Key Thought: God can use crises to make His people sensitive to their dependence on Him and their need for renewal and reformation.

[Teaching Plan for A Holy and Just God April 15,2013]

1. Have a volunteer read Joel 1:14,15.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. What are the benefits and advantages of corporate repentance and prayer over personal and private repentance and prayer?
C. Personal Application: Have you ever experienced a natural disaster in your life? How did you cope with it? Did the disaster bring you closer to God or further away at the time? Share.
D. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What is the “day of the Lord”? Why should anyone be concerned about it? Aren’t we supposed to be looking forward to the second coming?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Joel 2:28,29.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. Are there only certain times and circumstances when God gives specific gifts to be used, or does He bestow these gifts when someone is ready or a group is ready? Does God give the gifts upon request?
C. Personal Application: What things can we do in our lives to make us more receptive to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Share your thoughts.
D. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Did this refer specifically to the prophetic gift given to E.G. White, or does it have reference to the Day of Pentecost, or does it refer to a future outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain before the plagues fall?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Joel 2:30-32.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. What does Joel mean by the remnant that the Lord shall call? Why are these people called a remnant? Won’t everyone be calling on the name of the Lord during this terrible time – like a fire escape religion?
C. Personal Application: What does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord? Is this a one-time thing; or a state of mind, a continued way of living and waiting for God? Share.
D. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Is this an application of a dual application? Before the judgment of 1844 there was the Dark Day and the Blood Moon and the stars fell. Will these be repeated? Will it be before or after probation closes?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Matthew 10:28-31.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. Why does Jesus contrast man’s fear of man with man’s fear of God? Why can’t man kill a person’s soul if the soul is the total person – body and breath?
C. Personal Application: If God has the number of hairs on your head numbered, how intimately does God know you? How does that make you feel? 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)

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