BIBLICAL BASIS: The Murder of Abel by Cain

FOCUS TEXT: Genesis 4:1-16

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Genesis 4:1-26; Leviticus 9:1-7; Mark 7:21- 23; James 1:14, 15

DEVOTIONAL READING: 1 John 3:9-18

KEY VERSE: Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3:15).

CENTRAL TRUTH: Sin is conceived in the heart before it is committed.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify ways we can guard our thoughts.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Principals in the Murder (Genesis 4:1-5)
II. Particulars of the Murder (Genesis 4:6-8)
III. Penalties of the Murder (Genesis 4:9-16)

BIBLICAL BASIS: The Fall of Adam and Eve

FOCUS TEXT: Genesis 3:1-15

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Genesis 3:1-24; John 8:34-44

DEVOTIONAL READING: Romans 5:12-21

KEY VERSE: I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel (Genesis 3:15).

CENTRAL TRUTH: Man's willful transgression of God's perfect law introduced sin into the world.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list some results of disobeying God's laws.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Craftiness of Sin (Genesis 3:1-5)
II. The Circumstances of Sin (Genesis 3:6-13)
III. The Consequences of Sin (Genesis 3:14-24)

BIBLICAL BASIS: The Creation of the World

FOCUS TEXT: Genesis 1:1-5, 26 -- 2:3

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Genesis 1:1 -- 2:25; Isaiah 40:12-31; Colossians 1:15-17

DEVOTIONAL READING: Isaiah 40:12-26

KEY VERSE: And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good (Genesis 1:31).

CENTRAL TRUTH: We should glorify God as our good Creator.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify ways God's creation still reflects the goodness of God.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Creator and the Universe (Genesis 1:1-25)
II. The Creator and Man (Genesis 1:26-31)
III. The Creator and the Sabbath (Genesis 2:1-3)

FOCUS TEXT: Ephesians 2:8-22

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Deuteronomy 7:6-14; 32:1-14; Ephesians 1:1-3:21; Revelation 19:4-10; 21:1-7

DEVOTIONAL READING: Ephesians 1:15-23

KEY VERSE: He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son (Revelation 21:7).

CENTRAL TRUTH: God is forming believers into a Church with a glorious destiny.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to explain how their church can be a victorious one.

LESSON OUTLINE:

I. Saved Through Faith (Ephesians 2:8-10)
II. Reconciled Through Christ (Ephesians 2:ll-l7)
III. Foundation of Victory (Ephesians 2:18-22)

FOCUS TEXT: Romans 12:10-13; 1 Peter 3:12-18

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Psalm 1:1-6; Ephesians 5:1-21; 1 Peter 3:1-22

DEVOTIONAL READING: Matthew 5:13-16

KEY VERSE: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

CENTRAL TRUTH: The church positively influences its community through its Christlike example.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list ways they can influence people around them.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Cultivate Brotherly Love (Romans 12:10-13)
II. Influence the World for Good (1 Peter 3:12-15)
III. Maintain a Good Conscience (1 Peter 3:16-18)

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)