Greetings, Students! Happy Palm Sunday

We are thankful that God is still controlling the pandemic situation and is keeping us covered while we keep practicing the 3 Ws: Wear a mask, Wait at least 6ft apart, Wash your hands! Even as the number of cases levels off, please be sure to remain diligent in these practices to stay healthy and safe. Let's keep victims of the pandemic and their families in prayer, as well. As we stay connected, let's continue to pray with and for each other as we study the Word together as a class.

We are are beginning the 3rd Quarter of the new curriculum called SEEN. Ideally, we would discuss the lessons in large and/or small groups. In lieu of that option, please consider journaling about these topics weekly. Then use your jotted thoughts to guide your devotions throughout the week.

In each lesson you'll find these parts:

• 1. VIEW: Here you'll see a summary of the lesson's main message and some questions to help you think about it.

  2. YOUR TAKE: Jot down thoughts or images from what you've learned that you want to remember.

  3. REMEMBER: Challenge yourself to memorize a part of God's Word.

  4. YOUR STORY: Think about something you've learned that is meaningful to you and your faith journey, or think about how something in your life fits in well with the lesson.

  5. OWN IT: Dig into God's Word for yourself and find out even more about the main point of the lesson.

  6. SEARCH: Spend time searching for related topics in God's Word. What do you feel or think in response to what you see in the Bible?

Each unit consists of four lessons. We are continuing to use this new format together and see what the Lord would have us learn. The full lesson will be posted to this site. It is a lot of information. We hope you will at least read the SCRIPTURE referenced for each lesson and use the REMEMBER part to memorize a new Bible verse. Please text or email me with your suggestions and feedback as we navigate this new curriculum.

Love,

Deacon Gwen Brown

919-605-0028

browng1240@gmail.com

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QUARTER 3: UNIT 1 // Spiritual Growth

WHO IS JESUS? Lesson 2: Our Friend

Hebrews 2:10-18; 4:4-16

"Jesus is our Friend who understands us."

I. VIEW

In this lesson, we've been learning about Jesus' humanity--how He was both fully God and fully human-- and how that unique position makes Him able to understand us in an intimate, amazing kind of way. Read Hebrews 4:14-16 and think about what these verses mean. Respond to the questions that follow below:

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Jesus understands the strength of temptation better than anyone, because He is the only person who ever resisted completely. The only person who ever experienced the full force of temptation was the one who resisted all the way to the end.

Imagine two guys decide to stay awake all night. One of them doesn't make it. He gives us and falls asleep in the middle of the night. The other struggles and paces the floor and splashes cold water on his face and makes it all the way through to daybreak. Which of these guys truly understands how difficult it is to stay up all night?

Each of us has given in to sin at some point. We never experienced the full weight and draw of temptation, because we gave in before the end. But Jesus never gave in. Everything that temptation could possibly throw at Him, every ounce of pressure, the full persuasive force of every shiny lie... He felt it all.

• Why is Jesus able to "empathize with our weaknesses"?

• How does that empathy make Jesus a good friend to us?

• What does it mean to "approach God's throne of grace with confidence"?

• What is the result of approaching God with confidence?

• Have you ever endured a difficult challenge? How did you get through it? Did any friends help you?

• What are the challenges you face today? What temptations seem particularly strong these days?

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2. YOUR TAKE

What is your takeaway from the Bible concept of having Jesus as a Friend?

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3. REMEMBER

Hebrews 4:15

"For we do not have a high priest who is

unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but

we have one who has been tempted in every

way, just as we are--yet he did not sin."

[ Challenge yourself to memorize a part of God's Word each week.]

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USE THESE PROMPTS TO HELP YOU LEARN THIS "REMEMBER" VERSE:

• "For we do not have" what, "who is unable to" do what?

• "But we have one who has been" what?

• Just as we are--yet" how is He different?

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5. OWN IT

Jesus is the Messiah who is there for us, not a far-away God who can't understand what we're going through. Jesus is the flesh-and-blood Son of God who has enormous compassion for us. In short, Jesus is our friend. Copy the following verses from Hebrews 4. Highlight the sections of the verses this way: use yellow for commands or encouragements to us; green for promises made to us; and blue for Jesus' actions.

• Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

• Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin.

• Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.