Lesson Highlights

The Shame of the Cross
The Shame of the Cross

The Shame of the Cross

In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:

Bearing his cross (v. 17). It was the custom that four soldiers were detailed to each cross, and they were under the command of a centurion. The cross was usually carried by the one who would soon be nailed to it. In many cases his arms were tied to it. Normally they took the longest route and through the most crowded streets to attract the most public attention. This had a twofold purpose. First, it was a deterrent to others inclined to break the law. Second, it gave opportunity for anyone who had evidence in behalf of the condemned to come forth. Whether these customs were followed in the case of Christ’s crucifixion is unknown.

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2, KJV).
Discussion: As followers we are to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus. What does this say then about the "shame" we may endure as a result of carrying our cross for Jesus?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 28.

Herald & Banner Press2016-04-01T09:00:00+00:00April 1st, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: cross|0 Comments

Happy Easter!
Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:6)
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of Your only Son. We thank You for His sinless life, His suffering in our behalf, and His loving sacrifice. We praise You for Your power in raising Him back to life and His victory over sin and death, giving us reason to worship this and every Easter!

Herald & Banner Press2016-03-27T08:00:00+00:00March 27th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Easter|0 Comments

How Should Christians Live in the Aftermath of the Resurrection?
How Should Christians Live in the Aftermath of the Resurrection?

How Should Christians Live in the Aftermath of the Resurrection?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Randy Bland quotes N.T. Wright's Surprised by Hope:

I know that God’s new world of justice and joy, of hope for the whole earth, was launched when Jesus came out of the tomb on Easter morning, and I know that He calls His followers to live in Him and by the power of His Spirit, and so to be new-creation people here and now, bringing signs and symbols of the kingdom to birth on earth as in heaven.

Bland finds three truths from this statement:

The resurrection is for everyone.
The resurrection opens up the possibility for Christians to live by the Spirit.
We must realize that we live in what theologians call the time between the already and the not yet.

Consult your Adult Teacher's Insights for more discussion!
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 26.

Herald & Banner Press2016-03-26T08:00:00+00:00March 26th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Easter, resurrection|0 Comments

Even so … for God so loved
Even so … for God so loved

Even so … for God so loved

John 3:14-16:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God's gift of love to us!

Herald & Banner Press2016-03-25T08:00:00+00:00March 25th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: cross, Crucifixion, Good Friday|0 Comments

Why Jesus' Trial by the Sanhedrin Illegal?
Why Jesus' Trial by the Sanhedrin Illegal?

Why Jesus' Trial by the Sanhedrin Illegal?

In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:

The Sanhedrin was the ruling body of the Jews. It consisted of seventy-one members including scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and elders. The high priest was the presiding officer. Certain regulations were set forth to cover such events as a trial. There was to be a quorum of twenty-three. Criminal cases were all to be tried in the daytime and must be completed during the daytime. A trial could only be finished on the day it was begun if the verdict was “not guilty.” Otherwise, a night had to pass before a guilty verdict could be pronounced. No decision of this body was valid unless they met in their own meeting hall in the Temple precincts. All evidence had to be sworn to by at least two witnesses who were examined separately and had no contact with each other. A false witness was punishable by death. In every trial the evidence for the innocence of the accused was to be put before the court before any evidence of his guilt. In their rush to eliminate Jesus, the Sanhedrin completely disregarded its own rules.

Discussion: What happens to a society when its courts no longer uphold justice?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 16.

Herald & Banner Press2016-03-18T08:00:00+00:00March 18th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: cross, Jesus, Sanhedrin|0 Comments

What is the doctrine of expiation?
What is the doctrine of expiation?

What is the doctrine of expiation?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Randy Bland writes:

The doctrine of expiation says that believers can further be cleansed from the stain of sin.
This doctrine goes back to the time when God gave the law to Moses. Once a year on the Day of Atonement the Israelites were to sacrifice two goats to the Lord. The first goat was to be killed as a sin offering for the people. This sacrifice of propitiation was offered to satisfy God’s wrath. The second goat was treated very differently. The high priest was to lay his hands upon the head of the goat and confess all of the sins and iniquities of the people, thus transferring them from the people to the goat. This scapegoat was then banished from camp and set to wander in the wilderness, forever cut off from the people. He was a sacrifice of expiation that cleansed the people by carrying away their sins.

Jesus was our Scapegoat, taking away our sins so that we could be cleansed from the stain of sin.
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 20.

Herald & Banner Press2016-03-17T11:00:00+00:00March 17th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Doctrine, Expiation|0 Comments

How Should We Surrender Our Will to God?
How Should We Surrender Our Will to God?

How Should We Surrender Our Will to God?

"Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour" (John 12:27).
In "Biblical Perspective" Randall McElwain writes:

There were two possible responses to the question, “What shall I say?” “A prayer to be saved from the hour . . . or a prayer that the Father’s name would be glorified” (New Bible Comm.). Although Jesus was troubled by the prospect of crucifixion, the first response was impossible in light of His surrender to the will of His Father. This left the second option, Father, glorify thy name. Jesus provided a model for every Christian; just as He surrendered His will to His Father’s will, we must surrender our desires, ambitions, and goals to the will of our Heavenly Father. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, a voice from heaven authenticated His min- istry (Matt. 3:17). Later, at the Transfiguration, the voice from heaven testified to His divine sonship (Luke 9:28-36). Now, at the end of His ministry, the voice from heaven testified that His death was part of the Father’s plan.

Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 12.

Herald & Banner Press2016-03-12T09:00:00+00:00March 12th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: God's Will, prayer|0 Comments

What did it mean for Jesus to be the "Son of man"?
What did it mean for Jesus to be the "Son of man"?

What did it mean for Jesus to be the "Son of man"?

In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:

The Son of man (v. 23). In Daniel 7:1-8 the writer was describing the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Medes and Persians. These were the nations that had held power over Israel. They were cruel and savage rulers. But the writer had a vision that a new power would arise that would rule in a gentle and humane manner. Daniel 7:13, 14 states that one like the Son of man came before the Ancient of Days to receive an everlasting kingdom.
From this passage in Daniel, the Jews dreamed of a golden age when they would be masters of the world. They realized that their nation was so small and weak that God would have to send a champion to lead them to this golden age. So, to them, the Son of man stood for a great, undefeatable ruler sent to them by God. Thus, when Jesus said, “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified,” they would feel that their day of supremacy was at hand. They failed to realize that when Jesus spoke of being glorified, He spoke of crucifixion. When the Jews spoke of the Son of man, they spoke of worldly conquest. When Jesus spoke of the Son of man, He spoke of the victory of the cross.

Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 10.

Herald & Banner Press2016-03-11T09:00:00+00:00March 11th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: cross, Messiah|0 Comments

The Irony of the Gospel
The Irony of the Gospel

The Irony of the Gospel

In "Biblical Perspective" Randall McElwain writes:

As Jewish idioms, love and hatred are relative terms. Love for the things of God is equated with hatred of this life. The term translated lose here is often translated “destroy.” A selfish love for this life destroys the very life one seeks to protect. The great paradox of the gospel is that the only way to gain eternal life is to give up life. The great irony of the gospel is that Jesus, who already possessed eternal life, gave up His life to provide eternal life to humankind.

Discussion: How have you seen a love for this life destroy people's lives?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 11.

Herald & Banner Press2016-03-09T09:00:00+00:00March 9th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Gospel, love, Selfishness|0 Comments

What motivates God?
What motivates God?

What motivates God?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Randy Bland asks the question, "What motivates God?" Why does God love us so much? He then writes:

Yet, for love to be real, there must always be the possibility of pain and rejection. God made Himself vulnerable in order to live in loving community with other beings, and He was rejected, first by many of the angels, and then by humanity. He continues to feel the pain of rejection up to this very moment. Most of us would run from that level of pain, but God embraced the pain through love and found a way to win many people back to Himself. That way, of course, is the cross.

Discussion: What motivates us? How does this compare to what motivates God?
Source: Jesus, The Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 7.

Herald & Banner Press2016-03-04T09:00:00+00:00March 4th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: cross, love|0 Comments