If your class is meeting online, invite students to bring paper and pens/pencils to class.

The balance between our free will and God’s sovereignty can feel like a confusing paradox sometimes. In fact, theologians have discussed this question for centuries. So how do we know the difference between our job and God’s job? It’s a good question! Let’s start by establishing what we already know for sure.

Either assign partners or let students choose someone they are comfortable working beside. Give each pair of students a piece of paper and instruct them to make two columns: MY JOB and NOT MY JOB. Use the whiteboard (or screenshared document) to replicate the two columns.

Give them a jump start by listing on the whiteboard several items to write in each column. The first column (MY JOB) can include things like Obeying God’s Commands, Praying for Wisdom, Seeking Advice from Wise Counsel, or Connecting with Other Believers. The second column (NOT MY JOB) might include things like Predicting the Future, Thinking Only of Myself, Forgetting to Pray, Forcing an Outcome, Expecting Someone Else’s Outcome, etc.

Let students add items to their two columns and then discuss the following questions as a group:

• Besides the entries we wrote down together, would anyone like to share other items in your columns? (Let students share personal examples.)
• Do we always know exactly what God is doing? Why not? (We couldn’t handle that kind of knowledge. Only He can see the final outcomes; we are instructed to trust and obey. He knows the missing or hidden pieces yet to come that we are not aware will factor into the finale.)
• What happens if we have to wait a long time before God’s plans are made known? (Many times we can be impatient with our prayer requests or desired plans. We need encouragement from others to trust His ultimate purpose, even when it’s cloudy or unclear.)
• Why is it a bad idea to base our expectations on what has happened to someone else? (The timing, the personal differences, the background, and the context might be entirely different from one person to the next. It does no good to expect God to work the same way in every circumstance.)
• How can we become more willing servants in God’s kingdom work here on earth? (Humility, compassion, enthusiasm, and maturity are gifts from God. We must ask for and then act when He gives us an assignment.)

When you are done with the discussion, conclude today’s lesson by having students write down what “God Assignments” are already in front of them. These can be opportunities to serve in some capacity at church, a task at home, an evangelism opportunity, a friendship to develop, and so forth. Perhaps adult leaders can share from their own lives about a situation where God is currently using them to further His kingdom work. Challenge your students to take at least one step this week to utilize the opportunities they’ve listed.

Close in prayer.