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Lesson Highlight: "nailing it to his cross"
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. (Colossians 2:14)
In "Biblical Perspective", Dr. Gayle Woods writes:
Paul was comparing the practice of one who forgives a large debt by wiping his ledger sheet clean with what God does for us. ...The ordinances (God’s law) had been broken many times by each of us. Each time we broke His law, another mark was put on our ledger sheet. Jesus came to this world to provide salvation, full and free. ...Jesus not only erased all the transgressions that had been listed against us on our ledger of life, but He then nailed the blank document to His cross as a public testimony that we were totally forgiven of all our actions against Him and His law.
Discussion: Since we are totally forgiven by Christ, how should we feel? How should we think? How should we act?
Source: Miracles of Jesus: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 12.
Lesson Highlight: "funerals in Israel"
In "Biblical Perspective" Dr. Gayle Woods writes:
A funeral in Israel was a special event that lasted thirty days. As a funeral procession moved along, it was led by hired mourners who wailed loudly in an effort to make an adequate public display of sorrow. The procession was followed by friends and relatives. This particular funeral was that of the only son of a widow, making it an even more tragic event. Many of the city showed their sympathy for the widow by joining the procession. The man who had died was probably the sole provider for the widow. It was wonderful to have sympathetic friends, but soon they would be gone, and she would be left to fight for survival in a day in which it was very difficult for women to find employment. The possibility that she would soon be reduced to begging was great.
Discussion: Do you think the elaborate display of sorrow made the grieving easier or more difficult on the bereaved?
Discussion: From your experiences of loss, imagine the pain and distress of this widow.
Source: Miracles of Jesus, Adult Teacher's Insights, pages 10-11.
Devotional: Jesus Raises Jairus' Daughter
Read Luke 8:41-56
“But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole” (v. 50).
What would you say is the opposite of faith? My first thought would probably be “doubt.” In this verse, however, Jesus juxtaposes faith and fear: “Fear not: believe only.”
“What’s wrong with fear?” you might wonder. “Isn’t fear a natural human response?” I certainly find it comes naturally to me. Actually, when faced with a perplexing situation my response most times is more akin to panic.
A certain amount of caution is wise. But when we allow fear or worry to gain the upper hand, it can blot out the truths of God’s wisdom, His power, and His goodness. Instead, all we can see is our big, scary problem.
Charles Spurgeon said it well. “The very essence of anxious care is the imagining that we are wiser than God, and the thrusting ourselves into His place to do for Him that which He has undertaken to do for us. . . . Anxiety makes us doubt God’s lovingkindness, and thus our love to Him grows cold. We feel mistrust, and thus grieve the Spirit of God, so that our prayers become hindered, our consistent example marred, and our life one of self-seeking.”
A little worry can work like termites, almost unseen but totally weakening the structure of faith. So, when we are faced with that undesirable diagnosis, that unforeseen roadblock, that unexpected sorrow, “Fear not: believe only.” (Ashlee Englund)
We must keep our eyes on God.
This devotional is the Sunday, December 13, 2015 entry of Opening the Word. Buy your copy today!
Lesson 2: The Dead Raised
Lesson 2: December 13, 2015
Focus Text: Luke 7:11-17; Colossians 2:13-15; 1 Corinthians 15:53-56
Central Truth: Our God is a God of life.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to tell someone how God gives life to those who have faith in Him.
Lesson Outline:
- Past (Luke 7:11-17)
- Present (Colossians 2:13-15)
- Future (1 Corinthians 15:53-56)
Lesson Highlight: "compassion"
"And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things." (Mark 6:34)
In "Word Focus" William Sillings writes:
It is interesting to note that Jesus was as interested in the physical needs of His followers as He was in their spiritual needs. Not only did He want His disciples to have a time to rest and recuperate, but He also wanted to take care of the multitude’s need for food. And He did. In fact, when they handed out the multiplied thousands of pieces of fish, everybody ate. And the Bible says they were filled (echortasth san, v. 42). This word means not merely that they were full, but that they were satisfied with food. This demonstrates that before you can satisfy people with spiritual food, you sometimes have to satisfy their physical needs. Satisfying physical needs will not always definitely lead to satisfaction spiritually, but it sometimes helps. Later on, after this passage, Jesus chided this same crowd for the fact that they followed Him for the loaves and the fish, but were not truly seeking the spiritual food they so desperately needed. (See John 6:26, 27.)
Source: Miracles of Jesus, Adult Teacher's Insights, page 4.
Lesson Highlight: "rest"
"And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat" (Mark 6:31)
In "Biblical Perspective" Dr. Gayle Woods writes:
In Jesus Only, Vance Havner said, “We need to come apart and rest awhile, and if we don’t come apart, we will come apart — we’ll go to pieces!” Stress can destroy a person’s life physically and spiritually. Headaches, heart problems, and stomach problems are just a few symptoms of this concern. Burnout is a problem for those who are in some form of Christian ministry. Whether a person is overworked or if life situations bring a lot of stress, it is essential that proper rest, relaxation, and nutrition be maintained in order to preserve good health. Jesus the Great Physician was concerned about the physical well-being of His disciples as well as their spiritual well-being. The disciples and Jesus clearly were overworked and overcommitted. The demands of the people upon their ministry were too great. A balance was needed, and the Doctor prescribed a short vacation.
Source: Miracles of Jesus, Adult Teacher's Insights, page 5.