Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship

Leader’s Guide

Course C: Book #2 Fall 2015 BOLD for Corps Cadets Course C | Book #2 | Fall 2015 | 1st Edition Published by The Salvation Army National Christian Education Department, National Headquarters

Executive Editor: Captain Keith Maynor Editor: Carolyn J.R. Bailey Writers: Carolyn J.R. Bailey, Cari Arias Art Direction & Design: Steven E. Carpenter, Jr. Multimedia: Joshua Duenke Administrative Assistant: Siomara Paz

Copyright Statement This publication is a national document and cannot be changed without the approval of the Commissioners’ Conference. All rights reserved. No part of this curriculum may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopies, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission from The Salvation Army National Christian Education Department. This includes the scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means. For permission information write: The Salvation Army National Headquarters Christian Education Department 615 Slaters Lane Alexandria, VA 22314

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture marked MSG is taken from The Message™. Copyright 1993. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Leadership principles taken from The Maxwell Leadership Bible: Lessons in Leadership from the Word of God, Second Edition, New King James Version. Maxwell, John C. and Elmore, Tim, executive editors. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2007.

Every effort has been made to contact the copyright holders, but should there be any errors or omissions, The Salvation Army would be pleased to insert the appropriate acknowledgment into future productions of this publication.

Mission Statement The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Territory addresses The Salvation Army Central Territory The Salvation Army Southern Territory 10 W. Algonquin Road 1424 Northeast Expressway Des Plaines, IL 60016 Atlanta, GA 30329

The Salvation Army Eastern Territory The Salvation Army Western Territory 440 West Nyack Road 180 East Ocean Boulevard West Nyack, NY 10994 Long Beach, CA 90802 Contents

November: Absolute Truth Monthly SOAP s...... 5 Week 1: knowing the truth...... 7 Week 2: Becoming...... 19 Week 3: Make It Plain...... 33 Week 4: No Fine Print...... 47 Monthly Questions...... 57 D I Y Worksheet...... 60

December: The Church Monthly SOAP s...... 61 Week 1: Unleashed...... 63 Week 2: Belonging...... 73 Week 3: Planning worship...... 87 Week 4: The Body...... 101 Monthly Questions...... 113 D I Y Worksheet...... 116

D I Y – Do It Yourself...... 117 Monthly Questions Answer Key...... 123 Corps Cadet Counselors, My name is Captain Keith Maynor. I am the National Youth Secretary at The Salvation Army’s National Headquarters, but more importantly, I am a Corps Cadet counselor at my Corps in Alexandria, Virginia! Whether this is your first time counseling a brigade or you are a seasoned veteran of youth ministry, there are some exciting changes and information that we need to share with you.

LEADER MATERIALS You will notice that the teaching material is divided into two major documents—the Leader’s Guide and the Student Booklet. The Leader’s Guide is provided for Corps Cadet leaders, not as a script to be read from so much as a guide to direct you in teaching each lesson. It is written in script format with bold text being what you share with your corps cadets, but you have the freedom to adjust the materials to your corps cadets’ needs. It is written in such a way that it is best to teach the lessons in order.

The Leader’s Overview is a key component to your preparation. It gives you the big picture of the lesson, what your corps cadets will be learning, and extra background information for you to be prepared as questions arise. All highlighted portions in the Leader’s Guide include the text that your corps cadets have in their books.

FEEDBACK Over the past two courses, we’ve been reading and hearing a great deal of feedback about Course A and B. Thank you all for your sharp insight and the passionate responses. One of the major conversations that we’ve heard is that there is a lot of material to cover in just one lesson, including a lot of Scripture. We’ve done this on purpose! We trust you, as the leader, to hone in on what your corps cadets are able to digest—you know them personally. We are counting on you to adapt the material for your needs.

SOCIAL MEDIA Remember that BOLD has a presence in social media. We encourage all leaders to like the BOLD page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BOLDcorpscadets) as well as follow BOLD on Twitter (@BOLDcorpscadets). Also, encourage your corps cadets to follow BOLD on social media. Articles of interest and food for thought are posted regularly in line with the lessons each week. We’d love to see your brigade actively posting as well! When you have guardian permission, post photos of what your brigade is up to. It’s a great way to encourage the rest of the nation as they see how corps cadets are learning, growing, and participating in discipleship and leadership.

COURSE C In Course C, there are some big themes to tackle: Service, Purity and Sex, Absolute Truth, and The Church. These themes are designed to go beyond an educational lesson on right thinking and right living. These themes are meant to be prophetic to this generation!

As your teens look through the leadership perspectives from people like King David, Abraham Lincoln, and C. S. Lewis; as they examine Scriptures that reveal a greater truth that transcends the natural aspect of this world; and as they reflect on the classical Christian themes of service and purity—we have one overarching aim by the time your corps cadets meet the new year: that they will be more loving and more obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your commitment to your corps cadets. We pray God’s richest blessing on your ministry! SOAPs Worksheet BOLD For Corps Cadets | Course C | Book 2 | November | Fall 2015

NAME:

Read The Scripture (1 pt.) S Complete the SOAP s sections using the following Scripture: Proverbs 30:1-9.

Write An Observation (1 pt.) Write an observation about this Scripture. In other words, what do you “see” O in this Scripture?

Write An Application (1 pt.) A Write how this Scripture applies to your life.

Pray (1 pt.) Pray specifically about this Scripture and your observations, asking for God’s help P in applying its truth to your life.

November Bible Study ABSOLUTE TRUTH

Knowing The Truth SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Bibles

• BOLD booklets

• Pens/pencils

• Downloaded video clip on computer, iPad, etc. or Wi-Fi access and bookmarked clips

• Copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets

• Copies of the Take Home Bookmark

BEFORE CLASS:

• Read the Leader Overview.

• Watch a sample of the “Forward, Rewind” from Whose Line Is It Anyway? that the “Rewind, Edit” activity in the Apply section is based off of at www.youtube.com /watch?v=8t6vj8sIlO8 to become familiar with the concept.

• Download the clip for the Pray section from the BOLD curriculum link at www.sayconnect.com (Nov_Week1_F15.mpg) in advance and save it to your computer, or bookmark it (www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehVeDRiuahU), ensuring you have an Internet connection for viewing. Ensure that you have the sound working and adequate projection for your group’s size. If you prefer simply to play the music rather than show the video, you can also purchase the song on iTunes: “Creed” by Rich Mullins.

• Make copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets.

• Make enough copies of the Take Home Bookmark found at the end of the lesson for each corps cadet.

LEADER OVERVIEW

The purpose of this lesson is to teach corps cadets that there is such a thing as absolute truth, that Jesus is Truth, and that skepticism is the enemy of belief.

Corps Cadets will learn the correct use of the word “truth.” They will discuss the difference between fact, opinion, and truth, learning that neither belief nor unbelief changes what is true. They will see in Scripture what truth is, as well as what the enemy of truth is, learning that all truth points back to Jesus. As application, they will

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act out the original temptation with “edits” along the way, discussing doubt and skepticism. They will also consider some basic truths to hold onto and discuss how to handle conversations with people who don’t believe the same truths to be true.

Current adolescent culture is inundated with the idea that truth is relative—that there is no such thing as absolute truth. Relativism is dangerous; however, the real enemy of absolute truth is skepticism. This has been true throughout the ages, as seen by Jesus regularly saying, “Don’t doubt; believe!” Although relativism and skepticism are not new concepts (look back thousands of years at various philosophers), they exist in schools and peer groups more obviously than ever before in the postmodern generation. “Postmodernism in general is marked by a tendency to dismiss the possibility of any sure and settled knowledge of the truth. Postmodernism suggests that if [objective] truth exits, it cannot be known objectively or with any degree of certainty” (John MacArthur). This is what our corps cadets are being told. In essence, they are being trained to be skeptics.

It is important to remember that truth isn’t an independent object or reality. It is a value that we ascribe to statements, beliefs, ideas, facts, etc. The value is what is correct— in other words, the value is what is absolutely true. There will be a lot of room in this lesson for corps cadets to think for themselves about absolute truth. While you want to leave this room wide open for them to come to terms with absolutes largely on their own, it is also important to know what some of the commonly held absolute truths are. You can read more in Josh and Sean McDowell’s book The Unshakable Truth, but here are 12 “essentials” they list as absolutes:

1. The truth that God exists – God is the creator and He created humans to be in relationship with Him.

2. The truth about God’s Word – God’s Word reveals Himself to us so we can know Him.

3. The truth about original sin – Disobedience brought separation between God and humankind.

4. The truth about God becoming human – God planned for redemption by taking on human form through Jesus.

5. The truth about Christ’s atonement for sin – Jesus paid for our sin debt so we could be reconciled to God.

6. The truth about justification through faith in Christ – Jesus’ death allows us to be declared righteous before God; we are saved by grace through faith.

7. The truth about living the transformed life – Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we can begin the process of being conformed to His image.

8. The truth about Jesus’ bodily resurrection – Christ’s resurrection is what brings the power of salvation.

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9. The truth about the Trinity – God is in relationship with Himself: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

10. The truth about God’s kingdom – This kingdom is first in the hearts and minds of those who follow Jesus, later to become our eternal destiny.

11. The truth about the church – Jesus passed down His mission to establish the kingdom to each of us; functioning as a body, we are the church—with the mission to share His salvation plan with the world.

12. The truth about the return of Christ – Jesus will one day return to set up His kingdom on earth.

The song used at the end of the lesson is based on the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into Hell; the third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church [in other words, the church universal], the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Leadership Principle Incarnational leadership studies the truth, practices the truth, then teaches the truth.

Memory Verse “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6

INTRODUCTION (5 minutes)

Read from the book together as a brigade.

Knowing The Truth

Is it true that the Bible is the all-time bestselling book with the most published copies in the most languages? Is it true that Jesus died, was resurrected, and is the way to have freedom from sin and death? Is it true that Jesus’ favorite food was bread? The answers to these questions are actually not the real issue here. The issue is that

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we have lost the meaning behind “truth” to begin with. The world uses the word so carelessly (much like “love”), that we have lost sight of what absolute Truth really is. That kind of Truth is revolutionary! It is a fact that the Bible is the all-time bestselling book (facts can be verified; go ahead and Google it!). It is an opinion that Jesus’ favorite food was bread (read Luke 22:19; but Matthew 14:19 and Luke 24:41-43 could help you form a different opinion). It is truth that what Jesus did for us on the cross is the one and only way of salvation. You may not believe it, but what’s true is still true regardless of belief. That’s what makes it “absolute truth.” Not believing it is doubting, or skepticism. That’s the real enemy of truth. The ultimate definition of Truth (with a capital T) is simply: Jesus. He says it plain and simple. He is Truth. Jesus is who He says He is. This is life-altering truth! It is absolute truth. So when we throw around the word “truth” for any statement—including facts and opinions—we lose the revolutionary value of absolute truth. Knowing the number of copies of the Bible sold may win you some money on Jeopardy!® but that’s about it. However, knowing Jesus… well that changes everything! If we want to know what truth is, then we need to know what Jesus says. By studying His words and His actions here on earth, we gain an understanding of absolute truth and we fight the enemy of skepticism in our own hearts. And as this Truth (Jesus) transforms and changes us, we start to fight the skepticism in the hearts of those around us, and Truth continues to be revealed. Now, that’s revolutionary!

ENGAGE (5 minutes) Play “Kant’s Wager.” Say: Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician and philosopher in the 1600s. He is known for arguing that you can wager for God or wager against God. Basically, he said, if we believe in God and He exists, we will go to heaven. If we don’t believe in God and He exists, we will go to hell. If we believe in God and He doesn’t exist, we haven’t lost anything. He makes it sound as though the wager is clear.

Then say: Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher in the late 1700s. He took “Pascal’s Wager” a step further and said that it’s not just about us, but rather everyone around us when we choose to live a moral life based on the existence of God. So let’s play a little game to see what that would look like.

Ask the following questions, allowing response between each one: • How many of you would be willing to wager $100 on the fact that the sky is blue? • Would you be willing to wager $1,000?

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• 1 million dollars?

• How about wagering the happiness of the rest of your life on the sky being blue?

• What about wagering the happiness of the rest of the world?

• Would you wager the lives of your family?

• How would you answer these questions differently if you were wagering on the fact that Jesus is the only way to eternal life?

Say: How we respond to absolute truth shows what our real values are. If we aren’t sure, we could be wagering the eternal lives of people around us.

READ (5 minutes)

Ask for four volunteers to read the following passages before moving on to the Explore section: Genesis 3:1; John 14:6; John 18:33-38; and John 20:24-28.

EXPLORE (15 minutes)

Ask: After reading the introduction, can you explain the difference between fact, opinion, and truth? How would you explain it?

Allow response. Then add from the following:

• A fact is defined as a statement about something that actually exists or is present in reality.

• Facts can be verified (for example, the boiling point of water is 212°F).

• Opinions are individual (or relative) thoughts about reality.

• Opinions can be very different, but don’t change facts or truth.

• Truth is the value we apply to any statement, belief, fact, opinion, knowledge, or idea.

• Example: The value is either true or false.

• Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon – true

• Julius Caesar crossed the Amazon – false

• Truth isn’t an independent object or reality; it is the accuracy of statements describing reality.

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Say: Now let’s look at Scripture. To what truth did Jesus come to testify, and who listens to that truth? (John 18:33-38; John 14:6)

Allow response.

Say: Jesus came to testify that He is the only way to God the Father. He is salvation because of His sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Those who listen are people who are on the side of truth. If truth is that Jesus is the only way, then being on the side of truth means being followers of Jesus and people who have been forgiven and have received this free gift of salvation. What is the result of knowing the truth? The truth will set you free. If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.

Say: According to John 14, what is absolute truth? (John 14:6)

Allow response. Then add from the following:

• Jesus is the way (Greek - hodos): He is the way to have a relationship with the Father. He is the way to walk out of sin and into forgiveness and experiencing grace.

• Jesus is the truth (Greek - aletheia): He is not a liar. He does not say anything false or represent falsehood. That’s the opposite of His character. He is the most valuable reality known to humankind. Not only is He in contrast to what is false, but also what is incomplete. He is the fullness of truth. He is Truth.

• Jesus is the life (Greek - zoe): In Him (through His death and resurrection) is eternal life. Furthermore, following Him as His disciples gives us the opportunity to experience abundant life here on Earth.

• He is the ONLY avenue for salvation. He does NOT say, “I am a way, a truth, and a life.” He is the way, the truth, and the life. It is through Jesus alone—through a relationship with the Person, not just through His teachings.

Ask: Where do you see doubt and skepticism in these passages? (Genesis 3:1; John 20:24-28)

Allow response. Then add from the following:

• In Genesis, the serpent didn’t outright lie to Eve. His goal was to cause her to be skeptical of what God said. That’s what skepticism is really about—not trusting God’s character and not believing Truth.

• Thomas heard truth, but was doubtful. He would not believe truth without seeing it for himself. However, Jesus (Truth) knew Thomas’ heart. He met him in his doubt. He told him that there were two ways of doing this: seeing or believing without seeing. Believing without seeing is the better way, but needing more in order to believe is also okay.

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Explain: There is a difference between doubt and skepticism. Skepticism says, “Faith is useless. We can’t know.” Doubt says, “Help me know.” Jesus says, “I can be known.” He can be known as a real Person with whom we can have a relationship—not just an abstract concept. It is good to ask questions when we doubt. But we are to take those questions to the One Who is Truth. When we doubt but deal with the questions on our own or through the wrong avenues (like Eve hearing the serpent’s words and making a decision without God’s input), that doubt becomes skepticism. And skepticism is dangerous.

Ask: Why is skepticism the enemy of truth?

Allow response. Then add from the following:

• Skepticism may not appear as contradicting truth. It’s more about creating questions that are intended to drive you away from truth and trusting in your own thoughts or desires.

• While Thomas was given the opportunity to see for himself, not all of us have that opportunity. Skepticism can have us living permanently in doubt… until it is too late to see the truth with our own eyes.

• Thomas’ doubts were honest doubts. Pharisees, on the other hand, were not doubtful, but rather were skeptical and looking for a way to trick and trap Jesus.

• Doubt can draw us closer to God when we take our questions to Him. But skepticism holds the doubt so tightly that the person begins to look for loopholes or ways around something that God has already made clear.

APPLY (20 minutes)

Play “Rewind, Edit.”

Ask for three volunteers who will act out Genesis 3:1-8 with the characters of Adam, Eve, and the serpent. A fourth volunteer will read the narrative from the Bible as the characters act it out. You will be the director.

Instruct the volunteers to act out the scene once through. At the end of the scene, call out “Rewind!” and have them do their actions quickly in reverse (not reading the passage) and begin again. At various points in the scene, call out “Rewind! Edit!” and have them change what the scene looks like.

For example, the narrator may read verse 6: “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining

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wisdom, she took some and ate it.” However, the characters will edit it as they act it out —Eve may say, “I’m not going to disobey God and eat that!”

Continue through the activity, rewinding and editing several times.

Ask: Do you find that you struggle with skepticism (or doubting)?

Allow response.

Ask: How could we handle our doubts so that we don’t become skeptical?

Allow response. Then say: It’s okay to have questions. And we should bring our questions to God. There is a difference, however, between bringing our questions to God and questioning God. The first is about conversation and seeking truth. The second is about doubting truth and trusting in our own gut or thoughts or feelings. That’s where the danger really is. That’s exactly how the serpent snuck into Eve’s heart in the garden and what ultimately caused the Fall.

Ask: What are some truths to hold onto so that you can be confident in absolute Truth?

Allow response. Then add from the following:

• There is only one true God.

• God is the Creator of everything.

• The Bible is inspired by God (God-breathed).

• Jesus is God’s Son.

• Jesus had to die on the cross for us. There was no other way.

• Jesus actually died and rose from the dead (was resurrected).

• Salvation is through faith alone, by grace alone, through Christ alone.

Then say: Consider this quote about Jesus by author Randy Alcorn, “He didn’t say He would show the truth or teach the truth or model the truth. He is the truth. Truth personified. He’s the source of truth, and the reference point for evaluating all truth-claims. That’s why if we get it wrong about Jesus, it doesn’t matter what else we get right.” We can talk about God existing, but so would some other religions. We can talk about the Bible, but other faiths consider it important, too. One absolute truth that makes us different as Christians is Who we believe Jesus is and what He came to do for us.

Ask: How should we respond when others don’t agree with what we hold true?

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Allow response.

Explain: The goal is to be in proper relationship with Christ, the Truth, and to bring others into relationship with Him by modeling Him, not by arguing with others.

First, we need to understand where others are coming from when we disagree on truth. That doesn’t mean we seek to compare our religious beliefs. Instead, it means that we need to realize that they have a different foundation for what they consider truth. Scripture is our absolute authority for truth. And truth cannot be understood—or even defined—without God. So if others don’t have the Bible as their foundation, we will never see eye to eye. Therefore, we first have to determine the other person’s foundation (or authority) for truth. If we have the same foundation, then we can discuss details in a way that sharpens our skills and knowledge.

However, if we don’t have the same foundation and the other person does not believe Jesus is Truth, then we need to keep some things in mind as we talk about truth:

• We should never be close-minded. This ends all conversations.

• We should remain constant on matters of truth (always bringing it back to Scripture). We can be confident that Jesus is Who He says He is, and we do not have to argue it.

• We should be open-minded on matters of opinion. This will keep doors of communication open.

• Plan ahead for some basic logic:

o If someone says that “truth is whatever you believe” (relative truth), discuss the idea that if I sincerely believe I can fly, then can I step off a 30-story building safely?

o If someone says that “there’s no such thing as truth,” can you believe that statement to be true?

o “With such a rock-like view of truth, the Christian faith is not true because it works; it works because it is true.” (Os Guinnes)

• Everything should be bathed in love and grace. Respond with gentleness to honest questions. There is no reason to debate with anger. There is an eternal value to discussing in love.

• Keep in mind that absolute truth will always have the last word. Even if we don’t see it right now.

• Above all, ask the Holy Spirit to be the center of your conversation.

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PRAY (5 minutes) Before closing in a short prayer, play Rich Mullins’ song, “Creed” that you either downloaded (Nov_Week1_F15.mpg; 4 min. 50 sec.) or bookmarked (www. youtube.com/watch?v=ehVeDRiuahU). Ask the corps cadets to listen to the words in a prayerful manner, determining whether or not they hold these things to be absolutely true. Close with this simple, yet profound prayer of absolute truth: God is with us. God is in us. God is. God.

TO CLOSE THE CLASS (5 minutes) Have the corps cadets fill out their Activity Record points for the week and complete Monthly Questions 1 and 2. Collect to use next week. Give each corps cadet a Take Home Bookmark.

RESOURCES AND RECOMMENDED FURTHER READING Alcorn, Randy. The Grace and Truth Paradox. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2003. Dongell, Joseph. John: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House, 1997. Global Wesleyan Dictionary of Theology. Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press, 2013. Guinnes, Os. Time for Truth: Living Free in a World of Lies, Hype, and Spin. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000. Kalakowski, Leszek. Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing? 23 Questions From Great Philosophers. New York, NY: Basic Books, 2007. MacArthur, John. The Truth War: Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception. Nashville, TN: Nelson Books, 2007. McDowell, Josh and Sean McDowell. The Unshakable Truth: How You Can Experience the 12 Essentials of a Relevant Faith. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2010. The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine. London, England: Salvation Books, The Salvation Army International Headquarters, 2010. The Wesley Study Bible New Revised Standard Version. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2009.

Web Resource https://carm.org/dictionary-truth

16 Week 1: knowing the truth Take Home bookmark

Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship

Leadership Principle Leadership Principle Incarnational leadership studies the truth, Incarnational leadership studies the truth, practices the truth, then teaches the truth. practices the truth, then teaches the truth.

Memorize Memorize “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6 Proverbs 30:5-6

Did You Know? Did You Know? Rich Mullins was a contemporary Christian Rich Mullins was a contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter in the 90s. music singer and songwriter in the 90s. He wrote “Creed” based on the Apostles’ He wrote “Creed” based on the Apostles’ Creed, which dates back to 390 AD and is Creed, which dates back to 390 AD and is the foundation for the faith doctrines of most the foundation for the faith doctrines of most Christian denominations worldwide. Mullins’ Christian denominations worldwide. Mullins’ most famous song was “Awesome God.” most famous song was “Awesome God.”

Go Deeper Go Deeper Read through our doctrines and discuss or Read through our doctrines and discuss or journal which points you hold as truth and journal which points you hold as truth and which ones you are still unclear on. which ones you are still unclear on.

Listen to transMission’s CD We Believe. Listen to transMission’s CD We Believe.

Consider and share with someone how the Consider and share with someone how the 1st Commandment (Exodus 20:3) relates to 1st Commandment (Exodus 20:3) relates to absolute truth. absolute truth.

Complete the activity on page 26 of the Young Complete the activity on page 26 of the Young Salvationist. Salvationist.

November Our Heritage ABSOLUTE TRUTH

Becoming SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Bibles • BOLD booklets • Pens/pencils • Paper • Tape • Envelopes • Marker board or newsprint • Markers • Copy of “The Other Half” sheet • Copies of “Order the Ranks” sheet • Copies of “A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ” sheet • Copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets • Copies of the Take Home Bookmark

BEFORE CLASS:

• Read the Leader Overview. • Make a copy of “The Other Half” sheet and cut into pieces. • Make copies of the “Order the Ranks” sheet, cut each apart, shuffle, and put each set into an envelope. • Make copies of “A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ” sheet. • Make copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets, if needed. • Make enough copies of the Take Home Bookmark found at the end of the lesson for each corps cadet.

LEADER OVERVIEW

The purpose of this lesson is to help corps cadets understand that The Salvation Army is more than a name that sounded good to William Booth; it is a name that embodies the truth of who we are as a church.

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In this lesson, corps cadets will engage with some Salvation Army terminology to see how much they know. They will explore the history of the uniform, salute, and rank system. They will learn about Brigadier Clifton Sipley who embodied what it means to be a Salvationist. As application, they will consider how they match up with William Booth’s definition of a Salvationist.

Even though we teach that The Salvation Army was founded in 1865, it didn’t become The Salvation Army as we know it until 13 years later, in 1878. The work that William and Catherine Booth did in the early years was certainly in the interest of The Salvation Army and moving them towards the creation of The Salvation Army. But The Salvation Army with uniforms, flag, crest, military structure, and terminology—all of that didn’t come until the name changed. And, the name changed in 1878.

As Clifford W. Kew explains in his book, The Salvation Army (p. 22), “The title was chosen when William Booth was reading the proofs of the annual report. He came to the phrase, ‘The Christian Mission… is a volunteer army.’ He said, ‘We are not volunteers, for we feel that we must do what we do.’…so he changed ‘volunteer’ to ‘salvation,’ creating a title which caught on and became the official name.”

The change of The Christian Mission to The Salvation Army was much more than simply a name change. It reflected William Booth’s very strong sense that Christians were at war with sin in the world and this required wartime tactics and wartime leadership. William Booth’s idea of wartime leadership was all soldiers led by one General. In The Christian Mission, he was under a conference of missioners who decided the direction of The Christian Mission. He took over and became the General in charge of The Salvation Army.

As Allen Satterlee explains in his book, Turning Points: How The Salvation Army Found A Different Path (p. 15): “The daring of this move by Booth was amazing. Conversely, Great Britain joined the rest of the Western world as it moved away from the concepts of royalty and autocracy in favor of democracy and socialism. Labor unions were rapidly forming, asserting the rights of the individual factory workers over factory owners. Marxism was born at the same time with its tenets of power invested in the people. Even church denominations were placing more power in the hands of its people, partly because they were following the flow of events and partly as a result of demands from its membership. That Booth took his organization in an entirely different direction flew in the face of all conventional wisdom. It emphasized leadership authority over the individual, an almost foreign concept in nineteenth century Britain.”

Many, both inside and outside The Salvation Army, were amazed by the amount of authority William Booth held as General. Some were unkind and suggested that perhaps Salvationists needed such a leader because they could not think for themselves. Others agreed that wartime required special tactics and leadership. While one may believe having such power might not always be a good idea, for this man at this time, it was what was needed. Under Booth’s increased leadership,

20 Week 2: Becoming November Our Heritage ABSOLUTE TRUTH

the military metaphor expanded to include ranks, appointments, uniforms, a flag and crest, and a lot of other military terminology.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, distinctive means “characteristic, making distinct —not alike, different; not the same; separate; individual; clearly perceived or marked off; clear; plain; well defined, unmistakable; definite.” Kew says, “The most obvious distinctive feature of The Salvation Army is its use of military characteristics. It believes that evil is so powerful and so widespread, that the Christian must ‘go to war’ against it on a permanent basis. In the New Testament there is much ‘fighting talk’ likening Christians to soldiers” (p. 22). This “fighting talk” inspired William Booth.

First Timothy 1:18-19a and 6:12 call us to “fight the good fight…” while 2 Timothy 2:3-4 encourages us to “(e)ndure hardship…like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” Second Corinthians 10:2-4 tells us that, as Christian soldiers, “…we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world…” Our protection is not the strength of the world. Ephesians 6:10-17 tells us to “(p)ut on the full armor of God… (f)or our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” We do all of this because, in the end we want to be able to say, as it does in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

For more information on the change to The Salvation Army and its military structure, read turning points two and three in Allen Satterlee’s Turning Points: How The Salvation Army Found A Different Path. Your corps officer should have a copy.

In your brigade, you might have first, second, third, fourth, and even fifth generation Salvationists. This is always a tricky thing to balance when teaching a lesson. You have those who believe they have heard it all before and know it all and you have those for whom this will all be new. Help your corps cadets to understand that there is always more to learn if they pay attention. Also, you can often have the corps cadets who are more familiar with the material explain it to the newer corps cadets. Then you can fill in the blanks.

Leadership Principle Incarnational leadership studies the truth, practices the truth, then teaches the truth.

Memory Verse “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6

INTRODUCTION (5 minutes) Read from the book together as a brigade.

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BECOMING

According to Webster’s Dictionary, distinctive means “characteristic, making distinct —not alike, different; not the same; separate; individual; clearly perceived or marked off; clear; plain; well defined, unmistakable; definite.” The most obvious distinctive feature of The Salvation Army is its use of military structure, terminology, and other characteristics, like uniforms, the flag and crest, and ranks. In the New Testament there is a lot of “fighting talk” that compares Christians to soldiers. This “fighting talk” inspired William Booth.

The Salvation Army just celebrated its 150th birthday in July with the Boundless Congress in London, England. Even though the work that led to The Salvation Army was founded in 1865, it didn’t become The Salvation Army as we know it until 13 years later, in 1878, when the name changed.

The change of The Christian Mission to The Salvation Army was much more than simply a name change. It reflected William Booth’s very strong sense that Christians were at war with sin in the world and this required wartime tactics and wartime leadership. William Booth’s idea of wartime leadership was all soldiers led by one General.

William Booth had been working with a Conference that decided the direction of The Christian Mission. It took too long. So instead of bringing things before the Conference for permission, William Booth began acting first and reporting to the Conference afterwards.

The members of the Conference noticed. Three early leaders—George Scott Railton, William Ridsdel, and Bramwell Booth—approached William Booth and said they wanted him in charge. So William brought together the members of the Conference and said he was taking over. They agreed. From there he established a military structure with commanders over small groups, which in turn were part of larger groups with a commander, which in turn were part of still larger groups with a commander at the head. Over all of them was William Booth, first General of The Salvation Army.

ENGAGE (5 minutes)

Do “The Other Half” activity.

Make a copy of “The Other Half” sheet. Separate the word or phrase (in bold) from its explanation. Divide the pieces among the corps cadets. If you have a small brigade, give each corps cadet more than one. Be sure both parts have been given out. Tell the corps cadets to walk around the room saying their word or the part of the meaning that’s in bold type to find the person who has the other half. When matches are made, have corps cadets tape them on the wall or marker board next to each other.

22 Week 2: Becoming November Our Heritage ABSOLUTE TRUTH

Once all the matches have been made, read through the words and meanings. Then say: Some of these words and phrases you knew right away. Others weren’t as familiar to you. The Salvation Army uses a lot of military terminology. Sometimes it can just sound like a lot of noise—like when we were walking around and all of us were talking at the same time. But, once you know what the words mean, they give you a clearer picture of The Salvation Army.

READ (5 minutes)

Have several corps cadets look up the following passages and be ready to read them during the Explore section of the lesson: 2 Corinthians 10:3-4; Ephesians 6:10-17; 1 Timothy 1:18-19a, 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Timothy 4:7; and James 3:13.

EXPLORE (20 minutes)

Say: Let’s look at the fighting talk in the Bible that inspired William Booth.

Have two corps cadets read 1 Timothy 1:18-19a and 1 Timothy 6:12.

Ask: What do 1 Timothy 1:18-19a and 1 Timothy 6:12 call us to do?

Allow response. Add if necessary: They call us to “fight the good fight.”

Have a corps cadet read 2 Timothy 2:3-4.

Ask: What does 2 Timothy 2:3-4 encourage us to do?

Allow response. Add if necessary: It encourages us to “(e)ndure hardship… like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

Have a corps cadet read 2 Corinthians 10:2-4.

Ask: What does 2 Corinthians 10:2-4 teach us about being Christian soldiers?

Allow response. Add if necessary: It teaches us that, as Christian soldiers, “…we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world…” Our protection is not the strength of the world.

Have a corps cadet read Ephesians 6:10-17.

Ask: What does Ephesians 6:10-17 tells us to do and why?

Allow response. Add if necessary: It tells us to “(p)ut on the full armor of God” because “…our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

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Have a corps cadet read 2 Timothy 4:7.

Ask: What does 2 Timothy 4:7 say we want to be able to say in the end?

Allow response. Add if necessary: We do all of this because, in the end we want to be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Say: Let’s talk about uniforms. In fact, let’s have a debate about the pros and cons of uniforms.

Divide the brigade into two teams: Pro and Con. Give teams a minute or two to write down as many reasons they can think of to support their side of the debate. Have teams each choose one person to make their argument and one to be their recorder. Have each recorder write the reasons on the marker board or newsprint. Explain that even if they don’t agree with the side they are on, they can still come up with arguments to help their team.

After each side has presented its argument, say: Did you know this isn’t a new argument? It’s been going on since very early in Salvation Army history. Not everyone thought Salvationists should wear uniforms.

Elijah Cadman was all for uniforms. He is known for saying, at the “War Congress” of 1878, “I would like to wear a suit of clothes that would let everybody know that I meant war to the teeth and salvation for the world” (Kew, p. 22).

George Scott Railton, however, was against uniforms. He was afraid that uniforms would separate Salvationists from other people, “much like the parish priest’s robes separated him from his congregation.”

Who had the last word on the subject? William Booth. He almost always had the last word. William Booth was for the uniform, obviously, since we’re still wearing them today. He said, it’s “very useful, attracts attention, gives opportunity for conversation, gathers people together at the open-air demonstrations, excites respect in the rowdy population, indicates not only connection with the Army but the person’s position in it, and is a safeguard against conformity to the fashions of the day” (Satterlee, p. 26).

So within three years, Catherine Booth created plain and distinctive uniforms with strong bonnets, since people often threw things at Salvationists. The uniform varies based on the country in which it’s worn. For example, in India it is a sari for women. In tropical countries, the uniform is white or tan, instead of sun-absorbing navy blue.

Adapting the uniform is one of the ways The Salvation Army remains one army around the world.

Ask: Soldiers and officers wear uniforms. They also salute. Who can show us The Salvation Army salute and explain what it means? Allow response.

If nobody can show you, demonstrate it yourself. Have the corps cadets practice.

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Say: “The Salvation Army salute is given by pointing the right index finger upwards. It signifies recognition of a fellow-citizen of, and a traveler to, heaven, and a pledge to do everything possible to get others to heaven also…” (Sandall, p. 40). In an army, there are soldiers and there are officers. In The Salvation Army, we have soldiers and officers. We also have adherents and envoys. Adherents are members of The Salvation Army. An adherent doesn’t have to fully accept Salvation Army regulations the way a soldier does. As described on a widely used adherent certificate: An adherent member of The Salvation Army is a person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and seeks to follow and be like him; participates in the worship, fellowship, service, and support of a local Salvation Army congregation; and identifies with the Army’s Mission Statement. Envoys are non-commissioned officers who work for The Salvation Army in a ministry position. There is no requirement on the number of years an envoy has to serve. Non-commissioned means they have not gone through the two-year training period and they are not ordained. Since they are not ordained, they cannot perform weddings. Officers are ordained ministers in The Salvation Army. Officers have ranks. Ask: What is the current rank structure? Allow response. Add if necessary: The current rank structure is: Cadet, Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lt.-Colonel, Colonel, Commissioner, and General. Say: Today there are 8 ranks. At one point there were 17 ranks. Can you “Order the Ranks”? Depending on the size of your brigade, divide the corps cadets into two or more teams. If you have a small brigade, have the corps cadets work together. Give each team an envelope with the ranks on separate strips of paper. When you say, “Go,” each team should put the ranks in order. When a team thinks they have it right, check the order, pull out any ranks that are out of order and leave the rest. The team can continue until they have all the ranks in the correct order or time is called. Here is the correct order, beginning at the top rank: 1. General 8. Senior-Major 15. Senior-Captain 2. Chief of the Staff 9. Major 16. Captain 3. Commissioner 10. Staff-Captain 17. Lieutenant 4. Lt.-Commissioner 11. Field-Major 18. Second Lieutenant 5. Colonel 12. Commandant 19. Probationary Lieutenant 6. Lt.-Colonel 13. Adjutant 20. Cadet 7. Brigadier 14. Ensign

Week 2: Becoming 25 Our Heritage ABSOLUTE TRUTH November

Say: The first ranks were removed in 1931: Staff-Captain, Field-Major, and Commandant. The last ranks to be removed were Lieutenant-Commissioner, Brigadier, and Probationary Lieutenant. They were removed in 1973.

Ask: Have any of you ever met a Brigadier? Allow response.

Say: I want you to meet Brigadier Clifton C. Sipley. Throughout his life, Brigadier Sipley understood and taught the fullness of the experience of being a Christian: salvation and sanctification and continued obedient faith. He was a wonderful example of what it means to be a Salvationist.

During their officership, Cliff and his wife Jessie were ready to be used wherever they were needed. They alternated between being corps officers and being evangelists—first divisional and then territorial. Sipley said it kept him alive on both sides (Priority). When they retired, they continued as evangelists for 15 years. Their ministry was local, national, and international.

In the corps, they were role models for fellow officers and developed strong local officers. In his years as an evangelist, his goal was to bring sinners to Christ, the blessing of holiness to growing Christians, and new strength and faith to believers. He was a confidante to fellow officers, serving as an officer counselor.

He loved to teach and preach. He preached in all four U.S. territories, as well as in Canada, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Argentina, and Uruguay. He taught at Brengle Holiness Institute 14 times and at the National Soldier Seminar on Evangelism 14 times as well. He also taught at the Continuing Education Seminars at the School for Officer Training.

But teaching to a large group was never more important than the moments with individuals. In fact, once when Brigadier Sipley was teaching at the School for Officer Training, a cadet was so moved by what he was sharing that she interrupted him and asked him to pray for her. He stopped teaching and prayed right then and there.

Then, for 21 years, Brigadier Sipley ran the Christmas effort at the Jamestown, New York corps—including ringing bells on the kettles and counting all the money each night—so the corps officer could concentrate on the corps during the busy holiday season.

In 1996, Brigadier Clifton Sipley received The Order of the Founder—the highest honor given to one of its own in The Salvation Army—for actions that would have commended him to the Founder.

Brigadier Sipley’s long-time friend, Ron Bush said, “The most significant thing I can say about him was his evenness, his consistency. He had no hidden agendas. He had a transparency, a real love of the Lord.”

26 Week 2: Becoming November Our Heritage ABSOLUTE TRUTH

Cliff Sipley’s favorite chorus was, “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.” The beauty of Jesus was seen in him. He was promoted to Glory in 2010. He was 94.

Have a corps cadet read James 3:13.

Say: Brigadier Clifton C. Sipley was wise and understanding. He showed it by his good life, by his deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

APPLY (10 minutes)

Say: As the life of Brigadier Clifton C. Sipley showed, being part of The Salvation Army is more than wearing a uniform, saluting, and showing up at corps activities and Sunday worship. What does being a soldier in The Salvation Army mean to you?

Allow response. Give each corps cadet a copy of the “A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ” sheet.

Say: Read “A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ” by William Booth. While you’re reading, ask yourself, are you a soldier like the one described by William Booth? Would you like to be?

Ask: What would “making war your business” and “understanding your business” and “enduring hardness” look like in your life?

Allow response.

PRAY (5 minutes)

Close in prayer.

Ask God to help you and your corps cadets to be true Salvation soldiers:

• To be saved from sin;

• To be ready to follow wherever God leads;

• To know how to work together;

• To be willing and able to suffer;

• To know the Scripture; and

• To make fighting against sin and the Devil a priority.

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TO CLOSE THE CLASS (5 minutes)

Have the corps cadets fill out their Activity Record points for the week and complete Monthly Questions 3 and 4. Collect to use next week.

Give each corps cadet a Take Home Bookmark.

RESOURCES AND RECOMMENDED FURTHER READING

Barnes, Cyril J. The Founder Speaks Again: A Selection of the Writings of William Booth. London, England: Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, Ltd., 1960.

Green, Roger J. The Life & Ministry of William Booth: Founder of The Salvation Army. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2005.

Kew, Clifford W. The Salvation Army. Oxford, England: The Religious Education Press, 1977.

Priority Winter 2000. West Nyack, NY: The Salvation Army Eastern Territory, 2000.

Satterlee, Allen. Turning Points: How The Salvation Army Found A Different Path. Alexandria, VA: The Salvation Army Crest Books, 2004.

The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine. London, England: Salvation Books, The Salvation Army International Headquarters, 2010.

The Salvation Army’s National Archives and Research Center.

The Wesley Study Bible New Revised Standard Version. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2009.

Webster’s New World College Dictionary. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Macmillan Company, 1997.

Web Resource

http://legacy.biblegateway.com

28 Week 2: Becoming Take Home bookmark

Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship

Leadership Principle Leadership Principle Incarnational leadership studies the truth, Incarnational leadership studies the truth, practices the truth, then teaches the truth. practices the truth, then teaches the truth.

Memorize Memorize “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6 Proverbs 30:5-6

Did You Know? Did You Know? The very first rank created was Captain. The The very first rank created was Captain. The second was General. The third was Lieutenant. second was General. The third was Lieutenant. During his tenure, General John Gowans (R) During his tenure, General John Gowans (R) removed the rank of Lieutenant. General John removed the rank of Lieutenant. General John Larsson (R) upheld the decision. Then, when Larsson (R) upheld the decision. Then, when he became General, Shaw Clifton (R) reinstated he became General, Shaw Clifton (R) reinstated the rank. It’s the only rank to have been removed the rank. It’s the only rank to have been removed and later reinstated. and later reinstated.

Go Deeper Go Deeper Read the 2nd doctrine and 1st “I Will” statement Read the 2nd doctrine and 1st “I Will” statement of “The Soldier’s Covenant.” Discuss or journal of “The Soldier’s Covenant.” Discuss or journal how they relate to today’s lesson. how they relate to today’s lesson.

Check out the videos on George Scott Railton Check out the videos on George Scott Railton and Elijah Cadman at https://vimeo.com/ and Elijah Cadman at https://vimeo.com/ album/3215759 album/3215759

Watch for King and Country’s “Fix My Eyes” Watch for King and Country’s “Fix My Eyes” at https://youtu.be/_ej9T4bTAGI. What do you at https://youtu.be/_ej9T4bTAGI. What do you think this line means: “It takes a soldier who think this line means: “It takes a soldier who knows his orders to walk the walk I’m supposed knows his orders to walk the walk I’m supposed to walk”? to walk”? FIND THE OTHER HALF

The General is the international leader of The Salvation Army.

The Chief of the Staff is second in command of the international Salvation Army.

“Fire a cartridge” means give a weekly tithe in an envelope called a “cartridge” to take aim at the enemy.

“Blood and Fire” is The Salvation Army motto, found at the center of the flag. It stands for the blood of Jesus Christ and the fire of the Holy Spirit.

“The Soldier’s Covenant” is the document a person signs before being enrolled as a Senior Soldier (becoming a senior member) of The Salvation Army.

“Open fire” means to start The Salvation Army in a new town or a new country.

Promoted to Glory is how we describe the death of a Salvationist. He received his final promotion, his promotion to Glory, meaning heaven.

“Fire a volley” means a Salvationist should shout Scripture verses.

A Knee Drill is a prayer meeting.

A Sword Drill is a way to practice finding Scripture verses.

The War Cry is The Salvation Army’s official monthly magazine.

Reinforcement personnel are missionaries.

A Corps is a center for worship and service.

Soldiers are members of The Salvation Army church.

Officers are ordained ministers in The Salvation Army.

A Testimony is a brief, personal witness, either in or out of meetings, as to what God has done for the saved person.

An Open-Air is a street meeting held to preach the gospel to those who may not otherwise be reached for Christ. ORDER THE RANKS

General Field-Major

Chief of the Staff Commandant

Commissioner Adjutant

Lieutenant- Ensign Commissioner

Colonel Senior-Captain

Lieutenant-Colonel Captain

Brigadier Lieutenant

Senior-Major Second Lieutenant

Probationary Major Lieutenant

Staff-Captain Cadet “A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ” by William Booth

If, then, there is to be…fierce and terrible fighting (to) overcome this great enemy (Satan, who is really and truly now… the god of this world), there must… be soldiers, and they must be good soldiers. • A good soldier is a good man or good woman. – Has been saved from sin – Who will follow wherever God leads • A good soldier makes war his business. – Fighting is his trade – Chooses it – Makes it a priority, making everything else second • A good soldier understands his business. – Knows his part in the war – Understands his weapons—can use the sharp two-edged sword of Scripture – Understands the hearts of men – Knows the tricks of Satan – Knows the delusions, excuses, and hiding places of sinners • Good soldiers understand how to act in combination. – They all move as one man, like a machine! – One can direct the whole so they can accomplish something. – An army that doesn’t work together is just a mob. • A good soldier of Jesus Christ is always a fighting man. – No excuses – No concern for self – Live to fight, love to fight, love the thickness of the fight, and die in the midst of it • A good soldier endures hardness. – Is willing and able to suffer – Accepts that the road to resurrection and Heaven is through the cross – Knows how to live and how to fight and die • A good soldier is victorious.

Excerpted from “A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ,” in The Salvationist, November and December, 1879 (Barnes, The Founder Speaks Again, pp. 49-55), paraphrased and summarized. November Leadership ABSOLUTE TRUTH

Make It Plain SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Bibles

• BOLD booklets

• Pens/pencils

• Envelopes

• Copies of the “Questions and Answers” sheets

• Copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets

• Copies of the Take Home Bookmark

BEFORE CLASS:

• Read the Leader Overview.

• Make copies of the “Questions and Answers” sheets. Cut into strips. Put the ten questions in one envelope. Put ten answers in a separate envelope, but not all of the right answers. Put two of the same answer in the envelope.

• Make copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets, if needed.

• Make enough copies of the Take Home Bookmark found at the end of the lesson for each corps cadet.

LEADER OVERVIEW

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce corps cadets to C. S. Lewis and explore the skill of writing.

In this lesson, corps cadets will engage with the idea that they don’t have all the answers and be encouraged to live with the questions. They will explore Scripture passages that reflect on writing as well as learn about the author C. S. Lewis and his advice on writing. They will be encouraged to think outside the box about Christian writing. As application, they will consider what and why they post on social media.

From Facebook to blogs, everyone thinks they can be a writer. In a way, they’re right. In a way, they’re wrong. Technically, to put words on a paper is to write. To be the one who puts them there makes you the writer. But there is more to being a writer than simply applying words to paper. Writing takes skill and discipline. Writers have to accept responsibility for what they write.

Week 3: Make It Plain 33 Leadership ABSOLUTE TRUTH November

Why do people write? Because they have a story to tell, they have wisdom and experience to share, they have important information people need to know, they have a question to pose, or they see an issue that needs to be raised and confronted.

Some of your corps cadets will be very interested in creative writing and will happily hear what C. S. Lewis has to say. For others, the idea of creative writing is terrifying or boring. The idea of doing it by choice is laughable. Don’t let this derail this lesson. In the Apply section they’re reminded that if they’re using social media, they’re writing every day. The overarching ideas are still applicable: we don’t have all the answers; we need to know the difference between fact and opinion; and our words, wherever they appear, need to reflect Jesus, the Truth.

One really important element of this lesson is that we don’t have all the answers— and we aren’t supposed to. Rainer Maria Rilke, the German poet, wrote in his classic book, Letters to a Young Poet: “Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them. It is a question of experiencing everything. At present you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day.”

As the leader, be comfortable with questions. Model this for your corps cadets. Especially in our American culture, we don’t like unanswered questions. If there is a blank, we fill it in. If we don’t know the answer, we make an “educated” guess. We don’t like to say, “I don’t know.” But “I don’t know” is an essential part of our faith journey. If we know the answer to everything, we don’t need faith.

The Apply section mentions two recent social media events of which you might not be aware. Iggy Azalea is a white Australian woman rapper who has taken criticism for her public comments. Many have accused her of racism for racist tweets she posted before she was famous. She has explained herself, but not apologized for anything she said.

In December 2013, Justine Sacco was the senior director of corporate communications at a company called IAC. She sent what she thought was a humorous tweet— heading to Africa, hope I don’t get AIDS. She ook a flight from JFK in New York to Johannesburg, South Africa. By the time she landed 11 hours later, her tweet was trending worldwide, and she had lost her job.

Leadership Principle Incarnational leadership studies the truth, practices the truth, then teaches the truth.

Memory Verse “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6

34 Week 3: Make It Plain November Leadership ABSOLUTE TRUTH

INTRODUCTION (5 minutes)

Read from the book together as a brigade.

Make It Plain

Probably one of the best-known and loved Christian writers is C. S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia. Clive Staples Lewis was born on November 29, 1898 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 1911, at the age of 13, he abandoned his childhood Christian faith. At 19, he was on the frontline of World War I in France. Injured in battle, he was back in England by 21, studying at Oxford University. At 27, Lewis became a tutor in English Language and Literature at Magdalen College, Oxford where he remained for 29 years.

At the age of 31, Lewis said he became a theist (one who believes in a divine reality): “I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed.” Two years later, Lewis had a long conversation with J. R. R. Tolkien about Christianity. The next day, Lewis and his brother Warren took a motorcycle ride to the zoo. Lewis described his conversion this way: “When we set out I did not believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and when we reached the zoo I did.” In 1933, Lewis started “The Inklings.” It was a group of writers, including J. R. R. Tolkien, who met together twice a week for 16 years to talk and share what they were working on.

Over the course of his life, C. S. Lewis wrote more than 60 books. He wrote in a variety of forms: essays on literature and ethics and theology, poems, criticism, science fantasy, and fantasy. There are people who can make the simplest thing complicated. But to make a complicated thing simple and understandable is difficult. C. S. Lewis was a master at making things plain.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was published in 1950. He died on November 22, 1963, a week before his 65th birthday. It was the same day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

ENGAGE (5 minutes)

Do the “Q&A” activity.

Make copies of the “Questions and Answers” sheets. Cut the questions into strips and place them in an envelope. Cut the answers into strips and place ten answers, mostly the right ones, in a separate envelope. If you have a big brigade, break up into groups of 3-4. If you have a small brigade, make a set for each corps cadet.

Say: You have two envelopes. One has questions. The other has answers. Let’s see how quickly you can match the answers to the questions. Go!

Week 3: Make It Plain 35 Leadership ABSOLUTE TRUTH November

Here are the questions and answers:

• 2 + 2 = ? 4

• What planet do we live on? Earth

• Who is the President of the United States? Barack Obama

• What color is a lemon? Yellow

• Who is Jesus? The Son of God

• Who are the co-founders of The Salvation Army? William and Catherine Booth

• What shines in the sky at night? The moon and stars

• Who wrote The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? C. S. Lewis

• What do the letters in S.T.E.M. stand for? Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

• What are the colors of the rainbow? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet

After a minute or two, someone will probably say something like: “We don’t have all the answers.” Encourage everyone to match as many answers as they can. Encourage them to talk to each other to see if someone else has an answer they need.

Say: Admitting we don’t have all the answers is a really good start. Talking with others to find out if they have the answers we don’t have is a terrific next step. We want to be the ones with all the answers, but we aren’t. We don’t know everything and we aren’t supposed to. If we had all the answers, we wouldn’t need faith.

READ (5 minutes)

Have all the corps cadets find and bookmark each verse. They will need to find them again quickly during the Explore section of the lesson. Ask a different corps cadet to read each verse aloud: Habakkuk 2:2; Philippians 4:8; and Hebrews 10:24.

EXPLORE (25 minutes)

Ask: What does it mean to be a Christian writer?

Allow response. Then add from the following:

36 Week 3: Make It Plain November Leadership ABSOLUTE TRUTH

• A Christian writer writes from a Christian worldview. It doesn’t mean you have to say Jesus or have your characters pray or go to church. Is the name of Jesus said anywhere in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe? No. Would you consider it a Christian book? Yes.

• A Christian writer tells the truth. Part of that truth is that, as Christians, we don’t know everything. There are questions we can’t answer and with which we struggle. Don’t imagine you know the absolute truth. Don’t answer questions to which you don’t know the answer. There is more danger in giving a false answer than in saying, “I don’t know.”

• When writing about faith, especially for people who aren’t Christians, a Christian writer shows the choices. As Christians, we don’t automatically make the right choices. We need to show the process. To deny the process is to lie.

Say: C. S. Lewis was asked, “Would you say that the aim of Christian writing, including your own writing, is to bring about an encounter of the reader with Jesus Christ?” He answered, “That is not my language, yet it is the purpose I have in view.”

Say: Let’s see what Scripture says about writing.

Have a corps cadet read Habakkuk 2:2.

Ask: What does Habakkuk 2:2 tell us about writing? Allow response.

Say: It says, “Make it plain.” Not convoluted or confusing. Not caught up in so much Christian and Salvation Army jargon that nobody outside the church can understand it. The Oxford Dictionary defines jargon as “special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand.”

Ask: What are some examples of Salvation Army jargon or Christian-ese that make what we say or write confusing to people who aren’t Christians or Salvationists?

Allow response. Then say: For example, what about all of our initials? Do you even know all of these? Say initials and have corps cadets call out that they stand for.

• NC: National Commander

• TC: Territorial Commander

• CS: Chief Secretary

• TYS: Territorial Youth Secretary

• TFS: Territorial Finance Secretary

• DC: Divisional Commander

• DYS: Divisional Youth Secretary

Week 3: Make It Plain 37 Leadership ABSOLUTE TRUTH November

• DMD: Divisional Music Director • CO: Corps Officer • CSM: Corps Sergeant Major • YPSM: Young People’s Sergeant Major • CT: Corps Treasurer • DHQ: Divisional Headquarters • THQ: Territorial Headquarters • NHQ: National Headquarters • IHQ: International Headquarters Say: C. S. Lewis gave some advice about being clear when writing: 1. Be clear. Remember that readers can’t know your mind. Don’t forget to tell them exactly what they need to know to understand you. Make sure each of your sentences couldn’t mean anything else. 2. Always prefer the plain, direct word to the long, vague one. Don’t implement promises, but keep them. 3. Never use abstract nouns when concrete ones will do. If you mean, “More people died,” don’t say, “Mortality rose.” 4. Know the meaning of every word you use. 5. Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say “infinitely” when you mean “very”; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.

Have a corps cadet read Philippians 4:8. Ask: What does Philippians 4:8 tell us we should spend our time thinking about? Allow response. Ask: How could that affect what we write? Allow response. Say: Matthew 5 tells us we are to be the salt and light, as Eugene Peterson puts it in The Message, to bring out the God-flavors and God-colors in the world. Too often we are the vinegar and bitter herbs that leave a bad taste in the mouth and we’re the glare of the interrogation lamp demanding a confession and repentance. When we think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy, then we talk about and write about those things. That makes it possible for others to think, talk, and write about those things.

38 Week 3: Make It Plain November Leadership ABSOLUTE TRUTH

Say: Malcolm Gladwell wrote The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference. As described on Amazon, it explores “that magic moment when an idea, trend or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips and spreads like wildfire. Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a fashion trend, the popularity of a new product, or a drop in the crime rate.”

Ask: Could we cause a tipping point among Christians, among Salvationists, to rejoice and pray and give thanks and think and talk about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy—instead of being critical and judgmental and complaining? What if we became known for blessing instead of condemning?

Allow response. Then have a corps cadet read Hebrews 10:24.

Ask: What does “Let us consider how…” mean? Allow response.

Say: “Let us consider how…” means not everyone needs the same approach. We have to think about how to reach each person. Know your audience. Some people need a gentle nudge. Some just need to hear the story and meet the people. Some people need a fire lit under them. There is value in different intensities of writing. Some need a direct approach. Some need more subtlety.

Ask: Ask yourself, “Will what I am sharing help others to love more? Will it encourage them to do something that needs to be done?”

Say: C. S. Lewis wrote a wide variety of books in many different styles. He wrote some things during the war. He wrote some things after the war. He said during the war he could be more direct. There was a sense of urgency and people wanted to get to the point. But after the war, people became complacent. He said that to get the truth to people, he had to smuggle it behind enemy lines through their imaginations. He considered how to spur them on.

Say: In his last interview, C. S. Lewis said, “There is a character in one of my children’s stories named Aslan, who says, ‘I never tell anyone any story except his own.’ I cannot speak for the way God deals with others; I only know how he deals with me personally.”

As we think about absolute truth and how we express it, this is a good standard. I can only speak about how God deals with me.

APPLY (10 minutes)

Ask: Have you ever heard this—“I don’t lie, but Facebook does”? What do you think it means?

Week 3: Make It Plain 39 Leadership ABSOLUTE TRUTH November

Allow response.

Say: I know that many of you don’t plan to be writers. So everything we’ve talked about today may seem like it doesn’t apply to you. But if you use social media, you are writing, every day. You are choosing words to share with your friends and followers. Writers have to be responsible for what they write. So, as we think about being honest in how we present ourselves, some phrases to use are “in my opinion” and “in my experience.” Then we need to ask: Why am I posting this?

If corps cadets have smartphones or tablets, have them open up their social media.

Say: Look through or think about what you have posted recently—maybe the last 10 posts. Ask yourself these questions about those posts:

• Am I seeking approval and validation?

• Am I boasting? Constantly comparing myself with others?

• Am I discontent? Am I complaining? Am I spreading bitterness?

• Is this a moment to protect?

• Is it kind?

• Am I getting caught up in the mob mentality, joining in on the attack without considering the person?

Say: Before you post, how would you feel if your whole life was reduced to your most “foolish, offensive, and regretted public moment?” Think about Iggy Azalea who is getting flak for four-year-old posts on Twitter. Or, think about the woman who tweeted a racist comment before getting on an 11-hour flight. By the time she landed, her tweet was trending worldwide, and she had lost her job.

Ask: What if we became known for blessing instead of condemning?

PRAY (5 minutes)

If you think it would be meaningful for your corps cadets, have them each write a prayer.

Then close with the following prayer:

Dear God,

Before we write, post, or speak, help us to T.H.I.N.K. and ask ourselves:

Is it TRUE? Is it HELPFUL?

40 Week 3: Make It Plain November Leadership ABSOLUTE TRUTH

Is it INSPIRING? Is it NECESSARY? Is it KIND?

Grant us wisdom. Grant us courage.

Amen.

TO CLOSE THE CLASS (5 minutes)

Have the corps cadets fill out their Activity Record points for the week and complete Monthly Questions 5 and 6. Collect to use next week.

Give each corps cadet a Take Home Bookmark.

RESOURCES AND RECOMMENDED FURTHER READING

Cockerill, Gareth L. Hebrews: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House, 1999.

Gladwell, Malcolm. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference. New York, NY: Back Bay Books, 2002.

Lewis, C. S. The Great Divorce. New York, NY: Macmillan, 1946.

Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. New York, NY: Macmillan, 1952.

Lewis, C. S. The Screwtape Letters. New York, NY: Macmillan, 1943.

Lewis, C. S. What Christians Believe. New York, NY: Macmillan, 1943.

Peterson, Eugene. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Carol Stream, IL: NavPress, 2005.

Rilke, Rainer Maria. Letters to a Young Poet. New York, NY: W.W. Norton and Company, 1993.

The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine. London, England: Salvation Books, The Salvation Army International Headquarters, 2010.

The Wesley Study Bible New Revised Standard Version. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2009.

Week 3: Make It Plain 41 Leadership ABSOLUTE TRUTH November

Web ResourceS

www.cbn.com/special/narnia/articles/ans_lewislastinterviewa.aspx

www.christianwritingtoday.com/7-writing-tips-from-c-s-lewis/

www.cslewis.org/resource/chronocsl/

www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1208289-briefe-an-einen-jungen-dichter

http://grammar.about.com/od/advicefromthepros/a/C-S-Lewis-On-What-Really- Matters-In-Writing.htm

www.thehollywoodgossip.com/slideshows/iggy-azalea-racist-tweets/

http://legacy.biblegateway.com

www.lettersofnote.com/2012/04/c-s-lewis-on-writing.html

www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/magazine/how-one-stupid-tweet-ruined-justine- saccos-life.html

www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/jargon

www.pbs.org/faithandreason/theogloss/theism-body.html

www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/internet-outrage-public-shaming-and- modern-day-pharisees

www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/tech/5-questions-ask-posting-social-media

www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/tech/8-dangers-social-media-were-not- willing-admit

http://youtu.be/rC7kxDzxKoU: Why C. S. Lewis wouldn’t write for Christianity Today.

42 Week 3: Make It Plain Take Home bookmark

Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship

Leadership Principle Leadership Principle Incarnational leadership studies the truth, Incarnational leadership studies the truth, practices the truth, then teaches the truth. practices the truth, then teaches the truth.

Memorize Memorize “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6 Proverbs 30:5-6

Did You Know? Did You Know? There is a Bible in tweets. It’s called The Twible: All There is a Bible in tweets. It’s called The Twible: All the chapters of the Bible in 140 characters or less… the chapters of the Bible in 140 characters or less… now with 68% more humor. Written by Jana Riess now with 68% more humor. Written by Jana Riess and illustrated by Leighton Connor, it also claims and illustrated by Leighton Connor, it also claims to have 99% fewer begats. It has a tweet for each to have 99% fewer begats. It has a tweet for each of the 1,189 chapters of the Bible and a summary of the 1,189 chapters of the Bible and a summary of every book of the Bible in seven words or less. of every book of the Bible in seven words or less.

Go Deeper Go Deeper Read the 2nd doctrine and 1st “I Will” statement Read the 2nd doctrine and 1st “I Will” statement of “The Soldier’s Covenant.” Discuss or journal of “The Soldier’s Covenant.” Discuss or journal how they relate to today’s lesson. how they relate to today’s lesson.

Read a book by C. S. Lewis or watch The Chronicles Read a book by C. S. Lewis or watch The Chronicles of Narnia movies—The Lion, the Witch and the of Narnia movies—The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian; or The Voyage of the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian; or The Voyage of the “Dawn Treader.” “Dawn Treader.”

What did C. S. Lewis sound like? Listen at What did C. S. Lewis sound like? Listen at http://cslewis.drzeus.net/multimedia/audio/. http://cslewis.drzeus.net/multimedia/audio/.

Find C. S. Lewis’s books you might not know Find C. S. Lewis’s books you might not know at www.cslewis.com. at www.cslewis.com.

Read the Young Salvationist. Consider submitting Read the Young Salvationist. Consider submitting an article. an article. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS QUESTIONS

2 + 2 = ?

What planet do we live on?

Who is the President of the United States?

What color is a lemon?

Who is Jesus?

Who are the co-founders of The Salvation Army?

What shines in the sky at night?

Who wrote The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe?

What do the letters in S.T.E.M. stand for?

What are the colors of the rainbow? QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ANSWERS

4 Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet

Earth Science Technology, Engineering and Math

Barack Obama C. S. Lewis

Yellow The moon and stars

The Son of God William and Catherine Booth

William and Catherine Booth The Son of God

The moon and stars Yellow

C. S. Lewis Barack Obama

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Earth

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet 4

November Discipleship ABSOLUTE TRUTH

No Fine Print SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Bibles

• BOLD booklets

• Pens/pencils

• Candy

• Downloaded video clip on computer, iPad, etc. or Wi-Fi access and bookmarked clips

• Copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets

• Copies of the Take Home Bookmark

BEFORE CLASS:

• Read the Leader Overview.

• Download the clip for the Apply section from the BOLD curriculum link at www.sayconnect.com (Nov_Week4_F15.mpg) in advance and save it to your computer, or bookmark it (www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc5s1ZKNmcc), ensuring you have an Internet connection for viewing. Ensure that you have the sound working and adequate projection for your group’s size.

• Make copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets, if needed.

• Make enough copies of the Take Home Bookmark found at the end of the lesson for each corps cadet.

LEADER OVERVIEW

The purpose of this lesson is for corps cadets to understand that we need to live out truth in our lives to be more Christ-like. Ultimately, we do this by having a solid understanding of absolute truth through a strong foundation in Scripture.

Corps cadets will play a game that helps them see how easy it is to believe something is in the Bible when it may really not be, showing them that they need to know God’s Word for themselves. They will read passages that give warnings to those who do not heed the Bible. They will also continue to examine absolute truths. As application, they will discuss the importance of living out truth in daily life, not just avoiding lies. And they will look at their own lives to determine if they are living truthfully right now.

Week 4: No Fine Print 47 Discipleship ABSOLUTE TRUTH November

As stated in the Leader Overview in the Bible Study lesson this month, our teens are facing a culture of relativism—this is a catch phrase these days in Christian circles. They are taught in schools, by their peers, and by the media that there is no such thing as absolute truth. At its core, however, relativism is about learning to be skeptics. They don’t learn to hold on to any truth that may exist independent of their beliefs. Oprah has been quoted as saying, “One of the biggest mistakes humans make is to believe there is only one way. Actually, there are many diverse paths leading to what you call God.” Furthermore: “Sixty-four percent of Americans say, ‘I will lie when it suits me if it doesn’t cause any real damage.’ Fifty-three percent say, ‘I will cheat on my spouse —after all, given the chance, he or she will do the same.’ Only 31 percent of Americans agree that ‘Honesty is the best policy.’ When asked what they would do for 10 million dollars, 25 percent said they would abandon their family, 23 percent would become prostitutes for a week or more, and 7 percent would murder a stranger.” (Randy Alcorn, The Grace and Truth Paradox, p. 53) Not understanding the absolute truth of God as well as not living out truth on an individual basis is the cultural norm. We want corps cadets to understand that truth matters. “Being a representation of the truth is about allowing the truth of God to penetrate us so intimately that it transforms our very lives” (Josh & Sean McDowell). We also want to be sure that our corps cadets understand that, although Jesus is absolute Truth, Christianity doesn’t hold the ultimate monopoly on truths. Faith traditions outside of Christianity (such as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, etc.) have wisdom to offer and can affirm general truths about humans and acting ethically. But none of these religions reveals the divine absolute Truth of Jesus! If you are unfamiliar with Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, you can watch the clip of the part of the movie referred to in the intro at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD EdKzAZgko.

Leadership Principle Incarnational leadership studies the truth, practices the truth, then teaches the truth.

Memory Verse “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6

INTRODUCTION (5 minutes) Read from the book together as a brigade.

48 Week 4: No Fine Print November Discipleship ABSOLUTE TRUTH

No Fine Print

In the original 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Willy Wonka makes all of the children sign a contract before entering the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tour his factory. However, the contract goes on and on, with the print getting smaller and smaller until it can’t be read without a magnifying glass. Of course, no one reads it; they simply sign and enter. But when Charlie comes to the end of the tour as the “winner,” he finds out that he has unknowingly broken the contract, and Willy Wonka tells him and his uncle, “You get nothing! You lose! Good day sir!”

Obviously, it’s important to read the fine print before signing anything, but what if we could live in a place where there was no fine print? That is too much to ask for in a fallen world, but it’s not too much to expect of those who claim to be disciples of Jesus. As His followers, we can live a life with “no fine print.” We say what we mean and mean what we say. That’s living out truth.

“Truth is more than mere facts. It’s not just something we act upon. It acts upon us. We cannot change the truth, but the truth can change us. It sanctifies us (sets us apart) from the falsehoods woven into our sin nature and championed by the world” (Randy Alcorn). Living out truth is more than just being honest and not telling lies. It means we live out absolute truth. We live out the truth that Jesus is the only way to God, that He is our means of salvation, and that following Him has eternal consequences.

Once we have an understanding of what things are absolutely true according to Scripture, then we should be in a place where truth begins to change our character to become more Christ-like. That is what discipleship means.

So, do you know absolutely what you believe, and why you believe it? And is it changing you to look more like Christ?

ENGAGE (5 minutes)

Play “Does God’s Word Say That?”

Instruct the corps cadets that you will read verses. They need to determine, “Does God’s Word Say That?” Give each corps cadet some candy (either mini candy bars or something like a package of Skittles®). Let them know that they will be wagering their candy on whether or not the verses you read are in the Bible. If they are correct, you will double the candy they wagered. If they are incorrect, you will take away the candy they wagered.

To ensure from the beginning that corps cadets are not embarrassed by getting answers wrong, let them know that versions of this game have been played at many Salvation Army events, and often even officers are not the last one standing.

Week 4: No Fine Print 49 Discipleship ABSOLUTE TRUTH November

Read one verse at a time, allowing time for them to decide “Does God’s Word Say That?” and make their wager before giving the answer:

• “God will not give you more trials than you can handle.” Answer: No! (1 Corinthians 10:13b – “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”)

• “Who can withstand his icy blast?” Answer: Yes! Psalm 147:17

• “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen.” Answer: Yes! Isaiah 1:15

• “Money is the root of all evil.” Answer: No! (1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”)

• “This too shall pass.” Answer: No! (Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.”)

• “Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred chosen men who were left handed.” Answer: Yes! Judges 20:16

• “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Answer: Yes! Matthew 7:1

• “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Answer: No! (Psalm 51:10a – “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”)

• “God moves in mysterious ways.” Answer: No! (Isaiah 55:8 – “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.”)

• “There is no God.” Answer: Yes! Deuteronomy 32:39

Discussion regarding this game will come in the Explore section.

READ (5 minutes)

Ask for four volunteers to read the following passages aloud at this time: Ezekiel 36:23-26; John 8:31-32; John 17:17; and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

EXPLORE (15 minutes)

Ask: What do we need to have as a foundation so we can know truth? (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Allow response. Then add from the following:

• Scripture: God’s Word is Truth (John 17:17)

50 Week 4: No Fine Print November Discipleship ABSOLUTE TRUTH

• A solid knowledge of Scripture for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16)

• Knowledge of Scripture to be equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17)

Say: We played “Does God’s Word Say That?” at the beginning of our lesson. Note that we don’t promote gambling. In fact, as Salvation Army soldiers, we say that we will not participate in gambling. In gambling, you are ignorantly believing a total falsehood—that you will come out a winner. But when you were wagering your candy in our game, you were learning a truth: the more you know Scripture, the greater the opportunity you will have to prosper!

Continue: While most of us would get a lot of those wrong, the more we study the Bible, the more likely we will be to know what is truth and what isn’t. Having a solid foundation in Scripture doesn’t just happen. It takes intentional time on a regular basis reading it for ourselves, studying it, and talking with others about it. We also need to truly understand what the Bible says so we can speak truth. Satan’s first act recorded in the Bible was creating doubt in Eve’s mind about God’s Word by asking, “Did God really say that?” Unless we know God’s Word for ourselves, we won’t be able to fight off that doubt the enemy plants.

Ask: What do these passages have in common about those who follow truth?

Allow response. Clarify if needed: They all show how we are transformed by truth.

Then say: Knowing Jesus—the Truth—is about relationship. It’s not just about knowing truths (which is also important), but the most important thing is in knowing, following, and being transformed by Truth.

Ask: What are some ways in which the truth transforms us?

Allow response. Then add from the following:

• Others will see the holy God through us. We are transformed by our relationship with Him, not merely by reading and knowing the Bible. (Ezekiel 36:23)

• We have a new heart and a new spirit inside us. (Ezekiel 36:23-26)

• It brings about freedom (from sin, selfish choices, living an empty life, etc.). (John 8:31-32)

• We are sanctified, cleansed, and set apart by the Word. (John 17:17)

• We become equipped for any task and are trained in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Ask: So what would a transformed life look like to the world around us?

Week 4: No Fine Print 51 Discipleship ABSOLUTE TRUTH November

Allow response. Then add from the following: • They would see us as people of love. • They would see us as people of hope. • They would see us as people of joy. • They would see us as selfless. • People would wonder what makes us different. • Ultimately, in wondering what makes us different, the goal would be that they would want to know the Truth for themselves that they see has transformed our lives.

APPLY (15 minutes) Watch the “God’s Not Dead” video clip. Play the video clip that you either downloaded (Nov_Week4_F15.mpg; 3 min. 48 sec.) or bookmarked (www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc5s1ZKNmcc; starting at the 10:46 mark and ending at 14:34). Ask: Have you ever had someone (a teacher, family member, friend, or even a stranger) want to debate you about what is truth? If so, how did you respond?

Allow response. Share if you have any experience with this, too. Ask: What do you think about how this student discussed truth with his college professor?

Allow response. There is no right or wrong answer here. This is a matter of opinion. But remind the corps cadets of what was discussed in the first lesson this month—it’s one thing to answer the questions (doubts) of someone sincerely seeking answers. It’s another thing all together when we debate with a skeptic. It’s almost like we become similar to a used car salesman. Ask: How do we live out absolute truth in our daily lives so that we show others the reality of God’s love?

Allow response. Then add from the following:

• We can understand for ourselves what we believe and why we believe it.

• We can be straightforward with the words we speak.

• We can make sure that our actions match our words.

52 Week 4: No Fine Print November Discipleship ABSOLUTE TRUTH

• We may explain that truth is not about keeping us from having “fun.” Instead, it’s about protecting us. “…properly understood, biblical truths are guardrails that protect us from plunging off the cliff. A smart traveler doesn’t curse the guardrails. He doesn’t whine, ‘That guardrail dented my fender!’ He looks over the cliff, sees demolished autos below, and is grateful for guardrails” (Randy Alcorn). • Ultimately, we need to have a personal relationship with Jesus and know what God says is Truth in order to live it out in our lives.

Ask: What is the difference between avoiding lies and speaking truth? Allow response. Then say: Avoiding lies or living out a list of dos and don’ts isn’t the same as showing Jesus. We show Jesus to others through living out truth in our words and our actions. Ultimately, it comes down to our character. “When we fail to tell the truth, we fail to represent Jesus, who is the Truth” (Randy Alcorn). Say: “Someone has said, ‘We teach what we know, we impart who we are.’ And if we become a living representation of God’s truth, we will demonstrate it in our lives—we will live it” (Josh & Sean McDowell). Ask: Do you have “fine print” in the words you speak? In other words, do you lie, do you avoid lies, or do you live out truth? Are you up front with who you are, what you believe, and Whom you represent?

Allow response. Ask them to consider this prayerfully throughout the week.

PRAY (5 minutes) Pray this “parish prayer” over your corps cadets: Prayer For Truth Lord, Jesus Christ, You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Hear our prayer for truth and integrity in all segments of society today. May the truth be spoken by us and affirmed in others, that in seeking truth, the world will come to find You, the Source of All Truth. Wherever relationships are weakened by deception or hypocrisy, strengthen good Christian character among us that we may bear witness to the critical need for truth. May Your Spirit of Truth fashion minds and hearts open to a moral integrity so strong that both words and actions can be trusted.

Week 4: No Fine Print 53 Discipleship ABSOLUTE TRUTH November

In public and private life, deepen among us a genuine commitment to honesty, sincerity and truth-telling. Let nations and peoples not compromise truth by rationalization or pretense, but safe-guard and defend it always as Your most precious gift. Lord, may those around us come to know that they can take us at our word, until that day when all the world lives in truth and the Truth sets us free. Amen.

(www.holynameebg.org/Parish_Prayers/prayer%20for%20truth.html)

TO CLOSE THE CLASS (5 minutes) Have the corps cadets fill out their Activity Record points for the week and complete Monthly Questions 7 through 10. Ensure that all Monthly Questions are complete, with the corps cadet’s name on each paper. Collect completed papers to turn in to DHQ. Give each corps cadet a Take Home Bookmark.

RESOURCES AND RECOMMENDED FURTHER READING Alcorn, Randy. The Grace and Truth Paradox. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2003. Bertrand, J. Mark. (Re)Thinking Worldview: Learning to Think, Live, and Speak in this World. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2007. Guinnes, Os. Time for Truth: Living Free in a World of Lies, Hype, and Spin. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000. McDowell, Josh and Sean McDowell. The Unshakable Truth: How You Can Experience the 12 Essentials of a Relevant Faith. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2010. Nobel, David A. Understanding the Times: The Collision of Today’s Competing Worldviews. Manitou Springs, CO: Summit Press, 2006. The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine. London, England: Salvation Books, The Salvation Army International Headquarters, 2010. Satterlee, Allen, ed. Notable Quotables: A Compendium of Gems from Salvation Army Literature. Atlanta, GA: The Salvation Army Supplies, 1985.

54 Week 4: No Fine Print November Discipleship ABSOLUTE TRUTH

The Wesley Study Bible New Revised Standard Version. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2009.

Wilkins, Steve and Mark Sanford. Hidden Worldviews: Eight Culture Stories That Shape Our Lives. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2009.

Web ResourceS www.huffingtonpost.com/lucy-mangan/top-ten-surprising-facts-_b_5760628.html http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/opinionator/2015/03/02/why-our-children-dont- think-there-are-moral-facts/?_r=0&referrer=

STOP Remember to fill out the Course Evaluation.

Week 4: No Fine Print 55 Take Home bookmark

Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship

Leadership Principle Leadership Principle Incarnational leadership studies the truth, Incarnational leadership studies the truth, practices the truth, then teaches the truth. practices the truth, then teaches the truth.

Memorize Memorize “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6 Proverbs 30:5-6

Did You Know? Did You Know? Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was written by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was written by Roald Dahl based off a bedtime story he made Roald Dahl based off a bedtime story he made up for two of his daughters. The book sold 10,000 up for two of his daughters. The book sold 10,000 copies in its first week. Up until the last moment, copies in its first week. Up until the last moment, the Oompa-Loompas were going to be called the the Oompa-Loompas were going to be called the Whipple-Scrumpets. Roald Dahl wanted Maurice Whipple-Scrumpets. Roald Dahl wanted Maurice Sendak to illustrate his book—but he was too Sendak to illustrate his book—but he was too busy working on Where the Wild Things Are to busy working on Where the Wild Things Are to accept the offer. accept the offer.

Go Deeper Go Deeper Read through our doctrines and discuss or Read through our doctrines and discuss or journal which points you hold as truth and journal which points you hold as truth and which ones you are still unclear on. which ones you are still unclear on.

Watch the movie The Lion King and consider Watch the movie The Lion King and consider how it reflects basing decisions off of lies rather how it reflects basing decisions off of lies rather than the truth. than the truth.

Remember to “like” BOLD on Facebook and Remember to “like” BOLD on Facebook and follow @BOLDcorpscadets on Twitter! follow @BOLDcorpscadets on Twitter! November Questions

BOLD For Corps Cadets | Course C | Book 2 | Fall 2015

Name:

Corps:

Answer the following questions. Circle the appropriate letter for multiple-choice questions. For the true/false statements, correct false statements to make them true. Please use a separate sheet of paper if needed. Staple it to this sheet with your name and corps at the top.

Monthly Questions (3 pts. each)

1. Fill in the blanks. According to John 14:6, the absolute truth about Jesus is this: Jesus is the , the , and the . Jesus is the avenue to salvation.

2. True or false. Skepticism, not doubt, is the enemy of truth because it isn’t looking for an answer. Skepticism says, “Faith is useless. We can’t know.” Skepticism even says, “I don’t want to know.” Doubt says, “Help me know. I want to know.” Jesus says, “I can be known.”

3. Give three examples of the “fighting talk” in the Bible that inspired William Booth. (2 Corinthians 10:2-4; Ephesians 6:10-17; 1 Timothy 1:18-19a; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3-4; and 2 Timothy 4:7)

4. What are three things you learned about Brigadier Clifton C. Sipley that showed he was a good Salvationist?

5. Circle all that apply. What does it mean to be a Christian writer? a. A Christian writer writes from a Christian worldview. b. A Christian writer makes sure to include the name of Jesus somewhere or have the characters pray or go to church or do some religious activity. c. A Christian writer tells the truth. Christians don’t know everything. There are questions we can’t answer and with which we struggle. d. Especially when writing for people who aren’t Christians, a Christian writer shows that Christians don’t automatically make the right choices. A Christian shows the process. 6. True or false. Philippians 4:8 tells us to spend our time thinking about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. When we think about these things, then we talk about and write about those things. It never makes a difference to anyone but us, but it’s still worth doing.

7. Circle all that apply. What do we need to have as a foundation so we can know truth? (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17) a. Scripture: God’s Word is Truth b. A solid knowledge of Scripture for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness c. Knowledge of Scripture to be equipped for every good work d. Understanding of Scripture so we can answer every question with confidence

8. Circle all that apply. What are some ways in which the truth transforms us? (Ezekiel 36:23-26; John 8:31-32; John 17:17; and 2 Timothy 3:16-17) a. Others will see the holy God through us. We are transformed by our relationship with Him, not merely by reading and knowing the Bible. We have a new heart and a new spirit inside us. b. It brings about freedom (from sin, selfish choices, living an empty life, etc.). c. It gives us the right to stand up against anyone who disagrees with us. d. We are sanctified, cleansed, and set apart by the Word. e. We become equipped for any task and are trained in righteousness.

9 Fill in the blanks. “Every word of is flawless; he is a to those who take in him. Do not to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a .” Proverbs 30:5-6

10. Fill in the blanks. Incarnational leadership the truth, the truth, then the truth.

Question for Reflection (20 pts.) Answer must be a minimum of 4 to 6 sentences. What is the difference between knowing the truth and knowing the Truth? What difference has knowing the Truth made in your life? Discipleship (10 pts. possible) Evangelism (3 pts.) Activity Record W 1 W 2 W 3 W 4 W 5 Total Corps cadet counselor to award full Sharing Your Faith Sunday School points if completed satisfactorily, This month, I… (2 pts., 10 max.) partial points if completed partially, invited a friend to a corps and no points if not completed. Corps Cadet Classes program (3 pts., 15 max.) brought a friend with me to Worship Service Personal Devotions (4 pts.) the corps (2 pts., 10 max.) Bible Reading & Prayer prayed with a friend Complete the SOAP s sections shared Scripture with a friend SA Youth Meetings (1 pt., 10 max.) using the following Scripture: witnessed to a friend

Proverbs 30:1-9. Attendance Divisionial/Territorial Events Read the Scripture (1 pt.) (1 pt., 5 max.) D I Y – Do It Yourself Wrote an Observation (1 pt.) Prayer Meeting or Bible Study Wrote an Application (1 pt.) I completed… (1 pt., 5 max.) Prayed (1 pt.) Option 1 Option 3 Did not do SOAP s this month Option 2 Option 4 (0 pts.) Sunday School Class or Activity Taught (2 pts., 10 max.)

Summary Practices Attended Stewardship (3 pts.) Completed by corps cadet (1 pt., 5 max.) Time, Talent & Treasure counselor: Visitation & Service This month, I… Class Participation (5 pts.) (1 pt., 10 max.) tithed 10% of my income Recited Memory Verse (5 pts.) Participation Worship Service Participation to the corps Activity Record (30 pts.) (1 pt., 5 max.) tithed less than 10% of my Discipleship (10 pts.) income Completed by DHQ: volunteered personal time Total other: Monthly Questions (50 pts.) Total (100 pts.) Corps Cadet: Signature Date D I Y – Do It Yourself Notes (100 pts. total for course; Corps Cadet Counselor: 50 pts. each) Signature Date

1 of 2 2 of 2 Corps Officer: Signature Date BOLD For Corps Cadets | Course C | Book 1 & 2 | Fall 2015

Answer What did your brigade choose to do?

Answer What specifically did you do?

Answer What was hard?

Answer What was easy?

Answer What would you do differently?

Answer What did you learn? SOAPs Worksheet BOLD For Corps Cadets | Course C | Book 2 | December | Fall 2015

NAME:

Read The Scripture (1 pt.) S Complete the SOAP s sections using the following Scripture: Hebrews 3:1-6.

Write An Observation (1 pt.) Write an observation about this Scripture. In other words, what do you “see” O in this Scripture?

Write An Application (1 pt.) A Write how this Scripture applies to your life.

Pray (1 pt.) Pray specifically about this Scripture and your observations, asking for God’s help P in applying its truth to your life.

December Bible Study THE CHURCH

Unleashed SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Bibles

• BOLD booklets

• Pens/pencils

• Downloaded video clip on computer, iPad, etc. or Wi-Fi access and bookmarked clips

• 3 sponges, a bowl of water, a plate, and various cleaning products

• Copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets

• Copies of the Take Home Bookmark

BEFORE CLASS:

• Read the Leader Overview.

• Download the clip for the Engage section from the BOLD curriculum link at www.sayconnect.com (Dec_Week1_F15.mpg) in advance and save it to your computer, or bookmark it (www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVKWVA7lNCk), ensuring you have an Internet connection for viewing. Ensure that you have the sound working and adequate projection for your group’s size. This video was written, drawn, and animated by the USA Western Territory (script by Cari Arias and illustrations by Jason Leighton), based, with the author’s permission, on The Losers Club: Lessons from the Least Likely Heroes of the Bible, by Jeff Kinley.

• Make copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets.

• Make enough copies of the Take Home Bookmark found at the end of the lesson for each corps cadet.

LEADER OVERVIEW

The purpose of this lesson is to give the corps cadets a broad overview of the church beginning in Acts and an understanding of the purpose of church. These are concepts they will explore further throughout the lessons this month.

Corps cadets will receive an introduction on the life of Peter as the person upon which Jesus built His church. They will also look at the church in Jerusalem and then in Antioch

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as examples of the early church. As application, they will consider stereotypes that non-Christians have of church and the reality of what their own church experience looks like.

This is an important topic for this generation of young people to consider, since culture says that church is outdated and a waste of time. One author quoted a research participant saying:

“If we’re going to talk about the church today, let’s be really blunt… People are voting with their feet. The next generation is not going to church. For the most part, they are going to the First Church of Starbucks. The future of the church is five people over a latte studying a copy of the Purpose Driven something or other. In fifteen years, present trends continuing, the church in America will be half of what it is” (Julia Duin, Quitting Church).

The same author wrote, “But for the most part, the heavy-duty issues—racism, sexuality, even heresy—are not dealt with. Undeserved suffering, intractable situations, unanswered prayer, and the quiet discouragement of millions of Christians—these elephants in the church living room are left to sit there. But if the church won’t bring them up, others will.”

Also, “While your typical teenager can probably barely explain the basics of the faith, their Mormon counterparts are studying the Scriptures and the Book of Mormon every morning for several years to prep themselves for mission trips. Small wonder this is a fast-growing religion.”

These issues mean that the church is declining in numbers. It doesn’t mean that the church is disappearing. The church exists because God ordained it to exist. We need each other to understand the fullness of God and His love and to show that love to those who haven’t yet experienced it.

This is one of the reasons that Corps Cadets exists—to give our teens an understanding of the basics of the faith, as well as to touch on topics they grapple with in their everyday lives as they move forward in being the church. We are not here to give them all the answers, but rather to walk with them on the journey so we can see when their feet start to turn off the path, and we can lovingly guide them back into fellowship to deal with their questions and their pain as they grow and mature in their faith. They are ushering in the church of tomorrow by being developed as disciples and leaders!

Leadership Principle God brings about change from the inside out.

Memory Verse “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” Hebrews 3:6

64 Week 1: Unleashed December Bible Study THE CHURCH

INTRODUCTION (5 minutes)

Read from the book together as a brigade, stopping to have the corps cadets look up and read each reference aloud.

UNLEASHED

Why do you go to church? Have you ever been asked that? Have you ever considered what the real answer is for you? What is the church anyway?

Before His death and resurrection. Jesus proclaimed that Peter would be a foundational “rock” of the church (Matt. 16:18). More events happened, and Jesus was then crucified and resurrected. Acts 2 then tells us about how the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. Think about it like a huge confetti cannon. The Holy Spirit showed up, and the church was “unleashed”—growing in leaps and bounds and moving out to other communities. And there was Peter, right in the middle of the unleashing, preaching the summary of the entire message of the Bible in just one sentence (Acts 2:36).

The church spread from Jerusalem. It is considered the first Gentile church to be founded. In other words, it was the first church that wasn’t just for the Jews, or the people of Israel that the Old Testament focuses on. It was a church that shared the Good News to people who didn’t all look alike or come from the same background. And it was a church committed to sending out missionaries (including Paul, a former hater of the church and a future well known author of many letters in the New Testament).

The apostles (those who believed in Jesus and His teachings) shared the message with people all over and were persecuted for it (3:30-33; 7:59). But they spread out and pressed on (8:4)! By then, there were various churches taking root in different communities, including Antioch.

Antioch was the capital city of Syria (modern day Turkey). It was the third largest city in the Roman Empire and a tremendous commercial hub where many people passed through to trade products and services. In reality, it was an ideal place for the gospel message to be shared, then taken back by the hearers to their own communities. God doesn’t plan things without a purpose—including the building of churches!

The church at Antioch became a training ground for some amazing leaders that we read about in the New Testament, such as Barnabas, Titus, Luke, and—of course— Peter. It was also here that believers were first called “Christians.” The word’s roots mean “belonging to Christ” or “Christ-like ones.” The people in Antioch, and other early churches, were not there just to soak up the music, or out of obligation to “go to church.” They were considered radical in their community. They looked different from the world. They looked like Christ.

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ENGAGE (5 minutes)

Watch “Peter, ‘The Rock’.”

Show the video that you either downloaded (Dec_Week1_F15.mpg; 4 min. 25 sec.) or bookmarked (www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVKWVA7lNCk) before class. Discussion on this video will take place in the Explore section (or you may choose to ask the first discussion question at this point).

READ (5 minutes)

Read Exodus and the first Acts passages aloud. Then ask the corps cadets to take turns reading verses from the second Acts passage: Exodus 20:8-11; Acts 2:42-48; and Acts 11:19-30.

EXPLORE (15 minutes)

Ask: Thinking about the video we watched a few minutes ago, what do you find interesting about Peter being chosen as a foundational pillar of the church?

Allow response. If they need prompting, you may ask additional questions, such as:

• Did his experience surprise you?

• Would you expect that a synagogue leader or someone studying the Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible) would be more appropriate?

• Do you think Jesus should have chosen someone who didn’t deny knowing Him?

Ask: What examples do we get of Christian community from Acts 2? (Acts 2:42-48)

Allow response. Then say: Author Julia Duin wrote, “Miracles happened in Acts 2 when Christians decided to share things in common, be willing to suffer together, and be part of a supernatural church. They can happen again if enough believers are willing to pay the price. Then people will begin craving church instead of quitting church…” The church in Jerusalem was a community all about mission!

Ask: What do you think is the price that believers need to pay for church to look that way?

Allow response. Then add from the following:

66 Week 1: Unleashed December Bible Study THE CHURCH

• First and foremost, obedience to God

• Self-sacrifice

• Humility

• Willingness to serve

• Love for others

Ask: Reading about the church in Antioch, how would you define “church”? (Acts 11:19-30)

Allow response.

Say: “The first Jesus Followers were not, as so many churches are today, communities of conformity. Rather, they were communities animated by a common spirit— engaged in the mission of following their sovereign and no other” (Robin Meyers). The early church used a Greek word to identify themselves: ekklesia. From this word, we get the word “ecclesiology.” Ecclesiology means the doctrine of the church. So, basically, church is a group of people following the Savior together.

APPLY (20 minutes)

Ask: What stereotypes do non-Christians have about church?

Allow response. Add from the following, if necessary:

• It is boring.

• It is filled with hypocrites (people who don’t live out what they say).

• It’s a place of judgment.

• It’s a waste of time.

Say: Most stereotypes really are about seeing the church as somewhere to go instead of church being a way of life in God!

Then say: Many people have said that it’s the people in church who turn them away. A famous Christian author, Philip Yancey, said, “In short, Christianity kept me from Christ.” But as he started to really look at church and consider where he wanted to worship, he realized that the history of church was something he liked. He wrote, “How easily we forget that the Christian church was the first institution in the history of the world to bring together on equal footing Jews and Gentiles, men and women, slave and free. The earliest Christians broke down barriers. Unlike most other religions, Christians

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welcomed men and women alike.” That’s what Jesus had in mind for the church.

Share these things about what church should be like:

• A place where we don’t feel judged by saints, but can find accountability from other sinners trying to follow Jesus

• A place where we can bring our pain and questions rather than be scared of being made fun of for not knowing the Bible

• Something that feels like healthy family

• Somewhere we expect important things to happen in our lives

• A place that sets people free who are bound by sin

• A group of people that try to live like Jesus

Ask: How much does the church where you are look like Christ?

Allow response.

Do the “SpongeChurch” activity. Set out a bowl of water and a plate and have three sponges available: a dry sponge, a sponge soaking in the bowl of water, and a sponge that has gotten wet but has been squeezed out and is sitting damp on the plate.

Ask: Which sponge would be best to clean up a mess?

Allow response. Then ask, allowing response to each question: Why would the dry sponge not work? What would happen if I pulled the sponge out of the bowl and started cleaning with it?

Explain: Let’s assume these sponges are our churches as a whole, or even each of us as people who go to church. The dry one represents the church that doesn’t teach from the Bible (but instead only topics in the news or current events or other books that are not the Bible) or the person who never makes God’s Word real in their own life. It wouldn’t do much good on the “dirt” (or the sin or ugliness) in the world around them, would it? It’s okay to preach topically and definitely important to connect the Bible to current events. And God uses many writers to share His truths. But if we neglect God’s Word in our churches—and in our own lives—we are powerless to change the world.

The sponge sitting in the bowl is like the church that never reaches out to the community or the Christian who comes to church just to sing and soak it all up, but not do anything with it in their daily life outside the church building. They soak up the good stuff…but do you know what happens to a sponge like

68 Week 1: Unleashed December Bible Study THE CHURCH

this one in the bowl? If it tries to clean up things, it makes a bigger mess, and if it just stays in the bowl, it starts to grow mold and smell bad.

The last sponge represents the person that soaks in what is offered in a healthy church, but then gets “squeezed out” in service and ministry and loving others outside of the church walls. It can clean up things around it, then go back to the water to get cleaned itself and squeezed out all over again. It’s used the way the inventor intended.

Take out a variety of cleaning products. Then say: Ultimately, we should want to be used by God. These cleaning products are an example of his bigger plan and picture for church. Alone, they won’t serve every purpose. For example, glass cleaner won’t do a very good job of cleaning the carpet. And floor wax won’t do a great job of getting dirt off windows and mirrors. They are all needed for the best possible housecleaning job. God uses a variety of church bodies—different corps as well as different denominations, or groups of Christians with a slightly different take on their beliefs and styles—to make a difference in a fallen world.

Ask: Which sponge does your corps look like? How about you, individually?

Allow response.

Ask: How does the 4th Commandment apply directly to you? (Exodus 20:8-11)

Allow response. Then say: Let’s look at Hebrews 10:23-25. Why do you think it’s so easy to give up meeting together (going to church)?

Allow response. Some possible answers may include:

• We forget what church is about (worshiping God and learning more about following Him).

• We get caught up in small issues (arguments between denominations or between people within one congregation).

• We focus on the details (like style of worship or stage setup) rather than the big picture of being the church.

• These things become discouraging and remove our focus off of God.

Ask: Why do we need church?

Allow response. Then say: There are many reasons to go to church.

Say: Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California suggests these reasons for why we should go to church: we need a church family to help us center our life around God through worship; to help us connect with other believers through fellowship; to help us cultivate spiritual maturity through

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discipleship; to prepare us to contribute something back through ministry; and to help us communicate God’s love through evangelism.

Then say: Barnabas Piper, the son of famous pastor, speaker, and author John Piper said this: “Churches are groups of sinful people who believe the same things and are trying to go in the same direction. Such a venture is fraught with mistakes, hurts, stupidity, and frustration. I have been a member of four different churches in my life, and all of them have frustrated me, all for different reasons. There simply isn’t a perfect church out there. But this is not a reason to give up on church. Because, despite its ugliness and brokenness, the church is the place where healing happens.”

Explain: It’s important to understand that more than just good reasons to go to church, the church is needed. The church functions as Christ’s body—His hands and feet to a hurting world. We are called to care for Christians within the church (each other) and serve the world outside of the walls of our church buildings, too. Ephesians 3:14-19 tells us that it’s together with all the saints that we can understand the incomprehensible love of God. We need each other to understand God’s fullness. We’re not meant to walk the journey of faith and discipleship alone. And we’re not meant to live it just for ourselves—we need to serve others and share the Good News with them, too. That’s what being Jesus looks like as a body of believers!

PRAY (5 minutes)

Pray this prayer by Pastor Rick Warren to close:

God, I look at these people that I love and that You love and I thank You for our church family. Dear God, it’s not usually that we don’t know the right thing to do. We know the right thing. It’s just that we forget it. We get so busy and we forget it. We make excuses. We procrastinate. We postpone it. We get busy and we just don’t do it. Today, I ask You to help each of us take some next steps and move to the next level of spiritual growth and maturity. Help us to act on what we know to do.

Now repeat this prayer silently in your hearts after me: God, I want to center my life around You. I want to get better connected to Your fellowship and Your family. I want to grow to spiritual maturity. I want to make a contribution with my life. I want to communicate Your love to others. I want somebody to be in heaven because of me. Thank You for this church family where I can learn Your purposes for me. Amen.

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TO CLOSE THE CLASS (5 minutes)

Have the corps cadets fill out their Activity Record points for the week and complete Monthly Questions 1 and 2. Collect to use next week.

Give each corps cadet a Take Home Bookmark.

RESOURCES AND RECOMMENDED FURTHER READING

Barnett, Paul. The Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005.

Crabb, Larry. Real Church: Does it Exist? Can I Find It? Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2009.

Duin, Julia. Quitting Church: Why the Faithful Are Fleeing and What to Do about It. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2008.

Meyers, Robin. The Underground Church: Reclaiming the Subversive Ways of Jesus. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2012.

Piper, Barnabas. The Pastor’s Kid: Finding Your Own Faith and Identity. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2014.

The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine. London, England: Salvation Books, The Salvation Army International Headquarters, 2013.

Truesdale, Al, ed. Global Wesleyan Dictionary of Theology. Kansas City, MI: Beacon Hill Press, 2013.

The Wesley Study Bible New Revised Standard Version. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2009.

Yancey, Philip. Church: Why Bother? Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998.

Web ResourceS http://guff.com/glt-americans-organized-religion/20?ts_pid=2 www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/americans-are-turning-away-from-organized- religion-in-record-numbers/ http://theranch.org/2015/03/22/this-days-thought-from-the-ranch-this-weeks- sermon-copy/

Week 1: Unleashed 71 Take Home bookmark

Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship

Leadership Principle Leadership Principle God brings about change from the inside out. God brings about change from the inside out.

Memorize Memorize “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” we glory.” Hebrews 3:6 Hebrews 3:6

Did You Know? Did You Know? Religious service attendance (church) fell Religious service attendance (church) fell from 41% in 1971 to 31% in 2002. By 2006, it from 41% in 1971 to 31% in 2002. By 2006, it was estimated that only about 65 million out was estimated that only about 65 million out of an estimated 300 million Americans were of an estimated 300 million Americans were attending church on a regular basis. A 2002 attending church on a regular basis. A 2002 Barna study gave these answers as some of Barna study gave these answers as some of the top reasons American Christians no longer the top reasons American Christians no longer went to church: stale worship, watered down went to church: stale worship, watered down beliefs, congregations split by color and race, beliefs, congregations split by color and race, not relevant, and lack of good leaders. not relevant, and lack of good leaders.

Go Deeper Go Deeper Read the 7th “I Will” statement of “The Soldier’s Read the 7th “I Will” statement of “The Soldier’s Covenant” and journal or discuss your personal Covenant” and journal or discuss your personal commitment to church. commitment to church.

Read more about the beginning of church history Read more about the beginning of church history by reading all of Acts. by reading all of Acts.

Watch “Be the Church” at www.youtube.com/ Watch “Be the Church” at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=L0Dmq6B7D6M. watch?v=L0Dmq6B7D6M.

Complete the activity on page 26 of the Young Complete the activity on page 26 of the Young Salvationist. Salvationist. December Our Heritage THE CHURCH

Belonging SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Bibles

• BOLD booklets

• Pens/pencils

• Envelopes

• Copies of the “Label the Crest” sheets

• Copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets

• Copies of the Take Home Bookmark

BEFORE CLASS:

• Read the Leader Overview.

• Make copies of the “Label the Crest” sheets. Cut up the labels and put each set in a separate envelope.

• Make copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets, if needed.

• Make enough copies of the Take Home Bookmark found at the end of the lesson for each corps cadet.

LEADER OVERVIEW The purpose of this lesson is to introduce the corps cadets to The Salvation Army as a church and as part of the Holiness Movement.

In this lesson, corps cadets will be engaged by labeling the crest to see if they know what each part means. They will explore Scripture about holiness and be introduced to key people in the early Holiness Movement. As application, they will consider what it means to them to belong to a worldwide Salvation Army.

This is how The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine (pp. 247-248) explains the doctrine of the Church:

The Church is the fellowship of all who are justified and sanctified by grace through faith in Christ. Membership in the body of Christ is not optional for believers: it is a reality given to all who know Christ, the Head of the Church. It is a benefit of the Atonement through which we are invited into fellowship with God and with one another.

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Salvation Army doctrine implies a doctrine of the Church. Each doctrine begins: “We believe…”. “We” points to a body of believers, a community of faith—a church.

One very important change since the 11 Articles of Faith were formulated and adopted is the evolution of the movement from an agency for evangelism to a church, an evangelistic body of believers who worship, share fellowship, minister and join in mission together.

Salvationists are members of the one body of Christ. We share common ground with the universal Church while manifesting our own characteristics. As one particular expression of the Church, The Salvation Army participates with other Christian denominations and congregations in mission and ministry. We are part of the one, universal Church.

The corps is The Salvation Army’s local congregation. It is a visible expression of the Church. It has its own ways of worshipping, training and serving, based on the teaching of the Bible, the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the nature of its mission. Its purpose is consistent with the calling and teaching of the one, universal Church. Its three key strengths are its missional zeal, its commitment to holiness and its strong community outreach.

It is has been said over and over again that William and Catherine Booth did not intend to start a new denomination. They wanted to help people get saved and then introduce them into Bible believing congregations. But The Salvation Army became church. The people who came wanted a place to worship, a place to serve, a place to be included, and a place to belong. This is what The Salvation Army provided.

The theology of William and Catherine Booth was strongly influenced by the Methodists, particularly by the teaching of John Wesley, the father of Methodism. The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine explains that Wesley’s theology, including the possibility of salvation for all people and growth towards holiness, was vital in the development of Salvation Army doctrine, as was his preaching about inward (personal) and outward (social) holiness as expressed in the greatest commandments: Love the Lord your God totally, and love your neighbor as you love yourself. Both William and Catherine Booth believed in a holiness that was both personal and social.

Their theology was also influenced by Phoebe Worral Palmer, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, who was a holiness advocate, author, revivalist, practical theologian, and editor. She was often called the “Mother of the Holiness Movement.” She and her husband held revival meetings in England from 1859-1863 (Kostlevy, pp. 196-198).

Palmer used a combination of three Scriptures as the keystones of her understanding of holiness, which has been called “altar theology”: Romans 12:1; Matthew 23:19; and 1 John 1:7b. First, surrender all to God; second, believe God is able and willing to sanctify now; and, third, tell someone about it. William and Catherine Booth took

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this a little further. They took it into action. As Catherine said, “A salvation that does not lead to service is no salvation at all.”

The Salvation Army, as a church, belongs to the Holiness Movement. This is the term used to describe the people, denominations, and religious groups that emphasize— as taught by John Wesley (i.e. in the Wesleyan tradition)—a second, distinct work of grace, after salvation. This second work of grace is when the Christian believer is filled with the Holy Spirit and entirely sanctified (Taylor, p. 260).

In your brigade, you might have first, second, third, fourth, and even fifth generation Salvationists. This is always a tricky thing to balance when teaching a lesson. You have those who believe they have heard it all before and know it all and you have those for whom this will all be new. Help your corps cadets to understand that there is always more to learn if they pay attention. Also, you can often have the corps cadets who are more familiar with the material explain it to the newer corps cadets. Then you can fill in the blanks.

Leadership Principle God brings about change from the inside out.

Memory Verse “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” Hebrews 3:6

INTRODUCTION (5 minutes)

Read from the book together as a brigade.

Belonging

William and Catherine Booth did not plan to start a new denomination. They wanted to help people get saved and then introduce them into Bible believing congregations. They soon found that the established churches still didn’t want the people the Booths worked with in their congregations—even though they had become Christians. But these new Christians wanted a place to worship.

Even when they were allowed into the churches, they had to sit at the back so their appearance and behavior wouldn’t bother or offend the regular worshipers. They wanted to go to a church where they would be included and welcomed.

William Booth realized—as the ministry grew—that he needed some of the people to stay with him to help. Once people got saved, they wanted a place to serve. So, without meaning to, The Salvation Army became church: a place to worship, a place to serve, and a place to be included and to belong. This is what The Salvation Army provided.

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William and Catherine Booth both came from Methodist backgrounds. William was even ordained in the Methodist New Connexion. So they were strongly influenced in their faith by John Wesley, the father of Methodism. The Booths were also influenced by Phoebe Worral Palmer, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, when she came to England and held revival meetings. She was often called the “Mother of the Holiness Movement.”

As The Salvation Army became established as a church, it became part of the Holiness Movement. This is the term used to describe the people, denominations, and religious groups that emphasize—as taught by John Wesley (i.e. in the Wesleyan tradition) —a second, distinct work of grace, after salvation. This second work of grace is when the Christian believer is filled with the Holy Spirit and entirely sanctified (Taylor, p. 260).

ENGAGE (5 minutes)

Say: A crest is a heraldic device placed above the shield in a coat of arms, or used separately (Webster’s, p. 327). Heraldry is the art or science having to do with coats of arms, genealogies, etc. A herald is a person or thing that comes before to announce, or give an indication of, what follows (Webster’s, p. 630). This means that The Salvation Army crest is a symbol that announces what we are about. When you see The Salvation Army crest, you can know what is coming.

Say: Let’s see if we know what the different parts of The Salvation Army crest mean.

Do the “Label the Crest” activity.

If you have mostly corps cadets who know a lot about The Salvation Army already, have them do it individually as a race. If you have a lot of new corps cadets who are not familiar with The Salvation Army, have them play in pairs, matching each new corps cadet with an older corps cadet. Give each person or pair a copy of the “Label the Crest” sheet and an envelope with the labels.

The answers to the “Label the Crest” activity:

• The Sun represents the light and fire of the Holy Spirit.

• The Cross represents the cross on which Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins.

• The S represents Salvation available to all through Jesus.

• The Crossed Swords represent God’s Word, our weapon, with which we fight for God and salvation against sin and the devil.

• The Gospel Shots represent 7 basic truths of the gospel:

1. God is real and holy.

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2. Sin is evil and separates us from God.

3. There is a punishment for sin, which is fair and everlasting.

4. Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for the sin of the world.

5. Salvation and forgiveness are free to anyone who accepts Christ.

6. Every Christian should share the gospel with others in any way they can.

7. God rewards those who are faithful with eternal life in Heaven with Him.

• Blood and Fire is The Salvation Army motto. Jesus’s blood washes us from sin. The fire of the Holy Spirit makes us pure and helps us lead lives that are pleasing to God.

• The Crown represents the eternal reward of life in heaven for all who are faithful to Jesus.

Once everyone has finished, say: The Salvation Army crest teaches about:

• The Trinity,

• Sin and its punishment,

• Salvation,

• Sanctification,

• Spiritual warfare,

• Moral responsibility, and

• Eternal life for the faithful.

The Salvation Army flag works the same way. The Salvation Army flag tells people what we believe. We believe in the Trinity, in salvation, and in sanctification. The outside blue border stands for the purity and holiness of God. The inner red stands for the blood of Jesus Christ. The central yellow stands for the fire of the Holy Spirit. The “Blood and Fire” motto says we believe the blood of Jesus saves us and the fire of the Holy Spirit sanctifies us. One is not enough —we need both.

READ (5 minutes)

Have the corps cadets look up the four passages and bookmark them, so they can find them easily during the Explore section of the lesson: Philippians 4:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 12:14; and 1 Peter 1:15-16.

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EXPLORE (20 minutes) Say: There are many distinctive things about The Salvation Army. We have already explored the meaning of the flag and the crest. We also have a holiness table in every one of our chapels and hold Holiness Meetings weekly. All of these together point to the fact that holiness is central to who we are as a church.

Why does holiness matter? Let’s see what Scriptures says. Have a corps cadet read 1 Peter 1:15-16. Ask: What do we learn from 1 Peter 1:15-16? Allow response. Then add as needed: • God is holy. • We are to be holy. • Holiness shows in what we do. • God, through Scripture, tells us to be holy. Have a corps cadet read 1 Thessalonians 5:23-25. Ask: What do we learn from 1 Thessalonians 5:23-25? Allow response. Then add as needed: • We can be sanctified. • It’s available to every believer. • God will do what He says He will do. • He calls us to be holy—He makes it possible. Say: Actually, The Salvation Army’s tenth doctrine is taken directly from these verses. Can anyone say the tenth doctrine from memory?

If not, read it, then have the corps cadets say it with you: “We believe it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Have a corps cadet read Hebrews 12:14. Ask: What do we learn from Hebrews 12:14? Allow response. Then add as needed: • We need to be holy to see God. • Staying holy involves our choices as well as God’s work.

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Say: God doesn’t call us to something that’s impossible. So, being holy has to be possible. It’s only possible through Jesus’ sacrifice and the Holy Spirit’s power.

Have a corps cadet read Philippians 1:4-6.

Ask: What do we learn from Philippians 1:4-6?

Allow response. Then add as needed:

• We can count on God to do what He says He is going to do.

• We can count on God to finish what He starts.

• His work with us is going to continue until Jesus comes.

Say: Holiness matters in The Salvation Army. In fact, The Salvation Army is part of what is called the Holiness Movement.

Have the corps cadets re-read the last paragraph of the introduction.

Say: There are two key people in the Holiness Movement that you need to know. The first is John Wesley and the second is Phoebe Worral Palmer. They both influenced William and Catherine Booth and their understanding of holiness.

Say: John Wesley (1703-1791) was the father of Methodism. He taught the possibility of salvation for all people and growth towards holiness. This influenced William and Catherine Booth and The Salvation Army greatly. Wesley believed in both inward and outward holiness. Jesus explained this as the greatest commandment. Inward or personal holiness means loving the Lord your God with everything you have and everything you are. Outward or social holiness means loving your neighbor as yourself. The Booths also believed in a holiness that is both personal and social.

Say: Phoebe Worral Palmer (1807-1874) was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She was also a holiness advocate, author, revivalist, practical theologian, and editor. She was considered one of the most significant American Protestant women of the 19th century. She was often called the “Mother of the Holiness Movement.” She and her husband held revival meetings in England from 1859-1863 (Kostlevy, pp. 196-198), some of which Catherine Booth attended. Phoebe Palmer, a women preaching about holiness, had a great influence on Catherine.

Say: Palmer used a combination of three Scriptures as the keystones of her understanding of holiness, which has been called “altar theology”: Romans 12:1; Matthew 23:19; and 1 John 1:7b. First, surrender all to God; second, believe God is able and willing to sanctify now; and, third, tell someone about it. William and Catherine Booth took this a little further. They took it into action. As Catherine said, “A salvation that does not lead to service is no salvation at all.”

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Say: William Booth expanded on the idea—showing it was an ongoing process: “We’re a salvation people—this is our specialty—getting saved and keeping saved, and then getting somebody else saved, and then getting saved ourselves more and more until full salvation on earth makes the heaven within, which is finally perfected by the full salvation without, on the other side of the river” (Green, William Booth, p. 132; Barnes, p. 45).

APPLY (10 minutes) Say: In July 2015, Salvationists from all over the world went to London for the Boundless Congress to celebrate The Salvation Army’s 150th birthday. They celebrated as “One Army with One Mission and One Message. We see a God- raised, Spirit-filled Army for the 21st century—convinced of our calling, moving forward together into the world of the hurting, broken, lonely, dispossessed and lost, reaching them in love by all means with the transforming message of Jesus, bringing freedom, hope and life” (General Linda Bond’s Mission Statement).

Say: When The Salvation Army first began spreading across the globe, William Booth said he did not want small Salvation Armies, but one Salvation Army throughout the world. What do you think he meant? Allow response.

Ask: What does being part of a worldwide Army mean to you? Allow response.

Ask: What can you do to feel more connected to the worldwide Army? Allow response. Add from the following as needed: • Explore The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters website. • Copy from The Salvation Army Year Book the list of 126 countries in which The Salvation Army works (Slovakia became the 127th country in September 2015). Pray for a different country every night. • Read previous issues of All the World, available on the IHQ website. • Send Christmas cards to the reinforcement personnel from your territory serving overseas. Don’t ask for a response.

PRAY (5 minutes) Read the following poem by General John Gowans (R) as the closing prayer: Army When we were made The sky was full

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Of steeples and of spires, With churches of a thousand kinds To suit each man’s desires. And priests and pastors hurried In their thousands to their task. Why did You make this ‘Army-Church’, Am I allowed to ask? With bandsmen in the organ loft And songsters in the choir, And brilliant banners blazing With the motto ‘Blood and Fire’? Was it because with incense And the changing of the Creed You wanted Your own shock-troops Of a very diff’rent breed? And with the more sedate of saints The rougher sort as well, Irrev’rently to shake the living Daylights out of Hell!! Thank you for making the part of the church that is The Salvation Army, for calling it into being. AMEN

TO CLOSE THE CLASS (5 minutes) Have the corps cadets fill out their Activity Record points for the week and complete Monthly Questions 3 and 4. Collect to use next week. Give each corps cadet a Take Home Bookmark.

RESOURCES AND RECOMMENDED FURTHER READING

Barnes, Cyril J. The Founder Speaks Again: A Selection of the Writings of William Booth. London, England: Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, Ltd., 1960.

Gowans, John. The War Cry, July 16, 1983, New York (taken from Army On Its Knees, p. 54)

Green, Roger J. Catherine Booth: A Biography of the Cofounder of The Salvation Army. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996.

Green, Roger J. The Life & Ministry of William Booth: Founder of The Salvation Army. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2005.

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Kostlevy, William C., ed. Historical Dictionary of the Holiness Movement. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2001.

The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine. London, England: Salvation Books, The Salvation Army International Headquarters, 2010.

Taylor, Richard S., ed. Beacon Dictionary of Theology. Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1983.

The Wesley Study Bible New Revised Standard Version. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2009.

Webster’s New World College Dictionary. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Macmillan Company, 1997.

Web ResourceS

http://legacy.biblegateway.com

IHQ bulletins on IBM Notes

82 Week 2: Belonging Take Home bookmark

Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship

Leadership Principle Leadership Principle God brings about change from the inside out. God brings about change from the inside out.

Memorize Memorize “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” we glory.” Hebrews 3:6 Hebrews 3:6

Did You Know? Did You Know? General Eva Burrows, the 13th General of General Eva Burrows, the 13th General of The Salvation Army, said, “I do not preach The Salvation Army, said, “I do not preach Christianity; I preach Christ, as a living Savior.” Christianity; I preach Christ, as a living Savior.”

Go Deeper Go Deeper Read the 2nd doctrine and 8th “I Will” statement Read the 2nd doctrine and 8th “I Will” statement of “The Soldier’s Covenant.” Discuss or journal of “The Soldier’s Covenant.” Discuss or journal how they relate to today’s lesson. how they relate to today’s lesson.

Find out more about One Army—One Mission Find out more about One Army—One Mission —One Message at www.salvationarmy.org/ —One Message at www.salvationarmy.org/ onearmy/youth. onearmy/youth.

Follow through on one of more of the activities Follow through on one of more of the activities mentioned in the Apply section. mentioned in the Apply section. LABEL THE CREST LABEL THE CREST

THE LABELS THE LABELS

The light and fire of the Holy Spirit. The light and fire of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins.

Salvation is available to all through Jesus. Salvation is available to all through Jesus.

God’s Word with which we fight for God God’s Word with which we fight for God and salvation against sin and the devil. and salvation against sin and the devil.

7 basic truths of the gospel: 7 basic truths of the gospel:

• God is real and holy. • God is real and holy.

• Sin is evil and separates us from God. • Sin is evil and separates us from God.

• There is a punishment for sin, which is • There is a punishment for sin, which is fair and everlasting. fair and everlasting.

• Jesus died on the cross to take the • Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for the sin of the world. punishment for the sin of the world.

• Salvation and forgiveness are free to • Salvation and forgiveness are free to anyone who accepts Christ. anyone who accepts Christ.

• Every Christian should share the gospel • Every Christian should share the gospel with others in any way they can. with others in any way they can.

• God rewards those who are faithful with • God rewards those who are faithful with eternal life in Heaven with Him. eternal life in Heaven with Him.

The Salvation Army motto: Jesus’s blood The Salvation Army motto: Jesus’s blood washes us from sin. The fire of the Holy Spirit washes us from sin. The fire of the Holy Spirit makes us pure and helps us lead lives that are makes us pure and helps us lead lives that are pleasing to God. pleasing to God.

The eternal reward of life in heaven for all The eternal reward of life in heaven for all who are faithful to Jesus. who are faithful to Jesus. LABEL THE CREST

December Leadership THE CHURCH

Planning Worship SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Bibles • BOLD booklets • Pens/pencils • Paper lunch bags (5) • Balloons (5) and broom/dustpan (optional) • Scissors • The Song Book of The Salvation Army • Topical Bible • Concordance to the Song Book (if available) • Copies of “Mad-Lib Planning” sheet • Copy of “Mad-Lib Worship Program” sheet • Copies of the “We Believe” sheet • Copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets • Copies of the Take Home Bookmark

BEFORE CLASS:

• Read the Leader Overview. • Write each of the following headings on a separate paper lunch bag: congregational songs; Scripture; sermon topic; praise and worship songs; and additional elements, like dance or drama. If choosing the more active option, use the “Mad-Lib Planning” sheets yourself. Write down several randomly selected congregational songs, Scripture passages, sermon topics, praise and worship songs, and additional elements. Place each inside a balloon that you will blow up once you get to class. • Make copies of the “Mad-Lib Planning” and “Mad-Lib Worship Program” sheets. • Make copies of the “We Believe” sheet. • Make copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets, if needed. • Make enough copies of the Take Home Bookmark found at the end of the lesson for each corps cadet.

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LEADER OVERVIEW

The purpose of this lesson is to help corps cadets understand that how we worship flows from what we believe and to teach them how to plan a worship service.

In this lesson, corps cadets will engage with the idea that worship is not a random act. They will explore what we believe about God and the kind of relationship He wants with us and how that is reflected in Salvation Army worship. They will also learn what is involved in properly planning a worship service. They will apply what they’ve learned by using various resources to start choosing elements for a service.

What do we believe? We believe in Jesus. We believe in salvation—by grace through faith for the “whosoever” (John 3:16-17).

We believe in sanctification—by grace through faith—and holy living (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

We believe in the Scriptures as God’s divine, living Word, which is always to be treated with honor and respect (Hebrews 4:12). We believe Scripture guides us (Psalm 119:105). We believe Scripture protects us (Psalm 119:11).

We also believe in focusing on the internal reality of God’s life in us instead of the external trappings. We believe in a personal relationship with Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us every day. We believe God wants us to be unified as a Church so that people will see Him through our love for each other (John 17:20-23).

Why does it matter what we believe? It matters because what we believe about Who God is and what kind of relationship He wants to have with us shapes our worship.

We have Holiness and Salvation Meetings because we believe in both experiences. We have a mercy seat/penitent form and a holiness table as signs of the two different experiences. Our chapels are more pragmatic than beautiful. They are simple and purposeful with the symbols of the cross, the crest, the flags, and the holiness table because we believe the inner reality is more important than the outward expression. We believe God wants a personal relationship with each of us, so our prayers are personal and spontaneous. We encourage people to tell the story of their personal journey with God through testimony. There is a lot of room for personal expression in our meetings—music, even dance and drama. We believe we come in to worship to go out to serve.

Leadership Principle God brings about change from the inside out.

Memory Verse “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” Hebrews 3:6

88 Week 3: Planning Worship December Leadership THE CHURCH

INTRODUCTION (5 minutes) Read from the book together as a brigade. Planning Does worship just happen? Sometimes. Is it wrong to plan it as though we can tell God when to show up? No. Should we, like the Quakers do, sit and wait, only speak or sing or pray when we feel a direct leading from God? Maybe sometimes. Can worship happen in spite of bad planning? Yes. Can excellent planning fail to create an actual worship experience? Yes. Planning a worship service can be really intimidating. There is so much to think about and take into consideration. But if you keep three things in mind, much of the rest will fall into place. First, keep the Holy Spirit in the plan from the very beginning. Sometimes we wait until the end and say, “Lord, please bless these plans we’ve made.” If we were honest, the rest of the sentence would be, “even though we didn’t invite you into the process.” Invite the Holy Spirit from the beginning and follow His lead. Second, know the congregation. The most carefully and beautifully planned program can go wrong if it’s for the wrong congregation. A program full of quiet, reflective moments, meditative music, and a detailed verse-by-verse sermon is wonderful for a congregation of adults who have been Christians for a long time. It would be a disaster for one with a lot of children who stay in the meeting. Equally, a program full of puppets, action songs, visual aids, and an interactive object lesson for the sermon would be great for a corps with a lot of youth, but not for one with mostly older adults. Third, a worship service might include vocal and instrumental music, drama, or dance, but it is not a performance opportunity. All elements should focus the congregation’s hearts and minds on the central meaning of the meeting—not on the particular talent of the individual or group. The main purpose is ALWAYS worship. The main focus is God. Our worship is shaped by what we believe about who God is and what kind of relationship He wants to have with us.

ENGAGE (5 minutes) Do the “Mad-Lib Planning” activity. In this activity, the corps cadets will randomly pick elements for a worship service. Bring out the paper lunch bags labeled with the following: congregational songs; Scripture; sermon topic; praise and worship songs; and additional elements, like dance or drama.

Week 3: Planning Worship 89 Leadership THE CHURCH December

Give each corps cadet a “Mad-Lib Planning” sheet and a pen. Have scissors, copies of The Song Book of The Salvation Army, and Bibles available.

Have corps cadets fill in the “Mad-Lib Planning” sheet. They can use their favorite songs and Scriptures or open the song book and Bible randomly, point to a song and Scripture verse, and write that down.

Once they written something for each item, have them cut the paper into strips and place each strip in the appropriate bag.

Shake each bag. Each time, ask a different corps cadet to pull a piece of paper out of the bag. Don’t let the corps cadets see what is on each slip chosen.

Fill in the blanks on the “Mad-Lib Worship Program” sheet with what’s written on each chosen strip. To complete the program, you will need to choose two congregational songs, two Scriptures (one for Call to Worship), and two praise and worship songs. You will only need one special item and one sermon topic.

Once the program is set, read it aloud.

Active Option:

If your corps cadets need more action, write Scripture, songs, sermon topics, etc. onto slips of paper before class and put them inside balloons. Blow up and tie off balloons once you get to class.

When the corps cadets arrive, have them pop the balloons and gather the slips of paper. Then have them work together or in groups to try to create a cohesive program from the scattered pieces.

Provide earplugs for kids who have trouble with sudden loud sounds. Have a dust pan and broom handy to clean up the popped balloons.

Ask: Is this how you would actually plan a worship program? Why or why not?

Allow response.

Say something like: Planning worship is more than filling in the spaces on a program. While sometimes it’s good to shake up the process if you’re stuck in a rut, most of the time it’s better to be more organized and deliberate.

READ (5 minutes)

Assign each verse to one corps cadet to have them read aloud when indicated during the Explore section of the lesson: Psalm 119:11; Psalm 119:105; John 3:16; John 17:20-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; and Hebrews 4:12.

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EXPLORE (20 minutes)

Say: Understanding why we worship helps us understand the way we worship. Let’s look at the Scripture to see what we believe, then think about how that belief is expressed in our meetings.

Have someone read Hebrews 4:12. Then say: We believe in the Scriptures as God’s divine, living Word, which is always to be treated with honor and respect.

Have someone read Psalm 119:105. Then say: We believe Scripture guides us.

Have someone read Psalm 119:11. Then say: We believe Scripture protects us.

Ask: How is this expressed in our meetings?

Allow response. Then add from the following as needed:

• Scripture is read in every meeting; sometimes we stand out of respect for the Word of God.

• We read along because studying Scripture is everyone’s responsibility.

• We are quiet and listen. If we are reading Scripture aloud, we speak clearly and confidently.

• Scripture is the basis for our sermons.

• Scripture is often put to music so we can meditate on it night and day.

• It is often part of our praise and worship.

Have someone read John 3:16. Then say: We believe that Jesus is the Son of God and He died to save everyone from their sins. We believe we are saved by grace through faith.

Ask: How is this expressed in our meetings?

Allow response. Then add from the following, if needed:

• We have Salvation Meetings.

• We have a mercy seat so anyone who wants to can come to pray.

• We give the opportunity for people to accept Jesus.

• Many of our songs are about Jesus.

• People give testimonies about how Jesus saved them and keeps them walking in the Christian life.

Have someone read 1 Thessalonians 5:23. Then say: We believe in sanctification— by grace through faith—and holy living.

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Ask: How is this expressed in our meetings?

Allow response. Then add from the following, if needed:

• We have Holiness Meetings in which the corps officer preaches about the possibility of living a holy life.

• We have a holiness table.

• We sing a lot of songs about holiness.

• People give testimonies about how the Holy Spirit helps them live faithfully.

Say: We believe in a personal relationship with Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us every day.

Ask: How is this expressed in our meetings?

Allow response. Then add from the following, if needed:

• Our prayers are personal and spontaneous.

• There is a lot of room for personal expression—testimony, music, even drama and dance.

Have someone read John 17:20-23. Then say: We believe our personal relationships with God as well as our relationships with other Christians lead others to believe. Real worship prepares us to go out into the world.

Ask: How is this expressed in our meetings?

Allow response. Then add from the following, as needed:

• Opportunities for service at the corps during the week

• Opportunities for service in the community during the week

• Tithes and special offerings, such as World Services, remind us of how we are connected to the local community as well as The Salvation Army around the world.

• The challenge shared through music, Scripture, and sermon

Say: Now that we understand what we believe and how it’s shown/expressed in our meetings, let’s look at how to plan a worship service.

Ask: What is the first thing you do when planning a worship service? Allow response.

Then say: Pray. Always pray. Start with prayer. Continue in an attitude of prayer and openness to the Holy Spirit’s leading. End with prayer.

Ask: What elements should a program include? Allow response.

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Make sure prayer, singing, Scripture, and sermon are included. Then say something like: Sometimes programs get too full. You always want to be sure whoever is preaching has enough time. You also want to leave time for reflection and response.

Ask: How can you vary the elements? Allow response.

Add from the following, as needed:

• Music—solo, group, adults or children, congregational, or instrumental

• Scripture—responsive, unison, choral on one passage or several on a theme, or video

• Additional elements—Drama, dance, signing, timbrels, or bells

• Testimony—congregational during a song or individual before sermon

• Sermon—regular, spread out through the program, object lesson or visuals

Ask: What resources can you use? Allow response.

Add from the following, as needed:

• Concordance. Usually whoever is preaching provides the Scripture. But if you are working from a theme, a concordance can help you find verses and passages from that theme. You look up the key word in the verse. All verses under mercy will include the word mercy.

• Topical Bible. In a topical Bible, the verses are organized by theme. All the verses under mercy will not necessarily include the word but will relate to the concept.

• The Song Book of The Salvation Army. The sections are labeled by topic: God the Father, the Gospel, Life of Holiness, Special Occasions, etc.

• Concordance to the Song Book. It is organized, first, by keyword and, then, by Scripture in songs.

Ask: What else do you need consider when planning a worship program? Allow response.

Add from the following, as needed:

• Pick a theme or Scripture. Then connect the rest of the program to that theme or Scripture.

• When choosing songs, don’t choose too many that are new. If using unfamiliar words, choose a familiar tune. If using new songs in praise and worship, have them written out on an insert as well as projected on the screen. Always have a back up plan if technology fails.

Week 3: Planning Worship 93 Leadership THE CHURCH December

• If children stay in your service the whole time, make sure there is something for them. • Know who is available to help you. For example, you can’t do a three-person drama alone.

APPLY (15 minutes) Say: Our worship is shaped by what we believe about Who God is and what kind of relationship He wants to have with us. Complete the “We Believe” sheet. Have available copies of The Song Book of The Salvation Army, the Concordance to the Song Book (if available), Bibles with concordances, and a topical Bible or concordance. Give each corps cadet a copy of the “We Believe” sheet. Divide into six small groups. Remember, a group can be one person. Assign each group one of the “We Believe” statements: we believe in salvation; we believe in sanctification; we believe in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; we believe God wants us to be in community; we believe God wants us to be joyful; and we believe loving God moves us to do good works. Tell the corps cadets to find three ways to express each belief in a Salvation Army meeting. Say: It isn’t enough to say, “Sing a song, read a Scripture, and say a prayer.” Sing what song? Read what Scripture? Say what in a prayer? Say: Before you start, pray in your groups, asking the Holy Spirit to help you as you plan. Give them a couple of minutes to come up with their suggestions. Bring the brigade back together to share their choices. Have everyone write the three ideas for each “We Believe” statement on their sheets. At the end of the activity, each corps cadet should have three things written for each belief statement. Encourage corps cadets to keep the sheets in their Bibles in case they are ever asked to prepare a program. It will give them a good start.

PRAY (5 minutes) Say: Even though these ideas are for corporate worship, a lot of them would work for personal devotions. Reading Scripture; reading, singing, or listening to songs; playing your instrument; thinking of how you would express out loud what you believe and have experienced; maybe even dancing—you could do all of these things as part of your own daily quiet (or not so quiet) time. Sing a closing prayer together, like the doxology. Or, ask for a favorite praise chorus.

94 Week 3: Planning Worship December Leadership THE CHURCH

TO CLOSE THE CLASS (5 minutes)

Have the corps cadets fill out their Activity Record points for the week and complete Monthly Questions 5 and 6. Collect to use next week.

Give each corps cadet a Take Home Bookmark.

RESOURCES AND RECOMMENDED FURTHER READING The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine. London, England: Salvation Books, The Salvation Army International Headquarters, 2010.

Waldron, John D. G. S. R. Selections from Published and Unpublished Writings of George Scott Railton. London, England: The Salvation Army, 1981.

The Wesley Study Bible New Revised Standard Version. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2009.

Web ResourceS www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/january/what-should-worship-look-like- 3-questions-to-ask-when-plann.html?paging=off http://legacy.biblegateway.com www.umcom.org/learn/plan-transitions-create-a-worship-service-flowchart

This includes big pictures (albeit not culturally diverse): www.wikihow.com/Plan-a- Weekly-Worship-Service-(Christian-Protestant)

Week 3: Planning Worship 95 Take Home bookmark

Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship

Leadership Principle Leadership Principle God brings about change from the inside out. God brings about change from the inside out.

Memorize Memorize “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” we glory.” Hebrews 3:6 Hebrews 3:6

Did You Know? Did You Know? George Scott Railton wrote: “But we go to church George Scott Railton wrote: “But we go to church to come out again…While millions are going to come out again…While millions are going to hell, we belong on the street corner, outside to hell, we belong on the street corner, outside bars, in the dark places, as well as at the corps. bars, in the dark places, as well as at the corps. That’s where we can do what God wants us to That’s where we can do what God wants us to do, and get people saved… do, and get people saved…

Be sure you are as willing to go to the dirtiest place Be sure you are as willing to go to the dirtiest place in town and be cursed and beaten for Christ’s sake, in town and be cursed and beaten for Christ’s sake, as you are to go to church and hear kind words. as you are to go to church and hear kind words. Then you’ll do.” (paraphrased) Then you’ll do.” (paraphrased)

Go Deeper Go Deeper Read the 2nd doctrine and 8th “I Will” statement Read the 2nd doctrine and 8th “I Will” statement of “The Soldier’s Covenant.” Discuss or journal of “The Soldier’s Covenant.” Discuss or journal how they relate to today’s lesson. how they relate to today’s lesson.

Watch Tim Hawkins talk about hand-raising in Watch Tim Hawkins talk about hand-raising in church at https://youtu.be/TK2_ezOBa2A. church at https://youtu.be/TK2_ezOBa2A. MAD-LIB PLANNING MAD-LIB PLANNING

Congregational Song Congregational Song

Scripture Verse or Passage Scripture Verse or Passage

Sermon Topic Sermon Topic

Praise and Worship Song Praise and Worship Song

Additional Element, like Dance or Drama Additional Element, like Dance or Drama MAD-LIB WORSHIP PROGRAM MAD-LIB WORSHIP PROGRAM

Call to Worship Call to Worship

Congregational Congregational Song Song

Scripture Scripture

Praise and Praise and Worship Songs Worship Songs

Special Element Special Element

Sermon Sermon

Congregational Congregational Song Song WE BELIEVE

WE BELIEVE in salvation. 1. 2. 3.

WE BELIEVE in sanctification. 1. 2. 3.

WE BELIEVE in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 1. 2. 3.

WE BELIEVE God wants us to be in community. 1. 2. 3.

WE BELIEVE God wants us to be joyful. 1. 2. 3.

WE BELIEVE loving God moves us to do good works. 1. 2. 3.

December Discipleship THE CHURCH

The Body SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Bibles • BOLD booklets • Pens/pencils • Several puzzles (no more than 50 pieces) • Copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets • Copies of the Take Home Bookmark

BEFORE CLASS:

• Read the Leader Overview. • Have the puzzles separated from the boxes with the pieces in a Ziploc® bag. Leave one piece from each puzzle in its box. • Make copies of Monthly Questions and Activity Record sheets, if needed. • Make enough copies of the Take Home Bookmark found at the end of the lesson for each corps cadet.

LEADER OVERVIEW The purpose of this lesson is to give corps cadets a solid understanding of the universal Church, major branches, denominations, and The Salvation Army’s part in it all. In this lesson, corps cadets will once again be challenged to look at Scripture as the model for church (and everything else we do), understanding that The Salvation Army is one piece of a larger puzzle. They will explore the metaphor of the body that Scripture uses to describe the church. As application, they will consider their identity as Christians in the Church, as Protestants, as Armenians, as Salvationists, and as corps cadets. You may find it beneficial to read the chapter entitled “A Salvationist Understanding of the Church” in The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine prior to this lesson as well as resources and websites listed at the end of the lesson. The websites, in particular, give good overviews of the differences between Protestants and Roman Catholics as well as Calvinism and Arminianism.

Leadership Principle God brings about change from the inside out.

Week 4: The Body 101 Discipleship THE CHURCH December

Memory Verse “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” Hebrews 3:6

INTRODUCTION (5 minutes)

Read from the book together as a brigade.

The Body

The Bible gives several metaphors for the church—the most commonly used being that of the body. We are all members that make up the church, just as each part makes up the whole body. We often use this metaphor for the members in one church and each of our gifts. While that’s an accurate use of the metaphor, there is another that describes the larger picture.

The church (lowercase C) is the place we go to for worship in our own distinct way. The Hebrew roots of the word mean “the act of assembling.” We get together with other people who worship the same true God that we do. By assembling together on a regular basis, we grow in community and grow toward holiness.

The Church (capital C) is the full picture of God’s people around the world. As The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine states, “The Church is the fellowship of all who are justified and sanctified by grace through faith in Christ.” In other words, the big picture is that of those who confess that Jesus is their Savior and live as He commands. Within the Church, there are two main branches: Protestant and Roman Catholic. The Salvation Army falls under Protestant churches. Under Protestants, the two main divisions are Arminianism and Calvinism, with a major difference between the two being how free will is defined. The Salvation Army falls under Arminianism.

Within each branch, there are many denominations—an identifiable religious group with its own distinctions in belief and practice. The Salvation Army is its own recognized denomination. We come out of a holiness heritage that was deeply influenced by John and Charles Wesley and the Methodist denomination (in which William Booth was raised). The Salvation Army became its own denomination out of the desire to focus on a group of people that the Church was not meeting the needs of by and large: the poor and outcast.

No denomination can claim that it is THE Church. Each denomination is made up of churches that are part of the bigger picture; each one plays a special role in God’s kingdom. “Salvationists are members of the one Body of Christ. We share common ground with the universal Church while manifesting our own characteristics” (The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine). In other words, we are not the Savior; we serve and reflect the Savior!

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Ultimately, when it comes right down to it, God’s Church is made up of people, not buildings or denominations. It is made up of sinners, saved by grace, seeking to learn from Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit how to live in love. We need that type of community to keep living a holy life—one that is set apart for God’s glory. “For the watching world, we ourselves offer up proof that God is alive. We form the visible shape of what God is like” (Philip Yancey). We are the body of Christ to those around us.

ENGAGE (10 minutes)

Do the “Puzzled?” activity.

Divide your corps cadets into pairs (or groups of 3-4 if you have a larger brigade) and give each pair or group a puzzle in a Ziploc bag. Be sure that one puzzle piece is still in the box. Do not give them the box. Tell them they have five minutes to put their puzzle together. As they get close to finishing, you will likely hear comments about missing a piece.

At the end of five minutes, ask: Did everyone complete their puzzle? Why not?

Allow response. Then ask: Would it have been easier to put the puzzle together looking at the box?

Allow response. Then hand each pair or group their corresponding box with the missing puzzle piece. Let those that didn’t finish their puzzle continue to work on it as you continue the lesson.

Say: Author Philip Yancey wrote, “Every church shoots for an ideal, and every church misses the mark. But at least a picture of the ideal gives us something to shoot for.” It is much easier to put the picture together when you have the box to look at. This is why we bother to study what the church looks like in the Bible. That’s what we did in our first lesson this month. But we also need to go back to Scripture continually as we study any theme to make sure we are matching our picture against the ideal.

Then say: You were given a puzzle with a piece missing from it. Without that piece, you could still get a good idea of what the overall picture looked like. But it wasn’t complete. That’s a good example of individual denominations and churches. Without our denomination—The Salvation Army—the world would still get a good picture of Who God is and His plan of salvation for all people. However, a piece of the puzzle would be missing. We have an important role to play in growing God’s kingdom here on earth. We’re going to take a look at the big picture as well as our particular piece of the puzzle in this lesson.

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READ (5 minutes)

Divide your corps cadets into six groups, giving each group one passage to read together now and read aloud when applicable in the Explore section. Remember that a group may consist of one person: Psalm 145:4-7; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:21-26; Ephesians 4:4-6; Philippians 2:1-2; and 1 Peter 2:9.

EXPLORE (10 minutes)

Ask: What are some things these passages say about the body? (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:21-26; Ephesians 4:4-6)

Allow response. Then add from the following:

• The members do not all have the same function.

• Each part of the body belongs to the other.

• No part can tell another part, “I don’t need you.”

• Parts that seem weaker are indispensable.

• Parts that seem less honorable are treated with special honor.

• Parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty.

• God has put the body together.

• There should be no division in the body.

• The parts of the body should have equal concern for each other.

• If one part of the body suffers, every part suffers.

• If one part of the body is honored, every part rejoices.

• There is one body.

Ask: What purpose does the passage from Psalms give us for the Church? (Psalm 145:4-7)

Allow response. Then clarify: The Church passes on God’s truth from one generation to the next. It spans throughout all of history and will continue long after we are gone, sharing God’s truth about grace and love throughout the ages.

Ask: What are some ways that the Church is united across denominations, borders, and generations? (Ephesians 4:4-6; Philippians 2:1-2; 1 Peter 2:9)

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Allow response. Then add from the following:

• Through one Spirit

• Through one Lord

• Through one faith

• Through one baptism (of the Holy Spirit)

• Through one God and Father

• United in Christ

• All share in the Spirit

• All believers are a chosen people

• All are a royal priesthood

• All are God’s special possession

• We all declare God’s praises

• We all walk in light

APPLY (15 minutes)

Say: One author writes, “The Church is made up of all who are brought into union with God by supernatural grace flowing from Christ as head”(Avery Dulles). That means we are drawn together in the greater Church (with a capital C) because of God’s grace and as followers of Jesus through faith. It’s through the Church that the world sees what love truly is and how it is lived out. The same author states, “The Church is seen as existing for the glory of God and of Christ, and for the salvation of its members in a life beyond the grave.”

Ask: What is our identity as Christians in the Church?

Allow response. Then add from the following:

• Believers in God

• Receivers of grace

• Followers of Jesus Christ

• People of faith

• People who love

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• Receivers of salvation

• People who have eternal life

Say: There are several key differences between Protestants and Roman Catholics. It’s important to note that “Catholic” and “Roman Catholic” can mean different things. In this lesson, we are focusing on the major branch of Roman Catholicism. Roman Catholics believe that the Pope is the head of the worldwide Church. Protestants recognize the Pope and his leadership, but not his ultimate authority over the entire Church. That could be the equivalent to saying that the General is the ultimate authority over all Christians. Roman Catholics hold Mary in higher regard than Protestants. They pray to Mary and other saints and believe she was sinless.

While both branches believe in justification (being in a right relationship with God) through grace, Roman Catholics believe our actions are a key part of this process, whereas Protestants believe that it comes only through grace by faith. Roman Catholics focal point in worship (or Mass) is communion; Protestants focus on the sermon, preached from the Bible. Finally, Roman Catholics hold church tradition as authority alongside Scripture, while Protestants see that Scripture is the only central authority for faith and practice.

Ask: What is our identity as Protestants?

Allow response. Then add from the following:

• Believers in Jesus as the only sinless person who walked on earth

• Focused on justification by grace through faith

• Teaching from the Bible as the central part of corporate worship

• Believers in Scripture as the only key authority

Say: Calvinism was named for John Calvin who lived in the early 1500s. Arminianism was named for Jacobus Arminius who lived in the late 1500s. Both were theologians who basically tried to explain God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility when it came to salvation. There are five main points of difference between the two systems of theology:

1. Free Will: Calvinism states that we are in bondage to sin and cannot make the choice of accepting God; instead, He chooses us. Arminianism states that God enables every sinner to repent, but He will not interfere with free will, and although God convicts humans, we still must make the choice to follow Him.

2. Election: Calvinism states that God has chosen in advance which sinners will be saved. Arminianism states that God knows in advance which sinners will be saved, but it still depends on the individual’s free will to

106 Week 4: The Body December Discipleship THE CHURCH

choose. Think of this like an escalator. A person has to choose to step on (free will), but once the choice has been made, the escalator (God) elects (or predetermines) where you will end up (eternal life).

3. Atonement: Calvinism states that Christ died for those God chose in advance (elected) to be saved. Arminianism states that Christ died for every person, but only those who consciously receive His forgiveness are saved.

4. Calling: Calvinism states that those God elected cannot resist the Holy Spirit’s call. Arminianism states that all are called and each individual can accept or reject the Holy Spirit’s call.

5. Salvation: Calvinism states that those who are chosen by God, once they are saved, are saved eternally no matter what. Arminianism states that those who have received salvation still have the free will to walk away from it. This is not the same as “losing our salvation.” We don’t believe we can “lose” our salvation, as in it might just slip out of our grasp if we don’t do the right things. The belief is that we are secure in our choice; we can choose to continue on the path of eternal life, or we can choose to step off the path, turn around, willingly walk away from God, and choose eternal separation from Him.

Ask: What is our identity as Armenians?

Allow response. Then add from the following:

• Although sinners, we have free will and the choice to choose God or not

• Believers in Christ’s death for all sinners

• Knowing that the Holy Spirit calls everyone, but allows us to accept or reject the call

• Secure in our individual decision to either choose life or choose death

Say: The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine says that The Salvation Army’s “three key strengths are its missional zeal, its commitment to holiness and its strong community outreach.” Our mission is carried out through our presence in the world, public proclamation of the gospel, personal evangelism, pointing to the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s power to transform lives, identifying with and offering compassionate serve to the poor and disadvantaged, and working with the oppressed for justice and liberty. During William Booth’s time, many churches were seen as groups that demonstrated a lack of concern for the unsaved (especially the poor). The Handbook of Doctrine states, “Salvationists have sometimes been tempted to judge other denominations harshly in the light of our own standards, particularly with reference to mission and care for the marginalized.

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Such superior attitudes are unacceptable and can be counteracted by a proper understanding of the Church and The Salvation Army’s place within it.”

Ask: What is our identity as Salvationists?

Allow response. Then add from the following:

• Followers of Christ with an outward (missional) focus

• Christians who focus on the poor and marginalized (the last, the least, and the lost)

• People who work specifically with the oppressed, seeking justice and freedom

• Lovers of God who are at war against sin and oppression

Ask: Is it wrong to have our own denomination?

Allow response, then say: No. Denominations are part of God’s design for this puzzle known as the Church. Each denomination is a piece of the puzzle. Our differences in beliefs do not change Who Jesus is. They are part of how we worship Him and present Him to others. Some people will connect with one denomination better than another. That’s part of the beauty of the overall puzzle!

Say: The overall goal of the Corps Cadet program is to prepare young people for a lifelong commitment to spiritual growth and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and for serving God and The Salvation Army to the fullest extent possible. Aims of the program include the following:

• To provide an atmosphere in which spiritual growth can occur

• To provide opportunities for development of leadership skills

• To deepen knowledge and appreciation of Salvation Army history, policies, and practices

• To provide training and opportunities to develop soul-winning experiences

• To provide an opportunity for Christian fellowship and relationship- building in a safe and caring small group

Ask: What is our identity as corps cadets?

Allow response. Then add from the following:

• Young people learning to be disciples of Christ

• Students who are learning leadership skills in order to serve in the church

108 Week 4: The Body December Discipleship THE CHURCH

• Christians seeking to grow spiritually

• Teens learning about the piece of the puzzle of God’s kingdom known as The Salvation Army, who we are, and how we can serve others

• A group of followers of Jesus Christ who are growing and learning together in community

Say: One way to explain who we are to others is to say that we are Christians in the worldwide Church who are part of the Protestant-Armenian branch in a denomination called The Salvation Army (closest to the Methodists), serving specifically in the local role as a disciple learning to be a leader in the church through a program called Corps Cadets.

Say: How would you explain to others how we fit in the Church as Salvationists?

Do this together as a group, asking for input from each corps cadet. Some possibilities include:

• A family—we are one member of a bigger family that focuses on those who are often forgotten by society

• A flock of sheep with a Shepherd—we are just one member of a group of churches and denominations that look to Jesus to guide us

• A building (the hall is the traditions that are common to all; the rooms are denominations)—The Salvation Army might be considered the dining room where people are served, fed, and accepted as part of the family

• Wheel and spokes—we are one spoke that serves those who might not fit in elsewhere

Ask: If you are part of the Church as a follower of Jesus, why is it still important to attend a church?

Allow response. Then say: Although faith is individual, it is meant to be lived out in community. We are part of the Church (with a capital C) just by accepting God’s forgiveness through what Jesus did for us on the cross. However, we need a church (lowercase C) community to help us grow and live this truth out in our daily lives.

PRAY (5 minutes)

Ask each corps cadet to pray a one-sentence prayer out loud, thanking God for something specific about either the worldwide Church or the local church. Then close the prayer time praying for the other corps, churches, and denominations around the world seeking to glorify God and show His love to all.

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TO CLOSE THE CLASS (5 minutes)

Have the corps cadets fill out their Activity Record points for the week and complete Monthly Questions 7 through 10.

Ensure that all Monthly Questions are complete, with the corps cadet’s name on each paper. Collect completed papers to turn in to DHQ.

Give each corps cadet a Take Home Bookmark and Book #2 to take home.

RESOURCES AND RECOMMENDED FURTHER READING

Belcher, Jim. Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2009.

Duin, Julia. Quitting Church: Why the Faithful Are Fleeing and What to Do about It. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2008.

Dulles, Avery. Models of the Church. New York, NY: Doubleday, 2002.

Meyers, Robin. The Underground Church: Reclaiming the Subversive Way of Jesus. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2012.

The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine. London, England: Salvation Books, The Salvation Army International Headquarters, 2013.

Truesdale, Al, ed. Global Wesleyan Dictionary of Theology. Kansas City, MI: Beacon Hill Press, 2013.

The Wesley Study Bible New Revised Standard Version. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2009.

Yancey, Philip. Church: Why Bother? Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998.

Web ResourceS

http://christianityinview.com/protestant/denominations.html

www.exploregod.com/difference-between-protestantism-and-catholicism?gclid =CISMqNqz08QCFYU-aQodnWMAhg

www.gotquestions.org/Calvinism-vs-Arminianism.html

110 Week 4: The Body December Discipleship THE CHURCH www.graceonlinelibrary.org/reformed-theology/arminianism/calvinism-vs- arminianism-comparison-chart/ http://hirr.hartsem.edu/research/fastfacts/fast_facts.html http://undergod.procon.org/view.background-resource.php?resourceID=87

STOP Remember to fill out the Course Evaluation.

Week 4: The Body 111 Take Home bookmark

Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship Bible Study Our He ritage Leadership Discipleship

Leadership Principle Leadership Principle God brings about change from the inside out. God brings about change from the inside out.

Memorize Memorize “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” we glory.” Hebrews 3:6 Hebrews 3:6

Did You Know? Did You Know? The three fastest-growing religious groups The three fastest-growing religious groups in North America are the Assemblies of in North America are the Assemblies of God, Mormons, and Catholics. There are God, Mormons, and Catholics. There are approximately 314,000 Protestant churches approximately 314,000 Protestant churches in the United States. The Salvation Army is in the United States. The Salvation Army is the 35th largest denomination in the country. the 35th largest denomination in the country. 59% of all US churches have a regular Sunday 59% of all US churches have a regular Sunday attendance of less than 100 people. attendance of less than 100 people.

Go Deeper Go Deeper Read the 7th “I Will” statement of “The Soldier’s Read the 7th “I Will” statement of “The Soldier’s Covenant” and journal or discuss your personal Covenant” and journal or discuss your personal commitment to church. commitment to church.

Read the article at http://tinyurl.com/lv7qsbq. Read the article at http://tinyurl.com/lv7qsbq.

Watch www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt0FvQs Watch www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt0FvQs MmzU about The Salvation Army’s relationship MmzU about The Salvation Army’s relationship with other churches. with other churches. December Questions

BOLD For Corps Cadets | Course C | Book 2 | Fall 2015

Name:

Corps:

Answer the following questions. Circle the appropriate letter for multiple-choice questions. For the true/false statements, correct false statements to make them true. Please use a separate sheet of paper if needed. Staple it to this sheet with your name and corps at the top.

Monthly Questions (3 pts. each)

1. Circle all that apply. What examples do we get of Christian community from Acts 2:42-48? a. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. b. They devoted themselves to fellowship. c. They ate together and prayed together. d. They shared everything they had. e. They met together every day. f. They were persecuted but they pressed on.

2. Circle all that apply. What should church be like? a. A place where we don’t feel judged by saints. b. A place where we can bring our pain and questions. c. Something that feels like healthy family. d. A group of people that try to live like Jesus.

3. True or false. The Holiness Movement is the term used to describe the people, denominations, and religious groups that believe everyone receives the Holy Spirit at the moment they get saved.

4. The two people in the Holiness Movement who most influenced William and Catherine Booth were and .

5. True or false. Our worship is shaped by what we believe about Who God is and what kind of relationship He wants to have with us. 6. list three things we believe in The Salvation Army and one way each is expressed in our meetings. (Hebrews 4:12; John 3:16; 1Thessalonians 5:23; and John 17:20-23)

7. Circle all that apply. What are some ways that the Church is united across denominations, borders, and generations? (Ephesians 4:4-6; Philippians 2:1-2; 1 Peter 2:9) a. Through one God and Father, one Lord, and one Spirit b. All believers practice the sacraments in the same way c. All believers are a chosen people and a royal priesthood d. All are God’s special possession e. We all declare God’s praises f. We all walk in light

8. Circle all that apply. What is our identity as Salvationists? a. We are devoted to looking different from every other denomination b. We are followers of Christ with an outward (missional) focus c. We are Christians who focus on the poor and marginalized (the last, the least, and the lost) d. We are people who work specifically with the oppressed, seeking justice and freedom

9. Fill in the blanks. “But Christ is as the Son over God’s . And his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our and the in which we glory.” Hebrews 3:6

10. Fill in the blanks. God brings about change from .

Question for Reflection (20 pts.) Answer must be a minimum of 4 to 6 sentences. After studying about the Church, how do you see The Salvation Army fitting into the bigger picture and what do you see as your role in The Salvation Army? Why do you go to church? Discipleship (10 pts. possible) Evangelism (3 pts.) Activity Record W 1 W 2 W 3 W 4 W 5 Total Corps cadet counselor to award full Sharing Your Faith Sunday School points if completed satisfactorily, This month, I… (2 pts., 10 max.) partial points if completed partially, invited a friend to a corps and no points if not completed. Corps Cadet Classes program (3 pts., 15 max.) brought a friend with me to Worship Service Personal Devotions (4 pts.) the corps (2 pts., 10 max.) Bible Reading & Prayer prayed with a friend Complete the SOAP s sections shared Scripture with a friend SA Youth Meetings (1 pt., 10 max.) using the following Scripture: witnessed to a friend

Hebrews 3:1-6. Attendance Divisionial/Territorial Events Read the Scripture (1 pt.) (1 pt., 5 max.) D I Y – Do It Yourself Wrote an Observation (1 pt.) Prayer Meeting or Bible Study Wrote an Application (1 pt.) I completed… (1 pt., 5 max.) Prayed (1 pt.) Option 1 Option 3 Did not do SOAP s this month Option 2 Option 4 (0 pts.) Sunday School Class or Activity Taught (2 pts., 10 max.)

Summary Practices Attended Stewardship (3 pts.) Completed by corps cadet (1 pt., 5 max.) Time, Talent & Treasure counselor: Visitation & Service This month, I… Class Participation (5 pts.) (1 pt., 10 max.) tithed 10% of my income Recited Memory Verse (5 pts.) Participation Worship Service Participation to the corps Activity Record (30 pts.) (1 pt., 5 max.) tithed less than 10% of my Discipleship (10 pts.) income Completed by DHQ: volunteered personal time Total other: Monthly Questions (50 pts.) Total (100 pts.) Corps Cadet: Signature Date D I Y – Do It Yourself Notes (100 pts. total for course; Corps Cadet Counselor: 50 pts. each) Signature Date

1 of 2 2 of 2 Corps Officer: Signature Date BOLD For Corps Cadets | Course C | Book 1 & 2 | Fall 2015

Answer What did your brigade choose to do?

Answer What specifically did you do?

Answer What was hard?

Answer What was easy?

Answer What would you do differently?

Answer What did you learn? Fall 2015 D I Y – Do It Yourself

D I Y – Do It Yourself The “D I Y – Do It Yourself” component can be completed at any time within the course. As a brigade, choose two of the four themes. Then choose one of the options offered for each of the chosen themes. Complete the activity and then answer the questions on the “D I Y Debrief Sheet.”

THEME 1: Service • I’ll Fight Day at www.illfightday.com if not done the previous year. • Participate/Volunteer in Christmas work at the corps.

PARTICIPATE IN I’LL FIGHT DAY IF NOT DONE THE PREVIOUS YEAR I’ll Fight Day is usually in December, but any day is a good day to have an I’ll Fight Day. The website www.illfightday.com gives a lot of really great options. If none of them work for your brigade, have a brainstorming session and see what the corps cadets want to do. The criteria should not simply be “what they are comfortable doing.”

PARTICIPATE IN CHRISTMAS WORK AT THE CORPS Find out what is already happening at your corps and see how you can fit into it. • Wrap gifts for the corps Christmas party. • Stuff stockings. • Help with Angel Tree. • Stand kettles (as volunteers). • Offer free babysitting for the corps officers’ children.

Brainstorm unique ways to offer service at the corps at Christmas. • Offer free babysitting for the corps officers’ children—at the corps or in their home. • Organize healthy meals to be brought to the corps for the corps officers and their family.

THEME 2: Purity and Sex • Have a purity ring ceremony. • Put appropriate blocks on your computer. • Make an action plan.

BOLD for Corps Cadets: Course C 117 D I Y – Do It Yourself Fall 2015

HAVE A PURITY RING CEREMONY Although this has gone out of vogue a little in the last couple of years, it can still be meaningful if the young people are invested in it.

http://threethirtyministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Sample-Purity-Ring- Ceremony.pdf

www.ehow.com/how_8408732_do-christian-purity-ring-ceremony.html

www.samplertosower.com/2011/02/true-love-waits-the-true-love-waits-pledge- and-ceremony/

PUT APPROPRIATE BLOCKS ON YOUR COMPUTER There is a variety of free downloadable blocking software available. Some of it includes accountability—reporting to another person the sites you visit. Check out some suggested resources at www.xxxchurch.com, www.covenanteyes.com, or www.internetsafety.com.

MAKE AN ACTION PLAN Make a list of the times you are most vulnerable.

Set up a strategy for how to resist temptation at those times.

Choose an accountability partner. Use www.covenanteyes.com/support-articles/ tips-for-accountability-partners/ if it’s helpful.

Use the “Action Plan” form at the end of this section.

THEME 3: Absolute Truth • If there are ways you’ve been dishonest in social media, change them to the truth.

• Discuss “poetic license” in your favorite social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blogs).

IF YOU’VE BEEN DISHONEST IN SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, CHANGE THEM TO THE TRUTH Do your posts reflect the truth about what matters to you?

Do your posts reflect the truth about what your life really is?

Do your posts reflect the truth about your faith—or are you hiding it?

Ask yourself these questions about your recent posts:

• Am I seeking approval and validation?

118 BOLD for Corps Cadets: Course C Fall 2015 D I Y – Do It Yourself

• Am I boasting? Am I constantly comparing myself with others?

• Am I discontent? Am I complaining? Am I spreading bitterness?

• Is this a moment to protect?

• Is it kind?

• Am I getting caught up in the mob mentality, joining in on the attack without considering the person?

Consider adding the phrases, “In my opinion” and “In my experience,” to your most strongly stated posts. Remember, your most informed opinion is still your opinion.

Update, correct, or delete posts as needed.

Apologize in the comments if you’ve been too harsh on someone else’s post.

DISCUSS “POETIC LICENSE” Bring copies of favorite blogs and Twitter feeds. Analyze them to see how much you think is actually truthful. “Poetic License” is the freedom to depart from the facts of a matter or from the conventional rules of language when speaking or writing in order to create an effect (www.oxforddictionaries.com).

THEME 4: The church

• Plan the program for Corps Cadet and Candidate Sunday.

PLAN THE PROGRAM FOR CORPS CADET AND CANDIDATE SUNDAY Use the “General Program Outline” at the end of this section or create your own. Include all of the corps cadets if possible. Choral readings and skits are good ways to include several people in one item. Suggested materials are also available each course along with the curriculum.

STOP Remember to fill out the Course Evaluation.

BOLD for Corps Cadets: Course C 119 Theme 2—Purity & Sex ACTION PLAN

Step One: What are my most vulnerable times? Why?

Step Two: What am I going to do to keep from being tempted? What am I going to do to resist temptation?

Step Three: Who will hold me accountable? How? When? Theme 4—The Church GENERAL PROGRAM OUTLINE

Prelude

Welcome...... Corps Cadet Counselor

Call to Worship...... Corps Cadet

Praise and Worship...... Praise Band

Prayer...... Corps Cadet

Testimony...... Corps Cadet or Candidate

Bible Reading...... Corps Cadet

Offering...... Corps Cadet

Offertory...... Corps Cadet Counselor

Special Item (Skit or Dance)...... Corps Cadets

Sermon...... Corps Cadet Counselor or Corps Cadet or Candidate

Closing Song...... Corps Cadet

Benediction...... Corps Cadet

Fall 2015 Monthly Questions Answer Key

NOVEMBER QUESTIONS Monthly QUESTIONS: (3 pts. each) 1. Fill in the blanks. According to John 14:6, the absolute truth about Jesus is this: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is the ONLY avenue to salvation.

2. True or false. Skepticism, not doubt, is the enemy of truth because it isn’t looking for an answer. Skepticism says, “Faith is useless. We can’t know.” Skepticism even says, “I don’t want to know.” Doubt says, “Help me know. I want to know.” Jesus says, “I can be known.” True.

3. Give three examples of the “fighting talk” in the Bible that inspired William Booth. (2 Corinthians 10:2-4; Ephesians 6:10-17; 1 Timothy 1:18-19a; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3-4; and 2 Timothy 4:7)

• “Fight the good fight.” (1 Timothy 1:18-19a; 1 Timothy 6:12) • “Endure hardship…like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4) • “…We do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world…” (2 Corinthians 10:2-4) • “Put on the full armor of God” because “…our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:10-17) • “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

4. What are three things you learned about Brigadier Clifton C. Sipley that showed he was a good Salvationist?

• He understood and taught the fullness of the experience of being a Christian: salvation and sanctification and continued obedient faith. • He was ready to be used wherever he was needed. • When they retired, they continued as evangelists for 15 years. • He was a role model for fellow officers. • He developed strong local officers. • His goal was to bring sinners to Christ, the blessing of holiness to growing Christians, and new strength and faith to believers. • He was a confidante to fellow officers, serving as an officer counselor. • He loved to teach and preach. • Teaching to a large group was never more important than the moments with individuals. Once, he stopped in the middle of teaching to pray for someone who asked him to.

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• For 21 years, Brigadier Sipley ran the Christmas effort at the Jamestown, New York corps. • He received the Order of the Founder. • He had no hidden agendas. He had a transparency, a real love of the Lord. • The beauty of Jesus was seen in him.

5. Circle all that apply. What does it mean to be a Christian writer? a. A Christian writer writes from a Christian worldview. b. A Christian writer makes sure to include the name of Jesus somewhere or have the characters pray or go to church or do some religious activity. c. A Christian writer tells the truth. Christians don’t know everything. There are questions we can’t answer and with which we struggle. d. Especially when writing for people who aren’t Christians, a Christian writer shows that Christians don’t automatically make the right choices. A Christian shows the process.

6. True or false. Philippians 4:8 tells us to spend our time thinking about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. When we think about these things, then we talk about and write about those things. It never makes a difference to anyone but us, but it’s still worth doing. False. It often encourages others to think, talk, and write about those things.

7. Circle all that apply. What do we need to have as a foundation so we can know truth? (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17) a. Scripture: God’s Word is Truth b. A solid knowledge of Scripture for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness c. Knowledge of Scripture to be equipped for every good work d. Understanding of Scripture so we can answer every question

8. Circle all that apply. What are some ways in which the truth transforms us? (Ezekiel 36:23-26; John 8:31-32; John 17:17; and 2 Timothy 3:16-17) a. Others will see the holy God through us. We are transformed by our relationship with Him, not merely by reading and knowing the Bible. We have a new heart and a new spirit inside us. b. It brings about freedom (from sin, selfish choices, living an empty life, etc.). c. It gives us the right to stand up against anyone who disagrees with us. d. We are sanctified, cleansed, and set apart by the Word. e. We become equipped for any task and are trained in righteousness.

124 BOLD for Corps Cadets: Course C Fall 2015 Monthly Questions Answer Key

9. Fill in the blanks. “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6

10. Fill in the blanks. Incarnational leadership studies the truth, practices the truth, then teaches the truth.

REFLECTION QUESTION (20 pts.) Answer must be a minimum of 4 to 6 sentences.

What is the difference between knowing the truth and knowing the Truth? What difference does it make in your life?

There are no specific answers to the reflection question. The answers given, however, should draw from the unit materials and demonstrate application.

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December Questions Monthly QUESTIONS: (3 pts. each) 1. Circle all that apply. What examples do we get of Christian community from Acts 2:42-48? a. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. b. They devoted themselves to fellowship. c. They ate together and prayed together. d. They shared everything they had. e. They met together every day. f. they were persecuted but they pressed on.

2. Circle all that apply. What should church be like? a. A place where we don’t feel judged by saints. b. A place where we can bring our pain and questions. c. Something that feels like healthy family d. A group of people that try to live like Jesus

3. True or false. The Holiness Movement is the term used to describe the people, denominations, and religious groups that believe everyone receives the Holy Spirit at the moment they get saved. False. The Holiness Movement is the term used to describe the people, denominations, and religious groups that emphasize—as taught by John Wesley—a second, distinct work of grace, after salvation. This second work of grace is when the Christian believer is filled with the Holy Spirit and entirely sanctified.

4. The two people in the Holiness Movement who most influenced William and Catherine Booth were John Wesley and Phoebe Palmer.

5. True or false. Our worship is shaped by what we believe about Who God is and what kind of relationship He wants to have with us. True.

6. list three things we believe in The Salvation Army and one way each is expressed in our meetings. (Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 119:105; Psalm 119:11; John 3:16; 1Thessalonians 5:23; and John 17:20-23) • In the Scriptures as God’s divine, living Word, which is always to be treated with honor and respect. • Scripture guides us. • Scripture protects us. • Jesus is the Son of God and He died to save everyone from their sins. • We are saved by grace through faith.

126 BOLD for Corps Cadets: Course C Fall 2015 Monthly Questions Answer Key

• In sanctification—by grace through faith—and holy living. • In a personal relationship with Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us every day. • Our personal relationships with God as well as our relationships with other Christians lead others to believe. • Real worship prepares us to go out into the world. They can include any of the examples of how these are expressed from the Explore section.

7. Circle all that apply. What are some ways that the Church is united across denominations, borders, and generations? (Ephesians 4:4-6; Philippians 2:1-2; 1 Peter 2:9) a. Through one God and Father, one Lord, and one Spirit b. All believers practice the sacraments in the same way c. All believers are a chosen people and a royal priesthood d. All are God’s special possession e. We all declare God’s praises f. We all walk in light

8. Circle all that apply. What is our identity as Salvationists? a. We are devoted to looking different from every other denomination. b. We are followers of Christ with an outward (missional) focus. c. We are Christians who focus on the poor and marginalized (the last, the least, and the lost). d. We are people who work specifically with the oppressed, seeking justice and freedom.

9. Fill in the blanks. “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” Hebrews 3:6

10. Fill in the blanks. God brings about change from the inside out.

REFLECTION QUESTION (20 pts.) Answer must be a minimum of 4 to 6 sentences.

After studying about the Church, how do you see The Salvation Army fitting into the bigger picture and what do you see as your role in The Salvation Army? Why do you go to church? There are no specific answers to the reflection question. The answers given, however, should draw from the unit materials and demonstrate application.

BOLD for Corps Cadets: Course C 127 The Salvation Army USA National Headquarters Christian Education Department