Lesson Highlights

How do you see Jesus' authority being questioned today?
How do you see Jesus' authority being questioned today?

How do you see Jesus' authority being questioned today?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Randy Bland writes:

Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians to refute some heretical teachings that had seeped into the Church. One of these heresies was that Jesus was not divine; He was just a good man who taught valuable lessons to follow. The heretics were trying to convince the Church that they still needed rules and secret knowledge to ensure that they would be saved. This heresy can still be found in some churches today, so Paul's majestic hymn to the supremacy of Christ is as important now as it was then.

Discussion: How do you see Jesus' authority being questioned today, even, at times, in the church?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 75.

Herald & Banner Press2016-05-21T09:00:00+00:00May 21st, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Authority|0 Comments

What exactly was the injustice Jesus found at the Temple?
What exactly was the injustice Jesus found at the Temple?

What exactly was the injustice Jesus found at the Temple?

In "Biblical Perspective" Randall McElwain writes:

The moneychangers and them that sold doves operated in the Court of the Gentiles, a large court that was open to Gentile visitors. Because the annual half-shekel Temple tax had to be paid in a standard Temple coin, moneychangers were able to charge exorbitant rates for changing the Roman currency into Temple money. In addition, the priests controlled the sale of doves and sacrificial animals, which were greatly overpriced. These transactions were necessary; foreign money had to be changed to Temple coin, and it was more convenient to purchase animals for sacrifice at the Temple than bringing them long distances. However, Jesus objected to the unjust exchange rates and inflated prices, as well as to the spirit which turned a “house of prayer” into a bazaar.

Discussion: What exactly was the injustice Jesus found at the Temple? Was it that animals were being sold and that money was being exchanged? Or was it something else?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 72.

Herald & Banner Press2016-05-20T09:00:00+00:00May 20th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Injustice|0 Comments

If Jesus Prays for Us…
If Jesus Prays for Us…

If Jesus Prays for Us…

In "God's Word for Today" David Woods writes:

We are aware that one of the primary ministries of the Holy Spirit is intercession with the Father on the Christians' behalf. Our scripture today highlights another wonderful truth: Christ intercedes with the Father for us. As we read in Romans 8:34: “Christ . . . also maketh intercession for us.” And if Christ's regular intercession is anything like His prayer in John 17, we ought to live every moment of every day with supreme confidence!

Discussion: How does Jesus' intercession give you courage?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 66.

Herald & Banner Press2016-05-14T09:00:00+00:00May 14th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: prayer|0 Comments

The Trinity and Sanctification
The Trinity and Sanctification

The Trinity and Sanctification

"And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." (John 17:19)
In "Biblical Perspective" Randall McElwain writes:

It is God's Word, the truth, that provides the power by which the disciples would be transformed (Beacon Bible Comm.). It is God's Son and His self-consecration that makes sanctification possible. While we correctly associate the Holy Spirit with sanctification, it is a trinitarian doctrine; all members of the Trinity play a role in our sanctification. When Jesus prayed for their sakes I sanctify myself, He used the same language used in New Testament atonement passages. Examples include Mark 14:24 (“this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many”) and John 6:51 (“and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world”). Just as Jesus provided for our atonement, He provided for our sanctification.

Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 67.

Herald & Banner Press2016-05-13T09:00:00+00:00May 13th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Sanctification|0 Comments

What is the Christian's Identity?
What is the Christian's Identity?

What is the Christian's Identity?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Randy Bland writes:

Our identity is given to us by God the Father, through the work of Jesus on the cross. We receive this work of salvation by grace through faith. The Father declares that we are righteous, but it can be hard for us to believe this when we are struggling with temptation. In spite of our struggles, however, God has declared that we are His children. Only repeated, willful sin can change that. When we learn to accept that God has accepted us in Jesus, we can move into a deeper walk with God.

Discussion: How does understanding our identity as Christians help us grow spiritually?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 63.

Herald & Banner Press2016-05-06T09:00:00+00:00May 6th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Identity|0 Comments

Spiritual Fruitfulness and Unfruitfulness
Spiritual Fruitfulness and Unfruitfulness

Spiritual Fruitfulness and Unfruitfulness

In "Word Focus" Darrell Grimm writes:

The contrast between the branches is illustrated in the husbandman's actions toward each. The word translated as husbandman not only indicates ownership but labor as well. So Christ said that “He,” the Father, cuts away those who bear no fruit. Christians are not fruitless because of some defect in their graft to the Vine, but because of the choice of their free will. Likewise the fruitful branch is so because of a desire to be so. Instead of being cut away completely, this branch undergoes a pruning which cuts away all that hinders fruitfulness. This pruning has been likened to the experience of sanctification. The heart must be purged of the old nature, or stunted growth and unfruitfulness will follow.

Discussion: Fruit is a natural by-product of a healthy tree or vine. If a Christian is unfruitful spiritually, what does that say about his or her heart?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 58.

Herald & Banner Press2016-05-05T09:00:00+00:00May 5th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Fruitfulness|0 Comments

The Contrast between Pride and Humility
The Contrast between Pride and Humility

The Contrast between Pride and Humility

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Randy Bland writes:

One definition of pride is an inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority. This definition is an apt description of the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable. Humility, on the other hand, is defined as having a modest opinion of one’s own importance. Perhaps we should add that it is having a true opinion of one’s own importance. The publican knew exactly who he was and where he stood before God. Such knowledge is the most important thing when it comes to living lives of humility.

Discussion: What kind of opinion do we possess?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 50.

Herald & Banner Press2016-04-22T09:00:00+00:00April 22nd, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: humility, Pride|0 Comments

The Fulfillment of the Passover
The Fulfillment of the Passover

The Fulfillment of the Passover

In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:

The Rabbinical customs prescribed that after the passing of the cup, the head of the group was to rise and wash his hands. It was probably at this point that Christ rose from the table. However, He departed from the traditional hand washing and adapted it to foot washing. Christ was injecting a very practical and relevant principle into the liturgical humdrum that was a part of the Jewish feasts. He was, throughout this feast, transforming it from the Paschal meal to the Eucharist. He was the fulfillment of all that the Paschal meal represented.

Discussion: What are other similarities and differences we see between the Passover feast and the Last Supper?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 46.

Herald & Banner Press2016-04-21T09:00:00+00:00April 21st, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Lamb, Passover, Sacrifice|0 Comments

What is the living water Jesus provides?
What is the living water Jesus provides?

What is the living water Jesus provides?

In "Biblical Perspective" Randall McElwain writes:

Since the “living water” is the Holy Spirit given through the work of Jesus Christ, verse 38 may refer to “rivers of living water” flowing from Christ. Another possibility is that the “living water” represents the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Because of that work, rivers shall flow to others, bringing them to Christ. Either way, Jesus is the source of the living water that springs forth in abundance far beyond the water used in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Discussion: What are the implications of this basic spiritual truth that Jesus is the source of living water?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 36.

Herald & Banner Press2016-04-08T09:00:00+00:00April 8th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Holy Spirit, salvation|0 Comments

The Symbolism of Living Water
The Symbolism of Living Water

The Symbolism of Living Water

In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:

Rivers of living water (John 7:38). Each day of the Feast of Tabernacles the people came with palm branches to the Temple. They would hold the palms in the air and march around the great altar. While they did this, the priest would take a golden pitcher, which held about two pints, and fill it at the pool of Siloam. It was then carried back through the Water Gate as the people recited Isaiah 12:3 — “With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” The water was then poured on the altar as an offering to God. At that point the Hallel (Ps. 113 — 118) was sung. At specified points in the singing the people would raise their palm branches and shout to the Lord. On the last day of the feast they marched seven times around the altar in memory of their seven-day march around the walls of Jericho. It was in the midst of this symbolism that Jesus stood and proclaimed the true water of life.

Discussion: With this cultural background, how do you think the Jewish people "heard" Jesus' proclamation that He could provide them living water?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 34.

Herald & Banner Press2016-04-07T09:00:00+00:00April 7th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: salvation, Thirst|0 Comments