Radiant Life Adult Teacher Volume 7

By Radiant Life Resources

Explore the Scriptures for yourself or with a group using these 52 Bible-based lessons. Composed of a full year of Radiant Life adult curriculum lessons, this volume will help you prepare for every session. Designed to be used by Sunday School teachers or small group leaders, this curriculum is also great for individual study. The commentary, thought-provoking questions, and applications will challenge you to seek a Spirit-filled life as you grow in your faith. Seventh in a 7-volume series that covers the major themes of the Bible, you’ll want to collect the entire series as part of your digital library. Unit topics in this volume include: • Job: A Life of Integrity • The Son of God in the Gospel of John • Major Christian Beliefs • Letters to the Thessalonians • The Prophecies of Daniel • The Gospel in Galatians • Why We Need the Bible • Christ in the Revelation Use the entire book or choose the units that interest you. Scriptures are presented in both KJV and NIV for easy comparison study. Volumes 1 through 6 of this series are also available. Don’t miss a single one!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gospel Publishing House
• Release date: Jul 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781607315827

Book preview

1–7)

How To Use the Adult Teacher

The Adult Teacher is a Bible-centered curriculum, written by Spirit-filled authors with a goal to clearly communicate the teachings of Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, the entire Bible is covered in a period of seven years. In addition, all major Church doctrines are presented, as well as topics of special importance to help us live as Christians in our world.

Some people misunderstand the role of the Holy Spirit in teaching and the use of curriculum in study preparation. They ask, How can you follow the Holy Spirit if you are using a curriculum?

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Teaching

God has given teachers to the Church in order to instruct believers and equip them for life and service. The role of the Spirit is to quicken or illuminate what teachers teach and students receive. Without this teaching of the Spirit, all learning is merely head knowledge (see 1 Corinthians 2:10–16, especially verse 14). Teachers cannot give what they have not received. And students cannot learn what they have not studied (2 Timothy 2:15).

Why Use Curriculum?

Using the Adult curriculum in your Sunday School class does not circumvent what the Holy Spirit wants to do in a Sunday School class. Rather, by using Radiant Life Adult curriculum, you take advantage of Spirit-filled writers who have taken the time and effort to study and write a commentary about the passages under examination. You also are able to complete an overview of the entire Bible in seven years!

A good curriculum should do the following:

1. Ensure important information will not be omitted or overemphasized.

2. Weed out false teaching and doctrinal errors.

3. Provide a variety of resources. Remember that the Bible is the teacher’s textbook! The curriculum serves the teacher by offering Biblical insights and instructional ideas.

4. Help teachers ask the right questions.

Curriculum and Questions

A study discovered that teachers ask an average of forty-five questions weekly. Of these, one-third are rhetorically directed to students or are class functionality questions (i.e., asking students to distribute materials or discussing class issues). Curriculum materials provided teachers with one-third of the discussion questions asked in class, of which most were asked word-for-word from the curriculum. The other one-third of questions asked weekly were teacher-generated. Teachers who did not utilize discussion questions from curriculum were five times more likely to be asking lower-level questions (questions asking for simple recall or understanding—no application questions). The study verified that these lower-level questions resulted in much less discussion than those asked at higher levels. Those who utilized curriculum were more likely to ask higher-level questions—questions that required students to think through issues and apply the lesson material to their lives.

How Long Should You Prepare?

When preparing your Sunday School lesson, use the 3 to 1 rule: 3 minutes of study for each minute of class time. For a 45-minute class session, then, would call for 2 ¼ hours in lesson preparation.

Using 2 ¼ hours as the minimum amount of time invested in preparation for a 45-minute class, the following steps offer teachers a mental framework in which to budget time for planning lessons:

1. Skim the lesson (10 minutes)

Become familiar with the contents and direction of the lesson.

2. Pray for guidance (20 minutes)

This is a great time to pray for class members because the Holy Spirit can steer a teacher’s thoughts toward specific student needs.

3. Study the Bible commentary (30 minutes)

• Pay close attention to the relationship between the Scriptures and their interpretation in the Bible commentary section.

• Avoid the temptation to memorize and recite or read the Bible commentary text in class.

• List the issues raised in the Bible commentary that might meet needs of students.

• Consider the Response to the Word, as well as items from the Adult Resource Packet to provide potential activities.

• Examine how each question relates to the Bible commentary section.

• Focus on elements that seem to leap off the page.

4. Write the lesson objective (15 minutes)

Customize each lesson objective to fit your class. The objective will begin by the words Adults will … followed with a verb, such as believe, discuss, accept, respond with, role play, or write. Each part of the study and each activity should be geared to accomplish the objective.

5. Plan for student response in Call to Discipleship and Ministry in Action (10 minutes)

Use the Call to Discipleship and Ministry in Action sections of the lesson to close the class session in prayer or in a time of personal dedication (you may need to customize them for your students).

6. Prepare Introducing the Study (10 minutes)

Begin class with a story or activity that will capture students’ attention.

• Avoid starting with definitions.

• Use case studies, agree-disagree statements, and news items to spark interest.

7. Organize the Bible commentary (10 minutes)

• Use the outline in the Adult Teacher to guide you.

• Allow personal insight to flow from the Bible and lesson materials.

• Decide on two or three main ideas to focus on, then highlight the other topics.

8. List discussion questions (10 minutes)

Carefully select or write two to five questions that will stimulate discussion.

9. Select the presession activity (5 minutes)

Involve students before the class session begins by using an activity to help them interact with the lesson objective while drinking coffee and sharing with their friends.

10. Pray for anointing (10 minutes)

Ask God for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to teach the lesson, and for students to receive the teaching.

11. Gather needed materials (5 minutes)

Organize and collect all materials you will need to teach this lesson.

Lesson Planning Example

The September 1, 2019, study, Job’s First Test, will serve as the basis for this lesson planning example. Please take a few minutes to skim this study (pages 3–9). In addition, a filled-out sample of the Planning the Session form (page ix) will be used to illustrate study planning. Think of the following as a teacher’s journal:

Sunday, August 25, 4:00 p.m.

I open up the teacher guide and skim through the table of contents. The unit introduction provides a nice overview of what the lessons in the unit are about and helps me think about how these studies could apply to the lives of those in my class.

With the general busyness of life, and then those unexpected things that consistently pop up, getting a head start on the direction the lesson is going to be valuable. Plus, I often find that events and conversations that occur during the week relate to the lesson in some way, providing ways for me to help students connect God’s Word to everyday life. I consider this half hour a vital part of the teaching ministry entrusted to me by the Lord. As I conclude this overview, I ask the Spirit to prepare my heart to receive His truth and to anoint me to teach it to those in my class.

Tuesday, August 27, 6:00 p.m.

A statement from Introducing the Study has stuck with me since reading it on Sunday: When hard times come, we can either run away from God or run toward Him. Personally, this has challenged me to think about how I respond to adversity. I whisper a prayer for myself and my students, that we would run toward God in hard times. I ask the Lord to help me drive home the central focus of this lesson—that Christians can trust God in times of testing.

Starting the class with the question found in Introducing the Study will be a good way of drawing students’ attention to the topic of trusting God in times of testing. I will ask Betty on Wednesday night if she would be willing to briefly share about her struggle to trust God when she faced the dual trials of injuries suffered in a car accident and her daughter going through a difficult divorce. Her candor about how she was tempted to give up on God before reaching the decision to trust Him would provide a modern-day example of an experience similar to Job’s.

After reading Job 1:1–3, I will ask students what they think it means to be perfect (blameless) and upright. After discussion, I will highlight what the commentary brings out—Job was a man of character and moral integrity, and did what was right in his relationships with other people. His fear of God led to godly character and behavior. Then I will draw on the paragraph about verse 1, which sets the stage for the rest of the Book. Job had a good life (good family, wealth) yet remained morally and spiritually strong.

I want to stir the discussion of subpoint B away from what the sacrifices involved and focus on the point that Job was a good father who was active in the spiritual welfare of his family. I think using the last sentence of commentary before the Resource Item and the first application question will allow me to do this.

Drawing on the Response to the Word for Main Point 1, I want to remind students that responding with gratitude should naturally lead to worship and obedience.

The second question of subpoint A in Main Point 2 will be a good lead-in to the discussion of Job 1:6–12. After allowing students to respond, we can look at how Satan questioned Job’s motivation for trusting in and loving God. Satan accused (Satan means accuser) Job of being a fair-weather follower of God. In a sense, Satan is making an accusation against God: People worship Him only because of the good things He does for them, not for who He is. God allowed Satan to test Job, though with limitations. I want to wrap up this point by using the Response to the Word commentary. I think it will benefit students to discuss how they can prepare to counter Satan with worship, prayer, and Scripture.

For Main Point 3, after having Job 1:13–19 read in class, I will ask students to think about how they respond when bad things happen to them. Then I will divide the class into four groups to work on one example each from the resource item Faith Under Fire. After a few minutes I’ll have a spokesperson from each group summarize their responses with the class.

Having looked at others’ responses to bad things that happen, we will look at Job’s example in verses 20–22. I think it is important use the commentary to bring out that Job grieved. I have witnessed Christians who did not allow themselves to grieve when they suffered loss, thinking that showing grief expresses a lack of faith. I like how the commentary points out that grief and worship work hand-in-hand in running toward God rather than away from Him.

The second paragraph on page 9 provides insight into how Job was prepared to respond with trust in God when bad times came. He acknowledged that all he had came from the Lord, which gave the Lord complete ownership and right of determination. God’s confidence in Job’s character and love for Him was proven to be well-founded. Satan lost his challenge.

To close the session, I will point out that Job had an ongoing walk with the Lord that taught him about His character and nature, so Job was able to trust God. As is brought out in Call to Discipleship, this is what will lead Christians to run toward God in bad times rather than running away from Him. The suggestion found in Ministry in Action of praying for students who are facing a time of testing will be a great way to end the class time.

Wednesday, August 28, 6:00 p.m.

When I go to church on Wednesday, I will take the Daily Bible Reading work sheet and the copy master with me to make copies. Doing so allows me to avoid the rush for the copier that often happens on Sunday morning, allowing me to be in the classroom early to visit with students as they come in.

Saturday, August 31, 8:00 p.m.

I read over the lesson and my notes again to get the flow of the lesson firmly in my mind. Then I fill out the Planning the Session work sheet to use as a guide to keep me on track and to manage the class time wisely. I pray for those in my class, myself, and all who will be ministering God’s Word on Sunday.

Sunday, September 1, 7:30 a.m.

I scan through the Planning the Session work sheet I filled out during my prep time to refresh my thoughts about the lesson. Then I take a few minutes to pray for the Spirit’s help and anointing, knowing that without His help my efforts are futile.

Dear Teacher:

This book is the last in the seven-volume series of the Adult Teacher Commentary. As I write this letter, I note that this is the ninth Adult series on my bookshelf; the earliest dates back to the late 1950s. Yet the Adult curriculum had been published for decades even before that. Like each series before, we have covered the whole of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, as well as every fundamental Christian doctrine. We have also sought to address the critical topics facing Christians today.

We feel that this commitment to teaching the whole counsel of Scripture is critical. In recent years, much has been said about Biblical literacy—or, more specifically, the lack of Biblical literacy within the Church world today. According to recent findings by Barna Group, over half of all churchgoers are unable to identify basic Biblical priorities, such as the Great Commission. Sadly, the Bible knowledge gap seems to be widening.

Rev. Rick DuBose, general treasurer of the Assemblies of God, makes this important observation:

We have broken free from the limitations of the printed page and now have the Bible, in all its versions, on our computers, tablets, and smart-phones. No matter where you go today, the Word of God is as close as the device in your pocket. But despite the ease of access to the Word and the familiarity of the language, fewer people are actually reading it, studying it, and (especially) living by it…. To live like Christ will take a much deeper commitment to learning and living out the Scriptures.*

Biblical literacy has several facets: know what Scripture says, know what it means, and know how to properly apply its meaning and significance to one’s personal life. As you proceed through Volume 7, you will explore the teachings of Scripture from the doctrine of Creation (in John 1) to the glorious hope and sober warnings of the end times (in Revelation). You will cover Biblical poetry (in Job), prophecy (in Daniel) and Paul’s epistles (multiple times). You will examine basic doctrinal truths of Scripture (during the Winter quarter) and survey the important practical matter of contemporary society’s need for the Bible (in the Summer quarter). Our prayer is that as you proceed through each lesson, the Spirit will lead and anoint your teaching to help your students grow in knowing and living God’s Word.

May God’s anointing rest upon you,

James G. Meredith, Adult Editor

Radiant Life Curriculum

*  Taken from the article Biblical Illiteracy by Rick DuBose, in the September/October 2018 edition of Influence magazine.

Few like to talk about suffering, even fewer still like to think about it. We go out of our way to avoid it. And yet, we cannot escape it. We see reports of it on the news; we read about it on our friends’ social media posts. And if we haven’t yet experienced it, we can be assured, that if we live long enough we will.

This unit explores the fascinating and difficult story of Job, a righteous man who enjoyed great wealth and influence. Yet although he was righteous and faithful to God, he experienced suffering in ways most can scarcely imagine. Through it all, Job knew his circumstances did not come as a result of sin. He trusted that God would vindicate him in the end.

In this unit, we walk through selected passages from the life of Job. Lesson 1 begins with an introduction to righteous Job, Satan’s challenge to his integrity before God, and his godly response to suffering. Job understood that in good times and in bad the Lord is to be praised.

In Lesson 2, we see Job’s second test. While he had previously lost his possessions and children, here we find a man stripped of his health. Yet Job’s faith would remain steadfast that he had not sinned to cause these calamities.

While staying true to God, Job also lamented what had befallen him. Lesson 3 records his regret over his birth and his very existence. This lesson, then, provides a good opportunity to talk about the feelings and emotions accompanying suffering.

In Job’s day, people commonly viewed suffering as the direct consequence of personal sin. Lesson 4 examines a sampling of this kind of thinking, as told by each of Job’s three friends. Yet the Book of Job teaches us that the innocent person does suffer, though we may not ever fully understand the reason for it.

In the final two lessons of this unit, God speaks to Job. Rather than answering Job’s questions, however, God affirms His sovereignty over all of Creation. He has reasons for allowing even His own people to suffer, and His reasons are always purposeful. Like Job, we are to trust the Lord with every aspect of our lives.

Having been confronted with this vision of God, Job repented for presuming to know and understand things that he neither knew nor understood about God. And God, in His goodness, vindicated Job before his family and friends, restoring his fortunes and giving him a new family.

As you lead your class through this series of lessons, be mindful of the pain they may be facing in their own lives. Minister to those in need, praying that they would remain faithful to the One who will always show Himself to be faithful.

THE LESSON OVERVIEW

Too often, the Book of Job is misunderstood, and as a result it might even become neglected. The book brings to the forefront some of the great questions of life, along with a reminder of life’s challenges and struggles. That reminder includes the possibility of not always having answers to the hard questions.

Today’s lesson focuses on the opening verses of Job, a fascinating passage that records a dialogue between God and Satan, followed by catastrophic tragedies in Job’s life. As the lesson unfolds, you will explore some challenging passages of Scripture that deal in both human tragedy and response. Yet in it all, you will see a man who kept his confidence in God despite all that befell him.

THE LESSON OUTLINE

1. Godly Man and Loving Father

Job 1:1–5

A. A Blameless Man

B. A Family Man

2. A Diabolical Challenge

Job 1:6–12

A. The Lord Is Approached

B. The Challenge Is Issued

3. Job’s Response to Calamity

Job 1:13–22

A. The Messages of Woe

B. The Response of Faith

TEACHING GOALS

1. Impart and Reinforce Knowledge: Help the students understand Job’s commitment to God, Satan’s evil actions toward Job, and God’s love for Job.

2. Influence Attitudes: Remind students that amid harsh trials, we can worship God rather than succumb to bitterness and doubt.

3. Influence Behavior: Encourage students to reach out to God and trust Him in all circumstances.

TEACHING RESOURCES

Copy For Further Study 1 from the Adult Resource Packet for each student. This work sheet is a journal page for applying the Daily Bible Readings to the lesson. Also copy the following items (pages 7–10):

• Blessings

• Faith Under Fire

• Examine Your Response

HISTORICAL-LITERARY BACKGROUND

Little is known about Job. His homeland of Uz is mentioned only in Jeremiah 25:20 and Lamentations 4:21, which links it to the land of Edom, to the south and east of Israel.

It is believed that Job lived around the time of Abraham, if not before. The book is considered both wisdom and poetry because it deals with difficult, universal questions of life and it is almost entirely in poetic form, resulting in the rich imagery and parallelism found in the book.

KEY VERSE: Job 1:8

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (KJV).

Then the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil (NIV).

SCRIPTURE SETTING

(Note: Only representative verses for the lesson are printed on the Scripture Setting page of the lesson.)

INTRODUCING THE LESSON

Begin with this question: How do you respond when you experience the worst life has to offer? We all face times of trials, testing, and suffering. Sometimes these things come as a result of our decisions, but other times they come in the form of unexpected and undeserved occurrences. It may cause us to question our faith.

When hard times come, we can either run away from God or run toward Him. We will see, in Job’s example, that even when tests and hardships come, we can both trust the character of God and also worship Him and bless His holy name.

1. Godly Man and Loving Father

A. A Blameless Man

Job 1:1–3

The opening words of the Book of Job tell us the type of man he was. While verses 2–3 describe his temporal wealth, verse 1 leaves no doubt as to the wealth of his character and integrity. His character is described in four ways: First, he was perfect (verse 1, KJV; blameless, NIV) and upright. This does not mean he was flawless, but rather that he was a man of character and moral integrity. The term upright refers to straightness and directness. He did what was right in his relationships with other people.

In addition, Job feared God and rejected evil. The fear of God is a reference to the reverent awe that gives rise to trust and dependence. It recognizes God’s sovereignty and power. The rejection of evil should be the natural outgrowth of fearing God. Job trusted God and depended on Him, and as a result rejected the things God would have him reject.

Verse 1 sets the stage for the rest of the book. The events that follow must be viewed with the knowledge that Job was morally upright and spiritually righteous. He revered and trusted God, and sought to obey and follow Him.

Job had seven sons and three daughters. In those days, sons were seen as a sign of God’s favor. Having many sons ensured the continuation of the family line.

Job was also extremely wealthy in the temporal sense. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke (or pairs) of oxen, and 500 donkeys. This represented a rare level of wealth, requiring the aid of many servants.

And so, Job was wealthy in almost every way imaginable. Everything seemed ideal for Job. He had experienced almost unparalleled success, yet was morally and spiritually strong as well. Job was so blessed that the writer summarizes him as the greatest man in the east.

Questions for Application

Job’s trust in God is the basis for his character. How has your faith in God shaped your character?

What do you think it means, practically speaking, to fear God?

B. A Family Man

Job 1:4–5

Job 1:4–5 describes the closeness of Job’s family. The children would get together for joyous feasts. In the Hebrew language, these feasts are described by the word for drink, which may explain Job’s concern that they had acted in a sinful manner—though no mention of sin is made.

After the feasts, Job saw fit to purify his children, perhaps as a precaution. This ritual act of purification was an outward cleansing to symbolize inward cleansing, bringing them back to a state of rightness before God. Verse 5 clarifies that this was done because Job thought they might have sinned by curs[ing] God in their hearts. Job’s custom of offering burnt offerings for his children appears to have been his habit.

And so, Job was not only a committed and caring parent; he also acted as a priest for his family. His burnt sacrifices and purification rituals demonstrated an ongoing concern that his family be righteous before God.

Resource Item 1: Distribute the work sheet Blessings. Discuss the questions, noting how Job responded to blessing.

Questions for Application

In what ways can parents act as spiritual leaders in their homes on behalf of their children?

How does God call us to deal with sin in our lives today?

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

Job was a man of godly character, great wealth, and many blessings. He also had a profound understanding that his blessings came from God, which stirred Job to worship. Our blessings come from God as well, and this should cause us to worship Him wholeheartedly and follow Him consistently. Give thanks to God in proper response to His blessings.

2. A Diabolical Challenge

A. The Lord Is Approached

Job 1:6–9

The scene shifts from earth to the heavenly realm in Job 1:6, which records a time when heavenly beings, or angels (sons of God, KJV), would present themselves to the Lord. Angels are God’s agents, who carry out God’s will (see Psalms 91:11; 103:20). On one particular occasion, however, Satan (meaning The Adversary) attended this event.

Note that when the Lord asked Satan to state his reason for being there (verse 7), Satan did not answer directly. He instead said that he had been roaming the earth, implying that he had been out doing his evil work. This is Satan’s usual activity (see 1 Peter 5:8).

In response, God called attention to Job, a man who displayed unparalleled commitment to righteousness and the ways of the Lord. God was repeating the words of Job 1:1, confirming the righteousness of Job, one who was blameless, upright, feared God, and shunned evil.

In response, Satan raised a subtle accusation against the Lord, suggesting that Job served the Lord only because of His blessings (verse 9). It is not uncommon for Satan to question God’s character. Job 1:9 shares similarities with the deception in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 3:1–4).

In Job 1:9, the phrase for nought (KJV; for nothing, NIV) speaks to an expectation of something in return. This set the stage for the challenge that would follow. It called into question the basis of a righteous man’s faith, in turn casting doubt on the validity of Job’s trust in God. As a result, Satan called into question the character of the Lord by saying that the only reason Job trusted Him was because He had given Job unfair advantages.

Questions for Application

How should a person respond when Satan places doubt or accusations into his or her mind?

What is your motivation for trusting in and loving God?

B. The Challenge Is Issued

Job 1:10–12

In Job 1:10, Satan’s challenge to the Lord began in earnest. Satan had made the accusation that Job’s commitment to God was only a result of God’s blessings on Job. Satan continued the challenge by suggesting that God had placed a hedge around Job, his family, and his possessions. This refers to a protective fence, the kind that might be constructed to ward off enemies or dangerous animals. In addition to the hedge, Satan asserted that God had blessed Job so that his flocks and herds would multiply greatly, making him wealthy. The implication is that God had favored Job in a manner he did not deserve.

Then Satan made a direct challenge to God: If He would wipe away all that Job had and leave him with nothing, Job would curse God to His face (Job 1:10). This assertion again called into question the character of God Himself, as well as that of Job.

Note that Satan called upon God to strike Job (verse 11). Scholars note what might be a sense of vulgarity or mocking in verses 10–11. Satan ignored the courtesies of court etiquette in addressing Almighty God, which would include avoiding direct address to the Sovereign. (For example, one would address a king as my lord rather than you.)

However, God allowed the challenge, and Job would be tested. God knew that Job’s character would stand (see verse 8). Yet God would not bring the calamity, but only allow it. Satan had permission, initially, to strike all that Job possessed. The challenge would begin. In essence, the question under consideration would be, Is God so good that His people will love and serve Him for who He is, not just the blessings He gives?

Questions for Application

Why is motivation so important when it comes to serving God?

In what sense is God’s character being challenged by Satan in Job 1?

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

Satan is constantly at work in the world, seeking to deceive, distort, and divide. He plants lies and doubts about God. He is an accuser. We must learn to stand against the tricks of Satan, which are often subtle inner thoughts intended to distract us from God or shake our confidence in Him. Prepare to counter Satan with worship, prayer, and God’s Word.

3. Job’s Response to Calamity

A. The Messages of Woe

Job 1:13–19

The calamities appear to have begun almost immediately for Job. Four messengers arrived in quick succession with increasingly devastating news.

The first messenger said the Sabeans attacked, killing all the servants, except the messenger, and carried away all the oxen and donkeys (Job 1:13–15). The Sabeans were likely from Sheba in the southwestern area of the Arabian Peninsula. This calamity devastated his farming business.

The second messenger arrived to report that fire fell from heaven consuming all the sheep and the servants tending them, except the messenger (verse 16). Although the phrase, fire of God is used, the reader knows that Satan is ultimately behind it. It is possible that the particular wording referred to lighting as the source of the fire, since lightning could be referred to in this way.

A third messenger arrived to report that the Chaldeans sent raiding parties to steal all the camels and kill the servants, again except for the messenger (verse 17). The Chaldeans were a nomadic group, ancestors of the Babylonians living near the Tigris River.

The fourth messenger bore the worst news of all. While Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, violent winds struck, causing it to collapse and kill them all (verses 18–19).

Notice in the passage that the messengers delivered their devastating news in rapid succession. One after another, Job saw his entire world collapse as enemies attacked, fire fell from heaven, and disastrous winds killed all his children. Based on the reports, these events seem to have occurred on the same day, bringing Job face-to-face with sudden, total reversal of life as he knew it.

Resource Item 2: Distribute the work sheet Faith Under Fire. Discuss it as a class.

Questions for Application

What are some common calamities that come our way today?

It what sense do crises and calamities challenge our faith?

B. The Response of Faith

Job 1:20–22

Job responded immediately to the news of the disasters that had devastated his life. His response was consistent with his character (Job 1:20). First, he mourned. Tearing one’s clothes and shaving one’s head were common actions of one who was experiencing intense grief.

While most people might focus only on the intense grief, Job also fell to the ground and prostrated himself before God as an act of worship. When tragedy struck, Job’s commitment to and walk with God drove him to God, not away from Him.

Job’s faith proclamation underscored his character and his trust in God (verse 21). He recognized his temporary hold on the possessions of this world, declaring that he entered life with nothing and would exit life with the same (see also Ecclesiastes 5:15; 1 Timothy 6:7).

Job’s response continued with a declaration of the Lord’s sovereignty (Job 1:21). He acknowledged that all he had came from the Lord, which gave the Lord complete ownership and right of determination. Job had acquired many possessions, and enjoyed a precious family. But his trust was in the Lord.

Satan had stated that when all these things were taken away, Job would curse God to his face (verse 11). Job’s response was the very opposite: Instead, he praised God and blessed His name.

Many times, Job made sacrifices on behalf of his children for any possible sins (verse 5). Now at the end of Job’s response of faith, it is stated that Job himself did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. In the face of the worst of life, Job kept his heart pure.

Resource Item 3: Distribute the work sheet Examine Your Response. Encourage students to complete it on their own during the week. Emphasize that a godly outlook in times of hardship does not ignore genuine emotion, but instead reflects our source of hope in hardship.

Questions for Application

How should Christians respond to grief and loss?

Why is it difficult to praise God when faced with troubles?

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

Job’s response to tragedy teaches us something about how we can respond when faced with crises. Job did not deny reality, but instead responded in faith and worship. He showed us that God can be trusted and worshipped even when things look their worst. We do well to follow his example.

CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP

Does Job’s reaction to his loss surprise you? He had been on top of the world, then it all changed. Job had an ongoing walk with the Lord that taught him about His character and nature. Job was able to trust God even when life was at its worst.

God calls each of us to follow Him closely each day and learn from Him as well (see Matthew 11:28–30). Reflect on these words, as well as Hebrews 13:5, as you prepare your heart to respond to all that life may bring.

Ministry in Action

Pray for strength and faithfulness for any in the class who may be facing a time of testing.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

THE LESSON OVERVIEW

After enduring the first diabolical challenge from Satan, Job encountered a second severe challenge, which also threatened to break his commitment to God. However, as this lesson demonstrates, Job did not lash out at God; rather he remained faithful.

This lesson also introduces us to Job’s wife and three of his friends. Job’s wife suggested cursing God and ending his suffering with death. His three friends traveled a great distance and sought to comfort and sympathize with Job in his suffering.

Every person will go through times of trials and suffering. Christians are given the responsibility and privilege to be ministers of God’s grace, mercy, and presence. That is the focus of today’s lesson.

THE LESSON OUTLINE

1. A Second Diabolical Challenge

Job 2:1–6

A. The Heavenly Court

B. The Second Challenge

2. Faithful in Sickness and Conflict

Job 2:7–10

A. Job’s Affliction

B. Job’s Wife

3. Sympathizing Friends

Job 2:11–13

A. Job’s Friends Introduced

B. Job’s Friends Commiserate

TEACHING GOALS

1. Impart and Reinforce Knowledge: Describe the reaction of Job, his wife, and his three friends in response to his second test.

2. Influence Attitudes: Help students recognize the proper Christian response to the suffering of others.

3. Influence Behavior: Encourage students to reach out to a person in need of comfort and encouragement.

TEACHING RESOURCES

Copy For Further Study 2 from the Adult Resource Packet for each student. This work sheet is a journal page for applying the Daily Bible Readings to the lesson. Also copy the following items (pages 11–14):

• Job’s Affliction

• Helping Others Through Crisis

• Reacting to Suffering

HISTORICAL-LITERARY BACKGROUND

The specific diagnosis of Job’s affliction is not given, but the text itself mentions a number of symptoms: itching and open sores (2:7–8); skin ulcers (7:5); depression (7:16); failing vision (16:16); emaciation (19:20); and blackening and peeling of skin (30:30). Some note that there are similarities between this affliction and the plague of boils visited upon the Egyptians in Exodus 9:9–11.

KEY VERSE: Job 2:10

Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips (KJV).

Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said (NIV).

SCRIPTURE SETTING

(Note: Only representative verses for the lesson are printed on the Scripture Setting page of the lesson.)

INTRODUCING THE LESSON

Have you ever been close to someone who was suffering tremendous pain? Have you witnessed a friend going through a severe trial or affliction? In today’s lesson we examine a second trial afflicted upon Job. Spend some time reflecting upon his reaction, along with the reaction of his wife and his three friends. Then discuss these questions: How do you react when you see someone suffering? As Christians, what is our responsibility to minister to them?

1. A Second Diabolical Challenge

A. The Heavenly Court

Job 2:1–3

Much of what occurs in Job 2:1–3 is identical to 1:6–8, even in its terminology. For a second time, the scene shifts to the courts of heaven and the presence of God. Again there was a day indicates that some time may have elapsed between this event and the previous events of chapter one. The precise period of time is left undefined, however.

The angels presented themselves before the Lord once again, to give a report of their activities on the earth. In the same manner as in chapter one, Satan also appeared before the Lord and stated his activity of roaming back and forth over the earth (verses 1–2).

While God again reminded Satan that His servant Job was blameless, upright, and a God-fearing man who shunned evil, God added another quality: Job had maintained his integrity amid the tragedy (verse 3).

Two statements in verse 3 call for explanation. First, God said to Satan, You incited me against him to ruin him (NIV). This does not mean that God can be stirred to do things against His will. Rather, it reflects how God pointed to Job as a supreme example of righteousness, which resulted in Satan’s accusation and the subsequent test. The actual action against Job, however, came from Satan.

Also, the expression without cause (KJV; without any reason, NIV) calls for comment. We know that Satan had a cause, or reason, to afflict Job: Satan desired to discredit God by proving that Job had an ulterior reason for serving God. But Job himself did nothing to cause his calamity. He had been, and remained, a righteous and blameless man.

Questions for Application

Why do you think the Lord allows His people to endure hardship?

Describe a time in your life when you faced a difficult trial. What purpose might it have served?

B. The Second Challenge

Job 2:4–6

Resource Item 1: Distribute the work sheet Job’s Affliction. Review the information, then discuss the question to lead into the following information.

Having failed in his attempt to provoke Job to curse God, Satan then attempted to cast blame on God. Satan claimed that the original challenge had not been enough. This is a good reminder of the nature and work of Satan, who was constantly looking for weaknesses to exploit. This adversary constantly seeks opportunities to trick, deceive, or exhaust God’s people yet today.

In Job 2:4, Satan used the expression skin for skin as an excuse for his failure. This idiom, or expression, may point to the belief that a person will do anything to save his or her own life. Today, we often use similar expressions, such as, He will do anything to save his skin. Satan prodded God once again, suggesting that every human has a price. The implication was that losing his possessions and children was not enough to provoke Job. If the pain was afflicted upon his own flesh and blood, he would then curse God (verse 5).

(Also of note: Some scholars speculate that skin for skin could serve to imply that Job’s loss of family and possessions was a superficial wound—skin deep, and not painful enough. Both explanations of this phrase lead to the same conclusion: Satan contended that Job valued himself over all else.)

And so, God allowed the challenge to take place, but with conditions: Although Satan could attack Job’s body, God drew a clear line that Job’s life remained under God’s protection. As in the first challenge, God controlled the guidelines by which this challenge would be carried out (verse 6). God’s love, concern, and care for Job never wavered. God never relinquished sovereign control over the situation.

Questions for Application

What are some vulnerable areas where Satan could challenge or attack Christians?

Why would the types of tests Job faced be especially trying to one’s faith?

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

Walking through difficult times often serves to reveal who we really are on the inside. Job’s character shined even as Satan leveled harsh attacks. We all will face challenges, temptations, and attacks from Satan. They will test us, and we may struggle mightily at times. But we can stand on God’s Word and promises, and overcome with integrity.

2. Faithful in Sickness and Conflict

A. Job’s Affliction

Job 2:7–8

Satan immediately began his plot to afflict Job, and he smote Job with very painful sores (Job 2:7). These may have resembled the boils inflicted upon the Egyptians in Exodus 9:8–11, and may have marked the beginning of several terrible symptoms, as Job mentioned other complications in 30:17,27,30.

Furthermore not only was the affliction painful, but it also covered his entire body, and so it was readily seen by everyone. Such a situation could make a person an outcast, someone who would have to remove himself from the city in order not to infect others. It appears that Job, at this stage, suffered in isolation in the ash dump of the city (Job 2:8). This dump was located outside the city walls and was a place where the population would throw away their ashes as well as other rubbish and waste. There, in his pain, Job sought relief by taking broken pieces of pottery to scrape his wounds. This righteous man, who once had a wealth of possessions and a large family, now found himself suffering intense pain and in terrible grief.

While Job’s actions are recorded here, his words are not. The Book of James contains a brief comment about Job’s suffering: He was known for his perseverance in the face of suffering (James 5:10–11). Satan had afflicted Job in unimaginable ways, yet he stayed true to the Lord.

Questions for Application

How is Satan’s second challenge different from the first, and what effect might it have had on Job?

Have you ever felt isolated when you were hurting or suffering? Explain.

B. Job’s Wife

Job 2:9–10

We are first introduced to Job’s wife in Job 2:9, though she surely had been an eyewitness to the tragedy that befell Job. Furthermore, she too had suffered greatly with the loss of possessions and family. Her response, however, was very different from that of Job.

This is the only place in the book where Job’s wife spoke, and she made two enlightening statements. The first was a question: Are you still maintaining your integrity? (Job 2:9, NIV). The word integrity here is a reference to the whole of Job’s great, godly character. And so, her question was really asking what good had it been for Job to fear God and live an upright life.

The second statement is very harsh, as she called upon Job to curse God, and die (verse 9). This was a call for Job to completely alter his relationship with and approach to God, in light of the appearance that his current walk with God had done him no good and would ultimately bring about his death. Note that she did not doubt his integrity, but only the value of it. And so, in her view, Job would be better off cursing God. In a sense, she was saying that God is not who He says He is. This was not so very different from what Satan had been saying about Job.

It is good to remember that she, too, had suffered the loss of possessions and her children. Now she was watching her husband, who she knew to be a man of integrity, suffer great agony. From her perspective, death may have been his only way to escape his terrible suffering. Her words, though wrong, may have arisen out of great pain.

Job replied by calling her a foolish woman (verse 10). Job trusted God, and her words may well have intensified his pain. Job then asked a timeless, piercing question that God’s people might ask today: Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (verse 10, NIV; evil, KJV). Here, the translation of evil does not refer to moral or spiritual evil, for God is not capable of such. Instead, it reflects the opposite of pleasant, desirable things. Job knew that God might allow suffering to befall His servants. Romans 8:28 reminds us that all things work together for good to them that love God (KJV). The Lord gives good and pleasant things to us all. He can also take them away if He sees fit.

Questions for Application

In what sense does Job’s response to his wife reflect great faith in God and His goodness?

In what sense do our words hurt or heal when others are suffering?

Resource Item 2: Distribute the work sheet Helping Others Through Crisis. Complete it as a class and discuss responses.

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

Job maintained his faithfulness to God despite his pain. We do well to follow his example when faced with overwhelming hardships. Such challenges can lead to questions about life, ourselves, and even God. Amid these questions, holding on to God is the surest and best response. There may be those around us who offer unhelpful words for a variety of reasons. Amid the hurts, we can stand firm in the Lord.

3. Sympathizing Friends

A. Job’s Friends Introduced

Job 2:11

As Job sat isolated on an ash heap, three friends enter the story. These friends may have traveled a considerable distance to see Job after hearing about his situation: Eliphaz the Temanite lived in Teman, an Edomite city south of the Dead Sea, and the only location of the three that can be identified with certainty. Bildad the Shunhite and Zophar the Naamathite joined Eliphaz in the effort to comfort Job (Job 2:11).

These three had a single purpose to their visit: offer sympathy and comfort. One might get the sense that they desired to share in his grief and pain, expressing care and concern. There is no record of what they said, but the mention of comfort seems to indicate that they offered caring words. Overall, they had good intentions.

Although we may come to see these men in a different light in the chapters ahead, here we read of three devoted friends who sacrificed their time to help a friend. Their purpose was honorable, not to mock or delight in Job’s plight, but rather to offer the gift of sympathy and comfort.

Questions for Application

How can we sympathize with someone who is walking through trials?

Describe a time when a friend helped you through a trial.

B. Job’s Friends Commiserate

Job 2:12–13

Upon their arrival, Job’s friends could hardly recognize him (Job 2:12). The startling sight of their ailing, devastated friend brought them to a point of mourning and grief. They began to weep loudly, tearing their robes. They even poured ashes over themselves as they reacted to his plight. These acts, which may seem strange today, were common ways to demonstrate mourning and grief in Bible times.

These three friends sat on the ground with Job, and for seven days and nights everyone remained silent (verse 13). Elsewhere in Scripture, we see that seven days was the traditional time of mourning in response to death or terrible disaster (see Genesis 50:10; 1 Samuel 31:13). They were clearly stunned. It is easy to imagine their shock at seeing this degree of suffering befall such a righteous man.

We do well to note the compassionate actions of Job’s friends. They joined him on the ground and remained silent. They recognized the terrible degree of his suffering. Those seven days and nights were not filled with trite words and rehearsed phrases, but rather friends sitting together acknowledging the suffering that was occurring.

There are times when words cannot convey the depth of the moment. When those times come, sincere friendship and compassion can in themselves bring consolation to the hurting.

Questions for Application

What can the actions of Job’s friends teach us about compassion?

In what sense can the silent companionship of a friend bring comfort?

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

Sometimes there is a great sense of urgency to talk to the suffering even if we have no words, because silence seems uncomfortable. Or we might be tempted to give pat answers or quick remedies when the hurting person simply needs the presence of a friend. Who in your life could use such compassion today?

CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP

Times of trials tend to bring out the best or the worst in people. We might be tempted to conclude that only the good things that happen to us are profitable. The fact is, God can use the good and the bad in our lives to bring about growth in us. He shapes our character, molds our wills, and tempers our actions. Other times, He can use our struggles to bring about good in others, sometimes without our even realizing it. While hardship is inevitably difficult, we do well to avoid dismissing or resisting the hard times when they come, and instead ask God to work His will within us to conform us into the image of