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Christ, Our Intercessor
Lesson 11 - May 15, 2016
Focus Text: John 17:9-24
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:
- Prayer for Preservation (John 17:1-16)
- Prayer for Sanctification (John 17:17-19)
- Prayer for Unification (John 17:20-26)
Prayer – Lesson 10, New Life in Christ
Heavenly Father,
Please bless our classes today as they discuss the abundant life Christ gives His followers. Help us to be careful to remain in the Vine and may we see a great harvest of spiritual fruit in our lives.
In Jesus' name.
Amen
Mother's Day Crafts
Check out these craft ideas that your children's Sunday school classes could make this Mother's Day!
What is the Christian's Identity?
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Randy Bland writes:
Our identity is given to us by God the Father, through the work of Jesus on the cross. We receive this work of salvation by grace through faith. The Father declares that we are righteous, but it can be hard for us to believe this when we are struggling with temptation. In spite of our struggles, however, God has declared that we are His children. Only repeated, willful sin can change that. When we learn to accept that God has accepted us in Jesus, we can move into a deeper walk with God.
Discussion: How does understanding our identity as Christians help us grow spiritually?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 63.
Spiritual Fruitfulness and Unfruitfulness
In "Word Focus" Darrell Grimm writes:
The contrast between the branches is illustrated in the husbandman's actions toward each. The word translated as husbandman not only indicates ownership but labor as well. So Christ said that “He,” the Father, cuts away those who bear no fruit. Christians are not fruitless because of some defect in their graft to the Vine, but because of the choice of their free will. Likewise the fruitful branch is so because of a desire to be so. Instead of being cut away completely, this branch undergoes a pruning which cuts away all that hinders fruitfulness. This pruning has been likened to the experience of sanctification. The heart must be purged of the old nature, or stunted growth and unfruitfulness will follow.
Discussion: Fruit is a natural by-product of a healthy tree or vine. If a Christian is unfruitful spiritually, what does that say about his or her heart?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 58.
Source of Fruitfulness
“If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” (v.23)
“Mommy, pick me up.” I hear that a lot from my youngest child. She throws her arms around my neck and clings to me, as if she is certain I will never let her fall.
Sometimes, I whisper this to my heavenly Father. “God, pick me up. Hold me. Don’t let me fall.”
This world is a scary place. Every day, I hear more and more news of Christians falling away from the faith, of wars being fought and battles lost, both spiritually and politically. If I only looked around, I would tremble and fall. But I look up.
Our faith is grounded in Christ. He is our security and our strength when the world rises against us and a war is waged for our soul. Through Him, we have the ability to bear fruit even in the most desolate of seasons and through the darkest of nights. Out of His amazing life comes our abundant life, rich and overflowing with His goodness and bringing forth abundant fruit. (Stephanie Carey)
Because Christ lives, we have abundant life that bears fruit in Him.
This devotional is the Tuesday, May 3, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.