SCRIPTURE PASSAGES

OVERVIEW
According to Dictionary.com, an omen is defined as “anything perceived or happening that is believed to [indicate] a good or evil event or circumstance in the future.” Omens are a medium for messages in witchcraft and stand in sharp contrast against the Bible and God’s authority over the past, present, and future of His universe.

In this week’s lesson, Jesus tells an evil spirit to come out of a possessed man, and it is an amazing display of God’s power over Satan’s spirits. The people who witnessed Jesus speaking with authority recognized that His word was like an amen, which is defined as “so be it; let it be so.” Satan and all his deceptive methods had taken over the man with unclean spirits, but Jesus had the final word. Today, you might not see someone literally convulsing from demon possession, but evil spirits still attempt to get into hearts and minds. The choices you make each day will indicate if you accept God’s amens or Satan’s omens in your life.
 

OPENING ACTIVITY:
SHERLOCK HOLMES CHARADE
Supplies Needed: Sheets of paper and pens

Although Sherlock Holmes was a fictional character created in the 1800s by English author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, his fame for finding evidence and solving bizarre criminal cases is known throughout the world. Imagine you are Sherlock Holmes and use detective skills to find the evidence of God’s authority in your life.
 

• Take a piece of paper and write the following terms down the left-hand side: Crime Scene, Weapons, Evidence, Crime, Suspects, Resolution.
• Think of a situation where your faith made a difference for the outcome of a problem.
• Write down what you uncover for each of the categories.
• Example:
  • Crime – My friend and I got angry when he thought I cheated on a game. We didn’t work out our problem but instead became angry and said unkind words to each other.
  • Crime Scene – My house
  • Weapons – Anger, accusations, leaving, slamming the door
  • Evidence – Anger, guilt, injured friendship
  • Suspects – Me and my friend
  • Resolution – I went to my friend to say I am sorry. I asked him to forgive me for cheating and saying unkind words. I asked him to come back so we could play together some more. He apologized too, and we agreed to play fairly, and to not get angry at each other over the game.
     

QUESTIONS

• Since sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden, people have a natural weakness toward sinful (selfish) behavior. How have you seen sinful (self-centered) feelings or actions trying to get control of you?
• Our sinful (selfish) actions could be accidental or deliberate. Discuss examples of either of those two types of sin.
• Jesus solved the problem of sin on the cross for all of eternity. We are told that “At the cross of Calvary, love and selfishness stood face to face” (Desire of Ages, p. 57). What are some ways you can overcome sin while you are living here on earth?
• In what ways has the Bible served as an instruction book for you to be a follower of Jesus? In contrast, how has Satan tried to discourage you from following Jesus?
• Do you see more evidence of God’s authority in your life or more evidence of the sin problem?

TRANSITION

A mini-episode of the great controversy between good and evil took place as Jesus cast out an evil spirit from a man. The crowd who witnessed this miracle, and those of us who are reading about it today, got a preview of the coming destruction of Satan and his evil deceptions. Christians should never put our faith in an omen declared by a sorcerer, but instead we should claim fully and completely the authority of God and His Word. Have you ever wished that the Bible would give more background story about the people Jesus performed miracles for? It would help us see what led to the bad circumstances they were in before Jesus helped them. Although you might not get the details, you can be sure that sin was the cause of the man’s problem and Jesus was the solution.

BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

Read each Bible passage, then discuss the questions. If you are still worshiping from home, consider discussing one or more of the questions on social media, in a Zoom meeting, or in a group chat with friends.

Detestable Practices

Read Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (NIV).

9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God.

14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.

QUESTIONS

• Compare and contrast God’s plan for His people vs. the practices of these other nations.  
• God told them to not imitate the evil they would find around them. How does this command still seem relevant to you today?
• Do you see these same types of evil around you today?
• Are some of these practices depicted in movies, books, or music today? How should you respond to things that are detestable to God?

Sin is Born

Read James 1:13-15 (NIV).

13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

QUESTIONS

• Think of a time you were tempted. Did you resist or give in? What was the process in your mind?
• Why do you think temptation begins with the mind forming a desire?
• Have you ever had a thought that turned into a sinful action? How did it make you feel after you sinned?
• Discuss a situation where someone could be facing the risk of dying because they continued to fall into sin.
• Compare and contrast this verse with what might have led the demon-possessed man to reach the point where he was when Jesus helped him.
• How can you avoid this process from causing you to be controlled by sin?

Sin and Grace

Read Romans 6:1-4 (NIV).

1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

QUESTIONS

• Sin is something you will have to deal with as long as you are alive on this earth. How can you avoid using grace as an excuse to sin more?
• What does it mean to have died to sin (self-centeredness)?
• What do you think living a new life should look like for baptized Christians (a life of other-centered love)?

Choosing a Path

Read Proverbs 23:19 (NIV).

19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path.

QUESTIONS

• The fact that there is a right path indicates there are wrong paths too. What do you think defines a right or a wrong path?
• How would you define the word wise? What are some aspects of your life in which you believe you are wise? What are some areas in which you need more wisdom?
• What does it mean to “set your heart” on something?
• When you are on a path, are there usually more paths nearby? How do you stay on the right path?

God’s Holy People

Read Ephesians 1:18-19a (NIV).

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

QUESTIONS

• The things of the world are attractive, but God’s ways will give us good and lasting joy. How can you stay focused on the things of God while living in a very distracting world?
• The Bible says that when Jesus is lifted up He will draw all people to Himself. How can we keep Jesus uplifted in our lives so we are continuing to be drawn to Him?
• What are some things that you have allowed to take your focus off Jesus? How can you get it back?
• Is it easy to understand these glorious things God offers to you? Why or why not?
• God promises to give us incomparable power. What might we need that power for?
• Do you believe God has called you personally? Why or why not? How can you discover more about what that means as you continue to follow Jesus?

APPLICATION

Consider applying what you learned in this week’s lesson.

• Write a letter to a friend who is at least four years younger than you are, sharing some lessons you have learned as a Christian.
• Pray about your desire to follow Jesus, asking Him to help you to be free from any sin in which you are tangled up.
• Use social media to share one of the Bible verses from today’s lesson.
• Team up with friends to start a Kindness Club at your school. Brainstorm ideas of kindness you can show to students, staff, and the community.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Mark 1:21-28

LEADER’S NOTE

For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.

You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.

Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.

Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.

DOWNLOAD THE HANDOUT

OVERVIEW

We are about halfway through this quarter, and we have seen Jesus work through so many hurdles in His ministry. He dedicated His time on earth to preaching the gospel and attending to those in need. Much of His care involved miracles, signs, and wonders that restored a person for the work of the gospel while simultaneously evangelizing to the others around them. During His ministry, Jesus returned to Capernaum, the region where His hometown was located, several times. In this particular scenario, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and the narrative tells us He was preaching at the local synagogue on the Sabbath. Surprisingly, He had a positive reaction from the crowd, who were amazed at His style of teaching. In the middle of the passionate deliverance of the word, a possessed man cried out obscenities against Jesus. Jesus calmly but sternly ordered the demon out of the man, leaving the people in amazement and a desire to learn more about this mysterious teacher.

There is a fine line between spiritualism and divinity, which many people struggle to identify today. Although it is not common to see someone outwardly showing signs of possession by demons, many struggle with internal demons. These demons eat one up from the inside, causing various problems that can seem to define who the person is. In addition, there are some people who turn to these very demons through spiritualism and mediums as a way to relieve their problems, not knowing that in reality, these demons are ruining their lives. But there is a cure for modern day devils, just like there was way back when. In fact, the cure is still the same: Jesus. If you turn to Christ and beg Him to relieve you from those demons that torment you, or even have a silent plea in your heart, He will hear your cries and cast them out. Let’s remember every day that God is ready to cast out our devils. All we need to do is say a prayer and He will say, “Be silent, devil!”

SUMMARY

Jesus casting out the devil may seem like a small story, but it brings many important lessons for us today. The setting of the church, a holy location, shows us that no physical building will prevent evil from being inside of us; instead only the presence of God can. The public setting shows us that even if something may seem like a hard or humiliating experience for us, it can actually be working for God’s cause. The verbal authority Jesus had over this devil presents a comforting promise that no force of evil will ever be able to beat God’s power. If we stay close to Christ, that power remains on our side, waiting to be called by even the smallest of His servants, and He is ready and able to cast out any demon we may feel too weak to defeat.
 

Let Me Go!

Have you ever experienced or known someone who dabbled in spiritualism?

Read Mark 1:21-28.

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. 

1. What was Jesus doing the day of this miracle?
   1. Preaching at the temple on a Sabbath.
   2. Preaching at the temple on a weekday.
   3. Getting ready for Sabbath services.
   4. Partying at someone’s house.
   5. Touring the area with the disciples.
   6. Just walking down the street.
   7. Looking for someone to heal.
   8.  Visiting this man.
   9. Other.

2. What is important about the location and setting where this miracle took place?
   1. A church meant a holy place, which contrasted the devil inside of it.
   2. The location was public, which was humiliating for the man.
   3. The location was public, which made this a learning experience for others.
   4. A church relates to a body, holy, while a devil represents sin.
   5. A physical building does nothing to repel sin, it is the Savior inside which repels the sin.
   6. The church should be a place of healing and restoration.
   7. There is absolutely no relevance.
   8. The public setting served as punishment for the man for having demons.
   9. Other.

3. True or False: The man asked Jesus to cast the demon out.
   1. True; he cried out for Jesus.
   2. True; it was an internal plea.
   3. True; Jesus recognized the man’s desperation to rid himself of the spirit.
   4. True; the man had asked Jesus earlier to remove it.
   5. False; the demon asked to be removed.
   6. False; Jesus just saw the need and did it.
   7. False; Jesus did it to show off to the people in the room.
   8. False; Jesus had a miraculous power that would instantly bring out demons involuntarily.
   9. Other.

4. What were the people’s reactions to the miracle?
   1. They were amazed at Jesus’ authority.
   2. They were appalled and thought He was a witch.
   3. They were left curious about Jesus’ identity.
   4. They were eager to keep Jesus to themselves.
   5. They began to realize that Jesus was someone extra special.
   6. They wanted to spread the word about Jesus.
   7. They wanted to be healed as well.
   8. They realized He was the Messiah and helped jumpstart His career on earth.
   9. Other. 

5. What is important about the demon’s words?
   1. The demon recognized Jesus.
   2. The demon was speaking through the man; the man was not speaking.
   3. The demon was intimidated by Jesus’ presence.
   4. The demon was taunting Jesus.
   5. The demon did not care for Jesus’ presence.
   6. The demon could easily outsmart Jesus.
   7. The demon was upset by Jesus’ presence.
   8. The demon was just there to cause some ruckus.
   9. Other.

6. What does this story tell us about God’s ability to overcome?
   1. He has full authority over everything; good or bad.
   2. He does not need to create a commotion to get what He wants.
   3. He cannot help us.
   4. He only helps us when He wants to.
   5. He only helps us when it benefits Him.
   6. He is always ready to help us when we ask.
   7. He helps us whether we ask for it or not.
   8. He has a calm authority over evil that will protect us if we stay true to Him.
   9. Other.

7. What does this story teach you about the dangers of spiritualism? What are some ways God can provide the relief you need even when you don’t yet realize the cause of your problems?

8. What are some personal conclusions you reached with this story? How does it apply to you? How will it help you in your relationship with Christ moving forward?

APPLICATION

Today, we all continue to fight our own devils, and are desperately calling upon God to help us. Below you will find some simple applications that can facilitate the removal of these evil presences in your life, while strengthening your experience with the Savior.
 

1. HELP ME, JESUS
   Jesus has promises scattered throughout the Bible assuring us that He will always be available to assist us. When you are struggling with an “internal demon,” what are some things that can uplift you? What are some Bible promises that can assure you that this dark hole is temporary? Finally, when you feel despair, how can you call upon God? Reflect on these questions constantly, and next time you feel like you are being tormented, call upon the plans you have made to help you.

2. THE DEMONS
   While you do not see a lot of people shaking and convulsing like the man in our story, many people battle internal demons that cause problems in day to day life. It may be a little difficult at first but try to reflect and find these demons. Name them and name the problems they cause you. Then, talk to God about them, and ask Him to cast them out. It is guaranteed that if you are sincere in your desire to rid yourself from them, then He is right there to do the “hard part” for you. Just ask Him!

3. SPIRITUALISM
   In the modern world, it is easy to fall into the hole of experimentation with spiritualism and devils. Have you ever dabbled in these practices? How did it make you feel? Was it helpful in resolving your issues? Regardless of whether you have or haven’t, make a chart with common reasons as to why people turn to these forces for help. Then, make a column and write how God could resolve each of these situations. Compare and contrast each one, and draw conclusions as to who is the best to turn to in times of need.