr had

known. Many cried out with him, ‘We know that this Word is from God, as we know

that fire burns; not because any one has told us, but because a Divine fire consumes our

hearts. O the brightness of the face of Moses! O the splendor of the glory of Jesus Christ,

which no veil conceals! O the inward power of the Divine Word, which compels us with

so much sweetness, to love and to do! O the temple of God within us, in which the Son

of God dwells!’ Tyndale had desired to see the world on fire by his Master’s Word, and

that fire was kindled.”

It is miraculous to see how God worked to allow the Bible to be in the hands of

individuals. For so many years the Bible was not permitted to be read. Then after it was

translated into English, the king of England still did not allow it to be read. Little by little,

the king tolerated his subjects reading the versions in print. But finally, as you have read

in the story of William Tyndale, King Henry of England actually commanded that it be

readily available to all his subjects. This was truly a miracle of God.

What made Tyndale’s life successful? ________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

What desires do you think motivated Tyndale most? ___________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

How could you cultivate similar desires in your own heart right now? _____________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.


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Teacher’s Lesson

Peace

• Principle

Success is having peace in _________________________________________ .

• Definition

Peace is _______________________________________________________ .

• Three Kinds

1. Peace ____________________________________ (_________________)

2. Peace ____________________________________ (_________________)

3. Peace ____________________________________ (_________________)

• Antonyms

• _________________________

• _________________________

• Synonym _______________________________________________________

all circumstances of life

realizing God has provided all I need

with God

of God

with men

Anxiety

Worry

Contentment

upward

inward

outward


L E S S O N 3 2 Q U I ZTRUE SUCCESS

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhydoweconsiderJesusasuccesseventhoughHewaspoorforHisentirelife? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

2. ListthreethingsthattheBiblesaysthatifwedothem,wewillprosper.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

3. What did William Tyndale accomplish in his life that made him a success? ________________________________________________________________________________

4. What is the definition of peace? ________________________________________________________________________________

5. What are the three types of peace God wants you to have in your life?

• ____________________________________

• ____________________________________

• ____________________________________

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BEING A SUCCESS

TARGET TRUTHS• Toprosperandhavesuccess,weneedtohavefaiththatGodwillfulfillwhatHehaspromisedtodoin

our lives.

• Weneedtolearnprinciplesofsuccessfromtheexamplesofothers.

• Weneedtofindabalancebetweenpressingforwardtoaccomplishourgoalsandbeingcontentinallthings.

TEACHING STRATEGYHave your students carefully evaluate their definitions of success from Lesson 32 after reviewing thematerial from that lesson and studying the passages from Joshua 1 and Psalm 1. Have them write anew definition. Have your students share their definitions and have some of them write theirs on the chalkboard. Then have the class come to a conclusion of what the best definition would be.

This process will take a little time, but students will remember the concepts far better if you guide them into a good definition that is essentially made by them rather than simply having them memorize one you give them.

The SpiesThe comparison of the two expeditions by spies sent into Israel to spy out the land is very revealing. The first group allowed fear to possess them and saw only the problems ahead. Thus, success evaded them. The second group saw the land through the eyes of God and had faith in His promises to them. emphasize the following facts.

• BothgroupsofspieshadthesamepurposeandpromisefromGod.Godwouldhaveenabledthefirst group to have success if they had allowed His power to overcome their fears and doubting spirits.

• JustasHedid for the Israelites,Godhaspromisedus successandwill enableus topursueourpurpose in life successfully if we allow Him to work in our lives.

LearningfromExampleIt should be very simple for students to discern why some people were successful when others were not. Spend some time discussing each person mentioned and have your students share their ideas about the reasons for their success or failure. In some cases, there will be several possible reasons.

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Then allow your students to share the people they added to the list and what they learned about success from the lives of these people.


compositionHave your students write a composition and apply the principles from the teacher’s lesson to some area of their lives. Some suggestions might be:

• Findingwaystoservepeopleinyourchurchwhoarenotlikeyou

• LearningtoobeyGod’scommandsmoreconsistently

• Creatingopportunitiestosharethegospelwithfriendsandneighbors

• Gettingbettergrades

• Goingoutforasportsteameventhoughyoufailedtomaketheteamlastyear

• SpendingtimewithanotherChristianwhoneedsencouragementormoregodlyfriends

• Tryingsomethingnewthatyouhavebeenafraidtotry

• Decidingtoworkharderatpianoorsomeothermusicalinstrument

• Askingforyourparentsadviceonadecisionyouhavetomakewithoutthemofferingit

• Learningtocook

• Spendingmoretimeindevotionsandprayer

• Developingnewfriendships

• Developingabetterrelationshipwithparentsand/orbrothersandsisters

TEACHER’S LESSONTo be successful in life you need to learn to find the proper balance between the following two objectives.

• Settinggoalsandworkinghardtoachievethosegoals(seePhil.3:13-14).

• Forgetthepast—thosethingsthathavealreadyhappened,whethertheybesuccessesorfailures.We can do nothing about those things that are over and done with. If we have failed at something or not done our best, we need to learn from the mistakes we have made. We should never ignore what has happened as if it did not matter. We can learn from every experience we have in life. If we have done well in the past, we need to thank God for the good things we have accomplished without boasting or bragging. However, whether we have experienced success or failure in the past, we need to lay those past things aside and look to the future. remember that christ’s sacrificial death on our behalf has already given believers righteousness in God’s sight. What matters now is not what we have done, but how we are following christ today.

• LookforwardtothenewthingsGodhasplannedforus.Godalwayshassomenewplaninstorefor us, and we should always look forward to the new things that are ahead in our lives. It is not

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that we look forward in such a way that we do not enjoy what is happening now, but we realize that tomorrow and the next day will be filled with new things also.

• PressforwardtothepurposethatGodhascalledustoaccomplish.Withallofthisinmind,then,we need to look forward to new accomplishments and new things that God has for our lives.

• BeingcontentwiththesuccessGodhasalreadygivenyou.

• Donotworryaboutwhatyouhaveordonothave.Learntobethankfulforeverything God has given you in the past and in the present. Do not be anxious about your failures or successes, but look forward to what you can accomplish with His help.

• Besatisfiedinwhateversituationyoufindyourself.Realizethateachdayoflifeisawonderfulgiftof God and that you can enjoy every day. each day there is something to learn and something to be done for someone else. Therefore, every day will provide reasons to enjoy life.

QUIZ ANSWERS1.

• Joshua• Psalms

2. TheywereafraidofthegiantsinthelandbecausetheydidnottrustintheLord.

3. TheyknewtheLordhadgiventhemtheland.

4. ThefirsttimethepeopledidnothavefaithintheLord,sotheydidnotenter.Thesecondtimetheydid have faith, so they entered the land.

5. • Settinggoalsandworkinghard• LearningtobecontentwiththesuccessGodhasgiven

6. accept all reasonable answers. Use their answers to analyze how well your students understood the lesson.


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BEING A SUCCESS

In our last lesson, we discussed what it means to be successful. You wrote your own definition of success and a list of important aspects of success.

We can say based on the Bible’s teaching that success is accomplishing what God made us to do. Read Joshua 1:7-9 and Psalm 1:1-3. From these verses, list those things that God says must be a part of your life for you to prosper and have good success.

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________________

Now look back at your definition of success in Lesson 32. Think about your definition and change it if you think it can be improved. If you think the way you wrote it originally is acceptable, write the same definition again.

Success is ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ .

The Spies

Do you remember the story of the twelve spies that Moses sent into the Promised Land? Now at the beginning of the book of Joshua, spies were again sent into the land. Read the stories of these two incidents and compare what happened each time. Read Numbers 13:17-14:4, 20-23 and Joshua 2:1-3:17.

Be strong and very courageous.

Obey God’s laws.

Meditate in God’s Word.

Don’t be afraid or dismayed.

Don’t be a companion to the ungodly or scornful.

Delight in God’s Word.

Answers will vary.


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Numbers 13-14 Joshua 2-3

Purpose for Sending Spies

What the Spies Found

The Attitude of the Spies

The Attitude of the People

Did They Have Success? Why or

Why Not?

Numbers 14:11 shows what part faith (or the absence of it) played in the above situations.

What do you think had to do with Israel and the Promised Land?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

After comparing the above two spying situations, in what ways should you be thinking

about how faith needs to appear in your life?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Moses sent 12 spies into theland of Canaan to see whatthe people there were like.

Joshua sent 2 spies to look over the land, especially thecity of Jericho.

They found beautiful land,abundant food, walled cities,and inhabitants who weregiants.

The people feared theIsraelites.

Ten spies were afraid of thegiants, but Joshua and Calebdisagreed.

The knew the Lord had giventhem the land.

They murmured againstMoses and wished they wereback in Egypt.

They obeyed and followedJoshua.

No, God did not allow them to enter the land because oftheir unbelief.

Yes, they knew God was withthem and were willing to obey Him.

The first time the did not have faith, so they did not enter the land. The

second time they did have faith, so they entered the land.

Answers will vary.


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Learning From Example

We have studied the lives of many different people during the year. As you review some of these people’s lives, think through why their lives were successful or why they were not.

• Lot: the nephew of Abraham, was a very rich man with many cattle and herds

of sheep. He ended his life having to live in a cave. Why was he unsuccessful?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• Ruth: began her life in the land of Moab and moved with her mother-in-law to

Israel where she married and became an ancestor of Jesus. Why was she successful?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• Judas: became one of Jesus’ disciples and ended his life hanging himself. Why

was he unsuccessful?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• Peter: failed Jesus by denying Him at the time of His trial, but he later became a great

preacher of the gospel, leading thousands to salvation. Why was he successful?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• Daniel: was taken as a slave to Babylon and went through many trials. He

ended his life as a great leader in this country. Why was he successful?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.

Answers will vary.


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• Name another Bible character. Following the pattern given above, briefly tell about this person’s success or failure and explain the reasons for this. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Teacher’s Lesson

Finding the Proper Balance

Setting ______________ and _________________ __________

• Forget the ____________________ .

• Look forward to the ____________God has planned for you.

• Press ____________________ to the _________________________ Godhas called you to accomplish.

Learning to be ______________

• Do not ______________________ .

• Be ______________________ withyour situation.

goalsworking hard content

past

new things

forwardpurpose

worry

satisfied

Answers will vary.


L E S S O N 3 3 Q U I ZBEING A SUCCESS

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhattwoOldTestamentbookscontainpassagesthattellushowtoprosperandhavegoodsuccess?

• __________________________________________

• __________________________________________

2. Whatwastheattitudeofthe10spieswhoweresenttospyoutthelandinNumbers13-14? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

3. What was the attitude of the 2 spies who were sent to spy out the land in Joshua 2-3? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

4. WhywerethepeopleinNumbers13-14notallowedtoenterthePromisedLandwhilethepeopleinJoshua 2-3 were allowed to enter? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

5. according to the teacher’s lesson, what are two important things that we need to balance properly?

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

6. How do you plan to determine whether or not you are a success in life? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

LE

SS

ON

33

OV

ER

HE

AD

Finding the Proper Balance

Settinggoalsandworkinghard

•Forgetthepast.

•Lookforwardtothenew

thingsGodhasplannedforyou.

•PressforwardtothepurposeG

odhascalledyoutoaccom

plish.

Learningtobecontent

•Donotw

orry.

•Besatisfiedwithyoursituation.

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BEING A GOOD LEADER

TARGET TRUTHS• Godhasgiveneachofusopportunitiesforleadership.

• Allofthelessonswehavelearnedduringtheyearareapartofthetrainingnecessarytobecomeagoodleader.

• Thekeyleadersinourlivesrightnowareourparents.

TEACHING STRATEGYas we have discussed throughout the year, God has designed each of us for a purpose and has called us to that purpose. If you are saved, that means you were chosen by God before the creation of the world, and thus are very important to Him. You are part of His plan.

GodCallsUstoLeadershipeach of the men listed in this section was chosen by God for a special task. as each person is discussed, analyze the problems they each faced and how well their leadership tasks were completed.

Humility and courageas each man in this section is discussed, review also what God chose him to do.

TheLifeofJohnWycliffeHave your students read the story of John Wycliffe and relate his life to the qualities that we have already been discussing.


DramaDivide the class into four groups and have each group prepare a presentation on the life of one of the following: William Tyndale, Johann Gutenberg, Martin Luther, or John Wycliffe. This would be anexcellent culmination activity for the end of the year. each group needs to organize themselves, decide what parts will be necessary, write an outline or brief script, decide who will play each part, and practice their productions. Give them definite time limits. The groups will not need a great deal of time to complete their planning. In fact, if they need to work quickly, they will learn to organize their ideas more easily.

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ParentsasLeadersTell your students: “The primary leaders in your lives are your parents. You need to show faithfulness and loyalty to them, even if you do not understand their reasoning. You also need to understand that they are humans and will make mistakes. even if they do not love God themselves, God has put them in your life for a purpose. You can trust God, even when it is difficult to trust your parents! Parents have great responsibility before God for how they lead you. Therefore, you need to pray for them and support them in their role. Why is it important for you to trust your parents even when you do not understand their reasons for what they tell you to do?” Discuss how God has planned for your students’ parents to be influences and instruments in their lives to increase their spiritual maturity, even if it doesn’t seem like it. God will reward honoring and obeying parents, even when it does not seem easy or desirable.

LoyaltytoOthersReadRomans12:9-16withyourclass.Haveyourstudentslistthosethingsthatarementionedintheseverses that show loyalty to God and to others. Good leadership is also demonstrated by our loyalty to others in every situation. each quality mentioned needs to be a part of a good leader’s life.

QUIZ ANSWERS1. D2. H3. B4. G5. J6. a7. f8. I9. c10.E


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BEING A GOOD LEADER

Someday you will be a leader in at least one area of your life—and probably in two or

three areas. You will be a leader in your home over your children; you may be a leader

at work; and you may be a leader at church, perhaps as a Sunday school teacher. These

are only three of the primary areas of leadership you may have, but there are many other

areas in which God will use you as a leader. Because you will be a leader, God is in the

process of preparing you now. All of the lessons we have studied this year are meant to

prepare you for leadership. Perhaps you are a leader in your school right now. If so, then

God is using this also to prepare you for future leadership roles.

Read John 15:16 and answer the questions below.

• Who decides that you will be a leader? ________________________________

• What had Jesus chosen His disciples to do, and what does this mean?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

• How long will the results of producing fruit in others last?

_______________________________________________________________

God Calls Us To Leadership

The first thing we must remember is that it is God who equips and prepares us to lead

in certain areas. Read each of the following verses and tell whom God was calling to

leadership and what He was calling that person to do. For some of these you will have to

read more of the context to find out who the person is.

God

He chose them to bring forth fruit, which means to help produce

spiritual good in others for God’s glory.

They will last for eternity.

L e s s o n 3 4 s t u d e n t m a n u a L p a g e s

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Verses Person(s) What Had God Chosen Him to Do?

Genesis 12:1-2

Exodus 3:10

Judges 6:14

1 Kings 19:16, 19

Jeremiah 1:4-5

Jonah 1:1-2

Acts 13:2

Acts 26:16

Humility And Courage

The qualities of humility and courage are two sides of the same coin. They seem vastly different, but they are powerful when they are used together.

Humility is the quality that causes a person not to think too highly of himself. A humble person is not proud or arrogant, he does not attempt to flaunt his position, and he does not consider himself to be better than anyone else. God does not use someone who is not humble because then the work that is done will be done in the flesh and for the person’s glory rather than for God’s glory. The person God uses will recognize that God is in control and is using him to accomplish great and wonderful things.

make a new nation

go to Pharoah and bring the Israelites outof Egypt

save Israel from the Midianites

give Elisha his mantle to show that Godhad chosen him to be a prophet

serve as a prophet

go to Ninevah and preach of their need to repent

missionary work

be a minister and a witness

Abram(Abraham)

Moses

Gideon

Elijah

Jeremiah

Jonah

Barnabus and Saul

Paul


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Courage, on the other hand, is the quality within a person that allows him to stand for

truth and right even when he is afraid of what will happen. It does not mean that you

never feel afraid but that you can overcome your fears because you know that God will

give you the strength to do what you must do.

As you read the following verses, note the attitude that each person showed and then

decide whether the person was evidencing humility or courage. (Note: Some of the

following examples of humility may include times when people spoke lowly of themselves

to give themselves an excuse for not doing what God wanted them to do.)

Person What Did He Do or Say? Humility or Courage?

MosesExodus 3:11

CalebNumbers 13:30

GideonJudges 6:15

King David1 Samuel 18:18

King Solomon1 Kings 3:7

Elijah1 Kings 21:20-21

IsaiahIsaiah 6:5

JeremiahJeremiah 1:6

DanielDaniel 5:22-23

humility

courage

humility

humility

humility

courage

humility

humility

courage

He asked God why he would be theone to do such a great task.

He said it was time to go up and possess the land because they couldsurely do it.

He said his family was poor, and hewas the least in his father’s house.

He asked why he would be worthy of marrying the king’s daughter.

He said he was just a child and didn’t know how to act.

He told Ahab that God would judge him.

He said he was ruined and unclean.

He said he could not speak becausehe was like a child.

He rebuke King Belshazzar for hissins.


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Person What Did He Do or Say? Humility or Courage?

John the BaptistMatthew 3:14

John the BaptistMatthew 14:3-4

StephenActs 7:51-60

The Life Of John Wycliffe

John Wycliffe (1330-1384) lived during the days of the Dark Ages when the Roman Catholic Church and the priests strongly controlled the actions and attitudes of the people. Most of life centered on the rituals and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. The people generally lived as very poor peasants, and much of the little money they did have went to the Church to pay for penances for sin and for indulgences. People believed that if you paid money, you could get a loved one out of purgatory or hell. The extent of the relief from hell depended on the amount of money that was paid. Often people paid the priests a little each month because they believed it would gradually relieve the agony of a relative who had died.

Wycliffe lived in the midst of all of these problems. He was a great scholar who taught at Oxford. From his study of Scripture, he came to the conclusion that the Church had replaced Christ in the people’s hearts. Instead of teaching Scripture, it taught traditions and fables through the preaching of the priests. Wycliffe saw how the priests lorded over the people and caused fear to be a part of their lives.

Since Wycliffe was a student of God’s Word, he came to realize that the key to changing this system was to give the Bible to the common people. At this time, only the priests had the Scriptures, and it was believed that the common people could never understand God’s Word for themselves. Besides this, the majority of the peasants could neither read nor write. To overcome the problems that the Church had created and used to its own advantage for years, Wycliffe began to translate the Latin Vulgate Bible into common English so that people could understand for themselves the simple truths of God’s Word.

He said that Jesus should have been baptizing him.

He told Herod that he was livingin sin.

He was stoned to death for preachingabout Jesus.

humility

courage

courage


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Along with doing this, Wycliffe began to take public stands against the Roman Catholic

Church. For example, the Church had even begun to tax the government to obtain more

money for its own use. The Church became richer and richer while the people became

poorer and poorer. Wycliffe said that the government should not be held in bondage to

the Church. He also said that the Church did not have the right to charge for indulgences

(payments for forgiveness of sins).

Because of his teachings, the Roman Catholic Church named Wycliffe as a heretic and

wanted him out of his post at Oxford. A trial was held to determine Wycliffe’s fate. Many

people did not think that Wycliffe would live through the trial. They believed that he

would be executed. Instead, the leaders of the Church and the government had heated

arguments between themselves, and Wycliffe was finally forced to retire from Oxford. By

this time, however, most of the government leaders agreed with Wycliffe, and they were

all threatened with excommunication if they did not recant (admit they were wrong).

Instead, with Wycliffe’s example, they stood firm for the truth.

Great turmoil continued over Wycliffe’s teachings, and eventually Wycliffe had to go into

hiding. While in hiding, he was protected by many friends and scholars and was able to

complete his translation of the Bible into English before he died of a stroke in 1384.

Three years after Wycliffe’s death, a group of his followers called Lollards began to

distribute his translation of the Bible throughout the countryside. The Lollards were

like missionaries who taught the Word of God to those who had never heard the truth

before. As more Bibles were printed, people began to learn to read so they could read

the Scriptures for themselves. Over the years, a great change began to come over the

common people since they no longer feared what the Church could do to them, and they

began to trust more and more in Jesus.

Answer the following questions about John Wycliffe:

What great thing did Wycliffe accomplish?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

He translated the Bible into English so the common people could understand it.


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What were the results of what Wycliffe accomplished?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How did Wycliffe show courage?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Composition:Write a composition discussing the following: (1) the most important qualities necessary to becoming a good leader, (2) which qualities you already have and which you need to develop, and (3) how you can be a leader right now.

Many people no longer lived in fear and ignorance but came to trust inJesus.

He was willing to suffer as a heretic and stood against the church becauseits teachings were not scriptural.


L E S S O N 3 4 Q U I ZBEING A GOOD LEADER

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

1. WhoamI?Matchthefollowingcharacterswiththecorrectcorrespondingstatement.

1. caleb A.IrebukedKingBelshazzarforhissins.

B. I went to Pharaoh and brought the Israelites out of egypt.

C.GodcalledmetogotoNinevehandpreach.

D.Isaid,“Letusgoupandpossesstheland.”

e. I told ahab that God would judge him.

f. God called me to save Israel from the Midianites.

G. I said, “Jesus, You should be baptizing me.”

H. I translated the Bible into english so the common people could understand it.

I. I was stoned to death for preaching about Jesus.

J. I said, “Who am I that I should marry the king’s daughter?”

2. John Wycliffe

3. Moses

4. John the Baptist

5. David

6. Daniel

7. Gideon

8. Stephen

9. Jonah

10.elijah

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SPENDING TIME WITH GOD

TARGET TRUTHS• It isimportantforustocontinuetobuildourrelationshipwithGodwhenweareoutofschoolfor

summer.

• SpendingtimewithGodhelpsusbuildourrelationshipwithHim.

TEACHING STRATEGYUse this lesson to emphasize the main point about spending time with God. Sometimes this is easier to do when we are in the regular routine of school. Make sure your students understand that some of them will be tempted and tested more in the summer because they may not be around their christian friends as much. This is where the real test will come to see if what we have studied this year is really going to be true in their lives.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING SUGGESTIONReviewthecharacterqualitiesthatwerediscussedinLessons17-23:love,gentleness,integrity,meekness,humility, hard work, faithfulness, self-control, courage, submission, and obedience. Have each student choose one of the Bible characters that have been studied this year and have them write a brief paper evaluating how the person evidenced (or did not evidence) some of these traits in his or her life. If possible, have each student share his or her report orally and then discuss each Bible character as a class.

QUIZ ANSWERS

1. b2. c3. d4. b5. b6. d7. a

8. a9. b10.a11.b12.b13.b14.c15.a


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L E S S O N 3 5

SPENDING TIMEWITH GOD

During the summer months, you will not have the daily studies in Proverbs that you have had all year. You will be on your own to have your own quiet time with God in His Word. You will not be continually reminded by your teachers of how you should act and what attitudes you should have. You will need to continue your own personal relationship with God. With this in mind, let’s remind ourselves of some ideas that are important to a good relationship with God.

Having A Good Relationship With God

What was important about Enoch and Noah’s relationships with God? (Read Gen. 5:22 and 6:9.)

______________________________________________________________________

The most important thing to remember is that a good relationship with God involves learning to walk with Him moment by moment throughout each day. It is not just a matter of spending time each day reading the Bible, though that is important. It is not just remembering to pray each day, though that too is important. Having a relationship with God is walking continually in His presence. It means that we are always aware of His commands, His purpose for our lives, and our need for His wisdom.

God wants to have a wonderful relationship with you this summer. Study Genesis 28:15 and state in your own words the promises He made to Jacob about His relationship with him that also apply to you.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

They walked with God.

God is with me wherever I go. He will not leave me but will continue to work in my life.


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Being Near To God

How can we know that God is near to us and walks with us according to these verses?

• Psalm 16:8 ______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Psalm 34:18 _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

• Psalm 145:18 ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Let’s Review

As a review of the previous 34 lessons, choose the best answer to complete each of the following statements. The number for each statement corresponds to the lesson number where the answer is found.

1. One thing that wise people do not do is(a) prepare for the future (b) depart from evil(c) show stubborn and rebellious attitudes (d) win souls.

2. The fool’s reaction to advice and teaching is to(a) love knowledge (b) listen to counsel(c) seek after knowledge (d) despise wisdom and instruction.

3. Solomon asked the Lord for(a) understanding and discernment (b) a long life(c) riches and honor (d) vengeance on his enemies.

4. The wise teenager(a) despises his mother (b) makes his father glad(c) brings reproach to his father (d) brings shame to his mother.

5. The woman who should be honored because she protected her son from death was the mother of(a) David (b) Samuel (c) Daniel (d) Moses.

The Lord is always before me and at my right hand.

The Lord is near those with a broken heart.

The Lord is near those who call upon Him in truth.

C

D

A

B

D


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6. The correct order for the three results of sin seen in Genesis 3 is(a) guilt, fear, blaming others (b) fear, blaming others, guilt(c) blaming others, fear, guilt (d) fear, guilt, blaming others.

7. The word of the following four that does not refer to perversion is(a) frowardness (b) deviousness (c) vengeance (d) crookedness.

8. Psalm 37:4 tells us that if we delight ourselves in the Lord,(a) God will take care of us (b) God will give us the desires of our hearts (c) we will prosper (d) we will be free from our enemies.

9. The king in 2 Chronicles 24 who began to reign at the age of seven and who led the people in restoring the temple was(a) Jehoiada (b) Josiah (c) Jehoiakim (d) Joash.

10. The man who showed the right kind of attitude during his trials even when his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, did not understand was(a) Peter (b) Job (c) David (d) Isaiah.

11. The man who was David’s faithful friend and who could be trusted to keep his secrets was(a) Saul (b) Daniel (c) Jonathan (d) Solomon.

12. The tax collector that Jesus went to visit in his home to show that He did not play favorites was(a) Zacchaeus (b) the Good Samaritan (c) Simon (d) Jairus.

13. The works of the flesh are listed in(a) Romans 3 (b) Galatians 5 (c) Ephesians 1 (d) Philippians 3.

14. The man who was a priest in the temple but whose sons were not godly was(a) Levi (b) Eli (c) Elijah (d) Asa.

15. The fruit of the Spirit includes all of the following except(a) joy (b) love (c) knowledge (d) gentleness.

16. All of the following are results of godly character except(a) wisdom (b) the favor of the Lord(c) your prayers heard by the Lord (d) shame.

A

C

B

D

B

C

A

B

B

C

D


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17. The woman who showed gentleness, kindness, and loyalty to her mother-in-law was(a) Naomi (b) Ruth (c) Orpah (d) Boaz.

18. The principle that is seen over and over in the lives of Isaac and Jacob is the principle of(a) truthfulness (b) love (c) sowing and reaping (d) holiness.

19. The man who had a problem with pride and arrogance, which he showed when Mordecai refused to bow to him, was(a) Haman (b) Ahasuerus (c) Nebuchadnezzar (d) Belshazzar.

20. All of the following words describe a lazy person except(a) slothful (b) diligent (c) slack (d) sluggard.

21. The man who showed self-discipline by refusing to eat the king’s diet was(a) Moses (b) David (c) Daniel (d) Jeremiah.

22. A good example of fear would be(a) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (b) the 10 spies in Numbers 13 (c) David (d) Stephen.

23. The man who killed his brother and remained self-willed and unrepentant was(a) Cain (b) Abel (c) Seth (d) Lot.

24. First John 1:9 encourages us to(a) love one another (b) fear the Lord(c) obey God’s commands (d) confess our sins.

25. The man who pitched his tent toward Sodom and moved to Sodom before escaping God’s judgment on that city was(a) Abraham (b) Ishmael (c) Lot (d) Noah.

26. The parable that teaches us about how to use our money or abilities wisely is the parable of the(a) lost coin (b) talents (c) vineyard (d) good Samaritan.

27. According to Proverbs 13:14 and 14:27, the law of the wise that enables us to depart from the snares of death is like a(a) fountain of life (b) computer (c) tree (d) mirror.

B

C

A

B

C

B

A

D

C

B

A


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28. The man who nailed his “95 Theses” to the door of the Wittenburg church was(a) Gutenberg (b) Tyndale (c) Luther (d) Wycliffe.

29. The woman who made a vow to the Lord that if He would give her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord’s service was(a) Hannah (b) Sarah (c) Hagar (d) Ruth

30. The disciple of Jesus who denied Him was(a) Judas (b) Andrew (c) Bartholomew (d) Peter.

31. All of the following are statements the book of Proverbs makes about gossiping except(a) it reveals secrets and is unfaithful (b) it is common among the wise (c) it sows strife and separates friends (d) it wounds deeply.

32. The man whose last words before he was executed were, “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes!” was(a) Gutenberg (b) Tyndale (c) Luther (d) Wycliffe.

33. The passage that tells us how to prosper and be successful is found in(a) Joshua 1 (b) Psalm 3 (c) John 3 (d) Romans 1.

34. The man who translated the Bible into English so the common people could understand it was(a) Gutenberg (b) King James (c) Luther (d) Wycliffe.

C

A

D

B

B

A

D


L E S S O N 3 5 Q U I ZSPENDING TIME WITH GOD

Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Score ____________

as a review of the previous 34 lessons, choose the best answer to complete each of the following statements.

1. _____ The fool’s reaction to advice and teaching is to (a) seek after knowledge (b) despise wisdom and instruction (c) love knowledge (d) listen to counsel.

2. _____ SolomonaskedtheLordfor (a) riches and honor (b) a long life (c) understanding and discernment (d) vengeance on his enemies.

3. _____ The word that means crooked and describes the person who enjoys doing evil is (a) fornica-tor (b) scoffer (c) scorn (d) perverse.

4. _____ The man who was David’s faithful friend and who could be trusted to keep his secrets was (a) Daniel (b) Jonathan(c) Saul (d) Solomon.

5. _____ The fruit of the Spirit includes all of the following except (a) gentleness (b) knowledge (c) faithfulness (d) love.

6. _____ The woman who showed gentleness, kindness, and loyalty to her mother-in-law was (a)Mary(b)Naomi(c)Orpah(d)Ruth.

7. _____ all of the following words describe a lazy person except (a) diligent (b) slothful (c) slack (d) sluggard.

8. _____ a good example of fear would be (a)the10spiesinNumbers13(b)Stephen(c)David(d)Shadrach,Meshach,andAbednego.

9. _____ FirstJohn1:9encouragesusto(a)loveoneanother(b)confessoursins(c)feartheLord(d)obey God’s commands.

10._____ The man who pitched his tent toward Sodom and moved to Sodom before escaping God’s judgment on that city was (a)Lot(b)Abraham(c)Ishmael(d)Noah.

11._____ The man who nailed his “95 Theses” to the door of the Wittenburg church was (a)Gutenberg(b)Luther(c)Tyndale(d)Wycliffe.

12._____ ThewomanwhomadeavowtotheLordthatifHewouldgiveherason,shewoulddedicatehimtotheLord’sservicewas (a) Hagar (b) Hannah (c) ruth (d) Sarah.


13._____ all of the following are statements the book of Proverbs makes about gossiping except (a) it reveals secrets and is unfaithful (b) it is common among the wise (c) it sows strife and separates friends (d) it wounds deeply.

14._____ The passage that tells us how to prosper and be successful is found in (a)John3(b)Psalm3(c)Joshua1(d)Romans1.

15._____ The man who translated the Bible into english so the common people could understand it was (a)Wycliffe(b)KingJames(c)Luther(d)Gutenberg.

Documents

Wise Up Teacher Manual