Lesson Highlights Archives - Page 20 of 43

Biblical Metaphors for the Church
Biblical Metaphors for the Church

Biblical Metaphors for the Church

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Jason Lindahl writes:

Although the practice of referring to the church as a family existed long before the Gaithers, their song “The Family of God” clearly shows that the Church is a group of people who are connected by a common heritage. Each member of this family bears the marks of their Father — even God. And while each member is unique, the stress in the Church is upon the qualities members have in common because they are in a very real sense related to God. In this metaphor, the emphasis is upon the connectedness of the members of the Church. The Church is called the Bride of Christ. The context is still family, but the emphasis now shifts to the relationship between each member and their Lord, Jesus Christ. Marriage highlights the love that each church member feels for Jesus, and also the intimacy of that relationship. As beautiful and fulfilling as marriage is, Ephesians 5 seems to suggest that it is just a foretaste of the Christian's relationship with Jesus. When the Church is referred to as the Body of Christ, the emphasis is back on the inter-relatedness and dependence of the members of the Church. This metaphor highlights the two dimensions of church relationships. But this metaphor also places primary focus on the fact that Jesus is the Head of the Church — the chief executive officer. When things happen in an organization calling itself a church that are not directed by Jesus, that organization is losing its qualification to be called a church. A metaphor for the Church that comes from the animal world is the flock. Sheepherders are unanimous in their assessment that sheep are helpless, dependent animals. They often do foolish things that require the shepherd to undo, or else the sheep will die. Sheep must be led to places of food, drink, and shelter. This metaphor emphasizes the submission of the Christian to the Lord. The plant kingdom also provides a metaphor to communicate the meaning of the Church. In John 15, Jesus referred to Himself as the vine, and individual Christians are the branches. Just as no power tool can do its job unless it is connected to a power source, so Christians become impotent and ultimately will perish without being connected to Christ. The final metaphor comes from the field of architecture. The church is the building of God. The Bible makes it clear that Jesus is the foundation, the cornerstone, and the door of this building. Peter pointed out that Christians are merely the stones that make up the building. These stones are held in place by the mortar of the Spirit.

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 50.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-22T09:00:00+00:00April 22nd, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Church|0 Comments

Seeking peace despite disagreement
Seeking peace despite disagreement

Seeking peace despite disagreement

In "God's Word for Today" Gordon Snider writes:

As I write this lesson, the presidential race of 2016 is underway. In my lifetime, I have never seen the evangelical community so divided in a presidential election. Christians are “de-friending” other Christians on Facebook because the rhetoric is so strong. It just goes to show that it is difficult to fellowship with people who have strong feelings that differ from our own. Yet Paul, in today's lesson, calls for harmony in the face of disagreements. Disagreements will not vanish because the election is over. Serious conflicts still exist among believers over things like recreation, appearance, worship styles, and Sabbath observance, just to name a few. Paul was not calling us to compromise the truth, but he was calling the Church to live in harmony. Today's texts can give us clear direction about how to “shoot the rapids” of controversy while maintaining the unity of the Body of Christ. Perhaps no truth is more needed today than this one!

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 46.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-21T09:00:00+00:00April 21st, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Disagreement|0 Comments

How do Christians edify one another?
How do Christians edify one another?

How do Christians edify one another?

In "Word Focus" Glenn McClure writes:

One of the keys to understanding our printed text is the word edify, which occurs both in Romans 14:19 and in 15:2, where it is translated “edification.” This is a key word because it describes one of the basic motivations of Christian action. But it is also a word that is not used in casual conversation. The Greek word is actually a combination of two words, one meaning “to build” and the other meaning “a house.” So the obvious meaning is “to build a house.” Clearly the intended meaning of this word can best be visualized by remembering the last time you observed a construction project. Each piece of material was carefully put in place so that, when the project was completed, the building would be able to bear the load expected of it. That picture suggests that when Paul exhorted us to “edify [one] another” he imagined that every Christian is a part of the construction crew that is erecting a fellow Christian. The goal of our work is that our efforts will enable our fellow Christian to bear the load he or she will be expected to bear. What should inspire in us a sense of awe is that we as Christians are being asked to do what God himself was said to be doing in Jeremiah 24:6.

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 46.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-20T09:00:00+00:00April 20th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Edify|0 Comments

Do we truly listen when Jesus speaks to us?

In "Biblical Perspective" Larry Grile writes:

Luke recorded various times when Jesus had told His disciples of His impending death and resurrection. The quotation of the angel is found in Luke 9:22 and in Luke 18:31-33. Jesus' words, however, had fallen on deaf ears, and the disciples, even including the women of this account, had not comprehended what Jesus was telling them (Luke 18:34).

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 42.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-15T09:00:00+00:00April 15th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Listening|0 Comments

What was the determining factor in Saul's (Paul) conversion?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Jason Lindahl writes:

What was the determining factor in Saul's conversion? To the end of his days, this unlikely apostle testified that it was the fact that “last of all [Jesus] was seen of me also” (1 Cor. 15:8). The Galilean Carpenter, who had most certainly been executed on a Roman cross and buried and sealed in a tomb, appeared to Saul alive and well. In other words, Saul was convinced by the resurrection. Perhaps he did not immediately think of it in that way; he only knew that the encounter with Jesus had supernaturally changed him. But later, he added Jesus' appearance to him to the long list of Jesus' other post-resurrection appearances as proof of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15).

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 43.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-14T09:00:00+00:00April 14th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Conversion|0 Comments

What is most important about the Church's holy days?
What is most important about the Church's holy days?

What is most important about the Church's holy days?

In "God's Word for Today" Gordon Snider writes:

Christianity is a historically based faith, which means that the events of the life of our Lord are important. In the Western Church, we pay particular attention to the birth and death of Jesus, but in the Eastern Church, the calendar has many more holy days that are especially remembered. There is a danger that the Church can become so focused on historical events that Christians lose sight of the contemporary relevance of her holy days. That is why today's lesson focuses upon the significance of the resurrection. Does the resurrection of Jesus Christ have a daily impact on your life? It should! If we have been resurrected with Christ, we will have a new way of living. Philippians 3:10 suggests that the resurrection was not only an event, it is also a present power that is working in our lives. Today Christians rejoice in the fact of the resurrection, but every day should be lived in the power of that same resurrection.

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 40.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-13T09:00:00+00:00April 13th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Holy days|0 Comments

How do the blessings promised in the Old Testament relate to Christians today?

In "God's Word for Today" Gordon Snider writes:

[Malachi 3:10-12] focus on blessings that will come to those who honor their financial commitments to God. These verses have been used by preachers of a “prosperity gospel” to prove that it is God's will for His people to be materially blessed. How do the blessings of these verses relate to New Testament Christians?

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 35.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-08T09:00:00+00:00April 8th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Blessings|0 Comments

Should we only give if we have much?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Jason Lindahl writes:

Jesus said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38). Human nature being what it is, if people are led to believe that certain circumstances excuse them from tithing, they will tend always to find themselves in those circumstances! Instead of encouraging people to withhold more because they are poor, we should encourage them to step out in faith and trust a never-failing God to bless them for keeping His commands. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Mal. 3:10).

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 38.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-07T09:00:00+00:00April 7th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Giving|0 Comments

The Practice of Tithing

In "Biblical Perspective" Larry Grile writes:

There are perhaps several important things to be said about this passage as well as the general issue of tithing, giving offerings, etc. Tithing was a practice long before the Old Testament Law was given (Gen. 14:20; 28:22). It was enlarged and required under the Sinai Covenant. Still in Jesus' day it was practiced by the adherents of the Law and was commended by Jesus (Matt. 23:23). After the inauguration of the New Covenant at Calvary, no more reference was made to tithing. The concept of tithing is found in only one place where Paul asked the Corinthians to lay aside money according to their financial profit during the week, to be given as an offering on the first day of the week when they gathered together for worship. Since tithing preceded the Law, was commanded as a worthy part of the Law, and was commended by Jesus, it has been generally considered by devout people as a proper way to honor God with our substance. Many have proven God's promise and found Him true to His word. As for offerings, Malachi was referring to special required offerings of animal sacrifices, etc., and to freewill offerings as mentioned in the Law.

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 35.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-06T09:00:00+00:00April 6th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Tithing|0 Comments

Is your hope in wealth?
Is your hope in wealth?

Is your hope in wealth?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Jason Lindahl writes:

One of these was Job, a respected leader in his ancient community. In Eastern poetical language, he said, “Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me . . . when I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil” (29:2-6). Job confessed that he fully expected to die in this blessed state: “Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand” (29:18). However, his story illustrates that wealth, by itself, is a lousy source of security. In chapter 28, Job wrote about the wealth of precious stones and metals hidden in the earth and the means men use to mine them. Perhaps some of his own wealth was related to this mining. However, Job went on to explain that wisdom's value is much greater than all of this earthly wealth. He understood the principle that “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (v. 28). Job's hope was not in his wealth, but in God.

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 32.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-01T09:00:00+00:00April 1st, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: hope, Wealth|0 Comments