The Promises of God

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The Promises of God, Lesson 5, Page 1

The Promises of God Session 5 “You Can Live a Godly Life” Leader Guide

LEADER PREP: ●Read the entire lesson ahead of time. Also read the corresponding pages in the Participant Guide, as there may be additional information provided there that will be helpful for your preparation. ●Read the “Behind the Scenes” boxes. If you’re in a hurry, it might be tempting to skip these. However, they provide Biblical commentary that will help you better understand and teach this lesson. The Participant Guide also contains the “Behind the Scenes” boxes. ●Preview the video clip that accompanies this lesson. If possible, test it on the equipment you’ll be using on Sunday. The video is online at: https://vimeo.com/album/3070355. The password is “promises.” ● Spend time in prayer asking God to help you facilitate the discussion well. Ask God to prepare the hearts of your class participants as well. ● Before class, make sure you have the necessary supplies: board marker, paper and pen for each class participant.

Greeting ● Welcome everyone and be sure introduce yourself. ● Be sure everyone has a copy of The Promises of God Participant Guide. ● Let everyone know you’ll be covering Lesson 5 today, so that they can find that lesson in their Participant Guide. ● Remind class participants about the “Behind the Scenes” commentary notes found throughout the lesson. These notes can be used as helps during discussion groups or to prepare ahead of time for the lesson. ●Ask the class how meditating on last week’s memory verse and God’s promise impacted their week.

Say: We’re going to open this session with a word puzzle. I’m going to give each of you a page with a paragraph of text. Your task is to find, within that paragraph, as many of the books of the Bible as you can. At the end of three minutes, if you found at least 15 books of the Bible, you can have one of the treats I brought in.

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Just to get you started, the first book of the Bible contained in the paragraph is underlined. Set the plate of treats on the table so everyone can see them. Oh, one more thing -- for all those whose last names begin with a letter of the alphabet from A through J! If your last name begins with the letter A through J, you may use your Bible’s Table of Contents to help you. However, if your last name begins with a letter of the alphabet from K through Z, you’ll need to solve this puzzle on your own. Allow the participants three minutes to find as many names of books of the Bible in the paragraph as they can. When the time has finished, Ask: Let’s hear first from those who were not allowed to use a Bible. How did you feel during the three minutes? And those of you who were allowed to use a Bible: What was your experience with this word puzzle like? Pass the plate around the room for everyone to get a treat. SAY: Obviously, that game was not fair for some of you. All of you had to meet a fairly high expectation in order to get a treat, but half of you did not have the resources you needed to succeed. We’re going to break into small groups now to explore the issue of not getting what you need to succeed and to discuss the following questions:  

When have you been given a large task to accomplish but not the resources you needed to get the job done? How did you feel? What are some areas of your life where you have big expectations to meet and need all the help you can get?

You don’t need to worry about remembering these questions. They are in your Participant Guide. Allow for about five minutes of sharing in the small groups. Then ask for a representative from each group to share their findings with the rest of the class.

We’re faced with a lot of expectations. Our employers have expectations we need to meet or even exceed if we’re going to keep our jobs. Our families -- immediate and extended families -- also have expectations for us. So do our friends. But even taken all together, these expectations pale in comparison with the expectation God has for each of us. God expects nothing less than to have Jesus’ character formed in us. God wants us to be godly and to live godly lives!

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God’s expectation can feel overwhelming to us, especially when we remember just how imperfect and sinful we are. However, scripture reminds us that:

The Promise “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” 2 Peter 1: 3-4

Ask:  

In your own words, what is God promising in these two verses? And just as important, what are some things these verses aren’t promising? In other words, how have you noticed this promise being misused?

The Bible teaches that time is one of the resources God gives us to become more like his Son Jesus. While spiritual transformation may seem painfully slow, God has not left us alone with an impossible task to solve on our own. Let’s dig deeper to explore what God is offering in his promise to give believers in Jesus Christ everything that pertains to life and godliness.

New Story: Andy and Rachael One of the ways we can explore God’s promise to help us live godly lives is to see how other people have struggled to apply this promise to their lives. Let’s take a look at Andy and Rachael’s story. Show The Promises of God: Week 5 DVD. Ask: ● How did Andy and Rachael’s perspective about God change after they decided to obey him? ● Think about a time when you worried choosing to obey God might come with negative consequences? What, ultimately, swayed your decision? ● What takeaways can we glean from the Canfield’s story that will help us as we seek to obey God, even its difficult?

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God’s Story Let’s ground ourselves in God’s Word so we can better understand God’s promise that, as believers in Jesus, we can live godly lives. Read Acts 2 aloud or invite a volunteer from your class to read it aloud. Encourage everyone else to follow along in their own Bible or in their Participant Guide.

Before we discuss this, I’d like each of you to take a moment to reflect. What are the first questions that come to mind? Go ahead and record your initial thoughts and questions in your Participant Guide. Allow a minute or two for class participants to record their own thoughts and questions before continuing with the lesson. Stress that this is an individual exercise —not a group exercise. Once everyone appears to be finished and ready to proceed, continue.

God’s Word Acts 2:1-47 (ESV) 1

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of

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God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ 22

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,

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“‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29

“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those

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who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Behind the Scenes

The second chapter of Acts records the coming of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the Christian church. Jews from many nations had gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost, one of three major feasts that occurred each year. (Pentecost occurred 50 days after Passover, and Jesus had been crucified and resurrected during the observance of Passover.) On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended from heaven with “a sound like a mighty rushing wind” and with “divided tongues as of fire” that rested on each person present, symbolizing God’s presence within and among believers. The transformation of the disciples went far deeper than their newly found ability to suddenly speak in foreign languages. The Holy Spirit transformed their character as well. After Jesus’ crucifixion the disciples went into hiding out of fear of being arrested and suffering as Jesus had. Now they were proclaiming Jesus to the nations. The transformation in Peter is striking. Peter was the disciple who three times denied knowing Jesus. But after being filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter is the disciple who delivered the stirring sermon recorded in Acts 2:14-36. (Not everyone in the crowd was receptive: some mockers said, “They are filled with new wine.”) At Pentecost we see the disciples beginning to share God’s message with the whole world, because the Holy Spirit had begun to form Jesus’ character in them. Let’s get back into our small groups and see if we can make sense of God’s promise that we can live godly lives by exploring a chapter in the Bible that illustrates God’s promise. In your Participant Guide you’ll find Acts 2 on pages XX. Look at this chapter and then answer the questions that follow it. Talk about this for about five minutes in your small group, and then we’ll hear some reports back to the rest of us.

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Allow the groups to work independently for about five minutes. Have a representative from each group share findings with everyone. Let’s work through the next two questions together.  

Why was it important for international Jews to hear the gospel message spoken in their native languages? When Jesus was arrested, the disciples abandoned him, and Peter three times denied even knowing him. What changes did the Holy Spirit need to make in the eleven disciples before they were willing and able to share the gospel on Pentecost?

I want to give you all a chance to share in your group about your own observations and questions. Now is the time to share anything that seemed especially meaningful to you in Acts 2. And if you’re comfortable, share any question the passage raised in your mind. Perhaps someone else has an insight that will shed some light on your question. Allow at least 10 minutes for the groups to talk. Give a one-minute “let’s wrap it up!” warning so groups have time to finish their thoughts. You can use the remaining time to allow a representative from each group to report back on insights and questions. If you feel pressed for time, consider focusing on a “burning question” that a group was unable to answer. Just remember that you yourself are not responsible for having the final answer. It is healthy to admit what you are uncertain about and to ask the class if anyone is interested in researching the answer during the next week. Invite a volunteer to read Acts 2:17. Ask:  

How was the way the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples on Pentecost a fulfillment of the prophecy quoted by Peter in Acts 2:17 (from Joel 2:28 in the Old Testament)? What are some ways the Holy Spirit empowers us today?

Leader Learning Do not assume that everyone in the class can answer the two questions that follow the reading of Acts 2:17. Some new believers may have joined the class as a result of the Rock the Lakes music festival. If there are several new Christians, recommend to the class that they read John 16:5-15, Jesus’ words to his disciples about the work of the Holy Spirit.

Growing It’s one thing to know that God will help us to live a godly life, but it’s another thing to actually trust that God will give us the resources to do so. Spend a few

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minutes now journaling in your Participant Guide to begin applying God’s promise to your own life. Write responses to these two questions:  

Has God ever made His presence or a message known to you? Was it through a gentle nudge or something more dramatic? Has God ever called you to make difficult decisions about the way you have been living your life? If so, how did you respond?

Allow for five to eight minutes of quiet reflection and journaling. End the session by thanking God for the power he gives us to overcome temptations and to follow his will for our lives. [END SESSION]

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http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/hidden.htm

Hidden Books of the Bible Puzzle Find 30 books of the Bible hidden in the paragraph below:

There are 30 books of the Bible in this paragraph. Can you find them? This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an airplane seat pocket, on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much, he passed it on to some friends. One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from his john boat. Another friend studied it while playing his banjo. Elaine Taylor, a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judges the job of solving this puzzle so involving, she brews a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will be some names that are really easy to spot. That's a fact. Some people, however, will soon find themselves in a jam, especially since the book names are not necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced to admit it usually takes a minister or a scholar to see some of them at the worst. Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During a recent fund raising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi lemonade booth set a new record. The local paper, The Chronicle, surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of the most difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it, "The books are all right here in plain view hidden from sight." Those able to find all of them will hear great lamentations from those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that books like Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers. Also, keep in mind, that punctuation and spaces in the middle are normal. A chipper attitude will help you compete really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is no need for a mad exodus; there really are 30 books of the Bible lurking somewhere in this paragraph waiting to be found. God Bless.

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Solution There are 30 books of the Bible in this paragraph. Can you find them? This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an airplane seat pocket, on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much, he passed it on to some friends...One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from his john boat. Another friend studied it while playing his banjo, Elaine Taylor, a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judges the job of solving this puzzle so involving, she brews a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will be some names that are really easy to spot. That's a fact. Some people, however, will soon find themselves in a jam, especially since the book names are not necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced to admit it usually takes a minister or a scholar to see some of them at the worst. Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During a recent fund raising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi lemonade booth set a new record. The local paper, The Chronicle, surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of the most difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it, "The books are all right here in plain view hidden from sight." Those able to find all of them will hear great lamentations from those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that books like Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers. Also, keep in mind, that punctuation and spaces in the middle are normal. A chipper attitude will help you compete really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is no need for a mad exodus, there really are 30 books of the Bible lurking somewhere in this paragraph waiting to be found. God Bless.

Ehttp://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/hidden.htm