What is the biblical perspective on division?
In "Biblical Perspective" Larry Grile writes concerning Colossians 3:11:
In the spiritual realm of redemptive grace, human distinctions and divisions are annulled. There are not Greek Christians and Jewish Christians; there are only Christians. In Christ, whether one is circumcised or not does not matter. Whether one is merely a foreigner or is a savage makes no difference. Whether one is a freeman or a slave makes no difference. But Christ is all, and in all. Human distinctions are not erased but are transcended in Jesus Christ. Man's efforts to erase distinctions through a socialist world order are doomed to confusion and failure. Socialism is carnal man's solution to the carnal frictions produced by the human differences in our world. On the other hand, Jesus Christ is everything! Before any of us came to Christ, we were nothing. No matter how low or high we thought we were, Christ exalted us. Now that we are in Christ, we are brethren. Now that Christ is in us, we have no need for social uniformity, for we share a kindred spirit that transcends our diversities (Gal. 3:28).
Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 12.
Why do Christians struggle with troubled relationships?
In "God's Word for Today" Gordon Snider writes:
Most people would agree that broken relationships are a huge problem in today's world. The divorce rate supports this statement, as does the increasing tendency to resort to violence against others. Divided churches and families are also stark reminders that Christians need to pay a lot more attention to relationships. As important as believing the correct truths is, the defining mark of the New Testament Christians, according to John 13:35, was their love for each other. So what is wrong? Why are Christians today even dealing with such troubled relationships? The central truth of today's lesson proposes an answer to that question. “Proper relationships with others begin with a proper relationship with God.”
Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 10.
The Prerequisite for Successful Relationships
In "Word Focus" Glenn McClure writes:
Since life itself is built around relationships (both with others and with the Creator), the success of these relationships is determined by the set of the will: whether it is bent to the physical, twisted to the mental, or surrendered to the spiritual. Paul got right to the point of this matter. In Colossians 2 he showed what a true Christian ought not to follow. In chapter 3 he taught what the Christian ought to pursue. He enjoined various duties in the different relations of life, which should be performed in such a way as to show that true religion has a controlling influence over the heart. These relationships, both with God and with others, involve both action and attitude on the part of man.
Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 10.
Reconciled to Christ
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation” (v. 18).
Imagine for a moment that you are the young daughter of a medieval French monarch, betrothed from birth to the son of an English king to secure peace, prosperity, and loyalty between the two kingdoms. When the time came for you to be wedded to the prince, your emotions were mixed with excitement and trepidation, for though you hoped for love, the future was always a mystery to you. Tragically, your worst fears came true, for the prince was always indifferent to your acts of self-sacrificial love and respect. Now think about the unsurpassed love that God has for you and the rest of the human family. To spurn this divine love would be the greatest tragedy of all, but to return God's warm embrace realizes the unfolding of the greatest romance in history. Furthermore, as Christ's ambassadors, we have the high calling of sharing God's love story with the world so that more people can be brought into God's family. May God enable us to abide in Christ daily in light of our salvation and fill us with His Holy Spirit that we may be bold witnesses for Christ in obedience to His commission to take the gospel into all the world. (Nathan Kennedy)
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
— Henry Francis Lyte
This devotional is the Thursday, March 9, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.
The Deductive Presentation
If all presentation styles could be boiled down to two, the categories remaining would be deductive and inductive.
Deductive presentations and reasoning is typically what is most familiar to us. A propositional truth is stated upfront and the rest of the lesson is spent explaining or defending that truth. The basic structure of our lessons, especially the “Biblical Perspective” section, follows this style. The central truth proposes the scriptural principle and then the outline and various comments support this statement.
Many of us have grown up with this style of teaching, both in school and church. Deductive reasoning in teaching the Bible promotes the authority of God’s Word and is easily fits a lecture method of teaching. This style of teaching has appeared to be easily conducive to teaching women, although it should not be considered to be effective only in teaching one gender.
The Christian Way of Life
Lesson 2 - March 12, 2017
Focus Text: Colossians 3:5-17
Central Truth: Proper relationships with others begin with a proper relationship with God.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify several ways a proper relationship with God revolutionizes our relationships with people.
Lesson Outline:
- Put Off the Old (Colossians 3:5-9)
- Put On the New (Colossians 3:10-14)
- Live a Christian Life (Colossians 3:15-17)
Beautiful Video for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday 2016
https://youtu.be/iUCYcEmx8vk
What is the value of the human race in God's eyes?
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Jason Lindahl writes:
The dignity of humanity as the divine image-bearer has been under hell's attack for a very long time. The ancient Gnostics taught that matter was evil, including human bodies. The Hindus teach that in reincarnation, a person can return to earth as an insect or a lowly beast. According to Hinduism, it will take a very long time and much trial and error for a living form to escape this cycle of death and rebirth and somehow emerge pure and perfect. In all of this, salvation depends not upon a loving, personal God, but upon us. It is at this point that the Bible gives us the greatest testament to the value heaven places upon humanity. For God's Word tells us that the Father did not leave us to find a solution to our problems through endless years of struggle and reincarnation. Instead, He stepped into our world to provide the solution, and He did it by becoming a man! In the person of Jesus Christ, God became man and remains a man forever. God showed what incredible worth humanity has by taking on flesh and bone. He then laid down that physical body in death to provide us with “so great salvation” (Heb. 2:3).
Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 8.
Man – God's Special Creation
In "Word Focus" Glenn McClure writes:
The making or fashioning of man was not an act that resulted from a word spoken, but involved the personal and wise consideration of a planned purpose. This then resulted in an object carefully fashioned by God's own hands, so to speak, made from a substance (the ground) over which this object was to have dominion. It received life by the very breath of its Creator, and stands over all creation as the very image of its Creator. As H. Vorländer says, “His humanity resides in the life he has been given (2:7b) in his correspondence to God (1:27a). He is deemed worthy to be spopken to by God and to be given a task (2:16f.; 1:28)” (New International Dict. of N.T. Theology). God had purpose behind all creation, but that purpose resides in the grand purpose for man's creation. All of nature surely shows the handiwork of God, but His greatest expression is seen in man.
Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 4.