Evangelizing Our Friends

Ta
Evangelizing Our Friends

Grade 12, Quarter 1, Student Book
Kevi n Caul ey
Into Gods World
Bible Class Curriculum
Written by Christians, for Christians
Lesson One.indd 1 5/16/14 1:32 AM
Copyright 2014
Into Gods World
Bible class curricula written by Christians for Christians
Churches of Christ
All Quotes from the New King James Version of Scripture
World Evangelism Publications
P.O. Box 72
Winona, MS 38967
Phone: 662-283-1192
Email: Choate@WorldEvangelism.org
Web sites: WorldEvangelism.org
Into Gods World.
Table of Contents
Lesson Page
1. God Speaks to Our Friends .................................................................. 1
2. There Is a Problem between God and Our Friends ............................ 5
3. Jesus Is the Message to Our Friends ................................................. 10
4. You Are Gods Bridge to Your Friends ............................................... 15
5. Proper Preparation Helps Your Friends to Know God ...................... 20
6. Commitment to Christ Anywhere You Are Helps Your Friends ........ 25
7. Being a Good Example Helps Your Friends ....................................... 30
8. Love Must Be Practiced with Your Friends ........................................ 35
9. Getting Involved with the Church Helps Your Friends ...................... 40
10. Going On a Mission Trip Helps Your Friends ................................... 46
11. Remaining Spiritual Helps Your Friends .......................................... 51
12. How Do You Talk to Your Friends about God? ................................ 56
13. Review and Questions and Answers ................................................ 61
Ultimately, What Do We Propose?
Component Parts:
l Classbooks perfect-bound, full-color books for the child to keep in his
permanent library.
l Teachers manual and visuals for the room, with training DVDs.
l LifeSpan weekly paper for take-home.
l Book of Bible Knowledge compilation of visuals for each lesson of each
quarter, bound into book form, for the childs permanent library, for review
throughout childhood.
l Flash cards for memory work picturized for younger children, photo from
lesson with verse on back for older children.
l Memory verses set to music, with accompanying CDs.
l Chronological Time Lines (4 levels, for Wednesday evening studies) show-
ing Biblical events, corresponding secular events in that time in the world; secu-
lar events with providential overruling, changing the course of history.
l Parenting class materials for Sunday classes and for family devotionals.
l Daily Devotional material drills/review materials.
l Song books and CDs Adult, teen, juvenile.
l VBS guides, lessons, and pattern books, with DVDs for instructions.
l Bible Times Rooms with instructions for making the rooms; lesson books,
DVDs.
l Mission Learning Centers with instructions for making the rooms; lesson
books, DVDs.
l DVDs of special adult class materials.
l DVDs of Holy Land experiences.
l Power points of classes.
l DVDs of classes, taught by experienced teachers and made available for
small churches, lacking teachers.
l Materials for small-group meetings, dealing especially with evangelism and
other lessons in outreach and teaching.
l Bible Character dolls and sets for 3-D lessons.
l Hands-on objects for cradle roll classes.
l DVDs to teach cradle roll teachers.
l Video games for:
Memorization of verses
Learning Bible facts
Pauls journeys
Bible timeline
l Into Gods World Internet website for publishing the materials (printed and
DVDs), worldwide.
l Development of materials for churches overseas.
This is a huge project, in the beginning stages, so be patient with us....
Evangelizing Our Friends:
God Speaks to Our Friends
12th Grade, Quarter 1, Lesson One
1
Memory Verse:
Hebrews 1:1-2: God, who at various times and in various ways
spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these
last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir
of all things, through whom also He made the worlds (NKJV).
Introduction:
Our culture talks about God all the time. Have any of your friends ever talked
about God? Many people in our society today believe in God. Do your friends believe in
Him? Do they know that God loves them? Do they know they need to be saved from their
sins? If so, what do your friends say about what they did to be saved?
Many have ideas about salvation that are not from the Bible. If your friends do not
know about God, or do not believe in God, this is a perfect opportunity to let them know
that God has spoken to them through His word. Everyone has some beliefs about God, even
atheists. You can talk to your friends about anything. Why not talk to them about God?
What Does the Bible Say?
God is real, and He has a message for all people. This
is the message which we have heard
from Him and declare to you,
that God is light and in Him
is no darkness at all (1
John 1:5).
God has revealed this
message through the Bible,
which is His word to man today.
It is important that we use the
Bible correctly. Be diligent to
present yourself approved
to God, a worker who does
not need to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
In order to understand the Bible, we need to know that it has two parts: the Old
Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament was Gods message to the
nation of Israel. Moses said, The Lord our God made a covenant with us in
Horeb. The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us,
those who are here today, all of us who are alive (Deuteronomy 5:2,3).
The New Testament is Gods message for
everyone today. It is the good news of Jesus Christ,
otherwise known as the Gospel. Paul wrote, For I
am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it
is the power of God to salvation for everyone
who believes, for the Jew frst and also for the
Greek. (Romans 1:16). The message of the Gospel
is that everyone would come to believe that Jesus is
the Son of God and to trust in Him for their salvation.
2
For discussion:
What is a covenant?
What is the Gospel?
Does God choose who
will be saved and who
will be lost?
Peter said, Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name un-
der heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). The
purpose of the Bible is the salvation of man and the glorifcation of God through Jesus
Christ. God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of
the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).
How Do We Apply This?
God speaks through the Bible,
and the Bible tells us about His Son,
Jesus. God, who at various times
and in various ways spoke in time
past to the fathers by the proph-
ets, has in these last days spo-
ken to us by His Son, whom He
has appointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the
worlds (Hebrews 1:1-2).
Jesus was a real person who
lived on the earth 2000 years ago in the
land of Israel where the city of Jerusa-
lem is located. Jesus came to give us an
abundant life. He said, I have come
that they may have life, and that
they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10b).
Jesus loves us, and He wants us to love Him and to love one another. He said,
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down ones life for his
friends (John 15:13), and Jesus laid down His life for us. He taught us to love God and
our neighbors. Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the frst and
great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neigh-
bor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).
God has revealed Himself through His Son Jesus. The apostle John wrote, No one
has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the
Father, He has declared Him (John 1:18). Jesus tells us who God is, but through His
life, teachings, and example, He also tells us who God intended us to be as His creation.
Jesus was the new Adam, the new standard for humanity. The apostle Paul said, And so
it is written, The frst man Adam became a living being. The last Adam be-
came a life-giving spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45). Jesus is both God and man.
Concerning Jesus, it is written, But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne,
O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of
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thy kingdom (Hebrews 1:8). In the same book, we read, Inasmuch then as the
children have partaken of fesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in
the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of
death, that is, the devil (Hebrews 2:14). Jesus was the perfect man who exemplifes
what it means to be truly human.
Study and discuss these related Scriptures:
John 1:18, John 10:10, Romans 1:16, Hebrews 1:1-3
Questions on the Lesson:
4
Answer and Di scuss these Questi ons:
1. Do you and your friends ever discuss the Bible or religious beliefs?
2. What do they say about how a person is saved?
3. There are many different beliefs about salvation, but where do we go
to learn what God says?
4. The Bible is divided into how many major parts?
5. Which is Gods message for people today?
6. Even though we dont live under the Old Testament law, why is it im-
portant for us to study that part of the Bible? What do we learn from it?
7. What is Gods power for salvation? What is the Gospel? Look up and
discuss Scriptures that defne the Gospel and our obedience to it:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 6:17; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-6
8. What are the two great commandments?
9. How did God reveal Himself to humans?
10. Jesus is both __________ and ___________.
Class Project: Divide the class into pairs. Let one have the role of the
Christian and the other of his friend. Practice looking up and discussing
Scriptures that show Gods directions in contrast to human beliefs and
doctrines.
There Is a Problem
Between God and Our Friends
12th Grade, Quarter 1, Lesson Two
5
Memory Verse:
Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORDS hand is not shortened, that it
cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your
iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have
hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear (NKJV).
Introduction:
Have you ever seen two friends disagree? Perhaps they disagreed so sharply, that
they didnt speak to each other for a while after that. Did they reconcile? What did they
do to reconcile with one another? It is more than likely that they had to talk to each other
to do this.
What about you? Have you ever offended someone else? Has someone else ever
offended you? Are there any offenses so great that you could not get over them? What
about rape or murder? Are those actions really offensive? What about God? Does He
get offended? If so, what offends Him?
The Bible teaches that there is a problem be-
tween God and our friends. It calls
this problem many things:
iniquity, transgression,
lawlessness, ungodliness,
guiltiness, unrighteous-
ness. These are just some
of the words the Bible uses,
but the most common word
used is sin.
Sin is a problem
because it separates us from
a healthy relationship with
God. Isaiah wrote, Be-
hold, the LORDS hand
is not shortened, that it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have
hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear (Isaiah 59:1-2). This lesson
will discuss the problem of sin.
Sin offends God, and separates man from God. The book of Genesis tells us that
God created the frst man and woman, Adam and Eve. Genesis 1:27 says, So God cre-
ated man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and
female He created them. It also says that Gods creation of them was very good:
Then God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good.
So the evening and the morning were the sixth day (Genesis 1:31).
Adam and Eve had no sin in their lives when God created them, but soon they
sinned by disobeying Him. God gave them one command. He said, Of every tree of
the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil, you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die
6
(Genesis 2:16-17). The apostle Paul tells us that as a result of this one act, sin entered the
world, and death came upon everyone. He said, Therefore, just as through one
man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to
all men, because all sinned (Romans 5:12). The truth is that sin earns us nothing
but death (Romans 6:23).
What is sin? Sin is acting as if God has not spoken to us and given us His law.
The apostle John wrote, Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness,
and sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). Sin is acting outside of Gods will for our
lives. Why must we act according to Gods will? Because God is the Creator, and He
has created us with a purpose in mind: to love Him and
to love our fellow. Jesus said that this was the frst and
second command: You shall love the LORD your
God with all your heart, with all your soul, and
with all your mind. This is the frst and great
commandment. And the second is like it: You
shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew
22:37-39). Sin derails us from the purpose of loving
God and loving our fellow, and when we do this, we go
outside of Gods law, offend Him and our fellow, and
create division between ourselves, God, and our friends.
Sin destroys relationships and creates barriers to prevent
future relationships.
Why does sin separate man from God? Because
God is a holy God (Leviticus 11:45, 1 Peter 1:16). The
word holy means set apart, or separated from some-
thing else. God is holy in that He is separate from sin
and sinners (Hebrews 7:26). This also means that He
is pure and incorruptible. God cannot be tainted by sin
and its corrupting infuences. He is wholly good, and
always does that which is right (Luke 18:19, Genesis
18:25). This means that God cannot tolerate the pres-
ence of that which offends, and sin offends. The apostle
Paul wrote, through one mans offense judg-
ment came to all men, resulting in condemna-
tion (Romans 5:18a). When we sin, we make a choice
not to be holy as God is holy, and in doing so, we sin
against God. After David committed adultery with
Bathsheba and murdered Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel
11-12), he wrote, Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in
Your sight That You may be found just when You speak, and blameless
when You judge (Psalm 51:4).
7
For discussion:
Are there big sins and
little sins?
Would you classify Adam
and Eve eating the forbid-
den fruit as a big sin or a
little sin?
If you had been there in
the Garden, do you think
you would have disobeyed
Gods instructions?
Look back over the past
week in your life. Can you
identify any commands of
God that you have dis-
obeyed?
Was this a sin? A big sin
or a little sin?
Since God is all-powerful,
can He just erase sin from
our record? Why not?
What is the one way that
God can forgive our sins?
Sin is a real problem, and something must be done about this situation! Fortu-
nately, God has given us His Son, Jesus, as an offering for sin. We will learn more about
this in the next lesson.
How Do We
Apply This?
God has created man in His own
image to seek Him. We studied Genesis
1:27, So God created man in His
own image; in the image of God He
created him; male and female He
created them. This verse means that
each person has the image of God within
them, and they recognize the difference
between good and evil, and right and
wrong. Moreover, each person is unique-
ly valuable to God, and worthy of being
redeemed out of sin (Titus 2:14).
Jesus said, For what proft is
it to a man if he gains the whole
world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his
soul? Jesus point is that the whole world isnt worth the value of one human soul.
Our worth is so much greater than that, and God wants us back.
Moreover, because we are made in Gods image, we can seek and fnd Him. Paul
said, He is not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27c).
Why cant people fnd God? The problem is that many get distracted by their
physical desires that draw them away from the purpose of their creation to love God
supremely, and to love their fellow man, and so to glorify God. Sin prevents us from
seeking and fnding God. John describes it in 1 John 2:15-17 when he says, Do not
love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world the lust of the
fesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is
of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who
does the will of God abides forever.
Sin substitutes itself for God, and tells us that if we will just seek sin instead of God
we will be happy. But the truth is that sin only brings sorrow, misery, and ultimately death.
Isaiah 59:1-2, 1 John 3:4, Matthew 22:37-39, 1 Peter 1:16, 1 John 2:15-17
8
9
1. What is the memory verse for this lesson and how does it apply?
2. Can we know that some behavior is offensive to others?
3. Does our behavior sometimes offend God?
4. Why is sin a problem?
5. What is the purpose for which God has created people?
6. What is sin, and how does it thwart Gods purpose?
7. What are the consequences of sin?
8. What does it mean to be created in the image of God?
9. Does God want us to fnd Him?
10. What distracts us from fnding God like we should?
11. Is lust in any form for money, things, power, or sensual lust
bad, or does our culture see it as personal choices and ambitions?
12. Suppose you bought some things and realized that the receipt given
to you did not include an item priced at $2.14. Would you go back to the
clerk to correct the error?
13. Romans 13:8 says ____ ___ ____ ________ except to love one an-
other, for he who loves another has fulflled the law. If we are dishonest
about small things, is that also disobedience to God?
14. Throughout the world, historically and in most cultures, it is con-
sidered wrong to lie, to cheat, to steal, etc. Is this evidence that we are
made in Gods image, with a moral sense of right and wrong?
15. People often say that doing sinful things is fun. Can you think of
fun things that are sinful and end in disaster?
Class Project: As you watch TV or movies, what are some of the sins
that are shown? Can you locate the Scriptures that condemn those
things? Are they pictured as wrong by our culture, or are they accepted
as a persons individual choices?
Jesus Is the Message
to Our Friends
12th Grade, Quarter 1, Lesson Three
10
Memory Verse:
(Acts 4:12 NKJV) Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is
no other name under haven given among men by which we must
be saved.
Introduction:
It is always nice to have friends around to talk to. When we are with our friends,
good conversation seems to go on and on. But have you ever been in a group of people
who didnt know what to talk about? Awkward, isnt it? Sometimes the silence of not
knowing what to talk about causes us to do crazy things. The Christian, however, always
has something to talk about Jesus! When we read the Bible, we see that the apostles
and prophets in the New Testament constantly spoke about Jesus, His life, death, and
resurrection. He is truly the topic of conversation for the hour!
Not everyone wants to talk about Jesus,
though. In fact, many in the world
today are trying to remove talk
about Him from the public
sphere of conversation. We
do not have to be silenced.
The world may try to elimi-
nate Jesus from the conver-
sation, but we can over-
come the world! In John
16:33, Jesus said, These
things I have spoken
to you, that in Me you
may have peace. In the
world you will have trib-
ulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. There are plenty
of opportunities for us to talk about Jesus today, especially with those who are closest to
us. We should not be afraid of talking about Him to our friends, because He has already
conquered all!
Jesus is Gods message for your friends. After His resurrection, He came to His
disciples and told them to preach the gospel to the world. And He said to them, Go
into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). The
world gospel means good message, and Jesus is the good message for our salvation.
In Acts 2, Peter proclaimed that Jesus is the Lord through whom God saves all from their
sins today. In Acts 2:36 he said, Therefore let all the house of Israel know as-
suredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucifed, both Lord and
Christ. Jesus is the Lord, and He is the one whom God anointed to save humanity from
sin. In Acts 4:12, Peter made this statement, Nor is there salvation in any other,
for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we
must be saved. Not only does Jesus save, but we must be saved through Him. There
is no other way to get to God the Father. Jesus said in John 14:6, I am the way, the
11
truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. This
means that Christianity is the only true religion, and Jesus the only true representative of
God. Neither Muhammad, Buddha, Confucius, Joseph Smith, nor any other is able to
give us salvation. Jesus is the only way.
We need to talk about Jesus: His life, His minis-
try, His teaching, and His death. It is through learning
more about Him that we come to understand God, and
grow close to our Father.
Jesus life was no ordinary life because He was
the only begotten son of God. John 3:16 says, For
God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.
Jesus reveals to us who God is. In John 1:18,
we read, No one has seen God at any time. The
only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the
Father, He has declared Him.
Jesus is the only one who has declared who God
is. Specifc teachings of Jesus are recorded in the New
Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but
through His apostles and prophets, Jesus teaches in all
of the New Testament, because it was Gods Holy Spirit
that inspired the apostles and prophets to remember the
Lords words.
Jesus himself said, But the Helper, the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,
He will teach you all things and bring to your
remembrance all things that I said to you (John
14:26). So really, any time we study the New Testa-
ment, we are studying about Jesus and His message.
We can be confdent that when we read the pages of the
New Testament, we are studying about Jesus.
The central message of the New Testament is
that Jesus, who was God with us, died on the cross for
mankinds sins. As we studied in our previous lesson,
sin separates humanity from God and from one another. Only Jesus could bridge this gap
because only He lived a sinless life and offered a perfect sacrifce for sins. Ephesians
2 tells us that Christ is our peace, and He has reconciled us to God and our fellowman.
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken
down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His fesh the enmi-
ty, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to cre-
12
For discussion:
In other religions, are there
holy men whose follow-
ers worship them?
Are any of those holy men
thought of as a savior?
In John 14:26, Jesus
promised to send the Holy
Spirit to the Apostles.
What would He enable
them to do?
The central message of
the New Testament is that
______ ______ on the
_______ for __________
______.
What does the word rec-
oncile mean?
Since sin in humans sepa-
rates us from God, how did
Jesus remove that wall of
separation?
Can you explain, with the
support of Scripture, how
we as sinners are saved
through His death?
ate in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He
might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby
putting to death the enmity (Ephesians 2:14-16). Because Christ humbled Himself
and obeyed God even to the point of death, He has been given authority to communicate
Gods terms of salvation to the world (Matthew 28:18-20, Philippians 2:5-11).
We need to fnd constructive ways to talk about Him in our lives. How do we
preach and teach Jesus to others? Consider the example of Philip in Acts 8. He encoun-
tered a man who was studying the Bible, and one simple question led the discussion to
Jesus. He asked whether the man understood what he was reading.
l If someone we know is studying Gods word, this is a very simple and easy
question to ask.
l Many people do not understand what the Scriptures say, and they need to have
someone better explain the message to them.
l This is always a good way to start a conversation about Jesus, and the whole
Bible is about Jesus.
l The theme of the Bible is the salvation of humanity, and the glorifcation of
God through Jesus Christ.
l We should be able to turn to any passage of the Bible and eventually get
around to talking about Jesus. This is what Philip did in Acts 8. After they read the scrip-
ture, the text says, Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scrip-
ture, preached Jesus to him (Acts 8:35).
l Another constructive way to talk about Jesus is to invite one of your friends to
attend worship with you. Doing this will create many questions in their minds.
l You can then talk about these questions when you return home, or on the way
home in the car. The apostle Paul often had people want to talk more to him after he
assembled with others to worship. In Acts 17:2 we read, Then Paul, as his custom
was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the
Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and
rise again from the dead, and saying, This Jesus whom I preach to you is
the Christ.
l Paul also took his message to the public through popular communication. In
Acts 17:22-31, Paul discussed the existence of God, and the resurrection of Jesus from
the dead with idol worshipers in Athens. Acts 17:32 says, And when they heard of
the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, We will hear
you again on this matter.
l Another great way to get others to learn more about Jesus is to invite them to
participate in some of the activities that the church does. Perhaps your youth group goes
on special outings together. These are perfect times to invite friends and talk to them
more about Jesus.
13
The best way to begin to talk about Jesus, however, is to just make Him part of
your everyday life. Take your Bible to school with you. Pray when you sit down to eat
your food. Tell others about what you did on the weekend with the church. Let them
see in you the example of Christ living in your life. A good example is the most effec-
tive way to tell others about Him. The apostle Paul said, Imitate me, just as I also
imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Jesus said, Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven
(Matthew 5:16).
Matthew 5:16, 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, John 3:16, 10:6, Acts 4:12, 8:35
1. Does the world want to talk about Jesus? Why do you think that is?
2. Why did the disciples constantly speak about Jesus?
3. How do we know that Jesus message will overcome?
4. What does the word gospel mean, and how does it relate to Jesus?
5. Why can we not be saved through anyone but Jesus?
6. What does the Bible say about the identity and work of Jesus?
7. How do we know that the whole New Testament gives us Jesus
teachings?
8. What is the central message of the New Testament?
9. How and where does God reconcile sinful humanity to Himself?
10. What are some effective ways to preach and teach Jesus in our
lives?
Class Project: As a class, plan a special evening of fellowship together
with Bible study and discussion on a particular subject that is relevant
to the challenges at this age in your life. Each one invite one to come.
14
Jesus Is the Message
to Our Friends
12th Grade, Quarter 1, Lesson Four
15
Memory Verse:
(1 Timothy 3:15 NKJV) But if I am delayed, I write so that you may
know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God,
which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the
truth.
Introduction:
A bridge connects one side of a land-mass to another. One of the most famous,
the Golden Gate Bridge in California, connects the city of San Francisco with Marin
County across San Francisco Bay. This bridge allows travelers to get to a point that
would take many hours to reach otherwise. All bridges make it easier to go from one
place to another, accelerating access and enabling us to connect points that would be
physically separated without them. Metaphorically, a bridge is something that links
ideas, thoughts, and people to one another. They are great tools for facilitating communi-
cation.
Christians are bridges for those who are lost in sin. Through their words, exam-
ples, and attitudes about God, Jesus, and the Bible they enable others to learn the Truth.
God has left His work in the hands of His church today, the pillar and ground
of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:2, You are our epis-
tle written in our hearts, known and read by all men. In the song, The Worlds
Bible, by Annie Johnson Flint, she expresses this sentiment.
Christ has no hands but our hands,
To do His work today.
He has no feet but our feet,
To lead men in His way.
He has no tongue but our tongue,
To tell men how He died.
He has no help, but our help,
To lead them to His side.
God has chosen the church as His way of communi-
cating with the world. After Jesus died on
the cross, He was then resurrect-
ed from the dead (Matthew
28:1-10).
At frst, His disciples
didnt believe that this had
happened. In fact, Mark
says, And when they
heard that He was alive
and had been seen by
her, they did not be-
lieve (Mark 16:11). Then
Jesus appeared to them, and
they believed. They were
transformed from a discouraged group of doubters into a powerful group of proclaimers.
16
Jesus plan was for
His disciples to take the
gospel to the whole world
in His name. In Acts 1:8 he
told them, But you shall
receive power when the
Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you shall
be witnesses to Me in
Jerusalem, and in all Ju-
dea and Samaria, and to
the end of the earth.
Mark 16:15 records
the command, Go into all
the world and preach
the gospel to every
creature. Acts 5:42 says, And daily in the temple, and in every house, they
did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Everywhere the
disciples went, they established churches that would act as seeds for continuing to teach
the Gospel in the local community (Acts 15:41, Acts 16:5).
The same commands are ours today, which is why it is so important that all of us,
as Christians, remember that we are to be bridges between God and the lost souls around
us. By doing this, Gods Truth is represented, and humanity has the opportunity to hear
and obey the Gospel. We are Gods voice to bring the message of salvation to everyone.
Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 3:15: But if I am delayed, I write so that you may
know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the
church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
l The house of God is the church of God.
l The church of God is the pillar and ground of the truth. What does this mean?
l This means that the church is the only organization in the world that God has
established for preaching and teaching the message of the Gospel. This is because the
church is the one place where God brings together people of every race,
culture, background, and type to have unity with Him and with one another.
How is this possible? Through Jesus death on the cross! Through His blood, ev-
ery person has the opportunity to have peace with God and with one another (Ephesians
2:14-19).
l This body of people to whom the message of salvation for the world has been
entrusted is the church, and Jesus is her Savior and Head. Ephesians 5:23 says, For
the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and
He is the Savior of the body. The job of the church is to preach the unsearch-
able riches of Christ by speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 3:8, 4:15).
Picture used with permission:
(c)2006 www.TeGloryStory.com
17
The mission of the church can be best described in Matthew 28:19,20 where Jesus
said: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them
to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
The church is truly the bridge from Christ to humanity!
The church represents Christ on earth because she is the body of Christ. Ephe-
sians 1:22-23 says, And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to
be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him
who flls all in all.
Additionally, Christ represents God because Jesus is the fullness of God bodily
(Colossians 2:9).
Put these two truths together and we come to understand that
the church represents God on earth. In 2 Corinthians 4:6,
the apostle Paul writes, For it is the God who
commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in
our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in
the face of Jesus Christ.
Gods light proceeds from God to Christ, then from Christ to His
disciples, and from His disciples to the rest of the world! This means that the
church is Christs body to accomplish Gods will in the earth! Gods glory
today is in His church: Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power
that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all gener-
ations, forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20,21).
We are members of Christs body. We read in 1 Corinthians 12:12: For as the
body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body,
being many, are one body, so also is Christ. Each one of us is a member of Christs
body (1 Corinthians 12:27). Being members of the body of Christ, the church (Colossians
1:18), we represent God and Christ on earth! Paul said Now then, we are ambassadors
for Christ, as though God were pleading through us (2 Corinthians 5:20a).
This means that we must pay attention to what we say and how we act around
others because when others see us, they are judging Christ. We can be a good infuence
or a bad infuence.
18
Paul discusses being a fragrance for Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15). A fragrance in-
fuences us in either a good way or a bad way, depending on what kind of smell it is. We
want to be a good fragrance for God and so infuence our friends to Christ.
Jesus said that we are salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt is also an infuence
that makes things taste good. Light helps us to see when we are in the dark. It infuenc-
es our sight so that we do not stumble. As both salt and light, we want to infuence our
friends to know more about God and Christ through the Bible, Gods word. We want to
persuade others. Paul wrote, Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we per-
suade men (2 Corinthians 5:11a).
We are building a bridge to God for our friends!
Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 5:42, 2 Corinthians 3:2, 5:20, Ephesians 1:23, 5:23,
Colossians 1:18, 2:9, 1 Timothy 3:15.
19
1. What is the function of a bridge?
2. How are Christians like a bridge from God to mankind?
3. What is a pillar and how does it work in supporting something?
4. Why does Christ depend upon the church to do His work today?
5. What is the relationship of God to Christ, and Christ to the church?
6. What message does the church bring to others about Christ?
7. In what organization on earth does God put His glory today?
8. What does it mean to be a member of the body of Christ?
9. What role does the apostle Paul discuss in 2 Corinthians 5:20?
10. What are three metaphors that describe our infuence?
Class Project: For some upcoming program of the teens or the church
[a Gospel meeting, a special class, or an evening of fellowship], each
class member should invite a friend to join the group.
Proper Preparation Helps
Your Friends to Know God
12th Grade, Quarter 1, Lesson Five
20
Memory Verse:
(1 Peter 3:15 NKJV) But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who
asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness
and fear.
Introduction:
Have you ever noticed that it is easy to talk to your friends about some things,
but hard to talk to them about other things? Why is that? A lot of times it is because
of our own comfort level with the material. Other times it is because of our own fears.
Sometimes, it is simply the sensitivity of the information, and knowing how your friends
are going to react. How hard is it to talk to your friends about the Bible? Sometimes it
seems impossible. Your friends have their own thoughts and backgrounds, and they have
their own beliefs about religion. How can you share the Gospel with them? A real friend
looks for ways to share. The important thing for us is to be prepared when the opportuni-
ty comes.
God wants us to be friends with people
who are not Christians. Jesus was called
a friend of sinners (Luke 7:34).
He also told us to make
friends of those who are not
Christians (Luke 16:9). In
order to make friends, we
must be a friend (Proverbs
18:24). This means being
kind to people when they
are not well. It means
talking and listening to
others about their hopes and
dreams. To be a friend with
someone, you must spend
time with them. Being a good friend will help prepare us to share the Gospel.
God wants us to talk to our friends about Him and His Son, Jesus, but how do we
prepare to do that? By studying His word. Peter wrote, But sanctify the Lord God in
your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you
a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15).
Being prepared to talk about God means that we must search the scriptures as the
Bereans did in Acts 17:11: These were more fair-minded than those in Thes-
salonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched
the Scriptures daily to fnd out whether these things were so. If we want
our friends to become Christians and we should we need to give them the informa-
tion that will cause them to want to become Christians, and that is Gods word. We dont
convert our friends; Gods word converts our friends. James says that Gods word is
able to save our souls (James 1:21). Peter said that Christians were born again, not of
21
corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and
abides forever (1 Peter 1:23). We need to be prepared with Gods word so that when
our friends want to talk about God, we will be ready to give them good information.
We can also speak to our friends in a way
that will facilitate the conversation. Our friends have
spiritual needs whether they realize it or not. Some-
times it is diffcult for us to understand those spiritual
needs. But remember that everyone has a sin problem
(Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8, 10), and sin creates a lot of
other problems in our lives as well. A lot of times our
friends will not want to discuss those problems because
it is embarrassing to them that they have these prob-
lems in their lives. They want everyone else to see a
happy, content, problem-free person. This is never the
truth about a person who isnt a Christian even though
they may say it is. As much as we want to, however,
we cannot force our friends to talk about their prob-
lems, or force them to change. We must patiently and
lovingly listen to our friends, and when they are ready,
they will want to discuss Gods word with us. When
they know that we care about them and their lives, then
God will create an opportunity for us to talk to them.
Remember, our job is to plant and to water, but God
gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6,7).
Consider that we have two sets of time to use for
the Lord. We have our time, and we have our friends
time. We use our time to study Gods word so that we
can be prepared. Paul told Timothy, Be diligent to
present yourself approved to God, a worker
who does not need to be ashamed, rightly di-
viding the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Study-
ing Gods word will help us connect our experiences
with Gods teaching. When we can think about life as
Jesus thought about it, always having scripture ready to
reply to anyone who would inquire, there will not be an opportunity that we will not be able
to take advantage of. This will not happen overnight, but it will happen, and you will fnd
yourself thinking about the Bible when friends talk about their problems.
Our attitude is also important here. Our desire is not to use scripture as a tool of
censure, eradication, or punishment, but rather, as a tool of love, nurture, and support.
22
For discussion:
Have you tried talking with
your friends about cultural
questions?
Have you tried talking with
your friends about biblical
questions?
If you have not, would the
reason be concern about
losing the friendship?
Would it be that you dont
know how to begin the con-
versation?
Real friendship is more than
just surface interaction with
others. Have you made it a
practice to be aware of spe-
cial needs your friends may
have, and to help them?
What are the two sets of
time we have for Gods
use?
How does our attitude affect
the way we use Scripture
in teaching/sharing with our
friends?
Before our friends will begin to accept correction of the wrong direction of their life,
they frst need to know that we love them and care about them. We must treat everyone
with appropriate respect. First Peter 2:17a says, Honor all people. Our friends are
created in the image of God, just as we are, and for that they are deserving of our love
and respect (Genesis 1:27, Matthew 22:39). The Bible is Gods word, and they cannot be
saved without it, but we must use Gods word as God intended for us to use it. Studying
the Bible will help us to see and understand these purposes.
We must also be consistent with our expressions of concern for our friends.
People know when we are being
genuine and when we are being
false for ulterior motives. When
we have the right motives, we
will be consistent. The right mo-
tive is to love our friends regard-
less of what they decide to do.
By having the right motives and
being genuine, we will be consis-
tent in our expression of concern
for our friends. Paul said that he
behaved himself in the world in
simplicity and godly sincer-
ity, not with feshly wisdom
(2 Corinthians 1:12). That is how
we want to act among our friends
as well.
We talked in a previous
lesson about being a good exam-
ple. It is important that we never
forget that our friends are watch-
ing us and our lives, and learning
through the example that we set.
When they see Christ living in
us, they will want what we have, and will be willing to seek the Lord. Let your light
so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your
Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Our lives need to be prepared to do this!
Proverbs 18:24, Matthew 5:16, Luke 16:9, Acts 17:11, 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, 2
Corinthians 1:12, 1 Peter 1:23, 3:15.
23
1. Why is it sometimes hard to talk to your friends about the gospel?
2. We can share the gospel with our friends by doing two things: we can
be a __________, and we can be __________.
3. What must we do to make friends?
4. What will studying the Bible help you to do in regard to evangelizing
your friends?
5. What converts our friends?
6. What kinds of spiritual needs do our friends have?
7. Are our friends lives always as they seem? Why not?
8. Who gives the increase when it comes to opportunities to study Gods
word with our friends?
9. What two sets of time do we have for the Lord?
10. What kind of attitude do we need to have toward our friends?
11. Sometimes, in discussing Scripture, there is the attitude of, I must
win the argument. How does this attitude need to be modifed?
12. We must be genuine and consistent in ____ _________ ___ _______.
13. We are to behave in ____________ and ________ ___________.
14. Example is vital, but do we also have responsibility to teach the Gos-
pel through words?
15. If we are letting our light shine, what will our friends see in us?
Class Project: Within the class, practice being concerned and helpful
toward each other. Too often, Christians feel alone even in the church.
24
Commitment to Christ
Anywhere You Are
Helps Your Friends
12th Grade, Quarter 1, Lesson Six
25
Memory Verse:
(1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV) Therefore, whether you eat or
drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Introduction:
Life has many different occupations. A person may be a doctor, salesman, teach-
er, accountant, soldier, clerk, or any number of other occupations. While the Christian
could not work in any occupation that is sinful (such as a slave trader), there are many
occupations from which he may choose, and God has blessed the noble concept of work-
ing for a living. The only thing that God asks of us is that we live our lives as Christians,
regardless what we do. It is good to work for a living and accomplish things. Has any-
one ever complimented you for something that you have worked hard to accomplished?
People see the things that we commit our lives to and appreciate them! Our dedication
to our daily work impresses others. This is because everything the Christian does is to
Gods glory, and so he works diligently. Ephesians 6:6 says that we should work, not
with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as bondservants of Christ, doing the
will of God from the heart.
Sometimes we ask ourselves, What can
I do? I am not someone great; I cant
speak publicly or lead singing.
How can I be of service to
God and Christ? Gods
answer to this question is
that your commitment to
Christ anywhere you
are helps your friends.
How can this be? When we
commit ourselves to Christ,
God changes our lives and
makes everything that we do
beautiful for others to see.
In 2 Corinthians
5:17, Paul wrote, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old
things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. We may
not notice the changes in our own lives because we are evaluating ourselves on a regular
basis, but others will notice the changes. They will know that we are living like Christ,
and this affects everything that we do.
l For example, some people consider it practical to tell lies in their jobs as a way
of doing business, but the Christian will not do this, and that will make an impact on his
co-workers.
l Christians also take their job responsibilities seriously because they know that
they are ultimately working for the Lord. Colossians 3:23 says, And whatsoever
you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.
26
l Putting Christ in your life regardless of what you are doing will help you
accomplish your tasks and succeed. When we are putting all of our sincere effort into
serving the Lord, regardless of where we are employed, that will make a real difference.
l This is also true for students. Studying is a regular job that students do every
day at school. There is also homework to be done from time to time. Students who real-
ize that they are working for the Lord, and not for mere earthly gain, will do a better job
because their motivations are internal, not external. They want to do a good job for the
sake of doing a good job.
Ecclesiastes 9:10a says, What-
ever you hand fnds to do, do it with
your might. When we understand that
the Lords name is going on our efforts, we
will want to behave in a way that brings
Him honor. Paul said, Therefore,
whether you eat or drink, or whatev-
er you do, do all to the glory of God
(1 Corinthians 10:31).
When we give the Lord frst
place in our work, studies, and service,
our friends will also see this behavior
and understand that it comes from our
commitment to Christ. This commit-
ment transcends everything we do as
Christians because Christ is our identity.
The apostle Paul wrote, I have been
crucifed with Christ; it is no lon-
ger I who live, but Christ lives in
me; and the life which I now live in
the fesh I live by faith in the Son
of God, who loved me and gave
Himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
For the Christian, serving Christ
is something that goes beyond Sunday
worship and Wednesday night Bible
study. Being a Christian is something
that infuses everything he says and does.
Colossians 3:17 says, And whatever
you do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Everything we do comes under Christs authority as our Lord, Savior, Standard, and King.
How could our friends NOT notice this?
27
We want to do all to the glory of God. This means being a good student, work-
er, church member, relative, friend and whatever other aspect of our life that we live.
We want to walk worthy of Gods calling (Ephesians 4:1), and Gods calling affects all
of our life. When we do this, others will see Christ in us and want to know more about
Him. Philippians 2:15 says, That you may become blameless and harmless,
children of God, without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse gener-
ation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. When we live like Chris-
tians ought to live, two things will happen.
l First others will see Christ in us and recognize His goodness.
l Second, the light of Christ will expose the sin that is in the world. That is what
happens when light comes into darkness. The light exposes and makes clear what is in
the darkness. Jesus said, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall
not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12). As we let
Christ live in our lives, we refect His light for others to see. So Paul wrote, For it is
the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in
our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). What a great blessing to know that our trust in
God and Christ will radiate His beautiful light to those around us as well. Our friends
will see that light and want to be more like Him!
John 8:12, 1 Corinthians 10:31, 2 Corinthians 4:6, 5:7, Galatians 2:20, Ephe-
sians 4:1, 6:6, Philippians 2:15, Colossians 3:17, 23.
28
1. What kind of occupation may a Christian practice?
2. Are there any kinds of occupations a Christian may not practice?
3. What does God care about the most in choosing an occupation?
4. Who do we truly serve in our daily lives?
5. What does it mean to be a faithful Christian student?
6. What does it mean to be a new creation?
7. Where does the Christian receive his/her identity?
8. Is there anything that the Christian says or does that is not to be infu-
enced by Christ?
9. If, as a Christian, I am doing everything as unto the Lord, how will
that attitude affect the quality and the integrity of my work?
10. What happens when the Christian walks in light?
11. What does God say He will do with our lives if we follow Him?
12. How would you defne putting on the whole armor of God? (Ephe-
sians 6:13-17)
13. Which attitudes would describe the Christian in his work? Competitive-
ness? Wholeheartedness? Envy? Deceit? Honesty? Self-glorifcation?
14. Why does a job exceptionally well done bring honor to God?
15. Are honesty and integrity important in an individuals life? in a nation?
Class Project: Discuss experiences the class members have had in
which they have seen the results of specifc instances of themselves or
of others walking in the light or of not walking in the light.
29
30
Being a Good Example
Helps Your Friends
12th Grade, Quarter 1, Lesson Seven
Memory Verse:
(Matthew 5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works and glorify your Father
in heaven.
Introduction:
We all look to others
to help us through life. Who
do you look up to in your
life? Our frst and greatest
examples that have the most
and lasting infuence on our
lives are our parents. Some-
one has set an example for
us to follow. An example
is a pattern, form, or mod-
el of behavior put before
others for imitation. Parents
consistently rank in leader-
ship surveys as the number one infuence in a persons life. They set the example for how we
should live, impress upon us our most lasting behaviors and habits, and continue to guide us
even after we have left their home. But there are others as well that set examples for us. Who
are they? They are friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, politicians, preachers, community
leaders, athletes, and church members (not necessarily in that order).
What do you like about their example that impresses you? A lot of times we
admire their behavior of faithfulness, courage, selfessness, sacrifce, and commitment
to others. It is how these examples treat other people that usually impresses us the most.
We have one example that is greater than all others of someone who is always faithful,
selfess, courageous, committed, and who has given us the greatest sacrifce of allChrist
Jesus. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:21, For to this you were called, because Christ
also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His
steps. Christ sets the example, and we have the opportunity and privilege to follow it
and set the example for others.
As Christians, we must set a good example. Jesus
himself did this for His disciples. We remem-
ber the example that Jesus set when He
washed His disciples feet (John 13).
After doing this, Jesus said, For I have
given you an example, that you
should do as I have done to you
(John 13:15). Jesus lived His life as an
example so that we could follow Him
in our life as well. We noticed Peters
words earlier in 1 Peter 2:21. God wants
31
us to follow in Jesus steps. The apostle Paul also spoke about following Christs example
in 1 Corinthians 11:1 when he said, Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. Our
goal is to live as Christ would live, to literally imitate Him in our own life and service to
others. Paul explained to us what this means in Philippians 2:3-9:
Let nothing be done through selfsh ambition or conceit,
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than
himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own inter-
ests, but also for the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Je-
sus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery
to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, tak-
ing the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of
men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled
Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the
death of the cross.
In Christs life and death, He demonstrated that He was selfess and always
considerate of others. This is the legacy of the example of Christ. We must follow this
example in our life by doing the same. This is why the apostle Paul says that we should
not make selfsh ambition and conceit our standard because that was not Christs stan-
dard. We considered others better than ourselves by putting them frst. In so doing, our
neighbors interests are placed above our own personal interests. In doing this others will
see our example and glorify God. This is what Jesus said we should do in Matthew 5:16:
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven.
It does not take great works of lasting signifcance to be what Christ wants us to
be in our life. We do not have to build huge monuments to others, ford mighty rivers, or
circumnavigate the globe. We demonstrate our love for God and others in doing the little
things in life each and every day. This is the best way to set a good example: live a life of
faith. Consider what Paul said in Romans 10:6-8:
But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, Do
not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven? (that is,
to bring Christ down from above) or, Who will descend into
the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But
what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in
your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach).
Christ has already done the great and lasting work for us when He gave Himself
on the cross. Our faith is simply a refection of His life. Gods word teaches us how to
live, and in so living, we set good examples for others.
32
Consider the example set by Dorcas, also known as Tabitha, in Acts 9:36-43. The
Bible says that she was known for her good works and giving to the poor (Acts 9:36).
Some of these good works that she did was making clothes for widows (Acts 9:39).
These were not great deeds of renowned, but simple deeds of trust and faith in God. This
is the kind of life that God wants us to live and in so living to set a good example for
others.
Think also about the widow that gave her last two coins to God (Luke 21:1-4).
Luke tells us that Jesus was watching how people were giving, and then a widow gave.
Jesus said, Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than
all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but
she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had (Luke 21:3-4). As
man measures things, she did not do something great and notable, but as God measures
things, her offering was beyond all others, great, priceless, and notable.
Here are a few things that we can consider doing in our daily lives
for others that dont seem like much, but that add up to a precious life of a
godly example:
l Hold the doors open for other people.
l Pick up trash when you see it on the foor.
l Help others who are carrying heavy loads.
l If someone is having a problem, listen to
them without trying to help them.
l Help your parents bring in the groceries.
l Talk respectfully to your teachers and to
your peers.
l Obey your teachers and their instruc-
tions thoughtfully.
l Do your homework well and on time.
l Attend worship services for every
service the leadership of the church has
appointed.
l Participate in your youth group as
much as possible.
l Visit a widow, widower, or some-
one in the hospital who goes to your
congregation.
l Give a Bible to a friend who
needs one.
l Tell someone how you were
saved.
l Be respectful to your parents
in front of your friends.
33
This is not an exhaustive list of things that one may do, but it is a beginning, and
exemplifes the kind of things that one may do to be a good example to those around us in
our everyday life. Remember that as you are living this life, God will bless you and your
friends in ways that you would never imagine, and you will show others who God truly is
and they will come to glorify Him because they know who you are following.
Matthew 5:16, Luke 21:1-4, John 13:15, Acts 9:36-43, Romans 10:6-8, 1 Cor-
inthians 11:1, Philippians 2:3-9, 1 Peter 2:21
1. What is the purpose of an example?
2. What kind of behavior do we value in an example?
3. Who is the number one infuence in our lives?
4. Who sets the greatest example for us to follow, and why?
5. What is the example that Christ sets for us?
6. What is the best way for us to set a good example?
7. How did Dorcas set a good example?
8. How did the poor widow set a good example?
9. What are fve things that we can do to set a good example?
10. Why is it important to be a good example to others?
11. Will friends listen to what you SAY if that is not what you are DOING?
12. What does it mean, to live a life of faith?
Class Project: Plan work days together, perhaps once a month, to take
on a community project or to help some elderly person in the church
with work they cannot do.
34
35
Love Must Be Practiced
with Your Friends
12th Grade, Quarter 1, Lesson Eight
Memory Verse:
(1 John 4:16 NKJV). And we have known and believed
the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who
abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Introduction:
When answering the question, What is the greatest commandment, Jesus said,
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your mind. This is the frst and great commandment. And the
second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two
commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:37-40). As
persons made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), we were created to love God and one
another, because God is love. John wrote, And we have known and believed the
love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides
in God, and God in him (1 John 4:16). It is always right to practice love with our
friends. Paul says that love is one of the fruit of the spirit, and there is no law against it
(Galatians 5:22-23).
We all understand when someone shows us love. Do you remember a time when
someone showed you love? Was it during a happy time of your life? Maybe it was
during a birthday party, or family outing. Was it during a diffcult time? Maybe it was
during a time you didnt do so well at school, or after the death of a loved one. It doesnt
matter what the situation might have been, because we can love others at all times!
Solomon wrote, A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversi-
ty (Proverbs 17:17). It is Gods will for our lives to show love to our friends, and our
friends will appreciate and be encouraged by it.
God is love! In 1 John 4:8, John wrote,
He who does not love does not
know God, for God is
love. Love is part of the
nature and character of God.
It defnes who God truly
is. A lot of people have a
wrong conception of God.
They think that God is just
a vengeful, angry, jerk who
wants to punish people at
every chance He gets. This
is the wrong picture of God
altogether. Just the oppo-
site, the Bible says that God
demonstrated His love for us through the sacrifce of Christ. Romans 5:6-8 says, For
when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungod-
ly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good
man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own
36
love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus
said, Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down ones life for his
friends (John 15:13). Gods love is the greatest, and we have the privilege and respon-
sibility to love as He has loved us.
Do we want Gods love in our life? We should. It is a great blessing to be loved
by God. He renews us every day (Lamentations 3:22-24), and provides for us in ways
that we will never know (Romans 11:33-36). One of the greatest things that God has
done for His children is that He has shed His love abroad into our hearts. Paul wrote,
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured
out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5). How
will we respond to Gods gift of love? We can either share that love with others, or we
can hold it back from others and consume it on self. If we hold it back from others,
Gods greatest gift will consume us, not because of God, but because of our wrong use of
His gift to us. If we release and let others know Gods love, we will be a great friend!
Everyone needs to love others and to be loved by others. It is always right to
love! What can you do to let your friends know that you love them? One thing that
you can do is tell your friends that you love them regularly. Sometimes we can fnd
it diffcult to say I love you. Maybe we are unsure of how someone will respond to that
love. Sometimes, people will reject our love like they rejected Gods Son (John 15:18).
We need not let this worry us. God loved even when He wasnt loved by others (Romans
37
5:8). By loving others, God created the opportunity for others to have love in their life.
We can do the same when we tell people that we love them. We can do this by writing a
letter, sending a card, or just saying I love you whenever the time seems right.
l We need to say I love you to others because people need to know what
we think about them. If we do not let others know that we love them, then all kinds of
thoughts may enter their minds about our relationship to them. Unfortunately, we allow
questionable thoughts to affect our thinking. We tend to look at body language and inter-
pret it in our own way. Many times we are wrong in our interpretation, and we may even
assign motives to others when they dont have such motives in mind at all. We should
not do that, but if we are communicating our love to others regularly, and living in a way
that glorifes God, then they will not have reason to doubt us.
l We need to say, I love you because others want to be loved too! As mentioned
earlier, we were all created to love and to be loved (Genesis 1:27, Matthew 22:37-40). Some-
times other people behave in ways that we fnd repulsive. It is at these times that they need us
to love them the most. Such individuals are crying out loudly and clearly that they are not being
loved as God wants us to love them. By being a friend to them, and loving them as God loved
them, you may change the course of their
lives for better forever. Be ready to help
them when they have needs and show
Gods love during the good times and in
the diffcult times. Even when we have
problems with others, and it seems our
entire being is saying not to love someone,
resist that temptation and show love to
them anyway. You will be glad you did!
Of course, everyone has a choice to either
accept or reject our love, and we must be
prepared for them to do so one way or the
other. Nevertheless, people want to be
loved. Are you ready to love them?
l We need to say I love you because what better way is there to spread Gods
love than to tell others that you love them? It is amazing the kind of change that will
happen in a persons life when we show our sincere love. This will give us an opportunity
to share Gods love through Christ with them. That is the story we want them to know,
and then God will work on changing their heart as they seek to follow His word. Love is
amazing and powerful. Practice love with your friends every day, and you can evangelize
them, and always remember that nothing can separate you from Gods love as long as you
are seeking Him (Romans 8:31-39).
Proverbs 17:17, Matthew 22:37-40, John 15:13, Romans 5:5-8, 8:31-39, Gala-
tians 5:22-23, 1 John 4:8, 16.
38
39
1. What are the frst and second commandments.
2. To whom are they given, and why?
3. What does it mean to be made in the image of God?
4. When does a friend love?
5. What does the expression, God is love mean?
6. How did God demonstrate His love for us?
7. What was the greater love that no one has for another?
8. Please explain what the sentence, The love of God has been poured
out into our hearts means.
9. What are some good reasons to say, I love you to others?
10. When people are having diffcult times in their life, is this the time to
hold our love back from them?
11. Why, or why not?
12. Name some practical ways to say I love you to your friends.
13. If you ask most adults, they will say that they were lonely in school.
Do you think some of your classmates may feel left out?
14. When someone in your Bible class misses, do you call to ask why?
15. Is there a greater need in humans than the need for genuine love?
Class Project: As an individual member of the class, be observant of
your classmates. Show interest in what they are doing, in the opportuni-
ties and challenges they are having. To the extent that it is possible, be
involved with them, and especially with those who seem shy or troubled
so that you may be of help to them.
40
Getting Involved with the
Church Helps Your Friends
12th Grade, Quarter 1, Lesson Nine
Memory Verse:
(Acts 2:44 NJKV) Now all who believed were together, and had all
things in common.
Introduction:
Have you ever been part of something special with a group? Perhaps you play in
the band at school, or maybe you play sports on a team. These are areas where we can
fulfll one of our most fundamental needs as persons created in Gods image commu-
nity. When we participate with a team, group, or community, it is exciting and thrilling
because everyone has a common purpose. All are working together to accomplish the
same goals and objectives. When we work together with others, doing our own job as
part of a whole, such experiences are very enjoyable.
God has provided us a way to work in a community as well. The Bible calls this
community the church. As used in the New Testament, the word church means assem-
bly. In fact, the word is translated assembly in Acts 19:32 and 39. This was the com-
mon ordinary usage of the term in the times of Jesus, Peter, Paul, and the others apostles.
The word took on a specialized meaning as it applied to Gods people, and came to refer
to those who had given themselves to Christ through love and obedience to Him and
His will. The church is a community of committed Christians working together to
accomplish Gods purposes in their lives.
God wants us to be involved in His commu-
nity, the church. The church is a body of
Christs people. Paul teaches
us about this meaning in the
book of Ephesians: And
He put all things un-
der His feet, and
gave Him to be head
over all things to the
church, which is His
body, the fullness of
Him who flls all in all
(Ephesians 1:22,23). In
Colossians 1:18, Paul wrote,
And He is the head of
the body, the church, who is the beginning, the frstborn from the dead, that
in all things He may have the preeminence.
The church is Christs body. In Ephesians 5:21-23, Paul also compares Christ
and the church to a husband and wife, Christ being the husband and the church being the
wife. He compared the church to a temple (Ephesians 2:20-22). What is the church re-
ally? The church are people who have committed to following Christ in their life
every day, and worshiping God together weekly as He has ordained (Acts 2:42, 20:7,
1 Corinthians 16:1,2).
41
Each person in the church is unique and special. We all have different talents and
abilities to accomplish Gods word in our own lives. Paul expands upon the metaphor of
the church being Christs body in both 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 and Romans 12:3-8. He
says that the members of the body have different functions. Some do the work of hands,
some ears, some eyes, and as the physical body works together to cooperate, so also the
spiritual body works together to cooperate. The difference is that in the spiritual body,
each Christian has a different function and work. We dont all do the same work, but we
need one another to do all of the work that God has given us to do.
Paul tells us why we have different roles and jobs in the church in Ephesians 4:11-
16. He says:
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets,
some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equip-
ping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be
children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of de-
ceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all
things into Him who is the head Christ from whom the whole
body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, accord-
ing to the effective working by which every part does its share,
causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
42
The church is a body, but has many members, and these members all work togeth-
er for one anothers growth and maturation in Christ. This, in turn, causes the growth of
the body of Christ as well overall as we seek to fulfll the instructions of Christ to preach
the gospel to the whole world (Mark 16:15,16). We can get involved in any aspect of the
work of the church that we desire if we are patient and willing to learn and grow.
The exciting thing about community is that we get to enjoy the company of oth-
ers, and work together to accomplish common goals and purposes. This is something that
we all desire to have in our lives in one way or another. Unfortunately, sin has alienated
us from God and one another (Isaiah 59:1,2). God brings us back into His community
when we believe and obey His gospel; it
is at that point that we are added to the
church (Acts 2:42-47). As we begin to
participate in the life of the church, we
grow, and the church grows as well. When
others see us as part of a community doing
something special, they want to be part of
the community too. It is exciting to work
in the church because it is where we can
serve God in an atmosphere of love. We
want to work in the church and do Gods
will. So what can we do?
Opportunities to serve in the church
are everywhere. The church has three main
functions that it performs each week.
l First, the
church worships God to-
gether upon the frst day
of the week. In Acts 20:7
we read, Now on the
frstdayoftheweek,
when the disciples
came together to break
bread, Paul, ready to
depart the next day,
spoke to them and
continued his message
until midnight. During
43
Goal:
4,000 Homes
this time of worship we sing songs, say prayers, partake of the Lords Supper, listen to
Gods word, and give of our earnings. Many different people are needed to make this
time of worship function decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40), and all Christians
are to participate in each part of the service. In addition, the men provide leadership for
the entire church, so perhaps even as a young man in the congregation you could begin to
share in this responsibility.
l The church also seeks to help those who are poor. The apostle Paul said, I
have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support
the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, It is
more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:37). There are requests from
members and others in the community for help with physical needs. Sometimes the
church offers a food pantry, sometimes clothing is supplied, and other times the church
offers fnancial help and support. All of these efforts require the participation of individu-
als to make them successful. You may be able to help the church to do good unto all
men (Galatians 6:10).
l The church also seeks to evangelize the lost. This involves a lot of personal
contact with people. Perhaps you are a people person who can talk to others about
the Gospel, and help them to come to know more about Jesus. Our job is to make disci-
ples (Matthew 28:18-20). This means spending time with people, getting to know them,
understanding their life, and applying the principles of the Bible in an effort to help them
gain a right relationship with God. The church needs good and dedicated people to do
this work. When your friends see you actively involved in the church and her work, they
will be interested to learn more because inside they want to be part of something special
too.
We must never forget that from before the creation was begun, Revelation 13:8
says that Jesus was ...the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. All
that God did throughout the Old Testament period was in preparation for the sacrifce
Christ would make to save people from their sins. Just before His return to heaven,
Jesus said to His apostles, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature. This means that God has entrusted to our hands His entire work of the ages!
That is why Christians have been left in this world! That is the vital work we must
do! If we are content to live good secular lives, but never to share the Gospel and the
love of God with our friends and family, it means that we are idly holding Gods greatest
treasure and letting it die in our hands.
But if we are living the Gospel and making opportunities to teach it to others, we
are vital instruments in the completion of Gods work. Let us never forget....
Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:42-47, 20:7, 37, Romans 12:3-8, 1
Corinthians 12:12-31, Galatians 6:10, Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:20-22, 4:11-16,
5:21-23, Colossians 1:18.
44
45
1. What does it mean to be part of a group?
2. What is a community?
3. What does the word church mean in the New Testament?
4. What are some of the metaphors that Paul uses in Ephesians to de-
scribe the church?
5. What special signifcance is attached to the word church as it re-
lates to Gods people?
6. What does it mean to be a member of the church?
7. What common purposes and goals do we participate in as members
of the church?
8. What are some different ways that we can participate in the work of
the church?
9. What major areas of work does the church engage in?
10. If we are active in participating in the church, what message does
this send to our friends?
11. What great responsibility and treasure did Jesus leave in the hands
of Christians when He returned to Heaven?
12. How can we be vital instruments in the completion of Gods work?
Class Project: Women are to teach younger women and children (Titus
2:3-5), so now is a good time for teenage girls to begin co-teaching the
younger children. Now is also a good time for teenage boys to train in
leading the song service, helping with the Lords table, leading the public
prayers, and co-teaching the middle-school children.
46
Going on a Mission Trip
Helps Your Friends
12th Grade, Quarter 1, Lesson Ten
Memory Verse:
(Acts 1:8 NKJV) But you shall receive power when the
Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be wit-
nesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Sa-
maria, and to the end of the earth.
Introduction:
Have you ever taken a vacation? It is a lot of fun to go some place that you
have never been to before. You get to meet new people, see new places, and learn about
different cultures. Sometimes these trips can take you to another part of the country, and
sometimes to a completely different country. The further you travel, the more exotic
things seem and the more exciting it is to go, to see different cultures in the world and to
do fun things. When you come back from traveling, you have many stories to tell about
your experiences. People always ask whether you had fun and they want to hear your
frst-hand account of your adventures. This builds relationships and rapport with others.
Now, think about the possibility of going on a mission trip with a group from the church,
and consider how many opportunities to share the gospel with others this might create.
What a wonderful blessing it is to participate in a mission trip.
Jesus told His apostles to go to many
different places to preach the gospel. It
was always His intention for
His disciples even to go
to all the people in the
world. In Acts 1:8, He said,
But you shall receive
power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon
you; and you shall be
witnesses to Me in
Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria,
and to the end of the
earth.
Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and everywhere else was where Jesus wanted his followers
to go. In Matthew 28:19a, He said, Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations. He also said, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature (Mark 16:15). Think about all of the different people, places, and cultures that
those early Christians got to experience as they took the Gospel to the whole world!
Also, when the disciples went to new places and preached the good news of
salvation to different people, they made new friends. As recorded in Acts 16, the apostle
Paul was trying to decide where to go next when he heard from God what he was to
do. Acts 16:9-10 says, And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of
Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, Come over to Macedonia
and help us. Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought
to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the
47
gospel to them. Preachers sometimes refer to this as the Macedonian Call. After
Paul got to the Roman province of Macedon, he met Lydia, the lady who sold purple dye,
and helped to establish the church in the city of Philippi. Lydia became a great friend to
Paul, and she supported him in his work and travels. Many of those friends are listed at
the end of some of Pauls letters. Read Romans 16:1-24 to see how many were dear to
him in Rome.
The apostle Paul
also returned to his home
congregation in Antioch of
Syria to tell the church about
all of the work he had done
on his missionary journeys.
In Acts 14:27, Luke wrote
concerning Paul and Barnabas,
Now when they had come
and gathered the church
together, they reported all
that God had done with
them, and that He had
opened the door of faith to
the Gentiles.
At the end of his missionary journeys, the Scripture says that Paul and Barnabas
gathered the church together to report on the work that God had done with them, both
among Jews and Gentiles. This example serves as a wonderful pattern for us to follow
today in telling others about the great work that may be done during mission trips.
The apostle Paul
went on three missionary
journeys, as recorded in
the book of Acts, and then
he made one journey to
Rome, the capitol of the
Roman Empire. He went
to many different places,
including the cities of
Ephesus, Corinth, Athens,
Philippi, and Jerusalem.
He traveled so that he
could preach the Gospel
since this is what Jesus
commanded the disciples
to do.
48
Perhaps your congregation has an opportunity for you to go on a mission trip to
another country. Many brethren support missionaries living in foreign places in South
America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and India. If your congregation supports one of these
works, why not ask to talk to the deacon or elder in charge of missions and see if there is
a way that you can go on a trip with them? Ask those involved if they take regular trips to
visit, and if you can go with them. As you learn more about the country and the work of the
missionary, you will learn of interesting things to share with your classmates and friends.
Mission trips, called
domestic missions, can also
take place within the United
States. Many times they
are in areas of the country
where the church does not
have a very strong presence.
People inside the United
States need to hear the
Gospel too! In fact, we live
in the fourth largest mission
feld in the world! There
may be a congregation near
you that hosts youth mission
trips within the United States during the summer, to do door-knocking or to help with a
VBS, or some other work. These trips are fun, exciting, and rewarding. You get to see the
church in action, and you get to participate with others in spreading the Gospel. When you
come home, you can tell your friends all about your exciting experiences, what you have
seen, where you have been, and the new friends you have met.
Whether you take a mission trip to
a foreign country or a trip across country,
the greatest thing about going on these
trips is that you are participating in Jesus
command to take the Gospel to the whole
world. God wants His word to be preached
to everyone, and so anywhere you go with
the message of Christ is a good trip to take!
Study and discuss these related
Scriptures:
Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 1:15-16,
Acts 1:8, 14:27, 16:9-10
49
Strange sights
you might see:
A Muslim procession,
cutting ones own back.
Going places together!
50
1. What happens when you go on trip to a different place?
2. How can we take a trip and preach the gospel at the same time?
3. What happens when we come back from such trips?
4. How can we use this to share the gospel with our friends?
5. To what kinds of places did Jesus command His disciples to go?
6. What is the Macedonia Call and to what place did Paul go to meet new
friends?
7. What was the name of one lady that the apostle Paul met, and what
did she do for a living?
8. How did she help the apostle Paul in his labors?
9. How many missionary trips did the apostle Paul make?
10. What did he do while he was in Rome, on his government-paid-for-trip?
11. Google Muharram Procession and discuss the practice in class.
12. What are some of the world religions you would see overseas?
13. Plan as a group to go to a mosque and/or Hindu temple in the US.
14. What kinds of missionary trips can you go on today?
15. Discuss in class the possibility of all of you going on an overseas
mission trip together. Set a goal and work to reach it.
Class Project: Talk among class members and with the leadership in the
church about planning a mission trip as a group here in the States, either
to do campaign work [door knocking] or to help with a Vacation Bible
School in some area where the church is weak.
51
Remaining Spiritual
Helps Your Friends
12th Grade, Quarter 1, Lesson Eleven
Memory Verse:
(Galatians 5:16 NKJV) I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall
not fulfll the lust of the fesh.
Introduction:
Do you have a best friend? He/she does not have to be someone who is your own
age. Maybe he/she is a family member who is older or even younger than you. If you do
not have a best friend, fnd someone else who does not have one, and make that person
your best friend. This will help both of you and teach you to have deeper and more per-
sonal relationships.
Developing relationships with others is important because this is where we can
truly practice our spirituality. God wants us to live in a relationship both with Himself
and with others. Being spiritual means getting to know God, and getting to know others
through the practice of love. When we get to know God and others, we fulfll what it
means to be human by loving God and our neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40).
Spiritual maturity means that we have a
relationship with God and our fellow,
based upon the teaching in the
Scriptures, through which He
speaks to us today.
There are many
components to being spir-
itual. Listening to Gods
word is our frst compo-
nent. In Galatians 5:16,
the apostle Paul said, I
say then: Walk in the
Spirit, and you shall
not fulfll the lust of the
fesh. Jesus said in John
6:63, It is the Spirit who
gives life; the fesh profts nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit,
and they are life. Paul wrote, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God. (Romans 10:17).
Faith, a primary component to spiritual life, comes through hearing and trust-
ing in Christs words. These words are spirit, as Jesus said, and they bring life. To be
spiritual, then, is to put our faith in the words of Christ in our life. When we do this, we
are led by our spiritual needs, not by feshly desires. Those who are spiritual are the kind
of individuals God is seeking to worship Him. John 4:23 says, But the hour is com-
ing, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit
and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. Yes, God wants a
relationship with us that is spiritual in nature, and this means we must know, trust, and act
upon His word.
52
While God speaks to us through His word, we speak to Him in prayer. This is
a second component to living a spiritual life. The apostle Paul said in 1 Thessalonians
5:17, Pray without ceasing. Jesus told us to address our prayers to God the Fa-
ther in Matthew 6:9 when He said, In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father
in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
We are to say these prayers through Jesus
according to Colossians 3:17: And what-
ever you do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through
Him. From talking to God we receive the
blessing of the peace that passes all under-
standing. Paul wrote, Be anxious for
nothing, but in everything by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to
God; and the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6,7).
Being spiritual also means having a relationship with other people as led by the
spirit. This third component of being spiritual is living a spiritual life. A spiritual
person will seek to enable his spiritual self and deny the feshly desires of the body. This
means practicing the fruit of the spirit. Paul enumerates them in Galatians 5:22,23, But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Here is the heart of what it means to be spiritual. Having a strong relationship
with God through listening to His word and praying to Him faithfully helps us to do this.
When we are practicing these attitudes on a daily basis, there is no room for the lusts of
the fesh to creep in and take control. We will then build better relationships with our
fellow through practicing these things. Herein is the true key to spirituality.
l To apply these principles to our life, we read the Bible regularly. Sometimes
people think that the Bible is a history story of things that happened centuries ago, and so
they are sure it has no real value in their life. Youve heard the story of Noah a hundred
times, and you may think, Theres not going to be another food; I dont have to build an
ark; and so what is the use for me to keep hearing all these history lessons?
But the Bible is far more than a history book. We learn from it how God has dealt
with the obedience and disobedience of humans in the past. We see His involvement in
peoples lives and in the events that have shaped the world. We must revere the Bible as
the word of God, and by listening to its instructions, its warnings, and its promises, we
53
are letting God speak to us. Our goal should be to learn what the Bible says and to obey
it in the formation of our lives. Reading the Bible devotionally is good, but to really get
something out of it, weve got to study it diligently as if God is speaking directly to us
on each page. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, Be diligent to present yourself approved to
God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word
of truth.
l We should turn to the Bible when we are looking for answers for lifes prob-
lems. This is the heart of truly believing in God and His word, that we understand that
following His instructions will actually make a difference in our lives. We must study
and practice the word of God.
l We must never for-
get that the best way to apply
these principles in our daily
life is to talk to God often in
prayer. Tell Him what is on
your heart and mind, and
then leave it in His hands.
This is a great way to have
the kind of peace that God
desires us to have. We may
truly cast all of our cares upon
Him because He cares for us (1
Peter 5:7). It is very important
that we also thank God for the blessings that He has sent our way. Paul wrote, And let
the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one
body; and be thankful. (Colossians 3:15).
When we count our blessings and are thankful for what we do have, this takes
our minds off of what we dont have, eliminates envy from our lives, and produces
contentment. A contented person is a spiritual person. In Hebrews 13:5, we read: Let
your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you
have. For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.
The desires of the fesh are strong and have the potential to overcome us. By be-
ing spiritual, we can overcome those desires, and help our friends not to be entangled in
them either. When they see our spiritual life and the wonderful benefts that come from
living this way, they will be interested to know more about God and Christ and we can be
a blessing to them.
Matthew 6:9, 22:34-40, John 4:23, 6:63, Romans 10:17, Galatians 5:16, 22-
23, Philippians 4:6-7, Colossians 3:15, 17, 2 Timothy 2:15, Hebrews 13:5, 1
Peter 5:7.
54
55
1. How does having friends help us to be spiritual?
2. What does it mean to be spiritual?
3. How does God speak to us today?
4. How is listening to Gods word important for us to be spiritual?
5. How do we speak to God today?
6. How is praying to God important for us to be spiritual?
7. What does it mean to practice the fruit of the spirit?
8. What helps us to practice spirituality every day?
9. What does faithful prayer bring to our life?
10. How do feshly desires compete with the life of the spirit?
11. How is faith developed in our lives?
12. Explain what the statement, Pray without ceasing means to you.
13. When you thank a person for something they have done for you,
the act of thanking brings vividly to your mind the value of their service.
What happens to our faith in God answering our prayers when we take
the time to look back and to thank Him for what He has already done?
14. When we learn to trust God, we will have ________, which guards
our ______ and ________ through Christ Jesus.
15. When we learn this trust and how to be spiritual, we can help our
___________ to develop the spiritual relationship they need with God.
Class Project: On a white-board, make a list of needs for which students
in the class are praying. Make notes of Gods answers to the prayers,
yes, no, wait, a different way...
56
How Do You Talk to Your
Friends About God?
12th Grade, Quarter 1, Lesson Twelve
Memory Verse:
(John 14:15 NKJV) If you love Me, keep My commandments
Introduction:
You probably talk to your friends on a daily basis. You see them at school, church,
in the mall, and other social settings. Then there is Facebook, text messaging, Twitter,
and other social media outlets where you may communicate with them. We have plenty
of ways to interact with our friends. What do you talk about? You may talk to them about
the latest videos youve seen on YouTube. Maybe you are both interested in sports. Some-
times you discuss politics. Do you ever talk about school? What about your relationships
with other people? While there are many things to talk about going on in the world, why
not talk to them about God and the Bible? You will be glad you did.
We dont always know how to talk to oth-
ers about God. Sometimes we dont know
what to say in response to their
beliefs. It is important that
we listen to our friends if
we want them to listen to us.
James says, So then, my
beloved brethren, let ev-
ery man be swift to hear,
slow to speak, slow to
wrath (James 1:19). The
more we listen, the more we
will understand them and, in
understanding them, we will
know what part of Gods
word applies to their life. When they begin to ask questions about God, we will be able to
give them scriptural answers and truly help them to know more about God.
Not only must we be good listeners, we must use all of our experience. People want
to know that you are connected to them, and the way to be connected is to live your life that
God has given you with love and kindness to others. The Christian is in the best position to
show Gods love because he knows the Son of God and keeps His commandments. Jesus
said, If you love Me, keep My commandments (John 14:15). We demonstrate our
love for Christ when we do what He teaches us to do in His word. Others will see Christs
love living in our lives, and they will want to know more. This will give us opportunity to
talk to them about God.
The most important thing to know is that God is love (1 John 4:16). Our friends
need to hear this. Many of them are struggling with sin in their lives and they dont know
what to do about it. The Bible says that the goodness of God leads people to repentance
(Romans 2:4). The more you point out Gods love and goodness to them, the more they
will be compelled to repent. And God wants them to repent of their sins. Peter wrote,
57
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness,
but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all
should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Repentance is the way that God uses to
bring people back to Him. This means that we can tell them about Gods love for them, and
they will want to respond to that love in repentance. In this way, we dont have to worry
about offending them or not. Who would be offended by a message of love? You may then
talk to them about how you show your love for God by obeying Him.
God is love, and we can show our love for Him in many different ways. One of
the most common ways is by worshiping Him (John 4:24). When we worship God, we
are adoring Him. Sometimes we do this by singing songs of praise. James wrote, Is
anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms (James 5:13b). We may also worship God
by studying His word, the Bible. Praying to God is also worshiping Him. Why are these
things worship? Because when we do these things, we are dedicating ourselves and our
time to God. When our friends know that we worship God, this gives us something to talk
to them about.
One may also show his love for God by talking about Jesus and what He has done
for us. Jesus is Gods Son. He left heaven and came to the earth to be our friend and our
Savior (John 15:13). His life is an example of what it means to be a complete person, and
He sets a new identity for us outside of the life of Adam (1 Corinthians 15:22). Jesus lived
a perfect and sinless life. First Peter 2:22 says Jesus committed no sin, nor was de-
ceit found in His mouth. He lived this sinless life so that we could be righteous. Paul
wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21, For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us,
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Then Jesus freely gave
His life on the cross that we might be forgiven of sins. He said, No one takes it from
Me, but I lay it down of
Myself. I have power to
lay it down, and I have
power to take it again.
This command I have
received from My Fa-
ther (John 10:18). Paul
said that Jesus gave Him-
self for our sins, that He
might deliver us from
this present evil age,
according to the will of
our God and Father
(Galatians 1:4). Jesus death
on the cross was the greatest
58
act of love that man has ever witnessed because His life was given not only for His friends,
but also for His enemies also (Romans 5:8). We can never run out of things to say about
what Jesus has done for us.
We love God by obeying His word for our lives. Through personal study of Gods
word, we will fnd wisdom (Proverbs 1:1-7). God has revealed His word to us in both pre-
cept and examples so that when we are in diffcult situations we can know what God wants
us to do. Jesus commits to save those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). Just before His return
to Heaven, He told His disciples, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who
does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:15,16).
As Christians, we
are committed to living ac-
cording to the word of God.
In Ephesians 5:1,2, Paul
wrote, Therefore be im-
itators of God as dear
children. And walk in
love, as Christ also has
loved us and given Him-
self for us, an offering
and a sacrifce to God
for a sweet-smelling
aroma. The apostle John
wrote this: By this we
know that we love the
children of God, when
we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that
we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome
(1 John 5:2,3).
Others need to know that this is the way to love God truly. We cant love Him by
following our own opinions and personal beliefs. We must in simple obedience and faith
do what Christ has told us to do in our life. His way is actually the only way, regardless
what we may think. Talking about obeying Christ is a great thing to discuss with our
friends.
Proverbs 1:1-7, John 4:24, 10:18, 14:15, 15:13, Romans 2:4, 5:8, 1 Corinthi-
ans 15:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:4, Ephesians 5:1-2, Hebrews 5:9,
James 1:19, 5:13, 1 Peter 2:22, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 John 4:16, 5:2-3.
59
60
1. How often do you talk to your friends and what do you talk about?
2. How does listening help us to talk to our friends?
3. Using our experience, how can we talk to our friends about God?
4. What is the most important thing that our friends need to know about God?
5. What does the goodness of God do for our friends?
6. How does worshiping God help us talk to our friends about God?
7. What kinds of things can we say about Jesus to our friends?
8. How does obeying God protect us from the dangers of sinning?
9. How does keeping Gods commandments help us talk to our friends?
10. What does it mean to be an imitator of God?
11. Can we follow God by just following our own opinions? Why not?
12. What are some things we do in worshiping God?
13. What did Jesus do so that we can have our sins forgiven?
14. What is the greatest act of love that man has ever witnessed?
15. We _______ God by _____________ His word for our lives.
Class Project: Are there members of the class who have not obeyed the
Gospel? If so, talk together about what the Bible says we must do to have
our sins forgiven and to be born into Gods spiritual family, the church.
61
Review and
Questions and Answers
12th Grade, Quarter 1, Lesson Thirteen
Memory Verse:
(Mark 16:15-16 NKJV) And He said to them, Go into all the world
and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is
baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be con-
demned.
Introduction:
The past three months we have studied the subject of evangelizing our friends
through letting our lights as Christians shine with the love of our Lord. Have you tried any
of the things that we discussed in class? If so, what has your experience been like? Even if
you have not tried to evangelize your friends, your faith has grown. How has studying this
topic helped you? We gain a lot when we study Gods word together, and when we equip
ourselves with knowledge to share His message with others, we gain even more. Those
who prepare to share always learn more from their preparation than those with whom they
are sharing. Tell us how this class has changed your life for the better.
Weve looked at a lot of different things
over the past quarter. Below is a handy
chart that shows each topic, in-
cluding the verses you have
memorized.
Review these topics
with your teacher and talk
about what you have learned
from them. Are there any
points that stood out to you
as important above others?
Which scriptures weighed
heavily in your growth as a
Christian during these lessons?
62
Lesson Number
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Lesson 5
Lesson 6
Lesson 7
Lesson 8
Lesson 9
Lesson 10
Lesson 11
Lesson 12
Memory Verse
Hebrews 1:1,2
Isaiah 59:1,2
Acts 4:12
1 Timothy 3:15
1 Peter 3:15
1 Corinthians 10:31
Matthew 5:16
1 John 4:16
Acts 2:44
Acts 1:8
Galatians 5:16
John 14:15
Topic
God Speaks to Our Friends
There Is a Problem between God and our Friends
Jesus Is the Message God Has for Your Friends
You Are Gods Bridge to Your Friends
Proper Preparation Helps Your Friends to Know God
Commitment to Christ Anywhere You Are Helps
Being a Good Example Helps Your Friends
Love Must Be Practiced with Your Friends
Getting Involved with the Church Helps Your Friends
Going On a Mission Trip Helps Your Friends
Remaining Spiritual Helps Your Friends
How Do You Talk to Your Friends about God?
What can you personally do to share the Gospel to your friends? It is time to take
the things we have learned in these lessons and apply them to our lives in a very personal
way. Jesus wants us to teach His message of salvation to others, and you have a great op-
portunity to do that now. What do you think the impact of doing these things in your life
will be on your friends? Refect upon how you will do this, and make some notes. Talk to
your teacher about your plans to evangelize your friends, and discuss among members of
the class the ideas for proceeding. As you reach out to others, share in subsequent classes
the experiences you have and your conclusions about effective approaches for teaching.
ABOVE ALL: Dont procrastinate about beginning to share the Gospel with your
friends. It is likely that YOU are their one link to the love God offers to them through the
death of His Son.

Isaiah 59:1-2, Matthew 5:16, Mark 16:15-16, John 14:15, Acts 1:8, 2:44, 4:12,
1 Corinthians 10:31, Galatians 5:16, 1 Timothy 3:15, Hebrews 1:1-2, 1 Peter
3:15, 1 John 4:16.
63
1. How has this class changed your life?
2. What are you going to do to take the Gospel to others?
3. What are your favorite memory verses from this class? Why?
4. What was your favorite topic of study in this class?
5. Why is personal evangelism of your friends important to you?
6. What are the right attitudes to have when seeking to evangelize your
friends?
7. What are the key things that your friends need to know when you talk
to them?
8. How are you going to continue your study so that you can evangelize
others?
9. Do you have a plan for evangelizing your friends? What is it?
10. What has your teacher done to help you with creating your plan?
To the Teachers and Parents:
With the moral and spiritual warfare Satan is waging against us, we cant
hope to win unless we are willing to take a strong, decisive stand for the truth. In
todays secular schools, children as young as kindergarten age are being taught
that the homosexual lifestyle is all right. Those religious groups that hold on to
their people begin at the earliest ages teaching strongly definitive doctrine, thor-
oughly indoctrinating those young minds. We must be as wise as they; we must
instill in our children the directives of Gods word from the earliest ages, before they
are old enough to have to make decisions about a lifestyle or a marriage mate or
parenting. If we wait until they are faced with those forks in the road, we will lose
because their peers and the world will have already turned them to their way of
thinking. Permeating the materials must be, not only defnitive doctrinal truths, but
also the moral and social applications that are the natural result of godliness. We
also need to teach over-views of the Bible in chronological lessons.
Threads of Truth that must permeate the lessons
Gods eternal purposes. His interaction with man. Stress the spiritual
relationship with God, not just a form or a Sunday exercise with the rest of
life being as secular as the lives of those around us who are not Christians.
Stress how God has dealt with man (through miracles, providence;
how prayers were prayed; how prayers are answered). Be sure that prov-
idence is fully explained and understood, so that Gods work in this pres-
ent time is not doubted.
Show Christ as our Saviour, our Lord, our Brother; salvation is not
the result of a persons goodness or sacrifces but because the Christian
has obediently washed himself in the Blood of Christ.
Deal with the reality of Gods purposes through us; therefore our rea-
son for being in the world.
Teach the oneness of Gods family and the fact that the relationship
is a personal one, not dependent on any other persons faithfulness.
Explore and emphasize personal commitment and involvement.
Stress the necessity of evangelism and outreach by teaching and
practicing ....
Look for opportunities to make these emphases in every Bible story,
thereby creating a new perspective for viewing the familiar scriptures.
Permeate all of the lessons with our fve Ps:
Purity of life
Purpose in this world
Prayer
Providence
Passion for God
Each lesson has a definite purpose, a named goal in teaching. Keep
always in mind the Gospel of Christ, its practice, and its propagation throughout
the world in this generation. From the first level to the last level, instill the goal of
being the first generation since the first century to evangelize the world, begin-
ning with feeling responsible for the people in ones own community and family.
Also, just as the Bible incorporates many sub-topics while discussing
the primary topic, these are some points that we need to bring out and empha-
size and re-emphasize wherever they can be brought up for reinforcement:
l Work specific projects and goals into the lessons, as things the students
should be doing.
l Draw attention to whether God was working in the particular situation through
miracles, providence, or the law of nature. Many even adults mistakenly
think that everything God does would be in the category of miraculous, but most
of His work throughout time has been through providential overruling, using any-
thing and everything as His tools.
l Teach that responsibility equals maturity, and maturity equals responsibility.
l Teach students to prioritize the elements in their life and their use of time.
l Emphasize that creation, not evolution, was Gods method of bringing all things
into existence; that the ideas of ape and cave man are also a part of the evolu-
tionary scenario and they contradict the Scriptures. Early men were intelligent and
could do great things. Then, as now, some lived in tents and caves, as well as oth-
er types of dwellings, but there were cities and highly developed civilizations, too.
Genesis 4 shows that Adams grandson built a city. As evidenced by the pyramids
and other astounding constructions, people of the past could do things that abso-
lutely could not be reproduced today, with all of our technology and equipment.
l Teach the value of the home; the devastating results of divorce, and of mar-
riage to unbelievers (use Bible examples from the Old Testament); stress Gods
reasons for strictness about marriage: to protect the home and the nation from
just the sort of mess we have now. Show how juvenile crises have grown, with
the crime rate, and all other social ills and crimes, as divorce has grown. As
painful as some of these lessons will be, the problems will never be corrected
unless Christians and Christian teachers have the strength to teach what
God says about the sanctity of marriage.
l Refute the current Im OK, youre OK philosophy, which allows accept-
ance of alternative lifestyles, and a non-judgmental attitude toward all of
the worlds corruptions and evils. If Gods word condemns a certain
behavior, Christians cannot compromise.
l Keep Gods over-all purpose (reconciling man to Himself) in mind. Establish:
How does this lesson relate to His purpose? How does it apply to me? How do I
fit into His purpose? These questions should be embedded in the students mind.
Published by World Evangelism Publications
[P.O. Box 72, Winona, MS 38967, USA]
for Churches of Christ
-4/3 Learning to obey God, par-
ents; being responsible, loving to
brothers/sisters/others
K/1 Behavior at home and at
school; attitudes; following
Gods rules, and results
1/1 Now that were in school
deal with language, infuence,
responsibility, achievement
2/1 Bible Time Series on cre-
ation, the world before, during,
and after the food
3/1 God & me; Jesus is His
Son; Family of God; parallel
physical & spiritual
4/1 The Bible learning to use
it; taking care of it; drills of all
kinds; dict; concord; etc.
6/1 Setting your priorities early
in life; making God frst in time,
talents, money, interests; A&M guy
5/3 The Kingdom and its
enemies: Satan; division; false
teachings; atheism; apathy
7/1 Satans lies (evolution, hu-
manism, false doctrine; deal with
points and counter-points)
8/1 Jesus teachings and how
they work in daily life, to make
this the safest, best life; purity
9/1 Reaching out physically
and spiritually in the home, the
church, among friends & others
10/1 Jesus Christ the Eternal
Sacrifce, Youth Version
11/1 Divided classes for m/f;
Growing to maturity and ready
to live in the adult world
12/1 We have the message the
world needs. Let us prepare to
take the message to others.
1/2 We learn about Jesus; His
friends; His life and culture;
develop room with spot scenes
2/2 Bible Time Series on Da-
vid, his life, his relationship with
God; his lessons
3/2 The family, as God planned
it; Daddy, head; Mother, care in
the home; no divorce
4/2 We learn about the Chris-
tians in the New Testament
5/2 The Church in prophecy
and in this world, the Church in
Heaven.
6/2 World religions; how they
affect daily life; how Gods
Word has affected the world
7/2 Knowledge of denomina-
tions, history and doctrines; use
Star book for references
8/2 Religions of the world,
compare and contrast with Truth;
respecting Bible authority
6/3 The Gospel, the church;
worship, the fruit of the Gospel
10/2 Concepts of God; Spiritual
life; His plan for the ages, for
now; for eternity
11/2 Dealing with Satans
theologies: new age; humanism;
evolution; atheism
12/2 Great people of the Bible
from insignifcant backgrounds;
God can use us for great things if
we give our lives
-2/2 Bible characters in pic-
turesteaching words and
names.
-3/2 God made everything; Bi-
ble Times Series on the Creation;
set up for the quarter
-4/2 The wonderful Creation
and how it was spoiled; Satan
and how he would ruin us
K/2 God; The Book of Books;
how to use and care for it; make
a book of main lessons
1/3 We learn about Jesus; His
miracles and parables and prom-
ises; wall scenes
2/3 Children in other lands,
customs, religion, need for God
and the Gospel
3/3 Jesus teachings shape our
daily life how they protect us
and enrich us with a good life
4/3 Hall of Fame exemplary
Christians of today from other
countries
9/2 Keep yourself pure; dealing
with boy/girl relationships;
choosing a Christian
7/3 How God works in our
lives, in answer to prayers;
through providence
8/3 Behavior, peer pressure,
attitudes; fnding the answers in
examples in Scripture
9/3 The wonder of it all:
universe, earth, plants, animals,
humans,
10/3 The Gospel, the church;
worship; daily work and life
11/3 Tracing the early church;
writings of church fathers; value
of the church
12/3 Dealing with pain, set-
backs; delays; attitudes toward
God as we pray and wait
-2/3 Bible characters in pic-
turesteaching words and
names.
-4/4 Bible Time Series on
Jesus, who He is and how we
relate to Him in life
K/3 Bible Tree; develop fam-
ily tree of Abraham, Isaac, etc.,
learning lessons from them
1/4 My family and me; giving,
receiving, loving, helping, obey-
ing; work chart
2/4 Bible Time Series on the
life, travels, teachings, example
of Saul/ Paul
3/4 Bible Times Series on Mo-
ses, exodus; leader; lawgiver
lessons learned from examples
4/4 Bible Times Series on Dan-
iel and captivity; parallels may
come to us, for lessons
5/4 Prayer and providence;
occurrences in Scripture; victory
in Christ who rules over all
6/4 In the home, personal
preparation for life; fnding lifes
answers in the Bible
7/4 family, church, community;
lights for others in our behavior
(Gospel presentation)
8/4 Dare to dream to heights, to
make your life the most spiritual,
the richest possible; A&M Guy
9/4 Leadership in the church;
divided classes for boys & girls,
teaching classes, others
10/4 What will you do with
what you learn; dont be a stu-
dent forever; be a worker
11/4 How Christianity works
for me, supplying the answers
for life
12/4 Let go and live! Trusting
life to God is the way to have the
fullest, happiest life
-2/4 Hall of Fame Bible char-
acters with wall photo gallery
we learn how to live
K/4 Bible Times Series; Gods
church in Acts; today; behavior,
worship; room set-up
5/1 Jesus in promise (prophe-
cies), in the fesh; in His church;
coming again
Proposed Quarterly Curriculum

Evangelizing Our Friends

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