06: What You Get Is Not What You See – Lesson Plan
Key Thought : We can be safe to enjoy true success and happiness only by doing what is right in God’s eyes and understanding what His definition of success is.
[Lesson plan for What You Get Is Not What You See Feburary 2, 2015]
1. Have a volunteer read Proverbs 14:12-17.
a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. What ways seem right in a person’s own eyes, but lead to death?
c. Personal Application: Have you ever felt like you were doing the right thing, but found out it was not according to God’s Word or will? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “How can a person handle a short temper? Isn’t that something they learn and develop from their youth? It seems like it would be like trying to change a person’s character.” How would you respond to your relative?
8.2. Have a volunteer read Proverbs 15:1.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. How hard is it to answer an angry person with a soft and kind answer?
c. Personal Application: Do you consistently take into consideration that the Lord is watching and listening to everything you do and say? How does that affect your words and behavior? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What does it mean the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord? I thought we were all sinners. How can God hear our prayers unless we are righteous? Can He hear anyone? What makes the difference?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
3. Have a volunteer read Proverbs 15:22,23,28,29.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why is it better to think before we speak, no matter who we are talking to, including our own friends and family?
c. Personal Application: Have you ever received a word in due season? How did it impact you? Share your thoughts..
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Why are people so easily deceived? Why don’t people seek or listen to counsel, especially from those closest to them, but choose many times to make decisions on their own?” How would you respond to your friend?
4. Have a volunteer read Proverbs 16:1-5.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why do most people think there is nothing wrong with them, and that they are “good” in their own eyes?
c. Personal Application: What does it mean for a person to be proud in heart? How many humble people do you know? 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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d. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What does it mean the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord? I thought we were all sinners. How can God hear our prayers unless we are righteous? Can He hear anyone? What makes the difference?” How would you respond to your neighbour and why?
a) God hears everyone's prayers
b) God only listens to the prayers of the righteous
c) God listens to those who believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
d) none of the above
Good thoughts. I go with c
Hi Rachel, I agree. If the neighbour disagreed with us, how could we help him to understand our view of God?
Hi Rachel,
We could share with the neighbour that disagreed with us with the following points:
1)I actually think that God 'hears' all prayers but he doesn't listen (pay attention) to all of them, he clearly says that he doesn't listen to those who are rebelling against him.
2)God must listen to the prayer of the sinners otherwise how could they be saved? Read Ps 107, see all the different types of peoples in different types of trouble, some through no fault of their own, but when they cry out to the Lord, he hears them and saves them.
3)However as we agreed this the best: God listens to those who believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Rachel, I look forward to chatting with you again.
Thanks for the suggested answer to the Case study Shirley.
I need answers to the other Case study questions.
Hi Halleluyah, what a wonderful name. Here is the next one (thanks to Michael), what do think is the answer:
a) Characters can't be changed
b) People are entitled to be angry sometimes
c) Jesus wants to change our character
d) none of the above
Yeah I think the answer is C
Hi Halleluyah,
Yes, Jesus does want to change our characters. Is that scary? Does that mean that he wants to control us?
Some people thinks that Jesus only wants us to change what we do and say. But our real problem is what we feel & think so we need a new heart and a new mind which means a new character.
At the beginning God created Adam & Eve with a good character, then they choose to 'know' good & evil and that was the problem. Jesus came to get rid of the evil and to do that we must be born again.
This is the best news, we can start again with a new character that is good while still having our good qualities.
Halleluyah, why don't you share your thoughts on the next case study and I will help if you have any questions.