08: Trusting God’s Goodness – Teaching Plan
Key Thought : We may not understand why tragedy happens, or injustice, violence, and evil; but we can trust God through it all.
[Teaching plan for Trusting God’s Goodness May 20, 2013]
1. Have a volunteer read Habakkuk 1:2-5
A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. How can we learn to trust in God’s goodness and justice when the world is so full of evil and injustice?
C. Personal Application: Is it helpful to question God or complain about things with others? What might be some positive or negative results? Share.
D. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Are we supposed to just have faith and not question God, or should we question why such terrible things are going on against good people?” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Habakkuk 2:1-4.
A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. Why does it say the proud will be destroyed? What’s wrong with having good self-esteem and self-confidence?
C. Personal Application: How can we protect ourselves from being forgetful on how completely dependent we are upon God for everything we have? Share your thoughts.
D. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Does our faith cause us to be declared righteous, or does living by faith help us become righteous? Can a person live by faith but not do what the Lord wants them to?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Habakkuk 3:12-16.
A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. If God is going to destroy people for their evil and wickedness, why has He waited so long? It seems like things can’t get much worse.
C. Personal Application: How can we be sure we have rest and hope in Christ in times of trouble when the world seems to offer nothing but sorrow? Share your thoughts.
D. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Why would anyone want to be alive during the times of trouble and the seven last plagues? I think I’d rather be in the grave until the indignation is past, wouldn’t you?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Habakkuk 3:17-19.
A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. How can the Lord sing and rejoice over us, considering the pathetic state we are in?
C. Personal Application: What can we do to become more cheerful and joyful in our interactions and relationships with others in the church? 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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