During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
Psalm 34:17
It seemed just like any other day when Geske and his co-workers arrived at the Christian publishing office. Just as they had done many other days, Geske and his co-workers welcomed in 5 young men who asked to hear about the Christian faith. But discussion was not what the young men had planned. Geske and his co-workers were tied up, tortured, and killed. Tragically, the brutal mistreatment and murder of Christians in Geske’s community is not at all uncommon. It was just like any other day.
But the response of Geske’s wife, Susanne, was quite unexpected. She visited her husband’s killers in prison, sharing Bibles, prayer, and the redeeming love of Jesus. Though her pain and grief were very real, she offered forgiveness to these men who had taken so much from her. “Because the Lord forgave me so much, I have forgiven them,” she said simply. “This story is not about death,” she later shared with fellow Christians. “This story is about victory, gain, and encouragement.”
Stories like Geske and Susanne’s bring great hope to those who are persecuted. Around the world, thousands of Christians are dying for their faith, and even more face imprisonment, abuse, and torture. Yet, thousands more continue to share the gospel, even in situations of grave danger. How can you find hope in what seems like a hopeless situation? Cry out to the Lord. He hears your troubles, and He brings deliverance, even when it is not an escape from persecution. He grants peace, forgiveness, and joy, even in the midst of suffering.
Encourage the students to ask their family members, “What gives you hope during difficult times?” They can then share their poems and songs about hoping in God in persecution.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
As the students arrive, ask them to think about what hope means to them. Allow them to share their thoughts with other teens before you begin class.
When you are ready to begin the class, gather the whole group to discuss the following question.
Allow 2–3 students to share their thoughts.
Hope is a desire or expectation that something will happen. Hope can help us when we experience difficult times, and it can help us to keep a positive attitude. When we think about hope, we usually think about things we want to happen. Sometimes they are more important things. Other times, they are less important.
But for those who believe in God, hope is something more. Hope is an unshakable confidence in God no matter what the circumstances may be. Hope can bring peace and strength when we go through difficult experiences such as persecution.
Now we will do an activity. As we do, think about what brings you hope in each situation.
Divide the students into 5 groups. Give each student 4 leaves. Each leaf will represent 1 of the 4 most important things in his life. You can offer suggestions such as friends, family, food, health, housing, education, faith in God, etc. Ask the students to place the 4 leaves in front of them. They need to remember what each represents. You will also need 4 leaves so you can demonstrate during the activity.
Optional: If you have paper and pencils available, give each student a piece of paper and pencil. They will tear the paper into 4 pieces. Ask them to write 1 of the 4 most important things in their lives on each piece of paper. Have them place the pieces of paper in front of them.
I will read several situations aloud. You must follow the directions I give after each situation. Look around you at your group. They represent your community, friends, and family. As we do this activity, the only people you can talk with are those in your group. Let’s start now.
A new leader has just taken over control of your nation, and he has made a new law. Because of that, you will lose 1 of the things that is most important to you. Think about the things in front of you that you value. Choose 1 to tear up now.
Tear up 1 of your leaves so that all of the students can see what you are doing.
Turn to your group and share which valued thing you lost and why you chose it. There is no right or wrong answer. Share how you feel about losing that thing.
Give the groups about 2 minutes to talk. Then get their attention and continue the activity.
A few weeks later, you hear banging on the door. The person at the door takes away another thing that you value. You do not have time to think—you must choose 1 of your valued things to give up now! Tear up that leaf. (Tear up another leaf.) Then share with your group what you chose and why. Share how losing that thing makes you feel.
Give the groups about 2 minutes to talk. Then get their attention and continue the activity.
Because of the persecution, you leave your home to look for safety. There are many other refugees who are fleeing from the persecution. You must walk a long way, and it is difficult to find food and shelter. You must trade 1 of the things you value to get what you need to survive.
Tear up 1 of your leaves. Then go around your teaching space and tear up 1 leaf from each student. Do not ask them which to choose. Just randomly pick leaves and tear them up.
Turn to your groups and share how you felt about losing the thing you value. Share how you felt about the fact that someone else decided what you would lose.
Give the groups about 2 minutes to talk. Then get their attention and continue the activity.
Even things we value greatly in this life can be lost. This can cause us to lose hope. When we face persecution, as we have in this activity, it can be difficult to remain hopeful. But all over the world, people do find hope in times of persecution. Today we will learn how persecution can bring hope and courage to others.
In our last lesson, we learned about the apostle Paul. He was a persecutor of Christians, but later he became a follower of Jesus. After he began preaching about Jesus, Paul was persecuted for his beliefs. He was beaten, questioned, imprisoned, and stoned almost to death. Though the Bible does not tell us how Paul eventually died, most people believe that he was killed for his faith. Paul suffered for his beliefs, but he always had hope. Listen to what he wrote.
Have a student read Romans 5:3–4 aloud from the Bible. If that is not possible, the passage is printed here.
We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:3–4
The apostle Paul knew that God could use all things—even suffering—to produce endurance, character, and hope. He also understood that there is only 1 place we can find hope that will never disappoint us. Paul placed his hope in his salvation through Jesus.
One way persecution produces hope is by reminding us of the hope of eternal life that God has given us through Jesus. No matter what causes us pain and difficulty in our earthly lives, God has promised an eternal life of peace and joy to all who accept Jesus. Understanding God’s love and His eternal plans for us can bring us great hope, just like it did for Paul!
Another way persecution brings hope is by bringing us together with others who have faced it, too. Today, in the areas where persecution is the worst, people need encouragement to endure. They are often encouraged most by those who are suffering with them. Listen to this verse about what the Bible teaches us about how we are to care for one another, especially in times of need.
In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:3b–4
Allow 4–5 students to share their thoughts.
Allow 2–3 students to share their thoughts. Then guide them to understand that thinking of the needs of others can take our focus off of ourselves and our own needs. Also, caring for others helps us to feel more hopeful, even in difficult situations, as we know we are bringing hope to others.
In times of persecution, believers help fellow believers, giving them hope, comfort, and encouragement. Because of the hope the Christians have, more and more people are becoming followers of Jesus. Seeing Christians who are willing to suffer and die for their faith encourages others to learn about God, too. Others are drawn to God when they see people who are willing to endure persecution for Him. So persecution actually helps the church to grow!
We can also find hope in the knowledge that God is always near. Those who are persecuted—and everyone who believes in God—can trust that He is with us always, even in times of fear, pain, and persecution. Listen to what the Bible tells us about finding hope in God’s presence.
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
We who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
Hebrews 6:18–19
No matter what storms or difficulties you face in life, God will be your anchor of hope, even when everything around you is dark.
We may wonder why God, who is always good, does not seem to bring light in the darkness. We may wonder why He allows us or others to suffer. We may wonder why God does not stop persecution. But there are many things we do not understand about God. Listen to these verses and think about why it is sometimes challenging to understand His ways.
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:12–13
Guide the students to understand that we do not fully understand God’s ways. But we can trust that He knows us completely and that He will someday allow us to better understand His ways.
Even though we do not fully understand God’s ways, we can always trust that He is good and loves us. He will bring hope even in times of persecution.
One way to speak courage and hope to those facing persecution is to write songs and poems to share with others.
Have the groups work together to write songs or poems to celebrate hope. Give the students 5–10 minutes to complete this activity. Then allow as many groups as possible to share their songs or poems with the whole class.
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, the students can do the activity on their pages.
Close class with the following prayer from Hebrews 6:19 as a blessing for the students.
Blessing: May you always know that God is a refuge and a strong encouragement in times of trouble and persecution. May He always be the firm and secure anchor for your soul and your source of hope.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
