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1 ADULT CURRICULUM Lesson 1 September 2, 2018 The Right Response FOCUS THOUGHT Because of God s omniscience and through any trial. compassion, we can remain faithful Reengineered Lesson Manual In addition to the full lesson manuscript, the Lesson Manual (formerly called the Teacher Manual) has application questions woven through the text. Churches who prefer a less interactive Student Workbook may purchase the Lesson Manual for both teachers and students. and worship Him FOCUS VERSE Job 1:21 I return mother s womb, and naked shall And said, Naked came I out of my Lord. away; blessed be the name of the gave, and the Lord hath taken thither: the Lord LESSON TEXT Job 1:1, 6 12, that man was perfect and of Uz, whose name was Job; and 1 There was a man in the land and eschewed evil. upright, and one that feared God,... before the Lord, sons of God came to present themselves 6 Now there was a day when the and Satan came also among them. answered the Lord, and Whence comest thou? Then Satan 7 And the Lord said unto Satan, down in it. earth, and from walking up and said, From going to and fro in the my servant Job, that there is none considered thou Hast Satan, unto 8 And the Lord said God, and escheweth evil? an upright man, one that feareth like him in the earth, a perfect and nought? and said, Doth Job fear God for 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and about all that he about him, and about his house, 10 Hast not thou made an hedge and his substance is increased blessed the work of his hands, hath on every side? thou hast in the land. he will curse thee to thy and touch all that he hath, and 11 But put forth thine hand now, face. power; only upon himself Behold, all that he hath is in thy 12 And the Lord said unto Satan, the Lord. went forth from the presence of put not forth thine hand. So Satan... and fell down upon the mantle, and shaved his head, 20 Then Job arose, and rent his ground, and worshipped, shall I return thither: of my mother s womb, and naked 21 And said, Naked came I out of the Lord. taken away; blessed be the name the Lord gave, and the Lord hath foolishly. God charged 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor 5 5/24/18 7:55 AM AD F18 TM.indd 5 The Right Response - Lesson 1 1. What are some key words in the them. passage that stand out to you? Circle or highlight come 2. What are some questions that to your mind as you read over this Enhanced Student Workbook passage? ASK Consider the following questions about the lesson and previous passage. The Passage to the story? What Job s character so important 1. Why is the description of expectations does it create? 2. Why do you think God brought Job to Satan s attention? of Job? 3. What was Satan s opinion To encourage more student interaction, the Student Handbook has been reengineered to include Bible study questions and personal application segments. In its new format, it is called the Student Workbook. his feelings are not response to his troubles? Though 4. What do you make of Job s his emotional state? discussed, how would you describe 5 5/3/18 3:56 PM WAP Adult ST JM.indd 5 New Dropcard THE LIVING WORD New Dropcard provides the information previously offered on the USB: digital copies of the Lesson Manual so you can customize the material for your class. WORD AFLAME LESSON MANUAL VOLUME 1 PDF AND TEXT FILES FREE PowerPoint downloads AD Hardback Dropcard Design.indd 1 5/30/18 11:58 AM The PowerPoint is now provided as a free download for teachers with purchase of the Lesson Manual.

2 Lesson Manual 2018 Pentecostal Publishing House 36 Research Park Court Weldon Spring, MO All rights reserved. Manufactured in USA, December 2018, EDITORIAL STAFF Editor in Chief: Robin Johnston Associate Editor, Curriculum: Lee Ann Alexander Word Aflame Adult Editor: Jonathan McClintock WRITERS Dorsey Burk Tom O Daniel Daniel Koren James Boatman Daniel Segraves Rick Hernandez CONTENTS Editorial... 3 Using Word Aflame Teaching Tools... 4 December 2 Empowered to Preach Jesus...5 December 9 Jesus Saves...12 December 16 A Life-Changing Message...19 December 23 Jesus Is the Christ December 30 Daily Word Search January 6 That I May Know Him January 13 Working with the Lord January 20 Growing God s Way January 27 A Life of Purpose...61 February 3 His Love Shines Through February 10 A Life That Pleases God...75 February 17 Our Ultimate Hope February 24 Doing God s Work All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce, distribute, or transmit any part of this publication in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without possessing prior documented approval from Pentecostal Publishing House, a department of the United Pentecostal Church International. To request permission, contact customerservice@pentecostalpublishing.com. 2

3 Lesson 1 December 2, 2018 Empowered to Preach Jesus FOCUS THOUGHT We have been empowered by the Holy Ghost to preach Jesus to everyone. FOCUS VERSE Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. LESSON TEXT Acts 16: Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Acts 17:1 7 1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. 5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; 7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. 5

4 CULTURE CONNECTION DESTINY IN DURHAM Johnny Godair and his wife sacrificed much responding to the call of God to go to Durham, North Carolina, to start a church. Leaving behind financial stability and the security of what was familiar, they threw themselves into reaching for the lost. They knocked on doors of strangers, walked down unfamiliar streets, and reached any and all who would respond. After only a few weeks of working in Durham, they knocked on another random door. A woman answered and suddenly stepped back in surprise. When asked what had startled her, she told them, You are the man I saw in a dream who was coming to Durham to begin a church. The Lord indeed was confirming what they were doing, and they gained assurance they were in the divine will of the Lord. Also, like Paul in Macedonia, the Godairs saw signs following them. When a man collapsed without a pulse in one of those early church services, Pastor Godair prayed intensely for twenty minutes until the ambulance arrived. A nurse and the paramedics said he had not had a pulse for nearly thirty minutes. Suddenly he revived, to everyone s surprise, as the Lord raised him up (Wisdom and Power of the Cross, J. T. Pugh, ). OUTLINE I. PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR ABOUT JESUS A. The Macedonian Call B. Following the Leading of the Spirit II. GOD HAS CALLED US TO PREACH TO EVERYONE III. THE GOSPEL IS THE MESSAGE WE MUST PREACH A. Paul and Silas in Thessalonica B. Many Jews and Greeks Believed IV. OPPOSITION TO THE GOSPEL CANNOT SILENCE THE CHURCH CONTEMPLATING THE TOPIC The call to missions begins in Genesis and continues throughout the Old Testament. God promised Abraham that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. The children of Israel received divine laws that separated them from the other nations around them. The Israelites were called to be a nation of missionaries lights unto the pagan cultures to show others how to worship Jehovah. Unfortunately, they failed and ended up serving the heathen gods of their neighbors. Nevertheless, the voice of the prophets foretold of the coming Messiah and how through Him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Likewise, Israel sang psalms that foretold of universal salvation for both the Jews and the Gentiles. The 150 psalms contain over 175 references to the nations of the world. For example, Psalm 67:1 2 states, God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face shine to upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. The Israelites were God s chosen people. He blessed them so they would be a blessing to the whole earth. 6

5 SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES The Gospels record the humble birth of the Christ child, His ministry, and His death, burial, and resurrection. He was the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 and Genesis 12:1 3. He came to be the blessing to all the world. In Luke 24, just before He ascended, Jesus commanded His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. Acts 1:8 revealed that the apostles were to receive power to witnesses of the Lord in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. On the Day of Pentecost, the 120 in the upper room received the promise of the Father. They were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with other tongues as they glorified God. The phenomenon caught the attention of the Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven (Acts 2:5), who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Their amazement provided the opportunity for Peter to preach Jesus unto them. He concluded by saying the Holy Ghost was for them, their children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call (Acts 2:39). However, Peter did not yet grasp the implications of what he preached. He saw the promise through a Jewish lens. He could not conceive that God would include the Gentiles as heirs of salvation. It was not until about ten years after Pentecost that Peter went to preach the gospel to Cornelius. Why do you think it took so long for the gospel to be preached to the Gentiles? I. PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR ABOUT JESUS Paul stands in sharp contrast to Peter. Paul sat at the feet of Gamaliel, and was taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God (Acts 22:3). He fiercely persecuted the church until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. The radically transformed Saul (Paul) readily accepted his call to be the Lord s chosen vessel and to bear His name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). As Acts 13 records, the church in Antioch sent Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey. Paul understood that the promise to Abraham included all the nations of the earth, not just the Jews. What other contrasts should we note between Peter and Paul? A. The Macedonian Call Because Paul had a clearer understanding than Peter and the other apostles of God s plan for universal salvation, he had no difficulty in responding to the night vision of a man of Macedonia,... saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us (Acts 16:9). Prior to this vision, Paul and his companions had been preaching throughout Asia Minor. While ministering in Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, they faced much opposition, but their ministry produced much fruit. 7

6 The group had planned to go to Bithynia in northwest Anatolia (Turkey), a Roman province on the coast of the Black Sea. It was a mountainous, well-watered territory, endowed with fertile valley plains, good timber, building stone, fruit and grain together with excellent harbor facilities. Bithynia fronted the Black Sea on the N[orth], the Bosporus and Propontis (Sea of Marmara) on the W[est]. On the S[outh] it was bounded by Phrygia and Galatia, and on the E[ast] by Paphlagonia (www. biblicaltraining.org/library/bithynia; accessed May 5, 2017). However, their plans changed because the Spirit suffered them not (Acts 16:7). Instead of going north to Bithynia, Paul and company went west to Macedonia. The ancient kingdom of Macedon had a rich history, having been a superior world power led by Alexander the Great. In biblical times, however, Macedonia had been reduced to an impoverished Roman province. In II Corinthians 8 and 9, Paul cited as an example of generosity to the Corinthians the poverty of the believers in Macedonia who gave beyond their ability. B. Following the Leading of the Spirit Most ministers have had or will have their Bithynia experience. For example, a young couple felt called to be missionaries to Europe. Throughout their engagement and early married life, they refused to become encumbered with material goods. Their meager furniture was functional, and their home was pared down to the bare necessities. Their entire focus was on gaining the needed experience so they could qualify to receive their missionary appointment to Europe. One day as this young minister was working at a warehouse, he was called to the phone. Paul Box, the secretary of the UPCI Foreign Missions, was on the line, inquiring if the young couple would be willing to go as short-term missionaries to Jamaica to teach in the Bible school. Immediately the minister thought of a conversation he had had a few years prior with his former Bible school roommate. The roommate and his wife had gone to Jamaica and taught in the Bible school. While they may have enjoyed teaching, the living conditions were a challenge. Two- to three-inch cockroaches were everywhere, even inside shoes and kitchen cupboards. After hearing that story, the young minister had told his roommate, I ll never go there. Now the secretary of Foreign Missions was on the telephone asking him to go where he had once said he would never go. Yet, knowing his wife s heart and her desire to be used of God, the young minister gladly accepted the short-term assignment. In his mind it did not make any sense to go to the Caribbean since God had called them to Europe. It seemed to be the wrong direction. However, when they arrived in Europe a few years later, they looked back and saw how beneficial their time in Jamaica was to their ministry. Their experience in Jamaica proved to them that they could adjust to different cultures; culture shock did not bother them. In addition, their experience reinforced the need to be sensitive to the leading of the Lord; He 8

7 knew the way they needed to go to gain the experiences they needed to be prepared to do His will. Do you know anyone who has had a similar experience? Do you think Paul understood why the Spirit forbade them to go into Bithynia? Scripture does not clearly say whether or not Paul understood why the Spirit forbade them to go into Bithynia. He probably felt frustration as he tried to comprehend the Spirit s leading. Nevertheless, it is clear Paul was not God s chosen messenger to carry the gospel to Bithynia nor was it God s time for Bithynia to hear the gospel. Please note, however, someone did take the gospel to Bithynia. In his first epistle, Peter addressed the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied (I Peter 1:1 2). Paul did not have long to ponder the roadblock. In the night he saw a vision of a man of Macedonia asking Paul to come and help them. The vision gave him clear direction. Paul and his companions departed from Troas and sailed directly to Samothracia, an island in the Aegean Sea about thirty-two miles off the coast of Thracia. The next day they reached Neapolis, the port city of Philippi, and then traveled on to Philippi. They stayed in Philippi certain days (Acts 16:12). II. GOD HAS CALLED US TO PREACH TO EVERYONE The Great Commission, as recorded in Mark 16, tells us to Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). Without a doubt it is God s will for everyone to hear the gospel. Paul fully understood that every creature means every person, regardless of ethnicity, gender, social standing, economic condition, or physical wellness. With that in mind, Paul began to look for people in Philippi to whom he could preach. First, Paul went down to the riverside on the Sabbath and visited a ladies prayer meeting. There he met Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God... whose heart the Lord opened (Acts 16:14). She received the gospel preached by Paul, and he baptized her and her household. She then provided lodging for Paul and his companions. Second, a demon-possessed girl followed Paul, Silas, Luke, and the other companions, proclaiming they were the servants of the most high God who showed the way to salvation. After a few days of her endorsement, Paul rebuked the evil spirit and commanded that it leave the girl. Since she had been set free, the girl could no longer earn income for her masters by telling fortunes. They angrily seized Paul and Silas and took them before the magistrate, accusing them of troubling the city by teaching customs that were not lawful for Romans to receive or observe. The angry crowd rose up against Paul and Silas and the magistrate commanded they be beaten and later jailed. 9

8 The third lead character whom Paul met was the Philippian jailer. At midnight, as Paul and Silas prayed and worshiped, an earthquake shook the jail s foundation, freeing all the prisoners from their shackles and opening the doors. Immediately the jailer feared the prisoners were escaped and planned to take his own life (Acts 16:27 33). When the magistrate realized he had beaten Roman citizens without a trial, he feared for his own position and safety. They came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city (Acts 16:39). The band then returned to Lydia s home and afterward left the city. Notice how Paul made connections with each of these contacts. First, Paul went looking for someone to preach to. He purposely visited the Jewish synagogues and went to the riverside where prayer was wont to be made (Acts 16:13). Second, someone purposely followed Paul. While the endorsement of the demon-possessed girl was negative, there are times when people are drawn to saints because of the spirit they manifest. Third, circumstances connected Paul and the jailer. What are often considered coincidences are simply God s method of connecting people. We need to always be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit. I Peter 3:15 says, Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. Do you think the Macedonian whom Paul saw in the vision was a real person? Why or why not? Do you think Paul ever met him? Do you think the man in the vision could have been the jailer? Could the man Paul saw simply have been representative of the many people Paul would meet in Europe? Do you know of someone with a similar experience as Paul s vision? III. THE GOSPEL IS THE MESSAGE WE MUST PREACH A. Paul and Silas in Thessalonica From Philippi, Paul and Silas and their companions traveled on to Thessalonica. As was his custom, Paul first went to the Jewish synagogue. For three Sabbath days, he reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom he was preaching unto them, was the Christ (Acts 17:2 3). The message Paul preached was the simple truth of the gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the message of salvation. It is effective all over the world. We obey the gospel by repenting of our sins (death), being baptized in Jesus name (burial), and receiving the Holy Ghost (resurrection). (See Acts 2:38.) Paul defined this gospel message in I Corinthians 15:1 8. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the only message that will save a lost world. 10

9 B. Many Jews and Greeks Believed Paul s preaching produced results: And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few (Acts 17:4). IV. WE CANNOT LET OPPOSITION TO THE GOSPEL SILENCE THE CHURCH However, not all the Jews believed. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people (Acts 17:5). Opposition frequently follows the preaching of the gospel. And wisely, the brethren sent Paul and Silas on to Berea during the night. Paul again went to the synagogue and began preaching the gospel. And again they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few (Acts 17:11 12). However, when the Jews in Thessalonica heard of the revival in Berea, they came to Berea and stirred up the people. Most of the time, some opposition will arise against the preaching of the gospel. However, we must not let hostility silence the message. Empowered by the Holy Ghost, we must follow Paul s example until everyone has heard the story of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we present the gospel, some will believe; others will not. Even though some may choose not to accept the message, some will. Either way, we have the responsibility and privilege to proclaim the gospel. INTERNALIZING THE MESSAGE Paul s Macedonian call was an explicit call to evangelize, and it gave him the direction he needed. However, if evangelism is to be a part of our daily lives, we should expect God to bring us into contact with those to whom He wants us to witness. For example, a long-term employee of UPCI World Headquarters who worked in Global Missions planned to retire. Knowing her desire for a puppy, the missionaries at the annual school of missions received an offering to buy the puppy. She named the Boston terrier pup Janko, which is Serbian for gift of God. She took Janko to a local pet shop for puppy training classes. The assistant manager immediately fell in love with Janko as if Janko was hers. With multiple piercings and tattoos, the assistant manager was not someone the retired Global Missions employee would have normally gravitated to. However, Janko helped to form a bond between the two ladies and opened an opportunity for puppy evangelism. At the point of this writing, the assistant manager has come to church and is interested in having Bible studies. It is God s will that everyone hears the gospel. If we will be sensitive to His leading, God will direct our paths to the ones to whom we can minister. 11