Unit 3 Difference Makers

Transcription

1

2 Unit 1 Savior and King Session 1: Life Giver...5 Session 2: Miracle Worker...9 Session 3: The Only Hope Session 4: Lord of All...17 Unit 2 Goodness Gracious Session 1: A Kind God...23 Session 2: A Good God Session 3: A Gentle God Session 4: A Reflection of God Unit 3 Difference Makers Session 2: Helping Others...45 Session 1: Social Ills...41 Session 3: Marriage by Design...49 Session 4: Racial Lines...53

3 CONTRIBUTORS Keep this stat in mind: 70-85% of our students will seem to graduate from their faith and church attendance after graduating from high school and our student ministries. Wow! You are holding in your hands a Bible study tool to help you engage students in spiritually transformational Bible study that seeks to help students know God, own their faith, and make their faith known. KNOWN is designed to help you, as a leader, engage students in Bible study. Contributors for this issue of KNOWN: Darrick Fitzgerald Stone Mountain, Georgia Joe Thompson Galatia, Illinois Paul Fulton Easley, South Carolina Danielle Smith McDonough, Georgia Phillip Millard Fairview, Tennessee Amy Keys Spring Hill, Tennessee Will Snipes Travelers Rest, South Carolina As you prepare to teach, take advantage of the free helps that are available to you on our Web site: You will find Insights (commentary), creative teaching options, video and song ideas, and a weekly free leader podcast to help you prepare to discuss the Life Principles in each session of Bible study. Jennifer Denning Raleigh, North Carolina David Crim Manila, Philippines Byron Cheng Fullerton, California Alfred Lu Richmond, Canada Michael Kell Moreno Valley, California Alicia Claxton Brentwood, Tennessee James Jackson Franklin, Tennessee KNOWN VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 PRODUCTION AND MINISTRY TEAM CONTENT EDITOR: Rick Rickimus Maximus Prall PRODUCTION EDITOR: Karen Big Blue Daniel GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Charles Chuckie Long SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST: Edward Sir Edward Crawford NATIONAL STUDENT MINISTRY LEADER: Paul Turner editorial PROJECT leader: Mike Coach Wakefield Send questions/comments to: Content Editor, KNOWN One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN Or make comments on the Web at MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL SENIOR DIRECTOR, STUDENT MINISTRY PUBLISHING: Jimmy Hester Managing DIRECTOR, Student Ministry publishing: Dawn Cornelius DIRECTOR, SUNDAY SCHOOL: David Francis DIRECTOR, STUDENT MINISTRY: Scott Stevens DIRECTOR, PUBLISHING, LIFEWAY CHURCH RESOURCES: Gary H. Hauk Printed in the United States of America. KNOWN (ISSN ; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For ordering or inquiries, visit or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For subscriptions or subscription address changes, subscribe@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2010 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. ISTOCKPHOTO For more information and resources, visit KNOWN LEADER 13

4 The Guide The Approach The main and the Midweek Study can be used independently of each other, but they are designed to give a holistic approach to a student s spiritual development. The material, the material students read during their time alone with God during the week, and the Midweek Student Book: Leader Guide: : Each session features an easy-to-use two-page teaching plan designed to drive home one point. The strategy for student development that shapes this resource is on the inside-front cover. When the teaching plan references the Student Book material, those activities are clearly identified. The plan identifies discussion questions with bold, black arrows. Midweek: A basic, one-page plan with main points and discussion questions is included. This midweek talksheet builds on and complements what was studied earlier in the week. A full Midweek Event plan (see below) is available for purchase online. Online Resources: available at FREE Resources Insights weekly biblical commentary to help leaders understand the Scripture in light of the session s focus Options weekly creative teaching ideas to gear the study to meet the needs for a specific group: guys, girls, younger youth, older youth, and discipleship (going deeper) Bonus Session teaching material for the 13th week in the quarter Podcasts weekly leader preparation audio podcast and monthly parent topic podcast with additional information that will help you apply each session to life Training Videos How To videos that help you understand how to use every aspect of KNOWN Pop Culture References: Additional Cost Resources: One of the unique features of KNOWN is the use of pop culture references (movies, books, television, quotes, athletes, and celebrities) in each session of the Student Material. We will regularly make pop culture references that do not support a Christian worldview. These references are valuable teaching tools intended to grab the attention of students, provoke discussion, and make students think. KNOWN does not offer these pop culture references as an endorsement but rather as a way to line up biblical truth against the worldly culture students confront. Ideas for how to use each pop culture reference are included in the teaching plan for each session in KNOWN. available at Midweek Event expanded teaching plans (including ice breaker, worship, and video clip suggestions) supplemented with professionally designed PowerPoint presentations for each session Video Clips supplemental video clips to enhance the learning experience for each and Midweek Study as well as suggested uses for each video clip Music song suggestions to supplement and enhance each unit of study (Note: The New Worship Music selections are free and offer free MP3 files and band charts.) ISTOCKPHOTO Each session has two pages of graphic information that can be used during the group study or for individual use at home. Each session supports the teaching plan in the Leader Guide by utilizing all of the elements on the page to engage students in Bible study. Each session includes three pages of material for students to use during their personal time alone with God. Study all complement one another. The materials are purposefully designed to be easy to use. The Midweek Study materials are designed to follow the but can be used prior to if desired

5 Unit 1 TheOverview Savior and King KNOW Lordship Most people have a basic idea of who Jesus is after all, they hear His name at Christmas and Easter. But who is Jesus, really? This is a four-session KNOW study under the Lordship category. A study of who Jesus is even just these few aspects will help students come to a deeper understanding of His nature and significance. Knowing more about Jesus will help students recognize Him as Savior and Lord. This knowledge will help expand the familiar images of Jesus from Christmas and Easter. Life Giver Week 1 Life real life only comes from Jesus. Why did Jesus come into the world? Jesus came to give eternal life. Midweek Event How are Jesus and God related? Jesus is God and the Son. Week 2 Miracle Worker Amazing miracles highlight the greatness of Jesus. Why did Jesus do miracles? Jesus revealed who He was by His great works. Midweek Event How do I know Jesus cares about me? Jesus proved His love for you. Week 3 The Only Hope Heaven or hell? Your only hope is Jesus. Why do I need to know Jesus? Jesus is your only hope for life. Midweek Event How can I know Jesus? Confess your sin and believe in Him. Lord of All Week 4 You can t call Jesus Lord if you won t surrender to Him. What does it mean for Jesus to be the Lord of my life? You must totally surrender your life to Him. Midweek Event How do I show my love for Jesus? Your love is shown through obedience and service. 004 KNOWN LEADER 13

6 The Question Why did Jesus come into the world? The Point Jesus came to give eternal life. SESSION 1 Life Giver Jesus Gives Life Eternal Life in Heaven 48% of Americans say they have been born again. (gallup.com) Everyone seems to be searching for the miracle plan for a longer, healthier life. Whether it is exercise, calorie-counting, or special water, we all want a better quality of life. This session will help students understand Jesus as the giver of real life both abundant life now and life eternal. The midweek event will explore Jesus relationship to God and why it is important to understand Jesus that way

7 Savior and King Session 1 The Question Why did Jesus come into the world? The Point Jesus came to give eternal life. Life Giver John 6:32-40 Get Started 1Seach the Internet for an image of a T-shirt that reads is life, the rest are just details (such as football is life ) or display a shirt with the saying. Post a large sheet of paper and allow students to write their own is life statements with the thing(s) that are most important to them. Review the list. What makes something important in your life? If something is really important, how do you know? How do others know it is important to you? In what ways does the activity you identified satisfy you? How long will that satisfaction last? Discuss reactions to the Einstein quote on page 8 in the KNOWN student book. See Activity A. Introduce the Question 2Many people are interested in what happens after we die. Over the centuries, different cultures have gone to great lengths to prepare for an afterlife. Review the Heart & Soul and Preparing for the Afterlife information on page 8 in the KNOWN student book. See Activities B & C. What is your reaction to the Egyptian thoughts about preparing for the afterlife? Review the mortal and immortal definitions on page 8 in the KNOWN student book. See Activity D. The answer to The Question for this session helps us settle the question of what will happen when we die. tip: This unit of study on Jesus highlights four aspects of His life that underscore His role as Savior and King. Make every effort to focus on The Question and The Point for each session. Creative teaching options, podcasts, and suggested videos to complement this study are available at Apply Life Principles 3Use the following Scriptures and bulleted teaching ideas/statements to communicate each of these life principles related to the question for this session. ATo give life to the world. Lead a hold your breath contest to see who can hold their breath the longest. Why is it that we can t hold our breath indefinitely? Why do we have a natural instinct to breathe? Read John 6: Jesus gives life to the world. See the online Insights.* How does Jesus give us life? How is the life Jesus gives different from what you identified in Get Started? What does it mean for Jesus to be the bread of God? Discuss the Bread Bites information on page 9 in the KNOWN student book. See Activity E. What is the longest you have gone without food? water? Review the food and water stats on page 9 in the KNOWN student book. See Activity F. What is the longest you have ever gone without reading your Bible, praying, or worshiping? BTo do God s will. When you hear the phrase do God s will, what comes to mind? What does that phrase mean to you? Read John 6: Jesus was focused on doing the will of God. See the online Insights.* What was God s will that Jesus was doing? What does it mean for Jesus to be the bread of life? Discuss responses to the Alexander and MacDonald quotes on page 9 in the KNOWN student book. See Activity G. What do you think is God s will for you? Is it the same for everyone? Why should we be concerned with God s will? Point out the list of God s will verses on page 9 in the KNOWN student book. See Activity H. 006 KNOWN LEADER 13

8 CTo provide eternal life. Discuss the meaning of the Kempis quote on page 9 in the KNOWN student book. See Activity I. Read John 6: Jesus provides eternal life for all who come to Him. See the online Insights.* How can someone have eternal life? Why is Jesus the only way to have eternal life? Does eternal life refer more to time or quality? Explain. Can we give eternal life to others? Why or why not? What does it mean to believe in Jesus? What difference does belief in Jesus make? We all have/enjoy life because of Jesus, but not everyone will have/enjoy eternal life with Jesus. Discuss the various ways other religions attempt to reach for immortality on page 9 in the KNOWN student book. See Activity J. Wrap it Up 4Use these ideas to drive home the point for this session. Challenge students to act on the truth of this study during the coming week. Display photos of things that have lasted a long time pyramids, Stone Henge, Taj Mahal, and so forth. Discuss whether anything really lasts forever. We are eternal beings created by an eternal God. We will last forever. Where we spend eternity is our choice. Write on the board: Jesus provides eternal life for those who believe in Him. Discuss what the statement means. Discuss reactions to the Bieber quote on page 8 in the KNOWN student book. See Activity K. Have you received God s gift of eternal life in Jesus? If not, why not? Share the KNOWN plan of salvation from the inside-back cover of the Leader Guide or student book. Activity C Activity K Activity E Activity G Activity H Why did Jesus come into the world? To give life to the world Jesus said to them, I assure you: Moses didn t give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the real bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. John 6:32-33 Heart & Soul Egyptian Pharoahs went to great lengths to prepare for eternity (not just to be stuck in a museum). Many factors came into play for an individual who hoped to obtain eternal life one of which was the heart, a very important physical part of a pharaoh s body. According to the Egyptians, the heart is where the soul, spirit, personality and essence of a person resided. If a pharaoh wished to be granted eternal life, he must first have his heart weighed on a scale against the feather of Maat. If the scales balanced then he had led a good life; if his heart was heavier then the feather, the pharaoh had forfeited his afterlife. I want to know how God created this world. I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts; the rest are details. Albert Einstein KNOWN 13 mortal 1) liable or subject to death; 2) of or relating to humankind; 3) of, relating to, or accompanying death; 4) causing death; fatal Preparing for the Afterlife In the process of mummification, there were actually 70 steps carried out over 70 days including: Removal of brain through the nostrils Removal of the intestines through an incision in the side Sterilization of the body and the intestines Packing the limbs with clay or sand Packing the body with linen (soaked in resin), myrrh and cinnamon Treating the body with ointments Wrapping the body with a fine linen gauze over 1000 square yards long The internal organs were mummified and put in alabaster jars picturedesk I believe that Jesus died on a cross for my sins. He s the reason that I m here. Justin Bieber superstock immortal 1) not subject to death or decay; 2) having everlasting fame; 3) everlasting; perpetual; constant; 4) of or relating to immortal beings or concepts gettyimages Bread Bites Bread is the one food eaten by people of every race, culture, and religion. Each American consumes, on average, 53 pounds of bread per year. One bushel of wheat will produce 73 one-pound loaves of bread. Americans eat 45 billion sandwiches every year; the all-time favorite sandwich is ham. Peanut butter was first paired with jelly in a sandwich in the 1920s. An average student will consume approximately 1,500 PB&J sandwiches before graduation from high school. What is necessary to stay alive? You can go without: Food for four to six weeks; H 2 O for up to TEN days; though after THREE days there will be numerous health issues For a small reward, a man will hurry away on a long journey; while for eternal life, many will hardly take a single step. Thomas A Kempis 2To do God s will. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6:34-38 Buddhism Buddhism teaches that there is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth according to the qualities of a person s actions. Physical immortality is neither a path to enlightenment nor an attainable goal: even the gods eventually die. After biological death an arhat, or buddha, enters into parinirvana, an everlasting state of transcendental happiness. Islam Muslims believe that the present life is a trial in preparation for the next realm of existence. One s eternal destination depends on balance of good to bad deeds in life. They are either granted admission to Paradise, where they will enjoy spiritual and physical pleasures forever, or condemned to Hell to suffer spiritual and physical torment for eternity. Ancient Greeks In ancient Greek religion, the soul was considered to have an eternal existence in Hades, but without the body the soul was considered dead. Although almost everybody had nothing to look forward to but an eternal existence as a disembodied dead soul, a number of men and women were considered to have gained physical immortality and brought to live forever in either Elysium, the Islands of the Blessed, heaven, the ocean, or literally right under the ground. The study of God s Word, for the purpose of discovering God s will, is the secret discipline which has formed the greatest characters. James Waddel Alexander 3 I find the doing of the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans. George MacDonald The Bible on God s Will Lead others to Christ (Matthew 18:11-14) Believe in God (John 6:40) Give generously (2 Corinthians 8:1-7) Be obedient to God (Ephesians 6:5-8) Bear fruit (Colossians 1:9-12) Abstain from immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8) Pray at all times (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18) Do the right things (1 Peter 2:15) For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:39-40 To provide Hinduism eternal life. Hindus believe in an immortal soul which is reincarnated after death. People repeat a process of life, death, and rebirth in a cycle called samsara. If they live their life well, their karma improves and their station in the next life will be higher, and conversely lower if they live their life poorly. Jehovah s Witnesses Jehovah s witnesses believe the word soul (nephesh or psykhe) as used in the Bible is a person, an animal, or the life a person or animal enjoys. The soul is not part of man, but is the whole man. When a person or animal dies, the soul dies, and death is a state of non-existence. After the final judgment, it is expected that the righteous will receive eternal life and live forever in an earthly paradise. Jesus came to give eternal life. 009 Activity B Activity A Activity D Activity F Activity I Activity J *Insights are available for free at You can order the KNOWN student book at 007

9 Midweek Savior and King Session 1 How are Jesus and God related? Jesus is God and the Son. MIDWEEK TALKSHEET God and Son Hebrews 1:1-4 THE BIBLE STUDY The first session Bible study explains why Jesus came and how He accomplished God s Will. This midweek study will examine who Jesus is as related to God. DISCUSS THESE POINTS Use the following main points, Scriptures, teaching/discussion ideas, and questions to drive home the question and the point for this session. AJesus is God s Son. Father and Son are human terms describing the relationship between Jesus and God. God is not limited to human terms. Read Hebrews 1:1-2. What does it mean that God spoke through prophets? What does it mean that God speaks through His Son? Son, in human terms, implies a subordinate. Jesus is an equal member of the Trinity. How does Jesus being equal to God the Father impact the role of Jesus being the Son of God? While on earth, how did Jesus, as Son, honor God the Father? Why is it important for us to understand the relationship of God the Father and God the Son? BJesus is God. Jesus was 100% man and 100% God. This is called the hypostatic union. Read Hebrews 1:3a. What does it mean for Jesus to be the exact representation of God s nature? Jesus made numerous claims to be God, accepted worship that was for God, and fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah. Why is it important to our salvation that Jesus was both fully man and fully God? What examples does the writer of Hebrews give of things Jesus does that are things only God could do? CJesus reigns with God in heaven. Read Hebrews 1:3b-4. Why is Jesus superior to angels? What does it mean for Jesus to reign in heaven? After the resurrection, Jesus appeared several times to numerous people. He then ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of God, interceding for the saints. Jesus completed God s will for His life here on earth and returned to heaven. God did not leave Jesus on earth to continue to minister, but gave that challenge to believers. Why did Jesus return to heaven after the resurrection rather than remain and continue to preach? How does it make you feel that God chose to use us as the method for spreading truth? Why is it important that Jesus is now reigning in heaven? wrap it up The relationship of the Trinity is something students can understand. We can accept the doctrine of the Trinity by faith even when we cannot completely understand it. The fact that Jesus returned to heaven and left the church with the task of evangelism can encourage and motivate us to be witnesses. Have you been faithful to the task Jesus left for you? Are there relationships in your life that help you understand how Jesus must have related to God the Father? Explain. A complete Midweek Event with opening ideas, worship suggestions, illustrations, and a PowerPoint presentation can be purchased at KNOWN LEADER 13