Key Thought : By His actions, God vindicates Himself in front of the entire universe. God’s moral justice and power of love wins.

[Teaching Plan for The Cosmic Conflict Over God’s Character December 16, 2013]

1. Have a volunteer read Ezekiel 28:12-19.

a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. What clues here show that this is not referring to an earthly king but to Satan himself?
Personal Application: Do people who are beautiful and/or intelligent sometimes get set up, or set themselves up, as gods; little idols to be adored or worshiped?
c. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Why did God let Lucifer rebel and mislead so many angels and then to lead Adam and Eve astray? Why didn’t God stop him as soon as he started his rebellion?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Job 1:6-12.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Does God cause all the troubles that come on people, or does He just not prevent them from happening?
c. Personal Application: Have you ever wondered why God allowed some bad thing to happen in your life? How do you reconcile the negative things that happen with your understanding of God’s character? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Who are the sons of God that came before God? Why is Satan with them, and why does he say he came from walking to and fro upon the earth?” How would you respond to your friend?
(Note : Luke 3:31 – Adam was a son of God. I John 3:1 – we are called the sons of God. Hebrews 1:5 tells us that angels were never called sons of God. So the sons of God are rulers of other planets. When the earth was created the morning stars sang (angels) and the sons of God shouted for joy (rulers of other planets). That’s why the might men of old were a mix of the sons of God (Seth’s offspring) that saw the daughters of men (Cain’s offspring) and intermarried with them, corrupting the earth. When Adam sinned, Satan claimed the earth as his. Walking about on property shows ownership.)

3. Have a volunteer read Ezekiel 36:23-28..

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. How is God’s name profaned today? Is it just in using His name to curse people, or is it in blaming Him for everything that goes wrong, or is it in misrepresenting His character and His word? Share your thoughts.
c. Personal Application: How can we tell if a person has a new heart and spirit in them? How can you tell if your heart and spirit have been renewed? Share your thoughts.
(Note: See John 3:8, 20,21)
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Why are God’s people tested more than unbelievers, going through difficult trials of life? Is there a purpose for these trials, or is it the natural result of living in a sinful world, the result of our bad choices that put ourselves in trouble, or being the special target of Satan’s hatred?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Romans 3:21-26…

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What is Paul saying here about the way men are saved and about the character of God?
c. Personal Application: What is the distinction between God being just and God being the justifier of them who believe in Christ? Why are both necessary to understand God’s character? 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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