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The Call to Walk in Unity
Lesson 11 - August 16
Focus Text: Ephesians 4:1-16
Central Truth: The Church reaches maturity through the unity of its members.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list at least three ways they can promote unity among the believers.
Lesson Outline:
- Prerequisites for Unity (Ephesians 4:1-3)
- Pattern for Unity (Ephesians 4:4-6)
- Provisions for Unity (Ephesians 4:7-10)
- Purpose of Unity (Ephesians 4:11-16)
View our Sunday school curriculum for adults.
Lesson Highlight: "a holy temple" – Ephesians 2:21
In "Biblical Perspective" Dr. Marsh Jones writes...
The temple of God is no longer made with human hands; it is the Church of Jesus Christ which has been created by Him and is brought together from diverse parts and with diverse gifts and graces to create a new and a more spiritual temple.
Source: Galatians and Ephesians: Adult Teacher's Insights, p. 59.
Lesson Highlight: "peace" in Ephesians 2:14
In the "Teaching Tips for this week's lesson Greg Blake writes:
Verses 14-18 are widely recognized as a hymn of praise that the apostle inserted into his text. The “for” that marks the beginning of this section and the “now therefore” that signals its end in verse 19 clearly distinguish it from the rest of the surrounding texts. The overarching theme of this hymn is introduced in verse 14 — “he is our peace.” The peace Christ has brought is of two kinds. It is a peace between Gentiles and Jews (vs. 14, 15). Yet even more remarkable, it is a peace between all humanity and God.
Source: Galatians and Ephesians: Adult Teacher's Insights, pp. 57-58.
Lesson Highlight: "workmanship" in Ephesians 2:10
In the "Biblical Perspective" for this week's lesson, Dr. Marsh Jones writes:
The salvation that we enjoy comes by no work of our own, it comes only because of Christ’s sacrifice. But though we do not obtain our salvation through our works, we will naturally do good works once we have been redeemed. It is as natural for a Christian to seek to do the whole will of God as it is for a man to breathe.
Could we restate this as follows... we are God' craft, God's project? When you realize you have been specially designed by God for good works, how does this affect your view of yourself? How does it clarify your purpose in life?
Source: Galatians and Ephesians: Adult Teacher's Insights, June, July, August 2015, pp. 57-58.
Guided like a Flock
Read Psalm 78:52-55
“And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies” (v. 53).
I begged and begged for an orphan lamb. Thankfully, my mom liked animals, too, so one day Daddy and Mama went to a nearby sheep farmer and brought home a rejected twin lamb. Raggedy Ann promptly became my shadow. She followed me feeding calves, mowing the lawn, running with us as we played along the river, or just lying in the yard reading. She would even come bounding down the lane to greet me getting off the school bus.
Raggedy Ann had no idea how close to death she had come or how privileged she was to have a loving owner. She forgot she was a sheep, totally ignoring a flock of sheep pastured nearby, seeming to think she was a dog or even a human like her master.
God provides His children those same feelings, and the reality, of safety. One has to wonder how lost people, who do not know Jesus as their Savior and Shepherd, cope with all the dangers and fears that life brings. Safety is something this sinful world has little of. (Wanda Skeen)
In shady green pastures so rich and so sweet. . . .
Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet. . . .
Tho’ sorrows befall us and Satan oppose. . . .
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes.
God leads His dear children along. - George A. Young
No amount of money, possessions, or defense strategy can equal the knowledge of God’s loving care.
This week's featured devotional is the Tuesday, August 4, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.
Privileges of the Household of God
Lesson 10 - August 9
FOCUS TEXT: Ephesians 2:10-22; 3:8-12
CENTRAL TRUTH: The Christian enjoys great privileges as part of God's family.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list several privileges they enjoy as Christians.
LESSON OUTLINE:
- Brought Together in Christ (Ephesians 2:10-13)
- The Reconciliation of Peace (Ephesians 2:14-18)
- Made Part of the Church (Ephesians 2:19-22)
- Access to God (Ephesians 3:8-12)