Lesson 1 - June 7
Focus Text: Galatians 1:3-17
Central Truth: Our gospel has been revealed to us by God.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to explain why it is important to know the gospel has been revealed to us by God.
Lesson Outline:
Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work” (v. 8).
A few days ago, my wife and I picked up my sister and took her out for lunch to celebrate her eighty-sixth birthday. Since we were not familiar with the eating establishments in her area, we asked where she would like to eat. She told us of a restaurant that she liked, and fried chicken was their specialty (that suited me wonderfully). As we sat and enjoyed our lunch together, I observed a young man keeping the buffet stocked. I could not believe how much fried chicken he carried out. They had an abundant supply of fried chicken.
Though it seemed that the chicken was abundant, there was only so much chicken available. When we talk about God’s grace being abundant, we know that it cannot be exhausted. In our text verse we read “all grace.” Paul said that this “all grace” abounds toward us. It is not something that we are entitled to, but God makes “all grace” abound toward us when we are His children, endeavoring to live in obedience to His commands and in accordance with His statutes. He understands our weaknesses and limitations but wants us to come to Him for help when we fail to live up to His expectations. (Larry DeOrnellis)
It is wonderful to know that God makes all grace abound to us, His children.
This devotional is the Friday, June 5, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.
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Lesson 14 - May 31, 2015
Focus Text: Luke 16:19-26; Revelation 21:2-4; 5:11-14
Central Truth: We will spend eternity in one of two places: heaven or hell.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to give a proper scriptural basis for our belief in heaven and hell, and to give a clear explanation of how we can know we will go to heaven when we die.
Lesson Outline:
Read Revelation 22:1-9
“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb” (v. 1).
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Rev. 2:7). I can think of nothing more majestic or serene than crystal, refreshing, sparkling, pure water flowing through the grandiosity of elegantly crafted and adorned structures. I doubt anyone would dare criticize the beautiful Blue Danube drifting through Budapest, the River Seine through Paris, the Thames through London, or even the Central Canal running right through the Indiana Government Center in downtown Indianapolis.
Ah, the imagined bliss of the Garden of Eden, that with one wrong choice forever marred the spotless beauty of the paradise God had created for habitation. Although today we see His handiwork, despite the impediments resulting from the entrance of sin, we have the promise that our Creator has plans to restore the perfection of His creation for the enjoyment of those who partake of the abundant life possible through His Son, the Lamb. (RB Kuhn)
O Lord, your paradise awaits our entrance; the tree of life blooms full.
Your providence will guide us; someday we’ll rest by waters cool. — RB Kuhn
The idea of paradise is nothing new with the Creator. Don’t miss what He is preparing for you, dear child of God.
This devotional is taken from the Sunday, May 31, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.
Photo Credit: southern daydreamer on Pixabay.com
Read Matthew 24:36-41
“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (v. 37).
I am appalled day after day as I observe the extent of human wickedness in our world. Regardless of the medium, news programs inundate us with the most disgusting, heartbreaking stories one can imagine. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9).
As I write this devotional, news stories include a teen-age girl who killed her brother, gunmen who killed twelve people in France, a father who threw his daughter off a bridge, a celebrity being charged with fraud, a porn star and a lesbian couple in the spotlight, and on and on. One almost feels the need to take a brain shower after the daily dose of headlines to say nothing of the in-depth stories. We read that in the days of Noah, “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5).
I believe we have cycled back to the condition in this world that brought God to the decision to wipe man off the face of the earth. This time He will be setting events in motion for the closing of this era permanently with the greatest event being the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. (Harold Carpenter)
All the earth is groaning, crying for that day of sweet release,
For our Jesus to come back to earth again. — James M. Kirk
Focus on the up-look rather than the out-look.
This devotional is the Monday, May 18, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.
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Lesson 13 - May 24
Focus Text: Mark 13:24-37
Central Truth: Believers must be prepared at all times for Christ’s return.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to give scriptural evidence of the Second Coming of Christ and list ways to be prepared.
Lesson Outline:
Lesson 12 - March 17
Focus Text: Job 1:6-12; John 8:42-44; Revelation 20:1-3
Central Truth: The Christian faces a powerful, but defeated foe.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to clearly describe Satan’s powers and limits.
Lesson Outline:
Read Genesis 24:61-67
“And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death” (v. 67).
It was a sort of live couple’s reality show before reality television was a fad. When I was a teen, to entertain at a party, some well-known dating couples were chosen. One member of the couple was sent out of the room, and the other person was asked questions about their missing boyfriend or girlfriend. Then the missing person was brought in to see if their significant other answered correctly.
Perhaps you and your spouse-to-be got to know each other very well while you were dating. But have you ever considered what kinds of things would keep you from cultivating your relationship after you are married?
Sometimes, life just plain gets in the way. He works nights and you work days. Kids add to the chaos, and you can hardly keep track of yourself, let alone a busy spouse.
Maybe you let a wound or misunderstanding grow and fester, but is the silent, pouty treatment really the best way to improve communication and get to know each other better?
Perhaps it is a hobby that interferes. Maybe you have trouble putting down the newspaper or your Facebook feed long enough to talk about things that matter.
It is important to watch for weeds that want to choke out our communication and companionship in marriage. (ASE)
Companionship is a blessing that should not be taken for granted.
This devotional is the Friday, May 8, 2015 entry from Opening the Word.
Lesson 11 - May 10, 2015
Focus Text: Genesis 2:18-24; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:5, 6
Central Truth: God has ordained marriage to be a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should commit to uphold and promote the biblical values of marriage.
Lesson Outline:
Read John 17:9-21
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (v. 21).
I was just reflecting on a friend who recently passed away. “You know,” I said to my wife, “he was a little crazy about that one thing.” I hurried to say that he was indeed a great man and a good Christian brother, but that one thing befuddled me. It just did not fit. What I had done over the years, was just carefully wrap that aspect up in a nice little bundle and slide it onto a back shelf of my mind where I stored things I did not really understand. I did not allow it to factor into how I interacted with him.
Just think how much God puts up with us. As we allow Him to work in our lives, sometimes the progress is slow. That may be because we are hesitant and may struggle. However, it may be that we are not in a place where God can effectively get through to us as He needs to. It may take a while. God is a very patient God!
The bottom line is that we all have some stupid stuff that needs work. Yes, even Christians. We are real people in real relationships and with real differences. Accept that. But none of our differences should keep us from experiencing the common bond we have as Christians. (Ken Farmer)
This devotional is the Thursday, April 30, 2015 entry from Opening the Word.
Photo credit: "DSC_0017" by Ted used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Resized, text added.