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Teaching is Not Rambling
When I was a young boy, the church we attended had a vibrant men's class. It was a good group of men, and they had enjoyable class sessions, but the discussion was often on anything besides the lesson. The teacher would start the class off with scripture, but the culture of this group was such that one topic would dissolve into another, and that one into yet another. These men might "solve" the problems of the world, but never seriously consider the assigned scripture.
It might be too much to ask for a class never to get off on a tangent. In fact, tangents might be helpful at times. But if this happens too much, the integrity of the teaching moment can be lost. Our lessons are designed with a specific spiritual truth and objective. At the end of your lesson, do your students know both the truth and how to apply it in their lives?
Devotional: His Appearance – Our Blessed Hope
Read I Peter 1:1-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (v. 3).
Resurrection power is not wishy-washy. Today’s scripture reminds us that Christ’s mercy is
abundant and our hope is lively, both related to His resurrection.
In 2000 our daughter, Becky, had a serious spinal injury. fter surgery the anesthesia affected her thought processes. She went through what she now calls her “loopy period.” She thought she was going to die, but didn’t say so. That night she told her husband, “Go home.” I was at their home caring for their three children. When Paul arrived he sunk into a chair and said something like, “I can deal with the effects of the injury, but this crazy stuff I don’t know how to handle.” He went to bed upstairs and I settled into a fitful sleep on the couch.
Early the next morning the phone rang. On the way down the stairs Paul said, “Becky called. She‘s going to be alright.” Our hope had taken on a lively twist. God’s mercy was evident. Becky’s mental anxiety was gone, but the physical healing has taken time. While today she walks without assistance, it’s mind over matter. (Ann Coker)
Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives, all fear is gone; because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living – just because He lives. – William and Gloria Gaither
We all have reason to rejoice over God’s mercies and the hope that His resurrection brings.
This devotional is the Sunday, March 27, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.
Infallible Proof of the Resurrection (Easter)
Lesson 4 - March 28, 2016
Central Truth: The resurrection is the heart of the Christian faith.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to give at least three proofs of the resurrection of Christ.
Lesson Outline:
- Assurance for Disciples (John 20:19-23)
- Assurance for a Doubter (John 20:24-29)
- Assurance for All Believers (John 20:30, 31)
Prayer – Lesson 3, The Son of God on Trial
Heavenly Father,
Please bless our teachers and students today as they study about Christ suffering patiently as our Substitute. Help us to learn to suffer patiently as well for His sake. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Why Jesus' Trial by the Sanhedrin Illegal?
In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:
The Sanhedrin was the ruling body of the Jews. It consisted of seventy-one members including scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and elders. The high priest was the presiding officer. Certain regulations were set forth to cover such events as a trial. There was to be a quorum of twenty-three. Criminal cases were all to be tried in the daytime and must be completed during the daytime. A trial could only be finished on the day it was begun if the verdict was “not guilty.” Otherwise, a night had to pass before a guilty verdict could be pronounced. No decision of this body was valid unless they met in their own meeting hall in the Temple precincts. All evidence had to be sworn to by at least two witnesses who were examined separately and had no contact with each other. A false witness was punishable by death. In every trial the evidence for the innocence of the accused was to be put before the court before any evidence of his guilt. In their rush to eliminate Jesus, the Sanhedrin completely disregarded its own rules.
Discussion: What happens to a society when its courts no longer uphold justice?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 16.
What is the doctrine of expiation?
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Randy Bland writes:
The doctrine of expiation says that believers can further be cleansed from the stain of sin.
This doctrine goes back to the time when God gave the law to Moses. Once a year on the Day of Atonement the Israelites were to sacrifice two goats to the Lord. The first goat was to be killed as a sin offering for the people. This sacrifice of propitiation was offered to satisfy God’s wrath. The second goat was treated very differently. The high priest was to lay his hands upon the head of the goat and confess all of the sins and iniquities of the people, thus transferring them from the people to the goat. This scapegoat was then banished from camp and set to wander in the wilderness, forever cut off from the people. He was a sacrifice of expiation that cleansed the people by carrying away their sins.
Jesus was our Scapegoat, taking away our sins so that we could be cleansed from the stain of sin.
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 20.