News
1. Change to the Blog -- For the summer, you will find summaries and ideas for lessons from Explore the Bible Curriculum series and Bible Studies for Life.
2. CARE Ministry -- Every Tuesday night -- supper at 5:30, outreach/in reach activities at 6:00 p.m.
Lesson Supplement for June 7
Explore the Bible
"Talking About the Gospel"
Galatians 1:6-9, 11-12, 15-16; 2:1-6
Intro. – This week's lesson is the first in a three-part unit, "Walking in Truth," which will cover the first four chapters of the book of Galatians. This week, we examine chapter one through chapter two, verse 10. The intent of this week's lesson is to lead students to gain a clear understanding of what the true Gospel is. Just as was the case in Paul's day, false teaching can enter into the minds of sincere believers today and create confusion for the individual and for the church. Paul sets the record straight about how one is saved. The message he gave the Galatians long ago is the message we need to hear to correct any false understanding of the means of salvation.
Galatians 1:6-9 – Paul taught that salvation came by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This was and is the only means to salvation. The false teaching that began to penetrate the church in Galatia was the notion that "true" salvation did not occur unless believers also followed the Jewish laws and traditions. By requiring adherence to Jewish rules and regulations, this false teaching emphasized that Jesus' death on the cross was not enough for salvation. Anything that introduces additional ideas or requirements to the gospel truth that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ is identifiable as a false teaching.
Galatians 1:11-12, 15-16 -- To validate his message as the gospel truth, Paul states that the gospel he delivered was not something that he made up on his own. Rather, the good news he proclaimed is a message that he received directly from the Lord, making it of divine origin and not something man-made. Paul's divine encounter with the Lord Jesus can be found in Acts 9:4-5. Immediately after receiving the gospel directly from the Lord and responding to it in faith, Paul states that he did not consult with other human sources for what he was supposed to preach. The Holy Spirit in his life revealed to him what he was to preach. When we understand the gospel as good news delivered directly from God, we can easily discount anything contrary to that message as insignificant chattering.
Galatians 2:1-6 -- If we are going to walk in the truth, as our current unit emphasizes, we must begin with a commitment to the gospel truth and accept no compromise to it. In these verses, Paul tells the Galatians that he delivered the same gospel to the Christian leaders in Jerusalem that he was preaching on the mission field to the Gentiles, and the Christian leaders did not reject the message of liberty that he proclaimed nor did they add anything to it. This also validated his message and his ministry because if they had had a problem with it, the Christian leadership would have corrected him then. Obviously, the smugglers (false teachers) had infiltrated the church at Galatia in an attempt to enslave believers to a works-based type of salvation. Paul would not compromise, and he counsels the Galatians and us to do the same.
Commitment – Lead students to be committed to the gospel of salvation by God's grace through faith in the Lord Jesus without compromise. Don't let anyone or anything that adds to this simple gospel message rob you of the joy of freedom in Christ Jesus!
For Further Help with this Week's Lesson Visit http://www.lifeway.com/articleclick/?id=166474 and read Dan Kassis' weekly article
Bible Studies for Life
"Connections Matter"
1 John 1-2:2
Intro. -- During the month of June, we will study the book of 1 John to "Build Certainty" in our lives. In a world of uncertainties this study should strengthen and encourage us. This week's lesson will focus on the certainty of fellowship with God and with other believers. All humans have a need to belong and feel connected to others. This need can best be met when one belongs to the family of God. When all other relationships around us crumble, we can find security in the certainty of the bond between God and members of His family.
1 John 1:1-4 -- John begins this letter to fellow believers with an introduction that parallels the same introduction he used in his gospel. Jesus is the Word of life who has always existed. He became flesh and dwelt among us, and John experienced Jesus through his senses. John saw Jesus, heard Jesus, and touched Jesus. John was an eyewitness to the life and work of Jesus. What he experienced with Jesus, John now declares to his readers so that they too can experience what he continues to experience with Jesus -- fellowship. John says that our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. Believers have a bond with each other because they share a common bond with the Father and His Son.
1 John 1:5-7 -- The first four verses in chapter one identify the fellowship bond. These next verses reveal how to live in the joy of that bond. The message that John heard from Jesus and has declared to these believers is that God is light and there is absolutely no darkness in him at all. This means that God is holy and righteous. There is no error or fault in Him. Just as light and dark do not compromise to form something in between, there is no gray area when it comes to God. Therefore, we cannot say that we have fellowship with God if we are walking in darkness. If we are living life having made the choice to do as we please, then we have no fellowship with God, and to say that we do is lying. Fellowship with God is evidenced by our walking in the light, having been cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
1 John 1:8-2:2 -- The fellowship bond would never happen if it was left up to you and me. We are sinners. To say we are not, we deceive ourselves and make God a liar. We have lived in darkness and continue to be tempted and swayed by the darkness of our world. Therefore, the only way "the dark" can have fellowship with the light is if the light drives away the darkness. Jesus did just that! He who is the light died for us and took upon himself our sins and the sin punishment so that by believing in Him we might be rescued and brought into fellowship with the light. Therefore, let us confess our sins immediately upon being convicted of them. He then will be faithful to forgive us and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness making us "light" in order to have fellowship with God who is light.
Commitment -- Amazing Grace -- Isn't it truly amazing the extent that God would go to make a fellowship bond with him a reality? The fact that He did go to such lengths and the fact that the relationship bond finds its basis in Him who is light and not on us who are sinners gives us confidence in the certainty of its endurance. This is great news in a world of uncertainties! Lead students to thank God for the fellowship bond believers share with Him. Connect the relationships to each other in the class because of the common bond with God the Father that each believer shares. Lead students to confess any sin that has remained unconfessed so that they can return to the joy of the fellowship.
Comments Welcome -- Any ideas for illustrations, other scripture, or class activities to enhance the lesson?
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
For May 31, 2009
News
1. Attendance on May 24 – 497
8:30 a.m. – 257
9:45 a.m. – 240
2. CARE Ministry -- Every Tuesday night -- supper at 5:30, outreach/in reach activities at 6:00 p.m.
3. Date Night -- This Saturday, June 6. Encourage couples married and dating to attend. Childcare is provided. A guest speaker will take a few minutes to address a helpful topic for couples, then couples will be able to go out for dinner on their own.
4. "Celebrating God's Gifts" -- Next Sunday, June 7. This is a variation of the former church wide talent show. We want to celebrate all the gifts God has given to our people. There will be singing and other acts, but there will also be handmade crafts, foods, artwork, etc. on display. These will be donated and open for bids to purchase these items. All proceeds will go to the college scholarship fund given annually to graduating seniors. Encourage members of your class to donate their talent (gift) as we celebrate God's blessings together!!
Current Unit of Study -- "Choose Spiritual Paths"
This is the final week in the unit study of the book of Micah. Micah prophesied during the time of Isaiah. His message was one of warning and hope. He warned of God’s impending judgment yet he prophesied about God's mercy displayed in the future. In our lessons for this unit, we will be challenged to make choices in our life that will fulfill God’s purposes and not our own. “Choose Spiritual Paths” that lead to obedience and blessing and avoid paths that do not. The first two lessons in this series deal with two paths the we should NOT follow. The final two lessons present paths that we should take.
Lesson Supplement for May 31
Explore the Bible
"Commitment: A Path to Effectiveness”
Micah 7:1-7, 18-20
Intro. – This week’s lesson challenges us to be effective Christians. America has been known for quite a while as a Christian nation. However, if this has been the case, recent headlines and survey results seem to indicate a shift toward fewer Christians and less Christian influence in America in recent days. We could debate when this turning point took place. Some might say it started long ago. Others might argue that it is only a recent phenomenon. Regardless of when the shift began, it appears to be gaining, and Christianity in America may be declining. Perhaps this is because at some point along the way, we Christians lost our effectiveness. According to today's lesson, the path to effectiveness is called "Commitment." If we have lost our effectiveness, then it is potentially the result of a lack of genuine commitment to our Lord and His purposes. Let us recommit our whole being to the Lord and return to effectively impacting society for God!
Micah 7:1-6 – Have you ever felt alone and isolated because of the stand you take for God? Micah certainly did. As he looked around, he saw no one living a truly committed life for the Lord. That can be discouraging. Micah saw no godly people. He saw no one who practiced God's way of love toward God and others. He saw people at all levels of society deal unjustly with others. In fact everyone seemed to be "out for themselves," living selfishly at the expense and the disregard of others. Even one's spouse could not be trusted. When there is no trust in a society, that society can crumble.
Micah 7:7 -- In the middle of this morally decaying society Micah feels lonely and isolated because he has made his own decision about how he is going to live, and it is not the same decision that his fellow citizens have made. Micah decides to remain fully committed to the Lord and trust in Him, believing that God will judge the people and will vindicate him. Notice that Micah says he "will wait for the God of (his) salvation." This waiting was an active waiting. It was not sitting up on the hillside to wait and watch God bring down His judgment on the people like Jonah did with Nineveh. Even though it may be a long time before God would vindicate Micah for choosing to be committed to God, Micah was committed to obedience to God regardless of what society around him was doing. If you have ever felt isolated because of your stand for God, realize there really are others who are striving to live the same way you are, though they may be difficult to find. If you do know others who are striving to be totally committed to God, then bond with these individuals and encourage one another. However, if you do not find others to encourage you, do like Micah and make the commitment to "look to the Lord" and wait, no matter how long it takes, because God will hear you!
Micah 7:18-20 -- This final section is a proclamation of the confidence that Micah has in God. This confidence encourages him to persevere in his commitment to the Lord even while society around him is crumbling under moral decay. His confidence is not based on what he can do in his commitment of loyalty to God. His confidence is based solely on the uniqueness of God -- that God will forgive and pardon those who repent. Who is a God like that! God does not overlook sin. He detests sin. Yet He loves the sinner and will forgive the repentant heart. Micah includes himself among the sinners in verse 19, but he knows that if he remains faithful and committed to the decision he expressed in verse 7 to live righteously, then God will remove his sins from him. God will do this for all who repent from sin and live truly committed lives to Him. Verse 20 indicates that the final result is that God will show loyalty and love to the very society that had become corrupt in Micah's day.
Commitment – How can Christians return to effectively impacting our society? The answer is to choose spiritual paths, one that will lead us to be fully committed to God and His ways. We must choose to serve the Lord wholeheartedly regardless of what other people around us decide to do. We must live in confidence that God is the victor. This confidence will sustain us when we feel isolated and lonely because of our commitment to God. Lead your students to commit to encourage one another toward faithfulness to God in all things. Be encouragers to one another to help remove feelings of isolation such as Micah felt. Lead your students to re-commit their lives to total obedience to God in all areas. If we as believers do these two things, we will be effective once again in impacting society for God!
For Further Help with this Week's Lesson Visit http://www.lifeway.com/articleclick/?id=166474 and read Dan Kassis' weekly article
Comments Welcome -- Any ideas for illustrations, other scripture, or class activities to enhance the lesson?
1. Attendance on May 24 – 497
8:30 a.m. – 257
9:45 a.m. – 240
2. CARE Ministry -- Every Tuesday night -- supper at 5:30, outreach/in reach activities at 6:00 p.m.
3. Date Night -- This Saturday, June 6. Encourage couples married and dating to attend. Childcare is provided. A guest speaker will take a few minutes to address a helpful topic for couples, then couples will be able to go out for dinner on their own.
4. "Celebrating God's Gifts" -- Next Sunday, June 7. This is a variation of the former church wide talent show. We want to celebrate all the gifts God has given to our people. There will be singing and other acts, but there will also be handmade crafts, foods, artwork, etc. on display. These will be donated and open for bids to purchase these items. All proceeds will go to the college scholarship fund given annually to graduating seniors. Encourage members of your class to donate their talent (gift) as we celebrate God's blessings together!!
Current Unit of Study -- "Choose Spiritual Paths"
This is the final week in the unit study of the book of Micah. Micah prophesied during the time of Isaiah. His message was one of warning and hope. He warned of God’s impending judgment yet he prophesied about God's mercy displayed in the future. In our lessons for this unit, we will be challenged to make choices in our life that will fulfill God’s purposes and not our own. “Choose Spiritual Paths” that lead to obedience and blessing and avoid paths that do not. The first two lessons in this series deal with two paths the we should NOT follow. The final two lessons present paths that we should take.
Lesson Supplement for May 31
Explore the Bible
"Commitment: A Path to Effectiveness”
Micah 7:1-7, 18-20
Intro. – This week’s lesson challenges us to be effective Christians. America has been known for quite a while as a Christian nation. However, if this has been the case, recent headlines and survey results seem to indicate a shift toward fewer Christians and less Christian influence in America in recent days. We could debate when this turning point took place. Some might say it started long ago. Others might argue that it is only a recent phenomenon. Regardless of when the shift began, it appears to be gaining, and Christianity in America may be declining. Perhaps this is because at some point along the way, we Christians lost our effectiveness. According to today's lesson, the path to effectiveness is called "Commitment." If we have lost our effectiveness, then it is potentially the result of a lack of genuine commitment to our Lord and His purposes. Let us recommit our whole being to the Lord and return to effectively impacting society for God!
Micah 7:1-6 – Have you ever felt alone and isolated because of the stand you take for God? Micah certainly did. As he looked around, he saw no one living a truly committed life for the Lord. That can be discouraging. Micah saw no godly people. He saw no one who practiced God's way of love toward God and others. He saw people at all levels of society deal unjustly with others. In fact everyone seemed to be "out for themselves," living selfishly at the expense and the disregard of others. Even one's spouse could not be trusted. When there is no trust in a society, that society can crumble.
Micah 7:7 -- In the middle of this morally decaying society Micah feels lonely and isolated because he has made his own decision about how he is going to live, and it is not the same decision that his fellow citizens have made. Micah decides to remain fully committed to the Lord and trust in Him, believing that God will judge the people and will vindicate him. Notice that Micah says he "will wait for the God of (his) salvation." This waiting was an active waiting. It was not sitting up on the hillside to wait and watch God bring down His judgment on the people like Jonah did with Nineveh. Even though it may be a long time before God would vindicate Micah for choosing to be committed to God, Micah was committed to obedience to God regardless of what society around him was doing. If you have ever felt isolated because of your stand for God, realize there really are others who are striving to live the same way you are, though they may be difficult to find. If you do know others who are striving to be totally committed to God, then bond with these individuals and encourage one another. However, if you do not find others to encourage you, do like Micah and make the commitment to "look to the Lord" and wait, no matter how long it takes, because God will hear you!
Micah 7:18-20 -- This final section is a proclamation of the confidence that Micah has in God. This confidence encourages him to persevere in his commitment to the Lord even while society around him is crumbling under moral decay. His confidence is not based on what he can do in his commitment of loyalty to God. His confidence is based solely on the uniqueness of God -- that God will forgive and pardon those who repent. Who is a God like that! God does not overlook sin. He detests sin. Yet He loves the sinner and will forgive the repentant heart. Micah includes himself among the sinners in verse 19, but he knows that if he remains faithful and committed to the decision he expressed in verse 7 to live righteously, then God will remove his sins from him. God will do this for all who repent from sin and live truly committed lives to Him. Verse 20 indicates that the final result is that God will show loyalty and love to the very society that had become corrupt in Micah's day.
Commitment – How can Christians return to effectively impacting our society? The answer is to choose spiritual paths, one that will lead us to be fully committed to God and His ways. We must choose to serve the Lord wholeheartedly regardless of what other people around us decide to do. We must live in confidence that God is the victor. This confidence will sustain us when we feel isolated and lonely because of our commitment to God. Lead your students to commit to encourage one another toward faithfulness to God in all things. Be encouragers to one another to help remove feelings of isolation such as Micah felt. Lead your students to re-commit their lives to total obedience to God in all areas. If we as believers do these two things, we will be effective once again in impacting society for God!
For Further Help with this Week's Lesson Visit http://www.lifeway.com/articleclick/?id=166474 and read Dan Kassis' weekly article
Comments Welcome -- Any ideas for illustrations, other scripture, or class activities to enhance the lesson?
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