lesson loop 7.4.13

Here is what we looked at Tuesday night at youth group:

Middle School

We continued our series on Sin and Forgiveness, and we focused on Remembering.

Our memories can be powerful things, and God often instructed the children of Israel to remember, including:

• their slavery in Egypt
• how God redeemed them from slavery
• The day they left Egypt - Passover.
• How Miriam rebelled against God and was stricken with leprosy
• How the Amalekites attacked them as soon as they left Egypt

All of these things center around Israel's freedom from slavery, which was certainly one of their most defining moments as God's people. When it comes to Christianity, the defining moment is Jesus' death and resurrection. We as God's people are freed from slavery to sin because of Jesus' sacrificial death for us.

Here are some passages and main points we considered about the cross -

Romans 8:1-3
REMEMBER OUR FREEDOM IS IN CHRIST

Colossians 2:13-15
REMEMBER OUR FORGIVENESS IS IN CHRIST

Hebrews 12:2
REMEMBER OUR FAITH IS IN CHRIST

Because the cross is so central to our faith, we need to meditate on it daily. The gospel should be the center of our lives.

I also gave the students a website I look at every day - http://firstimportance.org/

Or you can find it on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/firstimportance

High School

As we continue our study in the book of Judges, we looked at Ehud, and we considered Providential Deliverance. We noticed that God's providence is an amazing, strange and sometimes even humorous thing.
Here are the main points:

1. God is in and over the details of life.

• Ehud's left-handedness - God used this interesting characteristic
• Eglon's fatness - his symbol of pride and prosperity was his undoing
• Graphic nature of the story - God doesn't leave any details out
• Satire - the way this passage of Scripture is written shows the humor of God
• Eglon's name means bull/calf - therefore, he is the fatted calf prepared for sacrifice
• The "tribute" that Ehud gave is the same word for sacrifice. This makes Eglon the 2nd sacrifice or offering
• The "message" that Ehud had was the sword
• The Bathroom confusion - the guards think that Eglon was relieving himself because they smelled what come out when Eglon was stabbed. :-/

Application:

• God knows every detail of our life, and he is over every detail
• God has designed us a particular way for a particular reason

2. God is the Supreme King

     * Because He is supreme, He will judge those who oppress His people, and He will do it in His time.

     * It is clear from this time that Israel needs a righteous king - this will be fulfilled in David, but ultimately in Jesus Christ. 

    * Ultimately, in the end God gets the glory!