1. Faithful God, Unfaithful People
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Faithful God, Unfaithful People
Lesson 10

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Lesson Outline
Introduction A. A Matter of Trust B. Lesson Background: Phinehas #1 C. Lesson Background: Phinehas #2

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Professional Trust
Since 1977, Gallup has asked Americans to rate the trustworthiness of various professions.
Some professions and occupations regularly appear on either the “most trusted” or the “least trusted” list.
Could you place some occupations in the order they were named in one of the most recent surveys?
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Graphic: © Olivier Le Moal / iStock / Thinkstock®

4. Professional Trust Most Trusted Least Trusted nurses car salespeople
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Professional Trust
Most Trusted
Least Trusted
 nurses
 pharmacists
 medical doctors
 engineers
 dentists
car salespeople 
members of Congress
advertising executives 
stockbrokers
HMO managers
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advertising executives, car salespeople, dentists, engineers, HMO managers, medical doctors, members of Congress, nurses, pharmacists, stockbrokers
Graphic: © Olivier Le Moal / iStock / Thinkstock®

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Professional Trust
Ministers, priests, and other clergy have often ranked near the top in these polls.
In 2013, however, that trend was reversed.
The Catholic priest abuse stories from the early 2000s helped lead to a sharp drop in Americans’ trust of those in the ministry.
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Professional Trust
There are some people we instinctively trust and others we do not.
When priests and other clergy misuse their authority, fewer trust God as well.
The Bible shows that some of God’s priests in the Old Testament were trustworthy, while some were not.
As is true today, this made a big difference.
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Lesson Outline
I. God Rewards Zeal (Numbers 25:10-13) A. God Speaks (v. 10) B. Phinehas Commended (v. 11) C. Covenant Established (v. 12) D. Permanence Promised (v. 13)

8. What Do You Think? What are some ways to be fervent for God today?
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What Do You Think?
What are some ways to be fervent for God today?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Before believers
Before unbelievers
Before no one but God himself 8

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What Do You Think?
What are some ways your church can promote peace without getting political?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Racially
Economically
Socially
Other 9

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Lesson Outline
II. God Punishes Sins (1 Samuel 2:30-36) A. Consequences of Unfaithfulness (vv ) B. Rewards for Faithfulness (vv. 35, 36)

11. Priests and Trust Two men named Phinehas were priests serving God.
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Priests and Trust
Two men named Phinehas were priests serving God.
One of them was very faithful and the other one (along with his brother Hophni) was very unfaithful.
Read Numbers 25:1-13 and 1 Samuel 2:12-36 to help you identify the following words that could have been spoken by either the good (G) or the bad (B) Phinehas.
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Photo: © Unrestedm / iStock / Thinkstock®

12. Priests and Trust Good (G) or Bad (B) Phinehas?
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Priests and Trust
Good (G) or Bad (B) Phinehas?
1. “I have an excellent ability to select the
best cuts of meat used for sacrifices.”
2. “I was a priest when the Lord was very
angry with Israel.”
3. “I impaled two people with a spear.”
4. “My father was Eli.”
5. “My father was Eleazar.”
6. “I was killed along with my brother
while fighting for Israel.” B G
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13. Priests and Trust Good (G) or Bad (B) Phinehas?
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Priests and Trust
Good (G) or Bad (B) Phinehas?
7. “I took special notice of the ladies who came to worship.”
8. “My grandfather was Aaron, Moses’ brother.”
9. “I stopped a plague.”
10. “I am strong enough to take what I want.”
11. “I am part of an everlasting priesthood.”
12. “I was part of an everlasting priesthood.”  
B   G G  B
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What Do You Think?
What specific improvements can Christians make in bestowing honor?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
To God (Heb 3:3; Rev 4:9-11; etc.)
Outside the church (Ro 13:7; 1Pe 2:17; etc.)
Within the church (1Co 12:26; 1Ti 5:17; etc.)
Within families (Eph 6:2; Heb 13:4; etc.) 14

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What Do You Think?
How would you respond to someone who says that God’s statement in 1 Samuel 2:31 wasn’t fair to future generations?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Considering Exodus 20:5 with regard to Jeremiah 31:29, 30
Considering the “fairness” of Jesus’ death 15

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What Do You Think?
Which spiritual disciplines are most helpful to you for remaining faithful? Why?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Regarding disciplines of service
Regarding disciplines of worship
Regarding disciplines of prayer
Regarding disciplines of Bible reading
Considering 2 Peter 1:5-8 16

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Lesson Outline
Conclusion A. Unfaithful to Commitments B. Prayer C. Thought to Remember

18. Horizontal Visual
Move to the closing of the lesson by discussing the importance of keeping our promises.

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Building
Many of us would have to admit we have not always kept the promises we have made to the people in our lives.
We usually have an excuse for why we didn’t do what we said we would.
Which of the following excuses have you used recently? Will you commit to removing it from your life to become a more trustworthy representative of God?
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Graphic: © Otmar Winterleitner / iStock / Thinkstock®

20. Building “I meant to do it, but I got really busy.” “I forgot.”
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Building
“I meant to do it, but I got really busy.”
“I forgot.”
“That promise was made too hastily, and I just couldn’t follow through.”  
“I didn’t have the resources (money, time, ability) to keep my promise.”
Other?
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Thought to Remember
Others see God’s faithfulness when we are proven to be faithful.

22. Promise of a New Covenant
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Next Week’s Lesson
Promise of a New Covenant