Sunday School

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 27, April 10, 2011

2011-04-09T11:40:00.001-07:00

STUDY GUIDE: SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 27, April 10, 2011
Lectionary A, Fifth Sunday of Lent
Theme Verse: "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31
Readings: John 11; Romans 6:13-23; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130
Memory Verse: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
Next Week: Matthew (26:36-75) 27:1-54 (55_66); Philippians 2:5-11; Isaiah 45:21; Matthew 21:1-11
      Gospel: John 11

A word received: I want you to do the whole chapter. I want you to see Lazarus' death and resurrection and mine in the context of sin and suffering. I AM the resurrection and the life -- whoever believes in me will see life eternal. They tried to destroy Lazarus, they could not overcome my work. Look to me. I AM. I AM more powerful than sin and death. That is the victory this chapter proclaims.

A word received: Look at Martha's faith and her affirmations. [This takes place in the context of a real challenge to her faith.]

[notes: Jesus wants to move Martha from general belief about himself to personal knowledge of who he is and what he can do.
*      Jesus wept even though he knew what he would do. He joins in our weeping.
*      (verse 40) Lois Gould is cancer-free after move than 25 years.
*      (verse 44) "take off grave clothes and let him go" -- symbolic of what Jesus wants to do in our lives.]

      Epistle: Romans 6:13-23

A word received: See this in the context of Ezekiel. I can make your dry bones come to life. I can bring you to new life just as I did Lazarus.

[Note: you have to look at the choice between sin and death, and life and what Jesus wants to do. He wants to bring us to new life.]

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) A word received: I want you to see in the Corinthians passage that you (underline you) can have victory over sin.

      Old Testament: Ezekiel 37:1-14

(verse 6) A word received: When I bring you to new life, you will know that I AM LORD.

(verse 10) A word received: I AM raising up an army of my Spirit.

(verse 12) A word received: Behold, I will bring you up out of your graves, take you out of your grave clothes, and bring you into the land and life of my promise.

(verse 13) A word received: I want you to know that I AM LORD.

(verse 14) A word received: I will put my Spirit in you and you shall live.

      Psalm: Psalm 130

(verse 1) A word received: Cry out to me -- I will hear you.

(verse 4) A word received: Accept my forgiveness -- it leads to life.

(verse 5) A word received: Hope in me -- I AM faithful.

(verse 7) A word received: I AM able to redeem you from all your sins.

Albany Intercessor

From: Fr. Nigel Mumford+, Subject: Quadrant Crusade for revivial and healing

2011-04-09T05:26:00.000-07:00

Date: Sat, 09 Apr 2011
From: Fr. Nigel Mumford+
Subject: Quadrant Crusade for revivial and healing

Dear Philothea, (People who love God)

Over the past twenty years of healing ministry I have never once invited myself to speak or
preach anywhere. Yesterday, while driving to St. Paul's Albany to attend a training session on
"preaching" with many other clergy of the diocese I felt that the Lord was nudging me to put on a "Quadrant Crusade" for revival and healing... in the four quadrants of the diocese.

If your church is geographically central-ish within, and accessible to, the north west country, the north east country. the south west country or indeed the south east country I would like to offer a Saturday of two talks and a healing/revival service. (The one in the SW corner might be at the SLC) but call anyway if you are interested.

If you, your rector or you church is interested please let Lynn know at
518-692-9550
or at
healing@ctkcenter.org

Thank you for praying about this...

The healing center is fully operational, and so am I, THANKS BE TO GOD.

God is still in the business of healing... of this I have no doubt.

Lets see what the Lord has in mind for this...

Please let us know.

Be well, do good works and for the sake of God love one another,
God bless you
Fr, Nigel+

The Rev. Nigel W D Mumford+
Director, The Oratory of Christ the Healer,
Christ the King Spiritual Life Center
575 Burton Road, Greenwich, NY 12834

(518)692-9550
healing@ctkcenter.org

www.ctkcenter.org
www.ctkcenter.org/WelcomeHome/
www.oratorypress.com

Jesus said: ASK and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
John 16:24

Agnus Dei, dona nobis pacem.
(Lamb of God, grant us peace)

4/8/2011, #8, 2nd Quarter 2011

2011-04-08T02:24:00.001-07:00

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand. and joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" (Joshua 5:13)
      Father, when we prepare to go into battle, prepare our hearts to recognize your servants.

So he said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to him, "What does my Lord say to his servant?" (Joshua 5:14)
      Lord Jesus Christ, show us each day what you require of us. Help us to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before you. (See Micah 6:8 ) Lord, we keep asking the wrong question: we ask, "Are you on our side?" The correct question is, "Are we on your side?"

Then the Commander of the LORD’S army said to Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:15)
      Holy Spirit, please help us recognize the times and places of holiness and in humility take off our shoes be fore you to honor you.

A word received: Keep waiting on me.

Praying the Nicene Creed, a word received 12/29/07: Each day I want you to take a phrase from the Nicene Creed and pray that phrase. My people need to hear what is true and make it their own.
I believe in one God,
      Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank you for being one and thank you for your love for one another. Please help me, help your people live in the reality of your unity and love. Thank you.
the Father Almighty,
      Father, thank you for being a father to me. Thank you that by your might you have made your son Jesus known to us so that we can become your children.
maker of heaven and earth,
      Thank you, Father, for your creation. Please help us by your Holy Spirit to be better stewards of your creation.
and of all things visible and invisible;
      Father, we know that we are surrounded by your angelic hosts and that whole company of heaven, that cloud of witnesses that has gone before us. Help us to be steady in you till we reach that place of rest. Thank you.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
      Father, guide us by your Holy Spirit so that every other "lord" in our lives is brought under the sovereign rule of Jesus and he becomes our one Lord. Thank you.
the only begotten Son of God,
      Father, thank you for sending your one and only son to us so that we might become your children.
begotten of his Father before all worlds,
      Jesus, you have always been there; help us receive you into every part of our lives.

Friday: 95 & 102 * 107:1-32; Jeremiah 23:1-8; Romans 8:28-39; John 6:52-59
Saturday: 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13) * 33; Jeremiah 23:9-15; Romans 9:1-18; John 6:60-71

      Notes from the Front Line

***** The Essential One Hundred Challenge
            The Bible reading plan people love to complete

Scripture Union's Bible Reading Method™
Pray: before you read, asking God to help you understand.
Read: the Bible passage for the day, perhaps more than once.
Reflect: on the passage. Write your thoughts in a journal.
Apply: what God teaches you from His Word to your life.
Pray: again, asking God to help you live out His Word.

The Law and the Land
#25 The Fall of Jericho      Joshua 5:13-6:27

Albany Intercessor

4/6/2011, #6, 2nd Quarter 2011

2011-04-06T03:44:00.001-07:00

"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you." (Joshua 1:5)
      Jesus, be with Bishop Bill as you were with Moses and Joshua. Write it on his heart that you will never leave him nor forsake him. Thank you.

"Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them." (Joshua 1:6)
      Holy Spirit, please fill Bishop Bill, Bishop David, and Bishop Dan up with your courage so that they may rightly establish the parishes of this diocese.

"Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go." (Joshua 1:7)
      Father, show our bishops, priests, deacons, and lay leaders how to rightly apply your commandments and ordinances. Keep them on the straight and narrow path so that they turn neither to the right nor to the left. Thank you.

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8 )
      Holy Father, fill the heats and minds and mouths of the leaders and teachers of this diocese with your word and your Spirit. Let your word, your living word, be in their hearts and thoughts and mouths day and night.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)
      Holy Spirit, thank you for helping us know the presence of Jesus in our lives. Give all of us courage to go forth in the power and truth of the gospel. Thank you.

Praying the Nicene Creed, a word received 12/29/07: Each day I want you to take a phrase from the Nicene Creed and pray that phrase. My people need to hear what is true and make it their own.
I believe in one God,
      Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank you for being one and thank you for your love for one another. Please help me, help your people live in the reality of your unity and love. Thank you.
the Father Almighty,
      Father, thank you for being a father to me. Thank you that by your might you have made your son Jesus known to us so that we can become your children.
maker of heaven and earth,
      Thank you, Father, for your creation. Please help us by your Holy Spirit to be better stewards of your creation.
and of all things visible and invisible;
      Father, we know that we are surrounded by your angelic hosts and that whole company of heaven, that cloud of witnesses that has gone before us. Help us to be steady in you till we reach that place of rest. Thank you.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
      Father, guide us by your Holy Spirit so that every other "lord" in our lives is brought under the sovereign rule of Jesus and he becomes our one Lord. Thank you.

Wednesday: 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30 * 119:121-144; Jeremiah 18:1-11; Romans 8:1-11; John 6:27-40
Thursday: 69:1-23(24-30)31-38 * 73; Jeremiah 22:13-23; Romans 8:12-27; John 6:41-51

      Notes from the Front Line

***** The Essential One Hundred Challenge
            The Bible reading plan people love to complete

Scripture Union's Bible Reading Method™
Pray: before you read, asking God to help you understand.
Read: the Bible passage for the day, perhaps more than once.
Reflect: on the passage. Write your thoughts in a journal.
Apply: what God teaches you from His Word to your life.
Pray: again, asking God to help you live out His Word.

The Law and the Land
#23 Joshua Succeeds Moses      Joshua 1:1-18

***** Date: Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:18:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: Shaw Mudge
Subject: Mudge Mission April vidmail (2 year anniversary in Peru special edition)
Dear Friends in Christ,
      Peace be with you.
      Our April 2011 Vidmail, 2 year anniversary in Peru special edition, has just been uploaded on the Internet. It can be embedded on websites.
      Here is the YouTube link (it is also on my Facebook webpage):
       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7awZPTwaHdo
      This may be an opportunity to pray for something or someone in the video, as the Holy Spirit prompts you.
God bless you, In Christ, Shaw+

Albany Intercessor

4/4/2011, #4, 2nd Quarter 2011

2011-04-04T03:14:00.000-07:00

In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain. (Exodus 19:1-2)
      LORD, let the Diocesan Convention be such an encampment. Help us come before you to hear your word and worship you.

And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine." (Exodus 19:3-5)
      Holy Spirit, please bring us to that obedience to our Father's word so that we become his special treasure.

"And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel." (Exodus 19:6)
      Jesus, let this diocese become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. (Exodus 19: 7)
      Jesus, please bless Bishop Bill and help him lay before the priests and deacons and lay leaders of this diocese the words and desires of your heart.

Then all the people answered together and said, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do." So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. (Exodus 19:8 )
      Holy Spirit, help us to be a people who truly answer your call to us. Help us live out the vows we have made to you.

And the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever." So Moses told the words of the people to the Lord. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. (Exodus 19:9-10)
      Father, please help us consecrate ourselves to your service.

Praying the Nicene Creed, a word received 12/29/07: Each day I want you to take a phrase from the Nicene Creed and pray that phrase. My people need to hear what is true and make it their own.
I believe in one God,
      Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank you for being one and thank you for your love for one another. Please help me, help your people live in the reality of your unity and love. Thank you.
the Father Almighty,
      Father, thank you for being a father to me. Thank you that by your might you have made your son Jesus known to us so that we can become your children.

Monday: 89:1-18 * 89:19-52; Jeremiah 16:10-21; Romans 7:1-12; John 6:1-15
Tuesday: 97, 99, [100] * 94, [95]; Jeremiah 17:19-27; Romans 7:13-25; John 6:16-27

      Notes from the Front Line

***** The Essential One Hundred Challenge
            The Bible reading plan people love to complete

Scripture Union's Bible Reading Method™
Pray: before you read, asking God to help you understand.
Read: the Bible passage for the day, perhaps more than once.
Reflect: on the passage. Write your thoughts in a journal.
Apply: what God teaches you from His Word to your life.
Pray: again, asking God to help you live out His Word.

The Law and the Land
#21 The Ten Commandments      Exodus 19:1-20:21

***** Subject: Mudge Prayer Mail, 4 April 2011
Dear Partners in Prayer,
Peace be with you. This is our weekly public prayer mail for 4 April 2011.
Thanksgivings:
      1) For the spiritual closeness to God that we have been having.
      2) For the spiritual warfare progress that we have had, particularly today.
      3) For the excellent Diocese of Peru Synod yesterday.
      4) For our friends in Peru, and our friends elsewhere.
      5) For our Biblical interpretation class last week. It was really awesome to see God pull things together for the students.
      6) For the great coffee hour consumables at the mission of La Ascension that Julie and Lydia prepared (and yes, I did help).
Prayers:
      1) For students and classes this week and next. This is the last week of the current cicle. Our exam week is next week. Pray for the students as they prepare for their exam.
      2) For students as they prepare to decide what courses they will take next cycle. The next cycle begins after Easter Week.
      3) For Holy Week and Easter Week preparations.
      4) For Lydia´s preparing-for-college trip in July/August.
      5) For which churches and groups to visit in the Diocese of Albany, during July and August, to talk about our work in Peru. If you would like us to visit a parish, a group, or a deanery gathering - such as a deanery picnic, please let us know.
      6) For the relationships and spiritual protection of missionaries and other diocesan team members in Peru, and for our ministries, finances, resources, and priorities.
      7) That we would be able to keep on top of all the things that God would like us to do.
      Thank you for praying for us. Your praying makes a difference for us, and I pray for you every day.
God bless you, In Christ,
Shaw, and on behalf of Julie and Lydia
Missionaries of the Diocese of Albany, serving in Lima, Peru.

Albany Intercessor

Prayer Table Report

2011-04-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table Report, Saturday, April 2, 2011, 9:20 - 10:30 a.m. Windy but bright and sunny. Torre Bissell on State St.
+--indicates received a wooden cross made by Dennis Adams of North Carolina

Curtis (from the last two weeks) -- "Prosperity and for my family." I prayed for the Father's love and provision to be poured out in this family. [Later, he passed by again and said, "God bless you too." in response to my greeting.]

+Patrick (from previous times) -- I prayed for the Father's blessing on him and his family.

(Man across the street) -- "Please!" when I asked him if I could pray for him.

+Russell -- Injured on job; provision; asked for and accepted forgiveness. He asked, "Do you require a donation?" I said, "No, this is free." When I gave him the cross he said, "This is what I've been waiting for."

+Eddie -- "For peace and for Israel." I prayed for peace in the hearts of men and governments and for the peace of Jerusalem.

+Bill -- "That I can get back to the City." [He was hoping for a handout.]

+Dexter -- "I have to get food for my kids." After I prayed for him and his kids and gave him a cross he said, "Oh, God bless you."

Billie (came a week or so ago) -- Alcoholic, hoping for a handout. "I got booted out of my hotel this morning." I prayed for shelter for him.

+Tishon (young man) --"For my wife and my kids." Prayed for the Father's provision and that he would grow into the man, the father, the husband that God is calling him to be.

Steve (10:00) -- Again prayed he could own his own business and for joy. He said I should not be out here on the street by myself and stood guard for the next half hour.

+Andrew (semi-regular) -- Alcoholic. Prayed for sobriety and for his kids.

+Jahlyn (teen-age boy) -- Prayed for his family and that he would grow into the man, the father, the husband that God is calling him to be.

+Patrick (and young son Scottie) -- "I thank the Lord Jesus. I am getting back on my feet. Some friends are setting me on the right path."

+Jeanette and her son +Jahlyn -- They are going to Massachusetts to visit a friend named +Rose who is in rehab. They took a cross for her.

+Paula (regular) -- We prayed for blessings and the refreshment of the Holy Spirit. She was heading over to check on Debra, another regular.

4/1/2011, #1, 2nd Quarter 2011

2011-04-01T04:28:00.000-07:00

Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt." (Exodus 13:17)
      God, you know what is best for us and you know our weaknesses: lead us in the direction you think is best for us.

So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt. (Exodus 13:18 )
      LORD, thank you for the wilderness times and all that you have taught us about your faithfulness in those times.

And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you." (Exodus 13:19)
      Holy Spirit, please help us carry out all of our solemn vows.

So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. (Exodus 13:20)
      Jesus, thank you for the journey we are on.

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. (Exodus 13:21)
      Jesus, thank you for the many ways you lead us.

He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. (Exodus 13:22)
      Father, thank you for your enduring faithfulness.

A word received: My strength will carry you through.

Friday: 95 & 88 * 91, 92; Jeremiah 11:1-8, 14-20; Romans 6:1-11; John 8:33-47
Saturday: 87, 90 * 136; Jeremiah 13:1-11; Romans 6:12-23; John 8:47-59

      Notes from the Front Line

***** The Essential One Hundred Challenge
            The Bible reading plan people love to complete

Scripture Union's Bible Reading Method™
Pray: before you read, asking God to help you understand.
Read: the Bible passage for the day, perhaps more than once.
Reflect: on the passage. Write your thoughts in a journal.
Apply: what God teaches you from His Word to your life.
Pray: again, asking God to help you live out His Word.

Moses and the Exodus
#20 Crossing the Red Sea      Exodus 13:17-14:31

Albany Intercessor

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 28, May 2, 2010

2010-04-29T02:59:00.001-07:00

The Holy Spirit (#4)
More about the Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.' Now he said this about the Spirit" John 7:37
Readings: (In the lesson)
Memory Verse: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit say the LORD of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
      Reminder: The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit, which God compares to living water, to his breath. He is also the Spirit of Jesus. Jesus promised to send his Holy Spirit with power to his disciples after his return to the Father in Heaven. Father , Son and Holy Spirit are ONE God. Jesus said to his disciples, "He who has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:9) We see God's character in Jesus. Jesus wants his followers to "abide" (live) in him, obey him, and have his Spirit with power living in them. "I AM the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." "If you obey my commands you will remain in my love..."(John 15:5,10) "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8 ).
      "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6b) A word received: It is not your power or strength that matters; it is my Spirit and his power that matters. The weakest person (by human measures) can be the strongest person with my strength, with my Spirit.
      Testimony by Neal and Lisa Longe about the new things the Spirit is doing in their lives.
      NOTE about preparation before asking for more of the Holy Spirit. One of the things the Holy spirit does is give us new power over sin in our lives when we surrender those areas to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). But another work of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of sin (John 16:9). There are times when we are blind to some of our real sins or have not fully let go of them. Part of the preparation for being baptized with the Holy Spirit or receiving a fresh infilling is to ask the LORD to show us by his Spirit if there is an area that we are not surrendering to him or if there are hidden sins we do not recognize. Examples are from the letters to the churches in Revelation. Jesus told the church in Ephesus that they did many things well but had lost their first love for him, (2:44) and he told the church in Laodicea that they were lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, and both needed to repent. (3:14) We are going to take a few minutes to silently pray and ask the Lord to show us any of this in our lives, so that we may deal with them and receive his forgiveness and be ready to receive more of Jesus' Spirit next week. God already knows about this but maybe we don't. We can't hide from God. After a brief time we have asked Fr. Brad to close with a joint confession of sin and pronounce God's forgiveness. Sometimes people do not really accept that God has forgiven what they have confessed and that is a barrier to growing in him. Last place is taken! Paul said he was the worst of sinners!
            Few minutes of silent prayer.

      Some results those among us have experienced from the Holy Spirit.
*      a new sense of God's presence, more experience of the Lord (by the Spirit we cry "Abba", Father.)
*      new power over sin in our lives, also the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin (John 16:9)
*      Bible reading coming alive
*      ability/freedom to talk to others about Jesus
*      gifts/manifestations of the Holy Spirit (see later)
*      fruits of the Spirit ; "But the fruit of the Spirit is love(agape), joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23) Fruit does not grow overnight and Paul talks in 1 Corinthians 13 about the importance of having the fruit of the Spirit when using the gifts of the Spirit.
*      more of a shared life with other believers (Body of Christ)
*      guidance. increased ability to hear/discern what the Lord says
*      ability to pray in a new way, in English or tongues, "The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." (Romans 8:26)
*      healing
GIFTS, MINISTRIES: MANIFESTATIONS/ of the Holy Spirit
GIFTS (See I Corinthians 12:1-11, 14:1, 12 )
*      words of wisdom, words of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, works of power (miracles),
*       prophecy, discerning spirits (testing) "Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything (!!). Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21)
*      different kinds of tongues
MINISTRIES (listed in I Corinthians 12:27-31 and in Romans 12:4-8, 13 and in 1 Peter 4:8-11.
*      apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healing, helping, administration, tongues. (Romans 12:1-2, 4-8, 13:how we are to USE our gifts and ministries),.
*      1 Peter lists prophecy, serving, encouraging, giving, leadership, showing mercy, sharing with needy, hospitality.
      Most of these are self explanatory. These gifts and ministries are not possessions but tools Jesus gives us to build up his Body, make him known, glorify him and have his joy.
      Even children can receive gifts and ministries: we saw a 12 year old boy with a gift of healing and Samuel received the gift of prophecy as a boy.
      Prophecy and words of wisdom and words of knowledge need a little explanation. (examples) Basically they refer to a current message from the Lord that may take several forms. It is NOT equal to Biblical prophecy. Even in the Bible prophecy is not always about the future, but is a present message God has for his people. People experience it as ideas or words that form in their minds, occasionally as heard aloud, as pictures, visions, a "sense" of things. We see all of these things in the Bible. Just because something is called a prophecy doesn't automatically mean it is one. Test everything. There are 3 sources: God, the human mind, Satan. Test everything.
      The most important thing is that it be TESTED because we get ideas, etc from many sources, even from Satan. Jesus was tempted by Satan who quoted Scripture and distorted scripture but Jesus answered with the Word of God from Scripture. We test what we think is from the Lord by seeing if it is consistent with the whole of Scripture and by asking for the gift of discernment by the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to guide all his disciples by his Spirit but some people do have special gifts in these areas. A word of wisdom is the Spirit giving a message of wisdom to someone. A word of knowledge is the Spirit giving someone a word/picture/idea of information that can be used in ministering. I have heard speakers at a healing service say for example, that they think someone has a certain problem that God wants to heal or the Lord gives an idea to someone who is praying with someone that may help get to the root of a problem and asks the person about it. No one's gifts are perfect as Paul says in 1Corinthians 13:9 "we know in part and we prophesy in part..." That is why we often need to go to another person to help us test a message. Sometimes God will simply highlight a passage in the Bible. The first thing to do is write it down and ASK the Lord about it. Learning to use the Spirit's gifts takes practice.
      Tongues also need a bit of explanation.
*      1. At Pentecost the disciples spoke in languages they did not know but others understood them as praising God. In our own congregation we know people spoke Japanese in Akime Hio's presence and Dave Carlson spoke words in French he had never learned.
*      2. Often tongues are prayer in a language we do not know and it is the Holy Spirit helping us to pray when we don't know how or what to pray, either privately or with someone else. People can sing praises to God in tongues.
*      3. Occasionally it is a form of a message from God IF it is interpreted. Paul tells the Corinthians that prophecy and tongues are always under the control of the speaker. (1 Corinthians 14:32)
*      4.They are NOT some sort of ecstatic utterance over which the speaker has not control--like what can happen in pagan worship as when Paul says, "No one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says 'Jesus be cursed' and no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3).
*      5. Paul urges people to use the gifts in love and to desire the gifts that will build up the Church and says he mostly does his praying in tongues in private.
      A person has to speak out to receive this gift and not in your native language. When you are prayed with just speak out whatever sounds come to you as you turn to the Spirit. It takes a while for some, like me, others receive this prayer gift easily. Some suggest if you desire this gift, which God wants you to have, try singing in the shower in whatever non English language you know of.
      Spiritual Warfare is another area to learn about. Satan is real and not a funny guy with horns. Peter warns us "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith."(1 Peter 5:8-9) Jesus was tempted in every way as we are yet without sin. "Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." (Hebrews 2:18 & 4:15).. We are told about the armor God has for us to put on daily in Ephesians 6: 10-18. There is a story in Acts 16:16-19 of Paul casting out an evil spirit of fortune telling from a slave girl. Jesus also did this. I don't suggest you try that as a beginner but when we belong to Jesus and have the power of his Spirit in us we can bind and rebuke an attack we sense is coming from Satan, like fear or anger, (example) and command it to leave us in the name of Jesus and go to Jesus and not come back. Then as Jesus said we need to ask him to fill that empty place with his Spirit and presence. Involvement in the occult is ALWAYS sin and puts us in Satan's territory.
      God doesn't use a cookie cutter approach to baptizing us with his Spirit. There is not only the story of Pentecost, but the story of the non-Jews that Peter preached to at the home of Cornelius, the Roman Centurion, where God sovereignly poured out his Spirit on all the people before they were baptized to show Peter the Holy Spirit was for all who truly turn to him. Then there is the story of believers in Ephesus who believed in Jesus but had never heard of the Holy Spirit till Paul told them. Sometimes people will have a very powerful experience and some will have no "experience" but their lives will be different. That was what happened to me. I suggest you do not focus on an "experience" or feeling, but on being open and surrendering to Jesus and His Holy Spirit and receiving whatever he wants to give you. It is OK to ask for a certain gift but the Lord will decide what he wants to give you and you will be blessed.
      Are you ready? You need to repent of any un-repented sin and renew your commitment to Jesus. This is a renewal of your baptismal vows and then you need to want and ask for Jesus to baptize you with his Spirit with power--for the first time or once again. On the 9th there will be teams of people to pray with you if you want to.
      "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:49) A word received: Sometimes doing nothing but waiting for me to move is the most difficult form of obedience. Are you willing to wait on me and my Spirit? "Wait," I say; tarry until you are filled with my Holy Spirit.
      "He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:24) A word received: I want you to know and experience my faithfulness. Come to me; let me fill you up with my Spirit so that you will know my faithfulness.

Do you have any questions? There are no dumb or too simple questions. You can come to us, to the clergy or prayer teams and we will all be glad to try to answer your questions.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 27, April 25, 2010

2010-04-22T16:51:00.001-07:00

The Holy Spirit #3
Repentance and the Gift of the Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.' Now he said this about the Spirit" John 7:37
Readings: Acts 1:1-5, 8, Acts 2
Memory Verse: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (Pre-K to grade 3)
Remember, when we talk about the Holy Spirit, we are talking about God himself, a personal God. He is not a thing or a "force", but God's own Spirit. It is true that we talk about wanting more of the Holy Spirit but what really happens is that He (not it) wants to have more of us, but only we can give God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) more of ourselves. He gives us the choice. Are we willing for Jesus to be LORD -i.e. "in charge" or are we still wanting to be in control? He is trustworthy. He will not harm us or force us to do anything against our will, though he can be pretty active to persuade us!
The story of Pentecost begins with Jesus' instructions to his disciples after his resurrection. Remember how Jesus promised his disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit on them and not leave them orphans, but would come to them through the Spirit.(John 14:18). On the day he ascended to return to his Father in Heaven, he told them again to Wait for the gift God the Father promised and you will be baptized (filled, immersed) with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:1-5) Then Jesus said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (vs. 8)
This is a promise with a condition--waiting with expectation. So the disciples and other believers, both men and women, Jesus' mother and brothers waited "together, joining constantly in prayer" (vs.14), about 120 of them. Pentecost is the Greek name for the Jewish Festival of Weeks (a harvest festival of the "first fruits" of the wheat harvest-Exodus 34:22). It means "50" and occurred on the 50th day after the Passover Sabbath.
Look at what happened on the morning of Pentecost. They were "all, with one accord, in one place" (Acts 2:1) Notice the repeated emphasis on unity in prayer! . (Perhaps this was in the temple since it was a Feast day.). Suddenly a series of symbolic sounds and actions occurred which quickly drew a huge crowd. First: a sound like a "rushing, mighty wind"--Literally "rushing, violent breath". Remember "breath of God" is a term for the Holy Spirit. Second: they saw what seemed to be like "divided tongues of fire" sit on each one of them. Fire was sometimes associated with the presence of God: the burning bush Moses saw, the pillar of fire guiding them in the wilderness, fire on Mt. Sinai when the Ten Commandments were given, during Elijah's contest with the pagan priests on Mt. Carmel when the fire of God fell on Elijah's sacrifice, and when God said to Jeremiah, "Is not my word like a fire?". John the Baptist said of Jesus, "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Matthew 3:11) Third: Then the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to "speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." "Tongues" simply means a language, in this case languages they didn't know.
All this noise attracted a huge crowd of Jews, who had come from many nations for the Feast and heard the believers praising God and declaring his wonders in their own languages! (vs.5-11) We will talk more about "tongues" next week but it is important to say that the purpose here was to praise God in prayer in a way that was a witness to non-believers. Also "tongues" are not a language known to the speaker but sometimes could be understood by listeners. This happened twice at Christ Church when someone spoke in a tongue and Akime Hio, from Okinawa, said the message was in Japanese! Once it was Huyland Bryant and once it was at a Women's Aglow meeting where I was present.
What did all this mean? It pointed to Jesus. When some accused them of being drunk, Peter, who was so fearful during Jesus' trial that he denied Jesus, gets up and tells them what it means. He quotes the prophecy of Joel (2:28-32). Read aloud. Then Peter tells of the miracles, signs and wonders God did among them through Jesus, who" you, with the help of wicked men put to death; but God raised him from the dead" (vs.22-24).
He told them that David, long dead, had spoken of Christ's resurrection and that God had made Jesus "both Lord and Christ." (vs.36)
How are we to respond?
Many were "thoroughly pierced" in their hearts and asked "What shall we do?" Peter's answer is simple, "Repent and be baptized ---in the Name of Jesus so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (vs.38) About 3,000 responded! A word received: "They were cut to the heart." I want my people to pray for that. That is a work I do through my Holy Spirit. I want them to desire my cleansing fire. A word received: They have to desire this.
What does it mean to repent? The word means to turn around and go the other way. Torre's computer illustration: when you hit the delete key the computer gives you a message--Are you sure you want to do this? Do you really want to get rid of this? If you hit delete it is repenting of what you wrote. Repentance is not remorse, just really feeling bad emotionally. Repentance may involve feelings but the important part is a change in actions, direction--an act of the will. But will-power is not enough. Notice what else Peter had to say. He said they must be baptized in the name of Jesus. To be free of our sins we must give them to Jesus and surrender our lives to him and receive the forgiveness he died on the cross for us. So commitment to Jesus and receiving him in our hearts is the second step. Then we can receive the Holy Spirit. All those who were baptized at the Easter Vigil received this forgiveness and the Holy Spirit.
At Pentecost Jesus was offering the gift of the Holy Spirit in power. Some of us long ago received Jesus as our Savior and Lord and the Holy Spirit but had never experienced the power of the Holy Spirit. Others may never have made a firm commitment to Jesus and really repented of their sins. Others may have received the Holy Spirit with power long ago but have grown weary and discouraged and need a fresh filling with God's Spirit and His power. God does not have a cookie cutter approach or a formula. There are several different ways of receiving the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. Some have a powerful experience. Others don't experience/feel anything but will begin to discover a real difference in their lives. The first two steps--repentance and commitment to Jesus--are necessary prerequisites to being baptized with the Holy Spirit's power. If you have not done this or are not ready to do this we will pray with you but not a prayer to be filled with the Spirit until you are ready. The goal is living life in the power of God's Spirit and not getting a certain experience or getting a "thing". Rather the Holy Spirit wants you.
Some words and ideas the Lord gave the teachers:
"'Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.'" (Acts 2:36) A reflection: We need to recognize the sin in our lives and our rebellion [means: "doing it my way" Frank Sinatra] against Jesus.

"Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?'" (Acts 2:37) A word received: That is what I want for you -- that you will be cut to the heart in your repentance. I want you to pray for this.

"Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:38) A word received: Look to me; look to me for the fruit of repentance, of turning to me: the gift of my Holy Spirit. Every time you turn to me I want to give you more of my Spirit. Turn to me and receive with hands held out to me.

"'For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.'" (Acts 2:39) A word received: The Prodigal Son was far off but I called him back to myself. There is no distance so great that I cannot call you back to me. Come to me, I AM waiting with arms open wide. Receive my promise; receive the Holy Spirit.

WHAT ARE YOUR QUESTIONS?

Some obstacles to receiving the power of the Holy Spirit
unconfessed sin, hidden sin
involvement in the occult
fear- of making a fool of your self or fear of opinions of others, of fear of losing control
unbelief
pride or shame
not having clearly accepted Jesus
spiritual attack

Some results those among us have experienced.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 26, April 18, 2010

2010-04-18T04:45:00.001-07:00

The Holy Spirit (#2)
God's Love, Salvation and Who is the Holy Spirit?
Theme Verse: "If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.' Now he said this about the Spirit" John 7:37
Readings: Luke 15:11-32, Luke 11:9-13, Romans 8:1-17, 26-27,31-39
Memory Verse: "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13 (Pre-K to grade 3)
      A word received: Pray for my living waters to flow.
      Lord, give us a thirst for what you want to give us. Come, Holy Spirit, and do a work of preparation in us.
      A word received: Trust me.
      Remember what we looked at last week--Jesus' offer of "living water" to those who are spiritually thirsty, not just a drink but also promised that out of their hearts would flow rivers of living water. And he promised a spring of living water to the woman at the well in Samaria whose life was a mess!
      God's Spirit in the Old Testament In the Old Testament God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is compared to living (flowing, fresh) water and to the Breath of God, that is a part of God himself. We cannot live physically without water and breath and to live spiritually we need the Spirit of God, living water and the breath of God to live the new life God wants us to have. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus.
      There are a number of promises in the Old Testament and later from Jesus about a time when God would pour out his Spirit on all his people, not just on a few chosen leaders. God promised fountains, rivers of living water, his Spirit, and new breath and life in the dead, dry bones of his sinful people.
      Sin and Salvation. The problem was and is sin and evil.
      God's people and all people turned away from God, their Creator and made other gods for themselves. They wanted to go their own way, to be like God, deciding for themselves what was good and evil. First man and first woman chose to believe Satan's lie that God was withholding something good from them rather than believe and trust God. After creation, even some of the angels rebelled against God and became Satan and evil spirits. God had a rescue plan, which he accomplished in his Son, his Word, who took on our flesh and blood, Jesus of Nazareth. Through the salvation God offers through the death and resurrection of Jesus, he offers us new life as adopted sons and daughters, as Paul says in Colossians 1:13, "He has rescued us from the Dominion of Darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
      What God the Father is like and what our situation is, is told in a nutshell in the parable of the Prodigal Son or as others call the parable of the Waiting Father. (Luke 15:11-32) The younger son basically wished his father dead-"give me my half of the inheritance" and went far from home and wasted it till he wished he could eat pig food! He decided to go back beg his father to let him be like a hired servant (repentance). "His father seeing him from a great way off rushed to meet him" hugged him and gave him a party to welcome him home as his son. The older son was very self-centered and resentful of the father's generosity. God rushes to meet us when we repent and turn back to him and welcomes us home. (Notice that some consequences remain. The money was gone.) We don't know if the self righteous son repented of his attitude. (Torre tell story of his mother's return.) "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believed in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) "There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:10).
      God created us for himself, but he gave us freedom to make choices so we would choose to love him and obey him. He loves us (but it is not an indulgent, permissive love). Even when we have gone astray and rejoices when we return to him, confess our sins and accept the salvation he offers in Jesus. Then he adopts us as his sons and daughters. Read Romans 8:1-4. God the Father, in Jesus his Son, himself paid the penalty of our sins for us.
      When we receive salvation in Jesus we receive the Holy Spirit but very often he lives in us but we have not received all he wants to give us. (When I was growing up I knew about the Holy Spirit but I didn't know anything about receiving his power in the present day.) Also, just like water or breath, we need to receive the Living Water, the Breath of God again and again. Our relationship with God the Father, Jesus our Savior and the Holy Spirit (one God) needs to be refreshed and grow daily or we will grow dry, stale and thirsty.
      The baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. (Mark 1:8 ). His disciples had walked and talked with him for three years. It wasn't till the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on them like water and fire that they were changed. Peter went from being fearful and denying Jesus to preaching to the thousands of people, some of whom had been involved in crucifying Jesus. Paul says in Romans 8:29 that God wants to conform us to the likeness of his Son Jesus.
      Some of you have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised but only Jesus received the Holy Spirit "without limit" (John 3:34). The disciples, shortly after Pentecost received a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:29-31) after they were threatened for speaking about Jesus publically. They asked God to give them boldness and to stretch forth his hand with healing and signs and wonders and God poured out his Spirit so powerfully that the building was shaken.
      Testimony: (Our story of burning out on the mission field in a place God had called us to--and the difference the baptism of the Holy Spirit made.) God doesn't have just one pattern for pouring out his Spirit. We see several different ways in the New Testament.
      We are living in a time of great difficulty and sometimes persecution. God's people are weary and longing for God to act. It's been quite a while since we saw many healing and conversions. The Christian church in this country has often grown lukewarm and our nation needs to be healed (2 Chronicles 7:14) Many of us are thirsty for God to act, to pour out his Spirit afresh on us and on his church. Look at what Jesus says in Luke 11 (Memory Verse). We need to ask, seek and knock for more of God's Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus. Our part is repentance and asking. We will talk more about that next week. We don't know when God will send a mighty move of his Spirit on us but we do know that if we as individuals ask for a fresh in-filling of the Holy Spirit, he will answer us. It may not look like what we expect or what someone else received (it didn't for Jean), but he will answer.
      Sometimes we are afraid of what God might do that that holds us back. (Tell about the missionary in Liberia.). (Testimonies about difference baptism of the Holy Spirit made.)
      Words the Lord gave the teachers to reflect on.

"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9) A word received: I long for my people to ask of me what I want to give them -- I want to give more of myself to them.

"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Luke 11:10) A word received: Come to me, I AM waiting for you. Knock and I will open the door to you.

"If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?" (Luke 11:11) A word received: I long for you to know my father's heart of love; I long for you to receive what he offers. Come to him in hope and trust and ask for more of the Holy Spirit.

"Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?" (Luke 11:12) A word received: I want you to know the truth about my father and his love for you. Pray that you will not be deceived by the lies of the world about my father and his love for you.

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13) A word received: Come to me, receive the living water I offer you. Turn to me in your hunger and thirst and I will satisfy you with my Holy Spirit.

Stop and reflect on your own personal need for a fresh outpouring.

To learn more: recommended books:
1. "Living Water" by Brother Yun, recommended by Bishop Love
2. "Questions of Life" by Nicky Gumbel (from Alpha course)
3. "The Helper" by Catherine Marshall

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 25, April 11, 2010

2010-04-18T04:30:00.001-07:00

The Holy Spirit (#1)
Living Water: Jesus' Promise of the Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.' Now he said this about the Spirit" John 7:37
Readings: Jeremiah 2:13, Isaiah 44:3, Acts 2:17-21, John 4:10,14, Mark 1:8, John 3:5, John 14:16-19, Luke 24:49.
Memory Verse: "If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.' Now he said this about the Spirit..." John 7:37
      Background Living water means running, flowing water, always fresh and always renewed, not stored water as in cisterns (storage tanks) or stagnant water. Palestine is largely dependent on rainfall for water. There are two rainy seasons separated by a dry spell in the summer. Even slight variations can produce serious drought and famine. Palestine lacks natural storage sites for water so historically they used a variety of man made storage facilities like cisterns and they also dug wells that go down to the water table. Both these are covered to prevent evaporation. Water is a basic requirement for life. We cannot live long without water. Jesus compares the Holy Spirit to living water.
      Old Testament The Holy Spirit, God's own Spirit, is referred to many times in the Old Testament. To begin with, God's Spirit was active at Creation. Genesis 1:2 tells us "the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." [Notice in the first three verses we have references to what we call the Trinity: God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and God the WORD, the Son, One God.] The Spirit is mentioned in the creation of first man: God "breathed into him the breath of life." (Genesis 2:7). Breath is another way of talking about God's Spirit, as in the hymn "Breathe on Me Breath of God". You can't store up breath for more than a few minutes. You need fresh breath.
      Only a few special people in the Old Testament were anointed with the Holy Spirit but there are promises that one day the "Living Water" would be available to all God's people. But the problem was that God's people kept wanting to be like their neighbors and worship their gods and forget the "I AM" who had saved them and could give them life.
*      In Jeremiah God says, "'For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns--broken cisterns that can hold no water.'" (Jeremiah 2:13) A word received: I want you to recognize the evils for what they are: my people have forsaken me -- they have turned to other gods -- other philosophies that cannot satisfy, and they have dug for themselves cisterns that cannot retain water -- water living or water that is stale and dead. Turn to me, my people: repent and receive my living water.
      In Ezekiel 37, God shows him a vision of a valley filled with dry bones---a picture of the spiritual condition of God's people Israel and promises that one day He will make breath (Spirit) enter them and bring them to life and then they will know (by personal acquaintance) that the "I AM" is the One, true and only God.
*      "'Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!"'" (Ezekiel 37:4) A word received: How I long for the dry bones of my church to hear my word and live it out in my Spirit. (Stop and pray this for God's church.)
*      "'Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.'" (Ezekiel 36:36) A word received: You cannot rebuild my church in your own strength -- you need my Holy Spirit to empower and guide you.
      Listen to Isaiah's cry to the LORD, "Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and will not be afraid; for the LORD God is my strength and my song and he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." (Isaiah 12:2-3) Another promise In Isaiah is in 44:3.
*      "'For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring;'" (Isaiah 44:3) A word received: Turn to me: ask me to help you recognize your thirst for what it is. Turn to me and I will pour out living water on you.
      God promises Ezekiel what he will do in the future. "I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness's...a new heart I will give you and a new Spirit I will put in you, and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes. (Ezekiel 36:25-26).. Then there is the famous passage from Joel 2 which Peter quotes on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:17-21. READ ALOUD.
      Have you noticed the many ways "water" is used in Scripture, very much like "bread"
      JESUS: Jesus is the one who is the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist said, "I will baptize you with water but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Mark 1:8 ) (Note: the word 'baptize" is a word originally from the cloth dyeing industry and means to immerse in the dye and saturate the cloth.)
      In John 4 Jesus promises "Living Water" to the woman at the well and reveals to her who he is. Notice that he says we have to ask for this "living water". "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."(vs.10) "Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (vs.14)
      At the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus proclaimed to all that he will give Living Water (the Holy Spirit) to all who are spiritually thirsty and come to him. "If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.' Now he said this about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."(John 7:37) Notice that it is not just enough water to survive but streams/rivers of living water will flow to them and all around them who are also thirsty. The Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths) was one of Israel's three major feasts (held in the Fall after the Day of Atonement.) The people were to live in temporary shelters (booths) outdoors to remember God's care for them in the wilderness. During the seven day feast the priest read Isaiah 12:3"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." This reminded them of the miracle of water from the rock in the desert (Numbers 20:2-13). The ceremony included a procession to the Pool of Siloam for water which was carried back in a golden pitcher and poured out in front of the people as an offering.
      Early in his ministry Jesus tells a curious Nicodemus (John3:5) that unless a person is "born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God." On the night before he was crucified Jesus told his disciples that he would send them "another Counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of Truth."(John 14:16-17) "You know him for he lives with you and will be in you."(vs.17) He "will guide you into all truth...He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you."(vs.13-14)
      After Jesus had risen from the dead he appeared to them to show them he was really alive and told them, "I am going to send you what the Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:49)
      Next week we will look God's love, salvation and the Holy Spirit.
      We have to turn to Jesus for what only he can do. We can't live our lives in Christ on our own---we need to recognize our need for what only Jesus can give and do. We need to recognize our need for more of his Living Water. Are we like the little kid who when asked if he had brushed his teeth said, 'I did that yesterday!' Even if we have received the Holy Spirit "with power" as in Acts 2 we need to be refilled again and again. Yesterday's drink is not enough for today. We need living (fresh/flowing) water of life.
*      "'Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.'" (Luke 24:49) A word received: It is my word, my gift that I want to give you. Turn to me according to my word to receive the gift of my Spirit. It doesn't matter how much water flows around you, if you don't open your mouth to receive it, it will not do you any good.

      Picture a field with a stream flowing through it lined with trees whose roots grow down into the water so they are always fresh and green even in a drought and are always bearing fruit. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; it's leaves are always green. It has not worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8 )

What is your experience of Jesus' Living Water? Are you thirsty for a fresh drink?
      (Testimony)
Remember the book Bishop Love asked us all to read; "Living Water" by Brother Yun. (Zondervan)

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 24, March 28, 2010

2010-04-18T03:00:00.001-07:00

Palm Sunday
Who do you say that I am?
Christ, our Passover Lamb
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Exodus 12:1-7,12-14,21-27,42, Matthew 16:21-23, Luke 9:30-31, Luke 22:7-23
Optional: Exodus 12:1-42, Hebrews 9:11-28
Memory Verse: "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29)
      Remember how in the lesson on Jesus the Lamb of God (#4) we learned about how God delivered his people, Israel, from slavery in Egypt. It was the first Passover, when God "passed over" the homes of the Israelites who had obeyed instructions and put the blood of the lamb they had sacrificed on their doorposts the night when the first-born of each Egyptian home died. The lamb had to be a perfect (without blemish) male lamb a year old. Jesus was the perfect "lamb of God"- without blemish of sin- when God sent Jesus to give his life for our salvation, for the forgiveness of our sins. Right after Jesus' baptism, John the Baptist told people, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)
      A word received: How I long to pass over my people today and know that they are covered by the blood of my son Jesus. Turn to me; receive the blessing I have for you. Come to me in humility and ask for forgiveness of sin. Let me free you from the bondage of sin.
      The Exodus and first Passover provided a model for understanding what God was doing in Jesus. Three times Jesus told his disciples what was going to happen (Matthew 16:21, Matthew 17:22-23, Matthew 20:17-19). That bewildered the disciples since they were expecting a Messiah King who would drive out the Romans. They were scattered by his arrest (Matthew 26:31-32). On the Mt. of Transfiguration Peter, James and John saw Jesus changed before them and saw him talking to two men they somehow knew were Moses and Elijah (from heaven) about his "departure" (literally "exodus") which he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. (Luke 9:30-31). "And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease [exodus] which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem." (Luke 9:30-31) A word received: My father prepared my heart for what lay ahead -- that I was to be the Passover lamb.
      Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen and deliberately chose when and where he would die for our sins. Every time the leaders who hated him tried to kill him he escaped until the right time---Passover time. Look again at Luke 22:22-23. Jesus arranged a secret signal (a man with a water jar -women's work) to guide the disciples to a place where they would not be disturbed. When they gathered around the table Jesus said, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." (vs.15-16) Paul makes it very clear what was going on, "For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us."(1 Corinthians 5:7b) The Paul describes what Jesus did next in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26) (See also in Luke 22:17-22)
      Meaning of sacrifice and blood
      Remember that in the Old Testament the blood of man and animal was its life and represented its life. When they sacrificed an animal they were offering the animal's life/blood as a substitute for their own lives. God used this animal sacrifice to teach the people about sacrifice so that one day when Jesus, the Lamb of God, offered his life for our sins we and they could understand it. "Christ, our Passover has been sacrificed for us."
      Parallels between the Passover Seder and the Last Supper
(taken from "Christ in the Passover" by Ceil & Moishe Rosen of Jews for Jesus) There are four cups of wine at the meal and each has a name. The third cup is called the "Cup of Redemption". "After the same manner he also took the cup when he had supped, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood: do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' "(1 Corinthians 11:25). Blood was sprinkled on the people at Sinai in the covenant God made with Israel at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 24:8 ) Hebrews teaches "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin." (9:22). Christ offered the sacrifice of himself, once, for all, to take away the sins of many. (Hebrews 9:26-28 ) In John 10, Jesus said, "I AM the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep" (vs.11) "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again." (vs.18 ). After Christ's death there was no more need for animal sacrifices.
      Remember that the day started with the evening. Then he took the third cup. The gospel accounts only mention the first and third cups. The third cup had two names, the "cup of blessing" and the "cup of redemption"
      Passover was not a temple service but held in homes and the children had a special part. In Exodus 12 they were instructed to celebrate it forever and pass this on to their children. The children were supposed to ask certain questions.
      Why did God do this?
      "God so loved the world (his creation and creatures) that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 2:16-17) God was making a new covenant in his blood, available to those who accepted Jesus. God had promised to make a new covenant centuries before through Jeremiah (31:31-34). God(Father, Son, Holy Spirit) had planned this before creation because he knew the cost of giving people the choice of loving him freely or rejecting him. "the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8 )
      Isaiah describe how costly this gift of God in Christ was in Isaiah 53:5-6 "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, everyone to his own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Remember not only what Jesus suffered on the cross for us but his agony in Gesthemane when he sweat blood as he prayed about what was coming. Jesus loves you and me that much! (NOTE on Gethsemane) "'Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.'" (John 15:13) It is amazing that one would die for his friends but Paul reminds us that Jesus died for those who were still in rebellion against God, his enemies! See Romans 5:8,10 A word received: I gave my life for you. Jesus died and rose again to set us free from sin and give us new life, but we have to accept the gift and walk with him.
      "Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." (1 Corinthians 5:7) A word received: I want to cleanse you of every stain of sin.
      "Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Corinthians 5:8 ) A word received: I long to keep this feast with you.
      But Jesus' death on the cross to ransom us from sin and death was not the end--otherwise it would have just been another tragedy. Jesus had told his disciples he would rise again. He was really dead and buried but he rose from the dead on the third day to show us clearly who he was and that he had won the victory over death and sin--a gift we can choose to receive--or not.
Just as the first Passover was the first step in new life and freedom for the Israelites, so Jesus death for our salvation opened the way to new life in him and a new covenant.
      We have a choice to make. Are we going to receive what Jesus did for us? We need to ASK for and RECEIVE the new life he offers. He wants us to follow him and walk in newness of life in fellowship with him.

NOTE Jesus went to pray at an olive grove where they sometimes went to pray. It was named Gethsemane which is a press to press olives or grape for the juice or oil. Jesus was under tremendous pressure as he prayed. Remember he asked that if possible this "cup" would not have to be drunk but he prayed "Not my will but thine be done". He also forgave those who crucified him. We need to do that too.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 23, March 21, 2010

2010-03-28T05:01:00.000-07:00

Who do you say that I am?
The Kingdom of God is within your grasp!

Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; John 3:1-17; Matthew 6:7-15;
Matthew 18: 1-5
Optional: Matthew 18: 21-35; Matthew 13: 24-33, 44-50
Memory Verse: Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:3

KINGDOM: "the territory, people, state, or realm ruled by a king."

INTRODUCTION: The following is a summary of thoughts about God's kingdom presented in the book, Sitting at the Feet of the Rabbi Jesus, Chapter 13

God's kingdom is a realm that has no geographic location and transcends earthly nations. This kingdom is not a place but rather the actions of and dominion ruled by a king who transcends all earthly kings. It is God's reign, and those whom God reigns over.

Kingdom of heaven is a phrase sometimes applied in the New Testament Gospels but the word "heaven"as applied here is really a respectful euphemism for God's name, which good Jews would not utter. So Kingdom of Heaven is really Kingdom of God. Many Jews in Jesus' time believed that God was going to redeem the world by bringing it under his reign. What they did not know was what kind of king God's Messiah would be. Jews had prayed for centuries that the whole world would one day know and honor God. (and we Christians pray in the same way – "thy kingdom come…") Jesus' ministry was wholly about the Kingdom of God, and how it had broken in on this world. Read Luke 11:20 (and Exodus 8:19).

GOD'S KINGDOM IS INTIMATELY CLOSE! Read Luke 17: 20-21 and Matthew 12:28. The Jews believed- as noted in 1 Enoch and 2 Baruch from their Scriptures- that the kingdom of God would be observable through cosmic or celestial signs. The literal translation of Luke 17: 20 means- "the kingdom of God is not coming with signs that can be observed." (or, "not with your careful observation", or "not in a way that can be closely watched") The kingdom is in fact within "your midst", or "intimately close", or "within your grasp", or "at hand". This means that it is so near no one can miss it. It is here. There is an urgency to it- what are you going to do about it? Do you want to be in God's kingdom? How does that happen? This verse has also been translated as "the kingdom of God is within you"; meaning, a personal commitment, where we bow down in our hearts to the king, where we daily enthrone him, or worship him. It is a present and continual choice on our part to be in God's kingdom.

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN! In Matthew 8:5-10 we read the story of the Roman centurion who came to Jesus so that his servant might be healed. He told Jesus that there was no need for Jesus to come to his home. Instead he says, "Just say the word and my servant will be healed, for I too am a man under authority…". The centurion placed himself under the authority of Jesus, and the kingdom of heaven visibly broke into his life. When you hear the phrases, "make a personal commitment to Jesus", or "commit your life to Christ", it means submitting your life to Jesus, and believing that he has authority to forgive all sins, including yours! In John 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus, "You must be born again". You must be born again to see and be in God's kingdom. It is as when Jesus says, "He who has ears, let him hear." In this case, it is, "He who has eyes, let him see." In today's Matthew 18 reading, Jesus in v. 3 states that unless we "humble" ourselves like a little child- the word "humble" literally means "repent", or "turn around"- we can never enter God's kingdom. This has nothing to do with any inherent humility on the part of any child, but it does point to a child's trusting spirit, and their willingness to be dependent and receive from others. Everyone who believes in/ trusts Jesus will not perish but have/receive eternal life! Eternal life is God's life, it is his kingdom. Paul as noted in Romans 8:17 states that "if we are children than we are heirs." Roman inheritance law established an heir by birth, whereas we are granted the privileges and responsibilities of being an heir upon someone's death. Paul emphasized that because we are born into God's life through faith in Jesus we become his children, and if we are God's children then we are heirs to all that belongs to the king. Have you made this personal commitment to Jesus? If so, can you give examples of the kingdom of God visibly breaking into your life or the life of someone you know? Set this against Jesus' home area of Nazareth, where he could not perform many miracles because of the people's lack of faith.

Once we have been born from above, our life in Christ, our kingdom life, does not end. It is active and present and continuous.

Read Matthew 7:21. Only those who do God's will Jesus will recognize as God's children. What is God's will? Read John 6:40.

Read Psalm 44:4. When we believe, and as we believe, a personal relationship is established and maintained. See Thomas in John 20:28- "My LORD and my God!"

Read Colossians 1: 13-14. Jesus has delivered us from the powers of darkness, and transferred us to his kingdom. And that kingdom is "Unshakeable"- see Hebrews 12:28, so let us worship and give thanks to God in "devotion and awe"!

Read Colossians 3: 1-3. "Keep seeking the things above." Matthew 6:33.

WHAT IS KINGDOM LIVING? A Christian writer once defined eternal life as "not about duration of time but quality of life." There are many examples in the New Testament about how we live in God's kingdom. Following are a few: Matthew 5:1- 7:29; Romans 12: 9-21; Galatians 5: 13-25. And of course we read the parables of the kingdom of heaven ("the kingdom of heaven is like…") in Matthew 13. In Matthew 5 is the well-known Sermon on the Mount. There Jesus proclaims to the people "Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for the kingdom of God belongs to them." Jesus wants us to have hearts like beggars, hearts that are submitted to the Father. Remember in last week's lesson where we read Jesus' words that he does only what he sees his Father in heaven doing? As we live like this, totally dependent on the Father's love and the direction of his Spirit, the kingdom belongs to us. Later, Jesus tells us to "let your light shine before people". We should want this for others too. In Matthew 6 we read the Lord's Prayer. It begins by our acknowledging God as Father and king ("hallowed be your name…"), then continues with a request of the Father for his kingdom to come. What other examples of kingdom living are provided in these readings?

In Galatians 5, Paul discusses the difference between the life in the flesh and the life in the Spirit. If God has set us free from the bondage of sin, then we are free indeed! We have been called to this freedom- but don't misuse it! Paul exclaims- "Live by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh." He is clear in pointing out the desires of the flesh and the behavior that comes from them, and adds "Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!" So what are we to do? "Live by the Spirit"! Recall now the reading in last week's lesson from Deuteronomy 17, where the expected lifestyle of Israel's king is described. How does that life and this kingdom life compare? What is God saying to us about his life, eternal life, and about personal relationships? All of the conduct described not only establishes a personal relationship with God but also enhances our relationship with God and with one another. Jesus said in John 10:10 that he came so that we might have Life and have it most abundantly. God loves us and wants what is best for us, and kingdom life is the best life.

Following are words received for this lesson:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". (Matthew 5:3) A word received: Come to me so that you will truly know your poverty and your need for me.

"Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:12) A word received: I want your joy to be complete. Look to me for joy that comes in the face of adversity and persecution.

Another parable he put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." (Matthew 13:31-32) A word received: Come, nest in the branches; come rest in my arms. Come to me; come find your shelter in me.

Another parable he spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened." (Matthew 13:33) A word received: I want my love to be mixed up with your life. I want to raise and leaven you as yeast does with dough.

You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5) A word received: Come to me, I will build you up on the sure foundation of my love. You are precious in my sight.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 22, March 14, 2010

2010-03-12T04:08:00.001-08:00

Who do you say that I am?
Jesus, the King of Kings and LORD of lords

Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 1 Samuel 8:1-22; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21: 1-11
Optional: 1 Chronicles 17:11-14; Luke 1: 26-33; John 18: 33-37; Isaiah 9:6-7
Memory Verse: "I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever." Psalm 145:1

INTRODUCTION: What does it mean to be a king? What do you think of when you hear the word "king"? One dictionary defines a king as "a male sovereign ruler of a kingdom," while that same dictionary defines a kingdom as "the territory, people, state, or realm ruled by a king." Two other words are important for us to consider: Sovereign- "exercising or possessing supreme jurisdiction or power; free, independent, autonomous." Authority- from the Greek word exousia, which has "the basic idea of freedom of choice". One who has the most authority therefore has the most freedom of will. It is fair to say that these two words apply well to our concept of a king. C.S. Lewis applies these words to God, in that "the freedom of God consists in the fact that no cause other than himself produces his acts and no external obstacles impede them". God can do what he wants. But we must learn what it is that he wants.

THE CONCEPT OF "KING" IN THE BIBLE: In Old Testament times, a king was a leader of his people, a protector, and a permanent military leader. He was expected to lead his people into battle and be victorious, to negotiate terms of victory or loss, and to manage and insure the peace otherwise. The Book of Exodus, chapter 15, records what is known as "The Song of Triumph" (notice the language of a battle). Moses and the people of Israel sing "Who is like you O LORD among the gods? Majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?" Later in v.18 they sing "The LORD will reign for ever and ever!" Sung by a People who have been held in captivity for hundreds of years, and now delivered from the most powerful earthly king, is it any wonder that the song speaks of God as King? The LORD is indeed sovereign, with authority even over the waters of the earth and the most powerful human rulers, and a great protector and leader of his chosen people. The Israelites held God as the Most High King, the LORD God Almighty. He was leading them to the Promised Land. (Compare this with Jesus going to prepare a place for us in John 15; see also John 10:10 and 14:1-3.)

GOD'S PROVISION FOR A KING: After the Israelites have been delivered out of the grasp of Pharaoh but were not yet in the land God had promised to give them, God makes provision for an earthly king to lead them. See Dt 17. What precedes this section in Dt is the LORD's warning to the Israelites not to worship other gods. Somehow, too, the LORD seems to know that his people will ask for a king. But he warns them that it must be a king "from among your own brothers". There is then a list of things the king must follow or not do. In essence, he will be expected to submit to God's higher moral authority and will and not exalt himself above his fellow citizens. This is unlike any other king! Compare this to Jesus in Phil 2:5-11 ("every knee shall bow", a common salutatory greeting to a king) and John 5:19. See also the consequences of a king who does not hold to God's authority (David in 2 Samuel 12: 1-15).

ISRAEL EXERCISES THE PROVISION: The time of the Judges in Israel was about 1,100 B.C. The Israelites became increasingly interested in their neighbors and how those neighbors lived. They also became increasingly desirous of a king. Why do you think they wanted a king? In 1 Samuel 8:5 the elders demand that Samuel appoint them a king. How does this compare with God's words to them as recorded in Dt 17? Was not the king to be of God's choosing? They also wanted to be "like other nations". The word "nations" is "goyim" in the Hebrew, or Gentiles. For us, it literally means "non-believers". The Israelites were finding their self-esteem in how the non-believers lived and ordered their lives. Are we any different today? In v.6 the leading elders again tell Samuel "give us a king to lead us", which was a clear rejection of God who had been their leader, protector, and king. V. 7. (Compare this to Isaiah 43:15 and Isaiah 44:6- "protector" means literally "kinsman redeemer" *see note at end of lesson.) Samuel bluntly reports what they can expect in a king- he holds nothing back. Vv.11-18. The people do not care; they want a king! And so God provided a king. In 1 Samuel 10, Samuel anoints Israel's first king- Saul. "Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his inheritance?" (Jesus is known as the Christ- from the Latin Christos- meaning "the Anointed One") How is Jesus different from these earthly kings of Israel?

GOD'S ULTIMATE PROVISION: JESUS- God begins to lay the groundwork for the Messiah by prophecies. In 1 Chronicles 17: 11-14. God declares to David that "I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father and he will be my son." In the well-known prophecy from Isaiah 9: 6-7, God proclaims that "he will reign on David's throne…from that time on and forever." The child to be born will be called Wonderful Counselor (a more literal translation is "extraordinary strategist"), Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace". See also Isaiah 11: 1-5. God sent an angel to Mary, recorded in Luke 1: 26-33, where the angel proclaims that "The LORD God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." Jesus himself makes a public declaration of his kingship in Matthew 21: 1-11 that fulfills a prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. After his resurrection, he assures his disciples that "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me….surely I am with you always." He would be for the disciples and is for us our King, our LORD, our protector, our extraordinary strategist, our Redeemer, for all time! This is confirmed in John's vision recorded in Revelation 19: 11-16. Jesus is THE King of kings and LORD of lords!!

Read Isaiah 55:6 and James 4:8. Is Jesus able to be your king, your sovereign LORD? Do you want to be part of his kingdom? We will look more closely at his kingdom in next week's lesson.

WORDS FOR THE CLASS: Read Matthew 13: 24-30

"He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'" (Matthew 13:28) A word received: I want my people to understand my plan for their salvation and their part in it. I want them to deal with sin and falsehood my way -- by telling the truth that is in my word.

"But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them." (Matthew 13:29) A word received: It is not my will that any of my lambs should be lost.

"Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'" (Matthew 13:30) A word received: Don't rush to judgment; test the fruit. Look to me for guidance -- I AM King.

All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.'" (Matthew 21:4-5 A word received: That is how I still come to you: lowly and humble. Look for me in the quiet places. Come spend time with me.

NOTE:

*What is a kinsman-redeemer? The definition of "kinsman" is "nearest male blood relative. If anyone from poverty was unable to redeem his inheritance, it was the duty of the kinsman to redeem it." The Hebrew word for "kinsman" is "goel." "Redeemer" is defined as "one charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs." The Hebrew word for Redeemer is also "goel." God as protector of the Israelites served to lead them into their inheritance- the Promised Land. For us, Jesus is our King and Redeemer, the one who makes it possible for us to be in relationship with God the Father, and have a place in His Kingdom.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 21, March 7, 2010

2010-03-06T16:43:00.000-08:00

Who do you say that I am?
"I AM"
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Exodus 3:1-15, John 8:48-59, Mark 14:53-65, Acts 9:5,
Memory Verse: "'Who do you think you are?" Jesus answered, 'Before Abraham was born, I AM!'" John 8:53, 58
      We worship a God who reveals himself, who hears us and sees us and has a plan to draw us to himself and make us his own people! Look at what God says to Moses in the desert where he was herding sheep after running away from Egypt. First God catches Moses' attention (Moses is 80!) with a burning bush that does not burn up. (He was near Mt Sinai/Mt. Horeb.) It says in Exodus 3:2 that "an angel of the LORD" appeared to him. (This phrase is used several times in the Old Testament when it says that God himself spoke to someone. Sometimes this angel is referred to as the "angel of his presence". Compare story in Genesis 18of Abraham's 3 visitors.) God calls Moses by name and tells him to take off his shoes because he is on holy ground (in God's presence). (The removal of shoes in a holy place was an ancient custom and is still practiced in the Middle East and India. When I visited a mosque or temple as a tourist we too had to take off our shoes. It is like a man removing his hat to show reverence.)
       God identifies himself as the God of the Covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. "God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham" (Exodus 2:24). Look at what God says about himself in Exodus 2:23-24. God saw the affliction of his people and heard their cry for help. He knows their sufferings and he has come down to deliver them and bring them into a good land. Then God shocks Moses, "Come, I will send you to Pharaoh" (vs.10). Remember that Moses had run away from the Pharaoh of Egypt! Moses argues with God and wants to know God's name to tell the Israelites. (Remember the other nations had many gods.) God says, "I AM WHO I AM...I AM has sent me to you. (vs.14). This is my name forever."(vs15). "I AM" is a form of the verb "to Be" and includes the ideas of present, future and causing events. This name of God points to his action, his character and his presence in historical events. God always IS-past, present and future. We learn who God is by what he has done.
      The Jews have always been reluctant to speak the holy name of God. They often substitute LORD (in capital letters). When you read LORD it means "I AM". You will find this in translations of the Old Testament. In later centuries they often used "The NAME". People's personal names sometimes included a brief reference to God's name: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nehemiah and in worship as in "hallelu-jah" (meaning praise-Yahweh/"I AM".( See NOTE for more.) Names are important. God calls us by name.
      Jesus There are several times when Jesus says and does things that cause his disciples and others to link Jesus with God the Father some are in awe and some are angry. In Matthew 14:27, when Jesus saw that his disciples were being blown about by the waves of the lake, he walked out to them on the water. The disciples were scared to death and thought it was a ghost. Jesus called out to them, "Take courage! It is (I) (ego eimi= I am in Greek) . Don't be afraid." Then he called Peter to walk on the water, which he did till he took his eyes off Jesus and sank. When Jesus rescued, him Peter said, "Truly, you are the Son of God." A similar thing happened when Judas and the soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the garden. Jesus asked them who they were seeking and they said, "Jesus of Nazareth". Jesus answered, "I am (he)"(ego eimi). On hearing this the soldiers fell to the ground (John 18:5-6) in fright.
      A key place where Jesus plainly called himself "I AM" is in John 8. The religious leaders who opposed him called him a Samaritan (a term of abuse) and possessed by an evil spirit. Jesus had said, "If a man keeps my word he will never see death." They answered that Abraham died and asked "Are you greater than our father Abraham" ...Who do you think you are? (vs.53) At the end of the discussion Jesus says clearly, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I AM." (vs,58 ) They tried to stone him for calling himself by God's name but he escaped.
      Look at all the times Jesus made ""I AM" statements and then described who he was and what he could do; and will still do.
      "I AM the Light of the world" (John 8:12),
      "I AM the gate" (John 10:7),
      "I AM the Good Shepherd" (John 10:11),
      "I AM the Bread of Life" (John 6:35),
      "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:1-6),
      "I AM the True Vine" (John 15:1).
      "I AM the Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25), and later in Revelation he said,
      "I AM the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8 ) and
      "I AM the First and the Last. I AM the Living One: I was dead and behold I AM alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." ( Revelation 1:17-18 ).
      This is the same thing we see God doing in the Old Testament. (Refer to note on names of God. Jehovah is the older pronunciation of Yahweh.) A couple of examples are 1.) "Jehovah-Jirah (Jehovah= Yahweh/I AM) and Jireh means provider, "The LORD (another substitution for I AM) will provide" (Genesis 22:8 ). 2.) In Psalm 91:1 and Jeremiah 33:12, God is called El-Shaddai (God-Almighty). 3.) Another name is Jehovah-Rophe meaning the I AM is the healer, the one who makes whole. 4.) Another is the LORD (I AM) our Righteousness, "Jehovah Tsidkenu" (Jeremiah 33:16).
      Now look at Jesus' trial (Mark 14:53-65) when the chief priests and Sanhedrin were looking for an excuse to execute Jesus, they asked, "'Are you the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the Blessed One?' 'I AM', said Jesus, 'and you will see the Son of Man (messianic title) sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.' " They jumped on this and charged him with blasphemy which had a death penalty.
      After Jesus had ascended to heaven he speaks to Saul (later Paul) on the road to Damascus in a blinding vision and answers Saul's question, "Who are you?" "I AM Jesus, whom you are persecuting." (Acts 9:5)
      Jesus made very clear by the end of his earthly life who he was. Remember John 1:1. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." and "The Word became flesh (a human being) and lived for a while among us." (vs.14). Jesus was really man of the family of David and was also really God. That is a mystery---but we can know it is true because of faithful witnesses and because we can know Jesus personally for ourselves. Remember, there is only ONE God and he makes himself known as Creator-Father, Son-Word, and Spirit. All comparisons are imperfect but they can help us. Think about the sun. There is only one sun in our solar system but there is radiation coming from it and power that it has on earth and light. Another picture is water which is always H2O but we and see it as a liquid, a gas or as a solid (ice). These are very imperfect but they can help.
      There is no middle ground as to who Jesus is. As C.S. Lewis said, We can't say Oh, Jesus was just a good man or a great teacher. "He'd either be a lunatic, on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg, or else he'd be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse." (The Case for Christianity, p.l45)
      Have you ever entered into a relationship with the One who made you and loved you enough to die for you? After a brief argument, Moses entered into a relationship with the great "I AM" and could talk with him as a friend, "face to face". Jesus longs for you to come to him and receive what he has for you. We know a lot about who Jesus is by his names but he longs for you and me to find a relationship with him that can truly satisfy. What are you seeing now in your life?????
What is the LORD saying to you in these words he gave the teachers?
      "And he said, 'Who are you, Lord?' Then the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.'" (Acts 9:5a) A word received: I want my people to ask that question: "Who are you?" When they ask who I am I always find a way to answer them.

      "Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon him, went forward and said to them, 'Whom are you seeking?'" (John 18:4) A word received: "Whom are you seeking?" Are you seeking me, or are you seeking something less which cannot satisfy? Seek me and you will find me.

      "They answered him, 'Jesus of Nazareth.' Jesus said to them, 'I am he.' And Judas, who betrayed him, also stood with them." (John 18:5) A word received: They sought me to take me into their power. I tell you: seek me to come under and into my power.

      "Now when he said to them, 'I am he,' they drew back and fell to the ground." (John 18:6) A word received: I AM. I AM the one you are seeking. Learn to know me as "I AM".

      "Then he asked them again, 'Whom are you seeking?' And they said, 'Jesus of Nazareth.'" (John 18:7) A word received: I ask you once again, "Who or what are you seeking?" Look to me; I will satisfy you with fresh bread -- my living word.

      "Jesus answered, 'I have told you that I am he. Therefore, if you seek me, let these go their way,'" (John 18:8 ) A word received: I laid down my life for you. Look to me and receive what I have for you.

NOTE
      The Jews have always written the "I AM" name with consonants only-YHWH. In trying to find the pronunciation the scholars during the Renaissance tried combining YHWH with the vowels of Adonai, which means LORD, and came up with the word "Jehovah". More recently many scholars think it may have been pronounced "Yahweh" The Jews considered the NAME of God too holy to speak so often simply say the "NAME". The word Jehovah is in many older hymns and translations. All these point to THE LIVING ONE who is "I AM".
      LORD (capital letters) refers to God. Lord (small letters) is sometimes used for people who are rulers or masters. The English use it as a title.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 20, February 28, 2010

2010-02-27T04:04:00.001-08:00

Who do you say that I am?
I AM the Bread of Life
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Isaiah 55:1-2, Luke 11:3, Deuteronomy 8:3, John 6:25-63
Memory Verse: I AM the Bread of Life. John 6:35
      What do you think Jesus was talking about in the Lord's Prayer when he told his disciples to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread"? Do you think he was talking about "wonder bread" or "whole wheat bread"? What do you think he meant by "daily bread"? What do you think he meant by calling himself the "Bread of Life"?
      Introduction The Bible uses the term Bread to mean a lot of things. What do some of these verses mean? "Fed them on the bread of tears" (Psalm 80:5)
"They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence" (Proverbs 4:17).
"She does not eat the bread of idleness" (Proverbs 31:27).
"Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?
"Keep the Festival not with the old yeast of malice and evil, but with the bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth."(1 Corinthians 5:6-8 )
"Cast your bread upon the waters, and you will find it after many days" (Ecclesiastes 11:1)
What do modern politicians means by "bread and butter issues"?
Here bread refers to a quality and characteristic of the person's life and is symbolized as "Bread". It was what they took into their lives daily and "ate" it.
      Many people, like those in Haiti have barely enough to eat to survive. Actual bread was a basic food for people. Sometimes it was made from yeast but the most basic bread was like a tortilla or chapatti made with hand-ground grain, water and oil and cooked on a kind of griddle daily. Cereal offerings of grain to God were often in the form of flat cakes of bread. Bread was considered the gift of God and the Israelites remembered that God had fed them with manna in the wilderness where they could not grow grain. Every time they celebrated the Passover of God rescuing them from slavery in Egypt they recalled both the hurriedly made flat bread, made without yeast, that they made and ate quickly just before they escaped as well as the manna God gave them later in the desert in the early morning.
      Eating and Drinking Eating and drinking could be taken literally (Have a coke. Eat a donut.) or as an idiom (symbolic way of speaking). (There was a sentence like this in last week's Sport's section: "Saint's quarterback...drinks in the atmosphere after the Saints Super Bowl victory.") It could mean not only to eat and drink but to absorb, inhale, take into a person's mind/heart/spirit, that is your inner self and be the basis of living your life. What are you feeding your inner self? Is it anger, bitterness, greed. lust, doubt of God--spiritual junk food or even poison (like bitterness or hatred)? In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus talks about how ideas we "feed on" in our minds often become the cause of external actions or sins (like lust or anger). Or do we feed on and desire more of Jesus, his presence, strength, guidance in our inner selves, with thanksgiving. Do we feed on his word in Scripture, his present will for us? Jesus himself is also God's "Word made flesh". What we feed our bodies, minds and spirits has consequences. What are the consequences to too much junk food or feeding on anger? What does Jesus say are the consequences of feeding on him and his word?
      Eating together ("break bread together") was a symbol of hospitality and created a special relationship and was part of forming a covenant (1 Kings 13:8f). In the New Testament it came to include also taking part in the Eucharist or Lord's Supper. (Acts 2:42,46). Eating together is still a very important symbol in the Near East today.
      In Deuteronomy 8:3 God speaks to his people: "Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." God wants us to know that it is not enough to have our physical needs met but life--real life that God created us to have in fellowship with and obedience to him needs to be fed and nurtured on his WORD (both his Word in Scripture and his Word Jesus). This involves a choice. God has provided the means for this but we have to choose it--daily. We receive by asking and by faith--(we cannot manipulate God) receiving what God has made available.
      What do you think Isaiah was talking about in Isaiah 55:1-2? "'Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.'" (Isaiah 55:1) A word received: I want to supply you with my new life. Turn to me for provision that will truly satisfy.
      "'Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.'" (Isaiah 55:2) A word received: I want you to choose what will truly satisfy -- not the trivial stuff that is here today and gone tomorrow -- delight yourself in what I offer you.
      John 6: 25-63 is where Jesus talks about himself as the Bread of Life. This is another "I AM" statement. In Exodus 3 that was the name God gave for himself to Moses. Remember how Jesus said, "Before Abraham was (was born) I AM"--identifying himself as one with God.(John 8:58 ) Look at the context of Jesus' names for himself in this chapter, "Bread of Life", "Living Bread", "the Bread which came down from God/Heaven." The context is the feeding of the 5,000 and the nearness of the feast of Pentecost. Jesus showed both his concern over the physical need for food, (bread), of the crowd but also showed how he was able to meet that need even when it seemed impossible. We too can trust Jesus to meet our needs when it seems impossible. We just need to bring our problem and our little "lunch" to Jesus and see what he will do. The nearness of a Passover reminded the crowds of the manna that God gave them and Jesus uses this to talk about who he is.
      The crowd followed Jesus around the lake because they had eaten a free lunch/free bread. Jesus says, "Do not work for the food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." (6:27). Jesus is pointing them to their spiritual hunger--a hunger only he could satisfy. They had just seen a miracle but they "don't get it" and ask for a sign to prove who Jesus is---and talk about the manna God gave as "Bread from heaven". This gives Jesus the opening to say, "It is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." (vs/32-35) They still don't get it and want the free bread, so Jesus says, "I AM the bread of life"(vs.51). "I AM the living bread that came down from heaven." "He who comes to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (vs.35)
      The first step is to "believe in the one he (God) has sent."(vs.29). It is to believe Jesus is telling us the truth and to trust him and to entrust our lives to him. Then Jesus can give us--in himself--the "food that endures to eternal life"(vs.27). "He who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life."(vs.40). (Eternal life is not just life after death, it is a new life in Jesus now.
      Then in verse 51 Jesus adds something new, "I AM the living bread which came down from heaven. If a man eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." When they said, how can he do this?. Jesus added, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life within you."(vs.53). "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." (vs.56) D. T. Niles of Ceylon said, "Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread."
      This is hard to understand but remember what eating and drinking can mean. "Flesh" can mean either our physical bodies or the entire human being, the essence of a person. "Blood" in the Bible stands for life, the life of a person or animal. It was holy and not to be eaten. Jesus was referring first to giving his life on the cross for all people who would receive it and also referring to us receiving into ourselves, to live in us, Jesus' whole life and self. We renew this receiving of Jesus' life and self each time we obey Jesus ' invitation and command given at the last supper. "Take, eat" and "All of you drink of it, this is my blood of the covenant." Remember what Jesus said in John 15:4 about himself as the vine and we are the branches." "Remain in me and I will remain in you." When Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19) he meant a lot more than remembering something past like 9/11 or World War 2, though it includes that, it also means, like the Passover, that though Jesus "died once for all" we too can experience in the present the results of his life and death for us. (Greek word for this is anamnesis) as we receive Jesus in the bread and the wine. (We are NOT discussing what churches have argued about the bread and wine itself.) Look at what Jesus says at the close of this discussion in vs.61, 63. "Does this offend you?...The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life." Our focus needs to be on receiving Jesus anew in Holy Communion and trust his promises. "'Incline your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you -- the sure mercies of David.'" (Isaiah 55:3) A word received: Come to me; I AM the bread which came down from heaven. Eat of me and your soul will be satisfied. "'So he humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.'" (Deuteronomy 8:3). A word received: I want you to know what truly satisfies, and I want you to choose what will truly build you up. Feed yourself, delight yourself in my word.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 19, February 21, 2010

2010-02-20T16:04:00.000-08:00

Who do you say that I am?
Friend
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: John 15:9-17; John 11:1-15, 33-38; Matthew 11:19; Exodus 33:10-11; Isaiah 41:8
Memory Verse: "There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 His name is Jesus! (Pre-K to grade 3)
How would you describe what it means to have a friend? to be a friend? What does it mean to have Jesus as a friend?
First, let's look at some people in the Bible who were called friends of God. Abraham: King Jehoshaphat refers to Abraham as God's friend in his prayer to God for help. (2 Chronicles 20:7). In Isaiah 41:8 God speaks to the prophet Isaiah, "But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendents of Abraham, my friend." (Also James 2:23) Moses: "Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent of meeting, they all stood and worshipped each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend." (Exodus 33:10-11) (See vs. 1-14 for more of the story.) Lazarus: In the story of the raising of Lazarus it is clear that he, Martha and Mary were friends of Jesus as well as his disciples. (John 11:1-15, 33-38) What was there about these people that God would call them friends?
Now look at God's original purpose in creating us human beings. Before people chose to follow their own desires (SIN) rather than obey God, Adam, Eve and God spent time together daily as friends. (Genesis 3:1-13)
"And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden." (Genesis 3:8) A word received: My heart's desire is to walk with you, to be a companion and a friend.
"Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, 'Where are you?'" (Genesis 3:9) A word received: I called to him then and I call to you now. I desire to have you come to me.
In sending Jesus to pay the cost for our sins, He (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) made it possible for us to become children of God, to be friends of God, children of our Heavenly Father. God longs for us to turn to him, spend time with him, obey him and be his friends. The only way you can be friends with your Creator, who made you, is to do things his way--obey him, choose him. Once I read about the Bible being called the "Manufacturer's Handbook".
So what does it mean when Jesus is called "a friend of tax collectors (very corrupt) and sinners"? (Matthew 11:19) Jesus sought these people out and spent time with them because they knew they were sinners who needed help! The trouble with many of the religious leaders was that they didn't know their need of God, or their need for his forgiveness. Romans 5:6-11 tells us that God demonstrates his love for us "when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him, through the death of his Son" (vs.10) "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (vs.8).
In John 15:9-17, Jesus says something new to his disciples the night before he died on the cross. He not only gives them an example of how to be both servants and leaders but then he says this astonishing thing, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me but I chose you --to go and bear fruit." (vs.15-16).. We are called to be both servants to Jesus, our Lord, and friends. What would be the characteristics of this kind of friendship?
How does Jesus define friendship? "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love" (vs.9-10). What command? "My command is this: love each other as I have loved you. " The word for LOVE all through this passage is agape, the kind of love God has for us--not indulgent or just a nice feeling but caring for us and doing whatever is best us for us. (Did you ever as a child resent someone telling you, "I did it for your own good" or "I did it because I love you.") We are to love each other they way Jesus loves us!!!
Jesus refers to his death on the cross for us, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lays down his life for his friends."(vs.15). Then comes the punch line, "You are my friends IF you do what I command."(vs.14). "Laying down our lives" for Jesus means doing what God wants us to do, perhaps something we might not want to do but we do it for him. Remember what we learned before, being a friend of the King is not just being buddies. We have the privilege of a close relationship but there are conditions--doing things his way. "Laying down your life for a friend" can be many things. It means serving the other person and sticking by them no matter what happens. What else do you think it can mean?
Being Jesus' friend and servant could be difficult and costly sometimes. Remember how Jesus told Peter after the Resurrection how Peter would someday die a martyr's death. (John 21:17-19) Jesus told Paul how many things he (Paul) would suffer for him as Paul followed him. (Acts9:15-16) Sometimes Jesus calls people to be far away from their families or to choose between family and friends and Jesus. It is not always easy but Jesus will always be there with you and help you. You will never be alone and you can know his joy (vs.11) in the midst of difficulties. See Memory Verse.
"A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24) A word received: I AM that friend. Turn to me and receive my friendship. I will stick with you through everything.
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you." (Isaiah 43:2a) A word received: I will stick with you through everything. I AM with you.
One of the risks of friendship is that sometimes a friend can let you down or betray you. That happened to Jesus with Judas, who betrayed Jesus with a kiss of friendship. But Jesus still reached out to him with the word "friend" (Luke 22:48).
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." (Proverbs 27:6) A word received: Judas betrayed me with a kiss; yet I called him "Friend." There is a risk in friendship -- only a friend can truly wound you, but life without friendship is a loss terrible to think about. Turn to me for guidance in your friendships. I want you to teach the children that not everyone who calls you "Friend," is a friend. Turn to me for guidance. Look to me when there are wounds in your friendships. (Matthew 26:49-50) Proverbs 27:6 warns that a friend might hurt you with a difficult truth but an enemy could gush all over you and then betray you. Jesus will never betray us but sometimes, like Peter we can get in a tight spot and pretend we don't know him. Think how that wounds Jesus heart!
Jesus promises those who choose to follow him that he will be with us always--even to the ends of the earth. (Matthew 28:20). "Surely I will be with you always, even to the ends of the earth(or the end of the world)"
"These things he said, and after that he said to them, 'Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.'" (John 11:11) A word received: I wept for my friend Lazarus; I wept for my friends Mary and Martha. I weep for your sorrows and griefs. I AM a friend who sticks with you even when you think you are all alone. (John 11:35)

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 18, February 7, 2010

2010-02-06T03:43:00.001-08:00

Who do you say that I am?
Son of God
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: 2 Samuel 7:13-14, Mark 1:10-11, Matthew 17:5, John 3:17-18, John 10:22-37, Romans 8:14-16, John 1`:10-13, Philippians 2:6-11
Optional: Exodus 4:22, Luke 2:49
Memory Verse: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" Mark 9:7
      As we saw last week the titles "Son of Man" and "Son of God" are commonly used by Christians to say in a short hand way our belief that Jesus of Nazareth was not only the promised "anointed" one/Messiah but both fully man (human being) from his birth in Bethlehem and fully God from all eternity. There have always been heresies (false teachings) trying to simplify this mystery by dropping one or the other of Jesus' two natures.
      As we saw last week, the word "son" has several meanings in the Bible and so do "son of man" and "son of God". However Jesus is the only one who is the heavenly "Son of Man" referred to in Daniel and the "one and only" unique "Son of God". (It may be helpful to review the uses of the word "son" from last week.)
      Perhaps the best explanation of HOW this took place is in Philippians 2:6-11 (probably an early Christian hymn). It says that God the Son (who is one God with Father and Holy Spirit) "emptied himself" of the powers of God that did not fit with being a real man--like being able to be everywhere at the same time--and humbled himself to put on our human nature "made in human likeness" and was "obedient even to death-even death on a cross!" Remember how Jesus said, "I lay down my life...No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord." (John 10:17-18 ) His resurrection body was familiar yet different and when he returned to heaven he again took up those powers of being God again. Now he can be with everyone of us wherever we are. During his earthly life, God the Father guided Jesus, as he wants to guide us, by the Holy Spirit. The difference is "For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God; to him God gives the Spirit without limit." (John 3:34) He obeyed God even though he was tempted just as we are!
      Jesus occasionally uses both titles to describe himself. Jesus is careful to say "one and only Son" to distinguish between himself and other ways of using "son of God" (John 3:13-18 ). The words "only begotten" are to show that Jesus the Son was not a creature/creation but the Creator. But "begotten" does not mean that he had a beginning in time (creature) OR was the child of a father physically as we are and as the pagan gods were always being described as behaving. In understanding the unity of God an important verse is "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19). Remember how Jesus said, "The Father is in me and I am in the Father." (John 19:38 ) and "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30).
      In the Old Testament "son of God" could refer to the King or his son who was in line for the throne. (2 Samuel7:13-14). God speaking to King David about his son Solomon who would be king someday said, "He is the one who will build a house for my Name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father and he will be my son." God has just called David his servant (vs.5,8 ) and then calls the future king his son! The King of Israel was considered both. Jesus, the Son of God, and descendent of David, is the King whose Kingdom will last forever.
      Sometimes "son of god" was considered a royal title in the ancient Middle East, moving from Egypt and the east to the Greek and Roman Empires. Example: Alexander the Great was called "son of Ammon" and "son of Zeus". Octavian referred to himself as "God", "divine son". This usage included the word "Lord" and caused many to be killed when they called Jesus "Lord" and refused to call the Roman Emperor "Lord" and worship him. Sometimes outstanding people and craft guilds saw themselves under the patronage of various gods and called themselves "sons" or "children" of that pagan god. (Eerdmans Bible Dictionary, p.l.961)
      A nation could be called that. God calls Israel "my son" (Exodus 4:22). "The LORD says, 'Israel is my firstborn son." In Isaiah 1:2 God says, "I reared children and brought them up but they have rebelled against me."
      Remember what we learned last week, that "son" or "child" can sometimes carry the idea of a similar character or behavior, a special relationship and one who is obedient to the father.
Part one: Jesus as "Son of God"
At Jesus' Baptism, God the Father speaks from heaven about Jesus as His Son. "As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.'" (Mark 1:10-11) Again at the Transfiguration when Peter and John were present, "a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!'" (Matthew 17:5) Even as a boy of twelve, Jesus had a special sense of God as his Father. (This is not a common way God was referred to in the Old Testament When Mary and Joseph found him in the temple after a three day search, Jesus said to them, "Didn't you know that I had to be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:49)
      It is interesting that when Satan was tempting Jesus (God allowed this testing to prepare Jesus for what was ahead) he kept saying, "IF you are the Son of God", prove it by doing what I say. Jesus rejected that temptation and answered in terms of what God had said. The Son was obeying his Father. One of the ways that Satan tempts us is to put a twist on what is true.
      Jesus usually referred to himself as "Son of Man" and referred to God as his Father, his Abba (an intimate family term like Dad or Daddy). In John 10 he speaks of God as his Father and then uses the term "I am God's Son" (John 10:36). He also says, "I and the Father are one."(vs.30) This is going way beyond what is meant by the King being God's son. Jesus also said, "Even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles that you may learn and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father." Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. John 10:38-39)
       Now look at John 3:16-18 about God sending his "one and only Son" into the world, not to condemn it but to save it. What Jesus is saying here is that he is the unique Son of God who was "with God" and "was God" before he was sent into the world. He has a unique and eternal (no beginning) relationship with the Father--they are one. In John 8:58, Jesus says, "Before Abraham was, I Am." Jesus is also like the Father. He told his disciples, "He who has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:6-7, 9b) He also has a relationship of obedience to the Father. "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself, he can only do what he sees the Father doing because whatever the Father does the Son also does". (John 5:19) Jesus ties this unique oneness with the Father to the "Son of Man" (see Daniel). "He has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the "Son of Man". (John 5:26-27)
      Jesus has always been the Son of God but it was clearly revealed to us by his resurrection. He was "declared to be the Son of God with power...by the resurrection from the dead." (Romans 1:4)
Part two: Through faith in Jesus we can become 'sons/children of God'.
      " He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision, or a husband's will, but born of God."(John 1:10-13)
      Not only did Jesus call God his Father, (not common in the Old Testament) he taught his disciples to call God "Father" and not just as a solitary relationship but as "our Father".(Luke 11:2, 13) God adopts those who receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord (Romans 8:15) and we become part of God's family- the "household of God" (Ephesians 2:19). Jesus is Head of the church, his Body, his Family. God wants us to have the relationship with him as Father and child. He wants us to become like his Son Jesus and he wants us to obey him and do His will as Jesus did. He does this through the Holy Spirit.
      Isn't it amazing that the Holy, righteous, all powerful God who made the universe not only loved us enough to send Jesus to rescue us from sin, wants to have us become his children!!! "Behold what manner of love is this, that we should be called children of God."(1 John3:1) There is nothing automatic about it---we have to choose to respond to God's invitation and keep on choosing Jesus and the Father.

      Now reflect and respond to the Words the Lord has given the teachers about being children/sons and daughters of God.

      "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know him." (1 John 3:1) A word received: I came to show my father's love for you.

      "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2) A word received: I have given you a Spirit of adoption so that you can know me as your father.

      "And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure." (1 John 3:3) A word received: I AM calling you to purity of heart so that you can see and know my father. (See Matthew 5:8 )

      "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." (Romans 8:14) A word received: I want you to be led by my Holy Spirit.

      "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'" (Romans 8:15) A word received: "Abba, Father" is not just a cute title -- it is a relationship I want you to have with my father.

      "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26) A word received: I want you to come to maturity of faith. I want you to be sons of my father in word and deed.

      "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'" (Galatians 4:6) A word received: Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit -- the portion of an eldest son. I want you to have that same fervent desire -- the desire to be my son and receive that "double portion" as Elisha did. (See 2 Kings 2:9)

Ideas for little children's lesson
1. Remind them that the words "son" and "Son" can mean several different things: It can describe a person's character and behavior (like sons of thunder or son of peace). It points to a relationship and it indicates who or what a person obeys. Or it (son of man) can just mean a human being.

2. One of the ways Christians use "Son of Man" and "Son of God" is to point to Jesus as both a fully human being and also fully God (in one Being with God the Father).

3. Remind them that God is a Spirit and can be everywhere at the same time--with Natasha in Schenectady and with her cousins in Brazil and the Philippines. Jesus couldn't do that when he lived on earth but he can now.

4.Just as "Son of Man" in Daniel points to a king in heaven who is also a man like us, so Son of God points to Jesus having a special- "one and only" relationship with God. He has God's character, a unique relationship and was totally obedient and in agreement with God the Father while he lived on earth. Remember Jesus said, "He who has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:9-10. Jesus proved this not only by his miracles but by his resurrection from the dead--and ascending back to heaven.

5. God wants to adopt you and me as his children (sons--and daughters). John 1:12 says of Jesus, "Yet to all who have received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."
      Jesus taught us that we can call God "our Father" if we belong to Jesus. That makes us part of his family, the church. God the Father, our "Abba" (Daddy) wants us to have a personal relationship with him, to become like his Son Jesus in our characters and behaviors, and to obey him. We will need the Spirit of God/the Spirit of Jesus to be able to do this.

6. Use words received adapted to the children.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 17, January 31, 2010

2010-01-31T04:53:00.000-08:00

Who do you say that I am?
Son of Man and son of man
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Psalm 144:3, John 3:13-18, Matthew 25:31-32, Matthew 12:8, Matthew 16:13-17, Acts 7:54-56, Daniel 7:9-14
Memory Verse: But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." (Acts 7:55-56) (Pre-K to grade 3)
      Introduction This lesson focuses on the terms "Son of Man" and "son of man" as used in the Bible. But sometimes we are confused because people now use "Son of Man" and "Son of God" to refer simply to Jesus' human nature and his nature as God, one of the Trinity, that is One God in three and Three in One, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Recently, at an ordination we sang a hymn about Jesus as "Son of God and Son of Man" three times. This has become a short-hand way of expressing our faith about who Jesus is but we need to understand the basic ways these terms are used in the Bible. [We will study "Son of God" later.]
      First, Jesus' humanity: John's gospel begins by telling us that Jesus, God's Word, "in the beginning was with God and was God" and "The Word was made flesh and lived among us" (John1: 1-4, 14). (Because God is a Spirit he can be and is everywhere.) Matthew and Luke tell us how: that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary of the descendents of David in his human nature. God did this by fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah about a virgin conceiving and giving birth to a son by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Given all the pagan stories about their gods and women and the ideas people like Muslims have about what we believe, it is important to say Jesus was not a son of God in a physical way. He always was, is, and will be one-in-being with the Father.) He was "tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). He knows all our problems and joys because he experienced it all. "He ever lives to make intercession for us." (Hebrews 7:25). The creeds emphasize his real human death by saying "crucified, died and was buried" before they talk of his resurrection. Because Jesus was both true man and true God he could represent us because he was true man and he could save us because he was true God as the Lamb of God on the cross. He was a refugee baby. "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering." (Isaiah 53:3)
      Ways "son" is used in the Bible The first way is the way we use it, as a biological male child, as in "sons of Zebedee". (We still have traces of this in last names like "John/son".) Jesus was the physical son of Mary. In the Bible "son" can also refer to either male or female, just as the word "man" can refer to a male or any person or all people, as in "mankind". It has only been in the last couple of generations that English speakers insist on saying "child" or "people", "sons and daughters" instead of just "son". It does make clear that women are included but we miss a lot of the idioms and connections in the Bible. There are many times when "son of man" (small "s") means simply a human being. Examples: "O Lord, what is man that you care for him, or the son of man that you think of him". (Psalm 144:3) and "Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, who cannot save." (Psalm 146:3). God sometimes called Ezekiel "son of man" when he talked to him as in "son of man stand on your feet and I will speak to you." (Ezekiel 2:1)
      Sometimes "sons" are descendents of a person as in "sons of Abraham" or "son of David". Sometimes it is used to describe a person's character as when Jesus called James and John "sons of thunder" when they were impulsive and angry and wanted to call down fire from heaven on some people. It described both character and relationship when Jesus called some leaders who wanted to kill him, "sons" of your father the Devil when they claimed to be sons of Abraham. (John 8:39). They were acting like the Devil, not Abraham.
      The second major way "Son of Man" (capital letter "S") is used in the Bible refers to the prophetic vision in the book of Daniel (7:9-14). He is a heavenly figure that appears before the throne of God and looks like a "son of man" and was widely understood as a reference to the coming Messiah, who would receive an everlasting kingdom. "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power...His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." This was Jesus' favorite way to talk about himself.
      One example is in Matthew 24 and 25 where Jesus' disciples ask him about his coming again at the "end of the age". "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." (Matthew 24:30. This will be the time of the judgment of the world. "When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him." (Matthew 25:31-32). This is clearly the picture of a heavenly king who has authority to rule and judge, not only on earth but in heaven. (Remember the vision also talked of one LIKE a Son on Man.) This king looks like a human being.
Jesus is BOTH---the real human being like ourselves and also the heavenly Son of Man who is King and Judge. What does this mean to you? (We are not even talking yet about what the title "Son of God" means)
      In Jesus' dispute with some of the religious leaders about what was lawful on the Sabbath because Jesus' disciples were picking in eating heads of grain in the field, he points to God's original purpose in making the Sabbath special and states his own authority "For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath" (Matthew 12:8 ) Later Jesus criticizes them for trying to stop him from healing on the Sabbath.
      Look at John 3:13-18 where Jesus is talking to Nicodemus who came secretly by night to talk to him. "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (Notice that Jesus uses BOTH titles here---Son of Man and Son of God.) Here is both a picture of the heavenly figure come to rule and a human being who will be "lifted up"-crucified- to give new life to those who believe and also has a unique relationship with God the Father as "Son" (not a physical son.).
      We get the same contrast in the verse: "The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head" (Matthew 8:20). When Jesus took on our human nature to save us, ("Jesus" (Hebrew "Yesh-u-a") means Yahweh saves.) he lived the life of a simple ordinary man, a traveling teacher (rabbi) who was born in a stable not a palace and had no permanent home. This was not what the people expected the Messiah to look like. In Matthew 11:16-19, Jesus, still using the kingly, messianic title rebukes some of those who criticized both him and John the Baptist because he and John did not "dance to their tune". John did not dress or eat like other people and Jesus often ate with people who were known "sinners". God had a variety of ways of speaking to people's hearts that did not fit the religious leaders' boxes. Jesus' use of the kingly, messianic title requires us to make a choice---do we try to make him "dance to our tune" or do we obey him and his priorities?
      Our theme verse (Matthew 16:13-17) emphasizes both of Jesus' natures. Jesus asks, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" When Jesus shifts the question to
"Who do you say I am", Peter says, "You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the Living God". (Messiah would represent a king who was David's descendent) Jesus tells him that God the Father has revealed this to him. Jesus is even more than a heavenly king, who looks like, and is, a human being, but he also has a unique relationship with the Living God. The disciples didn't really get the picture until after the Holy Spirit was poured out on them.
      Another interesting vision of who Jesus is was given to Deacon Stephen as he was being martyred and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:54-56).
      Here are some Words that the Lord gave the teachers as they prayed about this lesson. What is the Lord saying to you through them?
      "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come." (Matthew 12:32) A word received: I came as a Son of Man so that men would know the love of my father. I came in human flesh so that I could be known. I send my Spirit into people so that they can know me and my father. I came as a son so that men and women and children could know my father and his love for them.

      "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit." (Matthew 12:33) A word received: I came to place myself in a position where you could know me. I made that choice to be vulnerable so that you could know my love for you and my father's love for you.

      "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34) A word received: I want you to test the words that you hear by knowing my words. I want you to recognize how the words you hear line up with my words.

      "Thus He showed me: behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, 'Amos, what do you see?' And I said, 'A plumb line.' Then the Lord said: 'Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore.'" (Amos 7:7-8 ) A word received: I am holding up a plumb line for all to see: it is my word in Scripture. I want you to inspect the words of people by checking them against that plumb line.

      "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things." (Matthew 12:35) A word received: I want you to be like Mary: Mary treasured all that I had done in her heart. I want your heart to overflow with such treasure. (Luke 2:51)

      "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:36-37) A word received: Your heart gives its testimony through the words that come from your mouth. I want you to consider the words you speak. Is your "Yes, Yes" and your "No, No"? Are your words lining up with my plumb line or are they a tottering wall that will collapse? I love you; return to me. (Matthew 5:37)

Summary for Children
      Jesus was born, lived and died as a human being. He came to earth to reveal God the Father to us and to give his life as a payment the penalty for our sins. Before Jesus became a man he always was one God with God the Father. So Jesus is really man and really God at the same time.
      When the Bible talks about sons it can mean a biological son or daughter -- like us -- or it can mean someone has the character/behavior of another like Jesus calling James and John "Sons of Thunder". Sometimes "son of man" just meant the person was a human being.
      "Son of Man" comes from a vision Daniel had of a person in heaven who looked like us but was given an ever-lasting kingdom by God and would someday come to earth on the clouds with angels. Think about the song "Lo, he comes with clouds descending..." (We say in church, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.") Jesus often calls himself "Son of Man" like this.
      Are we ready to follow Jesus as our King forever and do what pleases him?

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 16, January 24, 2010

2010-01-23T14:20:00.000-08:00

Who do you say that I am?
Servant--and Lord
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Matthew 12:8 & 18-21; Philippians 2:7; Luke 4:16-21; John 13:3-17; Matthew 20:20-28
Optional: Matthew 25:14-30 & 31-40; Servant Songs of Isaiah-see Note
Memory Verse: "I have set you an example, that you should do as I have done for you." John 13:15
Background note on "Servant"
      Servants in Biblical times were often slaves (owned by another person). Even though slavery was everywhere, the Israelites were under a number of laws from God to make treatment of slaves more humane-- like slaves getting the Sabbath off along with their masters and for Israelites to remember that they had once been slaves in Egypt. Paul also told slaves to get their freedom if they could. He also said that in Christ, "there are neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28 )
      High government officials were called servants of the King. A slave could eventually hold a position of trust and responsibility, like Joseph did in Egypt. The worshipers of any god were often called "servants" of that god. A servant of the God of Israel, "Yahweh" (the only God) was a prominent leader of God's people like Moses (Exodus 14:31), Abraham (Genesis 26:24), or David (2 Samuel 3:18 ). The nation of Israel as a whole was also called "servants of Yahweh"(Psalm 136:22)
      The only places Jesus is referred to as a servant in the New Testament are the references to the Servant Songs of Isaiah (which describe the coming Messiah as God's Servant) and in Philippians 2: 7 which is talking about the incarnation. (See NOTE for more)
      One of these places where Jesus is referred to as Servant of God is Matthew 12:18-21 (from Isaiah 42:1-7) where he taught and healed many but told his disciples NOT to make it publically know that he was the Messiah and Servant prophesied in Isaiah 42. "Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved, in whom my soul delights. I will put my Spirit upon him and he will bring justice to the nations...".In the same chapter Jesus teaches that he is Lord of the Sabbath (12:8 ). He is BOTH.
      Christians are also called "servants of God" or "servants of Christ" (see Acts 2:18 and 16:17). Another word for servant was "diakonos" which referred to free servants (not slaves). This word became a title in the church for certain officials--"Deacon", one who was originally called to "serve tables" in the early church (Acts 6:2) but rapidly did all sorts of missionary out-reach also. The same word in the same passage was used by the apostles to describe their work as "diakonos" of God's Word.(6:4)--serving God's word! (Often this is translated as "ministry" but it is the same word.)
      Paul considered himself a servant/slave of Christ (Romans 1:1) as well as an apostle. High officials of kings were called Servants also. We have used it in our society-"public servants"- (although it seems to have lost some of its meaning!). It was not always a lowly title but emphasized the duty to serve and obey the one who was your master or ruler.
Slavery to sin
      Paul and Jesus both speak of slavery to sin. When Jesus said "the truth will set you free" (John 8:32) the people who heard him said, we've never been slaves to anyone and Jesus replied that "everyone that practices sin is a slave of sin"(John8:34) but Jesus, the Son came to set them free if they believed on him. Have you ever thought of a sinful habit as slavery?
Jesus is LORD
      The whole idea of calling Jesus LORD as well as Savior, carried with it the idea that we considered him our Master, the one we had committed ourselves to follow and obey. It could be a life or death issue when the Roman Emperors began to consider themselves gods and demanded people call them Lord. Many became martyrs in order not to deny Jesus. Where have you confronted Jesus being LORD, that is, you being his servant who needs to obey---in the work place, community, family???
Jesus is our example
      Again and again Jesus teaches his disciples that they are to serve others rather then putting themselves in first place. He is calling them (and us) to obey him as their Lord and teacher and follow his example of servant leadership. Read the story of James and John's mother asking Jesus for first place for her sons. (Matthew 20:20-28 ). Jesus said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your servant. just as the Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be served but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many." THIS IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF LEADERSHIP than the world has. This wasn't the only time the disciple argued about who was going to be the most important person in Jesus' future kingdom. Sometimes our political leaders see their chief purpose as serving themselves--but not all of them.
      The most famous example of Jesus demonstrating what kind of people and leaders he wanted his followers to be is in John 13 when he washed his disciples' feet--like the lowest slave would do. Jesus served us most of all by becoming a man for us (Philippians 2) and giving his life to ransom us from our sins. This is love, agape love, which is the kind that God has, not a feeling but an action done for our benefit.
      "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God," (John 13:3) A word received: I want you to know my Father's will for you. I want you to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 1. Jesus sense of identity came from his relationship with his Father in Heaven and knowing he was their teacher and Lord. So he was free to serve his followers in the most humble way. 2. Jesus wants to guide us into the Father's will.
      "rose from supper and laid aside his garments, took a towel and girded himself." (John 13:4) A word received: I want you to gird yourselves for service. ("gird" means to prepare yourself) A good servant knows what his master wants and does it.
      "After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. Then he came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to him, 'Lord, are you washing my feet?'" (John 13:5-6) A word received: I want you to experience my service to you. I want you to be willing to be served by others and to serve others. Sometimes this is hard.
      "Jesus answered and said to him, 'What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.'" (John 13:7) A word received: Trust me to lead you into the knowledge of my purposes.
      "Peter said to him, 'You shall never wash my feet!' Jesus answered him, 'If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.'" (John 13:8 ) A word received: Part of having me as your Lord is submitting to receiving my service. How do you understand Jesus washing your feet--and Peter's?
      "So when he had washed their feet, taken his garments, and sat down again, he said to them, 'Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.'" (John 13:12-13) A word received: I AM your teacher and your Lord. Ask for my Holy Spirit to come into your head and your heart so that you can learn my ways. (Stop and ask.)
      "'If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.'" (John 13:14) A word received: I want each of you to choose to serve one another and to receive one another's service. It is a two-way street.
Mary and Martha
      The story of Mary and Martha is an interesting contrast in types of service. Martha's service is good, but it comes from her desires. Mary's is better because it comes from Jesus' desires.
What being Jesus' servant does not mean
      Being a servant of Jesus does not mean being a door mat for other people, and doing whatever they want, but it does mean doing what needs to be done, doing what our Lord and Master wants done--HIS agenda, not ours. Mother Teresa of Calcutta served the poorest and sickest outcasts there. When asked why she said, "I see Jesus in them." Remember how Jesus said in the story of the Last Judgment, when he comes in glory. "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me." (Matthew 25:31-43) Jesus was talking about caring for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the stranger and those in prison--or not. Mother Teresa was quite capable of speaking unwelcome truth to those in power. She was serving her King-Jesus--by serving the most needy people. If something concerns our Lord, it needs to concern us too.
      Jesus told his disciples "whoever serves me must follow me and where I am my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me (John 12:26. Peter, in his letter, talks about Jesus' followers caring for other and being examples to others with humility--trusting God to reward them. "Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (1 Peter 5:5b-6).
      Sometimes this theme of serving our master appears in some of Jesus' parables. In Matthew 25 in the parable of the talents, the owner "entrusted" the care of his property, his money, to his servants, "according to their abilities", giving different amounts to each. That is, using modern language, the servants had a "fiduciary" responsibility to the owner to see the owner's best interests, according to the owner's definition--not the servant's ideas. We have seen a lot of failure in this area among "public servants" and big corporations like Enron and others. People entrusted their money to others who accepted this responsibility. One of the three servants in the parable did nothing. "Waiting on the Lord" means not only waiting sometimes, but waiting as a restaurant waiter waits/serves the customers. We are to "wait" on Jesus, serve him, and be about his business and interests that he has entrusted to us. We are to serve the Lord's interests according to what he wants, to benefit him. A servant is in a trust relationship.
      The Servant Songs of Isaiah talk about different aspects of what God's Servant, the Messiah, will do and sometimes also what God's people (Israel) are to do. (Sometimes the Songs talk about one person and sometimes the whole people of God. See NOTE.
Servants and friends of the King.
      Another unusual aspect of Jesus calling his disciples to be servants according to his example is where Jesus says, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command... I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me but I chose you to go and bear fruit...."(John 15:13-16).
      If you are friends with the King, that does not make you an equal. You still need to serve and obey him but the relationship is different.

Note on the Servant Songs of Isaiah
1st. Isaiah 42:1-4 tells of the call of his Servant.
2nd. Isaiah 49:1-6, more about the Servant's mission.
3rd. Isaiah 50:4-10, about the method of the Servant. Although he suffers as an obedient servant, his confidence remains in the Lord.
4th. Isaiah 52:13-53:12. The Servant's method is expanded and there is a report on his career --viewed from Yahweh's perspective (52:13-15 & 53:12) and that of a shocked audience.(53:1). The Servant suffers for the sins of all and as with a scapegoat, his suffering removed the sins of others. His reward hints at resurrection (vs.10-11). This is the same idea as "Lamb of God".
      Isaiah 61L1-2 is similar to the Servant Songs and Jesus quotes it in his first sermon in his hometown.

(Reference is p.928 in The Eerdman's Bible Dictionary c 1987)

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 15, January 17, 2010

2010-01-16T17:08:00.000-08:00

Who do you say that I am?
Wonderful Counselor
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Isaiah 9:6, John 14:16, Romans 8:9, 1 John 2:1, Hebrews 7:25, 1Timothy 2:1-4, Acts 16:6-9
Optional: Isaiah 53:12, Acts 9:10-19, Ezekiel 22:30
Memory Verse: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on you own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
      "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 points ahead to the One who would be God's promised and anointed Messiah. Each word in this verse has so much packed into it. The first phrase, wonderful counselor or just the word "counselor" can refer to one who intercedes for us, counsels and guides us, comforts us, comes along-side us. In the New Testament, "Counselor" also refers to the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16)
The Spirit of God is also the Spirit of Christ
      Remember that God is ONE, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When Paul talks in Romans 8 about living according to what the Holy Spirit desires, he says, "You are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." (vs.9) Again in Philippians Paul talks about the help that came to him through the people's prayers and "help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ." (1:19) Jesus himself refers to the Holy Spirit as "another counselor" (or comforter) (John 14:16) (The Greek word is "Paraclete") This is a role that Jesus has fulfilled for his disciples and will continue to do through his Spirit. (see vs.18 ) Literally it says "another paraclete" which means to comfort, exhort advocate for, intercessor, consoler, counselor & guide, one called near, along side. Jesus and the Holy Spirit do all these things.
Jesus is our advocate and mediator.
      (The French word for lawyer is "avocate".) Jesus, by being the Lamb of God and giving his life to reconcile us to God the Father becomes an advocate for us. "If any one sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous" (1 John 2:1). 1 Timothy 2:5 says it a different way, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all men." (Hebrews 9:24 says "he appears in the presence of God on our behalf") Isaiah 53:12 foretells this "for he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors." This was something God was doing, "God was IN Christ, reconciling the world to himself" doing this to deal with our sins and offer us a new life. (2 Corinthians 5:19).
Jesus intercedes for us.
      Not only does Jesus act as our advocate but he constantly prays for us, intercedes for us as our King, Savior and High Priest who sits on the right hand of the throne of God in Heaven (the place of honor.) "Therefore he (Jesus) is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7:25) This is also what the Holy Spirit does because he is also the Spirit of Christ. "We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us." (Romans 8:26-27, 34) Some other references to Jesus interceding: Isaiah 53:12 -for sinners, Luke 22:32 -for weak believers(Peter), John 17:9 -for the church.
      Intercession is something we can do for each other, following the example of Jesus who prayed for his disciples and for those who would believe through them in John 17 and as he prayed for Peter before Peter denied him. Paul urges us to be intercessors, to pray for others. "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved..." (1 Timothy 2:1-4) In Ezekiel in the Old Testament God grieves that his people have become so disobedient and doing much evil and there was NO ONE to intercede! "And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none"!!! (Ezekiel 22:30) As we join Jesus in interceding for people and nations (!) we get caught up in the larger purposes of God. Are you willing to be used by God in this way?
What does it mean to receive counsel from Jesus?
      A trusted counselor is one who knows what he is talking about. Jesus knows every sorrow that we can know. He can be trusted to give us straight counsel. He has been through it all. (See the whole of Isaiah 53.)
      "Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul unto death, and he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:12) A word received: I was despised and rejected and I know what it means when that happens to you. Do not be afraid; look to me and I will see you through. (See also Hebrews 2:17-18 )
      "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) A word received: Let me be your guide; I AM able.
Examples
      (1) He also cares personally about a wretched murderer like Saul of Tarsus who was killing God's people. God knew the light of Christ could penetrate his heart and God had a plan for him. God's plan involved Ananias being willing to go lay hands on Saul (Paul) to receive his sight. Ananias argued that Saul had killed many Christians and had come to Damascus to take more prisoners. God said Saul had seen Jesus and heard him. It was a scary assignment but Ananias obeyed and Paul became a great missionary. (Acts 9)
      (2) Paul, Timothy and Silas were walking across Turkey on a missionary journey through Phrygia and Galatia "having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia" (Acts 16:6). The purpose of this journey was to bring people to Christ and to strengthen the churches. As they were obedient in preaching, they were also obedient in listening to the Holy Spirit. When they came to the border, they "tried to enter Bithynia but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to." (vs.7) They didn't understand it but they were obedient and went on to Troas. There Paul had a vision about a man asking them to "come over to Macedonia and help us." (vs.9) They decided that was God's guidance. When they got to Philippi in Macedonia they started a church but got badly beaten for setting a slave girl free of a fortune-telling evil spirit and thrown in jail. As they praised God in their jail, in pain and in stocks, God sent an earthquake, set them free, brought the jailor to them when they stopped his suicide and the jailor was converted and his whole family baptized. Then they got out of jail and left town. They could have thought they had missed their guidance when they landed in jail. In following God's guidance we do not necessarily know why God is doing what he is doing and it is not always easy--but lives were saved and a very strong church established. Afterwards they understood.
      (3) Another example is in the Old Testament from 2 Chronicles 20. Some Moabites and Ammonites came to make war on King Jehoshaphat, King of Judah (the Southern Kingdom). The people were very upset and afraid and the king called the people to fast and pray and cry out to God to save them. The King prayed, "For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." (vs.12) A prophet of God stood up and said "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours but God's." (vs. 15) The people worshipped and praised God and in the morning the King appointed a men's choir to sing to the Lord and praise him--and go out ahead of the army. (vs.21). As they began to sing and praise God, the Lord set ambushes against the enemy and they were defeated. As the people and king turned to God for guidance, the Lord showed them what to do---something that made no human sense--and God gave them victory.
      We are God's servants and are to be about his business. It is his battle. The more our lives are about his business, the more his guidance comes through.
      (4) Another example would be the Israelites marching around Jericho for 6 days at God's command and on the 7th day going around 7 times and blowing their trumpets--and the walls fell down.
      (5) Lastly, look at what God did for a very reluctant Moses and what he wants for do for us.
      "Then Moses said to the Lord, 'O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.'" (Exodus 4:10) A word received: My words do not have power because of your ability to speak; they have power because I write them on hearers' hearts.
      "So the Lord said to him, 'Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?'" (Exodus 4:11) A word received: I AM the one who gives the word and I AM the one who gives a heart to hear my word.
      "'Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.'" (Exodus 4:12) A word received: Let me instruct you -- ask me for my Holy Spirit to guide you. I will show you how to go if you will listen to me.
      "But he said, 'O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.'" (Exodus 4:13) A word received: Look to me and my strength. My strength is made perfect in weakness.
      What experiences have you had of Jesus giving you counsel? What happened when you obeyed? You never need to be alone. He has promised to be with us when we turn to him. He "comes along side" of us to guide and strengthen us. God cares personally about his people and wants to guide and direct them.
      "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus," (1 Timothy 2:5) A word received: Look to me for guidance; look to me for direction in the storm; look to me to set you on the right path.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 14, January 10, 2010

2010-01-09T17:36:00.001-08:00

Who do you say that I am?
Alpha and Omega
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Genesis 1:1, Revelation 22:13, John 1:1-3, Deuteronomy 4:32-40, Colossians 1:15-20, Revelation 1: 12-18
Memory Verse: "I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the beginning and the end." Revelation 22:13
      NOTE:  alpha and  omega are Greek and mean "A" and "Z". They were the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.
      It seems fitting at the beginning of a new calendar year to think about what the Bible and the LORD have to say about Beginnings and Endings. God is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and Omega. In the first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:1 and the Last book, Revelation 22:13 we are told the same thing--God is the Beginning and the End of everything, and of every thing in between. In English we would say, I AM the "A" and the "Z", the First, the Last, the Beginning and the End. In John 1:1-3 it says of Jesus, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God: all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made." We are talking about what the ONE true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is like.
      In the centuries before Jesus came, God was trying to teach his people, Israel, that He was the ONLY GOD there is--not like all their neighbors who believed in many gods. They worshiped idols made by their own hands, as opposed to YAHWEH (the "I AM"), the only real God who made them and everything else. Now read Deuteronomy 4:32-40 where God reminds them of what He has done for them so they would know him and obey Him, so that it would go well for them.
      Hundreds of years later, God sent Isaiah to speak to His people who are still tempted to worship the idols and gods of their neighbors. "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; besides me there is no God.'" (Isaiah 44:6) A word received: I want to be First and Last in your life and in your thoughts. I want to be the beginning and the end of each day for you. Look to me; I AM waiting. God is their Creator, their Ruler, their Savior who accomplishes His purposes in the midst of a sinful, fallen world.
      Again God speaks through Isaiah, "Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I have called: I am he, I am the First, I am also the Last." (Isaiah 48:12) A word received: Look to me; listen to me; begin and end with me.
       God continues, "My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens. When I summon them, they all stand up together." (vs.13) "If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river and your righteousness like the waves of the sea." (vs.18 ) The God who made them grieves because His people have chosen to rebel against him. (God gave them that ability to choose or reject him since he wanted their freely given love and obedience.) Now they are reaping the consequences of bad choices. God is calling them back to Himself.
      Paul has more to say about Jesus in Colossians. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." (Colossians 1:15) A word received: I have made you in my image and I want to conform you to the image of my son.
      "For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through him and for him." (Colossians 1:16) A word received: I do not want you to worship what I have created.
      "And he is before all things, and in him all things consist." (Colossians 1:17) A word received: Worship my son. He holds you in the palm of his hand.
      Remember how John 1:1 says that God's WORD was always with God the Father and was/is God. Here again we are talking about the ONE GOD, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, whose WORD took on our human nature as a man to bring God's salvation and new life to us. (We don't have to understand how this is if we know it is true and we can know Jesus personally.)
      "And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18 ) A word received: I want him to have preeminence in your life. Invite him in to take control of your life.
      "For it pleased the Father that in him all the fullness should dwell," (Colossians 1:19) A word received: I have endowed him with every gift so that he can minister to you.
      "and by him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1:20) A word received: Look at the cross to see how much I love you.
      Now look at the end of things in God's Revelation to the apostle John. First John has a message of peace from God the Father "who is and who was and who is to come" (Revelation 1:4). The message is also from Jesus, "the first born of the dead and the ruler of Kings on earth". (vs.5) "Behold he (Jesus) is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him" (vs.7) (Remember Jesus' ascension.) Then the LORD says "I Am the Alpha and the Omega who is and was and is to come, the Almighty." (vs.8 ). This is a vision of the awesomeness of God! Remember what we say every week in church, "We remember his death (past), we proclaim his resurrection (present). We await his coming in glory (future).
      The John sees a vision of the glorified Jesus in heaven (see vs. 12-17). Jesus says to John, "Fear not, I AM the First and the Last, the Living One. I died and behold I am alive for evermore and I have the keys of Death and Hades."(vs.17-18 )
      The book of Revelation concludes with a vision of God creating a new heaven and a new earth, after death and judgment were finished.(Revelation 21) Jesus says, "Behold, I make all things new "(vs.5) "It is done! I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. (vs.6) He who conquers shall have this heritage and I will be his God and he shall be my son." (vs.7) . This is repeated in Revelation 22:12.
      Now look at another aspect of this. The last words of Jesus on the cross were "It is finished."(John 19:30) meaning that he had completed the task God the Father sent him to do, a lot more than "it's over now." Psalm 22, which has a lot of prophecy about the crucifixion, ends with "he has done it", meaning accomplished, performed, finished and brought to pass.
      Hebrews 12:2 tells us to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." Jesus offers us the gift of salvation and if we receive it, will work in us to bring it to completion. Paul tells us ( Philippians 1:3-6) "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." We can trust Jesus to do this but we have to keep on choosing to co-operate with his work in our lives. Let us imitate Paul who says later in this letter (3:4) "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me."
      Jesus is there at the beginning, middle and end of our lives and he longs to walk with us through the joys and problems of life. "Our times are in your hands." (Psalm 31:15) Remember the spiritual "He's got the whole world in his hands". Let him take your hand in the race of life!

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 13, December 20, 2009

2009-12-19T02:49:00.001-08:00

Who do you say that I am?
Emmanuel- God With Us
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-24, Matthew 28:16-20, Isaiah 43:1-6
Optional: Psalm 139:7-10, Joshua 1:1-9
Memory Verse: "Go and make disciples…And surely I will be with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20 (Pre-K to grade 3)
      The angel told Joseph not to be afraid, not to divorce Mary (betrothal was legally binding) because the unborn child, a son, was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was to be called "Jesus" (meaning Yahweh saves) because he would "save his people from their sins." Then the angel said this was the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 7:14) and the baby boy was to be called Emmanuel (meaning God with us). Joseph obeyed.
      Jesus, who is the very WORD of God, temporarily laid aside his power and glory to take on our humanity (become incarnate, a man) and live among us (tabernacled/tented John 1:14). He revealed God to us, dying for our sins as the Lamb of God and conquering death and sin so that we would have the opportunity to have him living IN us and live with him forever. (See Philippians 2).
      God was known as "God with us" in the Old Testament (Jesus' Bible), but in Jesus, God became "with us" in a whole new way. (As Jesus told his disciples before Pentecost, he, the Holy Spirit, is with you and shall be in you.
      Now look at some examples of "God with us" in the Old and New Testaments. David speaks of God as his Shepherd and says, "I will fear no evil for you are with me." (Psalm 23:4) "But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.'" (Isaiah 43:1) (See Psalm 100:3 "Know that the Lord, he is God; it is he who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.") A word received: Come to me, I AM your good shepherd. I know you, I know your name. You are not a stranger to me; I AM with you.
      Psalm 139:7-10 says that God knows everything about us, even when we sit down or stand up and every word before we say it! (Wow!) "You hem me in": God puts a hedge of protection around his people--unless we choose to jump over it! David asks "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? Even the darkness will not be dark to you." God is not only everywhere but knows and cares about us. He is not a God far off BUT we can run away from him (like the prodigal son). We have to respond/ make a choice, over and over, to respond to God's desire to be "with us". In John 15:9-12 Jesus makes it clear that we can choose not to remain/abide/live in him, even though "apart from me you can do nothing" and we will be like the withered branch. "'For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.'" (Isaiah 43:3) A word received: You are precious to me and I hold you in my hand. "'Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.'" (Isaiah 43:4) A word received: I gave my life for you and I give my Spirit to you so that I can always be with you. Don't shut me out by hardness of heart.
      God speaks in Isaiah 43:1-6, promising us that he will be with those who turn to him--not matter what happens (fire, flood, etc.) "Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you: and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you." (Isaiah 43:2) Word received: Everyone goes through hard times--times of testing and being refined. I want you to look for me in the hard times. I will be there with you in the midst of the storm.
      Paul in the New Testament says something similar, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:7-10) In 2 Corinthians 11:23-30,and12:7-9 Paul tells about some difficult things he has been through but tells us what the Lord said to him, "My strength is made perfect in weakness" so that God will be glorified not Paul. Paul sets a good example for us when he focuses on Jesus. "Not that I have already…been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."(Philippians 3:12-14)
      When God gives a task, he not only gives the ability to do it, he promised to be with the person! In Exodus 3:11-12, when God sends Moses to Egypt to bring God's people out of slavery, Moses objects, "who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? And God said, I will be with you." When God turned over leadership of the Israelites to Joshua God said to him, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous." Then God told him to be careful to obey all the law that Moses had given him and think about it day and night, and finally, "Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:5-6, 9)
      When Paul was in Corinth, Greece, after he had been beaten and imprisoned in Philippi and the Christians had gotten him out of town, he experienced a lot of opposition is several places. Then the Lord spoke to him, "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent, for I am with you and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." (Acts 18:9-10)
      Joshua and Caleb were sent as part of the spies, leaders of the twelve tribes, to spy out the land of Canaan before going up against it. The other ten said it was a good land but they warned against trying to conquer it because those people are stronger than we are and all the people there are giants. (Numbers 13:32) But Joshua and Caleb said, "Do not rebel against the LORD and do not be afraid…the LORD is with us." (14:9)
      David, the shepherd boy went out to fight the 9 ft. tall giant Goliath with a sling-shot when all the Israelite army was afraid. David asked, who is this who defies the armies of the living God? (1 Samuel 17) When King Saul questioned him, David told how he had killed both lions and bears who had attacked his sheep and said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (vs.37)
      Identify the choices made by each. What choices do we need to make? How do I align my life to "be with God"-walk with God? We need to make constant choices to trust God and his purposes for me in the face of the giants.
      How do we report to others? Be honest but combine it with trust in God as Joshua and Caleb did. A new perspective! Question: What situations have you been put in by God in the past and how did you report it.?
      In the same way as with Moses, Joshua and the others, Jesus gave his disciples after his resurrection the biggest assignment of all, the Great Commission. We too are called to share that task. Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me…Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all the things that I have commanded you. And lo, I AM with you always, even to the end of the age."
      Jesus promised (John 14:18 ) that he would "not leave you orphans, I will come to you" with the Holy Spirit. We are able to do whatever task the Lord has for us by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent to live in his disciples. Jesus said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you: and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8 )

"'Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west;'" (Isaiah 43:5) A word received: I will find you and be with you wherever you go.

"'I will say to the north, "Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!"'" (Isaiah 43:6) A word received: My heart's desire is to restore the captives and hold them in my arms.
      In what ways can we focus on the LORD being with us? How do you "Practice the Presence" of God? (example: Blessing God and giving thanks for little things.)

      Other Words received by teachers for this lesson.
"But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.'" (Isaiah 43:1) (See Psalm 100:3 "Know that the Lord, he is God; it is he who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.") A word received: Come to me, I AM your good shepherd. I know you, I know your name. You are not a stranger to me; I AM with you.

"When you pass through the waters I will be with you: and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you." (Isaiah 43:2) Word received: Everyone goes through hard times--times of testing and being refined. I want you to look for me in the hard times. I will be there with you in the midst of the storm.

"'For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.'" (Isaiah 43:3) A word received: You are precious to me and I hold you in my hand.

"'Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.'" (Isaiah 43:4) A word received: I gave my life for you and I give my Spirit to you so that I can always be with you. Don't shut me out by hardness of heart.

      No Sunday School classes on December 27 and January 3.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 12, December 13, 2009

2009-12-13T03:01:00.001-08:00

Who do you say that I am?
Prince of Peace
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Isaiah 9:6-7, John 14:26-27, John 20:19-22, Colossians 1:15-23 Philippians 4: 4-9
Memory Verse: "For he himself is our peace." Ephesians 2:14
      The Hebrew word for peace is "salem", meaning safe, wholeness, peaceful. It is part of the standard greeting even today, "Shalom A-la-cum" (Peace be with you.)
      Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 is talking about the promised Messiah. Jesus is that promised "anointed" one who will be a descendent of King David and his Kingdom will last forever. All the names in this passage are about a Ruler. Where God rules there will be peace. "Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end." And God will accomplish this. "Prince of Peace" describes a ruler, a king. "Peace" describes his character and the character of his kingdom.
       The angels who told the shepherd in the fields that the Messiah (Christ) who is the Savior would bring peace on earth to those "on whom God's favor rests" meaning those with whom he is well pleased. (Luke 2:14) God is giving his peace in sending Jesus --to those who would receive him.
      God had some things to say in the Old Testament to his people about peace long before Jesus came. Psalm 119:165 and Isaiah 26:3 are both telling (and promising) us how to receive and keep God's peace in our hearts. (See NOTE). "Great peace have they who love your law/Torah (teaching of God) and nothing will cause them to stumble." (Psalm 119:165) "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed (holds fast) on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever for the LORD God is an everlasting rock."( Isaiah 26:3-4) God has a peace/his peace he wants to give us but there is a condition, not only trusting in him but keeping our minds and hearts steadfast on him. We need to trust God to receive his peace. (Have a time of reflection on the areas in which we are struggling to trust God. Confess our lack of trust and ask him to renew/enable our trust in him for that person/thing. BE SPECIFIC.)
      God the Father sent Jesus ("God with us") to reconcile us to himself. "While we were still sinners Christ died for us….Therefore since we are justified (set right) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have access to this grace in which we stand."(Romans 5:1,8 ) In Isaiah 53:5 God promised that his Servant (the Messiah) would deal with our sins and separation from God by dying for us. "He was pierced for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him." Jesus paid the price for our salvation and peace. "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile to himself all things...by making peace through his blood shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:15-23) But we have to receive it.
      Jesus is the source of genuine peace. Jesus wept over Jerusalem shortly before he was crucified because they did not recognize what would bring them peace and now disaster would come upon them. (Luke 19:41-44). A parallel in the Old Testament is Isaiah 48:18 "O that you had heeded my commandments, then your peace would have been like a river."
      During his ministry on earth, Jesus demonstrated that he had the authority to bring peace, for example when he quieted the violent storm on the lake, commanding, "Peace, be still" and the wind and the waves quieted down. His disciples looked at each other and asked, "Who is this, that even the wind and waves obey him?" (Mark 4:41) Notice that the disciples had to go and ask him for help.
      Peace ("salem" or currently pronounced "shalom") is much more than the absence of conflict. It means safe, whole, peaceful. Jesus brought wholeness to those many who mourned and many who were sick. He brought the wholeness of forgiveness to some and through his death and resurrection, to all who receive him. Interestingly, "Jerusalem" means "city of peace"--even though it has experienced more war than most places. In Psalm 122:6 we are asked to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Abraham met King Melchizedek who was King of Salem. In Hebrews (5:6) Melchizedek is a pattern for Jesus as our High Priest, who is also our King, the Prince of Peace. The heavenly Jerusalem will be a place of perfect peace.
      On the night before he died, Jesus blessed his disciples and gives HIS peace to them. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:26-27) At the same time he told them, "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you", referring to the Holy Spirit he was going to send to them. After his resurrection Jesus greeted his disciples who were hiding from fear, with, "Peace be with you" and showed them his hands and his side and then repeated his greeting, "Peace be with you" and gave them his Holy Spirit. Later, at Pentecost, they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8 ) Jesus' peace is different from the world's peace. It can remain even when our hearts would normally be troubled and afraid.
      Jesus offers peace to us. First there is the basic peace of reconciliation with God and forgiveness when we receive Jesus into our lives. But there is so much more. Paul in Colossians 3:15 instructs us, "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, since as members of one Body (the church) you were called to peace." In verses 5-10, 12-14, 16-17 Paul goes into more detail about how to choose to let God's peace rule. He has similar advice in Philippians 4:4-9. "Rejoice in the LORD always…Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Notice the sequence here. God's peace is not a passive thing but results from turning to him and being in step with God and what he is doing.
      Doug Koch has a story to share about this verse. When his grandson, Alexander came close to death three months after he was born, he remembers driving down to Albany Med following the ambulance. "For some reason I just felt like praising the Lord over and over. A deep peace came over me, just like Philippians 4:7. I didn't know what to think." On another occasion he was disturbed about a TV show debating Jesus' resurrection and he wondered about how he would witness to an unbeliever who had watched it. The Lord showed him that you can only have that deep settled peace in you by having Jesus in the center of your life, and that peace which only he can give is from him, our resurrected Lord.
      Now reflect on the words that the Lord has given the teachers. What do you have to share?

"Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'" (John 20:19) A word received: Pray for my peace. Let my love come into your heart. My love casts out fear. (James 4:19)

"When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." (John 20:20) A word received: I want you to experience their joy in seeing me.

"So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace to you! As the Father has sent me, I also send you.'" (John 20:21) A word received: Go forth in my peace. It is not the peace that the world gives; it is the peace that flows out of my relationship with my father.

"And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'" (John 20:22) A word received: This is the way to my peace -- to have my Holy Spirit in your heart.

"'If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'" (John 20:23) A word received: My peace should lead you to forgive others. As you have received my love and peace and forgiveness, let others receive your love and peace and forgiveness.

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined." (Isaiah 9:2) A word received: I want my light to shine forth so that men and women and children will know my peace.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) A word received: I came as a child. I came without strength or position, but I came with peace that drew people to my father. Pray for my peace to shine forth in your lives.

[NOTE: "heart" in the Bible does not mean just feelings as we often use it today. It implies an act of the will. Sometimes it refers to a person's character. It includes our thinking and reason, our conscience. "To summarize: the heart is above all the central place in a man to which God turns, where religious experience has its root, which determines conduct.", (Theological Wordbook of the Bible, p.145)]

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 11

2009-11-29T02:25:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 11, December 6, 2009
Who do you say that I am?
"I AM The Light of The World"
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Psalm 27:1, 1 John 1: 5-10, John 1:1-9, John 8:12 & 9:5, Matthew 5:14-16
Optional: Psalm 139:11-12,
Memory Verse: Jesus said, "I AM the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
[There is a great deal of both kinds of light and darkness, both physical and spiritual light and darkness in this lesson.) Can you give an example of each kind?]
This is another of Jesus' "I AM" statements. The Name, "I AM", was the name the God gave about himself to Moses at the Burning Bush near Mt. Sinai when he called Moses to go back to Egypt to lead the enslaved Israelites to freedom and to Himself. (Exodus 3) The name was considered too holy to use so they substituted other terms for it.
Jesus uses the phrase, "light of the world" three times, twice about himself and once about his disciples who were and are called to reflect his Light to the world.
Once when Jesus was teaching in the Temple and rescued the woman about to be executed for her sins, he told her to "go and sin no more." Then Jesus said to the crowd, "I AM the Light of the World. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Then he told those who argued with him, "If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." (v.24) The religious leaders did not believe him and kept on arguing. Finally Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I AM!", identifying himself with God the Father. They tried to kill him but he escaped. (They were spiritually blind.)
Jesus says the same thing again (John 9:5) when he healed the man born blind, saying, "While I am in the world, I AM the Light of the World." Jesus came that the physically and spiritually blind might see---but they have to desire what he has to give. Later we will look at what Jesus told his disciples that they were to be "the light of the world", reflecting his light to bring praise to God our Father.
Light in the Old Testament, Jesus' Bible, is associated with God himself. In the beginning of the universe, God created physical light. The sources of light (sun, moon, stars) that the pagans worshiped as gods were the creation of God. Sometimes when God appeared to the Israelites, his presence was expressed by a light, as a pillar of fire that led the Israelites through the wilderness at night and when the "shekinah" glory of God filled the temple so that the priests were unable to enter. Another example of the physical light of God is in the story of the angels who came to the shepherds to tell them about Jesus' birth. Luke 29 talks about "the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were very afraid."
Isaiah 60:1 talks about the time when God's spiritual light/glory will come to his people and the peoples (nations) of the world so that they will come out of (spiritual) darkness to the light that God will give the Jewish people (a reference to the promised Messiah). Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 also talks about the coming Messiah, a child born to the family of David to rule with righteousness forever. He will be a "great light" dawning on people living in great (spiritual) darkness and sin.
In John's letter to the churches (1 John 1:5) he tells us that "God IS light and in him is no darkness at all." John is talking about "light" as a picture, a metaphor, a spiritual reality of God's character, power and life. He is totally good with "no darkness at all" of sin or evil. .John says here if we say we have fellowship with God and walk in darkness, we are lying, but if we walk in his light, we have fellowship with one another and Jesus' blood cleanses us from all sin. ( vz.6-7)
David the Psalmist, tells us in Ps 27:1 that God, the LORD (the "I AM") is his personal light (to guide him) and his salvation (so he does not need to be afraid of his enemies)
Now look at the beginning of John's gospel (1:1-9). John tells us that Jesus, the very Word of God, has life in himself (because his is one with God) and his life gives light to people. Jesus came to give us new life in him and his life shines light to live by into our lives. There is a lot of darkness (sin, evil, death, etc.) in the world but the light that is Jesus still shines in the middle of the darkness and the darkness cannot put it out! The light Jesus offers is intended for everyone but not everyone wants to receive it. We have to choose to receive Jesus' life into ourselves and walk in it.
(Jesus is calling us now to choose to walk in his light with his strength and ask for his help.)
Now look at Matthew 5:14-16. Jesus, the Light of the World, is calling his disciples to choose to receive Jesus' light and to let it shine out, to walk and live in Jesus' light so that others may see and praise God the Father in Heaven for your actions (deeds). We are not to hide Jesus' light out of fear or doubt. God wants to use us like a candle light in the dark to point people to Jesus. It is not about us, it is about him/Jesus!

"'You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.'" (Matthew 5:14) A word received: I want you to shed forth my light.

"'Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.'" (Matthew 5:15) A word received: Look at those "baskets" in your life that hide my light. Ask me to help remove those things which stop my light going forth in your life.

"'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.'" (Matthew 5:16) A word received: I long for my light to shine forth through you. Pray for transparency -- that the light -- my light -- will shine forth in your lives for others to see by.

Paul warns us in Ephesians 5:8-15 to "walk", live as children of light, showing the "fruit" of light ( all goodness, righteousness and truth) and "to find out what pleases the LORD"! (Note: children, "sons" of light means to have the character of light, be obedient to light, to Jesus. Including being alert, self controlled, putting on the armor of God for protection. 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6)
Psalm 139:7-12 talks about God's care and guidance NO MATTER WHERE in the world we are and NO MATTER HOW DARK and difficult our circumstances. If we try to hide or run from God and say, "surely the darkness will hide me"---"the darkness is as light to you." Psalm 119:105 talks about God's word (both Scripture and Jesus) as a "lamp to my feet and a light for my path." If we seek him, he rejoices to see us turning to him.
To do this it is important to spend time with Jesus, the Light of the World and to spend time in God's word in Scripture, not doing all the talking but listening as we read. (Psalm 139: 23-24)
Now reflect on some other words that the Lord has given the teachers.
"For you will light my lamp; the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness." (Psalm 18:28) A word received: I have come that you may have light to see by. Look to me for light on your path.

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined." (Isaiah 9:2) A word received: I have come so that you may have light to see by -- come to my light; there is no shortage of light in my father's house.

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1) A word received: Come, step into my light and bask in my love. There is abundance of peace there. Look to me and I will shed my light to see by.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 10, November 22, 2009

2009-11-16T11:52:00.000-08:00

Who do you say that I am?
Jesus: the Great Physician
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Luke 7:18-23, Isaiah 61:1-2, Matthew 9
Memory Verse: "And with his stripes we are healed" Isaiah 53:5 (Pre-K to grade 3)
      Healing, Repentance, and Forgiveness Often Go Together
      John the Baptist preached about repentance because God's Kingdom/God's rule was near (breaking into their time in a new way.). After Jesus' baptism and anointing with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16) Jesus began his ministry in Galilee preaching the Good News of God's Kingdom/God's rule being shown plainly through Jesus' healing "every disease and sickness, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, the epileptics and paralytics, and he healed them." (Matthew 4:23, 24).
      In Matthew 9 Jesus said to the paralytic man whose friends brought him, "Take heart son, your sins are forgiven." When the teachers of the law said that was blasphemy, Jesus said, "Which is easier, to say 'Your sins are forgiven, or to say rise up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man (Jesus) has authority on earth to forgive sins'…then he said to the paralytic, 'Get up, take your mat and go home.' And the man got up and went home." (Matthew 9:2-8 )
      The breaking into their lives of God's present Rule (Kingdom) through Jesus' healings, forgiveness of sin and deliverance demonstrated who Jesus was and is: the promised Messiah/"anointed" One--and more. When John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the One who is to come or shall we look for another?", Jesus answered by healing many diseases, casting out evil spirits, preaching good news to the poor--the very signs of God's coming Servant-Messiah and King in Isaiah 61:1-2. It was evidence both of who Jesus is and of what God's Kingdom is concerned with--setting things to right, fulfilling God's original purposes for his creation and his people.
      Jesus is the Savior, the one who heals the sick and forgives sinners, the one who makes people whole, both in body and in spirit. In Matthew 9:10f, Jesus was eating with tax collectors (corrupt) and "sinners". When the religious leaders were scandalized, he said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick…For I have not come to call the righteous but the sinners." (vs.12-13) It is only as we admit our need for healing and deliverance from sin that Jesus helps us. We have to ask and we have to come to him, and we can bring our friends to him.
      In the Old Testament God reveals himself as the Healer. In Exodus 15:26 God says," I am the LORD who heals you." He calls his people to follow and to obey him so that they do not fall into sin and its consequences. The Jews knew that healing as well as forgiveness comes from God. One of God's names is "Jehovah Rapha" (Yahweh Rapha)--"The LORD who heals". Psalm 103:3 reminds us, "He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases." Psalm 147:2 says "He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds." Isaiah 53:4 & 5 reminds us "Surely he took up our iniquities and carried our sorrows", "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace (shalom: wholeness, well being, health, proper relationships, etc.) was upon him, and by his stripes (wounds) we are healed."
      Jesus is God with us, God's Word made flesh, Son of God and Son of Man. He is the Great Physician, the Healer who came to bring us the wholeness that God wants for us--both in terms of health of body and spirits and in terms of sin. We have to come to Jesus and ask for that. Our healing and transformation is not complete in this life but it is something that God wants to work in us and through us in this broken and fallen world. As Fr. Nigel says in healing services, "When we pray, something always happens" even if it is not what we had in mind.
      Jesus also sent out his disciples to do what he was doing. He sent the twelve out and he sent out 70 others of his disciples and "gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and cure every disease". In Luke 10:1 Jesus sends out 70 of his disciples, two by two, to work in God's harvest. They were to "heal the sick" and tell people "God's Kingdom was near" and call for them to turn away from their own way (repent).
      God has restored a ministry of healing to his church and he wants us to be involved. When have you seen or experienced God's healing? When did you discover that God heals today?
      Let's look at some of Jesus' healings to see what we can learn. Look at Matthew 9 and read the first story (vs.1-8 ). In this first story there is sin involved in the sickness but that is not always true. When Jesus healed the man born blind, his disciples asked, "Who sinned, this man or his parents?" Jesus said neither, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." (John 9:3) In this chapter Jesus heals men, women and children. Sometimes the person comes by herself like the woman bleeding for 12 years. She touched the hem of Jesus' garment (where there were tassels to remind the wearer of God's commands). The hem also symbolized the owner's identity and authority. (See p.153 "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus). Jesus knew that someone had touched him in a special way and spoke a word of encouragement, "Take heart daughter, your faith had healed you." In the next healing, Jesus asked the blind man if he had the faith that Jesus was able to do the healing and the man said he did. Then Jesus healed a man who had an evil spirit that was controlling him. Jesus doesn't use a cookie cutter approach. He knows exactly what that person needs.
      Then Jesus asked his disciples to PRAY for the LORD, the Owner of the Harvest to send out laborers and then he sent out the twelve to do this. The Lord calls us to pray for healing also. It is God who heals and delivers and forgives but he wants to use us. Are we willing to be available? Only a few have a "gift of healing" but we all are able to bring someone to Jesus and pray for their healing or salvation. Sometimes when we need healing James 5 tells us to call for the elders to pray and sometimes tells us that we are to minister to each other, to confess to each other and pray for each other as God leads--so that we may be healed.
      God worked powerfully in healing in the early church and today in some places in the world--so that many will come to know Jesus. In Acts 9:34 Peter tells the paralyzed Aeneas, "Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed." He rose immediately and "All who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord."
In the New Testament healing was done in the NAME and POWER of Jesus. He still wants to use us in the same way today.
      Here are some Words the Lord gave the teachers for us to reflect on.
"So he got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own city." (Matthew 9:1) A word received: I came to my own, but they did not understand. I will come to you if you ask me and give you understanding by my Holy Spirit.
      Stop and ask.

"Then behold, they brought to him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.'" (Matthew 9:2) A word received: Bring all the broken-hearted and sick to me.
      What are some of the ways we can do this?

"And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, 'This man blasphemes!'" (Matthew 9:3) A word received: What is your reaction when you hear me speak or see me do something? Do you rejoice with me?
      What do we do?

"But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, 'Why do you think evil in your hearts?'" (Matthew 9:4) A word received: I want you to learn to handle it when evil thoughts come to mind. I want you to turn to me in repentance and ask for forgiveness from my father in my name.
      Jesus came to give us victory over sin by his cross. Do we bring our sin to him quickly? Do we thank him for his forgiveness?

"'For which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven you," or to say, "Arise and walk"?'" (Matthew 9:5) A word received: Look to me for direction and guidance.
      We need to keep turning to Jesus and his Holy Spirit step by step. He alone knows what is needed.

"'But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins'--then he said to the paralytic, 'Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.'" (Matthew 9:6) A word received: I want you to know that I have the power to forgive sins and the power to heal.
      Praise him!

"And he arose and departed to his house." (Matthew 9:7) A word received: I want you to respond to my words as this man did.
      When Jesus gives us instructions, do we do it?

"Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men." (Matthew 9:8 ) A word received: I want people to marvel and reflect on what God can do in their lives.
      Are we stingy with our praise and thanks? Do we take it for granted?

NO CLASSES ON NOVEMBER 29.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 09. November 15, 2009

2009-11-14T04:58:00.000-08:00

Who do you say that I am?
Jesus, the True Vine
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: John 15:1-17; Isaiah 5:1-7; Mark 12:1-12; Mark 11:12-14, 20
Optional: Isaiah 11:1; Psalm 107
Memory Verse: "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) (Pre-K to grade 3)
      NOTE that this is another "I AM" statement. "I AM" is the personal Name that God gave to Moses at the Burning Bush when Moses asked what shall I tell the people when they ask who sent you. (This is an indirect but clear way of saying Jesus is one with the Father.)
      Jesus is the TRUE Vine. To see what this means look at the word picture, metaphor, analogy in Isaiah 5:1-7 where God, speaking through Isaiah, compares Israel, God's people, to a grapevine. The nation is God's vineyard. God is the owner and the gardener. (Israel was also often compared to a fig tree, see Hosea 9:10. God said, "I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness, I saw your fathers as the first-ripe in the fig tree.") The owner and gardener expected it to yield grapes- FRUIT- good fruit, but it yielded wild grapes (not good for eating.)
      The first thing to see is that Jesus, in his incarnation, is what Israel was intended to be- a perfect vine. Jesus and his disciples would have had this and other passages in mind when Jesus talks about being the True Vine and we, the Church, his disciples being the branches.
      Now look at what the Lord has to say to us about Isaiah 5. "Now let me sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved regarding his vineyard: my well-beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill." (Isaiah 5:1) A word received: You are my vineyard: I planted you and I have nourished you.
      "He dug it up and cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, and also made a winepress in it;" (Isaiah 5:2a) A word received: I have done all that I can to make your lives fruitful and I set my son as that strong tower for you to flee to and cling to.
      "so he expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes." (Isaiah 5:2b) A word received: Examine the fruit of your lives and return to me.
      "'And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, please, between Me and My vineyard.'" (Isaiah 5:3) A word received: Examine my vineyard, the church. Return to me, my vineyard, and produce the crop I ordained for you.
Stop and pray silently and see if the Lord shows you something.
      In John 16:8 Jesus says, "By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." Verse 16 says "I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide." The purpose of a grapevine, and a vineyard, is to bear fruit, good fruit. What kind of fruit did Jesus' disciples bear? What kind of fruit are we bearing?
      Remember that the context of John 15 is Jesus' disciples bearing fruit for the Father. Jesus' disciples are the audience. Jesus is not talking to people who were not following him but to those who had committed themselves to following him.
      The next thing Jesus tells them is that every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Myra Andresen has a very fruitful grapevine and every year she drastically prunes it, and the next summer gets a good crop of grapes. What are some of the ways that God the Father, the Gardener, prunes our lives? Are we willing for him to do that? What are some examples?
      The branches that don't bear fruit are taken away, discarded. Jesus wants his disciples to live and bear fruit by staying attached to him--the source of life. "Abide in me (live/remain) and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." "Apart from me you can do nothing." "If anyone does not abide in me he is cast out as a branch and is withered", (the result of not being attached to the life of the vine.)
      Look at the incident of the withered fig tree in Mark 11:20. Notice that this is after the Triumphal Entry in Holy Week and immediately afterwards Jesus went into the temple and cleansed it. The fig tree had nothing but leaves on it. (See note about fig trees at the end.) The fig trees had little fruits you could eat before the regular figs grew. There was NO fruit when the Creator came looking for fruit and found only leaves. Jeremiah 8:13 refers to God "when I would gather them, says the LORD, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered." The next day the tree Jesus had rebuked was withered. More is going on here than an example of the power of prayer. It is an acted parable about the condition of God's people, HIS fig tree--and the religious leaders know it.
      Remember how these leaders knew Jesus had told the parable of the tenants (Mark 12:1-12) who refused to give the owner of the vineyard fruit when he sent for it and mistreated the messengers and killed the son. These caretakers of the vineyard were like the hireling shepherds Jesus told about in John 10 who didn't take care of what the owner had given. In this story these tenants wanted to be in control of the vineyard and use it for themselves. (This reminds me of the Bishop of Pennsylvania who said, "The church wrote the Bible, the church can change it.") The owner of the vineyard will punish the tenants and give it to others.
      Now look at some other verses and Words on Isaiah 5. "'What more could have been done to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?'" (Isaiah 5:4) A word received: Answer me, my people, why have you not produced fruit in keeping with righteousness? Examine yourselves and answer me. Revival and renewal in the church always begins with repentance and self-examination.
      In Isaiah 5 the rest of the passage talks about what God allowed and even sent to get his people to turn back to him and away from disaster. "'And now, please let me tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.'" (Isaiah 5:5) A word received: All this I AM doing, and still my people, my vineyard, does not return to me.
      "'I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned or dug, but there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it.'" (Isaiah 5:6) A word received: Read Psalm 107 and gain wisdom from it. Look to my word and measure yourselves by it. Repent, return to me. (What is the pattern here?)
      "For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; for righteousness, but behold, a cry for help." (Isaiah 5:7) A word received: All this is happening, and still my people do not return to me.
      Now look again at John 15 and what Jesus is teaching his disciples and us. A branch doesn't get attached to the vine on an on and off basis--it has to stay attached. Not abiding in the vine may not be a specific sin, it may be going off on our own, doing our own thing. When we fall away and sin we need to immediately turn back to Jesus, repent, ask for forgiveness and go back to living in Jesus. Notice that verse 7 is conditional. "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask what you will and it will be done for you." Only as we live in God's will and ask according to his will, will he answer our requests. Another question to ask is, "How do you want me to pray in this situation?"
      How do we do this "abiding"/remaining, in Jesus' love? He loves us. We remain in Jesus' love and the Father's love by obeying him and choosing to stay in close contact with him.
      Jesus wants us to have his JOY. We can have his joy if we remain attached to Jesus and obey him. Part of that obedience is to love one another. That love is not sentimental or fragile. It is agape love, the kind of love Jesus has for us--love that does what is best for us, not just giving us whatever we might want. Jesus wants us to be his friends, "You are my friends if you do what I command you." Part of that obedience is to remain close to him.
      Jesus has chosen us to bear fruit but we have to keep on choosing to live in Jesus day by day so we can bear fruit for him.
      Have you fallen away from the vine in any way? Is there some way in which you need to repent from going your own way in order for your prayers to be answered?

      NOTE on Fig Trees: The Fig tree is native to the Near East and does very well in Palestine and Syria. In the wild, it is just a shrub but cultivated ones can go to 30-40 ft. It loses its leaves before the winter rainy season and sends out new sprouts in March/April. (The petals of the long flower become fleshy and form an oblong fruit.) In March or April the branches put forth new leaf buds. Most of the early green figs grow on the stock of the previous year's yield and drop when no more than 2" long and are called "winter fruit" and "untimely" or "late" figs. (Revelation 6:13). They do not contain juice but are gathered and eaten for lack of other fruit that time of year. (Note that this would be around Passover time.) The rest of this crop ripens in June for the first real harvest called "first-ripe" or "early" figs. A second crop ripens in August as "late" figs and are the most desirable.
      "In prophecies of divine retribution for Israel's sins the blighted fig tree symbolized national peril" Jeremiah 5:17 and Hosea 2:11, etc. "The difficult account of Jesus cursing the barren fig tree may portray God's judgment."
      (The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary, p.381.)

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 08, November 8, 2009

2009-11-04T16:54:00.000-08:00

      Who do you say that I am?
            The Word of God
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: John 1:1-14, Genesis 1: 1-3, Hebrews 1:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Optional: Deuteronomy 8:1-5
Memory Verse: "In the Beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God and the WORD was God. John 1:1 (Pre-K to grade 3)
      "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105) Word received: My word is a light to your path, (For children and adults) Have you ever had the power go off suddenly on a dark night and you had to move around the house knowing that there were many things you could bump into or step on? If you found your flashlight and turned it on, what difference did it make to you? Or perhaps you were in a snowstorm and stuck by the side of the road because your own headlights just reflected the snow and you were afraid to move. Along comes a kind truck driver who asks you what the problem is and then tells you to follow his lights closely and he will lead you through the storm. God's Word, both Jesus as God's living Word and God's Word in Scripture (the Bible) are like that light in the darkness showing you, leading you through the darkness. Psalm 23 says "Though I walk through the valley of death (or deep darkness) I will fear no evil for you are with me." (Torre's illustration from Africa.) Do you have an example to share, either of such an adventure or when God's Word shed light on a situation of darkness you were in? Notice in John 1:4-5 how Word is tied to light and life.
      Look at John 1:1-14. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) A word received: This is where I want you to begin: begin with me. I AM the living word which came down from heaven. I will write my word on your heart and fill you with my Holy Spirit. Come to me, let me make a new beginning in your life.
Stop and pray about this.
      "Jesus is one with the Father; he is uniquely able to communicate God's heart and mind." (Spangler, p. 147,"Praying the Names of Jesus") Our words and our spirits are part of us- so it is with God. "John's gospel begins by calling Jesus the LOGOS (Greek for Word). Though the Logos was a term used in Greek philosophy, John echoes a Hebrew mind-set by using it to refer not to a rational principal or an impersonal force but to the One who created the universe by speaking it into existence." (Spangler, p.147) Jesus longs for us to respond to him so that he, Jesus the Word, may come and live with/in us. See John 14:23.
      Where else in Scripture do we find something similar to John 1:1? Look at Genesis 1:1-2. It begins with the same words, "In the beginning" (before anything began) God IS (there never was a time when God wasn't there! God created time. Our past, present, and future are all present to Him. God created everything--by His Spirit (vs.2) and His Word. (vs.l3) .In each of the following paragraphs "God said"…and it happened! Remember how sometimes Jesus (the WORD) said a word and a person was healed? Jesus spoke and the storm stopped, the Centurion said, "Only say the word and my servant will be healed" and he was, Jesus spoke to the dead girl and she lived.
      This story of creation is very different from the pagan stories about creation! Psalm 33:6 says "By the Word of the LORD (Yahweh/the I AM) the heavens were made, and all their host by the Breath (Holy Spirit) of His mouth." Notice how John 1:3 says, "Through him all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made." (There are other references to this also.) Notice that although the word "Trinity" is not used in the Bible we see God, the three in one here.
      God spoke through the prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) but when the time was right God clothed his Word in flesh- skin and bones-a man like us. "The Word was made flesh and lived (tented) among us." Through the centuries people have learned skills and occupations by living with a teacher, a mentor and not just from a book. Even today plumbers and electricians become apprentices to a Master Plumber or Master Electrician. So God clothed his own Word in a human being (Jesus) (we call this the Incarnation) to reveal himself and do for us what we could not do for ourselves. The name, "Jesus" in Hebrew is "Yesh-u-a" (Joshua in English) meaning "Yahweh's salvation or Yahweh is salvation." (Remember how the angel told Joseph to name the baby Jesus "for he will save his people from their sins."
      We are talking about God's Word in two ways: (1) God has spoken his Word to men and women and sometimes children for them to share with others. We find this in the Bible/Scripture. (2) God has sent his Word-become-flesh to us in Jesus. (Jesus on earth was still one in Being with his Father but he "emptied himself" of some of the privileges of being God while he lived and died on earth as a man. See Philippians 2:5-11)
      Hebrew 1:1-2 talks about both, Jesus the Word and God's Word which we can hear in the Bible (Scripture). Have you ever felt personally spoken to when you read or remember Scripture? Are we listening for God to speak his Word (Jesus) and his Word in the Bible to us as we read? Are we asking for that? "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;" (Hebrews 1:1-2) A word received: You are living "in these last days" and I want to speak to you through my son: listen to him. This is what I told Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration: "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear him!" (Matthew 17:5) Have you noticed that there is sometimes a difference between listening to someone and actually hearing what they say?
      Deuteronomy 8:1-5, in the oldest part of the Hebrew Bible ( Jesus' Bible) talks about the importance of hearing and acting on God's Word. (For Christians this means in both Jesus and Scripture). Moses tells the people of Israel that God has put them in the wilderness to learn this. "And he humbled you…that you might know that man (people) does not live by bread alone, but by everything that proceeds from the mouth(Word) of God." God's Word in scripture is food for us and Jesus gave his life for us and tells us in Matthew 26:26 "that Jesus took the bread, blessed it and broke it and said, 'Take eat; this is my body.'" Jesus wants us to "feed on him" Jesus said earlier, "I AM the Bread which came down from heaven" "the living Bread".(John 6:41) When the disciples didn't understand him he said, "The words I have spoken are Spirit and Life". The Bible often talks in pictures and stories to present truth to us in a way we will remember. Do we go to Jesus each day for him to feed us with himself as well as ask him to do that when we take communion? Do we ask for that when we take communion?
      Hebrews 4:12 talks about God's Word as being "living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." This is true of Scripture sometimes as well as when Jesus himself speaks to our hearts directly. Jesus sometimes speaks to us in that "still small voice" that Elijah heard on the mountain.. Sometimes God uses that to reveal to us our real situation, our real motives and needs--so that he can change them.
      The Psalms frequently speak to us about God's Word in Scripture (but often it describes Jesus the Word also.) Psalm 119:105: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 107:20: God's word heals, "He sent forth his word and healed them and delivered them from destruction." Jesus also heals by a word and with his word. God's Word tests us sometimes. "He sent a man before them-- Joseph--who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him." (Psalm 105:17-19) A word received: I want to test you and refine you; I want to purify you for my purposes. Joseph became a man who led and saved his family because of my refining work in his life.
      "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) A word received: I want to prepare you for my work, for my kingdom work. I will do all of that by making my word come alive in your heart and your mind. Turn to me, ask for me to make the Scriptures come alive for you. Regularly reading and memorizing scripture is one important way to hide God's Word in you inmost self. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11) Remember that God's Word will not return to him empty but will accomplish the purpose for which he sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)
      The last book of the Bible show who wins! Jesus the Word of God is coming in his Second Coming as King and his Name is the Word of God and yet he carries his battle scars, a robe dipped in blood, which he shed for our salvation on the cross. (Revelation 19:11-15)

Note [from the Preface to the New King James Version of the Bible]
      "In closing, let readers be encouraged to approach the Bible "not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13). The same Holy Spirit who originated the Scriptures must also make them clear to the reader, for the truths they contain "are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). It is through the work of the Spirit of life that the Word of life accomplishes its purpose in human hearts and minds. May God teach us His life-giving truth as we submit to Him, that He alone may be glorified."

      "Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105 When I was a lay missionary teacher with the Order of the Holy Cross (a monastic order of the Episcopal Church) in Bolahun, Liberia (1962-1963) there were times when I traveled at night using what was called a "bush lantern" (probably what we would call a Hurricane Lantern). Those walking trips through the jungle and the verse above from Psalm 119 have become for me a model of the Christian life. The lantern didn't give off much light, but it did give enough to show me the next step or two. Since I carried it by its wire handle, the lantern was down low next to my feet. Because the lantern was low, any bushes or grass beside the path would throw up large, frightening shadows which I would see if I took my eyes off the light at my feet. Sometimes as I approached a village, I would see the cooking fires in the distance. Their light was a reassurance that I was heading in the right direction, but was useless for seeing where to place the next step. For that I still had to rely on the light from my lantern – going a step at a time. Jesus, I want to walk as a child of the light, please help me to clearly see the next step you want me to take. Thank you.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 07, November 1, 2009

2009-10-30T16:59:00.001-07:00

      Who do you say that I am?
            Good Shepherd
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Psalm 23, John 10:1-18, Micah 2:12-13 and 5:2-5a, Isaiah 40:9-11
Optional: Ezekiel 34
Memory Verse: "The LORD* is my shepherd, I shall not want." Psalm 23:1 (Pre-K to grade 3)
      A word received: How have you experienced Jesus as your good shepherd?
      Probably most of us encountered Jesus as Shepherd either when we heard and perhaps learned the 23rd Psalm or when we saw a picture of Jesus the Shepherd holding a lamb in his arms. I remember when our 3 year old son, Jonathan, sat staring at that picture and all of a sudden announced, "I'm Jesus' little lamb." Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." Prayer: Lord, help our children to know you as their shepherd and help us as adults to come to you in trust as a little child.
      So the first thing we need to learn is that Jesus IS (still, right now) the Good Shepherd and he wants to be your Shepherd and mine. He wants to shepherd his flock and bring back the lost and the strays. Jesus says the Shepherd "calls his own sheep by name."(John 10:3) Jesus knows your name. He calls you by name and he wants you to know his voice(vs.4), to hear his voice(vs.3), and follow him.
      If you have read about sheep you know they need to be taken care of and protected. They are pretty good about getting into trouble--just like people. The sheep in the Middle East in Jesus' time and today are lead by a shepherd, not driven ahead of him.
A writer, recently in Israel, talked about several shepherds meeting and talking while their sheep swirled around them, all mixed together but when the shepherds left and called their sheep, the sheep knew their own shepherd's voice and followed him.
      Sheep need protection, food and guidance. That's why the shepherds carried a rod (big stick to kill anything coming after the sheep) and a staff, a stick with a hook on the end like the one the Bishop carries ( to grab and rescue or sort out the sheep). At night when the sheep were in a safe pen the shepherd slept lying across the gate ("I AM the Door"). Anything that wanted to get at his sheep had to get past him! Ann Spangler in the book "Praying the Names of Jesus" tells a story on pg.318 of a neighbor who invited a homeless man to his house to spend the night and began to worry that the man might not be as harmless as he looked so he spent the night lying on the floor at the top of the stairs to protect his children!
      Israel was a good land but a lot of it was pretty dry so the shepherd had to lead his flock to places where there were good pastures and "still waters" (sheep won't drink from actively flowing water). The sheep had to be led. They couldn't find these places on their own, that might change frequently.
      Jesus loved children and loved to take them in his arms and bless them and like a shepherd carry them in his arm and gently lead expectant mothers and mothers of small children (Isaiah 40:11)
      Part of what the shepherd was prepared to do was defend his sheep with his life. One of the important things Jesus says as the Good Shepherd was that he "lays down his life for the sheep" (John10:11) "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." (vs.18 ) Jesus died for us on the cross and rose again both as the "Lamb of God" and as the "Good Shepherd".
      There are several other important ideas connected to the idea of a Shepherd. We see in Psalm 23 that GOD (the LORD) is my Shepherd. *Note: (When LORD is in capital letters it refers to God's Name ("I AM") which a religious Jew thought too holy to pronounce.) See Isaiah 40:9-11. In Ezekiel 34 God has strong words of rebuke for the false shepherd of Israel (many of the leaders) and God speaks of a time coming when "I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep…I will seek out the lost, and I will bring back the strays, and I will bind up the crippled and I will strengthen the weak…"(vs.15-16).. Then God points forward to the time of the Messiah, the "anointed" one who will be a shepherd-ruler like King David. (v.s23) Part of the role of the Messiah was to be a shepherd to God's people. This Messiah-Shepherd will be a king in the line of David.
Ordinary shepherds were quite lowly but kings were also to be shepherds. Isaiah 44:28 refers to the foreign king Cyrus as a shepherd whom God had appointed. David is the Shepherd-King in Psalm 78:70-72.
      Micah 5:2 talks about where the future king, the "anointed" one, will come from (Bethlehem) but it also talks about how this Messiah-King will shepherd his flock in the Name of his God. Micah 2:12-13 speaks of a time when God will bring together his scattered flock. He will also be their king and lead them.
      By saying that he is the Good Shepherd, Jesus is also saying indirectly that he is the Messiah-Shepherd-King. He is also linking himself with God who is the Shepherd of Israel who will one day shepherd his people himself (Ezekiel 34). This Shepherd-King will also judge between the good sheep and the bad ones, the good shepherds and the bad ones. Remember Jesus teaching about the Day of Judgment in Matthew 25:31-32 where the Son of Man will separate the sheep and the goats.
      Sometimes ordained ministers are called "pastors" which means shepherds. God calls some of his sheep to shepherd others. After Jesus' resurrection Jesus told Peter to "Feed my lambs", "Tend my sheep", "Feed my sheep".(John 21:15-17. God calls some to be official shepherds of his flock but God also calls some, children and adults, to function as shepherds for others. Is the chief Shepherd asking you to do that for someone, perhaps even a younger child?
      At the end of time we will stand in front of the Throne in heaven and the Lamb of God will be there on the Throne and the Lamb will be our Shepherd and lead us to springs of living water and wipe away every tear. (Revelation 7:17)
      The 23rd Psalm says "even though I walk through the valley of deep darkness (or the shadow of death) I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me."(vs4) God has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrew 13:5 (See Joshua 1:5)
      Now look at some words the teachers got in response to Psalm 23. How is God speaking to you in these verses?

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1) A word received: I AM your provider.

      Do we really believe this? Do we ask for it? Do you have any experience to share of God's provision?

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the still waters." (Psalm 23:2) A word received: Look to me and I will guide you for your own good.

      Has the Lord ever given you times of green pastures, rest and still waters?

"He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:3) A word received: My name is holy and I want you to do those things which will bring honor to my name.

      How often do we consider the impact on the honor of God's Name of the things we do and say? Pray for help?

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4) A word received: That is my heart's desire -- to comfort you, my people. Look to me; seek me out; I will guide you through to victory over sin and death.

      Jesus longs to comfort us (comfort meaning both comfort in the usual sense and strengthening). We need to constantly look to him and seek him out to carry us through to victory over sin and death. Do you have an example to share?

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over." (Psalm 23:5) A word received: I will anoint your head with the oil of my Holy Spirit if you invite me to do that.

      Have we invited the Lord to do that recently?

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." (Psalm 23:6) A word received: I will come between you and every past evil if you will invite me into those places.

      Thank you Jesus for coming between me and all that is past.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 06, October 25, 2009

2009-10-18T04:20:00.001-07:00

Who do you say that I am?
      Messiah/Christ
The "Anointed One"
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-17, Luke 4:14-30, Luke 7:18-23, John 12:1-16
Optional: Luke 19:28-40
Memory Verse: "Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.'" Matthew 16:16(Pre-K to grade 3)
      The name we are looking at today is "Messiah"(Hebrew), "Christ"(Greek) which means "Anointed One". It is necessary to look in the Old Testament to see what this means. Anointing describes the process of consecrating priests and kings. The ingredients for making "sacred anointing oil" are listed in Exodus 29 and 30. They were NOT to be used like ordinary oils and perfumes. There was a death penalty for using them for ordinary purposes! (Exodus 30:32-33) Kings and priests were to have a different smell. The scent of these perfumed oils lasted a long time. Guests were normally anointed with ordinary oil. Remember how the Wise Men brought gifts fit for a king which included frankincense and myrrh. Anointing oil and its fragrance was to be unique to the priests and kings who were anointed and set apart by God.
      The kings were referred to as the Lord's anointed, "Here I stand in the presence of the LORD and his anointed." (1 Samuel 12:3). In 1 Samuel 10:1, Samuel anointed Saul as king and in 1 Samuel 16:1&13 Samuel anointed David to be king in the presence of his family. Remember how David when he was running for his life from King Saul, refused to kill Saul when he had a chance because he refused to lift his hand against God's anointed. David was prepared to wait for God's time to become the ruling king. (When our Bishop was murdered in Liberia, I remember the absolute scandal that was felt because he was God's anointed. (This was in a corrupt society too.)
      A really important event takes place in 2 Samuel 7:1-17. After King David had "rest from his enemies", he decided it was time to build a temple, "a house", for God instead of the tent (Tabernacle) where God had been worshiped since the years in the wilderness. The prophet Nathan thought that was fine till God spoke to him that night and said David was not the one to build the temple BUT God promised to give David a "great name" and a "house" (dynasty/descendents) and a kingdom that would last forever! "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever."(vs.16). King David went and sat before the LORD in awe and praise!
      So the coming king, Anointed One, (Messiah, Christ) became part of the expectation and hope of Israel. Some terms referring to this "Anointed One"/Messiah/Christ were: "Son of David", "Root of Jesse", "Righteous Branch", "Servant of the Lord". Daniel 7 also refers to a king and kingdom that will never end. (vs. 13-14). "Son of Man" is the term used there.
      Another important part of the hope and expectation for a Messiah was the idea that God was King over Israel. When the Israelites demanded a king like everybody else (!!) had, God told Samuel, "It is not you they have rejected as their king, but me." (1 Samuel 8:7) Psalm 22:3 refers to God as "enthroned on the praises of Israel".
      Centuries later, by the time of Jesus the nation had been suffering from cruel foreign rulers and the idea of the Messiah had taken on strong political tones. A lot of people longed for their coming Messiah/King to be like David and drive out the hated Romans. Even after the resurrection but before the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the disciples asked Jesus if he was going to restore the Kingdom to Israel. This idea about the Messiah was an important reason Jesus sometimes told people not to tell others. The Jewish leaders used this idea of a worldly conqueror to accuse Jesus before Pilate. They said, he "claims to be Christ, a king." Pilate asks Jesus if he is a king and Jesus replies, "Is that your own idea or did others talk to you about me?" (John 18:33-34) and in vs.36 Jesus says, "My kingdom is not of this world". Then Pilate decides Jesus is innocent but Pilate is afraid they will report him to Caesar. He gives in but puts a sign over Jesus' cross, "The king of the Jews" (19:19) (as his excuse).
      Some of the "Servant Songs" of Isaiah had other ideas about what the coming Messiah would be like, like the one Jesus read in Nazareth. Of course there is Isaiah 53 about the Suffering Servant. After Jesus' baptism (and being anointed with the Holy Spirit) (Matthew 3:13-17) and after his testing in the wilderness, he went to his home town, Nazareth, where he was asked to read the Scriptures in the Synagogue. He chose to read from Isaiah 61:1-2 which talks about God's anointing: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me" (vs.18 ). Look at the kinds of things he is anointed to do--miracles of healing and preaching good news. (Compare Acts 2:22).
      Now look at what Jesus said and did when John the Baptist was in prison and had begun to doubt whether Jesus was the promised Messiah or not. Look at Luke 7:18-23. Jesus healed many diseases, delivered some from evil spirits, raised the dead and good news was preached to the poor!
      Now reflect on some questions the Lord has given the teachers about Isaiah 61:1-3

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me," (Isaiah 61:1a) A word received: I received the anointing of the Holy Spirit and I want you to receive the anointing of my Holy Spirit.

      Have you asked for this?

"Because the Lord has anointed me" (Isaiah 61:1b) A word received: My father anointed me for this ministry; I want to anoint you for ministry.

      Are we ready to ask and receive this calling and anointing?

"To preach good tidings to the poor;" (Isaiah 61:1c) A word received: The poor are all around you: those poor in purse and poor in spirit. Share the good news with all of them.

      How are we doing with this command of Jesus? Remember the Great Commission. How might Jesus want you and me to do this?

"He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted," (Isaiah 61:1d) A word received: Comfort, comfort my people.

      The root meaning of comfort is to strengthen.

"To proclaim liberty to the captives," (Isaiah 61:1e) A word received: I want to bring those who are captive to sin and addiction into the freedom of my Spirit.

      Do you have an example to share of being set free from one of these captivities?

"And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;" (Isaiah 61:1) A word received: Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be lifted up you everlasting doors; that the King of Glory may enter in. (From Psalm 24)

      What kind of bondages does Jesus want to break? Have we brought those bondages to the cross of Jesus, repented of them, given them to Jesus and asked for his saving work???

"To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord," (Isaiah 61:2a) A word received: Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.

      Do we procrastinate about obeying the call/invitation of the Lord? What other time do we have besides NOW?

"And the day of vengeance of our God;" (Isaiah 61:2b) A word received: There will be a day when I settle accounts.

      God is patient but he will deal with unrepented sin and evil. Keep short accounts with God. See John 12:47-48

"To comfort all who mourn," (Isaiah 61:2c) A word received: I want you to speak words of comfort to those who mourn.

      Do we hang back or reach out to those who mourn for whatever reason?

"To console those who mourn in Zion," (Isaiah 61:3a) A word received: Pray for all those who mourn.

      Finally, look at the story of the anointing at Bethany and the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem just days before Jesus' passion. Six days before Passover his friends in Bethany gave Jesus a dinner. Mary took a pint (a pint!-very expensive stuff!) of pure nard and anointed Jesus' feet. Jesus says in John 12:7 that she was anointing him for his burial. The book by En-Gedi, "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus" is all about understanding more of the Jewish background of Jesus in the first century. Many things changed in later Judaism. Many things would have been common knowledge and didn't need any comment to be understood by everyone. As we saw earlier, those expensive special perfumes were reserved for anointing kings and priests. "By anointing him (Jesus) with this expensive fragrance, Mary may well have been making a statement about who she believed Jesus was, proclaiming him as Messiah."(pg.16). In ancient Israel the aroma of a king was expressed not only by what he wore but by his royal aroma.
      The next day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the ordinary people hailed him: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Luke 19:38 ) which hugely upset the religious leaders. Also there is a prophecy in Zechariah 9:9: "See your king comes to you , righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey". (A king on a donkey was peaceful. Horses were for war.) When Solomon was made king he rode to his anointing on David's own mule. (1 Kings:38-40) Jesus was not only entering as a king but he smelled like one!
      What does it mean to call God "King"? What does it mean to recognize Jesus as our King? Peter announced in his sermon on Pentecost that God had made Jesus both Lord and Christ! (Acts 2:36)
      Note: "Lord" means one who has both power and authority and can be used for human beings. "LORD" is a way the Jewish people avoided using the holy personal name of God ("I AM").

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 05 October 18, 2009

2009-10-11T04:29:00.000-07:00

Who do you say that I am?
Redeemer/Savior
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Matthew 20:28, Romans 8: 1-4, Romans 3:23-26
Optional: Revelation 5:1-14
Memory Verse: "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and he shall stand at last upon the earth, and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God. I myself shall see him and not as a stranger."* Job 19:25-27 (Pre-K to grade 3)
      What do we mean by the words "redeem", "redemption", "ransom"?
      1. We have a "Redemption Center" down the street from the church. When you bought sodas, you had to pay a deposit on the bottle which you can redeem (get back) when you turn in the empty bottles.
      2. The pirates off the coast of East Africa keep capturing ships and holding them for ransom. In order to set the captive ships and people free and get them back the owners have to pay a huge ransom (millions of dollars) in order to ransom/redeem them.
      3. In the Old Testament your relatives were supposed to ransom/redeem/buy back a relative who had sold himself or family into slavery for debt or who had had to sell family land. In the story of Ruth, Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz was a "kinsman-redeemer". Later he bought back the land that Naomi was having to sell and married Ruth to maintain the family line.
      4. In the Old Testament, God says to the Exiles-"For the LORD will ransom Jacob and redeem them from the hands of those stronger than they." (Jeremiah 31:11)
      5. In Exodus 6:6 when the Israelites were still slaves in Egypt, God told Moses, "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm…I will take you as my own people." The story of the Exodus is history. It is also metaphor or picture of what God would do later in Jesus death and resurrection.
      6. A story from Dave Carlson: a boy made a wonderful, carved toy boat that he lost at the beach. He looked and looked but he couldn't find it. Several months later he was walking by a pawn shop and saw his boat in the window. He went in and told the owner, That's my boat! The owner of the pawn shop said, well maybe, but if you want it back you will have to buy it back--and he did. Think about it. God made us and we wandered away from him and got lost in sin, far away from God. God sent his Son, his own Word-made-man to earth to pay the ransom for us from the slavery of sin so we could be adopted as his sons and daughters.
      How is this related to last week's name for Jesus as the "Lamb of God"? In Matthew 20:28 Jesus tells his disciples, "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many". Hebrews (7:27) says, "He (Jesus) sacrificed for their sins, once for all, when he offered himself."
      Why do we need redeeming??? Paul tells us in Romans 3:23-26, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified (set right) freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood." "Grace" is God's free mercy to those who don't deserve it- but it wasn't free for him! We are not able to ransom/rescue ourselves from sin--only God can do that--and he did it in Jesus by his death on the cross and resurrection. Because God is both just and holy he had to deal with sin. Because he is merciful and loved his rebellious creatures, he paid the ransom from sin and death himself in his Son Jesus. (Remember Jesus and his Father are one.) "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). God paid the ransom but we have to accept and choose it for it to be effective for us.
      We need redeeming/rescuing/saving because the human beings that God made "and it was good" but they rebelled against God in order to go their own way. The result is that the whole human race and world is infected with sin. We inherit both a damaged likeness to God and a fallen, sinful human nature. God knew this would happen so he had a plan to rescue and restore those who were willing to be rescued. Isaiah 53:6 says simply, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the LORD (the I AM, the Father) has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Paul echoes this in Romans 3 that we just looked at.
      Paul in Romans 8(1-5, 14) talks about Christ "setting us free" from slavery to sin. Christ has "set me free from the law of sin and death." The Law showed people what was sinful but it couldn't set them free. God did in Christ what the Law could not do. God also set us free to live a life controlled by His Spirit. Then Paul talks about what we SET our minds on. Is it the desires of our sinful nature or do we "set our minds" of what the Spirit of God requires? Our choices matter. God gave us the freedom and ability to choose but when we keep choosing the wrong things it gets harder and harder to choose the right. That's why we need God's help.
      "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons (children) of God" (vs.14) God wants to adopt us but we must choose to accept the ransom Jesus paid for by repenting (turning away) from our own way and asking for his free gift of salvation, and power, trusting and following him.
      Revelation 5:1-14 has some of the songs of joyous praise and thankfulness that those God has redeemed are singing to him and about him. Praise and thankfulness is the appropriate response to all that Jesus has done and what he will yet do when he comes next time--in glory. We see a glimpse of Jesus in heaven--on the throne, both as the Lion of Judah (King of Kings and the one who rules and judges) and the Lamb, who still bears the marks of his sacrifice for us. The Bible talks about "the honor DUE to his name"
      Have you accepted Jesus gift to you? He gave his life for you and me, have you taken your life back? How are you giving him thanks and showing gratitude to him? Let's reflect on the songs of praise they sing to him in Heaven and see what we can learn from them.

"'You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,'" (Revelation 5:9) A word received: I have redeemed you by my blood shed for you on the cross. "Without shedding of blood there is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22b) I paid the price for your sins by my blood. There is no other price sufficient to cover your sins.

"'And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.'" (Revelation 5:10) A word received: I have called you to be a holy nation, a people I have marked out as my own, a royal priesthood, beloved by me.

"'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!'" (Revelation 5:12) A word received: Look to me for a model of righteousness; look to me for guidance in the storm. Look to me: I was slain and behold, I live.

"'Blessing and honor and glory and power be to him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!'" (Revelation 5:13) A word received: Come to me, worship me. Join the throng around the throne who sing praises to my name.

Note* In Job 19:27 the word "another" can be translated "stranger".

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 04, October 11, 2009

2009-10-08T02:02:00.001-07:00

      Who do you say that I am?
             The Lamb of God
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: John 1:29-39, Exodus 12:1-7,12-14, Isaiah 53:3-9
Optional: Isaiah 53, Romans 5:6-8,10
Memory Verse: "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29 (Pre-K to grade 3)
      In order to understand what calling Jesus, the "Lamb of God" means, we have to look at the events in the Old Testament, centuries before Jesus. First, when God used Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt where they were slaves, the King of Egypt, called the Pharaoh, refused to let them go. God warned his people what to do to escape the last plague and escape from Egypt. Now look at Exodus 12:1-7, 12-14. It was the first Passover, when God "passed over" the homes of the Israelites who had the blood of a lamb they had sacrificed painted on their door posts so no one would die when the first-born of the Egyptians did. The lamb had to be a perfect, male lamb a year old. (Jesus was without any sin.) Exodus continues (vs.26-27) when you repeat this in the future and "your children ask what does this mean, tell them, "'It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD (God's name), who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.' "
      This event is a fore-shadowing of the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, shed for us for the forgiveness of our sins. In 1 Corinthians 5:7, Paul talks about "Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us."
      Jesus deliberately picked the festival of Passover to link his death on the cross to the Passover Lamb. That is why the reference to the cup of wine at the Last Supper (and in Communion) is to Jesus' blood. "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:28 ). Another time in the Old Testament when blood was central was the Covenant God made with Moses and the Children of Israel at Mt. Sinai. In Exodus 24:8 Moses sprinkled the blood on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you." Hebrews 9:22 in the New Testament echoes this understanding. "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
      When Jesus knew the authorities had decided to kill him, he always managed to escape or stay away till he chose to come to Jerusalem at Passover time. They arrested and tried him at night. The first most people knew about it was the next morning when he was on the way to the cross.
      The other thing we need to know about lambs is that before the coming of Jesus and during his lifetime is that the Israelites were to sacrifice animals as a part of their worship of God. Perfect lambs were offered daily to God, but the lamb of Passover was a special sacrifice linked to a meal remembering the deliverance from Egypt. God used their animal sacrifices to teach his people the cost of forgiving their sins. The animal's life was a substitute for their lives till the cross of Jesus.
      Now look at Isaiah 53:3-12. In the prophecies of Isaiah, centuries after the Exodus but also centuries before Jesus' time, God told the Israelites about a future Servant of God who would be despised, rejected and yet was (vs.3) wounded and killed for their transgressions (rebellious sins) (vs.5). His suffering and death was like a quiet, gentle lamb (vs.7) and was to be used by God to make many righteous and healed.
      This was part of God's plan from the before the Creation (Revelation 13:8 ) "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world". In the end, after he made himself an offering for sin (vs.10), he would live again and "see the travail of his soul and be satisfied" (vs.11). A few thought it might refer to the Messiah, others had other ideas but it was not till after the death and resurrection of Jesus, that his disciples recognized that it referred to him.
      WHY was this necessary? Isaiah 53 says, "We all like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way." That is the core/essence of sin against God--choosing to go our own way rather than the way of life that God calls us to choose. We cannot undo the damage by just feeling sorry, although that is the beginning. Psalm 49:7-8 tells us, "No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him--the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough." God is holy and hates all wrong doing, but loves the sinners. The consequence of sin is death. God wanted to rescue us. God knew from the time he created people about the wrong choices they would make. Yet he wanted them to CHOOSE and LOVE him freely so he had to allow them to make bad choices. So before creation God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, had this plan for dealing with sin and its results--a perfect sacrifice that God himself paid in Jesus. Jesus and the Father (one God) were absolutely united in this and that is why Jesus came.
      Remember what Jesus said in John 10. He is both the Good Shepherd and the Lamb of God. He is both the person offering the sacrifice and the sacrifice. Jesus said, "I lay down my life for the sheep (us)…No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord…I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
      When we turn away (repent) from our own way (sins) and ask for God's forgiveness through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and ask him into our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit, we receive God's gift of new life, but we have to choose to keep on choosing to live in him and asking him to live in us.
      Go look at the carving on the front of the altar in the sanctuary of Christ Church and think about what Jesus did 2,000 years ago as being offered to YOU and me NOW in Holy Communion (Eucharist).
      God showed both his holiness, righteousness and love in Christ's death and resurrection. Romans 5:8-10 says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of is Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!"
      Let us praise and thank God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ for his incredible gift!.
      Now think about some words the Lord gave the teachers about Isaiah 53:4-9.
"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted." (Isaiah 53:4) A word received: I bore your sins and your burdens on my way to the cross. I carried them to the cross -- leave them there.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) A word received: Let me bear your bruises and your wounds.

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6) A word received: I have to gather up my lost sheep -- come to me, I AM the Good Shepherd.

"He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7) A word received: Be prepared to trust me -- be prepared for the day of testing; be prepared to leave your burdens in my hands.

"He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare his generation? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people he was stricken." (Isaiah 53:8 ) A word received: I was cut off so that you may live.

"And they made his grave with the wicked--but with the rich at his death, because he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth." (Isaiah 53:9) A word received: Listen to me -- my words are true and faithful.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 03. October 4, 2009

2009-09-27T16:30:00.000-07:00

            Who do you say that I am?
      "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life"
Theme Verse:       "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: John 14:1-14; John 10:7-10
Memory Verse: "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me." (Pre-K to grade 3)
      If you have read and heard the Bible all your life you may never have stopped to think about what a strange way to talk -- as in "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life" or "I AM the Door" or " the Bread of Life" or "I AM the Resurrection and the Life." People in the Bible often talked about life and ideas in stories, metaphors and picture language, sometimes called parables. God in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament could talk about himself as a Good Shepherd. Everyone then had often seen shepherds and knew how they acted. They had all seen sheep and knew how they acted. Teachers used stories of historical events to speak about something new, yet similar, that was happening -- as in "Passover lamb." Their culture was one that emphasized oral tradition -- even though they had books (but only a few had them.) All Jewish children memorized a lot of Bible stories and verses so that Jesus' Jewish listeners would have recognized quickly a reference to an earlier event or Bible verse.
      Jesus wants us to know who he is. These days in our culture there is a lot of confusion about this. Today's lesson is one of the "I AM" statements. Several times when Jesus said them the authorities accused him of blasphemy because he "made himself equal with God." It is, in fact, a claim that he and the Father are one -- as John 1:1-2 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." In Exodus 3:13-14 God tells Moses his name. It is "I AM who I AM." When Jesus was arrested in the Garden and said "I AM he," (as translated) but he literally said, "I AM" and the soldiers drew back and fell to the ground in shock. (John 18:5-6)
      Words like "way" and "truth" were often used in the Old Testament. "Way" referred to a well trodden road and so was a picture of a journey, a way of living over time, a correct or incorrect route to take. "Truth" as we use it in court means the facts (not just opinions) and often means for us an idea. While that is there in the Bible, when the Old Testament talks about the God of Truth in Isaiah 65:16 ("swear by the God of Truth"), they had in mind mainly God's faithfulness over time, his reliability, steadiness and his covenant love and care like a parent. You could depend on him. When they meant he was the true God, the real God, and not an idol, they often called him the "Living God", or the "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" -- meaning One who had a personal relationship with those people.
      In spite of this Jesus' disciples were sometimes pretty dense! When Jesus said "I AM the Way" he meant more than that they needed to follow him. (Think of being lost and alone on a country road and when you ask how to get to someone's house, the person says, "Follow me. I will lead you."). Jesus is the way to get to God the Father. The Way is a person and a relationship with him and following him. To know the Way is to know a person. Following Jesus is the route to follow. He is a bit like your personal GPS (but better); but you have to choose to keep on following him to get there. Truth is also a person, Jesus, who came to lead us to the Father.
      The reason is that Jesus is "in the Father and the Father in him" -- to see/know him is to "see" (and know) the Father. The Jewish authorities (verse 10) several times tried to kill Jesus for saying things like this because they recognized what he was saying but didn't believe that Jesus was one with God the Father (John 10:30, "I and the Father are one."
      Jesus calls us also to follow him on the road/journey of life and to know him personally. We can trust him. In the beginning Christianity was called "The Way". There are many other ways but only his way leads to God the Father's House (Heaven) and new life now and forever. It is possible to have correct ideas about Jesus but never know him as a person or follow him.
      Notice that Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit of God as the Spirit of Truth. He is faithful and trustworthy as well as revealing the reality of who God is and what he wants us to know. In John 17:17 Jesus prays "sanctify them (make them holy) by the truth, your word is truth," he is referring both to himself as the Truth and the message God gives. The Spirit of Truth always points to Jesus the Truth. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth to be with his disciples and us until he returns in Glory.
      We looked in the first two lessons about what Jesus as "the Life" meant. Jesus is Life and he want to give us life and give it abundantly! (John 10:10) Look at the Memory Verse. Word received: Notice the sequence: you start by being on the way with me. As you walk with me and talk with me, truth is gradually revealed. As you walk with me and as you enter into truth, new life springs forth in you.
      Now look at John 10:7-10 where Jesus call himself the "Door" -- the Door into life -- new life now and life with him in heaven later. What do you think of when you say a "door", it is a way to get in or out of somewhere. It is narrow -- not an open field and you have to choose whether to walk through, or try to climb over a wall or in a window (like a thief.) In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus talks about the way to life as a narrow way that leads to life in God. There is no other way around it. Think of a narrow mountain road with a cliff on one side and a chasm on the other and it is the only way through. But Psalm 119:96b talks about God's commands as "exceedingly broad." Once through the pass and the narrow road, we discover it is an amazingly spacious, broad valley of God's wisdom and fellowship.
      Another "door" all the Jewish listeners would know were the doors on the Israelite homes in Egypt on the night of Passover. Only the doors that had the blood of the lamb were saved. There was life inside and death outside.
      Now let's look at the John 10 verses where Jesus talks about being the Door and some verses in Revelation 3 where Jesus talks about doors. These are some words the Lord gave the teachers. What do they say to you? Are we listening to the Lord as we read the Scripture? What is he telling you?
      "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,'" (Revelation 3:7a) A word received: I want there to be brotherly love in my church. I want you each to care passionately for those who have not yet entered into new life with me.

      'These things says he who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens:'" (Revelation 3:7b) A word received: I AM the way, the truth, and the life. You can only go into the kingdom through me.

      "'I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name.'" (Revelation 3:8 ) A word received: The open door is my invitation to you and everyone else to come in. Don't stand outside, come in. You will not succeed by your strength, but by my strength. Let my strength be made perfect in your weakness.

       (John 10:7) A word received: You are my sheep; enter in through the door; I AM the door.

      "'All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.'" (John 10:8 ) A word received: Listen to my voice, listen to me speaking by the Holy Spirit, listen to me speaking through Scripture.

      "'I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.'" (John 10:9) A word received: Look to me for direction.

      "'The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.'" (John 10:10) A word received: Come into my abundant life, receive all that I have for you -- hunger for it.

      "'I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.'" (John 10:11) A word received: .Turn to me, I AM the good shepherd. I will not lead you astray. Trust me to lead you to good pasture

      Note: The Greeks used a different word for truth (the New Testament was written in Greek). It means the actual state of affairs, reality, facts. But in the NT the Old Testament idea of stability, faithfulness, trustworthiness is often combined with the Greek idea. So it can talk about truth as something that can be done (behavior) rather than something simply believed. There is often the contrast between God's truth and people's falseness or lies, sin. Also Satan's character is that he is a liar.
      Bonhoffer, the German pastor who was part of the "Confessing Church" (underground church) under Hitler, when they were totally surrounded by lies, wrote that they read the Bible every day because it told the truth about people.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 02 September 27, 2009

2009-09-20T11:50:00.001-07:00

Who do you say that I am?
"I AM the Resurrection and the Life"-Jesus raises the dead
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: John 11:17-44 (or 11:1-44) Luke 7:11-17
Memory Verse: "I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies." John 11:25 (Pre-K to grade 3)
      Last week we looked at Jesus' resurrection as "of first importance" in understanding who Jesus is and what difference that can make in our lives. He is (present tense) alive now and forever and wants to have a personal relationship with us now and give us new life, now in this life and the life to come. He was and is the Messiah/Christ, God's WORD taking on our humanity, to live and die for us to give us new life in him.
Jesus has power over life and death.
      In this lesson we see Jesus during his earthly ministry, not just healing people but restoring the dead to life! When Jesus says to Martha, "I AM the Resurrection and the Life" he means that like God the Father, he too has life in himself and can give life to others. In John 5:26, Jesus says, "For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself." (Remember how he also said, "I and the Father are one!" John 10:30). Remember how Jesus said in John 10:15, 17-18 "I lay down my life for the sheep…The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." Here Jesus is also saying who he is since only God has this kind of power.
      Notice how Jesus waits till his friend, Lazarus, has already died before he goes to him so that his disciples and friends, including Mary and Martha, can learn more about who he is and that God the Father has sent him and is in him, so that God can be glorified and that they may believe. Jesus wanted to move them from where they are in their thinking to a new relationship with himself. Thomas is full of despair in vs.16, "Let us go die with him." But Jesus is about to show Thomas and the others that he himself is the source of Life and can give new life to others. Jesus moves Martha from saying "If you had been here my brother would not have died" (even as she believes in Jesus' power over death and in life after death). to saying, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who has come into the world." Jesus wants to move us from where we are to a life of hope in him, not hope in the abstract but hope in him.
      When Jesus raised the only son of the widow of Nain (her only support) and Jairus's daughter, they were newly dead (dead bodies were buried the same day) but Lazarus had been dead four days! (When I was in Pakistan they also buried bodies within 24 hours.) There are a few stories in the Old Testament of prophets raising the dead like Elijah raising the widow's son in 1 Kings 17 and Elisha raising a woman's son in 2 Kings 4. They raised the dead by the power of God but Jesus is himself the source of life because of who he is. Hebrews 11:19 tells us that Abraham believed that God could even raise his son from the dead when God asked him to sacrifice him and "figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death."
Eternal Life
      Those Jesus raised from the dead died later, but these miracles point to the eternal life that Jesus wants to give us. Eternal life is not just going to heaven after we die but it is also a new quality of life now, a new relationship with the One who is Life Itself. Jesus says in John 5:24 "Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me HAS eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." Jesus' cross and resurrection point to Jesus' victory over both sin and death-- the two biggest enemies people have. Jesus says again in John 17:3 "This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
      Now look at Jesus' love and compassion for those who grieve. Even though Jesus knew what he was going to do he "groaned in spirit and was troubled" when he saw Mary and the others weeping. Then he wept. (vs.33,35) Recall how he had compassion for the widow and the girl's parents. (In raising the daughter of Jairus, Jesus showed his love for children. He wanted the children to come to him so he could bless them.) Remember how Jesus wept over Jerusalem because of the disaster coming because they had refused to believe him. Remember how he had compassion on the crowds who followed him "because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd". (Matthew 9:36). Hebrews 4:15 tells us that in Jesus "we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses" Do we grieve over the things that grieve God? If you ever have seen a picture of a statue of Buddha, he looks serene and worked at being untouched by the pain of life. Jesus is involved in what is happening to his people and cares about us.

      What are some of the ways that the Lord wants us to apply this lesson to our lives?
Have you experienced some of these? Can you share it?
"Now Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.'" (John 11:21) A word received: I AM always with you in your joys and in your sorrows.

"'But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.'" (John 11:22) A word received: I want you to know that as well: whatever I ask of my father, he will give me.

"Martha said to him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.'" (John 11:24) A word received: I want you to live with hope -- hope in the resurrection at the last day.

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live.'" (John 11:25) A word received: I am the resurrection and the life. Turn to me for new life and for the life to come. I want you to know me right now as your risen and ascended Lord.

"'And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'" (John 11:26) A word received: Do you believe this? I want you to believe this. I want you to know in your heart and in your mind that I AM risen and that I AM life.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 01 September 20, 2009

2009-09-18T02:22:00.001-07:00

      Who do you say that I am?
      The Resurrection of Jesus
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Luke 24: 1-12 and John 20: 19-31
Optional: Matthew 16:13-16
Memory Verse: "Why do you look for the living among the dead. He is not here, he is risen! Remember how he told you while he was still with you." (Pre-K to grade 3) Luke 24:5b-6
      This year we are starting off by looking at the answer to Jesus' question, "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus had just asked his disciples, "Who do men say that I am?" There were many answers, even among God's people the Jews. There is so much confusion these days about this, even in the church, so we need to be clear about the foundations stones of our faith.
      We are going to start with Jesus' resurrection. Why that? Because it is basic. Paul calls it "of first importance"! Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 & 12-20. "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins, according to the scripture, that he was buried, that he was raised on the 3rd day according to the scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter and then to the 12. After that he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living….and last of all he appeared to me also… (vs.3-7)"And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith…"(vs.17) "you are still in your sins."
      Jesus compared himself to the cornerstone (or keystone) (Mark 12:10-11) mentioned in Psalm 118:22-23. The whole building rests on a cornerstone and the whole arch is held together by the keystone. The resurrection of Jesus is a necessary foundation for our faith in him and our salvation. The resurrection shows who Jesus is. It demonstrates that "through the Spirit of Holiness (Holy Spirit) he was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 1:3-4) (He received his human nature as a descendent of King David.) The resurrection demonstrates who Jesus is and proves the meaning of his cross and death. This was all promised long before in the Hebrew scriptures. (Old Testament).. Remember how we say week by week: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. The tombs of the founders of other religions are still full. Jesus' tomb is empty!

      Now read Luke 24:1-12. In spite of Jesus telling the disciples several times about his coming death and resurrection--they couldn't hear it. They all had difficulty believing it even when they saw angels, or an empty tomb and Jesus himself! Look at the Memory Verse. What did the angel say? The women had come to prepare the body of their friend for burial (no undertakers). (Remember that the women were the last ones at the cross and the first at the tomb although they were not qualified by law to be legal witnesses.)
      When the women went and told the disciples what had happened they didn't believe them and thought the women were imagining things. (Don't worry about slight differences in the four accounts. There are many experiments and examples of people reporting on a major surprise event and reporting slightly different details about what they experienced.)
      When Jesus appeared to the disciples that night, (Luke 24:33f) and in spite of telling others that Jesus was risen, when he appeared they thought he was a ghost! Jesus asks them to touch him, see his hands and feet and even ate a piece of fish to show them he was real (even though he also came through locked doors!)
      The religious leaders went to Pilate and asked for a guard of soldiers to make the tomb secure because they remembered that Jesus had said he would rise again after three days---even though the disciples didn't remember! Pilate gave them the guard of soldiers. (Matthew 27:62-66) When the angel rolled away the stone and there was an earthquake the soldiers fainted. Later when the women had seen and heard the angel and left to tell the disciples, some of the guards went and told the chief priests and elders what had happened. The authorities paid the soldiers and promised to protect the soldiers and told them to say the disciples had stolen the body at night while they were asleep. There was a death penalty for that! (Matthew 28:11-15). You can be sure that if they could have produced Jesus' body they would have!!! (Note at end about other evidences.)
      Jesus wants us to know for sure he is risen and alive for us now. Word received: I want the children and the adults to know that I am alive and I live forever. Word received: You can turn to me now, whatever your need or trouble. ("Knowing" in a Biblical sense is both about knowing a fact in your mind and also experiencing it, as in knowing a person.)

      Now read John 20: 19-31 and reflect on some of the ways Jesus' resurrection can make a difference in our lives now. How can we personally experience the risen Jesus, who wants to be your Savior and King and who is one God with the Father and Holy Spirit? He wants us to follow him, just as his first disciples and Paul did. We begin by believing in him and asking him into our hearts, but there is more. (NOTE about grave clothes of Jesus'; and Lazarus.)

"Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'" (John 20:19) A word received: I can give you my peace now because I am alive now.

"When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." (John 20:20) A word received: I will show myself to you by giving you my Holy Spirit. I will give you joy through my Spirit.

"So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace to you! As the Father has sent me, I also send you.'" (John 20:21) A word received: I want you to go forth with my joy and peace.

"And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'" (John 20:22) A word received: I want you to receive my Holy Spirit.

"'If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'" (John 20:23) A word received: I want my life, my resurrection life, to be displayed in your life.

"Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came." (John 20:24) A word received: You were not there when I first spoke to my disciples, neither was Thomas. Just as I met him later, I can meet you now.

"The other disciples therefore said to him, 'We have seen the Lord.' So he said to them, 'Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.'" (John 20:25) A word received: Bring your unbelief to me. Don't be afraid to tell me.

"And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, 'Peace to you!'" (John 20:26) A word received: I say that to you as well: Peace to you!

"Then he said to Thomas, 'Reach your finger here, and look at my hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.'" (John 20:27) A word received: Do not harden your hearts when I come to meet you; let your heart be ready to believe.

"And Thomas answered and said to him, 'My Lord and my God!'" (John 20:28 ) A word received: I want you to join with Thomas in saying, "My Lord and my God."

"Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'" (John 20:29) A word received: You have believed because of the witness of my Holy Spirit and the witness of faithful people. I want you to be a faithful witness as well.

"And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:30-31) A word received: I want you to receive my word. It is written so that you may believe.

NOTE- Evidence of the grave clothes: Luke 24:12 reports that Peter ran to the tomb and "saw the strips of linen lying by themselves". John 20: 5-7 reports that Peter and John saw the strips of linen lying there as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Jesus' grave cloths were not tossed around. They had just collapsed in place. Compare what Lazarus needed when Jesus raised him from the dead (John 11:44). He was all wrapped up and had to be helped out of his grave clothes even though he was alive!

      "he was buried" The point of this is that Jesus was really dead. The Roman soldiers saw to that! The idea that Jesus didn't really die is nonsense.

      The doors were locked in the upper room where the disciples were because of fear. (John 20:19) Jesus could appear and disappear from sight yet he could be touched and ate food! He also knew what Thomas had said the week before he came and spoke to Thomas. Jesus' resurrection body was the same yet different.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 29 May 18, 2008

2008-04-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

Growing in the Spirit and in Community
Theme: The Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit', says the LORD of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Readings: Ephesians 4:1 - 5:2; 1Corinthians12:12-27; Acts 2:42
Optional: 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:3; 1 Peter 2:11-12
Memory Verse: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. " Ephesians 4:32 (Pre-K to grade 3)
      GOD'S CALL "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called." ( Ephesians 4:1) Word received: Remember when you heard My call--some heard it clearly, some not distinctly. In each case I called you.
       " with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love." (vs.2) Word received: The call cannot be answered in pride, it must be answered in humility. You cannot answer the call in your own strength, you can only answer it with the power of My Holy Spirit.
       "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (vs.3) Word received: In almost every case, the call will involve others in My Body. Seek the unity of My Body through the Holy Spirit.
       "There is one Body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling." (vs.4) Word received: There are many denominations, but only one Body. There are many callings, but there is only one Spirit who calls. Live into the hope of your calling by praying for the restoration and unity of My Body. Prayer: Lord, help us live into your calling for us.
       "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you all. (vs.5-6) Word received: I want to lead you into a life lived in My Father. Just as I AM in the Father and He is in Me, I want you to be in Me and I in you--so that you will know (underline) My Father.
      HOW TO LIVE IN THE BODY Jesus' new commandment to his disciples the night before he died was "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you." "By this shall all man know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another." (John 13:34-35) Jesus uses the word agape for love, the kind of love God has. Do outsiders see this in us, that they may be drawn to Jesus?
      In his chapter of Ephesians, Paul picks up on this theme as he is telling them how to live the Christian life. "Be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us." To do this we have to "Put off your old (sinful) nature" (vs22) and "put on( clothe yourself) the new nature created after the likeness of Christ". (vs.24)
      As Christians, we now belong to one Body, Christ's Body and so we are members one of another. For the sake of his Body, Christ gave gifts to each person. Paul lists some of the ongoing gifts of service/ministry Christ has placed in his Body. (see vs.11) The word translated "ministry" or "service" is the same word as the word for deacon (diakonia). In Acts 6 where the church chose "deacons" to serve table and care for widows, the same word is used to describe the diakonia/serving prayer and the diakonia/serving of the Word.
      God's gifts are for the "works of service" and the building up of the Body of Christ (as well as service outside the Body). The finial purpose is that the Body/the Church reach/attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God. The further goal is that all members of Christ's Body reach spiritual maturity, grow up! to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (vs.13) This will draw people to Jesus. Then we will not be "tossed about" by every fad of teaching either in the church or the world.
      God has arranged gifts and services in His Body the way HE wants them. We can help each other discover what God has prepared for us to do. Review the analogy of the human body in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. Word received: Do not ignore each other in My Body. Pay attention to each other. You each have a very important part to play in My Community. Only when you acknowledge each person and their gift and work together, can you function as a Christian community. Each part is important.
      Look at the description of the infant church in Acts 2:42 "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Word received: Just as the first Christians devoted themselves to Me and to the Christian community, so I want you to do the same. This is a model to show you what to do to live in a Christian community. Look at what their priorities were as seen in their actions.
      Now look at all the practical advice Paul gives. In verse 24, he tells them to watch how you talk. Say only what will help the hearer and suit the occasion. Cut out all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and malice.(vs.31) Instead do what the Memory Verse says. Reread it aloud.
      We, as Christians, are to stop every lie and speak the truth (in love) to our neighbor because we belong to each other. The person who was a thief is to work so he can give to others. Peter in his letter tells us we are to cut out "passions of the flesh" (sinful nature) that are the enemies of our souls. We are to watch our behavior in front of unbelievers (Gentiles) so they can see your good deeds and glorify God. How do you feel this applies to us, as individuals and as a Body?
      [Of course, we are to minister outside the church and witness and serve Christ there but that is another lesson.]
      Paul sums it up in 1 Corinthians10:31, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
      Jesus' heart's desire is for us to love His Body, the Church. (What are some of the practical ways we can do this?)

Teaching Ideas for Lesson 29
      Please read the Study Guide first (after you have read the Scriptures). Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
      Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year. Read the lesson aloud from the Bible in class.
      Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.

Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
      1. Jesus is calling you to follow him, to be a part of His Body (the Church).
      2. Jesus wants His Father to become your Father too.
      3. Jesus wants his followers (us) to live and work together in unity and love (love like his).
      4. When we live together this way and share Jesus' love with others, then other people will want to know about Jesus too.
      5. In the Body of Christ (the Church) each person has a special job that God has given each one the ability to do. Each job is equally important. Remember it is like your body--each part has a different job to do and all are needed for things to work properly.
      6. When all of us live together this way, then we can all "grow up" to be more and more like Jesus.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 28 May 4, 2008

2008-04-13T03:34:00.000-07:00

Dealing with Evil or How to resist Evil
Theme: The Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit', says the LORD of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Readings: Ephesians 6:10-18; Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Peter 5:8-11; James 4:7 (8)
Memory Verse: "Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." Romans 13:14(Pre-K to grade 3)
      Evil is real. There are spiritual powers of evil in the world as well as the sinful things people do. There is a phrase that sums it up, "the world (apart from God), the flesh( sinful human nature) and the devil". C.S. Lewis says equal and opposite errors are to think Satan isn't real or to give him too much credit and attention. The "world" and "the flesh" account for a great deal of evil in the world. People have a choice about temptation but the more they give in the less their ability to resist till it comes to a place where only God can set them free. The spiritual powers of evil are created beings who rebelled against God (fallen angels, devil, evil spirits). (A possible hint about this is found in Isaiah 14:12-14.) They are NOT EQUAL to God (Dualism as in Zoroastrianism). Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:11-12 to stand against the devil's schemes for our struggle is not against flesh and blood (people) , but against the rulers, against the authorities ... against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." At the final judgment God will put an end to them forever. Satan is already defeated by Jesus' cross and blood but the war isn't over yet so he is still active.
      But God has made provision for us. In the prayer Jesus taught us, he tells us to pray daily "Deliver us from evil/the evil one" and "Do not bring us into hard testing/temptation" In Gethsemane he told his disciples "Pray that you do not enter into temptation." In addition to prayer there is the power of the Holy Spirit, God's armor and the Name of Jesus.
      Jesus himself had to confront and battle with the devil's temptations. This testing/temptation was allowed by God to strengthen and prepare Jesus for what he would face in his ministry. Look at Matthew 4:1-11. (Testing and temptation are the same word in Greek.) Notice how Jesus dealt with temptations and hard testing. First he fasted and prayed. Then he answered each temptation with "the sword of the Spirit" -- which is the Word of God. He said, "It is written..." and quoted God's Word each time. The devil can quote scripture too, BUT he always puts a twist and spin on it. In quoting Ps.91 (9-12) he left out "If you make the Most High your dwelling" and "he will command his angels to guard you in ALL your ways." Jesus knows about resisting temptations and the devil by experience and he will help us if we ask. "Because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18) (Satan is a liar and we need to know God's truth.)
      Jesus knew God's Word. That's why we also need to know God's Word. Word received: Jesus ran to My WORD. Run to My WORD. (God's Word is both his inspired word in Scripture and Jesus THE WORD.) Word received: Hide My Word where you can get at it when you need it--in your mind and heart. Psalm 119:11 says "I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you." That is why we urge children -- and adults to memorize Bible verses. Word received: I want My children to be firmly grounded in My Word so they can stand their ground against the evil one. Have you ever had a verse you learned years ago pop up when you needed it? Share.
      In Ephesians, Paul talks about putting on the full armor of God. We need to put it on daily when we get up. Look at 6:10, "Be strong in the Lord, in the strength of HIS might." Word received: The only way you can be strong is in Me. When you cast your burdens and cares on Me, you are letting Me be your strength. The only way to win the battle is to rely completely on Me. Word received: Do you see the plan here? I tell you exactly what to do. Don't ignore it! Take it seriously. The whole world is in a struggle of spiritual battle. There isn't one gun that can help you. You need My Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. Read My Word and do what it says.
      In the armor God offers the "sword of the Spirit which is the word of God" as the only offensive weapon in the armor. "For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to the dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews4:12) (In the book of Acts we see that the Name of Jesus has power to heal people and defeat the devil. See Acts 3:16, 9:34, 16:16-18)
      Word received: The armor is there to protect you; the armor you are putting on is My character. Look at each piece of armor and see My character. Have the children identify stories from the Bible that illustrate My character in each piece: Truth, Righteousness, Gospel of Peace, Faith, Salvation, the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of Go. Think about the Memory Verse "Clothe yourself in Jesus Christ." Put on Jesus' character through the power of the Holy Spirit and "abide" in him, live in him and obey him and ask him to live in your heart. (John 15) Then don't make any allowances or room for sinful desires. The Holy Spirit helps us to know when we are confronting sin and evil. He will also show us how to deal with the temptations. One of his names is the Helper.
      Now look at 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant, because your enemy/adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith." Word received: Just as I have established boundaries for the sea, I have established boundaries for Satan. He cannot go beyond the boundary
of My Word. Verse 9 says, "Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world." You are NOT ALONE. Everyone is tested. God is faithful and he will see us through!
      Now compare James 4:7 and Romans 13:14. Look at the order in these verses, it is very important. Do what the order says and you will be protected. "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) "Clothe yourself in the Lord Jesus Christ and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Romans 13:14). Word received: The two go together: submitting to Me and resisting the devil.
      At the end of the description of the full armor of God comes the strong appeal, "Having done all, stand." Paul repeats it three times. "That you may be able to withstand in the day of evil", "and having done all, stand", "stand therefore "(having put on God's armor). We are to stand, to hold the ground God has given us to hold. We are also to "Keep on praying", with all kinds of prayer. Look at how many "alls" there are; all occasions, all kinds of prayer, for all the saints (other Christians). That means we should be praying all the time--that is, having a running conversation with the Lord throughout the day.
      Another warning the Scriptures give us is to never give the devil a foothold--don't take the bait. For example, Ephesians 4:26 says "when you are angry do not sin. Don't let the sun go down on your anger." That is, don't go to bed angry, it gives the devil a foothold. Other footholds that can open you up to Satan are things that are part of his kingdom of evil, such as Fortune telling/divination (Deut.18:10), Spiritualism, Tarot cards, Ouija boards, consulting the dead, astrology, horoscopes, witchcraft and other occult things. If you or someone you know has gotten involved with these things, even if it was done innocently, the person needs to repent, ask forgiveness and renounce them in the Name of Jesus and ask for Jesus help and protection. Another tactic of the devil is to raise doubts as in "Did God really say…?" and then comes the temptation. The devil has done this since the Eve and to Jesus himself, "If you are the Son of God…"
      Everyday sin needs to be brought to Jesus quickly, as soon as you realize what you have done, repent, and ask for and receive Jesus' forgiveness. (Keep short accounts with God.) Then ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to keep from falling into that sin again--however many times you need to.
      We don't need to be afraid. God is stronger and He wins in the end. But we should not be careless about resisting temptation.

NOTE: How does all this relate to the Bible Fund? The Word of God is called the Sword of the Spirit. When you send a soldier into combat, don't give him a BB gun but the best weapon possible. One of the ways American Christians can help Christians in poor countries to be well equipped for battles against "the world, the flesh and the devil" is to send them Bibles to read. For $4 the Bible Society can send one Bible to someone in another country who can't afford one or even borrow one.
       Right now in China, for the first time in many years Bibles are not illegal and are BEING PRINTED IN CHINA ITSELF. The Amity Press has printed over 50 million and has distributed 42 million of them since 1988 .(In the 1960's and 70's Bibles were banned, confiscated, burned and destroyed) We need to be steady in helping equip our fellow Christians for the spiritual battles they fight. The American Bible Society has a program of subsidizing Bibles with Amity so that they cost $1 each, the same as eggs! There are still one and a quarter billion Chinese who do not have a copy of the Bible.

Teaching Ideas for Lesson 28
      Please read the Study Guide first (after you have read the Scriptures). Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
      Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year. Read the lesson aloud from the Bible in class. Make sure they know what happened in the story or verses. Get them to tell you.

      Special Bible story: David said to the Philistine, Goliath, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the Name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." (1 Samuel 17:45) David did not use Saul's armor (vs.39) but chose the Name of God for his armor.

Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
      1. Evil is real but God is more powerful and has not left us alone or without weapons.
Satan must bow down before the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is no need to be afraid.
      2. When Jesus himself was tested, he used the Word of God to attack and protect himself against Satan's lies. Knowing the scriptures is important so we can recall it in a time of trouble and stand on it.
      3. Praying in the Name of Jesus is also successful in battling the devil and spiritual forces of evil. The Name of Jesus is the most powerful name there is.
      4. Put on the full armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6:10-18 each day to protect yourself from evil and in times of temptation.
      5. The only way to be strong is in Jesus, to rely completely on him in the battles of life.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 27 April 20, 2008

2008-04-12T16:55:00.000-07:00

Growing in the Spirit and in Prayer
Theme: The Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit', says the LORD of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Readings: Matthew 6:5-15; Ephesians 6:18
Memory Verse: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6(Pre-K to grade 3)
      "Now it came to pass, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, that one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples'" (Luke 11:1) Word received: That is a prayer I delight to answer: "Lord, teach me to pray." I want my people to come to me with that prayer. I will teach them.
      Jesus had a good deal to teach about prayer but the most powerful part was his example. He would daily find time to be alone with his Father in Heaven and he only did what he saw his Father doing and "whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say." (John 12:50b) Growing in the Spirit means growing in our relationship to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), growing in obedience and in our likeness to his character.
      In his teaching in Matthew 6, Jesus expects that his disciples will have regular times of private prayer. "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." (Matthew 6:6) Word received: Come to me, my people, come to me. I want you to come into my presence without distractions. Find a quiet place and a quiet time where you can be alone with me.
      Jesus asks us--who are we doing our prayers for?--and our giving--and our good deeds? Are they done to be seen and praised by others? for our own satisfaction? or for God? Jesus' guideline is to do them privately--and our Father will see and reward us.
"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward." (Matthew 6:5) Word received: Remember the Pharisee who "prayed thus with himself" and the tax collector who "would not even look up to heaven." They were two men in the same place doing the same thing, but their prayers were utterly different. Both were praying about themselves, but the Pharisee prayed with pride and the tax collector with humility. I want you to pray with humility when you come into my presence.
      Another guideline of Jesus was--no long prayers, no fancy phrases or vocabulary. Why? First, we are not to show off. This reminds me of the comment about a famous preacher, "It was the finest prayer ever offered to a Boston audience." Secondly, God already knows what we need--and even want--before we ask, but he wants us to ask!
"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words." (Matthew 6:7) Word received: Remember your cry to me as you awoke, "Dad, I really want to go," and how I answered that prayer by sending you and Jean and the other children to Brereton's wedding in Japan. It was few words, but they were words from your heart and I answered them.
"Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." (Matthew 6:8) Word received: Come to me with your requests, I already know your needs; I already know your heart's desire. I AM a father who delights to have his children come to him.
      Now look at the pattern of prayer Jesus taught us. The first three requests are about God's glory, but the first phrase calls God "Our Father"! One of the striking things Jesus did was to teach his disciples to call God their Father in heaven. This way of referring to God is unusual in the Old Testament. He is also our Father. We are part of a family of God and we pray for them also. [Calling God "Father" is considered blasphemous by Muslims as being too intimate with God.] But in Jesus, we too can have a family and personal relationship to God. There is almost an epidemic of fatherlessness in our society and discovering God as Father is a very healing thing.
      Note: Consider reading the Lord's prayer from the "Good News Bible" at the end of the study guide so it will be a little less familiar and therefore fresher.) The phrase "on earth as it is in heaven" belongs to all three requests: "May your Name be held holy", "May your kingdom come" (the rule of God), "May your will be done".
      The rest of the requests are about us.. "Give us today our needed bread". This goes with Jesus' teaching about not being anxious about future needs because God knows our needs and cares for us. He will provide what we need and we can trust him.
      "Forgive us our debts/sins as we forgive other's debts/sins against us. Jesus continues with this idea in verses 14-15. God means what he says about the need to forgive. Unforgiveness will block God's forgiveness and will also block healing. Peter asked Jesus how many times he had to forgive someone and Jesus' answer was "70 times 7" meaning no limit. We do not want limits on God's forgiveness of us! Remember what God told Samuel (1 Samuel 16:7) that people look on the outside but God knows the heart!
      The next request is about being delivered from "evil" or "the evil one" and not leading us into hard testing. James 1:13 says God does not tempt anyone. However he does allow it--to strengthen us and purify us, just as Jesus was tempted/tested so that Jesus would be prepared for the temptations that would come during his ministry. ("Test" and "tempt" are the same word in the original.) Notice how Jesus handled his temptations by the Devil--with fasting and prayer and by using the Word of God, the "sword of the Spirit". (Matthew 4:1f) In Gethsemane, Jesus warned his disciples to pray that they would not enter into the temptation that was coming. But they went to sleep instead! (Matthew 26:41) "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation".
      The doxology in verse 13 is not considered to be part of the original prayer but was added when the prayer was used in worship. It is modeled after King David's prayer in 1 Chronicles 29:11. ["Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD and you are exalted as head over all."] A doxology is words of praise glorifying God. There are many in the Bible.
      Another important teaching about prayer is how we react to those who mistreat us. Jesus says in Luke 6:22, "Pray for those who despitefully use you." so we are to pray for them as well as forgive them.
      Paul also gives the new Christians guidance about prayer. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (Philippians 4:6) Word received: Lay aside your worries, cast your cares on me; that is the way to pray. Pray without fear, don't be afraid to tell me what is on your heart.
      "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18) Word received: "in the Spirit" -- expect my Spirit to direct your prayers so that you can pray according to my mind. I want to direct your prayers -- listen to me as you talk with me. How do you feel when someone talks with you and does all the talking, never listening to you? Remember what Eli taught the boy Samuel, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." (Listening in this reference means to hear intelligently, with attention and obedience.) God wants to be invited into our situations and he has things he wants to tell us. Will we let him?
      Another recurrent theme is to pray with thanksgiving. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Giving thanks "in all circumstances" not only is this God's will for us but we are acknowledging God's love and care for us and inviting Him into the situation because "God is enthroned(dwells) in the praises of Israel". In the New Testament Romans 8: 28 reminds us "For we know that God works in all things for good with those who love him"

Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored; may your Kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need. Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us. Do not bring us to hard testing, but keep us safe from the Evil One. (Matthew 6:9b-13, Good News Translation)

Teaching Ideas for Lesson 27
      Please read the Study Guide first (after you have read the Scriptures). Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
      Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year. Read the lesson aloud from the Bible in class.
      Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.

Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
      1. God loves you very much. He wants to be our very best friend and a good Father to us. He wants us to ask him to live in our hearts and start talking with him right away.
      Have you asked him in? He will NEVER leave you.
      2 Talking with God is called praying. It is talking to Jesus and to our Father in Heaven. It doesn't need to be fancy or long for He already knows what you need and want.
      3. When we talk to God, really talk to him, as a friend, not just rattling off a prayer you have learned. That's OK to use a prayer you've learned but really mean what you are saying! We can follow a prayer we learned in church or make up our own.
      4. Jesus wants us to call God our Father who loves you more than anyone else and he can take care of you. When we're scared or need help or don't know what to do, just call out and ask for help. The shortest prayer some adults have is "Help!"
      5. When we talk to God we need to thank him first for all he has given us and for who he is. We need to thank him even in bad times because he can bring good out of bad times.
      6. The more we talk to God the better we will get to know him and be able to hear him. God wants us to listen as well as talk, like little Samuel did.
      7. We can use the Lord's Prayer as a model. (Tell the kids what each sentence means and how to begin and end a prayer. Try to get the kids to make up a prayer for some different situations.)

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 26 April 13, 2008

2008-04-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

Growing in the Spirit
Learning to Listen and Discern God's Voice Part 2
Theme: The Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit', says the LORD of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Readings: 1 Kings 19:10-18; Philippians 1:9-11; Matthew 7:7-8
Optional: 1 Kings 18:45-19:9 (background)
Memory Verse: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8 (Pre-K to grade 3)
      BACKGROUND: Review briefly what Elijah was doing just before this journey and why he was running for his life. If possible start reading with 1 Kings 18:45 through 19:18. Elijah was a prophet of God in the Northern Kingdom where Ahab was King and Jezebel was Queen. She was a Baal worshiper. She had killed many of the prophets of God. Elijah appeared to King Ahab and told him to gather Israel and the 450 prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel. There was a contest between Elijah and these prophets to see whose God/god would send down fire from heaven to burn up their sacrifice. The prophets of Baal danced around their sacrifice for hours but nothing happened. Elijah poured water over his to show he had no tricks. The "I AM" sent fire down on Elijah's sacrifice, even licked up the water. All the Israelites shouted, "The LORD (I AM), he is God; the LORD, he is God.. Then Elijah executed the prophets of Baal, and then prayed for rain (after a long drought which God had sent) and it came in a downpour and Elijah outran Ahab's chariot all the way to Jezreel. Ahab told Jezebel what had happened. When she heard about Elijah's actions on Mt. Carmel she was determined to kill him by the next day and to scare him first.
      Elijah fled for his life and went, with his servant as far as Beersheba and went on alone into the wilderness, sat down under a tree, asked to die and then went to sleep with exhaustion. Twice an angel woke him up and fed him. Then he got up and went on the strength of that food 40 day and 40 nights to Mt Sinai (also called Horeb), the Mountain of God, where God gave the Ten Commandments. There he stayed in a cave. See maps.
      Elijah had heard and obeyed the LORD many times but now he was spiritually and physically exhausted after the struggle on Mt Carmel where God had given him supernatural strength. Now he was fearing for his life and feeling totally alone and vulnerable. (Have you ever felt like that?) So he runs away from his enemy and runs toward God at the Mountain of God. All this time God protected, fed and gave him rest and strength to go on. ( When we are exhausted and isolated, God wants us to run to HIM!
      Then the word of God came to Elijah, "What are you doing here, Elijah? Word received: I want to hear all your troubles. I will listen, love you, support you and carry your troubles if you let Me. Come to Me. Look at what God promises. "Cast all your cares/anxieties on him, for He cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7) In Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. See also Matthew 7:7. "Ask, and it will be given you, seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
      Then Elijah poured out his troubles. "So he said, 'I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.' " (1Kings 19:10) A word received: So little has changed among my people: altars are defiled by sacrifice to other gods, the leaders and teachers of the people have forsaken me, and they persecute my saints. Yet, I still want Elijah and you to wait on me and listen for my voice before you act.
      God's answer was to "Go out and stand on the Mountain before the LORD."
"And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. (1Kings 19:11-12) A word received: Wait for my voice, listen for me, wait for me to speak to you. Word received: I will always be there. I have a plan. I love you.
      "So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'" (1Kings 19:13) A word received: Will you stand and wait for me as Elijah did?
      Note that Elijah knew the voice of God as distinct from the powerful fireworks God provided in the wind, earthquake and fire but was not in them. God got his attention!! (When God whispers, are we paying attention?) Covering his face was an act of awe and reverence. We have seen Indian Christian women cover their faces with their saris after receiving Holy Communion for the same reason. Word received: Elijah was able to recognize My voice. Listen to Me. Talk with Me enough and you too will recognize My voice.
      Then Elijah heard the same voice asking again, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" God is not offended by Elijah's answer as Elijah repeats his troubles. "And he said, 'I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life'" (1Kings 19:14) A word received: It is alright to speak to me as Elijah did when you are having a bad time. I know your needs -- all of them -- bring them to me. As Elijah did what God told him to do, then God revealed his plan.
      Now God tells Elijah what he has for Elijah to do. First, he is to return another way, not where his fears were. Word received: When Elijah needed to hear My plan I told him. He trusted Me enough to wait for Me to share My plan at the right time. Do you trust Me?
      Then Elijah did what the LORD directed but not before God reminded Elijah "I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him." (vs.18) Even though we don't know them, God has his faithful ones all around us. He reminds us too that he has other faithful ones when we get to feeling along and isolated.
      Reread the Memory Verse, "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." We all need to work at drawing near to God, running to him when things are rough. He promises to draw near to us. Hebrews 13:5 promises, "I will never leave you or forsake you."--but sometimes we leave God. God wants us to be "single-minded" (not double minded) about our relationship and our obedience to him. Jesus reminds us that "No one can serve two masters." (Matthew 6:24)
      We need to pray Philippians 1:9-11 for ourselves, our children and each other. "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Notice the word "discern". Word received: To learn to discern My will, you must seek Me.
      MAPS and distances: Mt Carmel to Beersheba is 165 miles as crow flies. Mt Carmel is a high ridge running South/Southeast from Haifa. Since Elijah could see the sea as he prayed on Mt Carmel it may have been 170 miles, (longer by roads). The distance from Beersheba to Mt. Sinai is 225miles as the crow flies. (maps and distances courtesy of Mark and Darlene)

Myra will hand out maps to teachers.

WORD for teachers: Elijah was a man of My choosing. Pray that I will raise up such among you--men and women who will call My people back to Me.

Teaching Ideas for Lesson 26
      Please read the Study Guide first (after you have read the Scriptures). Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
      Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year. Read the lesson aloud from the Bible in class.
      Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.

Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
      1.When we are scared or have troubles, God wants us to run to Him.
      2. When we are in trouble or scared, God promises to be there. We just need to cry out to Him.
      3. When we cry out to God, He will always respond. We just need to listen.
      4. God always has a plan to take care of us. Sometimes we need to wait, listen, and keep praying.
      5. To know God's will we need to seek Him. Are we willing to trust Him enough to wait for His guidance.
      6. God is faithful. He will always answer.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 25 April 6, 2008

2008-04-06T03:48:00.000-07:00

Growing in the Spirit
Learning to Listen and Discern God's Voice Part 1
Theme: The Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit', says the LORD of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Readings: 1 Samuel 3:1-10; John 10: 1-18
Optional: 1 Samuel 3:19-21
Memory Verse: "Speak, for your servant is listening." 1 Samuel 3:10

NOTES: In verse 1 "word" and "vision" both refer to a revelation/message from God.
      "The lamp of God had not yet gone out." The lamp burned all night see
Exodus27:21 so the time was just before dawn.
      According to Jewish tradition, Samuel was 12 years old at this time. That is the same age that Jesus stayed behind in the temple. (Luke 40:52)

      "Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli." (1 Samuel 3:1a) A word received: I want the children to minister to me. Word received: Do you see that Samuel was just a boy when he was ministering before the LORD. I want to use all My people of all ages. Because Samuel was young his heart was very open to Me. I want to use the young ones among you.
      "And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation." (1 Samuel 3:1b) A word received: I want to pour out my word and my Spirit on my people. Pray for hearts that are prepared for my gifts.
      "And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see," (1 Samuel 3:2) A word received: Eli had two kinds of blindness; the worst was spiritual blindness.
      "and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down," (1 Samuel 3:3) A word received: I long for my people to rest in my presence.
NOTE on the Ark of God at end,
      Then the LORD called Samuel by name but he thought it was the old priest, Eli.
"So he ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am, for you called me.' And he said, 'I did not call; lie down again.' And he went and lay down." (1 Samuel 3:5) A word received: You will not always know whether it is my voice or the voice of another. Go to someone with discernment if you are not sure.
      "Then the LORD called yet again, 'Samuel!' So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, 'Here I am, for you called me.' He answered, 'I did not call, my son; lie down again.'" (1 Samuel 3:6) A word received: I will keep calling you until you recognize my voice.
      "Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him." (1 Samuel 3:7) The child Samuel did not yet know the LORD (the I AM) personally even though he was serving in the Tabernacle(still a tent) of God. A word received: I want to reveal my word to you. I want you to know me. I want every child to know me. Word received: Even if I have not been revealed to someone yet, they can still hear Me when I call to them. So pray and cry out for those who have not yet responded to My calling. Pray that their hearts will be open and soft and that they will answer My call to them.
      "And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, 'Here I am, for you did call me.' Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy." (1 Samuel 3:8) A word received: I want the adults to recognize when I am calling to the youth; I want them to discern this and encourage the youth to hear me as Eli did with Samuel. Eli finally got discernment the third time and gave clear instructions.
      "Therefore Eli said to Samuel, 'Go, lie down; and it shall be, if he calls you, that you must say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.' So Samuel went and lay down in his place." (1 Samuel 3:9) A word received: Pray for adults who will mentor the youth as Eli did Samuel.
      "Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel answered, 'Speak, for your servant hears.'" (1 Samuel 3:10) A word received: Pray for listening hearts.
      Look again at the Memory Verse. When we pray or read scripture, do we do all the talking or do we take time to be quiet? We have to work at listening. Each time Samuel had to get up and go check. We have to learn to listen. Moses, when he saw the burning bush that didn't burn up (Exodus 3) had to go over and investigate before God spoke to him.
      Now look at verses 19-21. God was with Samuel in a special way as he grew up and the whole nation of Israel knew he had become a prophet of God and that he spoke messages from God. Word received: Samuel was faithful and obedient to Me. I want you to be faithful and obedient too.
      "For the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD."
We, both children and adults, need to read the Bible regularly so we get familiar with the LORD's words and ask, as Samuel did, "Speak, for your servant is listening." An important way to begin is to pay attention to when a verse jumps out at you/catches your attention. Then we need to ask the LORD to show us what he is trying to tell us. We need to do this daily as we will become more sensitive to the Lord's voice.
            *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *
      Now look at John 10: 1-18. Jesus is both the Good Shepherd and the Gate. "The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…(vs.3) "He goes before them and the sheep follow him for they know his voice." (vs.4) If you have asked Jesus into your heart, you are one of his sheep/lambs and he calls you by name. Jesus knows your name and he calls you to follow him day by day! He wants us to talk to him and learn about him. Word received: The more you talk with Me the better you will recognize My voice.
      We all need to get to know his voice. One of the important ways is to read his word in the Bible. The first test of whether or not a word or message (could be a picture or strong sense) is whether or not it agrees with scripture. Then we have to ask him to reveal to us whether or not it is his present message to us. Remember, even the devil can quote scripture. The more we talk with Jesus the easier it is to recognize his voice. But we always need to test it. There are 3 sources for something that appears to be a message: God, ourselves and the devil. Sometimes we need to go to another person who hears from the LORD and ask them to test it. When we pray we shouldn't do all the talking. Some people receive a deep peace when they hear and pray about it. You can ask Jesus to speak to you and help you recognize his voice. Jesus told his disciples "Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." We also need to remember what Paul said, that our prophecy/hearing the Lord. is imperfect. It is never on the level of scripture.
      But the first step is always to ask Jesus into your heart and give yourself into his keeping. Word received: I want My people to accept Me as their personal Savior. Then they will know My voice. (on a regular basis. God sometimes speaks a converting word like he did to Paul.)
      When we are Jesus' sheep/lambs we have entered into God's sheepfold through Jesus. He is the Gate. There is no other way in. Only Jesus is "The Way, the Truth and the Life." Then we can come and go day by day and "find Pasture"(our daily needs). (vs.9) Word received: In Me you have true freedom. It's the kind of freedom that provides protection and space to grow. I love you. This is what I want for you. Stay in My pasture.
      "I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (vs.11) Word received: I AM a willing shepherd and a willing sacrifice. I love you. Jesus is our shepherd. He knows his sheep/lambs and his sheep know him. He loves his sheep/lambs.

NOTE on Ark of God: The Ark was a portable wooden box representing the presence and power of God with his people. (Ex.25:22) After God spoke to Moses on Mt Sinai, he gave instructions for a portable tent of worship called a Tabernacle. The Ark was one of the most important things in it. God used it to guide the Israelites in the wilderness (Numbers 10:33), to lead in war (Numbers 10:35-36), and a place to hear from God. (1 Samuel 3) It was regarded as a throne, a "Mercy Seat", above which God was invisibly enthroned. It contained the stone tables with the Ten Commandments on them.
It was to be carried on 2 long poles by priests.
      The wooden box was covered the gold and the Mercy Seat was pure gold. On each side of the seat were two cherubim, facing the seat, and overshadowing the Mercy Seat with their wing outstretched over the seat. (Exodus 37:1-9) Years later, King David moved it to Jerusalem.

Teaching Ideas for Lesson 25
      Please read the Study Guide first (after you have read the Scriptures). Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
      Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year. Read the lesson aloud from the Bible in class.
      Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.

Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
      1.God wants each of you to know him personally and he wants you to learn to hear and recognize his voice, just like Samuel.
      2. God wants to use us. It doesn't matter who you are, or how old you are.
      3. When God calls or speaks to us, he wants us to respond and act. God wants a relationship with us.
      4. If you think God has called you and you aren't sure, you can speak to someone in the Christian community who has wisdom and discernment.
      5. God wants us to act on what he tells us.
      6. The more you listen to the Bible being read (or read it) the more you will know what the Lord sounds like. When you pray you need to listen as well as talk. Samuel did.