Our Blog
February 25, 2024: The Christians’ Responsibility to God’s Family
BIBLICAL BASIS: Understanding Our Accountability to Other Believers
PRINTED TEXT: Romans 14:1-18
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Galatians 6:1-6; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
DEVOTIONAL READING: Romans 15:1-7
KEY VERSE: We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves (Romans 15:1).
CENTRAL TRUTH: We are responsible to promote Christlike living in God's family.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify three things they will do to help a spiritually weak Christian.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Accepting a Weak Brother -- Responsibility (Romans 14:1-9)
II. Accusing a Weak Brother -- Danger (Romans 14:10-13)
III. Accommodating a Weak Brother -- Necessity (Romans 14:14-23)
Spring, 2024: Jesus, the Son of God
Many great topics benefit from the Word of God, but it is doubtful that any subject could give a greater blessing and spiritual lift than considering the Son of God Himself.
In this series of lessons we focus more on teachings about Christ and His divinity. We look at what He said He was, such as the Water of Life, the Good Shepherd, and the True Vine. We look at His power to forgive and consider His trial, crucifixion, and resurrection, all demonstrating that He was not just a great man or a good teacher but the very Son of God. Other lessons deal with His demonstration of humility, His prayer life, and the great authority with which He spoke. We end the quarter with a lesson that seeks to bring the series to a proper conclusion, asking, "What will you do with Jesus?" This question is vital for any unsaved ones who may be in the class, but it is also essential that each Christian continually allows Christ the place He seeks and deserves as the Lord and Master of our lives.
Let us all pray that the lessons on Christ, the Son of God, will not be dry academic studies but that we will recognize that the one we seek to understand and know better can be personally present in the classroom. Even more important, may we seek not only to know about Him but to recognize Him as our very own living, reigning, loving, and compassionate Savior. He wants to make Himself known in new and special ways. May we allow Him to do so. --
February 18, 2024: The Christian and Civil Authorities
BIBLICAL BASIS: Understanding the Christian's Responsibility to the Government
PRINTED TEXT: Romans 13:1-14
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Daniel 1:1-14; I Thessalonians 4:10-12; I Peter 2:12-16
DEVOTIONAL READING: I Timothy 2:1-4
KEY VERSE: For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God (Romans 13:1).
CENTRAL TRUTH: God has ordained governmental authorities for our good.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify some obligations a Christian owes government authorities.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Issue of Inappropriate Resistance (Romans 13:1-4)
II. The Issue of Rightful Subjection (Romans 13:5-7)
III. The Issue of Appropriate Obedience (Romans 13:8-14)
February 11, 2024: The Life of a Christian
BIBLICAL BASIS: Understanding the Role of Service to God and Others
PRINTED TEXT: Romans 12:1-13
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 22:24-27; Acts 2:42-47; 9:36-42; 2 Corinthians 9:7, 8; 1 Peter 4:7-11
DEVOTIONAL READING: 1 Peter 2:11-20
KEY VERSE: And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD? (1 Chronicles 29:5).
CENTRAL TRUTH: God's grace obligates us to offer our lives in worship.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list three ways they can be more diligent in service to God or others.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. A Life of Consecration (Romans 12:1, 2)
II. A Life of Cooperation (Romans 12:3-8)
III. A Life of Service (Romans 12:9-13)
February 1, 2024: A Lost Son Restored
Read Luke 15:11-24.
“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” (v. 24).
As heartrending and scary as our experience was (see yesterday’s devotional), it doesn’t compare to the sadness and heartbreak caused by a son who wanders away from God and ruins his life through sinful actions and addictions. Many years ago, the devil deceived a young pastor who showed a lot of promise for ministry, and caused him to leave the pastorate and turn from his faith. His mother, heartbroken, prayed faithfully for him until she died. I know the son of a pastor who, turning away from a call that God had placed upon his heart, set his sights on the wealth of this world. Both of these can be restored!
Jim Cymbala, author of Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, tells about his wayward daughter, Chrissy. She had been expelled from a Bible college, was concealing an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, had completely turned her back on her family, and they did not know where she was. All they and their church could do was pray. But God knew where Chrissy was and how to get her attention. Miraculously, she went home, prayed to victory, and was restored to her family. Today, she and her husband are pastoring a church in Chicago.
Like the prodigal’s father in today’s verse, the Cymbala family rejoiced that the lost one had come home. (SEH)
Let’s keep praying for the prodigals – God can restore them
February 7, 2024: A Gospel For All
BIBLICAL BASIS: Understanding the Plan of Salvation
PRINTED TEXT: Romans 10:1-17
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Joshua 24:1-28; Nehemiah 9:1-38; Psalm 51:1-17; Romans 10:1-21
DEVOTIONAL READING: Luke 18:9-14
KEY VERSE: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9).
CENTRAL TRUTH: The steps to salvation are simple and plain so all may be saved.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to clearly explain how a person can know Jesus Christ as his Saviour.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Person (Romans 10:1-7)
II. The Plan (Romans 10:8-13)
III. The Proclamation (Romans 10:14-21)