RADIANT LIFE TEACHER GUIDE TEENS SUNDAY SCHOOL RESOURCE SEASON 13 2022 August 28 2022
Unit 2: Basic Training
Study 5: Deal With Sin
Text: 2 Sam 11:1-17, 26-27; 12:1-7,13-14;
Psa 51:1-4, 10-12
Key Verse: Psa 51:1
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. (KJV)
>>Focus
It is supposedly easier to handle reality if euphemisms or fancy words are used to soften the seriousness of what is being communicated. Sadly, we tend to talk about sin in the same way. No one commits adultery anymore. Instead, a person has an extramarital affair. Fornication has become sleeping around. Lying is too often thought of as using a creative license to avoid trouble. This is just to mention but a few.
Regardless of what names we call it, sin is sin; and the “wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). Sin is destructive, but we are not left without hope; for where sin abounds grace much more abounds (Rom 5:20). Thanks be to God we can enjoy eternal life through Christ Jesus (Rom 6:23). You may need to read Roman 6 again as part of your preparation for teaching this study.
As you teach this study, ask God to help you to emphasize both the seriousness of sin and the power of God’s mercy and forgiveness. David’s example reveals the terrible nature of sin and the merciful nature of God. Pray that your students will leave today’s class abhorring sin, and also be confident in God’s willingness to forgive every sin when they repent (1 Jn 1:9).
>>The Basic Message: Explain to students..
¶ WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?
Sin is a serious danger to our relationship with God; therefore we need
to avoid situations that lead to sin while repenting when sin does take place.
¶ WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Failure to deal with sin will lead to disaster and, ultimately, God’s judgment.
¶ HOW DO I LIVE IT?
Recognize and avoid the things that tempt you to sin, and ask God for help to resist those temptations.
>Activity Option: THE SIN PIN
Fill a balloon about half full with water and tie it. Hold it over a container that can hold the amount of water in the balloon. Ask students to name “little” sins – things people do that they don’t think are really too bad or have serious consequence, Have a volunteer list the responses on the board.
Use a pin to poke a hole in the balloon for each sin that is named. Each hole will cause more water to leak from the balloon. Discuss how even “little” cause leaks in a person’s relationship with God. Point out that sin, if we fail to deal with it, will cause us to lose out with God and lead us to experience God’s judgment for our sins.
>>Guíde : Explain that people must not allow themselves to ever think that they are above the lure of sin. Today’s study explores how David, described as a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14), yielded to temptation; and how he eventually dealt with his sin. From his example we can learn things we can do to help us overcome temptations, and what we can do to deal with our actions if we do fall into sin.
>>Study Overview
Explain that today’s study considers:
• Our choices can greatly influence our ability to avoid and overcome temptations.
• Sin can affect our relationship with God.
• Repentance is the only way to deal with sin so we can be restored to a right relationship with God.
>>inform and Discuss
a. Anatomy of a Sin
One of the meanings of “anatomy” is, “a separating or dividing into parts for detailed examination” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). We can analyze the account of David’s sin to learn how choices influence our ability to avoid and overcome temptation.
• Choice #1: Lingering to look. Read or have a volunteer read 2 Sam 11:1-2.
1. At what point did David start moving in the wrong direction? [Hint: There nothing wrong with David walking on the roof of the palace. And it wasn’t sinful when he unexpectedly caught a glimpse of a woman bathing. The sin began when he lingered to look, giving in to the temptation to lust.]
2. How are we to react when we realize we are being tempted? [Hint: Temptation is not sin, but temptation leads to sin if we do not remove ourselves from situations in which we are tempted. Too often we fool ourselves by thinking we can handle the situation, or that indulging in it one time won’t matter, only to realize we’ve become a captive of sin.
3. Read or have a volunteer read Gal 6:7-8. How can the truth found in this passage help you make good choices?
Choice #2: Giving in to Desire. Read or have a volunteer read 2 Sam 11:3-4. [Guide: Explain that David should have walked away when he unexpectedly saw Bathsheba bathing. Even his inquiry about her was sinful itself. Even when he learned that she was married, and knew it was wrong to covet another man’s wife and to commit adultery, he deliberately took actions to do so.]
4 How is giving in to sinful desires a series of choices and actions?
>>Note: God equally uses our power of choice to work in our hearts to turn us away from an evil course by the conviction of the Spirit and prompting us to recall biblical truths. We can choose to admit that we have been pursuing a sinful course, ask God for forgiveness, and turn away from fulfilling our sinful desires.
• Choice #3: Covering up Sin. Read or have two or three volunteers read 2 Sam 11:5-17,26-27. After several attempts by David to cover his sin had failed, he chose another way-to have Uriah murdered.
5. Why does one sin often lead to other sins? How can one choice, such as choosing to tell a lie, make it easier to repeat that choice? [Hint: Sinful actions, if we do not deal with them, usually become habits. These habits are a serious danger to our relationship with God]
6. Would you agree that many people choose to do what they do based on the belief that “I won’t be caught”? Explain.
>>Guide: Explain that when David later took in Uriah’s widow and made her his wife, the average lsraelite, oblivious of what transpired in the secret, might have hailed David to be a compassionate king. But David couldn’t hide his sins from God. We can fool people, but we can never fool God.
b. Confronted with Sin
Read or have two volunteers read 2 Sam 12:1-7, 13-14. Nathan didn’t confront David directly. Rather he used the injustice of this case to help David to see how terrible his sin really was. Without realizing it, David
pronounced a fair judgment.
1. In what ways does God confront us with our sins? [Hint: The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, using the Word of God to reveal to us how we have fallen short of the glory of God. Sometimes the Spirit will speak directly to our hearts. At other times He will use other Christians to deal with us. See Jn 16:8; Gal 6:1; Heb 4:12.]
>>Guide: Explain that David didn’t try to justify his behavior or claim that it was no big deal or declare that what he did was no one else’s business. Rather he admitted he had sinned against God and was deserving of God’s judgment. God, as is His nature, graciously forgave when he repented (1 Jn 1:9).
2. If God forgave David, why did his son have to die? [Hint: We cannot answer this question. There are times when we must trust in the justice and goodness of God, even when certain issues don’t make sense to us. Also, it is not common in this world that sin affect the innocent (e.g., babies born with AlDS, victms of false allegations, etc). This is why it is vitally important to consider how your sins affect others.]
c. Repenting of Sin
Read or have two volunteers read Psa. 51:1-4, 10-12. When he was first confronted by Nathan, David admitted he had sinned. Psalm 51 reveals the full extent of his repentance and gives us insight into what is involved in true repentance.
1. Have students summarize what David was praying for into three sentences, one for each of these groups of verses: 1-2,3-4, and 10-12.
>>Guide: Explain that David basically prayed for three things:
1. God, forgive me of my sins (v1-2) |
2. I confess my sins to God, the righteous Judge (vv3-4). I
3. Restore my relationship with You, God (vv10-12). Point out that this is the essence of what repentance is: Asking God for forgiveness; Admitting our sins; and Experiencing a renew relationship with God.
2. What do verses 10-12 reveal about our outlook and attitude change when we repent of sin? [Hint: When we repent, we will have a desire to do what pleases God. We will also want to know that God’s presence is with us, and to experience again the joy of salvation.]
>>Note: Sin leads to bondage while promising freedom and pleasure. Failure to deal with sin will lead to disaster, and, ultimately, God’s judgment. Repentance frees us from bondage to sin and brings us the joy that comes from being in right relationship with God.
>>involve Them: TEMPTATION BUSTERS
Distribute pen or pencil and paper. Ask students to identify specific temptations students face and list them on their paper. Have them find Bible verses that relate generally to overcoming temptation (such as 1 Cor 10:13). Point out that Jesus overcame temptation by using God’s Word, and we can too.
>>Teacher Guide: It may be helpful to have a couple of Bible concordance available for the students to use in looking up verses. Consider preparing a list of temptations and verses ahead of time to assist the class in the above exercise if needed.
>>inspire Them
Remind students THE BASIC MESSAGE of this study (pg 035), explaining WHAT the Big ldea behind the study is; WHY it matters; and HOW we can live the lesson captured in this study.
>>lnvitation Option: Give students an opportunity to receive Jesus as their Saviour. Also offer to pray with students who have been giving in to temptation and need the Lord to forgive and restore them to a right relationship with Him.
>>Teacher Hint: Ask Yourself…
1. Do students really believe that sin is a serious danger to a believer’s relationship with God?
2. Can students identify ways they can avoid situations that lead to sin?
3. Do students understand why they need to repent when sin does take place and how to do so?
4. Do students understand that failure to deal with sin will lead to disaster and, ultimately, God’s judgment?