Sunday School Lesson on Hope in God Topic Discussion

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Sunday School Lesson on Hope in God Topic Discussion

1.On a scale from one to ten, how would yourate yourself in the category of "waiting on theLord" for a patient answer to the questions youhave asked Him? What steps can you take toimprove your score?

Allow students time to rate themselves. Somewho want God to show His power and glory or tobring immediate justice might rank themselvesvery low. They may criticize themselves for theirlack of patience.

This may not actually be a bad kind of impa-tience. If we are eager for God to be justifiedthrough demonstration of His power, we are re-ally on His side and acting as His cheerleaders.This is not the same as being frustrated with Godbecause He will not act the may we desire formeeting selfish requests (see James 4:1-3). As wefocus on doing the work God assigned to us, wewill grow in patience. allowing God to do Hiswork on His own timetable.

2.When we pray we often have in mind theanswer we want God to give us. Is that a goodthing? Why, or why not? What guidelines willhelp us be ready for God's answer if it does notagree with our expectation?

Habakkuk is a good example. He was con-vinced that God would answer. He did not knowwhen or how, but he prepared himself to listen.He continued in his faithfulness to God in everyway. He also got ready to respond if God sur-prised him. He was ready to do the specific workGod assigned him to do, no matter what.

3. What secrets (if that is the right term) needto be passed along to younger Christians aboutwalking by faith versus trusting self to do it all?The danger of trusting self can lead easily tothe tendency to use inadequate or sinful means(cheating, violence, undue fear, etc.) to reach thedesired results. The servant who buried his onetalent is an example (Matthew 25:25).

In contrast, walking by faith means listeningcarefully to God's instructions and taking steps tofollow those instructions. We may find this eas-ier as we become familiar with the ways faithfulindividuals in the Bible struggled and succeededin their walk with God. Many of us will also find

it easier if we venture out one step at a timewhile experiencing God's providential care asnew situations unfold. Keeping a journal of thefaithfulness of God in our lives will provide re-minders over time that God can be trusted in allthings.

4.How would you respond to someone whosays that the use of wine (or any alcoholic bev-erage) could never become a problem in his orher life?

The Bible does not condemn wine as such(compare 1 Timothy 5:23). Sin does not come ina bottle. Yet the Scripture is very clear about thedangers that alcohol use poses. It can quickly af-fect a person's judgment, actions, and witness.Wine is cast in a negative light in Habakkuk 2:5(also see vv. 15, 16).

Researchers not to mentions police officers!)have long known of the connection between theuse of alcohol and domestic violence, traffic acci-dents, lost jobs, and impulsive decisions. There-fore the safest advice to anyone is either to abstaintotally or to use alcohol only as Scripture implies.

5.How does knowing that God's plan willultimately be fulfilled help you deal with situa-tions in life in which evil seems to be in con-trol? How do you need to grow spiritually inthis regard?

Righteous people have always had to endurethe negative aspects of living in a fallen world.While desiring to have a good life here for our 7()or so years on the earth is understandable, Chris-tians must realize that we were created primarilyto live eternally with God.

Therefore we are to be ready to remain faithfulin the face of very difficult circumstances as wemake our way toward living forever in eternity.Adopting a fatalistic approach—"what will be,will be"—is not productive. Yet being attuned towhat God wants us to do to improve (not just en-dure) a situation requires spiritual maturity.Sometimes just pausing for a few minutes to re-flect on the concept of eternity can help us keepa perspective. With that perspective, the Chris-tian may be better able to detect doors of oppor-tunity that God may be opening.

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