PRINTED TEXT: Mark 16:14 20; Matthew 28:16 20
CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ's command to proclaim the gospel requires a ready response from every Christian.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list things they can do to obey the Great Commission.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Church's Task (Mark 16:14 20)
II. The Lord's Power (Matthew 28:16 18)
III. The Lord's Presence (Matthew 28:19, 20)
Read Luke 9:10-17
Christ Serves the Hungry
“Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them,
and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude” (v. 16).
Have you ever served in a shelter house for the homeless? I have not, but I know people who enjoy the ministry of helps. Three people come to mind. Our church honors those who help others, so my son-in-law has served meals at a downtown mission a few weeks before Christmas. My hairdresser goes one day a month to the same mission. She began this service with hesitation, but now it’s her sweet blessing to serve. My sister leads a Bible study for inmates at a prison, and she’s done this for many years. What impresses the women is that they can count on her being there; her faithfulness is appreciated.
The crowd who gathered to hear Jesus that day could not be called homeless, but they would have missed a meal and more of Jesus’ teaching if not for the miracle of feeding the 5000 (not counting women and children). With no grocery store nearby, Jesus took what was available – five loaves of bread and two fish – and turned these into a banquet for the multitude. With His blessing, all were satisfied. (Ann Coker)
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Cords that are broken will vibrate once more.
–Fanny Crosby
Taking one’s turn to serve others is no chore.
PRINTED TEXT: Mark 10:35 45
CENTRAL TRUTH: Service to Christ and to others is the true measure of greatness.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list ways in which they may serve others.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Greatness Desired (Mark 10:35 40)
II. Greatness Described (Mark 10:41 44)
III. Greatness Demonstrated (Mark 10:45)
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13‑18.
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” (v. 14).
From 1955-58, my father was pastor of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in the little town of Dublin, IN. There were not many men in that church. I can only think of three. One of them was Donnie Day. This brother carried his guitar and songbook from revival to revival in our area. The song that he sang that sticks in my mind said, “Wait a little longer, please Jesus…A few more days to get our loved ones in.”
Waiting is usually not much fun, at least not for me. I often find myself counting from 1-100, over and over, while I wait – just hoping the event will happen before I finish. For me, waiting is associated with inactivity – wasted time. But Donnie Day’s song reminds us that not all waiting is time wasted. Waiting may mean the difference between a loved one being saved or lost.
But how can we redeem the time while we wait? A retired missionary from Alaska, Sis. Honeycutt had a different perspective. For her, waiting on Jesus is like a waitress “waiting” on you at a restaurant. That person’s goal is to meet all your needs as best they can so that you will have a good experience.
How are we waiting on Jesus? Counting to 100 over and over again, wishing He would hurry up? Or are we busy meeting HIS needs? (Gordon L Snider)
“While I am waiting on Jesus to return, I will focus my mind on pleasing Him and meeting His needs.”
PRINTED TEXT: Matthew 24:32 51
CENTRAL TRUTH: All should take heed to Christ's warning and prepare for His soon return.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify things a person must do to prepare for Christ's coming.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Time of His Coming (Matthew 24:32-36)
II. The Nature of His Coming (Matthew 24:37-41)
III. Be Ready for His Coming (Matthew 24:42-51)
Read 1 Peter 2:1-5.
“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” (v. 2).
“I do not feed my children spoiled burgers…” Years ago, I was privileged to hear Attorney David Gibbs II illustrate the meaning of the Scripture, “Train up a child…” (Prov. 22:6a). He explained that to train a child is to reach back and touch the palette with wholesome food, because, once the palette senses the taste, it will remember it moving forward. Therefore, should spoiled meat touch the tastebuds, the partaker will instantly sense that the substance is not genuine, and will be able to reject it, thus preventing illness.
The best way to flee hypocrisy is to stay away from the company it hangs out with – malicious, envious, backbiting, disingenuous, selfish, criticizing people. Hypocrites love to add members to their cast, creating drama to deceive everyone around them. Removing oneself from their influence – in other words, “resisting the devil” – is a step that leads to spiritual growth. The sincere milk of the Word is nutritious, edifying, and whole; it is not watered down to 2% by distorting the truth.
Stay away from the drama in which Satan delights.
He’s a master at causing turmoil and strife.
Instead, search the Word – truth God wants you to know,
And feast on His promises so in wisdom you’ll grow. (R. B. Kuhn)
Acquire a taste for the good things of God; that’s the best way to avoid succumbing to the devil’s false food.
PRINTED TEXT: Matthew 23:25 - 37
CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ is deeply grieved when men reject Him.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list reasons why hypocrisy is a sin.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Majoring on Minors (Matthew 23:16 22)
II. Emphasizing Externals (Matthew 23:23 28)
III. Condemned by Deity (Matthew 23:29 39)
Read 1 Corinthians 13:9-13.
Better in Love.
“But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (v. 10).
This week we are focusing on God’s Better Plan. The world talks and sings a lot about love. So it is very evident that love is also a part of the world’s plan. So what makes the love that is in God’s plan better than the love that is in the world’s plan? To answer that question, read back through 1 Corinthians 13 – the chapter that describes God’s plan of love.
From this chapter, we can see the superiority of God’s love first because that love never ends. God never says, “I just cannot love that person anymore.” His love “never fails.” God’s love is also superior because it is not self-centered – it “seeketh not her own.” Further, this love is not based upon a fantasy, but upon truth – “rejoiceth in truth.” Verse 7 emphasizes that God’s love motivates us to positive action in the worst of times.
In comparison, the world’s love often ends, is often selfish, is based upon feeling rather than truth, and often turns to hate when circumstances change.
God never met a person He could not love! He has a better plan! (GLS)
Make my love like yours, dear Lord,
Unending, selfless, and true,
So that when others see my love,
They will quickly think of You. (GLS)
Focus Text: Hebrews 9:11-14, 19-28
Central Truth: Only through Christ's atonement can we obtain eternal redemption.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to explain the superiority of Christ's atonement over that of the Old Testament system of atonement.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. A Better Priest (Hebrews 9:11-14)
II. A Better Promise (Hebrews 9:15-21)
III. A Better Provision (Hebrews 9:22-28)
Focus Text: Hebrews 8:1-13
Central Truth: When the Word is written in our hearts, it enables us to fulfill God's will.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to compare and contrast the Old Covenant with the New Covenant.
Lesson Outline:
I. The Minister of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:1-7)
II. The Ministry of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:8, 9)
III. The Meaning of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:10-13)
