The End – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: The gospel calls us to demonstrate God’s love for the world in practical ways.
1. Have a volunteer read Job 42:10-17.
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a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. Why did Job’s captivity turn “when” he prayed for his friends? Was this a cause and effect, coincidence, a reward, or natural result of his prayers?
c. Personal Application : How supportive have your friends, acquaintances, and relatives been in your times of trouble? How supportive have you been when others are struggling? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “Where were Job’s friends and acquaintances before the Lord turned his captivity?. Did they stay away when things turned bad? What’s wrong with this situation?
2. Have a volunteer read Job 14:14,15.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. Even though death is on the mind of Job through his trials, what focus does Job have concerning death?
c. Personal Application : In the face of loss, disease, and death, can a person maintain hope and certainty in an uncaring and evil world? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “How did Jon know there would be a resurrection? Jesus hadn’t come yet. Did God give him a special revelation through the Spirit, did he read it in Scripture, or did he hear it from a prophet?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Daniel 2:44.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Wars and news of wars consume the earth between countries, tribes, races, ideologies, criminals, and street gangs. Is there any hope and peace to be found in this world, or do we wait for God to intervene and destroy it all?
c. Personal Application: Have you seen bad endings here on this earth? How do we relate to these unhappy endings like the death of a loved one, loss of employment, or divorce? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your neighbors states, “I lived through the slaughter of many people in Rwanda as they sought shelter in Christian churches. Some of these killers were fellow Christians. How can we understand this madness and hatred?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Romans I Corinthians 4:5.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What does this text tell us about how some things will still remain unfulfilled and unanswered in this life?
c. Personal Application : If you could ask God a question to answer for you now, what would it be? 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.
(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.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).
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