Lesson 1 -“Sin Is More Than

Something I Do”
MEMORY VERSE:
"Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change
their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may
have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously" (lsaiah 55:6, 7).

MEET YOUR TARGETS

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
 explain the definition of sin from the Bible
 discern the seriousness of sin’s depravity in our lives
 accept Jesus as the only forgiving Savior

VENTURE!
The sin problem started with Lucifer, the most intelligent, most powerful created
being in the universe. When Lucifer became jealous of Christ and wanted to be
God, he began a campaign of lies about God. As Lucifer's rebellion against his
Creator spread among the other angels, he became Satan the enemy of God. Satan's
lies continue today. He declares that God's laws
are so unreasonable that no one can obey them.
ln fact he insists that the only reason people even
try to obey the law of God is that they are afraid
of Him. Satan will do or say anything to try to
separate us from God. Many people think of sin
only as the wrong things they do, such as being
angry, hating someone, cheating, lying, bragging,
or stealing. These things are sin, of course, but
the sin problem lies deeper than that. The root is
our self-centered nature that wants to be
independent of God's control (Romans 8:6-8).
The best-known biblical definition of sin is found
in 1 John 3:4: "Everyone who sins is breaking
God's law, for all sin is contrary to the law of
God." Another version expresses the meaning in
these words: "Everyone who sins breaks the law;
in fact, sin is lawlessness" (NlV). God's law is an
expression of His will in two ways: physical law
and moral law. The Creator placed all nature under physical or natural law. You may have
discovered from your studies in science that everything in our world obeys the laws of nature.
Intelligent beings-such as angels and the human family-are placed under the moral law as well.

CHAT WITH THE EXPERT

God's moral law is based on love: supreme love for the Creator and impartial
love for other fellow beings. These principles are outlined in the Ten

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Commandments. The first four commandments define our love and duty to God; the last six
define our love and duty to others. Moral law reflects the loving character of our Creator-God. It
provides guidelines for the fullest happiness humans can enjoy. Satan challenged God's moral
law and questioned His motives for requiring obedience. He asserted his own independent will
over God's will (Isaiah 14:12-14). He would obey none but himself. Many angels rebelled with
him (Revelation 12:7-9). By leading Adam and Eve to disobey God, Satan started a rebellion on
earth. Because Adam and Eve were the parents of the human race, their fall brought all
humanity into a state of separation from God and rebellion against Him (Romans 8:6-8). With
the exception of Jesus, everyone who has ever lived on this earth has sinned.
We cannot, through our own efforts, change our sinful nature (Romans 3:23; Jeremiah
13:23). Adam and Eve's disobedience caused suffering and heartache for the Godhead and has
caused endless trouble for the human family. Some might question, "Why didn't God simply
forgive Adam and Eve and let them have another chance?" This would seem to be the easy
way, but perhaps these people do not understand the seriousness and the results of sin. Every
nation has laws to enable its people to live together in peace and harmony. What do you
suppose would happen if the judges and juries in our courts were to accept an "l am sorry" from
every criminal and exact no penalty? In a short time our society and government would be in
chaos. No government could survive that did not have consequences for the violation of its laws.
So it is with the divine government. Justice is one aspect of good government. The honor of
God's character and the stability of His government are involved. God would not be just if He
simply excused sinners.
The stability of the universe demands that God-its Sovereign-be just, as well as merciful.
In human society the seriousness of the crime determines the penalties for breaking the law. In
God's government, however, the penalty for any sin is separation from God. Separation from
God results in death (Romans 6:23). This may seem severe to us, but the self-centeredness of
Satan's rule cannot coexist with God's rule of self-sacrificing love. Thus, God must-for the
eternal good of the universe-ultimately destroy those beings who choose to remain in rebellion
against Him. The sin of Adam and Eve did not take God by surprise. In eternity-long before the
creation of intelligent beings-the Trinity foresaw the emergence of sin and laid a plan to meet it.
In Their great love for the human family, the Godhead moved to take the sin problem upon
themselves.
"From the beginning, God and Christ knew of the apostasy of Satan, and of the fall of man
through the deceptive power of the apostate. God did not ordain that sin should exist but He
foresaw its existence and made provision to meet the terrible emergency. So great was His love
for the world, that He covenanted to give His only-begotten Son, 'that whosoever believeth in
Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' John 3:1 6" (The Desire of Ages, p.22). The
plan the Godhead devised had two foundational pillars: 1. The incarnation of God the Son (John
1:1-3,14; 1 Timothy 3:16). 2. The substitutionary death of God the Son (Hebrews 2:9). The
incarnation of God the Son is a mystery. The Son took upon Himself our human nature and was
born of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:34, 35). He was named "Jesus" because He came to save the
human family from sin (Matthew 1:21). Jesus was both fully divine and fully human. Jesus took
our humanity for all eternity. He became the "second Adam," the Head of the human race
(Romans 5:14; 1 Corinthians 1 5:45, 47). He came to live among us just as we have to live.
Jesus is the Creator of the human family and its Source of life. Therefore, Jesus' life is of infinite

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worth. His death could pay the penalty for sin and make life available to all who so choose (1
Corinthians 15:3). Jesus substituted His life for each one of us. He died in our place.
None of us would choose to be born on a rebellious planet, but many years ago the
Godhead took the penalty of our sins upon themselves. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid
the penalty for all people, for all time. The death of Jesus provided the opportunity for each of us
to choose whether to obey God or Satan. If we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, God will
forgive us completely, grant us eternal life, and adopt us into His family! This is the plan of
salvation. As we study the Bible, we discover that the plan of salvation is very broad. It involves
three general areas: '1. Salvation from the penalty of sin. 2. Salvation from the power of sin. 3.
Salvation from the effects of sin. In this lesson we studied the Godhead's plan to deliver us from
the penalty of sin through the incarnation and death of Jesus. Most of the lessons in our book
deal with how Jesus delivers us from the power of sin. The last lesson will close with a study of
the second coming of Jesus, when He will forever remove His people from all the effects of sin.

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 Lesson 1- Sin Is More Than Something I do
Name_____________________________ Date______
APPLY THE CONCEPTS
ACTIVITY #1: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Instruction: Answer the questions comprehensively.

1. The sin problem started with _______________________.

2. What is the root of sin?

3. Why couldn’t God simply forgive Adam and Eve and give them a second chance?

4. What is the penalty for sin?

5. The plan the Godhead devised had two pillars. What were they?

6. The plan of salvation involves what three areas

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 Lesson 2 -“The Problem of Guilt”
MEMORY VERSE:
"People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and from them, they will
receive mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).

MEET YOUR TARGETS

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
 identify the ways God communicates with His people.
 discern God’s voice in your personal life.
 develop the love in reading His Word.

VENTURE!
Jennifer looked at the floor and then spoke firmly, "I didn't do it. It was already
here when I came in." "If that's the case, do you have any idea how this
happened?" Mrs. Jamison asked. "No. I just came in here and saw the writing,"
replied Jennifer. "Right now we both need to get back to class. But something has to be done
about the writing. If it stays here, more damage might occur. I would like to talk with you about
this during lunch recess. Will you come to my office when you finish your lunch?" Mrs. Jamison
asked as she turned to leave.
Back in the classroom, Jennifer tried to concentrate on her math assignment. Her
thoughts kept turning to the writing in the restroom. Questions raced through her mind. What if
Mrs. Jamison doesn't believe me? What if the teacher
calls my parents? Is it too late to tell the truth? Why did I
do this, anyway? I already said I don't know anything
about the writing. Now there are both the writing and the
lie. . . . Mr. Donaldson interrupted her thoughts. "It
seems that you are having a little trouble getting started
on your assignment. Is there something you don’t
understand?" "No, it's OK. I just need to get busy," she
replied. Jennifer tried to concentrate on math, but the
guilt she was feeling crowded her mind.
Lunch came too quickly, and she knew she
would soon meet with Mrs. Jamison. Tacos, usually her
favorite lunch, didn't taste the same that day. "Thank you
for coming in," Mrs. Jamison greeted her. Please sit
down. Quietly taking a chair, Jennifer tried to look confident. "Before we get started, let's pray
about this situation, OK?" She nodded.

CHAT WITH THE EXPERT

"Gracious Father, You have promised to give us wisdom when we ask. That's
what I am asking for right now. I pray for wisdom for Jennifer and for me as we

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talk together. Thank You for Your promises, your love, and your leading. In Jesus' name, Amen.
"Jennifer I've checked with the other teachers. There were a couple of students who were out of
class, but not for very long. Are you sure about what you told me earlier?" "I told you the writing
was already there when I came in. Jennifer began. "But that's not the truth. I don't know why I
even did it. It just sort of happened. Then you walked in, and I didn't know what to do. I know I’m
in a lot of trouble. I wrote on the wall, and then I lied to you. All during math and lunch I felt so
guilty. Are you going to call my parents?" "Jennifer, I know it took courage to admit what you
did. Thank you for being honest with me. Let's deal with first things first.

We need to get the writing off the wall. I will call Mrs. Dean to see if there is something
that will remove the writing. You can help her. Would you like for me to call your parents, or
would you like to talk with them yourself? If you prefer, you can write a note to your parents and
discuss it with them this evening. You can let me know after we get this cleaned up." Mrs.
Jamison rose from her chair and opened the door for Jennifer. "Mrs. Jamison, I know I'm in a lot
of trouble. And I am sorry. This may seem strange, but I don't think I feel as bad as I did at
lunch. You don't have to worry about me doing anything like this again," Jennifer responded.
Guilt is real.

There is a difference between feeling guilty and being guilty. When people do something
wrong, they are guilty. Everyone is guilty at some time. Feeling guilty warns us that something is
wrong, and that warning is a good thing. When the Holy Spirit prompts us and nudges our
consciences, we feel the pain of guilt and realize that we have disobeyed God. We can’t run
away, can't pretend it doesn't exist; we have to do something about it. Often we try to cover up
what we have done, blame someone else, or make up for it in some way.

Guilty feelings make us ashamed of ourselves, and we don't like ourselves very well. We
know there will be consequences, and we're afraid of what they might be. There is another
feeling of guilt called false guilt. It is based on a failure to believe that God forgives us. We may
experience false guilt when Satan whispers discouraging things to us, such as, "Think of all the
terrible things you’ve done. God will never forgive you," or "you're a failure. You might as well
stop trying to be a Christian." "The enemy will tempt you to think that you have done things that
have separated you from God and that He no longer loves you, but our Lord loves [you] still. . . .
He cares for you. He . . . will give you His peace” (Ellen G. White, That I May Know Him, p.285).
Some people are never really sure that cod has forgiven them for wrongs they have done.

They are not convinced God's word can be believed. Remember, it is Satan who makes
us think that God doesn't love His guilty children. Remember John 3:16 and 17? "God loved the
world so much that he gave his one and only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not
perish but have eternal life. God sent his son into the world not to judge the world, but to save
the world through him." The Bible says the cost of sin was the sacrifice of God's son on Calvary.
"In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without
the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22). God's love for us is not based
on our behavior. He loves us because we are His children and He is our Father.

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 When we are truly sorry for having done something wrong, we can confess the wrong
we have done-and the broken relationship will be restored. Praying for forgiveness of all my sins
is not an honest confession but asking forgiveness for specific sins is. There is no way to
change the past. Angry words cannot be taken back. Gossip cannot be erased. But damaged
things can sometimes be repaired even though they can never be new again. Stolen property
can be returned or replaced. Cruel actions can be replaced by kind ones. Lies can be replaced
with truth.
If we are genuinely sorry for having hurt someone, we will confess not only to God but
also to the one we have hurt. We will not wait for someone else to make the first move. We will
do our best to make things right-not from fear of punishment but because we have hurt
someone and misrepresented God. Remember Peter's experience that night Jesus was on trial
for His life? Peter had boasted that even though others would fail, he would never desert Christ.
Jesus had said, "'Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning,
you will deny three times that you even know me', (Luke 22:34). Later, when a girl recognized
peter as one of Jesus, disciples, Peter's response was, Woman, I don’t even know him! A
second person said, “you must be one of them!” "No, man, I'm not!,, peter retorted. In about an
hour another insisted peter must be one of the disciples because he was a Galilean. "Peter
said, 'Man, I don't know what you are talking about.” The words were just out of his mouth when
he heard the rooster crow. "Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, ,Before the rooster
crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me,” (Luke 22:57-61).

Peter, who had vowed his love and loyalty to Jesus, realized his weakness. "With the
curses still on his lips and the sound of the rooster still in his ears, Peter's eyes were drawn to
where Jesus stood in the hall. At that moment, Jesus turned and looked at peter-not with anger,
but with pity and deep sadness" (Messiah, p. 377). "Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly,,
(Luke 22:62). Instead of anger and reproof on Jesus' face, Peter saw pity, sorrow, love, and
forgiveness. Jesus' love broke Peter’s heart. Peter, the big, strong fisherman, rushed from the
courtyard. He ran to the Gethsemane garden, where he threw himself on the ground and prayed
for forgiveness. Forgiven. Jesus understands human beings, sinners who want to do right but
do those things that are wrong.

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Lesson 2- The Problem of Guilt
Name_____________________________ Date______
APPLY THE CONCEPTS
ACTIVITY #1: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Instruction: Answer the questions comprehensively.

1. Why did Jennifer feel guilty?

2. How is guilt good?

3. Why does guilt make us afraid?

4. What is false guilt?

5. God’s love for us is not based on our behavior. He loves us because …

6. If we a genuinely sorry we will confess to God and …

7. What four feelings did Peter see on Jesus face?

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 Lesson 3 -“A New Heart”
MEMORY VERSE:
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the
same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 3:18

MEET YOUR TARGETS

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

 Define the biblical understanding of a new heart

 Appreciate God’s longing to save us
 Surrender the heart of stone to a new heart of flesh

VENTURE!
Eighteen-year-old Dustin lay in his hospital bed thinking over the events of the
past few months. Until recently, he had been a star player on his academy
basketball team. He was also planning on competing in the track meet and hoping to break the
record in the 400-meter race. Now he was lying in a hospital bed. How could this be happening
to him?

His thoughts returned to the day he had been playing basketball and suddenly fell to the
gym floor. The next thing he remembered was the hospital emergency room and the doctor
telling him and his parents that he had a heart problem. Dustin had noticed that he often had
trouble breathing when playing hard, but he thought he was just tired.

Numerous medical tests revealed a heart transplant was necessary, so Dustin and his
parents went through the evaluation process. After much consideration, Dustin chose to sign the
consent forms.

A social worker explained post-transplant life. Dustin would remain in the hospital until
tests showed that his body was not rejecting the new heart. He would be required to take
medications-including the anti-rejection medicine, which he would have to take the rest of his
life. Now he was ready to go home to wait for a new heart. The next few days gave Dustin more
time to think. He thought about his other heart transplant. when Dustin was fourteen, Jesus had
given him a new heart to replace his sinful one.

Have you ever wished for a new heart?

Have you ever wondered how to become a Christian?

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 Have you ever wondered, "What must I do to be saved"?

Daily you learn about Jesus through personal devotions, Bible study, and prayer. The
Holy spirit influences your mind, filling your heart with love for God. Then you begin to realize
how much your heavenly Father loves you.

CHAT WITH THE EXPERT

Understanding what God did for you through the death
of Jesus, you will be convinced that you are a sinner.
Realizing this, you will be led to repentance, a sorrow
for sins, and a willingness to stop sinning. lf you allow
Jesus into your life, He will take away your sinful
motives, desires, and thoughts, replacing them with His
set of goals for your life. You will begin to love God
more and want to have your own way less.

Because you have confessed your sins and

determined to allow God to have control in your life, He
will do the following things for you:

1. Forgive you of all your sins because Jesus' death has paid the penalty for them
(1 John 1:9).
2. Trade Jesus' righteousness for your sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:5,6).
3. Give you the gift of eternal life (1 John 5:11-13).
4. Adopt you into His family as a beloved son or daughter (1 John 3:1, 2; Ephesians 1:5).

Ellen White summarizes this good news of God's gift to us in the following paragraph:
"lt was possible for Adam, before the fall, to form a righteous character by obedience to God's
law. But he failed to do this, and because of his sin our natures are fallen and we cannot make
ourselves righteous. Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the holy law. We
have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ
has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials . and temptations such as we
have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give
us His righteousness. lf you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful
as your life may have been, for His sake you are counted righteous. Christ's character stands in
place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned" (Steps
to Christ, p. 62).

When God forgives you, He justifies you. Justification simply means that God has
acquitted or pardoned you from all charges of sin. He has pronounced you righteous in Jesus.
Justification by faith means that you believe that God has done for you what He has promised.

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Your salvation from sin is God's gift to you. The perfect life that Jesus lived and His death on the
cross substitute for your sinful life. You receive the gift by faith when you accept Jesus as your
Savior and Lord.

One night Jesus told Nicodemus, "'l tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you
cannot see the Kingdom of God"' John 3:3). “To be born again" describes the miraculous
change that takes place when you accept Jesus as your savior and Lord. Sometimes the Bible
describes this experience as receiving a new heart. When the spirit puts love, faith, and
repentance toward God in your heart your inward thinking and motives are changed. You will
want to grow and develop your Christian experience. Sharing your happiness with others will
help you grow into a sturdy Christian.

The moment you accept Jesus as your savior and Lord, God separates you from the
world and claims you as His own. From that moment you begin to be more like Jesus. The
process of sanctification has begun. These expressions - new birth, justification, sanctification-
describe the process of accepting Jesus as your savior and Lord and living the Christian life. As
you grow in spiritual maturity, you will make mistakes. But remember that your growing always
takes place under the umbrella of God’s grace. As long as you remain committed to Christ, His
atoning death continues to provide forgiveness for you. As sinners we face the final Day of
Judgment. The penalty is certain. The wages of sin is death-eternal death. But the Bible
proclaims good news the Judge Himself has paid the penalty of death. He offers you pardon full
and free-a new heart and a rewarding life with Him! Why not come to Jesus -now?

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Lesson 3- A NEW HEART
Name_____________________________ Date______

APPLY THE CONCEPTS

ACTIVITY #1: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Instruction: Answer the questions comprehensively.

1. When Justin was 14 he had a heart transplant. What was wrong with his heart?

2. When we allow God to have control of our life, what four things does He do for us?

3. What is justification?

4. The moment you accept Jesus as your savior and Lord, God separates you from the

________________ and claims you as His ______________.

5. The process of accepting Jesus as your savior has three steps. What are they?

6. Why are we not afraid of the final judgment?

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 Lesson 4 -“Faith: Taking God at
His Word”
MEMORY VERSE:
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for wilt actually happen; it get us assurance about
things we cannot see” (Hebrews l l:l).

MEET YOUR TARGETS

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
 Understand the meaning and importance of faith
 Exercise faith in Jesus as a Savior and Friend
 Share the faith to others joyfully

VENTURE!
A small boat tosses wildly in the darkness of a storm on the Sea of Galilee. All
night long the disciples have been struggling at the oars, face to face with death.

They are tired, discouraged, and afraid. Imagine

James shouting to John above the howling wind,
"lf only the Master were here! He would help us."
Suddenly the disciples saw Someone walking
toward them across the white capped waves.
They cried out in terror at such a mysterious
sight. But then, across the billows they heard a
familiar voice calling, "Don't be afraid. . . . Take
courage. I am here!" lt was the voice of Jesus.
Peter answered first. "Lord, if it's really You, tell
me to come to You, walking on the water." Joy
and hope and faith were all mingled in his
request.

Suppose Jesus had said, "Peter, l'm astonished.

Such a foolish thing to ask tonight! Someday
when the sea is calm, perhaps you might try
walking on the water, but in this terrible storm?
lmpossible!" Does that sound like Jesus? No! He
said, "Yes, come!" Just that word come was enough for Peter. He dropped his oar and began to
climb over the side of the boat.

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 Can't you imagine Andrew reaching out to stop his impetuous brother? And Thomas
saying, "Who ever heard of a man walking on water! lt can't be done. You'll drown!" But Peter
didn't stop. He knew that he could trust Jesus, so he climbed over the edge of the boat, stepped
out upon the stormy sea, and walked.

He did not walk far, but that was his fault, not his Lord's. Perhaps Peter felt proud of his
accomplishment and looked back to see whether the others were properly impressed. But when
he stopped looking at Jesus, Peter suddenly became aware of the wind and waves around him.
He was terrified. At that very moment he began to sink, but even in his fright, Peter was
straightforward and honest. He did not say, fight it out by myself.” He prayed.

CHAT WITH THE EXPERT

His earnest prayer was short and to the point. “save me, Lord!” peter made no
excuse. He knew that he was going to drown unless he received help. His prayer was a
confession of desperate need and faith in his Master.

And what happened?

"Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him.” And peter the proud, who had
walked and sunk, rose as peter the humble; and hand in hand with Jesus, walked again on the
stormy sea. This same Master who saved Peter on Galilee is just as ready to help you and me if
we will pray in faith as peter did!

What does it mean to pray in faith? What is faith?

That's one of the greatest questions people have been asking ever since the world was
young. Thousands of books have been written about faith. Thousands of sermons have been
preached to explain it. Thousands of Bible students have studied its meaning. No one can fully
understand or explain all there is to know about faith, but we can know the most important
things about it.

Faith is having enough confidence in God, based on the evidence He has given us, to
believe what He says, to accept what He offers, and to do what He tells us to do, no matter what
happens. lt is being absolutely convinced that cod will keep His promise to give us new hearts
and new minds. When we deliberately and thoughtfully choose to believe God, we are really
saying, “I know you’re my Friend. I want to be your friend too. From now on you are my God. I
will serve and love you.”

God has more to offer us than we can imagine. He offers to take care of us. He offers to
be with us every day and to help us grow more like Him. He tells us that He loves us and that
He wants us to be with Him forever in the new earth He is going to create. But God doesn't ask
us to trust Him without knowing Him, so He has given us evidence in His Word that what He

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tells us is the truth. Peter demonstrated his faith that long-ago day on the stormy sea. so did
many other people whose experiences are recorded in the Bible.

Hebrews 11 contains a record of many people who demonstrated much faith in Cod.
Most of the names you probably know: Abel, Noah, Abraham. Others you may not know, such
as Barak and Jephthah. Some names, such as Samson, you may be surprised to find there. A
number of other people are described but are not even named. Paul tells us that all of the men
and women who are mentioned were included for one special reason. They all had faith in Cod.

The question is, "How can we have faith like theirs?" First of all, we must get acquainted
with God. By watching Him in action through the stories of the Bible, we will soon discover that
He is our Friend. A person who doesn't trust God, either doesn't know Him personally or doesn't
choose to be His friend. When we are close to Him, we discover we can trust Him.

"Faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ" (Romans
10:17), Paul said in his day, it was the custom for people to go to synagogues or to meet in
homes or even out-of-doors and listen to someone read the Scriptures out loud for everyone to
hear. lf Paul were living today, when almost everyone can own a Bible, he might say, “Faith
comes by reading the Bible.”

Faith has its foundation-in the Bible. Faith claims Cod's promises and results in
obedience. It is not enough to believe about Christ! we must believe in Him and accept Him as a
personal Savior. Faith is not a feeling. lt is not foolish or overconfident and does not take God for
granted. Faith is a two way agreement by which those who accept Christ join themselves in
partnership with Him. Faith means trust.

By allowing Cod to give us His righteousness, He is able to set us right and keep us right
with Him. Our willingness to let Him do this, and our confidence that He is able to do so, is
evidence that we trust Him. our faith in God and His grace as is manifested in our daily works
and in our walk with Him makes it possible for Him to rescue us from this troubled planet. As a
result, we can live in safety and perfect happiness with Him, forever.

A young boy traveling on an airplane was asked by a flight attendant if he was ever
afraid while flying. He replied, "Not with this pilot! I trust him. He is my father!”

How about you? Do you know your heavenly Father well enough to know that you can
trust Him?

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 Lesson 4- FAITH: TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD

Name_____________________________ Date______

APPLY THE CONCEPTS

ACTIVITY #1: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Instruction: Answer the questions comprehensively.

1. Why were the disciples tired, discouraged, and afraid?

2. Why did Peter start to sink?

3. What is faith?

4. What three things does God offer us?

5. What do all the people in Hebrews 11 have in common?

6. How do we get faith?

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 Lesson 5 –Keeping in Touch With
God
MEMORY VERSE:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

MEET YOUR TARGETS

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
 Understand the importance and power of prayer
 Develop a habit of a prayerful life and mind
 Increase one’s faith and deepen one’s relationship with God

VENTURE!
Mike Copithorne was a world-class wakeboarder and snowboarder. As a
professional athlete and full-time student at Pacific Union College, he was living
his greatest dream. Even though the people he associated with placed their emphasis on the “here
and now,” God had been speaking to Mike,
reminding him of the truths he had learned at
home and at school.

He had led Mike to make a commitment and to

renew the friendship he had discovered in Jesus.
Easter weekend 2000 found Mike snowboarding
with his friends on the slopes of Mammoth
Mountain. Taking off from the jump, he realized
immediately that he was not going to land this
one. Mike’s instincts were correct. He landed
wrong, and, as a result, he was paralyzed from the waist down. He spend the next few weeks in
the hospital in an intensive rehabilitation program. Three days after Mike was released from the
hospital, his dad passed away suddenly from a heart attack. This was more than he could handle
alone.

Mike came face to face with the reality that his life had changed forever because of the accident.
He also had to face the fact that his dad had died. Mike turned to God to get him through. He says,
“What the world sees as a curse, God sees as an opportunity.” Today Mike is a teacher in an
Adventist school. He still enjoys fly-fishing, downhill mountain biking, white-water rafting, various
snow activities, and traveling around the world with his wife, Carrie. He reminds us that God has a
plan. “He is the Friend that was there with me at the height of my success and through the lowest

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and darkest times of my life. I know that He will do the same for you. He had a plan for my life and
He has a plan for you. Take time to get to know Him and listen to His voice.”

But how do we listen to God’s voice? How do we talk with Him and hear His answers? What is
prayer? How can it become a personal conversation between us and God? Prayer is one way we
respond to God, who communicates with us through His Word, through the Holy Spirit, through
nature, and through the events in our lives. It is the opening of the heart to God in the same way
we talk with a close friend.

CHAT WITH THE EXPERT

You may be thinking that not all prayers you have heard sounded like someone
talking with a friend. Some of those prayers may have sounded very formal, not all the way you
would address a friend. Some prayers are more formal because the setting or the occasion is more
formal.

Dr. Barry Black, a rear admiral, the 62 nd chaplain of the United States Senate, is the first
military chaplain, the first African American, and the first Seventh-day Adventist to serve in this
capacity. Read the following prayer he offered after the Senate was called to order on Thursday,
October 6, 2005.

“Gracious God, sustainer of our lives, rescue us from the faults to which we are prone. Keep us from
saying one thing and doing another. Save us from criticizing in others what we condone in ourselves. Deliver
us from the demanding of others standards we make no effort to fulfill. Give us wisdom not to flirt with the
temptation but to avoid even the near occasion to sin. Protect us from an indecision that can’t say yes or no
and from a reluctance to break habits we know are wrong.

Bless our Senators today. Keep them from trying to please both others and You. Save us all from
anything which would keep us from loving You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We pray in Your
Holy Name. Amen”

While this prayer in indeed a petition, it may be much more formal in language and
structure than what you pray with your family or in your classroom. Why is this so? Think about the
formality and ceremony that accompany Senate proceedings. The prayer is appropriate for the
setting and the audience. But is the request, the intent so different? Does the prayer invite God to
speak to us? Does it invite Him to lead our lives so that they are in agreement with His will?
What is the primary purpose of prayer? Is it to seek God’s will? Is it to ask God for things we want
or need? Is it to change God’s mind? Could it be to change us? Jesus talked about the importance
of prayer. He said in Matthew 18:20, “Where two or three gather together as my followers, I am
there among them.”

God is with us in prayer. What a marvelous promise! We have the listening ear of God of
the universe. But even though God is available, even though He is present, at times we may
encounter such a difficult situation that we don’t even know how to pray. We don’t know what to
ask. We don’t know what could make the situation bearable. How can we pray when we don’t even
have the words?
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 “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us
to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words”
(Romans 8:26). God has promised to be with us. He has promised to send His Holy Spirit to speak
for us in our prayers. God never tires of hearing our worries, our joys, and our questions.

He knows how these can bother or annoy or worry us. We need never hesitate or feel
ashamed to come to Him. He knows exactly what we need. He understands that we have done
wrong. He provided the Sacrifice for our sin. When we confess, He forgives us. He gives us
strength needed to endure or change.

Even though we know that God is there and ready to talk with us, we sometimes feel that
our prayers reach no higher than the ceiling. How can prayer become more meaningful? Here are
some suggestions that may help:
1. Choose a time for prayer when you are not tired or hurried.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you keep your mind from wandering.
3. Be specific in your prayers. Thank God for specific blessings He has given you, ask for
particular sins to be forgiven, tell God the exact concern you have about yourself and
others.
4. Even if you are alone, it may help to pray out loud. It may be easier to focus on praying
when you say the words instead of just thinking them.
5. If you usually write down what is important to you, try writing your prayers.
6. If you feel you are constantly repeating the same requests over and over, read a
passage in the Bible and talk with God about what you have read.
7. Take time to think about God and listen for that still, small Voice. We do not come to
know God by rushing off too quickly.

Paul presents another aspect of prayer in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, where he says to “never stop
praying.” The King James Version says to “pray without ceasing.” How can one pray continually or
never stop praying? The closer one comes to God, the more that person looks to God in every
situation. As things arise throughout the day, the thoughts automatically turn to God, asking for His
guidance, His leading. “We may keep so near to God that in every unexpected trial our thoughts
will turn to Him as naturally as the flower turns to the sun” (Steps to Christ, pp. 99, 100). In each
aspect of our daily living, we bring the weighty matters as well as the small ones to Him. We
continually direct our thoughts to God.

Does God answer prayers? This is the question you may have asked yourself, especially if you
have prayed for something important, really important, and nothing seemed to happen. Sometimes
we do not recognize that our prayers have been answered because the answer was not what we
wanted or expected. Consider the way parents answer request made by their children.
You are loved by the most powerful, most awesome Being in the universe. That concept may be
difficult to wrap your mind around. God loves you more than you can imagine. He always wants
what is best for you.
“But,” you may be asking, “if God wants what is best for me, if He loves me so dearly, why did He
allow my parents to get divorced?” Or perhaps you have wondered why a loving God did not heal a
loved one or protect someone from an accident. Why did He let our house catch fire? Why did He
let my dog get run over? Why did He let me fail that test? Why? Why? Why? These are the kinds of
questions people have asked since the day Cain killed Abel.

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In answering our prayers, God never forces people. He never forces someone to stop drinking or to
stop driving when they are drunk. God could force people. He could always perform miracles so
that no one who loves Him ever gets sick or hurt or dies. God could do that. But if He did, Satan
would claim that people only love God because of what God can do for them. Satan made that
accusation against Job (Job 1: 6-11).

Whether God answers us by saying Yes, No, Wait, or by giving us something different, He is still
there loving us, wanting to lead us. We are in the middle of the great controversy between God and
Satan. Satan is still on earth trying to convince us to hate and distrust God. Until Jesus comes and
ends the controversy, we must live with disappointment, pain, and death. But God cares, He hears,
and He is with us. He will give us the courage, the peace, and the strength to face whatever comes
along. We can trust God to be there.
As you spend time with God, as you pray and talk with Him, take time to listen to His voice, His still,
small voice.

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 Lesson 5- Keeping in Touch With God
Name_____________________________ Date______

APPLY THE CONCEPTS

ACTIVITY #1: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Instruction: Answer the questions comprehensively.

1. Name two bad things that happened to Mike.

2. Who did Mike turn to get him through this terrible time?

3. What are four ways God communicates with us?

4.What is prayer?

5.What is the primary purpose of prayer?

6. Who prays for us when we don’t know what to pray for?

7. Name seven things that might make your prayers more meaningful.

8. Why does God allow bad things to happen when we pray for them not to happen?

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 Lesson 6 –God is on Our Side
MEMORY VERSE:
“Whatever you ask in my name, this will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask
me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13,14.

MEET YOUR TARGETS

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
 Know the things that leads a person to repentance
 Recognize the help and divine power God affords His children
 Surrender self to Jesus and overcome one’s weaknesses through Him

VENTURE!
The Bible gives us many examples of how people related to God. It tells stories
of individuals who seemed to always make the best choices—Enoch and Daniel.
Other stories describe the lives of those who struggled to follow God. Some turned away from Him,
and yet later learned to trust Him completely.
What happened in the lives of these individuals that allowed them to listen to the Holy Spirit and be
led to change? In this lesson we will study some
examples.
Miriam loved Moses. He was the younger brother she
had watched at the river’s edge. Carefully and skillfully
she had protected him as he rocked in the basket.
When Pharaoh’s daughter noticed the basket and had it
drawn from the water, Miriam mustered the courage to
approach her. “Would you like to have Hebrew nurse to
care for him?” she asked. This young girl lived the life of
a slave. Never had she talked with royalty. But now her
brother’s life was at stake. Miriam’s support of Moses
did not stop there. As Israel completed their Red Sea crossing during the Exodus from Egypt, she
led them in praise to God. Taking her tambourine, she led the women in singing these words:

Sing to the Lord

For He has triumphed gloriously;
He has turned both horse and rider into the sea (Exodus 15:21)

But Miriam did not always give support to Moses. She was displeased that her brother had married
Zipporah, a Cushite woman. Moses’ wife saw that the burdens of leading so many people were
wearing away his strength. In talking the situation over with her father Jethro, a solution was found.
Jethro suggested a method of organizing the people so Moses did not have to deal with every
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situation. Miriam became jealous and envious that she and Aaron had not been consulted in this
decision. She assumed that Zipporah must be the reason Moses no longer took them into his
confidence. Miriam murmured and complained against Moses, but in so doing, she was guilty of
disloyalty to God. The Lord dealt with this jealousy and envy immediately.

Chat with the Expert

The story continues with Miriam suddenly contracting the most dreaded illness-
leprosy. Here is where Moses’ character is revealed. He immediately pleaded for
God to heal her. And God answered, Miriam had fallen prey to one of the most satanic traits that
can exist in the human heart, that of envy (Patriarchs and Prophets, p.385). God was able to use
Moses because he was teachable. As a meek person, he was willing to be instructed. Miriam
confessed her sin and also learned the importance of humbling herself and following God’s will.
Another story illustrating the importance of humbly following God is that of Samson. Manoah and
his wife had been instructed by God that He had an important work for their son, Samson. But
Samson made choices that led to a life of disappointment and shame rather than one that gave
honor and glory to God. “Physically Samson was the strongest man upon the earth; but in self-
control, integrity, and firmness, he was one of the weakest of men” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p.
567).
At the end of his life, Samson made another choice. As a blind captive, he turned to God, asking
Him to avenge the Philistines. No longer lacking arms in self-control, he surrendered all to God.
Leaning against a pillar, he stretched his arms and gave a mighty pull, bringing down the entire
building. He died with the Philistines. But that is not the end of what is written about Samson.
Hebrews 11, the Faith Chapter, lists Samson along with Gideon, David, and Samuel.

How were these individuals able to change their spots? How does anyone turn against the natural
inclination to sin, allowing God to lead? The Holy Spirit continually speaks to us, gently suggesting
how we can follow God. Paul describes our situation in Romans 3:23 when he says that all of us
are sinners. He goes on to describe the cost of being a sinner as death. But then he tells us
something else – that God gives us a free gift, eternal life (Romans 6:23). Accepting that free gift is
called conversion We are converted from our own sinful ways to the ways of Jesus.

Conversion creates in the person a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It is the turning-
around point, the beginning, but that’s all it is. And we are told we need to be converted daily, not
just once. As Jesus comes in, sin is crowded out. There is no point in trying to stamp it out
ourselves. It will never work that way. It only happens by Jesus’ strength being exchanged for our
weaknesses that are then surmounted by His power. That’s why Jesus accepts people just are
they are. Only He can make the changes.
Some people seem to think that they must be good before coming to God. No wonder they become
discouraged or perhaps even resentful. Some people misunderstand our loving God, who accepts
them as they are. After making the decision to serve God, they receive help through the Holy Spirit
to overcome sin.

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It is encouraging to know that our characters are not determined by occasional good deeds or
occasional bad ones, but by remaining in touch with Jesus. If we choose to follow Christ’s
instructions and example, He will give us whatever help we need.
Sometimes we must admit that we just don’t want to do the right thing. The Holy Spirit is there to
answer our honest prayer asking help for us to choose the right thing. The strength God gives in
answer to honest prayers for help is amazing, for such prayers mean that whether we feel like it or
not, we have made the decision to follow God. We are saying, as Jesus said in Matthew 26:39, “I
want your will to be done, not mine.” Gradually feelings change from “I ought to” to “I want to” and
finally to “I will”.

We can always trust God to do what He says. He loves us and promises to gives us the help we
need in order to succeed. He will give the strength to overcome sin. He can remove the spots. God
is on our side.

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 Lesson 6- God is on Our Side
Name_____________________________ Date______

APPLY THE CONCEPTS

ACTIVITY #1: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Instruction: Answer the questions comprehensively.

1. Name two situations where Miriam helped Moses.

2.Why was Miriam displeased with Moses?

3.What was Miriam’s punishment for being disloyal to Moses and God?

4.Why was God able to use Moses?

5.Physically Samson was the strongest man upon the earth, but in what three areas was he the weakest?

6.Accepting God’s free gift is called _________________________.

7.How often do we need to be converted?

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 Lesson 7 –Two Men: Two
Decisions
MEMORY VERSE:
Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.”
(Psalm 37:5)

MEET YOUR TARGETS

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
 Appreciate the cost of following Jesus
 Value Jesus as the first, best, and last in your life
 Commit everything to His care and will

VENTURE!
Levi Matthew was a hated and lonely man. Even though
he was a Jew, few Jews would speak to him when they
met him on the street. They despised him. Matthew
was a tax collector for the Romans, however, were an
enemy force occupying Palestine, and the Jewish
people abhorred paying taxes to them.

Taxmen were known for inventing dishonest schemes

to make money for themselves. It was legal for them to
keep everything they could get above the required tax.
So the tax collectors increased the amount the Jews
Tax Collector were forced to pay. Levi Matthew was a man without
friends.
In spite of his wealth, Levi Matthew was not a happy man. He had listened to Jesus and had observed how
He treated people. Matthew admired this teacher from Nazareth. He wanted to be a better man and was
sure that Jesus could help him. But he was afraid the great Teacher would never pay any attention to him.
None of the other religious leaders did; they made it clear they wanted to do nothing with him.
Matthew sat alone in his tax booth down by the seaside. When the fishermen brought in their catch, he
weighed the fish, figured the bill, and collected the taxes, always making sure he added something extra for
himself.

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 Chat with the Expert
Then, one day Jesus came walking by Matthew’s booth and stopped. There is no record that
Matthew said anything to Jesus, but Jesus had something to say to him, just two words. Two words that
changed Matthew’s world. “Follow Me” “So Levi got up and left everything, and followed him”
(Luke 5:27,28). There was no hesitation, no questioning, no concern about making his living. He was
through being a cheat. It was enough for Matthew that Jesus had invited him. He wanted to be with Jesus,
to listen, to learn, and to unite with Jesus in His work.

Another Jewish man was eager to meet Jesus.

We don’t know his name, but we do know that
he was young and popular. Like Matthew, he
was also wealthy. He was a leader in his
community and deeply devoted to his religion.
He had seen Jesus and had listened to his
teachings, noticing how gentle and kind Jesus
was. The more this young ruler saw of Jesus,
the more he wanted to be one of His disciples.
One day, when he saw Jesus coming, he ran to
meet Him and knelt at His feet.
“Teacher,” he asked, “what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). Jesus told him he
must obey the commandments. The young man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was
young’” (Mark 10:20).
Jesus looked at the young man with love and concern.” ‘There is still one thing you haven’t done,’” He told
him, “’Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven. Then come, follow me’” (Mark 10:21).

That wasn’t at all what the young man expected. Imagine the thoughts that must have overwhelmed him.
Why must I give up everything to follow this Teacher? Why can’t I be His disciple and still keep my
possessions?
To the Jews, possessions were considered an evidence of God’s blessings. Wealth was thought to be a sign
of righteousness; poverty, on the other hand, was thought to be an evidence that God was displeased with
a person.
Why would Jesus ask him to do something that would make it appear that God disapproved of him? That
would be humiliating! He turned and walked sadly away. There is no record that they ever saw each other
again.
The rich young ruler had thought he wanted to be Jesus’ disciple, but the price was too great. His
possessions and his power were his idols. “He loved the gifts God had given him more than the Giver. Being
with Jesus meant less to him than being seen as rich and powerful” (Messiah, p. 288).
Two men. Two significant decisions. One chose wealth and position; the other gave up wealth and chose to
follow Jesus.

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 Lesson 7- Two Men: Two Decisions
Name_____________________________ Date______

APPLY THE CONCEPTS

ACTIVITY #1: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Instruction: Answer the questions comprehensively.

1. Why did the Jews hate Matthew?

2.What two words did Jesus say to Matthew?

3. So Levi got up, ______________ ______________ and followed Him. Luke 5:27

4. A rich young ruler asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. What was Jesus answer?

5. The rich young ruler said he had done that. Jesus said there was one more thing he could do.
What was it?

6. How did the man answer Jesus?

7. Which do you think is more important, giving up all your possessions or being willing to give up all your
possessions? Why? Could you give up all your possessions and still not fulfill what Jesus was asking the rich
young ruler to do?

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