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March 13, 2024: The Disagreeing Witnesses

Read Mark 14:53-65.
“For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together” (v.56).

“It is a little three-cornered thing inside of me,” explained the Native American. “When I do wrong, it turns round and hurts me very much. But if I keep doing wrong, it will turn so much that the corners become worn off, and it does not hurt me anymore.” This description of a conscience might be amusing, but it is significant and precise. These false witnesses must have been driven by bribes or promised prestige. Every man has his price. You don’t have to buy an honest person: he costs you nothing!
The Gospels record that Jesus was examined in four trials before He was finally put to death. First before Annas, a former high priest, then this trial before high priests and religious leaders; next, He stood before Pilate (twice), and finally before Herod Antipas. Jesus had to endure a long night of false accusations and torture under brutal religious and political figures.
Overriding their conscience and listening to the noisy crowd, these evil leaders refused to recall the miracle accounts of the lame made to walk, the dumb given speech, and the dead risen again. Jesus went about doing good! If you went about doing good, that would be a convincing and gracious testimony of God’s grace. As clearly is shown in this account, even innocent Jesus was misunderstood and falsely accused of a crime to fit in with man’s plan for His death. We can fully trust and lean upon our Savior, who willingly stood trial for our sins! (Beverly Tatam)
There are days so dark that I seek in vain
For the face of my Friend divine;
But though darkness hide, He is there to guide
By the touch of His hand on mine.
--- Jessie Pounds

“Relying on God has to start all over every day
as if nothing has yet been done.” (C. S. Lewis)

2024-03-13T15:47:22+00:00March 13th, 2024|Categories: Opening the Word|0 Comments

March 17, 2024: The Son of God on Trial

FOCUS TEXT: Matthew 26:57-68

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Psalm 69:6-20; Mark 14:53-65; John 18:12, 19- 24

DEVOTIONAL READING: Matthew 16:13-20

KEY VERSE: He came unto his own, and his own received him not (John 1:11).

CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ suffered patiently as our Substitute.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list ways they can suffer for Christ.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Slandered Savior (Matthew 26:55-61)
II. The Silent Savior (Matthew 26:62, 63)
III. The Smitten Savior (Matthew 26:64-68)

2024-03-11T16:56:02+00:00March 11th, 2024|Categories: Lesson Highlights|0 Comments

March 6, 2024: Christ Draws All Men

Read John 12:31-41.

 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (v. 32).

Jupiter, the sky god of the Romans, was believed to have a chain of gold that he would at times be let down from heaven to draw the earth and all of its inhabitants to himself.  (Homer, Iliad viii, vs. 18-27). Jehangir, who ruled as emperor of the Mughal dynasty from 1605 to 1627, installed a “chain of justice” outside the Agra Fort. It was made of pure gold and was thirty yards long. One end was suspended from the royal bastion, and the other was fastened to the ground below. Sixty bells were attached to the chain. The emperor used this means as a link to the citizens. A person who had a grievance could pull on the chain, ring the bells, and gain a personal audience with the emperor. (Hist. of Hindostan, p. 96, Calcutta, 1788)

These illustrations are feeble comparisons to what our Lord offered when He gave His life on the cross. The King of Glory, hanging between heaven and earth as a substitutionary offering for our sins, made a redemptive provision for all who would surrender their heart and life to Him by faith in repentance. His gold chain of reconciliation has been extended to all who will grasp the offer of divine grace to become a child of God. (LGW)

 “Once my soul was astray from the heavenly way
I was wretched and blind as could be
But my Savior in love gave me peace from above.
When he reached down his hand for me.”

--- G. E. Wright

2024-03-06T18:47:37+00:00March 6th, 2024|Categories: Opening the Word|0 Comments

March 10, 2024: Christ’s Death Explained

FOCUS TEXT: John 12:20-36

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: John 12:20-50; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44

DEVOTIONAL READING: Isaiah 53:1-12

KEY VERSE: Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit (John 12:24).

CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ willingly gave His life for our sake.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to explain why Christ had to die in order that we might live.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Principle Behind Christ's Death (John 12:20-26)
II. The Purpose of Christ's Death (John 12:27-32)
III. The Problem of Christ's Death (John 12:33-36)

2024-03-04T17:48:24+00:00March 4th, 2024|Categories: Lesson Highlights|0 Comments

February 25, 2024: The Christians’ Responsibility to God’s Family

BIBLICAL BASIS: Understanding Our Accountability to Other Believers

PRINTED TEXT: Romans 14:1-18

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Galatians 6:1-6; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

DEVOTIONAL READING: Romans 15:1-7

KEY VERSE: We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves (Romans 15:1).

CENTRAL TRUTH: We are responsible to promote Christlike living in God's family.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify three things they will do to help a spiritually weak Christian.

LESSON OUTLINE:

I. Accepting a Weak Brother -- Responsibility (Romans 14:1-9)

II. Accusing a Weak Brother -- Danger (Romans 14:10-13)

III. Accommodating a Weak Brother -- Necessity (Romans 14:14-23)

2024-02-20T16:51:14+00:00February 20th, 2024|Categories: Lesson Highlights, Weekly Lesson Summaries|0 Comments

Spring, 2024: Jesus, the Son of God

Many great topics benefit from the Word of God, but it is doubtful that any subject could give a greater blessing and spiritual lift than considering the Son of God Himself.

In this series of lessons we focus more on teachings about Christ and His divinity. We look at what He said He was, such as the Water of Life, the Good Shepherd, and the True Vine. We look at His power to forgive and consider His trial, crucifixion, and resurrection, all demonstrating that He was not just a great man or a good teacher but the very Son of God. Other lessons deal with His demonstration of humility, His prayer life, and the great authority with which He spoke. We end the quarter with a lesson that seeks to bring the series to a proper conclusion, asking, "What will you do with Jesus?" This question is vital for any unsaved ones who may be in the class, but it is also essential that each Christian continually allows Christ the place He seeks and deserves as the Lord and Master of our lives.

Let us all pray that the lessons on Christ, the Son of God, will not be dry academic studies but that we will recognize that the one we seek to understand and know better can be personally present in the classroom. Even more important, may we seek not only to know about Him but to recognize Him as our very own living, reigning, loving, and compassionate Savior. He wants to make Himself known in new and special ways. May we allow Him to do so. --

2024-02-12T16:31:27+00:00February 12th, 2024|Categories: Quarter Topic|0 Comments

February 18, 2024: The Christian and Civil Authorities

BIBLICAL BASIS: Understanding the Christian's Responsibility to the Government

PRINTED TEXT: Romans 13:1-14

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Daniel 1:1-14; I Thessalonians 4:10-12; I Peter 2:12-16

DEVOTIONAL READING: I Timothy 2:1-4

KEY VERSE: For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God (Romans 13:1).

CENTRAL TRUTH: God has ordained governmental authorities for our good.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify some obligations a Christian owes government authorities.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Issue of Inappropriate Resistance (Romans 13:1-4)
II. The Issue of Rightful Subjection (Romans 13:5-7)
III. The Issue of Appropriate Obedience (Romans 13:8-14)

2024-02-12T16:27:41+00:00February 12th, 2024|Categories: Lesson Highlights, Weekly Lesson Summaries|0 Comments

February 11, 2024: The Life of a Christian

BIBLICAL BASIS: Understanding the Role of Service to God and Others

PRINTED TEXT: Romans 12:1-13

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 22:24-27; Acts 2:42-47; 9:36-42; 2 Corinthians 9:7, 8; 1 Peter 4:7-11

DEVOTIONAL READING: 1 Peter 2:11-20

KEY VERSE: And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD? (1 Chronicles 29:5).

CENTRAL TRUTH: God's grace obligates us to offer our lives in worship.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list three ways they can be more diligent in service to God or others.

LESSON OUTLINE:

I. A Life of Consecration (Romans 12:1, 2)

II. A Life of Cooperation (Romans 12:3-8)

III. A Life of Service (Romans 12:9-13)

2024-02-06T16:55:05+00:00February 6th, 2024|Categories: Lesson Highlights, Weekly Lesson Summaries|0 Comments

February 1, 2024: A Lost Son Restored

Read Luke 15:11-24.
“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” (v. 24).

As heartrending and scary as our experience was (see yesterday’s devotional), it doesn’t compare to the sadness and heartbreak caused by a son who wanders away from God and ruins his life through sinful actions and addictions. Many years ago, the devil deceived a young pastor who showed a lot of promise for ministry, and caused him to leave the pastorate and turn from his faith. His mother, heartbroken, prayed faithfully for him until she died. I know the son of a pastor who, turning away from a call that God had placed upon his heart, set his sights on the wealth of this world. Both of these can be restored!
Jim Cymbala, author of Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, tells about his wayward daughter, Chrissy. She had been expelled from a Bible college, was concealing an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, had completely turned her back on her family, and they did not know where she was. All they and their church could do was pray. But God knew where Chrissy was and how to get her attention. Miraculously, she went home, prayed to victory, and was restored to her family. Today, she and her husband are pastoring a church in Chicago.
Like the prodigal’s father in today’s verse, the Cymbala family rejoiced that the lost one had come home. (SEH)
Let’s keep praying for the prodigals – God can restore them

2024-02-01T18:50:30+00:00February 1st, 2024|Categories: Opening the Word|0 Comments

February 7, 2024: A Gospel For All

BIBLICAL BASIS: Understanding the Plan of Salvation

PRINTED TEXT: Romans 10:1-17

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Joshua 24:1-28; Nehemiah 9:1-38; Psalm 51:1-17; Romans 10:1-21

DEVOTIONAL READING: Luke 18:9-14

KEY VERSE: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9).

CENTRAL TRUTH: The steps to salvation are simple and plain so all may be saved.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to clearly explain how a person can know Jesus Christ as his Saviour.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Person (Romans 10:1-7)
II. The Plan (Romans 10:8-13)
III. The Proclamation (Romans 10:14-21)

2024-01-29T19:29:32+00:00January 29th, 2024|Categories: Lesson Highlights, Weekly Lesson Summaries|0 Comments

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