teaching guide - Wedgwood Baptist Church

leader’s guide for high school students
Forward readers
Special Topic
FAITH, MEET CULTURE
teaching guide
a curriculum for every generation
TEACHING GUIDE
Volume 12, No. 4
Faith, Meet Culture (Special Topic: Cultural Issues)
John 18:37-38; 14:6; 17:17..................................... 6
Absolute or Relative?
John 15:18-27; 17:15-19; 2 Peter 1:3-4................ 13
In the World, Not of It
Acts 10:1-48......................................................... 20
The Unlimited, Global Gospel
Romans 12:14-21; Matthew 18:15-17.................. 27
When People Drive You Crazy
God’s Bigger Story (Old Testament)
Genesis 27:1-46................................................... 34
By the Grace of God
Genesis 28:1-22................................................... 41
Never Alone
Genesis 35:1-29................................................... 48
Return to Bethel
Genesis 37:1-36; 39:1-5....................................... 55
Always Behind the Scenes
Genesis 45:1-28................................................... 62
In Good Hands
Stand Up, Speak Out (New Testament)
Acts 6:8-15; 7:51-60............................................. 69
Worth Dying For
Acts 9:1-43........................................................... 76
Total Transformation
Acts 13:1-52......................................................... 83
Armed and Ready
Acts 15:1-35......................................................... 90
Faith Is All You Need
Welcome to Forward Teaching Guide!
Forward Teaching Guide is a Bible study curriculum for high school students with
the goal of helping them know God through the study of His Word. Forward is
part of the D6 family of Sunday School/Bible study curriculum for all ages. D6 curriculum provides a six-year study of the story of the Bible, helping lead the entire
family to interact around the same biblical theme each week.
For a decade now, Forward Teaching Guide and its companion publications, Forward Teaching Essentials, Forward student magazine, and Home Connection,
have been the arm of D6 curriculum for high school students. However, you hold
in your hands a new generation of Forward Teaching Guide! If you’re a veteran
of Forward Teaching Guide, you’ll find a lot of familiar features in the pages ahead,
but you’ll also find some great new stuff.
What’s New?
More Variety! Every quarter now includes three units, most often consisting of
one Old Testament study, one New Testament study, and one topical study. Each
unit is four or five weeks in length.
A New Layout! Instead of being saved until the end of the lesson, Explore and
Apply sections have been dispersed throughout the lesson where they most naturally fit.
More Apologetics! Teachers and learners alike will find more tools to help them
explain and defend key Christian doctrines.
Lesson Objectives! It’s hard to know if you’ve hit THE TARGET when you’re not
sure what you’re aiming at. That’s why every lesson now includes three objectives
that identify the lesson’s threefold target:
1. Know—the biblical knowledge you want to impart to your group
2. Think—a biblical worldview you hope your students will adopt
3. Do—the practical understanding of how to apply biblical truth to daily life
Timeline! Many lessons include a graphic that helps you understand the period
of history (both biblical and secular) in which the lesson is set. This is a good reminder that the Bible is not a book of “stories” or fables, but rather an accurate
historical record.
Teaching Tips! Teacher training in bite-sized nuggets now help you make your
lessons more interesting and effective.
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D6 Doorposts! Each lesson will address key principles that frame a
biblical worldview. The Doorposts will help you identify how the passage being studied supports a biblical worldview so you will be able to
reinforce these foundational concepts.
D6 Digital! For the first time, D6 curriculum is available in a digital format! Now
you can study from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Go to randallhouse.com
or call 800.877.7030 for more information.
Despite the many exciting changes to Forward Teaching Guide, the curriculum
continues to be built around the CLEAR Learning System, which uses five important steps to help students participate in every lesson. These five steps are:
Connect—This opening activity helps capture the learners’ attention and
answers the question, Where is this lesson going? Two options are provided so teachers can choose the activity that best fits their students and
their classroom setting.
Learn—What does the Bible say? The Learn section answers this question by digging into the biblical text and explaining it in ways both teachers and students can understand.
Explore—When a verse or element of the lesson needs further explanation, Explore helps the teacher dig a bit deeper. These callouts address issues like cultural background, historical context, theological importance,
or other complementary biblical teachings.
Apply—How does this impact me? This is the question most teens
want to know when learning something new. Apply helps learners see
how the biblical truths they have just heard fit into life in the twenty-first
century. Each Apply section begins with at least two thought-provoking
questions that are meant to help you spark a meaningful discussion with
your students.
Respond—The final section in each lesson answers the question, What
now? After learning biblical truths and how those truths apply to life, students still need to know how to take practical action. Respond encourages learners to take practical steps to daily apply the biblical principles
they have learned. This is the perfect lead-in to each week’s daily devotions in Forward magazine. These weekly, six-day Bible studies reinforce
the theme teens studied on Sunday, allowing God to continue speaking
to them from His Word each day.
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This teaching guide works in conjunction with Forward student magazine, a publication that helps high school teens study God’s Word on
their own. Forward includes timely articles that seek to reach students
where they are in life. The magazine also features 13 weeks of daily
Bible studies, which help reinforce the themes of the lessons they
learn each Sunday. Like Forward Teaching Guide, Forward magazine
has undergone several exciting changes, including practical applications added
to each daily devotion. Every student in your class needs his or her own copy of
Forward student magazine to read and study throughout the quarter.
Forward Teaching Essentials is a collection of posters, reproducible
handouts, thought-provoking questions for in-class discussion, and
other resources to enhance the lessons provided in this teaching
guide. These tools will help make your class time more interesting and effective. (Each packet of teaching essentials comes with a
copy of Forward Teaching Guide.)
All of the Forward products can be ordered online at D6curriculum.com. Or, you
can order them by calling 1-800-877-7030. We also welcome your comments and
suggestions at this number or at our address:
Forward Staff - P.O. Box 17306, Nashville, TN 37217
Email: forward@d6family.com
LEADING STUDENTS TO CHRIST
Christianity is about more than going to church and obeying your parents.
Being a Christian is about having a vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Your greatest privilege as a teacher may be leading students to a relationship with
Christ. As you work toward this goal, keep the following in mind:
• F
ollowing Christ is about more than a mere decision; it is about a lifelong
relationship. Aim for long-term faith, not momentary emotion.
• S
alvation is a supernatural process. People can be arm-twisted into buying a product, but they have to come to Christ of their own free will.
• D
on’t confuse sanctification with salvation. Holiness follows salvation;
it doesn’t precede it. Don’t try to impose “Christian” expectations on
students who don’t know Christ.
• Being born again is not complicated. Here’s a simple way to explain it:
ACKNOWLEDGE your sinfulness and your need for a Savior
(Romans 3:10, 23).
TRUST in Christ’s sacrifice for your sins and His resurrection
(Romans 10:9-10).
SURRENDER your life to God’s transforming power
(Romans 12:1-2).
Most of all, remember that your job is to tell the truth in a way students can
understand, answer their questions, and give them an opportunity to respond.
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IN THIS TEACHING GUIDE
Faith, Meet Culture
Special Topic
Curveballs, hiccups, wrenches, hurdles—whatever you want to call them,
they’re life’s little surprises. They take our carefully crafted plans and turn them on
their heads. You know the feeling. You’re all settled in to watch the baseball game,
but then it’s canceled due to rain. You get your heart set on Chick-fil-A, but then
you remember it’s Sunday and they’re closed.
As believers, we’re surrounded by one giant curveball. It’s called culture. No
matter how eager we are to be a light for Christ or how prepared we feel to share
our faith, something happens that reminds us we live in a world full of people who
don’t share the same passions.
Fortunately, God’s Word provides us with advice for responding to “hiccups”
like problem people, racism, and unbiblical worldviews. In this unit, you’ll learn
how to make sure your faith wins out when it collides with culture.
God’s Bigger Story
Old Testament
To be continued . . . How often have we read those words in the back of a book
or on a screen at the end of a TV episode? It can be exciting (and a bit of a relief)
to know the story’s not over yet.
No matter what you are facing, there’s something God wants you to know:
your story is not over yet.
God’s story is so much bigger than we could ever know. This month you’ll
learn how Joseph faced some of the worst circumstances imaginable but trusted
all the while that God was working behind the scenes. You’ll read about God’s
promises to Jacob and will see how, thanks to Jesus, we get to take part in those
very promises today. God’s story is the grandest one of all, and the best part is He
wants you to be part of it.
Stand Up, Speak Out
New Testament
What would you give anything for right now? A juicy burger? A Snickers? A
nap? It’s amazing how the smallest things can brighten our day.
What’s even more amazing is that the one thing more powerful, more life
changing, and more satisfying than anything on earth is something the majority of
the world chooses not to accept.
The gospel, the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, is our most valuable possession. Stephen died for it. Paul was forever changed by it. The earliest Christians sent out missionaries to proclaim it. And yet, many of the people
around us are missing out on it altogether. This month, as you read about these
believers in the early church, be challenged. Find the boldness to stand up and
speak out about this most priceless treasure known as the gospel.
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Copyright 2016. This study is licensed to the purchasing church and only to be used by the teacher or teaching team for one group or class.
Sharing copies of this study is unethical, illegal, and hinders the efforts of the publisher to provide high quality, affordable resources to you.
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Faith, Meet Culture
Lesson
Special Topic: Cultural Issues
Absolute or Relative?
STUDY TEXT
John 18:37-38; 14:6; 17:17
THEME
What Is Truth?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
M Psalm 86:1-13
T Psalm 119:145-160
W Ephesians 1:3-14
T John 1:1-18
F Romans 1:16-32
ESSENTIALS
❍FWTE 1-1 (unit poster)
Keep this on display throughout the unit
as a visual reminder of the theme.
❍FWTE 1-2 (handout)
❍FWTE 1-3 (teacher-only)
❍FWTE 1-4 (handout)
❍FWTE 1-5 (poster)
❍FWTE 1-6 (What’s Up?)
ive copies of this newsletter to your
G
students’ parents. A digital download is
available at D6home.com.
THE TARGET
KNOW:God’s Word, as lived out through Jesus Christ, is the absolute standard for all truth.
THINK: Always be mindful that Christ and His Word reveal absolute, objective
truth, so anything that contradicts Scripture must therefore be false.
C
DO: Go to Christ and His Word to find truth, and then put it into practice.
NNECT
Capture attention with one of these options.
False Truths
Use FWTE 1-2 (“False ‘Truths’”) to discuss a few false beliefs
that were taught as truths for much of history until they were proven
to be incorrect. Allow students to provide comments, and then transition to your time of learning by saying, Sometimes a bit of research
can disprove something we’ve always believed to be true. As we’ll
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FWTE 1-2
see today, God’s Word is the standard for all truth. It has never changed and will
never be “proven wrong.” It is essential to our beliefs as Christ-followers.
Truth or Opinion?
As you read each statement on FWTE 1-3 (“Agree or Disagree?”), ask your students to raise their hand if they agree with the
statement. Allow students to defend their positions if they would
like. After some discussion, transition to the Learn section: None
of these statements are true or false; they are merely opinions. Although some people treat the Bible like it is an opinion or made-up
story, today we’ll see it is the standard for what is truth.
LE
FWTE 1-3
RN
TEACHING TIP
If a group member gives an answer
or comment that is not in line with
biblical truth, you may want to
gently ask them where they find
that in Scripture. You might also ask
for responses from others that may
help correct the faulty thinking.
If there were no such thing as steadfast,
absolute truth, then we would be left to do
whatever pleases us. We would have no
accountability and would be left to decide
or interpret what should or should not be
true. As a result, nothing would be considered “true” for everyone. Fortunately, truth
does exist, and we can know it.
Truth Is Exclusive
John 18:37-38; John 14:6
Before Jesus was crucified, He was arrested, beaten, and tried for treason
against Rome. However, for much of this time, the Jews hid the real reason they
deemed Jesus worthy of death; they considered many of His teachings and claims
to be blasphemous. As Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, questioned
Jesus just hours before His death, he tried to discover what it was about this man
that had so offended the Jews. When Jesus described His purpose as “bearing
witness to the truth,” Pilate asked a question that resonates with today’s world
just as much as it did in the days of Christ: “What is truth” (John 18:37-38)?
In our current culture, “truth” has become relative. It is no longer considered
objective or absolute. Everything can be interpreted in whatever ways humanity
desires. A common attitude says, “Whatever is true for you might not be true for
me.” If there are no absolute truths, however, then nothing can really be considered true. Murder, rape, genocide, abortion, etc. cannot be considered definitively
wrong. Hitler’s desire to annihilate all Jews cannot be called immoral. The fact is
there must be a standard of absolute truth; otherwise, all actions, decisions, and
worldviews are equal.
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At our core, we fundamentally know murder and rape are wrong. How can one
explain that instinctive knowledge? Where did it come from? The answer is there
has to be a standard of truth. That standard is God. Truth is an essential element
of His being. If truth were not an element of His being, then the entire universe
would be nonsensical and meaningless.
By definition, truth is that which corresponds or matches up with reality. If
something does not correspond with reality, then it is not true; it is false. Truth is
at the core of who God is, and His creation operates under His truth. This includes
moral truth. No matter how many people claim morality is “relative” to them,
morality is exclusively derived from the character of God.
Since truth is an essential element of God’s character, then we can conclude
truth is also an essential element of who Jesus Christ is. In John 14:6, Jesus said
He is the only way to eternal life with God the Father. If this were not true, it would
have been an extremely arrogant thing to say; however, if Jesus were indeed divine and the true Son of God, then He had the right
to make such a claim. If Jesus’ claims to be equal
with God were true, and if truth is an essential eleGod offers salvation and
ment of who God is, then Jesus’ claim to be the
forgiveness through faith
only way to have eternal life with God the Father
in Jesus Christ. We can
corresponds with reality. His statement is therefore
trust this claim because
true and not arrogant. Truth is not relative or depentruth is an essential
dent on one’s beliefs; it is exclusive to God, who
element of who Jesus is.
created our world and reality in general.
EXPL RE
Relativism is the doctrine that truth and morality exist
in relation to culture. It teaches that nothing is absolute. In a relativist worldview, the word truth describes a preference or an
individual belief. It does not describe an objective reality in the world. This
way of thinking creates a “convenience/comfort” view on how the world
operates, or should operate, as it relates to the individual. C. S. Lewis addressed this mentality in his book Mere Christianity: “If you look for truth,
you may find comfort in the end: if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth—only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and,
in the end, despair.” Check out these resources: bit.ly/OMA-WhatIsTruth,
bit.ly/OMA-TrueForYou, and bit.ly/OMA-TruthFromScience. Also see, bit.ly/
SMc-TruthOrTragedy.
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APP Y
How does this impact me?
We have an absolute standard of truth and
can trust in its exclusive claims.
Ask this:
• What are some objections you have heard to the truth of Scripture?
• Why do you think some people feel uncomfortable believing certain teachings in the Bible?
• How does it affect your life to know God’s Word is the standard for
truth?
Distribute copies of FWTE 1-4 (“Certifiably Reliable”).
The handout lists a few pieces of evidence that point to the
reliability of Scripture. Although the list is not exhaustive, it
gives solid reasons as to why we can trust the Bible.
Some people claim the Bible has been tampered with
and that it has lost its original message; yet, when we look
at the evidence that is available to us, we see this is simply FWTE 1-4
not the case. God is the standard of all moral truth because
truth is part of His character. His creation operates by this standard,
whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. For this reason, we need
not shy away from the truth of Scripture; instead, we can stand firmly
on it.
Truth Is Revealed in a Book
John 17:17; John 8:31-32
Not only is God our truth giver and our standard by which we measure right
and wrong, but He also, in His grace, encapsulated His truth in a book and gave it
to all of humanity.
Just before Jesus was arrested, He asked His Father to protect His disciples
from the evil one (John 17:15). He knew that even though they were not of this
world, they had to live in it. Therefore, His disciples needed to be sanctified, or set
apart and changed, by the truth of His Word (verses 16-17). In John 8:31-32, Jesus
reminded His listeners that if they held to His teachings, then they would know
the truth and would be set free.
The implication for us is this: If we want to experience real truth and freedom from Satan’s grip, we
need to love and know God’s Word. Many people
today argue the Bible is no longer relevant to the
The Bible is God’s Word
to us. It establishes
modern world. They claim that the culture, cusabsolutes.
toms, and historical traditions that existed when
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the Bible was written do not apply to this present time. However, the cultural differences and contextual changes do not affect the truth of the Bible. God’s Word
transcends cultural customs and historical contexts because of what, or who,
it is about at its core. The Bible invites humanity to have a relationship with its
Creator through the person of Jesus Christ. Since the Bible is about knowing God
and embracing His ways, it is relevant to every person in every culture in every
timeline of history.
EXPL RE
God has revealed Himself to humanity in two ways:
general revelation and special revelation. General revelation refers to the truths about God that can be seen through observing
the universe, His creation (Romans 1:19-20; Psalm 19:1-4). Evidence such
as our conscience, the intricate order of things, the majesty of the galaxy,
and the beauty of the mountains and oceans can all be attributed to general
revelation. Special revelation refers to God’s revealing Himself to us through
supernatural means, such as the written Word of God and Jesus Christ (2
Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:12; John 1:1-5, 14). This type of revelation
is necessary for specific doctrines such as salvation, sin, Heaven, Hell, etc.
APP Y
How does this impact me?
We find true freedom as we learn and
live by the truth of God’s Word.
Ask this:
• How do you think God’s Word “sets us free”?
• How can knowing God’s Word help us live for God in a sinful world?
The Bible contains the very words of God, from whom truth comes.
It is 100 percent reliable. God’s Word is alive; it is powerful in everything
it does (Hebrews 4:12). It changes hearts and lives and points us toward
the perfect will of God.
To benefit from the full power of God’s Word, however, we have a
responsibility to submit to its teachings. It is easy for us to place our own
wants and desires ahead of the teaching of Scripture. Our pride makes it
hard for us to submit. But, if God’s Word is true and His will is the best
way, then we should be eager to surrender our lives to His truth, no matter the cost. Only then will we truly understand what Jesus meant when
He said the truth will set us free. Even when God’s instructions don’t
make sense and His path is not the path we would have chosen, His plan
for us is perfect. His Word helps us be set apart for Him, even when sin
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surrounds us. When we take our own road, we often end
up in places we ought not be, but when we follow God’s
way and are guided by His Word, we are able to find true
freedom.
FWTE 1-5 (“Free”) lists a few ways in which God’s
Word sets us free. Allow students to suggest more ways if
they can think of any.
FWTE 1-5
Truth Is Personified in Jesus Christ
John 18:37-38
Unfortunately, much of our world declares that truth cannot really be known.
Our culture tenaciously proclaims truth is relative, not absolute. In reality, though,
truth—an essential element of who God is—was embodied in the person of Jesus.
Jesus told Pilate the very reason He had come: to be a testimony of truth (John
18:37). He said everyone who loves truth listens to Him. Pilate’s question (What
is truth?) revealed that he didn’t realize the Truth stood before him. The answer to
his deep question was just feet away, gazing into his eyes.
Humanity’s attempt to discredit the truth claims of the Bible does not change
the fact that our deepest need is a relationship with the Savior. Truth is not relative. It is found in God’s Word and has been revealed to us in the person of Jesus.
APP Y
How does this impact me?
We experience truth in a relationship with Jesus.
Ask this:
• What are some things people pursue in this lifetime?
• In what ways might those things be considered “untrue”?
• How can a relationship with Christ help us know and love the
truth?
Real truth is firm and steady. It does not contain variables, leaves no
room for questions, and cannot let us down. Consider the parts of our
world that don’t fit these descriptions, even though many people pursue
them: money, popularity, temporary happiness, possessions, etc. These
things have the potential to disappoint us or disappear altogether.
Jesus, however, is truth. He is incapable of breaking His promises or
letting us down. When we are in a relationship with Jesus, we are able
to experience truth. Rather than feeling empty and disappointed, we find
purpose and meaning. He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews
12:2), which means He is the definitive, unwavering way to salvation. His
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death and resurrection made it so one day we can be perfect like Him.
Nothing in this world can compare to the fulfillment we find in Christ.
RESP
ND
What now?
Study the Truth
If God’s Word is the truth on which we should base our lives, we should spend
intentional time studying it and hiding it in our hearts. If we make it a priority in our
lives, it can transform us in the ways God meant it to.
Whether your students complete the daily Bible readings in Forward magazine
or they follow another reading plan, encourage them to take note of any truths
(sentences stated as fact) they come across. As they reflect on the verse, they
should remember God’s Word is truth and should consider how this particular
truth should shape their lives. How would they live differently if they made this
verse a foundational truth in their lives? Encourage them to jot down a few notes
and be prepared to share with the group next week.
Surrender to the Truth
This week, encourage students to ask themselves, “What am I pursuing other
than Christ?” If we pursue nothing but things that ultimately will leave us feeling
empty, we will never be fulfilled. Yet, when we surrender our lives to Christ, we
find satisfaction in knowing we are walking with the one who is the truth and who
cannot fail us. Remind your students that even though their culture might challenge them to pursue the fleeting things of this world, a pursuit of Jesus is the
only kind of pursuit that won’t disappoint us in the end.
If your students are willing to share, distribute note cards for them to write
down an area of their lives they want to surrender to Christ. Maybe it’s a habit,
something outside of His will they are pursuing, or even a temptation. Then, collect the cards, letting the students know you will be praying for them in these
areas. Encourage them to surrender that area to God each day this week.
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