Lesson Highlights Archives - Page 34 of 41

Why is it easier to believe disease and difficulty is due to sin?
Why is it easier to believe disease and difficulty is due to sin?

Why is it easier to believe disease and difficulty is due to sin?

"Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." (John 9:3)
In "Biblical Perspective" Gayle Woods writes:

Jesus opened their eyes to a thought which they never would have considered. There was no connection between infirmity and sin in this situation. The infirmity could not be blamed on the parents or the son. In spite of the bad situation, God would gain glory through their lives. God is often able to use us to the greatest extent when we are at the end of our resources. He takes that which is low, insignificant, and undesirable and uses it for His glory.

Discussion: Even today, many atttribute various diseases and calamities in life to people's sin. Why do we try to make this link?
Discussion: What if our link between the hardship people experience and their sin is inaccurate? What are the implications?
Source: Miracles of Jesus: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 47.

Herald & Banner Press2016-01-23T08:00:41+00:00January 23rd, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: disease, hardship, sin, trouble|0 Comments

Was Jesus a Sinner?
Was Jesus a Sinner?

Was Jesus a Sinner?

In "Word Focus" William Sillings writes:

The clay (pelos) that Jesus made was made by putting spittle, or saliva (ptusma), on the ground and mixing the saliva with the dirt. The ancients held a high regard for the curative value of saliva. And while we may frown on the gauche nature of such an idea today, there is little doubt that even the saliva of Jesus had healing virtue.
But Jesus was going to get into trouble for this act of making clay of dirt and saliva. Why? It was the Sabbath (v. 14). The Jewish traditional law forbade kneading on the Sabbath, and mixing any liquid with a solid in order to form anything of a dough-like or clay-like consistency was considered kneading. What Jesus did here, then, was not only to heal a man on the Sabbath, but also, in the minds of the Pharisees, to desecrate the Sabbath by working.

Discussion: The Pharisees thought Jesus was a sinner. Why don't we?
Source: Miracles of Jesus: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 46.

Herald & Banner Press2016-01-22T08:00:25+00:00January 22nd, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: sabbath, sin|0 Comments

How We Experience True Success
How We Experience True Success

How We Experience True Success

In "God's Word for Today", David Fry writes:

The disciples had failed in one of life’s most basic tasks — providing food for themselves. But Jesus had a hot breakfast of fish and bread prepared for them on shore. It wasn’t the breakfast, however, that had caused Peter to jump out of the boat and swim to shore, but the very appearance of Jesus. Suddenly, food became an afterthought. The disciples had no doubt who Jesus was. Once again, Jesus had provided for them. Those words, “Come and dine,” must have been sweet to the disciples’ ears, and much more because they came from the Savior.
John told this story for one purpose: to illustrate how futile the disciples’ efforts were without the help of Jesus. We must have Jesus as our constant companion in order to experience true success.

Discussion: Why must we have Jesus as our constant companion in order to experience true success?
Source: Miracles of Jesus: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 42.

Herald & Banner Press2016-01-15T08:00:22+00:00January 15th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: discipleship, success|0 Comments

Do you understand who Jesus truly is?
Do you understand who Jesus truly is?

Do you understand who Jesus truly is?

"After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself." (John 21:1)
In "Word Focus", William Sillings writes:

The word showed (ephanerosen — aorist) in verse 1 means “to make manifest, to make visible.” ... The verb means simply that Jesus appeared to the disciples in bodily form. It seems certain that no theological concept is actually implied. Nevertheless, it may be inferred from the events in this passage that not only did Jesus want to give them assurance of His bodily presence, but more than that, He wanted to help the disciples finally grasp who He really was — the divine Son of God, not just their teacher, not just their rabbi, not just an itinerant preacher, not merely a good leader. He was indeed God in the flesh.

Discussion: What are some similar misconceptions have about Jesus today?
Discussion: What does it mean for Jesus to be God in the flesh?
Source: Miracles of Jesus: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 40.

Herald & Banner Press2016-01-14T08:00:34+00:00January 14th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: incarnation, Jesus|0 Comments

What does a life without purpose look like?
What does a life without purpose look like?

What does a life without purpose look like?

In the comments on John 21: in "Biblical Perspective" Dr. Gayle Woods gives us answers to this question:

Often when we are at a loss to know what to do, we revert to what is most familiar. This was the case with the disciples. The natural leader of the group stated what he was going to do. The others who felt the need for close companionship with those who had faced the same experiences for the past three years stated that they wanted to go along for the trip. These men were professional fishermen and knew the best time and the best places to go to fish. Their hearts were not in their pastime, however, and they continued to work throughout the night without catching any fish. They were tired, frustrated men without a purpose.

Discussion: Why were these men without purpose?
Source: Miracles of Jesus: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 41.

Herald & Banner Press2016-01-13T08:00:16+00:00January 13th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: life, purpose|0 Comments

What is your motive in praying?
What is your motive in praying?

What is your motive in praying?

The objective for today's lesson is: "By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify various improper motives people have in praying for miracles."
Discussion: What are some such improper motives in praying? (Feel free to add your comments below!)

Herald & Banner Press2016-01-08T09:00:06+00:00January 8th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: healing, motive, prayer|0 Comments

5 Insights on Divine Healing From James 5
5 Insights on Divine Healing From James 5

5 Insights on Divine Healing From James 5

In "Doctrinal Discussion", Dr. Glenn McClure points out five insights on divine healing from James 5:14-20:

The person who is sick must want the healing.
The church leaders not only directed this request for healing to God, but also acknowledged that only God could bring it about.
We must pray in faith; faith is a prerequisite for healing.
We should not overlook those who are praying and the one for whom prayer is offered.
We must consider the intensity of the prayer of faith.

For deeper explanation of these insights, please see your Adult Teacher's Insights, pages 37-38.

Herald & Banner Press2016-01-07T09:00:33+00:00January 7th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: faith, healing, prayer|0 Comments

Why Jesus Was Impressed
Why Jesus Was Impressed

Why Jesus Was Impressed

"When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." (Mark 2:5)
In "Biblical Perspective", Dr. Gayle Woods writes:

Jesus and the crowd in the room heard the noise above them as the roof was dismantled. It was not long until sand and bits of mortar fell into the room. A cloudy haze filled the room as they watched in wonder. A hole appeared, revealing the sky above. The opening grew larger and larger until they saw the four men feverishly destroying the roof. Then the cot with the paralyzed man was lowered carefully into the room. Somehow people bunched closer together to allow for its intrusion into their midst. Jesus was impressed. It was the collective faith of the friends that impressed Jesus. They brought their friend for physical healing, but Jesus offered him much more. Jesus spoke to the need of his heart. Using a Greek term that was used affectionately, Jesus said, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Discussion: What one step can you take today to demonstrate a greater faith in Jesus?
Source: Miracles of Jesus: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 35.

Herald & Banner Press2016-01-06T09:00:48+00:00January 6th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: faith, healing, sin|0 Comments

What causes us to become too familiar with God to worship Him?
What causes us to become too familiar with God to worship Him?

What causes us to become too familiar with God to worship Him?

In "Biblical Perspective", Dr. Gayle Woods writes:

Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? Do we hear a note of disappointment in the words of Jesus? Is there an indication that He seemed to be somewhat puzzled by the fact that nine of the ten men who had been healed did not seem to place great value on what He had done for them?
This account should be a serious reminder to the people of God that we must be careful not to become familiar with the work of God to the point that we lose the sense of wonder and amazement. When the awesomeness of His glory begins to dim, we need to fall on our faces at His feet once again to renew our commitment of love to the one who made the difference in our lives.

Discussion: List possible reasons why the nine lepers failed to show gratitude to God.
Discussion: What are ways we today become too familiar that we fail to worship?
Source: Miracles of Jesus: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 31.

Herald & Banner Press2015-12-31T09:00:13+00:00December 31st, 2015|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: ingratitude, thankfulness, worship|0 Comments

Who is the "leper" in your life?
Who is the "leper" in your life?

Who is the "leper" in your life?

In "Word Focus" William Sillings writes:

Jesus touched (hapsato) the leper. Not only that, but He also stretched out His hand (ekteinas — aorist participle). The literal meaning of this word might read something like this, “When He had stretched out His hand,” signifying that this was a very intentional action. We think little about the fact that Jesus touched a leper, because we have heard it so many times. But think about what it meant to the first-century disciples. According to Leviticus 13, anyone who had leprosy was to be declared unclean, and they were to be quarantined from their families and the rest of the camp of Israel.
For Jesus to touch a leper was to transgress the traditions of Israel as well as to cause Himself to become ceremonially unclean. In the eyes of His disciples, Jesus was rewriting the tradition. He was taking drastic steps to make His point that people are more important than ceremonial cleanness.

Discussion: Who are the people our community are unwilling to touch? Who are the people our church is afraid or unwilling to touch? Who are you unwilling to touch?
Discussion: How should we change our attitudes and actions toward our "lepers"?
Source: Miracles of Jesus: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 28.

Herald & Banner Press2015-12-30T14:00:46+00:00December 30th, 2015|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: leper, love, outcast|0 Comments