Character Transformation
Job and Others who Modelled Growth in Godly Virtues
Those who teach
children should read study #62 for children.
Prayer. “Father, please use
this study to help me and those I shepherd to grow in Christ.”
1. Prepare to build Christ-like character
Background.
Job endured severe suffering, argued with God about it, and held firmly to his faith in God.
Job was a righteous man, but still needed to learn that He had to allow for the Almighty God to work in His own mysterious way.
Responding with faith and patience to suffering develops godly virtues.
Job’s friends’ accusations against him show that simply scolding helps no one to improve. Some shepherds try to force people to be good like Job’s foolish friends did. They scolded and tried to make Job feel guilty. In contrast, Christians must help people to know God and to serve one another in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Find these truths in the book of Job chapter 1:
Why Revelation 12:10 calls Satan the ‘Accuser of our Brothers’.
What God allowed Satan to do to test Job’s faith and character.
Find in chapter 2:
More suffering that God allowed Satan to cause Job.
The names of Job’s three friends who came to comfort him.
Find in chapter 3 what Job wished had happened at his birth.
Find in chapters 4–5 what Eliphaz assumed was the cause of Job’s pain.
[Answer: See 4:7–8. Like most persons that accuse and judge others, Eliphaz incorrectly assumed that Job suffered because God was punishing some evil within Job.]
Find in chapters 6–11:
In 6:21–30, what Job thought of Eliphaz’ counsel.
In chapter 8 what Bildad thought of Job’s reply (See verse 2)
In chapters 9–10 what Job thought about his life.
In 10:20–22 what Job wished his friends would do.
In chapter 11 what Zophar assumed was the cause of Job’s suffering. (See verses 13–15)
In chapters 12–31 the four men argue for the second time:
Find:
In 12:1–3 what Job thought of his three friends’ advice.
In 19:23–27 Job’s final hope.
In chapters 38–41 God spoke from a whirlwind, asking Job hard questions.
Find:
In 38:1–3 what the Lord thought about the three older counsellors.
In 38:4–5 what the Lord asked Job, to expose Job’s ignorance.
In chapters 32–37 Eliphaz arrived.
Find in 32:3–10 why he was angry with the three older men.
Chapter 42 reveals the final outcomes. Find:
In 42:1–6 how Job felt about himself and his change of attitude.
In 42:7–8 why the Lord was angry with the three older men and what he told them to do.
In 42:10–17 what the final results were.
Find in 1 Peter 1: 3–9 several results of suffering for
Christ.
2. Plan activities to do during the week
Encourage
people to confess their sins to God and ask for His powerful transforming
power.
3. Plan with co-workers the upcoming worship time.
Let the children present the drama and questions they have prepared about David forgiving Saul.
Recount or act out important some important ideas from Job (see part 1 above). Ask questions about what you found.
Form tiny groups to discuss these things, pray, plan activities and help one another.
Memorize Galatians 5:22–23.
To introduce the Lord’s Supper, tell how Job made a blood sacrifice for his counsellors, Job 42:7–8. Explain that Christ’s blood also covers all our shameful behaviour.
Explain biblical ‘body’ life.
· According to Scripture, building godly character is a group effort. We believers cannot do it alone.
· The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts to serve and help one another in love (1 Corinthians chapters 12 & 13).
· We grow in character as we participate in the body of believers and serve others. For example, alcoholics overcome their habit easier when helping others also to do so.
Explain that some people show the bad and good traits of common animals. See the following table:
|
Some people act like…
|
When they neglect the Holy Spirit… |
When they are filled with the Holy Spirit… |
|
Powerful bulls, like Paul:
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Paul took part in the stoning of Stephen to death, and he persecuted believers. |
Paul later defied resistance to gather flocks, train shepherds and take the Word to other ethnic groups. |
|
Barking puppies, like Peter:
|
Peter often spoke too hastily; he opposed Jesus’ plan to die and even denied Him. |
Peter later proclaimed Jesus with power and led many to faith and repentance. |
|
Farsighted eagles, like David:
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David slyly counted his soldiers, which brought a plague, and he lusted for Uriah’s wife |
David wrote beautiful psalms, laid plans for a new temple, and believed in a lasting kingdom |
|
Steady work horses, like Job:
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Job questioned God’s allowing him to suffer so much, and he argued too much. |
Yet, Job kept a strong faith in God during great suffering, and he repented of his questioning. |
