lesson loop 4.28.16

HS & MS - SALT Evangelism Series ("Why does God let bad things happen?")

This past Tuesday we addressed an extremely difficult topic that we all struggle with to some degree. Why does God let bad things happen to us? There is no easy answer to this question, but we addressed this topic with some Scripture and a video from Dare 2 Share.

KEY SCRIPTURE: JOHN 16:33, 2 PETER 3:9, 1 COR. 13:12, 2 COR. 1:3-4

After the video and some discussion, we split into Growth Groups and we considered the following questions:

• Tonight’s video discussed the question - “why does God let bad things happen”? Do you struggle with this? Do any of your unsaved friends struggle with that question?
• Are we ever going to be able to completely figure this out? Why or why not?
• What are some ways you think God could “redeem” the difficult things that happen in our life?
• Do you have any struggles right now that you want to ask prayer for? Something that you are questioning God about?
• If you have time, spend it in prayer for your unsaved friends - those who you plan to share the video with.

The video that students are sharing with their friends this week can be found here: http://www.somethingamazing.net/why

Some of the questions they were encouraged to ask their friends after they watch the video are:
• What did you think of the video?
• Have you ever wondered about this question before?
• What’s your theory about why the world is so messed up?
• Why doesn’t God just wipe away everything bad?
• I’ve heard it said that if God wiped away all evil, we would all be wiped away too. Do you agree
or disagree? Why?
• Have you ever been mad at God?
• Do you have the kind of relationship with God that you can go to Him with your anger or pain?

Ask your kids who they plan to (or already did) share the video with. Then pray with them for that friend.

lesson loop 4.1.16

HS & MS - SALT Evangelism Series ("Have you ever wondered about God?")

We began our new evangelism series this past Tuesday, which includes a helpful video that lays out some Scripture which relates to the video that students are to share with their friends.

KEY SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 5:13, COLOSSIANS 1:15, PHILIPPIANS 3: 8-9

We began by considering Matt. 5:13 when Jesus said to His followers, "You are the salt of the earth."

We talked about how this means that we bring flavor and preservation to this world which is in desperate need of "God-flavor". We are to bring "God-flavor" to everything we do - sports, academics, relationships, etc...

Students wrote down in their books the first 5 words that came to their head when they heard the word "God". Then, they shared some of them. It is interesting to hear how many different thoughts people have of God, which further emphasizes the need to discuss with people what they think about God.

After the video, the students answered several questions that I asked related to the video:

• Do you agree that people pick and choose their view of God like they pick and choose their hats? Why do you think that?
• What do you think are some of the most commonly held views about God among your friends?
• Are some of the different views of God contradictory to each other? Can all the different views of God be right? Why or why not?

It is fine to choose according to our preference when it comes to food or clothing, but not when it comes to our belief about God. God is who He is, and we cannot fashion our own image of God.

In fact, God has already shown us exactly what He is like in Jesus Christ, the perfect image of God! (John 14:8-9)

We looked at Colossians 1:15 and 20 and saw a couple aspects of God's nature based on Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:8-9 teaches us that nothing could be more important than knowing Jesus Christ. He is God, and knowing Him is knowing God.

2 of the primary ways we get to know God is through reading His Scriptures and through prayer.

We then did an exercise with looking through a few of the "I am" statements in the book of John to see what we can learn about God. Students were challenged to choose the I am statement that meant the most to them based on where they are right now with their relationship with God.

• “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger. And whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35 ESV) (Satisfies my spiritual needs)

• “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ESV) (Shows me how to live)

• “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV) (Establishes my relationship with the Father)

• “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 ESV) (Lives in me and empowers me)

The students sketched a picture of whichever of the statements they chose.

We finished by encouraging students to share the video with a friend and follow up with them. If they weren't sure where to take the conversation, they should point to the cross and John 3:16.

Finally, we split into GG and discussed some questions related to sharing our faith and our views on God.