lesson loop 9.3.15

Middle School - "Snake Attack"

Big Idea: God is in control and He will protect His children.

A few things about God’s control and protection...

1. God allows suffering (sometime He allows it to go from bad to worse)
   Paul and those with him on the boat…
   • Arrested, prisoner on a boat headed for Rome (with quite a few other people)
   • “Northeaster” blows them off course
   • Storm so great they all lose hope - plan is to run the boat ashore
   • Most have not eaten - prisoners
   • Boat runs aground and breaks apart
   
   (all before they get to the island) - raining, viper bites Paul’s hand!!
   
   
   Often God protects us through a trial
   Isaiah 43:1-3
   
   
   But again, God is with us through the storm.
   And He is doing something in us through the storm.
   James 1:2-4
2. Nothing can harm us if God is not willing
3. If God is for us who can be against us?

1. Man is fickle and sometimes against us
2. Satan is always against us 1 Peter 5:8 John 10:10 Romans 8:31-39

Psalm 144:1-2 - When has God been your rock? your fortress? your stronghold? your deliverer? your shield? your refuge?

High School - "Tribulation and Triumph" (Mark 13)

Big Idea: Followers of Jesus will experience tribulation and triumph.
"Discipleship is not about predicting the future, but on faithfulness in the present!!"


Tribulation because…

1. we live in this world (v. 7-8)


2.  we live for Jesus (v. 9-13)

Triumph because…

1.  we have the Holy Spirit (v. 11) 

perfect illustration: Stephen in Acts 6:8-12; 7:51-60

2.  we will endure (v. 5, 9, 13b, 23, 33-36) *we must be discerning!
*we must stay awake!

3.  Jesus is coming! (v. 24-27)

"We are not given a blueprint for the future, but a confidence in God’s purposes and victory!"