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The Love of God in Christmas
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Omar Lee writes:
Oh! love divine, how can we show our appreciation for it? It is only by taking what He freely gave us, which is salvation. Christmas is a great time to choose Jesus! His birth introduced a new factor into the human realm. Before this, we were all children of Adam and doomed to sin. Now Immanuel (God with us) or Jesus (Savior), the God-man gives us the realization of the hope of humanity for a Savior! His birth further assures humanity of one who understands us, having experienced trials as well as known them. His birth foreshadows our spiritual birth. He was born of a woman that we might be born of the Spirit. There can be, there must be, the supernatural in our spiritual birth. His birth is a guarantee of greater events for us! The first coming has been proven true! The second will come also. In the Christmas story we have authentication for all God had promised, and in His resurrection, we have the zeal that all that He has promised will come to pass.
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 26.
How is the Word the light of humanity?
In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes concerning John 1:4:
John was fond of borrowing words from Genesis 1 and infusing them with new spiritual meaning. Life here is more than biological life, but the life principle itself. Life is a key word in this Gospel. But whereas John usually used it to refer to spiritual, eternal life, here the term is broader. The life was the light of men. To understand this phrase, the reader must review the occurrences of light in this Gospel (8:12; 9:5; 12:36, 46). John said that light flows from the life that is in the Word. One way of understanding this is to remember that the Word is life because the Word communicates the nature of God to us. We receive light — or truth — as we see the glory of the Father revealed in the Son.
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 23.
What did it mean for the Word to dwell with man?
In "Word Focus" Glenn McClure writes:
The word dwelt is literally translated “tabernacled.” It is from the word “tent.” “To dwell in a tent with one” means the same as to be in his family, so when John said He tabernacled with them, he meant that Christ was with them as a friend and as one of the family, so that they had complete opportunity of becoming familiarly acquainted with Him and could not be mistaken in supposing that He was really a man.
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 22.
Pray for Visitors to Your Class
Heavenly Father, I pray today for those who visited our class this past Sunday, and those who will come this next weekend.
Some of our visitors are Christians from out of the area who have come here for different reasons. Encourage them in the faith. Help them to feel welcome in our church, even though their visit may be brief. Work through them to encourage our class, that we might see in a new way how You are working around the world to build Your Church.
Other visitors are not Christians. We pray that their time in our Sunday school class will be enjoyable and profitable. We know that many of our traditions have become so ingrained in us that we do not even recognize how confusing they are to outsiders. Help us to know how best to ease new people into our religious patterns.
Help each visitor to our class to feel welcomed but not suffocated, accepted rather than isolated, and challenged instead of bored. Help our class to prepare ahead of time for guests so that we will welcome them appropriately when they come.
In Jesus’ name we ask all this. Amen.
When God Stepped Down (Christmas)
Lesson 4 - December 25, 2016
Focus Text: John 1:1-18
Central Truth: Christ, the Living Word, was the greatest revelation of God to man.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to explain in practical terms the importance and necessity of the Incarnation.
Lesson Outline:
- The Eternal Christ (John 1:1-8)
- The Incarnate Christ (John 1:9-14)
- The Mission of Christ (John 1:15-18)
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