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.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 12, December 13, 2009
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)]
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, November 29, 2009
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 11
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.
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.
Monday, November 16, 2009
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 10, November 22, 2009
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.
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.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 09. November 15, 2009
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.)
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.)
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 08, November 8, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, October 30, 2009
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 07, November 1, 2009
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.
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, October 18, 2009
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 06, October 25, 2009
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").
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, October 11, 2009
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 05 October 18, 2009
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".
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".
Thursday, October 8, 2009
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 04, October 11, 2009
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.
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.
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