Prayer Point – pray that you will not be a victim of wicked counsel.
Previous Knowledge – Teacher ask o student to explain what he/she gained from the previous week’s lesson. Teacher cross checks the students’ assignments from the workbook.
1. Opening
A. BIBLE PASSAGE – Job 2:9-10
B. Memory Verse – “He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly.” 2 Chronicles 22:3
C. Lesson Introduction – People say a lot of things around us and some of the talks could be careless or foolish. They could come as casual talks or counsel. The talks could come from causal friends or even very close relations – 2 Chr. 22:3. The wife of Job gave birth to ten children and was married for several years. Consider her counsel and her husband’s response. Consider how people who are close could give counsels that would affect lives positively or otherwise- 2 Chr. 10:10, 11.
TEACHER’S DIARY
A. Lesson Aim – To study about godly counsel.
B. Teaching Objectives and Lesson Plan
i. At the end of the lesson, students should be able to distinguish between godly and foolish counsel
ii. They should also be able to exercise reasonable caution before taking to any advice.
To achieve these objectives, teacher presents the attributes of both foolish and godly counsels.
Teacher encourages students to take to godly advice only and avoid foolish counsel, no matter how beautiful they look like.
C. Text Review – Job 2:9-10
The text indicates that wrong counsel can proceed from a close individual namely wife but wisdom demands that we should take only the wise counsel.
Teacher should remind students that foolish counsel may come from various sources but students should weigh counsels in the light of the word of God before adopting any.
D. Teaching Method – Teacher should use discussion teaching method.
E. Time Management – 15 minutes for Opening, 30 minutes for Lesson Outline, Summary, Conclusion and Assignment; 15 minutes for General review.
2. Lesson Outlines
i. LESSON OUTLINE 1 – NO EXCUSE
A. Background Events:
- Job lost his biological children (sons and daughters), servant and animals to the devil. Job 1:18
- Job also lost his skin from the sole of his feet to head to boils. Job 2:7
- Job sat among the ashes. This symbolizes great depression and pains. Job 2:8
- Job lost all wealth (businesses, building etc) Job 1:16-17
- Job lost almost everything except his integrity to God. Job 2:9a
- In this grave condition of Job, came a foolish counsel from his wife.
- Discussion Question
- Why did Job’s wife give such a comment and ask such questions?
- Did Job have any reason to doubt God or sin with his lips?
- Under what condition do people give foolish counsel?
- Are there any reasons to justify their counsels?
- What was Job’s response and its implication?
ii. LESSON OUTLINE 2 – EXAMPLES OF FOOLISH COUNSELS
- Counsel to sin. 2 Samuel 13:5
- Ahithophel’s counsel to Absalom to sleep with his father’s (David) concubines to abhor David. 2nd Samuel 16:2
- Counsel to revenge wrong deed or to stay innocent. I Samuel 24:4; Esther 5:14
- Counsel to envy. Esther 3:9, Daniel 6:8.
Class Activity – Each student should give one foolish advice which had been given to them before. This may be in terms of career, marriage, business etc. how did they react to it?
iii. LESSON OUTLINE 3 – OUR REACTIONS
In the face of affliction and wrong counsel, believers’ attitudes should include:
- Appreciating God in the situation. I Thessalonians 5:18
- Remembering His mercies that are of immense eternal value. 2 Corinthians 4:15-18
- Think of your salvation which is by grace. Ephesians 2:5
- Remember your riches and divine benefits and provisions in Christ. Ephesians 1:3
- Remember His promises for your future and to be with Him at the end. John 14:1-3
- Remember battles He had won for you (known and unknown)
Class Activity 2 – Students should mention one benefit (at least) which they have obtained from God.
Summary: here are wise and foolish counsels. Believers should weigh counsels in the light of the word of God before accepting them.
Conclusion: The devil can use our flesh, friends or even people close to us with foolish talks. The devil can drive us into foolish conclusions and even foolish actions. You must remember that your Redeemer lives – Job 19:25 – and that weeping may endure for a night but joy come in the morning Psalm 30:5
Assignment: See assignment in workbook.
