Key Thought : The Bible repeatedly affirms the reality of a heavenly sanctuary. It reveals a loving God who had developed from the beginning of Creation a plan to save mankind..

[Teaching plan for The Heavenly Sanctuary October 1, 2013]

1. Have a volunteer read I Kings 8:49.

a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. Does God need a place to live? Why does He need a place to live?
c. Personal Application : How can we learn to trust God and His word when we don’t always understand it? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “I thought God was a Spirit. How can He be everywhere and still have a place to live? Does He have a physical body? Aren’t we created in His image?.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Revelation 4:1-5

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why does it say there are seven Spirits of God when we know there is only one Holy Spirit?
c. Personal Application : Why was the throne SET in heaven? What does it mean to be set and why was it set? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “Who are the twenty-four elders around the throne in heaven? Are they Jewish leaders? How did they get there? I thought everyone was asleep until the resurrection?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 8:1,2

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. Why is Jesus seated at the right hand of the throne if all judgment is given to Him??
c. Personal Application : What is Jesus doing as our High Priest and minister in the heavenly sanctuary? Many churches say He isn’t doing anything, that the plan of salvation was finished at the cross. Share.
d. Case Study : One of your neighbors states, “Are we still supposed to have priests here on the earth to minister to God’s people? What here on earth replaced the earthly sanctuary?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Psalm 11:4-7.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What does this indicate God is doing in heaven concerning what is happening here on earth? Share your thoughts.
c. Personal Application: What was the first sanctuary or tabernacle for men? What does a sanctuary give us? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Note : “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” MH p. 149.

Print/PDF/Email