BIBLICAL BASIS: Understanding How to Identify Error

FOCUS TEXT: 2 Peter 2:1-10; 1 John 4:1-6

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Jeremiah 9:3-8; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 6:3-5; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Jude 1:1-18

DEVOTIONAL READING: 1 John 2:21-29

KEY VERSE: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world (1 John 4:1).

CENTRAL TRUTH: God provides dependable guidance through His Word for identifying truth.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify the characteristics of false prophets.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Conduct of False Teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3)
II. The Condemnation of False Teachers (2 Peter 2:4-10)
III. The Recognition of Error (1 John 4:1-6)

FOCUS TEXT: Psalm 145:1-13, 17-20

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Psalms 5:4-6; 33:6-11; 90:1,2; 147:3-8; Isaiah 40:12-15; Jeremiah 32:17-24

DEVOTIONAL READING: Psalm 139:1-10

KEY VERSE: Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable (Psalm 145:3).

CENTRAL TRUTH: God is worthy to receive man's full devotion.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list some attributes of God.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Greatness of God (Psalm 145:1-6)
II. The Attributes of God (Psalm 145:7-10)
III. The Reign of God (Psalm 145:11-13)

FOCUS TEXT: Isaiah 51:1-16

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: 1 Samuel 30:1-6; 1 Kings 19:1-8

DEVOTIONAL READING: Psalm 66:1-12

KEY VERSE: Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away (Isaiah 51:11).

CENTRAL TRUTH: God's people will always find encouragement when they truly seek and listen to the Lord of hosts.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students will be able to list three words of encouragement they found in today's Bible text.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Clarifying Our Focus (Isaiah 51:1-8)
II. Expressing Our Need (Isaiah 51:9, 10)
III. Listening to Our God (Isaiah 51:11-16)

FOCUS TEXT: Isaiah 42:1-12

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Matthew 12:14-21; Luke 4:16-21; 2 Timothy 2:24-26

DEVOTIONAL READING: Philippians 2:5-11

KEY VERSE: He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law (Isaiah 42:4).

CENTRAL TRUTH: As servants of God all Christians seek to model their lives after God's perfect Servant.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson, my students will be able to identify three specific ways the Model Servant has challenged them to greater spiritual growth.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Character to Which Christians Aspire (Isaiah 42:1-4)
II. The Mission Christians Pursue (Isaiah 42:5-9)
III. The Song Christians Sing (Isaiah 42:10-12)

FOCUS TEXT: Isaiah 40:12-18, 25-31

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Exodus 34:1-9; Micah 7:14-20

DEVOTIONAL READING: Psalm 18:25-34

KEY VERSE: He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength (Isaiah 40:29).

CENTRAL TRUTH: The mission of the Church is to know God and to make Him known.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students will be able to share three facts about God that motivate them to want to make Him known.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Our God Is Wise (Isaiah 40:12-18)
II. Our God Is Sovereign (Isaiah 40:25, 26)
III. Our God Is Strong (Isaiah 40:27-31)

FOCUS TEXT: Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:21 -- 9:7

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Luke 2:25-32; Romans 5:16-25; 8:18-25

DEVOTIONAL READING: Matthew 1:18-25

KEY VERSE: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined (Isaiah 9:2).

CENTRAL TRUTH: What we do with God's offer of hope leads either to distress or blessing.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list three specific blessings Isaiah mentioned that come from accepting God's offer of hope.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. A Sign for the Obstinate (Isaiah 7:10-14)
II. The Distress of the Obstinate (Isaiah 8:21 -- 9:1)
III. The Blessings of the Remnant (Isaiah 9:2-7)

FOCUS TEXT: Isaiah 7:1-9

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: 2 Kings 6:8-18; Isaiah 43:1-12; Matthew 10:27- 31

DEVOTIONAL READING: Isaiah 43:1-4

KEY VERSE: Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness (Isaiah 41:10).

CENTRAL TRUTH: The greatest question anyone will ever answer is,

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify three statements in today's focus text that can be useful in dealing with the dark times of their lives.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Reality of Darkness (Isaiah 7:1, 2)
II. Hope in Darkness (Isaiah 7:3-7)
III. The Danger of Darkness (Isaiah 7:8, 9)

FOCUS TEXT: Isaiah 5:1-13

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Matthew 21:33-46

DEVOTIONAL READING: John 15:1-5

KEY VERSE: What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? (Isaiah 5:4).

CENTRAL TRUTH: God has equipped everyone to bear abundant fruit for Him.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be ready to praise God for three specific ways He has equipped them to bear fruit for Him.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Provisions Humanity Enjoys (Isaiah 5:1-4)
II. The Choice Humanity Has Made (Isaiah 5:5-7)
III. The Fruit Humanity Is Reaping (Isaiah 5:8-13)

BIBLICAL BASIS: God Asks Abraham to Sacrifice Isaac

FOCUS TEXT: Genesis 22:1-13

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Genesis 22:1-19; Hebrews 11:8-12, 17-19

DEVOTIONAL READING: Romans 4:13-25

KEY VERSE: And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice (Genesis 22:18).

CENTRAL TRUTH: Our faith in God is demonstrated by our obedience to His will.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify why faith must result in action.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Command Received (Genesis 22:1, 2)
II. The Command Respected (Genesis 22:3-10)
III. The Command Rescinded (Genesis 22:11-19)