Hebrews 1&2 Peter

Discovering Hebrews 1&2 Peter DISCOVERING HEBREWS AND 1 & 2 PETER

BIBLE STUDY AND QUIZZING FOR YOUTH By Jim Wilcox

Published by Nazarene Publishing House Lenexa, Kansas (United States)

Adapted and contextualized for use outside of the USA by Monte Cyr

Cover and Internal Design: Christian Cardona

All Scripture references are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV®). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan publishing House. All rights reserved. CONTENTS

SESSION PAGE

USER’S GUIDE FOR DISCOVERING HEBREWS AND 1 & 2 PETER...... 7 GUIDE TO DISCOVERY GROUPS...... 8 LESSONS

1. YOUR ADOPTION PAPERS ARE READY...... 10 2. TRUST ME ON THIS...... 17 3. MERCY, MERCY ME!...... 24 4. GOD’S RANSOM NOTE...... 32 5. YOU GOTTA HAVE FAITH...... 40 6. THE OLYMPICS OF CHRISTIANITY...... 47 7. KEEP ON KEEPING ON...... 55 8. ALIENS ARE US...... 62 9. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS...... 70 10. PUT ON SOME CLOTHES...... 79 11. FEELING THOSE GROWTH PANGS...... 87 12. A TRUE/FALSE QUESTION...... 95 13. ON GUARD...... 103 BIBLE QUIZZING – A PERSPECTIVE...... 110 HOW TO ORGANIZE A WEEKLY BIBLE TEAM MEETING...... 112 ORGANIZING A QUIZ COMPETITION TOURNAMENT...... 114 RULES FOR YOUTH BIBLE QUIZZING...... 115 STUDY TIPS...... 120 QUIZZING PRACTICE AND COMPETITION QUESTIONS...... 127 QUIZZING SCORING SHEET (To make copies of)...... 154

USER’S GUIDE FOR DISCOVERING HEBREWS AND 1 & 2 PETER

Discovering Hebrews and 1 and TEACHING AIMS and PERSPECTIVE- 2 Peter is best used in a “Discovery Group” -these will help you gain an understanding of set-ting. A Discovery Group is a group of youth the “main points” of the lesson. committed to growing in God’s Word, meeting BIBLE BACKGROUND regularly for a set period of time to study and --this extensive sec- share. Te use of Discovery Groups is described tion will provide you with additional informa- in more detail in the next section of this guide. It tion that will broaden your understanding of the also serves as a great group study workbook for passage being discussed. youth involved in Bible quizzing. tćFBDUVBMHSPVQTUVEZUJNFJTEFTJHOFEUP Here are some guidelines to help facilitate your take place through the structure of the ses- use of Discovering Hebrews and 1 and 2 Peter: sion activities. Afer you’ve prepared yourself through studying the Purpose, Perspective, tćJTTUVEZJTEJWJEFEJOUP4UVEZTFTTJPOT and Bible Background, read through the ses- and then the Bible quizzing. Each Group sion activities to develop an understanding of Study lesson is written to take approximately what to expect from the coming group study 45-60 minutes. Tis Bible study is meant to time. Make sure you understand exactly what be only a part of a total session that includes is intended to happen through each activ- you and your youth sharing insights from ity; remember, also, that these activities are your personal study plus events and activities here to assist you. Feel free to adjust them as of the week and ending with prayer. A meet- OFDFTTBSZUPĕUZPVSHSPVQFOWJSPONFOU SF- ing of an hour to an hour and a half will pro- sources, and/or time frame. vide adequate time for these components. t3FHBSEJOHUIFHSPVQBDUJWJUJFT ZPVXJMMĕOE t&BDI(SPVQ4UVEZTFTTJPODPWFSTBTQFDJĕD TQFDJĕD JOTUSVDUJPOT UIBU BDUVBMMZ TBZ i4BZ section of Hebrews and 1 and 2 Peter and …” or are printed in bold italics. Tis does BMTPJEFOUJĕFTBLFZWFSTFGPSZPVBOEZPVS not mean that you must quote this informa- participants to memorize. tion word for word to your students. We’ve included this material only as a guide for you tćJTMFBEFSTHVJEFHJWFTZPVBDPNQMFUFTFT- regarding what we recommend to be com- sion plan for the entire Bible study portion of municated to your group. your weekly meeting. Each session contains the following elements designed to assist you t&BDITFTTJPOQSPWJEFTZPVXJUIGPVSBDUJWJ- in your preparation and presentation. ties; each one intended to bring your students

7 into an encounter with the Scripture through your youth to be involved. Use posters and pro- a certain perspective. Tese activities are: motional an-nouncements beginning three or Engage the Word, Explore the Word, Apply four weeks in advance to spread the word about the Word, and LIVE THE WORD. Te ses- the group. Personally contact those persons sion activities are intended to give you strong XIPN ZPV GFFM XPVME FTQFDJBMMZ CFOFĕU GSPN teaching options without neglecting your the study. Also, make personal contact with own creativity. Adapt and tailor the sessions those whom you think will be in-volved in quiz- to meet the individual needs and personali- zing in the coming year, encouraging them to be ties of your group. involved in the group. t0DDBTJPOBMMZ ZPVXJMMĕOETFDUJPOTFOUJUMFE Tere are at least two ways to form a Discov- “Terms/People to Know.” Tese brief sections ery Group. One is to hand-pick those already XJMMHJWFXPSEEFĕOJUJPOT FYQMBOBUJPOTBCPVU strongly committed to becoming all God wants terms or people, etc. that will help your class them to be. Tese hand-picked, highly moti- members better understand the passage be- vated youth will usually respond more eagerly ing studied. to disci-pling than others would. Tis approach to discipling is called for when a major purpose t4UVEFOUTBSFFODPVSBHFEUPLFFQQFSTPOBM of the discipling is training for leadership, as in notebooks as they read and study during the Jesus’ training of the Twelve. next several weeks. During the group sessions, they will ofen be asked to refect in At the same time, every Christian needs to be writing. Encouraging each youth to have a discipled. Every Christian needs to belong to “notebook-type” journal will keep you from a warm, accepting fellowship that calls out the having to provide blank notepaper each time. best in him. In the lov-ing fellowship, the half- hearted disciple can begin to catch a vision of his ćFĕSTUQMBDFUPTUBSUPOZPVSKPVSOFZUISPVHI potential; he can taste the excitement of growth. Hebrews and 1 and 2 Peter is with the Word itself. Read through Hebrews and 1 and 2 Peter *O NBOZ DIVSDIFT BMM UIF ZPVUI XJMM ĕU JOUP B entirely before you begin your Bible studies. single small group. If you need more than one Ten look through this leader’s guide and ac- group, provide diferent groups for those with quaint yourself with the contents. diferent levels of commitment. You may want to hand-pick a group for in-depth discipling, then GUIDE TO DISCOVERY GROUPS pro-vide other groups for those not yet ready GPSUIFJOUFOTFDPNNJUNFOUFYQFDUFEPGUIFĕSTU An efective small-group Bible study ministry group. Rather than dividing the youth arbitrar- for youth in the local church be-gins with Dis- JMZ ZPVNBZXBOUUPTFUTQFDJĕDDPOEJUJPOTGPS covery Groups. Discovery Groups are impor- membership in the more in-depth group. Tese tant in: communicating acceptance, teaching by conditions might include disciplines of attend- example, building personal relationships, mod- ance, spiritual journaling, Bible study, account- eling disci-pleship in a real-life setting. ability, and so on. Tere are many ways to start a Discovery Group Any Discovery Group member must have some in your church. Te best way is to invite all of level of commitment. An obvi-ous minimum 8 commitment is to attend the group regularly. To Te leader’s role is to help group members dis- build mutual trust in the group, members have cover for themselves what the scripture means, to get to know each other. If one group mem- how they can apply it to their lives, and then en- ber drops in only occasionally, he will be a rela- courage them to follow through with obedience. tive stranger to the rest of the group, at least at Te group leader’s role is not to be a resident au- the level of sharing expected in the Discovery thority who tells group members what the scrip- Group. Te presence of a relative stranger will ture means and how they are to apply it to their immediately reduce the trust level in the group, lives. He must resist the temp-tation to lecture. limiting the openness of sharing. Of course, some absences are inevitable. Te needed com- Te Discovery Group leader is not authoritar- mitment here is for each group member to make ian but an authority. Tis author-ity, though, is group attendance a very high priority so that at- a spiritual authority, fowing out of an authentic tendance is regular. A discussion of the priority life. Youth follow this leader, not because they of group attendance can be helpful in the early are forced to, but because of the kind of person weeks of the group. the leader is. What’s the best time for a Discovery Group? Tis book has been created with the prayer that Again, it depends upon your goals and the per- UIF8PSEPG(PEXJMMĕOEBQMBDFJOUIFIFBSU sonality of your group. and mind of you and your students so that you will all be equipped to be efective disciples of How long should we continue the Discovery Jesus Christ in the midst of the contemporary Group? As long as the youth in-volved can stay pagan culture you face each day. committed. Tere have been groups who contin- VFEZFBSSPVOE0ODFUIFZĕOJTIFEUIFXFFL study, they worked chapter-by-chapter on other Bi-ble books or started on a new workbook. It is generally best to run the group for 13 weeks. "ęFSUIFTUVEZIBTĕOJTIFE UIFSFNBZCFPUIFS youth who want to be a part of the Discovery Group who did not sign up before. If so, arrange for a leader for them. Some of the youth in the original group may want to continue, while others focus more on other activities. If you cannot continue to serve as leader, be sure an-other adult leader is there to carry on. How do I facilitate the Discovery Group Bible study? To facilitate means to “make easy.” A small-group facilitator, then, is a person who makes it easy for the group to relate. He or she keeps the group moving, nudges it back on track when it starts to stray, encourages participation.

9 Your Adoption PAPERS HAVE ARRIVED

STUDY SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 1- 4:13 church think it’s right? Why do wrong things GFFMTPHPPE 8IZEPOU*ĕUJOBUTDIPPMJG*ĕUJO KEY VERSE 1: “For to which of the angels did BUDIVSDI BOEXIZEPOU*ĕUJOBUDIVSDIJG*ĕU God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have be- in at school? And what about my par-ents? come your father’? Or again, ‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son’?” (Hebrews 1:5). Tis lesson will outline the hierarchy of relationships from God to today’s teen-agers. It will help TEACHING AIMS: them to identify their own haunting questions and begin to build a foundation that will sustain To help the learners: them through their doubts. 1. Discover the proper relationship between God, angels, Jesus Christ, and human beings. BIBLE BACKGROUND: 2. Know that despite the pressures and fears Tis Bible Background, and the ones that follow, they face every day, God, through His Son, will cover the entire Study Scripture—although Jesus Christ, understands and cares. only a portion of that scripture is actually used in the Discov-ery Group session. Tis is done 3. Strengthen their faith in their Heavenly Fa- so that the leader understands the context sur- ther and His Church people. rounding the passages and is prepared to help their students. PERSPECTIVE: It would be wise at the beginning of the study We all have our weak points that cause us to trip of Hebrews to explain some of the unique char- and stumble just about every day. For some it’s acteristics of the book. Although it is called in temptation; for some it’s rebellion; for others it’s many versions of the New Testament “Te Letter complacency. For the Early Church, it was fear: to the Hebrews,” it is more homiletical than it is fear of hostility, fear of alienation, fear of being episto-lary; that is, it is more accurately labeled wrong. a sermon than a letter. It lacks most charac-ter- istics associated with a letter (no salutation, no Youth today can identify with all of that—in opening greeting, and as impor-tantly, no signa- their schools, in their homes, per-haps even in ture), but it does contain the outline of an emo- their churches. And they’re searching for ways tional exhortation and argument. both to understand and to cope with those anxieties. What if I’m wrong? What makes the 10 It was, until the Reformation of the 17th century, DJĕDQSPCMFNTJORVFTUJPO )FCSFXTTUBSUTXJUI believed to have been born from the pen of Paul, a rather abrupt exhortation: “In the past God but has since been attributed to either Barnabas spoke to our forefathers through the prophets Your Adoption or Apollos, both colleagues and followers of the at many times and in various ways, but in the-se PAPERS HAVE ARRIVED apostle Paul. Both Barnabas and Apollos share last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom the characteristics attributed to the author of he appointed heir of all things, and through the book, in that both were intellectual Hebrew whom he made the universe.” Not the smooth- Christians well versed in the Old Testament. est of introductions. Had the writer just received Barnabas was a Jew of the priestly tribe of Levi a letter from one of his friends or a relative per- (Acts 4:36) who became a close friend of Paul haps, describ-ing a crisis in the church? Did a afer Paul’s con-version. Te church at Antioch messenger burst into his tent with an emotional commissioned Barnabas and Paul as evangelists, plea to “come quick,” whereupon he sat down BOEUIFZXFOUUPHFUIFSPOUIFĕSTUNJTTJPOBSZ with pen in hand and dashed of this remarkable journey (13:1-4). Apollos, as well, was a noted speech? And what was this crisis, this pressure, orator. Born in Alexandria, he is described by being faced by the in-tended audience? Luke in Acts 18 (v. 24) as “a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.” William Lane, in his book Hebrews: A Call to Commitment, suggests that the church who Because it is not a letter, some problems of in- received this sermon was afraid of hostilities it terpretation or hurdles to under-standing may might face in light of its newfound Christianity. FYJTU'JSTU XIPXBTUIFTQFDJĕDBVEJFODFUBS- Alienated from the Jewish community in which geted by the writer? Critics today believe that they had been raised and trained, aware of the they were Jewish Christians who lived in the persecutions taking place in Rome following the Lycus Val-ley, where Colosse was located. Te HSFBUĕSFPG"% UIFZXFSFIVEEMFEJOUIFJS book shares several characteristics with Paul’s “home missions,” afraid that the God of the Old letter to the Colossians, though in style and tone Testament revealed to them in the person of Je- DPOUSBTUTTJHOJĕDBOUMZXJUI1BVMBOEUIFXSJUFST sus of Nazareth had abandoned them at the mo- of other New Testament letters. For instance, ment of their greatest need. Remember that this both Hebrews and Co-lossians discuss outsid- was a time when being religiously diferent was ers’ criticism of food, regulations of the body, punishable by imprisonment or even death. It cultic activities, and angels, among many top- can be most closely compared in recent histori- ics. It would, therefore, stand to reason that the cal perspective to the Nazi annihilation of Jews audi-ence of Hebrews also shared many of the in Europe. Just as it was lethal in the 1930s and problems faced by the church at Colosse. T. W. 1940s to admit you were a Jew, you lived in the Manson concluded that Hebrews is “the Epistle TIBEPXPGUIFFYFDVUJPOFSJOUIFĕSTUDFOUVSZJG of Apollos to the churches of the Lycus Valley.” you were a Christian. A second concern, then, is that the Book of ćFĕSTUGPVSWFSTFTBSFUIFXSJUFSTBTTVSBODFT Hebrews is one side of a communi-cation, like that God, the Creator and Sus-tainer of the uni- listening to only one speaker in a telephone WFSTF IBT TQPLFO )JT ĕOBM XPSE UISPVHI )JT conversation. Without the typical salutation Son, Jesus. Tough in the past God used other in which a letter writer might address the spe- messengers and means to communicate to His

11 people, He has now sent the ultimate Messen- Rest (Hebrews 4:1) and was “tempted in every ger to deliver the ultimate message. Te next 10 way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (v. 15). verses (5-14) indicate the spiritual proof that Jesus is superior to the angels who were never Most of this introduction to Hebrews seems called sons of God. No, it was the angels them- to be based on a premise that the readers were TFMWFT XIP XFSF UIF ĕSTU UP SFDPHOJ[F UIF EF- tempted to believe that the kingdom of God that ity of the Christ child of Bethlehem and to fall was to come would be governed by angels. In down and worship Him. Judeo tradition, it was angels who had delivered the law at Mount Sinai, God’s greatest revela- Tis Son of God, Jesus, is made like His broth- tion, so angels were particularly sacred to the ers, according to chapter 2, verses 5-18. It is im- Jew. Te Dead Sea Scrolls support this lofy po- perative that the student understand this con- sition given to angels by naming an archangel, nection, for it lies at the very base of the new Michael, as the supreme ruler in the new king- covenant. God revealed himself through Jesus, dom. yet Jesus shared our humanity, making us His brothers and sisters, which is how He refers to Others believe the author is simply trying to dis- us in verse 12, a quote from Psalm 22:22. And suade his readers from return-ing to Judaism in if we do indeed sufer persecution in this life, it their fear of retributions. He is persuading them is only because God himself, in His Son, Jesus, to understand and then believe that Jesus is also sufered persecution in this life on earth above the angels, above Moses, above all priests, only to conquer death and live eternally in God’s and is their sole Advocate.

SESSION ACTIVITIES EXPLORE THE WORD All in the Family Before beginning this activity, you might pray with your students, encouraging them in this up- coming Bible study. *OUIFDPMVNOPGi*EFBMT wBMMPXTUVEFOUTUPQVUXIBUFWFSUIFZXBOUUPBUĕSTU CVUBęFSBGFXNJO- utes of writing down initial ideas, explain to them that the ideals are not necessarily only those things that would make their own lives easier and more hassle-free; rather, the ideals enable the family as a unit to function better and more smoothly. Family is cooperation, not slave labor. A family is made up of all kinds of people, playing all kinds of roles and doing all kinds of jobs. Make a chart, and list the people in your family, and if you live with an extended family either in the same house or nearby, you may want to list them, too. Be sure to include yourself. What are their “Job Descriptions” as you see them? What would be the “Ideal Job Description” for each person?

12 Name Job Description Ideal Job Description

1. 2. 3. 4. 5

ENGAGE THE WORD called the Refor-mation, people who would know 1. WELCOME TO HEBREWS because they studied the Bible all of their lives dis- covered that not much of the letter resembled the How many times have you gone to the mailbox or other 13 letters Paul wrote. Sure, it was similar your e-mail inbox and discov-ered a letter to “Oc- in content and overall philosophy, but not in style cupant” or “Current Resident” “hey you”? Really and tone. personal, huh? You can hardly wait to get it inside the house, open it, and fnd out what it says and First, it is more accurately described as a sermon who wrote it. Right? Wrong! rather than a letter. Instead of a greeting at the beginning, we have an invocation, a description Te letter to the Hebrews must seem like that to of God who re-vealed himself in history and who many readers, for it is ofen overlooked in preach- is speaking to us now. Te writer himself calls the ing, devotional writing, and scripture study. Wil- message an exhortation (13:18-25) rather than a liam Lane even calls it “A Sermon in Search of a letter. Setting”. But that should not be, and this se-ries of lessons will show you how important this book is Second, the writer never identifes himself, as Paul to the young Christian who is struggling with the did in the letters he wrote. All the author tells us confusing messages of today’s world. is that he is a man, and even that takes a true scholar to dis-cover: he uses masculine verb forms Te New Testament is full of letters, most of which of the Greek language. are written like personal let-ters today (especially letters from parents to their children, full of wise Tird, the writer had never had any personal advice): Salutation, Opening Remarks, A Little contact with Jesus, either during His earthly min- News, A Lot of Insights, and Closure. Afer the istry before His crucifxion or in revelation afer Gospels and Acts, you will fnd 13 letters from his resurrection, as Paul had had on the Road to Paul, then the letter to the He-brews, followed Damascus. Te author claims in verse three of by six letters from various writers including Pe- chapter two that salvation “was frst announced ter, John, and Jude. Oddly, however, Hebrews is by the Lord [and] was confrmed to us by those unique. who heard him.” For instance, nobody is certain who wrote it. So whose signature is missing from this letter? At frst, scholars attributed it to Paul . . . all the Some suggest Barnabas, a close colleague and way into the 1600s, in fact. But during that time, friend to Paul, who was both an authority in the 13 early church and a Greek intellectual who was an er’s argument. expert in the Old Testament, two characteristics ob-viously possessed by the writer. Others claim Have someone read Hebrews 1:1—2:4 aloud the writer is Apollos, who was also a Jewish Chris- while the rest of the class follows along in their tian intellectual and renowned speaker. Luke calls Bibles. him “a learned man with a thorough knowledge of tIf you were sitting across from the writer right scriptures” (Acts 18:24). He, too, was a co-worker now, what would you ask him? with Paul in the Corinthian church’s beginnings. t 8IBU JT UIF XSJUFST UPOF 6OEFSTUBOEJOH We know more about the recipients of the let- Anxious? Authoritative? Where do you see ter than we do the sender: Jewish converts being that most evident? tempted to renounce their Christianity and return to their Judaism. Te writer, then, is arguing that t8IBUOFXJOTJHIUEJEZPVQVMMGSPNUIJTTFD- Jesus was no mere angel, no high priest appointed tion? only by the Church. No. Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the only Son of a com-passionate and We all remember the neighborhood argument: merciful God. “My dad’s bigger than your dad!” Some brave ones even screamed, “Oh yea, well my dad can beat Before we start looking into this letter of encour- up your dad!!!” On a much higher plane, some agement chapter by chapter, let’s try to get an of that attitude was creeping up in the neighbor- overall impression of what it says to us. It’s impor- hoods of the Hebrews, because as they met in each tant that you should use a translation and version other’s homes (this is before they built Christian of the New Testament that you can read eas-ily. churches), they sensed hostility from the families Look at the page headings and section headings. If and friends who still worshipped in the synagogue time permits, read the entire book as a class. and held onto the liturgies of Judaism. Once your class has looked at all 13 chapters, t *O ZPVS JNBHJOBUJPO QJDUVSF UIF QFPQMF BTLZPVSHSPVQNFNCFSTUPĕOJTIJOUIFJSPXO who were listening/reading this sermon. How words the following statements: would you describe them? tIf Hebrews were made into a movie, it would t8IBUJTZPVSDPODFQUPGBOHFMT be called . . . t8IBUJTUIFSFMBUJPOTIJQPGBOHFMTUP(PE 5P t"XPSEPSQISBTFUIBUTFFNTUPPDDVSPWFS the Son of God? and over again is . . . t8IBUEPFTJUNFBOUPCFBTPOPSBEBVHIUFS t"T*SFBE *DPVMEOUIFMQCVUXPOEFS t)PXXPVMETPVOEJGZPVXSPUFUIPTF t5XPPSUISFFUIJOHT*EMJLFUPMFBSOBSF verses?

2. EARTH ANGELS (1:1--2:4) 3. MISERY LOVES COMPANY (ESPECIALLY GOD’S) (2:5--3:6) Let’s look at this frst section of Hebrews together and discover some of the foundations for the writ- Have someone read Hebrews 2:5 – 3:6 aloud

14 while the rest of the class follows along in their Have someone read Hebrews 3:7—4:13 aloud Bibles. while the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, then answer these questions. Most of us have been awakened in the pitch-dark of night by a noise. Frighten-ing, isn’t it? Some of t Te writer quotes Psalms (95:7-11) to warn us have lain awake all night, worrying over some the reader not to repeat history. What is the SFMBUJPOTIJQPSKPCUSPVCMFT6TVBMMZ XFBSFDPN- Psalmist warning against? How does that forted by prayer. But what if our fear was that warning apply today? God had abandoned us? Or that there was no God at all? tćFXSJUFSTBZT iUIFNFTTBHFUIFZIFBSEXBT of no value to them, because those who heard t)BWFZPVFWFSCFFOSFKFDUFECZBGSJFOE %F- did not combine it with faith.” How does the scribe your feelings, frst about the situation, message combine with faith? then about your friend. t8IBUBSFTPNFXBZTZPVIBWFTFFOQFPQMF t ćF XSJUFS SFNJOET UIF )FCSFXT UIBU UIFZ “walk the talk”? are made “in the image of God.” He shows how God’s Son is our “brother.” What are some of t*OWFSTFTBOEPGDIBQUFS UIFXSJUFS those shared characteristics found in these describes the Word of God. What are some of verses? the descriptive phrases? How do they ft the Word of God? t3FDBMMBUJNFXIFOTPNFPOFDBNFUPZPVGPS comfort and reassurance. What were the cir- APPLY THE WORD cumstances? What did he/she ask you? What did you say and do? All youth rebel in some fashion. It’s part of breaking the tie with parents in or-der to forge ahead into a family of their own. It’s painful sometimes and can become entirely unhealthy t/PXUVSOUIBUBSPVOEUIJOLPGBTJUVBUJPO if it gets out of hand, but it is normal. when you felt alone, afraid, alienated. You were so vulnerable and defenseless, it hurt. Tis activity asks students to consider Susan’s What steps did you take to climb out of that rebellion from the teachings of her parents and hole? What worked? What didn’t? her church. Why is she tempted to follow Billy instead of Sam? 4. REBELS WITHOUT A CAUSE (3:7--4:13) You might have three students “act it out.”

One of the “rites of passage” for a youth into adult- Susan is very close to leaving the youth group at hood seems to be rebellion. Some skip a class or her church. Her best friend, Sam, goes over to her two at school; some stay out beyond curfew; some house one night to talk to her and as he nears her run away from home. Tis passage encourages us house he sees Su-san sitting on her front steps to avoid “hardening our hearts as we did during with the same guy she’s been hanging around at the rebellion,” but rather to enter God’s sanctuary school. Sam knows who Billy is but not too much of rest. beyond that. 15 Susan: Well, hello, Sam. What are you doing you were Sam? tonight? t8IBUJTJUUIBUDBVTFTZPVUIUPSFCFM Sam: Hi, Susie. Hi--it’s Billy, isn’t it? t8IBUBSFTPNFXBZTQFPQMFZPVLOPXBSFSF- Billy: Yeah. belling? Susan: We were talking about the party over t)PXBSF4VTBOTSFCFMMJPOBOEPUIFSZPVUIT at Millie’s next weekend. It ought to be in- rebellion like the rebellion referred to in 3:7-11. credible. You know Millie --loud music, lots of alcohol, and her parents are out of town t 8IBU EPFT )FCSFXT UFMM VT BCPVU SFCFMMJPO the whole weekend. against God? 2 Sam: You’re going? LIVE THE WORD When I Have Fears Susan: Well, I guess. Tere’s nothing else to do around this dead town, is there? Aren’t A British poet by the name of John Keats wrote you planning on going? What else you got to a short poem in the early 19th century about his do, Sammy Boy? greatest fears, entitled, “When I Have Fears Tat I May Cease To Be.” Billy: It’ll rock the place. t8IBUBSFTPNFPGZPVSCJHHFTUGFBST Sam: I never thought about it, I guess. Not my kind of gig, really. Tere’s that thing at t)PXEPZPVEFBMXJUIUIFN Pastor Greg’s house that night afer the “Jesus Freaks’” concert, so I thought about going to t)PXNJHIUUIPTFBSPVOEZPVIFMQZPVUPDPQF that. Who else is going to Millie’s? better with these fears? Susan: I don’t know. Jack, Marcie, Deedee, t8IBUIBWFZPVTFFOGSPNPVSTUVEZUPEBZUIBU L. C., Andy.Probably. I don’t know. Besides, can help you when you face fears? with me there, you’ll want to go, won’t you? t *O UIF MBTU TFDUJPO XF MPPLFE BU i(PET SFTUw Billy: Exactly. What does it mean to enter “God’s rest”? Sam: I don’t know, Susie. I’ll have to think Why don’t we pause together right now and enter about it. that rest? Let’s shut out all the chores and assign- ments we have for a few minutes and focus on the Ask: face of Christ as He sits with us and the hands of Christ as He extends them to us. Lay your heavi- t8IBUJTNBLJOH4VTBOUIJOLUIFXBZTIFJT est burden, fear, hurt at His feet for a few minutes. thinking? Rest. t4IFIBTOPUVTVBMMZHPOFUPUIJOHTMJLF.JM- End the class with prayer. lie’s party (her parents have raised her in the church), but for the past several weeks, she’s been acting strangely. What would you do if

16 Trust Me ON THIS

STUDY SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 4:14 -7:28 of. Tey are ofen more con-cerned with the more mundane and everyday: What should I KEY VERSE: 2 “We do not want you to become wear today? Should I ask Alicia to the party? Do lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and I have time to go to church tonight? But there patience inherit what has been promised” (He- are also the fears that experimentation with var- brews 6:12). ious infuences and temptations might alter the rest of their lives. Drugs and alcohol. Promis- TEACHING AIMS: cuity. Rebellion. Scholarship. Athletics. Te list To help the learners: must seem endless when you’re 13, 16, or 18. 1. Begin to look for and eventually become Each decision we make carries with it conse- spiritual mentors themselves. quences and responsibilities, and no matter what those might be, we can never go back and 2. Learn to trust in God and His people, in- remake the decision. We simply live with it, cluding teachers, parents, and pastors, when which can be especially difcult if we believe we making big and tough decisions. have made the wrong or foolish decision. Tat’s probably why most of the world procrastinates, 3. Comprehend the importance of integrity putting of major choices until the last minute. earned by keeping your promises. Such is the premise to this passage of Scripture. BIBLE BACKGROUND: In the preceding passage, He-brews 3:7—4:13, the writer reminds the reader of Israel’s experi- (Provided to help the leader prepare for the les- ence in history, trac-ing its rebellion and its re- son. Share the appropriate parts with your class demption. In essence, he tells us that there are at suitable times during the discussion below): such things as life-or-death decisions. It’s not just melodramatic to think in these terms. Reduced to its least common denominator, life is merely a series of decisions. Should I go Tis section of study continues to reinforce to university? What should I major in? Where Christ’s humanity as being the bridge to God. should I apply for a job? Where do I want to Te writer of the sermon to these Jewish Chris- live? What will I believe in and what will I cast tians is encouraging them to assume their role aside as rub-bish? in the ministry of the High Priest, Jesus Christ. Jesus’ wor-ship of His Father in heaven enables For many youth, these decisions might seem far UIFJS XPSTIJQ BOE )JT TBDSJĕDJBM TVČFSJOH JO 17 this life provides the means by which they may may have been facing diferent anxieties than we PČFSUIFJSTBDSJĕDFTUP(PE are today, but they were every bit as serious. It is up to you as the leader to make the connections It was important for the writer to remind his between the decisions facing the Hebrews and readers that the liturgies of Judeo worship—the the decisions facing your youth. tradition they had forsaken in order to follow the new covenant—were mirrored in the life Verses 4-6 of chapter 6 have caused Bible schol- of the Christ, its High Priest. Tis Messiah was ars, theologians, laymen, and new Christians history in-carnate, doctrinal belief come to life, much concern, for they seem to imply that God revealed to humanity. Tis man, Jesus, ful- when one loses his faith (“backslides”), there is ĕMMFEQSPQIFDZBOEQSPNJTF no way for reconciliation. “It is impossible,” begins the writ-er, “for those who have once been It was equally important for the Hebrews to enlightened . . . if they fall away, to be brought recall the failure of their Jewish an-cestors to back to repentance.” Tat seems pretty cut and obey the voice of God, instead listening to the dried. According to the NIV Study Bible—New warnings of the ten spies they had sent into the International Version footnote on this section, promised land of Canaan. “Do we listen to the “Te most common inter-pretations are (a) that voice of God or to the voices of men who have it refers to Christians who actually lose their sal- actually been there?” It was this same question vation; (b) [that] it is a hypothetical argument that the new church of Hebrew Christians was to warn immature Hebrew Christians that they facing. Decisions, decisions, deci-sions! must progress to maturity or else experience di- Te author begins a fairly in-depth discussion vine discipline or judgment; (c) [that] it refers to in 4:14 on the merits and superi-ority of Christ’s professing Christians whose apostasy (abandon- priestly position. Referring to Leviticus 16:15 ment of belief) proves their faith was not genu- and 17, when Aaron the high priest passed out ine.” According to Dr. Roger Hahn, professor of of sight into the holy place, the writer tells how New Tes-tament at Nazarene Teological Semi- Jesus, too, ascended from the presence of His nary, the message here might make more sense disciples into the holy of holies, having done and be more accurate if one would translate the what He set out to do: reconcile man to God. conjunction in verse 6 “while” instead of “since” And he ends that verse with a fairly emotional (RSV), so that it reads: “For it is impossible to BQQFBMi-FUVTIPMEĕSNMZUPUIFGBJUIXFQSP- restore again to re-pentance those who have fess,” echoing earlier ad-monitions in 2:1; 3:6; once been enlightened . . . if they then commit and 3:14. apostasy, [while] they crucify the Son of God on their own account” (RSV). In other words, it is Te setting for this book may seem far away impossible for a person to be reclaimed while from the 21st-century to our youth, with little or yet denouncing his or her faith. Hahn, like most, no application for the here and now. However, then believes that if the person ceases the de- when we look at modern religious cults, ecolog- nunciation and makes sincere confession of ical plunder of the planet, political irresponsi- sins, seeks forgiveness, and restitutes wrongs, he bility, rapid technological change, and the sheer or she can be re-claimed to the Kingdom. difculty of life, we see the value of hav-ing a spiritual anchor—a solid rock. Te Hebrews 18 Te last part of chapter 6, from verse 13, explains the Church) and king (sovereign ruler of a king- the certainty of God’s promise to Abraham, dom), just as Christ was both priest and king. which He made with an oath to himself. Schol- ars suggest that God used the oath to empha- When studying verses 19-22, note that the old size its permanence, its inevitability. Normally, covenant, the Law, was only preparatory for an oath (swearing by some deity) is reserved for the new covenant, a “better hope,” assuring the humans in their lowly spiritual state, for a per- Christian of com-plete redemption and invita- son’s word is not always trustworthy. When God tion into the presence of the Almighty. TXPSFBOPBUIUPGVMĕMM)JTQSPNJTFXIJDIJT in itself absolutely trustworthy because of the SESSION ACTIVITIES nature of God, He was further substantiating it ENGAGE THE WORD in human terms, thereby making it doubly de- THE ROAD TAKEN pendable. Te entire poem by Frost goes like this: Te “two unchangeable things” mentioned in Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, verse 18 (which students are asked to ascertain) And sorry I could not travel both are God’s promise to reward Abraham’s faith, And be one traveler, long I stood which in itself is absolutely trustworthy, and And looked down one as far as I could (PETPBUI DPOĕSNJOHUIBUQSPNJTF To where it bent in the undergrowth; Ten took the other, as just as fair, Te writer uses two metaphors at the end of And having perhaps the better claim, chapter 6 to illustrate our hope in God’s prom- Because it was grassy and wanted wear, ise: an anchor and an inner sanctuary behind Tough as for that the passing there UIFDVSUBJOćFBODIPSPGBTIJQIPMETJUĕSN Had worn them really about the same, when winds, storms, currents, and waves try And both that morning equally lay to capsize it. It provides footing and mooring In leaves no step had trodden black. when the surrounding sea is in utter upheaval. Oh, I kept the frst for another day! Te ship’s anchor goes down to the ocean bot- Yet knowing how way leads on to way, tom. Te inner sanctuary behind the cur-tain, I doubted if I should ever come back. on the other hand, goes up into the sanctuary of I shall be telling this with a sigh God’s heaven where the indi-vidual can be se- Somewhere ages and ages hence: cured to God himself. Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, Te character of Melchizedek, discussed greatly And that has made all the diference. in chapter 7, introduces from Genesis the plan God instituted for reconciliation. From as early (“Te Road Not Taken” [1916]) as Genesis 14, King Melchizedek draws many comparisons to the coming Messiah. Nowhere Most students will suggest that Frost is applaud- is Melchizedek’s lineage or genealogy given, and ing Americans’ sense of indi-vidualism. Being the writer of Hebrews uses this to portray him as EJČFSFOUXIJMFTUJMMĕUUJOHJOJTFWFSZZPVUITHPBM a forerunner of Christ. His priesthood forecasts Tis activity lends itself well into a discussion of Jesus’ priesthood. He was both priest (groom of what goes into our decision making. You might 19 read 1 Corinthians 8—11 to understand the God’s priest and king of Salem. He reminds the process Paul sug-gested in making ethical deci- readers that life’s decisions come at forks in the sions. Te activity also opens up a discussion of road, and we must trust both God and ourselves God’s will. to make the right decision, to take the right road. Te Road Taken If there is time, have class members take turns in reading the whole study pas-sage for the day, He- American poet Robert Frost wrote a poem that brews 4:14 – 7:28, aloud while the rest of the class has been quoted as ofen, per-haps, as any poem follows along in their Bibles. ever written (especially around school graduation time). “Te Road Not Taken” speaks of decisions t 8IZ EP ZPV UIJOL UIF BVUIPS XSPUF UIFTF made in our lives that dictate, in many ways, the things to the Hebrews? paths our lives will follow. t#FTJEFTUIFLFZWFSTF XIJDIQBTTBHFTUBOET Consider the following settings and what big deci- out to you? Why? sions have to be made in those places. Write down some of those choices, options, decisions, dilem- tćFQBTTBHFTQFBLTBHSFBUEFBMBCPVUQSPN- mas in the form of questions, then share them ises. What is a promise? What does it mean to with the group. Which decisions have you had to make a promise? make? 2. WHAT WILL WE DO NOW? (4:14--5:10) School (Example: What university do I want to attend?) It’s important to remember that the Hebrews were Home (Example: Where do I want to live doubting God’s concern for them. Tey were also when I leave home?) wondering about the Lordship of Jesus, the Christ. In these verses the writer validates the priesthood Church (Example: Do I want to teach a of Jesus and the promise of God. Afer reading Sunday School class or sing in the choir or be this passage, answer the following questions as a on the youth council?) class. Workplace (Example: Should I look for a Have someone read Hebrews 4:14--5:10 aloud new job or stay where I am?) while the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles. Relationships (Example: Am I too young to consider marriage?) t8IBUDIBSBDUFSJTUJDTFOBCMF+FTVTUPVOEFS- stand the questions of the Hebrews (vv. 14, 15)? EXPLORE THE WORD t8IBUBSFUIFUXPTQFDJĕDRVBMJĕDBUJPOTPGUIF 1. OVERVIEW high priest (vv. 5:2 and 4)? In these next chapters of Hebrews, the author t*OUIBUEBZ UIFIJHIQSJFTUMZPďDFXBTJOUIF supports his introductory claims with compari- hands of the family that had bought control sons and contrasts of Christ, who is God’s High of it. According to verses 4 and 5 of chapter 5, Priest and only Son, to Melchizedek, who is Christ was appointed by God. How had God

20 “bought control of it”? and promises and vows God made to the Hebrews through Abraham and his descendants. History t7FSTFTJOEJDBUFUIBU+FTVTXBTNBEF supports the trustworthiness of God’s promises to perfect through obedience and sufering. Can humanity. you think of instances of Christ’s sufering, temptations, and obedience that are men- Have someone read Hebrews 6:13-20 aloud tioned in scripture? while the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles. Ask: 3. FOOD FOR THOUGHT (5:11--6:12) t*UXPVMECFHPPEGPSVTUPSFBEBHBJOBCPVU Tis passage may seem more condescending than the reference to Abraham in Genesis 22. Pay conciliatory at frst reading. It begins with a met- particular attention to verses 16-18. What did aphor about the gospel being like food (vv. 5:11- God promise Abraham? Why did He make 14), and ends with another parable about the that promise? Christian walk being like thirsty land (vv. 6:7-8). Read the fnal paragraph (vv. 6:9-12) carefully, t/PXSFBEGSPN+FTVT4FSNPO0OUIF.PVOU then answer the following questions as a class. Matthew 5:33-38, about swearing oaths. How do you reconcile this to what we’ve just read in Have someone read Hebrews 5:11--6:12 aloud Hebrews 6 and Genesis 22? while the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles. t 7FSTF SFGFST UP iUXP VODIBOHFBCMF things.” What are they? tTe Apostle Paul also referred to food when describing the early church (see 1 Cor. 3:2). Pe- tćFQBTTBHFFOETXJUIUXPTZNCPMTPG$ISJT- ter did the same thing in his frst letter, verse tian certainty. Write each one down and ex- 2:2. Why is this metaphor appropriate? How plain in a sentence how each illustrates the do you think the Hebrews might have respond- writer’s point. ed? How would you have reacted? 5. WHO IN THE WORLD IS t ćFSF BSF TJY GVOEBNFOUBM EPDUSJOFT NFO- MELCHIZEDEK? (7) tioned in the frst two verses of chapter six. What are they? What is a defnition for each We have seen his name prior to this, but this is of them? the chapter where we learn who he is and why his name keeps cropping up in this sermon. First we t0OFPGUIFNPTUEJďDVMUQBTTBHFTJOUIFFOUJSF have a little biography, then a brief testimonial, New Testament is in 6:4-6. Let’s read it aloud then the writer compares him to Jesus, God’s High again carefully and slowly. What is the writer Priest. Afer reading this chapter, consider the fol- warning the Hebrews about? lowing questions as a group. t*OZPVSPXOXPSET QBSBQISBTFPSJOUFSQSFU t*GZPVXFSFJOUSPEVDJOH.FMDIJ[FEFLUPTQFBL verses 7 and 8. What do they mean to you? at your youth group’s End of the Year Banquet, what three things would you say about him? 4. HE GAVE HIS WORD (6:13-20) t &WFSZPOF OFFET B IJTUPSZ MFTTPO PODF JO Here we hear the author speaking of the oaths awhile--in order not to repeat its follies. Te 21 writer of Hebrews uses Genesis 14:18-20 and and listening to learning. So we grow up obeying Psalm 110:4 as his lesson here. Why does this rules, regulations, laws, and leaders. lesson seem appropriate? Ask: t $IBQUFS WFSTF CFHJOT i+VTU UIJOL IPX great he was . . .” How great was he? And t8IBUBSFĕWFMBXTUIBUZPVPCFZ 8IZEP afer reading verses 4-10, list what made you obey them?) .FMDIJ[FEFLTPHSFBU t8IBUBSFĕWFMBXTUIBUZPVUIJOLBSFVOGBJS t*ONBOZXBZT .FMDIJ[FEFLXBTMJLF+FTVT or unenforceable? -and Jesus was like him. List as many similari- t8IBUBSFĕWFSVMFTJOZPVSIPVTF "ęFSFBDI ties as you can as you read in chapter 7. place a number between 1 and 10 (10 means t/PXSFBEUIFMBTUUXPWFSTFTPGUIFDIBQUFS “Hallelujah for this rule”; 1 means “Tis rule )PXBSF+FTVTBOE.FMDIJ[FEFLEJČFSFOU stinks”; and 2-9 are anywhere in between). t8IJDIPGUIFBCPWFSVMFTXJMMDBSSZJOUPZPVS APPLY THE WORD home when you make the rules? Trust and Obey LIVE THE WORD ćJTBDUJWJUZEFĕOFTUIFFTTFODFPGDJWJMJ[BUJPO WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? the trust we have with each other that rules will be kept and laws will be obeyed. It is, afer all, Tis true scenario should hit home with teenag- the backbone of our society. Students should ers who struggle with what it means to be like CF BCMF UP EFĕOF UIF SVMFT CZ XIJDI UIFZ MJWF Christ. Remind them that the very word “Chris- and why they choose to obey or disobey them. tian” means “Christlike.” 'JOE UIBU ĕOF MJOF CFUXFFO DJWJM EJTPCFEJFODF What Would Jesus Do? and criminal activity. A good discussion about house rules, church standards, city ordinances, Tey were walking through the parking lot to- etc., should ensue. Don’t be surprised if the dis- gether for the last time. For almost three months cussion evolves into one on values. You might Ralph and Tim had worked side by side on the encourage your group to discern the values that day crew at a local lumberyard, but the summer derive out of each of the rules/laws that they was drawing to a close and Tim would soon be mention. MFBWJOHUPBUUFOEPOFPGUIF/B[BSFOFDPMMFHFT TP today was his last day on the job. Trust and Obey He was tall and lanky, loved to laugh and play “Children, obey your parents” is how many in- basketball, which many of his teammates did si- terpret the Fifh Commandment . . . especially multaneously when they saw him come out of the parents. Te commandment actually reads locker room in his uniform. Tim stood over six “Honor your father and your mother, that feet four inches but weighed a pitiful 140 pounds. your days may be long in the land which the 6OGPSUVOBUFMZ UIFwYwYwTUIBU5JNXBT Lord your God gives you.” forced to carry were both wider and weighed more Te writer of Hebrews links obedience to listening than Tim, himself. Or at least it seemed so to Tim. 22 Ralph, on the other hand, was short and mus- the job, worked hard, ate together, joked, and cular. Tough he didn’t know it, his buddy Tim laughed. Never once did Tim condemn Ralph; would have loved to have had Ralph’s shoulder in fact, they rarely talked about the gospel very span and bicep devel-opment. Ironically, Ralph deeply at all. Tim mostly answered Ralph’s ques- wanted to be six inches taller than he was. (Isn’t tions and became his friend. that always the way it is?) More is done for the kingdom of God by regu- As they neared their cars, their pace slowed and lar people befriending the unsaved than all the their voices began to waver un-der the strain of “church evangelism” the world has ever known. what they knew would be the last time they ever Afer all, when you ask someone if he or she saw each other. Ralph was what Tim’s church would like to become a Christian, that is not the might have called “a worldly character,” who lis- question they hear. What is heard is, “Would you tened to distinctively unchristian rock and roll, like to be like me?” drank, and generally fooled around too much. He had been introduced to a better life through a Close with prayer Christian counselor years before, but had abandoned the search due to the hypocrisy he had seen in some of the churches. But Tim was diferent and Ralph knew it. With a quick shake of hands and tears in his eyes, Ralph looked up at Tim and said something to Tim that to this day Tim has never forgotten: “You’re the frst person I’ve ever met who showed me what Jesus was like.” Ask:

t What do you suppose Tim had done to earn such a compliment? t 8IBU JT JU UIBU NBLFT B $ISJTUJBO iMJLF Christ”? It might be of interest to the students to know what had really happened in this story. Tim spent time outside the lumberyard with Ralph— even in Ralph’s home. Tim was not scared, not jumpy, not reluctant, but rather eager to see Ralph’s house and how he lived. Tim also had Ralph over for a dinner party, introducing him to his other friends, playing basketball with him aferward. And each day, they goofed around on

23 MERCY MERCY ME!

STUDY SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 8:1-13 Is it wrong to feel vengeful when someone has assaulted our body, our home, our family, our KEY VERSE: 3 “For I will be merciful toward integrity? Are lawsuits and counter-lawsuits their iniquities, and I will remember their sins vengeful or protective? Are there some individ- no more” (Hebrews 8:12, RSV). uals whom even God himself, even the merciful (PEPGUIFOFXDPWFOBOU XPVMEĕOEJUEJďDVMU TEACHING AIMS: to forgive? And to forget? To help the learners: Tese are some questions that have been haunt- 1. Grasp what it means to receive God’s mer- ing Christians for centuries and certainly have cy and then show that same mercy to others. bothered or will bother your youth. In this passage, the writer not only teaches us the new 2. Experience the liberation of forgiving those heart of God but further establishes Jesus as the who have wronged them. solitary agent of God’s mercy. 3. Become a group that can distinguish the BIBLE BACKGROUND: diferences between American justice and Christian mercy. (Provided to help the leader prepare for the lesson. Share the appropriate parts with your class PERSPECTIVE: at suitable times during the discussion below): It is easy in the world today to see all the wrong, Nowhere outside the actual words of Christ in all the violence, all the corrup-tion, all the sin, the Gospels is the Good News more profound and to throw up our hands and exclaim, “Nuke and comforting than in the echo of the prophet ’Em All.” Tere’s almost too much evil in the Jeremiah, found in chapter 8 of Hebrews. It is world to comprehend, much less to cope with. the second phase of God’s redemptive plan, the It seems that every newscast, every newsmaga- new con-tract He has drawn between himself zine, every front page carries story afer story of and His greatest creation. For the balance of this people doing wrong to people. sermon to the new Christians of the Lycus Val- ley, beginning here in chapter 8, the writer links It is doubly hard to deal with it when it hits home, the familiar station of the Levitical priest and his when someone we know and love becomes the duties to the uniquely lofy status and activities victim of society’s abuses and human depravity. of the Christian Church’s High Priest, Jesus. Its

24 apologetical tone continues to remind the read- built by God in heaven replicates the innermost er of the urgency felt by the writer as he both sanctuary of Moses’ tabernacle, a sanctuary Jews defends and expands the Sonship of Christ to called the “most holy place.” Te high priest was MERCY the frightened men and wom-en of Jewish roots. allowed annual entrance but only while carry- MERCY ME! JOHUIFTBDSJĕDJBMCMPPEPGBUPOFNFOUJOTJEFBT Te writer begins with what by now must seem a ritual ofering. Te writer notes that the “true almost an unnecessary redun-dancy to the sanctuary” is inhabited eternally by our great casual reader: “We do have such a high priest High Priest who is our Intercessor. . . .” (Hebrews 8:1). Tis is the 10th reference to this point in Hebrews to Jesus, the Christ, as the It is interesting to study the gifs and oferings High Priest, but not until this chapter does the mentioned in verse 3. A study of the opening reader begin to learn of the extraordinary ben- two chapters of Leviticus might help your stu- FĕUPGPVS-PSET4POTIJQBOE1SJFTUIPPEćJT dents to imagine what these were, since most new Priest has overcome life’s bitterest enemy, modern youth give only coins or paper curren- death, and not only rose afer three days back to cy issued by the government. A burnt ofering an earthly life, but fur-thermore has ascended was given twice a day, once early in the morn- directly into heaven and is today seated at God’s ing and once in the evening, and this was dou- right hand. Te writer’s reference to “the Majes- bled on the Sabbath. Special feast days brought ty in heaven” would have been a familiar one to more extra oferings for Israel. Tese oferings Jews, who used that phrase to describe God in had to be male animals, normally a sheep or their own liturgies. Tis verse also refects verses goat, because male animals were generally more 2 and 3 in the opening chapter of the book, in valuable. Wealthy Jews brought bulls as their of- which the writer dem-onstrates the superiority fering, while the impoverished were allowed to of this High Priest in no fewer than seven ways: TBDSJĕDFNBMFCJSET VTVBMMZEPWFTBOEQJHFPOT ĕSTUCPSOIFJSPG(PETLJOHEPN $SFB- No marks or blemishes were to be found on the tor of all things (see Colossians 1:16 and John animals, and the individual was to lay his hand 1:3); (3) the radiance of God’s glory (see 2 Cor- on the head of the animal to demonstrate a link, inthians 4:6); (4) the perfect image of God (He a symbolic relationship between the person and is God); (5) creation’s glue, holding it all togeth- the ofering. It was at this point that the animal er; (6) the ransom of man; (7) the Agent and was accepted for ofering and became a sym- Finisher of redemption, now seated with God, bol of atonement for the individual. Te blood working with God. was sprinkled on the sides of the altar, then the entire body of the animal was burned so that Te second verse of the chapter contrasts the no one could claim that the giver reserved any tabernacle of man with the “true tabernacle” of portion for himself. (Te ofciating priest, how- God. Te writer is referring to the tabernacle FWFS PęFOLFQUUIFIJEFPGBTBDSJĕDJBMCVMMGPS built by Moses as per the exact instructions of himself.) Te Hebrew name for “burnt ofering” God delivered at Mount Sinai. Tough planned meant “going up.” by God, the fact that it was built by man made it inevitably imperfect and temporary. It is in Te claim in Hebrews 8:4 that Christ, “if he were Le-viticus 16:13-15 and 34 that we might get on earth, would not be a priest” simply refers to a better picture of this temple. Te sanctu-ary His lineage. Being born in the house of Judah

25 precluded His priestly potential. SESSION ACTIVITIES ENGAGE THE WORD Te crux of the chapter, perhaps the entire book, LORD, HAVE MERCY maybe even all of Scripture, is found in verses 8-12. It is a direct quote from God’s promise Probably the most difcult concept of the gospel delivered through the prophet Jeremiah some for youth to understand is mercy. Tey see so lit- seven centuries before: “I’m starting over. Te tle of it in society, and they may even see too lit- old covenant didn’t work well—the Israelites tle of it in their own lives, at home, at school, at refused to obey and I got angry at them. Tis church. It’s not uncommon for many of them to time, I’m coming down there myself to establish see vengeance, retribution, and punishment as open communication. You can talk to Me, and I normal Christian behavior. Tat’s why so many will talk to you. You’ll recognize Me by the nail- return to the altar time and time again to seek prints on My hands and feet. I will forgive and forgiveness for the same sin. forget your past and from now on My heart is merciful” (author’s paraphrase). Try to imagine Christ’s death enabled forgiveness and His res- the God of history using everyday language like urrection mediated it. We are, in essence, cruci- that to talk to you. It’s absolutely extraordinary. fying Him anew every time we fail to accept His Te advantages of the new covenant over the complete absolution of our sin. Mosaic covenant, according to the writer, are Tis activity puts today’s headlines and stories that the Law will now become ethical principle, in the perspective of Hebrews 8. While decid- God will be intimate with His people, ignorance ing which of the eight criminals should receive of God’s character is gone, and forgiveness will mercy, the students are also deciding which be forever. crimes may be beyond God’s mercy, which is, as It is crucial to discuss with your youth the writ- we know, im-possible. A discussion of the issue er’s claims that the old covenant has been ren- of justice will be important for them to under- dered obsolete. Tis is not to imply that the Law stand God’s merciful heart. of Moses is dismissed as irrelevant. Nor is it to Lord, Have Mercy suggest that the Old Testament is not equally “the Word of God.” It simply indicates, accord- Te room is dark and dank, strewn with trash, ing to William Lane in his book Hebrews: A Call laced with cobwebs, and full of dirty, rotten to Commitment, “that the old covenant was im- scoundrels. It is the holding cell of society’s worst perfect and provisional. Te old cove-nant was humans, the scum of the earth, the bottom of the defective; it developed faults on the human side. barrel (you get the point). Tese are real people . . .” with real families and real pasts. Students should be made aware that instead of Fortunately for you, you’re not one of them. As a ignoring the Old Testament Law, they should matter of fact, you’ve been put in charge of their rejoice that God’s plan of salvation has such his- fates. Yes, you are the judge who will decide which torical prepara-tion. God was intending, from ones are sen-tenced to prison or death and which the Fall, to get us back; in fact, that became His ones will be set free. Today your choice seems rela- sin-gular mission. tively simple: you may set one person free. Which

26 one will receive your court’s mercy? second degree murder and is sentenced to life in prison. t+FČSFZJTBZFBSPMETFSJBMLJMMFSXIPOPU only enticed young boys into his apartment t.BMDPMNJTBUFMFWBOHFMJTUXIPDMBJNTUPCF for sexual gratifcation, but then murdered the Son of God. He uses this “signifcant rela- BOENVUJMBUFEUIFN PDDBTJPOBMDBOOJCBMJ[JOH tionship to the Almighty” to cheat hundreds of them. His sentence is death by lethal injection. thousands of dollars from his loyal following. He has been sentenced to 10 years in prison t %PDUPS , JT B NFEJDBM QIZTJDJBO XIP TFFT for fraud. himself as a mercy-killer. He helps anyone who asks--and has enough money for inevitable le- 1. Which person will you choose to have mercy gal fees--to commit suicide with a simple injec- upon and set free? Why? tion. His sentence is life in prison. EXPLORE THE WORD t (FOFSBM 9 UPPL PWFS B TNBMM DPVOUSZ PO B 1. OVERVIEW faraway continent a few months ago and since then has ordered the systematic massacre of If there is time, have class members take turns UIPVTBOET PG DJUJ[FOT PQQPTFE UP IJT SFHJNF in reading the whole study pas-sage for the day, His sentence is death by fring squad. Hebrews 8, aloud while the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles. t4FSHFBOU: XIPTFSWFT(FOFSBM9JOUIFNJMJ- tary of that country, has personally shot 2,000 Just like a see-saw has a fulcrum, like scales have DJUJ[FOT)JTTFOUFODFJTEFBUICZĕSJOHTRVBE a pivot, this chapter is the turning point of the book to the Hebrews. As a matter of fact, our Key t.BSLJTBQSBDUJDJOHIPNPTFYVBMXIPJTBMTP 7FSTF BMPOHTJEF+PIO NBZJOEFFEEFTDSJCF the leading activist in youth(?) country’s capi- the very turning point of human history. Its con- tal for gay rights. His sentence is one year and fession, afer all, transformed the frst 39 books a $5,000 fne for unlawful assembly and incit- of the Bible into the Old Testa-ment, setting forth ing a riot in which 13 were injured and 42 were the theme of the New Testament--Te New Cov- arrested. enant God made between himself and humanity: t-VUIFSJTBNBOJOIJTTXIPPOFOJHIUJO Te heart of the Lord is mercy. MERCY! an argument shot another man. It just so happens they were both driving at the time and Have your class read the KEY VERSE several the victim’s car plowed into a third vehicle, kill- times (Hebrews 8:12), commit it to memory, ing the driver instantly. Te shooting victim then answer the following: survived. Luther has been sentenced to life in prison. t How do you defne “mercy”? t+PIOJTBi3JHIUUP-JGFwBDUJWJTUXIPQMBOUFE t8IBUEPZPVUIJOLIBTCFFOUIFTJOHMFUVSO- a bomb that destroyed an abortion clinic in his ing point of your life? neighborhood. He had no idea that the cus- t8IBURVFTUJPODSFFQTJOUPZPVSNJOEBTZPV todian of the clinic would be inside the night read these verses? the bomb went of. He has been found guilty of 27 2. SIT DOWN (8:1-2) Have someone read Hebrews 8:3-6 aloud while the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, Having established the High Priesthood of Je- then discuss: sus Christ, the writer now begins to describe His role in the lives of the Hebrew church. Remem- t From your recollection of other studies, what ber that during this time, there were only two are some of the “gifs and sacrifces” mentioned in places of worship: the synagogue if you were a verse three? Afer listing them, look up Leviticus Jew, and other Christians’ homes if you followed 1:2 and 2:1. Were you close? Jesus. Tese verses describe Christ’s position in the new tabernacle. t *G +FTVT XFSF PO FBSUI UIF XSJUFS DMBJNT )F would not be a priest. Why not? Have someone read Hebrews 8:1-2 aloud while the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles. t(PEXBSOFE.PTFTUPCVJMEUIFUBCFSOBDMFBD- Ten discuss: cording to a single blueprint, a single pattern. Only one way allowed! Compare this to John t+FTVT UIF)JHI1SJFTUPGUIF/FX$PWFOBOU iTBU 14:6, when Jesus states that He is the only access down at the right hand of the throne of the Maj- to God’s throne. What conclusions can you come esty in heaven.” What does that position mean in to? Scripture? (See Matthew 22:44; Acts 2:34; 7:55; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20.) t8FWFCFFOTUVEZJOHBMPUJOUIJTCPPLBCPVUUIF idea of promises. Here again we see the writer t(PEJTSFGFSSFEUPBTiUIF.BKFTUZJOIFBWFOw mentioning God’s promises at the end of verse six. What does “majesty” mean to you? What are those promises? How are they “better”? t5XPGBNJMJBSUFSNTBSFHJWFOBTOBNFTPGUIF 4. THE RECLAMATION PROJECT church building: “sanctuary” and “tabernacle.” BEGINS (8:7-10) Look each up in your dictionary and write down their defnitions. Have someone read Hebrews 8:7-10 aloud while the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles. t8FPęFOTJOHJOPVSDIVSDIFTi8F"SF4UBOE- ing on Holy Ground.” How is your church “Holy What an intriguing passage this is. It seems that Ground”? God is admitting He made a mistake--or at least changed His mind. “If there had been nothing tćJTUBCFSOBDMFJO)FCSFXTJTiTFUVQCZUIF wrong with that frst covenant, no place would Lord, not by man.” Aren’t all tabernacles (i.e., have been sought for another.” Could the Al- “churches”) set up by God? Can you describe the NJHIUZ(PE UIF$SFBUPSPGUIF6OJWFSTF IBWFEF- diference? cided things weren’t going too well and said, “Hey, let’s start over”? 3. MAKING A SACRIFICE (8:3-6) Tis quote is from the prophet Jeremiah (31:31- Having established the priesthood of Jesus in the 34). Let’s read it in that context before we answer frst chapters of the book and the position of that talk about it. priest in heaven in the frst two verses of this chapter, the writ-er now begins to describe the minis- t "DDPSEJOH UP UIFTF WFSTFT XIBU XBT iXSPOHw try of the High Priest in these four verses. with the frst covenant? 28 t)PXJTUIJTOFXDPWFOBOU UIFCBTJTGPSBOEFT- transgression, the evil, the “wickedness.” sence of the New Testament, diferent from the frst one? God, however, is thankfully not human. When He forgives, He forgets. His “Sea of Forgetfulness” t*OWFSTF (PETBZT i*XJMMQVUNZMBXTJOUIFJS (Micah 7:19) is much larger than Satan’s “Lake of minds and write them on their hearts.” What laws Fire” (Revela-tion 20:14). is He talking about? Why is “writing” the law “on their hearts” such a signifcant statement? t5PXIBUiXJDLFEOFTTwJT(PE UISPVHIIJTQSPQI- et Jeremiah, referring to in verse 12? tćJTXIPMFQBTTBHFJTMJTUJOHUIFXBZTCZXIJDI this new covenant is superior to the old one. With tćFSFBSFi'PVS'PSTwUP(PETNFSDZGPSHJWJOH that in mind, what do you think verse 11 means? forgetting, forbearing, and forever. Te frst two Who is the “they” in “because they will all know are perhaps clear to you. How do the second two me”? How will they know Him? ft into His mercy? 5. FORGIVE AND FORGET (8:11-13) t.FSDZJTiOPUHFUUJOHXIBUXFEFTFSWFw(SBDFJT “getting what we cannot earn.” Justice is “getting Have someone read Hebrews 8:11-13 aloud what we deserve.” How do the person of Jesus and while the rest of the class follows along in their His Heavenly Father refect each of these? Bibles. t7FSTFNBZTFFN BUĕSTUSFBEJOH UPOFHBUFPS Because of our frailty and fniteness, human beat least supersede the relevance or necessity of the ings are completely incapable of grasping the Old Testament (the frst covenant). How do you USVUIPGUIFTFWFSTFT*UJTEJďDVMUUPGPSHJWFFBDI interpret this verse? How might the New Testa- other, but if by God’s grace that does occur, it ment supersede the Old Testament? seems like it is nearly impossible to forget a wrong done against us. What these verses teach us is Jesus took the place of Barabbas, a convicted mur- that forgiveness--by defnition--is forget-ting the derer. Instead of calling the angels to rescue Him, Jesus allowed His persecutors to become His exe- APPLY THE WORD MERCY OR JUSTICE?

Tis activity is somewhat similar to the preceding exercise, but this one focuses more on the everyday commissions and omissions of misbehavior. It will help stu-dents see that mercy is truly “not getting what is deserved.” Mercy or Justice? In the following situations, decide which is better, mercy or justice. If you de-cided to be merciful, what was your reason? What do you hope will happen? If you chose justice, tell the group why. What would be a just consequence? Tese are based on the assumption the person was caught.

29 Mercy Justice Reason

Cheating on a school test Disobeying your parent’s instructions Lying to a friend Eating a supermarket fruit before paying for it Running cable TV of your neighbor’s line (with his permission) Driving 65 mph in a 55 mph zone Trowing your hamburger wrapper outside your car Putting down two hours of piano practice time when you did only one Taking $5.00 from your dad’s wallet Copying your friend’s math homework Writing down an extra three hours on your time sheet at work Saying a four-letter curse word at the dinner table Finding and then keeping someone’s wallet full of cash, with plenty of adequate ID in it

cutioners so that a sinner could have more time to Te preceding activity was built on the premise repent. Do you think Christ’s decision might have that these people were caught in the act. Much of been diferent had Barabbas killed His mother, how we behave is based on the assumption that Mary? How many of us would be able to stand if we are not caught doing something wrong, it’s in the place of one who has wronged us and take OK. upon ourselves his or her guilt so that he or she might be saved? What widow would be electro- What are some other things we tend to do quite cuted in place of her husband’s murderer in order easily and without a second thought if we think to show God’s mercy to the lost? we can get by with them? A tough question for us all.

30 LIVE THE WORD Last Will and Testament

Tis activity will prepare the group to see that God’s contract seeks a contract from them in return. It’s not “stuf” He’s looking for; it’s “selves” He desires. Look for “behaviors,” “commitments,” and “morals.” Last Will and Testament God gave us two covenants, didn’t He? His frst (the Old Testament) and His last (the New Tes- tament). First in small groups, or as individuals, then as a whole group together, draw up your side of the contract with God. Include what your promises to Him are. t8IBUBSF)JTQSPNJTFTUPZPVJOSFUVSO Close in prayer.

31 GOD’S RANSOM NOTE

STUDY SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 9:1-10:18 new high priest is ultimately superior to the old ways and the old beliefs. Christ’s ministry to us KEY VERSE: 4 “Christ is the mediator of a new is in His death and resurrection, providing a di- covenant, that those who are called may receive rect path, a direct line of communication to God the promised eternal inheritance--now that he the Father, himself. To say it would have “awak- has died as a ransom to set them free from the ened the Hebrews” is grossly understated, for it TJOTDPNNJUUFEVOEFSUIFĕSTUDPWFOBOUw )F- SPDLFEUIFWFSZĕCFSPGUIFJSSFMJHJPVTDVMUVSF*U brews 9:15). virtually negated thousands of years of tradition and custom. TEACHING AIMS: Tis lesson will help your youth see that wor- To help the learners: ship is more than liturgy and that Christianity 1. Acknowledge that their own piety might JTNPSFUIBOCFIBWJPSNPEJĕDBUJPO*UJTWBMVFT make them more judge-like than Jesus-like. DMBSJĕDBUJPOPOUIFIJHIFTUMFWFMćFMFTTPOBTLT them to decide whether they will live focused on 5PDPNQSFIFOEUIFUSVFOBUVSFPGTBDSJĕ- look-ing at people’s outside actions or on meas- cial giving. uring their own hearts and motives. 3. Understand the diference between legal- BIBLE BACKGROUND JTNBOETBODUJĕDBUJPO (Provided to help the leader prepare for the les- PERSPECTIVE son. Share the appropriate parts with your class at suitable times during the discussion below): Tis passage of Scripture may seem far removed from the ways we live today, but underneath Talk about your wake-up call. Chapters 9 and the words lies a truth that is both universal and 10 must have seemed like a “slap in the face” to timeless. In Christ, we have been liberated from the old ways so important in Hebrew tradition. a life lived and bound by the law into a life that Te writer concen-trates his purpose toward loves one another as Christ loved us. demonstrating the striking diferences between worship under the old covenant and the provi- In refecting on Jewish tradition in worship, the sions made with the new covenant through the writer to the Hebrews becomes almost disap- Mediator, Jesus Christ. proving and condescending when pointing out UIBUXPSTIJQUISPVHIUIFFUFSOBMTBDSJĕDFPGUIF Understand that in Judeo tradition, particularly 32 with those Hebrews in the Ly-cus Valley, there dus (Hugh Clay-combe, drawings in the NIV was almost an obsession with the forces of the Study Bible [1981], 124 and 126). universe, so when the writer contrasts the new covenant to the “regulations for worship and . . Te symbolism of God’s redemptive covenant GOD’S was preserved in the tabernacle, making each RANSOM NOTE . an earthly [or cosmic] sanctuary,” characteristic of Levitical worship, he is writing in rather element an object lesson for the worshiper. Te negative tones. Although he is shallow in his de- Levitical priests, in-cluding some with Egyp- scriptions of the tabernacle and its features, built tian names and perhaps Egyptian training, gave under the instruction and supervision of Moses, meticulous attention to facts about the shrine. this passage might seem a bit bogged down with Reconstruction of the furnishings is possible unimportant detail to the 21st-century reader, be-cause of extremely detailed descriptions particularly the younger reader. and precise measurements recorded in Ex-odus 25—40. Te layout of the tabernacle may be the most in- ARK OF THE COVENANT teresting and accessible aspect of this introduction. Your students are even asked to draw their Te ark of the testimony compares with the bird’s-eye version of it with the holy place and roughly contemporary shrine and funerary fur- the holy of holies, etc. niture of King Tutankhamun (ca. 1350 B.C.), Te new religious observances taught by Mo- which along with the Nim-rud and Samaria ivo- ses in the desert centered on ritu-als connected ries from a later period, have been used to guide XJUIUIFUBCFSOBDMF BOEBNQMJĕFE*TSBFMTTFOTF the graphic interpretation of the text. Both of separateness, pu-rity, and oneness under the sources show the conventional way of depicting Lordship of Yahweh. ex-treme reverence, with facing winged guard- ians shielding a sacred place. A few desert shrines have been found in Sinai, LAMPSTAND notably at Serabit el-Khadem and at Timnah in the Negev, and show marked Egyptian infu- Te traditional form of the lampstand is not FODF 4QFDJĕD DVMUVSBM BOUFDFEFOUT UP QPSUBCMF proven archaeologically until much later. shrines carried on poles and covered with thin sheets of gold can be found in ancient Egypt TABLE as early as the Old Kingdom (2800-2250 B.C.), Te table holding the bread of the Presence was but were especially prominent in the 18th and made of wood covered with thin sheets of gold. 19th dynasties (1570-1180). Te best examples "MMPGUIFPCKFDUTXFSFQPSUBCMFBOEXFSFĕUUFE come from the fabulous tomb of Tutankhamun with rings and carrying poles, practices typical (ca. 1350). Comparisons of construction details of Egyptian ritual processions as early as the Old in the text of Exodus 25—40 with the frames, Kingdom. shrines, poles, sheathing, draped fabric covers, HJMUSPTFUUFT BOEXJOHFEQSPUFDUJWFĕHVSFTGSPN INCENSE ALTAR, BRONZE ALTAR the shrine of Tutankhamun are instructive. Te period, the Late Bronze Age, is equivalent in all Te altar of burnt ofering was made of wood dating systems to the era of Moses and the exo- PWFSMBJEXJUICSPO[FćFTJ[F ĕWFDVCJUTTRVBSF and three cubits high, matches altars found at 33 Arad and Beer-sheba from the period of the God, the High Priest of the new covenant. He monarchy. made all of that unnecessary, for His shed blood as the Lamb of God was for eternity. No more Afer these physical descriptions are set forth, was there limited access to the holy of holies, the writer initiates further dis-cussion on the for “whoever believes in him should not perish temporary nature of the cultic worship, point- but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Te redemp- ing out the annual ne-cessity for atonement rit- tive blood of Jesus was for each individual on ual, known as the Day of Atonement (the 10th FBSUI BOEOPPČFSJOH OPBOJNBMTBDSJĕDFDPVME day of the seventh month). It was a busy day for separate man from the love of God. “Christ is the high priest, who began his day by taking of the mediator”—not bulls, goats, sheep, doves or his daily clothes, cleansing himself in the outer pi-geons—“of a new covenant, that those who courtyard before entering the ho-ly place to put are called may receive the promised eternal in- POUIFTQFDJBMHBSNFOUT)JTĕSTUTBDSJĕDFXBT heritance” (Hebrews 9:15). a bull, a sin ofering at the altar of burnt ofering for the transgressions of all his fellow priests. William Lane refers to 9:16-22 as “a long paren- ćFSF XFSF ĕWF UZQFT PG PČFSJOHT CVSOU TJO thesis” that “responds to the question, ‘Why was guilt, peace, and cereal.) He then took some of it necessary for Christ to die?’ in terms of cov- the bull’s blood into the most holy place, sprin- enantal practice” (Hebrews: A Call to Commit- kled it on the front cover of the ark while in- ment, 120). Tis High Priest didn’t use animals. cense smoke hid the ark from full view. /P )FTBDSJĕDFEIJNTFMG NBLJOHUIFPČFSJOH once and for all. Good Friday was a one-time, Afer these rituals had been completed, he went BMMUJNFTBDSJĕDF BOE3FTVSSFDUJPO4VOEBZXBT outside again and cast lots over two goats, one a one-time, all-time victory and reconciliation. UPCFTBDSJĕDFEćFPUIFSXBTDBMMFEUIFiTDBQF- HPBUwćFCMPPEPGUIFTBDSJĕDFEHPBUXBTUIFO ćFĕSTUWFSTFTPGDIBQUFSBSFUIFBVUIPST spread on the atonement cover of the ark as ĕOBM FYQPTJUJPO PG $ISJTU BT )JHI 1SJFTU XIP an ofering for the sins of the people. Ten the requires simple obedience for approaching the priest went back out to the holy place where he throne of God. Je-sus, who obeyed His Heaven- spread together the blood of the goat and bull. ly Father in both life and death (and life again), In a symbolic gesture of transference of Israel’s is our example to approaching God in complete sin, he laid his hands on the spared goat and submission of will. set it free to the desert. When all of this had been accomplished, the high priest once again Tese 18 verses are brilliantly persuasive in the stripped, cleansed himself, and put his regular classical terms of oratory. Tey begin by point- clothes back on. But before he called it a day, he ing out the incompleteness of the Law and its IBEUPTBDSJĕDFUXPSBNT POFGPSIJNTFMGBOE OFDFTTBSZSFQFUJUJWFSJUVBMTPGBUPOJOHTBDSJĕDFT one for the people. JO UIF ĕSTU GPVS WFSTFT ćFTF BSF BOTXFSFE directly in verses 15-18 with the completeness Tis was all familiar to the readers of Hebrews PG $ISJTUT TBDSJĕDF *OUFSWFOJOH UIJT QPJOU who had yearly celebrated this ritual as an ap- counterpoint is another point: the superiority peasement to their minds and an atonement of Christ’s priesthood. He did the will of God for their sins. But then came Jesus, the Son of and thereby overwhelmed the need for repeated

34 TBDSJĕDF WW BOE)JTQPTJUJPOBUUIFSJHIU It has become apparent to some in the congrega- hand of the throne of God overcomes the need tion and some members on the board that some of for Levitical priests (vv. 11-14). the practices and rules of the church may be obsolete and unnec-essary. Such as those dealing with: SESSION ACTIVITIES t%SJOLJOHPGBMDPIPM ENGAGE THE WORD Church Board Meeting t4PDJBM%BODJOH Te lesson plays right into the primary desire t1JFSDFEFBST POZPVOHNFO of every youth: PUT ME IN CHARGE AND WATCH ME GO. Here we have set up the idea t4UFXBSETIJQ of a church board meeting with an agenda that t#BQUJTNBMTFSWJDFT will include discussion of church rules, rituals, and regulations. For many young people, the t8FEOFTEBZOJHIUTFSWJDFT church’s main purpose is to tell us what we can’t do. “It’s all a bunch of ‘thou shalt nots’!” t"QQSPQSJBUFBUUJSFGPSXPSTIJQ Discussion will lead into the important distinc- t4PDJBMBDUJWJTN tions between rules for rules’ sa-ke, and rules We need to discuss these items and decide if their that transform us from the world’s molds and merits outweigh their drawbacks. Should we expectations. It might be productive to elect a change our stance, and if so, how? pastor, a secretary to keep the minutes, a president of the church board, etc. Let them do as Adjournment much of the leadership as they can. When it Please don’t miss this important meeting. Wednes- starts to stray or bog down, intervene and re- day at 8:00. direct. t*GZPVSZPVUIHSPVQXFSFUIFCPBSE XIBUXPVME the discussion sound like? Church Board Meeting Memo to: All Church Board Members EXPLORE THE WORD 1. OVERVIEW From: Te Senior Pastor and his staf In our modern society, it seems that a person’s Regarding: Changing and/or omitting rules worth and value are judged solely on his or her of the church last performance. Athletes aren’t paid for the Agenda: Prayer games they won when they were in university. Coaches aren’t retained based on career wins. Old business Employees aren’t given bonuses for last decade’s dividends. Our culture rewards those who did ex- Motion to accept the minutes cellent work this morning. Our motto seems to be, New business “So, what have you done for me lately?” We see it in the workplace. We hear it in the schools. We

35 feel it in the homes. We even taste it in the church. tinuation of God’s covenant, es-tablished now in mercy. In order to do that, he must frst lay out Tat doesn’t say much for our attention spans, the blueprint of the more familiar tabernacle. does it? In our go fast instant lifestyle, we don’t have time to contemplate our history full of rich Have someone read Hebrews 9:1-10 aloud while tradition and customs. No, no, no--we have peo- the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, ple to see, places to go, things to do. Who’s got time and then answer these questions as a class. to think anymore? t Do your best to “translate” the words of the Te writer to the Hebrews begins this section of writer into a drawing. Do a bird’s eye re-cre- his sermon with a reminder of the rich traditions ation of the Jewish tabernacle so you might in Jewish worship, particularly with regard to the WJTVBMJ[FJUTVOJRVFEFTJHO tabernacle and its architecture. As he continues, he demonstrates that Jesus honored those tra-di- t*GZPVMMMPPLJO&YPEVT ZPVMMTFFB tional values by personifying them in the image detailed description of the lampstand and its of God. As you read through the-se verses, note lamps. Why do you suppose God was so spe- how he seems to be writing directly to us today. cifc with His instructions and design? Prophetic, isn’t it? t8IBUUISFFJUFNTXFSFJOTJEFUIFBSL WFSTF If there is time, have class members take turns 4)? What is the signifcance of each? in reading the whole study pas-sage for the day, t*OWFSTFT UIFXSJUFSFTUBCMJTIFTUIFEJG- Hebrews 9:1—10:18, aloud while the rest of the ferences between “the way it was” and “the way class follows along in their Bibles. it is.” What is the primary diference? t8IJDIWFSTFTFFNTNPTUQSPQIFUJDGPSZPVS situation today? 3. WHAT HE’S DONE FOR US LATELY (9:11-15) t 8IBU XPVME ZPV DPOTJEFS UP CF UIF NPTU troublesome verse(s) of this passage? Tese next verses are the frst part of another argument set forth by the writer to support his main t8IBUBSFSFBDUJPOTGFFMJOHTZPVIBWFUPUIJT point. Tey are a list of achievements of the Son passage of Hebrews? of God that es-tablish His High Priesthood. It’s almost as if we have here a “resume” of Jesus’ min- t*GZPVXFSFUPUSBOTDSJCFUIJTTFDUJPOJOUPB istry. hymn to be sung, what would be the title? Have someone read Hebrews 9:11-15 aloud 2. THE BLUEPRINT (9:1-10) while the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, and then answer these items as a class. Before you read this description of the “old” tabernacle, it might help to re-read verse 8:13 right Complete the following statements: above it. Te writer is establishing the proper au- “He entered ______thority and posi-tion of Jesus, the Christ, within ______” the framework of Jewish tradition and law so that (v. 12). they will see the High Priesthood of Jesus as a con-

36 “He obtained ______DIBSBDUFSTLOPXMFEHF7FSTFTBMNPTUSF- ______” sembles one of these dramatic asides--a paren- (v. 12). thetical comment. Teir theme is the sacrifcial blood. What do they say about it? “He has decisively cleansed ______” t8JUIPVUUIJTTBDSJĕDJBMCMPPE XIBUJTJNQPT- (vv. 13-14). sible? “Terefore, He is______t.PTUTUBUFNFOUTPGMPHJDJOBSHVNFOUBSFi*G ______” . . . then . . .” statements. In looking at verses (v. 15). 16-22 as the “If-Clause,” what is the “Ten- Clause” that follows? t 8IBUT UIF QSJNBSZ EJČFSFODF CFUXFFO UIF “blood of bulls and goats” and the “blood of t 7FSTF BMMVEFT UP iUIF FOE PG UIF BHFTw Christ”? What “ages” is he referring to? What “age” is now beginning? t 7FSTFT BOE JNQMZ B NFUBQIPS UIBU makes a distinction between the Law of the 5. YOUR PIETY IS SHOWING Old Testament (Covenant) and the Love (or (10:1-18) Law) of the New Testament (Covenant). What is that metaphor? Because the Old Covenant based on the law concentrated itself on outward ap-pearances and ex- t8IBUEPFTJUNFBOUPCFiBNFEJBUPSw 8IBU ternal behaviors, people watched each other even is Christ mediating? How is He mediating? more closely than we tend to do now. Tat’s what happens with laws, you know. Tey remain on the 4. WHERE THERE’S A WILL (9:16-28) outside and don’t engrain themselves on the in- While the frst part of the current argument es- side. And people get so judg-mental and “holier tablishes Christ’s credentials, this second part of than thou”. the argument describes His motives. Te tempta- So when a society or group of people lives by a set tion while reading this passage is to say to your- of laws instead of morals and ethics, it becomes self, “Haven’t I heard all of this someplace else be- quite clear, almost immediately, which ones are fore?” Terefore, we’ll read it aloud and listen to obedient and submissive to the law and which its tone and its content. Te writ-er is quite emo- ones aren’t. Tose who aren’t get punished; those tional and wants his readers to respond. who are get pious. Have someone read Hebrews (9:16-28) aloud Have someone read Hebrews 10:1-18 aloud while the rest of the class follows along in their while the rest of the class follows along in their #JCMFT "ęFS ZPV IBWF ĕOJTIFE SFBEJOH JU BO- Bibles, and then answer these questions as a swer the following: class. t4IBLFTQFBSFXBTPOFPGUIFĕSTUQMBZXSJHIUT t What is one rule (of the Church, or your to use a “dramatic aside”--a comment made by town/city, or your school) that tends to bring a character to the audience without the other out the worst piety in people? Can you think of 37 any others? t5XPXFMMESFTTFE OFBUMZHSPPNFENFOJO their early 20s are shopping together in the tćFRVPUBUJPOGSPN1TBMN DJUFEIFSF mall. Later you see them laughing quietly at a in verses 5-7, refers to four of the fve types of fancy, candlelit restaurant. oferings mentioned in Leviticus 1--6. Turn in your Old Testament to Leviticus and, looking t4IFSSZCSJOHTBGSJFOEUPZPVSXFFLMZTP- at the page headings or the section headings, cial. She’s cute, modestly dressed, shy . . . and what are the fve types of oferings mentioned? pregnant. tćFXSJUFSDMBJNT(PEXBTiOPUQMFBTFEwXJUI t " DBSMPBE PG NJOPSJUZ UFFOT ZPVWF OFWFS the legal oferings of the Levitical church (v. 6). seen before is on your street. In a couple of Why not? minutes, a Mercedes pulls up and the drivers talk quietly. t +FTVT XBT OPU MJLF )JT QSFEFDFTTPST JO UIF priesthood. How? t 4PNF QFPQMF BSF QSPQPTJOH UIF DPOTUSVD- tion of an abortion clinic across the street APPLY THE WORD from your church. First Impressions t"WJTJUPSMFBWFTZPVS4VOEBZNPSOJOHXPS- Prejudice is alive and well in our world today, ship service to smoke a cigarette. and we don’t have to leave our own churches t 8IJMF WJTJUJOH B QSPNJOFOU DIVSDI NFN- BOEIPNFTUPĕOEUIBUPVU:PVNJHIUJOUSPEVDF ber’s home, you see a beer in her refrigerator. this activity with a story from your life when you either prejudged someone wrongly (and the t:PVSOFXZPVUIQBTUPS BNBO IBTBQP- price you had to pay for doing so) or you were nytail. the victim of someone’s prejudice (and what it cost you). t:PVSOFYUEPPSOFJHICPSJTEJBHOPTFEXJUI AIDS. Tis activity should get your group thinking BCPVUIPXTVQFSĕDJBMNBOZPGVTBSFXIFOXF LIVE THE WORD judge the value or worth of someone, how we Giving It Up judge individuals based on outward appearance or behaviors, how we are terribly unchristlike in When we think of oferings in our society, we our love . . . and lack of it . . . for our fellow hu- think of those coins and bills that we hurriedly man beings. take out of our pockets on Sunday “because we can aford it.” Tat little bit of cash in the ofer- First Impressions ing plate rarely causes our lives much disruption One of the easiest things for us to do is to stereo- PSTBDSJĕDF type people based on our frst impressions. Afer Tis activity asks students to look beyond the each of these brief descriptions of people--some XBMMFU BOE UP TFF HJWJOH UP (PE BT B TBDSJĕDF individuals, some groups--share your frst impres- that could and should cost them something. It sions of them. doesn’t have to be lim-ited to money. It could be

38 the ofering of time, talent, property. Be prepared to get the discussion going with some examples you have thought of, seen, or done. Giving It Up It seems quite obvious by now, afer reading the frst 10 chapters of Hebrews, that the early church gave a lot of oferings and made a lot of sacrifces in their worship of the Almighty God. Tey gave animals (their form of “currency”) and of-fered them up in all sorts of ways for all sorts of reasons. If, indeed, an ofering is to be sacrifcial, list the ways some of the following of-ferings might truly ft that defnition.

“Currency” How can it be made truly sacrificial?

Money

Talent

Time

Property (car, clothes, etc.)

"T XF IBWF TFFO HJWJOH UP (PE BT B TBDSJĕDF should cost us something. It doesn’t have to be limited to money. It can be the ofering of time, talent, property. Let’s look for ways that we can NBLFSFBMTBDSJĕDFTGPS+FTVT End with prayer.

39 YOU MUST HAVE FAITH

STUDY SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 10:19-11:40 In this regard, are we any diferent from the He- CSFX$ISJTUJBOTPGUIFĕSTUDFOUVSZ "SFOUXF KEY VERSE 5: “Now faith is being sure of what all running toward home, tails tucked between we hope for and certain of what we do not see” our legs, looking for that last bit of security to (Hebrews 11:1). latch onto? TEACHING AIMS: Tis lesson helps us see that the God of today is To help the learners: the same God of A.D. 64 and the same God of 700 B.C. He’s been here since before the begin- 1. Realize that faith is built in history, both ning, a concept probably more abstract than of personal and of humanity. the eternity that lies ahead, so He knows what 2. Believe that God can be trusted to help He’s doing—particularly when we have no idea them cope and overcome the trails they face what we’re doing. Tat makes Him uniquely every day. trustworthy. BIBLE BACKGROUND 'FFM B TFOTF PG DPOĕEFODF UIBU UIF (PE they serve is trustworthy and faithful. (Provided to help you, the leader, prepare for the lesson. Share the appropriate parts with your class PERSPECTIVE: at suitable times during the discussion): Sociologists aren’t certain when it began to un- Is it any surprise that the writer begins this pas- ravel, exactly, but somewhere in the past 30 or sage with some concluding re-marks that include 35 years, people have started to mistrust govern- UIFXPSEiDPOĕEFODFw *UJTBUUIFWFSZIFBSUPG ment, institutions, even each other. Some blame his argument that he has been attempting to es- the assassination of presidents. Some point to tablish since verse 1 of chapter 1—“Hey, God is wars. Still others blame government or business faithful. And merciful. And gracious. He said corruption. Christ is the One. Christ said He is the One. Let’s put that fact behind us and underneath us and all Perhaps it’s not one event that has eroded soci- around us and start trusting Him. If we can hold ety’s foundations of trust. Maybe it’s drugs. Or POUPUIFDPOĕEFODF)FIBTFBSOFECZUBLJOHPVS violence. Or poverty. But it is quite obvious that TJOVQPO)JTPXODSPTTBTBĕOBMBOEDPNQMFUF the skepticism of an-other era has dissolved into BOEFUFSOBMTBDSJĕDF UIFOOPUIJOHUIBUDBOBOE a chronic cynicism, bordering on phobia. Eve- will happen to us is of any lasting consequence.” rything has become a conspiracy. 40 ćFĕSTUPGĕWFFYIPSUBUJPOT i-FUVTESBXOFBS What we have here in verses 19-25 is the prac- to God” (10:22), is built on four preset condi- tical application of the preceding nine chapters tions. First, we must have “a sincere heart.” Te and 18 verses. It is a pastor’s call to action. Christ YOU MUST PSJHJOBM(SFFLCSJOHTGPSUIBHSFBUEFĕOJUJPOPG has transformed worship from a set of regulated HAVE FAITH the word “sincere.” In biblical times, fraudulent rituals to a lifestyle accessible to all. Our worship and greedy merchants selling honey ofen “pad- now is fellowship with one another. According ded” the earthen jar with wax, so it ap-peared to William Lane, “Christian worship is expected that you were getting a lot more honey for your from the new people of God because God has money than you were. Lit-erally, then, “sincere” restored them to a rela-tionship characterized means “without wax.” In other words, sincere CZQFBDFUISPVHI$ISJTU UIFQFSGFDUTBDSJĕDFGPS means honest and just and equitable. Tat is the sins” (He-brews: A Call to Commitment, 139). heart we must carry into the holy of holies to commune with God. Second, we must have “full Tis is not to say, of course, that one cannot wor- assurance of faith.” Tis, as we will learn in the ship God alone on a hillside, high atop a moun- next chapter, has multiple biblical precedents, tain, foating along a river, praying at bedside. but none seems more striking than the calling )PXFWFS UIF SBUJĕDBUJPO PG $ISJTUT TBDSJĕDF of the Twelve disciples. In Matthew 4:18-20 we a peace ofering, takes place only in relation to read: “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of the fel-lowship of peace. One can certainly be Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Pe- at peace with oneself, and that is well and good. ter and his brother Andrew. Tey were casting But God wants us to be at peace with each other, B OFU JOUP UIF MBLF GPS UIFZ XFSF ĕTIFSNFO and that comes only through fellowship. Hence ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make the writer’s warning in verse 25 that the Hebrew ZPVĕTIFSTPGNFO"UPODF

41 drifwood. It is no wonder, then, that the writer t"#3")".)JTTBDSJĕDFPGBMPOHBXBJUFE concludes this chapter by reminding the church son, Isaac, was honored by God and Isaac PGJUTQBTU XIFOJUĕSTUiSFDFJWFEUIFMJHIU XIFO was spared. Tis foreshadowed God’s own [it] stood [its] ground in a great contest in the TBDSJĕDJBM-BNC +FTVT face of sufering” (v. 32). Te choice is simple yet profound, and it is found in verse 39: “shrink t *4""$ ćJT QSPEVDU PG "CSBIBNT GBJUI back and [be] destroyed” or “believe and [be] produced a faith of its own in his sons. saved.” t+"$0#)JTCMFTTJOHPOFBDIPGUIFTPOTPG Te future is the great unknown, the ultimate Joseph assured an unbroken line of faith. mystery. Seers and prophets have for centu- t+04&1))FGPSFTBXUIFFYPEVTPGUIF*TSB- ries been revered for their ability, both alleged elites out of bondage. and demonstrated, to look down the road and see what’s coming. It is the future that brings t.04&4)FMFEUIFDIPTFOQFPQMFPG(PE about fear and worry and sinful behavior. But out of Egyptian slavery. the past—now that’s something you can count t +04)6" )JT BSNZ PG GBJUIGVM USVNQFUT on. You can document the past. You can read overtook a city. about it and remember it, and sometimes you can even repeat it. Tat’s why Hebrews 11, “Te t3")"#4IFCFDBNFBMJWJOHUFTUJNPOZPG Great Faith Chapter,” is here. It is an annotated (PETMJNJUMFTTHSBDFBOEJOĕOJUFSFBDI biography of the heroes of faith. Christian faith. It is the writer’s Hall of Faith, and it’s here to re- t 5)& 05)&34 i$PORVFSFE LJOHEPNT assure those who face the bleakest and blackest administered justice, gained what was prom- of futures. ised; . . . shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the fames, . . . escaped the edge Tere is purpose in the inclusion of each hero of the sword; . . . became powerful in battle that is as rich and detailed as the Old Testament and routed foreign armies. . . . received back itself. Terefore, it would be good for you to their dead, . . . were tortured and refused to study these characters of Christendom in great- be released, so that they might gain a better er detail than is aforded here. In capsule form, resurrection. . . . faced jeers and fogging, . . . however, here is a brief rationale for each: were chained and put in prison. . . . stoned; . . . sawed in two; . . . put to death by the sword. t"#&-)JTPČFSJOHUP(PEXBTPČFSFECZ . . . destitute, persecuted and mistreated” (vv. faith; Cain’s was not and was, therefore, re- 33-37). jected by God. t &/0$) ćF GBDU UIBU IF QMFBTFE (PE JT SESSION ACTIVITIES proof of his faith in God. ENGAGE THE WORD Want Ads t/0"))FCVJMUBTFBWFTTFMJOBMBOEMPDLFE country because God had told him to—and Today’s newspapers seem to be full of want ads. he sufered ridicule and persecution because Some are for employment, used cars or furni- of it. ture, garage sales, and more. Tose ought to be

42 very familiar to your group. You might want to launches forth in His genealogy of faithfulness in bring a page or two from several newspapers to order to encourage these new Christians who are show them what they look like. desperately struggling “to hold on” against great odds, both from within and with-out. Tis activity will force them to consider the heroes of faith in concise fashion. What character- Afer reading Hebrews 10:19--11:40, respond to istics are important for a man or woman of faith the following items as a class. to possess? What is God looking for when He says, “I want you”? t Before we jump into a more careful study of this passage, what is your defnition of “faith”? Want Ads t 8IJDI OBNF JO DIBQUFS TUBOET PVU FJUIFS Your city newspaper has a great rate for want from this reading or what you’ve read and stud- ads: 30 cents a line or a nickel per word. God has ied in the past? What is it about that person that given you three bucks (it was a low tithe month) seems to stick with you? to write an ad for Him. He needs a great person of faith to help build His kingdom in your city. What t*GZPVDPVMEUBMLUPBOZPGUIFNFOPSXPNFO characteristics might He be looking for? mentioned here, what would you ask him/her? 2. HOLD ON! (10:19-39) %JTDVTTBTBHSPVQXIFOFWFSZPOFJTĕOJTIFE Ten later afer class, either indi-vidually or in You’ve heard the phrase a thousand times, per- small groups, you might want to collect the want haps, but here it is again anyway: “Whenever you ads, put them in uniform design, and publish see the word, ‘therefore,’ you must stop and ask, them for the group next time you meet. ‘what is it there for?’” Tis word stands at the beginning of this passage as a beacon, shining for- EXPLORE THE WORD XBSEUPUIFFYIPSUBUJPOTUIBUGPMMPX6QUPUIJT 1. OVERVIEW point, the writer has been an apol-ogist of the Gospel, defending its truth and its trustworthi- Tey call 1 Corinthians 13 “Te Great Love Chap- ness. Now he urges his readers to hold onto it and ter.” Tey call John 14 “Te Great Hope Chapter.” never waver from it. As you read Hebrews 11, you will understand completely why it is ofen referred to as “Te Great As we read these lines, try to imagine yourself Faith Chapter” or “Te Hall of Faith.” In its verses huddled in the corners of your home in the center is a list of God’s promises fulflled, each attached of the village, afraid to go out and just as afraid to to a name (just so it’s easier for us to remember stay put. Nowhere in the world in which you have each miracle, I think), from the creation of the lived all of your life do you feel safe from harm. universe (verse 3) to Rahab, the prostitute (verse Listen to the impact these words must have had 31), to the unsung martyrs of the early Christian on their readers, then ad-dress the questions that church. follow. Te writer to the Hebrews has spent most of 10 Have someone read Hebrews (10:19-39) aloud chapters defending the rightful place of Jesus while the rest of the class follows along in their within the context of the New Covenant and now Bibles.

43 Tere are fve exhortations in the frst seven vers- does one earn someone’s trust or faith? es of this passage. Tey all be-gin with “let us . . .” What are they? Put them in your own words. t"DDPSEJOHUPUIFTFTFWFOWFSTFT XIBUIBWFXF learned “by faith”? tćFTFFYIPSUBUJPOTBSFQSFGBDFECZUXPDPO- ditions established in Te New Covenant. Tey t4PNFIBWFTVHHFTUFEUIBU/PBIJTiUIFTFDPOE begin with “since . . .” What are those two con- Adam.” How might that label ft? ditions? 4. CHILDREN OF FAITH NEED A FATHER (11:8-28) t8IZJTUIFXSJUFSTPDPODFSOFEUIBUUIFOFX Hebrew Christians keep on meeting together? Abraham has been referred by Paul as the “father t 7FSTFT BSF B SBUIFS TUFSO XBSOJOH of all who believe” (Romans 4:11; Galatians 3:7, aren’t they? What is the writer warning them 9, 29). It would seem a ftting title, given his dem- about? onstration of such in Genesis 12. He receives by far the most discussion of all those listed in the t*UJTJOUFSFTUJOHUPOPUFUIBUJOWFSTF UIF Hall of Faith. writer refers to the frst time the new Chris- tians “received the light.” How did they behave Following the description of Abraham’s faith is an that time? uninterrupted line of faith-fulness through Moses (verses 23-28). 3. THE HALL OF FAITH (11:1-7) Have someone read Hebrews (11:8-28) aloud Faith and trust are twins, Siamese twins. Without while the rest of the class follows along in their one, the other one dies in-stantly. Tey are the ba- Bibles. sis of all law, all contracts, all relationships. Tey are at the very foundation of hope, love, and joy. t 3FBE UIF UI DIBQUFS PG (FOFTJT UP SFNJOE Without trust and faith, the world would be de- yourself of some of the details, then in your own stroyed by its own chaos. words, describe what happened. Tese verses begin a historical recitation of the t*GZPVXFSFBGBUIFSPSNPUIFS DPVMEZPVIBWF great miracles of faith, found in the annals of shown that level of faith? How?--or why not? Scripture and other historical documents and t)PXEPFT"CSBIBNTGBJUIXJUI*TBBDGPSFTIBE- data. Read them with a sense of awe and wonder. ow or parallel God’s faith with Jesus? Have someone read Hebrews (11:1-7) aloud t8IZXPVMEUIFTUPSZPG.PTFTCFTPJNQPSUBOU while the rest of the class follows along in their to the Hebrews? What efect might reading it have Bibles, and then answer the following questions had on them? as a class. 5. YOU NEED MORE? (11:29-40) tWhat are some things you have faith in every day (such as: “Te sun will come up in the morn- Te story continues from Moses leading the Isra- ing”; “My mom will love me today,” etc.)? elites out of the hands of bond-age across the Red Sea to the heroes of faith who did not experience t:PVWFBMSFBEZCFFOBTLFEUPEFĕOFiGBJUIwIPX immediate vic-tory but persevered for the blessing 44 of God that was to come. Tis activity gets the students into the characters as real people living real lives in real times. Have someone read Hebrews (11:29-40) aloud It transforms them from black letters on white while the rest of the class follows along in their pages into heroes and heroines of faith. #JCMFT"ęFSĕOJTIJOHVQUIJTHSFBUi$IBQUFSPG Faith”, answer the fol-lowing as a class. Press Conference t3BIBCTFFNTMJLFBOPEEQFSTPOUPJODMVEF One of the great gatherings of history is happen- here, given her former way of life, not to men- ing at your church this weekend as four of the tion that she is the only women mentioned by forefathers of faith will appear to hold a press name. Her story is told in Joshua 2. Why does conference. NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, and the As- she belong here? sociated Press are sending correspondents, but the four bibli-cal fgures have insisted that your Bible t"TVNNBSZPGNJSBDMFTJTJOUIFQBSBHSBQI Study group also be allowed to attend. beginning with verse 32 and ending with verse 38. What are three or four that stand out to Tose who will answer questions are Abraham, you? Noah, Moses, and Rahab. You must submit your questions to the press agent of these people before t7FSTFJTBSBUIFSDVSJPVTWFSTF CVUJGZPV the conference begins, however, so be prepared to study it, it begins to make sense. It might help do so. to consider “what had been promised.” What do you think had been promised? Why did You may not get to ask each of your questions, but they not receive it? Reading verse 40 might help you ought to write down two or three questions you answer that. for each of the individuals. t )PX IBT UIJT QBTTBHF CPPTUFE ZPVS GBJUI Hall of Faith Nomination What have you learned? Everybody is looking for a role model or a men- APPLY THE WORD tor. Tese are the people afer whom we shape Press Conference our decisions and lifestyles. Tey are usually a parent or a close relative, but ofen in spiritual Tis would be fun to act out. You might have matters, we look at people in our churches for four people from your local con-gregation (pas- guid-ance. tor, layman, board member, choir member, whoever) volunteer to do a little preliminary re- Tis activity asks students to look around them search (or you could do it for them) on one of and see the heroes and heroines of faith that live these four char-acters. Encourage them to dress next door and sit on the pew down front. Tese and speak the part. Moses, for instance, stut- don’t have to be headline grabbers and Nobel tered or lisped or had some speech impediment. Peace Prize winners. Tese are everyday people Rahab was probably somewhat coarse. Tis is living out extraordinary trust in the Almighty. not intended to disparage a particular handicap or lifestyle, but it is enjoyable to bring a little life )BWFUIFNNBLFBCSJFGMJTUPGOBNFTĕSTU UIFO to a group. perhaps brainstorm a few char-acteristics that ĕUUIFDSJUFSJBćFOUIFZDBOXSJUFUIFJSTQFFDI

45 *UXPVMECFCPUIGVOBOECFOFĕDJBMUPIBWFFBDI someone to supply that need. You might use of the speeches delivered from a podium on a your city newspaper for some ideas. platform. Maybe a vote could be taken. (It’s fairly important that you don’t have a lot of repe- “Let Us” Means You UJUJPOUIF TBNF QFSTPO CFJOH OPNJOBUFE ĕWF Te writer spends seven verses calling his readers times—if you do this orally.) to action. Te exciting thing is that you, too, have Hall of Faith Nominations become one of his readers. Terefore, taking the fve admoni-tions from Hebrews 10:19-25 that Te Great Hall of Faith is taking one new inductee begin with “Let us,” ofer one or two (or more) this year from your commu-nity or church. Tis ways you might demonstrate those exhortations person will have demonstrated tremendous trust this week. 6 in the power of God to do what He has promised. ćFXPOEFSGVMUIJOHJT:067&#&&/"4,&% “Let us draw near to God”-- 5046#.*55)&/0.*/"5*0/ “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope”-- I want you to write your nomination speech for “Let us consider how we may spur one another”-- this person of faith. Consider what it takes to enter the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11): perseverance, “Let us not give up meeting together”-- unwavering commitment, humble consideration “Let us encourage one another”-- of others, sufering. Make the judges cheer with enthusiasm.

LIVE THE WORD Have class members share their ideas, discuss as “Let Us” Means You a group, and then close with pray-er.

What kind of practical applications can your students come up with that refect the admonitions of the writer of Hebrews? Tis activity once again pulls the truth from the printed page and engrains it onto their hearts. Your students will supply each other with all kinds of great ideas that focus on encouragement, benevolence, compassion, and fellowship. And they’ll do it so easily, they won’t even sweat. Afer a list is compiled from the group (you may use transparencies and an overhead projector or a fip chart or even a plain old chalkboard), and if you still have time, why not try some dra- ma and role-playing. Set up some hypothetical scenes in which there is someone in need and

46 THE OLYMPICS OF CHRISTIANITY

STUDY SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 12:1-29 failure into sweet favoring for each success. It ofers a per-spective that enables us to walk KEY VERSE 6: “. . . let us throw of everything that through our valleys with peace and goodwill . hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and . . and not to gloat when we have reached the let us run with perseverance the race marked mountaintop. out for us” (Hebrews 12:1). Tis lesson is the concluding challenge of the TEACHING AIMS: argument set forth in the Book of Hebrews. To help the learners: Te challenge is to cast of the old (both the old “man” or his carnal na-ture, and the old cove- 1. See how the change of heart must manifest nant or the life under the Law), and to set course itself in a change of behavior. with the new love of God through His Son, Jesus 2. Understand that God’s discipline is part of Christ. Te writer’s challenge “to keep our eyes His blessing. on Jesus as we persevere and run” is as appropriate to your youth today as it was to the original 3. Realize that the race set out before us is a Hebrews of the Lycus Valley. long-distance run, not a 50-yard dash. BIBLE BACKGROUND PERSPECTIVE: (Provided to help the leader prepare for the les- One of the gifs mature Christians have is the son. Share the appropriate parts with your class ability to see life through a tele-scope instead at suitable times during the discussion below): of a microscope. New Christians and immature individuals tend to examine every little action, Te writer has just concluded an emotional list- every possible motive, worry about every small ing of those saints of faith who persevered and a detail, and analyze every single event in life un- glory once only dreamed of but now made pos- til the zest and joy of living each day be-comes sible by the shed blood and resurrection of Je- drudgery and misery. sus. Tese, then, are the “great cloud of witnesses” who watch from the amphitheater stands as Tere is great wisdom—not to mention comfort the Olympics of living in Christ begin. Tey are and serenity—in looking at the journey, at the not merely spectators who have wandered by big picture. Tis ability transforms every de- the arena with little else to do; they are examples feat into a lesson. It turns the bitterness of each who have paved the way, leveled the path for us

47 to follow. Te Greek word that is here translated at the end of the line, to keep your eye on that “witnesses” is the same word used for “martyr.” point as plow. If you break that concentration “Martyr” is not limited to that person who has and begin to watch your feet or look down, you TBDSJĕDFEIJNTFMGPSIFSTFMGGPSBOJEFBPSCFMJFG will end with a crooked line instead of a straight CVU BMTP TJHOJĕFT POF XIP JT UFTUJGZJOH UP UIBU line. Runners, as well, know that the old saying idea or belief. So these witnesses, these martyrs, is true: the closest distance between two points are testifying to the faithfulness of God and to is a straight line. their own power of faith in Him. Te “author and perfecter of our faith” is also a Te concept of running a race was not foreign reference to a race, in that the author conceives or alien to the Hebrews of that generation. It was and commences a work and the perfecter com- an enjoyable pastime of that day, and also one pletes the work (like a writer and an editor). In of the main modes of transportation. It appears other words, Jesus is both the starting block and in many places in the New Testament, particu- UIFĕOJTIMJOFPGUIFSBDF)FIBTDPNFGVMMDJS- larly in the writings of Paul, which may have led cle, a perfect circle, and therefore plots for us many early scholars to believe Paul wrote this the same perfect circle of completion. He has al- sermon to the Hebrews. We read, for instance, ready run this race and overcome its ad-versity, in Philippians 3:13, “Forgetting what is behind and now sits at the right hand of the throne of and straining toward what is ahead, I press on God. If we can indeed keep our eyes on Him, we toward the goal to win the prize for which God will never tire nor become discouraged because has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” And we see Him through our telescopes instead of in 1 Corinthians 9:24, “Do you not know that seeing persecution and trial through our micro- in a race all the runners run, but only one gets scopes. the prize?” And in Galatians 2:2, “I went in response to a revelation and set be-fore them the Te next section, which deals with the discipline gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But of the Lord, may be both the most difcult and I did this privately to those who seemed to be the most accessible passage in this chapter for leaders, for fear that I was running or had run your youth, for none of us likes to think of a pun- NZSBDFJOWBJOw"OEĕOBMMZJO5JNPUIZ ishing Heavenly Father. But the fact of the matter i*IBWFGPVHIUUIFHPPEĕHIU *IBWFĕOJTIFEUIF is that all children are disciplined (“punished”) race, I have kept the faith.” Te truth of the He- in order to become disciplined King-dom build- brews passage is that, despite what some Hebrew ers. Perhaps a study of the word “discipline” in Christians might be doing, that is, dropping out a good dictionary will help you understand that of the race be-cause of momentary afiction and it means a lot more than a spanking or being persecution, those who will “win the prize” are grounded for two weeks. It is teaching values and those who endure and persevere. It’s a long race ethics and morals and behaviors that make for a (into eternity) and not one that is won in a day. brighter future and not simply a bleak moment. It is God’s discipline that is our spiritual “Birth ćFFYIPSUBUJPOUPĕYiPVSFZFTPO+FTVTwJTBO $FSUJĕDBUFw8JUIPVUJUXFBSFTQJSJUVBMPSQIBOT old concept that enables the farmer to plow a His discipline enables us to achieve holiness (v. straight line. In order to plow perfectly straight 10) and righteousness and peace (v. 11). Tere- lines, it is neces-sary to pick out a focal point fore, rather than reason for depression and sad-

48 ness, His discipline is cause for rejoicing (“Con- about regret than he did about repentance. Tese sider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face verses (16 and 17) lend themselves to volumes trials of many kinds, be-cause you know that the of discussion about the sin of sexual promiscu- testing of your faith develops perseverance. Per- JUZ UIF EFĕOJUJPO PG JNNPSBMJUZ BOE UIF DPO- TFWFSBODFNVTUĕOJTIJUTXPSLTPUIBUZPVNBZ trast between regret and repentance. Esau was be mature and complete, not lacking any-thing” rejected because his only sorrow was for that [James 1:2-4]). earthly thing he lost, not the sal-vation he might have gained. Genesis 27:41 contains this mis- *UJTJOWFSTFUIBUUIFXSJUFSCFHJOTBĕWFWFSTF guided lament. Te “blessing” he lost symbol- exposition on the practical application of such ized to the writer to the Hebrews the blessing of sonship. First, we are to “‘make level paths for UIFĕSTUCPSO GPSIJTSFBEFSTXFSFDPOTJEFSJOH [our] feet,’ so that the lame may not be disabled, TBDSJĕDJOHUIFJSGBJUI CMFTTJOH JOPSEFSUPFT- but rather healed.” Tis is a call to order, really, cape the moment of persecution they were fac- that our conduct will be conducive for training ing. Te writer is telling them, “NO, that will be and developing the spiritual and moral aspects only temporary relief and will deprive you of an of others and not a stumbling block. Walk the eternal blessing—your PRIZE.” talk. People learn more about you by watching you than by listening to you. Te passage ends with a contrast between Moses on Mount Sinai, its visible mountain, the tangi- Second, “Make every efort to live in peace with ble laws, its frightening warnings, with the expe- all men and to be holy” (v. 14). It is easier to pray SJFODFUPCFGPVOEPO.PVOU;JPO VTFEIFSFĕH- for those who befriend you, Jesus said in His VSBUJWFMZUPSFQSFTFOUIFBWFO8JUIUIFĕOBMUXP great sermon, than it is to pray for those who verses of the chapter, the writer ends his words betray you. To live in peace is not to live with of warning: “Terefore, since we are receiving those of like mind; rather, it is to live with those a kingdom that cannot be shaken [as was the who call you enemy. In that way, you will win kingdom established on Mount Sinai], let us be UIFN#FUIFĕSTUUPTBZZPVSFTPSSZ#FUIFĕSTU thankful, and so worship God acceptably with to ask for forgiveness. Be humble with all men. reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming Be meek and inherit the earth. ĕSFw WW ćJTMBUUFSMBCFMDBOCFUSBDFE Tird, “See to it that no one misses the grace of to Exodus 24:17, as that writer states that “To God and that no bitter root grows up to cause the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a USPVCMFBOEEFĕMFNBOZw W ćBUJT OFWFS DPOTVNJOHĕSFPOUPQPGUIFNPVOUBJOw allow unbelief to fester and grow in your midst, for it will destroy those around you. Do not SESSION ACTIVITIES deny the grace (getting what you cannot earn) ENGAGE THE WORD of God, nor deprive those around you from see- How to Be a Parent ing it in action. Te “bitter root” can refer to any sin of unhealthy relationship, be it pride, envy, Every kid who has ever sufered the wrath and hostility, hatred, or jealousy. blessing of a mom or a dad will be able to handle this activity. If they’ve said it once, they’ve prob- Fourth, “See that no one is sexually immoral, or ably said it a thou-sand times, “When I have a is godless like Esau” (v. 16), who learned more 49 family, I’m never going to . . .” Tossers Afer they think about it for a while, however, they will begin to think of many things they appreciate about the way they were raised: going to church, having a stable homelife, learning how UPDPPL PSĕYBDBSPSNPXBMBXOPSIPMEEPXO a job, etc. You could divide your group into two smaller groups in one of several ways in order to discuss these items: “Moms” and “Dads”; “Spoilers” EXPLORE THE WORD and “Deprivers”; “Grandparents” and “Parents”; 1. OVERVIEW “Rich” and “Poor”; or many others. Tat might re-lieve many from being “too revealing” about Welcome to the Millennial Olympiad. Te 12th their own homes. Adopting a mask or persona chapter of Hebrews has nearly everything you can be quite liberating. see in the Summer Olympics: throwing, running, enduring, strength-ening, growing weary, sitting How To Be A Parent EPXO BOE GPDVTJOH PO UIF QSJ[F *UT FWFO HPU crowds and crowds of people and angels who are It’s not easy being a parent--you might think it watching, as well as the Supreme Spon-sor. It’s a will be, but just wait. Most youth have said at chapter of action, of discipline, and of warning. least once in their lives, “When I’m a parent, I’m never going to do this,” or “I’m always going to do Before we begin looking at this exciting chapter that.” Admit it--you’ve said it. in detail, it would be wise for us to read through it for its overall idea. Don’t worry about under- As you think about the way you’re being raised, standing every word--just keep moving through make a list of the things you’ll “keep” when you it. become a mom or a dad (the things you appreciate your parents doing) and the things you’ll Have one or more class members read Hebrews “toss” when that time comes (the things you wish 12:1-29 aloud as the rest of the class follows your parents had never done). along in their bibles, and then discuss the following questions as a class: Keepers t What’s the primary challenge of the writer in these verses? t8IBUFMFNFOUPGUIJTQBTTBHFJTUIFNPTUFYDJU- ing to you? t8IJDIJEFBJTBMJUUMFDPOGVTJOHBOEZPVMMOFFE some guidance in understanding it? t)PXJTCFJOHB$ISJTUJBOMJLFCFJOHBOBUIMFUF

50 2. THE FLAME IS LIT (12:1-3) pline. It is not merely to punish us for doing bad things; indeed, it is an indication of our unique Everybody anxiously awaits the arrival of the relationship to Him. Tink of it this way--nothing Olympic torch and the lighting of the Olympic worth having or achieving comes easily. You didn’t fame. It’s the oldest and richest of the Olympic go out to store one day and buy that trophy sitting traditions, and in our day and age, it is broadcast on your mantle. No, you earned it with hours and to millions of people around the world. hours of hard work. Your teachers didn’t give you Well, these opening verses of chapter 12 indicate that A in class. You earned it with hours of study that the Open Ceremonies have already taken and work. Tat’s the way of “righteousness and place and it’s time for the competition to get start- peace” (v. 11). ed. So why don’t we? Have someone read Hebrews (12:4-13) aloud Have someone read Hebrews (12:1-3) aloud while the rest of the class follows along in their while the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles.Afer reading these verses, answer these Bibles. Afer reading these three verses, have questions as a class. your class answer the following questions: t8IBUTUIFIBSEFTUZPVWFFWFSXPSLFEGPS t What are the commands we have just read. anything? Why did you put up with all the You should fnd at least four, maybe more. TBDSJĕDFTJUDPTU t8IZJTJUJNQPSUBOUGPSVTUPiĕYPVSFZFTPO t 8IBUTUIF EJČFSFODF CFUXFFO iSFDFJWJOHw Jesus”? What happens if we don’t? and “earning”? t8IPJTUIFiHSFBUDMPVEPGXJUOFTTFTw 8IZ t ćF XSJUFS UFMMT VT JO WFSTFT BOE UIBU are they a “cloud”? Christ endured the cross and sinful opposition, then in verse 7 he tells us to endure t*TUIF$ISJTUJBOMJGFBMPOHEJTUBODFSBDFPSB hardship as discipline. What does he mean? sprint? What makes you say that? tćFXSJUFSTBZTUIBUUIFQSJNBSZEJČFSFODF 3. WHO LIKES DISCIPLINE? (12:4-13) between legitimacy and illegitimacy as children of God is discipline. Do you agree? Why Nobody likes to be corrected, but ironically, we all or why not? respect those who do it. It’s part of maturation and understanding. Children who are not disciplined t3FBEWFSTFBHBJO8IBUJTJUUFMMJOHZPV now grow up to be lonely, spoiled individuals who to do? Who are “the lame”? Is that simply a don’t know how to get along with others. On the ĕHVSFPGTQFFDIGPSBDFSUBJOHSPVQPGQFPQMF other hand, those who have been disciplined by Who? How are they healed? their parents, coaches, teachers, and employers learn what is acceptable and unacceptable behav- 4. WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! ior and that makes them productive and highly (12:14-21) regarded adults. What do you think of when you hear or see that Because we are legitimate children of God, we word, “WARNING!”? It usually gets your atten- must understand His occasional hand of disci- tion, doesn’t it? Te writer uses it fairly ofen in

51 Hebrews, so it may seem by this point that he’s top experience of the Old Cov-enant, Mt. Sinai, simply crying “Wolf” once too many, but he’s not. with the mountaintop experience of the New Cov- Tis is a stern admonition to listen up or face enant at Mt. Zi-on. tragic and painful consequences. God’s wrath is serious business. Have someone read Hebrews (12:22-29) aloud while the rest of the class follows along in their Have someone read Hebrews (12:14-21) aloud Bibles. Ten answer the following questions as while the rest of the class follows along in their a class: Bibles. Afer reading these verses, have your class answer the following questions: t8IBUJTUIFMJUFSBMNFBOJOHPG.U;JPO 4FF Psalms 2:6; 9:11; 74:2; 87:2; 102:13; 137:3; Joel t*OZPVSPXOXPSET HJWJOHUXPPSUISFFNFUI- 3:21; Micah 4:2.) ods or examples, what does it mean “to live in peace with all men” (v. 14)? How do you live at t*OWFSTFT UIFXSJUFSSFNJOETUIFSFBEFST peace with others? What does it take? that they have come to seven things in the New Covenant. Can you fnd all seven? What are they? t&WFO ZFBSTBHP UIFZTFFNFEUPIBWFB problem with sexual immorality (v. 16). Why t (PE TIPPL UIF FBSUI BDDPSEJOH UP WFSTF do you suppose that is such a problem for peo- Read Exodus 19, especially verses 18-20, and ple to deal with? What are some of the conse- write down how that makes you feel. quences of such behavior? t8IZDBOUUIF/FX,JOHEPN W CFTIBLFO tćFBMMVTJPOUPUIFTUPSZPG&TBVJTCPUIBO A Moment of Meditation interesting and important one (vv. 16 and 17; Genesis 25:29-34). Afer Esau saw his error, he Consider the awesome verses that you have just regretted making it but he didn’t repent of it. read: their history and their challenges, and What is the big diference between regret and thank God He has made promises to and provi- repentance? sions for you.

tćFXSJUFSSFNJOETUIF)FCSFXTPGUIF.U APPLY THE WORD Sinai revelation in verses 18-21. Why do you Discipline Is Valuable? think the tone is so ominous? You might take this opportunity to distinguish 5. I HAVE BEEN TO THE MOUNTAINTOP between punishment and disci-pline, both by (12:22-29) EFĕOJUJPOBOECZFYBNQMFćJTBDUJWJUZBMMPXT Some of you may be familiar with Dr. Martin Lu- them to assess options that many parents face ther King’s fnal address the night before he died, on a daily basis and to set up criteria by which when he told his listeners that he had been to the they will one day judge the efectiveness of cer- top of the mountain and seen the other side. As tain disciplines. compelling a claim as that was in 1968, we see in Have them also list some of the “ofenses” or Hebrews 12:22-29, it was not original. “misbehaviors” that would be aligned with cer- In these verses, the writer contrasts the mountain- tain disciplines in the list. Ask them to suggest

52 other methods that they have seen or read about LIVE THE WORD (or felt). Ask them what values are being taught Noah Webster and You with each correction. Tis brief activity is fairly easy for youth to do, If you have a mature group, you might even let particularly based on the study they have put the discussion evolve into their country’s justice into Hebrews to this point. Tis does not have TZTUFN BOE UIF FČFDUJWFOFTT PG QSJTPOT ĕOFT to be profound nor grammatically perfect, but community service, executions, etc. it will ask them to conceptualize and capsulize their view of God. Discipline is Valuable? Noah Webster and You As hard as it is to understand at the moment, if discipline is being administered, particularly if it’s You’ve been asked to write two entries into the physically painful, it is one of the most valuable new Webster’s Dictionary com-ing out next year. tools toward growing up responsible that there is. Each should have three or more defnitions or Now please don’t confuse the terms, “abuse” and meanings or usages. Don’t worry about parts of “discipline.” Tey are not the same thing: the frst speech or phonetic pronunciations--they have ex- is vengeful and hateful; the second is loving and perts who can do that. instructing. 1. God of the Old Testament: 6TJOHBTDBMFPGUP CFJOHUIFMFBTUFČFDUJWF and 10 being the most efective, rate the efective- 2. God of the New Testament: ness of the following forms of discipline. If you think any are abu-sive, cross them out. Spanking, Letter to the Editor Slapping with the hand, Grounding, Depriving of a privilege, Withholding affection, Scream- Most newspapers include this public forum op- ing, Taking away something important, Early portunity for readers to respond to the news and bedtime, No dessert, Canceling an already sched- opinions published every day. You could bring VMFEGVOUJNF 4JUUJOHJOUIFDPSOFS /P57 8SJU- in a couple of ex-amples and even have them ing a 500-word essay, Being benched for a game bring some in as well (you’ll have to announce (you’re a starter on the team), Slapping the face, this the week before, of course). Look at some Being kicked of a team or club. of the subjects being discussed and respond to some of the tones and opinions being voiced. t8IJDIQVOJTINFOUTBSFNPSFBQQMJDBCMFUP young children, which to older chil-dren? Tis activity sets forth the idea that the miscon- ception of God the Vindictive of-ten prevents t"UXIBUBHFEPUIFiQIZTJDBMQVOJTINFOUTw many from experiencing the joyful life of salva- cease to be efective? Why? tion. Te fact that it is in the form of a letter will t8IBUDSJUFSJBEJEZPVVTFUPQMPUUIFFČFD- make it easier for them to compose their ideas. tiveness of each in the list? It’s not an essay for a teacher. It might be made even easier if you propose it as a letter to their school paper.

53 Letter to the Editor Your local paper has come out with an editorial to which you would like to write a response. In the editorial, they have suggested that God is to be feared, like a school vice-principal just waiting for you to make a mistake so he can punish you severely. Tey also claim that God refuses to allow you any pleasant experiences in life because “life is to be lived under strict obedience to His law.” God is a judge who looks for every mistake, every evil thought, every impure idea, and is anxious 7 to show you pictures of hell just to scare you. He relishes the idea that you live in constant guilt and shame. And He keeps score. Your letter should either disagree or agree with that editorial stance. Give rea-sons and examples from your own experiences and knowledge to support the things you say. Afer everyone is done, ask for volunteers to read their letters, and then discuss. Fo-cus on the fact that God wants to be their Savior, their Friend, their Advocate, and Heavenly Father. God is a God of love and mercy and grace, not of judgment and vengeance alone. End with prayer.

54 KEEP ON KEEPING ON

STUDY SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 13:1-25 the un-known (Dr. Stan Toler, “Promises,” sermon preached January 1, 1989). 7KEY VERSE: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). It warns against adultery, apathy, apostasy (unbelief or wrong belief), and the love of money— TEACHING AIMS: all facing the Hebrew church. It exhorts obedience to church lead-ership and departure from To help the learners: Judeo tradition. 1. Recognize that worshiping God under the In this lesson, your youth will learn that to call new covenant means doing good to our fellow themselves “Christians” is a grand and glorious human beings. thing, but it is also costly in terms of priorities 2. Stay focused on Jesus, the High Priest of and ministries. It is not a call to complacency (a (PE XIPTFTJOHMFTBDSJĕDFTIPXTVTUIFXBZ misreading of “contentment”) but a hearty chal- to heaven. lenge to service and agape love. 3. Understand the power of prayer. BIBLE BACKGROUND: PERSPECTIVE: (Provided to help the leader prepare for the les- 8IFX8FIBWFĕOBMMZSFBDIFEUIFĕOBMDIBQUFS son. Share the appropriate parts with your class of one of the most powerful and profound books at suitable times during the discussion below): in the New Testament. Tis chapter is the cul- mination of per-suasion, warning, sermon, and What this book has been, for the most part, is exhortation ofered by a man who truly and sin- the writer’s encouragements to hold onto the cerely (“without wax”) believes what he is writ- new faith in Jesus as the Messiah, despite the ing. And his concluding remarks are challenges perils and persecutions inherent in doing so. to every reader of all generations. He has concentrated his eforts in defending the $ISJTUJBO EPDUSJOF PG TJOHMF FUFSOBM TBDSJĕDF ćF QBTTBHF DPOĕSNT (PET DPOUFOUNFOU UIBU under the new covenant, taking the place of the brings us excellence, growth, and perspective. BOOVBM UFNQPSBSZTBDSJĕDFTVOEFSUIFPMEDPW- *U DPOĕSNT )JT DPNQBOJPOTIJQ CPUI QFSTPO- enant. BMMZBOEQFSQFUVBMMZ*UDPOĕSNT)JTDPVSBHFBOE HJWFTVTDPOĕEFODFUPGBDFCPUIUIFLOPXOBOE )FSFJOUIFĕOBMDIBQUFS IPXFWFS IFTFFNTUP 55 be reminding them that the pil-grimage they are again, He will be just as humble in appearance on will be taken by fellow pilgrims whose needs BT)FXBTUIFĕSTUUJNF6OUJMUIFO )JTBOHFMT are to be met by the fellowship. In other words, will continue to visit and bless, but they, too, will worshiping God means serving your fellow hu- be disguised as “strangers.” So we are to be as man beings. So he concludes his sermon with hospitable to strangers as we would be to God’s several commands for Christian behavior inside “messengers” or to His Son himself. and outside the fellowship of pilgrims. Tis hospitality was very important in the Early Te “heading” for these commands is found in Church, for the evangelists and preachers who verse 1: “Keep on loving each other as brothers.” carried the Good News from village to village, Tis is his umbrella statement and summary city to city, relied completely on the hospitality for all the subcom-mands that follow. Without of strangers for their very lives and sustenance. showing Christ’s love for each other, the jour- Te meal shared was a ritual of worship then. It ney is meaningless for that is the purpose of the XBTBMTPUIFGVMĕMMNFOUPG+FTVTXPSETJO.BU- KPVSOFZ JO UIF ĕSTU QMBDF "EPSJOH BOE SFWFS thew 25:31-46, when He tells His followers that ing and honoring the Almighty is not done by when they feed, clothe, or give water to anyone shedding the blood of animals. Not anymore, it in need, they are doing those favors to Him. isn’t. Worshiping God is imitating Christ who People, then, be-come the sacrament of worship “so loved [his brothers]” that He laid “down his under the new covenant. life for his [brothers]” (John 3:16; 15:13). Tis overriding principle, then, is followed by several God’s promise in verse 5 is the recitation of iNFUIPETwUPGVMĕMMUIFDPNNBOEćFĕSTUPG Christ’s promise to His disciples just before these is to “entertain strangers, for by so doing He ascended to heaven. “Surely I am with you some people have entertained an-gels” (v. 2). always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew Tese visitors the writer refers to can be found 28:20). Surely these must be the most comfort- in several places in the Old Testament: (1) in ing words ever spoken in the history of language. Genesis 18, Abraham is visited by three mes- Can you imagine the Creator and Sustainer of sengers who tell him of God’s promise that he the universe saying that sentence to you? Can and Sarah will have a son at their late ages and a you grasp its extraordinary meaning? It was great nation will follow; (2) in Judges 6, we read greater than cold water to those dying of thirst. how an angel told Gideon how he might deliver It was more powerful than food to the starving. the nation of Israel from the hand of its enemy, It was the hope of all ages. the Midianites; (3) in Judges 13, Manoah was Te altar referred to in verse 10 is more than a approached by an angel who told of the birth of metaphor for the Cross on which Jesus Christ a son who would be named Samson and who bore the sins of the world, marking the end of would deliver his people from the Philistines. the old covenant priest-hood of Aaron and the Tere are more instances, of course, for an an- beginning of the priesthood of Melchizedek and gel visited Joseph, the “father” of Jesus, to tell of his High Priest, Jesus. God’s greatest revelation. Te point is this, God came once in the form of a carpen-ter’s Son in Te leaders that the writer refers to in verses 7-8 a little poor town near Jerusalem, and there is and 17 are not to be considered national leaders every reason to believe that when He comes PSQPMJUJDBMĕHVSFT0ęFOJOPWFSMZ[FBMPVTQB- 56 USJPUJDGFSWPS XFDJUFUIFTFWFSTFTUPĕHIUXBSTPG involvements, plans, etc. greed and malice, thinking God has called us to do so. No, this is not dictatorial leaderships that Brotherly Love we are to follow unwittingly. Tese lead-ers are Te writer of Hebrews admonishes us to love each church leaders whose ministries are ordained other as brothers. Part of that means learning to by God and honored by Him. We are to respect appreciate each other. Look around your group their authority, honor their discipline, seek their and write down everybody’s name on your paper. orderliness: as they imitate Christ, then, we are Following each name, write down 2-3 things that to imitate them. you like about that person. Finally, the writer asks us to pray for him so that It is as important to write down these things as he “may be restored to [us] soon” (vv. 18-19). it is to share them orally. You can do this in a Tis restoration is not from prison, as many number of ways. You can simply go around the NJHIUTVTQFDUBUĕSTUSFBEJOH)JTSFGFSFODFUP circle and have eve-rybody give his or her list on Timothy’s imprisonment in verse 23 indicates a single individual before moving on to the next that he would be free to join Timothy when that indi-vidual. Tis will really make the “target” time comes. What he is probably talking about person feel special. Or each person might read is his current ministerial duties keeping him all of his or her list for everybody in the group away from the Hebrew church. all at once. Te Great Shepherd metaphor for Christ is used only once in Hebrews and here at the end in EXPLORE THE WORD verse 20. Many times Jesus has been called the 1. OVERVIEW Good Shepherd (Psalm 23; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel Have you ever read Pilgrim’s Progress by English 34:11-16; John 10:2-3; 1 Peter 2:25; among oth- writer John Bunyan? Written in the 17th century, ers). You might develop this concept in terms of it catalogues the allegorical journey of Pilgrim, equipment used by shepherds, job descriptions a Christian, as he strives to live a life worthy of of shepherds, characteristics of sheep and focks, the label in hostile times and territories. Bunyan etc. might have been reading the book of Hebrews as he wrote. SESSION ACTIVITIES ENGAGE THE WORD How about “Young Goodman Brown” by Nath- Brotherly Love aniel Hawthorne in 19th century New England? It also depicts the pilgrimage of a new Christian, *UTXJTFUPCFHJOUIJTBDUJWJUZXJUITFWFSBMEFĕ- this time through the darkest of forests on the nitions of “love.” Among them will be respect, blackest of nights--a forest of temptation, hypoc- appreciation, honor, etc. Tis will make it easier risy, and satanic worship. Hawthorne, too, could for the youth, then, to write down things they have had Hebrews open at his table. appreciate and respect about the others in the group. Make sure everybody knows everybody Te book of Hebrews is in many ways an allegory else’s name, and have any visitors intro-duce of the Christian journey to-ward heaven, the tab- themselves, tell a little about their backgrounds, ernacle of the Most Holy God, Who, through His

57 Son, Jesus Christ, provides both the path and the t ćF XPSE iFOUFSUBJOw IBT B SBUIFS OBSSPX guide if only the pilgrims will keep the faith and defnition today. What do you think the writer stay on the journey. intended for that word to mean to you? Te concluding chapter of the book is the writer’s t8IZEPZPVTVQQPTFQSJTPOFSTBSFJOUIFMJTU fnal exhortation to keep on keeping on. It is in- of those we should love? Aren’t they there be- structive, encouraging, challenging, and loving. cause they’ve done evil? How do you “love” a prisoner? Afer your class has read Hebrews 13:1-25 slowly, absorbing its truths, have them answer these t $SFEJU DBSET MPBOT QFFS QSFTTVSF BOE BMM questions. such “Pay Later” schemes teach us diferently, so how can you “keep your life free from the t8IBUEPZPVĕOEUPCFUIFNPTUNFNPSBCMF love of money and be content with what you line from these verses? have” (v. 5)? t8IJDIPGUIFXSJUFSTiDPNNBOETwJTUIFNPTU t)PXEPZPVEFĕOFiOFWFSw EJďDVMUGPSZPVUPPCFZ 3. FOLLOWERSHIP (13:7-10, 17) t*TUIFSFBRVFTUJPOZPVXJMMBTLZPVSMFBEFS when you meet? If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times at graduation ad-dresses: “You students are t*GUIFXSJUFSXBTTJUUJOHUIFSFXJUIZPV XIBU the leaders of tomorrow.” Well, of course that’s would you say to him? true, but it’s true for only half of one percent of 2. STRANGERS + ANGELS = STRANGELS the students graduating each year. Te truth of (13:1-6) the matter is that nearly all the seniors across this land are “the followers of to-morrow”! And in- Have you ever met a “strangel”? Sure you have. stead of spending all our energy and funds teach- Tey’re everywhere. Jesus, himself, said that when ing young people how to lead, we should also be we do something for even (or especially) the poor- teaching them how to follow. est, most miserable, and destitute person around, we are doing that something for Him (Matthew Te writer must have sensed the same thing with 25:40). Te writer to the Hebrews says the same the people he was addressing, for these nine verses thing with diferent words. Love each other. Love are his guidelines for productive and ordained fol- strangers. Love prisoners. Love God. lowership. Read and heed them. Have someone read Hebrews (13:1-6) aloud Have someone read Hebrews (13:7-10, 17) aloud while the rest of the class follows along in their while the rest of the class fol-lows along in their #JCMFT BOEUIFOBOTXFSUIFTFĕWFRVFTUJPOTBT Bibles, and then answer the following questions a class. as a class: t8IBUiTUSBOHFMwIBWFZPVTFFOJOUIFQBTU t8IJDIMFBEFSTJTIFSFGFSSJOHUPJOWFSTF hours? (If you can’t think of one, think of the and 17? Our President and Congress? Our bosses? last “strangel” you have seen.) Our pastors and teachers? t8IBUEPZPVUIJOLJUUBLFTUPCFBHPPEGPMMPXFS 58 t8IBUWFSTFTJOUIJTQBTTBHFNJHIUBHSFFPSEJTB- his sermon. (You can tell that by his benedictory gree with those characteristics? tone and that “Amen” sitting on the end.) Te last four verses, however, are an aferthought, a post t ćF XSJUFS XBSOT VT OPU UP iCF DBSSJFE BXBZ script, if you will. It’s as if he said to himself, “Oh, by all kinds of strange teachings.” What “strange I almost forgot. Tim’s free. Your Italian brothers teachings” is he talking about? What “strange and sisters say ‘hi.’ Please listen to me.” teachings” have you heard (not just in a church, but on television, in song lyrics, at school, in Have someone read Hebrews (13:18-25) aloud books, etc.)? while the rest of the class follows along in their #JCMFT"ęFSZPVSHSPVQĕOJTIFTUIJTHSFBUTFS- 4. SEPARATE YOURSELVES (13:11-16) mon to the Hebrew Christians of the Lycus Val- Te writer admonishes the fock to separate itself, ley, have them answer the following questions. not simply from the world but also from the Juda- tćFXSJUFSEFTQFSBUFMZXBOUTUPCFiSFTUPSFEwUP ism of its past. By teaching them this truth, he is these people soon. From what situation do you asking you and me to remove ourselves from those suppose he is wanting to be restored? two entities, as well, in order to free ourselves to approach and cling to Jesus, who died in disgrace tćJTJTUIFĕSTUUJNFUIFXSJUFSSFGFSTUP+FTVT outside Jerusalem. As He has sac-rifced, can we as “Te Great Shepherd” (v. 20). Why does this not, also, allow ourselves to sufer in order to fol- metaphor ft Christ in this context? low Him? t)PXEPFT(PEiFRVJQXJUIFWFSZUIJOHHPPE Have someone read Hebrews (13:11-16) aloud for doing his will”? while the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles. Ten answer these questions as a class. APPLY THE WORD Prison Ministry t8IBUEPFTJUNFBOUPPČFSBiTBDSJĕDFPG praise”? Te letter ofers several ideas for ministry. Te estranged wife could use some company, a friend t 8IBU EPFT UIF iTBDSJĕDF PG QSBJTFw VOEFS to chat to. You might take her a meal or do her the New Covenant make obsolete under the HSPDFSZTIPQQJOHGPSIFSPSNPXUIFZBSEPSĕY Old Covenant? her car. Te little girl needs nice (NEW) clothes t)PXEPZPVJOUFSQSFUiUIFGSVJUPGMJQTUIBU and plastic, disposable diapers. Or laundry ser- confess his name”? vice for the cloth diapers. Even baby-sitting to give Sarah a break now and then would help. t"OPUIFSTBDSJĕDFNFOUJPOFEJOUIFTFWFSTFT And what about trying to contact one or both of (verse 16 to be exact) is “to do good and to the parents. Students might visit Isaac in prison. share with others . . .” How can you show that Tey could at least write to him. Or send a care in your life? package. And it sounds like a choir visit would 5. P. S. I LOVE YOU (13:18-25) be appreciated.

Te frst four verses of these concluding remarks Te point is that we are to climb out of our com- are certainly the way the writer intended to end fort zones and do something for these people as

59 if it were Jesus Christ, himself, sitting there in wishes she could get a bunch of those plastic prison. kind. Te Prison Ministry My parents want nothing to do with me. Mom’s in Huntsville with her mom and Dad is Your mailbox is so full of junkmail you nearly somewhere on the road most of the time. Mom pass over a letter from the city prison. Odd that sends me a card on my birth-day, but I havent you should be hearing from a strange inmate, isn’t seen Dad since I got married. it? You don’t open it at frst (you’ve heard about letter-bombs), but fnally your curiosity gets the Prison life is kinda boring. Same books. Same better of you. Inside you fnd the following letter: faces. Same food. Tere’s a group of singers that come in once in awhile and they’re real good, Dear Kevin, CVUJUTUIFTBNFHSPVQBMMUIFUJNF57JTOPUI- Tank you for reading my letter. I’m feeling ing but reruns and family shows that make depressed and a little desperate to-day, so I being here seem even worse, so I don’t watch thought I would write a letter, fnd an anony- NVDIPGUIBUćFSFTB7$3 CVU*BMSFBEZTFFO mous person to send it to, and see what hap- UIFNPWJFTUIFZIBWFJOUIFPďDF.ZMBX- pens. Maybe I’ll feel better just for having writ- yer tells me she’s working real hard to get me ten some of these things down. out, but I haven’t heard from her in a year. I’m afraid that if I have to stay here much longer, My wife is thinking about leaving me here. I’m gonna go nuts. She’s tired of all the stress and strug-gle I’ve put her through the last couple of years and feels Would you please help me? Anything would be like she deserves better. Well, who am I to tell appreciated. her she doesn’t? Of course, she deserves better. Your new friend, She tells me it’s not another guy, which I fnd weird because she is a beautiful woman, but Isaac Sunday it’s the boredom, the loneliness, the tears she can bear no longer. She’s tired of coming home As a youth group, you want to see if you can help to an empty house and an empty bed. Isaac. What suggestions could your group come up with? And then there’s my baby girl, Sally Jo. I’ve only seen her three times, for a few minutes LIVE THE WORD each time, since she was born 19 months ago. Offering Plates She looks so much like her mother, but she’s kinda feisty like me. Te last time she came If persons are going to be taught the value of to see me she had on a beautiful little dress, tithing, they usually want to see what they get but Sarah told me she had bought it at a used for it. If they think stewardship is simply for the clothing shop (to save a little money, she said). pastor’s new car or the church’s air-conditioning Diapers are so expensive, so Sarah uses cloth bills, they might be a bit reluctant to participate. most of the time and that adds so much work Tis activity lets them decide how God’s money and takes away so much time from Sally Jo, she should be most wisely used and distributed. It’s

60 not set up to complain about the current practices of the church, but rather to consider the ideals of New Testament giving. You might even invite your pastor or church treasurer (or both) to visit at some point of the discussion. Tey might want to participate in this mock meeting and ofer some “ideal” ideas. Ofering Plates You are on the church board which is meeting this afernoon to decide what new projects and ministries are needed at and through our local church. Te pastor has asked each board member to suggest some ideas so a list can be made and voted on. Let’s make a list for some improvements, ad- ditions, special ministries, and projects that you would like to see at your church. Afer your study group shares its ideas, vote on the order of priority under which these suggestions will be considered. Try to reach a consen- TVT%POUĕHIUXJUIFBDIPUIFS CVUCFQSFQBSFE to defend the strengths and merits of your sugges-tions. End class with prayer.

61 ALIENS R US

STUDY SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 1:1-2:25 tion. We all feel persecuted. We all live under someone else’s au-thority, whether at work or KEY VERSE: 8 “As you come to him, the living through government bureaucracy. We all fail to Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and love one another in brotherly, holy love. Tose precious to him--you also, like living stones, are things have never changed. being built into a spiritual house to be a holy QSJFTUIPPE PČFSJOHTQJSJUVBMTBDSJĕDFTBDDFQUB- It is during those moments, days, years of de- ble to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5). pression and loneliness that we look most in- tensely at and for the hope of a “new birth . . . TEACHING AIMS: into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven” (1:3-4). While so To help the learners: many search for it in vain through prestige, me- %FĕOFiIPMJOFTTwBOEEJTDFSOIPXUPJODPS- dia personalities, material possessions, or im- porate it into their own lives. moral power, Peter reminds all of us that only “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from 2. See how submission to authority, love for the UIFEFBEw W XJMMNFOBOEXPNFOĕOEUSVF brotherhood, respect for everyone, and honor to hope and help. the King are obedience to God. Tis lesson will help your group discover that 3. Share the hope they have gained through the holy life is an other-centered life that takes God’s grace and mercy. us out of our own self-pity and into the lives of our neighbors, co-workers, teachers, peers, and PERSPECTIVE: authorities.

0OFPGUIFUSFNFOEPVTCFOFĕUTPGDBSFGVM#JCMF BIBLE BACKGROUND study, exegesis, and analysis is the realization that Scripture’s impact can be just as powerful (Provided to help the leader prepare for the les- and efective today as it was the moment it was son. Share the appropriate parts with your class written centuries ago. So much of life changes so at suitable times during the discussion times): little. Oh sure, the details surrounding life’s pressures and the causes of life’s setbacks may evolve Your students will come into this letter with all from age to age, but the fact of the matter is that kinds of images of its author; af-ter all, Peter life itself changes very little. We all sufer aliena- is one of the giants of the New Testament and certainly one of the most recognizable apostles 62 of Jesus Christ. It was on Peter’s confession that grimage, of God’s divine grace and providence, Jesus was the Christ that Jesus said he would etc. Tough all of those are inherent in the letter, “build the church“; it was Peter whose name it is essentially a call to the holy life—its duties means “Te Rock”; it was Peter who attempted and responsibilities and appropriate conduct. ALIENS R US to walk on the water; it was Peter who de-nied Jesus three times before the sun came up on ćF ĕSTU UXP DIBQUFST PG UIF &QJTUMF BSF CPUI Good Friday morning. It might be good, there- praises to God for His grace and salvation and fore, for you to have a complete portrait of Peter admonitions to believers to love and submit to before you begin the study of this Epistle. one another. It is in the salutation that Peter sets the tone by addressing his readers as “strangers First Peter refects both the history and the ter- in the world” or “resident aliens,” according to minology of the Gospels and his experiences Dr. Roger Hahn, professor of New Testa-ment and associations with Jesus’ ministry, according at Nazarene Teological Seminary. By so labe- to the editors of the New International Version ling, Peter recognizes both the temporary na- Study Bible (1985). Tough some scholars seem ture and trials of this earthy life, and establishes to claim that the letter was written by someone God’s new covenant through the resurrection else under the pseudonym or name of Peter, of His Son, Jesus Christ, as the living hope kept most accept it both traditionally and historically in heaven. It is good to keep in mind that this as the work of Peter, the apostle. Te Greek that letter, like most of the New Testament letters, it uses, however, seems to be in parts more idi- both from Paul and other writers, was written omatic than would characterize Peter, but that UPOFX$ISJTUJBOT ĕSTUDFOUVSZiIFSFUJDTwBD- has been explained to be due, in part, to the in- cording to the religious leaders of the day, who fuence of Silas. Peter even refers to Silas in 5:12 were being persecuted, al-ienated, and living in as his “helper,” and some believe that Silas was constant fear of retribution. So the letter shares Peter’s “secretary,” who polished Peter’s rough the constant New Testament theme of encour- Greek into what we read today. Tat may ex- agement and support for the church as it “scat- plain its diferences from 2 Peter’s rougher style. tered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia” (1:1). People in this area had While Peter in 5:13 indicates that the letter was been present in Jerusalem on the Day of Pen- written from Babylon, some have suggested tecost and had heard Paul preach on his mis- that that claim might simply be symbolic, as is TJPOBSZKPVSOFZT TP1FUFSTFFNFEDPOĕEFOUJO the reference in Rev-elation 14:8 and 17:5. It refecting Pauline doctrines in his own writings. might have been penned in Egyptian Babylon, a military post, in Jerusalem, or in Rome (he did It has been called a letter of hope in the midst spend much of his later life in Rome). Most crit- of sufering for good reason: suf-fering is men- ics disclaim these theories and hold to the literal tioned in 1:6; 2:12, 18-25; 3:13-18; 4:1, 4, 12-19; #BCZMPOPGUIFĕSTUDFOUVSZ 5:1, 7-10, while hope is referred to in 1:3, 13, 21; 3:5, 15. Your students will be able both to iden- Tough quite brief, the letter contains many and tify with and testify to the idea that hope springs various themes that include separation from the strongest when circumstances seem bleakest, as world, sufering, and persecution as preparation this is ofen what happens in human struggles. It for eternal glo-ry, of courageous Christian pil- is only when we lose all hope that tragic despair

63 settles in. For example, the homelessness that Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes are but pervades many places of poverty is the tragedy two). Here in 1 Peter, the reader gets another of that grabs the headlines across our land, but it those “lists of holiness” that your youth reader is the hope-lessness that is etched on the faces can grasp. To be self-controlled; to obey; not to and glazed atop the eyes that grabs the social conform to former evil desires; to rid yourself of conscience of those of us who have seen it. One malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander; to might cope with the loss of a home or the loss of submit to authority; to show proper respect to a job, but one might never overcome the loss of everyone; to love the brotherhood of believers; hope. Peter seems to sense this as he stresses the to fear God; to honor the king. temporariness and the shallowness of sufering when compared to the eternal depth of glory in Te metaphor of the living Stone in chapter 2 heaven. refects other such references to Jesus, found in Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17; Peter says in 1:7 that not only is faith itself a val- Acts 4:11; and Romans 9:33. It is living in that uable asset, but its testing is also to be cherished. it is personal. It is living in that it is life-giving. Tis is an echo of Romans 5:3-4, when Paul *UXPVMECFJOUFSFTUJOHUPOPUFPUIFSĕHVSFTPG says, “We also rejoice in our suferings, because speech that include living: “living water” (John we know that sufering produces perseverance; 4:10-17); “living bread” (John 6:51); and “living persever-ance, character; and character, hope.” way” (Hebrews 10:20). All of these refer to Jesus James says in his letter (that precedes 1 Peter in Christ. Te living stone continues a long tradi- the Bible) that we should “consider it pure joy . tion of scriptural refer-ences to building a house, . . whenever [we] face trials of many kinds, be- initially referred to in Matthew 7 and then again cause [we] know that the testing of [our] faith to Peter in Matthew 16:18. Christ is the Corner- develops persever-ance.” It is much like the stone, the origin, of the spiritual house, and the weight lifer who spends days and months and believers become building stones in the priest- years in training, ofen painful and always hard hood toward a holy nation belong-ing to God work, in order to build his body and tone those ćFDPSOFSTUPOFXBTUIFNPTUTJHOJĕDBOU muscles. Or the student who goes to school for stone of every building, establishing the design 12 or 16 or more years in order to hone the mind and direction of the structure: so as Christ is the into a thinking machine. Tough the struggle spiritual Cornerstone of the church, He alone may seem like sheer drudgery sometimes, take establishes its orientation. away all challenges on our lives and most of us will shriek with boredom and frustration. Hu- Te last half of chapter 2 is somewhat trouble- man beings thrive on hard work. some today as it admonishes the reader to submit to all authority, even those who are harsh Te concept of holiness is ofen presented in and are unbelievers. Pe-ter is suggesting that such abstract terms (people blind-ly quoting such recognition is for the greatest good of the Leviticus 11:44-45 without much development largest number of people and is therefore neces- or explanation: “Be holy, because I am holy”) TBSZUPCFTUGVMĕMMUIFXJMMPG(PEJOUIFXPSME that most of us struggle with the concept. Te “Authority established among men depends on Bible, however, is full of “helps” and “hints” that God for its very existence,” accord-ing to the demonstrate how the holy life can be lived (the NIV Study Bible, and “when one disobeys a hu-

64 man ruler, he disobeys God, who ordained the Presbyterian Church. Now they believe they have system of human government.” Tis is difcult enough members and the fnances to launch their to swallow if you’re living in Nazi Germany or own church. Stalinist Russia. It’s even hard in countries when the ruling “authority” might rule contrary to At their planning session, the following peo- your belief system. You might spend some time ple speak up. with your group discussing this passage and $POOJF$PNQBTTJPOTQFBLTĕSTU its hard relevance for today. Go to your study session with several “for instances” available “I don’t think we ought to spend a whole lot of for discussion. For good ideas, simply look at a money on the facility itself. Es-pecially since that newsmagazine or newspaper. will mean taking money out of the true ministry functions of the church. We ought to build SESSION ACTIVITIES cheaply, maybe even a pre-fab building, main- ENGAGE THE WORD tain it our-selves voluntarily, and bring fans and You Are a Chosen People space heaters from home when it gets too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter. We need to Te activity relates a hypothetical meeting that have a pantry for the hungry and a clothes center is to establish the direction of a local church fel- for the homeless. We might even consider using lowship. It presents four possible ideas for focus the sanctuary as a shelter during the week.” in building a wor-ship center, then three or four more as it concludes. Clyde Comfort had heard enough. Tis allows your youth to see the various phi- “We can’t expect to invite guests and visitors to losophies behind building a church; that it is al- a church that feels like a furnace in July and an ways more complicated than four walls because icebox in February, can we? And should we im- a church is peo-ple, not walls. It will also rein- mediately concern our-selves with people who will force the idea that Jesus Christ is the Corner- ‘take’ from the church rather than those who can stone, the orientation and direction of a church. ‘give’ to it? How do we expect to build a church What, then, would He see as the most impera- if we end up spending more money than we take tive activity and characteristic of a church? What in? I, for one, want a nice sanctuary with air con- should be the cornerstone of a church? ditioning, heating, nice classroom facilities, bath- rooms, pastoral study, modern equipment, and Be sure to follow up with an evaluation of your the like.” own local church and your de-nomination in general. Has the direction changed from the Paul Itical-Activist interrupted. original plan? Why? “Whatever we decide on the structure itself, we You Are a Chosen People need to consider that we will be a beacon in the neighborhood, a lighthouse of morality. Our It’s time for the people of Eastridge to build church will become a center for town meetings a church in which to worship and fellowship. that consider education curriculum, abortion Tey’ve been meeting in each other’s homes, at the clinics, AIDS hospices, AA sessions, etc., etc., etc. Cub Scout Center, and sometimes at the nearby I think we need to invest in a good attractive sign 65 out front that lets people know we’re here to make tures the essence of his frst let-ter to the early a diference.” church as it scattered across Asia Minor, for in this epistle, written approximately the same time He- Winnie Wirlitzer raised her hand. brews was written, Peter encourages Christians to “When I was a little girl, my mom and dad took hold frm in times of persecution and despair: to me to ‘Te Singing Church’ down on the corner. keep the hope alive. We called it that because no matter when you 6OMJLF)FCSFXT PSFWFO1FUFS GPSUIBU passed it on Sunday, and ofen in the middle of matter), there is little debate about the authorship the week, too, you could hear the people inside of the letter, for it begins with his name and con- singing and dancing and playing their music. It tinues in both the style and character of the apos- sounded happy. I think our church should be ‘Te tle. Interestingly, many scholars believe that the New Singing Church,’ I do. We need to have good letter was written with the help of Silas, an expert pianos, a fne pipe organ, a music minister and in the Greek language, something Pe-ter was not choir director, a children’s choir director, and fne (see Acts 15:22-29). It was written from Babylon, choir robes. Whatever we do, we need to invest according to 5:13, a small town on the Euphrates our money in music.” River. (You might recall that most scientists and Te meeting was beginning to drag on and on. theo-logians have placed the Garden of Eden on Art Architect wanted stained glass windows. Pen- the Euphrates, where it joins the Tigris River.) ny Publicist thought computers and duplicating Peter has written his letter to encourage machines were important. Chef Stevens wanted a the Christian Church in its journey. In it, not Friday Night Community Dinner. Ben Tere felt only does he describe the grace of God as the hope buses were a must for Sunday School. and glory of eternity, but he also calls the reader 1. Who’s got the right idea? to separation and alienation from this world of sufering and shameless lifestyle. It is a letter of 2. Which one best describes the way your explanation and exhortation, describing in detail church focuses its attention and spends its the conduct and duties of each believer as he/she funds? builds the kingdom of God. 3. What elements should be stressed in a It is not a very long “book of the Bible”, and it church fellowship? can be read entirely in about 15 or 20 minutes. As a class, spend some time reading through EXPLORE THE WORD it, trying to get an overview of its purpose and 1. WELCOME TO 1 PETER main ideas. What’s the frst thing that comes to your mind t8IBUXBTUIFQSJNBSZQPJOUPGUIJTMFUUFS when you hear about Peter? Is it “Peter, the fsh- from Peter to you? erman”? Is it “Peter, the one who denied knowing Jesus that night before the roster crowed”? Is t*G1FUFSXBTTJUUJOHBDSPTTGSPNZPV XIBU it “Peter, the Apostle”? Or is it “Peter, the Rock”? would you ask him about it? It is this last description that probably best cap- t8IBUQBTTBHFJOUSJHVFTZPVUIFNPTU

66 t*GZPVXFSF1FUFSUPEBZ XIPNXPVMEZPV t8IBUJTUIFiMJWJOHIPQFw1FUFSEFTDSJCFTJO send this letter to? Why? these opening verses? 2. OVERVIEW t 1FUFS NFOUJPOT JO WFSTF UIF HSJFGT BOE trials they have faced that have proved their -FUTCFHJOUPOBSSPXPVSTUVEZ OPX UPUIFĕSTU faith genuine (in v. 7). What are some griefs two chapters of the letter. Let’s read them again, and trials you have faced that have tested this time aloud, as if we’re reading a letter from your faith? a friend to our family. t8IBUBSFTPNFHSJFGTBOEUSJBMTZPVIPQF t (JWFO UPEBZT GBTDJOBUJPO XJUI BMJFOT BOE never to face that would really, really test extraterrestrials, how do you respond to Pe- your faith? ter’s label for Christians--”strangers in the world” (v. 1) and “aliens” (2:11)? t*OUIF#JCMF iIPQFwJTOPUNFSFMZBXJTIPS BGBOUBTZ*UJTBĕSNDPOWJDUJPOPGGBJUI8IBU t0VS,FZ7FSTFUBMLTBCPVUUIF-JWJOH4UPOF is the value of hope? How does hope make followed by references to a Cornerstone and you diferent? a Capstone (2:6-7). What do those terms mean to you? 4. CALLED UNTO HOLINESS (1:13--2:12) t)PXXPVMEZPVEFTDSJCF1FUFSTUPOF 6S- Tis section begins with the word that begins so gent? Hysterical? Compassionate? Distant? many passages of Scripture: “therefore.” It is the Where do you see this tone most evident? word of logicians, orators, and parents (right before they pun-ish you). It means that some con- t ćF MFUUFS JT GVMM PG DPNNBOET 8IJDI PG clusions are about to be drawn from what was them in these two chapters seems the most said or written before, and usually it implies troubling to you? “Hey, listen up!” 3. WE’RE NOT HOPELESS (1:1-12) Peter has just told them that their hope lies not in Te people receiving this letter were pretty much the present but in the future, more specifcally, in homeless in every sense of the word. Tey were eternity. Te present is full of grief and persecu- spiritual foreigners, ofen forced to fee the com- tion, but eter-nity will be flled with praise and forts of family and friends and scatter across glory and honor (1:7). He then begins this long southern coastal towns and states of the Black series of “behavior modifcations” that defne and Sea: Pon-tus, Bithynia, Galatia. Tey felt perse- describe the holy life of follow-ing Jesus Christ. cuted physically and displaced spiritually. Let’s read 1 Peter (1:13--2:12) carefully as a class, You and I, put in similar circumstances, might then consider the following items: have called the situation “hope-less.” But Peter t *O B TJOHMF TFOUFODF EFĕOF iIPMJOFTTw PS tells them that there is hope. “holy.” Have someone read 1 Peter (1:1-12) aloud while t /PX SFSFBE UIJT TFDUJPO PG 1FUFSTMFUUFS the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, and see if you can spot the characteristics of and then answer these questions: holiness that he lists. 67 t8IJDIPGUIFUIJOHTZPVWFTQPUUFETFFNT APPLY THE WORD the hardest for you to “live out”? Letter to Peter t%PZPVLOPXBiIPMZwQFSTPO 8IJDIEF- Tis activity might be done either without any TDSJQUJPOTFFNTUPĕUUIBUQFSTPOCFTU introductory remarks or with substantial direc- tions from the leader. Either way, it could be 5. WHEN TO SAY “I GIVE UP” (2:13-25) quite productive for the students both individu- *UJTCFDPNJOHNPSFBOENPSFEJďDVMUUPEJTDFSO ally and corporately. the true voices of authority. It seems that eve- Some will be far too shy to share their intimate rybody pretends to know what is right, who is thoughts aloud, so you might be prepared to do wrong, and everything in between. You have the this yourself and show how it can be done con- conservative right wing radicals vs. the liberal lef structively and with-out embarrassment. Sur- wing fanatics. You have the media vs. the govern- QSJTJOHMZ ZPV NBZ ĕOE UIFN XBOUJOH UP DPO- ment. You have the Church vs. the State. tinue their writing beyond the time you have in What’s a person to think? Peter saw the same di- class. (Tis “tool” is used in counseling thera- lemmas in his day and spends these verses talking pies and has had grand results.) about Christian submission to authority. Letter to Peter Afer your class has read 1 Peter 2:13-25, have Troughout Scripture, both the New Testament them answer the following questions. and Old Testament, writers refer to the temporary t)PXEPZPVCBMBODFUIJTDBMMUPTVCNJTTJPO sufering of this life as preparation for the eternal with your moral/biblical stand against some of glory that is to come in the next life. Peter says in the things government authorities ask you to 1:6-7: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for do and believe? a little while you may have had to sufer grief in all kinds of trials. Tese have come so that your t 8IBU JT POF JTTVF GSPN iBO BVUIPSJUZw UP faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes which you can never allow yourself to submit? even though refned by fre--may be proved genu- Is that wrong, according to Peter? Why/not? ine and may result in praise, glory, and honor.” t0VSDVMUVSFUFMMTVTUPĕHIUGPSKVTUJDF FWFOJG In an earlier question, you were asked to list tri- that means fghting against authority (think of als or griefs you have sufered that have tested the Civil Rights Movement, the abortion issue, your faith. In this section, write a letter to Peter war protests, etc.). Can you think of another about one of those “tests.” Tell him some of the historical event/issue that shows this idea? Was background of the incident or event and how you it right or wrong? How did you decide that? GFMUUISFBUFOFEPSTDBSFE6MUJNBUFMZ IPXFWFS FY- plain how this strengthened your faith and how t 8IBU BSF iBVUIPSJUJFTw UP XIJDI ZPV EBJMZ you might use this to share with others who are submit? Explain how you submit and why you going through simi-lar trials. submit. Dear Peter, …

68 LIVE THE WORD The Hope of Heaven

Tis is a creative activity that will have no other value than to get your learners to think con- cretely about what heaven will be like for them. If you’d like to discuss the theology of heaven, UIBUXPVMECFĕOF CVUGPSUIFNPTUQBSU IFBW- en is only briefy described through visions in Scripture, so the students’ imaginations might be as accurate as any. What students begin to see is that this is a wonderful place of “being” and that it has everything their hearts desire and none of what their minds fear. It is in the sharing of Jesus that real value might take place for this activity. Drawing, BHBJO NJHIUCFCFOFĕDJBM Te Hope of Heaven Tis entire letter from Peter is about the hope of heaven in the next life, how we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ, who conquered death itself. As in-dividuals, then as a group together, ofer your specifc ideas of what heaven is HPJOHUPCFMJLF6TFZPVSJNBHJOBUJPOUPDPOTJEFS each of the following points. Your ‘mansion”-- Activities-- Foods-- What won’t be there?-- Season-- Who will be there?-- Abilities (that you don’t have now)--

Discuss answers as a class, then close with prayer. 69 BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

STUDY SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 3:1- 4:6 our youth in church or Bible study, or how many verses of Scripture they read each night before KEY VERSE: 9 “. . . live in harmony with one an- they go to sleep, or how many phone calls we other; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be com- put in or notes we send in the mail, we will nev- passionate and humble” (1 Peter 3:8). er be able to have as many opportunities to tell them “Te Truth” as the world has to tell them TEACHING AIMS “Te Lie.” Tat’s why we must make the most To help the learners: out of each chance we get to show how Christ dealt with everything He was exposed to. 1. Understand the concepts of Christian modesty and Christlike humility. Tis lesson is rich in Christian doctrine and holiness lifestyle. From the mod-esty of what we 2. Realize that holiness of heart calls for the wear to the humility with which we react, Peter return of good for evil. ofers each reader the wisdom for our age. While the world teaches vanity, individualism, and re- 3. Know that our sufering is only temporary venge, Christianity teaches internal beauty, fel- and is preparing us for an eternal reward. lowship, and kindness.

PERSPECTIVE BIBLE BACKGROUND: Vanity, individualism, revenge: those are what (Provided to help the leader prepare for the les- the world teaches all of us every minute of every son. Share the appropriate parts with your class day. We are told that in order to be accepted, we at suitable times during the discussion below): must look a cer-tain way, drive a certain car, listen to certain music, and wear a certain brand At the beginning of chapter 3, Peter makes the of clothes. We are told to stand up for our rights, transition from his discussion about submission ĕHIUGPSPVSTFMWFT BOEEPOUMFUQFPQMFQVTIVT to government authority to submission of wives around. We are told to sue if we are sued, strike to husbands. Apparently this was becoming a if we don’t get our raise, and spread rumors problem to the Early Church, for it appears not about our enemies. on-ly in Peter’s writings but also in the letters from Paul, Timothy (1 Timothy 2:9-10), and Ti- Every minute of every day. tus (2:5). And no matter how many times we meet with In these days of sexual equality, feminism, and 70 political correctness, it might be hard to under- about their feelings toward Peter’s instructions. stand and buy into Peter’s admonition that wives "MTPĕOEPVUIPXUIFEFDJTJPOTJOUIFJSIPNFT are to submit to their husbands—particularly are made. What is usual in two-parent homes BLESSED ARE because it follows close on the heels of Peter’s in- is a distribution of “responsibilities” where one THE PEACEMAKERS struc-tion on slaves submitting to masters, and spouse decides some things fairly autonomous- some might draw an erroneous parallel. Tat’s ly and the other does the same in other areas. why it is important to grasp the meaning of the Ten in major decisions there is conference and word “submit” and to com-prehend the context consensus. If the two disagree completely on the in which it is used. Peter is not implying an in- major decisions, many options occur to which ferior-superior relationship between wives and your students might provide the group some in- husbands in terms of their “being.” Tat is to put. say, he is not suggesting that husbands are better because they are men; he is saying, however, Verse 8 begins Peter’s instruction for the broth- that in order for the home to operate in an or- erhood of believers to love one another, be sym- derly fashion, hierarchy is necessary. Some crit- pathetic and compassionate to one another, and ics, such as A. R. C. Leaney, editor of Te Letters to be humble. Tese words draw close parallel of Peter and Jude, suggest that “in the West we to Paul’s words in Romans (12:16): “Live in har- might well shrug of such an idea as impossible, mony with one another; do not be haughty, but but in the East it would still not be in the least associate with the lowly; never be con-ceited” remarkable, because in many coun-tries the po- (RSV); and Philippians 2:2, “Complete my joy sition in society is the same as is taken for grant- by being of the same mind, having the same ed in 1 Peter and the par-allel passages [already love, being in full accord and of one mind” noted above]. A woman who made herself equal (RSV). Peter then in-corporates a quote from to her hus-band would be regarded as ‘fast,’ and the Psalms (34:12-16) that suggests that anyone it was usually only in those pagan religions with who does these things will be helped in life on immoral ceremonies that women were promi- earth and God will bless with a compassionate nent in a religious community.” ear when He hears that person’s prayer. Tese are Peter’s reasons, as well, for the reader to obey Not to cast the passage aside at all, it does, then, his exhortation. appear to be bound to its cul-ture in some regard. One universal point Peter is making is that Te section (vv. 19-21) that mentions Noah submission of will and humility of behavior will and his generation might be inter-preted any do more to “win over” the lost than any amount of three ways, according to the NIV Study Bi- of speaking or coercion known to humanity. ble footnotes on this passage. “1. Some hold Let it also be noted that when Paul in-structs that in his preincarnate state, Christ went and husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the preached through No-ah to the wicked genera- Church and when Peter says “in the same way” tion of that time. 2. Others argue that between (v. 7), they are suggesting a much more “liber- his death and resurrection Christ went to the ated” view of the marriage relationship than was prison where fallen angels are incarcerated and previously known in their culture. there preached to the angels who are said to have lef their proper state and married hu-man It might be wise for you to ask your students women during Noah’s time. Te sons of God in

71 Genesis 6:2, 4 are said to have been angels. Te admonition: to win those who have been lost. message he preached to these evil angels was Others see it as comfort to those who have al- probably a dec-laration of victory. 3. Still others ready accepted Christ. say that between death and resurrection, Christ All of this now sets the stage for 4:7, in which the went to the place of the dead and preached to writer predicts the eminent end of this world, the spirits of Noah’s wicked contem-poraries. XIJDI XF XJMM MPPL BU NPSF TQFDJĕDBMMZ JO UIF What he proclaimed may have been the gospel, next lesson. or it may have been a dec-laration of victory for Christ and doom for his hearers.” Each view is somewhat weakened by an understanding of the SESSION ACTIVITIES diferences between human beings and an-gels ENGAGE THE WORD or spiritual beings, and their lack of relation to Going to the Chapel, and We’re Going to Get Christ’s death and resurrection, clearly the con- Married text of the passage. Because of the maturity level of some youth, you Te aspect of sufering discussed in chapter 4 might want to enlist the help of an adult of the as it also relates to the verses leading up to 3:18 opposite sex who can take half your group for is unjust sufering; that is, sufering from doing discussion of this material apart from the other good, not evil. Christ’s sufering and death were half. Afer some time to get through the ideal the result of His doing good, and it is that that husband and wife in groups of boys and girls, serves us as a model and a warning of what is to you could bring the two groups back together to come. We will, because we are fol-lowers of the draw a composite of ideals. sufering servant, also sufer unjustly and we are If you are married, you might bring your spouse “to arm” ourselves with His attitude of humility. to reveal some of his or her re-sponses about Tis sufering permits us to understand what is ZPVBOEIPXZPVĕUUIFJEFBMćFOZPVDPVME really important: to distinguish between the ur- do the same to your spouse. gent and the important. Te desires of the fesh (debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carous- You might also want to enlist the wisdom of an ing, and detestable idolatry) be-come unimpor- older couple you know who could show how tant when life hangs in the balance. ideals and attractiveness change and do not change in many ways. You might ask them their Finally, verse 6 may be a little confusing with the “secrets” to staying in love. choice of verb tense and ad-verbs, but what it says is that the preaching was done before death Goin’ to the Chapel, and We’re Gonna Get Married occurred. Te original Greek does not contain “now” in the manuscript, but it was added to Most of us have an idea of the ideal husband clarify the English translation, which lacks the or wife. While guys tend to think of their future depth of the Greek tense. According to the NIV mates in terms of physical attributes frst and per- Study Bible footnote, the gospel “is preached to sonality traits sec-ond, girls tend to reverse that people in this life so that in Christ’s death they order. (Tat’s because girls are much more mature than guys. ) Nevertheless, both physical and may receive judgment now and avoid judgment to come.” Some see this passage as evangelistic psychological/spiritual characteris-tics go into the 72 picture we all create of the perfect spouse. “What?” We’re going to spend some time considering the t8IJDIWFSTFEPZPVBHSFFXJUINPTU QFSIBQT following “traits” and describe what our “ideal” even causing you to utter a quiet “Amen”? mate will act, look, and sound like. t8IBUBSFUXPPSUISFFUIFNFTZPVTFFJOUIJT t)PXXJMMIFTIFTVSQSJTFZPV passage? t8IBUXJMMCFIJTIFSGBWPSJUFUIJOHUPEP 2. HOW DO YOU SPELL S-U-B-M-I-S-S-I-O-N? (3:1-7) t8IBUXJMMIFTIFMPPLMJLF If you’re like most people (and despite what you Height and weight think about yourself, you prob-ably are), you Hair would much rather do something for someone without being told to do it. We’re just built that Eyes way. We don’t care too much for authority, commands, or demands. It makes us feel inferior in Clothes many ways. Do you agree? Most outstanding physical feature Tese eight verses, coupled with Paul’s address to t8IBUBUUSJCVUFEPZPVMJLFCFTUBCPVUIJN the Ephesian church (5:22-24; see also what he her? says in 1 Corinthians 11:3 and Colossians 3:18) are ofen misread and misinterpreted, and today, t8IBUXJMMUIFUXPPGZPVEPPOWBDBUJPOT that can be quite alarming and dangerous. t)PXXJMMPUIFSTLOPXZPVUXPBSFJOMPWF Have someone read 1 Peter 3:1-7 aloud while the t%FTDSJCFUIFQFSGFDUEBUFXJUIIJNIFS rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, and then answer the following questions as a group: EXPLORE THE WORD t8IBUJT1FUFSTHPBMJOPVSTVCNJTTJPOUPPOF 1. OVERVIEW another? Peter continues his admonitions to show a sub- t.VDIPGXIBU1FUFSTBZTBCPVUXIBUXPNFO missive spirit in times of struggle and sufering, wear is his culture and time. What “fashion this time directing his attention to the family as statement” of your culture and time do you well as to govern-ment and employment. It is fnd acceptable for a Christian young person? easy, perhaps, to misinterpret some of these verses What “fashion statement” is not? How do you at the beginning of this section, so read them care- make the distinction? fully. t *T UIFSF BOZUIJOH iXSPOHw BCPVU NBLJOH "ęFS ZPVS HSPVQ IBT ĕOJTIFE SFBEJOH 1FUFS yourself “beautiful” on the outside? Can it be- 3:1-4:6, have them answer the following ques- come “wrong”? How? tions: t $IBSBDUFSJ[F UIF BVUIPSJUZ JO ZPVS IPNF t 8IJDI WFSTF DBVTFE ZPV UP QBVTF BOE TBZ What role does your father play in decision- 73 making? How about your mom? Where do you t1FUFSBTLTJOWFSTF i8IPJTHPJOHUPIBSN ft in? you if you are eager to do good?” Tat might have been easier to answer in frst century Asia t1FUFSVTFTiTVCNJUwBTUIFWFSCGPSXJWFTIF Minor than it is today because then both the uses “be considerate” and “respect” for hus- government and the established church were bands. Explain how those may all be talking out to do harm, but give it a try. Who is going about the same behavior. to harm you? 3. MAKE YOURSELF A BLESSING (3:8-17) 4. ONCE AND FOR ALL (3:18-22)

Nobody likes to be around a whining complainer, Like Paul did in Philippians (2:5-11), Peter uses someone who sees everything through the lens of Christ as the model of Christian behavior and self-pity. Neither are we attracted to people who conduct. (Tat might seem obvious to us, but back lie, seek re-venge, or spread rumors, yet we all then Christ’s divin-ity was still being challenged.) know people who do these awful things all the Remember Paul said that Jesus “emptied himself, time. taking the form of a servant, being born in the On the other hand, we love people who smile be- likeness of men. And being found in human form cause they’re happy all the time. (We may think he humbled himself and became obedient unto they are a little weird, but we do love them!) death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8). While the frst sees the glass half-empty, the latter Peter put it this way: “Christ died for sins once sees the glass half-full. for all, the righteous for the un-righteous, to bring Tis section explains how the Christian behaves you to God. He was put to death in the body but diferently because Christ be-haved diferently made alive by the Spirit . . .” (3:18). and the Holy Spirit has changed him/her. Have someone read 1 Peter 3:18-22 aloud while Have someone read 1 Peter 3:8-17 aloud while the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, and then answer the following items. and then answer the following as a class t1FUFSUFMMTVTUIBU MJLF$ISJTU XFBSFUPCF t8IBUJTUIFXPSTUUIJOHTPNFPOFBUTDIPPMIBT ready to sufer for doing good. Can you name done to you? What “evil” could you have done three or four “good things” Christ did for which to get back at him/her? What “good” could you He later sufered? have done in order to be “a blessing”? t 1BVM SFNJOET VT UIBU +FTVT iIVNCMFE IJN- t8IZEPFTJUPęFOTFFNFBTJFSBOENPSFSF- self” when He became human. What do you warding (at least in the immediate sense) to suppose he meant by that? return evil for evil? t )PX DBO B $ISJTUJBO JO ZPVS UPXO UPEBZ t*OWFSTF1FUFSTBZT i"MXBZTCFQSFQBSFE show Christlike humility? What does it mean to give an answer to everyone who asks you to you to be humble? Is it more than modesty to give the reason for the hope that you have.” or meekness? What is your answer? t1FUFSSFGFSTUPUIFTUPSZBCPVU/PBI8IBU

74 does he say was the source of their wickedness? a Bible study leader than to voice and listen to (You might want to read Genesis 6.) the dif-ferences of opinion. 5. CALL TO ARMS (4:1-6) You might be prepared to bring in other scriptures that deal with outer appear-ances and While the world arms itself with “smart missiles,” vanities. Try to get your students to understand nuclear warheads, and Star Wars technology, the the importance of Chris-tian moderation and kingdom of God is arming itself with an attitude- modesty in light of media pressure to conform. -the atti-tude of a sufering servant. Te other ex-treme (long, uncut hair, dresses Have someone read 1 Peter 4:1-6 aloud while the only, long sleeves and long pants, etc.) might be rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, and equally “wrong” or “unbiblical.” Talk! then answer the following questions as a class: Beauty Is Only Skin Deep t*OZPVSPXOXPSET EFTDSJCFUIJTiBUUJUVEFw Our society places a high importance on our out- that is referred to in verse 1. ward appearances. Much money is spent annu- t1FUFSNBLFTBCSJFGMJTUPGiFWJMIVNBOEF- ally in making ourselves look better because, basi- sires” in verse 3. Let’s list and defne each one. cally, few of us like the way we look in the mirror each morning when we climb out of bed. t"SFUIFSFBOZiFWJMIVNBOEFTJSFTwZPVLOPX about that Peter lef of his list? Peter tells us that beauty--true beauty--comes from the inside no matter what we try to do on t 0O XIBU DSJUFSJB QFPQMF KVEHF 8IBU EPFT the outside, and if we were honest with each oth- God use to judge people? (See verse 6.) What er, we know he’s right. External looks change dras- is the diference? tically as we get older, but internal attractiveness stays the same . . . or gets even better. APPLY THE WORD Beauty Is Only Skin Deep In the frst part of this activity, I want us to describe beauty in terms of what society (and the Tis two-part activity will show your youth media) tells us. It could be feminine or masculine the diferences between what the world sees as beauty or both. Ten we’ll look at what we mean beautiful and what Scripture sees as beautiful. by “internal beauty,” both in terms of Peter’s description and your own. Tis is not to suggest that physical attraction is unbiblical, by any means. God created us to t8IBUJTTPDJFUZTWFSTJPOPGCFBVUZ FYUFSOBM be sexually attractive and stimulated. It is to t8IBUJTTDSJQUVSFTWFSTJPOPGCFBVUZ JOUFS- show, however, that physical attraction is only nal)? part (and in some cases only a small part) of the whole package of relationships. Now I want to hear your opinions on the following “adornments” that we wear to beautify our- Te second part of the activity will be an excit- TFMWFTPSBUMFBTUUPEFFNQIBTJ[FUIFOFHBUJWFT ing stimulus for discussion on some of the do’s in our appear-ances. Let’s answer honestly, and be and don’ts of Christian fashion. It is less impor- prepared to share your feelings. Answer for both tant for you to make judgments as a group or as 75 men and women when appropriate. Adornment

Pierced earrings Multiple pierced earrings Pierced noserings Tatoos Dyed hair Makeup Lipstick Beard/mustache Tanktops/tubetops Tight jeans or skirts Lowcut tops/bikini tops Short shorts Pants with “well-placed” holes or rips T-shirts with suggestive sayings or logos of beers, cigarettes, etc. Necklaces Multiple fnger rings Expensive watches Bracelets Anklets Designer jeans Ballcaps

76 LIVE THE WORD copied his home-work. Mr. Smith gives you Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil an F on the assignment. )FSF BSF ĕWF DBTF TUVEJFT UIBU XJMM PČFS ZPVS 2. You’re not the most attractive girl in the youth the opportunity to measure their own school, but you do have friends and you’ve “instinctive” or “gut” reactions against purer re- been going out with the student body vice sponses of humility and compassion. Each case president, Zeke, for three months, so things is true, and one or more may strike a familiar could be worse. When Carla transfers to chord (maybe even too familiar) with one of your school, you’re a little sur-prised when your group. she starts having lunch with you every day, but afer a couple of weeks you can’t imagine If you would like, because you know your group how you went to school without her. She is much more intimately than anyone else, you quickly becoming your best friend. In April, might write up some other case scenarios that Zeke breaks up with you and starts asking would be more compelling for your group to out Carla, who immediately drops you like a discuss. rock. It gets back to you that she became your Another approach might be to act out some of friend only because she had her eyes on Zeke these cases, both from the initial “instinctive” from the beginning. reaction and to the other “biblical” reaction. 3. Your father has been the pastor of your Have your group watch and respond to the dif- church for three years and things are be- ferences. ginning to feel like home when suddenly he Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil comes home from a board meeting and tell you he’s been voted out. It seems a woman We’ve all done evil and we’ve all had evil done to you barely know has accused him of sexual us, so when it comes to evil, we’re pretty much ex- misconduct, and the board believed her and perts, aren’t we? Peter gives the early Church and not him even though you KNOW she is ly- us some strong instruction on how to deal with ing. evil, and it may not seem too instinctive to us. Tat’s where God’s grace takes over. 4. Right before the school elections in which you are running for ofce, your oppo-nent Te following scenarios are real. How would you starts telling everybody that you lied on your have handled the situation--with evil or with application and don’t really qualify to run. good? What would be the worldly reaction and You even see a few posters go up that say that. what might be the Christian response to each? Te election is only two days away and you see your hopes going up in smoke. 1. Jef called you late last night to see if he could borrow your math homework to check 5. All during the game, your opponent has against his own so he can better prepare for been cheating on you without the ref’s see- the exam on Friday. Instead, he copied your ing it. In fact, no one except you and the op- homework and turned it in. Te teacher calls ponent knows what is happening out there. him in because a couple of answers seem a Despite all your eforts and all that your team bit suspicious, but he tells Mr. Smith that you can do, the game’s result comes down to the 77 last second. When the buzzer sounds, your team has lost and deep down you believe it was because your opponent got the upper hand on you il-legally. As you walk past the other team to shake hands, you see that smile coming toward you. Close with prayer afer the class discusses each situation. 10

78 PUT ON SOME CLOTHES

STUDY SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 4:7- 5:14 the Almighty. Being a follower of the Messiah can be a humbling experience. It’s supposed to KEY VERSE : “. . . clothe yourselves with humil- be that way. 10ity toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” (1 Pe- “Humility” is one of the English language’s most ter 5:5). melodious words. Not only does it sound beautiful, but its meaning is beautiful too. It means to TEACHING AIMS put others ahead of yourself. It means to be the ĕSTUUPBENJUFSSPSBOEUPBTLGPSGPSHJWFOFTT*U To help the learners: means to keep your eye on the eternal prize of 1. Put walk to their talk, action to their broth- glory when the pressures of the mo-ment sur- erly love. round and push down upon you. It means to be “unproud.” 2. Understand that their gif from God, whatever special talent they have, was given to Tis lesson pounds this point home. Peter uses them for service to others. phrases like “serve others,” “re-joice that you participate in the suferings of Christ,” “com- 3. Remember that temporary sufering is cre- mit [yourself] to [your] Creator,” “be shepherds ating in them the spirit of Christ. of God’s fock,” “be submissive to one another,” “clothe yourselves with humility.” All of these PERSPECTIVE exhortations are aimed at the heart of the be- MJFWFS XIP TUSVHHMFT XJUI TFMĕTIOFTT BOE TFMG We are a proud people. We have school pride, pity. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to family pride, country pride, etc. Our culture the humble.” thrives on its pride to the point that some of us are almost sinfully proud of our church. “Tis is BIBLE BACKGROUND THE church! Tere is no other church like this church anywhere near this church. Tis is THE (Provided to help the leader prepare for the les- church!” son. Share the appropriate parts with your class at suitable times during the discussion below): 1FUFSTQFOETTPNVDIPGIJTFČPSUJOIJTĕSTUMFU- ter to the Early Church talking about sufering Te passage begins in an almost ominous tone: and persecution in the name of Christ, he can’t “Te end of all things is near.” Tis verse is fur- help but feel hum-bled in the presence of God, ther enlightened in reading James 5:9, which 79 says, “Don’t grumble against each other, broth- one of the great signs of graciousness. It afrms ers, or you will be judged. Te Judge is stand- that earthly possessions are not owned solely by ing at the door!” It’s easy to understand how the the Christian but are co-owned with Christ so anticipation of the imminent return of Jesus and that whenever one of His children (“sheep”) is of God—Te Judge—would change the way we in need, your resources are His to distribute. Fi- think and behave in relation-ships and daily ac- nally, “serve others.” Love without action, faith tivities. Peter tells us that we need to live that without deeds (according to James), is dead. We way, noted by the word “therefore.” must activate Christ’s love in the brotherhood so that His mercy, His grace, can be given to He follows that “therefore” with several behav- anyone who needs them. It may cost in terms of JPSBMNPEJĕDBUJPOTJOUFOEFEUPNBLFUIFGFMMPX- wealth or time, but its dividends are many and ship function more efectively and rewardingly. eternal. First, “be clear minded.” Christians are to be rational and reasonable, able to make decisions Te next passage reminds the reader of the logi-cally and wisely. Tese are all signs and in- point already established in 1:6-7 and 2:20-21, dications of Christian maturity. Churches that that following Christ means being followed by waste their time arguing over territory, jurisdic- tribulation. Tey are two sides of the same coin. tion, and rules are churches that wallow in spir- “But rejoice,” Peter says, “that you participate itual infancy. Second, “be self-controlled.” Tis in the suf-ferings of Christ.” Remember that in is not simply (though it certainly is in part) a Matthew 16:21-23, Peter would have nothing to check of temper. It is a reverence for the body as do with Christ’s prophecy of sufering. “‘Never, the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are to rein in Lord!’ he said. ‘Tis shall never happen to you!’” our temptations and vices so that we do not be- Ten you’ll recall the shocking rebuke leveled come their victims. We are to exercise His will at Peter, the Rock: “Get behind me, Satan!” Je- so that we might not exercise our carnal wills. sus said. “You are a stumbling block to me; you Tird, “pray.” It is this daily communication, do not have in mind the things of God, but the petitioning, and listening that enables us to dis- things of men.” Peter remembered this re-buke cern the voice of God among the many voices every day of his life, particularly strongly on that speak to us every day. We become familiar those days of afiction. His friend, Paul, was to His voice. And we become active under its sufering terribly for carrying the gospel and guid-ance. Paul says in Ephesians 6:18, “Pray at preaching the Good News (see Colossians 1:24), all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and suppli- and Peter has seen that sufering for Christ cation” (RSV). Fourth, “love each other deeply.” means suf-fering with Christ . . . and that means Love is carrying each other’s burdens, encour- resurrection with Christ in heaven. aging one another, forgiving all ofenses. Fifh, “ofer hospitality.” Paul paraphrases it this way Alan Stibbs, in his book Te First Epistle Gen- in Romans 12:13, “Share with God’s people who eral of Peter, writes, “When the peo-ple of God are in need”; and in Galatians 6:10, “As we have endure undeserved sufering for Christ’s sake, opportunity, let us do good to all men, especial- they experience fellow-ship with Him and bring ly to those who are of the household of faith” glory to His name. It is doubly important, there- (RSV). Other references in-clude 1 Timothy 3:2; fore, that they should not bring justly deserved 5:10; Titus 1:8; and 3 John 5-8. Hospitality is sufering upon themselves either by evil-doing 80 or by indiscreet action. For not only are such NIV states, “He mocks proud mockers but gives practices wrong in themselves; but also, when grace to the humble.” Te RSV translates Prov- professing Christians thus clearly deserve pun- erbs 3:34, “Toward the scorners he is scornful, ishment, the distinc-tive witness of true Chris- but to the humble he shows favor.” Perhaps your tian sufering is undermined and contradicted” students will have other versions that will shed (161). It is intriguing that among murder and light on the meaning. stealing, Peter includes meddling: being a busy- body. Tis is a person who assumes responsibil- It is interesting to note that in 5:8 Peter may ity for things and activities that do not belong be refecting upon his own inatten-tiveness in to him or her. Many believe that it is meddling Gethsemane. He writes, “Be self-controlled and that causes both familial and commercial dis- alert.” Some believe he is referring to his own in- cord. At its very least, meddling works against ability to stay awake during Jesus’ horrifying or- humility and forgiveness. Stibbs writes, “It is im- deal in the Garden before the betrayal that sent perative for the Christian to begin to order his Him to the Cross. own conduct according to new standards of pu- Peter must have then taken the quill from Silas’s rity and justice, this new awareness and concern hand in verses 12-14 as he concludes his letter to does not qualify him ofciously to interfere in the church. He thanks Silas for his help, not only the lives of others, par-ticularly non-Christians, as a courier, probably, of the letter, but also as its to try to make them live according to his light” DIJFGTDSJCF"TTUBUFEJOUIFĕSTUTUVEZ DIBQUFS (162). 8 of this book), Silas’s skills with the Greek lan- Chapter 5 carries the metaphor begun by Christ guage were far superior to Peter’s, and he prob- in John 10 and Luke 15 of the Good Shepherd ably acted as a secretary, polishing Peter’s words to its logical end. We are to become shepherds, GPSGPSNBMQSFTFOUBUJPO*UJTJOUIJTĕOBMHSFFU- in turn, of the focks bestowed upon us through ing, also, that we learn of its origin, Babylon. Pe- God’s ordination. Tis is not addressed simply ter holds Mark in such high regard that he refers to church leaders: pastors, Sunday School teach- to him as “my son.” If we look at 1 Timothy 1:2, ers, board members. It is for anyone who leads. we see that it was probably Peter who led Mark Peter warns that we are not to “shepherd” out of to Christ. Early Church tradi-tion binds the two feelings of obligation. Our motive is not to be together throughout their later lives. Te “kiss greed. We are not to use it to put pressure on PGMPWFwJOUIFĕOBMWFSTFJTUIFTBNFUIBU1BVM anyone. Not at all. We are to tend His sheep be- encourages in 1 Corinthians 16:20. Tis “holy cause we want to do His will, because we want to kiss” refects the culture of the time—kissing TFSWFCZCFJOHBOFYBNQMFPG$ISJTUTTBDSJĕDJBM was a common greeting in the synagogue, and love. it seemed to continue in the Jewish-Gentile churches. Te key verse for this lesson, 5:5, refers to the putting on of clothing, a robe of humility. Humil- SESSION ACTIVITIES ity becomes the garment we show to the world. ENGAGE THE WORD Peter’s quote of Proverbs 3:34, “God opposes the Te Gif of Gifs proud but gives grace to the humble,” should be discussed through several translations. Te Everybody has a gif—a special or unique talent

81 that makes a person diferent from most peo- t4UBOJTHFOFSPVT ple around him or her. Some of us are taught to downplay those gifs or to ignore them, ofen in t(SBOENBIBTUIFHJęPGIPTQJUBMJUZ the name of modesty, but it’s not hard for others t6ODMF4UFWFJTBHSFBUTQFBLFS to see those gifs in us. t"VOU.BSZJTGBNPVTGPSIFSCBLJOH Peter talks about using our gifs to serve oth- FSTUIBUTXIZ(PEHBWFUIFNUPVTJOUIFĕSTU t4VTBODBOUFBDIBOZCPEZUPEPBOZUIJOH place. Tis activity, then, plays on both of those t+BLFMPWFTUPXPSLPONBDIJOFT ideas. Your students will probably be much more adept at seeing opportunities of service for oth- t.BSUIBSBJTFTDBUTBOEEPHT ers than they will for themselves, but this may help them do even that. t3PHFSIBTBIVHFWFHFUBCMFHBSEFO Spend some time at the end of your session t(FPSHFMPWFTDBSQFOUSZ brainstorming some opportunities of service t#BSUQMBZTUIFQJBOPBOETJOHT not only for the individuals in your group but for the group as a whole as well. t%BEJTBHSFBUMJTUFOFS Te Gif of Gifs EXPLORE THE WORD Ah, Christmas! No other season of the year has 1. OVERVIEW so much tradition and expecta-tion. Te Smiths Obviously Peter felt that things were getting pretty gathering around their tree just now, ready to urgent--it’s not every day you write “Te end of all open their presents. Te funny thing is, there are things is near” (4:7). Tis is, however, precisely the no packages under the beautifully decorated tree. atti-tude Peter felt was necessary for the church in It seems this year they are giving each other. Asia Minor--to live as if the end was impending Te Father said, “As you know, this year we every day. It should make a diference. are doing something diferent. In-stead of toys, Read these last verses of 1 Peter (4:7--5:14) all clothes, radios, and CD’s, we’re going to ofer our at once, then answer the following questions as special gifs to serving others.” Afer he says this, a class. he looks around the room, wondering what each one will do with his or her gif. t8IBUBSFTPNFXPSETUIBUBSFSFQFBUFEXJUI- in this passage? Let’s make some suggestions to this family of how they can use their gifs to serve others? t8IBUEPZPVUIJOL1FUFSTUPOFJT 8IBULJOE of mood is he in? t.PNIBTUIFHJęPGBSU TIFQBJOUT XFBWFT makes crafs) t8SJUFEPXOTPNFiKPVSOBMJTUTRVFTUJPOTwUP ask: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How. t4BMMZIBTUIFHJęPGXSJUJOH t8IJDIJT1FUFSTNPTUQPXFSGVMJOTUSVDUJPO t4BNMJLFTUPXPSLPVUTJEF

82 2. THE END IS NEAR (4:7-11) "ęFSZPVĕOJTISFBEJOHUIJTTFDUJPO BOTXFSUIF following as a class: If that doesn’t wake you up, nothing will--”Te &OE*T/FBSwćFSFTOPIJUUJOHUIFTOPP[FBMBSN t8IBUJTUIFTPVSDFPGUIJTiKPZwXFTIPVME on that one. Peter wants the church to live as if feel when we are insulted? every day were its last, and he urges them to rid themselves of any complacency that might exist t7FSTFTPVOETBOBXGVMMPUMJLFPOFPGUIF BOE UP SFQSJPSJUJ[F UIFJS MJWFT JO MJHIU PG XIBUT beatitudes in Matthew 5. Which one? eternally important. tćFSFBSFUISFFLJOETPGiDSJNJOBMTwNFO- Have someone read 1 Peter 4:7-11 aloud while tioned in verse 15. I think most of us would the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, BHSFFPOUIFĕSTUUXPNVSEFSFSBOEUIJFG and then answer the following as a class. as being violators of the law. What is the third one he mentions? How is that a “crime”? t*GUIJTXFSFZPVSMBTUEBZPOFBSUI IPXXPVME Which commandment does it violate? you spend it? What would you suddenly fnd important? What might become unimportant? t)BWFZPVFWFSiTVČFSFEwGPSCFJOHB$ISJT- tian? Chances are you haven’t been perse- t1FUFSBDLOPXMFEHFTUIBUFBDIPGVTQPTTFTTFT cuted (though that might certainly be the a peculiar gif (v. 10). What is a “gif”? Is it dif- case for one or two of you), but you might ferent from a skill or a talent? have been insulted or ostracized because you know Jesus. If you feel comfortable sharing t8IBUEPZPVUIJOLJTZPVSHJę )PXEPFT1F- with us, please tell us about your experience. ter suggest you use it? How might you do that? 4. RESPECT YOUR ELDERS (5:1-9) t.PTUPGVTMJLFUPUBML UIPVHIOPUQVCMJDMZ Peter tells us how to talk. How is that? Tis series of verses almost reads like a postscript or a parenthetical aside. “Oh, by the way fellow t8IBUJTUIFHPBMPGTFSWJDF BDDPSEJOHUPWFSTF elders, don’t forget to . . .” Yet it still possesses a 11? great impact to the church because it addresses 3. JOY IN MUDVILLE (4:12-19) the leadership of the church.

Have you ever had “mud” thrown at you--an in- Have someone read 1 Peter 5:1-9 aloud while sult intended to make you feel awful about your- the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles. self in one way or another? Most of us know the "ęFSZPVĕOJTISFBEJOHUIJTiQPTUTDSJQU wBOTXFS diference be-tween teasing and cutting someone the following as a class: to the bone with a terse comment or a mean put- t 8IBU NFUBQIPS EPFT 1FUFS VTF UP EFTDSJCF down, and we know frst-hand because we’ve felt the elders? Why does it seem to ft so well? (You such a sting. Peter tells us in these verses that if we might want to look at John 10 and Luke 15.) sufer insults because we call ourselves followers of Christ, we should rejoice. t1FUFSTVHHFTUT WW UISFFFWJMNPUJWFTPS negative characteristics and three pure motives Have someone read 1 Peter 4:12-19 aloud while or positive characteristics for doing what they the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles. do. What are they? 83 t1FUFSVTFTUIFTUSPOHJNBHFPGDMPUIJOHXIFO 5. STRONG, FIRM, AND STEADFAST he talks about humility in verse 5. Why is that (5:10-14) efective? Contrast this verse to what he says Peter has just told us to cast all our anxiety on about clothing in 3:3-4. What does it mean to God, laying it all in His mighty hand because “wear” humility? What are the benefts of do- He cares for us (v. 7). Try to imagine the Crea- ing so? tor of the universe, the Maker of all things you t*GUIFFMEFSTBSFTIFQIFSET UIFOJUTFFNTPOMZ see, touch, hear, smell, and taste, knowing your ftting that the enemy would be described as he name and loving you all by yourself. Caring for is in verse 8. Why? you. Finally, Peter closes his letter with a promise of faith.

"ęFSZPVĕOJTISFBEJOH1FUFSTĕOBMSFNBSLT BMPVE BOTXFSUIFGPMMPXJOHBTBDMBTT In your own words, explain the four promises in verse 10:

tiSFTUPSFw

tiNBLFTUSPOHw

tiNBLFĕSNw

tiNBLFTUFBEGBTUw

t1FUFSUIBOLT4JMBTGPSIJTIFMQJOWFSTF)PXEPZPVTVQQPTF4JMBTIFMQFE1FUFS

t8IBUBSFUXPPSUISFFUSVUITBCPVUUIFEJWJOFDBMMJOHJOWFSTF

tćSPVHIPVUUIJTQBTTBHFBOEUIFFOUJSFMFUUFS GPSUIBUNBUUFS 1FUFSSFGFSTUPiTUFBEGBTUwBOEiTUBOE fast.” Given what you know about the meaning of his name (“Cephas”), why do those terms seem to ft?

84 APPLY THE WORD As you listen to the other teams, jot down all the What’s Love Got to Do With It? characteristics you hear that you can associate with love. At the end of the sharing, circle one that Divide your group into six teams. Each team you will try hard to show this week. Can you be should study one of these brief sections of Scrip- specifc? ture: 1. 1 Tessalonians 4:9-12 2. 2 Peter 1:5-8 3. 1 John 4:7-11 4. Matthew 18:21-22 5. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 LIVE THE WORD Feed My Sheep 6. Ephesians 4:31-32 ćJTBDUJWJUZJOUSPEVDFTĕWFSFBMQFPQMFXJUISFBM As you study your passage, answer these ques- needs. Teir backgrounds are as varied as those tions: in your own group, perhaps, but certainly at the a. What action is associated with love? high schools your students attend. If one or more of these people came into your Bi- ble study group, how would what you have been studying make a diference in the way you treat them, and therefore, a diference in their lives? You could sit in a circle to discuss this exercise b. What kind of people might need this kind as a group, or you could have certain individuals of instruction? read their stories aloud, maybe even taking some questions as that “persona.” One thing that is ef- fective is to have a true-to-life case study from your fellowship come visit. Present the story, in XSJUJOHMJLFUIFTFĕWF GPSTJNJMBSEJTDVTTJPO0G- fer alternatives for reactions to the case. Open for c. How does this passage apply to us now? questions. At the end of the discussion, introduce the person who was described in the case study and allow for more questions. Feed My Sheep You’ve just been given a dream job. You’re a shepherd. (You must have written one of the world’s greatest resumes!) Your boss has given you one

85 thing to do with your fold and that is you have to around his house, kinda stooped over. provide it with food. Tat’s all - you have to feed your sheep. Not bad, huh? Finally, you’ve got Skip. Te class clown. He seems to have more friends than he knows what to do Te only catch is--your fold is full of human be- with . . . sometimes you wonder how he remem- ings, not sheep. And you’re not feeding them grains bers all their names. One day you hear his dad has or pellets--you’re feeding them spiritual nourish- been in an awful car accident, and you stop hear- ment. To make matters even worse, on your frst ing Skip’s jokes in class or much laughter among his day on the job you run into a handful of “sheep” friends. Skip becomes the class frown. that can’t eat the regular “food.” Tey have special “dietary needs.” You’ve got to fgure out some way Afer the class has discussed the question, “If to keep these “sheep” spiritually healthy. one or more of these people came into your Bi- ble study group, how would what you have been11 Tere’s Shelley. She was physically abused at home studying make a dif-ference in the way you treat for about three years by a step-mother and has a lot them, and therefore, a diference in their lives?”, of bitterness. What makes matters worse is that her read the following: step-mother was on the church board and a Sun- day School teacher. Shelley wants to have nothing “When they had fnished eating, Jesus said to Si- to do with any church. mon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ Ten there’s Mike. His parents don’t make very much money, so he never really feels like he fts in. ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ His clothes are either too big or too small for him Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ and they’re never all that fashionable. He’s a bright kid, but he doesn’t do as well in school as he should Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you because of the way he feels about himself. truly love me?’ Megan, on the other hand, is a babe . . . and she He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love knows it. Her hair is perfect, her fgure is voluptu- you.’ PVT BOEIFSTNJMFDPVMECFPOBOZNBHB[JOFDPWFS Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ around. Te thing is Te third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of --she doesn’t have one friend on the face of the John, do you love me?’ earth. Girls are either jealous of her or insecure around her. Boys, well, you know, they can’t get Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the past her great looks. Tey either want to marry her third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, or stare at her but not much in between. you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Mr. Reimer down the street is scary. His yard is Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep’” (John 21:15-17). overgrown and the paint on his house could use a good sand-blasting. You hardly ever see him t8IBUEPZPVUIJOL+FTVTXBTUSZJOHUPDPN- outside his house, but at night sometimes, if you municate to Peter? look through his window you can see him walking Close with prayer.

86 FEELING THOSE GROWTH PANGS

STUDY SCRIPTURE: 2 Peter 1:1-21 Spiritual growth, while it too can be both tremendous and traumatic, is abso-lutely nec- KEY VERSE : “. . . make every efort to add to essary for the Christian. Tough salvation is 11your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowl- gained in a crisis moment, following in the foot- edge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to steps of Jesus means getting up from our knees self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, and walking forward and upward with Him. It godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; truly is like learning how to walk physically. It and to brotherly kindness, love” (2 Peter 1:5-7). has its bumps and bruises, its lumps and losses, but when it is learned and mas-tered, it is the TEACHING AIMS liberation we crave. To help the learners: Tis lesson describes the growth process of the 1. Recognize that growth in their Christian Christian. It begins with faith (the crisis moment walk is as important as their physical and of acceptance that is honed through testing) emotional maturation. and culminates with love (the demonstration of “God with us”). It also defends the exclusive 2. Realize that the walk of the Christian truth of the gospel: that God was made man so lifestyle is more important than the talk of that man can be reconciled to God by faith. Christian philosophy. BIBLE BACKGROUND 3. Sense the authority of Peter and his teaching. (Provided to help the leader prepare for the lesson. Share the appropriate parts with your class PERSPECTIVE at suitable times during the discussion below): Growing up is at once the most exciting time of As mentioned in the previous introduction to 1 our lives and the most frighten-ing. We’re never Peter, there has been much de-bate as to the au- quite certain what the next day will bring, so thorship of this second letter attributed to Peter. many people, espe-cially youth, take risks and Some of it has to do with its chronology, since challenges, exhilarated by the spontaneity of the Peter died between A.D. 65 and 68, during the un-known, while others, especially adults, seek reign of Nero. Its heavy reliance on the teach- refuge in the certainty of the past, afraid of fail- ings and writings of Paul have indicated to many ure. Bible scholars through the centuries that it must

87 have been written afer they were made public more concerned with the evil and heresy arising because 2 Peter 3:15-16 refer to Paul’s letters. within the fellowship of believers. It teaches that Others claim the diference of style between the faith must be practiced to grow, and as an exam- ĕSTU MFUUFS BOE UIJT TFDPOE MFUUFS TVHHFTUT UXP ple, he says that we must encourage each other difer-ent authors. In fact, it wasn’t until Euse- UPXBSEUIBUTQJSJUVBMNBUVSBUJPOXIJMFĕHIUJOH bius in the latter part of the third century and false teachings and preparing for Christ’s return. the early part of the fourth century that its au- In a not-so-subtle way, Peter starts from the very thenticity was accepted. beginning to attack the here-sies of the day, most First, the chronology can be explained by the notably gnosticism (salvation by knowledge). In probable collection and availabil-ity of Paul’s verse 3, for instance, he says, “His divine pow- letters prior to their publication. Tey had, afer has given us everything we need for life and ter all, been written 10 to 15 years before Peter’s godliness through our knowledge of him who death. Communication in the Roman world and called us by his own glory and good-ness” (em- in the Chris-tian Church was much better than phasis added). God has provided all the spir- you might expect, so Peter’s familiarity with itual food and nourishment we will ever need them could be expected. through our simple, yet profound, knowledge of Him. Peter is emphasizing that his knowledge Second, as to the style diferences with 1 Peter, and the knowledge of the other apostles was it has already been established that 1 Peter was com-pletely sufcient, and no clandestine or probably written by a learned scribe, most no- hidden knowledge claimed in gnosticism was tably Silas, who was able to put Peter’s words necessary or meaningful. Te two words at the into formal and polished Greek. Tis second end of that verse that are used as attributes of letter, how-ever, was probably written without God—glory and goodness—refect the two very TVDICFOFĕU OPNFOUJPOPGBIFMQFSPSTDSJCF concepts Peter will later develop for Christian is made at the beginning or end) and hence re- growth. God’s “glory” shows the excellence of fects Peter’s courser, rougher Greek, character- His being, the righteousness of who He is. His istic of men in his social standing. “goodness” is the demonstration of the excel- A third criticism of 2 Peter is its obvious parallels lence of His deeds, the righteousness of His ac- to Jude. Troughout both let-ters, similar points tions. Peter, then, is saying what James wrote in are made and issues raised. Look at the second 2:17, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by chapter of this Epistle next to verses 4-18 of Jude action, is dead.” and you will see striking comparisons. Some say Verses 5-7 formulate Peter’s list of virtues that Jude used 2 Peter, while most contend the op- will activate this excellence of being. Perhaps posite: that the longer letter incorpo-rated the the metaphor of a plant would help put this in shorter one. Tis is not to weaken the intended concrete form for your youth. Faith is the root impact of Peter’s letter at all, for such borrowing of a well-rounded, fruitful life. Tat would natu- ofen took place among ancient writers. rally indicate that the eighth virtue mentioned, 8IJMF 1FUFST ĕSTU MFUUFS UP UIF &BSMZ $IVSDI love, is the fruit of the tree, the kind of perva- deals with infuences of evil and persecution TJWFTFMĘFTTOFTTUIBUMFBETUPTBDSJĕDFGPSPUIFST outside the church coming in, this letter is Te stalk or trunk would be goodness, followed 88 by a progressive branching out of knowledge, to cast aside the tent in exchange for the sturdy self-control, per-severance, godliness, brotherly mansion built on the rock. kindness as we draw nearer to the fruit. Com- Peter calls the heresy of his day, in verse 16, pare Peter’s list with Paul’s found in Galatians “cleverly invented stories.” His ac-count of Jesus’ 5:22-23 (love, joy, peace, patience, kind-ness, MJGFBOENJOJTUSZJTBDDVSBUF OPOĕDUJPOBMUSVUI goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-con- He is telling merely what he saw and heard for trol). According to gnostic her-esy, knowledge, three years while following the Messiah and of course, made self-control and moral restraint what he saw and heard on the Mount of Trans- unnecessary; whereas Peter is teaching that ĕHVSBUJPO BTVOCFMJFWBCMFBTJUNBZTPVOEJOJUT Christian knowledge leads to self-control and retelling. His purpose in retelling these events is moral restraint—a big diference in motivation UXPGPMEUPDPOĕSNIJTPXOBVUIPSJUZBOEUIF for Christian behavior! authenticity of the Christ; and to foretell what it Tough this metaphor might make it convenient will be like when Jesus comes back to set up His to remember this list, it is not to mean, necessar- eternal kingdom. Tis testimony rests both on ily, that they are progressive in quality. In other the voice of God on the mountain and on the words, Peter is probably intending these virtues revelation of Scripture. to be manifested and nurtured at the same time, Tis prophecy is not merely Peter’s own inter- UIPVHIMPWFJTMPHJDBMMZUIFĕOBMBOEFOESFTVMU pretation of events. No prophecy is, according Christian knowledge produces ho-liness: “Bear- to verse 20, merely the ideas of the prophet. Te ing fruit in every good work, growing in the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and the Church, too, are knowledge of God, being strengthened with all parts of the interpretative process of prophecy. power according to his glorious might so that In produc-ing Scripture, it is a two-way and you may have great endurance and patience, two-part process. God is the origin of Scripture’s and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who content, and it says God’s truth. In other words, IBTRVBMJĕFEZPVUPTIBSFJOUIFJOIFSJUBODFPG it says what God says. Tey are the same. But the the saints in the kingdom of light” (Co-lossians author is more than merely a scribe: he actively 1:10b-12). speaks, too, but what he says comes from God It is interesting that Peter uses the metaphor through the Holy Spirit. of “the tent” to refer to his physical body. A tent is a temporary, ofen inadequate, and frail SESSION ACTIVITIES place to live. It is not insu-lated or sturdy and is ENGAGE THE WORD therefore tossed and victimized by any and all Camp Killerdogs weather condi-tions outside. It will barely stand up against a strong wind. Both Jesus (in Mat- We’re going camping! You probably have a friend thew 7 and John 14) and Paul (in 2 Corinthians whose idea of “roughing it” is a black and white 5:1) describe a much more stable abode being television set. Or you may know someone who built by God in provision for us in heaven. Tis could fall asleep atop Mt. Everest without a tent, is Peter’s indication that whatever we sufer now a sleeping bag, or even a heavy jacket. Most of is only temporary and due to the inadequacy of us are probably somewhere in the middle. As a the fesh, not the will of God. His will is for us group, we’re going to plan an imagi-nary camping 89 trip. First, we need to decide what we need to take salvation is only the beginning of this new life in in the following categories: Christ--now it is time to grow into mature fellowship with God. Especially before it’s too late. What to Bring Before we begin to look at this letter verse by verse Food and chapter by chapter, it would help to get a gen- Shelter eral feeling about it by reading it all fairly caus- ally. Let’s read the whole book aloud together. Clothing Afer you’ve looked it over, answer the following Equipment questions as a class: Emergency Aids t)PXXPVMEZPVDPNQBSFUIFUPOFPGUIJTMFU- ter with that in the frst letter from Peter? Discuss each category as a group before going on to the next section. t8IBUBSFĕWFPSTJYXPSETPSDPODFQUTUIBU you will need to study further in order to un- As you know, we are all on another kind of camp- derstand? ing trip, a journey through life. I want us to change our thinking a bit. Just like we need things t%FTDSJCFUIFGBDFPG1FUFS:PVXPOUĕOEJUJO to survive while camping, there are certain things your scriptures, but his image is somewhere in we need to survive spiritually on our life journey your imagination. or camping trip. What do we need spiritually in those same areas of Food, Shelter, Clothing, t*OZPVSPXOXPSET XIBUEPZPVUIJOLJTUIF Equipment, and Emergency Aids? theme of 2 Peter? 2. GROW BABY GROW! (1:1-7) EXPLORE THE WORD Most of us are growing up. We can see it in the 1. OVERVIEW mirror . . . we can feel it in our clothes . . . we can sense it in our goals and actions. Face it, we’re not Peter must have been a wonderful friend: con- babies any-more. And that’s the way it should be; cerned, loyal, and honest. Tat probably also that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Can you imag- made him a wonderful pastor (“shepherd”), for ine what the world would be like if we all stayed he was willing to put forth an enormous amount infants? of efort to make sure his fock had not only heard the truth (1 Peter) but was now following the Maturation carries with it great privileges, but truth (2 Peter). it also has an unbelievably hard job description. Peter relates Christian growth in similar terms in Tis is more than what some might call “a sequel” these verses. to the frst letter. (It’s proba-bly more accurate to call it a “follow-up letter.”) Although the themes Have someone read 2 Peter 1:1-7 aloud while the seem to reit-erate what we have learned in the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, and earlier epistle, this letter is even more direct and then answer the following questions as a class: forthright. Peter wants the church to know that

90 t1FUFSCFHJOTUPMJTUUIFDIBSBDUFSJTUJDTPGUIF this same thing in Colossians 1:9-14. Let’s turn Christian (v. 5) with “faith” and ends the list to it and read it aloud. Let’s re-read verses Col. (v. 7) with “love.” What does that say to you? 1:10-12. What do we get when we grow? t#FUXFFOGBJUIBOEMPWFBSFTJYPUIFSTUFQTUP ti*GZPVEPUIFTFUIJOHT w1FUFSTBZTJOWFSTF Christian maturity. What are they? Let’s defne 10, “you will never fall.” What does it mean “to each of these characteristics in our own words. fall”? t1FUFSTVHHFTUTJOWFSTFUIBU(PETiEJWJOF 4. LIFE ON EARTH IS ONE BIG CAMP- power” has given us “everything we need for OUT (1:12-15) life and godliness.” What specifc things do we need for life and godliness? Have you ever camped out, roughed it, and pitched a tent? Even though it can be painful, uncomfort- tćBUWFSTFFOETCZNFOUJPOJOH(PETiHMPSZ able, and just plain hard work, it can be one of the and goodness.” What is the diference between most exhila-rating experiences you’ve ever had. His glory and His goodness? You are so far away from phones and televisions and street lights, you actually fnd yourself in ab- t "T ZPV MPPL CBDL PO ZPVS MJGF HSPXJOH VQ solute peace and quiet under the most incredible from infancy through childhood into youth, canopy of stars. Frankly, the tranquillity and se- what has changed in you the most? It might be renity can scare you to death. two or three things. No matter how much fun you have or how much 3. P-MART’S BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL (1:8-11) misery you sufer on the camp-out, though, you When was the last time you bought something know that eventually you’ll be going home to your that wasn’t on sale? We all love a good bargain, own bed and getting the sleep of a lifetime. and that’s why we look for those “Ten Percent Peter alludes to this idea a bit in these verses when Of” and “Half Price” signs all over the store. he says, “. . . as long as I live in the tent of this body Peter is reminding the church that God has of- . . . I know that I will soon put it aside.” fered us the “Bargain of a Lifetime” through His Have someone read 2 Peter 1:12-15 aloud while Son, Jesus Christ. the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, Have someone read 2 Peter 1:8-11 aloud while and then answer the following questions as a the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, class. and then answer the following questions as a t3FBE$PSJOUIJBOT8IBUEPFT1BVMTBZ class: about this “earthly tent”? What do you think t8IBUXJMMZPVIBWFJGZPVQPTTFTTUIFWJSUVFT he means? listed in verses 5-7? t8IBUBSFUISFFPSGPVSEJČFSFODFTCFUXFFO t8IBUIBQQFOTUPZPVBTB$ISJTUJBOJGZPV living in a home and living in a tent? don’t have these virtues? t1FUFSQSPNJTFTUPiNBLFFWFSZFČPSUUPTFF t*UXPVMECFHPPEUPTFFXIBU1BVMTBZTBCPVU that afer my departure you will always be able

91 to remember these things.” How is he intending prophets in verses 20-21. What does he say is to do that? the authority of prophecy? t ćF DIVSDIUIBUT ZPV BOE *PDDBTJPOBMMZ APPLY THE WORD needs to have its memory refreshed (see v. 12). I Will Remember You Why is that? 5. PETER--THE ANCHOR OF EYEWIT- Peter says that he’s going to make every efort NESS NEWS (1:16-21) to enable the readers to remem-ber these things that he’s referring to, most probably by writing It’s hard not to smile a bit when we read these them down and liv-ing them as an example. verses because Peter seems to be saying to us, Writing things down is one of the best ways to “Hey, I’m not making this up. I was there!” You immortalize ourselves, and that’s what this activ- kind of get the hint that he’s a little tired of defend- ity asks the students to do. What do they think ing himself against all the doubts and questions is important and unimportant in life. Tis will he must be facing from the church, much less the HFUUPUIFJSQIJMPTPQIJFTPGMJGF)PXUIFZEFĕOF ruling governments. And he’s obvi-ously fed up success and failure will force them to contem- fghting of every heresy that is coming down the plate the value of risks and growth. God’s prom- road. ises and their favorite scripture will ask them to Tink about it, though. Peter was there on the pinpoint the truths they can remember. And the mountain when not only Christ was transfgured greatest myth they have heard will get them to and ascended into heaven, but also when the diferentiate between truth and lies. voice of God boomed down from heaven, saying, I Will Remember You “Tis is MY SON!” I mean, would you be able to live life the same afer such an experience? You know you’re not going to live forever even though at this point in your life, 60 or 70 more Have someone read 2 Peter 1:16-21 aloud while years may seem like “forever.” You do want people the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, to remember you and what’s important to you, and then answer the following questions as a though, so you decide one summer night to write class: down some things for people to remember. Write t8IBUBSFTPNFPGUIFiDMFWFSMZJOWFOUFETUP- down your answers to the follow-ing items: ries” being told at the time Peter was writing What’s important in life: this letter? What are some being told today? t8IBUIBE$ISJTU UIF4PO EPOFJO)JTMJGF that would please God, the Father?

t1FUFSSFGFSTUPUIFiXPSEPGUIFQSPQIFUTwBT What’s not important in life: “a light shining in a dark place” (v. 19). What other scriptures refer to “light shining in darkness”? t'JOBMMZ 1FUFSEFGFOETUIFBVUIFOUJDJUZPGUIF 92 Te defnition of success: pect that they neglect the other virtues of being a Christian. One, Tim, is probably the closest to pure agape love as his motives seem to be completely other-centered.

Te defnition of failure: “In Whom I Am Well-Pleased” God sees fve of His children standing on the threshold of heaven today and is hoping to utter those six ultimate, rewarding words for each one, but He asks for your help. Don’t get Him wrong: God’s promises: He’s not asking you to judge. He simply wants to know what you think about these kids. Lydia has gone to church every time the doors are open. She reads her Bible every night before Your favorite scripture: she goes to sleep. She is the president of Youth for $ISJTUBUIFSIJHITDIPPM6OGPSUVOBUFMZ TIFNBEF a mistake one night and is six months pregnant. Juan can’t stop asking questions about God. Tings Te most dangerous myth: like: “Is there really a God?” “What if Christians are all wrong and Hindus or Buddhists are right?” “Why can’t I just be really nice to everybody and get to heaven?” “Is there really a heaven?” “Is the Bible just another religious myth?” Ask people to share their answers if comfortable. Tim is a servant, pure and simple. He gets up in the morning thinking of ways he can make someone else’s life easier and better. He wants to make people smile when they feel like crying. He listens to everybody and gives more away than he keeps. LIVE THE WORD Today he’s mowing the yard of the elderly couple In Whom I Am Well-Pleased next door. With his own mower. For free. While Explain to your students the diference between they’re gone so they won’t know who did it. what this activity is asking them to do—that is Peggy is a good person. She wants to keep it that UP TFF UIFNTFMWFT JO UIFTF ĕWF DIBSBDUFST BOE way, so every morning she reads the Ten Com- judging others. It will make a big diference on mandments to make sure she keeps every one of their attitudes going into it. them. Some of her friends call her a legalist, but )FSFBSFĕWFQFPQMFXIPNBOJGFTUĕWFEJČFSFOU she calls herself a Christian because she never views of what it means to be a Christian. Most does anything bad. She keeps the rules! of them concentrate so heavily on just one as- Bill and Jesus have an intimate relationship. Tey 93 talk to each other all the time, though not at regular times and not always through traditional ways. Bill likes to go to church on Sunday morning, but he doesn’t live there like some do. He goes to movies, some “R,” occasionally swears under his breath when he’s really, really frustrated (never in public), but he works hard and openly confesses his faith and his shortcomings. He’s probably the most transparent person you’ve ever known. Afer the class has discussed each situation, end the discussion by asking your youth to look at 12 their own lives for those virtues-put-into-practice that would please God. What behaviors do they practice that might not please God? Why do they con-tinue to do them? What makes those practices displeasing to God? Close with prayer.

94 TEACHERS A TRUE/FALSE QUESTION

STUDY SCRIPTURE: 2 Peter 2:1-2:22 mental efects. (Is it any wonder that marketing com-panies aim so much of their advertising at KEY VERSE: “But there were also false proph- the youth of our society?) All too ofen, as well, 12ets among the people, just as there will be false some of the worst “untruths” come from peo- teachers among you. Tey will secretly intro- ple in the church. Sometimes out of ignorance, duce destructive heresies, even denying the sov- sometimes out of intention, sometimes out of ereign Lord who bought them--bringing swif greed for wealth or fame. Tey just speak before destruction on themselves” (2 Peter 2:1). they think, and what they say can crush an in- nocent spirit. TEACHING AIMS 1FUFSIBEOPQBUJFODFGPSBOZPGUIJT)FĕSFT To help the learners: at point-blank range, leveling his sights at those 1. Distinguish between that which is true and GBMTF QSPQIFUT XIP GBMTFMZ QSPĕU ćFZ XJMM CF that which is false in what they hear. cast into hell, he con-tends, like the angels who sinned, the ancient world that sinned, and the 2. Understand that the God of mercy and cities that sinned in the past. Tis lesson will grace is by necessity a God of justice as well. help your youth become aware that only they will be able to control what stays in their minds 3. Be careful about what they pass around as and what comes out of their mouths as truth. “truth.” BIBLE BACKGROUND PERSPECTIVE (Provided to help the leader prepare for the les- It’s too bad that our television sets, radios, com- son. Share the appropriate parts with your class puters, magazines, friends, and other associates at suitable times during the discussion below): don’t have some kind of light that fashes red every time they say something that is wrong or Peter has just completed his defense of not only deceitful. Tat way, we could better distinguish himself as an eyewitness to Christ’s majesty but the gar-bage from the truth. also to the prophets’ allegiance and alignment to the words of God as the Word of God. And Unfortunately, we are bombarded every day now he begins what can only be called a tirade with more lies than truth, it seems, and we’re against those who claim to know the truth but starting to be numbed by all of it. Te younger report it exclusively for their own gain. Tat’s we are, the more vulnerable we are to its detri- 95 why he begins, “But there were also false proph- to imply that the false teachers were Christians. ets . . .” (emphasis add-ed). *UTJNQMZNFBOTUIBUUIFTBDSJĕDF+FTVTNBEFPO the Cross availed God’s grace and salvation to all Te prophet Isaiah (one of the good guys) also peo-ple, but it remained moot until confession spoke about this in the ninth chapter of his was made and trust was given to Jesus as their prophecy (vv. 13-17):“But the people have not Savior. Contrast this to the indictments made in returned to him who struck them, nor have they verses 20-23, where Peter is quite clear that at sought the LORD Almighty. So the LORD will least in part or for some, there had once been a cut of from Israel both head and tail, both palm saving knowledge of Christ that was later aban- branch and reed in a single day; the elders and doned for the immediate reaching for greed prominent men are the head, the prophets who and lust. Te self-inficted “swif destruction,” teach lies are the tail. Tose who guide this people referred to in verse 1, is not necessarily imme- mislead them, and those who are guided are led diate death; it is, rather, more probably condem- astray. Terefore the Lord will take no pleasure nation to hell afer death or at Christ’s return. in the young men, nor will he pity the fa-therless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wick- It is verse 3 that Peter could be writing today’s ed, every mouth speaks vileness. Yet for all this, news headlines that deal with the public’s per- his anger is not turned away, his hand is still up- ceptions of the church as a moneygrubbing raised.” Tere are several references throughout CVODIPGQSPĕUFFST)FOPUFTUIBUGBMTFUFBDIFST Scripture, including both Testaments, that refer are motivated singularly by their lust for money to this false prophecy that continues to plague that will commercialize Christianity and the the Church: see 2 Kings 18:19; Jeremiah 5:31; Church. Jesus noted in the Sermon on the Mount 14:14; 23:30-32; Acts 20:29-30; Philippians 3:2; that those who pray and give and teach solely for 2 Tessalonians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 4:1-3; 1 the recognition of men will indeed receive that, John 2:10, 19, 22-23; Jude 3-4. but they will achieve nothing eternal. It could be productive at this point for you and your youth Obviously, the Early Church was falling victim to discuss those things in life that remain afer UPUIFEFDFJUBNPOHJUTPXOSBOLT6ORVBMJĕFE we are gone and those things in life that are only people who were self-proclaimed teachers and temporary and immediate. Ask them what the prophets were beginning to jump on the band- enticement might be in our society and this gen- XBHPO HSBTQJOH BU BOZ PQQPSUVOJUZ UP QSPĕU eration for the immediate gratifying that practi- from the fears and uncertainty of a group of cally does away with the everlasting qualities of people. Teir preaching and teaching were “di- biblical teach-ing. visive opinions that resulted in the moral and spiritual destruction of those who accepted Te next section of the passage refers to the his- them,” according to the NIV Study Bible foot- torical instances of God’s wrath when it comes note. Peter writes exclusively of those whose UPUIFTFMJFTGPSQSPĕUBOHFMTCFJOHDBTUJOUPIFMM intentions were evil and wrong, but we mustn’t for their sin; the an-cient world being destroyed ignore the many heresies that are conceived and by food; the capitals of sexual sin, Sodom and perpetuated not out of evil intention but out of Gomor-rah, being burned to the ground. Even in sheer ignorance. Peter’s reference to the denial those times, Peter reminds his readers, however, of “the sovereign Lord who bought them” is not God’s mercy can be found. Noah and his family

96 were saved by God’s grace. Lot was spared for false teachers apparently were guilty of attempt- his righteousness. His point is that God knows ing to extract money from na-ive listeners. For a righteous-ness from sinfulness, and He alone donkey to rebuke the prophet’s madness refects can judge appropriately and punish justly. And not only on the foolishness of Balaam but also He will do it. on that of the false teachers of Peter’s day.” Te heretics of Peter’s generation faced judg- Anyone who has ever been thirsty knows the ment for two reasons, according to Bible schol- cruelty of promising water but receiving sand; ars. First, they listened to their sinful desires, hence, the horror of the mirage. It appears to be probably sexual desires, possibly (because of the the oasis one is longing for but turns out to be reference to Sodom) homosexual desires. Sec- nothing but deceit. Tat’s the basis for verse 17 ond, they re-fused to obey authority. Tey de- that tells of springs of water that ofer nothing famed angels and church leaders, for example, but dirt. False teachers make every prom-ise in without regard or remorse. the book to satisfy every longing, spiritual or otherwise, but when it comes to producing any, Peter substantiates the wickedness of these her- they simply have nothing to ofer. etics in verse 13 by reminding the reader that even the secular world practices its evil at night, It may seem apparent to some that the last three when it’s dark and no one can see it happening. verses of the chapter indicate that a person who But these men, these false men of sin, blatant- is honestly following the Master may turn from ly take their evil to the daylight for all to see. that path and re-turn to the road of sin. Both 4PNVDINPSF UIFO XJMMUIFJSQVOJTINFOUĕU choices were genuine and complete. Critics of the crime. “Tey will be paid back with harm that in-terpretation claim that the choice to fol- for the harm they have done,” Peter says. It is low Jesus must not have been sincere and au- one thing to wrong someone when the person thentic, for one who is genuine would be able is not looking or where he or she cannot see; it’s to stick with it. Tey cite John 10:27-30 and RVJUFBOPUIFSUIJOH UIPVHI XIFOZPVEFĕBOUMZ Romans 8:28-39 as evidence that no genuine- destroy someone right before his or her eyes. ly saved person can be lost. We cannot know With a careful reading of Jude 12, it would seem whether or not the conversion was internally that these false teachers used such sacred obser- real – only God knows that. Peter’s words here vances as the Lord’s Supper to produce orgies of at least show a change in external lifestyle from UIFĘFTIUIBUTBUJTĕFEUIFJSMVTUT8IBUCFHBOBT sin-ful to Christian back to sinful. Te two met- “love feasts” of brotherly afection became “lust aphors borrowed from Proverbs 26 at the end of feasts” of human seduction. the chapter demonstrate that the nature of the animal (dog or sow) has not changed; rather, the Te story of Balaam son of Beor (2:15) is a story change has been merely external and surface. with which your youth are probably completely Tis point could be discussed at length in the unfamiliar. It can be read in Numbers 22—24, group. but a synopsis is appropriate here. From the NIV footnote: “Balaam was bent on cursing Is- rael, though God had forbidden it. He wanted the money Balak ofered him. Similarly these

97 SESSION ACTIVITIES ministry is based on their girth and they claim ENGAGE THE WORD that if God can love someone who looks as huge What’s My Line? as they do, then God can love you, too. Tey need money, though, to continue their ministry (their Straight from today’s headlines, this activity monthly grocery bill alone is four-digits), so they QVUT ZPVS ZPVUI PO UIFJS DPVDIFT XJUI ĕWF PG ask their audi-ences for cash donations. the most typical religious program-types on the air today. From the sen-sationally sleazy to the Channel 7: All you seem to see is white hair. Te incredibly inane, viewers are inundated with preacher has pure white hair; the song leader has insanity in the name of Christianity. Some of it long white hair; and their wives have more white even borders on fraud. hair than a hu-man head can naturally support. Tese people either are pure holiness or they’re ćFĕSTUQBJSPG(PTQFM(MVUUPOTJTBUBLFPČPO plugging their amps into the wrong wall sockets. the men who do weight lifing as they share the Tey parade their friends across their celestial gospel, combining some kind of WWE mental- stage at such a rate it makes their halos spin, and ity with Scripture. Another show has emotion each friend has such a terrible need for a mira- at its base, turning viewers’ tears into checks cle, you feel such an obligation to send them “$20, and money orders. Another plays on the sense $50, maybe even $100.” of belonging to an intercessory prayer chain (a great idea when done with purity of motive). Yet Channel 8: Finally, a real-live church service. another is the search for healing and physical Tere’s singing, clapping, dancing, and crying all miracles. Only one seems to be a sincere attempt at once as the congregation feels the Holy Spir- at reaching the lost for Christ. it moving. You hear one of the best sermons of your life, followed by lines of people at the altar. Challenge your youth to see the impact that this No pleas for money. No promised miracles. Just a society has on false teaching. You might develop great service and an address super-imposed over skits from these short scenarios that can be writ- the altar scene at the end. ten and per-formed by your group. Channel 9: Here’s a man sitting alone at his desk, What’s My Line? which is stacked a foot high with letters and cards, Your parents are gone, none of your friends are “all asking for a miracle,” he says. As he picks each home, your video game is broken, and you’ve fn- card up, he holds it to his forehead and prays for JTIFEBMMZPVSIPNFXPSL4VďDFJUUPTBZ ZPVSF the individual by name. Toward the end of the bored out of your gourd. So as a last resort, you program, he says he needs $250,000 by the end of UVSOPOUIF57 QJDLVQUIFSFNPUFGPSTPNFNB- the month to pay the bills for the program, or he jor league channel surfng. Lo and behold, you will have to consider going of the air. discover that channels 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are all Channel 10: Oh, now here’s a program! Tis religious programming. woman claims to be a faith healer. She speaks for Channel 6: “Te Hefy Holy Boys” are being fea- about 10 minutes at the beginning then spends tured tonight. Tese twins preach the gospel and the rest of the hour touch-ing people “in the name eat their body weight every day of the week. Teir of Jesus.” Some of them have crutches, which she casts into the congregation. Some of them roll up 98 in wheel chairs, which she kicks of stage. Others cerned--he sounds downright upset--about what have to be held up because they’re so crippled or is going on in the churches to which he is writing. guided because they can’t see, but all leave the Have someone read 2 Peter 2:1-3 aloud while the stage under their own power. Tis is impressive. rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, and You have a few extra dollars this month then answer the following questions as a class: (mostly because your friends are out of town and t8IBUFMTFEPFT4DSJQUVSFUFMMZPVBCPVUGBMTF there’s nothing to spend it on), so you decide to prophets? Look up: Matthew 24:4, 5, 11; Ga- mail it to one of these programs. Which one do latians 1:6-9; Colossians 2:20-23; 2 Timothy you sent it to? Why that one and not one of the 3:1-8; 2 John 7-11; others? t8IBUTBIFSFTZ EXPLORE THE WORD 1. OVERVIEW tćFQISBTFJOWFSTF i*OUIFJSHSFFE wTFFNT right out of modern times and today’s head- You might get the impression from this chapter lines. What false teacher motivated by greed of 2 Peter that the apostle had had it with peo- comes to your mind when you read this verse? ple who were abusing their profession of teaching. And with good reason: few careers hold such t )PX DBO ZPV PS BOZPOF FMTF UFMM UIF GBMTF power. teachers from the teachers of truth? Read through 2 Peter 2:1-22 aloud as a class, 3. THE GOD OF MERCY IS ALSO THE then answer the questions that fol-low. GOD OF JUDGMENT (2:4-12) t 8IBU NBLFT B UFBDIFS TVDI BO JOĘVFOUJBM Peter shows his grasp of history in these verses as person in the community? he recounts four instances of God’s wrath and His mercy. By so doing, he compares what happened t8IBUBSFTFWFOPSFJHIUJOEJDUNFOUTMFWFMFE to sinners of old and what will happen to those at false prophets/teachers in this chapter? who blaspheme the Son of God today. tćFUZQFPGDPOKVODUJPOBUUIFCFHJOOJOHPG Have someone read 2 Peter 2:4-12 aloud while the chapter indicates a contrast statement in the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, coming. To what/whom is Peter contrasting and then answer the following questions as a these false prophets/teachers? class: t8IBUQVOJTINFOUXJMM(PEJOĘJDUPOUIFTF t*OWFSTFT 1FUFSSFGFSTUPUISFFQFPQMFPS false teachers? groups of people who received God’s condem- nation. What three groups does he mention 2. NO TRESPASSING (2:1-3) and what do you know about each? Te kingdom of God is sacred territory, and you’d t1FUFSQPJOUTPVUUIBUOPUFWFSZPOF PGDPVSTF better have the proper identi-fcation, passport, is condemned by God. He mentions Noah and and visa if you plan on travelling to this holy of Lot, particularly. What was diferent about Holy Lands. Peter is obviously more than con- those two men?

99 t1FUFSIBTBMSFBEZEFTDSJCFEUIFTFUFBDIFSTBT their sin. It would have been better, he says, for greedy. What other words or phrases does he them never to have known the way of right-eous- use in this passage to describe them? ness in the frst place. t ćJT TFDUJPO DPOUBJOT TFWFSBM iJGDMBVTFT w Have someone read 2 Peter 2:17-22 aloud while and we know that those are always followed the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, by a “then-clause.” What does Peter say in the and then answer the following questions as a “then-clause” in verse 9? class: 4. IT’S PAY BACK TIME (2:13-16) t1FUFSTBZTBWFSZQSPGPVOEUSVUIJOWFSTF “a man is a slave to whatever has mastered As we have said before, it’s our nature to seek him.” What are some “masters of men” in to- revenge when we have been wronged, but God day’s society? How do those things gain such teaches us that vengeance is His--not ours--to control? seek. He is indeed a God of mercy and grace, but He is also a God of judgment who will level jus- tćFQBTTBHFCFHJOTBOEFOETXJUIBOBMMVTJPO tice at those who have sinned against Him. Tese to water. What do these two references mean? verses discuss that along with more indictments of those who are wrong. t ćF GBMTF UFBDIFST TFFN UP iNPVUI FNQUZ boastful words” to new converts. Why is that Have someone read 2 Peter 2:13-16 aloud while so evil? What empty words do you suppose the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, they mutter? What is it about new converts and then answer the following questions togeth- that makes them so vulnerable? er as a class: t*OUSPTQFDUJPOUJNFXIBUNJHIUZPVCFNPTU t*UTFWJEFOUUIBUUIFGBMTFUFBDIFSTBOEMJBST vulnerable to? What “false teaching” might will be paid back with harm for the harm they you go for if you didn’t know better? have done. If you were God, what harm do you suppose is due them? APPLY THE WORD Lies, Lies, and More Lies t 8IBU TJOT EPFT 1FUFS JOEJDBUF UIFTF QFPQMF are committing? You may approach this activity in any number of ways. You may want to have your students write tćFTUPSZPGi#BMBBNTPOPG#FPSwJTUPMEJO down their answers before any open discussion Numbers 22--24. Tat’s three chapters, but it begins. You may enjoy and need the spontaneity might be productive for us to skim that passage of simply opening it up for discussion immedi- and discover what it’s about. ately. Perhaps your group is creative enough to 5. LIKE A DOG RETURNING TO ITS come up with its own list of “infu-ences” to VOMIT (2:17-22) think about. Another is to take a van ride or a walk or a bike ride and see how many outside Tose are Peter’s words, quoted from the Proverbs JOĘVFODFTZPVDBOĕOE 26:11, for those who once knew Jesus as Lord but then turned their backs on Him and returned to For instance, beer commercials tell us that if we ESJOLUIBUQSPEVDU PVSMJWFTXJMMCFĕMMFEXJUI 100 friends, virility, health, laughs, and a sense of ly in the music and rhythm that they are gener- power. None of that could be further from the ally overlooked. truth. Have a reformed alcoholic share the truth of drink-ing. Lies, Lies, and More Lies Have your group bring in the lyrics (written We are assaulted every day by so many pieces of down, perhaps even duplicated for everyone to information and items of per-suasive power that see) of their favorite rock/rap songs. Note their we no longer notice most of them. You and I are faces when they begin to realize what those products--some might suggest victims--of our en- verses are telling them, ofen disguised so deep- vironment more than we will ever know.

Here is a brief list of places, people, and things that infuence not only what we think about but also how we think about it. Next to each, jot down a lie or deceit that you have heard coming from the place, person, or thing and into your mind.

Source The Lie

Beer commercials

Billboards

Teachers

Newspapers

Friends at school

Friends at church

Your favorite TV show

Your favorite secular song

Car commercials

Magazine ads

101 LIVE THE WORD Dear Sarah Tis presents only one possibility for your group to look at. Tey may have other “myths” that have been told to them as truth from someone in the church. Tis is not to bring up names of people in your church in order to embarrass or har-ass someone. Tat should be a prerequisite to sharing: NO NAMES. You may want your group to write individual 13 notes back to Sarah, or you may want to write a group note to her. Perhaps you’ll just talk about the things that Sa-rah needs to hear. Or to the lady who told Sarah about dating Steve. Dear Sarah Your best friend has moved to a nearby state and has written you about some-thing that has been bothering her for some time. It seems that someone in her new church has told her that she can’t date someone outside the church or she will lose her salvation. She writes, “. . . and this woman told me that God will erase my name from His book (she actually said it that way) if I continue to see Steve. I don’t know what she means. I certainly don’t want to lose my Chris- tianity, but I really like Steve. It’s not like he does anything evil or anything like that. As a matter of fact, he treats me better than a lot of ‘Christian’ guys I have dated. I really need your help. I trust your word a lot. Do you think I’m going to hell if I keep seeing Steve? If not, what’s the worst that could happen to me?” You sit right down and start a letter to her. Dear Sarah, Close with prayer afer the discussion.

102 ON GUARD

STUDY SCRIPTURE: 2 Peter 3:1-18 times—especially children who have so much of life still ahead of them. Apocalyptic thought re- KEY VERSE : “He is patient with you, not want- fects on the anger and judgment of God, whom 13ing anyone to perish, but everyone to come to we’d rather think of as loving, compassionate, repentance” (2 Peter 3:9b). and patient.

TEACHING AIMS Tis lesson shows Peter not only as the bearer of bad news but also as the bear-er of Good News. To help the learners: For every warning, there is a promise. For every 1. Accept the promise of the end of the world reference to de-struction, there is hope of recon- and to make appropriate preparations. struction. 2. Refect on the loving patience and loyalty Peter also shows us that the apostle was a loyal of God the Father. and sincere friend, honestly concerned for his church and his people. Whereas false teachers 3. Heed the warnings of Peter to avoid false are motivated by greed, Peter’s purpose is pure philosophies of scofers. agape love.

PERSPECTIVE BIBLE BACKGROUND It seems like every few years, someone predicts (Provided to help the leader prepare for the les- the end of the world. Tere are even religious son. Share the appropriate parts with your class television programs that focus exclusively on at suitable times during the discussion below): signs that the Lord’s return is near. Tese omens become even more publicized when there is a Peter begins this chapter in the same way most major ca-tastrophe somewhere in the world. of us in modern writing begin a letter: “Dear Whether it’s drought or food, feast or famine, Friends,” also translated “Loved Ones.” As a ĕSF PS SBJO FBSUIRVBLF PS IVSSJDBOF XBS PS matter of fact, he makes that same salutation peace—everything seems to be a sure sign that three other times in the chapter—in verses 8, 14, God’s wrath is upon us . . . and we’d better all and 17. Tere is an afection here that makes his repent! words penetrate even the hardest heart and the coldest character. Tis concept is difcult for young people to grasp, because nobody likes to think about end Most Bible scholars doubt that the reference in 103 verse 1 to an earlier letter is to 1 Peter, for he Because God is beyond time—above and below calls both letters “reminders to stimulate you it—He does not view it the same way you or I to wholesome thinking.” It would seem quite see time. Andrew Marvell called time a “winged a stretch to call 1 Peter a “reminder” of any- chariot hurry-ing near” (To His Coy Mistress thing, as it is more clearly a letter of encourage- [1681]), and we tend to see time in such terms of ment and hope amid sufering and persecution. im-patience and rush. While we look impatient- None-theless, 1:12, 13, and 15 also refer to this ly ahead for the Second Coming, noting every second letter as a reminder. possible tragedy as a sign, God waits patiently. Tis is not to say God is com-placent or even In 21st-century thinking, the term “last days” apathetic; just the opposite. It is God’s compas- carries completely diferent con-notations from sionate grace that de-lays the consummation of the original thinking of Peter. To him and the all things as He waits for all who hear to seek other early Christians, time was divided by the repentance. life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Truly divided—not simply the calendar of history that One of the problems with predictions of end we tend to think about. First, you had the Old times is that the doomsayers tend to read Reve- Testament’s prophecy of and preparation for the lation and Daniel and other scriptural referenc- Messiah; then you had the life, death, and ascen- FTMJUFSBMMZćPTFCPPLTBSFGVMMPGĕHVSBUJWFMBO- sion of Christ in the Gospels; and now you’ve guage that prevents a literal translation. Tey are got the New Testa-ment or last days. During this attempts, although divinely inspired attempts, time, the scofers will come. Tese may, indeed, to describe what has never been seen. Imagine be the false teachers/prophets referred to in them trying to describe the telephone, the radio, chapter 2. Teir gnosticism prevented them, re- or the television. What words might they have ally, from understanding and accepting the idea used to tell about nuclear power or electricity or of moral judgment, so they took every opportu- radar? It would be easy to see the explosion of nity to teach contradictorily. an atomic bomb and read verse 12 literally as an indica-tion that the world will die in nucle- Peter reminds us that the world was created and ar holocaust. It may well happen that way. Te originally destroyed by the same means: water. point is, we know neither how nor when the end Tat will not be the case in this revelation, the of the world will come because God will be like second time. “the present heavens and earth are a thief, unannounced and quite prepared, when SFTFSWFEGPSĕSF CFJOHLFQUGPSUIFEBZPGKVEH- He enters our world again. ment and destruction of ungodly men” (v. 7). Te gnostics chose to ignore the food as God’s Peter’s admonition to holiness and goodness in judgment because acknowledgment of that verse 11 is predicated on the destruction of eve- would have necessitated the rec-ognition that a rything material. He says that the world we see second destruction of the immoral men of the will disappear, and that, dear friends, ought to world would be possi-ble, if not probable. Teir reorder a few priorities. Instead of “stor[ing] up logical fallacy lies in this omission. God has infor [ourselves] treasures on earth, where moth tervened, both in blessing and in cursing, since and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and creation. steal” (Matthew 6:19), we should store our treasures in heaven where nothing can destroy them.

104 Tis will enable a complete separation from the SESSION ACTIVITIES world of sin and an equally complete adoption ENGAGE THE WORD to God and His service. Will You Be My Best Friend? Now it is quite interesting that, according to Pe- Peter’s continual references to friendship, both ter, we Christians can have a hand in the tim- explicit with the church and im-plicit with Paul, ing of God’s return. In verse 12 he says we may bring out the discussion of what it means to be “look forward to the day of God and speed its a friend. It is loyalty and honesty, but it is also, coming.” How can we help that day come more sometimes, blunt accountability. quickly? If God is waiting patiently for as many to repent as will, then the faster we get the mes- Tis activity will get your youth to focus on the sage to the masses, the farther we spread the RVBMJUJFTUIFZĕOEOFDFTTBSZGPSMBTUJOHGSJFOE- Good News, the sooner God will return. Tat ship. Te 45 ideas listed are not exhaustive by makes evangelism and world outreach and lay any means, but they do provide a broad enough witness programs all the more imperative if we base for selection and subsequent discussion. want to see the return of God in our lifetimes. In Te students are then asked to introspect a bit so do-ing, we will be found spotless and blame- and discover what characteristics of friendship less (attributes of Christ [1 Peter 1:19]) and at they possess that would attract others to them. QFBDFXJUI(PEBTBSFTVMUPGCFJOHKVTUJĕFEUP Help your shyer and more modest kids to see Him by our faith and His grace. the positives they have. Encourage the group to We are treated to a moment of deep friendship speak op-timistically and highly of each other. between the two giants of the New Testament It’s best for the sharing to be strictly voluntary Church, Peter and Paul, in verses 15 and 16. in much of this activity. Te warmth is evident as is the unity of their NFTTBHF ćFSF JT TPNF ĕSN TQFDVMBUJPO JO fact, that Paul’s letter to the Romans was to the Will You Be My Best Friend? same church that this second letter of Peter ad- Check any of the following qualities that dressed. Tere is a double meaning, of course, to you look for in a friend. Peter’s claim that Paul “writes the same way in all his letters.” Tat could mean that all of Paul’s ___ Loyal ___ Trustworthy letters are consistent in style and content; or that ___ Popular ___ Sense of humor Paul’s letters are similar to Peter’s. Either inter- ___ Good looks ___ Nice clothes pretation is probably valid. ___ Great car ___ Cool parents ___ Sincere ___ Honest ćFĕOBMWFSTFPGUIFDIBQUFSJTUPSFNJOEUIF ___ Smart ___ Ambitious church that knowledge of God’s grace and faith- ___ Shy ___ Ugly fulness is the best medicine against those false @@@6OQPQVMBS @@@$POĕEFOU teachers who pollute the truth with their own ___ Christian ___ Non-Christian TFMĕTIJOUFMMFDUVBMJTN ___ Fat ___ In good shape ___ Stable ___ Needs you ___ Communicative ___ Quiet 105 ___ Caring ___ Athletic Of all the qualities listed, which ones do you think ___ Creative ___ Daredevil apply to you as you think of yourself as “a friend”? ___ Wise ___ Depressed (Circle them) Why are these qualities important ___ Consistent ___ Fickle for you to have? ___ Dull ___ Rebellious ___ Conforming ___ A follower EXPLORE THE WORD ___ A leader ___ A teacher’s pet ___ Independent ___ A performer 1. OVERVIEW ___ Sneaky ___ Nerdy Earthquakes. Floods. Tornadoes. Hurricanes. ___ Someone like you ___ Super smile #MJ[[BSET 'JSFT "JS QPMMVUJPO BMFSUT "NB[PO ___ Someone unlike you 'PSFTUEFTUSVDUJPO)PMFTJOUIF0[POF*UTFOPVHI UPESJWFZPVUPUSBORVJMJ[FST8JUIFWFSZUSBHFEZ Look at those attributes you checked. Now write every catastrophe brought on by man and nature down the 10 most important character-istics you throughout history, there have been predictable look for in a friend--in order. predictions of the end of the world. Whether it’s world war or civil war or rampaging fres or un- relenting rains, each is seen as a sign that the mil- lennium has begun: Jesus is coming back. 1. Te trouble is only the last statement is true. No- 2. body knows, has known, or will know precisely 3. when that promised event will take place. “Te day of the Lord will come like a thief,” Peter says 4. (v. 10), and nobody can predict that. 5. Tis chapter is a warning. Peter reminds us of sev- 6. eral things, not the least of which is that we need to get ready for Gods’ triumphant trumpet blast. 7. Read this chapter carefully, then answer the fol- 8. lowing questions. 9. t*TUIFSFTPNFUIJOHJOUIFTFWFSTFTUIBUNBLFT you nervous? 10. t 8IBU QSFDBVUJPOT IBWF ZPV ZPVS GBNJMZ your neighborhood, and your society taken Next to each one, describe why that trait is so im- against being robbed? portant to you. t8IBUTUIFNPTUFYDJUJOHFWFOUZPVBTTPDJBUF Finally--and here’s the hard part--what do your with Christ’s return? friends say about you? Or at least, what do you t*GZPVIBEBOBVEJFODFXJUI(PEUPEBZ POF hope they say about you. 106 on-one, what would you ask Him about His John’s revelation reports the Lord saying to the return (besides “When . . .”)? angels, “If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will t)PXDBOZPVBOE*QSFQBSFPVSTFMWFTGPSUIF come upon you” (3:3). Now here, Peter tells us Second Coming? that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief” 2. FIRE AND RAIN (3:1-7) (v. 10).

Twenty years ago, songwriter James Taylor pro- Have someone read 2 Peter 3:8-10 aloud slowly, duced a song called “Fire and Rain.” About 20 maybe twice, while the rest of the class follows years before that, poet Robert Frost wrote a poem along in their Bibles, and then answer the next entitled “Fire and Ice.” Tough these two physi- few questions as a class: cal phenomena are ofen considered “opposites” t*GZPVLOFXBUIJFGXBTDPNJOHUPZPVSIPVTF in our minds, they share two common elements: tonight, what would you do to get ready? they produce life and they destroy life. P e t e r must have been aware of that when writing these t1FUFSUFMMTVTUIBUUJNFNFBTVSFNFOUJTOFBSMZ verses in chapter three. meaningless to God in verse 8. A day is like 1,000 years. Do you think that means that the Have someone read 2 Peter 3:1-7 aloud while creation account in Genesis 1 should be read the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, with that time equation in mind? and then answer the following as a class: t*TUIFSFBOPUIFSWFSTFJOUIF#JCMFUIBUDPNFT t1FUFSUFMMTUIFDIVSDIUIBUIJTMFUUFSTIBWFCFFO to mind when you read the second half of verse intended as reminders. Reminders of what? 9 (our key verse)? What ideas or words or t8IZEPFTIFGFFMDPNQFMMFEUPSFNJOEUIFN phrases are similar to the verse you chose? of that? t 8IZ EJE 1FUFS EFGFOE (PET UJNJOH JO UIF t *O DIBQUFS 1FUFS DPOEFNOT GBMTF UFBDIFST frst half of verse 9--”Te Lord is not slow in and false prophets. In this chapter he mentions keeping his promise”? “scofers.” Do you think he is referring to the t8IBUUISFFFWFOUTXJMMPDDVSXIFOUIF-PSE same people or are they diferent groups? returns? t 8IBU TDSJQUVSBMIJTUPSJDBM FWFOUT BSF ZPV SF- 4. CALLED UNTO HOLINESS (3:11-13). minded of when you read verses 6 and 7? On the last night of any revival years ago, evan- t*G(PEVTFEXBUFSUPDSFBUFBOETVCTFRVFOU- gelists used to use what some thought were scare MZEFTUSPZUIFFBSUIUIFĕSTUUJNF XIZEPZPV tactics in order to get people to come to the altar. UIJOL 1FUFS TVHHFTUT UIBU ĕSF XJMM CF VTFE UIF Tey called it “fre and brimstone” preaching, and second time? it was pretty efective. Tey’d tell stories about a 3. LIKE A THIEF (3:8-10) youth who refused to seek God’s forgiveness for his sin on the last night of revival and was killed Paul says in 1 Tessalonians that “the day of the in a terrible auto accident on his way home from Lord will come like a thief in the night” (5:2). church. Tat youth, of course, never made it to

107 heaven. Peter employs similar tactics in these t'JSTU1FUFSTBZTUIBUBEBZJTMJLF ZFBST verses. to God; now he writes that “patience means salvation.” How does he make that connection? Have someone read 2 Peter 3:11-13 aloud while How do you see those two words synonymous- the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, ly? and then answer the following questions as a class: t 1FUFS BOE 1BVM PCWJPVTMZ IBE B DMPTF SFMB- tionship. What do you know about their asso- t 8IZ JT JU TP IBSE FWFO GPS $ISJTUJBOT UP ciation? “look forward to” the destruction of the world? tćFXSJUFSNFOUJPOTUIFCBEIBCJUPGUBLJOH t8IBUEPFTJUNFBOiUPMJWFIPMZBOEHPEMZ scriptures out of context in order to change lives”? their intent or meaning. Do you recall a par- t1FUFSXSJUFTBCPVUUIFFTUBCMJTINFOUPGiBOFX ticular scripture that you’ve heard taken out of heaven and a new earth” in verse 13. What do context in order to make an erroneous point? you suppose this “new earth” will be like? APPLY THE WORD tćFSFTBTNBMMQISBTFJOWFSTFUIBUZPV Resolutions may have missed: “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of Tis activity will be familiar to them as they God and speed its coming.” What do you think make promises to themselves on changes they’d Peter meant? How can we “speed” the coming like to see take place. Tey may want to look at of God’s day? these as surface changes, but by the time they XSJUFĕWFPGUIFN BUMFBTUPOFXJMMCFBTVCTUBO- 5. SPOTLESS, BLAMELESS, AND PEACE- tive alteration of behavior. FUL (3:14-18) It is in the sharing of these that an oral com- Te fnal words of any letter are usually quite mitment will take place. Many will see the open powerful in their emotion, and this is no excep- sharing as a moment of accountability. Ask your tion. Peter has written “Dear friends” four times students how they will begin to make these in this chapter, alone. He wants to see these people resolutions come true. Who will hold them ac- in Paradise and is doing everything he can to see countable? Why do they see a need to change that happen. these things? Have someone read 2 Peter 3:14-18 aloud while Resolutions the rest of the class follows along in their Bibles, and then refect on these questions as a class: Although many people reserve New Year’s Day to make new commitments for changes in their lives tćJTJTOPUUIFĕSTUUJNF1FUFSFNQMPZTUIF that they hope will beneft them, Peter seems to phrase “spotless and blameless.” Look at his frst suggest that we make those resolutions today. letter (1:19) and write down what or whom he is referring to in that reference. As you anticipate the return of the Lord, maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe long afer you’re t)PXEPFTBQFSTPOMJWFiBUQFBDFwXJUI(PE dead, ofer a brief list of behaviors and attitudes 108 that you hope to change before it’s too late. I resolve . . .

LIVE THE WORD See You Later, Rock Man

Tis activity is a capstone of what they (and you) have been studying for sev-eral weeks. It gets your group to summarize, synthesize, and publicize the teachings of Peter. Your students might want to make a poster that refects what Peter told them. How about a book jacket promo that tells someone something exciting about Peter’s writings? Or have your students bring plain white T-shirts and provide them with permanent markers (have them de- TJHOTPNFUIJOHPOQBQFSĕSTU UPGBTIJPOB1FUFS shirt. Or have them paint something on a big rock. Close with prayer.

109 BIBLE QUIZZING: A PERSPECTIVE

What is Bible Quizzing? of youth leadership. Bible Quizzing is a program that helps youths t"DBUBMZTUGPSFODPVSBHJOHBDUJWFQBSUJDJQB- study and learn about the Scrip-tures. About tion in ministry and mission projects. once a month, youths from diferent churches gather for a time of fel-lowship and competition. t"CSJEHFGPSCVJMEJOHSFMBUJPOTIJQTCFUXFFO In each competition, there are questions about youth from diferent world regions. B TQFDJĕD QSFBOOPVODFE QPSUJPO PG 4DSJQUVSF t "O BSFOB GPS FYDJUJOH $ISJTUJBO DPNQFUJ- and the teams compete in order to correctly an- tion. swer those questions. Rules alone can never prevent unfair tactics or Te ofcial slogan of the Nazarene Youth Inter- unsportsmanlike attitudes. However, these rules national is quoted from I Timo-thy 4:12 - “Don’t are necessary in order for the competition as- let anyone look down on you because you are pect of Bible quizzing to be clear and consistent. young, but set an example for the believers in It is the duty of every individual associated with speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity”. Bible quizzing to uphold the integrity and intent Te purpose of Bible Quizzing is to help culti- of these rules and guidelines. Any attempt to vate the actions, attitudes, and the lifestyle that gain an advantage by circumvention, disregard, are neces-sary to accomplish this slogan. Te or manipulation is un-ethical and detrimental Bible Quiz program intends to reach this goal to the mission and purpose of Bible quizzing. through a tactic that is divided in these diferent Te pursuit of success must never dominate the areas: commitment to exhibit a Christ-like example. t "O BWFOVF PG NFBOJOHGVM #JCMF TUVEZ GPS youth to attain a deep and intimate knowl- How to Organize a Bible Quiz- edge of Scripture. zing Ministry t"NFBOTPGJODSFBTJOHGFMMPXTIJQBOEJOUFS- 1. Bible Quizzes are intended to be for youths action among youth around the world. between 12 and 25 years old. You may want to divide the competition into two categories: t"OJOUFHSBMQBSUPGUIFPVUSFBDIBOEEJTDJ- 12-18, and 19-25. pleship aspects of local church youth ministry. 2. Te year for Bible Quizzing starts in Au- gust through May or June of the follow- t"NFEJVNGPSUIFUSBJOJOHBOENFOUPSJOH ing year, or January 1st and continues until 110 November or December (whichever works these books in English, Spanish, and French. better for your district). Decide how much Scripture to be covered at each weekly meet- 7. Every church must have someone who is ing (e.g. one chapter or one story) and plan a the Bible Quiz chairman and two or three calendar study chart. more mature helpers to help train the teams and lead them in a weekly Bible study over 3. During the year a tournament will be the Scripture. (e.g. If meeting twice a week, planned for every one or two months, gener- spend time in Bible study, discussion, devo- ally on a Saturday or a Sunday afernoon. tion and make an efort to understand the material together in one meeting. In a second 4. Every local church can have one or more meeting spend time practicing for competi- teams that meet together for Bible study and tion. If meeting once a week divide the time competition practice. Each team is composed between Bible Study and Competition prac- of 4 or more people in a small group setting. tice.) 5. Te location for the competition events 8. Te District must have an elected or nomi- (tournaments) must be rotated amongst all nated Bible Quiz chairman, to plan and or- the churches participating in the District. ganize the calendar of the competition and 6. For every year, there is a book (or books) also co-ordinate the diferent tournaments. from the New Testament that is used as a resource material for the questions of the com- How to organize a weekly Bible petition. team meeting Following is the 8 year cycle that is used 1. Before the meeting, the leader should read around the world for Quizzing. and study the material to be covered during the meeting. Pray for the Lord’s guidance. a. 2011-2012 - Hebrews and 1 & 2 Peter 2. Te leader should arrive at the church b. 2012-2013 - Matthew where the Bible Study will take place before the time in order to prepare. c. 2013-2014 - Romans and James 3. Te group can play a game that helps the d. 2014-2015 – Acts group begin thinking about the Scripture be- e. 2015-2016 - Galatians, Ephesians Phi ing covered. lippians, Colossians, Philemon 4. Pray together. f. 2016-2017 – Luke 5. Read the material out loud together. Spend g. 2017-2018 - 1 & 2 Corinthians time asking and answering questions regarding the passage. Help everyone in the group h. 2018-2019 - John understand what the Scripture means. Ten the cycle begins again. We currently 6. Allow God to speak through the message have Bible studies/questions for many of of the text. Share a story or a personal experi-

111 ence that relates to the Scripture. COACHING Coach’s Job Description 7. Allow time for more questions or input regarding the understanding. 1. Plan and attend practices 8. Talk about what kind of response the 2. Arrange for personnel at practice and quiz- Scripture calls for in the life of the church or zes in individual lives. 3. Arrange trips to district invitationals and 9. Close with prayer. coach a team 10. Encourage the study of material for next 4. Plan and participate on trips to of district meeting. Hand out a paper w/ the material to tournaments be covered in the next meeting, the time, the place, and some study questions. 5. Contact quizzers on a weekly basis using notes (maybe an email) and phone calls How to organize a weekly com- 6. Demonstrate good sportsmanship at all petition practice quizzing events 1. Afer the Bible Study or at a separate time 7. Demonstrate and facilitate interest in God’s during the week, practice for competition. Word 2. Encourage the memorization of important 8. Plan quiz parties at least twice during the verses; spend time memorizing and quoting quiz year to each other. 9. Recruit new quizzers and coaches 3. Play a learning game to familiarize the group with the material being covered (ex. 10. Plan a demonstration quiz with local pas- Hangman or Pictionary or charades. tors 4. Ask quizzing questions from the material 11. Mentor assistant coaches being covered. (see examples) 12. Organize and lead weekly devotionals (at 5. Divide the group and compete against each practice or maybe during Sunday School) other. 13. Keep statistical records from quizzes 6. Keep the focus on knowing and under- 14. Manage a quiz budget if available from standing the Word and not on winning and the local NYI losing. 15. Keep an organized quiz schedule and 7. Give out study “homework” for next prac- keep parents of quizzing up to date tice. 16. Keep local pastors updated on the state of quizzing. Encourage announcements, make sure events are on the church and NYI calen-

112 dars and interact with the pastors on a regu- It has been said that the only true motivation is lar basis self-motivation. If that is true, then our respon- sibility is to remove the barriers that de-moti- 17. Product a newsletter to keep everyone, es- vate an individual. Some factors that can limit a pecially parents, up to date quizzers motivation is the fear of failure, not be- 18. Attend non-quizzing activities that the ing suc-cessful, lack of excitement, lack of chal- quizzers may be involved in. For example, a lenges and not seeing what they are capable of band concert or play at school achieving in quizzing. 19. Integrate with the rest of the youth group. A quizzer may become less motivated because Be involved in other activities with the youths they do not realize what they are capable of ac- and work together with the NYI president or complishing. When a quizzer experiences suc- youth pastor. Tey will feel more comfortable cess or sees what they might accomplish, they with you when that occurs. become excited. Our goal should be to help them have big dreams or the desire to do better. Assistant Coach’s Responsibilities Quizzers like to be involved in things that pro- 1. Attend practices and assist with the quiz vide them a sense of success. If they do not per- activities – be a quizmaster or scorekeeper ceive that they have been successful, then they will not give more than the minimum efort 2. Coach at district invitationals and of dis- required or they will drop out altogether. Tey trict tournaments must also have a sense of security and safety within the group. If they do not feel safe or ac- 3. Call quizzers during the week to encourage cepted, many quizzers will not risk failure. them to study and see how things are going Te biggest thing that makes quizzing diferent 4. Check quizzer’s memory verse recall at from any other Bible study is the competition practice factor. Tis factor is also a key to motivating 5. Fill in during the coach’s absence most quizzers. Most peo-ple like to win and will ofen go to great lengths to win as long as the 6. Help lead devotionals correct envi-ronment is there. Most quizzers are naturally motivated by the competition, but lack 7. Assist in team formation – give opinions the safety from failure, and the vision to push about how quizzers are doing and share with themselves. the coach Seeing and knowing that there is more to achieve HOW TO MOTIVATE can be just the challenge needed to motivate. Help your quizzers see what they can accom- Every individual has a personal agenda, the plish if they work hard enough. Let them see re- “Real Reason” he or she wants to be on the team. ally good teams quiz, great individual quizzers Tat personal agenda is the key to motivating and award ceremonies. Discuss what it will take each person. to accomplish what they have seen. It may take a while to convince them that they can accom- 113 plish the same thing. Organizing a Quiz Competition Tournament Help them to create individual and group goals. What to do before the tournament Make some of them easily at-tainable and others that require a great stretch to achieve. Most 1. Announce, clearly, to all the participants, quizzers also need to see how they have been coaches, and ofcials the details of the Quiz successful before they will dare try to accom- (date, time and place, what to study, etc.) plish more. Each of us is normally our harsh- 2. Prepare the questions est critic. Take every opportunity to point out the successes, no matter how small they may be. a.Write down the questions or use pre -PPLIBSEUPĕOEUIJOHTUPDPNQMJNFOUFWFSZ pared questions. quizzer on. b. Divide the questions into groups of True motivation is internal, but external factors 22 or 23 (Tat would be 20 questions, can play an important role in motivation. Con- plus extras for bonus questions or chal sider these ideas when motivating. lenges.) You will need enough groups of questions for all the rounds. t4FUBHPPEFYBNQMFoZPVSFOUIVTJBTNXJMM rub of on them 3. Choose a format for the Quiz (Each team quiz each team; Round-robin style with each t4FUBQQSPQSJBUFHPBMToDSFBUFNVMUJQMFHPBMT team quizzing within a group of 4-5, and the including some that will challenge them winner of each group quizzing against each t(JWFMPUTPGGFFECBDLoQSBJTFĕSTUBOEUIFO other for the championship, etc.) improvement 4. Arrange for people to serve as Quiz Chair- t )FMQ RVJ[[FST NFBTVSF TVDDFTT BHBJOTU man (he or she reads the questions and themselves not others rules on the correctness of the answer) and scorekeepers/jump judges (He or she keeps t1SPWJEFJODFOUJWFTGPSSFBDIJOHHPBMT TDPSF BOE EFUFSNJOFT XIP KVNQFE ĕSTU GPS t,FFQUSBDLPGQFSTPOBMTDPSFTBOEBXBSET each question. Jump judges are not used if electronic jump seats are used.) If you have t.BLFUSJQTUPUPVSOBNFOUT enough teams, you might have 3, 4, or more competitions going on at the same time in t"MMPXRVJ[[FSTUIFPQQPSUVOJUZUPRVJ[NBT- diferent rooms. If that is the case, you will ter when they reach certain goals like quiz- need a Quiz Chairman and a scorekeeper for zing out or studying a certain amount each competition. t1SPWJEFQVCMJDSFDPHOJUJPOJODIVSDI 5. Organize with someone to provide some- Another efective way to help motivate is to cre- thing to eat and drink. You may charge a fee ate some yearly awards. Feel free to make up for lunch, or have each person bring their some unique ones of your own. Make sure the own lunch. quizzers know exactly how to earn them and try 6. Make or buy the prizes to keep them updated on how they are doing. 114 a. Choose some special prizes (Bibles, quiz chairman and 1 for the contestants books, trophies, etc.) e. Tape recorder and music tapes b. Make strips or ribbons (for individu als and for teams) f. Prizes 7. Make copies of points sheets 4. Begin the quiz with the devotion and the announcements 8. Make a list of the announcements for the beginning of the competition 5. Afer the quiz 9. Choose someone to lead a short devotional a. Sum up the points and organize the time before the tournament begins. contestants according to their points b. Give the prizes. What to do on the tournament day c. Pray 1. Arrive at the church where the tournament will take place at least one hour before the d. Clean the church time in order to prepare the venue. Rules for Youth Bible Quizzing 2. Items to take to the tournament for the Church of the Nazarene a. Points sheets Tese rules are necessary to run a program whose purposes are clear and solid. Every mem- b. Groups of questions (hidden from the ber of the Bible Quizzing program must make participants) sure that the rules and the program are respect- c. Pencils or pens for the quizzing of ed. However, these rules cannot prevent unfair cials acts or attitudes that are not fair play. Te actions and attitudes of those who are involved d. Prizes (teams members, coaches, competition ofcials, e. Tape recorder and music tapes (op etc) must refect the purposes and objectives of tional) the program and of NYI. Te pursuit of success must not dominate the goal of exhibiting a 3.Organize the venue Christ-like attitude. a. A table and chairs for the quizzing of METHODS OF COMPETITION - Before ĕDJBMT 0OFTFUOFFEFEGPSFBDIDPN any competition, the chairman should choose petition location.) the quizzing method (electronic jump seats or jump judges) for all the teams. Te methods that b. 2 benches or 8 chairs for the conte are going to be used must be clearly indicated to sants the ofcials, coaches, and captains of the team c. Seats for the quiz ofcials before the beginning of the competition. d. Microphones (optional) - 1 for the

115 THE TEAM 4. Prepare enough groups of questions for the competition. 1. Te Team is composed of four or more contestants who regularly attend the Church 5. Prepare or buy the prizes for the quiz: cer- of the Nazarene and are members of the local UJĕDBUFT USPQIJFT PSPUIFST /:*.PSFUIBOĕWFDPOUFTUBOUTDBOCFVTFE POBUFBNEVSJOHBDPNQFUJUJPO CVUPOMZĕWF 6. Advertise the time, place and date of the can be included in the team in each round. tournament in all local churches and to all No one can be a member of the team if he or the people involved. she has attended any university, college, Bible B. Te Quiz Chairman - the person who leads school, or any other educational training be- and controls the rounds in the tournament. His yond high school. or her responsibilities include: 2. Te coach can talk with or assist his team 1. A good knowledge of the rules and of only during the breaks between the ques- the material in the competition. During a tions. competition, the interpretation of the Quiz 3. Only four contestants per team can be $IBJSNBOJTĕOBM DPNQFUJOHćFĕęIPOFJTTVCTUJUVUF 2. Be unbiased and consistent. 4QFDJĕD NFNCFST PG FBDI UFBN NVTU CF 3. Read each question during the round designated by the coach before the competition as the captain, and another as co-captain. 3FDPHOJ[FUIFĕSTUDPOUFTUBOUBOEBTLGPS the answer. 5. Only the captain can talk with the quiz chairman afer a decision, either to challenge 5. Judge the correctness of each answer a decision, to protest, or to correct. 6. Consult, if necessary and wanted, with the THE OFFICIALS OF THE QUIZ scorekeeper when judging answers, challenges, or appeals. A. Te Quiz Director - the person who organ- izes the tournament. His or her responsibilities 7. Note faults when they take place include: C. Te Scorekeeper - the person who main- 1. Prepare the study and tournament calen- tains the ofcial scoring sheet during the dar in advance tournament rounds. His or her responsibilities include: 2. Obtain all the ofcials necessary for the competition. 1. A good knowledge of the rules of the Bible Quiz 3. Provide all necessary materials for the competition: seats, groups of questions, score 2. Register each member of the competing sheets, copy of biblical material, a stopwatch, teams onto the scoring sheet. pencil, etc. 3. Register points obtained and/or lost by

116 each team and individual contestant. 4. Substitutions a. Te coach can only change an active member during a break. Te contestant that leaves 4. Notify the Quiz Chairman when a contest- a round is a substitute and can come back in ant: the competition later. Te substitute comes a. Has correctly answered four questions back automatically to the competition when one of the contestants answers all the ques- b. Has committed three errors tions he has to answer, or makes all the faults and/or errors he is allowed to make. 5. Regularly notify the Quiz Chairman of the running score b. Only a substitute can take the place of a contestant - two contestants who already are 3FHJTUFSUIFĕOBMUFBNBOEJOEJWJEVBMSF- competing cannot exchange places. sults 5. Questions 7. Serve as timekeeper. THE TOURNAMENT a. All the questions will be based on the same version of the Bible (announced ahead of 1. Duration of the tournament. time). a. Tere are 20 questions in a round b. A question for all can be read only once. b. If there is a draw afer twenty questions, c. If no contestant stands to answer a ques- there will be play-of questions until the draw UJPOXJUIJOĕWFTFDPOETBęFSJUIBTCFFOSFBE is broken. Only one question is necessary to it will be considered closed. Te Quiz Chair- break the draw, unless no one answers it. man must read the answer, and go on. No points will be given for that question. 2. Composition of the teams d. At any time before beginning to read the a. Each team’s coach must give the names of next question, the Quiz Chairman can throw his or her team to the scorekeeper before the out a question that contains incorrect infor- ĕSTURVFTUJPOJTSFBE mation or has not been well read. b. Te captain and the co-captain of the team e. A captain may appeal to the Quiz Chair- NVTUCFEFTJHOBUFECFGPSFUIFĕSTURVFTUJPO man if there is incorrect information in a is read. question, if the question was not well read, or 3. Breaks. if the question could not be understood because of interference. a. A break lasts for one minute and can only be asked between questions. 6. Electronic Seats b. Each team can ask for two breaks per a. Te equipment used for a Bible Quizzing round, and only the captain, the coach, or competition is called “jump seats”. Te cush- one of the ofcials can ask for a break. ions are plugged in to a box at the ofcials’ 117 table. Each cushion functions as a switch that DECISIONS OF THE OFFICIALS TIPXTXJUIBMJHIUXIPTUPPEVQĕSTU Te Quiz Chairman must judge if the answers b. When all the lights are of (all the contest- are correct this way: ants are seated) the Quiz Chairman can start reading a question. 1. When the contestant gives all the necessary information for the question and the answer, D8IFOUIFRVFTUJPOJTCFJOHSFBE UIFĕSTU and sits back down, the Quiz Chairman will contestant to stand must answer the question judge if the answer is correct. d. Te Quiz Chairman observes the lights 2. Te Quiz Chairman must not interrupt the while reading the questions. contestant. Te only exception is when the contestant gives enough incorrect informa- e. When a light is on, the Quiz Chairman tion to eliminate any possibility to give a cor- stops reading, and calls the name of the con- rect answer. If more information is necessary, testant whose light is on. the Quiz Chairman will not say anything un- N.B. Most quizzing programs will not have ac- til the contestant sits down or the 30 seconds cess to jump seats to begin with. In that case, time limit has ended. a Jump Judge (or scorekeeper) will determine 3. If the Quiz Chairman considers that an an- XIPKVNQFEĕSTU swer is “correct” the points will be given to 7. Answers the team and the contestant. a. A contestant cannot answer before being 4. If the Quiz Chairman considers that an recognized by name by the Quiz Chairman. answer is “incorrect”, the points will be deducted from the score of the team and/or b. Te time limit of 30 seconds starts imme- contestant (if afer question 16), and a bonus diately afer the contestant is recognized by question will be read. the Quiz Chairman. 5. Te Quiz Chairman will not judge an an- DćFDPOUFTUBOUNVTUĕOJTIUIFRVFTUJPO JG swer “incorrect” because of a pronunciation he interrupted the reading of the question) error. and give the correct and complete answer during the 30 seconds time limit. ERRORS AND BONUS QUESTIONS d. Te Quiz Chairman cannot repeat the 1. If an incorrect answer is given, the contest- question or give any information to the con- ant with the corresponding seat on the oppo- testant. Te contestant must answer without site team can answer that question as a bonus. any help. 2. Te Quiz Chairman must read the question e. If the correct question and answer are given completely before the contestant answers the in the correct time limit, without any errors bonus question. in information, the answer will be considered 3. Te contestant must answer the bonus as correct. question within 30 seconds.

118 4. A correct answer to a bonus question is contains incorrect information, or if worth 10 points for the team of the contest- the argument does not justify a difer- ant who answered the question. Individual FOUEFDJTJPOUIBOUIFĕSTUPOF points are not given for bonus questions. f. Te challenge will be accepted when 5. Points will not be deducted for incorrect UIFBSHVNFOUKVTUJĕFTUIFNPEJĕDB answers given to bonus questions. tion of the previous decision. When a challenge is accepted and the previ- CHALLENGE AND APPEALS OF THE DE- ous decision is reversed. Te points CISIONS OF THE OFFICIALS will be adjusted as if the error hap- 1. Only the acting team captain can challenge pened in the beginning. or appeal the decisions of the ofcials. 6. Appeals 2. Te captain may not challenge or appeal a. Te captain can appeal to the Quiz before the question and the bonus ques- Chairman to invalidate the answer tion (if necessary) are asked, answered and due to an incorrect reading, incorrect judged. All the challenges or appeals must be information in the question, or done before the beginning of the next ques- visual/audio interference. tion. b. Afer hearing the appeal, the Quiz 3. Tere may be no communication between Chairman may consult the scorekeep- the coach & captain, between two contest- FSGPSUIFĕOBMEFDJTJPO ants, or the contestants and the audience. c. Te appeal will be upheld if the argu- 4. Each captain can challenge a question only NFOUKVTUJĕFTUIFDIBOHFPGUIFĕSTU once. decision. 5. Challenge d. When an appeal is upheld, the ques- a. A captain may challenge a decision of tion appealed will be invalidated, and the Quiz Chairman if he thinks an in- another question will be asked. correct decision has been taken. e. Te ofcial point sheet must be b. Te captain can ask the Quiz Chair changed as if the appealed question man to read the correct question and was not asked. Te points given afer answer before challenging. UIFĕSTUEFDJTJPOXJMMCFEFEVDUFEBOE UIFQPJOUTEFEVDUFEBęFSUIFĕSTU c. Te captain of the other team can re- decision are given again. fute the challenge, once it is complete. FAULTS d. Afer hearing the challenge and the refutation, the Quiz Chairman will 1. Tere is a fault when: judge the validity of the challenge. a. Tere is communication (verbal or non- e. Te challenge will be invalidated if it verbal) afer the Quiz Chairman asks the 119 Question and before the points are given. the contestant may no longer answer questions for that round. Te contestant may be substi- b. A contestant begins answering a question tuted for. before being recognized by the Quiz Chair- man. 'PSUIFĕęIFSSPSPGUIFUFBN BOEFBDITVC- sequent error) 10 points will be deducted from 2. Any contestant who does three faults in a the points of the team. round must leave the round. He may be substituted. 8. Te points for the play-of questions afer the time limit are not part of the individual or team POINTS points. 1. A correct answer to a question is worth 20 points for the team and the individual contest- Study Tips: Memorization ant. Memory Verses 2. A correct answer for a bonus question is If your quizzers plan to learn all the memory worth 10 points for the team. verses this year, you’ll want to pay special attention to the prejump list in the back of Book 1. 3. Four correct answers (not including bonus Te purpose of having a prejump list is to show questions) by any one contestant is worth 10 them where the earliest “safe” place to jump on bonus points for the team and the contestant each memory verse is, and to help you learn to who answered the four questions. Tis is called complete the verse with the fewest possible be- a “quiz out”. When a contestant has quizzed out, ginning words. Use it to perfect their skills in he or she must step down from the quizzing seat jumping on memory verses. Also, download and may be substituted for if there is a substi- the free memory verse fash cards from www. tute. youthquiz.com or from the Power Tools CD. 4. When 3 members from the same team answer at least one question correctly, there is a 10 point bonus for the team. “15” Method a. Te forth contestant who answers correctly 1. Read the verse through a couple of times. gains 10 points for the team 2. Have them say it without looking. If they CćFĕęIDPOUFTUBOUXIPBOTXFSTDPSSFDUMZ get stuck, check the Scripture, and then go gains 10 more bonus points on. 5. Beginning with question #16, 10 points are 3. When they can say the verse through with- deducted from the points of the team for each out looking, they’re ready to start memoriz- error. ing. (You thought you were through, didn’t you?) 6. At the third error of a contestant, 10 points are deducted from the points of the team and of 4. Have them say the verse through as fast as the contestant. Tis is called an “error out” and UIFZDBO ĕWFUJNFT XJUIPVUBNJTUBLF*GUIFZ

120 make a mistake, start over. 3. Read the entire verse again, concentrating on difcult parts. 5. Read the verse again to make sure they are saying it right. If not, do it over. 4. Quote the verse 5 or 6 times, or until they can say it smoothly without error. )BWFUIFNTBZUIFWFSTFĕWFNPSFUJNFT XJUIPVU B NJTUBLF ćFO ĕWF NPSF UJNFT 5. Review the verse about 10 times the same (Tat makes 15.) If at any time they make a day they learn it. NJTUBLF TUBSUPWFSXJUIUIBUHSPVQPGĕWF 6. Review the verse at least once a day for 7. Do the next verse the same way, then re- three or four days afer they learn it. UVSO UP UIF ĕSTU WFSTF NFNPSJ[FE UP NBLF 3-5-7 Plan sure they still know it? 8. Continue the process until they are done Assume that you’ve just studied 1 Corinthians memorizing. 8. Now have the quizzers review the chapter three chapters before this chapter—chapter 5. Writing Questions ćFOSFWJFXUIFDIBQUFSĕWFCFGPSFDIBQUFS Ten review the chapter seven before your orig- It’s a proven fact that the more you deal with a inal chapter—chapter 1. Hence, the name 3-5-7 subject, the better you learn and remember it. It Plan. When the total number of chapters gets is a great idea to have your quizzers write their high enough, it will need to become the 3-5-7-9 own questions as they study the material. Make Plan. sure they have a solid knowledge of the material before they begin to write questions. Once Index Cards UIFZ EP UIFZ XJMM ĕOE UIBU QSBDUJDJOH GPSN- ing questions and answers will really test their A great way to help quizzers learn the memory knowledge of the material. Once they learn this verses (or all of the material) is to create a cata- NFUIPE ZPVNJHIUĕOEUIFZEPOUOFFEUPBDUV- log of the verses they (or you want them) want ally write the questions and answers down on to memorize. Write or type each verse on one paper; it may be enough to simply form ques- side of an index card and put its reference on tions mentally and answer them in their mind. the back. Computer programs have made this a Tose written questions could be used in prac- somewhat simple task, especially with the abil- tice and compared to the questions in this book. ity to purchase the NIV for that computer. (It’s important that they do this step themselves (re- Phrase Method gardless of the method); try not to have their parents or you as coach do this for them. Te 1. Read the verse carefully, making sure they cards will mean much more to them—and they’ll understand its meaning. remember the verse much better as well—if they 2. Break the verse into phrases (punctua- take the time to mentally process each verse as tion marks do this pretty well) and say each they prepare the catalog.) Once they have all phrase several times, emphasizing words that the verses on cards, they’re now ready to begin. are difcult to remember. Tey’ll probably want to memorize the verses in the order as they appear in the Scripture. Have 121 them use any of the memorization methods each chapter and/or verse with its reference as already mentioned to actually learn the verse. you come to it. Recorded CD’s should be avail- Te big advantage of this method is being able able at www.youthquiz.com. to separate those verses that they’re having dif- ĕDVMUZMFBSOJOHćFZXJMMBMTPBCMFUPSFWJFXUIF Tere are several ways you can use a recording verses by looking at the reference or review the like this in your study. Here are a couple: references by looking at the verses. t4USBJHIU3FBEJOH3FBEBMPOHJOUIF#JCMF or scripture portion, and listen carefully to Study Tip: Comprehension the recording at the same time while reading. Underline Method In this way, they will not only see the words on the page but hear the words as well. Tis Have the quizzers read the chapter enough times combination will help them remember the that they know most of it, starting at the begin- material better. A variation is to try to quote ning of the chapter and underlining every fact the material along with the recording. in the chapter that they are not sure they would remember in a quiz without further study. Ten, t 1BOUPNJNF 3FBEJOH5VSO PO UIF $% CFHJOOJOHXJUIUIFĕSTUWFSTF IBWFUIFNTUVEZ Tape player/MP3 player. As the verses are all the underlined phrases. To fully complete the read, pantomime (act out) everything that is study method, have them continue working on happening. Exaggerate! Do fun, crazy things all these phrases until they know each of them to act out the passages. If they are not too well enough to recall details in a quiz. self-conscious, have your quizzers act out the Study Tip: Reading passages. You’ll be surprised to see how well this method helps them remember the mate- CD/Cassette Method/MP3/Podcast rial. Learning comes easier when one can not only Straight Reading Method see the words but hear them as well. You can Simply have them read through the chapter purchase a pre-made audio recording of the DBSFGVMMZBOEUIPVHIUGVMMZĕWFUJNFTćFNPSF book to help your quizzers read and memorize. they read something, the better they will know You might consider making your own record- it. Also, have them read the related scripture or ing using a blank recordable CD, (you will need commentary if they have some type of reference a computer with a microphone and appropri- Bible. Be careful to use only the NIV for memo- ate recording sofware) or a cassette tape and ry work but other versions can be helpful when recording your own voice reading each chapter trying to understand what the author is trying for study purposes. (Remember that it is illegal to convey. to make copies of pre-made Bible recordings, or to distribute or sell copies of your own voice re- Repetition Method cording of Bible passages without permission.) ćJTNBZUBLFTPNFUJNF CVUZPVMMĕOEJUXPSUI 1. Read verse 1 (of the chapter they are study- your while in the long run. Remember to read ing) three times. clearly and loudly. You might want to identify 2. Read verse 2 three times, verse 3 three

122 times, verse 4 three times, and verse 5 three UPĕOEPVUJGUIFZMJLFUIJTNFUIPEćFZEPOPU times. even have to use it all the time. Tey should try it once in a while to lend variety to their study- 3. Now read verses 1 through 5 all together ing. at once. Study Tip: Prejumping 4. Read verses 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 three times each. Question Writing 5. Now read verses 6 through 10 all together at once. *OPSEFSUPĕOFUVOFZPVSRVJ[[FSTQSFKVNQJOH ability it is really not as important for them to 6. Now go back to verse 1 and read straight write hundreds of questions as it is for them to through to verse 10. learn how to write questions. You will eventually 7. Read verses 11 through 15, each three have them move from actually writing questions times; then read them together once; then go and answers to simply forming them mentally. back to verse 1 and read through to verse 15. Te key to good prejumping is not simply winning the jump but being able to correctly com- 8. Read verses 16 through 20 three times plete the question from the point where they each; then 16 to 20 once all together; then 1 jumped. Learning to recognize questions and to 20 altogether. answers in their mind will be of tremendous advantage as they begin to prejump. ,FFQEPJOHUIJTVOUJMUIFZĕOJTIUIFDIBQ- ter. In the average verse, there are four or Paraphrase Method ĕWF QPTTJCMF RVJ[ RVFTUJPOT &WFO UIPVHI TFW- eral questions may cover the same information, Have you ever stopped to think that if you were the way a quizzer prejumps on each question is writing some of the Scriptures you’re studying; diferent. So, it is helpful to be able to look at it would sound a lot diferent from what you are a verse and see the diferent questions that can reading? come from it. To write a question, have them be- HJOCZĕOEJOHUIFBOTXFSJOUIFWFSTFBOEUIFO Before you suggest this method to your quizz- decide how to ask a question about it. Beginning ers, they’ll need about three or four pieces of BUUIFĕSTUWFSTF IBWFUIFNMPPLBUFBDIQISBTF OPUFCPPLQBQFS"UUIFUPQPGUIFĕSTUQBHFUIFZ each noun, each action verb, each adjective, and should write the number of the chapter they’ll each adverb, to see if any could be an answer be reading. Have them read the chapter, through to questions. Ten, have they written the ques- a couple of times. Now the goal is for them to tions. rewrite the chapter, verse by verse, in their own words. Key Word Spotting Tey can make it serious or funny, crea- Key word spotting is to help a quizzer be able to tive or normal—however they usually talk. Tey jump faster. It is very difcult to improve their should paraphrase (explain how to accomplish jump reaction time without learning to spot key paraphrasing) at least 10 verses of a chapter just words.

123 What is a key word? Te key word is the word of the word. Tis means that they will actually that comes at that place in the question where, jump before they hear the complete question! If GPSUIFĕSTUUJNF POFDBOUFMMXIBUUIFSFTUPGUIF they can learn to anticipate accurately, they will question is. In other words, if they hear a ques- obviously win many more jumps than a quizzer tion and the quizmaster stops reading just be- who does not anticipate. Remember, though, fore the key word, they won’t know for certain UIBU BOUJDJQBUJOH JT UBLJOH B EFĕOJUF SJTL UIFZ what the rest of the question is. Tere may be will want to be sure that they know the material only a few possibilities, and they may make an well enough to take this risk before you jump! educated (or lucky!) guess, but they won’t be for Prejumping is a major hurdle for most quizzers certain. However, if they were to hear one more UPPWFSDPNF CVUXIFOUIFZEP UIFZXJMMĕOE word—the key word—they would know with- competition much easier. out a doubt what the correct question is. Recording Jumping Your job as a coach is to help the quizzer learn to locate that key word so that they can jump at To practice their jumping and to improve an- that place in the question. In a quiz, that means ticipation of the key word, you may want to try faster decision-making under pressure. To get this method. In order to use this method they started, though, have them practice with a few will need computer recording equipment and a questions and take all the time they need to de- CD/DVD/MP3 burner, or a simple cassette re- cide what is the key word. corder. To prepare for the study, record some of the questions and the answers to the CD/DVD/ Here is an important point to remember: the MP3 or cassette. Start the CD/DVD/MP3 or key word will not always be the same for every- cassette and have them “jump” (either physi- one! Te better they know the chapter, the soon- cally or mentally), and stop the recording at the er they will be able to jump. Right now the key point where they jump. Now have them try to word for questions may be the last word; but by complete the question and give the correct an- the end of the year, the key word on some of the swer. To check yourself simply restart the cas- very same questions could possibly be the third sette and then listen to the correct question and or fourth word. Te key word changes as their BOTXFSćFZMMĕOEUIBUBTUIFJSLOPXMFEHFPG knowledge of the material improves. the material increases, their ability to prejump earlier also improves. Anticipating the Key Word Study Tip: General Review Anticipation is accurately predicting that the next word of the question will be the key word. Afer studying one-fourth of the chapters, take Why anticipate you ask? If a quizzer can tell that time out for a general review of all the chapters the next word of a question will be the key word, they’ve covered. Test them in each of the follow- then they can jump just as the quizmaster begins ing areas: to say it, but late enough that he or she does not have time to stop before he or she says at least 1. Have them read through each chapter UIF ĕSTU TZMMBCMF PG UIF LFZ XPSE ćF RVJ[[FS again. If there is time, they may even want can then identify the key word by watching the to use a repetition method (Read chapter 1, quizmaster’s mouth as a clue to the remainder then read chapters 1 and 2, then read chap- 124 ters 1, 2, and 3, etc.) com makes available a Quizzer’s concordance that covers only the material being covered dur- 2. Have them write out either a chapter-by- ing that quiz year. Tis resource will tell you chapter outline, or a list of what events are in where and how many times each word is used each chapter. in this book. Of special help to a quizzer is the 3. Have them review all the underlined phras- list of “Unique Words.” Tese are words that are es that they thought they might not remem- used only once in the material. ber in a quiz. Test them to see how well they Being familiar with these words can be invalu- still remember those verses. If they’ve forgot- able to a quizzer. A quizzer knowing that a par- ten any of the phrases, spend some more time ticular word is used only once throughout an studying with them. entire year’s material will more quickly direct 4. Work with the prejump list of memory them toward the right passage when answering verses, and test their ability to complete each a question. Once they’ve acquired a concord- verse and give the reference. BODF ĕOEUIFVOJRVFXPSEMJTU PSHPUISPVHI the entire list of words and note those that are Repeat this general review afer completing one- used only once. Have them mark these words half, then three-fourths, then all of the chapters. with a certain color of marker or colored pen- In each case, review all the chapters they’ve cov- cil—blue, perhaps. Ten have them take their ered. Scripture portion or Bible and locate each of Study Tip: Using a Concordance these “blue” words and mark them. Now as they read and study the Scripture, they will be able Have you ever noticed how some quizzers al- to note when they come across a “blue” word. ways seem to be able to jump way before your Many quizzers use the same approach with quizzers do? And how you could say almost any words used two or three times throughout the word in the material and they can tell you ex- material, marking them with a diferent color, actly what verse it’s in? Chances are that those such as red and green. quizzers have been using a concordance. Now, as soon as they hear one of these unique What is a concordance? A concordance is a type words, they should be able to recognize it as a of index—you know, those lists in the back of key word, remember the reference, and quickly books that tell you where a certain subject is go there mentally to form their question and mentioned. A biblical concordance will tell you BOTXFS :PV XJMM ĕOE UIBU LOPXJOH UIFTF LFZ where and how many times any word is used in words will greatly enhance your quizzer’s ability the Scripture. (Would it surprise you to know to prejump. (You can also tailor this system as it that the word “the” is used 55,728 times through- suits their study style). out the Bible?!) Tere are several types of these However you decide to have your quizzers use concordances: entire Bible, Old Testament, New a concordance, be sure they have a good under- Testament, and individual book concordances. standing of the material, as well as of the indi- How can you use a concordance to help your vidual words. Te concordance should supple- quizzers in their study? Each year, youthquiz. ment a good study plan—don’t let them rely on

125 it to solve all of their study problems. Memory: Q = Quote; Knowing the Scripture in this way will also help V = Finish this (these) verse(s) (no UIFNJOUIFGVUVSF*UNBZIFMQUIFNĕOEBWFSTF reference); that they need when speaking to a person seek- ing God. Te Holy Spirit will bring that verse R = Finish this (these) verses and they learned years ago to memory at the appro- give the reference priate time. Study Tip: Variety in Your Study

ćSPVHIPVU UIJT CPPL UIF RVJ[[FST XJMM ĕOE many diferent study methods for use in individual study times. Chances are no one study method is right for everyone. What works best for one may not work for teammates. Just as important, however, is that their knowledge and recollection of the material will improve if they vary the study methods they use. Have them try a new method every now and then so they don’t get bored and frustrated using the same tech- nique over and over. PRE-ANNOUNCING KEY

Remember that all questions will be “prean- nounced” in actual quizzing competition. In order to prepare your quizzers for this practice (and in case your team decides to use these questions in practice), we’ve included the prean- nouncing codes in this book as well.

PRE-ANNOUNCING KEY (Code=Question Type) G = General X = Context A = According to S = Situation I = In What Book and Chapter 126 PRACTICE AND COMPETITION QUESTIONS FOR BIBLE QUIZZING

Hebrews Chapter 1 Q. According to Hebrews chapter 1: verse 5, what will God be? Q. Trough whom did God speak to our fore- A. His Father (H 1:5) fathers? A. Trough the prophets (H 1:1) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 1: verse 5, what did God never say to the angels? Q. When did God speak to our forefathers? A. “You are my Son; today I have become your A. In the past (H 1:1) Father” or “I will be his Father, and he will be Q. What has God done in these last days? my Son” (H 1:5) A. He has spoken to us by his Son (whom he Q. Whom does God bring into the world? appointed heir of all things, and through whom A. His frstborn (H 1:6) he made the universe) (H 1:2) Q. Whom should all God’s angels worship? Q. By whom has God spoken to us in these last A. God’s frstborn [OR the Son] (H 1:6) days? A. His Son (whom he appointed heir of all Q. What does God make his servants? things, and through whom he made the uni- A. Flames of fre (H 1:7) verse) (H 1:2) 28IPNEPFT(PENBLFĘBNFTPGĕSF Q. What does the Son sustain by his powerful A. His servants (H 1:7) word? A. All things (H 1:3) Q. What will righteousness be? A. Te scepter of your (the Son’s OR God’s) Q. Who is the exact representation of God’s kingdom (H 1:8) being? A. Te Son (H 1:3) Q. According to chapter 1: verse 8, what does God say about the Son? Q. To what is the name the Son has inherited A. “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and superior? ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of A. Te angels’ name (H 1:4) your kingdom” (H 1:8) Q. How superior to the angels did the Son Q. How has God set the Son above his compan- become? ions? A. As much superior as the name he has inher- A. By anointing him with the oil of joy (H 1:9) ited is superior to theirs (H 1:4) 127 Q. Who has hated wickedness? and various miracles, and gifs of the Holy A. Te Son (H 1:9) Spirit distributed according to his will (H 2:4) Q. What did the Lord lay in the beginning? Q. How are gifs of the Holy Spirit distributed? A. Te foundations of the earth (H 1:10) A. According to God’s will (H 2:4) Q. What are the works of the Lord’s hands? Q. To whom has God not subjected the world A. Te heavens (H 1:10) to come? A. Angels (H 2:5) Q. Four part answer: what will happen to the foundations of the earth and the heavens? 28IBUIBTTPNFPOFUFTUJĕFE A. 1) they will perish A. “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (H 2:6) 2) all wear out like a garment Q. Lower than whom did God make man? 3) be rolled up like a robe A. Te angels (H 2:7) 4) be changed (H 1:10-12) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 2: verse 8, Q. What will all wear out like a garment? where did God put everything? A. Te (foundations of the) earth and the "6OEFSNBOTGFFU ) heavens (H 1:11) Q. What do we not see yet at present? Q. What will be changed like a garment? A. Everything subject to man (H 2:8) A. Te earth and the heavens (H 1:12) Q. Why is Jesus now crowned with glory and Q. According to Hebrews chapter 1: verse 3, honor? where did the Son sit down? A. Because he sufered death (H 2:9) A. At the right hand of the Majesty in heaven 28IBUXBTJUĕUUJOHUIBU(PETIPVMEEP (H 1:3) A. Make the author of many sons’ salvation perfect through sufering (H 2:10) Hebrews Chapter 2 Q. Why is Jesus not ashamed to call them Q. To what must we pay more careful atten- brothers? tion? A. Both the one who makes men holy and A. To what we have heard (H 2:1) those who are made holy are of the same fam- Q. What received its just punishment? ily (H 2:11) A. Every violation and disobedience (H 2:2) Q. Whom does the writer of Hebrews describe 28IBUXBTĕSTUBOOPVODFECZUIF-PSE as, “the one who makes men holy”? A. Tis (great) salvation (H 2:3) A. God (H 2:11) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 2: verse 4, Q. Where will Jesus sing your praises? what did God also do? A. In the presence of the congregation (H 2:12) A. Testifed to this salvation by signs, wonders

128 Q. According to Hebrews chapter 2: verse 13, Q. To whom was Jesus faithful? what does Jesus say again? A. Te one who appointed him (H 3:2) A. “I will put my trust in him” and “Here am I, and the children God has given me” (H 2:13) Q. Who has greater honor than the house itself? Q. Who holds the power of death? A. Te builder of a house (H 3:3) A. Te devil (H 2:14) Q. Who is the builder of everything? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 2: verse 14, A. God (H 3:4) what does the devil hold? A. Te power of death (H 2:14) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 3: verse 4, what is God? Q. How long were they held in slavery by their A. Te builder of everything (H 3:4) fear of death? A. All their lives (H 2:15) Q. How was Moses faithful in all God’s house? A. As a servant (H 3:5) Q. Whom does Jesus help? A. Abraham’s descendants (H 2:16) Q. When are we God’s house? A. If we hold on to our courage and the hope of Q. Why did Jesus have to be made like his which we boast (H 3:6) brothers in every way? A. In order that he might become a merciful Q. What if you hear his voice today? and faithful high priest in service to God, and A. Do not harden your hearts (H 3:7-8) that he might make atonement for the sins of Q. When did you harden your hearts? the people (H 2:17) A. In the rebellion, during the time of testing in Q. According to Hebrews chapter 2: verse 17, the desert (H 3:8) what might Jesus make? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 3: verse 8, A. Atonement for the sins of the people (H what did you do in the rebellion? 2:17) A. Hardened your hearts (H 3:8) Q. Why is Jesus able to help those who are be- Q. Who saw what the Holy Spirit did for forty ing tempted? years? A. Because he himself sufered when he was A. Your fathers (H 3:9) tempted (H 2:18) Q. What did the Holy Spirit say when he was Q. According to Hebrews chapter 2: verse 18, angry with that generation? what is Jesus able to do? A. “Teir hearts are always going astray, and A. Help those who are being tempted (H 2:18) they have not known my ways” (H 3:10)

Hebrews Chapter 3 Q. What did the Holy Spirit declare on oath in his anger? 20OXIPNTIPVMEZPVĕYZPVSUIPVHIUT A. “Tey shall never enter my rest” (H 3:11) A. Jesus (the apostle and high priest whom we confess) (H 3:1) 129 Q. What should none of you have? Hebrews Chapter 4 A. A sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God (H 3:12) Q. What still stands? A. Te promise of entering God’s rest (H 4:1) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 3: verse 12, what should you do? Q. What was the message they heard? A. See to it that none of you has a sinful, un- A. Of no value to them, because those who believing heart that turns away from the living heard did not combine it with faith (H 4:2) God (H 3:12) Q. With what did those who heard the message Q. How long should you encourage one an- not combine it? other daily? A. Faith (H 4:2) A. As long as it is called Today (H 3:13) Q. Who enter that rest? 28IBUJGXFIPMEĕSNMZUJMMUIFFOEUIFDPOĕ- A. We who have believed (H 4:3) EFODFXFIBEBUĕSTU Q. From what did God rest on the seventh day? A. We have come to share in Christ (H 3:14) A. From all his work (H 4:4) Q. What if you hear his voice? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 4: verse 4, A. Do not harden your hearts as you did in the about what has God spoken? rebellion (H 3:15) A. Te seventh day (H 4:4) Q. Who were all those Moses led out of Egypt? Q. Where does God say again, “Tey shall A. Tey who heard and rebelled (H 3:16) never enter my rest.”? Q. Who led those who heard and rebelled out A. In the passage above (H 4:5) of Egypt? Q. What did those who formerly had the gospel A. Moses (H 3:16) preached to them not do? Q. What fell in the desert? A. Go in (to that rest) (H 4:6) A. Te bodies of those who sinned (H 3:17) Q. Why did those who formerly had the gospel Q. To whom did God swear that they would preached to them not go in? never enter his rest? A. Because of their disobedience (H 4:6) A. Tose who disobeyed (H 3:18) Q. What did God speak through David a long Q. According to Hebrews chapter 3: verse 18, time later? what did God do? A. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden A. Swore that those who disobeyed would nev- your hearts” (H 4:7) er enter his rest (H 3:18) Q. Who would not have spoken later about Q. Why were they not able to enter? another day if Joshua had given them rest? A. Because of their unbelief (H 3:19) A. God (H 4:8)

130 Q. According to Hebrews chapter 4: verse 8, Q. What high priest do we not have? what would God not have done? ""IJHIQSJFTUXIPJTVOBCMFUPTZNQBUIJ[F A. Spoken later about another day (H 4:8) with our weaknesses (H 4:15) Q. What does a Sabbath-rest do? 28IBUNBZXFĕOEXIFOXFBQQSPBDIUIF A. Remains for the people of God (H 4:9) UISPOFPGHSBDFXJUIDPOĕEFODF A. Grace to help us in our time of need (H 4:16) Q. For whom does a Sabbath-rest remain? A. Te people of God (H 4:9) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 4: verse 16, what may we receive? Q. Why does there remain a Sabbath-rest for A. Mercy (H 4:16) the people of God? A. For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests Hebrews Chapter 5 from his own work, just as God did from his (H 4:9-10) Q. How is every high priest selected? A. From among men (H 5:1) Q. Who will fall by following their example of disobedience? Q. For what is every high priest appointed to A. No one (H 4:11) PČFSHJęTBOETBDSJĕDFT A. Sins (H 5:1) Q. What should we make every efort to enter? A. Tat rest (God’s rest OR the Sabbath-rest) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 5: verse 2, to (H 4:11) what is every high priest subject? A. Weakness (H 5:2) Q. Of what does the word of God judge the thoughts and attitudes? Q. What does every high priest have to ofer for A. Te heart (H 4:12) the sins of the people? A. Sacrifces (H 5:3) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 4: verse 12, what is the word of God? 28IPIBTUPPČFSTBDSJĕDFTGPSIJTPXOTJOT A. Living and active, sharper than any double- A. Every high priest (H 5:3) edged sword (H 4:12) Q. By whom must every high priest be called? Q. Two-part question: What is hidden, and A. God (H 5:4) what is uncovered? A. 1) Nothing (in all creation) (H 4:13) Q. Who takes this honor upon himself? 2) Everything (H 4:13) A. No one (H 5:4) 28IZTIPVMEXFIPMEĕSNMZUPUIFGBJUIXF Q. What did Christ not take upon himself? profess? A. Te glory of becoming a high priest (H 5:5) A. Since we have a great high priest who has Q. Who did not take upon himself the glory of gone through the heavens (H 4:14) becoming a high priest? A. Christ (H 5:5)

131 Q. Where does God say “You are a priest for- Q. According to Hebrews chapter 5: verse 13, ever, in the order of Melchizedek”? with what is anyone who lives on milk not A. In another place [OR Psalms] (H 5:6) acquainted? A. Te teaching about righteousness (H 5:13) Q. How did Jesus ofer up prayers and petitions to the one who could save him from death? Q. From what have the mature trained them- A. With loud cries and tears (H 5:7) selves to distinguish good? A. Evil (H 5:14) Q. With what did Jesus ofer up prayers and petitions? Q. What have the mature trained themselves to A. Loud cries and tears (H 5:7) do? A. Distinguish good from evil (H 5:14) Q. What did Jesus learn from what he sufered? A. Obedience (H 5:8) Hebrews Chapter 6 Q. According to Hebrews chapter 5: verse 8, Q. What should we not lay again? from what did Jesus learn obedience? A. Te foundation of repentance from acts that A. From what he sufered (H 5:8) lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction Q. Who was made perfect? about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the A. Jesus (H 5:9) resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment (H 6:1-2) Q. For whom did Jesus become the source of eternal salvation? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 6: verse 2, A. For all who obey him (H 5:9) what is eternal? A. Judgment (H 6:2) Q. By whom was Jesus designated to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek? Q. What will we do, God permitting? A. God (H 5:10) A. Leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity (H 6:1-3) Q. Who was designated to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek? Q. For whom is it impossible, if they fall away, A. Jesus (H 5:10) to be brought back to repentance? A. Tose who have once been enlightened, who Q. According to Hebrews chapter 5: verse 11, have tasted the heavenly gif, who have shared why is it hard to explain? in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the good- A. Because you are slow to learn (H 5:11) ness of the word of God and the powers of the Q. What do you need someone to teach you all coming age(H 6:4-6) over again? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 6: verse 4, A. Te elementary truths of God’s word (H what have they tasted? 5:12) A. Te heavenly gif (H 6:4) Q. When ought you to be teachers? A. By this time (H 5:12)

132 Q. What is impossible for those who have Q. What did God swear by himself? tasted the goodness of the word of God and the A. “I will surely bless you and give you many powers of the coming age? descendants” (H 6:14) A. To be brought back to repentance if they fall away (H 6:5-6) Q. When did Abraham receive what was promised? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 6: verse 6, to A. Afer waiting patiently (H 6:15) what are they subjecting the Son of God? A. Public disgrace (H 6:6) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 6: verse 16, what does the oath do? Q. What does land that receives the blessing of A. Confrms what is said and puts an end to all God drink in? argument (H 6:16) A. Te rain ofen falling on it (H 6:7) 28IBUDPOĕSNTXIBUJTTBJE Q. What will be burned in the end? A. Te oath (H 6:16) A. Land that produces thorns and thistles (H 6:8) Q. To whom did God want to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear? Q. What are we, even though we speak like A. To the heirs of what was promised (H 6:17) this? A. Confdent of better things in your case - Q. What did God do because he wanted to things that accompany salvation (H 6:9) make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 6: verse 9, of A. He confrmed it with an oath (H 6:17) XIBUBSFXFDPOĕEFOUFWFOUIPVHIXFTQFBL like this? Q. Who may be greatly encouraged? A. Better things in your case (H 6:9) A. We who have fed to take hold of the hope ofered to us (H 6:18) Q. Who will not forget your work? A. God (H 6:10) 28IBUJTĕSNBOETFDVSF A. Tis hope (that we have as an anchor for the Q. What do we want each of you to do in order soul) (H 6:19) to make your hope sure? A. Show this same diligence to the very end (H Q. What does this hope enter? 6:11) A. Te inner sanctuary behind the curtain (H 6:19) Q. Trough what do they inherit what has been promised? Q. What has Jesus become forever in the order A. Trough faith and patience (H 6:12) of Melchizedek? A. A high priest (H 6:20) Q. To whom did God make his promise? A. To Abraham (H 6:13) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 6: verse 20, what has Jesus become? Q. Who is greater than God? A. A high priest forever in the order of A. No one (H 6:13) .FMDIJ[FEFL )

133 Hebrews Chapter 7 Q. Where was Levi when Melchizedek met Abraham? Q. Who was this Melchizedek? A. Still in the body of his ancestor (Abraham) A. King of Salem and priest of God Most High (H 7:10) (H 7:1) Q. What was given to the people on the basis of Q. What does “king of Salem” mean? the Levitical priesthood? A. “King of peace” (H 7:2) A. Te law (H 7:11) Q. Who was without beginning of days? Q. When must there also be a change of the ".FMDIJ[FEFL ) law? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 7: verse 3, A. When there is a change of the priesthood what does the Son of God Remain? (H 7:12) A. A priest forever (H 7:3) Q. Who belonged to a diferent tribe? Q. Who was the patriarch? A. He of whom these things are said [OR Jesus] A. Abraham (H 7:4) (H 7:13) Q. From whom must the descendants of Levi Q. According to Hebrews chapter 7: verse 13, who become priests collect a tenth? who belonged to a diferent tribe? A. Te people - that is, their brothers (even A. He of whom these things are said (Jesus) (H though their brothers are descended from 7:13) Abraham) (H 7:5) Q. What did Moses say about priests in regard Q. Who had the promises? to that tribe? A. Abraham (H 7:6) A. Nothing (H 7:14) Q. By whom is the lesser person blessed? Q. When is what we have said even more clear? A. Te greater (H 7:7) "*GBOPUIFSQSJFTUMJLF.FMDIJ[FEFLBQQFBST (H 7:15) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 7: verse 8, by whom is the tenth collected? Q. On what basis has another priest like A. In the one case, by men who die; but in the Melchizedek not become a priest? other case, by him who is declared to be living A. Te basis of a regulation as to his ancestry (H 7:8) (H 7:16) Q. What is collected in the other case by him Q. According to Hebrews chapter 7: verse 17, who is declared to be living? what is declared? A. Te tenth (H 7:8) A. “You are a priest forever, in the order of .FMDIJ[FEFLw ) Q. What did Levi pay through Abraham? A. Te tenth (H 7:9) Q. Why is the former regulation set aside? A. Because it was weak and useless (H 7:18)

134 Q. What was weak and useless? Q. What came afer the law? A. Te former regulation (H 7:18) A. Te oath (H 7:28) Q. To whom do we draw near by a better hope? Hebrews Chapter 8 A. God (H 7:19) Q. Where did such a high priest sit down? Q. How did others become priests? A. At the right hand of the throne of the Maj- A. Without any oath (H 7:20) esty in heaven (H 8:1) Q. When did Jesus become a priest with an Q. According to Hebrews chapter 8: verse 1, oath? who sat down at the right hand of the throne of A. When God said to him: “Te Lord has the Majesty in heaven? sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a A. Such a high priest (H 8:1) priest forever’” (H 7:21) Q. What is the point of what we are saying? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 7: verse 22, A. We do have such a high priest, who sat down what has Jesus become? at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty A. Te guarantee of a better covenant (H 7:22) in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, Q. What prevented those priests from continu- the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by ing in ofce? man (H 8:1-2) A. Death (H 7:23) Q. What is set up by the Lord? Q. Two-part question: What has Jesus become A. Te true tabernacle (H 8:2) because of this oath, and what does Jesus have Q. According to Hebrews chapter 8: verse 3, because he lives forever? what was necessary? A. 1) He has become the guarantee of a better A. For this high priest also to have something covenant (H 7:22) to ofer (H 8:3) 2) He has a permanent priesthood (H 7:24) Q. What is every high priest appointed to ofer? Q. Why is Jesus able to save completely those A. Both gifs and sacrifces (H 8:3) who come to God through him? A. Because he always lives to intercede for Q. What if this high priest were on earth? them (H 7:25) A. He would not be a priest (for there are already men who ofer the gifs prescribed by the Q. What high priest meets our need? law) (H 8:4) A. One who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens (H Q. What gifs do men already ofer? 7:26) A. Te gifs prescribed by the law (H 8:4) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 7: verse 27, Q. At what do the men who ofer the gifs pre- what did he ofer? scribed by the law serve? A. Himself (H 7:27) A. A sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven (H 8:5)

135 Q. What was Moses warned when he was about Q. Where will God put his laws? to build the tabernacle? A. In their (the house of Israel’s) minds (H A. “See to it that you make everything accord- 8:10) ing to the pattern shown you on the mountain” (H 8:5) Q. How will a man no longer teach his neighbor? Q. On what is the covenant of which Jesus is A. Saying, “Know the Lord” (H 8:11) mediator founded? A. Better promises (H 8:6) Q. Two part question: what will a man no longer teach his neighbor or brother, and why? Q. What covenant is superior to the old one? A. 1) He will no longer teach his neighbor, say A. Te covenant of which Jesus is mediator (H ing, “Know the Lord” 8:6) 2) Tey will all know him (H 8:11) Q. When would no place have been sought for Q. What will God remember no more? another? A. Teir sins (H 8:12) A. If there had been nothing wrong with that frst covenant (H 8:7) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 8: verse 13, what did God call this covenant? Q. What if there had been nothing wrong with A. “New” (H 8:13) UIBUĕSTUDPWFOBOU A. No place would have been sought for an- 28IBUEJEUIFĕSTUDPWFOBOUIBWF other (H 8:7) A. Regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary (H 9:1) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 8: verse 8, XIBUEJE(PEĕOE Hebrews Chapter 9 A. Fault with the people (H 8:8) Q. What also had regulations for an earthly Q. With whom will the Lord make a new cov- sanctuary? enant? A. Te frst covenant (H 9:1) A. Te house of Israel and the house of Judah (H 8:8) Q. Where were the lamp stand, the table and the consecrated bread? Q. What did the Lord make with their forefa- A. In the tabernacle’s frst room (H 9:2) thers? A. A covenant (H 8:9) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 9: verse 2, what was set up? Q. Like what will the new covenant not be? A. A tabernacle (H 9:2) A. Te covenant God made with their forefathers (H 8:9) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 9: verse 3, what was behind the second curtain? Q. What will God put in the minds of the house A. A room called the Most Holy Place (H 9:3) of Israel? A. His laws (H 8:10) Q. What was called the Most Holy Place? A. A room behind the second curtain (H 9:3) 136 Q. What had budded? Q. What are sprinkled on those who are cer- A. Aaron’s staf (H 9:4) emonially unclean? A. Te blood of goats and bulls and the ashes Q. What did the ark of the covenant contain? of a heifer (H 9:13) A. Te gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staf that had budded, and the stone tablets of the cov- Q. Trough whom did Christ ofer himself enant (H 9:4) unblemished to God? A. Te eternal Spirit (H 9:14) Q. When can we not discuss these things in detail? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 9: verse 15, A. Now (H 9:5) what is promised? A. An eternal inheritance (H 9:15) Q. Why did the priests enter regularly into the outer room? Q. When is it necessary to prove the death of A. To carry on their ministry (H 9:6) the one who made it? A. In the case of a will (H 9:16) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 9: verse 7, what did only the high priest enter? Q. When is a will in force? A. Te inner room (H 9:7) A. Only when somebody has died (H 9:17) Q. What was the Holy Spirit showing by this? Q. What was not even put into efect without A. Tat the way into the Most Holy Place had blood? not yet been disclosed as long as the frst taber- A. Te frst covenant (H 9:18) nacle was still standing (H 9:8) Q. What had Moses proclaimed to all the peo- Q. What does this illustration indicate? ple? A. Tat the gifs and sacrifces being ofered A. Every commandment of the law (H 9:19) were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper (H 9:9) Q. Who said, “Tis is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep”? Q. Until when do the external regulations ap- A. Moses (H 9:20) ply? "6OUJMUIFUJNFPGUIFOFXPSEFS ) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 9: verse 21: what did Moses do in the same way? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 9: verse 11, as A. He sprinkled with the blood both the tab- what did Christ come? ernacle and everything used in its ceremonies A. High priest of the good things that are al- (H 9:21) ready here (H 9:11) Q. What requires that nearly everything be Q. By what means did Christ not enter the cleansed with blood? Most Holy Place? A. Te law (H 9:22) A. By means of the blood of goats and calves (H 9:12) 2'PSXIBUXBTJUOFDFTTBSZUPCFQVSJĕFEXJUI UIFTFTBDSJĕDFT A. Te copies of the heavenly things (H 9:23)

137 Q. Who entered heaven itself? Q. With what oferings was God not pleased? A. Christ (H 9:24) A. With burnt oferings and sin oferings (H 10:6) Q. What did Christ not enter heaven to do? A. Ofer himself again and again (H 9:25) Q. What is written about Christ in the scroll? A. “Here I am, I have come to do your will, O Q. Who has appeared once for all at the end of God” (H 10:7) UIFBHFTUPEPBXBZXJUITJOCZUIFTBDSJĕDFPG himself? Q. What did God not desire, although the law A. Christ (H 9:26) required them to be made? A. Sacrifces and oferings, burnt oferings and Q. When is man destined to face judgment? sin oferings (H 10:8) A. Afer he dies (H 9:27) 28IZEPFT$ISJTUTFUBTJEFUIFĕSTU 28IZXBT$ISJTUTBDSJĕDFEPODF A. To establish the second (H 10:9) A. To take away the sins of many people (H 9:28) Q. Trough what have we been made holy by that will? Hebrews Chapter 10 A. Te sacrifce of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (H 10:10) Q. By what can the law never make perfect those who draw near to worship? Q. When does every priest stand and perform A. By the same sacrifces repeated endlessly his religious duties? year afer year (H 10:1) A. Day afer day (H 10:11) Q. Who would no longer have felt guilty for Q. Where did this priest sit down when he had their sins if the law could make perfect those PČFSFEGPSBMMUJNFPOFTBDSJĕDFGPSTJOT who draw near to worship? A. At the right hand of God (H 10:12) A. Te worshipers (H 10:2) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 10: verse 13, Q. What are an annual reminder of sins? what are his enemies to be made? A. Tose sacrifces (those same sacrifces re- A. His footstool (H 10:13) peated endlessly year afer year) (H 10:3) Q. Whom has this priest made perfect forever? A. Tose who are being made holy (H 10:14) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 10: verse 4, Q. How does the Holy Spirit testify to us about what is impossible? this? A. For the blood of bulls and goats to take A. First he says: “Tis is the covenant I will away sins (H 10:4) make with them afer that time, says the Lord. 28IFOEJE$ISJTUTBZ i4BDSJĕDFBOEPČFSJOH I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will you did not desire, but a body you prepared for write them on their minds.” Ten he adds: me”? “Teir sins and lawless acts I will remember A. When he came into the world (H 10:5) no more” (H 10:15-17)

138 Q. According to Hebrews chapter 10: verse 16, Q. According to Hebrews chapter 10: verse 27, what will the Lord put in their hearts? what is lef? A. His laws (H 10:16) A. Only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fre that will consume the enemies of Q. When will the Lord remember their sins and God (H 10:27) lawless acts? A. No more (H 10:17) Q. On what did anyone who rejected the law of Moses die without mercy? 28IFSFJTUIFSFOPMPOHFSBOZTBDSJĕDFGPS A. On the testimony of two or three witnesses sin? (H 10:28) A. Where these (sins and lawless acts) have been forgiven (H 10:18) 28IBUTBODUJĕFEBNBO A. Te blood of the covenant (H 10:29) 28IBUEPXFIBWFDPOĕEFODFUPFOUFS A. Te Most Holy Place (H 10:19) Q. Whom will the Lord judge? A. His people (H 10:30) Q. How is a new and living way opened for us? A. Trough the curtain, that is, his body (H Q. According to Hebrews chapter 10: verse 30, 10:20) whom do we know? A. Him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will Q. What should we do since we have a great repay,” and again, “Te Lord will judge his priest over the house of God? people” (H 10:30) A. Draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith (H 10:21-22) Q. What is a dreadful thing? A. To fall into the hands of the living God (H Q. According to Hebrews chapter 10: verse 22, 10:31) in what should we draw near to God? A. In full assurance of faith (H 10:22) Hebrews Chapter 11 Q. Why should we hold unswervingly to the Q. What is being certain of what we do not see? hope we profess? A. Faith (H 11:1) A. For he who promised is faithful (H 10:23) Q. What is being sure of what we hope for? Q. What should we consider? A. Faith (H 11:1) A. How we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds (H 10:24) Q. Who were commended for their faith? A. Te ancients (H 11:2) Q. What should we do as you see the Day approaching? Q. By what do we understand that the universe A. Encourage one another all the more (H was formed at God’s command? 10:25) A. Faith (H 11:3) Q. What if we deliberately keep on sinning afer Q. According to Hebrews chapter 11: verse 3, we have received the knowledge of the truth? what was formed at God’s command? A. No sacrifce for sins is lef (H 10:26) A. Te universe (H 11:3) 139 Q. When was Abel commended as a righteous Q. Who was as good as dead? man? A. Abraham (this one man) (H 11:12) A. When God spoke well of his oferings (H 11:4) Q. Who admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth? Q. What could Enoch not be? A. All these people (who were still living by A. Found (H 11:5) faith when they died) (H 11:13) Q. Why is it impossible to please God without Q. For what are people who say such things faith? looking? A. Because anyone who comes to him must be- A. A country of their own (H 11:14) lieve that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (H 11:6) Q. When would they have had opportunity to return? Q. Why did Noah build an ark in holy fear? A. If they had been thinking of the country A. To save his family (H 11:7) they had lef (H 11:15) Q. Where was Abraham called to go? Q. For what were they longing? A. To a place he would later receive as his in- A. A better country - a heavenly one (H 11:16) heritance (H 11:8) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 11: verse 16, Q. Who were heirs with Abraham of the same for what were they longing? promise? A. A better country--a heavenly one (H 11:16) A. Isaac and Jacob (H 11:9) Q. As what did Abraham ofer Isaac? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 11: verse 9, A. As a sacrifce (H 11:17) what did Abraham do by faith? A. Made his home in the promised land like a Q. Who will be reckoned through Isaac? stranger in a foreign country (H 11:9) A. Abraham’s ofspring (H 11:18) Q. To what was Abraham looking forward? Q. What did Abraham reason? A. Te city with foundations (whose architect A. Tat God could raise the dead (H 11:19) and builder is God) (H 11:10) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 11: verse 19, Q. Why was Abraham enabled to become a XIBUEJE"CSBIBNSFDFJWFĕHVSBUJWFMZTQFBL- father even though he was past age and Sarah ing? herself was barren? A. Isaac back from death (H 11:19) A. Because he considered him faithful who had Q. Who blessed Jacob and Esau? made the promise (H 11:11) A. Isaac (H 11:20) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 11: verse 11, Q. Who blessed each of Joseph’s sons by faith who was past age? when he was dying? A. Abraham (H 11:11) A. Jacob (H 11:21)

140 Q. Who gave instructions about his bones? Q. About whom do I not have time to tell? A. Joseph (H 11:22) A. Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets (H 11:32) Q. Who were not afraid of the king’s edict? A. Moses’ parents (H 11:23) Hebrews Chapter 12 Q. As what did Moses refuse to be known? Q. What should we throw of? A. As the son of Pharaoh’s daughter (H 11:24) A. Everything that hinders and the sin that so Q. What did Moses choose? easily entangles (H 12:1) A. To be mistreated along with the people of Q. Where did Jesus sit down? God rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a A. At the right hand of the throne of God (H short time (H 11:25) 12:2) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 11: verse 25, Q. For what did Jesus endure the cross? what did Moses choose? A. Te joy set before him (H 12:2) A. To be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin Q. Why should you consider him who endured for a short time (H 11:25) such opposition from sinful men? A. So that you will not grow weary and lose Q. Who was looking ahead to his reward? heart (H 12:3) A. Moses (H 11:26) Q. To what point have you not yet resisted in Q. To what was Moses looking ahead? your struggle against sin? A. His reward (H 11:26) A. Te point of shedding your blood (H 12:4) Q. Who lef Egypt by faith? Q. What should you not lose when the Lord A. Moses (H 11:27) rebukes you? Q. By what did Moses keep the Passover and A. Heart (H 12:5) the sprinkling of blood? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 12: verse 5, A. Faith (H 11:28) how does that word of encouragement address Q. What is also known as the “Sea of Reeds”? you? A. Te Red Sea (H 11:29) A. As sons (H 12:5) Q. Who were drowned? Q. Why should you not lose heart when the A. Te Egyptians (H 11:29) Lord rebukes you? A. Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, Q. By what did the walls of Jericho fall? and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son A. Faith (H 11:30) (H 12:6) Q. Whom did Rahab welcome? Q. As what is God treating you? A. Te spies (H 11:31) A. As sons (H 12:7)

141 Q. What if you are not disciplined? Q. To what have you not come? A. Ten you are illegitimate children and not A. A mountain that can be touched and that true sons (H 12:8) is burning with fre, or to darkness, gloom and storm (H 12:18) Q. For what did we respect our human fathers? A. For disciplining us (H 12:9) Q. To what voice have you not come? A. Such a voice speaking words that those who Q. Who disciplines us for our good? heard it begged that no further word be spoken A. God (H 12:10) to them (H 12:19) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 12: verse 10, Q. According to Hebrews chapter 12: verse 20, in what may we share? what could they not bear? A. In God’s holiness (H 12:10) A. What was commanded (“If even an animal Q. In Hebrews chapter 12, what is described as touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”) (H “painful”? 12:20) A. Discipline (H 12:11) Q. What was the sight? Q. What should you strengthen? A. So terrifying (H 12:21) A. Your feeble arms and weak knees (H 12:12) Q. What is the city of the living God? Q. Why should you make level paths for your A. Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem (H feet? 12:22) A. So that the lame may not be disabled, but Q. Who is the judge of all men? rather healed (H 12:13) A. God (H 12:23) Q. Without what will no one see the Lord? Q. What speaks a better word than the blood of A. Holiness (H 12:14) Abel? 28IBUHSPXTVQUPDBVTFUSPVCMFBOEEFĕMF A. Te sprinkled blood (H 12:24) many? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 12: verse 25, A. A bitter root (H 12:15) whom did they refuse? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 12: verse 15, A. Him who warned them on earth (H 12:25) to what should you see? Q. What shook the earth at that time? A. Tat no one misses the grace of God and A. God’s voice (H 12:26) that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defle many (H 12:15) Q. What indicate the removing of what can be shaken? Q. For what did Esau sell his inheritance rights A. Te words “once more” (H 12:27) as the oldest son? A. A single meal (H 12:16) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 12: verse 28, what cannot be shaken? Q. What did Esau want to inherit aferward? A. A kingdom we are receiving (H 12:28) A. Tis blessing (H 12:17)

142 Hebrews Chapter 13 Q. From what do those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat? Q. How should you keep on loving each other? A. Te altar we have (H 13:10) A. As brothers (H 13:1) Q. Where are the bodies burned? Q. What should you not forget to do? A. Outside the camp (H 13:11) A. To entertain strangers (H 13:2) Q. Who also sufered outside the city gate? Q. Whom should you remember as if you were A. Jesus (H 13:12) their fellow prisoners? A. Tose in prison (H 13:3) Q. Who bore disgrace? A. Jesus (H 13:13) Q. According to Hebrews chapter 13: verse 3, whom should you remember? Q. For what city are we looking? A. Tose in prison and those who are mistreat- A. Te city that is to come (H 13:14) ed (H 13:3) Q. What should we continually ofer to God? Q. What should be kept pure? A. A sacrifce of praise - the fruit of lips that A. Te marriage bed (H 13:4) confess his name (H 13:15) Q. From what should you keep your lives free? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 13: verse 15, A. Te love of money (H 13:5) what should we do through Jesus? A. Continually ofer to God a sacrifce of praise Q. Who is my helper? (H 13:15) A. Te Lord (H 13:6) Q. Why should you not forget to do good and Q. According to Hebrews chapter 13: verse 6, to share with others? what will I not be? A. For with such sacrifces God is pleased (H A. Afraid (H 13:6) 13:16) Q. Who spoke the word of God to you? Q. Why should you obey your leaders? A. Your leaders (H 13:7) A. So that their work will be a joy, not a bur- Q. Who is the same yesterday and today and den, for that would be of no advantage to you forever? (H 13:17) A. Jesus Christ (H 13:8) Q. In what way do we desire to live honorably? Q. To whom are ceremonial foods of no value? A. In every way (H 13:18) A. Tose who eat them (H 13:9) Q. Why do I particularly urge you to pray? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 13: verse 10, A. So that I may be restored to you soon (H what do we have? 13:19) A. An altar from which those who minister at Q. What did the God of peace do through the the tabernacle have no right to eat (H 13:10) blood of the eternal covenant? A. Brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus

143 (that great Shepherd of the sheep) (H 13:20) Q. What can never perish, spoil or fade? A. An inheritance kept in heaven for you (1P Q. In Hebrews chapter 13, who is described as 1:4) “that great shepherd of the sheep”? A. (Our Lord) Jesus (H 13:20) Q. By what are you shielded? A. God’s power (1P 1:5) Q. With what may the God of peace equip you? A. With everything good for doing his will (H Q. In what may you have had to sufer grief? 13:21) A. All kinds of trials (1P 1:6) Q. Why do I urge you to bear with my word of Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 1: verse 6, what exhortation? may you have had to sufer? A. For I have written you only a short letter A. Grief in all kinds of trials (1P 1:6) (H 13:22) Q. Tan what is your faith of greater worth? Q. According to Hebrews chapter 13: verse 22, A. Gold (1P 1:7) what have I written? A. Only a short letter (H 13:22) Q. What do you do though you have not seen Jesus Christ? Q. What if Timothy arrives soon? A. Love him (1P 1:8) A. I will come with him to see you (H 13:23) Q. What is the goal of your faith? Q. Who send you their greetings? A. Te salvation of your souls (1P 1:9) A. Tose from Italy (H 13:24) 28IBUXFSFUIFQSPQIFUTUSZJOHUPĕOEPVU Q. What be with you all? concerning this salvation? A. Grace (H 13:25) A. Te time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he Q. According to Hebrews chapter 13: verse 25, predicted the suferings of Christ and the glo- what be with you all? ries that would follow (1P 1:10-11) A. Grace (H 13:25) Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 1: verse 10, of 1 Peter Chapter 1 what did the prophets speak? A. Te grace that was to come to you (1P 1:10) Q. Who is an apostle of Jesus Christ? A. Peter (1P 1:1) Q. Who predicted the suferings of Christ and the glories that would follow? Q. How have God’s elect been chosen? A. Te Spirit of Christ (1P 1:11) A. According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Q. What do even angels long to do? Spirit (1P 1:2) A. Look into these things (1P 1:12) Q. What has God given us through the resur- Q. What should you prepare for action? rection of Jesus Christ from the dead? A. Your minds (1P 1:13) A. New birth into a living hope (1P 1:3)

144 Q. To what should you not conform? Q. What stands forever? A. Te evil desires you had when you lived in A. Te word of the Lord (1P 1:25) ignorance (1P 1:14) Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 1: verse 25, Q. In what should you be holy? what does the word of the Lord do? A. All you do (1P 1:15) A. Stands forever (1P 1:25) Q. Why should you be holy in all you do? 1 Peter Chapter 2 A. For it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1P 1:15-16) Q. Of what should you rid yourselves? A. All malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 1: verse 16, and slander of every kind (1P 2:1) what is written? A. “Be holy, because I am holy” (1P 1:16) Q. How should you crave pure spiritual milk? A. Like newborn babies (1P 2:2) Q. What does the Father judge impartially? A. Each man’s work (1P 1:17) Q. What have you tasted? A. Tat the Lord is good (1P 2:3) Q. From what were you not redeemed with perishable things such as silver or gold? Q. By whom was the living Stone rejected? A. Te empty way of life handed down to you A. Men (1P 2:4) from your forefathers (1P 1:18) Q. How are you being built into a spiritual Q. In 1 Peter chapter 1, who is described as “a house? lamb without blemish or defect”? A. Like living stones (1P 2:5) A. Christ [OR Jesus] (1P 1:19) Q. What is laid in Zion? Q. Who was chosen before the creation of the A. A stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone world? (1P 2:6) A. Christ (1P 1:20) Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 2: verse 6, what Q. In whom are your faith and hope? does it say in Scripture? A. God (1P 1:21) A. “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in 2)PXIBWFZPVQVSJĕFEZPVSTFMWFT him will never be put to shame” (1P 2:6) A. By obeying the truth (1P 1:22) Q. What has the stone the builders rejected Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 1: verse 22, become? XIPNIBWFZPVQVSJĕFE A. Te capstone (1P 2:7) A. Yourselves (1P 1:22) Q. What do men disobey? Q. Of what have you been born again? A. Te message (1P 2:8) A. Imperishable seed (1P 1:23) Q. Why are you a people belonging to God? Q. Like what are all men? A. Tat you may declare the praises of him A. Grass (1P 1:24) 145 who called you out of darkness into his won- Q. What if a man bears up under the pain of derful light (1P 2:9) unjust sufering because he is conscious of God? Q. When were you not a people? A. It is commendable (1P 2:19) A. Once (1P 2:10) Q. What is commendable before God? Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 2: verse 10, A. If you sufer for doing good and you endure what are you now? it (1P 2:20) A. Te people of God (1P 2:10) Q. Who sufered for you? Q. What war against your soul? A. Christ (1P 2:21) A. Sinful desires (1P 2:11) Q. Where was no deceit found? Q. Among whom should you live such good A. In Christ’s mouth (1P 2:22) lives? A. Te pagans (1P 2:12) Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 2: verse 22, what was found in his mouth? Q. To what should you submit yourselves for A. No deceit (1P 2:22) the Lord’s sake? A. Every authority instituted among men (1P Q. Two-part question: When did Christ not 2:13) retaliate, and when did Christ make no threats? A. 1) When they hurled their insults at him Q. Who are sent by the Lord to punish those 2) When he sufered (1P 2:23) who do wrong and to commend those who do right? Q. By what have you been healed? A. Governors (1P 2:14) A. Christ’s wounds (1P 2:24) Q. How should you silence the ignorant talk of Q. To whom have you returned? foolish men? A. Te Shepherd and Overseer of your souls A. By doing good (1P 2:15) (1P 2:25) Q. As what should you not use your freedom? Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 2: verse 25, like A. A cover-up for evil (1P 2:16) what were you? A. Sheep going astray (1P 2:25) Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 2: verse 16, as what should you live? 1 Peter Chapter 3 A. Free men and servants of God (1P 2:16) Q. By what may husbands be won over without Q. Whom should you honor? words? A. Te king (1P 2:17) A. Te behavior of their wives (1P 3:1) Q. To whom should slaves submit themselves? Q. When may husbands be won over without A. Teir masters (not only to those who are words by the behavior of their wives? good and considerate, but also to those who A. When they see the purity and reverence of are harsh) (1P 2:18) their wives (1P 3:1-2) 146 Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 3; verse 3, from Q. What should you be always prepared to do? where should your beauty not come? A. Give an answer to everyone who asks you A. Outward adornment (1P 3:3) to give the reason for the hope that you have (1P 3:15) Q. What should your beauty be? A. Tat of your inner self (1P 3:4) Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 3; verse 15, what should you do in your hearts? Q. To whom were the holy women of the past A. Set apart Christ as Lord (1P 3:15) submissive? A. Teir own husbands (1P 3:5) Q. Who may be ashamed of their slander? A. Tose who speak maliciously against your Q. Who called Abraham her master? good behavior (1P 3:16) A. Sarah (1P 3:6) Q. What is better if it is God’s will? Q. Why should husbands treat their wives with A. To sufer for doing good than for doing evil respect? (1P 3:17) A. So that nothing will hinder their prayers (1P 3:7) Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 3; verse 18, how did Christ die for sins? Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 3: verse 7, what A. Once for all, the righteous for the unright- should husbands be? eous (1P 3:18) A. Considerate (1P 3:7) Q. Trough whom did Christ preach to the Q. How should you live with one another? spirits in prison? A. In harmony (1P 3:8) A. Trough the Spirit (1P 3:19) Q. How should you repay insult? Q. When did the spirits in prison disobey? A. With blessing (1P 3:9) A. Long ago when God waited patiently in the Q. From what must whoever would love life days of Noah while the ark was being built (1P and see good days keep his lips? 3:20) A. Deceitful speech (1P 3:10) Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 3; verse 20, Q. Who must seek peace? when was the ark being built? A. Whoever would love life and see good days A. Long ago when God waited patiently in the (1P 3:11) days of Noah (1P 3:20) Q. On whom are the eyes of the Lord? Q. By what does baptism save you? A. Te righteous (1P 3:12) A. Te resurrection of Jesus Christ (1P 3:21) Q. What if you are eager to do good? Q. Where has Jesus Christ gone? A. Who is going to harm you? (1P 3:13) A. Into heaven (1P 3:21-22) Q. What if you should sufer for what is right? A. You are blessed (1P 3:14)

147 1 Peter Chapter 4 Q. What should each one faithfully administer? A. God’s grace (in its various forms) (1P 4:10) Q. Who is done with sin? A. He who has sufered in his body (1P 4:1) Q. What if anyone speaks? A. He should do it as one speaking the very Q. Who does not live the rest of his earthly life words of God (1P 4:11) for evil human desires? A. He who has sufered in his body and is done Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 4: verse 11, with sin (1P 4:1-2) what does God provide? A. Strength (1P 4:11) Q. What do pagans choose to do? A. Live in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, or- Q. How should you not be surprised at the gies, carousing and detestable idolatry (1P 4:3) painful trial you are sufering? A. As though something strange were happen- Q. Who heap abuse on you? ing to you (1P 4:12) A. Pagans (1P 4:3-4) Q. What may you be when Christ’s glory is Q. Who will have to give account to him who is revealed? ready to judge the living and the dead? A. Overjoyed (1P 4:13) A. Pagans (1P 4:5) Q. What rests on you? Q. Why was the gospel preached even to those A. Te Spirit of glory and of God (1P 4:14) who are now dead? A. So that they might be judged according to Q. As what should you not sufer? men in regard to the body, but live according A. As a murderer or thief or any other kind of to God in regard to the spirit (1P 4:6) criminal, or even as a meddler (1P 4:15) Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 4: verse 6, to Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 4: verse 15, whom was the gospel preached? what if you sufer? A. Even to those who are now dead (1P 4:6) A. It should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a med- Q. Why should you be clear-minded and self- dler (1P 4:15) controlled? A. So that you can pray (1P 4:7) Q. When should you not be ashamed? A. If you sufer as a Christian (1P 4:16) Q. What should you do above all? A. Love each other deeply (1P 4:8) Q. What will begin with the family of God? A. Judgment (1P 4:17) Q. To whom should you ofer hospitality without grumbling? Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 4: verse 17, for A. One another (1P 4:9) what is it time? A. For judgment to begin with the family of Q. Complete, in essence, the following: “Ofer God (1P 4:17) hospitality to one another without . . .” A. “. . . grumbling” (1P 4:9)

148 Q. What if it is hard for the righteous to be saved? Q. Why should you humble yourselves under A. What will become of the ungodly God’s mighty hand? and the sinner? (1P 4:18) A. Tat he may lif you up in due time (1P 5:6) Q. To whom should those who sufer according to God’s will commit themselves? Q. Why should you cast all your anxiety on A. Teir faithful Creator (1P 4:19) God? A. Because he cares for you (1P 5:7) 1 Peter Chapter 5 Q. How does Peter appeal to the elders among Q. How does your enemy the devil prowl you? around? A. As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s A. Like a roaring lion looking for some- suferings and one who also will share in the one to devour (1P 5:8 glory to be revealed (1P 5:1) Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 5: verse 8, for Q. Whom does Peter describe as a “fellow el- what does a roaring lion look? der” in 1 Peter chapter 5? A. Someone to devour (1P 5:8) A. Himself (Peter) (1P 5:1) Q. How should you resist the devil? Q. For what should the elders be eager? "4UBOEJOHĕSNJOUIFGBJUI 1 A. To serve (1P 5:2) Q. What will the God of all grace do afer you Q. What should the elders not do over those have sufered a little while? entrusted to them? A. Restore you and make you strong, A. Lord it (1P 5:3) ĕSNBOETUFBEGBTU 1

Q. What will you receive when the Chief Shep- Q. To whom be the power for ever and ever? herd appears? A. Te God of all grace (1P 5:10-11) A. Te crown of glory that will never fade away (1P 5:4) Q. What does Peter testify? A. Tat this is the true grace of God Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 5: verse 5, (1P 5:12) whom does God oppose? A. Te proud (1P 5:5) Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 5: verse 12, in what should you stand fast? Q. To whom should young men be submissive? A. In the true grace of God (1P 5:12) A. To those who are older (1P 5:5) Q. What does she who is in Babylon send you? Q. Under what should you humble yourselves? A. Her greetings (1P 5:13) A. God’s mighty hand (1P 5:6)

149 Q. How should you greet one another? Q. To what should you make every efort to add A. With a kiss of love (1P 5:14) godliness? A. Perseverance (2P 1:6) Q. According to 1 Peter chapter 5: verse 14, what should you do? Q. What should you make every efort to add to A. Greet one another with a kiss of love godliness? (1P 5:14) A. Brotherly kindness (2P 1:7)

Q. Who is nearsighted? 2 Peter Chapter 1 A. Anyone who does not have these Q. Who is a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ? qualities (2P 1:8-9) A. Simon Peter (2P 1:1) Q. Who is blind? Q. What be yours in abundance through the A. Anyone who does not have these knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord? qualities (2P 1:8-9) A. Grace and peace (2P 1:2) Q. What should you be all the more eager to Q. According to 2 Peter chapter 1: verse 2, make sure? through what are grace and peace in abun- A. Your calling and election (2P 1:10) dance? A. Trough the knowledge of God and Q. What should you be all the more eager to of Jesus our Lord (2P 1:2) make sure? A. Your calling and election (2P 1:10) Q. Trough what has his divine power given us everything we need for life and godliness? Q. What will you receive into the eternal king- A. Our knowledge of him who called us dom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? by his own glory and goodness (2P 1:3) A. A rich welcome (2P 1:11)

Q. In what may you participate? 2*OXIBUBSFZPVĕSNMZFTUBCMJTIFE A. Te divine nature (2P 1:4) A. Te truth you now have (2P 1:12)

Q. Why should you make every efort to add to Q. When does Peter think it is right to refresh your faith goodness? your memory? A. For this very reason (2P 1:5) A. As long as he lives in the tent of this body (2P 1:13) Q. According to 2 Peter chapter 1: verse 5, what should you do for this very reason? Q. What has our Lord Jesus Christ made clear A. Make every efort to add to your to Peter? faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge A. Tat he will soon put the tent of this (2P 1:5) body aside (2P 1:14)

150 Q. What will Peter make every efort to do? Q. With what will these false teachers exploit A. See that afer his departure you will always you? be able to remember these things (2P 1:15) A. Stories they have made up (2P 2:3) Q. According to 2 Peter chapter 1: verse 15, Q. Whom did God not spare when they when will you be able to remember these sinned? things? A. Angels (2P 2:4) A. Always (2P 1:15) Q. According to 2 Peter chapter 2: verse 4, Q. What did we not follow when we told you when did God not spare angels? about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus A. When they sinned (2P 2:4) Christ? A. Cleverly invented stories (2P 1:16) Q. Who was a preacher of righteousness? A. Noah (2P 2:5) Q. When did our Lord Jesus Christ receive honor and glory from God the Father? Q. What did God burn to ashes? A. When the voice came to him from the Ma- A. Te cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (2P 2:6) jestic Glory, saying, “Tis is my Son, whom I Q. Who was a righteous man? love; with him I am well pleased” (2P 1:17) A. Lot (2P 2:7) Q. Where were we when we ourselves heard Q. In what was Lot tormented? this voice that came from heaven? A. His righteous soul (2P 2:8) A. With our Lord Jesus Christ on the sacred mountain (2P 1:18) Q. For what does the Lord know how to hold the unrighteous? Q. What dawns? A. Te day of judgment (2P 2:9) A. Te day (2P 1:19) Q. According to 2 Peter chapter 2: verse 10, Q. Complete, in essence, the following: “Above what are these men not afraid to do? all, you must understand that no prophecy of A. Slander celestial beings (2P 2:10) Scripture . ...” A. “. . . came about by the prophet’s own inte Q. What do not even angels bring against such pretation” (2P 1:20) beings in the presence of the Lord? A. Slanderous accusations (2P 2:11) 2 Peter Chapter 2 Q. In what do these men blaspheme? Q. Where were there also false prophets? A. Matters they do not understand (2P 2:12) A. Among the people (2P 2:1) Q. In what are they reveling when they feast Q. According to 2 Peter chapter 2: verse 2, what with you? will many follow? A. Teir pleasures (2P 2:13) A. Teir shameful ways (2P 2:2) Q. What are full of adultery? A. Teir eyes (2P 2:14)

151 Q. What way have they lef? Q. According to 2 Peter chapter 3: verse 2, what A. Te straight way (2P 2:15) does Peter want? A. You to recall the words spoken in the past Q. According to 2 Peter chapter 2: verse 15, by the holy prophets and the command given what have they lef? by our Lord and Savior through your apostles A. Te straight way (2P 2:15) (2P 3:2) Q. What did a donkey restrain? Q. When will scofers come? A. Te prophet’s [OR Balaam’s] madness (2P A. In the last days (2P 3:3) 2:16) Q. What will scofers say? Q. What is reserved for these men? A. “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever A. Blackest darkness (2P 2:17) since our fathers died, everything goes on as it Q. Who do these men entice? has since the beginning of creation” (2P 3:4) A. People who are just escaping from those Q. Out of what was the earth formed? who live in error (2P 2:18) A. Water (2P 3:5) Q. Of what are these men themselves slaves? Q. What was deluged and destroyed by these A. Depravity (2P 2:19) waters? Q. What are they at the end? A. Te world of that time (2P 3:6) A. Worse of than they were at the beginning Q. According to 2 Peter chapter 3: verse 6, what (2P 2:20) was also deluged and destroyed? Q. Tan what would it have been better for A. Te world of that time (2P 3:6) them not to have known the way of righteous- 28IBUBSFSFTFSWFEGPSĕSF ness? A. Te present heavens and earth (2P 3:7) A. Tan to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was Q. What is like a thousand years with the Lord? passed on to them (2P 2:21) A. A day (2P 3:8) Q. To what does a sow that is washed go back? Q. Who does not want anyone to perish? A. Her wallowing in the mud (2P 2:22) A. Te Lord (2P 3:9) Q. Complete, in essence, the following: “A dog Q. Like what will the day of the Lord come? . . .” A. A thief (2P 3:10) A. “. . . returns to its vomit” (2P 2:22) Q. What kind of people ought you to be since everything will be destroyed in this way? 2 Peter Chapter 3 A. You ought to live holy and godly lives (2P Q. Why has Peter written both letters? 3:11) A. As reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking (2P 3:1)

152 Q. When ought you to live holy and godly lives? A. As you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming (2P 3:11-12) Q. According to 2 Peter chapter 3: verse 12, what will that day bring about? A. Te destruction of the heavens by fre (2P 3:12) Q. To what are we looking forward in keeping with his promise? A. A new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness (2P 3:13) Q. What should you do since you are looking forward to this? A. Make every efort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him (2P 3:14) Q. According to 2 Peter chapter 3: verse 15, how did Paul also write you? A. With the wisdom that God gave him (2P 3:15) Q. Two-part answer: What do ignorant and unstable people distort? A. 1) Some things (that are hard to unders tand) in Paul’s letters 2) Te other Scriptures (2P 3:16) Q. In what should you grow? A. Te grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2P 3:18) Q. To whom be glory both now and forever? A. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2P 3:18)

153