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May 12, 2024: Christ, Our Intercessor
FOCUS TEXT: John 17:9-24
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Genesis 18:16-33; Exodus 32:30-34; Job 1:5; 42:7-10; John 17:1-26; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:24, 25
DEVOTIONAL READING: 1 John 2:1-6
KEY VERSE: We have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God (Hebrews 4:14).
CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ intercedes with the Father for us.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to state ways Christ's intercession gives them confidence for life.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Prayer for Preservation (John 17:1-16)
II. Prayer for Sanctification (John 17:17-19)
III. Prayer for Unification (John 17:20-26)
May 2, 2024: Characteristics of Fruitfulness
Read Philippians 1:8-11.
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” (v. 11).
“May you always be doing those good, kind things that show you are a child of God,” one author paraphrases the first words of today’s text – filled to overflowing with the actions and attitudes that bring glory to our Heavenly Father.
How can we overflow like that? Paul gives us the key in the preceding two verses. First, our love is to abound more and more. This is God’s agape love, the chief characteristic of His presence in us. He gave it to us when He saved us (Romans 5:5) and wants it to grow and bless others. Second, we are to “approve things that are excellent” – not just good things or better things, but excellent things. The Greek here indicates approval after testing; God wants us to compare ideas, doctrines, actions, and choose those that best exemplify His Person and teaching.
Perhaps we could paraphrase the paraphrase and say: May you always be growing in divine love, always testing, approving, and practicing the most excellent graces and doctrines, so that by them you may portray to others the righteousness that God places in our hearts; and thus, you will glorify and honor Him.
Our fruitfulness should be a picture of love and of a high quality of spiritual life. It will honor God and attract others to Him. (Steven Hight)
Loving excellently – what greater thing could we do?
May 5, 2024: New Life in Christ
FOCUS TEXT: John 15:1-17
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Judges 9:7-15; Isaiah 5:1-10; Ezekiel 15:1-8; John 15:1-27; Romans 11:13-24
DEVOTIONAL READING: Galatians 5:22-26
KEY VERSE: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (John 15:5).
CENTRAL TRUTH: We live spiritually through the life Christ gives us.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to name two evidences of the abundant life in Christ.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Branches' Relationship to the Vine (John 15:1-6)
II. The Branches' Rewards in the Vine (John 15:7-11)
III. The Branches' Responsibilities to the Vine (John 15:12-17)
April 24, 2024: Hope Encouraged
Read John 14:1-6.
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,
and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (v. 3).
The disciples of Jesus were having a bad day! Jesus was still with them; they could see and touch him. He had just washed their feet. But all that good news had been negated by the bad news of 13:32: Jesus was soon going to leave them. And worse yet, Jesus had predicted that one of them would betray Him. It all made no sense to their worldview, and their confidence about the future disappeared like the morning dew. Like the psalmist in our verse yesterday, their spirits were “cast down within them.”
Jesus immediately begins the process of building their confidence on a firmer foundation. It is as though Jesus is saying in these opening verses of John 14, “Can you only trust me when you can see me?” It is a question he is asking to each of us!
Jesus wanted His disciples, including us, to understand that His Word should be a greater source of confidence than His presence. For Jesus, absence does not make the heart to wander. He is working just as much for us in His absence as in His presence! It is far better to be present with Him “there” than for Him to be present with us here. It was not until after Pentecost that the disciples were able to grasp what Jesus was saying. May the Holy Spirit also help us place more confidence in His Word than in His presence. (Gordon Snider)
“Time is filled with swift transition.
Naught of earth unmoved can stand.
Build your hopes on things eternal.
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.”
--- Jennie Wilson
April 28, 2024: Foundation for Christian Hope
FOCUS TEXT: John 14:1-19
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Psalm 34:1-18; John 14:1-31; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 21:1-27
DEVOTIONAL READING: Psalm 146:1-10
KEY VERSE: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).
CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ gives us good reason to live with hope.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to state the foundation of the hope of the Christian in at least three areas.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Hope Instilled (John 14:1-4)
II. Hope's Foundation (John 14:5-14)
III. Hope in the Comforter (John 14:15-26)
IV. Legacy of Hope (John 14:27-29)
April 7, 2024: The Water of Life
FOCUS TEXT: John 4:7-14; 7:37-39; Revelation 7:15-17
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Leviticus 23:33-44; John 7:1-53
DEVOTIONAL READING: Isaiah 55:1-13
KEY VERSE: If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink (John 7:37).
CENTRAL TRUTH: The "living water" supplied by Christ abundantly satisfies the thirsty soul.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to state how one can obtain the living water.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Living Water (John 4:7-14)
II. The Invitation to Drink (John 7:37-39)
III. No More Thirst (Revelation 7:15-17)