10: Lessons of the Past – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: Some of the psalms are called historical psalms. They help us see our lives as a part of the history of God’s people and claim the past as our own.
March 9, 2024
1. Have a volunteer read Psalm 105.
- Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
- How should we, as Seventh-day Adventists, see ourselves in this line of people from Abraham on? What lessons should we learn from this history?
- Personal Application: What lessons have you learned, or should have learned, from your past mistakes? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your relatives states, “.Why should we study the Old Testament and the history of the Jews? We are New Testament Christians and Jewish history is a thing of the past and doesn’t apply to Christians today.” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Psalm 80.
- Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
- How are God’s people portrayed, and what great hope do they plead for?
- Personal Application: How have you experienced repentance and a return to God? Share your thoughts
- Case Study: One of your friends states, “I think I’ve done too much bad stuff for God to forgive me and save me. I don’t know if I could ever believe that I could be forgiven or change my life.” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Psalm 135.
- Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
- What historical events are highlighted here? What lessons does the psalmist draw from them?
- Personal Application: How can we make sure that we don’t have idols in our lives? Why might idolatry be wasier to do that we realize? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “How has God lead you in the past? Is it easy to forget or ignore the lessons of the past? Why is it important to remember how God has guided and worked for you in the past?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Psalm 106.
- Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
- What historical events and their lessons are highlighted in this psalm?
- Personal Application: How often do we remember God’s works and don’t wait to ask for God’s direction when we make decisions? Share your thoughts.
- 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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