Welcome

1. Adult II Couples Class Welcome discoverjoy.com

2. Are you living in the last house you’ll own, or do you expect to move again at some point in the future? Adult II Couples Class Question of the day discoverjoy.com

3. Prayer Requests

4. Church Stuff Class Events Church Events • Benevolence Fund • Monthly Fellowships • January • February • March • Dinner Out Friday (27 Jan) • 5th Sunday Breakfast (29 Jan) • Quarterly Service Project • Men’s Discipleship Class (today-4:30) • Olive Grove Terrace Visitation (22 Jan) • E-Sunday (29 Jan) • Men’s Prayer Breakfast (4 Feb) • Super Bowl Party (5 Feb) • Blood Pressure Checks (12 Feb) • D. U. begins (12 Feb) • Marriage Retreat (17-18 Feb) • Olive Grove Terrace Visitation (19 Feb) • Youth SNAC (19 Feb)

5. Are you living in the last house you’ll own, or do you expect to move again at some point in the future? Adult II Couples Class Question of the day discoverjoy.com

6. Chronological Bible Discipleship Iva May and Dr. Stan May week three Job 38 – Genesis 25

7. Review

8. Review Creation Patriarchs

9. Review God reveals Himself and His goodness • Creation and the fall • God’s mercy in the midst of judgment (flood and Babel) • People choose to come to God His way or their own way The account of Job • Righteous, rich and religious man • Knew God from the truths handed down to him • God allowed severe testing by Satan who took his children, wealth and health • “Comforted” by three friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar • Use the four filters of human interpretation of suffering • Revelation • Observation and experience • Tradition • Reasoning

10. Overview Job’s debate with his friends • Job 1–37 records a series of speeches between Job, his three friends, and a younger man, Elihu who speaks last • Job’s defense against their accusations is to justify himself rather than God • Job sees himself as righteous, and God’s actions as questionable A new speaker appears on the scene-God Himself • Asks a series of questions intended to humble, rebuke Job • Job’s responds by humbling himself, acknowledging God’s power and justice, admitting that he is in the wrong God restores Job after he prays for his friends • God restores Jobs wealth • Restores his family • Job lives a full life of riches, respect and three generations of descendants

11. Overview “In the whole story of Job, we see the patience of God and endurance of man. When these act in fellowship, the issue is certain. It is that of coming forth from the fire as gold, that of receiving the crown of life.” G. Campbell Morgan

12. Suffering or lack of suffering is not a reliable gauge for determining mans right standing before God, since God sometimes uses suffering and trials to develop, reveal and redirect our faith. Key Truth

13. The Lens of Suffering Job 29 & 42 The Patriarch Era

14. Job’s Defense-His Life of Righteousness Job 29:1-25

15. Job Looks back at Past Blessings www.themegallery.com • Is it easier to walk closely with God when life is good? • Job’s walk with God was easy when life was good and he “felt” blessed • It was a time when God made Job’s way clear: “…when His lamp shone on my head and by His light I walked through darkness!” (vs3) • It was a time when God was intimate with Job: “…when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house”(vs4) • It was a time when Job’s family was thriving: “…when the Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me” (vs5) • It was a time of full cupboards and barns: “…when my path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil.” (vs6) • It was a time of admiration from others: “When I went to the gate of the city and took my seat in the public square” (vs7) • It was a time of personal exaltation: “Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me” (vs11)

16. Job Looks Back at Past Deeds www.themegallery.com • Is it easier to serve others when life is good? • Job presents his past deeds to validate his righteousness • Job provided for those without: “…I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them…I made the widows heart sing. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.”(vss12,13,15) • Job was known as a man of justice and integrity: “I put on my righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and turban.” (vs14) • Job fully committed his life to helping others: “I was father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger.” (vs16) • Job punished those who preyed upon the weak: “I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched victims from their teeth.” (vs17) • Job was a man of wisdom: “People listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel.” (vs21) • Job was a man of leadership and authority: “I chose the way for them and sat as their chief; I dwelt as a king among troops; I was like one who comforts mourners.” (vs25)

17. Job’s Enlightenment-God’s Surpassing Greatness Job 38 - 41

18. God Redirects Job’s Gaze Upward www.themegallery.com • Job had sought to justify himself instead of God • He had failed to look up to God and compare himself to the One who is holy • God interjects Himself into the debate from within a storm • Job is forced to look upward instead of inward • God prepares Job to look upward and answer 70 questions • “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.” (Job 37:14) • Each question demands an answer that Job cannot give • God leads Job to see His unique wisdom, power and greatness • “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!” (Job 40:2)

19. God Redirects Job’s Gaze Upward www.themegallery.com • Job’s humble answer demonstrates that an upward look grants an accurate view of self • Job saw himself fit in every way, until he looked up and saw God • “I am unworthy-how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer-twice, but I say no more.” (Job 40:4,5) • God then continues His interrogation until Job sees God as omnipotent and sovereign

20. Job’s Understanding-Given a Divine Perspective Job 42 : 1 - 6

21. Job sees with 20/20 Vision • Job recognizes that he’s in way over his head • You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. (Job 42:3) • My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5,6) • Job recognizes that God has a purpose for everything-even his suffering • Demonstrated the insufficiency of his own righteousness • Showed the folly of sole reliance on works • Strengthened his faith

22. Conclusions www.themegallery.com Outward appearances of success rarely indicate biblical faith Outward appearances of failure rarely indicate a lack of faith The answer to the question of suffering does not come by looking back at one’s past, but by looking up to the Creator

23. Application What does this lesson teach about God? Man? Sin? Redemption?

24. Discussion 2 Corinthians 4:8, 16-18: We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. How did Paul view suffering? What motivated him to endure his various afflictions? How does his view of suffering relate to Job’s story? How should the story of Job affect the way we approach other believers who are going through a period of suffering?

25. Summary GOD SPEAKS through a series of questions designed to reveal His power, wisdom and sovereignty. GOD ACTS by accepting Job’s sacrifices, restoring his losses, honoring his prayers for his friends, and blessing his latter end. GOD REVEALS His creative wisdom and power—His 70 questions put to Job only reveal the tip of the iceberg of God’s limitless knowledge and power.

26. Bible KNOWLEDGE QUIZ Job (1pt each) • By what factor did God multiply Job’s herds (his wealth) when he was restored? • Double (14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, 1,000 donkeys) • How many children did Job have after God restored him? • 10 (7 sons, 3 daughters) • How old was Job when he died? • 140 yrs

27. BONUS ROUND Genesis (5pts each) • When Abram and Sarai went down to Egypt, what did Abram ask Sarai to do to protect his own life? • Say that she was his sister rather than his wife • Bonus question(10pts): What was the kernel of truth in her lie? • She was Abram’s sister by a different mother • Who met and blessed Abram following his mission to rescue Lot? • Melchizedek king of Salem • Bonus question(10pts): Who was the other king present at that meeting • The King of Sodom • Tie breaker: How old was Sarah when she died? • 127 yrs

28. Genesis 11 - 25 Abraham and Spiritual Formation Adult II Couples Class Next week….. discoverjoy.com