Key Thought: Justice demands the death penalty for our sins. Yet grace through the suffering of Christ on our behalf delivers us from death if we accept it.

[Teaching Plan for “The God of Grace and Judgment” January 25, 2012]

1. Have a volunteer read Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. What does it mean to fear God? Are we to be afraid of God and the judgment that leads to obedience as a duty to keep us from being punished? If not, if we disobey, will we be punished or not?
C. Personal Application: How do you feel about everything you did, said, or thought even in secret being brought out in the open? Does that make you feel confident in the judgment? Share.
D. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Christians don’t face judgment because they aren’t concerned about keeping the commandments. They are only concerned with grace and God’s unmerited favor toward them. The fear of God and obedience are Old Testament concepts.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Genesis 6:5.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. Was the Spirit of God present before the flood? Why did so many people seem to have an absence of the Spirit? Today, many are evil, but not all the time. Will we ever reach that point again?
C. Personal Application: How do you overcome the temptations that come with evil thoughts, by the influences of electronic media, and the daily interaction with negative and unconsecrated people?.
D. Case Study: One of your friends states, ”How different is it between today, with internet, TV, and video/DVD influences, and the people and their continuous evil thoughts before the flood?” Can God wait too much longer before He comes again?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read John 3:17-21.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. What does it mean to believe in Jesus? Is it more than a mental agreement that Jesus is your Savior? Does obedience and doing the right thing have anything to do with believing in Jesus according to this passage?
C. Personal Application: Have you ever been at the point where you were doing the wrong thing and did not want to change that behavior? How close to God were you at that time or wanted to be? Share.
D. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “How do you respond to those who say that Muslims worship the same God and even believe in Jesus as a Prophet, and that God would not reject that group of two billion people as lost?” How do you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Matthew 10:26-28.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. Why does preaching the true gospel and sharing the truth with others bring about so much anger and difficulty? Why are people so anti-religious?
C. Personal Application: Based on your recent actions in sharing the truth in the gospel, would others say you were more afraid of those who can destroy the body, or God? If you are not afraid, what is hindering the Sharing?
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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