Week 1 LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES8 LifeClass DAY 1 A NEW DAY Henry Ford was fired from his first job and had to leave his first two companies before finally becoming successful with Ford Motor Company. Beethoven handled the violin awk- wardly and preferred playing his own compositions rather than improving his technique, even though his teacher said he was hopeless as a composer. Walt Disney was dismissed from his first job as an art apprentice. Although he is said to have experienced numerous setbacks and financial strug- gies throughout his life, he later went on to build the huge motion picture empire, Disney. Albert Einstein did not speak fluently until he was seven. His teacher described him as “mentally slow, unsociable and adrift forever in his foolish dreams."'! He was initially refused entry to the Polytech- nic Institute in Zurich and when he submitted his paper on relativity to support his application to become a tutor at the University of Bern, it was rejected. Acommon thread that runs through the stories of these four famous figures is that they decided it was never too late to start over; they persevered in their dreams and did not allow their circumstances to determine their future. Ford is now one of the largest automobile companies in the world; Beethoven's compositions are widely believed to be impossible to improve upon; Albert Einstein is the father of the Theory of Relativity and is considered to be the most influential physicist of the 20th Century; and Walt Disney has pushed the boundaries of animation and storytelling to ignite the imaginations of children and adults around the world. Failure can be a thing of the past when you decide that today is the beginning of anew success story.Week? Day! 9 The Bible tells the story of the prodigal son - a young man who seemed to have it all: a father who loved him, a roof over his head, and everything he might need to live a stable life. But there came a time when this young man grew tired of the life he was living. He was bored of seeing the same faces and doing the same things ev- ery day. He decided it was time to explore. He asked his father for his share of the inheritance and he set out in search of his purpose - he wanted to find out why he was alive. As soon as the prodigal son left home, he started down an unknown path, which eventually led him to @ very distant land, Although the gardens there were full of roses, behind its walls lay only misery, sickness and pain. John spoke of three illusions that mislead many: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). These can be compared to deserts disguised as oases; they present a false reality, advertising the pleasures of the world as something that can satisfy us in life. However, in the end, they result in an unfulfilled life, without hopes and dreams. John explains that these are trademarks of the world and that they do not come from God the Father. What had at first appeared to be a garden of roses turned out to be a squalid pig-sty. Solomon said “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12) Have | been walking down the wrong path? Today, you have a new opportunity to re-examine your life and be honest with yourself. Although the prodigal son ended up in deep distress, a light dawned in his thinking. That was when he could clearly see four precious opportunities in the spiritual realm that would not only restore his life, but also recover all that he had lostLifeClass Live the Lesson 1, What new things would you like to learn? 2. Do you know anybody who has learned something new (an instrument, language, sport, etce.), even though others thought they were too old to do so? 3. Look up the following words in a dictionary and write down their definitions: Decision: Change: 4. If you could choose to change something in your life, what would it be? If you are unable to change it, what do you think God could do to bring about change? / wm \ K ) Remember the Lesson = No matter what mistakes you have made, it is never too late to start again. Study the Word C)Psaim1 (Psalm 2 ()Psalm 3 (_] Proverbs 1 (Jsohn1Week! Day 2 DAY 2 AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ENCOUNTER “Because you are a soul, as well as a body and a mind, you will never find an inward joy, peace, forgiveness and sense of security with God until your soul has been satisfied: and your soul cannot be satisfied apart from Goo.’ Billy Gra- 1. “Our di separated us from God.” Prope ‘00 (sin) / thoi 2. “No bridge reaches God... Except one.” PROFLE cop (Sinful) (Holy)12 LifeClass 3. “God has provided the only way... Prope Each person (Sink must make a decision.” HERE? OR HERE? 4. “WHERE ARE YOU?” Rebalion Separation ham As human beings, we were created with the ability to choose. Every day of our lives is the fruit of our decisions. The prodigal son made some bad decisions, but the conse- quences that followed left him longing for change. He was faced with a new opportunity - to start over. While it was not easy for him because it meant humbling himself, swal- lowing his pride, and depending solely on the mercy of his father, his desire for something new helped him make the best decision: he said yes to an encounter with his father. "When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here / am starving to death! | will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, | have sinned against heaven and against you.” (Luke 15:17-18a)Week! Day2 B The young man in the parable wanted to live life his own way, just like many young people today who allow rebellion in their hearts. They think that submitting to the authority and discipline of their homes restricts their freedom. They consider themselves to be the authors of their own destinies and believe that their parents will nev- er be able to advise them on how to run their lives. That is exactly what happened to the prodigal son; he had the nerve to say to his father, “Give me my share of the estate” (Luke 15:12). Instead of arguing with his son, the father simply gave him all that he had asked. From the moment this young man left home, every step he took was not only further distancing him from his father, but also leading him toward a total wasteland. Everything he had owned at one point in his life disappeared as quickly as one awakes from a dream, and he found himself in a place of total abandonment and desperation, barely even able to feed himself: 1. He moved far away to a distant land 2, He wasted his possessions by living frivolously there. 3. He squandered everything Despite all his efforts, the only job he could find was feeding pigs.* During one of the most dismal moments of his life, this young man started to compare his current situation to the very different life he vee had led in his father’s house. He realized that while he was feeding [eaate. cs Pigs and starving to death, all his father’s servants had food to spare. That thought then charted the course that led to his encounter with his father. The prodigal son was sure that his father would receive him, opening the doors of his house, despite the wrong decisions he had made. At the very least, he would take him on as a servant. It is so good that he realized in time!14 LifeCiass Live the Lesson 1. Have you lost anything in life because of bad decisions you made, which you would now like to recover? 2. Find out what “humbling yourself before Goo’” means. You can use various resources, such as dictionaries or Bible reference guides, or you could ask your LifeClass guide. bad Just as this young man humbled himself so that he could return to his father, the Bible says that God will never reject a broken and repentant heart (Psalm 51:17). Set apart some time today to humble yourself before God and desire to be reconciled to Him with all your heart. x ( W }) Remember the Lesson We have the opportunity to return to God’s loving arms - but doing so is a personal decision. Study the Word OPsaim 4 C)Psalm 5 (Psalm 6 CProverbs 2 (J John 2 (CJ John 3Week? Day 15 IS IT TOO LATE FOR RECONCILIATION? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word reconciliation means “the action of restoring estranged people or parties to friendship.) Reconciliation refers to the restoration of relationships. When God made us, He created us with the need to both give and receive love. What He desires most for humanity is genuine friendship - both with Him, and between each person and their neighbor. That was why God made a plan: He created the idea of marriage and family. However, because of Adam's disobedience, the plan was disrupted and rebellion and selfishness entered instead. God still longs for there to be complete harmony; He wants us to be reconciled to Him and to the people around us. “L will set out and go back to my father and say to him. Father, | have sinned against heaven and against you.” (Luke 15:18)16 LifeClass This young man determined that he would confess his sins, accept- ing responsibility for them whilst also seeking mercy. The writer of Proverbs said, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). John wrote, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). The prodigal son decided to tell his father, "../ have sinned against heaven and against you” (Luke 15:18). When a person sins and offends God, they also offend those around them. Confession is the result of a repentant heart that knows it has strayed from the path and decides to turn around to get back on the right track, Our future is defined by such crucial moments. The word crucial comes from the Latin word for cross.) It is no coincidence that the cross was mace of two pieces of wood: one placed vertically and the other horizontally. The vertical beam speaks of us lifting our eyes to God, while the horizontal beam speaks about an awareness of the needs of our neighbor. The cross both reconciles people to God and helps us restore our relationships with others. | am confident that the best medicine in existence is the forgiveness we receive through the cross. Paul said, “For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for ail, and therefore ail died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). There is unlimited power available at the cross of Calvary; it has be- come the only door through which man can be reconciled to God. The first couple sinned when they disobeyed the Lord's instructions: “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:16-17). Because of their disobedience, they had to leave paradise; they lost everything and had to face a world they did not know. Thousands of years later,Week 1 Day 7 another tree was planted - the cross of Calvary - and its fruit is life and life to the full. God has also given us the opportunity to be reconciled to the peo- ple around us through the cross. When Jesus was teaching His dis- ciples to pray, the only additional comment He rade was about forgiveness. He said, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15). Lewis Smedes, a renowned author and theology professor, once wrote, “When we forgive, we set a prisoner free and then discover that the prisoner we set free was us.’®) The best medicine that exists for the human heart is forgiveness, as much for those who grant it as for those who receive it. Forgiveness breaks the strongest chains, opens the securest doors, and demolishes the sturdiest walls, There is nothing comparable to forgiveness, and the best way to both re- ceive and grant forgiveness is through the cross. Remember that the cross was made of two pieces of wood - one horizontal and the other vertical. The vertical beam represents reconciliation between God and man and the horizontal beam speaks of reconciliation with others. The work of the cross is complete! Live the Lesson 1. The best medicine in the world is the forgiveness we receive at the cross. Write a list of the people you need to forgive. In prayer, forgive those who have hurt and offended you. oO8 LifeClass 2. What mistakes do you think the prodigal son made that kept him far away from his father? Can you identify with any of those mistakes, and if so, which ones? Va \ \ }@ |) Remember the Lesson y The cross was made of two pieces of wood - one horizontal and one vertical. The horizontal beam represents forgiveness between people and the vertical beam represents reconciliation with God. Study the Word CPsalm7 (Proverbs 3 (John 4Week I Oay4 9 DAY 4 AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESTORATION “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet."” (Luke 15:22) The clothes a person wears can say a lot about them. Our wardrobe often reflects our personality, our profession, our internal or external condition, or even how we feel on a certain day. Rachel Roy, a US fashion designer, said, “What / found through clothing is that when you put on the right dress or you put on the right pair of glasses or suit, it can really make you remember what is beautiful about life.”®) However, there are many who do not feel beautiful, regardless of what they wear. This is because they are wearing the wrong spiritual clothes. Just as in the natural, we all also have spiritual clothes that give beauty to who we are and reflect our spiritual condition. Having made the decision to return home, this young man was sur- prised by the way his father welcomed him. The father told his ser- vants to replace his son’s filthy clothes with fine garments. This rep- resents what the Lord does for every person who decides to restore their relationship with their heavenly Father. We need to understand that the clothes of the young man in the parable are an allegory for how we have misused the precious life God has given us - per- mitting sin in our hearts has soiled our spiritual clothes and left us with many physical and emotional wounds. When the father saw the20 LifeCiass condition of his son, he had compassion on him and called for his rancid, threadbare rags to be immediately exchanged for robes fit for a banquet. When the prophet Zechariah had a vision of Joshua, the high priest, he said, “Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood be- fore the angel. The ange/ said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, | have taken away your sin, and / will put fine garments on you" (Zechariah 33-4). Those rags represented his past, sinful life, and were com- pletely removed. The prodigal son arrived in his filthy clothes; he was unable to justify them before God, as they were the outward expression of all the evil he had been involved in since he had left his father’s house. However, the love of God is so great that He removes our old clothes, which represent our nature contaminated by sin, and He clothes us in fine, splendid garments, which represent righteousness: “God made him who had! no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of Goa” (2 Corinthians 5:21). One of Job’s greatest desires was deliverance from his own sins. He exclaimed, “Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins?” (Job 7:21). Later he himself answered, “But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?” (Job 9:2). The psalmist David said, “No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them - the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough” (Psalm 49:7-8). Despite our best efforts and good intentions, the stain of sin runs deep and we cannot remove it ourselves - only God can. The psalmist later wrote, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him” (Psalm 103:12-13). Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord said, "You were sold for noth- ing, and without money you will be redeemed” (Isaiah 52:3). Paul encouraged the Corinthians by saying, "You were bought at a price.Week! Daya 2 Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:20). Jesus paid the highest price that could ever be paid. Every area of the young man's life was transformed; he was restored to his position as a son, his clothes were changed, and a ring was put on his finger (which represents the restoration of authority). Live the Lesson 1. What do royal robes represent and what do rags represent? Which do you think you are wearing today? }) Remember the Lesson Z The love of God restores me in every area of my life. Study the Word Cpsaim 8 Cpsaim 9 (Proverbs 4 (John 522 LifeClass AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PROVISION ‘Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is olive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” (Luke 15:23-24) Speaking about provision, Derek Prince said the following, ‘One distinctive aspect of God, as He is revealed in the Bible, is His abundance. God /s not poor. He is not stingy. He is not limited. He is a God of abundance. His grace is abundant. His Jove is abundant. His provision is abun- dant. [...] the consequence of sin, ultimately, is misery, poverty and destitution. There is no abundance ina life of sin. [...] But God does not leave us, [...] He offers both pardon and provision." God offers us the opportunity to be reconciled to Him, to recover what has been lost and to receive the provision we need.Week 1 Day 5 23 It is interesting to see how the father in Luke 15 calls for the fattened calf to be brought and prepared for a large feast and celebration This speaks to us of provision In the time of the patriarch Abraham, God spoke to him saying, "Take your son, your only son, wham you love - lsaac - and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain | will show you” (Genesis 22:2). Abraham did not argue with God; he obeyed Him immediately. The next day, he took his son, along with his donkey and provisions, and traveled for three days until they came to Mount Moriah. When they had almost reached the place God had specified, his young son stopped him and said, “Daddy, can / ask you something?” "Of course,” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here [...], but where is the famb for the burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:76). | believe that this was the most difficult moment of Abraham's life. Perhaps he remained silent, closed his eyes and lifted up a prayer, saying, “Goa, help me, / don’t know how to answer my son. How can | tell him that he is the sacrifice? Lord, give me a word of wisdom so that | can answer him correctly.” That was when he received the greatest revelation anyone has ever had. He heard the voice of the Lord telling him, ‘Jehovah Jireh,” which means “God will provide" (Genesis 22:8). Abraham simply said to his son, ‘Vehovah Jireh.” When the time came for him to sacrifice his son, God spoke to him and said, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here lam," he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said, “Do not do anything to him. Now | know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son” (Genesis 221-12) God opened Abraham's eyes in a supernatural way so that he could experience the revelation of the cross. | believe that this is what Je- sus was referring to when He told the Jews, “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). The patriarch understood that all of God's provision for man was to be found in the Son that the Lord would offer for the redemption of the world24 LifeClass The prodigal son received all of the father's blessings - including the fattened calf, which represents Christ crucified. God gave the best anyone could have given; He did not bring just any kind of offering, He gave the best. “For God! so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever betieves in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The opportunity to experience an extraordinary life with Jesus is yours. Simply make the decision with all your heart to keep that appointment, even though you may have been canceling or postponing it for a long time. Now is the time. When you have had that marvelous encounter with Jesus, tell others about the blessings that are ours because of His sacrifice on the cross. Live the Lesson 1. What offering did God give for us that allows us to be sure that He always gives the best? 2. Look up the following Bible verses: * Haggai 2:8 *2 Corinthians 9:8 * Philippians 4:19 3. Based on the verses you just read, what can you conclude about the provision of God?Week I Day }) Remember the Lesson All of God's provision is found in Jesus, who offered Himself for the redemption of the world. Study the Word (Psalm 10 (Proverbs 5 (Csohn 6 2526 LifeClass WHO IS JESUS? We have been speaking about the amazing opportunity we have to make a u-turn in our lives. An encounter with Jesus is the most wonderful opportunity a person can ever have. The historian Philip Schaff describes the uniqueness of our Savior: “This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mo- hammed, and Napoleon; without science and learning, He shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined: without the eloquence of schools, He spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced ef- fects which lie beyond the reach of any orator or poet; without writing a single line, He set more pens in mo- tion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and sweet songs of praise, than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times,"®) This Jesus, who has changed and impacted the lives of millions of people around the world, is now waiting for you to open the door of your heart so that He can take His rightful place in your life. “Here Jam! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, | will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20). The invitation is for everyone who hears this message of hope and faith, which is so real and so different from theWeek! Day 6 27 messages of countless others who have tried to bring some kind of enlightenment to humanity. Buddha never claimed to be God. Moses never claimed to be Jehovah, Mohammed never claimed to be Allah. Yet Jesus Christ claimed to be the true and living God. Buddha simply said, "lam a teacher in search of the truth.” Jesus said, “lam the Truth” (John 14:6). Confucius said, “/ never claimed to be holy.” Jesus said, “Who convicts me of sin?” (John 8:46). Mohammed said, “Unless God throws his cloak of mercy over me, / have no hope.” Jesus said, "Unless you believe in me, you will die in your sins” Gohn 8:24) 9) - Unknown Do not let another day pass by. Take some time now to pray to God and express the desire of your heart to have an encounter with Jesus Christ like never before. If you have never prayed a prayer of faith before, do not worry - it is very simple. The Bible says that, “it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Romans 10:10). The most important thing is that you believe. As faith is awakened in you, you will be able to take the second step - confessing with your mouth what you have already believed in your heart. Live the Lesson The gospel is comprised of three historical events, defined by the apostle Paul: “For what | received | passed on to you as of first im- portance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriotures, O28 LifeCiass that he was buried, [and] that he was raised on the third day accord- jing to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). If you believe in these three events with all your heart: that Christ died for your sins, that He was buried, and that He was raised to life on the third day, then you can say this prayer and open the door of your heart to allow Jesus to come into your life so that you can know Him. Lord Jesus, today | recognize that | am a sinner and / recognize that | need You, | believe with all my heart that You gave Your life for my sins, that You received the punishment that should have been mine, that You were buried, that You came back to life and that You now live forever. Forgive my sins and wash me with Your precious blood. Today | ac- cept You as my Lord and personal Savior Write my name in the book of life and never bfot it out. In Your name | pray. Amen. }) Remember the Lesson There is nothing in this world that can compare to knowing Jesus. —\ (i ) Study the Word (psalm 11 (Psalm 12 CProverbs 6 (CD) sohn 7Week! Day? FOUR OPPORTUNITIES There was once a young woman who decided to move away from the protection of her house and her family. She felt like the world was calling her, so she left in search of a life of pleasure and so-called freedom. in her heart, she suppressed the idea of family and decided that she no longer needed to live at home with her parents. She had recently become a mother herself but she was distressed at the thought of be- ing tied down to anything or anyone. She met a young man who won her over with his charm and they both left to build! a new life together, She abandoned her son and she ran away to chase after the dreams of her heart. The problem, however, was that her new life was a life of drugs, alcohol and total chaos. Amid the turmoil, she conceived again, but her life had now become a downward spiral that was taking them all toward rock bottom. They squandered all their money, frittered away all their dignity, and sabotaged every link with their families. They were alone and homeless. Because of how they had been living, this young woman became very ill and ended up on the verge of death, Cancer consumed her body. And as if that wasn’t enough, she had nowhere to lay her head, nowhere to call home - ail she was left with were empty dreams, desolate children and a heart full of bitterness. 2930 LifeClass Her story is very similar to the legendary story of the young man who left his home, demanding his inheritance before the given time so that he could venture out into the world; but there he found that his rebellion simply led to trouble and brokenness. Just like this young woman, he ended up with nowhere to live, sleeping next to the pigs and longing to eat their scraps. One day, he decided to go back to his father; he decided to put things right, to admit his mistakes and his need for mer- cy. There came a point when the young woman experi- enced something similar. She was lying on a cold park bench, listening as a group of children made jokes about her. She asked herself, “What am | doing here? How did my life come to this? (ve made a lot of mistakes and I've done a fot of bad things, but / don't want to die like this!” (hile she was still thinking these things, someone came over to speak to her and ask if they could pray for her As they prayed, she realized that God was giving her a new opportunity. All this time, she had been running away - not from her home or her family - but from God - and this was her turnaround moment. As of that day, her life began to change. Once she had’ come back to God, He began to bring order to the cha- os, She was set free from her addictions, her relationship with her children was restored, and she was completely healed of cancer tam that young woman. | am the prodigal! daughter | ran and ran, but | finally decicled to come back to my Father, and He gave me the best opportunity of my life." Olga MoralesWeek? Day 7 31 The young man the Bible speaks about in Luke 15:11-24 clearly rep- resents the situation of many of us who have distanced ourselves from God or who have never made a decision to follow Him. When a person distances themselves from the house of the Father, ie. the kingdom of God, they are not only depriving themselves of His love and amazing experiences with Him every day - they are missing out on the opportunity to have a happy life. Remember that once the young man had made the wisest decision of his life, his father gave him four precious opportunities: 1, The opportunity to have an encounter with Him. 2. The opportunity to be reconciled to Him and all who are His 3. The opportunity for restoration - the return of all that the son had lost. 4. The opportunity for provision - the son was given full access to the resources of his Father. Today is a day of reflection. You can now decide to receive the four opportunities that God is giving you. Do not allow fear, doubt or the pleasures of this world to paint a new picture full of lies. Do not ac- cept the idea that a happy life is possible without God. Jesus wants to give you the best; He died on the cross to give you an abundant life, full of purpose and joy. It is important that you decide to seek Him with all your heart, be- cause as the actor and martial arts expert, Chuck Norris, once said: "Real men do live for Christ. It is important to make your peace with Christ while the opportunity exists. Life is so fragile that you never know when it's going to be over. It could be over in the blink of an eye, and then it's too late to accept God's gift of salvation.’™LifeCiass Jesus has changed the lives of millions of people, giving them purpose, destiny and joy. This experience is incomparable to even the happiest moment of your life up until this point. Determine to seek God with all your strength and He will transform all your circumstances. Live the Lesson 1, What changes have you noticed in your life this week? 2. Which of the four precious opportunities do you most want to experience more fully in your life? 3. Say a prayer in your own words, asking God to make that op- portunity real in your life. }) Remember the Lesson f Jesus is giving me the opportunity to have an encounter with Him, to be reconciled to Him, to experience complete restoration, and to receive His abundant provision. Study the Word () Psalm 13 (Psalm 14 (JProverbs 7 (J) sohn 8