Unit 2: Christianity & The Big Questions
Study 4: WHAT IS TRUTH?
Text: Luke 12:54-56; John 8:31-32;14:6; 1 Cor 2:6-16;Eph 2:1-7;2 Tim 3:16*
Key Verse: John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (NIV)
>>Focus
Faced with a world that has abandoned absolute truth, many teens today are searching for it. In some cases, they can’t find it in their schools, in their homes, or among their peers. At times they cannot even find it in the Church.
The world teaches that many roads lead to truth: “What might be truth to one person isn’t necessarily truth to another.” “All truths are really created equal”. These are dangerous ideas being preached to your teens in subtle ways. It’s no wonder students are confused about absolute truth and curious about other claims to it. But that curiosity can lead to dangerous ideas and philosophies. If students based their beliefs of truth on anything other than God’s Word, they will be headed down a dangerous path. Student must realize that God is the source of ultimate truth. His Word must be the tool with which we determine ultimate truth.
In this study, your students will discover that truth is found in natural laws as well as supernatural laws. The natural laws can be seen by the naked eyes; supernatural laws are revealed by God’s Spirit. They will learn that God’s Word is truth and Jesus is the ultimate example for our truth.
>>The Basic Message: Explain to students...
• WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?
God is the source of all truth.
• WHY DOES IT MATTER?
If we don’t look to God as our sole source of truth, we’ll be misled by the deceptive ideas and philosophies that constantly confront us.
• HOW DO I LIVE IT?
Look to God as your sole source of truth and use His Word as your standard for what to believe and what to reject.
>>Activity Option: EXCEPT THIS...
Divide the class into groups of three or four. Assign to each group one of the Ten Commandments. Instruct them to come up with at least example of how society-even Christians-have justified exceptions to the command. For example, we may not take the life of another person, but we may think nothing of spreading a rumour that would ruin his or her reputation. Ask each group to share their examples in the class, and discuss their answers as class.
Guide: Explain that our society and even, at times, the Church have made exceptions to these truths for their convenience. Society now has no absolute truth. It is important that we, as Christians, know the truth and determine to demonstrate it to a world in need.
>>Study Overview:
Explain that today's study considers...
• How truth is found both in the natural law and spiritual law.
• Why we must look to God as our source of truth.
• What Christians should use as our standard for truth-the Bible.
>>Inform and Discuss
a). Where Is Truth Found?
Guide: Read or ask a volunteer to read Luke 12:54-56.Explain that unlike today, the people of Jesus' time did not have advanced meteorological equipment available to them. They relied on what they saw in the sky to "forecast" the weather. The people Jesus was addressing would be familiar with these techniques. For them, it was a matter of livelihood and, at times, life and death.
- What natural law do we know of today? What would happen if a natural law like gravity were to reverse suddenly or cell structures reacted sporadically, or water began to turn to steam(or freeze) at 68 degrees?[Hint: Some natural laws are the Law of Gravity, the Laws of Motion, the Laws of Thermodynamics. These natural laws are vitally important to us. They provide consistency to life. If any of these laws would breakdown, we would be in big trouble.]
Note: Although Jesus' example was reference to natural law, the point He was making was that people were oblivious to the "present time”. In other words, they were capable of determining natural law, but they failed to see the supernatural law that Jesus represented
- Read or ask volunteers to read 1 Cor 2:6-16. Based on this passage, how would you describe spiritual laws? [Hint: They are eternal, hidden by God, revealed by God's Spirit, not understood without the Spirit of God-they're spiritually discerned.]
Guide: Explain that just as natural law is observed through the natural means, spiritual law is only comprehended through the Spirit of God. Those who do not have the Spirit of God cannot comprehend spiritual laws.
b). God's Word Is Truth
- Read or ask a volunteer to read 2 Tim 3:16. According to this passage, how is the Bible the source of absolute truth?[Guide: Explain that while most people easily recognize natural laws, they cannot easily agree on the source of spiritual truth. God is the ultimate source of truth, and He has communicated that truth to us through His Word. The Bible is our ultimate source of truth.]
Note: Many in our culture accept the Bible as one source of truth among many. However, as the Creator, only God is in the position to reveal to us absolute truth. He alone is infinite, eternal, and all-knowing. All other sources are merely created beings, speculating on their version of the truth.
Guide: Read or ask a volunteer to read John 8:31-32. Explain that a Christian’s worldview is not simply a philosophical choice. By accepting God’s spiritual truth, we have freedom from our sin-freedom to live life to its fullest.
2.What,then,does that say about those who reject God's spiritual truth?[Hint: Those who reject God's spiritual truth will continue in bondage to their sin. They will not know the truth.]
c). Jesus Is the Truth
1.. Was Jesus ‘only reason for coming to earth to die for our sins?[Hint:No.If that were the case, He could have come as an adult and accomplished His goal in a shorter amount of time.]
Read or ask a volunteer to read Eph 2:1-7.According to this passage, what was another reason for Christ's coming? [Hint: While Christ’s sacrifice purchased salvation for us, the life He lived on earth revealed the truth of God to us.]
What did Jesus reveal about God's truth that was not previously understood? [Hint: He revealed God's love. The religious leaders of the time had corrupted the laws and writings of the Old Testament. The adherence to God's Law had become only an outward obligation. Through Christ, God's presence was allowed to live among us and dwell in our hearts. Jesus is the supreme example of God's truth.]
Read or ask a volunteer to read John 14:6.What impact does Jesus ‘statement have on our worldview? [Hint: As Christians, we can only accept Jesus as the way to salvation and the primary example of ultimate truth. Jesus is not merely one of the ways to salvation. He is the only way.]
Why do some people have trouble accepting Jesus' statement in this passage? [Hint: It's viewed as narrow minded by our culture. By denying the statement they are able to live how they please, rather than having to deal with their sin, changing the way they live.]
Note: It Is important to know what you believe about truth because our culture has no standard for ultimate truth. If we do not know for sure what we believe, It will be too easy to be swayed otherwise.
Involve Them: Read the following statements to your class. Discuss what “truths” the world might base each statement on:
- What’s right for you may not be right for me.
- Anything is okay as long as you’re not hurting anyone.
- Do whatever it takes to get ahead.
4.There’s more than one way to eternal happiness.
5.We can only find true peace within ourselves.
How might these ideas be dangerous if you’re not committed to God’s truth?
Guide: Though these ideas sound appealing and might be convincing. Challenge students to cling to the truth of God as revealed in His Word. Explain that this is the only way to avoid deception by the philosophies of the world and their versions of “truth.”
Inspire Them: Remind students THE BASIC MESSAGE of this study(pg 43), even as you explain WHAT the Big Idea behind the study is; WHY it matters; and HOW we can live the lesson captured in this study.
>>Invitation Option:
Some student in your class may have never made the decision to accept God’s invitation for truth. Give them the opportunity at this time to open their hearts and their lives to God’s forgiveness and God’s supernatural laws.
Ministry Activity: Ask students to think of someone they know who needs to know the truth of God. Spend a few minutes praying for each person to be introduced to the truth of God’s Word.
Teacher Hint: Ask Yourself...
- Can students describe how truth is found both in natural and supernatural laws?
- Do they recognize God’s Word as the ultimate standard for absolute truth?
3.Can they explain how Jesus is the example of God’s truth to us?
>>Daily Dew Drops
Mon: Truth Delivers - John 8:31-32
Tue: The Right Path - Psalm 25:5
Wed: Simply Yes or No - James 5:12
Thu: Flawless - Prov 30:5
Fri: Knowing the Truth Personified - 1 John 5:20
Sat: The Spirit of Truth - John 15:26
This product is the publication of TEENS MINISTRY Assemblies of God Nigeria
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