Jesus Won Their Confidence – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: God has called us to play our part in mingling, showing sympathy, and ministering to needs in an attitude of love.
Jesus Won Their Confidence – September 3, 2016
1. Have a volunteer read I Corinthians 3:1-5.
Jesus with people, smiling
a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. Why do people have a tendency to bond to a person rather than the message they bring?
c. Personal Application : Do you have a favorite minister or evangelist? What characteristics draw you to that person? What are some dangers in exalting or favoring a particular person? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your elderly female relatives states: “If a visitor started attending your church regularly, what kind of witness would they see the church exemplify?” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Nehemiah 2:4-8.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. Why do you think the king was willing to go along with Nehemiah’s request?
c. Personal Application : What kinds of social capital do you have in your community based on your faith and interaction with others? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “How can Adventists win other people’s confidence in them? What actions or attitudes can either enhance or destroy confidence? Aren’t most people usually skeptical of others?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Deuteronomy 4:5-9.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. How closely do we follow God’s statutes and judgments? How is wisdom and understanding tied to our obedience?
c. Personal Application: Are Adventists well-known in your community? How can we build confidence and trust if people don’t know who we are? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your neighbors states, “What is true faith anyway? I’ve heard a lot of people from many different religions and Christian denominations say they have faith. What does faith do that makes people different from those who don’t have it?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Acts 2:42-47.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. How did having favor with all the people connect with the growth of the church?
c. Personal Application : Is it possible to gain favor with people by our words? Or is it done by our actions? What part does sympathy play in our influence? 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.
(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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