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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)
Order your copy of Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights today!
What were the consequences of the Fall?
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Omar Lee writes:
- Humans were deprived of the Spirit of God, fellowship with God, innocence, moral nature or holiness, and the Garden.
- They became depraved in their whole personality (Gen. 6:5; Titus 1:15).
- They became disorganized since God was no longer the center of their being. To compensate, humans reorganized their world with themselves as the center.
- They were doomed to death spiritually and physically. Humanity, therefore, was totally depraved until they could not turn back to God. They could only go deeper in sin, and by their own efforts, they would never return to God. Grace must intervene, or man's doom becomes eternal!
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 20.