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Dec. 8, 2024: Could God Do More for You?
FOCUS TEXT: Isaiah 5:1-13
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Matthew 21:33-46
DEVOTIONAL READING: John 15:1-5
KEY VERSE: What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? (Isaiah 5:4).
CENTRAL TRUTH: God has equipped everyone to bear abundant fruit for Him.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be ready to praise God for three specific ways He has equipped them to bear fruit for Him.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Provisions Humanity Enjoys (Isaiah 5:1-4)
II. The Choice Humanity Has Made (Isaiah 5:5-7)
III. The Fruit Humanity Is Reaping (Isaiah 5:8-13)
Nov. 10, 2024: The Importance of Faith
BIBLICAL BASIS: God Asks Abraham to Sacrifice Isaac
FOCUS TEXT: Genesis 22:1-13
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Genesis 22:1-19; Hebrews 11:8-12, 17-19
DEVOTIONAL READING: Romans 4:13-25
KEY VERSE: And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice (Genesis 22:18).
CENTRAL TRUTH: Our faith in God is demonstrated by our obedience to His will.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify why faith must result in action.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Command Received (Genesis 22:1, 2)
II. The Command Respected (Genesis 22:3-10)
III. The Command Rescinded (Genesis 22:11-19)
Oct. 20, 2024: Making Right Choices
BIBLICAL BASIS: Abram and Lot Separate
FOCUS TEXT: Genesis 13:5-15; 14:14-16
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Genesis 13:1 -- 14:24
DEVOTIONAL READING: Matthew 6:19-34
KEY VERSE: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
CENTRAL TRUTH: We should ask God for wisdom for life's decisions.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list some guidelines for making right choices.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Abram's Generosity (Genesis 13:1-9)
II. Lot's Covetousness (Genesis 13:10-13)
III. God's Covenant (Genesis 13:14-18)
IV. Lot's Deliverance (Genesis 14:1-16)
October 9, 2024: Abraham Called God’s Friend
Read Isaiah 41:8-20.
“But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend” (v. 8).
Hearing the words “friend of God,” we immediately ask: “What outstanding characteristics marked the relationship between God and Abraham?” On the part of God, we see that God made great promises to Abraham, though he did not, nor do we, comprehend the magnitude of those promises. God proved His faithfulness to Abraham. God understood Abraham’s frustration, though He did not approve of Abraham’s attempts to “help God” fulfill His promises. God heard Abraham’s intercession, demonstrated in Abraham’s interceding for Sodom and Gomorrah.
On the part of Abraham, we note that Abraham communed with God, and God rewarded him for doing so through divine appearances. Abraham worshiped God, shown, in part, by his altar building at Shechem, Bethel, Hebron, and most significantly at Mt. Moriah. On several occasions, Abraham, the man of faith, resorted to human means, but God was the anchor in his life. Abraham’s outstanding demonstration of trust was most dramatically seen on Mt. Moriah when he obeyed God and placed his son of promise, Isaac, on the altar of sacrifice. When God tests us, He is not testing us so He can know what we are, but rather to prove who He is and that His grace is sufficient to strengthen us in what seems humanly impossible.
The overarching proof of Abraham’s friendship with God was not his works but his faith, and because of his faith, there were works. (LRW)
“Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” (James 2:23).
October 13, 2024: Fulfilling God’s Purpose
BIBLICAL BASIS: God Calls Abram to a New Country
FOCUS TEXT: Genesis 11:31 -- 12:9
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Genesis 11:31 -- 12:20; Deuteronomy 26:5; Acts 7:1-8; Romans 9:1-8
DEVOTIONAL READING: Psalm 105:4-15
KEY VERSE: I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing (Genesis 12:2).
CENTRAL TRUTH: God's divine purpose is fulfilled by man's obedience to God's will.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify blessings that result from obedience to God.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. God's Call (Genesis 11:31--12:1)
II. God's Covenant (Genesis 12:2, 3)
III. Abram's Obedience (Genesis 12:4-9)
Oct. 6, 2024: The Failure of Self-Will
BIBLICAL BASIS: The Tower of Babel
FOCUS TEXT: Genesis 11:1-9
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Genesis 11:1-32; Romans 1:18-32
DEVOTIONAL READING: Romans 1:18-25
KEY VERSE: Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).
CENTRAL TRUTH: True success comes only when we live within God's will.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify reasons why they should yield to God's will.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Powerful Resources (Genesis 11:1, 2)
II. Presumptuous Resolutions (Genesis 11:3, 4)
III. Providential Restraint (Genesis 11:5-9)