Will you follow Christ?

In "God's Word for Today" Jim Baker writes:

When we consider why Jesus went to the cross, it should cause each of us to want to follow Him. The question Pilate asked, “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” (Matt. 27:22), should elicit a response in each life. Will YOU accept Christ or crucify Him?
The lessons in this quarter have given many reasons to follow Christ, the Son of God. He is the suffering Savior who forgives. And because of His resurrection we have hope for today and eternity. He is the Good Shepherd and cares for us. Though He has supreme authority, yet He humbled Himself to reach us. To know that He intercedes for us gives us confidence to live daily for Him. With all these reasons to be a Christian, there is no excuse to reject Him. There is more to gain than to lose.

Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 81.

2016-05-27T09:00:00+00:00May 27th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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Why did Jesus often not give straight answers?

In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:

The Lord's reply to Pilate's question was deliberately ambiguous. Jesus spoke here as He spoke to the Jews — in parables. If they really wanted to find out the truth, they could, but their blinded eyes made His teaching seem as nonsense. Jesus gave Pilate enough to pique his curiosity. Had he continued to press with an earnest desire to know the truth, without doubt Christ would have revealed more to him.

Discussion: When God seems not to give us "straight" answers, do we continue to seek His word or are we content to be blind to Truth?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 78.

2016-05-26T09:00:00+00:00May 26th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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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.

2016-05-21T09:00:00+00:00May 21st, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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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.

2016-05-20T09:00:00+00:00May 20th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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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.

2016-05-14T09:00:00+00:00May 14th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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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.

2016-05-13T09:00:00+00:00May 13th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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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.

2016-05-06T09:00:00+00:00May 6th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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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.

2016-05-05T09:00:00+00:00May 5th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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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.

2016-04-22T09:00:00+00:00April 22nd, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: , |0 Comments
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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.

2016-04-21T09:00:00+00:00April 21st, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: , , |0 Comments
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