When Life Falls Together

When Life Falls Together

Theme: Confession and Restoration

Objectives:

• Know: Job was humbled when he came to understand the magnitude of God. God accepted Job's confession and restored him.
• Think: Understand that those who find God's restoration have an obligation to help others find it as well.
• Do: Confess to God when you find yourself off track.

Scripture: Job 42:1-17

A1 Outline

• Job's confession (Job 42:1-6)
• God's words to Job 3 friends (Job 42:7-9)
• God's blessing to Job (Job 42:10-17)

A2 Questions and notes

• Know it all
• Did Job's 3 friends think they had the answers to Job's problem?
• Do you know anyone like that? Have we ever been like that?
• When did you or I realize we were wrong?
• How do we admit we are wrong?
• What did Job do?
• What do we learn?
• What does Job acknowledge in Job 42:2?
• The word for repent in Job 42:6 can mean comfort or repent depending on the context. Since Job is abhorring himself and sorry for being wrong, repent is most reasonable. It does not seem reasonable that Job would comfort himself in dust and ashes.
• Is it OK to ask God for understanding during times of trials and difficulties? Yes!
• How did Job misunderstand what God was doing?
• What did Job's 3 friends assume about Job? (That he had sinned).
• At what point did Job's restoration begin? (When he repented and asked for forgiveness).
• Forgiveness
• What is it? (Not wanting or carrying out punishment for a personal offense. When we forgive, it is to release any want of punishment or hurt to another and let God dealt with the offender. When God forgives, it is more like a pardon (Psalm 130:4). The offense and its penalty has been paid in full).
• Why do we need it? (There is punishment involved--no forgiveness, then no pardon, just punishment. Compare Exodus 34:7, Psalm 78:38).
• Why do we need to forgive others? (1. So we can be forgiven by God (Matthew 6:14, Mark 11:25, Ephesians 4:32). 2. So the other person can repent and be forgiven by God (Revelation 2:21). 3. For the release of our hate and emotions regarding the offender. Compare Romans 12:14-21).
• How do we forgive others? (1. Telling the person. 2. Telling God. 3. It may have to be done many times, because of our emotions and hurt. God WILL deal with the offender. We pray they will repent and ask forgiveness). For more info see here.
• Repentance
• What is it? (An 180 degree turn around for our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. If we think that we have not sinned, then repentance is acknowledging our sins. See 2 Corinthians 7:10, Luke 15:11-32. For examples see Matthew 21:29, Psalm 51.
• No repentance, no forgiveness. See Acts 3:19, 2 Peter 3:9, Revelation 9:20-21.
• What did Job have to do to be forgiven? (Job 42:9-10). What did his friends have to do? Job 42:7-8).
• How did God bless Job? Is this the only way that God blesses; do all become rich, etc.?
• Was satan successful in what he desired?

Beyond Comprehension Sunday School Lesson

Beyond Comprehension

Theme: God of Wonders

Scripture: Job 38:1-39:30

Objectives:

• Know: "God used questions to help Job better understand His greatness.
• Think: "Marvel at the magnitude of God and adjust your view of yourself accordingly.
• Do: "Trust and worship God for His power, knowledge, presence, and design."

Summary:

• Job has suffered
• God was blamed
• By Job--"God did this to me for no reason. I trust Him, but I want to talk with Him directly to ask Him why."
• By friends--"God did this to you, because you are a horrible sinner. You have sinned secretly, but God is punishing you openly. Confess and repent."
• By wife--"Curse God and die."
• Now God speaks to Job.
• You think you know why this happened.
• I have a few questions. Can you answer these?
• I have something to teach you. You do not know as much as you think.

Outline

• Purpose of God's questions Job 38:1-3
• Questions about the earth Job 38:4-7
• Questions about the sea Job 38:8-11
• Questions about time Job 38:12-15
• Questions about the ocean floor and the gates of death Job 38:16-18
• Questions about light and darkness Job 38:19-21
• Questions about weather Job 38:22-30
• Questions about astronomy Job 38:31-33
• Can you command the weather Job 38:34-38
• Questions about animals Job 38:39-39:30

Notes and Questions

• How much do we think we know?
• How much do we really know?
• Who does know everything?
• What are some characteristics of God in these 2 chapters?
• Omnipotence
• God has power to do all things that are according to His character.
• God cannot lie. 2 Timothy 2:13, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18
• God cannot be tempted James 1:3
• God can save anyone who meets His conditions Matthew 19:26
• In the Old Testament
• As the Almighty (Ēl Shadday) as in Exodus 6:3
• As Lord of Hosts (Armies) (Yahweh ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ). In Old Testament times the power, greatest, authority of a king was related to the size of his kingdom, number of soldiers, and the number of people he ruled over. God is seen as having a kingdom, army, and people a number too large to count, thus, omnipotent. Psalm 24:10, etc.
• As the mighty one ('âbı̂yr). The one who has all strength as in Isaiah 49:26
• Omniscience
• God knows all things--past, present, future, and all things knowable as the position of a planet a million years from, and all things not knowable as in a person's decision and action (an open theist would not believe that God can know future unknowable acts as a person's decision or action). Psalm 147:5, Isaiah 46:10, Acts 15:18, Hebrews 4:13, Ezekiel 8:7-12, Zechariah 9:9 with Matthew 21:1-11
• Includes all our thoughts, words, desires, deeds, and motivation. 1 Samuel 16:7, Proverbs 15:11, Hebrews 4:13
• Omnipresent
• God is located everywhere. Proverbs 15:3, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Amos 9:2, 2 Chronicles 2:6
• God is active everywhere. His activity, acts, can be simultaneous is any and every place at once.
• Psalm 139 where all 3 characteristics are spoken of.
• Why do you trust God?
• Why do you trust God when everything seems to fall apart?
• What would you tell someone whose faith is faltering?
• What is trust?
• Trust is feeling safe in another's presence whether it be life, money, food, doctrine, driving, etc. Examples might be sitting in a chair, giving money to a friend to buy some food, marrying, physician,
• Others put their trust in politicians, money, science, themselves, philosophy, friends, family, leaders, etc.
• How does our knowledge of God's omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence affect our lives?

What are some characteristics of God in Job 38-39?

What are some characteristics of God in Job 38-39?

Omnipotence

• God has power to do all things that are according to His character.
• God cannot lie. 2 Timothy 2:13, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18
• God cannot be tempted James 1:3
• God can save anyone who meets His conditions Matthew 19:26
• In the Old Testament
• As the Almighty (Ēl Shadday) as in Exodus 6:3
• As Lord of Hosts (Armies) (Yahweh ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ). In Old Testament times the power, greatest, authority of a king was related to the size of his kingdom, number of soldiers, and the number of people he ruled over. God is seen as having a kingdom, army, and people a number too large to count, thus, omnipotent. Psalm 24:10, etc.
• As the mighty one ('âbı̂yr). The one who has all strength as in Isaiah 49:26

Omniscience

• God knows all things--past, present, future, and all things knowable as the position of a planet a million years from, and all things not knowable as in a person's decision and action (an open theist would not believe that God can know future unknowable acts as a person's decision or action). Psalm 147:5, Isaiah 46:10, Acts 15:18, Hebrews 4:13, Ezekiel 8:7-12, Zechariah 9:9 with Matthew 21:1-11
• Includes all our thoughts, words, desires, deeds, and motivation. 1 Samuel 16:7, Proverbs 15:11, Hebrews 4:13

Omnipresent

• God is located everywhere. Proverbs 15:3, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Amos 9:2, 2 Chronicles 2:6
• God is active everywhere. His activity, acts, can be simultaneous is any and every place at once.
• Psalm 139 where all 3 characteristics are spoken of.

The truth, and nothing but the truth

The truth, and nothing but the truth

Theme: Confronting worldly wisdom.

Scripture: Job 13:1-28

A1 Outline

B1 Job tells his friends (?) to shut up Job 13:1-5

B2 Job tells his friends (?) their speeches are stupid Job 13:6-13

B3 Job tells God to stop hurting me Job 13:14-28

A2 Notes and questions

B1 Is Job angry?

• C1 In general how does a person's anger differ from God's anger?
• D1 Person's anger
• E1 With passion
• E2 Seeks punishment and revenge
• E3 Often based on perceptions rather than truth
• E4 Based on personal offenses whether right or wrong
• E5 we are to set aside our anger (1 Timothy 2:8, Ephesians 4:26)
• D2 God's anger
• E1 With passion (Revelation 19:15)
• E2 Seeks repentance and reconciliation until repeatedly rejected then seeks punishment and revenge (Romans 1:18, Romans 2:5, Romans 12:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:9)
• E3 Based on truth (Colossians 3:6)
• E4 Based on a standard--God's standard (Romans 2:8)
• C2 Would we be angry? Consider all that has happened. Job doesn't know all the background of why these things happened. Job's friends keep assuming that Job has committed horrible, vile sins and needs to repent.

B2 What is truth?

• C1 Philosophically there are many theories. Consider this chart.
• C2 Basically truth is reality.
• D1 Examples
• E1 Financial issues. When people deal with money issues whether taxes or buying and selling, they want exactness.
• E2 Pain management. When people are in pain as after surgery or in an accident, they are facing reality and want pain control. Reality wins.
• D2 People often put faith in something or someone so strongly that when their chosen does something evil or stupid, they still believe what he/she says. Often they also become defenders and will harangue others, bullying them into correctness (as they see it). Most often this is seen in politics and to a little lesser way in "spiritual" leaders.
• D3 Reality. What is reality?
• E1 Groups and people make presentations promoting their view(s).
• E2 They present this as reality.
• E3 Often it is selective.
• E4 It is usually called fraud.
• D4 Everyone should be a little skeptical.
• D5 No one should have blind faith.
• D6 Christians need to have and practice a reasonable faith. Instead of just believing because someone makes claims, we need to find evidence that is most reasonable. Sources: Cold Case Christianity, Who moved the stone?,
• C3 Give some examples of truth.

B3 What is wisdom?

• C1 Some definitions
• D1 Knowledge--knowing facts as in 1+1=2
• D2 Understand--knowing why 1+1=2. $+$=$$
• D3 Wisdom--knowing facts, understanding why, then how to apply it.
• C2 Worldly wisdom (wisdom, James 3:15)
• D1 If we adopt the definition that wisdom is knowledge plus understanding, then using this according to a person's own standard.
• D2 Example--Today's politicians
• C3 Godly wisdom (wisdom from above, James 3:17)
• D1 If we adopt the definition that wisdom is knowledge plus understanding, then using this according to God's standard.
• D2 Example--The Lord Jesus (John 7:46, Luke 20:27-40).
• C4 Give some examples of worldly wisdom and godly wisdom.

B4 Job's 3 friends gave Job reasons for his calamity. The main idea they had was, "You have sinned. God is punishing you. You need to confess your sin and ask God for forgiveness." Was this an example of worldly or godly wisdom? Support your answer.

B5 Because of the difficulties with his 3 friends, Job then wishes to take his case to God. Is this wise?

B6 Job's friends spoke many words. Were these words inspired by God? Does inspiration mean all words in the Bible are the words of God? (No, it does guarantee that the words recorded are 100% accurate).

B7 What kind of wisdom is best for all? (Godly wisdom).

B8 How do we apply godly wisdom for...

• C1 Being falsely accused?
• C2 Slandered?
• C3 Libeled?
• C4 Insulted and reviled?
• C5 Screaming in our face?
• C6 Threats of violence if we continue to believe, teach, and preach as we do?
• C7 Loss of family due to sickness or accident?
• C8 Financial loss?
• C9 Threats of divorce for ourselves or others?
• C10 Church members who drift into doctrinal or lifestyle errors?

B9 Where do we find wisdom? (In prayer, Bible reading, Bible study, godly counsel, and faith in God).

B10 How do we know God's wisdom in circumstances? We can know God's will by...

• C1 The Scriptures that tell us we MUST do something.
• C2 The Scriptures that tell us we MUST NOT do something.
• C3 Principles to do or not to do.
• C4 Examples/illustrations of those who did or did not do something and what happened.
• C5 What examples might we give on
• D1 Who should I marry?
• D2 Should I buy this house?
• D3 Should I take this job?
• D4 Should I quit this job?
• D5 Should I retire?
• D6 Should I go to college or not, and where should I go?
• D7 Should I be a pastor, missionary, etc.?

B11 How do we know someone's advice, beliefs, or anything someone tells us is true?

B12 Was it right for Job to take his complaint and judicial case to God?

B13 Job 13:1-5, what was Job's main argument against his friends? (He knew as much as they did. He was not stupid).

B14 Job 13:6-13, what was Job's accusing his friends of? (lying about the reason for his suffering and his character).

B15 Job 13:14-28

• C1 Job 13:14-18, what is Job saying? ("I've lost all hope, so I'm going to make my appeal directly to God").
• C2 Job 13:19-21, what is Job saying to God? ("Are you going to come and accuse me? Secondly, please stop hurting me).
• C3 Job 13:22-23, what is Job saying to God here? ("What have I done wrong? What is my sin)?
• C4 Job 13:24-25, what is Job saying to God? ("I'm don't understand why you are treating me like an enemy)?
• C5 Job 13:26-28, now what is Job saying? ("I know that I'm a sinner. I sinned in my youth. Now, I am rotting away).

B16 Do we believe that God is the source of truth?

B17 Why do people turn to worldly wisdom instead of godly wisdom?