01: Our Great Need – Teaching Plan
Key Thought : Laodicea is the church of self-confident, complacent, and indifferent people. Christ offers to meet the needs of their hearts and revive their spiritual longings.
[Lesson plan for Our Great Need July 1, 2013]
1. Have a volunteer read Revelation 3:15,16.
A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. How can an individual develop an attitude of spiritual indifference without recognizing it?
C. Personal Application: Are you hot, cold, or lukewarm? What evidence would indicate your or another’s spiritual condition? Share.
D. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “How can I be hot? What specific things can I do to have a close relationship with God? What things may keep me from having that relationship?” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Revelation 3:17.
A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. Why is there a big difference in Laodicea’s evaluation of herself and God’s evaluation of Laodicea? Share.
C. Personal Application: Why is it easy to become spiritually indifferent? What ways can we keep ourselves spiritually alert? Share your thoughts.
D. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Is this speaking of the era after the 1844’s, the nominal churches, or the world in general, or to Seventh-day Adventists?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Revelation 3:18,19.
A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. What does the gold tried in fire, the white rainment, and eyesalve represent?
C. Personal Application: If revival is a daily process, in what ways can our spiritual lives be revitalized daily? Share.
D. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Why is chastening and rebuke part of God’s message to His church? Isn’t He supposed to bring us peace? Why is repentance necessary before revival and reformation can take place?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Revelation 3:20.
A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. If this is a message to lukewarm Christians, why is Jesus seeking entrance into their hearts? Doesn’t He already dwell there? Share.
C. Personal Application: Does the amount of time we spend in prayer and Bible study or reading give us an indication of our desire to be in fellowship with Him? Share.
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)
