Prayer – Lesson 12, All Things New
Heavenly Father, infuse our classes with hope and confidence today as they study about the day You will make all things new. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.
Overcoming by the Blood of the Lamb
In "Biblical Perspective" R.E. Trotter writes:
Jesus made it clear to each of the seven churches that a life of victory was required of each of the saints regard-less of how impossible their situations seemed (Rev. 2 and 3). Even when Satan was cast out of heaven and came down to earth with great fury to attack the saints, “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (Rev. 12:11). Overcoming is the normal standard for all Christians and a requirement for keeping one's name in the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5).
Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 71.
The tabernacle of God is with men – Revelation 21:3
In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:
The Tabernacle has ever been the place of God's presence with His people.
The Tabernacle was first erected in the wilderness exactly one year after the Passover when the Israelites were freed from their Egyptian slavery. It was a mobile tent with portable furniture that the people traveled with and set up wherever they pitched camp. The instruction on how to build the Tabernacle was first given to Moses in the wilderness, who then gave the orders to the Israelites.
God knew that the Israelites needed visual evidence of His presence. When Moses went up to Mount Sinai for forty days and the people did not see or hear from him, they grew impatient and gathered their gold to form a golden calf that they worshiped in place of God. After ten generations of living in Egypt, it was not surprising that the Israelites mimicked the Egyptians in fashioning a visual idol of their own. This act of disobedience demon-strated their need to follow and worship a God who was visually tangible. God's provision of a Tabernacle — itself a splendor to behold — not only allowed the people to sense His presence, but also to see their leader go in to meet with God in a concrete place and not disappear up a mountain.
Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 69.
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Read books, articles, websites for Sunday school teachers
Another best practice for the Sunday school teacher is to constantly take opportunities to "sharpen the saw." There are numerous resources available. Here are a few you may want to consider:
Books:
- Arn, Charles, Donald McGavran, and Win Arn. (1980). Growth: A New Vision for the Sunday School.
- Hall, Kenneth F. (1995). Bridges to Teaching: A Basic Guide for Teaching in the Church.
- Harper, Albert F. (1956). The Sunday School Teacher.
- Haystead, Wes. (1995). The 21st Century Sunday School: Strategies for Today and Tomorrow.
- Johnston, Ray. (1996). Help! I'm a Sunday School Teacher.
- Neece, William C. How to Be a Successful Sunday School Teacher.
- Schultz, Thom and Joani. (1993). Why Nobody Learns Much of Anything at Church: And How to Fix It.
- Toler, Stan. (1995). 101 Ways to Grow a Healthy Sunday School.
Websites:
- Christian Teacher's Training. http://trainbibleteachers.com/training-resources.htm
- Ministry Tools Resource Center. http://mintools.com/teacher-training.htm
- Pennsylvania State Sunday School Association. http://www.sundayschoolhelp.org
- Teacher Training - Sunday School. http://www.sunday-school-center.com/teacher-training.html
- Sunday School Teacher Training. https://www.m2820.com/sunday-school-teacher-training-3
Heaven – No More Tears
"He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it" (v. 8)
In her book, Emotional Freedom, New York Times best-selling author Judith Orloff talks about the health benefits of tears. According to this doctor, our bodies produce three kinds of tears: reflex, continuous, and emotional. And each of them has unique, healing benefits. In fact, the good doctor says, "I've been this enthusiastic about crying for years." So why would God do away with something that medicine has found to be so beneficial?
First, let’s thank God for tears, even the emotional kind that seem to be in mind in our text verse. Most of us have experienced times that, without tears, we would simply have exploded like an overfilled balloon. But let us also notice that the purpose for which God gave us tears is for healing. Tears will be wiped away in heaven because our healing will be complete. We will be whole.
If you need to cry today, please do so! Anyone who looks down on you for crying has a bigger problem than you do! But as you experience the healing effects of tears, take a moment to bask in the thought that someday those tears will not be needed. We will be home and whole! (Gordon Snider)
"What soap is for the body, tears are for the soul." Jewish Proverb
In heaven, we will need neither!
This devotional is the Tuesday, August 16, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.
All Things New
Lesson 12 - August 21, 2016
Focus Text: Revelation 21:1-7, 22-27
Central Truth: Someday God will make the entire universe completely new.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to briefly describe the new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem.
Lesson Outline:
- A New Life Style (Revelation 21:1-8)
- A New City (Revelation 21:9-12)
- A New Kind of Light (Revelation 21:22-27)
Plan at least four ministry opportunities your students may participate in.
A missing emphasis in many churches is the ministry of the believers. For too long, ministry has been seen as the task of only the pastor. Such an idea is unbiblical and results in an unhealthy church. One way to reverse this tide is to begin promoting ministry within the Sunday school class setting. By planning only four ministry events per year - at least in the beginning - you may stretch the spiritual muscles of your class but hopefully not strain them.
What kind of ministry opportunities should your class engage in?
- Fall - Consider hosting a community-wide blood drive or engaging in a project such as Christmas shoeboxes.
- Winter - Your class may want to go caroling at a nursing home, clear snow from the sidewalks of elderly persons (part of or not part of your church), or volunteer at the homeless shelter.
- Spring - A fun class project may be to do yard work for someone not physically able or as a way to clean up the neighborhood.
- Summer - Send some or all of your class on a missions trip or provide a car-care clinic with free refreshments.
The End of All Evil
Lesson 11 - August 14, 2016
Focus Text: Revelation 20:1-15
Central Truth: Someday righteousness shall forever triumph over evil.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to contrast the end of those who live wickedly with the end of those who accept the plan of redemption provided by Christ.
Lesson Outline:
- Satan Bound (Revelation 20:1-3)
- The Millennium (Revelation 20:4-6)
- Satan's Final Attack and Defeat (Revelation 20:7-10)
- The Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)
Prayer – Lesson 10, The Triumphant Christ
Heavenly Father, thank You for the victory prophesied and promised in Your Holy Word. Help our teachers and students today to be renewed spiritually as they are reminded of our hope in Christ, that one day soon He will return to conquer this world for His own. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
How does our hope in God overcome sorrow?
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Don Englund writes:
Our choice to trust in God and His purposes is a choice that defies the verdicts of the enemy of our souls who often suggests that our condition is personal, that it extends to all areas of our lives, and that it is permanent. Health professionals and psychological remedies may not have the answers we need, but Jesus, the Author of life, does! He is alive! He is in control! He is effectively managing the affairs of this sin-cursed world at the present moment! He gave us life on earth and is the Source of the greatest human dream on earth — eternal life! No, we do not sorrow as those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13), for our sorrow is not personal, not pervasive, not purposeless, and not permanent. Because He lives, you and I can face tomorrow.
Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 61.