A Shepherd's Priorities: Teen Discussion Questions for Missions Lesson, Day Five, God's Sheep

Friday:	A Shepherd's Priorities
Bible Lesson:	Shepherded Sheep (Leading and Following)
Missions Concepts:	Missionaries must teach the Bible, not cultural norms.
Missions Examples:	Craig and Sara Noyes
Bible Passages:	Acts 20:27-32; 2nd Timothy 2:2; Galatians 1:6-9, 2:1-5; Proverbs 30:5-6; Deuteronomy 12:32

1. Can you think of some things people traditionally think missionaries should do?
   Which of these things are really important?
2. What are some practical things Craig and Sara will need to do at first when they arrive on the mission field?
3. Why is it important for people to have copies of the Bible in their own language?
4. Once the Bible is translated into a people's language, isn't that enough?
   Why can't they figure everything out for themselves from that point on?
5. We tend to take our own cultural background for granted and assume that it's normal. How can missionaries tell the difference between necessary things that the people need to be taught and unnecessary American cultural baggage that would just weigh them down?
6. What would be the harm in having people in other countries do church the way we do it here? Why shouldn't we go ahead and teach them to install stained glass and steeples and pianos?
   If it works for us, wouldn't it work just as well for them?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Unwatched Flocks: Teen Discussion Questions for Missions Lesson, Day Four, God's Sheep

Thursday:	Unwatched Flocks
Bible Lesson:	Sheep Security (The Good Shepherd)
Missions Concepts:	Missionaries train local pastors.
Missions Examples:	India: Orissa
Bible Passages:	2nd Timothy 2:2, 1st Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9

1. Can you think of some specific dangers that a church would suffer if they don't have a pastor?
2. What kinds of things does a man need to learn before he can be a pastor?
3. Are there other requirements? Can just anyone be a pastor, if they study the right things?
4. If there are already a number of new churches without pastors, and not enough men training to be pastors for all of them, should missionaries stop evangelizing new areas for a while? Why or why not?
5. Does the Bible actually tell us to train pastors?
6. Where did our pastor receive his training? How can we know if it was good enough?
7. Why don't men from India just come to America and attend school here to train to be pastors?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Lost Sheep of Israel: Discussion Questions for Teen Missions Lessons, Day Three, God's Sheep

Wednesday:	Lost Sheep of Israel
Bible Lesson:	Stolen Sheep: Saul and the Spoils
Missions Concepts:	Missionaries can and should take the Good News to anyone.
Missions Examples:	Jeff Kran
Bible Passages:	Matthew 15:21-28, Romans 9-11 (especially 9:8, 15, 27, and 32; 10:1-3 and 8-15; 11:1-6, 13-14, 19-21, 23, and 25-27), Galatians 2:11-5:12, Acts 1:8, Acts 15, Romans 3

1. What did Jesus mean when he said he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel (Mat. 15:24)? Does this mean Gentiles cannot be saved?
2. Why does the Bible compare people to sheep? What is similar about them?
3. How does a missionary find people who need to know about Jesus? How can he tell which people need to hear the good news?
4. In the early days of the church, most of the people in the church were Jews. Today, most of the people in the church are Gentiles. How and why do you suppose this could have changed?
5. What kind of impact can a people's cultural background have on how a missionary might need to present the good news to them?
6. One of the ten commandments is to keep the Sabbath day holy. Why doesn't the Christian church observe this?
7. If they still need to hear the good news, does knowledge of the Old Testament give the Jews any advantage at all?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Where the People Are: Discussion Questions for Teen Missions Lesson, Day Two, God's Sheep

Tuesday:	Where the People Are
Bible Lesson:	Lamb of God (Isaac and the Ram)
Missions Concepts:	A missionary goes wherever there are people who need to hear the good news.
Missions Examples:	Craig and Sara Noyes
Bible Passages:	John 10, Acts 16:6-15, Matthew 28:18-20, Isaiah 52, Romans 10:8-15

1. Why don't we need foreign missionaries to come to Galion from other countries and minister to us?
2. Why aren't there any full-time missionaries at the research stations in Antarctica?
3. Why is it important for people to have copies of the Bible in their own language?
4. Why is it important for every local church to have a pastor from their own language and culture?
5. What are some things you would need to do before you could translate the Bible into a language that doesn't already have a Bible translation?
6. Sometimes missionaries say that they feel lead by the Holy Spirit to go to a certain place.
   Is there any support in the Bible for this?
7. Do missionaries really need to be sent out by churches? Can't they just go on their own? Why?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Feeding the Sheep: Discussion Questions for Teen Missions Lesson, Day One, God's Sheep

Monday:	Feeding the Sheep
Bible Lesson:	Straying Sheep: Everyone has sinned, and sin has a penalty.
Missions Concepts:	A missionary must teach God's word.
Missions Examples:	India: Paul Rajan
Bible Passages:	Psalm 23; John 21:15-18; Numbers 27:12-21; Jeremiah 23, Matthew 2:6, 9:16; Psalm 100; Isaiah 40:9-11; Jeremiah 3:15; 2nd Samuel 5:2; Acts 20:27-31; Jude:12

1. How is the teaching of God's word similar to feeding? What do these two activities, one physical and one spiritual, have in common?
2. What is the difference between a pastor and a missionary?
3. Why would Paul Rajan ask a group of people if anyone had ever come to tell them about God?
4. Why do people need someone to teach them about God?
5. Is it better for the people to have a foreign missionary teach them, or a local pastor who is one of them? Why?
6. How does God feel about shepherds who don't take proper care of the flock? What about pastors who teach people the wrong things?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Teen Discussion Questions: Shepherded Sheep (Leading and Following) (Updated, 2013)

Friday:	Shepherded Sheep (Leading and Following)
Story Passages:	John 21
Other Passages:	Psalm 23, Matthew 7:15-23, Acts 20:28-30
Objectives:	The church needs leaders. We must follow Jesus, and we must follow our leaders.
Memory Verse:	Ephesians 2:10

1. Acts 20:30 tells us that false teachers will arise from within the church itself. In Matthew 7, Jesus compares them to wolves who disguise themselves as sheep. How can the church protect itself from such people?
2. If Satan is like a roaring lion, how can a shepherd protect the flock from him?
3. David says in Psalm 23:4 that the Lord's rod and staff are a comfort to him. What might the psalmist mean by this?
4. Why was Peter hurt when Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?"
   Why do you suppose Jesus asked him three times?
5. What are some things young people can do in the church (besides just attending)?
6. What is the barrier or dividing wall in Ephesians 2:14? Why is it important that this wall was destroyed? How does this affect us today?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Teen Discussion Questions: Sheep Security (The Good Shepherd) (Updated, 2013)

Thursday:	Sheep Security (The Good Shepherd)
Story Passages:	Luke 15:3-7, 1st Samuel 17:32-37
Other Passages:	John 10:1-30, Romans 8:28-39
Objectives:	Jesus is the good shepherd and always looks after his sheep.
Memory Verse:	John 10:28

1. Why was David willing to fight the bear?
2. Jesus says that his sheep know his voice and will not follow a stranger. Since he returned to heaven, we don't hear his physical voice much – how do we tell good leaders from bad ones today?
3. What does Jesus mean when he calls himself the gate for the sheep?
4. Jesus says he has other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. Who are these? When he says, I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd, what is he talking about?
5. Jesus speaks of a hired hand who will abandon the sheep. Who is he talking about? How is the hired hand different from the thief, yet also different from the shepherd?
6. When the disciples asked Jesus (right before he ascended) whether the kingdom was coming to Israel right away, we now know that the answer was no – it was going to be two thousand years or more. Why didn't he tell them that? Why did he instead tell them to wait for the Spirit?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Teen Discussion Questions: Stolen Sheep (Saul and the Spoils) (Updated, 2013)

Wednesday:	Stolen Sheep (Saul and the Spoils)
Story Passages:	1st Samuel 15:1-23
Other Passages:	1st 9:15-19, 10:1, 10:24, 15:26-28, 15:35-16:1, James 1:22, Exodus 17:8-16
Objectives:	We should obey God's instruction.
Memory Verse:	1st Samuel 15:22

1. Why did God want the Amalekites and their possessions totally destroyed?
2. Saul said that the soldiers spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord. Was that their real reason?
3. Do we today ever say that we did something for a reason that sounds pretty good, when we really had another reason entirely? How did God react when Saul did this?
4. Why were Saul and his soldiers willing to destroy everything that was despised and weak but unwilling to destroy the good things of the Amalekites?
5. In our memory verse, what does it mean by to heed is better than the fat of rams?
6. Did God make a mistake when he chose Saul? Why did he choose him as king?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Teen Discussion Questions: Lamb of God (Isaac and the Ram) (Updated, 2013)

Tuesday:	Lamb of God (Isaac and the Ram)
Story Passages:	Genesis 22
Other Passages:	Hebrews 11:19
Objectives:	Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, so that we don't have to.
Memory Verse:	Romans 4:25

1. Why did God ask the Israelites to perform animal sacrifices?
2. God clearly knew about Ishmael (Gen 17:17-21), so why did he call Isaac your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love (Genesis 22:2)? What is God talking about? What is so unique about Isaac?
3. Hebrews tells us that Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead. How could he have reached that conclusion?
4. Isaac himself carried the wood. (Does this remind you of anything?) How old must Isaac have been?
5. Abraham was an old man, but he was able to bind Isaac and lay him on the altar. What must their relationship have been like?
6. Why is it important that Jesus not only died but also rose from the dead?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Teen Discussion Questions: Going Astray (Moses and the Rock) (Updated, 2013)

Monday:	Going Astray: Moses and the Rock
Story Passages:	Numbers 20:1-13
Other Passages:	Isaiah 53, Romans 3:23, 6:23, Exodus 17:1-7
Objectives:	Everyone has sinned. Sin has a penalty.
Memory Verse:	Isaiah 53:6

1. What was wrong with the people's reaction? After all, it was true that there was no water for the community. People do need water to live, so what was the problem with their attitude?
2. Why did God give Moses different instructions this time than the first time?
3. The memory verse is from Isaiah 53. Who is this passage talking about?
4. Moses mostly did what God said. Why was the punishment for his deviation so severe, when much greater sins have been forgiven others?
5. Moses was a uniquely great man of God. (See Numbers 12:4-8) Yet, even he went astray. What hope is there for us? How can we hope to follow God if Moses failed?
6. How does the church protect against false teaching? How does it help to bring us back when we wander astray?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Discussion Questions: The Beginning of Salvation

Wednesday:	Discussion Questions: The Beginning of Salvation
Story Passages:	Genesis 6-9 (especially 6:13, 6:22, 7:18-8:1, 8:21-22)
Other Passages:	Genesis 3:15; Romans 6:23; Leviticus 11; Matthew 24:36-42; 1st Peter 3:18-22; Hebrews 2:11-18, 9:26-28, 11:7; 2nd Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Memory Verse:	1st Corinthians 15:22

1. What saved Noah and his family?
2. What saves us?
3. Which kinds of animals were there seven of? Why?
4. Why were Noah and his family in danger in the first place? Why was there a flood? How does this compare to our situation today?
5. How do we know that the flood was worldwide, as opposed to a local flood like we sometimes see in the modern world?
6. Where did all the water come from that flooded the earth?
7. We recently experienced a warmer winter than usual. How do we know that the winters won't keep getting warmer and warmer until we stop having any winter at all?
8. Why did Jesus have to be born and live as a man? How does this help us?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Discussion Questions: Beginning of the Church

Friday:	Discussion Questions: Beginning of the Church
Story Passages:	Acts 1:1-11, Acts 2:22-24,29-41
Other Passages:	Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-20, Luke 24:36-49, John 10:16, John 21:15-19, Hebrews 10:11-14
Memory Verse:	Acts 2:32

1. Where is Jesus right now?
2. Why did Jesus ask the disciples to wait in Jerusalem?
3. How old is the church? Who started it?
4. Why is the church important? What does it accomplish?
5. Why is it important for each of us to be involved in a local church?
   Can't we each just worship God on our own?
6. Whose job is it to tell people in [your town] how they can go to heaven?
7. Why did God wait until Pentecost to send the Spirit? Why didn't he just come as soon as Jesus ascended?
8. What might have happened if the disciples hadn't waited in Jerusalem?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Discussion Questions: Beginning of the Promise

Thursday:	Discussion Questions: Beginning of the Promise
Story Passages:	Genesis 15
Other Passages:	Romans 4:3-16; Genesis 3:15, 9:8-17, 12:2-3, 15:1-21, 17:15-22, 28:10-15; Hebrews 11:8-10; Revelation 21; Isaiah 9:1-7; Isaiah 53; Malachi 3:1, 3:16-4:6
Memory Verse:	Hebrews 11:6

1. Why was Abraham willing to obey God without knowing all the details of how everything would work out?
2. If Abraham believed God, what exactly did he believe God would do?
3. Did God keep his promise? Who are Abraham's descendants? Where are they now?
4. Is there anything God promised Abraham that we're still waiting on? When will that happen?
5. Why is it important to have faith?
6. Does it really matter what we believe? Why does God care so much?
7. What are some things God has asked us to do by faith?
8. Why did God say that Abraham was righteous?
9. What does it mean to be righteous?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Discussion Questions: The Beginning of Sin

Tuesday:	Discussion Questions: The Beginning of Sin
Story Passages:	Genesis 3
Other Passages:	Romans 3:9-26, 5:6-6:2; Hebrews 9:23-28; Revelation 12:9; Isaiah 64:6; Galatians 3:6-24; 1st Timothy 2:14; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Psalm 143
Memory Verse:	Romans 3:22

1. Why did Eve decide to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge?
2. Why did Adam decide to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge?
3. Why does everyone have to die?
4. What if you never sin by breaking any of God's commands?
5. Is it ever right to disobey God?
6. How many times must the penalty for our sin be paid? How can that be accomplished?
7. Who did Jesus die for? If everyone has sinned, how can one person pay for all of that?
8. How can you be sure that you will go to heaven?
9. How good do you have to be to get to heaven? How many people achieve this?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Discussion Questions: The Beginning of Creation

Monday:	Discussion Questions: The Beginning of Creation
Story Passages:	Genesis 1, Acts 17:16-33
Other Passages:	Eph. 2:8-10, Col. 1:15-16, Romans 1:16-21, Romans 8:18-25
Memory Verse:	Acts 17:24

1. How long did it take for God to create the world?
2. If God created the sun on the fourth day, how was there light on the first day, shining on half the earth so that there were night and day? Doesn't that light come from the sun?
3. If we apply this same principle to stars, what can we conclude about stars that are millions of light years away, that we can see with telescopes?
4. The Bible tells us that each plant and animal reproduces its kind. What does this mean?
5. Darwin developed his definition of species so that if a group of animals splits into two groups, and those groups become separated by some barrier that prevents them from mixing most of the time (e.g., an ocean that they cannot cross), they are considered separate species. How is this different from the kinds that the Bible talks about? Why is this difference important?
6. When Paul was speaking in Athens, why did he bother to talk about creation? Isn't the gospel more important? Why didn't he just tell them about Jesus?
7. With so many sources of conflicting information available in the world today, why do we look to the Bible first for the answers to all of our questions? Why not just use the Bible for religious questions?
8. How is the beginning of the earth, and of human life, a religious question?
9. How did Paul treat the idol worshipers in Athens? How should we treat people who don't know the true God?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

The Finish Line Discussion Questions

Friday:	The Finish Line: Heaven
Main Passage:	Revelation 1:1-20
Other Passages:	2nd Timothy 4:7-8, John 14:1-14, Revelation 21:1-22:6, Romans 10:4-13, 1st John 2:1-6
Memory Verse:	2nd Timothy 4:7-8, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day...

1. Where's Patmos? Why was John there?
2. What was John doing while he was on Patmos?
3. Why did Jesus show John what heaven would be like?
4. What will heaven be like?
5. How can you be sure that you're going to heaven?
6. What happens to people who don't go to heaven?
7. Who are we running our race for?
8. What have we learned this week that will help us run our race better?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Things That Entangle Discussion Questions

Thursday:	Things that Entangle
Main Passage:	Matthew 19:16-30
Other Passages:	Hebrews 12:1-3, Philippians 3:7-11, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30
Memory Verse:	Matthew 19:29, And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

1. What was keeping the rich young man from running his race?
2. What did Jesus tell the rich young man to do? Why did he tell him that?
3. Why did the rich young man go away sad? Explain.
4. Does that mean Jesus wants all of us to give away all of our money and possessions in order to follow him?
5. What does Hebrews tell us to do so that we can run a good race?
6. What are some things that could entangle you if you're not careful? How can you keep that from happening?
7. Should we feel deprived if we have to stop doing some kinds of things in order to run our race better? How should we regard those things that we throw off?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Discussion Questions: Josiah and the Book of the Law

Wednesday:	Josiah and the Book
Story Passages:	2nd Kings 22-23, 2nd Chronicles 34
Other Passages:	1st Corinthians 9:23-27, 1st Timothy 4:7-10, 2nd Timothy 3:16-4:8, 2nd Kings 21:10-11, 2nd Chronicles 33:10-16, 2nd Kings 23
Memory Verse:	1st Thessalonians 2:13

1. How old was Josiah when he began to seek the Lord? How old was he when he had the temple repaired?
2. Why did Josiah have the temple repaired and cleaned? How did he know to do this, if he didn't have a copy of God's word to tell him?
3. How many people were involved with the work of repairing the temple?
4. When Hilkiah found the book, he gave it to a secretary, and the secretary took the book and read it to King Josiah. What was the secretary's name?
5. When the king heard what was written and realized that Israel had not been following the law, he sent men to ask the Lord about it. What was God's response?
6. What was the name of the person through whom God spoke his answer?
7. What did Josiah do when he received God's answer?
8. What are some things you have learned recently by studying God's word? How can you apply them to your life?
9. How can you make time in your schedule to study God's word more?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Daniel and the Satraps Discussion Questions

Tuesday:	Daniel and the Satraps
Story Passage:	Daniel 6
Other Passages:	Philippians 3:12-16, Psalm 118, Hebrews 13:5-6, Exodus 20:5-6, Isaiah 31:1, Jeremiah 1:17-19, Philippians 3:7-11, Romans 8:28-39, 1st Corinthians 1:17-29
Memory Verse:	1st Corinthians 15:58

1. If the satraps' job was to oversee each section of the kingdom, why did King Darius need Daniel to oversee the satraps?
2. Why would Darius enact such a strange law?
3. Daniel probably could have avoided getting caught if he'd prayed privately, behind closed doors, to avoid being seen. Why did he pray in front of an open window?
4. How can God expect us to do something that might turn other people against us?
5. What kind of prize did Paul expect to win?
6. Unbelievers often think the things of God are foolish. Why do they think this? What gives us the right to believe that we are right and they are wrong?
7. What are you doing to be faithful to God?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

The Lord's Anointed Discussion Questions

Monday:	The Lord's Anointed
Story Passages:	1st Samuel 24, 1st Samuel 26, 2nd Samuel 1:1-16
Other Passages:	2nd Timothy 2:3-5, 1st Samuel 10:1, 1st Samuel 16, 1st Samuel 8-9
Memory Verse:	1st John 2:3

1. Why do athletic competitions have to have rules?
2. Why can't a soldier go wherever he wants, whenever he wants?
3. Why didn't David want any of his men to kill Saul?
4. Why was Saul ashamed when he found out that David could have killed him and didn't?
5. Usually the next king is one of the king's sons. Why did Samuel anoint David to be the next king, instead of Jonathan or one of Saul's other sons?
6. David had several older brothers. Why did Samuel pass them over and anoint David, the youngest, instead?
7. Why did Samuel anoint Saul to be king in the first place?
8. How can you make Jesus the Lord and master of your life, as David did in his life?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.