For May 17, 2009

News

1. Attendance on May 10 – 544

8:30 a.m. – 285
9:45 a.m. – 259

2. CARE Ministry -- Every Tuesday night -- supper at 5:30, outreach/in reach activities at 6:00 p.m.

3. Memorial Day Service Next Sunday!! – A unique service of worship in all four services (including the Verge). The Verge will be a simulcast of the entire service happening live in the Family Life Center.

Current Unit of Study -- "Choose Spiritual Paths"
The next few weeks will be a 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 17

Explore the Bible
"Corruption: A Path to Nowhere”
Isaiah 55:1-13

Intro. – This week’s lesson challenges us to follow through on our responsibilities as a child of God. We who believe in Jesus Christ are blessed, having been granted forgiveness and adoption into the family of God. But with this privilege comes responsibility. Isn’t that the way it is with anything that we “join?” God’s grace has saved us through the work of His Son Jesus Christ. He has saved us FROM sin. This also means He has saved us TO obedience and righteous living. Let us be thankful for God’s mercy! Let us be mindful of our responsibilities as His children!

Micah 3:1-2 – In these verses, Micah is addressing the civil leaders of the nation and their corrupt leadership. They should know better, yet they have not been just in their dealings with the people. They have neither led by example nor by decree. Their decisions have been based on getting what they wanted for themselves and not shepherding or caring for God’s people which is the true role that they should have performed. They had so indoctrinated themselves in the ways of selfishness that they no longer knew what was good and right. In fact they were choosing evil as though it were good. In doing so, they destroyed the very people who were entrusted to their care. Today, we are all influencers to some degree. What kind of influence do we give to those who follow our lead? Are we choosing a spiritual path or are we leading them down a path of corruption? Do we point to “true north” as a spiritual compass to those who follow us? Live ethically by the standards of God’s word. By doing so, you are choosing spiritual paths!

Micah 3:5-7 – Now, Micah turns his attention to the religious leaders who, like the civil leaders, have chosen the path of corruption. The prophets have led the people away from God. They do not speak the truth. They say only what will benefit themselves. Blessings are granted to those who fill the “offering plates” and curses are placed on those who put nothing in the plate. Their message is determined by circumstances rather than God Himself! As a result, Micah says that God will be absent from these false teachers. Rather than giving the prophets the light to see and to understand His will and purpose, God will make it dark for them. They will no longer be able to see and know God’s will and purpose. When we cease to proclaim truth for truth’s sake and our speech is based on what will benefit us at the time, we are choosing the path of corruption and will find a darkness that will cloud us from the things God could and would love to show us!

Micah 3:9-12 – This final section of the lesson passage reveals why we should avoid the path of corruption. The list of offenders and their offenses covers the civil and religious leaders of the nation. Every level of leadership is corrupt. They have chosen the path of self-gain and self-glory at the expense of the truth and justice the people needed and God required. They literally sold themselves and the nation out to the god of greed. Yet they were so blind to this fact that incredibly, they still believed that God was on their side. This indicates that they had wandered so far from God that they now believed the lies they had been dishing out. They had traveled so far down the path of corruption that there was no turning back. As a result, the nation would be ruined and what the leadership thought they had accomplished would be completely destroyed. This is where the path of corruption leads. It always leads to destruction and waste. It leads to nowhere. Unfortunately, those who travel far down this path deceive themselves into believing they are headed somewhere only to discover in the end that they have ended up nowhere.

Commitment – How can we avoid this kind of ending? The answer is to choose spiritual paths, one that will lead us to fulfill our God-given responsibilities. Focus on what is truth and what is right. Let these principles guide the steps we take in all matters of life. Teach these principles from God’s word to others verbally and by example. Focus on the assignments God has given and not material gain. Realize that we are accountable to the one who richly bestowed His grace upon us and allowed us to be adopted into his family. What a privilege! What a responsibility! Lead your students to commit to following the path of God’s moral and ethical standards. Invite those who have started down the path of corruption the opportunity to turn from their ways and begin on the path of righteousness.

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?