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Return Blessing for Reviling
Read 1 Corinthians 4:11-16
“And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it” (v. 12).
At the local grocery store one day a pastor was noticed by a man who had just entered. Very loudly, the man addressed the pastor telling a story, equating preachers with Adolf Hitler's fanaticism. The pastor listened politely and went on his way. Later, this man apologized to the pastor saying that he had not meant to intimate that all pastors were like Hitler. The pastor responded graciously but the libelous words still hurt. Another time a pastor was accosted by an alcoholic who proceeded to rail and rant against one of his church members for half an hour. The pastor attempted to listen politely, while holding the accusations in suspension of belief, seeking some way to minister to the hurting man. It hurts when the world shouts accusations and works to harm God's people, even though we may be able to dismiss the accusations as false. What really hurts is when God's people turn on us, accusing us of evil motives. Yet we are called to bless even when we are reviled. (David Woods)
Is there someone who has spoken evil of you recently for whom God would have you say a prayer of blessing?
This devotional is the Wednesday, April 19, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.
Debate
Some people just like to argue; and some are really good at it! Consider using this propensity to your advantage when preparing for lessons that are conducive to strong arguments and opinions. Think about two different well-spoken individuals in your class who would be willing to prepare beforehand for a debate-style presentation during your class.
It should be emphasized to the participants (and maybe even the class) that the point of this debate is not to destroy faith, but to enable the class to seriously consider both pros and cons of whatever the issue is, even though one side of the argument might seem to be heretical - that real, sound faith does not have all the answers, that ambiguity is okay, and that such questions can bring us closer to God rather than to draw us away. (It is better than a ball team’s weaknesses be exposed on the practice field than during a competition.)
When Christians Disagree
Lesson 8 - April 23, 2017
Focus Text: Philippians 2:1-4; Romans 14:19-23; 15:1-7
Central Truth: Christ expects His Church to be unified in our love for Him.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify ways they can strengthen relationships in our local church.
Lesson Outline:
- Seek to Avoid Confrontations (Philippians 2:1-4)
- Follow After Peace (Romans 14:19-23)
- Forbear One Another (Romans 15:1-4)
- Receive One Another (Romans 15:5-7)
Do we truly listen when Jesus speaks to us?
In "Biblical Perspective" Larry Grile writes:
Luke recorded various times when Jesus had told His disciples of His impending death and resurrection. The quotation of the angel is found in Luke 9:22 and in Luke 18:31-33. Jesus' words, however, had fallen on deaf ears, and the disciples, even including the women of this account, had not comprehended what Jesus was telling them (Luke 18:34).
Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 42.
What was the determining factor in Saul's (Paul) conversion?
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Jason Lindahl writes:
What was the determining factor in Saul's conversion? To the end of his days, this unlikely apostle testified that it was the fact that “last of all [Jesus] was seen of me also” (1 Cor. 15:8). The Galilean Carpenter, who had most certainly been executed on a Roman cross and buried and sealed in a tomb, appeared to Saul alive and well. In other words, Saul was convinced by the resurrection. Perhaps he did not immediately think of it in that way; he only knew that the encounter with Jesus had supernaturally changed him. But later, he added Jesus' appearance to him to the long list of Jesus' other post-resurrection appearances as proof of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15).
Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 43.