From Creation to Restoration · Lesson 08
How does God teach us to think and live differently?
50-minute class · Adults and older teenagers · Full KJV readings included
No Bible needed: full KJV passages appear below and in both printable downloads. Bible text is separate from the teaching notes.
Words to know: Comforter names the Helper promised by Jesus; carnal means fleshly in Paul’s contrast; quicken means give life.
Jesus promises the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who teaches and brings His words to remembrance. Romans 8 connects the life of the Spirit with a changed direction of mind and conduct. God’s work within us calls for a response marked by truth, love, and obedience.
Provide each student with a worksheet and Scripture reader. Read the passages and teaching guide in advance. Invite participation without requiring personal disclosures.
50-minute flow: Welcome and opening prayer, 5 minutes; Scripture and teaching, 25 minutes; discussion, 10 minutes; weekly response, 5 minutes; closing prayer, 5 minutes.
Ask: “What kinds of things repeatedly shape the way we think?” Let students name influences before asking how the words of Christ might reshape attention and response.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Read: John 14:15–27. See the class or supporting readings on this page.
Jesus speaks to His disciples about love, obedience, and the promised Comforter. He does not describe them as abandoned. The Holy Ghost will teach them and bring to their remembrance what He has said.
The promise is anchored in the relationship between Jesus and His disciples. As the church receives their witness, we look to the Spirit in dependence upon Christ’s teaching. Spiritual claims should lead us back to His words.
Ask: What does Jesus connect with loving Him in this passage?
Read: Romans 8:5–14. See the class or supporting readings on this page.
Paul contrasts those who mind the things of the flesh with those who mind the things of the Spirit. Here flesh names the sinful orientation opposed to God; the body itself is not treated as worthless. Paul also speaks of God giving life to mortal bodies.
The Spirit’s presence reaches into allegiance and conduct. Those led by the Spirit are called to put to death the deeds of the body that belong to sin. Renewed thinking should become visible in a changed response.
Ask: How can we distinguish caring for the body from obeying a sinful desire?
Read: 1 Corinthians 2:9–16. See the class or supporting readings on this page.
Paul speaks of God revealing through His Spirit what human wisdom cannot discover on its own. Receiving spiritual understanding is therefore a reason for humility. It gives no permission to despise people or claim that every private impression is God’s voice.
The passage points toward the mind of Christ. We should ask whether a claimed insight agrees with the apostolic witness and encourages conduct consistent with Him. A willingness to listen and receive correction belongs within that examination.
Ask: How could spiritual language be misused if humility is missing?
Read: Ezekiel 36:25–27; John 14:15–27. See the class or supporting readings on this page.
Ezekiel’s promise to Israel describes cleansing, a new heart, and God’s Spirit enabling a changed way of walking. In its own setting, the passage shows that restoration involves God’s work within His people.
Jesus’ promise of peace does not remove every difficulty, but gives His disciples reason not to let their hearts be troubled or afraid. Our response includes prayerful dependence, attention to His teaching, and obedience practiced in love.
Ask: What would it look like to ask for inward renewal as well as a change in circumstances?
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
What does Jesus say the Comforter will do?
Teach the disciples and bring Jesus’ words to their remembrance.
What does Romans 8 connect with life in the Spirit?
A changed orientation toward God, belonging to Christ, and resistance to sinful conduct.
Why should spiritual understanding produce humility?
It is received through God’s revealing work rather than generated as a personal achievement.
How can we respond to God’s work within us?
Attend to Christ’s words, pray, welcome correction, and practice obedience expressed through love.
Choose one influence that is shaping an unhelpful response and one practice that gives attention to Christ’s teaching. Read a short part of John 14 during the week, pray over its meaning, and act on one command of love. A student may discuss a difficult interpretation with a trusted teacher rather than relying only on a strong impression.
Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit and the words of Jesus Christ. Renew our thinking and guide our conduct. Give us humility to receive truth, courage to obey, and peace rooted in belonging to You. Amen.
Lesson Nine follows inward abiding into the visible life of the Kingdom among us.
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Scripture: King James Version. Bible text is presented separately from teaching notes and prayers.