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Lesson 1: Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ *

Introduction: How do you like being called "stupid" or "foolish?" While I'm not wild about it, our study this week throws the term "fools" around quite a bit. If you don't like the term, you might have to duck! Seriously, is it dangerous to think we are not foolish? If we are foolish, is there a way to become an "ex-fool?" Our new series of lessons which start this week call on us to rethink every aspect of our life. Instead of trusting our own foolish thinking, our own wisdom, we will examine the benefits of looking to God to resolve the issues in our life. Let's dive in!

  1. Fools


    1. Read Psalms 14:1. At first glance, why is the fool corrupt? (It seems because he does not believe in God.)


      1. Why does the second part of this verse say "no one" does good? Or, does it mean "no fool does good?"


    2. Read Psalms 14:2-3. Are we still limiting evil doing to those who are fools? (God looks down and sees we are all corrupt.)


      1. Look again at these two verses. What is the source of the problem? (We do not seek or understand God. We have "turned aside.")


      2. Are we then all fools? Surely those who read the GoBible lessons believe there is a God. Are even GoBible readers fools? (The Psalmist tells us that we are not serious about accepting God as our Lord. We are not serious about understanding and seeking God. That makes us all fools.)


    3. In Romans 3:10-17 Paul quotes Psalms 14:1-3 (and other Psalms)to set up a logical conclusion. Read Romans 3:19-20. Considering that we learned we are all fools, what is the purpose of the law? (To keep us from bragging about how good we are and to make us aware that we are fools!)


    4. Read Romans 3:21-22. Is there hope for fools? (Yes. Fools have a path to righteousness that comes only through faith in Jesus.)


    5. Read Romans 3:23-26. Last week we finished up our study of the gospel of Mark. We have just gone through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. How does the crucifixion demonstrate the (v. 25) justice of God? (It shows us that God takes sin very seriously. We fools are not getting this as clearly as we should, but God takes sin so seriously that He was willing to die a very painful death to pay the penalty for our sin.)


    6. What conclusion should we reach at this point? (Fools have access to being righteous by believing in Jesus. At the same time, sin is a very dangerous thing that fools should take seriously.)


  2. Recovering Fools


    1. Read 1 Corinthians 1:18. What separates complete fools from recovering fools? (Whether or not they believe in the "message of the cross.")


      1. What is the "message of the cross?" (The message of the cross is that on our own we are fools. The only way to salvation is through the power of God. The message of the cross is also about God's unlimited love and His intolerance towards sin.)


    2. Read 1 Corinthians 1:19-21. What is the problem with the wisdom of the world? (It does not know God. It did not recognize Jesus.)


      1. If you look carefully at 1 Corinthians 1:21 it seems to say that it was God's plan (His "wisdom") that worldly wisdom would not understand Jesus. Why would God want to avoid the support of the wisdom of the world? (We are beginning to see an argument against self-reliance. Self-reliance in the area of wisdom gets us in trouble. The less foolish we are by the standards of the world, the more foolish we are by God's standards.)


    3. Does this mean that Christianity is "anti-intellectual?"


      1. Read 1 Corinthians 1:22-25. (God is both wisdom and strength to a much greater degree than human wisdom and strength. This means that God is not "anti-intellectual;" it means that we do not properly understand His wisdom.)


    4. Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. What good news is there in this for us? (That we all have the possibility of recovering from being fools and learning the wisdom of God! We do not have to be born smart to take part in the wisdom of God.)


  3. A Foolish Example


    1. Read Acts 22:2-3. Was Paul a highly educated man? (Yes.)


      1. What was the nature of his education? (Religious.)


    2. Read Acts 22:4-5. How motivated and industrious was Paul?


      1. Would you like him to work for you?


    3. Read Acts 22:6-9. What began the change in Saul's (Paul's) life? (He saw the light.)


    4. Read Acts 9:10-14. Is Ananias concerned that God is not fully informed about Saul/Paul?


      1. Is God choosing one fool to go speak to another fool?


        1. Is that good news or what?


    1. Read Acts 9:15. Why did God choose Saul?


    2. Read Acts 9:17-19. Was Saul/Paul ready to be used by God in his former condition?


      1. What was wrong with his former condition? (He thought that he could see. He thought that he was right. It took new light and the filling of the Holy Spirit for Paul to really see.)


    3. Read Acts 22:10. What is Paul's first response to seeing the light? ("What shall I do?")


      1. Is this the correct response?


    4. Friend, what about you? Are you satisfied with your present knowledge of God? Or, are you willing to see new light, leave foolishness (mostly) behind, and learn the ways of God? If so, come with me on a great adventure this quarter to learn about making Jesus the Lord of every aspect of our lives!


  1. Next Week: Lord of Our Priorities.
* Copr. 2005, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid.

© 2013 Bruce N. Cameron, J.D.
Website by Blake Cameron, M.D.
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