Lesson For The Week (Feb. 29)

Bitterness and Forgiveness
Love keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13:5)

Getting Started
What can we gain by forgiving someone? Can we gain anything by refusing to forgive?

Forgiveness goes against our nature. When people hurt us, we naturally want to punish them for it. Perhaps even more difficult is asking for forgiveness, which hurts our pride. But forgiveness is necessary to keep any relationship going. And it is necessary for our own peace of mind. When we forgive someone, we set him free from his guilt. But what we might not realize is that we are also setting ourselves free, from the prison of bitterness and anger.

Vocabulary
bitterness (n) – very bad feelings, usually as a result of being disappointed or hurt; constant anger
accounts (n) – records that keep track of money paid and money owed
debt (n) – something, usually money, owed to someone
choke (v) – to cut off someone’s air so that he/she cannot breathe
mercy (n) – undeserved kindness and/or forgiveness
conclude (v) – to bring to an end
condone (v) – to say someone’s actions are acceptable

Reading God’s Word

Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?" 22 "No, not seven times," answered Jesus, "but seventy times seven, 23 because the Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts. 24 He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt. 26 The servant fell on his knees before the king. "Be patient with me,' he begged, "and I will pay you everything!' 27 The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go. 28 "Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. "Pay back what you owe me!' he said. 29 His fellow servant fell down and begged him, "Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!' 30 But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. 32 So he called the servant in. "You worthless slave!' he said. "I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. 33 You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.' 34 The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he could pay back the whole amount." 35 And Jesus concluded, "That is how my Father in heaven will treat every one of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Taking a Closer Look
1. How many times does Jesus say we should forgive? Does this mean on the 491st time we can stop forgiving? (18:22)
2. How much money did the first servant owe? What was the king’s original judgment? (18:24, 25)
3. Why did the king change his mind? (18:27)
4. How much did the second servant owe the first? (18:28)
5. How did the first servant treat the man who owed him money? (18:28-30)
6. When the king found out, what did he do? (18:31-34)
7. Who does the king represent? Who do the servants represent?

Taking Action
1. Forgiveness is so difficult mostly because of our pride. How can we put our pride behind us and make it easier to forgive?
2. Forgiveness does not mean condoning what a person has done. How can we forgive someone, and tell them in a spirit of love how they have hurt us?

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Chinese Translation
Past Lessons

Keven's Riddle Time (Feb.22)

Something dead sits on something alive,

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That sits on something dead,

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That sits on something alive,

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That stands on something dead,

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That sits on something alive.

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What is it?
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Tip: Glen Campbell on horseback

(A Rhinestone cowboy on horseback)
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s*The answers are in the comment section.*

Lesson For The Week (Feb. 22)

Resolving Conflicts
Remember this, my dear friends! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. (James 1:19)

Getting Started
Who is someone you don’t get along with? How do you deal with that person?

Resolving conflicts is a challenge we all have to face. When we are angry and hurt, we sometimes say things we don’t mean. Sometimes we don’t say anything at all, and just keep our anger inside. The Bible tells us we should “speak the truth in a spirit of love” (Ephesians 4:15) when we have conflicts with each other. This can be really hard! How can we learn to resolve our conflicts, and make our relationships stronger? How can we tell people they have hurt us, without hurting them?

Vocabulary
get along (v phr) – to have a good relationship with someone
resolve (v) – to bring to a usually successful conclusion
conflict (n) – fighting; struggle between persons, ideas, or interests
competitive (adj) – describes a person who always wants to win or be the best
blind (adj) – unable to see
deceive (v) – to trick someone; to be dishonest
mourn (v) – to be sad because someone has died
favor (n) – friendly feelings towards someone; approval

Reading God’s Word

There is a story in the Bible of two brothers, Jacob and Esau. Like many brothers, they were very competitive, and they both wanted to be their father’s favorite son. One day when their father was very old and blind, he decided to give Esau a special blessing. Jacob was jealous, and he tricked his father into giving him the blessing instead of Esau.

Genesis 27:34-35; 41

34 When Esau heard this, he cried out loudly and bitterly and said, "Give me your blessing also, father!" 35 Isaac answered, "Your brother came and deceived me. He has taken away your blessing."…41 Esau hated Jacob, because his father had given Jacob the blessing. He thought, “The time to mourn my father’s death is near; then I will kill Jacob.”

Jacob knew his brother wanted to kill him. He ran far away from home and lived with his uncle. For many years he was afraid to go home, because he thought Esau would try to kill him. Finally, after many, many years away from home, he sent a message to his brother. He told Esau he was coming home, and asked Esau to forgive him.

Genesis 32:6-8

6 When the messengers came back to Jacob, they said, "We went to your brother Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you. He has four hundred men with him." 7 Jacob was frightened and worried. He divided into two groups the people who were with him, and also his sheep, goats, cattle, and camels. 8 He thought, "If Esau comes and attacks the first group, the other may be able to escape."

Genesis 33:3-4
3 Jacob went ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. They were both crying. . . 10 Jacob said, "No, please, if I have gained your favor, accept my gift. To see your face is for me like seeing the face of God, now that you have been so friendly to me. 11 Please accept this gift which I have brought for you; God has been kind to me and given me everything I need." Jacob kept on urging him until he accepted.

Taking a Closer Look
1. How did Jacob deceive his brother? (Genesis 27:35)
2. How did Esau feel about Jacob when he found out what Jacob had done? What did Esau plan to do? (Genesis 27:41)
3. When Esau went to meet Jacob, who did he bring with him? (Genesis 32:6)
4. Why was Jacob worried and afraid? (Genesis 32:6,8)
5. When Jacob saw Esau, what did he do? (Genesis 33:3)
6. What did Esau do? (Genesis 33:4)
7. Why do you think Esau chose to forgive Jacob?
8. Why is it so hard to forgive?

Taking Action
1. Nobody likes to argue or fight, but we all do it sometimes. An argument does not have to be a big problem. It becomes a problem if we become angry and say unkind things. How can we disagree with someone in a positive way?
2. Think about someone you have a conflict with. What are some things you can say or do to fix your relationship?

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Chinese Translation
Past Lessons

Keven's Riddle Time (Feb. 15)

Out on the Town

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1. Slang for a rock concert.

g _ _
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2. A British bar.

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3. The band which plays before the main srats perform.

S _ _ _ _ _ t

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s*The answers are in the comment section.*

Lesson For The Week (Feb. 15)

Our Words
What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words. (Proverbs 18:21)

Getting Started
Words are powerful. A compliment makes us feel wonderful, and an insult can hurt for years. Since words are so powerful, it is wise to use them carefully. But unfortunately, not many people do. We’ve all spoken without thinking, and might have hurt someone without meaning to. Even worse is when we try to hurt people with our words. How can we learn to tame our tongues?

Vocabulary
insult (n) – something said to hurt someone
tame (v) – to bring under control
flame (n) – fire
course of existence (n phr) – path of life
uncontrollable (adj) – unable to control
justice (n) – fair and honest judgmentwound (v) – to hurt

Reading God’s Word

James 3:5-12

Just think how large a forest can be set on fire by a tiny flame! 6 And the tongue is like a fire. It is a world of wrong, occupying its place in our bodies and spreading evil through our whole being. It sets on fire the entire course of our existence with the fire that comes to it from hell itself. 7 We humans are able to tame and have tamed all other creatures — wild animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 8 But no one has ever been able to tame the tongue. It is evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison. 9 We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse other people, who are created in the likeness of God. 10 Words of thanksgiving and cursing pour out from the same mouth. My friends, this should not happen! 11 No spring of water pours out sweet water and bitter water from the same opening. 12 A fig tree, my friends, cannot bear olives; a grapevine cannot bear figs, nor can a salty spring produce sweet water.

Proverbs 12:17-19

When you tell the truth, justice is done, but lies lead to injustice. Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal. A lie has a short life, but truth lives on forever.

Ephesians 4:15
Instead by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head.

Taking a Closer Look
1. How is the tongue “like a fire”? (James 3:6)
2. How have someone’s words made a big difference in your life? How do your words affect your relationships?
3. What good things do we use our tongues for? What bad things? (James 3:9-10)
4. Think about James 3:11-12. What do the spring of water and fig tree represent? How does this apply to our lives?
5. How are we all created? (James 3:9) Knowing this, how should we treat others?
6. Proverbs 12:17 tells us, “lies lead to injustice.” Have you seen this in your own life?
7. What does it mean to “speak the truth in a spirit of love”? How can we do this with our friends?

Taking Action
1. Make an effort to say more kind things more often. Try to say at least one encouraging thing to each of your family members and friends this week!

2. If you have hurt someone with your words in the past, remember that “wisely spoken words can heal.” (Proverbs 12:18) What can you say to this person to try to heal your relationship with them?
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Chinese Translation
Past Lessons