FOCUS TEXT: 1 Timothy 3:1-16

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Acts 6:1-8; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; 1 Peter 4:8-11; 5:1-11

DEVOTIONAL READING: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15

KEY VERSE: And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you (1 Thessalonians 5:12).

CENTRAL TRUTH: God calls specific people to guide His Church.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify some requirements of godly leaders.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Requirements of a Pastor (1 Timothy 3:1-7)
II. The Requirements of a Deacon (1 Timothy 3:8-13)
III. The Behavior of Believers (1 Timothy 3:14-16)

FOCUS TEXT: Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Romans 12:1-21; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

DEVOTIONAL READING: Ephesians 4:11-13

KEY VERSE: As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10).

CENTRAL TRUTH: God gives us spiritual gifts that we may serve the Church.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify their spiritual gifts.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Gifts Given To Be Used (Romans 12:3-8)
II. Gifts Given for the Common Good (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
III. Gifts Given as the Spirit Desires (1 Corinthians 12:8-11)

FOCUS TEXT: 2 Kings 23:1-3; 1 Chronicles 16:23-29; 29:6-10

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: 2 Chronicles 6:1-42; Psalm 84:1-12; Matthew 21:12-16

DEVOTIONAL READING: Psalm 96:1-13

KEY VERSE: O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker (Psalm 95:6).

CENTRAL TRUTH: The worship of God is essential to the Christian's life.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list practical ways they can express their worship of God.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Worship by Reading (2 Kings 23:1-3)
II. Worship in Prayer and Praise (1 Chronicles 16:23-29)
III. Worship Through Giving (1 Chronicles 29:6-10)

FOCUS TEXT: Acts 6:1-7; 1 Peter 5:1-7

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Exodus 18:13-26; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 4:1-16; Philippians 2:1-8; 4:1-3

DEVOTIONAL READING: 1 Peter 4:7-11

KEY VERSE: Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind (Philippians 2:2).

CENTRAL TRUTH: Cooperation is a key attitude of the effective church.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list several ways their church can show better cooperation.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Cooperation by Choice (Acts 6:1-7)
II. Cooperation in Ministry (1 Peter 5:1-4)
III. Cooperation Through Submission (1 Peter 5:5-7)

PRINTED TEXT: Matthew 16:13-27

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Ephesians 1:15-23; Colossians 1:12-20

DEVOTIONAL READING: Psalm 24:1-10

KEY VERSE: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18).

CENTRAL TRUTH: Jesus Christ is the head of the Church.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify ways to put Christ in His place as Head of the Church.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Divine Revelation (Matthew 16:13-20)
II. The Human Misunderstanding (Matthew 16:21-23)
III. The Challenge to Follow (Matthew 16:24-27)

FOCUS TEXT: 1 Peter 1:22--2:10

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 1:22 -- 2:25

DEVOTIONAL READING: Ephesians 2:11-22

KEY VERSE: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another (Romans 12:5).

CENTRAL TRUTH: Christians belong to each other because they belong to Christ.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify ways that unity can be demonstrated.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Children in the Same Family (1 Peter 1:22 -- 2:3)
II. Stones in the Same Building (1 Peter 2:4-8)
III. Citizens of the Same Kingdom (1 Peter 2:9, 10)

FOCUS TEXT: Matthew 16:13-27

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Ephesians 1:15-23; Colossians 1:12-20

DEVOTIONAL READING: Psalm 24:1-10

KEY VERSE: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18).

CENTRAL TRUTH: Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify ways to put Christ in His place as Head of the Church.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Divine Revelation (Matthew 16:13-20)
II. The Human Misunderstanding (Matthew 16:21-23)III. The Challenge to Follow (Matthew 16:24-27)

FOCUS TEXT: Mark 15:1-15

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Isaiah 55:1-7; Matthew 27:16-26; Luke 23:13-25

DEVOTIONAL READING: Joshua 24:14-18

KEY VERSE: What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? (Matthew 27:22).

CENTRAL TRUTH: We bear the responsibility for choosing who Christ will be to us.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should have each one decided personally to make Christ the Lord of his life.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Leaders Consult (Mark 15:1-5)
II. The People Choose (Mark 15:6-11)
III. The Savior Is Condemned (Mark 15:12-15)

FOCUS TEXT: Mark 11:12-26

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Malachi 1:1-14; Matthew 21:12-27; Mark 11:12- 33; Luke 19:45-48; 20:1-8; John 2:13-22

DEVOTIONAL READING: Mark 11:27-33

KEY VERSE: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth (Philippians 2:10).

CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ has all authority over the world.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to name three ways God's power and authority affect them.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Cursed Tree (Mark 11:12-14, 19-26)
II. The Cleansed Temple (Mark 11:15-18)
III. The Challenged Authority (Mark 11:27-33)

FOCUS TEXT: John 17:9-24

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Genesis 18:16-33; Exodus 32:30-34; Job 1:5; 42:7-10; John 17:1-26; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:24, 25

DEVOTIONAL READING: 1 John 2:1-6

KEY VERSE: We have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God (Hebrews 4:14).

CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ intercedes with the Father for us.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to state ways Christ's intercession gives them confidence for life.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Prayer for Preservation (John 17:1-16)
II. Prayer for Sanctification (John 17:17-19)
III. Prayer for Unification (John 17:20-26)