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Possessing a Teachable Spirit (Wisdom)

Lesson 8 - October 25, 2015
Central Truth: The Christian family engages in a lifelong pursuit of godly wisdom.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list several areas in their lives for which they need more knowledge and understanding.
Lesson Outline:

  1. The Purpose of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:1-4)
  2. The Journey of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:5-6)
  3. The Beginning of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:7-9)
2015-10-21T15:21:30+00:00October 21st, 2015|Categories: Weekly Lesson Summaries|0 Comments

Lesson Highlight: "bought with a price"

"bought with a price" - 1 Corinthians 6:20
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s." (1 Corinthians 6:20)
In "Biblical Perspective", Dr. Gordon Snider writes:

Ye are bought with a price. Your body should have a “Sold” sign on it! The purchase price is the blood of Christ which “cleanses from guilt,” “releases from bondage,” and “abolishes the enmity” that sin created between man and God (The Essentials of Life, W. H. Griffith Thomas). Therefore glorify God in your body. This might be translated “with your body,” but “in” is the more literal reading of the Greek text. Since the property in which you live belongs to God, live in such a way as to bring Him glory. Don’t trash the place where you live with immorality which is not becoming to the owner of the house.

Discussion: Since we have been bought by the blood of Christ, how then should we live?
Source: Biblical Family Values, Adult Teacher's Insights, page 43.

2015-10-16T09:00:58+00:00October 16th, 2015|Categories: Lesson Highlights|0 Comments

Lesson Highlight: "whosoever looketh"

Whosoever looketh - Matthew 5:28
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matthew 5:28)
In "Word Focus", Dr. Glenn McClure writes:

Jesus made a definite point to inform the Pharisees that this commandment not only dealt with the external act, but also the secrets of the heart and the movements of the eye. Matthew 5:28 brings to mind two quotes of Wünsche: “The eye and the heart are the two brokers of sin.” “Passions lodge only in him who sees.” Within this short verse we find this truth revealed, and why Scriptures deal seriously with moral purity.
The word looketh on in the Greek is blepō, which literally means “to see.” It is not just sight, but is an intended look, an effort made to gaze upon something; the constant fixation of the eyes upon something to examine it. Metaphorically it implies directing the mind upon it or joyfully beholding it. “According to the literal meaning of the Greek, the man who is condemned is the man who looks at a woman with the deliberate intention of lusting after her” (Barclay, NDSB).
The words of Randolph O. Yeager seem appropriate on this subject: “Jesus is not condemning everyone who looks at a woman; only those who look at a woman for the specific purpose of illicit sexual fantasy. The look must be directed toward the woman with a specific purpose in mind — that mental adultery with her can be enjoyed. Many men have looked at women in a legitimate way and later, as a result of that look, have found themselves aroused to evil thoughts. This is not the situation that Jesus was describing. The evil intent must precede the look; thus the look is for an evil purpose. The mental adultery has already been committed before the gaze is directed at its object. This is the force of hēdē (already). . . . Note that epithumeō (lust) [used here in v. 28] is the word used in the tenth commandment (Thou shalt not covet)” (Renaissance New Testament).

Discussion: Why might some argue that what they look at has no effect on them spiritually?
Source: Biblical Family Values, Adult Teacher's Insights, page, 40.

2015-10-15T09:00:00+00:00October 15th, 2015|Categories: Lesson Highlights|0 Comments

Purity 101

purity-101
Read Psalm 119:9-16
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (v. 9).
101 courses are generally considered rudimentary, or basic introductions to further studies or pursuits. Many colleges may offer several of these 101 courses, but I don’t know of any that offer Purity 101! In fact, there seems to be very little written or taught on purity outside of religious circles. It is not a popular topic in our day. If you want any authoritative instruction regarding purity, the Bible, God’s Word, will give you the best overview and the clearest understanding that this is a matter of the heart!
Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” This psalmist seemed to understand that, for after raising the question about cleansing his way, he went on two verses later to say, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” The object of cleansing is purity; parameters of moral purity are found throughout God’s Word, so that aligning ourselves with God’s standard and living by it is basic and imperative for Purity 101. (Rodney Stearns)

Purity is based on our relationship with God, without such a relationship purity becomes unlikely!

This devotional is the Thursday, October 15, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.

2015-10-14T16:51:45+00:00October 14th, 2015|Categories: Opening the Word|0 Comments

Maintaining Purity

Lesson 7 - October 18, 2015
Focus Text: Matthew 5:27-28; Ephesians 5:3-5; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Central Truth: The Christian family is careful to promote sexual purity.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to name several ways they safeguard their family in the area of sexual purity.
Lesson Outline:

  1. Purity in Thought (Matthew 5:27-28)
  2. Purity in Speech (Ephesians 5:3-5)
  3. Purity in Action (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

 

2015-10-12T19:23:12+00:00October 12th, 2015|Categories: Weekly Lesson Summaries|0 Comments

Lesson Highlight: "neighbor"

Neighbor
In "Biblical Perspective" Dr. Gordon Snider writes,

It should be remembered that the point of the story was to define the term “neighbor.” The priest and Levite were presented as being the most likely to treat the wounded man as a neighbor, but they did not. Then came an unlikely candidate, a certain Samaritan. As he journeyed suggests that his journey was more extensive than just a commute from Jerusalem to Jericho. As a result he was likely more equipped to help, but also under greater time constraints. He also saw him, the same verb used of the priest and Levite. But instead of responding with apathy, the Samaritan had compassion on him. He was deeply moved in his inner being by the plight of the wounded traveler. The same verb was used often by Matthew and Mark to describe Jesus’ response to situations of need. (See Matt. 9:36 and Mark 1:41 for examples.)

Discussion: What would you say it means to be a neighbor?
Source: Biblical Family Values, Adult Teacher's Insights, pages 35-36.

2015-10-09T06:00:52+00:00October 9th, 2015|Categories: Lesson Highlights|0 Comments

Lesson Highlight: "Christlike"

Christlike
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Dr. Gayle Woods discusses what it means to be Christlike, in part saying:

Romans 12:1, 2 speaks of the necessity of a continual condition of surrender to God. In this surrender we volunteer our lives as “living [sacrifices].” We relinquish all selfish ambitions to God, desiring to have our minds renewed and transformed so that we think like Christ. Thinking like Christ brings us to the next aspect of being like Christ. This human responsibility also includes a continual freedom from sin. The Sinless One expects His servants to be “dead indeed unto sin,” according to Romans 6:11. When we offer ourselves upon the altar of personal sacrifice for the glory of God, we no longer bow the knee to sin. Sin ceases to be our master. We follow in the footsteps of our Lord, refusing to look back toward the enticements of rebellion and disobedience. We follow our Lord in obedience, sacrificial love, and patient suffering (John 15:10, 12, 13; 1 Peter 2:19-23).

Discussion: What one thing (habit, attitude, action, etc.) do you need to change in order to be more Christlike?
Source: Biblical Family Values, Adult Teacher's Insights, page 38.

2015-10-08T06:00:43+00:00October 8th, 2015|Categories: Lesson Highlights|0 Comments

Lesson Highlight: "leaving him half dead"

1024px-'The_Good_Samaritan'_by_David_Teniers_the_younger_after_Francesco_Bassano
In "Biblical Perspective" Dr. Gordon Snider writes:

Shepard notes that the dangerousness of this road was legendary. The man could not possibly have not known his danger! Thieves . . . stripped . . . and wounded him. The violent nature of these men is clear from their actions. They were not petty thieves, but hardened criminals without mercy. Leaving him half dead. Luke wanted the reader to understand the desperate plight of this traveler. Unless someone gave aid soon, death was certain.

It is possible to read this story without truly visualizing how hurt this man was. Art, such as this picture, might shock some for its somewhat graphic nature.
Discussion: Do we truly understand the "desperate plight" of this man? Do we truly care for the plight of others around us who are in need?
Source: Biblical Family Values, Adult Teacher's Insights, page 35.

2015-10-07T06:00:06+00:00October 7th, 2015|Categories: Lesson Highlights|0 Comments

Compassion for the Lost

1024px-JC_Nichols_Fountain_by_Henri-Léon_Gréber_Kansas_City
Read Jeremiah 9:1-8
“Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” (v. 1).
Kansas City is sometimes called the “City of Fountains.” Only Rome has more public fountains than Kansas City. Take a trip with me to the wooden bench next to one of those fountains. We have arrived just after sunrise. The water is already running. As the city wakes up, a continual stream of water shoots out of a stone figure and splashes into the pool below. By lunchtime, the restaurant on the corner is crammed with patrons, yet the stream of water has not lessened nor the pool overflowed. We do not leave our bench until well after sunset, yet still we have not witnessed the end of the fountain’s supply or a change in the pool’s water level.
Of course, we understand the reasons for this, but have you ever felt your sorrow or compassion worked much the same way? Every tear you wept fell uselessly into a pool that neither eased your suffering nor helped the one who had caused it. Yet that realization does not stop the flow of tears.
Jeremiah’s ministry often revolved around tears. They were not magical tears — no healing or saving power was in them. Yet those tears, when mixed with a prayerful and obedient ministry to the very ones who caused his weeping, were exactly what God required. (Michelle Avery)

Have you ever wept over a soul?

This devotional is the Monday, October 5, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.

2015-10-06T06:00:22+00:00October 6th, 2015|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

Showing Compassion to Everyone

Lesson 6 - October 11
Focus Text: Luke 10:29-37
Central Truth: The Christian family shares Christ's love liberally with those in need.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list several practical ways they will share God's love with others.
Lesson Outline:

  1. The Self-Righteous Question (Luke 10:29)
  2. The Self-Concerned Responses (Luke 10:30-32)
  3. The Self-Giving Example (Luke 10:33-35)
  4. The Self-Denying Command (Luke 10:36-37)
2015-10-05T06:00:43+00:00October 5th, 2015|Categories: Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: , |0 Comments
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