TEACHER S GUIDE GRADES 7-8. What Is Truth?

Transcription

1 TEACHER S GUIDE GRADES 7-8 What Is Truth?

2 I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12 Project Coordinators: Owen Dorn, Raymond Schumacher Editorial Team: Owen Dorn, Rev. John Miller Art Director: Karen Knutson Design Team: Paula Brouwer, Pamela Dunn, Sarah Martinez, Lynda Williams Illustrator (line art): Dan Grossmann We extend our thanks to the many employees of Northwestern Publishing House who have contributed to this project. Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved worldwide. Catechism materials are taken from Luther s Catechism: Revised by Northwestern Publishing House. Hymn and hymnal references, unless otherwise indicated, are to Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal by Northwestern Publishing House. Christ-Light and the Christ-Light logo are registered property of Northwestern Publishing House. Northwestern Publishing House 1250 N. 113th St., Milwaukee, WI by Northwestern Publishing House Published 2010 Printed in the United States of America ISBN All rights reserved. The contents of this CD may be reproduced and used only by the purchasing school or congregation. Sharing this material with other congregations or schools is prohibited.

3 Contents WHAT IS TRUTH? INTRODUCTION NOTES PAGE vii Where is truth found? 1 Who s attacking the truth? 12 How can I learn the truth? 23 How can I live by the truth? 35 How do I confess the truth? 46 How can I share the truth? 57

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5 Introduction Christ-Light is a complete religion curriculum for youth from birth through grade 12. Materials for prekindergarten through grade 8 have been thoroughly updated to reflect current educational research. Characteristics of 12- to 14-year-old children Mental Development Can think abstractly Can delve more deeply into spiritual truths Can explore the application of spiritual truths in many different ways Can grasp where and when events took place Can concentrate for longer periods of time Can memorize easily Emotional Development Are becoming independent in forming personal attitudes and habits Can display irrational mood swings Are searching for identity and freedom Want to show that they are responsible Social Development Can work cooperatively in small groups Learn from words, actions, and opinions of their teachers Are greatly influenced by words, actions, and opinions of their peers Tend to share less of what they are learning with parents Are beginning the process of becoming independent from their parents May test parental authority Teaching Materials General Supplies Each child will need a Bible (NIV), a hymnal (Christian Worship), paper, and a pencil or pen. In order to best carry out many of the suggested activities, the teacher will need a chalk or marker board and projection equipment. Teacher s Guides Note that the Teacher s Guide is set up with parallel lesson plans one in the wide column and one in the narrow column. Thus, Sunday school and Lutheran elementary school teachers can use entirely different activities when teaching the same lesson. This coordination will maintain interest for those students who attend both Sunday school and Lutheran elementary school. When Sunday school and Lutheran elementary school coordination is not a factor, teachers have several options: Those who want one straightforward, complete lesson can use the wide column, start to finish. Those who want to design their own lessons may select activities from either the wide or the narrow column, or from the Lesson Activities section. Student Lessons Each four-page lesson contains a full-color contemporary teaching picture, a Bible study with life application, and grade-appropriate memory treasures. HOW TO USE THIS BOOK GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? INTRODUCTION vii

6 Teaching the Lesson Lesson Overview Lesson goals are not listed separately but are expressed in the Key Points, Application (Word Today), and Lesson Summary (Answer). As Christians, we have the priv ilege of being able to approach our God in prayer. The Teacher Prays offers a prayer that might be just what you would like to say to God before you begin teaching your lesson. Christ-Light provides a brief Scripture reading and prayer or song to open the lesson. The brevity makes it possible to teach the meat of the lesson during prime learning time. This section is designed to create student interest in the coming lesson. Introductions pro vide necessary background, actively involve students, and lead them to anticipate an answer to the question addressed in the lesson. Teachers will use this section to teach the Word of God in a creative, interactive way. This section leads the stu dents to apply the truth to their lives and to exam ine ways in which they can respond. After leading the students to briefly summarize the main points of the lesson, each lesson closes with a song or prayer. Bible passages, catechism, and hymn memory treasures are incor porated into the lessons. Some of these memory treas - ures are taken from a core list that has already been taught in pre vious grades. Memory treas ures marked with one aster isk are core mem ory treas ures for both Sunday school and Luth eran elemen tary school; passages with two asterisks are addi tional core memory treasures for Lutheran elementary school. (Sometimes, due to space limitations, hymn stanzas could not be printed on student lessons. A file that contains the text of the hymn stanzas, which can be copied for handouts, is found on the Teacher s Guide CD. The file is labeled Hymntexts.pdf.) Lesson Activities These additional activities offer options for teaching, reviewing, applying, or responding to the truth of the lesson. Each lesson includes a Table Talk activity designed to encourage parent-child interaction. The importance of parents as the primary Christian educators of children cannot be stressed enough. Teachers must do everything they can to encourage parents to teach and use the Word in their homes. Teachers will not only encourage parents and students to use these activities, they will also teach them how. Suggestions: Attach the messages to student lessons or incorporate the messages into classroom newsletters. GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? INTRODUCTION viii

7 The following list of memory treasure hymns has been developed for the Christ-Light grades 7-8 topical Bible study courses. * One asterisk indicates a core hymn for Sunday school and Lutheran elementary school. ** Two asterisks indicate that the hymn is an additional core hymn for Lutheran elementary school. Thus, Lutheran elementary school students learn both the Sunday school core hymns and the additional core hymns. Hymns with no asterisk are used in some lessons but are not considered core hymns. Sometimes, due to space limitations, hymn stanzas could not be printed on student lessons. A file that contains the text of the hymn stanzas, which can be copied for handouts, is found on the Teacher s Guide CD. The file is labeled Hymntexts.pdf. Hymn Category Hymn Number Hymn Title Name of Jesus 76:1,3,5 Jesus! Name of Wondrous Love Lent 128:1,2 Not All the Blood of Beasts Easter 143:2,3 He s Risen, He s Risen Easter 152:1-3,7,8 ** I Know That My Redeemer Lives Reformation 200:1-4 ** A Mighty Fortress Is Our God End Time 207:1-3 The Day Is Surely Drawing Near Worship and Praise 234:1,3 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Worship and Praise 241:4 Alleluia! Let Praises Ring Word of God 282:1 ** Lord, Open Now My Heart to Hear Word of God 283:1 Speak, O Savior; I Am Listening Word of God 284:1,3,4 How Precious Is the Book Divine Word of God 286:1-3 The Law Commands and Makes Us Know Word of God 287:1,2,4 The Law of God Is Good and Wise Word of God 288:1,3,4 The Gospel Shows the Father s Grace Word of God 291:1,4 We Have a Sure Prophetic Word Word of God 293 God s Word Is Our Great Heritage Confession and Absolution 304:1,5,7 * Jesus Sinners Does Receive Redeemer 348:1,4 ** Jesus, Jesus, Only Jesus Justification 380:1,2 Lord, Tis Not That I Did Choose You Justification 384:1 By Grace I m Saved Justification 390:1,2,5 Salvation Unto Us Has Come Justification 399:1,2 To God Be the Glory Prayer 411:1,2 * What a Friend We Have in Jesus Trust 417:1,2 I m But a Stranger Here Trust 422:1-4 ** Jesus, Lead Us On GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? INTRODUCTION ix

8 Hymn Category Hymn Number Hymn Title Trust 428:1,2 Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me Trust 429:1-3 * What God Ordains Is Always Good Trust 436:1,2,4 ** Jesus, Shepherd of the Sheep Commitment 455:1 Rise! To Arms! With Prayer Employ You Commitment 457:1,2 Fight the Good Fight Commitment 469:1-3,6 * Take My Life and Let It Be Commitment 472:1-3 Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray Commitment 478:1,2 ** With the Lord Begin Your Task Stewardship 484:1 Brothers, Sisters, Let Us Gladly Christian Love 490:1-3 ** Love in Christ Is Strong and Living Christian Love 494:1,3,4,5 Blest Be the Tie That Binds Christian Home 505:4,5 Love Is the Gracious Gift Church 539:1,4,5 In Christ There Is No East or West Ministry 545:1,2 Send, O Lord, Your Holy Spirit Ministry 546:1 Lord Jesus, You Have Come Saints and Martyrs 555:1-4 For All Your Saints, O Lord Evangelism 560:1,2 I Hear the Savior Calling Missions 573:1,2,4 * Hark! The Voice of Jesus Crying Evening 587:3,4 ** Now Rest Beneath Night s Shadow Evening 588:1,2,6,7 ** Abide With Me Confirmation 596:1 ** Let Me Be Yours Forever Death and Burial 606:1-3 ** For Me to Live Is Jesus Thanksgiving 610:1-3 ** Now Thank We All Our God GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? INTRODUCTION x

9 Bible Passage Memory Treasures * One asterisk indicates a core passage for Sunday school and Lutheran elementary school. ** Two asterisks indicate that the passage is an additional core passage for Lutheran elementary school. Thus, Lutheran elementary school students learn both the Sunday school core passages and the additional core passages. * Genesis 1:1 ** Matthew 4:10b * John 3:16 ** Ephesians 4:32 ** Genesis 39:9b ** Matthew 6:33 ** John 5:39 ** Ephesians 6:1 * Exodus 20:11a * Matthew 7:7 ** John 11:25,26a * 1 Timothy 2:3,4 ** Job 19:25-27 * Matthew 11:28 * John 14:19b ** 2 Timothy 3:15 * Psalm 37:5 ** Matthew 18:20 ** Romans 1:16 ** 2 Timothy 3:16 * Psalm 50:15 * Matthew 22:37 * Romans 3:23 ** Hebrews 11:1 * Psalm 51:5 * Matthew 22:39b ** Romans 3:24 ** James 1:22 ** Psalm 103:1,2 * Matthew 26:41 * Romans 6:23 * 1 Peter 5:7 * Psalm 118:1 * Matthew 28:19 * Romans 8:28 ** 1 Peter 5:8 * Psalm 119:105 * Matthew 28:19,20 * Romans 10:17 * 1 John 1:7b ** Psalm 139:14 * Matthew 28:20b * 1 Corinthians 10:31 ** 1 John 3:15 ** Psalm 145:15,16 ** Mark 10:45 ** 1 Corinthians 12:3b ** 1 John 4:19 * Proverbs 3:5 * Mark 16:16 ** Galatians 3:26 * Revelation 2:10b ** Isaiah 41:10 * Luke 11:28 ** Galatians 3:27 * Isaiah 43:11 ** Luke 18:13b ** Galatians 4:4,5 ** Isaiah 64:6a ** John 1:29b * Ephesians 2:8,9 GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? INTRODUCTION xi

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11 What Is Truth? LESSON 1 Where is truth found? Where can I find absolute truth? 1. I find the truth in the Bible, since as God s Word, everything it says is true. 2. God inspired every word of the Bible, and God does not lie. 3. The words of Scripture have power to create and sustain saving faith. I find absolute truth in the Bible God s inspired, unerring, and powerful Word. John 10:35 John 14:6 John 17:17 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Hebrews 4:12 2 Peter 1:20,21 Lord God, so much is passing and uncertain in this world of sin and death. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Word, true in everything it says. Not only do I have an absolute standard of what is right and wrong in your sight; I have an absolute assurance of your forgiveness in Jesus when I do wrong and fail to do what is right. Through your Word, use me to convey this certainty to my students. Amen. Use the corresponding volumes from The People s Bible for additional back - ground and explanation of the various Scripture references. When students work through questions with partners or in a group, they benefit in several ways. They will remember the concept better because they had to struggle to own it. The movement as students get together with their partners or groups enhances the learning process. More blood is pumped to the brain, and a well-nourished brain remembers more. Also, as students move around, the momentary break in the learning activity enables them to focus more pointedly as the new discussion begins. GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? LESSON Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 1

12 What Is Truth? WHERE IS TRUTH FOUND? Alternate Lesson Plan Read: Psalm 119:89-96 Pray: Lord, thank you for establishing your Word as unchanging truth. Increase my faith in what it says and my certainty in the message of life in Jesus it proclaims. In Jesus name. Amen. Remind the students that Pilate said, What is truth? Others say, Truth is whatever you want it to be. Have students cite examples of incorrect ideas many people have because they don t look for truth in the right place. Post responses for all to see. [Possible answers: 1. Abortion may be a moral thing to do in many circumstances. 2. Homosexuality is a some times natural and permissible lifestyle. 3. Every religion is a legitimate way of approaching God. 4. Under - standing the Bible is a matter of personal interpretation.] Today we will try to answer the question, Where can I find absolute truth? Sing: We Have a Sure Prophetic Word (hymn 291:1,4) Pray: Holy Spirit, we praise you for the gift of your Holy Word. Convince us even more that your message about our sin and our Savior are reliable because every word of the Bible is true. In Jesus name. Amen. Where Do I Look? Mom, called Sarah, I ve been looking all over for my jacket. I can t find it anywhere. Where have you been looking? asked her mother. I thought I left it in my room, but I checked all over under the bed, in the clothes hamper, and behind my desk. It s not here. Did you look on the hanger in your closet where it s supposed to be? asked her mother. I hung it up for you last night. You just have to look in the right place. Pontius Pilate was looking for truth. He asked Jesus, What is truth? because he hadn t found it. What are the similarities between Sarah, Pontius Pilate, and many people living today? [Sarah, Pontius Pilate, and many people living today can t find what they re looking for because they re looking in the wrong places. Most people never find truth, because they don t know where to look. If we look for things where they cannot be found, we will never find what we re looking for.] We have questions in life that require truthful answers. Today we will answer the question, Where can I find absolute truth? GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? LESSON 1 2

13 What Is Truth? WHERE IS TRUTH FOUND? People search for truth in many places. They read the works of ancient and modern philosophers. They seek the truth through science or knowledge. They read books from many religious leaders. Inevitably they come up short. That s because absolute truth is found in only one place. Jesus himself revealed where truth is found. 1. Imagine that an older cousin tells you he is going away to college to discover truth. According to John 18:37, why should you point your cousin to Jesus? [Jesus came into the world to testify to the truth. Anyone seeking truth should listen to what Jesus says.] 2. Read John 17:17. As Jesus prays to his Father in heaven, he identifies what truth is. Using the mathematical formula below, identify what truth really is. Truth = [God s Word] 3. What evidence does John 10:35 give to show that Jesus regarded the Bible as absolute truth? [Jesus said, The Scripture cannot be broken. He regarded all of Scripture, from start to finish, as completely true and consistent. The Bible contains no lies or errors.] 4. Read John 14:6. Discuss the following in groups of three or four: Jesus says God s Word is truth, and he says he is the truth. Which is right? Be prepared to explain. [Both are correct statements. God s Word is about Jesus. In fact, Jesus is called the Word (John 1:1,14). He is the fulfillment of its prophecies and the center of both Old and New Testaments. So we can say that God s Word and Jesus are both truth.] Where do I find the truth? I find the truth in the [Bible], since as God s Word, [everything] [it] [says] is true. 1. Working in pairs, have one student be Jesus and the other be the world. Have the world ask Jesus what the truth is regarding how we can go to heaven. [Possible answer: As true God, Jesus gave up his life for our sins and is the only way to eternal life. Through faith in him we have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Jesus will come again at the end of time to judge all people on the basis of faith in him.] 2. Have students read John 17:17. In this chapter, we find Jesus praying to his Father in heaven. According to Jesus prayer, what is truth? [Jesus clearly says that God s Word is truth.] 3. Read John 10:35. When he says, Scripture cannot be broken, Jesus is saying that he regards the Bible to be completely true from one end to the other. Have students draw a picture of a chain and explain how God s Word is like that chain. [Possible answers: Break one link in the chain, and the rest falls apart too. In other words, deny one truth of God s Word, and you call all the others into question as well.] 4. Have students read John 14:6 and evaluate this statement: Though Jesus has said that God s Word is truth, it isn t a contradiction for him to say here that he is the truth [This is correct. God s Word is the GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? LESSON 1 3

14 What Is Truth? WHERE IS TRUTH FOUND? truth about what Jesus has done for us.] 5. Agree or disagree: Since there is some truth in every religion, even those that are non- Christian, we should make a point of learning more about non-christian religions. [Most religions (though not all) recognize the existence of a god. In that sense, there is some truth in those religions. Since the world s non-christian religions do not look to the Holy Scriptures as the final authority, they cannot speak the absolute truth. The reason to learn more about non- Christian religions is to be able to reach out to their adherents with the truth of Jesus Christ.] 6. In 2 Peter 1:21, God tells us prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God. Have students put that in their own words. [The words the writers of the Bible wrote were God s words, not their own.] 7. Have students silently read Numbers 23: In small groups, have them discuss how the context of this story helps them better understand verse 19. Then have a reporter from each group share the group s thoughts with the class. [The context is Balak s desire to have Balaam curse the Israelites. God would only let him speak a blessing. Thus, no one, no matter how powerful, 5. Josh and a neighborhood friend attended a movie that had several references to the theory of evolution. Because Josh knew that his friend attended a church, he was surprised when the friend defended the theory of evolution. The writers of the Bible didn t know as much as we do about science, his friend said, I don t think what they wrote about the origin of the world is accurate. If you were Josh, how would you respond? [The Bible is God s Word, not simply the words of human writers. Everything in the Bible is true; therefore, I know that the world came into being in the way the Bible describes.] Peter and the other apostles wrote down what they saw with their own eyes. They saw Jesus fulfill what had been written about him in the Old Testament Scriptures, the Bible of their day. Peter speaks of this fulfilled Scripture as the word of the prophets made more certain (2 Peter 1:19a). Since the prophetic message is true, Peter advises his readers then and now, You will do well to pay attention to it (verse 19b). 6. So let s pay attention to it. Read 2 Peter 1:20,21. Peter explains that nothing in Scripture originated in the mind of a human being; rather, all Scripture came from God. In the thought bubble, draw a picture to show the process God used to record Scripture. Explain your picture to a partner. (Hint: A dove can represent the Holy Spirit, and stick figures are acceptable.) [Perhaps the picture of a dove (The Holy Spirit) lifting the writing hand of the author, or actually carrying the author and his manuscript, would help explain what Peter is saying.] 7. Read Numbers 23:19. Even the false prophet Balaam could not curse the Israelites as the Moabite king, Balak, desired him to do. God told him to speak a blessing instead, and Balaam spoke the words of this verse. Pretend you are Balaam, and explain this verse in your own words. [Possible explanation: God doesn t lie or change his mind, and when he says he ll do something, he does it.] GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? LESSON 1 4

15 What Is Truth? WHERE IS TRUTH FOUND? 8. Read 2 Timothy 3:16. What do the words God-breathed tell you about the truthfulness of the Bible? [God, who doesn t lie, will only tell us the truth in his Word. God-breathed is picture language describing how God put his thoughts and exact words into the Bible. We call this verbal inspiration. Note that we get our word inspire from the Latin word for breathe into. ] How do I know the Bible is true? God inspired every [word] of the Bible, and God does not [lie]. 9. Marty said, I think I understand what it means that the Bible is inspired. Just as an artist can be motivated (inspired) to produce a great work of art, God inspired the various Bible writers to write what they thought to be true about him. Evaluate Marty s explanation. [The writers of the Bible didn t just write what they thought to be true about God. Nor were they merely inspired in a general way to paint divine truths with the stroke of a broad brush. In a miraculous way God breathed into them the very words he wanted them to write.] can cause God to lie. This truth is significant for us because it assures us that his Word is true and unchanging, though it was written centuries ago.] 8. Read 2 Timothy 3:16. Have students look up the meaning of verbal and inspiration in the dictionary and then explain to a partner why we use the term verbal inspiration to describe how the Bible was written. Have pairs share their thoughts with the class. [Verbal means word for word, referring to the Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) originals. Inspiration means breathed-in. God breathed the very words of the Bible into the chosen writers.] 9. Agree or disagree: God can t make mistakes. Human beings, however, do make mistakes. Since the Bible is written by sinful human beings, it is unrealistic to think that the Bible would be free of any errors. [Disagree. Yes, human beings do make mistakes. If the Bible were nothing more than the words of human beings, we would expect that there would be errors. But the Bible is God s own Word to human beings. He gave the original writers the very thoughts and words they were to write. God s participation in the revelation of Scripture guarantees that there are no mistakes in the Bible.] GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? LESSON 1 5

16 What Is Truth? WHERE IS TRUTH FOUND? 10. Have students read 1 Thessalonians 2:13. Ask: In Paul s thanksgiving to God, what does he say regarding: The nature of the words Paul spoke: [His words are actually the Word of God.] The power of the words Paul spoke: [His words were at work in believers hearts.] 11. Have students read Hebrews 4:12; Romans 1:16; 10:17; and John 17:17. Then ask them to explain how the Word of God has affected them. [The Word of God has uncovered the reality of our sin. It also provided the power to save us through Jesus saving work by creating faith in our hearts.] 12. A friend tells you, There s no use in telling others the truths of the Bible. Every time I do, people tell me I m a fool to believe the Bible. What advice might you give her? [Apparently her attempts to proclaim the gospel have been met with rejection, and so she assumes that will always be the case. Remind her of the power of God s Word. Through it, the Holy Spirit has brought many people to faith. Remind her that since the Word worked on her heart, then it has the power to do the same for others, so she should not let the devil and his persecution stop her from telling others about Jesus.] We believe that the Bible is true, because the Bible says it s true. We can t prove it, but we believe it because the Bible makes those claims about itself. In other words, we start by believing what the Bible says, even though we can t prove it. As we study Scripture, however, a marvelous thing happens. Let s see what it is. 10. Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13. Here Paul is thanking God for the Thessalonian Christians. Why? [He thanks God because they received Paul s words for what they actually were: the very words of God. And the Word itself convinced the Thessalonians that what they were reading and hearing was God s Word.] 11. Work in pairs. Look up one of the following passages, and discuss the powerful effect the Bible has on us when we read it. Then switch partners and share your thoughts with your new partner. Hebrews 4:12 [God s Word penetrates to our innermost being, revealing what is within us. The law shows us the sin in our lives, even in our thoughts and attitudes.] Romans 1:16 [The gospel, which is found in the Bible, saves those who believe it.] Romans 10:17 [Through the message of Jesus, the Holy Spirit creates saving faith.] John 17:17 [By the Spirit s power, God s Word has the power to sanctify, or make holy, sinners by creating in their hearts saving faith in Christ.] What power do the words of Scripture have? The words of [Scripture] have power to create and sustain [saving] [faith]. 12. Agree or disagree: The more a person reads the Bible, the more convinced he will become that the Bible is God s Word. [Possibly disagree: Many people read the Bible for the sake of proving that it is filled with contradictions and cannot be God s Word. Their presupposition of doubt stands in the way of believing that the Bible is God s Word. Agree: The more a person reads the Word, the more opportunity the Holy Spirit has to work on that individual s heart. The more the Holy Spirit works trust in and love for Jesus, the more convinced the individual will be that the Bible is God s Word.] GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? LESSON 1 6

17 What Is Truth? WHERE IS TRUTH FOUND? Question: Where can I find absolute truth? Answer: [I find absolute truth in the Bible God s inspired, unerring, and powerful Word.] Pray: Dear Lord, lead me to cherish your Word more and more as absolute truth that reveals my sin and my Savior. Amen. Sing or speak as a prayer the first two stanzas of the hymn Lord, Open Now My Heart to Hear (hymn 282:1,2). John 10:35 The Scripture cannot be broken. John 14:6 Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 We also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. Hebrews 4:12 The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 2 Peter 1:20,21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? LESSON 1 7

18 What Is Truth? WHERE IS TRUTH FOUND? Activities 1. Table Talk Have students ask family members how they reacted when their conviction of the truth of God s Word was challenged. Did it drive them further into the Word or further away from it? 2. Taking a Stand Gather statements of faith from other churches and denominations regarding their teaching about Scripture. Note whether a statement about Jesus as Savior is missing. Compare these with your congregation s or the WELS statement of faith (in This We Believe especially pages 4-7). 3. Options to Explore Word Today 1 Mrs. Allesklar said, It is ignorant and arrogant to think that any one religion has a corner on the truth. Comment. [Mrs. Allesklar proposes that we can know nothing for certain and that what s true for one person may not be for another. God tells us that his Word is true. So any contradiction of his Word is false. When we believe what God says, we are being neither ignorant nor arrogant.] Word Today 2 Explain: Being certain of our salvation is tied closely to the truthfulness of the Bible. [The Bible teaches us that Jesus lived and died as our substitute, that God has forgiven all our sins because of what Jesus did on our behalf, and that God gives eternal life to all who trust that Jesus is their Savior. If the Bible contained errors, we might question these teachings and doubt our salvation.] Word 3 Evaluate: We can be sure that the Bible is true and accurate because archaeological discoveries confirm many of the historical details of the Bible. [Archaeological discoveries don t prove the Bible is true. Rather, they substantiate the Bible s claim to be true. The Holy Spirit works within us through the Bible to believe that the Bible is without error.] Word Today 3 Display a glass of tap water. Tell the students that this glass of water contains fluoride, a chemical that helps prevent tooth decay. Explain that even though we can t see or smell fluoride, it is always present and always active. Its power can be seen as more people retain their own teeth into old age. Ask the students to explain how the words of the Bible are similar to fluoride in water. [The words of the Bible are an active and powerful tool in the hands of the Holy Spirit. Invisibly, they create and preserve saving faith in human hearts, much as fluoride sustains dental health well into old age.] 4. A Look Back As a review exercise, write the following statements on slips of paper and put them into a bag. Have students choose from them and read them aloud. Allow the rest of the class to respond. a. The Bible may be absolutely true for you and me, but it s not necessarily true for a Muslim, a member of Wicca, or an atheist. [Others may not believe it, but Scripture is absolute truth, proclaiming one way of salvation for everyone through faith in Jesus Christ. All other religious beliefs lead to eternal destruction.] b. The Bible has the power to influence and change people s minds and hearts just as other great works of literature do. [Other literature may influence and change people s minds and hearts. However, the Bible does not just influence people s minds and hearts, it creates spiritual life where there was only spiritual death before. The Holy Spirit does this through the Bible s message of redemption through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.] c. God can create the miracle of faith apart from his Word. [God can do anything he wishes. Yet God has chosen to create faith through his Word faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17).] GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? LESSON 1 8

19 What Is Truth? WHERE IS TRUTH FOUND? 5. Radical Truth Have students use Copy Master 1 to explain why believing that God s Word is absolute truth runs counter to today s society. [Possible answers: In today s society, many believe that what is right for one person may not be right for another and that insisting on one religion is narrow-minded and bigoted. Surrounded by these false beliefs, we are comforted in knowing that the Bible is God s absolute truth.] 6. Off the Beaten Path Have students look up the passages listed in Copy Master 2 and explain what each contributes to our understanding of Scripture s source, authority, truthfulness, and completeness. [Answers: 1. 2 Samuel 23:2: The prophet Samuel reveals that he was the Lord s mouthpiece. 2. Psalm 119:144: Through his timeless statutes, God gives spiritual life. 3. Psalm 119:160: The psalmist regards all of God s words as true and his principles as unchanging. 4. Matthew 15:9: Jesus makes a distinction between true teaching and false teaching or rules taught by men. He directs his disciples not to accept everything they hear as truth. 5. Mark 7:10-13: Jesus points out that what Moses wrote in Scripture was, in fact, the Word of God. 6. John 14:26: Jesus promised his disciples that the Holy Spirit would remind them of his very words. They would not write from hazy recollection but by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 7. Acts 3:18: God himself is the one who foretold and fulfilled what the prophets wrote about Christ in the Old Testament. 8. Hebrews 1:1: The author says that God himself was speaking to the Hebrews forefathers through the prophets (including the prophetical writings of Scripture) Peter 1:23: God s Word is living, the means by which the Holy Spirit has given us rebirth through faith in Jesus Christ Peter 3:2: Peter cites both the prophetical writings of the Old Testament and the apostolic writings of the New Testament as having authority.] GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? LESSON 1 9

20 Name Radical Truth In the space provided below, write a brief essay on how adhering to an absolute truth goes against the grain in the climate of our world today. GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? LESSON 1 WHERE IS TRUTH FOUND? COPY MASTER Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 10

21 Name Off the Beaten Path Look up each of the following passages. In the space next to each, indicate what that passage contributes to our understanding of Scripture s source, authority, truthfulness, and completeness Samuel 23:2 2. Psalm 119: Psalm 119: Matthew 15:9 5. Mark 7: John 14:26 7. Acts 3:18 8. Hebrews 1: Peter 1: Peter 3:2 GRADES 7-8 WHAT IS TRUTH? LESSON 1 WHERE IS TRUTH FOUND? COPY MASTER Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 11