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Unnecessary Barriers
"Our Church subculture has erected dozens of barriers that separate many people from the possibility of becoming disciples. Virtually all of those barriers are essentially cultural barriers, and have little or nothing to do with ‘faith once delivered to the saints.'" 1
There is a difference between maintaining holiness standards as a church and erecting unnecessary barriers in front of the unchurched. Simply, we can insist on the former while removing the latter.
If our holiness is an excuse for making the unbeliever uncomfortable, causing him or her to feel unwelcome, or viewing them as less loved or valuable to God... there is a problem with our holiness. Such "holiness" is old-time Phariseeism.
In this series of Tips for Teachers, we will consider a number of unnecessary barriers that may hinder your Sunday school's growth. Right now, stop and spend five minutes visualizing your typical Sunday school hour. What are some unnecessary barriers for unchurched people?
- George Hunter III, Church for the Unchurched, pp. 62-64 ↩
How to Worship in Crises
Lesson 1 - September 4, 2016
Focus Text: Psalm 9:1-17
Central Truth: The faithful respond to crisis by expressing faith in God.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to describe how they can worship God in the crisis moments of life.
Lesson Outline:
- Rejoice in God's Praise (Psalm 9:1, 2)
- Recount God's Deeds (Psalm 9:3-6)
- Remember God's Character (Psalm 9:7-10)
- Request God's Intervention (Psalm 9:11-14)
- Rest in God's Provision (Psalm 9:15-20)
Prayer – Lesson 13, Forever with Christ
Heavenly Father, as our classes study about living in Heaven forever with you, fill each person with hope and anticipation for eternity. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.
What does it mean for Christ to come like a thief in the night?
In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:
Paul wrote that “the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2). John Gill writes, “Respect is had not to the character of the thief, nor to the end of his coming; but to the manner of it, in the dark, indiscernibly, suddenly, and when not thought of and looked for; and such will be the coming of Christ, it will be sudden, and unknown beforehand, and when least thought of and expected.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Paul used the analogy of a pregnant woman whose labor pains come upon her suddenly. It seems that he was indicating the coming of the Lord will be sudden and quite painful to those who are not ready to meet Him. A pregnant woman may have a general idea when she is due to give birth, but the exact time can be a surprise. Paul's message to the Thessalonians was the same as Christ's message to John in The Revelation. He will come back suddenly and without warning, especially to those who are not prepared and watching for Him.
Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 75.
What can we look forward to in Heaven?
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Don Englund answers this question with several points. In part, he writes:
Heaven will not be a long, exhausting church service nor a continuous vacation. There will be meaningful work opportunities and responsibilities. No one will be unemployed. There will be constant anticipation, continual discovery, overwhelming gratitude, and the joy of being a partner with God himself!
Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 78.
Why should the Christian anticipate the end of history?
In "God's Word for Today" Steve Oliver writes
At last, we come to the end of history as we know it, and yet it is but the first instant of eternity. As the angel continued the “tour” of New Jerusalem, John beheld other wonders — a river of life pouring forth from the throne of God, and the trees of life lining the river on both sides. Human history began in a garden paradise, and here God has brought it full circle, back to the ultimate garden paradise of which Eden was but a dim reflection. Here, rather than living with the possibility of expulsion for disobedience, the saints will reign “for ever and ever.”
Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 75.