Our Christian Response to Blessings and Challenges Part One A Bible Study Course for Adults by Alan Siggelkow Leader s Guide Lesson One When We Experience Unmet Needs and Expectations... 3 Lesson Two When We Are Hurt by Others and Hold On to Unresolved Anger... 8 Lesson Three When We Struggle with the Desire for Instant Gratification... 15 Lesson Four When We Receive Financial Blessings... 20 Lesson Five When We Face Moral Desensitization... 25 All rights reserved. Second printing, 2003 Third printing, 2009 Northwestern Publishing House 1250 N. 113th St., Milwaukee, WI 53226-3284 2001 Northwestern Publishing House Published 2001 Printed in the United States of America ISBN 978-0-8100-1349-0 Scripture is 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.
Our Christian Response, Part One Leader s Guide Page 2 To the leader When I was young, I often expressed amazement at how easily the people of Israel melted in the face of challenges. The passing of a few more years has humbled me. I melt under much smaller challenges than what the Israelites faced, seeing the Egyptian army bearing down on them from behind with their escape route blocked by the sea. I have never had to watch as my food supply dwindled in the desert with a couple of million people to feed. The Israelites certainly had every reason to trust God they had witnessed his plagues and his powerful deliverance firsthand. But I have even greater reasons to trust God. Through the eyes of faith, I have witnessed all that they did and much more. The truth is, when I face challenges, I need God s help. I need his guidance. I need his reassurance that he is with me. I need him to strengthen my faith. But I also need to have his guidance and reassurance and to have him strengthen me when I receive blessings from his hand. (I need to remember that even the most difficult challenges are blessings.) Sometimes I stumble over the obvious blessings just as much as I stumble over the challenges. This series of lessons takes a look at some of the very normal experiences that we face during our lives and the spiritual struggles that go along with those experiences. The goal of the lessons is to help God s people continue to grow in their ability to apply God s Word to their everyday lives so they can view both blessings and challenges with faith, so they won t forfeit God s gift of eternal life, and so all they do will glorify God. Pastors, because some of these studies address issues that may bring troubled souls into your office for God s counsel, you may find the lessons or parts of the lessons useful as tools in your counseling sessions. Lesson format Experts in adult education indicate that adults prefer to learn by discovering the truth rather than by simply being told the truth. These lessons represent a somewhat inductive approach for teaching people to apply God s Word to their everyday lives. Each lesson begins by stating its goals and giving a life example. Discussion questions (Reflections of faith) help the students focus on the real issues in the lessons and lead them to apply the Scripture truths they already know to the situation. Then the Scripture study helps them grow in appreciation of God s mercy, in faith in God s promises, and in the understanding of God s will. If you have a large class (and the necessary facilities), you may wish to separate the class into smaller groups for the breakout/discussion. Some of those who hesitate to speak in front of the class may find it easier to participate in the smaller groups. The questions in the lessons are meant to generate discussion. Not many fact questions are included. If your class hesitates to discuss the issues, you may want to insert more fact questions. On the other hand, if your group thrives on discussion, you may find that you need to divide each lesson into two class periods or omit some questions. Because the material is provided on diskette, you are able to adapt the lessons to your individual class needs. May God bless you as you grow in God s Word! Editor
Our Christian Response, Part One Leader s Guide Page 20 Lesson Four Our Christian Response to Blessings and Challenges When We Receive Financial Blessings (The financial struggle seems to be over) Goal To apply biblical principles to our decisions about how to use our money and possessions. Introduction Think of a time when you faced your most serious financial struggle. How are things different now? Although the struggle to survive financially may be over, what present or future struggles still cause you to worry? Life example and Reflections of faith When John and Jane were married and just starting a family, they really struggled financially. Jane had a year left of nursing school and John was still an apprentice plumber. Things were tough for them. They lived in a crowded apartment in a run down apartment complex. They spent very little on entertainment, and often found themselves paying for groceries with their credit card because they simply had no cash. 1. What kinds of temptations might we struggle with if faced with situations similar to those John and Jane faced at the beginning of their marriage? We might be tempted to be jealous, and discontented. We might set our hearts on material things we don t seem to have or that we can t enjoy. We might become angry with our spouse if our spending habits are different. There might be general tension that would show itself in lost tempers and hurt feelings. As soon as Jane finished nursing school, the first of three babies came. She was only able to work part-time. 2. How do financial challenges sometimes affect the way people view children? It may be easy to think that a child or children get in the way of our financial security. Sometimes the parents resent children for that. Eventually things began to change for John and Jane. Though she only worked part time, Jane was paid well. After John completed his apprenticeship program, he found a secure job.
Our Christian Response, Part One Leader s Guide Page 21 He almost always had work, even during construction slowdowns. During this period of their lives they bought a house. 3. What challenges and temptations might we, like John and Jane, face during this time of increasing prosperity? Often, if we are finally free from serious financial challenges, we overestimate our resources, overextend ourselves, and end up back in financial trouble. Even if we don t fall into that trap, there is a danger that they will begin to become satisfied with their success, giving glory to ourselves rather than God. Life example John and Jane sent their kids to Lutheran grade school and high school. During that time, they were able to buy a nicer home in a nicer neighborhood, and they still saved enough to help the two of their children who wanted to go to the local college. By the time the two children were in college, Jane was again working full-time and John was in the highest pay bracket for the plumbing trade. Since they always had money left over after paying their bills, they were able to remodel their house, take nice vacations, and even install a swimming pool in their backyard. Things looked very good and secure for them. Reflections of faith 1. What kinds of temptations does such prosperity bring with it? There is an even greater temptation to glory in our own successes. And the more we consider our prosperity a result of our own work, the more unwilling we become to share with those in need or to do charitable work. 2. In the subtitle for this lesson, The financial struggle seems to be over, seems is a key word. What is the significance of the fact that the financial struggle seems to be over? Whether we are rich or poor, young or old, we all are tempted to be dissatisfied with the way God has blessed us. God s Word regarding wealth and material things is always the same, but the situations in our lives are very changeable. Discontent is a trademark of our sinful nature. 3. Think of a time when you struggled most financially. How are things better today? Answers will vary. 4. While the struggle to survive financially may be over, what concerns about the present or future still trouble you? Answers will vary. Light from the Word 1. Read James 1:17. To the thought that God is the author of all good gifts, the apostle attached the statement about the unchangeable nature of God. What do you think the connection is between those statements?
Our Christian Response, Part One Leader s Guide Page 22 God, who has been faithful in giving us many good blessings, does not change. We can trust that his loving providence will continue. 2. In Deuteronomy 8:17,18, God reminded Israel that the ability to produce wealth was a gift from him. This gift itself confirmed the covenant he had made to the Israelites to bless them. In a similar way, the blessings God gives to us confirm the promises he has made to provide for us. What are some ways we might react to these blessings? (Refer to Psalm 9:1,2; Psalm 100; and 2 Corinthians 9:11.) God deserves our praise and expects us to praise and thank him for all our material blessings. We do that when we acknowledge our thanks in the presence of our children and others so that they learn to recognize God s goodness. We also praise him by returning a percentage of his gifts to him. By doing so we show that we trust his promise to provide for us in the future. 3. God lovingly guides us in the ways we are to use his gifts. Search the following passages for principles that he gives to guide us in the use of our material gifts. 1 Timothy 5:8 God gives us the material blessings we have so that we can take care of our families. 1 John 3:17 We reflect God s love by using his gifts to provide for those in need. 1 Corinthians 16:2 We are to return a percentage of our gifts back to God. We give him our firstfruits, not our leftovers. Romans 13:6,7 God provides an orderly government through the taxes we pay. He has provided us with enough to pay the taxes. Breakout/discussion Divide the class into two or more groups. Have each discuss one of the two following questions: 1. In 1 Corinthians 4:2 Paul wrote, Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. Evaluate the life story of John and Jane with a view towards God s directive to prove faithful. Look for both positive and negative examples. (Where information is lacking, discuss how they might have applied the principle of being faithful.) They did use what God had given to provide for their family. The Christian education would seem to indicate that they did provide for their family s spiritual upbringing also. In days of financial challenge, some might be tempted to refrain from returning gifts to the Lord, but generous gifts, especially at those times, express trust in God to provide. Later, when John and Jane enjoyed plenty, they would have had the opportunity to help out less fortunate members of their families and the needy in general, and again, to return some of their blessings to the Lord.
Our Christian Response, Part One Leader s Guide Page 23 2. What does prove faithful have to say about...... honesty? Honesty expresses trust in God and the desire to honor God with whatever we have.... hard work? Our health and abilities are parts of God s gifts. Working hard at honorable work is a faithful use of God s blessings.... gambling? Gambling is an attempt to get something for nothing. It can be a temptation hook to lead us to look to material wealth for happiness.... our relationship with God? We offer our thanks and praise to God for our blessings and use them to do our Lord s work. Life example Both John and Jane retired. Their grown children have good jobs and live near them. Because Jane s health has deteriorated dramatically, John can t take care of her anymore. His years as a plumber have taken their toll on his own knees and back. The children feel that their parents should move into a nursing home. Reflections of faith What emotions might surface as John and Jane think of their life and their wealth? If their hope for happiness rested in wealth, they might feel disillusioned. John might be angry that Jane s health will make it impossible to enjoy their wealth. They might be overcome with bitterness. If, instead, they have grown in their faith, they may face the future with confidence. They know that God was faithful in providing for their material needs. They can be confident that he will be faithful also in guiding them and providing for them as they face health issues and life and death issues. Light from the Word 1. In 1 Timothy 6:9,10, the apostle Paul says that the love of money often leads people down a path that ends in the loss of faith. Describe how that might happen in the following situations: in the case of a person who faces serious financial challenges. The person might feel sorry for himself and blame God for his challenge, rather than thanking God for the obvious blessings he has received. Over time he may neglect the means of grace so that his faith dies.
Our Christian Response, Part One Leader s Guide Page 24 Another possibility is that he may get two or three jobs in an effort to gain wealth. His schedule might make it difficult to worship God, and he may be so tired that he wouldn t have the energy to nurture his faith. in the case of a person who enjoys financial prosperity. Because of her prosperity, she may forget how much she depends on God. Her zeal for God may cool, and because she neglects the Word and sacraments, her faith may die. Or the more she has, the more she may worry about losing it, and the more obsessed she may become with getting still more. Eventually the wealth becomes her god. 2. In 1 Timothy 6:6,7 we are reminded that it is a great blessing to be content. How do the words of verse 7, For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it, help you keep a proper perspective on your money and possessions? This passage makes us put wealth and material things into the perspective of only for this life, not for before and after they have no eternal meaning. 3. Hebrews 13:5 tells us that we can be content because God will never leave us or forsake us. What encouragement would you find in those words in the following situations? You have just learned that your business partner embezzled $100,000 from your business. You will not go through these challenging times alone. God, who has blessed you in the past, will continue to bless you in the future. At the age of 60, you learned that because of a corporate merger, you have lost the retirement benefits you were counting on for retirement. As disappointed as you may be, you remember that your security into old age never did depend on your retirement benefits. It depended on God and his mercy. Though your retirement package may have changed, his mercy has not. 4. Luke 12:15 defines a greedy person as one whose life consists in the abundance of possessions. What are the pitfalls of such a focus in life? If gathering wealth is the foremost goal in our lives, we would be tempted to be dishonest. We wouldn t care whom we hurt along the way to success. We would never be satisfied, and as stated before, our wealth may become our god. We would be lost eternally. Let s think about the lesson 1. What personal challenges do you face in the area of your financial well-being? Answers will vary. 2. What Bible passages will you want to remember in your struggle? Answers will vary.
Our Christian Response, Part One Leader s Guide Page 25 3. What can you do to help keep your eyes focused on God s eternal blessings? Study God s Word, both in public worship and Bible study as well as privately at home. Remember that God promises to be with you and to take care of you. 4. Read Proverbs 30:7-9. Formulate a prayer based on the thoughts of these verses.