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The Failure of Self-Will
Lesson 6 - October 8, 2017
Focus Text: Genesis 11:1-9
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:
- Powerful Resources (Genesis 11:1-2)
- Presumptuous Resolutions (Genesis 11:3-4)
- Providential Restraint (Genesis 11:5-9)
Promise of Victory
Read Revelation 21:1-7
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son” (v. 7).
Games are not really worth playing if one player claims the victory by breaking the rules. That is cheating! Cheating spoils the fun of the game.
Christians can claim victory in life, not because they are going to cheat, but because they are on a team with the one who has already achieved the victory. Jesus can offer to share His victory because He properly earned the victory by following God's rules — He died to satisfy justice.
Yesterday's reading reminded us that after salvation, we “were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” Jesus promised His disciples that when their Teacher left, they would not be left alone. A “Comforter” would come to continue the work already started in them. God never leaves His children to face the enemy alone. The Holy Spirit comes along beside us to guide and teach and even comfort us through every struggle and battle. Victory has been assured for the Christian. We must be the ones to claim the promise. (Michelle Avery)
Claim the promised victory!
This devotional is the Sunday, August 27, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.
Stay on Target
One of the chief roles of a teacher during a time of discussion is not to assess who is right or wrong but to keep the discussion on target. Discussions can easily stray into talking about pet peeves if they are not guided correctly. Often guiding the discussion is done with questions that bring the speaker back to the discussion topic. You can say things like, “What you have said is good, but how does it help us to understand our topic?” If you summarize the contribution of each speaker to the topic, it may help later speakers to stay on the topic.
The Destiny of the Church
Lesson 13 - August 27, 2017
Focus Text: Ephesians 2:8-22
Central Truth: God is forming believers into a Church with a glorious destiny.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to explain how their church can be a victorious one.
Lesson Outline:
- Saved Through Faith (Ephesians 2:8-10)
- Reconciled Through Christ (Ephesians 2:ll-l7)
- Foundation of Victory (Ephesians 2:18-22)
Questions
Question formation can greatly assist, or doom, a group discussion. Make sure your question is formed in such a way as to encour-age differing thoughts. Avoid questions that can be answered with a yes or no. Some possible question formats might include the following:
A. How do you feel about . . . ?
B. How can we change the situation?
C. What do you think has led to this situation or way of thinking?
D. Why do you feel as you do?
How, why, and when questions will often be more successful in stimulating discussion.
Discipline in the Church
Read Matthew 18:15-18
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother” (v. 15).
Sometimes our prayer meetings are nothing more than a time to get things off our chest. When we have been hurt we stand and declare it to the whole church, with an air of spirituality. After a detailed description, we sit down and feel so much better for sharing it and think God is pleased because of how much better we feel. This same sense of relief can be achieved by sharing our burdens with a friend or paid professional. People in the USA spend over $200 billion on mental health issues. While some of this is necessary, much is used simply to talk to someone about our problems. Christ said we are to cast our burdens on Him (1 Peter 5:7). What about when we are hurt by a brother or sister? We find clear direction in God's Word — go and tell him his fault! This is not with an attitude of lording it over the offender, but rather to make things right. An attitude of humility is needed from the offended party. Much damage is done to souls and even entire congregations because of not following God's way of dealing with those who have done wrong to us. By publically announcing the offense, we often cause the offender to put up a defensive shield. But, if we humbly approach the one who has offended us it often results in a repentant response. (Paul Clough)
A humble confession of hurt often leads to reconciliation.
This devotional is the Monday, August 14, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.