adult
D O W N L O A D E D
Sunday School That Clicks
Lesson 11
/
February 10, 2013
Complete in Christ
for use as
STEP
1.
Lesson 11
Focus:
Because you are
complete in Christ,
let worldly ways go.
Lesson 11
Bible Basis:
Colossians 2:6-15
By Richard Lentz
Students will discuss how they can live a life complete in Christ.
OPENING ACTIVITY: Something Old, Something New
T
hink of something new you recently bought that replaced
something that was old or used up. Perhaps you got rid of
some clothes that were old and worn (but comfortable) and
bought new clothes. Were you tempted to give back the new
and return to the old? Why or why not?
OPENING STORY [read it aloud to your class, or make copies and
pass it around]:
LES MISERABLES: A STORY OF REDEMPTION
Les Miserables, a historical novel by French author Victor Hugo first
published in 1862, was adapted into a musical in 1980, and there is now
a film version of that musical. The film has received eight Oscar nominations and will compete for Best Picture in the Academy Awards ceremony on February 24. It has already won three Golden Globes including
awards for best musical or comedy, best actor (Hugh Jackman), and best
supporting actress (Anne Hathaway).
Part of the power of the book and the movie Les Miserables is its
underlying story of grace and redemption. A man named Jean Valjean
is imprisoned in France for 19 years, 5 for stealing a loaf of bread to
feed his starving sister and 14 more for numerous attempts to escape.
Following his parole in 1815, Valjean finds that is he is to be forever
marked as a former convict and as such will find it impossible to live a
normal or easy life even though he has been freed from prison. It seems
that he is condemned to live in poverty and become an angry and embittered man.
But when Valjean is caught stealing silverware from a bishop who
has given him shelter, the bishop tells the authorities that he deliberately gave the silver to Valjean, who then hands Valjean two silver
candlesticks, saying, “I gave you the candlesticks too. Why did you not
carry them away with your forks and spoons?” The authorities release
Lesson 11
/ February 10, 2013 / Step 1
Lesson 11
Memory
Verse
And you have been
given fullness in
Christ, who is the
head over every
power and authority.
—Colossians 2:10
D O W N L O A D E D
Sunday School That Clicks
2
Valjean, and the bishop later tells him, “Jean Valjean, my brother, you
no longer belong to evil but to good. It is your soul that I buy from you;
I withdraw it from black thoughts and the spirit of perdition, and give
it back to God.”
Valjean takes the bishop’s admonition to heart, changes his name to
Monsieur Madeleine, and uses the silver to establish a successful business and a new life. However, throughout the film and book Valjean
is chased by Javert, a fanatic French policeman who recognizes that
Madeleine is actually Valjean. Javert is obsessed with arresting Valjean
and returning him to prison for violating his parole.
Valjean, however, remains a man changed by mercy and grace. At
one point he chooses to reveal his true identity so that an innocent man
who some think is him doesn’t go to prison. He has an opportunity to
kill Javert at another point and decides to offer his enemy grace and
mercy—something Javert never gives him. He has other opportunities to
do good, some that cost him his invisibility and make it easier for Javert
to find him. But Valjean has made a commitment to make choices that
are consistent with the grace he was given, and though he is tempted at
times to return to his old ways, he refuses to again be the man he was
in the past.
[Now form small groups and have your class discuss the following
questions.]
..In what ways do people become chained to their past?
..Why are mercy and grace so important in escaping the past and
beginning a new life?
..How can faith in Christ free us from the ways of the world?
..Can we choose to follow the enslaving ways of the world even
though there is freedom in Christ? If so, why?
[When you are finished with the questions, go on to Step 2 in your
Adult Teacher’s Guide.]
News Sources:
Wikipedia - Les Miserables
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Misérables
Wikipedia - Bishop Myriel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_Myriel
Classic Reader - Les Miserables – “The Bishop Works”
http://www.classicreader.com/book/268/26/
adult
D O W N L O A D E D
Sunday School That Clicks
Lesson 11
/
February 10, 2013
Complete in Christ
for use as
STEP
4.
Lesson 11
Focus:
Because you are
complete in Christ,
let worldly ways go.
Lesson 11
Bible Basis:
Colossians 2:6-15
OUT OF THE SHACKLES
W
e can be made complete in Christ by choosing to accept
Him as our Savior and by following Him in our lives.
When we do this His grace and mercy and power release
us from the power of our enemy who continues to tempt
us and try to bind us. We can be released from all sin
and shame, putting it in our past, and instead live the complete life of
freedom that Christ wants us to have.
[Activity]
Return to the groups you formed in Step 1 and respond to the following:
..Are you holding on to something that keeps you from living a completely new life in Christ?
..Pray together with your group about letting go of what you may be
holding on to so that through the power of the Holy Spirit your life
in Christ can be full and complete.
Close the session in a group prayer. Thank Jesus for giving us a new,
complete life in Him. Pray that we will recognize the choices we make
that rob us of the benefits of freedom and completeness in Christ and
that we will let those worldly ways go.
(David C Cook is not affiliated with and does not endorse any website listed on these pages. At the time of writing, David C Cook editors
carefully review the referenced material and non-referenced web page
content. However, due to the nature of the Internet, non-cited content
on the website [including pop-ups, links, and ads] changes frequently
and is beyond our control. Please review carefully before showing links
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Lesson 11
/ February 10, 2013 / Step 4
Lesson 11
Memory
Verse
And you have been
given fullness in
Christ, who is the
head over every
power and authority.
—Colossians 2:10
D O W N L O A D E D
Sunday School That Clicks
2
THE BIBLE IN THE NEWS
A Columbia, Missouri, pastor is taking on some of the controversial
parts of the Old Testament in a sermon series discussing the book God
Behaving Badly:
http://www.christianpost.com/news/mo-pastor-takes-on-god-behaving-badly-in-9-part-sermon-series-88315/
MAKE SUNDAYS
THEIR FUN DAYS
With games, crafts, and drama
ideas—for tots to teens—infused with
creativity and inspired by the Creator.
Oozes & Awes in God’s Creation
Through-the-Bible Crafts
Fun Science that Teaches God’s Word
Score with Scripture Games
Design and Devour
Plus many more!
CURRICULA
FOR ALL CHURCHES
Choose from a variety of
curriculum options and with
different age levels to suit
your church’s needs.
Rio
Bible-in-Life
Echoes
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And more!
Bible-Based Ways to
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