News
1. CARE Ministry -- Every Tuesday night -- supper at 5:30, outreach/in reach activities at 6:00 p.m.
Current Unit of Study -- "Affirm Spiritual Certainties"
Lesson Supplement for April 26
Explore the Bible
"The Lord is Compassionate"
Isaiah 54:1-10
Intro. -- Have you ever felt unworthy of God's love? Maybe that feeling comes from a past sin that shows up in your memory just when you are beginning to feel confident enough to do something for God. The memory produces the paralyzing feelings of guilt and shame. "How could God use someone like me," you may say. The message of this lesson is that God can use you. In fact, He wants to use you! This is possible regardless of the "ugliness" of our sin because of the compassion of the Lord. If there is the least bit of suspicion about the certainty of the compassion of God, then we are all hopeless indeed. Good news! The Bible affirms this as a certainty. We too should affirm it as a certainty in our lives and fully allow His compassion to break the chains of guilt and shame, setting us free to love others and to serve Him.
Isaiah 54:1-3 -- There are two picture illustrations in these verses. The first picture is that of a barren woman. The barren woman is encouraged to rejoice because she will become fruitful and her household will surpass the number in the household of the "married woman." The second picture is that of a tent or dwelling. The resident of the tent is encouraged to enlarge his living quarters with the promise of even greater territory in generations to come. These two pictures give a vision of hope. The message to the children of Israel is though you will be sent to exile because of your sin, your compassionate God will give you a hopeful vision of return and abundance. Without hope, one withers and eventually dies. If we have no hope that our sins can be forgiven and that there is a bright and eternal future as a child of God, then the paralysis of past sins becomes so restrictive that we wither and die. Let's affirm that God does offer a future to sinners who confess and repent.
Isaiah 54:4-5 -- According to the first three verses, God deals with our future by giving a vision of hope, something to look forward to. In verses 4-5, the message is about how God deals with our past. We can be certain that there is hope. We can also be certain that there is forgiveness. No matter what we have done, there is a Redeemer, and He will remove the shame, fear, humiliation, and disgrace that sin causes. He will restore what we have broken. That is ultimate compassion. Peter once asked Jesus if he should forgive up to seven times. Peter may have thought he would impress Jesus by suggesting such a "high" number. But Jesus was not all that impressed. His response was that Peter and all of us should forgive seventy times seven. When we sin, our fellowship with God is broken, and we can't fix it. Only by His grace and compassion to forgive us our past sins are we able to be restored and have our fellowship with God renewed. Amazingly, He will forgive "seventy times seven" as long as we are sincere in our confession and repentance.
Isaiah 54:6-8 -- Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote a sonnet recognized by most people by these words, "How do I love thee, let me count the ways." If God were to attempt to count the ways he loves us, he would NEVER cease to count! This is everlasting love. It is not dependent on what I do or don't do. If I am His child, He never stops loving me. He loves me when I am obedient just as much as He does when I am disobedient. Because He loves me, He may "desert" me for a season as a form of discipline whenever I sin in order to get my attention and draw me back to Himself. However, as verse 7 indicates, if I recognize the errors of my ways and turn toward Him, He will take me "back with great compassion." There is a saying that I used to have hanging in my room when I was a teenager. It said, "When God seems far away, think who has moved." If I am a Christian and I make a choice to do something that is not of God, my salvation is not lost, but my fellowship with God is broken. The accompanying far-away-from-God feeling is the withdrawal of his presence and power upon my life. His presence and power may be absent for a season, but His love is everlasting. It never fails. It is what draws me back to Him and fixes what I have broken. This is a certainty that we must affirm if we are to be free from the paralysis of guilt and shame.
Isaiah 54:9-10 -- Let us not forget that this prophecy was first issued through Isaiah to God's chosen, the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God established a covenant with Abraham when He called Abram to leave his native land and go to a land that God would show him. God promised Abram that if he remained faithful to God, He would bless Abram with descendants as numerous as the sand upon the shore. Isaiah now delivers this prophecy to these promised descendants. From the time of Abram to the time of Isaiah, God remained faithful to the covenant while Abram and His descendants were often covenant breakers. By all accounts, it would seem that God had a right to let the children of Israel go the way of destruction because of their covenant unfaithfulness. God certainly felt that way toward His creation in the time of Noah. But for the righteousness of the one man, Noah, God would have wiped out all of humanity. God made a covenant with Noah to which He has remained faithful to this day. Similarly, God made a covenant with Abram to which He would remain faithful in the days of Isaiah and in the days of exile. God is not a covenant breaker. Today, this means that if we enter into a covenant relationship with God through our profession of faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, and genuinely turn our lives over to His authority, then even though we may fall into temptation on occasion, God will keep us. His "love will not be removed" and His "covenant of peace will not be shaken." The security this affords me wipes away the shame of past sins and draws me ever closer to Him, strengthening my desire to obey Him at all times and to confess and repent in times of disobedience.
Commitment -- There may be some students in class on Sunday that are paralyzed by past sin and/or current addictions. They need to be set free from the bondage by affirming the spiritual certainty that the Lord is compassionate! They may have a feeling of hopelessness and need to be directed to the vision of hope God gives. There is a future for any and all who believe and enter into a covenant relationship with Him. No matter what sin one has done, God can and will forgive a repentant heart. Ask students if they feel as close to God as they would like. If they do not feel close, lead them to search their hearts to determine if there is any disobedience toward God. Lead them to confess and repent. Then lead them to accept by faith the cleansing power of the everlasting love of our compassionate Lord.
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?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
For April 19, 2009
News
1. CARE Ministry -- Every Tuesday night -- supper at 5:30, outreach/in reach activities at 6:00 p.m.
2. Project Care: Mission Possible -- This is the last Sunday to sign up! Event date is Saturday, April 25!
Current Unit of Study
For the next several weeks, we will have a series of lessons leading us to "Affirm Spiritual Certainties." We will conclude the study of Isaiah at the end of the unit. The lessons in this unit will provide messages of encouragement and hope and will show explicit details about the advent of the Messiah that would occur 700 years later. God has blessed us with many things that we can count on and has proven that He is trustworthy time and again. This unit study of the latter chapters of Isaiah will confirm this.
Lesson Supplement for April 19
Explore the Bible
"The Lord is at Work"
Isaiah 45:1-7, 9-13
Intro. -- Where is God? When you step back and take a look at the events that are happening in the world today, you may be inclined to ask this question. Is God doing His thing? Last week's lesson already has affirmed the spiritual reality that God is not dead. This week's lesson affirms the spiritual reality that God is at work. We can count on the fact that God is continuing to work to achieve His purposes.
Isaiah 45:1-2 -- Pay particular attention to the commentary for this section in your teacher's book about Cyrus. Isaiah receives the vision from God about the future of Judah, from her failure to her exile to her eventual restoration. Cyrus is the great king who will one day be in power over Babylon and will allow the return of God's people to Israel. Very clearly stated in the scriptures is the fact that God is behind these events and will bring them to pass. Cyrus is God's man even though Cyrus himself may never have realized it. Years later, these events come to pass. God is intricately involved in history and works to fulfill His purpose and plan through believers and unbelievers alike. We can affirm this fact in our lives today by acknowledging the Lord's purposes.
Isaiah 45:3-5 -- Cyrus would experience success in the advancement of his kingdom, but God is the one working to bring about Cyrus's success, not for the good of Cyrus's kingdom, but for the advancement and success of His own kingdom. Verse 5 indicates that Cyrus did not know God. This gives more support to the fact that God uses unbelievers in history when needed to accomplish His purposes. Proverbs 21:1 is referenced in the teacher's commentary. It says, "A king's heart is a water channel in the Lord's hand: He directs it wherever He chooses." In times like these when we may be inclined to ask where God is, we can find encouragement in these verses that regardless of what appears to be happening, God is accomplishing His purpose! Let us awake to the Lord's presence and affirm the spiritual reality that He is at work!
Isaiah 45:6-7 -- Not only can we be certain that God is at work, but we can also be certain that God is a mighty God and His power is greater than even he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Verse 7 indicates that God is behind the successes and failures of individuals as well as nations. He is also the creator of light and darkness. God is in control of all things. Those of us who believe in Him can claim this to be true even in a world that seems like it is spiraling out of control at times. Our limited view of current events may cause us to doubt, but we must come back to the facts, according to God's word. There is a bigger picture than what we are looking at right now. God sees it, and He is working it all to make His purposes succeed. As a believer in Him, I have aligned myself to want His purposes to succeed as well. Knowing that the all-powerful God is making that happen regardless of what appears to be happening around me today is a spiritual reality worth affirming! It makes us want to applaud His power!
Isaiah 45:9-13 -- "Just who do you think you are?" If you have ever thought this or said this to an individual then you know what God is talking about in these verses. There are three main descriptors of God in this section of scripture. He is Maker, the Holy One of Israel, and Commander. As Maker, He has made all things. How then can we, as part of His creation, talk back to our creator? I don't remember who said this but I seem to recall a woman who was having difficulty with one of her children make a statement to her disobedient child, "I brought you into this world. I can take you out!" I don't know if she could make such a claim, but God certainly can! As the Holy One of Israel, we can be certain that He always does what is right. If not, He would not be holy. On the other hand, none of us are righteous. How can unrighteous, unjust people call into question anything that the Holy One of Israel does? Finally, as commander, He is in charge. He stretched out the heavens and commanded their host. He raises up kings and queens for His purposes and will use them to fulfill His purposes. God is in charge! We must accept and not deny the Lord's sovereignty in order to affirm the spiritual reality that the Lord is at work!
Commitment -- The Lord is at work! Lead students to acknowledge this as a reality in their lives and accept His sovereignty thereby finding confidence and encouragement. Secondly, in his work, Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby emphasizes that God is always at work around us, and He issues us an invitation to join Him in His work. Explore with your class some ways that God is at work around us in our world, our community, our neighborhood, our church. Once these are identified, the invitation is now offered for students to join Him. Lead your students to a commitment to get involved in God's work. This would be a great way to push your class's participation in Project CARE: Mission Possible!!
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. CARE Ministry -- Every Tuesday night -- supper at 5:30, outreach/in reach activities at 6:00 p.m.
2. Project Care: Mission Possible -- This is the last Sunday to sign up! Event date is Saturday, April 25!
Current Unit of Study
For the next several weeks, we will have a series of lessons leading us to "Affirm Spiritual Certainties." We will conclude the study of Isaiah at the end of the unit. The lessons in this unit will provide messages of encouragement and hope and will show explicit details about the advent of the Messiah that would occur 700 years later. God has blessed us with many things that we can count on and has proven that He is trustworthy time and again. This unit study of the latter chapters of Isaiah will confirm this.
Lesson Supplement for April 19
Use This Lesson to Lead Students to Commit to Participate in Project Care: Mission Possible on Saturday, April 25. You will see how this lesson can be used for this purpose at the end in the "Commitment" section.
Explore the Bible
"The Lord is at Work"
Isaiah 45:1-7, 9-13
Intro. -- Where is God? When you step back and take a look at the events that are happening in the world today, you may be inclined to ask this question. Is God doing His thing? Last week's lesson already has affirmed the spiritual reality that God is not dead. This week's lesson affirms the spiritual reality that God is at work. We can count on the fact that God is continuing to work to achieve His purposes.
Isaiah 45:1-2 -- Pay particular attention to the commentary for this section in your teacher's book about Cyrus. Isaiah receives the vision from God about the future of Judah, from her failure to her exile to her eventual restoration. Cyrus is the great king who will one day be in power over Babylon and will allow the return of God's people to Israel. Very clearly stated in the scriptures is the fact that God is behind these events and will bring them to pass. Cyrus is God's man even though Cyrus himself may never have realized it. Years later, these events come to pass. God is intricately involved in history and works to fulfill His purpose and plan through believers and unbelievers alike. We can affirm this fact in our lives today by acknowledging the Lord's purposes.
Isaiah 45:3-5 -- Cyrus would experience success in the advancement of his kingdom, but God is the one working to bring about Cyrus's success, not for the good of Cyrus's kingdom, but for the advancement and success of His own kingdom. Verse 5 indicates that Cyrus did not know God. This gives more support to the fact that God uses unbelievers in history when needed to accomplish His purposes. Proverbs 21:1 is referenced in the teacher's commentary. It says, "A king's heart is a water channel in the Lord's hand: He directs it wherever He chooses." In times like these when we may be inclined to ask where God is, we can find encouragement in these verses that regardless of what appears to be happening, God is accomplishing His purpose! Let us awake to the Lord's presence and affirm the spiritual reality that He is at work!
Isaiah 45:6-7 -- Not only can we be certain that God is at work, but we can also be certain that God is a mighty God and His power is greater than even he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Verse 7 indicates that God is behind the successes and failures of individuals as well as nations. He is also the creator of light and darkness. God is in control of all things. Those of us who believe in Him can claim this to be true even in a world that seems like it is spiraling out of control at times. Our limited view of current events may cause us to doubt, but we must come back to the facts, according to God's word. There is a bigger picture than what we are looking at right now. God sees it, and He is working it all to make His purposes succeed. As a believer in Him, I have aligned myself to want His purposes to succeed as well. Knowing that the all-powerful God is making that happen regardless of what appears to be happening around me today is a spiritual reality worth affirming! It makes us want to applaud His power!
Isaiah 45:9-13 -- "Just who do you think you are?" If you have ever thought this or said this to an individual then you know what God is talking about in these verses. There are three main descriptors of God in this section of scripture. He is Maker, the Holy One of Israel, and Commander. As Maker, He has made all things. How then can we, as part of His creation, talk back to our creator? I don't remember who said this but I seem to recall a woman who was having difficulty with one of her children make a statement to her disobedient child, "I brought you into this world. I can take you out!" I don't know if she could make such a claim, but God certainly can! As the Holy One of Israel, we can be certain that He always does what is right. If not, He would not be holy. On the other hand, none of us are righteous. How can unrighteous, unjust people call into question anything that the Holy One of Israel does? Finally, as commander, He is in charge. He stretched out the heavens and commanded their host. He raises up kings and queens for His purposes and will use them to fulfill His purposes. God is in charge! We must accept and not deny the Lord's sovereignty in order to affirm the spiritual reality that the Lord is at work!
Commitment -- The Lord is at work! Lead students to acknowledge this as a reality in their lives and accept His sovereignty thereby finding confidence and encouragement. Secondly, in his work, Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby emphasizes that God is always at work around us, and He issues us an invitation to join Him in His work. Explore with your class some ways that God is at work around us in our world, our community, our neighborhood, our church. Once these are identified, the invitation is now offered for students to join Him. Lead your students to a commitment to get involved in God's work. This would be a great way to push your class's participation in Project CARE: Mission Possible!!
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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