Bible Studies for Life tLearner Guide KJV / SPRING 2011

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What do you understand it takes for a person to go to heaven and have eternal life?

ADMITAdmit to God that you are a sinner. Repent, turning away from your sin.Romans 3:23; 6:23; Acts 3:19

BELIEVEBy faith receive Jesus Christ as God’s Son and accept Jesus’ gift of forgiveness from sin.John 3:16; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:11-13

CONFESSConfess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.1 John 1:9; Romans 10:9-10,13

If you are choosing right now to believe Jesus died for your sins and to receive new life through Him, pray a prayer similar to this as you call upon Him alone to be your Savior and Lord:

“Dear God, I know I am a sinner and have rebelled against You in many ways. I believe Jesus died for my sin and only through faith in His death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I now turn from my sin and ask Jesus to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. From this day forward, I will choose to follow Jesus. Thank You, Lord, for loving me and for forgiving me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

After you have received Jesus Christ into your life, share your decision with another person, and following Christ’s example, ask for baptism by immersion in your local church as a public expression of your faith.Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:6

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Paranormal State03.06.11 Phenomenal Faith 12

03.13.11 Astounding Actions 18

03.20.11 Remarkable Relationships 24

03.27.11 Exceptional Endurance 30

Walking Through the Maze of Grief04.03.11 Walking with Grief 40

04.10.11 Walking with God 48

04.17.11 Walking with Others 56

04.24.11 Walking with the Risen Lord 62

Fit to Lead05.01.11 Fit Without Fear 70

05.08.11 Bodybuilding with Influence 76

05.15.11 Find a Personal Trainer 82

05.22.11 Committed to a Goal 88

05.29.11 Be a Personal Trainer 94

Special FocusThe Bible in Focus 06

Pray and Rejoice! 36

24 Hour Counselor 46

Grief: A Part of Life 54

My Gift-wrapped Heart 100

Who Is He? 102

Music Review 129

CONTENTS

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LETTER TO THE READER

Christians suffering for their faith. People grieving losses. Men and women called to lead in challenging situations. Sounds overwhelming, doesn’t it?

Over the next several weeks you’ll have the opportunity to study about people in the Bible who faced those situations and what they did to overcome their difficulties, grief, and leadership challenges.

So what does this have to do with you? It has everything to do with you!

As you study “Paranormal State” you’ll begin to know God better and learn to place your hope and confidence in Him regardless of your circumstances. In “Walking Through the Maze of Grief” you’ll be led to own your faith as you find your security and hope in the presence of God—even in the midst of grief. Finally, did you know that you’re a person of influence? In “Fit to Lead” you’ll learn how you can make your faith known through your influence and leadership among your peers.

So what you do with what you learn is up to you! I pray that as you study God’s Word each week, you’ll discover truths that will turn your world upside down! Let me know how that goes for you!

Blessings!

LIFE FOCUS LEARNER GUIDE KJVA guide for learning Bible truthsfor ages 12 to 17

Volume 3, Number 3Spring 2010

PRODUCTION and MINISTRY TEAMCAROL ELLISContent EditorTESSA MORRELLProduction EditorJOHNNY SHUMATEGraphic DesignerED CRAWFORDSenior Graphic Design SpecialistPAUL TURNERNational Student Ministry LeaderSHERRY SPILLMANStudent Ministry SpecialistLYNN H. PRYOREditorial Project Leader

Send questions/comments toContent Editor, Life Focus Learner Guide KJVOne LifeWay PlazaNashville, TN 37234-0174Or make comments on the Web atwww.lifeway.com

MANAGEMENT PERSONNELJIMMY HESTER, Senior DirectorStudent Ministry Publishing

DAWN CORNELIUS, Managing DirectorStudent Ministry PublishingDAVID FRANCIS, DirectorSunday SchoolSCOTT STEVENS, DirectorStudent MinistryGARY H. HAUK, Director, PublishingLifeWay Church Resources

Printed in the United States of America

Life Focus Learner Guide KJV (ISSN: 1943-6165; Item 005075012) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2010 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway.com or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, e-mail subscribe@lifeway.com, fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, e-mail orderentry@lifeway.com, fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address.

We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, King James Version.

WRITERS

Cynthia Hopkins became a Christian at age 7 in her home. She is a member of First Baptist Church in Midlothian, Texas, where her husband, Clay, is the student minister. They have two children: Brandon and Abby. Her favorite memories from her teen years are the Sunday nights her youth group would hang out at the local pizza place after church.

Rick Futch became a Christian when he was 9. He is the minister to students and college/career adults at Trinity Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He also is a worship leader and student communicator for the forerunner group. He enjoys songwriting and sports in his free time. He has a daughter named Presley.

Donna Wright became a Christian at age 9 at G.A. camp. She is the director of small groups and assimilation for West Mobile Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama. She and her husband, Thomas, have two children: Jason and Amy. Her favorite memory from her teen years is being on the color guard for the high school band.

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The Bible in FocusBelievers can grieve with hope because they know Jesus has power over death! (See p. 44.)

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.John 11:43-44

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The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope, strengthens our faith, and attests to Jesus’ lordship over life and death! (See p. 64.)

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher.John 20:1

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God expects you to use your influence in godly ways! (See p. 80.)

Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.Esther 8:8

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Investing our lives in others may require that we risk our own reputation. See page 97 to learn how you can be a Barnabas to new believers!

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Acts 11:25-26

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unit 1Questions to Ponder:

What can I hold on to when circumstances are against me?

How should I live when life is difficult?

Why should I act honorably when we disagree?

What should I do if I suffer for being a follower of Christ?

Paranormal StateParanormal \pa-r -’nor-m l\ adj.: not scientifically explainable; supernatural; beyond the normal.

It’s a common feeling for teenagers. You might feel like you don’t look normal, you don’t act normal, your family isn’t normal, or even that your entire life is beyond the range of normal human experience.

The Bible describes a different kind of paranormal, and even challenges you to embrace it. Life is hard, and there is much stress and difficulty that we face. When that happens, normal behavior often is to lose faith, feeling defeated and hopeless. More uncommon, though, is phenomenal faith—the certainty that in Jesus Christ, you can endure any situation with hope. As you dig into the study of 1 Peter in the pages ahead, consider situations in your life where you need to live beyond the normal by demonstrating a phenomenal kind of faith, holy living, honorable conduct, and perseverance in the face of suffering.

Have you ever felt “paranormal”? Mark an X on the line below to show how “normal” you view yourself.

“Wall of Weird” Material Can Be Paranormal at Times Mostly Normal Completely Normal

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Some people have to grow up fast. While other kids’ biggest decisions were what to eat and wear, Kelsey wondered what would happen to her dad, whose struggles with Crohn’s disease, alcoholism, and pain killer addiction rocked her world on a daily basis. Then, when she was in middle school, her parents divorced, and Kelsey had a whole new set of difficult circumstances to endure. Kelsey remembers, “The divorce killed me. I

didn’t know why it had to happen to my family.” She did learn to cope, though, and for a few years Kelsey felt like life was somewhat normal. But then, in her sophomore year, her dad was killed in a motorcycle accident.

The accumulation of difficult circumstances threatened to drown Kelsey’s faith. She became angry and began to question God. She distanced

herself from Him, and instead hung onto the guy she was dating. For the rest of her sophomore year and into the summer, she struggled.

Kelsey attended summer camp, though, which was the turning point for her—the moment she began to really hold onto hope and faith in Christ. She explains, “I learned that my Heavenly Father is always there for me, and He wants me to cling to Him. Unlike boys, girls, or any other earthly thing, He is

forever. He is the only One who can give you complete and total peace and security.”

The struggles haven’t ended for Kelsey. Her mom lost her job and times are tough, but Kelsey knows that God provides and she trusts that He is in control. Psalm 27:1-3

reminds her of that. She continues to serve Him through missions and in daily life, saying, “Everything I’ve gone through in my life has helped me and will help me witness to the good news of Jesus.”

Life QuestionWhat can I hold on to when circumstances are against me?m

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Phenomenal FaithWhat do you think of when you hear the word phenomenal?

Perhaps you think of weird, odd, or unbelievable things, such as a 40-ton whale captured on video jumping onto a yacht, or a giant sinkhole in Guatemala that measures 60 feet wide and 300 feet deep.

Or maybe you think of incredible records that have been set*, such as the longest chocolate bar formed in Italy in March 2010 (almost 38 feet long!), or the longest professional tennis match, which occurred at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships lasting 11 hours, 5 minutes.

Natural occurrences, such as the Aurora Borealis (or Northern Lights) and The Taos Hum (a low-frequency humming noise that occurs often in Taos, New Mexico), are often unexplainable and are considered phenomenal.

Phenomenal describes something extraordinary or remarkable. And what is faith? Christian faith is not a kind of wishful thinking. Faith is a confident belief or trust in God!

Believers are called to have phenomenal faith—an extraordinary faith that will result in praise, glory, and honor even in the midst of trials. How do you get that kind of faith? What can you hold onto when circumstances are against you? Check out the hope, faith, and future you can have in Christ!

*at the time of this printing

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A Living Hope in Christ(1 Pet. 1:1-5)What do you usually hold onto when circumstances are against you—friendship, physical comforts, positive thinking? What if all those things were stripped from you? What would you hold onto then? Read 1 Peter 1:1-5. Peter wrote this letter to Christians who were facing the most difficult kind of circumstances. They were hated and persecuted by those who were in leadership over them. They were despised by their own race because they had chosen to trust in Jesus Christ. They were scattered from one another, left with little support and immense fear about what would happen to them. Peter’s words of encouragement welled up out of personal experience. Having been beaten, jailed, and threatened for faith in Christ, he knew what it was like to face the temptation of hopelessness.

Who do you know has had hope in the midst of terrible circumstances?

Circle the word that best describes your typical attitude in bad situations: defeated apathetic angry confused hopeful

In the first five verses of his letter to the struggling believers, Peter offered numerous reminders of hope. On the next page, match the words and phrases that Peter used with their meanings.

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Strangers (v. 1) Elect (v. 2) Foreknowledge of God (v. 2) Begotten us again (v. 3) Lively hope (v. 3) Inheritance (v. 4) Kept by the power of God (v. 5)

1. God is not surprised by the difficulties you face.2. Eternal life with Jesus in heaven waits.3. Our time on earth is limited, but our home in heaven is eternal.4. No circumstance can steal the hope you have in Christ.5. We are different than we were before we knew Christ.6. You have been set apart to demonstrate hope and faith in Christ.7. Jesus is alive, and His power and presence are always available.

Which one of the above do you tend to struggle the most to believe? Why?

The hope you have in Christ cannot be taken away, but the choice is yours each day whether or not your focus will be there or on the temporary struggle. Living hope focuses on the living Christ. In what situation do you need a change of focus?

A Faith in Christ(1 Pet. 1:6-9)Some people believe that Christianity is just a crutch—a way to make people feel better about the realities of life. But Peter wanted his readers to know that faith in Christ is not wishful thinking. More than that, it’s not just hope for a far-off future. Genuine faith makes a difference in daily life. It enables believers to courageously meet the challenges of the real world.

Read 1 Peter 1:6-9. According to verse 7, how valuable is your faith?

Life is hard. Bad stuff happens to good people. Faith in Christ, though, ought to change your perspective about everything. For Peter, faith meant

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6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

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that joy and distress could coexist. It meant that there was a point to suffering. It meant that salvation is right now.

What difference does your faith make when you feel like your parents are being unfair? When you are tempted to worry about the future? When you feel ugly or out of place?

Troubles, difficulties, and even suffering can result in something good. Peter compared it to the process of refining gold (v. 7). Refiners heat the gold to extremely high temperatures, then the impurities float to the top where they can be skimmed off. Our struggles are kind of like that. God uses them to refine, or purify, our lives. If we allow Him to, He will use the struggles we endure to strengthen our faith.

Think back. When has God used a difficult circumstance to strengthen your faith in some way?

A Glorious Future in Christ(1 Pet. 1:10-12)You endure school right now because you know the end is a diploma that opens up doors for the rest of your life. You work out with the team or in the weight room because you know that the end is a body better prepared to compete. You do the tasks given to you at work because you know that payday is coming. There’s an even better reason to hang on during the most difficult trials of life.

Read 1 Peter 1:10-12. What reason to “hang on” does Peter give in these verses?

Back in the day, before Jesus came, that is, God’s plan of salvation was a mystery to those who served and followed Him. And talk about suffering. The prophets were often friendless and hated by the very people they were called to lead. They obediently spoke God’s message without knowing

10Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

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the full picture. On the other hand, we live on the other side of Jesus’ earthly life. We know why He came and we know that He’s coming again.

Do you think this should give believers today reason to be even more faithful in trying times than the Old Testament prophets were? Why?

You can live beyond the normal because you know that you have a glorious future in Christ! He came, He died, He rose, and He’s coming back for you. He’s preparing a place in heaven for you right now, and that place is where you will spend forever. Though they seem all-consuming at times, the struggles we must endure on earth are only a blink of an eye in comparison to eternal life.

In the space below, write one difficult situation that you currently face. Then, write living hope, faith, and glorious future over it as a reminder that, with your focus on Jesus, you can endure.

For more encouragement about how to live a life of phenomenal faith, take home and complete the “Staying Focused” page (pp. 127-128) from the back of this book. That page will also help you prepare for the next session about how to live when life is difficult.

(Answers to matching activity on page 15: 3, 6, 1, 5, 4, 2, 7.)

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week ofStaying Focused

This week you started a study of the Book of 1 Peter, a letter Peter wrote to Christians who were suffering for their faith. Find 1 Peter in your Bible and skim through the book to get an overview of the letter. If your Bible has section headings, read those to get a sense of the topics Peter addressed.

In 1 Peter 1:1-12, Peter wrote about a living hope. Getting to a place where you can hold onto faith, hope, and the future you have in Christ requires introspection and honesty. In the space below, list hang-ups you have that keep you from exhibiting phenomenal faith. (For example: I am angry that God let my parents get divorced; I think that I probably deserve the bad things that happen to me; etc.)

• • • • •

Now confess each of these to God and ask Him to reveal truth to you regarding the circumstances you face. Invite Him to help you forgive the people who disappoint you, accept His love and grace for your sins, and to change the learned attitudes and behaviors that keep you from faith and joy in the midst of difficulties.

Thoughtfully consider your answers to the following questions:

Which do I desire most: ease of life or strong faith in Jesus?

Why is it so hard for me to see life from God’s perspective when things are hard?

Where do I usually look for hope?

What do I need to do in response to these Scriptures?

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Memorize These Key Verses: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

In order to memorize this passage, break it up into five or six segments. Using index cards, write the segments on individual cards. Memorize one segment each day as you also review the segments you’ve already memorized. By the end of the week, you should have the entire passage memorized! Write the memorized passage in the space below:

Preparation for the Next Session:For the Week of March 13, 2011: Astounding Actions

So now you know what attitude you should have when life is hard, but how should you act? Are there times when it’s just too hard to act in a godly way? What excuses do you give for disobeying God?

Read 1 Peter 1:13–2:1. According to these verses, what does God want you to do?

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Life Focus Learner Guide KJV / © 2010 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in the USA.