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TEACHING GUIDE SEP • OCT • NOV !"!" Teaching Guide Sep • Oct • Nov 2020 Volume 17, Issue 1 ISSN: 2168-4685 RANDALL HOUSE

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Lesson 1 How It All Began ------6 September 6, 2020 Genesis 1:1—2:3

Lesson 2 Evidence All Around Us ------13 September 13, 2020 Genesis 1:1; Romans 1:19-20; Psalm 19:1; Romans 2:12-15; Hebrews 10:16

Lesson 3 Following the Blueprint ------20 September 20, 2020 Genesis 1:26-28; 2:18-24; Matthew 19:3-6

Lesson 4 Where We Went Wrong ------27 September 27, 2020 Genesis 3:1-13

Lesson 5 Starting Over ------34 October 4, 2020 Genesis 6:5—7:5

Lesson 6 Trouble at the Tower ------41 October 11, 2020 Genesis 11:1-9

Lesson 7 God in Flesh and Blood ------48 October 18, 2020 :1-18

Lesson 8 The Only Way ------55 Ocotber 25, 2020 :1-21

Lesson 9 Quenching Our Thirst ------62 November 1, 2020 :1-42

Lesson 10 An Endless Supply ------69 November 8, 2020 :1-14; :13-21

Lesson 11 Even Death Obeys! ------76 November 15, 2020 :1-44

Lesson 12 When It All Falls Apart ------83 November 22, 2020 Job 1:1—2:3

Lesson 13 When Life Really Hurts ------90 November 29, 2020 Genesis 1:31; Philippians 2:5-8; :3-5; Job 2:11-13; Hebrews 4:15 Welcome to the new D6 EveryDay Curriculum Forward Teaching Guide from Randall House! Forward Teaching Guide is part of a study curriculum for high school stu- dents with the goal of helping them know God through the study of His Word and through interacting with family members at home. Forward is part of the D6 family of Sunday School/Bible study curriculum for all ages. D6 EveryDay curriculum provides a three-year study of the story of the Bible, helping lead the entire family to interact around the same biblical theme each week. Forward Teaching Guide and its companion publications, Forward Teaching Essentials, Forward student magazine, and Parent Page, are the arm of D6 EveryDay curriculum for high school students.

Variety Every quarter includes lessons from both the Old and New Testaments. There will occasionally be topical lessons that reinforce and enhance the Old or lessons. Apologetics Teachers and learners alike will find tools to help them explain and defend key Christian doctrines. Lesson Objective It’s hard to know if your lesson is successful if you’re not sure what you’re trying to accomplish. That’s why every lesson includes an objective that identifies what you want learners to take away from the lesson. Bible Basics These brief notes help teachers, parents, and stu- dents develop deeper biblical literacy by discuss- ing and memorizing important truths every believer should know. Zoom In notes Lessons include brief notes to help teachers, par- ents, and students develop a biblical worldview and think biblically. These notes, along with the Bible Ba- sics notes, help learners see the world though the lens of Scripture. How It Fits These brief notes help teachers, parents, and stu- dents see how the entire Bible fits together by showing how each lesson fits in the big picture of God’s plan. Teaching Tips Teacher training in bite-sized nuggets helps you make your lessons more interesting and effective. D6 Digital! D6 curriculum is available in a digital format! You can study from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Go to randallhouse.com or call 800.877.7030 for more information. Icons indicate how the lesson may be customized for a large group LG SG (LG) or small group (SG) format.

2 • Forward Teaching Guide D6 EveryDay curriculum is built around five important steps to help students learn and participate in every lesson. These five steps are:

Get Started This opening activity helps capture the learners’ at- tention and answers the question, Where is this les- son going? Two options are provided so teachers can choose the activity that best fits their students and their classroom setting.

Study the Word What does the Bible say? This section answers this question by digging into the biblical text and explain- ing it in ways both teachers and students can under- stand.

Dig Deeper When a verse or element of the lesson needs further explanation, Dig Deeper provides more information for the teacher. These notes address issues such as cultural background, historical context, theolog- ical importance, and other complementary biblical teachings.

Apply It How does this impact me? This is the question most teens want to know when learning something new. Apply It helps learners see how the biblical truths they have just heard fit into life in the twenty-first century. Each Apply It section includes at least one thought-provoking question that is meant to help you spark a meaningful discussion with your students.

Live It The final section in each lesson answers the ques- tion, What now? After learning biblical truths and how those truths apply to life, students still need to know how to take practical action. Live It encourages learn- ers to take practical steps to daily apply the biblical principles they have learned. This is the perfect lead- in to each week’s daily devotions in Forward maga- zine. These weekly, six-day Bible studies reinforce the theme teens studied on Sunday, allowing God to continue speaking to them from His Word each day.

Forward Teaching Guide • 3 The Forward Teaching Guide works in conjunction with Forward student mag- azine, a publication that helps high school teens study God’s Word on their own. Forward includes timely articles that seek to reach students where they are in life. The magazine also features 13 weeks of daily devotional Bible stud- ies, which help reinforce the themes of the lessons they learn each Sunday. Forward magazine includes practical applications for each daily devotion. Every student in your class needs his or her own copy of Forward student magazine to read and study throughout the quarter.

Forward Teaching Essentials is a collection of posters, reproducible hand- outs, Parent Pages, student outlines, and other resources to enhance the lessons provided in this teaching guide. These tools will help make your class time more interesting and e!ective. The Parent Pages are designed to help parents and grandparents their children and grandchildren at home. (Each packet of teaching essentials comes with a copy of Forward Teaching Guide.)

All of the Forward products can be ordered online at D6curriculum.com. Or, you can order them by calling 1-800-877-7030. We also welcome your comments and suggestions at this number or at our address:

Forward Sta! - P.O. Box 17306, Nashville, TN 37217 Email: [email protected]

4 • Forward Teaching Guide IN THIS TEACHING GUIDE We will begin this quarter’s studies by going back to the be- ginning when the eternal God spoke all things into existence. Six lessons from Genesis will help us lay a foundation for all Genesis of life and what follows in the Bible. We will explore the Cre- ation, evidence for God’s existence, God’s design for men and women, the entrance of sin into the world, God’s justice and grace through the Flood, and the beginning of languages and people groups at the Tower of Babel.

Five lessons from the book of John will introduce us to our John matchless Savior, . We will investigate His nature, His mission to save us, and His compassion, power, and ability to meet needs.

The quarter will conclude with two lessons exploring the Job di"cult topic of su!ering, based around the life of Job. We might be surprised at what we learn!

LEADING STUDENTS TO CHRIST is about more than going to church and obeying your parents. Be- ing a Christian is about having a vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Your greatest privilege as a teacher may be leading students to a relationship with Christ. As you work toward this goal, keep the following in mind:

Following Christ is about more than a mere decision; it is about a life- long relationship. Aim for long-term faith, not momentary emotion.

Salvation is a supernatural process. People can be arm-twisted into buying a product, but they have to come to Christ of their own free will.

Don’t confuse sanctification with salvation. Holiness follows salvation; it doesn’t precede it. Don’t try to impose “Christian” expectations on students who don’t know Christ. Being born again is not complicated. Here’s a simple way to explain it: ACKNOWLEDGE your sinfulness and your need for a Savior (Romans 3:10, 23). TRUST in Christ’s sacrifice for your sins and His resurrection (Romans 10:9-10). SURRENDER your life to God’s transforming power (Romans 12:1-2). Most of all, remember that your job is to tell the truth in a way students can understand, answer their questions, and give them an opportunity to respond.

Forward Teaching Guide • 5 Quenching

Lesson 9 Our Thirst November 1, 2020

Family Theme Teaching Essentials: Jesus Meets Our Deepest Needs Handouts And Tools

FWTE 9-1 (poster) Lesson Objective FWTE 9-2 (handout) That learners look to Jesus to meet their deepest FWTE 9-3 (student outline) needs and tell others He saves. FWTE 9-4 (handout) PP-9 (Parent Page) Study Text John 4:1-42

Key Truths • All People Matter to Jesus. • Our Deepest Needs Are Spiritual. • Share Jesus With Others.

Bible Basics: Things We All Should Know Encourage your learners to memorize the names and order of the first four books of the New Testament this week and to work with family members to do so as well. Students can find this Bible Basics note on the FWTE 9-3 student outline you give them today.

How It Fits: Where This Lesson Fits in the Story of the Bible This lesson from the life of Christ shows how the promised Messiah cared for and sought to save all people no matter their ethnicity or social status.

62 Get Started LG SG

What Do You Need Choose one of these Display the FWTE 9-1 (“What people think they need”) poster, options to capture attention and get this then ask your group: lesson started. • What do you think people your age would say are legiti- mate needs? • What really qualifies as a true need? After discussion, say: People across the world have many needs. Today we will see how Jesus helped a woman under- stand her greatest need, one that was more important than food, water, or even life itself. FWTE 9-1 Reading the Reviews Read and discuss the product and movie reviews listed on FWTE 9-2 (“Reviews”). Talk about whether or not your stu- dents read reviews before purchasing an item. If so, why? After some discussion, transition to the lesson: Today we will see how a woman who met Jesus told others about Him. Her good review a!ected many lives.

FWTE 9-2 Study the Word LG

All People Ma!er to Jesus Give everyone in your group a copy of the (John 4:1-9) FUSION Teaching Because tensions were mounting with the religious leaders in Essential 9-3 and , Jesus chose to travel north, to student outline and (verses 1-3). The shortest route led through (verse 4). something to write with so they can take The had some Jewish ancestry, but were of mixed notes. ethnicity and mixed religion. Relations between Samaria and Judea were strained, at times breaking out into open warfare. Many Jews would avoid Samaria altogether, preferring instead to cross over the , travel up its eastern side, then back across into Galilee. It was a longer route, but it avoided contact with the Samaritans they so despised.

FWTE 9-3

Lesson 9: Quenching Our Thirst • 63 Teaching Tip: Create a positive Dig Deeper learning environment When the northern kingdom (Israel) fell, around 722 B.C. by being warm, (2 Kings 17), the Assyrians displaced most of the popu- caring, and friendly lation and replaced them with pagans from other con- with your learners. quered territories. The pagans intermarried with the Jews who were not deported, producing a mixed-ethnicity population. Samaritans practiced a religion that mingled Judaism with pagan practices.

Sychar was a small village that was known for a well that the patriarch Jacob had dug, and for land he had given to Joseph (Genesis 48:21-22; Joshua 24:32). The sixth hour, as used by John, denotes high noon. Jesus was tired from walking for hours and sat down to rest while His disciples went into town to buy food (verses 5-8). Surely it was an unpleasant experi- ence for them, as devout Jews, to have to find food among the “unclean” Samaritans. Verse 7 introduces us to a woman who came to get water at noon. While this was not unheard of, it was customary for the women of the village to draw their water at morning and eve- ning, in part, to avoid the heat of day. This woman’s past would have made her a outcast to the women of the village. Perhaps she went to the well at midday to avoid unpleasant contact as much as possible. Jesus stepped outside of all societal expectations: He asked the woman for a drink. This was extremely surprising be- cause Jews had as little to do with Samaritans as possible, es- pecially something as personal as drinking from a Samaritan’s cup. Also, most Jewish men, and especially, would not publicly speak to women, even respectable ones. Her response betrayed a spiteful tone: Oh, we Samaritans are worse than dogs to you Jews, until you need some water! Jesus would not be put o!, however. As John told us in verse 4, Jesus needed to go through Samaria. There was kingdom work to do. Jesus stepped out of His culture’s expectations to bring God’s message to people who, at least at first, would barely lis- ten to Him. We can learn from Him at this point.

Apply It LG SG

The is not limited to any particular national- ity, ethnicity, culture, or socio-economic group. All people matter to Jesus.

64 • Forward Teaching Guide • Why is it sometimes di"cult to step out of our comfort zones and share the gospel with people who are di!erent from us? (Lifelong attitudes we grew up with; cultural ways of doing things; etc.)

Our Deepest Needs are Spiritual (John 4:10-26) The next several verses reveal a woman whose interests were for this life only. Jesus worked patiently with her to move her attention from physical water to living water, from religious smokescreen disputes to messianic understanding. Jesus did not get defensive about her initial reply (verse 10). Instead, He turned the conversation around: You really should be asking Me for living water. Verses 11-12 indicate that the woman still wanted to challenge Jesus: Like you, sitting there with no container, can get water out of that well! I’ll have you know we’re descended from Jacob and even he couldn’t do that! Again, Jesus continued to move her thinking toward where it needed to be (verses 13-14): This water will leave you thirsty again. My living water will spring up with eternal life. Now Jesus had her attention (verse 15). She wanted some of that water that did not require constant trips to the well. No problem, according to Jesus. She just needed to come back with her husband (verse 16). We can imagine the tone of her terse reply that she had no husband (verse 17). Jesus, howev- er, was aware of her five marriages and her current illegitimate domestic partnership (verse 18). Her response tried to move the attention from her failings to one of the perennial disputes between Samaritans and Jews: where are we to worship? (See verses 19-20.)

Zoom In: Develop a Biblical Worldview Help learners see that Jesus’ knowledge of this woman’s life demonstrated that He is the Son of God. He knows ev- erything about us and wants us to know and walk with Him. Encourage students to discuss this truth with parents and other family members.

Jesus continued the conversation, without arguing. Wor- ship will soon require no mountain or physical location at all (verse 21). Still, He corrected her error, and did not back o!

Lesson 9: Quenching Our Thirst • 65 from the legitimate importance of Jerusalem and God’s rev- elation to the Jews (verse 22). He preferred, however, to focus on what was coming and what had already begun (verses 23-24): God is spirit, and He wants people who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. Wor- shiping in spirit seems to involve worshiping with sincerity and with our whole being instead of going through the outward motions of worship. Worshiping in truth involves worshiping according to correct doctrine, the revealed truth of God in His Word. The Samaritans shared with the Jews the hope for a Messiah who would correct the world’s problems. She was waiting on Him (verse 25). Jesus then told her plainly that He was that very Messiah (verse 26).

Apply It LG SG

Our deepest needs are met as we follow Jesus. • What are people’s deepest needs? (Forgiveness; salvation; being right with God.) • Why is Jesus the only one who can meet our deepest needs? (Only He can give us forgiveness of sins and a right relationship with God.)

Share Jesus With Others (John 4:27-42) Just as Jesus revealed He was the promised Messiah, the dis- ciples returned, wondering why Jesus was speaking to a wom- an in public, and a Samaritan at that (verse 27). The woman went back to town, urging everyone to come hear this man who knew all about her past (verses 28-29). Could He be the Messiah? People likely did not want to receive religious instruction from her, but they were curious (verse 30).

Zoom In: Develop a Biblical Worldview Point out that Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well shows us that God o!ers salvation and forgiveness to anyone who believes and trusts in Him, no matter their background. Encourage students to talk with parents and other family members about how we should see all peo- ple as important to Jesus and share the gospel with them.

66 • Forward Teaching Guide In verses 31-38, we find some very important teaching. Al- though Jesus was tired and the disciples wanted Him to eat, He had something better in mind: doing the Father’s will. Jesus explained to the disciples about the spiritual harvest: Many have been sowing the seed; you will be able to harvest the labors of others. But the harvest is now. There is no need to wait for a better time. Four more months and then the harvest seems to have been a common saying of the day. We’ve done our planting; now we wait for the harvest. If so, Jesus wanted to turn it around. The harvest is here already! Verses 39-42 provide a fitting conclusion to this episode. Jesus and the disciples stayed there for two days, at the invi- tation of the people.

Dig Deeper Imagine the disciples’ discomfort at having to spend two nights there. Did this soften their animosity toward Sa- maritans? Did it open their hearts to ultimately take the gospel to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth (:8)? After Pentecost, the apostles would witness the con- version of many Samaritans (Acts 8:14-17).

Many believed in Christ because of the woman’s testimo- ny. Yet, more became believers because of what Jesus said (verse 41). In fact, John reports that even those who initially believed because of the woman’s testimony came to base their faith upon Jesus Himself. We can learn some important practical lessons from this passage: PP-9

• Doing God’s will brings a satisfaction and fulfillment we The Parent Page cannot get any other way. (PP-9) is a resource • The harvest is here where we live and work. to help parents • We should seek to share our personal testimony in a way and grandparents that brings people to belief. discuss the truths of this lesson with their children or grandchildren at Apply It LG SG home. Give copies of this page to parents and grandparents and encourage them Share the gospel at every opportunity. to use it at home this week. Parent • What can we do to be ready to share the gospel with any- Page is also available one, no matter his or her lifestyle or background? (Realize for FREE download that every person is created in God’s image and is su- at www.D6home. com. (No password premely valuable to God; God loves everyone; God can required.) save and change anyone.)

Lesson 9: Quenching Our Thirst • 67 Live It LG SG

Use one or more of Step Outside Your Comfort Zone these options to help Discuss the questions below as a challenge to love and share your group members the gospel with people who are di!erent from you put into action the principles they • How would you define the phrase “comfort zone”? learned in this lesson. • What benefits do we gain by building relationships with people outside of our comfort zones? • What is one way you or our church can reach out to some- one we aren’t used to interacting with?

Tell Your Story The story of how Jesus has radically changed one’s life is a powerful ministry tool. Give your students the opportunity to tell their story. Distribute copies of FWTE 9-4 (“My Story”). First, discuss the tips for sharing a personal testimony. Then, allow time for the students to write how they have seen Christ at work in their lives and how it has made a di!erence. After- ward, ask if any of your students would be willing to share their stories or a few key points. This might be helpful for students FWTE 9-4 who are having trouble thinking of what to say. Finally, brain- Encourage your storm some ways you can use your stories (in conversations group members with friends, in an online blog, when meeting new people, etc.). to complete the Encourage your students to be more open this week about daily devotions in the di!erence Christ has made in their lives. Forward devotional study guide this week and to discuss the devotions with family members at home.

68 • Forward Teaching Guide An Endless Supply November 8, 2020 Lesson 10

Family Theme Teaching Essentials: Jesus Works Miracles Handouts And Tools

FWTE 10-1 (handout) Lesson Objective FWTE 10-2 (student outline) Learners see that Jesus has the power to do FWTE 10-3 (handout) whatever is needed to meet needs and accom- FWTE 10-4 (handout) plish God’s will. PP-10 (Parent Page) Study Text John 6:1-14; Matthew 14:13-21

Key Truths • Know That Jesus Cares. • Take Problems to Jesus. • Trust Jesus’ Miraculous Power.

Bible Basics: Things We All Should Know Encourage learners to review John 1:1-2 this week and to work with family mem- bers to do so as well. Students can find this Bible Basics note on the FWTE 10-2 student outline you give them today.

How It Fits: Where This Lesson Fits in the Story of the Bible This lesson is set during the life of Christ on earth and examines how He demonstrated His miraculous power and met needs, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy about Him..

69 Get Started LG SG

Choose one of these Riddle options to capture Distribute copies of FWTE 10-1 and ask students to solve the attention and get this following riddle found on the worksheet: A farmer has to get lesson started. a fox, a chicken, and a sack of feed across a river. He has a small boat that can only carry him and one other thing. If the fox and the chicken are left alone, the fox will eat the chicken. If the chicken and feed are left alone, the chicken will eat the feed. How does the farmer get it all across the river? If no one can give the answer, share it with your students. The farmer carries the chicken to the other side and comes back. He then takes the fox to the other side and takes the chicken back to where it started. The farmer leaves the chick- en and takes the feed to the other side of the river where the FWTE 10-1 fox is. The farmer leaves the fox and the feed to go back and get the chicken. He takes the chicken across the river where the fox and feed are. Transition to the lesson: This problem was somewhat complex. We sometimes have problems that are nearly impossible to solve. Today we will see how Jesus was able to solve an impossible problem and meet the need.

Solving the World’s Problems Ask your learners to list some of the problems or situations in our world that are very di"cult to solve. Some examples might include a cure for cancer; hunger and starvation in certain places or countries; children without both parents at home; and others. After some discussion, say: Today we will see how Jesus showed His disciples He cares about people’s needs and has the power and resources to meet them.

Study the Word LG

Know That Jesus Cares FWTE 10-2 (Matthew 14:13-14; John 6:1-5) Give everyone in your After hearing of the death of (Matthew 14:10- group a copy of the 13) and receiving the disciples back from their ministry assign- Forward Teaching Essential 10-2 ment (:30; :10), Jesus (and His disciples - Mark student outline and 6:31-32; Luke 9:10) set out in a boat for a secluded place across something to write the near the town of . They needed to with so they can take rest and get away from the constant demand of ministry (Mark notes. 6:31). As here, many of the references in Scripture to desert or

70 • Forward Teaching Guide wilderness point not to what we think of as a desert, but really Teaching Tip: to a place of seclusion. Of course, many times the two go to- Encourage learners gether. The lack of human habitation is mainly in view. to consider how While Jesus and His disciples traveled by boat across the the truths of the Sea of Galilee, crowds from all around, having learned of His Scripture you study apply to their lives departure, traveled by land and got there ahead of Him (verse and how they can 13). The large crowds thus denied Jesus and His disciples the respond. very thing they sought, seclusion. Rather than expressing or even feeling resentment over these circumstances, Jesus had compassion for the people and began teaching them of the kingdom and healing the sick (Matthew 14:14). He felt a deep yearning to meet their needs. He did not see the people with their many problems as a nui- sance. Jesus saw the multitude as individuals whom God loved and was moved to help them. Why was He so moved? Jesus saw the people as sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34b). Sheep are fairly helpless creatures. The shepherd must lead sheep to food and water, find them when they are lost, care for them when they are wounded, and protect them from harm. The people Jesus encountered had no one to nourish them spiritually with the truth of God, no other way to find a re- lationship with their Creator, no one to heal their physical and spiritual diseases, and no one to warn them of the false religion of so many of their leaders. With this in mind, Jesus began to teach them the truth and to heal their diseases.

Zoom In: Develop A Biblical Worldview Remind learners that Matthew 14:14 demonstrates a very important truth for us to remember. God loves and has compassion for all people and desires that they be saved and walk in close relationship with Him. Encourage stu- dents to discuss with parents and other family members what this means for us and for how we view all people..

Apply It LG SG

Jesus knows our needs and has compassion for us. • How do we often react when people interrupt our plans? • Why did Jesus respond like He did to the people who inter- rupted His plans? (His compassion for others was greater and more important to Him than His own plans.)

Lesson 10: An Endless Supply • 71 • How can we demonstrate Jesus’ compassion to those in need around us? (Finding out what their needs are and do- ing what we can to meet those needs.)

Take Problems to Jesus (Matthew 14:15-16; John 6:6-7) No doubt Jesus’ compassion centered on the people’s vast spiritual need, but He also had a heart to see that their ev- eryday needs were met. The disciples soon became worried about such a large crowd in an isolated place with no way to obtain enough food for everyone. Quite a discussion ensued between Jesus and His disciples, with Jesus both receiving questions (Mark 6:37) and asking some of His own (John 6:5). The problem was clear. They were in an isolated place; there were thousands to feed; and it was past mealtime. The disciples suggested that Jesus send the multitude away to find food wherever they could (Matthew 14:15). In es- sence, they were content to allow the people to fend for them- selves. These men had not yet developed the compassion of their Master. One thing for sure, they thought they could not supply the needs of so great a crowd (see John 6:7). Jesus’ suggestion di!ered from that of the disciples. He said, You give them something to eat (Matthew 14:16). This probably took the disciples back a bit. Where could they possi- bly come up with the resources needed to feed all the people? The disciples noted that feeding such a crowd would take two hundred denarii—an amount equivalent to 200 days’ wages. Jesus was about to teach the disciples a lesson about de- pending on Him when problems come.

Apply It LG SG

Ask Jesus for help when facing problems. • What are some common problems that teenagers face? • What does this miracle show us about Jesus’ ability to solve problems? (He has power to work miracles; He can meet people’s needs; He wants us to depend on Him; etc.)

Trust Jesus’ Miraculous Power (Matthew 14:17-21; John 6:8-14) In response to Jesus’ inquiry about what resources were avail- able (Mark 6:38), they (Andrew in particular) responded that

72 • Forward Teaching Guide there was a boy with five pieces of barley bread and two fish (John 6:8-9). These pieces of bread were not what we think of when we speak of loaves. They were more like small flat cakes. This meager lunch was only a small drop in the bucket com- pared to the needs of the people. It was the drop, however, that Jesus had sought. Directing the crowd to sit on the grass in groups of 50 and 100, Jesus o!ered thanks to God. Thus when we express thanks to God over meals, we are only following the example Jesus set for us. He was ever mindful, even over simple meals, that His needs were supplied by the Father on high. He then began breaking and passing the food to His disciples. They in turn passed the bread and fish on to the people. Miraculously, the process of distribution was accompanied by the power of creation and the entire crowd was fed. As a result of Jesus’ power and provision, each of the 5,000 plus people was fully satisfied. When the disciples gathered up the leftovers, there were 12 full baskets (perhaps one for each disciple). Truly, many witnessed the limitless power of God to provide. We do well to remember what the disciples’ forgot— our God can meet any and every need we have.

Dig Deeper Many believe there was a special significance to hav- ing twelve baskets of leftovers, one for each disciple, al- though the text does not state this emphatically. Jesus was seeking to teach His disciples that He was the sover- eign, powerful God who could meet any need. His instruc- tion for them to feed the people forced the disciples to face a situation for which they had no solution. He then demonstrated His ability to meet every need. Mark 6:52 and 8:14-21 indicate that, despite seeing the miracles of the loaves and fishes, the disciples had not yet learned that they could completely depend on Jesus.

Zoom In: Develop a Biblical Worldview Highlight the fact that Jesus’ ability to miraculously sup- ply food for the huge crowd demonstrates that He is the Sovereign Lord of All. He is able to do whatever is needed to accomplish God’s will. Encourage students to discuss with parents and other family members what this means for us as we seek to do His will.

Lesson 10: An Endless Supply • 73 Apply It LG SG

O!er what we have to Jesus knowing He can meet the need. • What can we o!er to God for Him to use?

Dig Deeper The many miracles Jesus worked fulfilled prophecy and helped to confirm that He was God in human flesh. As John wrote, Jesus did many more signs and miracles than are recorded in the Bible, but the ones recorded are to help people believe that Jesus is the Son of God (:30-31). Following are lists of Jesus’ miracles. You may want to read some, or all, of these to remind your learners of Jesus’ power and ability to do whatever is needed. Dis- tribute copies of (FWTE 10-3) to your group members so FWTE 10-3 they can investigate some of the ways Jesus demonstrat- ed His miraculous power while on earth. • Jesus Healed Sickness and Diseases: Healed an o"cial’s son (John 4:46-54); Healed Peter’s mother- in-law (Matthew 8:14-15); Cleansed a leper (Matthew 8:2-4); Healed a centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13); Healed a woman who had issues with bleeding (Luke 8:43-48); Healed a man su!ering from dropsy (Luke 14:1-6); Cleansed ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19) PP-10 • Jesus Corrected Infirmities: Healed a man lame The Parent Page for thirty-eight years (:1-9); Healed a man who (PP-10) is a resource was paralyzed (Luke 5:18-26); Healed a man with a to help parents and grandparents withered hand (Mark 3:1-5); Healed two blind men discuss the truths (Matthew (9:27-31); Healed a man with hearing and of this lesson with speech impediments (Mark 7:31-37); Restored sight to their children or a blind man (Mark 8:22-26); Healed a man born blind grandchildren at home. Give copies of (:1-7); Healed a crippled woman (Luke 13:10-17); this page to parents Healed a blind man (Mark 10:46-52); Healed a man’s and grandparents wounded ear (Luke 22:47-51) (Of all the miracles per- and encourage them formed by prophets in the Old Testament, no one, not to use it at home even Elijah or Elisha gave sight to those born blind, but this week. Parent Page is also available Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would heal the blind— for FREE download Isaiah 29:18; 35:5; 42:7.) at www.D6home. • Jesus Controlled the Elements of Nature: Turned com. (No password water to wine (:1-11); Caused a miraculous catch required.) of fish (Luke 5:1-11); Calmed a storm (Mark 4:35-41);

74 • Forward Teaching Guide Fed 5,000 + with five loaves and two fish (John 6:5-13); Walked on water (John 6:16-21); Fed 4,000 with sev- en loaves and a few fish (Matthew 15:32-39); Supplied money from the mouth of a fish (Matthew 17:24-27); Cursed a fig tree (Matthew 21:18-19); Caused another catch of fish (:1-11) • Jesus Cast Out Demons: Cast out a demon (Mark 1:23-28); Healed another demon-possessed man (Matthew 12:22); Healed men possessed by demons (Matthew 8:28-34); Delivered another demoniac (Matthew 9:32-33); Cast a demon out of a little girl (Mark 7:24-30); Cast a demon out of a man’s only son (Luke 9:37-43) • Jesus Raised People From the Dead: Raised a widow’s son (Luke 7:11-15); Raised a religious leader’s daughter from the dead (Mark 5:22-24, 35-43); Raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:17-44)

Live It LG SG

Power to Meet Every Need Use one or more of Use Forward Teaching Essential 10-4 to help your group these options to help members consider how Jesus has the power to meet every your group members put into action the need. Break into smaller groups and have each group exam- principles they ine one of the Scripture passages and follow the instructions. learned in this lesson. Encourage them to praise and thank Jesus every day this week for His power and ability to meet every need, and to ask Him to meet a need that they, or someone they know, has.

Demonstrating Compassion Ask and discuss the following: • How is it especially meaningful to know God loves and cares for us? • How could you demonstrate compassion and seek to FWTE 10-4 meet someone’s need this week? Encourage your Encourage learners to share with someone this week how Je- group members to complete the sus loves and cares for them. daily devotions in Forward devotional study guide this week and to discuss the devotions with family members at home.

Lesson 10: An Endless Supply • 75 Even Death Obeys! November 15, 2020 Lesson 11

Family Theme Teaching Essentials: Jesus Has Power Over Death Handouts And Tools

FWTE 11-1 (handout) Lesson Objective FWTE 11-2 (student outline) That group members know that we have eternal FWTE 11-3 (poster) life through faith in Christ who has power over FWTE 11-4 (handout) death. Therefore we worship Him and proclaim Him as conqueror of death. PP-11 (Parent Page) Study Text John 11:1-44

Key Truths • Trust Jesus’ Timing. • Trust Jesus for Resurrection and Life. • Trust Jesus’ Compassion and Power.

Bible Basics: Things We All Should Know Encourage your learners to review the names and order of the first four books of the New Testament this week and to work with family members to do so as well. Students can find this Bible Basics note on the FWTE 11-2 student outline you give them today.

How It Fits: Where This Lesson Fits in the Story of the Bible This lesson continues our study of the life, actions, and teachings of Jesus, God’s Son, the Messiah whom God had promised in the Old Testament.

76 Get Started LG SG

Perfect Timing Choose one of these Use the scenarios listed on FWTE 11-1 (“Timing Is Everything”) options to capture attention and get this to begin a discussion about timing. Ask students to describe lesson started. why each scenario requires perfect timing. After some discus- sion, transition into the lesson by saying something like this: Sometimes we have bad timing. In today’s lesson, we will see that Jesus’ timing is always perfect, even when it doesn’t look like it from our perspective.

The Living Dead Use the following questions to spark a discussion:

• Recently, pop culture has been obsessed with zombies. FWTE 11-1 What do you think people find so fascinating about this subject? • Do you think people are interested in the possibility of something existing beyond death? If so, why? After discussion, transition to Learn by saying something like this: In this lesson, we will see that Jesus is the source of res- urrection life. If we have faith in Jesus, we do not have to be afraid of death because we possess eternal life.

Study the Word LG

Trust Jesus’ Timing (John 11:1-16) Two miles east of Jerusalem was a small village called Betha- ny. A man named Lazarus lived there with his two sisters, Mary and . These siblings were dear friends of the Lord. Mary was the one who anointed Jesus with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair. Mary and Martha sent word to the Lord that Lazarus was ill, a word referring to a debilitating illness (verse 3). The sisters no doubt expected Jesus to come quickly and FWTE 11-2 possibly bring healing to their beloved brother. Give everyone in Jesus responded to the news by saying that Lazarus’ sick- your group a copy ness would not lead to death. While this seemed at first to be of the FORWARD good news, this was not the emphasis of Christ. He was in- Teaching Essential forming the disciples that Lazarus would not experience per- 11-2 student outline manent death, but instead would be an avenue of displaying and something to write with so they can the glory of God (verse 4). This expression was similar to the take notes. one spoken in reference to the blind man in John 9:3.

Lesson 11: Even Death Obeys • 77 Rather than leaving immediately for , Jesus stayed Teaching Tip: Learners remember where He was two days longer (verse 6). His deliberate pro- what they discover crastination would heighten the impact of the impending for themselves far miracle. John assured the readers that all this happened even better than what we though Jesus loved this family dearly (verse 5). simply tell them. Ask good questions that When Jesus started the trek back to Judea (verse 7), the lead your learners to disciples reminded Him that a trip back there would place Him discover what God’s in harm’s way. The Jews were actively looking for Him in order Word says and how it to take His life (verse 8). This was where the Lord’s critics were applies to their lives. strongest and it would place the Lord in danger to return there. Jesus’ response in verses 9 through 11 was a veiled way for Him to teach some key lessons. The Lord had spoken of Him- self as the and by using this natural analogy He could assure them that when one lives by the will of God, he or she will be safe. Thus, because Jesus was whole-heartedly committed to the Father’s purposes, He could face His adver- saries and make the journey to Judea without fear. Although the disciples continued to misunderstand the Lord’s words and His purposes, He dealt patiently with them and continued to lovingly teach them. He would use this situ- ation (the raising of Lazarus) for good, and the disciples would witness His power firsthand. Whether serious, or simply being ironic, Thomas encouraged the others to follow the Lord to Ju- dea, even if that might result in death (verse 16).

Dig Deeper John mentions seven signs that are intended to a"rm that Jesus is God and is worthy of trust and belief. While John made it clear that all the signs of Jesus could nev- er be recorded in a single book (21:25), the ones that he called attention to are significant. The seven signs are: 1) Jesus changed the water to wine. (John 2:1- 12) 2) Jesus healed the son of a royal o"cial. (John 4:43-54) 3) Jesus healed a man that had been paralyzed for nearly 40 years. (John 5:1-15) 4) Jesus multiplied a young boy’s lunch (loaves and fishes) and fed thousands of people. (John 6:1-15; The only miracle listed in all four gospel accounts) 5) Jesus walked on water and then calmed the sea in or- der to rescue His disciples. (John 6:16-24) 6) Jesus healed a blind man. (John 9:1-12) 7) Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. (John 11:1-44) These seven signs reveal the Lord’s supernatural pow- er and demonstrate that He is master over nature, sick- ness, disease, and death. All this was intended to lead to

78 • Forward Teaching Guide belief in Jesus as the Son of God. (For a list of additional prophecies fulfilled by Jesus, see carm.org/prophecy- bible-and-jesus, seanmcdowell.org/blog/is-there-proof- for-jesus-as-messiah, or view truelife.org/videos/did- jesus-fulfill-prophecy)

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God may make us wait in order to grow our faith. Learn to accept, without complaint, the work of God on our behalf and trust that He is accomplish- ing His purposes. • Why might Jesus delay His response to our requests? (To help us learn to be patient; to help us learn to trust Jesus; to accomplish a greater purpose.) • When waiting, what can we remember about God that will help us be patient? (God knows what is needed and what is best; God knows the best timing to help us grow and bring Him glory.)

Trust Jesus for Resurrection and Life (John 11:17-29) When Jesus and the disciples arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. This means Jesus would not have gotten there before Lazarus died even had He come as soon as He received word of the illness (verse 17). In Jew- ish custom, burial took place within 24 hours of death, partly because of the Palestinian heat and rapid decomposition of the body. Jesus and His disciples traveled about forty miles on foot to reach Bethany, a two-day journey. Martha, the active sister, went to the edge of town to meet the Lord while Mary, the contemplative sister, stayed at home (verse 20). Upon meeting Jesus, Martha expressed her confi- dent belief that Jesus could have healed her brother, had He only been there sooner. Mary echoed these words in verse 32, indicating they believed He could heal the sick. Martha’s faith, though incomplete, is further exhibited in verse 22 when she asserted that God would do whatever Jesus requested that He do.

Lesson 11: Even Death Obeys! • 79 Christ, however, wanted Martha to understand that He could do more than just heal. He wanted her to realize that He was the Son of God and that resurrection and eternal life are in and through Him. Everyone who believes in Him will rise from the dead and have eternal life. He made this point by speak- ing the fifth of seven “” statements in the (verse 25). This eternal life depends on the condition of faith, believing and trusting in Jesus Christ and His finished work (verses 25-26). In response to Jesus’ words, Martha again af- firmed her faith in the Lord whom she loved so much.

Dig Deeper The I Am statements of Jesus: “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, 48). “I am the light of the world” (:12). “I am the door” (:7, 9). “I am the ” (John 10:11, 14). “I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25). “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (:6). “I am the vine” (:1, 5).

Martha then went back and told Mary that Jesus wanted to see her. Mary, like Martha, responded in genuine faith and obe- dience and went to meet Him (verses 28-29).

Apply It LG SG

Live for Christ confidently, knowing we have eter- nal life through Him. • What did Jesus mean when He said He is the resurrection and the life? (Jesus is the means of resurrection and eter- nal life; it is only through Him and His power that we can be raised from the dead and have eternal life.) • What three words come to mind when you read Jesus’ promises that those who trust Him have eternal life?

Trust Jesus’ Compassion and Power (John 11:30-44) As Mary went out to meet the Lord, her Jewish friends that had come to comfort her followed her, assuming that she was go-

80 • Forward Teaching Guide ing to Lazarus’ tomb to mourn (verses 30-31). Instead, Mary went where Jesus was and immediately fell to her knees at His feet. In verse 32, Mary’s confidence in Jesus mirrored that of Martha in verse 21. While it was genuine, it was also limited. It was Jewish funeral custom to hire professional mourners and flute players to accompany the funeral procession. When Jesus saw the anguish of Mary and her friends, He likewise was visibly troubled (verse 33). The Greek term for deeply moved or groaned in the spirit has the connotation of snorting in an- imals, a graphic description of the Lord’s anguish. In a similar fashion, the word for troubled speaks of inner agitation and turmoil. Jesus was deeply disturbed by the death of His dear friend. Although the Lord planned to use this situation as an opportunity to glorify God, He was still troubled and disturbed. In verse 34, Jesus asked for the location of Lazarus’ tomb and then accompanied the family and friends there. Upon arriving at the tomb, John observed that , a quiet shedding of tears in contrast to the verbal mourning of verse 33. In verses 36 and 37, the reader sees two extremes in the response of the people. Some were moved by Jesus’ love for Lazarus, while others found fault with Jesus because He did not prevent his death. In verses 38 and 39, Jesus approached the tomb and in- structed that the stone be removed. At this point, Martha, knowing the risk of defilement and the reality of decomposi- tion, questioned the Lord’s instruction. Jesus’ words in verse 40 were challenging. They take the reader back to verse 4 and begin the fulfillment of His promises to Martha in verses 25 and 26. In verse 43, the Lord called Lazarus back to life. In response PP-11 to the words of the Lord, Lazarus, still wrapped in grave- clothes, came out of the tomb alive. This chapter makes it The Parent Page (PP-11) is a resource abundantly clear that Jesus cared deeply about the broken- to help parents ness and pain that sin has brought into the world. He raised and grandparents Lazarus from the dead so the people would see God’s glory discuss the truths and believe that God had sent Him as the promised Messiah, of this lesson with the Son of God who could give them eternal life. their children or grandchildren at home. Give copies of this page to parents Zoom In: Develop a Biblical Worldview and grandparents and encourage them Point out that His power over death and the grave demon- to use it at home strates that Jesus Christ is the sovereign Lord of all. En- this week. Parent courage students to talk with parents and other family Page is also available for FREE download members about Jesus having the power to keep His at www.D6home. promises about eternal life. com. (No password required.)

Lesson 11: Even Death Obeys! • 81 Apply It LG SG

Take comfort in Jesus’ compassion and rejoice in His power over death.

• How could this true story encourage you the next time you are struggling or hurting?

You may want to use the FWTE 11-3 poster to spend more time considering Jesus’ great compassion for us. FWTE 11-3

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Use one or more of Waiting and Waiting these options to help Conclude this week’s session by discussing the following your group members questions: put into action the principles they • What character in the narrative do you most identify with? learned in this lesson. • In what way are you struggling to wait for God’s timing? • How does this lesson encourage you to wait patiently for God to work? Encourage your group members to read Psalm 27:14 each day this week and to practice waiting patiently, trusting God to work in His perfect timing.

Compassion for the Hurting Jesus led Mary, Martha, and the disciples to a deeper faith in Him by showing compassion during a time of grief. As Jesus’ hands and feet on this earth, we too can show compassion to the hurting people around us. The Scriptures listed on FWTE 11-4 (“Compassion in Action”) describe a few types of people for whom we are to have compassion. Discuss these FWTE 11-4 verses together, and then brainstorm specific ways you can Encourage your show compassion in words, actions, and prayer. Encourage group members students to take action, reminding them that they might have to complete the the opportunity to share the message of the gospel when they daily devotions in FORWARD devotional express the love of Christ to others. study guide this week and to discuss the devotions with family members at home.

82 • Forward Teaching Guide When It All Falls Apart Lesson 12 November 22, 2020

Family Theme Teaching Essentials: Faith Is Tested by Trials Handouts And Tools

FWTE 12-1 (poster) Lesson Objective FWTE 12-2 (handout) Learners choose to trust God when trials and dif- FWTE 12-3 (student outline) ficulties come their way. FWTE 12-4 (handout) FWTE 12-5 (handout) Study Text Job 1:1—2:3 FWTE 12-6 (handout) PP-12 (Parent Page)

Key Truths • Walk With God Before Trials Come. • Know Your Enemy. • Trust God No Matter What.

Bible Basics: Things We All Should Know Encourage learners to memorize Proverbs 3:5 this week and to work with fam- ily members to do so as well. Students can find this Bible Basics note on the FWTE 12-3 student outline you give them today.

How It Fits: Where This Lesson Fits in the Story of the Bible Job is the first of what some call the five books of Wisdom or Poetry literature in the Old Testament (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, , and Song of Solo- mon). Scholars believe Job lived after the Flood but shortly before the time of Abraham, even though the Book of Job could have been written much later.

83 Get Started LG SG

Choose one of these Life’s Not Fair options to capture Use the following to begin a discussion: attention and get this lesson started. • Describe a time when your parents did not let you do something that almost everyone else got to do and it didn’t Display the FWTE 12-1 seem fair. poster. • How did you feel? How did you respond? • What are some other situations that cause people to cry, “That’s not fair”? Transition into the lesson by saying, Sometimes things happen that just don’t seem fair. Today we will see how a man named Job responded when his life did not seem fair. FWTE 12-1 The Interview Ask for two volunteers to perform a short skit. Take them aside and explain that one needs to pretend to be a report- er who is interviewing the biblical character Job. Give the re- porter a copy of FWTE 12-2 (“A Conversation With Job”) with questions to ask. After each question, the person playing Job should simply cry out as though in great misery. After a minute or two of back and forth, transition to Learn: Sometimes a sit- uation is so dreadful, all we want to do is cry. In today’s lesson, we will see how Job lost everything he cared about and yet still FWTE 12-2 remained faithful to God. Give everyone in your group a copy of the FORWARD Teaching Essential 12-3 Study the Word LG student outline and something to write with so they can take notes. Walk With God Before Trials Come (Job 1:1-5) Verse 1 tells us that Job’s faith produced two specific actions: He feared God and shunned evil. It is normal for these two actions to go together. One who fears God cannot be friendly with evil. But being blameless and upright does not mean Job had no sin. It means that he sought to live in respectful obe- dience to what he knew God wanted from people. Job was known for his righteous behavior (see Ezekiel 14:14, 20). FWTE 12-3 In his day, and in his land, Job was very wealthy (verses 2-3). People considered a large family a sign of God’s blessing. The

84 • Forward Teaching Guide amount of livestock and servants means that Job was not Teaching Tip: merely comfortable—he was wealthy. Do not assume your In verse 4 we learn a bit about Job’s family, and how his chil- learners already know dren behaved. Nothing in the text indicates that their round the basic principles robin feasting ever got out of hand or degenerated into sinful being covered in a lesson. Make sure behavior. Evidently the grown children enjoyed each other’s those key principles company. This indicates that Job brought them up to love one are presented. another. In the patriarchal period, the father or head of the Learners must know household also exercised the responsibilities of priest for his the truth before they family. Job diligently o!ered sacrifices on behalf of his children can apply it. and reminded them to be faithful to God (verse 5).

Zoom In: Develop a Biblical Worldview Point out that Job, even before the instruction of Deuter- onomy 6:5-7, took the spiritual leadership of his family se- riously, demonstrating how parents are to impress God’s ways on their children. Encourage students to support and help their parents as they follow Job’s example of spiritual leadership for their families.

Apply It LG SG

Prepare for di"cult times by growing strong in faith when life is good. • When life is at its best, how does practicing faith and obe- dience prepare us for meeting life at its worst? (Think of it as developing our spiritual muscles. Living for God day in and day out develops a strong faith.)

Use FWTE 12-4 (“Practicing Faith”) to help your students think about putting faith into practice.. FWTE 12-4

Know Your Enemy (Job 1:6-19) Now that we have been introduced to Job, the scene shifts and we learn of a fateful meeting between God and Satan. Job knew nothing about it, but the rest of his life would be af- fected by it. Verse 6 mentions a day on which angelic beings appeared before God. The phrase literally refers to “sons of

Lesson 12: When It All Falls Apart • 85 God,” which often designated in the Old Testament. We learn that Satan, the accuser, was among them.

Dig Deeper We do not know much about the nature of the angelic appearance before God that we read about in verse 6. Is it the sort of thing that happens often? Where does it happen? Are there di!erent kinds of these meetings? We do not really need to know. We should recognize that this sort of activity can occur, completely unknown to us.

The conversation between God and Satan (verses 7-12) surprises us. Why would God even allow Satan into His pres- ence? The text does not tell us. God knows all and knew where Satan had been, just as He knew where Adam and Eve were in Genesis 3. God’s question served to elicit a response and contribute to conversation. Satan answered that he had been going throughout the earth. In verse 8, God called attention to Job, describing him as blameless and upright as none other upon the earth. In verses 9-11, Satan pulled out his familiar tactic of accus- ing. He tarnished Job’s motivation (which Satan could not ac- tually “see”—Satan knows human nature, but not our thoughts and motivations): Job serves You because You’re nice to him! Treat him di!erently and watch how he changes! At this point, life for Job took a di!erent direction. God gave Satan a chance to prove his accusation. He allowed Satan to attack everything about Job . . . except Job himself (verse 12).

Zoom In: Develop a Biblical Worldview Help learners understand that this interaction between angels, God, and Satan demonstrates that there is a spir- itual realm and a spiritual warfare that a!ects us in this world. Encourage students to discuss with parents and family members how we have an enemy (Satan) who seeks to bring us down and destroy us, but that Satan is no match for our God and has no authority beyond what God gives him.

Job’s troubles came quickly: The Sabeans came up from the south, taking all the oxen and donkeys and killing all the servants except one. “The fire of God” (possibly lightning) fell from heaven and caused the sheep and those who tended

86 • Forward Teaching Guide them to be burned up. Chaldeans came from the north, tak- ing the camels and killing all but one of the servants. A mighty wind coming up from the desert destroyed the house where all Job’s sons and daughters had gathered, killing them all. Servants bearing the awful reports arrived one after the other. Job had no time to process the news from one before another arrived. In an instant, Job lost his wealth, his livestock and servants, and his ten children (verses 13-19).

Dig Deeper Satan’s power and wiles can never match the power and authority of God Himself. Satan operates only by God’s permission, which is temporary. Satan cannot read our minds and know our motivations. His deep understanding of human nature enables him to tempt us in the most ef- fective ways, however. We should not imagine that Satan is merely some impersonal force or influence. He is a very real being. He works constantly against God and His glory.

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God knows what is happening when trials come and will use them for His glory and our good. • What emotions does this account stir up in you? • God is at work in ways we don’t understand. How does knowing that help us in times of trial? (We can find comfort in knowing that He is not against us, and is always working His plan. We can learn greater trust.)

Trust God No Ma!er What (Job 1:20—2:3) Shaving the head and tearing one’s clothing signified grief, an- guish, and mourning. Job’s reaction in this regard is in keeping with what we would expect from nearly anyone, expressed in the forms familiar to his time in human history. It is what fol- lows that leaves us astounded. The next thing Job did was to worship God (verse 20)! Job’s comparison of what he had when life began with what he would have when it ended gives us perspective on earthly treasures. We may enjoy them here, but we will leave

Lesson 12: When It All Falls Apart • 87 them all behind when we die. Job connected his beginning and end state with the actions of the eternal God: God gave, and God took away. It will be no di!erent with us. Either way, com- ing or going, giving or taking, Job sought to praise the name of Jehovah God (verse 22). In the opening verses of chapter 2, we find the description of yet another encounter between God and Satan. God used the opportunity to point out Satan’s failure. “How about that Job? All that I allowed you to do to him has not changed his in- tegrity!” Oh, how bitter those words must have been for Satan to hear. He had sent his worst destruction upon Job in hopes of seeing him curse God. Instead, God Himself reminded Sa- tan of his failure to prove Job wrong. In verse 3, God pointed out that Job’s su!ering had been without reason or without cause. This does not mean that nei- ther God nor Satan had reasons for what they were doing. It means there was no particular act on Job’s part that deserved such treatment. Satan often accuses God of injustice. Yet Sa- tan’s actions bring about the greatest injustices the world has ever known.

Dig Deeper Theology and philosophy have a term—theodicy—to describe this mystery of God and justice. The question is often expressed in this way: How can a good and all- powerful God allow evil in the world? Many will then argue that either God is not all good or not all-powerful, but this is certainly not the way we see God in the Bible. From the PP-12 book of Job we learn that we may never see the whole The Parent Page picture. Much of our problem comes from looking only at (PP-12) is a resource the tiny part of human reality that we can see. We remain to help parents ignorant of God’s higher ways. In Christ, however, we have and grandparents a response: God is not indi!erent to our su!erings. He too discuss the truths of this lesson with has su!ered, through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ. their children or Christ su!ered on our behalf. God is good, not unloving. grandchildren at Nor is God powerless against ultimate evil. Christ rose home. Give copies of from the dead, and so shall we! For contemporary ex- this page to parents amples of how God can work through tragedy, check out and grandparents and encourage them www.wherewasgod.com to use it at home this week. Parent Page is also available for FREE download Later in the passage, in a desperate attempt to salvage his at www.D6home. pride, Satan would receive permission to a!lict Job’s body. He com. (No password could bring upon Job any disease, but he could not kill him. required.) Even following such su!ering, Job did not turn against God!

88 • Forward Teaching Guide Apply It LG SG

Respond to trials in a way that brings God glory. • What kinds of responses to trials bring God glory? (Wor- ship; continued trust; seeking to learn from the trials.) FWTE 12-5

Let students complete FWTE 12-5 to reinforce positive re- sponse to trials.

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Prepare Now for Trials Later Use one or more of One of the reasons Job was able to endure his trial and stay these options to help true to God was that he had been practicing spiritual disci- your group members put into action the plines all his life. FWTE 12-6 (“Spiritual Disciplines”) lists seven principles they spiritual disciplines that can strengthen our faith (prayer, wor- learned in this lesson. ship, Bible study, silence/ meditation, Scripture memorization, fasting, and fellowship). Discuss the disciplines together, and then ask your students to silently consider how well they are exercising each one. Encourage them to strengthen their faith so they can stay faithful to God when disaster strikes.

In the Middle of the Trial • When you are in the middle of trials, what can you do that will help you stay true to God? (Listen to Christian music, FWTE 12-6 pray, quote Scripture, talk to a strong Christian friend, etc.) • How can we best support one another during di"cult Encourage your times? (Be present and available; pray; help as needed.) group members to complete the This Thanksgiving season, take a step of faith by thanking God daily devotions in FORWARD devotional for even the di"cult times. Bless His Name even in the middle study guide this week of your su!ering. and to discuss the devotions with family members at home

Lesson 12: When It All Falls Apart • 89 When Life Really Hurts Lesson 13 November 29, 2020

Family Theme Teaching Essentials: Why Does God Allow Su!ering? Handouts And Tools

FWTE 13-1a (handout) Lesson Objective FWTE 13-1b (answer key) Learners trust God and allow Him to shape them FWTE 13-2 (student outline) through su!ering. FWTE 13-3 (handout) FWTE 13-4 (handout) Study Text Genesis 1:31; Philippians 2:5-8; Romans 5:3-5; PP-13 (Parent Page) Job 2:11-13, Hebrews 4:15

Key Truths • Place Blame Where It Really Belongs. • Know That Jesus Understands Our Su!ering. • Let God Shape Us Through Su!ering. • Comfort Others Who Are Su!ering.

Bible Basics: Things We All Should Know Encourage learners to review Proverbs 3:5 this week and to work with family members to do so as well. Students can find this Bible Basics note on the FWTE 13-2 student outline you give them today.

How It Fits: Where This Lesson Fits in the Story of the Bible This lesson surveys Scriptures from both the Old and the New Testaments to examine the theme of su!ering, of which Job was a prime example, refuting the false notion that the righteous do not experience trouble.

90 Get Started LG SG

Oh, the Torture! Choose one of these As each student enters the classroom, give him or her a copy options to capture of FWTE 13-1A (“Say It Ain’t So”). Allow time for the students to attention and get this lesson started. complete the activity by using the code. They will end up with ten sentences that most kids might consider the worst news in the world. (Answers are provided on FWTE 13-1B.) Ask the stu- dents to find the connection among the sentences and guess what you’ll be talking about today. After discussion, transition to the lesson: Unfortunately, su!ering is a part of life. Today, however, we’ll see that our su!ering can have a purpose, and we can grow from it.

Suffering Up Close and Personal FWTE 13-1A Consider sharing with your students a time of su!ering you have been through, or invite another church member to share a testimony about su!ering. Show how you could still see God at work, even through su!ering. Allow students to share about any su!ering they have experienced too. Are they able to see that God’s hand was still on their lives? After discussion, tran- sition to the lesson: Today we will get a glimpse of how God can take su!ering and pain and bring something good from it. How we respond in the midst of su!ering may be our best FWTE 13-1B opportunity to reflect His love to a dying world.

Study the Word LG

Place Blame Where It Really Belongs (Genesis 1:31) “Why does God allow su!ering?” There is no simple, easy an- swer to this question. Pain and su!ering confront us every day FWTE 13-2 on web sites and on the nightly news. Most of us are either suf- Give everyone in your fering in some way ourselves, or we know someone who is. group a copy of the These issues cause many people to doubt God’s good- Forward Teaching ness or His power. If God is both good and all-powerful, they Essential 13-2 say, why does He allow such su!ering? For these people, God student outline and something to write must either be good, but not powerful enough to stop evil and with so they can take su!ering, or He is powerful enough, but is not truly good. Most notes. have the tendency to blame God for the su!ering we see.

Lesson 13: When Life Really Hurts • 91 This line of thinking, however, is faulty. God is not to blame Teaching Tip: Maintain eye contact for the evil and su!ering in our world. Everything was good with learners who are when God created it (Genesis 1:31). Pain and su!ering did not sharing or responding enter the world until Satan tempted Eve and Adam and they to discussion gave in and sinned. The blame for pain and su!ering belongs at questions. Eye contact encourages the feet of our enemy who wants to destroy us, and at our own sharing, while looking feet because of our sin. Sin brought death, destruction, and away or writing on su!ering into the world (Romans 5:12). Much of the su!ering the board sends the we see results from people’s sinful choices. God, on the other message that what hand, sent His Son to su!er on the cross for our sins, making a the learner is sharing is not important. way for us one day to leave all pain and su!ering behind.

Zoom In: Develop a Biblical Worldview Point out that the pain and su!ering we see around us exists because sin brings death and destruction into the world. Encourage students to discuss this foundational truth with parents and other family members.

Apply It LG SG

Understand God is not to blame for pain and su!er- ing. • Who or what is to blame for pain and su!ering? (Satan; people’s choices; our sin.)

Know That Jesus Understands Our Suffering (Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 4:15) Jesus answered our su!ering and pain with action. He was not content to watch as an outsider, but instead He became a man and su!ered injustice and death on a cross. He was ful- ly God, yet in His humanity He su!ered immensely. When He was about to fulfill His mission to go to the cross, Jesus asked the Father to take away the cup of su!ering, to have the task taken from Him (Luke 22:42). Yet, He submitted to the Father’s will, so He took up His cross. God’s great love for us caused Him to experience su!er- ing firsthand. Philippians 2:5-8 tells us that Jesus took the form of a servant and obeyed, even to the injustice of crucifixion. Hebrews 4:15 tells us we now have a high priest who has gone through what we have gone through. He can empathize in our

92 • Forward Teaching Guide pain. Jesus was willing to endure the greatest injustice the world has ever known to create a way for us to have a relation- ship with Him. Jesus can identify with the pain and su!ering of the entire world. Even during our times of sorrow on earth, Jesus shows His ability to come alongside us and give us the grace we need, sometimes through each other. We can make it through suf- fering and even grow from it (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). To understand how God answers the problem of su!ering it may be helpful to know the story of Father Damien. Father Damien, at his own request, was assigned to a leper colony on Molokai Island in 1873. This colony had no doctor or priest to care for those who were su!ering. For 12 years, Damien served wherever he could. He bathed the people, dressed their lep- rous wounds, buried their dead, and held worship services. One Sunday, everything changed. At the beginning of his sermon, Father Damien opened his robe to show he, too, had contracted leprosy. He began his sermon with the words, “We lepers . . .” No doubt, the members of the colony loved Damien before, but now he was one of them. He was a leper. He could serve the colony even better because he knew and was expe- riencing what they were going through. God could have simply sent a prophet, a book, or an an- gel to solve evil. But instead He sent His only Son, Jesus, who empathizes with our su!ering and promises to wipe every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4). God has not abandoned us to our su!ering, but fully understands what we are going through and hurts with us.

Apply It LG SG

Take comfort in knowing that Jesus understands when we su!er and is there to give us grace. • How does the fact that God came to earth to su!er for us a!ect how you view Him? • How has Jesus helped you or your family through times of su!ering?

Lesson 13: When Life Really Hurts • 93 Let God Shape Us Through Suffering (Romans 5:3-5) Christians can find peace and hope in the midst of su!ering. Throughout Scripture, Christians are encouraged to see suf- fering as a catalyst for growth and change. In Romans 5:3-5, Paul exhorted believers to rejoice in the midst of su!ering. For Christians, su!ering can begin a chain reaction that leads from endurance to character, and then to hope. Likewise, James taught us that trials and su!ering test and grow our faith, helping us to become spiritually mature fol- lowers of Christ (James 1:2-4). Indeed, we can take joy in the fact that God will use trials and su!ering to make us more like Christ. Paul stated that the su!erings we endure here on earth are not even worth mentioning in light of the wondrous future be- fore us (Romans 8:18). Our future with God is so great that we will come to see our present situations as nothing more than slight detours to the glory before us. Similarly, 1 Peter 1:6-7 explains that being tested and suf- fering as a Christian will show us where our hope really resides and can bring glory to God. We should rejoice through our tri- als because they will show our trust in Jesus to be genuine. Al- though we are not encouraged to treasure the su!ering itself, we should treasure the results that pain brings in our lives. While we are su!ering, it is helpful to keep an eternal per- spective. The Bible tells us that our future state in Heaven will be so great that our su!ering in this world will seem light and momentary (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Looking forward to that day can bring great hope.

Apply It LG SG

Let su!ering drive us to Christ for comfort and help. • How might God use su!ering for our good? (Di"culties build character and give us an opportunity to show others the di!erence Christ makes in our lives)

Using FWTE 13-3 (“It’s All About Perspective”), read the testi- monies of people who relied on Jesus during times of su!ering. Then, allow the students to share stories of people they know whose faith helped them overcome su!ering. FWTE 13-3

94 • Forward Teaching Guide Comfort Others Who Are Suffering (Job 2:11-13) Job lost everything he had. He lost all of his material posses- sions, but even worse, his children were all killed. Here was a man who had done no wrong and still su!ered immensely. In Job 2:11-13 we see a great initial response from Job’s friends. PP-13 They came to Job with open hearts. They cried out with him and wept. They sat with him for a whole week without speaking, The Parent Page all because they recognized the su!ering of a friend. (PP-13) is a resource to help parents People undergo enormous su!ering and wonder, “Why?” and grandparents We see that the world is not as it should be. Children are dying discuss the truths of starvation, thirst, and painful diseases. Women are anguish- of this lesson with ing about past or present abuse. Babies are born only to die their children or grandchildren at quickly, leaving the parents wondering, “Why?” home. Give copies of this page to parents and grandparents Dig Deeper and encourage them to use it at home Sometimes we may feel guilty for wondering, “Why is this this week. Parent happening?” However, the Christian does not need to feel Page is also available guilty for such questions. Indeed, it is appropriate to won- for FREE download der why, but we must remember to trust God and follow at www.D6home. com. (No password His will even while we su!er. In fact, 2 Timothy 3:12 and 1 required.) Peter 4:12-13 explain that we should expect to su!er.

Sometimes su!ering isn’t because of some evil act. In such times we need to understand that a pat answer is not helpful. If people are in the midst of pain and su!ering and we come to them with easy answers, we will turn them o! rather than show them that God loves them. We need to recognize that the sub- ject of su!ering requires much more than answers; it requires a listening ear and a mournful spirit. Although Job’s friends started by responding to his pain in a helpful way, they soon became exasperated with him. In Job 4-37, we find his friends blamed the pain on Job and some sin they believed he must have committed. They told Job to confess his sins and repent. These types of suggestions were unhelpful and not true.

Lesson 13: When Life Really Hurts • 95 Apply It LG SG

Come alongside those in pain, cry with them, and point them to Jesus. • What have friends said or done that helped you during times of su!ering?

Dig Deeper If you would like more in-depth analysis of the subject of su!ering, check out Sean McDowell’s chapters “Can People Be Good without God?” and “Is Evil Only a Prob- lem for Christians?” in his book Is God Just a Human In- vention? (co-authored with Jonathan Morrow). At the end of each chapter you will find even more resources. Also, find Norman Geisler’s talk on YouTube at bit.ly/YT-NG-evil https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQoV3u94t2c. Also, FirstAidforEmotionalHurts.com o!ers practical resourc- es for helping people through di"cult times.

Live It LG SG Use one or more of these options to help your group members Pray for the Suffering put into action the Praying for those who are su!ering is something we can “do.” principles they When we pray for the hurting, we then can make ourselves learned in this lesson. available to listen to and sit with those who need a shoulder to cry on. Distribute copies of FWTE 13-4 (“Prayers for the Hurt- ing”) and encourage students to think of a person or group of persons for whom they could be praying. Discuss specific ways they can pray for these people and encourage them to pray for them this week.

Visit the Suffering FWTE 13-4 Visiting and serving people who are su!ering are some of the best ways we can o!er help. We can serve in this way by visiting Encourage your group members people in jail, lending our help to an elderly home, or volunteer- to complete the ing at a hospital. All we need to do is show up and love these daily devotions in people. We can provide a listening ear and a serving heart. In FORWARD devotional doing so, we reveal the love and compassion of Christ. Ask study guide this week your students to list places that could use volunteers. Brain- and to discuss the devotions with family storm ways you can get involved. members at home.

96 • Forward Teaching Guide NEW

HELPING FAMILIES INTEGRATE GOD’S WORD WITH DISCIPLESHIP AND EVERYDAY LIFE.

• Useful devotions for the entire family. When you walk along the road, when you lay down, when you get up (Deuteronomy 6)

• Includes questions for kids, teens, and parents— Provided daily (EveryDay)

• Articles and tools to inspire family discussions FUN IDEAS FOR FAMILY ACTIVITIES & MEMORY MAKING

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