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Repentance Brings Life
Repentance Brings Life

Repentance Brings Life

Read Jonah 2:1-10.

Focus Verse: “And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land” (v. 10).

Have you ever had a bad day? Maybe two of three in a row? After three days and nights in the belly of a great fish, the prophet Jonah had probably never been so glad to see dry land in all of his life even though it meant lying in a puddle of whale vomit! Although the rest of his story raises some serious questions about his continuing attitude towards the job that God had given him, he clearly experienced a miraculous deliverance. This began when his affliction made him remember the Lord and cry out to him. He knew the only source where he could find salvation and made his petition, which was followed by God’s answer to his prayer.

Hopefully, none of us find ourself in this type of situation, brought on by our own refusal to obey God’s clearly revealed will. But if we do, like Jonah, we will discover that our only hope for salvation is to cry out to the one who can control the great fish of our lives with just a word. (Stephen Smith)

“Before Thy throne, O God, we kneel;
Give us a conscience quick to feel,
A ready mind to understand
The meaning of Thy chastening hand;
Whate’er the pain and shame may be,
Bring us, O Father, nearer Thee.” (William B. Carpenter)

bookstoreadmin2020-01-31T14:51:08+00:00January 31st, 2020|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Jonah, Repentance|0 Comments

February 2, 2020: Restored by Christ (Peter)
February 2, 2020: Restored by Christ (Peter)

February 2, 2020: Restored by Christ (Peter)

Focus Text: John 18:25-27; 21:15-22

CENTRAL TRUTH: When believers fail, Jesus Christ is always ready to restore them in love.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list steps to overcome their spiritual weaknesses.

LESSON OUTLINE:

I. Failure in Crisis (John 18:25-27)

II. Restored in Love (John 21:15-17)

III. Following Christ (John 21:18-22)

bookstoreadmin2020-01-28T20:25:39+00:00January 28th, 2020|Categories: Front Page, Lesson Highlights|Tags: restoration, spiritual failure|0 Comments

The Spirit Brings Liberty.

Read 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (v. 17).

He stood during the Sunday morning worship service and asked Pastor for permission to testify. The testimony went like this, “I just realized this week that I am free.” “For twenty-some years, I thought my addiction to alcohol was what I wanted, but now I know I was captive.” He went on, “but now because of Christ’s forgiveness and new life, I am free.”

For years his life had been under the authority of Satan, but some two years earlier Larry had, through the Holy Spirit’s drawing, found forgiveness and new life.

Being released from the restraint of sin is the sweet blessing of the redeemed. The Gospel liberates a person from the authority and power of the enemy of the soul. That freedom enables one to enter into a life of spiritual confidence, to live daily with the Spirit’s smile. (G. Clair Sams)

Now we are free, there's no condemnation,
Jesus provides a perfect salvation.
"Come unto Me," O hear His sweet call,
Come, and He saves us once for all.”
Children of God," O glorious calling,
Surely His grace will keep us from falling;
Passing from death to life at His call;
Blessed salvation once for all.
Phillip Paul Bliss

Biblical liberty is to pass from the authority of Satan to the authority of Christ.

bookstoreadmin2020-01-15T16:49:24+00:00January 15th, 2020|Categories: Opening the Word|0 Comments

Extra Grace Required

Every teacher has them — participants that talk too much, whine too much, can’t stay focused, or are too self-focused. These people are EGRs: Extra Grace Required. What do we do with them? The answer is in the name: Extra grace is required. The reason we lose patience with people in our groups who have problems is that we are missing God’s grace. As a teacher, you must come to the realization that in these situations the person who requires extra grace is YOU! Perhaps the purpose of EGRs in your group — and who knows? You may be the EGR! — is to help you grow in grace as a teacher and servant of God. To grow in grace means to become more Christlike in the way we see people. To grow in grace means that we don’t avoid EGRs, rather, we invite them to participate, and with the grace of God we begin to transform them, and ourselves.

bookstoreadmin2019-04-23T14:42:02+00:00August 23rd, 2019|Categories: Teacher Helps|0 Comments

The Power of God

Read Psalm 29:1-11

“The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty” (v. 4).

One way the power of God is displayed in nature is through thunder. The psalmist calls it the voice of the Lord. There is no sound like it on earth. It originates in the heavens above us, and with great might, it crashes and shakes the earth. It is how we would expect God to sound if He would audibly speak to us. Let us not only be awed as God’s power is displayed in nature, but also as it is seen in the lives He saves and changes. A man attends our church who had been bound in the chains of sin for many years. He had tried on his own to break free but failed time and time again. Giving up his efforts and turning to Jesus, he was saved and has been faithfully serving the Lord. Looking back at what God has done for him, he told the writer “I didn’t know God could do what he could do.” He had found the power of God was more than just a doctrinal point or a lofty idea but a practical reality that he has experienced in his life. The power of God can change your life. (Robert C. Blankenship)

He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me. — Charles Wesley

Our greatest resource is access to God’s power.

bookstoreadmin2019-04-23T14:40:25+00:00August 21st, 2019|Categories: Opening the Word|0 Comments

The Greatness of God

Focus Text: Job 38:4-8, 22-29; 42:1-3

Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify three attributes of God and the effects each of these has on their lives.

Central Truth: God, though omnipotent, transcendent, and Lord of all creation, is forever at work with man in all the experiences of life.

I. God's Greatness (Job 38L 1-8, 22-29)

II. Job's Humility (Job 42:1-6)

bookstoreadmin2019-04-23T14:38:34+00:00August 19th, 2019|Categories: Lesson Highlights|0 Comments

Consider the Children

What to do with children. A toddler adds energy to a group but not the kind of energy that promotes good discussion. There is no perfect answer to the kid question, although there are bad options. The worst is to expect the same person to care for children all the time; eventually, that person will resent being “stuck” with the kids, no matter how much they love Jesus. Some groups take turns, with two adults watching kids while the others meet. Other groups pay a sitter or develop lessons that encourage kids and adults to learn together through intergenerational activities. Groups can thrive with almost any solution, as long as children are safe and everyone feels like it works.

bookstoreadmin2019-04-23T14:36:14+00:00August 16th, 2019|Categories: Teacher Helps|0 Comments

Confidence in Praying

Read Psalm 77:1-12

“I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me” (v. 1).

I know from personal experience that an urgent, silent cry can be heard by Almighty God, and the answer be just as effectual. Lying on my bed in the middle of the night with my head covered with a bath towel and having my hands and feet tied, I cried unto the Lord, and He graciously responded. My predicament, posture, and presentation may not have been natural or normal, but God knew my heart. Thank God for His care and protection! We can know that our prayers are being heard any time, anywhere, and under any circumstances. (Shirley J. Gordon)

All you may need He will provide; God will take care of you. Nothing you ask will be denied; God will take care of you. — Civilla D. Martin

“I have proven Him true; what He says He will do” (W. J. Henry).

bookstoreadmin2019-04-23T14:35:33+00:00August 14th, 2019|Categories: Opening the Word|0 Comments

The Confidence of the Righteous

Focus Text: Job 13:15-18; 19:23-29

Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list several reasons why they can have confidence in God.

Central Truth: The confidence of the righteous in the midst of adversities of life must be based upon God who promises never to fail.

I. An Unwavering Trust (Job 13:15-18)

II. An Indestructible Faith (Job 19:23-29)

bookstoreadmin2019-04-23T14:34:22+00:00August 12th, 2019|Categories: Lesson Highlights|0 Comments

Spend Time With God

Meet privately with God. You cannot share a deep faith with the group if you fail to nurture it in your own life. Plus, spending time in meditation and prayer gives you confidence that God will work through your teaching. Time spent this way will work wonders for the graciousness and wisdom with which you teach. You will also be more tuned to how the Spirit might be leading you and your group members.

bookstoreadmin2019-04-23T14:20:55+00:00August 9th, 2019|Categories: Teacher Helps|0 Comments

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