Unifying Lesson Principle: Everyone has experienced fears that their dreams and hopes for the future may not be realized. How do we seek reassurance that our hopes and dreams may yet come true? Hannah turned to prayer, confident that the Lord would fulfill her hopes for conceiving a child.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to 1. Recognize Hannah’s faithful witness through her prayerful longing. 2. Experience heartfelt vows as honest expressions of witness to God. and 3. Cultivate a rich prayer life as an element of living a faithful witness before God.

Unifying Lesson Principle: Our bad choices can land us in a hole out of which we find it impossible to climb. Where can we find rescue when our troubles are too big to manage on our own? God empowered Judge Deborah to deliver Israel when they called on God for rescue from the grips of an oppressive foreign power.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to 1. Describe Deborah’s leadership as a faithful witness. 2. Rejoice in Deborah’s excellent example of faithful leadership during harsh circumstances. and 3. Follow Deborah’s example of heeding God’s call to leadership in service to others.

Unifying Lesson Principle: People often struggle to succeed without the support of others. To whom do we turn for support? The texts from Matthew and Hebrews portray a community united in evangelism, worship, and fellowship.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to 1. Examine God’s purpose and design for meaningful worship. 2. Experience fellowship and worship in God’s presence. and 3. Exercise leadership and creativity in worship.

Unifying Lesson Principle: Some people tend toward work, while others tend toward rest. Why should we strive to balance work and rest? As Christians, we are instructed to value both fasting and feasting as well as working and resting.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to 1. Identify common themes in Jesus’ challenges to traditional practices such as fasting and Sabbath keeping. 2. Value fasting and feasting, as well as work and rest. and 3. Model a balanced life-between fasting and feasting, working and resting- and advocate for others to have the freedom to do the same.

Unifying Lesson Principle: Out of fear of scarcity, people often hoard resources. What motivates individuals to act equitably and share with those in need? Scripture guides us to work together, treat others in ways that honor the Lord, be rich in good works, and practice generosity.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to 1. Contrast God’s justice and impartiality with societal tendencies toward various”-isms” (e.g, classism, tacism, ableism, etc.). 2. Develop a sense of generosity rooted in God’s love. and 3. Respect one another as equals in the sight of God.