New Sunday School Class now meeting, 9:45 in the last classroom on the right
Taught by Scot Crosslin & Paul Rebelo. 
Our topic is Heroes and Villains of the Bible. 
 

Heroes and Villains of the Old Testament

 
I.                  Overview and Rationale
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible records the actions of both heroes and villains.  As ancient conceptions, heroic and villainous characters embody for readers the timeless struggle between good and evil.  Historically, both the hero and villain capture the zeitgeist, or “spirit of the times.”  They allow cultures, societies, and communities to establish the moral boundaries of the times in which they lived.  Heroes reveal what cultures value and extend those values to future generations.  
     Considering that, in part, the Bible collects a group of narratives that run the spectrum of human emotions and actions, we can explore the purpose of these stories, but in a narrower sense, we can examine how heroes and villains interact within the context of their times and religious boundaries.  We can see how God uses both heroes and villains to transform His followers. And we can ask ourselves how we identify with biblical heroes and, perhaps at times, villains.
 
II.             Heroic and Villainous Qualities and Characteristics
A.    Generally, heroes are…
    1.       Thought of as “larger than life.”
        a.      Not that they are “superhuman,” but that their “world-view” is larger, more expansive, more perfect than the one we inhabit.
    2.     Youthful, or forever young, sometimes ideally beautiful.
    3.     From mysterious origins or frequently orphaned.
    4.     Close to nature
        a.      Their experiences link them with the natural world and provide an understanding of how Nature works.
    5.     Physically strong
    6.     Simple
        a.      They live simple, direct, uncluttered lifestyles.
    7.     Virtuous
        a.      They exhibit a host of virtues, such as: honesty, courtesy, perseverance, self-control, intelligence, imagination, and caring.
    8.     Sometimes accompanied by a “sidekick.”
    9.     Captured by a “moment of discovery/revelation

 
B.     Generally, villains are…
    1.       Foils to the hero.
        a.      Villains define a sense of “other-ness”.
    2.     Motivated by evil or some form of evil
        a.      Greed, lust, power, etc.
    3.     In some instances, physically deformed.
    4.     Sometimes, over-dressed.
    5.     From violent backgrounds.
    6.     Overconfident and brilliant
        a.      Villains are motivated and usually undone by their own hubris.
        b.      Often, villains engage in an unnecessary explanation of their “evil plan.”
    7.     Abusive to their accomplices
            a. Villains blame their lackey’s incompetence for their own failures.
    8.     Redeemable