Adolescents Lesson 2 PDF

## Sábado, 04/01 **TEASER** The lesson this week is unconventional because it's based on the book _The Liberator_. Chapters 2 and 3 of this book emphasize the journey of the Jewish people throughout history and the circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth. In chapter 2, Ellen White depicts the arri...

## Sábado, 04/01 **TEASER** The lesson this week is unconventional because it's based on the book _The Liberator_. Chapters 2 and 3 of this book emphasize the journey of the Jewish people throughout history and the circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth. In chapter 2, Ellen White depicts the arrival of the Messiah, describing the responsibility placed on the Jewish people to reveal God to humanity. But, as they distanced themselves from God, they lost sight of their calling and the purpose of their mission. Although the Jews desired the coming of the Messiah, they did not understand the true purpose of His arrival. At the time when the Messiah came, the Jewish people longed for liberation from the Romans, not redemption for their sins. Chapter 3 emphasizes the circumstances that were present when God sent His Son and highlights that the Messiah arrived precisely at the predetermined time appointed by God. A historical look at the progression of the Jews as the chosen people of God and an analysis of the time of Jesus' birth lead us to reflect on the circumstances of the world today and the role of Seventh-day Adventists in revealing Jesus to others. When we consider Jesus' return, Ellen White's words remind us that: "Like the stars that cross the sky in their determined paths, God's plans know no acceleration or delay." ## Domingo, 5 de Janeiro **ROTEIRO ORIGINAL** The book _The Liberator_, in its current version, written by Ellen G. White, is one of the most complete works on Jesus. Especially chapters 2 and 3, which are the texts designated for this week's reading, give us an idea of the condition of the world before Jesus came to be our Saviour. After reading, answer the following questions: - Were the temple rituals still fulfilling their role of pointing to Christ's mission? - Were people expecting the arrival of the Messiah? - Were they showing that they were waiting for Him? Why were the inhabitants of the unfallen worlds so intensely interested in what was happening on Earth? Do you think these beings are as interested in the current world? If God is love, why is the world still in such a terrible situation today? Who is responsible for so many disasters? ## Segunda, 06/01 **ZOOM** Today's study will highlight some texts from the book _The Liberator_ (chapters 2 and 3). Read carefully and observe the condition of the Jews before Jesus came. - "For more than a thousand years, the Jewish people had been waiting for the Savior. But when He came, they did not recognize Him." - "God had chosen Israel to preserve the symbols and prophecies that pointed to the Saviour and to be like a fountain of salvation for the world. [...] But Israel put their hopes in worldly greatness and followed the ways of the wicked. They did not change when God sent them warnings through His prophets." - "They served God like a means of achieving national greatness. They did not become the light of the world, but they closed themselves off to flee temptation. [...] The Jews, in reality, were jealous because God had shown mercy to the Gentiles." - "The Jews did not have a true understanding of the mission of the Messiah. They did not seek to be redeemed from sin. What they wanted was to be freed from the Romans. They were looking for the Messiah who would exalt Israel to rule the world, and this prepared the way for them to reject the Saviour." - "The people called by God to be the pillar and foundation of truth were doing the work that Satan wanted them to do, living in a way that misrepresented God’s character and caused the world to see Him as a tyrant." - "Jesus came to restore in us the image of our Creator." Reflect: Are we like these people? ## Terça, 7 de Janeiro **MAKING OF** The Bible contains many prophecies related to the Messiah, specifically about His first and second comings. The first prophecy is found in Genesis 3:15: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." The last chapter of the Bible ends with the prophecy and promise of Jesus' return. This prophecy speaks not only about Satan's war against the church but also about Satan's defeat after the suffering he inflicts on Christ. On the cross, Jesus definitively crushed the serpent's head. Every part of the temple ritual pointed to Christ's ministry and exemplified the plan of redemption. The enemy prepared the world to receive the Messiah. He made people blind and insensitive so they would not perceive the solemnity of the time in which they were living. Adam and Eve believed that their firstborn son would be the Messiah. ## Quarta, 08/01 **EXTRAS** Read and mark in your Bible the additional texts for this week. There's a curious detail in the text of Genesis 18:19. See how it appears in the New International Version (NIV): "For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his descendants to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring to Abraham what he promised." In Genesis 3:15, God took a preventative measure. He said that He would place enmity between the offspring of the serpent and the offspring of the woman. This means that we must stay away from everything that is connected to Satan. However, how many times have we insisted on maintaining friendships with things that we know are harmful to us and even compromise our salvation? We need to understand that there is no fellowship between light and darkness, between good and evil. The true descendants who will inherit God's kingdom will not be fooled by stories that teach otherwise. ## Quinta, 9 de Janeiro **PANORAMA** Read chapters 2 and 3 of the book _The Liberator_. See how Ellen G. White describes the condition of the world at the time of Jesus' birth: "Sin had become a science, and vice, part of religion. Rebellion and hostility against Heaven were violent. The unfallen worlds were waiting to see God destroy the inhabitants of the earth. And if He had done this, Satan was ready to put his plan into practice and win over the allegiance of the celestial beings. He had claimed that God's principles of government made forgiveness impossible. If the world had been destroyed, he would have blamed God and spread his rebellion to other worlds. But instead of destroying the world, God sent His Son to save it, providing a means of redemption. At the fullness of time, God poured out a flood of restoring grace upon the world that would never be obstructed or removed until the plan of salvation was fulfilled" (_The Liberator_, p. 22). This is the God we serve! How can we not love Him? ## Sexta, 10 de Janeiro **OFF** While studying this week's lesson, did you see any resemblance between the people of Israel and us, Seventh-day Adventists? What identifies us and distinguishes us from other denominations? The answer lies in our own name. We are Adventists because we believe in the second coming (or return) of Christ. We are Seventh-day Adventists because we observe the Sabbath as a holy day, instituted by God. What about our expectations about Jesus' return? Are we living as if this event will happen soon? Do we dream of the day we’ll see the Savior returning on the clouds of heaven? Or, sometimes, do we wish He would delay a little longer so we can still do things like learn how to drive, get a degree, get married, and start a family? It is natural to have dreams and make plans for a better life here, but we cannot forget that the best is yet to come. In 1 Peter 2:9, we are called a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, “to proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." This is indeed a noble mission! **ALÉM DO ESTUDO** There are many things that we have become accustomed to in this world of sin and we even begin to consider these things normal. Reflect on what’s "normal" for the beings of the unfallen worlds and discuss with your friends what their reaction would be when they observe the treatment that humans give to spiritual things that involve eternal life. How are we different from people who lived at the time of Jesus’ first coming? Read chapters 2 and 3 of the book _The Liberator_.