Lesson 9 - July 30, 2017
Focus Text: 1 Timothy 3:1-16
Central Truth: God calls specific people to guide His Church.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify some requirements of godly leaders.
**Lesson Outline: **
Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (v. 11).
Radical individualism is arguably the most deeply held belief of the majority of Americans. The solitary hero strides boldly across the pages of our history, literature, and mythology, most often hacking out a living in a dangerous wilderness populated by savage weather, animals, and people. Though the wilderness is now largely settled, we still want to live by this core belief. A few years ago the U.S. Army tried to tap into this sentiment with the campaign slogan, “An Army of One.” How effective would a one man army actually be?
In his book, Holiness for Ordinary People, Keith Drury has a chapter entitled “A Sanctified Church.” He makes the shocking statement that a church can be made up of sanctified individuals and itself not be holy. This happens when personal time with Jesus fails to impact corporate worship, prayer, and other functions. God has designed us to grow together.
I am an introvert, which means that I need a great deal of alone time to recharge my batteries. I find it very easy to cut myself off from people for extended periods of time. However, I have noticed that my greatest periods of spiritual growth come when I am consistently around the people of God. There are no effective Lone Ranger Christians. (Randy J Bland)
No man is an island,</ br>Entire of itself,</ br>Every man is a piece of the continent,</ br>A part of the main.</ br>— John Donne
Do you regularly allow other Christians to be a part of your life?
This devotional is the Monday, July 17, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.
An important part of listening is being aware that your body gestures can communicate as much or more than your words. Gestures begin with your lips. What are they saying to the speaker? A scowl may come because you are deep in thought about the next part of the lesson, but it will say to the speaker that you are not happy with what he is saying. Learn to enjoy and feel a sense of success in the process of the discussion, and you will likely maintain a smile.
If you are sitting, make sure your posture communicates interest in what the person is saying. Sometimes hands behind the head, or leaning back in your chair, suggest you are not engaged with the speaker.
Does your body language communicate that you are relaxed or tense? What are you doing with your hands? Are you grinding your teeth? Does your body language communicate that you can't wait for the person to finish so you can start talking again?
Bottom line – RELAX! Your body language will communicate whether you have or not!
By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify their spiritual gifts.
Lesson 8 - July 23, 2017
Focus Text: Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Central Truth: God gives us spiritual gifts that we may serve the Church.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify their spiritual gifts.
Lesson Outline:
Listening is a skill that relatively few people master. Most of us are better at talking than we are at listening. Here are a few tips for being a good listener.
Read Psalm 42:1-2
“My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (v. 2).
The writer has apparently been prevented from attending the temple due to uncontrollable circumstances. His enforced absence has brought pain akin to the excruciating pangs of thirst. He longs to be in the house of God with the people of God. John Phillips contrasts this attitude with the “many excuses people invent for absenting themselves from the place of public worship.” It was not so with the psalmist. But the craving for the house of God perhaps is reflective of his inner soul need for the living God. Charles Spurgeon identifies the soul as “his very self, his deepest life” which had an insatiable desire for the divine presence. Deny him his Lord and “his heart heaves, his bosom palpitates, his whole frame is convulsed like one gasps for breath or pants with long running.” Spurgeon then sagely observes, “The next best thing to living in the light of the Lord's love is to be unhappy till we have it.” This desire is both learned in experience and instinctive in God's created children. Pascal, a French mathematician, physicist, and Christian philosopher penned these lines: “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator through Jesus Christ.” May our daily prayer seek His presence in heart and sanctuary. (William Snider)
*“You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they can find rest in you”* (St. Augustine).
This devotional is the Tuesday, July 11, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.
By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list practical ways they can express their worship of God.
Lesson 7 - July 16, 2017
Focus Text: 2 Kings 23:1-3; 1 Chronicles 16:23-29; 29:6-10
Central Truth: The worship of God is essential to the Christian's life.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list practical ways they can express their worship of God.
Lesson Outline:
Worship by Reading (2 Kings 23:1-3)
Worship in Prayer and Praise (1 Chronicles 16:23-29)
Worship Through Giving (1 Chronicles 29:6-10)
Last week we talked about creating the atmosphere. Another way of making all people feel important in the discussion is by eliminating what is called “cross-talk.” One of the most effective ways to stymie group discussion is to allow two people to have a personal conversation in front of the group. That is called “cross-talk.” Whatever is said must be addressed to the entire group, not one specific person. For example, if someone says, “Jim, you are missing something here,” you as the leader should kindly remind the speaker that he is not talking to Jim, but to the entire group. If possible, discussion-oriented classes are best conducted when the room is arranged so that everyone can see the faces of the other members of the group. In “cross-talk” situations the speaker almost always looks directly at the person being addressed. When the speaker is addressing the group, eye contact will move from person to person around the circle. That eye contact helps group members to feel important to the group, leading to increased sharing.
Read 1 Corinthians 16:15-20
“I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)” (v. 15).
Through our years of ministry, we have known many saints who “have addicted themselves to the ministry.” They could be counted upon to make things go smoothly in the church. They were there to teach a class of rowdy juniors, drive a church van, or to clean the facilities (even when no one asked them to do this). When someone was sick, they would take a pot of soup and have prayer with them. These same “saints” would be found knocking on doors inviting families to worship. They put God first and considered it a privilege to serve. Possibly, you may be thinking of someone you know who fills this description! What is the motivating cause of these types of believers? What causes them to consistently and constantly seek to minister to others? They have become “addicted” to serving in Christ's name. May God give us more saints who are addicted to ministry! (James Baker)
Perhaps today there are loving words
Which Jesus would have me speak;
There may be now in the paths of sin
Some wand'rer whom I should seek.
O Savior, if Thou wilt be my Guide,
I'll say what You want me to say. — Mary Brown
The best addiction is to be addicted to ministry.
This devotional is the Monday, July 3, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.
Lesson 6 - July 9, 2017
Focus Text: Acts 6:1-7; 1 Peter 5:1-7
Central Truth: Cooperation is a key attitude of the effective church.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list several ways their church can show better cooperation.
Lesson Outline:
Cooperation by Choice (Acts 6:1-7)
Cooperation in Ministry (1 Peter 5:1-4)
Cooperation Through Submission (1 Peter 5:5-7)