HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVEntually
I apologize if certain bits sound a little too frank or makes a little sense as it's getting late :/

Let's open this lesson with a question:
Why must we suffer and what does God do about it?

Discuss however you like, just keep it within these limits:
- God does not cause suffering, we do
- Temptation causes us to suffer.
- We suffer not just for our own sins but for others as well, that is the importance of sacrifice.

If you want to follow the book, you realize that there is no scripture reading. For the benefit of those who don't read their Bibles on a regular basis, let's read Matthew 27:27-46 and ask them which part of the passage stands out the most to them. A good 19 verses they should have no problems picking out something that hits them in the face. Further ask why they feel that the particular incident has stood out to them and give them a chance to explain themselves before making an example out of them for giving a sarcastic answer.(Just kidding)

Further probe by asking:
Why should Jesus' suffering of such bad torture affect the way that the rest of us should be living our lives? Aren't there many people being tortured in the world right now as well?

In essence, this is about a blameless man who is also God at the same time, feeling an almost unbearable amount of pain for at most 3 hours on the cross, that this was not a brutal murder but a sacrifice for our sins. Also, Jesus chose all the pain so that he would be feeling our pain.(In verse 34, he was offered an anesthetic but he refused. The answer can be a simple as you want or it can be as complex as you want. Try to get it around midway to get them to think about the significance of the event, and remind them that it is key to our faith that we understand it.



Um, how do I put this...
I really dislike how the book sums up this series BUT I am most definitely not smarter than the author, though I have the home ground advantage and I can cater more towards what we are learning and what they are going to be doing in the near future. I think this balances things out between the two of us and so just to be safe, I will leave it up to you to decide in what way you would like to end off experiencing the lessons.

The Book's pretty straightforward, lots of reading and little questions and accompanying passages very theatrical in nature. I'll help you answer the questions:

1: How do you think Jesus was familiar with life's bruises? Look up any scripture passages you can think of that validate your answer.

He was as much God as He is man and He suffered like a man. Look at Mt 27:45-46 to see Him cry out in pain as He experiences our pain.

2: Read Revelation 2:4-5 on the left and write down what you learn about Jesus' concern for the fading passion of a smoldering wick.

Jesus is concerned that we may get too accustomed to His love and become to complacent with what has already happened and not what is to happen. He wants us to always be ablaze with passion, something that is not purely of us but with inspiration from God and Power from the Holy Spirit.

3: How would you answer the question, “Where is God when I hurt?” How do these stories of people met in pain affect your answer?

For this you have to Guide your students into thinking about times when the felt really hurt by themselves or the people around them and to try to remember where God was. Think of where God was for those met in pain and think about how God has been faithful.

4&5: Where do you long to see Jesus working his tender power in your life & what stones are in your way today?

Well, this question would really encourage them to come out of their shell and share about their life, good practice for when they have a chance to share with others. Encourage them if they share with advice, life experiences and sharing a little about yourselves and answering the question yourself as openly as they have.

As you go through the book, it is extremely hard to engage with these passages as their attention spans are kinda short. Use the Questions as “breaks” to allow the passage to sink in and to give an adequate answer. Not everyone may understand the passage as well and for the few questions to work it is important for the kids to understand the passage and not just have heard them.

And you can now close in prayer



And that's it for the book. Now for my idea on how we could end off the previous few lessons.



Here's the issue. In the past four “Days”, we've been exploring our desperation, our neediness, our pain, and distress. These four things are what make movies like final destination or saw enjoyable! Yes that and they could also be summarized into a single term known as suffering.

Let's get right to the lesson!


Start the same way, do the bible passage thing and whether Jesus should be suffering

Continue from the question by asking:

If Jesus' suffering was His sacrifice for us, that means he does not want us to suffer. So What does God want for us?
Turn to Psalm 16:11
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

The bible tells us that God wants only the best for us. He wants us to enjoy the joyous benefits of being His.

In contrast, how does the Bible describe the intentions of the enemy of God? (What is not meant for us from God.)

Turn to Isaiah 14:12-15 and...
"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit."

John 8:44
"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it."


The Bible describes one of God's angels, Lucifer, rising in rebellious pride against God and choosing evil rather than God's good way. Satan's momentous choice was the starting point of evil and the suffering that comes with it. Sin is the ultimate cause of suffering. Now Satan wants nothing more than to thwart God's plan and destroy our trust in God's goodness.

Even though God gives us free will, does He tell us what choice He wants us to make?

Read Deuteronomy 30:15-19 (Yes lots of reading)
"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live..."

Ask your students what was the goal that God had for us, and if we managed to achieve this goal. Consider the original plan for humans was to build a relationship, would we be achieving that goal without free will?

By giving us the chance to choose, God gives us the opportunity to develop His righteous character, something we couldn't develop if He always forced us to make the right choice.

Since sin causes suffering, does that mean the person who is suffering is always responsible for his or her own suffering?

Turn to Luke 13:2-5
And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

Sadly, sins have consequences that often affect not just the sinner, but those around him or her as well. Satan is pulling the strings, allowing trials and suffering to come on innocent victims and God's people as well. So we should never judge the victims of suffering, but should be aware of our responsibility to repent and turn to God.

What is suffering good for?

Turn to 1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ...

And (Hebrews 5:8-9)

Many scriptures point out the end results of trusting God and enduring through difficulties. Like the refining process for precious metals, the heat of trials produces beautiful, godly character that can be achieved in no other way. The Bible tells us that even Jesus Christ learned through the things He suffered. It helps the world become a better place as we can all start to relate to each others suffering.

What does God want us to do for others who are suffering?

Read for them, don't need to turn to Galatians 6:2
Bear one anther’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Jesus Christ was willing to suffer the trials of His human life in order to help us (recall Crucifixion). He wants us to follow His example of loving service to those facing trials,

When will all suffering end?
Read for them, don't need to turn to Revelation 21:4
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

What a wonderful time to look forward to!

That's it, hope you liked it. Close in prayer after discussing the application of what we have learnt.

Application:
God is the "Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). God wants us to not only feel for others, but to look for ways to comfort them. For example, James tells us "to visit orphans and widows in their trouble" (James 1:27).

What can you do today to lighten someone's load, to comfort or encourage someone? Perhaps a visit, phone call or gift would help. Perhaps providing a meal or helping out with chores could show you care as well as meet need. Pray for the people that you could help and pray that God will give you his courage.

Have a good Sunday!

Claire Bear