February 8, 2015 - Lesson 10
Printed Text: Malachi 3:8-12; Luke 19:1-10; Ezekiel 33:13-15
Central Truth: Respect for others refuses to take what is rightfully theirs.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to state three guiding principles in showing respect for the rights of others.
Lesson Outline:
Read Mark 10:46-52
”And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me” (v. 48).
“They thought I was a corpse!” the rescued sailor said.
Trapped in water up to his chest in a cabin of the overturned boat, he little expected the pocket of air sustaining his life to last much longer. Hour after hour he stood atop a pile of mattresses, his muscles screaming for relief as the chilly water sapped his body’s warmth and strength. Awaiting death, he quoted Scripture and prayed for rescue.
Suddenly, he heard hammering overhead. With all his remaining strength, he banged back. When a diver’s headlamp pierced the darkness of his watery prison, he stretched out his hand and squeezed the diver’s fingers in a desperate, silent plea for deliverance.
The crewman could have succumbed to despair. Likewise, blind Bartimaeus could have permitted the crowd’s disapproval to deprive him of a miracle. But his need was great, and the Healer was passing by. He cried out and received his sight. Today, we can cry out to the Great Deliverer whatever our need. Jesus will hear the faintest heart cry and respond in love. (Joyce Cooper)
Reach out and touch the Lord as He passes by.
You’ll find He’s not too busy to hear your heart’s cry.
He’s passing by this moment your need to supply.
Reach out and touch the Lord as He passes by. — Bill Harmon
Have a need? Just reach out to Jesus by faith.
This is the Friday, December 19, 2014 devotional reading of Opening the Word.
Photo credit: "STATION SAN FRANCISCO (FOR RELEASE)" by Tidewater Muse used under CC BY 2.0 / Resized, cropped.
December 21 - Lesson 3
Printed Text: Matthew 2:1-12
Central Truth: To worship Christ is the very beginning of wisdom.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to state ways they can follow Christ more fervently.
Read Psalm 86:10-17
"For thou art great, and does wondrous things: thou art God alone" (v. 10).
Several years ago, our oldest son applied for a loan to purchase a home. After a few days, he received a letter saying that he was denied the loan. He contacted the loan company to find out why he had been denied. He was told that his credit was impeccable but that he was overextending himself. As he looked deeper into his credit report, he found that the loan I had secured to purchase a home was on his credit record. The combined payments from his load and mine were more than his income could repay.
The reason for the discrepancy was that our names are the same except for different middle initials. Because of the failure of someone to examine our names carefully, we were not recognized as different individuals.
God is God alone. Some have attempted to impersonate Him, but anyone who looks diligently will recognize that He is God alone. There are other gods, resulting in different religions, but there is only one true God. Jeremiah wrote, "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (29:13). A diligent search for Him will result in finding Him because He is God alone. (Larry DeOrnellis)
We always find Him when we diligently search for Him.
This is the Wednesday, December 10, 2014 devotional reading of Opening the Word.
Photo credit: "KURDISTAN Nature as I see it" by jan Sefti used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Cropped
December 14 - Lesson 2
Printed Text: Exodus 20:1-3; Deuteronomy 6:4-15
Central Truth: The foundation of God's law is that God alone is God.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list at least three evidences that God is in first place in their lives.
Lesson Outline:
November 23 - Lesson 12
Focus Text: Acts 20:17-38
Big Idea: Faithful Christian ministry is marked by selfless service.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to explain what selfless Christian service looks like.
Lesson Outline:
Read Isaiah 55:1-7
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (v. 1).
I had the privilege of growing up on a farm. Each summer we would put up several hundred bales of hay to feed to the cattle during the long winter months. My job usually entailed moving the hay from the wagon onto the elevator to be carried up to the haymow. It seemed we always baled on the hottest days of the year, and I remember seeing the poor guys working the mow come crawling out with sweat streaming down their faces and hay dust clinging all over them. They looked miserable! I watched as they rinsed off at the water spigot. Then Grandma would say, “How about some fresh lemonade?” As the cool refreshing drink washed down their throats, it seemed like it washed away the misery with it, and I saw smiles come back to their faces again. My job was not nearly as rigorous as theirs, but Grandma gave me some of that wonderful lemonade, too.
Now, as a preacher of the gospel, I have the remarkable privilege of offering a drink of living water to the wretched, miserable souls I meet along life’s road. I love to watch the despair melt away as the love of Jesus washes over their souls and in its place comes the sweet countenance of joy. (Daniel Edwards)
Oh, I have found it, the Crystal Fountain,
Where all my life’s deep needs have been supplied;
So freely flowing from Calv’ry’s mountain,
And now my soul is fully satisfied.
— Floyd W. Hawkins
Thirsty? There is living water for all!
This is the Tuesday, November 4, 2014 devotional reading of Opening the Word.
Photo credit: "Porteau Cove Provincial Park *" by Kyla Duhamel used under CC BY 2.0 / Resized, cropped, text added.
November 9 - Lesson 10
Focus Text: Acts 10:34-48
Big Idea: God's righteous character leaves no room for favoritism.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list reasons that favoritism is unacceptable for the Christian.
Lesson Outline:
Read Matthew 9:1-8
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house” (v. 6).
Forgiveness is often controversial. Scandalous, even. When one chooses to forgive, many people do not understand, do not agree, and may even attack the forgiver. “They need to pay for what they did!” “People need to know what kind of person he is!” “You need to teach her a lesson!”
Jesus was certainly attacked for His radical forgiveness. He was criticized for associating with people of shady reputation. “Doesn’t He know who that is? Doesn’t He know what they have done?”
Of course He knew. He still knows. He still sees the depth of the depravity in each of our hearts. And His forgiveness still reaches deeper than the cancer of sin can ever go. (Karen Speak)
From the depth of sin and sadness
To the heights of joy and gladness
Jesus lifted me, in mercy full and free.
With His precious blood He bo’t me;
When I knew Him not, He sought me,
And in love divine He ransomed me. — Julia H. Johnston
Choose to forgive even when you disagree.
This is the Monday, October 27, 2014 devotional reading of Opening the Word.
Photo credit: "Asking for Forgiveness" by Vic used under CC BY 2.0 / Cropped.
November 2 - Lesson 9
Focus Text: Acts 3:1-26
Big Idea: All glory belongs to Christ, the Son of God.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list ways they give Christ the glory for the wonderful things He is doing in their lives.
Lesson Outline: