For February 22

News

1. Attendance 2/15/09 -- We had 619 in Sunday School Sunday!! 328 at 8:30 and 291 at 9:45!

2. CARE Ministry -- If your class has not been involved in the CARE ministry on Tuesday nights, please come out and get involved. One class that has consistently been involved in CARE has grown twofold in attendance. CARE is every Tuesday night -- supper at 5:30, activities at 6:00 p.m.

3. Spring Sunday School Curriculum -- All adult classes will be using Explore the Bible curriculum during the March, April, and May months. This Sunday you will see this curriculum in your classroom to be distributed to students. You can also pick up your teaching materials.

4. Summer Sunday School Curriculum -- I would like for teachers to let me know if they plan to use Explore the Bible curriculum for the Summer Quarter or the Bible Study for Life curriculum by March 8 so that we can order the correct literature at the early bird discount. I will be sending by e-mail to each teacher an outline of the summer lessons for both series so that you can make your choice.

5. Third Floor Open House this Sunday -- Open House for people to visit the 3rd floor of the education building will be this Sunday from 11:00 a.m. -- 2:00 p.m.

Lesson Supplements for February 22

Bible Studies for Life
"Receive New Life"
Acts 16:13-18, 25-34

This is the final lesson in the unit of study, "Do You Need a Fresh Start?" This lesson has an evangelistic focus as we study the power of the gospel in the lives of three residents in the city of Philippi. This is Paul's first venture into Europe, and his first convert on European soil was a woman named Lydia. Interestingly, Paul had thought and hoped that God would lead Silas and him into Asia, but the Spirit did not allow it. Instead he had a vision of a man calling him to come over into Macedonia which is where he and Silas go. Philippi is their first destination in Macedonia. Lydia is said to be from Thyatira which was a city in Asia. So, Paul and Silas had hoped to go to Asia. Instead God leads them to Europe, and the first convert is a woman from Asia. Perhaps God intended Lydia to have a major role in the spread of the gospel in Asia while Paul and Silas would continue their work in Europe.

Here is a quick take on each of these three individuals. First of all, Lydia was a wealthy person, a businesswoman in purple dye. She was also a seeker, she was already interested in spiritual things. Paul shares the gospel with her and God opens her heart to receive Him. Lydia's conversion was a "quiet" one very unlike Paul's own conversion experience.

Secondly, there was a slave girl who was somebody else's business. She was a fortune-teller that some businessmen in the community used for their own gain. She was demon-possessed, and the spirit that controlled her acknowledged who Jesus was and what Paul and Silas were about. Paul commands the spirit to leave the girl and immediately she is freed from its control. The businessmen are angered and work to get Paul and Silas punished. This was a completely different type of individual than Lydia, and her conversion was not "quiet."

Thirdly, there was the jailer. Paul and Silas were indeed punished -- beaten and imprisoned. The jailer was responsible for securing the prisoners, and if they escaped he would be punished. He was a loyal Roman citizen seemingly with no bent toward the spiritual. Paul and Silas, two beaten missionaries, sing hymns to God in the darkness of the jail at midnight, and God sends an earthquake that shook the jailer's body and soul. Fearing for his life, he was prepared to kill himself when Paul called out and told him not to do it because not one of the prisoners had escaped. The jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul and Silas explain, and the jailer and his household believe.

What must I do to be saved? That is the question that all people long to have answered whether they are actually verbalizing that question or not. In this week's lesson, we see that three different people from three different walks of life all had the same need -- the need to be saved. The exact same salvation rescued them all.

That same salvation is what will rescue all people today. That salvation is Jesus Christ. Perhaps this week there will be some in your class who are asking that question for themselves. This would be a good time to make sure they understand the answer and give their lives to Jesus. Others in the class who are believers need to be reminded that all people are asking the same question and if we, like Paul, know the answer to "What must I do to be saved?" we have a responsibility to share the answer.


Explore the Bible
"You Can Keep at It"
2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

This lesson concludes the study of 2 Thessalonians. The emphasis in this lesson is to motivate students to be faithful in serving the Lord every day.

First of all, Paul asks for prayer from the Thessalonians. Prayer is a part of our daily service to the Lord as we pray for one another. At the end of chapter 2 Paul mentions his prayer for the Thessalonians. Now in the first verses of chapter 3 he asks the Thessalonians to pray for him and his ministry team. His prayer request is that they would pray for the advancement of the gospel and for Paul and his team to be delivered from their present difficulties. We should also pray these things for our missionaries today -- safety and success in the spread of the gospel.

In verses 3-5, Paul speaks to the faithfulness of God to strengthen and protect the believers. He also speaks of a confidence that he has in the people that because of God's work in their lives they will be continue in faithfulness to obey the commands they learned from Paul. This brings up the issue of perseverance. We keep on doing the things God tells us through the scriptures to do. Our obedience is evidence of our faith. Our faith is a marathon and not a sprint. Keep going! God will do His part. Are we being obedient on a daily basis?

In verses 6-12, Paul addresses areas of living in which the believers should behave responsibly. Believers should live honorably and provide for themselves and their families. Christians are not to be idle people but industrious. We serve the Lord by behaving responsibly in these areas of life. When believers live responsibly, nonbelievers will have no cause to look down upon them.

Verses 13-18 are Paul's final thoughts. First of all, he encourages the believers to never tire of doing what is right. This is good encouragement for us today. Doing good and doing right can wear you down especially if it goes unnoticed or unappreciated. Keep doing it because God sees it. Secondly, Paul says we should encourage one another to remain obedient to the truth even if it means ostracizing one who is being disobedient. The intent of ostracizing the individual is to warn him and bring him back into alignment with God's will. Can ostracizing be a means of encouragement? Finally, Paul who deeply cares for these believers prays that God's peace and grace will be upon them at all times.

So, we can be faithful in serving the Lord (1) by praying for others, (2) by persevering in our obedience to His commands, (3) by living honorably and responsibly in life's daily activities, and (4) by constantly striving to do what is right and never tire of doing it.

Comments Welcome -- Any ideas for illustrations, other scripture, or class activities to enhance the lesson?