01: The Great Controversy – Teaching Plan
Key Thought : The great conflict between good and evil has affected every life in the universe. The essential issue centers on each person’s choice between God and Satan.
[Teaching plan for “The Great Controversy: The Foundation” October 1, 2012]
1. Have a volunteer read Revelation 12:7-13.
A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. In what ways has or does the devil attack the church?.
C. Personal Application: Does the devil attack you as a member of God’s church mentally, spiritually, or physically? How do you resist the devil as he attacks you in any of these ways?
D. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Why would there be a war in heaven? What reason would any being in heaven have for starting a war with God? And why is that war continued here on earth?” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Genesis 3:15.
A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. What is the enmity between the woman’s seed and the serpent’s seed? What does the bruising of the head and heel represent?
C. Personal Application: How often are you away of Satan’s efforts against you in a single day? Share.
D. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Some people say the devil is just a symbol of our own evil thoughts and actions. How can we really know that the devil exists at all?” Do you tend to agree or disagree with your friend? How would you respond?
3. Have a volunteer read Romans 1:20-28.
A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. In what ways did Satan get mankind to worship themselves instead of God?
C. Personal Application: In what ways does the conflict between good and evil affect everything that Christians and non-Christians do and think during their daily lives?
D. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “People’s sexual orientation isn’t a choice. It’s how they are born. God would be unfair to control sexual use to those who are born with a predisposition to same gender attraction.” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Joshua 24:15.
A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. Anyone can claim to be on the Lord’s side. How do we know for sure that we really are?.
C. Personal Application: How strongly is your own culture impacted by the scientific secular worldview? How much are you individually impacted or influenced by it?
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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The issue of ownership in the Great Controversy
The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan is waging around the question of ownership. The apostle Paul says: "Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death or of obedience which leads to righteousness." (Romans 6:16 RSV)
The choice has to be made between obedience to Satan, the originator of sin or Christ, the source of righteousness. The first battlefield on earth was Eden. God had given the explicit command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Otherwise they would surely die (Genesis 2:17) This commandment called for obedience out of love to their creator. But Eve chose to obey the serpent rather than God uniting with the enemy, as did Adam. Having done this, they became Satan's possession; as Christ said, Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin, is a slave to sin." (John 8:34 RSV) A slave is the property of his owner. Satan rejoiced in claiming our first parents as his possession. This alliance, having been formed, the creator pronounced enmity against this union (Genesis 3:15). The war on earth was on. The first victim was to die very soon -- Abel, murdered by Cain.
The Cross event is marking the turning point of that Great Controversy restoring the rightful ownership of man to Christ. Sin is canseled on the condition of believing in Christ`s atoning sacrifice of grace (2 Corinthians 5:21). If sin is canceled, the old ownership is canceld, too. Satan can no longer claim justified sinners as his possession. They now belong to the very One who died for them on the cross. Not only are they Christ`s possession: They are sons and daughters of God; even becoming heirs of Christ`s eternal kingdom! (Galations 4:4-6; Romans 8:14-17).
His cry on the cross, "It is finished!" was His proclamation of victory within that Great Controversy. Being now Christ`s property, is the outcome and fruit of that cry still sounding in our ears today, calling sinners to repentance, inviting all to have their rightful ownership restored in order for us to know who we really belong to by now. That`s good news within that Great Controversy.
Winfried Stolpmann
There is a great struggle between 'Good' and 'Evil' of which we are to take a stand.
Let us always remember that,there is no middle stand.
so if we are not on God's side,then by default,we are on Satan's side.
May God have mercy on us and help us to be on the good side.