Outdoor Object Lesson 101: Galactic Significance

Key Text

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained; what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him?" Psalm 8:3-4 (WEB)

Lesson

We live in a vast universe that makes us feel quite small. Have you ever looked up at the night sky and tried to count all the stars? It would be very hard because as you were counting the stars would move across the sky due to our planet spinning. When you look up at the night sky on an extra clear night, you can see a line of stars that is extra concentrated. This is known as the Milky Way. It is the galaxy we live in. Our own Milky Way galaxy is one quintillion km across or one followed by 18 zeros! That is equivalent to about 100,000 light years. When you look up at the river of stars in the sky that make up the Milky Way, you are looking at the center of it. Our planet is located in one of the outer arms.1

In pictures of the Milky Way our planet is too small to be seen, only the light from our sun is visible (see above). Our sun is just one of the many stars that make up the Milky Way. Scientists estimate that there are at least 100 billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy alone.2 The most mind boggling part is that our galaxy is just one of millions we can see in space. Doesn’t that give you chills? A few years ago, scientists led by astronomer Bob Williams  pointed the Hubble Telescope at a dark spot in the sky. They wanted to see if it could see anything other telescopes could not. After being focused on one point for a few days, the scientists got a surprising picture. Instead of getting a black photo they got one covered in tiny points of light that at first glance might look like stars. It looked similar to a picture of any part of the night sky seen with the naked eye. As they analyzed the image, they realized those tiny points of light were actually other galaxies similar to our own Milky Way.

The implications are staggering! To get that image, the Hubble Telescope was looking at a fraction of the night sky. If you held one finger up at arms length and blocked a bit of the sky you would be blocking a bigger portion then the Hubble was looking at. In that one photo 3000 galaxies could be seen that no human had ever seen before! Each one of those galaxies holds dozens of stars like ours and perhaps hundreds of planets! Scientists everywhere were shocked by this discovery. It meant they had to increase the number of galaxies in the universe was much more than anyone thought. Indeed there are hundreds of billions of galaxies out there in the universe and many times more planets!3

Does that make you feel small? It sure makes me feel microscopic! It also makes me think about how big our God is. He created and sustains all those billions of galaxies spread out so far apart that we could barely understand the distance. Yet, he chose to send his one and only son, Jesus to this little planet to die for us. God could have started over after we sinned by creating life on another planet. He had plenty of options! But he chose the hard path of redeeming us. He did so because that is his nature. He loves us and wants to spend eternity with us. He wants us to have the chance to explore all those distant galaxies. He wants you and me to remember that even though we are tiny and live on one of billions of planets, he chose to forgive our sins and save us.

Questions

Will you except Jesus’ invitation?

Do you think other beings live in any of those other galaxies?

How would it affect your faith if we discover aliens on another planet?

Why do you think God chose to save us instead of just creating a new race of beings?

Sources
1: Nola Taylor Redd, “Milky Way Galaxy: Facts About Our Galactic Home,” Space.com, (November 14, 2017), accessed June 2, 2019 from https://www.space.com/19915-milky-way-galaxy.html.
2: Elizabeth, Howell, “How Many Stars Are In The Milky Way,” Space.com, (March 30, 2018), accessed June 2, 2019 from https://www.space.com/25959-how-many-stars-are-in-the-milky-way.html.
3. Nadia Drake, “When Hubble Stared at Nothing for 100 Hours,” National Geographic online, (April 24, 2015), accessed June 2, 2019 from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/phenomena/2015/04/24/when-hubble-stared-at-nothing-for-100-hours/.

Written  by David F. Garner
Photo credit: Nick Risinger via www.wikimedia.org

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 67: Wind Unseen

Key Verse

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,” Galatians 5:22 WEB

Lesson

Can you see the wind? Of course not. Can you hear it? Nope. That might surprise you. We often talk of hearing the wind. In actuality, we are only hearing the affects of the wind. When the wind blows by, the air itself makes no noise. The sound comes from the air interacting with objects it meets. You only hear the affects of wind.

Air can cause sounds in many ways through its interactions with different objects. It can cause a kite to flap making a distinct noise. It can rattle the windows in your house. When the wind blows past your ear or through a whistle it creates yet another sound. All these interactions cause the air to separate rapidly creating pressure waves. These pressure waves are what make the sound of the wind. On its own, wind cannot be seen or heard, but when it affects an object it is quite obvious.

It is similar with the Holy Spirit. It cannot be seen or heard. Its movements are unknown to us until it affects a person. When the Holy Spirit interacts with a person, and that person is receptive, the affects are often quite obvious. Galatians 5:22 tells us what to look for – the fruit of the Spirit. When a person is changed by accepting Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes into their heart and begins to make them more kind, patient, loving, joyful, and good. Watch for the affects of the Holy Spirit in your life and those around you.

Questions

In what other ways does the Holy Spirit change people?

How has the Holy Spirit affected you?

Can we affect what the Holy Spirit does? If so, how?



Written by David F. Garner

Photo Credit: @mostafawagdi via www.twenty20.com

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 57: Keep The Flame Burning

Key Verse

“So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12 WEB

Lesson

The Protestant Reformation was about telling people about salvation by faith alone. John 3:16 clearly states that whoever believes in Jesus will be saved. So why is there a verse in Philippians talking about working out your own salvation? We can not earn salvation, right? This is true, but there is more to it.

If you have ever built a fire, or seen one built then you know it takes some work. First you need a safe place to build a fire such as a fire ring. Next you need to gather all the materials. You will need to gather several different sizes of wood, some tinder, and a fire source such as a match. Once you gather all the wood you need to separate it into different sizes and make sure it is dry. Once this is done you are ready to begin building your fire.

First put the tinder down in the center. Tinder can be things such as lint, wood shavings, or dry grass. Next add the kindling. Kindling are small twigs and sticks that will catch fire quickly. Finally, you can position the fuel wood around the kindling. This is the big pieces that will keep the fire going for a long time. Now you can strike the match and light the fire. But as you probably already know, your job is still not done. Once the tinder is lit, you must blow and fan the flame so it can grow. You must constantly tend the fire to keep it alive or it will go out. Once you have a roaring fire you must still stoke it and add more fuel.

Following Christ is a lot like building a fire. We receive salvation in an instant and we can do nothing to earn that gift. It is a spark that sets a spiritual fire in our hearts. But as Paul says in Philippians 2:12 we must work to keep the flame alive. We must fight against the temptations of our sinful nature. We must make it a priority to spend time with Jesus. We cannot earn God’s forgiveness. It is free. But we must work to live the way God asks us after we receive salvation to keep the fire in our hearts alive as long as we live. The best part is God will freely give us the strength to do so!

Questions

What did Jesus mean when he said, “take up your cross and follow me” in Matt. 16:24?

How do we receive God’s free gift of salvation?

What is the spark that sets a spiritual fire in our hearts?

What happens if we die before we have a chance to work on living the way God expects?



Written by David F. Garner

Photo Credit: Alexas_Fotos via www.pixabay.com

Leadership Lessons Series: Sexuality

Key Text

"And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 (WEB)


Lesson

Discussing sex in ministry is usually uncomfortable. So we often avoid it. But discussing it is necessary and beneficial. I have found my listeners appreciate hearing a Biblical perspective. You don't have to lead an open discussion. You can do all the talking and they can do all the listening. This often makes it a bit less awkward. I begin by telling my listeners that I am about to give them a talk on Biblical sexuality and they don't have to discuss it unless they want to. I tell them I will be available afterword for private questions. I have heard a lot of talks on this subject delivered in a judgmental and hurtful way. So I have shared my notes below from a talk I gave about this topic in the hopes it will help others to approach this subject in a non-judgmental and less awkward manor.

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Our culture tends to take sex for granted. God has a different plan, to Him, sexuality is something special. See Matthew 19:5; Proverbs 4:23. As the creator and originator of sexuality God knows best how it should work. God offers us a better way that will lead to happiness and wholeness for us and our family. Our culture promotes doing what feels good now, but God asks us to be patient so he can give us something better.

God's plan for sexuality is that it be only between one man and one woman in exclusive marriage. Sin has perverted sexuality. Premarital sex and cohabitation are normal in our society. These are not the best way to find a happy marriage. Our sexual urges are perverted too. The Bible says in Matthew 5:28 that lusting after a person is not healthy and wrong. Lusting means things like pornography and desiring someone for only what you can get.

Our perverted sexual urges mean that some people struggle with all sorts of unhealthy sexual desires such as desiring multiple wives, boyfriends, or sexual partners at the same time. Others include bisexual and homosexual attraction. The Bible tells us acting on these urges or temptations is unhealthy and wrong. There is also mounting scientific evidence that doing these things (premarital sex, cohabitation, divorce, pornography, polygamy, homosexuality, and lust) can be unhealthy. You likely know someone who has been hurt by divorce and how unhealthy it is for everyone involved.

Many of these things may seem impossible to avoid or overcome, but they are not. Jesus promises to give us the strength and ability to overcome. I have personally known many people who have stayed free from these unhealthy sexual acts. That does not mean they were not tempted, even Jesus was tempted. But it is certainly possible. Jesus even calls some people to celibacy. Jesus promises to give us the power to do what he asks.

The most important thing to remember is that sexuality is only part of who a person is. Sexual desires are part of a deeper desire for intimacy and love. We all long for love and that is what we need most, 1 Peter 4:8. And you can have that right now. You do not have to wait for marriage or the right person. Love and intimacy can come from any relationship, parents, sibling, grandparents, friends. Love and intimacy are part of every relationship not just romantic ones although it may be shown differently. The best thing is that we can have love and intimacy with the Creator and King of the Universe right now.

So what about people who have not lived up to the standards God calls us to? Anyone who has been in a Christian church very long has likely heard about purity. You may feel negative towards the idea. Perhaps you think that once you have stumbled, your purity is gone forever. Here is some news: you were born impure! Everyone has inherited a sinful nature from Adam and Eve. Jesus is the only one who can make us pure, our actions cannot, Romans 11:6. The great news is that Jesus can restore our purity no matter what we have done! If you or someone you know struggles with unwanted sexual temptations, please talk to someone like a pastor, mentor, or counselor. They are trained and want to help!

We must respect everyone who has not lived up to God's standards, because neither have we. We also must respect their freedom to choose not to live by those standards. God gives them (and us) that choice and so must we. So how do we act towards people who have not lived up to the standards God calls us to? Ganoune Diop, a leading religious freedom advocate delivered an address to a United Nations conference in 2016 about Biblical teaching on human sexuality in which he answers this question. He said, “It means saying ‘No’ to discrimination or any form of violence. It means demonstrating that people can believe differently, and be different, while sharing the same humanity; it means living in the common public space with respect for the dignity of every person; it means recognizing that each person has been granted the right — and responsibility—of freedom by their Creator.”1

Sources
1. Bettina Krause, “Adventist Leader Discusses Sexuality at UN Conference,” Adventist Review Online, posted JUNE 29, 2016, accessed January 3, 2017, http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story4137-adventist-leader-discusses-sexuality-at-un-conference.

Written by David F. Garner

Photo Credit: Pexels

Christian Outdoor Activity Lesson: Card Games

Key Verse

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17 WEB

Activity Type:

Amusement

Time:

Hours of fun!

Goal:

Keep participants entertained and in a positive mood anytime. 

Material:

1-2 decks of 52 playing cards, an Uno deck, Authors Card Game deck, your favorite card game.

Instructions:

This is a great activity to always have prepared. Take a deck of cards on every trip. Keep some decks in your supply closet. Keep one in your transport vehicle and even your backpack! Then, when you need to entertain unexpectedly, you can. This is great for long road trips, during unexpected rainy or cold weather, or anytime you need. Be sure to keep instructions to each game along with the cards to avoid disagreements over the rules. Of course it always makes it fun to make up your own rules. Additionally, you can keep track of the winners and see who wins overall out of several games. A pack of 52 playing cards is the most versatile as there are numerous games that can be played with one, including Uno. Click here for instructions and here for a list and rules to other great wholesome games to play with a deck of playing cards. Or go to our Downloads Page.



Possible Lessons:

Use the key verse to have a short discussion about what it means to have good sportsmanship or play fairly. Alternatively, use the key verse and the game to discuss how life is not always fair. You don’t always get the cards you want in the game, neither do we always get what we want in life. Sometimes we are dealt a “bad hand” in life. Does this mean God does not love us? Does it mean he does not answer our prayers? How should we react when this happens? See Philippians 1:27.

Written by David F. Garner

Photo Credit: FreeImages.com/JoshuaDavis

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 29: Light Mirror

Photo Credit: Brennon Garner

Key Verse

“Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:15-16 WEB

Lesson

Note: This lesson is best done where the moon can be seen well. Alt: Use a flashlight and mirror to demonstrate how the sun (flashlight) reflects off the moon (mirror).

In Genesis chapter one we learn that God created the moon to give light at night. The moon is a very interesting celestial body. It has attracted man’s wonder for hundreds and thousands of years. Besides the sun it has been the primary means of keeping time for almost every group of people on earth. The ancient Aztec’s of Central America had a 13-day week likely based on the moon cycle.₁ The average lunar month is actually about 27 days, not 30, so two 13-day weeks would be closer to one month.₂

God did not make the moon a source of light. Instead the moon reflects the light of the sun. Much like a mirror does not produce its own light, but reflects light such as that from a flashlight. If the moon was a ball of fire like the sun it would surely consume us! Also, the moon would be to bright. Since it reflects sunlight it is just bright enough most nights to allow us to see outside but still get good sleep. The brightness of the moon still changes drastically throughout the moon cycle. An interesting fact is that only two days before a full moon, the moon is only half the brightness of a full moon.₂ You might think the moon gets brighter and brighter until it is full, but that is not the case. God likes to surprise us in creation.

The moon provides a beautiful object lesson. According to Genesis one the primary reason for the moon to exist is to give the darkness light. But it cannot do this on its own. Alone, the moon is nothing; it cannot fulfill its purpose. The sun, on the other hand, can provide light during the day. Everyone around the Earth cannot see it all the time. So the moon is completely dependent on the sun for its light. And the sun needs the moon so it can provide light during the nighttime.

In a similar way we are like the moon. Alone, without Jesus, we are nothing; we cannon fulfill our purpose. Our purpose is to shine God’s light, his love, to the world just as it says in Matthew 5:15-16. Jesus is in heaven and everyone cannot see him. So he wants us to be his lights here on earth. He chose us to reflect his character like a mirror, just as the moon does for the sun. Some people think it is hard to be a Christian. But Jesus made it quite simple. He left us an example of exactly what he wants us to do. All we need to do is follow his example and we will reflect his love to the world.

Questions

Have you ever seen the moon look remarkable or uncommon? Describe it.

What exactly is Matthew 5:15-16 referring to when it says “let your light so shine before men”?

In what ways can we reflect the light of Jesus to others?

Sources

1 http://www.ancient.eu/Aztec_Civilization/

2 http://www.space.com/11162-10-surprising-moon-facts-full-moons.html

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 23: The Fingerprint of God

Photo Credit: Stefan Schweihofer (username: stux)

Key Verse

“The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork.” Psalms 19:1 (WEB)

Lesson

What evidence is there that God really created the universe, you, and me? How do we know that God deserves our praise? Sometimes it seems hard to know where everything came from. We hear all sorts of ideas about where we came from and how the world got here. Thankfully, God did not leave us to guess about these questions. Have you ever noticed all the beauty in nature? Why is there beauty? Science exists to tell us how things work. But religion helps us find out why. The Bible tells us that God made everything to show us his glory, or his wonder and majesty. It also tells us that he created this earth for our pleasure and to show us he loves and cares for us. That is why beauty exists. That is why everything exists.

Have you ever looked at something in nature and thought, “that could not have happened by accident? It must have been made and designed.” We know when we find a plastic bottle on the ground that it was made by humans. We also know someone threw it there instead of in a trashcan. We understand that it did not grow there naturally.

In nature we see evidence of a designer. Once such evidence is the Golden Ratio (a.k.a. the Fibonacci Sequence). In math this is a series of numbers where the next number is the sum of the two proceeding numbers. (Example: 1,2,3,5,8,13, etc.) It can get very complex. But the Golden Ratio translates into a spiral pattern we see often. It appears all around us in nature from the smallest to the biggest things. It is seen on the pinecone bottom, snail shells, the shape of ocean waves, even the spiral of galaxies. It can be seen in the center of flowers in the composite family such as the sunflower. The Golden Ratio has been called the fingerprint of God because it appears from the smallest atom to the biggest galaxy. It is like God’s signature in creation. And best of all, it adds beauty.

Psalms 19:1 says that the heavens declare God’s glory and show how powerful he is. He is the God of creation; the One who made everything else that exists. No one is greater. That is why he deserve our praise. Romans 1:20 tells us that nature points to the all powerful God. It shows he is there and that he cares for us. So we have no excuse to think he is not there or that he does not take care of us. God loves each of us. And he made everything good you can see just to prove it.

Questions

How do you see design displayed in nature?

How do you think God feels when we destroy his creation?

What do you think God thinks about all the ways his creation has been messed up since Adam and Eve sinned?

In what ways can we show God our thanks and praise for what he made?

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 22: Spiritual First Aid

Key Verse

The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. Psalms 147:11 (KJV)

Lesson

When you get a cut on your finger what do you do? The first thing most people do is say “ouch.” After that they seek first aid. First, they wash the cut with soap and water. Then they put antibiotic ointment and a bandage on it. Have you ever stopped to think why people do this? The antibiotic ointment fights off the bad germs. The bandage keeps new germs and dirt from getting it. This helps the cut to heal quickly. It helps keep it from getting infected.

Each one of us has been wounded and hurt by sin. Sometimes it hurts just as bad as a cut finger. The Bible promises that Jesus will heal us. It also promises to protect us from further infection. How do we stay protected? By maintaining a close relationship with Jesus. When we don’t stay close to Jesus every day, we are more easily hurt when others make fun of us or insult us and more prone to worry or anger.

When we spend time with Jesus every day by praying and reading the Bible, we are filled with his love. We are sure that we are loved and we can withstand being made fun of or insulted. We are much less likely to worry or get angry because we know Jesus is in control of everything. When we know deep in our heart Jesus cares about even a small cut, that assurance protects us like a bandage. It does not mean we will never feel pain again, we still live in a sinful world until Jesus returns and makes all things new. Even a cut hurts sometimes under a bandage while it is healing.

We can take comfort by remembering that Jesus has feelings too. He hates it when his children suffer. Matthew 10:29 encourages us with the knowledge that even the sparrows are under God’s watch. It should also remind us that Jesus is hurt when we ignore him. He is our close friend and wants to spend time with us daily. You know that feeling when a bandage is ripped off? I think that is kind of how Jesus feels when we put other things in place of him. On the other hand, when we accept him as our friend and Savior, when we renew that relationship by spending time with him and show our faith in him, Jesus is pleased (see key verse).

Questions

How can we spend meaningful time with Jesus? Be specific.

How do you build a real friendship? Do you do the same thing when building a relationship with Jesus?

Do you know you are loved? How?

Written by David F. Garner
Photo Credit: DLG Images