编者按
这是一套在美国很受欢迎的教材，按年龄共分三部分：0-6岁学龄前儿童教程，6-12岁学龄儿童教程，和12岁以上青少年教程。我们将陆续翻译成中文，分享给大家。
这套教材里的每一篇，无论是教程还是各种活动，都独立成篇，没有先后顺序，大家可以按需要和负担选择使用。
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thedoorofsheep.com/青少年 课程目的
1. 让学生熟悉旧约第一部诗歌智慧书 “约伯“
2. 个人化每个学生生活中关于苦难、信念和坚韧的故事
3. 激励学生将试炼视为一件该喜乐的事，认识到试炼能使他们在信心上成熟
主题
苦难、重担、情绪、忍耐、抱怨、耐心、毅力、痛苦
背诵经文
哥林多后书 12:10
开头的祷告(5-10分钟)
团队建造(5分钟)
游戏从学生背诵经文开始。确保每个人的圣经版本相同。让他们找到雅各书 1:2-4 。让学生一个接一个地轮流读，但每人只能读这段经文中的一个词。如果有人不小心读了两个（会发生的），必须重新开始。一旦通过了一次，让大家加快速度。
以在 20 秒内读完 3 节经文为目标，一人一次一个词。祝大家好运！
课堂起头(10分钟)
我们读到的这节经文谈到了信心、试炼和忍耐。这很好地介绍了我们旧约诗歌智慧书之旅的第一站。这五本书（约伯记、诗篇、箴言、传道书和雅歌），属于诗歌智慧书的范畴，涉及各种主题 - 智慧、赞美等 - 不是叙事的形式，也不是预言的形式，主要是诗歌的形式。它们是对其他历史书的补充，充满了深刻的见解。
我们诗歌智慧书的第一站是约伯记，其中的事件最有可能发生在创世记时期。有些人甚至认为这些是在创世记结束之前就记录下来的。
深入学习(30分钟)
我们将分三个部分来学习约伯的故事。我们没时间去读本书的大部分内容，因此我们将重点关注三个部分。第一部分发生在约伯经历巨大考验时。第二部分是他从神那里听到的关于这些考验的回应。在第三部分，我们将看到约伯因他的信心而得到奖赏。在我们读每部分时，你们要想象你自己就是约伯。这样，也许你能在某种程度上体会到他的感觉。尝试个人化这个故事，因为这将有助于使其更适用于你自己的生活。
1. 约伯被剥夺
读 约伯记 1:1-3
问题讨论：
1. 第 1 节，是如何描述约伯的？（完全且正直，敬畏神，远离恶事。）
2. 约伯有几个孩子？（10个…7 个儿子和 3 个女儿）
3. 他有多少只羊？(7,000) 多少只骆驼？(3,000) 多少对牛？(500)、多少匹母驴？(500) 多少个仆人？（许多。）
4. 第 3 节如何概括了约伯的社会地位、财富和权力？（在东方人中为至大。）
约伯是个伟人。他敬畏神，还拥有巨额财富、大家族和兴旺的生意。但正如我们将要看到的，对约伯来说，事情不会一直这么顺利。
（教师注：我们跳过下一段叙述。它包括一段撒旦与神之间令人困惑的对话。不过，我们并不是因为这段文字难以理解而跳过这段。我们只是没有足够的时间来处理这个故事的复杂性。）
读 约伯记 1:13-22
约伯在这些经文中失去了很多东西。请记住，这似乎都是在同一天发生的。我们在读这些事情时，请尝试着想象一下若这些事都发生在你自己身上。
问题讨论：
1. 14-15 节说约伯失去了什么？（他所有的牛、驴和仆人。）
2. 约伯在 16 节失去了什么？（他所有的羊和仆人。）
3. 约伯在第 17 节失去了什么？（他所有的骆驼和更多的仆人。）
4. 18-19 节表明约伯还失去了什么？（所有 10 个孩子和更多仆人。）
5. 20-21 节，约伯对此的回应是什么？（他敬拜神。）
6. 约伯在这种时候为什么还能敬拜神？
除了 4 个仆人， 约伯失去了一切，他所有的牲畜，他所有的孩子。尽管如此，在极度的痛苦中，他仍跪在地上敬拜神。这是怎样的信仰啊！经文（第 22 节）表明，做这一切时，他没有犯罪，也没有责怪神。我们没有时间读第 2 章，在那章里，约伯浑身长了毒疮。无奈之下，他的妻子催促他诅咒神而去死。然而，约伯不会犯罪，他说：“难道我们从神得福乐，不也受灾祸么？”
2. 约伯学习
约伯的故事延续了许多章节。在此期间，三个朋友来拜访约伯。他们试图说服他。如果有时间，可以一口气读完。这是一个引人入胜的故事。
最终，随着约伯继续受苦、哀痛和忍耐，他学到了一些不同寻常的功课。这就是我们接下来要关注的。我们要读的是约伯问了一些严肃的问题之后发生的事。他在与朋友讨论时提出这些问题，尤其是在约伯记 26-31 章。这几章都是人的回答，之后，我们在约伯记 38 章得到了神的回应。我们读到的是不同寻常的。
读 约伯记 38:1-18
这是神对约伯说的话的一小部分。神的话持续到第 38 章的其余部分（共 41 节）、整个第 39 章（另外 30 节），并持续到第 40-41 章（合起来，58 节）。这些修辞性的问题没有停顿地回应在约伯身上。
问题讨论：
1. 神通过问这些问题想教导约伯什么？
2. 约伯如何回应？（答案见 40:3-5。）
3. 你觉得你会如何回应？
4. 在这些章节中，神是如何描述自己的 （如果需要，请读后面更多的对话。）
3. 约伯得奖赏
接下来发生的事情非常令人难以置信。约伯谦卑地回应。让我们来看看这个奇妙故事的结局。
读 约伯记 42:1-6 和 12-17
问题讨论：
1. 你如何看待约伯对神的回应？
2. 约伯得到的祝福是受试炼前所拥有的多少倍？（翻了一番——14,000只羊，6,000只骆驼等，还有7个儿子，3个女儿，得见他的儿孙，直到四代。）
3. 第 16-17 节，在这个故事的结尾讲述了约伯的死。你觉得他死前最后的想法会是什么？
4. 像约伯那样，会是什么感觉？
应用(10分钟)
你很可能永远不会像约伯那样经历苦难。但你会在生命中的某些时间经历到痛苦。我们需要把约伯记好好运用在我们的生活中。
新约中，雅各总结了信徒的苦难神学。请翻到雅各1。
读 雅各1：2-4
问题讨论：
1. 受苦时要喜乐，说得通吗？为什么是/不？
2. 雅各说试炼会给我们带来什么？（考验我们的信心，产生忍耐。帮助我们在信心上成熟。）
3. 我们发现对约伯是这样吗？（绝对是这样。）
面对试炼可能会很艰难。因为我们发现自己会问“为什么？”，像约伯一样，我们想知道为什么这些事会发生在我们身上。
以下是我们在受苦时应该问自己的四个问题。在每个问题之后，有一些我们可以做些什么的建议。
++++++++++
我是否因罪而受苦？ 认罪悔改。
是撒旦因我的信仰而攻击我吗？ 求神赐力量。
我的困苦是否是我无法左右的自然后果？ 认识到我们身处一个罪恶的世界，善恶都会受苦，神应许有一天所有的苦难都会结束。
我是否正在为某个特别的服事而受训练？ 看到你的受难可能带来有意义的服事。祈求神和其他人帮助你看到并完成这些服事，以帮助那些可能遭受同样苦难的人。
++++++++++++
问题讨论：
1. 你经历过的最大的痛苦是什么？（失去亲人、被虐待等）
2. 到目前为止，你觉得这个问题你处理得如何？（生神的气，试图压抑它等）
3. 你能从这些试炼中看到什么益处吗？它如何提高了你的信心？
4. 你有采取措施来阻止这些伤害，开始治愈的过程吗？那些人如何帮助你做到这一点？
结束祷告(10分钟)
在这一点上，可能需要一段相当认真的祷告时间。鼓励学生对他们所在的情形以及他们需要祷告的原因敞开。然后，作为他们的带领人，你为每个学生和他们的伤痛祷告。祈求神开始医治，接受我们所面临的考验，并通过这些考验来荣耀神。慢慢地进行，让这个祷告时间更有意义。
**** 英文版 *******
The Writings
Lesson 1: Overview of Job
LESSON OBJECTIVES
Goals
1. To familiarize students in the basic themes and narrative of the first of the Old Testament Writings, Job
2. To personalize the story of suffering, faith, and perseverance in the lives of each student
3. To motivate students to consider trials a joy, realizing it is maturing them in their faith
Topics
Affliction, Burdens, Emotions, Endurance, Grumbling, Patience, Perseverance, Suffering
Scripture Memorization
2 Corinthians 12:10
OPENING PRAYER (5 to 10 minutes)
GROUP BUILDING (5 minutes)
Begin your time with a game preparing students for memorizing Scripture. Make sure everyone has the same version of the Bible. Have them open to James 1:2-4. The goal is to go around your circle and have each person read just one word of the passage. If they read two accidentally (which will happen), you have to start over. Once you get through the passage once, challenge the class to do it faster.
Make it a goal to read the 3 verses, one word at a time, in less than 20 seconds. Good luck!
GETTING STARTED (10 minutes)
This verse we read talks about faith, trials, and perseverance. This introduces well our first stop on our journey through the Old Testament books of writing. Mostly poetry, these five books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon) fall into the category of The Writings because they deal with various themes—wisdom, praise, etc.—not so much in a narrative format, but also not in the format of prophecy. They are supplementary to other historical books, and filled with great insight.
Again, our first stop as we go through The Writings is Job, the events of which most likely occurred during the time of Genesis. Some even believe these words were recorded before the events of Genesis were completed.
DIGGING IN (30 minutes)
We’re going to consider the story of Job in three different chunks. There is no way we can read the majority of this book, so we’re going to focus in on three sections. The first section occurs as Job suffers through great trials. The second chunk of scripture will be about his hearing from God concerning these things. In the third chunk, we’ll see that Job is rewarded for his faith. As we go through each, imagine yourself in Job’s shoes. Perhaps you can relate to his story at some level. Try to personalize this story, as that will help make it more applicable to your own life.
1. JOB LOSES
Read Job 1:1-3
Discussion Questions:
1. How does verse 1 describe Job? (Upright, feared God, hated evil, etc.)
2. How many children does Job have? (10…7 sons and 3 daughters)
3. How many sheep did he have? (7,000) Camels? (3,000) Pairs of oxen? (500), Female donkeys? (500) Servants? (a large number.)
4. How does verse 3 summarizes Job’s social status, wealth & power? (He was the greatest of all the men in the East.)
Job was a great man. Not only did he fear God, but he had great wealth, a big family, and a thriving business. But things would not stay so great for Job, as we’ll see.
(TEACHER’S NOTE: We’re skipping over a part of this narrative. It includes a confusing passage about a meeting between Satan and God. We’re not skipping this passage because of this hard-to-understand text, though. We just don’t have time to deal with the complexities of the story in this overview.)
Read Job 1:13-22
Job loses much in these verses. Keep in mind, this seems to all have happened the SAME DAY. As we walk through what has happened, try to personalize these events.
Discussion Questions:
1. Verses 14-15 state that Job loses what? (All his oxen and donkeys and servants.)
2. Job loses what in verse 16? (All his sheep and servants.)
3. What does Job lose in verse 17? (All his camels and more servants.)
4. Verses 18-19 indicate that Job loses what else? (All 10 kids and more servants.)
5. What is Job’s response in verse 20-21? (He worships.)
6. How do you think Job had the capacity to worship at a time like this?
Job loses everything, all his livestock, his children, all but 4 servants. Despite this, and in the midst of great anguish, he bows low to the ground and worships God. What a faith! The scriptures (v. 22) reveal that in doing all this, he did not sin or blame God. In chapter 2, which we don’t have time to read, Job is smitten with boils all over his skin. In desperation, his wife urges him to curse God and die. Yet Job will not sin, saying, “shall we accept good from God and not trouble?”
2. JOB LEARNS
The story of Job stretches along for many chapters. During this time, three friends come to visit Job. They try to talk sense into him. If you have time, read the entire book in one sitting. It’s a compelling story.
Eventually, as Job continues to suffer, mourn, and persevere, he learns some powerful lessons. That’s what I want to focus on next. What we’re about to read comes after Job asks some serious questions. He asks these as part of his discussion with his friends, particularly in Job 26-31. After a couple of different chapters filled with man’s response, we get God’s response in Job 38. What we read is powerful.
Read Job 38:1-18
This is a small sample of God’s words to Job. It goes on for the rest of chapter 38 (41 verses in all), the entirety of chapter 39 (30 more verses), and continues in chapters 40-41 (combined, 58 verses). These rhetorical questions come at Job without pause.
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think God is trying to teach Job by asking these questions?
2. How do you think Job responded? (See 40:3-5 for the answer.)
3. How do you think you would have responded?
4. What picture does God paint of Himself in these chapters? (Scan more of the dialogue if you need to.)
3. JOB GAINS
What happens next is pretty incredible. Job responds in humility. Let’s read the ending of this marvelous story.
Read Job 42:1-6 and 12-17
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think of Job’s response to God?
2. By how many times is Job blessed based on what he had before his trials? (Twice as much—14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, etc., 7 more sons, 3 daughters, their descendants to the fourth generation.)
3. Verse 16-17 resolve the story and tell of Job’s death. What do you think were some of his last thoughts before he died?
4. What would it have been like to be Job?
MAKING IT REAL (10 minutes)
It is VERY likely that you will never experience suffering like Job did. But you WILL experience suffering at some point during your life. We need to take this Old Testament book of Job and put it to good use in our life.
In the New Testament, James summarizes what a believer’s theology of suffering should be. Turn to James 1.
Read James 1:2-4
Discussion Questions:
1. Does it make sense that we should be joyful when suffering? Why/why not?
2. What does James say trials will do? (Test our faith, produce perseverance, help us mature in our faith.)
3. Did we find this true of Job? (Most definitely.)
Facing trials can be hard. Usually it’s because we find ourselves asking “why?” Like Job, we wonder why things have happened to us.
Below is a series of four questions that we should ask ourselves when we are suffering. After those questions, there are some suggestions about what we can do to make it through our trial.
Question:
What To Do:
Am I suffering a consequence of sin? Confess your sin, repent.
Is Satan attacking me because of my faith? Ask God for strength.
Is my suffering a result of a natural consequence for which I am not responsible? Recognize we’re in a sinful world, both good and evil suffer, God promises that one day all suffering will end.
Am I being trained for some special service? Realize that your suffering can lead to great ministry opportunities. Ask God and others to help you realize these chances to help others who may suffer in the same way.
You see, suffering is not fun, and it’s not easy, but it is often very productive. Despite the pain we feel, God can often use it for good. There are countless examples of this throughout scripture (Joseph, Jonah, Hosea, etc.). So it’s time to ask ourselves some really tough questions.
Discussion Questions:
1. What is the greatest suffering you have ever had to endure? (Losing a family member, being abused, etc.)
2. How do you feel like you have dealt with that so far? (Angry at God, trying to hide it, etc.)
3. Is there any possible good you can see coming out of your trials? How can it improve your faith?
4. Are you taking steps to stop hurting and begin the healing process? How can this group of people help you do that?
CLOSING PRAYER (10 minutes)
It is likely that at this point a fairly serious time of prayer is needed. Encourage students to be very open about where they are and what they need prayer for. Then, as the adult leader, pray for each student and their hurt. Ask God to begin the healing process and take the trials that we’ve faced and glorify Himself through them. Take all the time you need and make this prayer time meaningful.