A Life Of Integrity

                                                                    Sunday School Lesson
                                                                         January 1,2012
Lesson Focus:
Live a life of Integrity
Lesson Scripture:
Genesis 39:7-21

Introduction:

A life of integrity,"Lord make me more like Joseph in this upcoming year",is an excellent request to bring before God at the beginning of this new year.Joseph was a biblical character who exemplified a life of integrity.He was sold into slavery by his brothers,and Pharaoh's captain of the guard, bought Joseph in Egypt, and from age 17 when he was sold,to age 30,Joseph was an Egyptian slave and imprisoned. God gave him favor with Potiphar,who made Joseph overseer of his household.But there was one problem,Potiphar's lustful wife,who was set on seducing Joseph.She asked Joseph to lie with her and he refused.He said this would be a sin against God.Her final trick was to grab him in the house when they were alone,but Joseph ran away from her.She then lied to her husband and Joseph was imprisoned.But even in prison God was still with Joseph and gave him favor with the head jail keeper.Because Joseph was a man who lived his life in the light of God,God continued to bless him and use him for His glory.

Joseph's Integrity Is Tested

Genesis 39:7-12KJV

 ⁷And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

   ⁸But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
   ⁹There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
   ¹⁰And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
   ¹¹And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
   ¹²And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
Footnotes:
Joseph's brothers had originally planned to kill him,but sold him instead to a caravan of Ishmaelites specifically Midianite merchants, who happened to pass by on their way to Egypt.The merchants then sold him to Potiph,the commanding officer of the royal bodyguard for Pharaoh.Scripture says Joseph prospered and Potiphar experienced the Lord's blessing on everything he possessed.After a while  Potiphar wife asked Joseph to have a sexual relations wih her.Joseph said no to her advances and saidsuch an action would be a sin against God.Nevertheless she continued day after day badgering him to go to bed with her,and onday when Joseph came to do his daily duties and they were alone,she grabbed him and he fled  leaving behind his cloak.
     The enemy's tacks are consistant as was Potiphar's wifes advances on Joseph and like Joseph we must continue to say no to the advances of sin,even when it tells us we are all alone and no one will know.God sees everything.

Joseph's Character Shines in Prison
Genesis 39:13-21KJV
¹³And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
   ¹⁴That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
   ¹⁵And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
   ¹⁶And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
   ¹⁷And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
   ¹⁸And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
   ¹⁹And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
   ²⁰And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
   ²¹But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Footnotes:

After Joseph fled from Potiphar's house and his wife's aggressive hand-on demand for a sexual liaison, she used th eclock Joseph left in her hand to full advantage. This was not the first time an article of Joseph's clothing was used to support a lie about him.When Potiphar returned home and heard his wife's charge against Joseph he burned with anger and had Joseph imprisoned where the king's prisoners were confined.In prison like in Potiphar's house,Joseph was also successful in everything he did because God was with him.In this instance,Joseph had oversight of the entire prison operation and all of the other prisoners.In every circumstances of his life,Joeph conducted himself with integrity as a faithful obedient servant of the Lord,and his faithfulness brought rewards for himself and glory to God.

Our outward actions are the eveidence that the spirit of God is or is not dwelling within us.The ultimate test of Joseph  character was his moral resistance to temptation.To give in to temptation would have been a sin against God.Intergity flourishes when God's spirit is working in our lives.The person's integrity in consistent,not on way in this circustance and another way in another circumstance.We should be the same rather it is Sunday at church or Monday at the ballgame.Jesus said without the indwelling of the Holy spirit,godly integrity can never grow(John 15:5).

 

Celebrating Promises Fulfilled

                                                               Sunday School Lesson
                                                                  December 25,2011
Lesson Focus:
God's promises are
fulfilled in Jesus
Lesson Scripture:
Luke 1:46-55

Introduction:

Mary's magnificat is one of three major hymm-like pieces found in Luke.Mary's song spilled out of her heart when she visited her cousin Elizabeth.The angel Gabriel announced that she,a humble, obscure peasant girl,had been chosen to be the mother of the Messiah.When she walked in the door of  Elezabeth's house,the child in Elizabeth's womb (John The Baptist) leaped.Mary continued her praise by shining the spotlight on God's goodness.Her desire was to lift God up as someone greater than great.She was a servantand God was her Master.Although she was carrying the Savior of the wold,yet she acknowledged her own need for a Savior.

Mary Glorifies God

Luke 1:46-49KJV

 ⁴⁶And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

   ⁴⁷And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
   ⁴⁸For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
   ⁴⁹For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
Footnotes:
Gabrie told Mary she would give birth to the Savior,the Son of God,the Holy One of Israel.Her reply was "I am the Lord's servant".Mary then went to visit her cousin who was also pregnant.Unable to contain her joy,Mary offered up a song of praise unto God.Her gratitude over God's willingness to choose her almost overwhelmed her.Her soul glorified God, and her spirit rejoiced.We too have been chosen to give birth to Jesus in our lives,we to should glorify God in our lives,by walking worthy of that to which we have been called.

Every Generation
Luke 1:50-53KJV
 ⁵⁰And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
   ⁵¹He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
   ⁵²He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
   ⁵³He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away
Footnotes:

Mary then focused on the mercy and great deeds of the God of Israel,for his mercy extends to those who fear Him.The fear of God does carry an element of healthy alarm.God is holy,and we are sinful. The fear of God also entails a deep respect and reverence for God's sovereignty,and it is out of the fear of God that we allow Him to take us wherever He leads.God extends mercy to those who fear Him,but scatters those whose inner thoughts rarely focus on God.He gives and takes away authority at will.Those who hunger after God, He fills them up.But those who are rich and indifferent to the plight of the poor will themselves be emptied of their riches.At His birth Jesus was announced first to the poor shepherd then to the humble servants in the temple.Later he would tell His disciples "you cannot serve both God and money".We must first realize that we need Him then humble ourselves to receive Him into ourt lives.

God's Promise Fulfilled

Luke 1:54-55KJV

⁵⁴He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

   ⁵⁵As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
Footnotes:

Mary ended her praise by remembering God's promise to Abraham,that all nations would be blessed through him.Mary understood that Jesus would  fulfill God's promise to Abraham.No wonder she was full of praise and thankgiving.Today ,more than two thousand years after Mary's angelic visit and Christ advent,we see how the fulfillment of God's promise touches our lives through salvation in Christ.Jesus is indeed God's promise fulfilled.

Passing the Test

                                                                     Sunday School Lesson
                                                                        December 18,2011

Lesson Focus:
Faithfully obey God
through your trials
Lesson Scripture:
Genesis 22:1-2,6-14

Introduction:

God told Abraham,"Take your only son,Issac,whom you love and go to the region of Moriah and sacrifice him there".God tested Abraham,not to watch him fall and sit back laugh.God's test was to help develop Abraham's character,faith and obedience.The next morning Abraham, without hesitation,started off with Issac on a two or three day journey to the place of sacrifice.Surely, Abraham had plenty of time to change his mind, disobey God,and return home.Or he could have spent the trip pleading with God to stop this nonsense.However,Scripture gives no indication of any such conversation with God.Abraham's response boiled down to two words, trust and obey.He believed this tragedy could only result in good.God will provide; On the third day,Abraham told his servants to stay behind,and he and Issac started the climb up Mt. Moriah.When Issac questioned, "My father,where is the sacrificial?" Abraham spoke  faith language: God will provide." Abraham had come to the place in his life where he would say,"God knows, I don't. It's on Him, God is in charge". Abraham placed Issac on the altar and held up the knife to slay him.Abraham apparently believed somehow God would raise Issac back up to carry out His promise about Abraham's seed producing a great nation(Heb.11:19).In a simlar way, people are under "God's knife", His wrath. But God so loved the world,that he desires to put no man to death.So like the Ram in the bush that saved Issac, He sent His precious Son,our sacrificial lamb to die on a cross to save us.

Abraham Is Tested

Genesis22:1-2KJV

 ¹And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

   ²And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Footnotes:

God's command to Abraham to sacrifice Issac has perplexed readers of the bible for many years.We are told many times in the old testiment how much God disdained human sacrifice.This passage begins, however, with the notion that God was testing Abraham, and not simply making an abrupt and inexliable request.In this command,God acknowledged Abraham's love for Issac.More than the promise of God is at stake here.This is a father who deeply loved a son who was given as a miraculous gift to him and his barren wife in their old age.God told Abraham to take Issac to the region of Moriah,Abraham must have wrestled with his thoughts a wondered what would happen there.

God Will Provide

Genesis 22:6-8KJV

 ⁶And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

   ⁷And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
   ⁸And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Footnotes:

In a foreshadowing of Christ carrying His own cross,Abraham had Issac carry the heavy wood up the hill.But the implements of the sacrifice,the fire and the blade,he carried himself.Issac asked his father about the location of the actual sacrifice.Abraham answered his son's question with an expression of faith in God's provisions.Abraham did tell the servants that the two of them would return.Ours is a walk of faith with the roads paved only with the word and promises of God, and we must just trust and believe and walk by faith in the truths of God's word and the strength of His promises.

God Stops Abraham

Genesis 22:9-14KJV

  ⁹And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

   ¹⁰And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
   ¹¹And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
   ¹²And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
   ¹³And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
   ¹⁴And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Footnotes:

The test ended when God called out to Abraham through the angel of the Lord.At this point,God revealed the nature of the test.He could see,or more importantly perhaps,Abraham could see,that the patriarch was willing to obey God unconditionally,regardless of the cost.He would not even withhold his own son. We like wise must be willing to obey the word of God without doubt regardless of the cost knowing God will provide.We also should rejoice in God's provision of atoning sacrifice on our behalf. Unlike Abraham, God gave His only Son that we might live.We were under the knife of God's judgment when Jesu s,our ram in the bush took our place and lai down his life for the sins of the world.

Believing The Impossible

                                                                        Sunday School Lesson
                                                                           December 11,2011
Lesson Focus:
Faith sees beyond
what seems possible
Lesson Scripture
Genesis 15:1-6 &12-18

Introduction:

Abram's maturing faith,Abram is included in Hebrews 12, a listing of men and women who believed God for the impossible and exercised faith.However, Abram grew and matured in his faith as a result of personal struggles,not just easy living.God took Abram out and showed him the sky full of billions of stars and said to him "So shall your offspring be".God planned for Abram and Sarai to have children through their bodies even though both were past childbearing years,a miracle.Abram believed the Lord,"and it was credited to him as righteousness".To further convience Abram of this promise,God made a personal covenant with him and sealed it with a cultural ritual.Abram continued to walk confidently,believing God for the impossible.faith comes by hearing,and with an ear of obedience such as Abram had.

God Is Abram's Reward
Genesis15:1-3KJV
  ¹After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
   ²And Abram said, LORD God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
   ³And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

Footnotes:

God promised Abram a biological heir,the only problem was that Abram and Sarai had been married for decades,and had no children.Abram wonders out loud how his decendants will become a nation if he is childless.And so Abram offers a solution,he will simply make hisservant his heir.So many times we make suggestions outside of God's will because we can't physically see any other way of accomplishing that which God has called us to to or to be.But we must realize that His ways are not our ways,with man it might be impossible ,but with God all things are possible.

Abram's Biological Heir
Genesis 15:4-6KJV
  ⁴And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
   ⁵And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
   ⁶And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Footnote:

God graciously responded to Abram's doubts and proposed solutions,making it crystal clear that the patriarch's heir would be his biological child,not a servant.Perhaps Abram's fear came from the apparent impossibility of this ever happening because of his age.Abram's responce to God was simple beief.At that moment, he believed that somehow he would have a son,and that son would produce offspring that would produce a great nation.For simply believing what God said was true, righteousness was attributed to Abram.In the same way righteousness was credited to Abram,so Christ's righteousness is credited to us the moment we first believed.

Abram's Dark Vision
Genesis 15:12-18KJV
 ¹²And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
   ¹³And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
   ¹⁴And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
   ¹⁵And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
   ¹⁶But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
   ¹⁷And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
   ¹⁸In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Footnotes:

Despite the darkness of the vision,Abram was still assured he would live out his long years in peace. God was waiting to give the land to Abram's descendants until the sins of the inhabitants of Canaan has "reached its full measure."The implication here is that a nation that ignores God and His guidelines for living may eventually be expelled from what ever land they are currently inhabiting and taking for granted.

    Seeing others' faith in action is a powerful help and inspiration to encourage us in our own experience.But we still must choose for ourselves,when we cannot see,when we cannot understand, when the situation seems hopeless or impossible,to trust in God and act in faith.

Choosing to Follow

                                                                    Sunday School Lesson
                                                                        December 4,2011

Lesson Focus:
God will lead and bless those
who follow Him.

Lesson Scripture:

Genesis: 12:1-9

Introduction:

Abram's call,how closely are we following God's lead?When life gets tough,do we abandon the Christian journey and go back to old ways, or do we keep pushing forward,confident God will reward our faithfulness? Here's what Abram(Abraham) did.God instructed Abram to leave his father's idol worshiping city ,Ur and follow Him.God promised to make Abram a great nation,give him blessings,make his name great,enable him to be a blessing to others,protect him from enemies, and the final and most important promise,Abram's family would be the ancestors of the Messiah.God invited Abram on a faith journey,paved only with His words and promises.Abram accepted the invitation.Abram packed up his family with all their possessions and headed for God's appointed land,Canaan.When Abram arrived in Canaan,he observed on obstacle he would have to overcome, the canaanites who inhabited the land.Abram is an excellent example of a man who heard God, followed His lead,and drew closer to God each step of the way.He is a good example to follow on your faith journey.

God Calls Abram
Genesis 12:1-3KJV
¹Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
   ²And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
   ³And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Footnotes:
Here we have the call of Abram,and the promise of God to make a great nation of his descendants. The promise of God to Abram is powerful and far-reaching,and was perhaps even overwhelming. God made it clear that his descendants would help change the course of history.In order for this to happen Abram would have to leave everything that was dear to him and follow God.This journey God has called us on is one of that can change the course of history.But like Abram we to must be willing to leave all that we might find dear to us to follow the path which God has laid out for us.

Abram Leaves Haran
Genesis 12:4-5KJV
⁴So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
   ⁵And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

Footnotes:

Continuing to be obedient to the call of God,Abram set out for Canaan from Haran.Abram left all he knew, having only the word of the Lord to hold to.He had nothing to hold to but that which God had promised him.We too have been called to walk out on faith ,to live a life of faith having only the word of God as our guide and His promises as our protection.We are on a journey to a land that we know exist solely on the promise of God,and that same promise tell us it is ours to posess,but we have to leave and forsake all and follow Him to get there .And like Abram we have one obstical to overcome,self. Self is all that stands between us and the promises of God.

Abram Builds an Altar
Genesis 12:6-9KJV
 ⁶And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
   ⁷And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
   ⁸And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
   ⁹And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

Footnotes:

Abram's journey to the land of Canaan would have taken him through the fertile cresent and around the Arabian Desert,which is simply unhabitable and uncrossable,a least for all the family members and livestock Abram brought with him.This trip probably took Abram about a month to make, and would have seemed a difficult journey.But he had God's word to lead him and guide him and in faith he perservered.Abram built an alter at Shechem because the Lord appeared to him there.Because of his faith,Abram remains one of the most powerful examples of what it means to trust God,even when the final outcome of our faithful obedience remains a mystery.

Putting Worry in Its Place

                                                                     Sunday School Lesson
                                                                        November 27,2011
Lesson Focus:
Put worry in its place
Lesson Scripture:
Matthew 6:25-34

Introduction:
Faith vs. worry,Jesus gave several reasons why and what to do about worry,the sickness of mind. Jesus warns against being so preoccupied with material needs that the will of God is ignored.His response to worry is,"Don't do it!" It's directly opposite of believing in faith that God will always come through.Worry indicates a lack of trust in God or very little trust in His power.Jesus says to the worrier,"Take a look around.The birds and flowers are all taken care of by God."Instead of working and worring about material things,Jesus encourages His children to busy themselves with the activities to build up God's kingdom on earth.We must have a hunger for righteousness and close living with God.If that is the focus and desire of our daily actions,we never have to worry obsessively about such things as what we will eat and what we will wear.The heavenly Father will meet those needs.

Evidence of God's Care in Creation
Matthew 6:25-30KJV
²⁵Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
   ²⁶Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
   ²⁷Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
   ²⁸And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
   ²⁹And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
   ³⁰Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Footnotes:

The Lord had just admonished His listeners to keep their priorites straight when it came to true riches.What the world calls wealth is passing.Just as true riches are far more than worldly treasures,life is much more than simply food and clothing.Do not worry,He said;give no thought about your life.Jesus said don't worry about two things which seems to be top priority in our life. When Jesus said look at the birds of the air and the flowers of the fields,He let the people know that neither did absolutly anything to provide for themselves, and yet the Father in heaven took great care of them.Jesus tells us what good is it to worry ,it won't change anything,but we are to trust in the Lord with all our heart, soul and might.

God's Care for His Children
Matthew 6:31-34KJV
³¹Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
   ³²(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
   ³³But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
   ³⁴Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Footnotes:

Here is the culmination of the Lord's teaching on faith and provision for daily needs:Do not worry about what to eat,drink or wear.Now he is not saying  that we are not to work to provide for food and clothing, He is saying don't put the needs of this world before the will of God,for your Father in heaven knows we have need of these things.He said don't worry about the things in the future for those things will take care of themselves and only distract us from God's priorities in our lives.We are to cast all our cares upon Him,and trust that if we do as He commands, He will supply our every need. 

Praying As God's People

                                                                     Sunday School Lesson
                                                                        November 20,2011

Lesson Focus:
Sincere Prayer reveals your heart
Lesson scripture:
Matthew 6:5-15

Introduction:
A fresh look at prayer, Jesus emphasized prayer as a communion between th eperson praying and the Father.In Jewish life, prayers were usually done at a designated time in a public place.This public prayer became more about appearance than the actual prayer.Jesus also spoke against robotic,mechanical,repetitious prayers.Prayers can be repeated, but His admonishment was to be sure the heart was fully engaged in the prayer,not merely the lips.Prayer is not about changing God's mind and action,prayer changes the person praying,making him or her ready to yield to God's will.As with many aspects of worship during Jesus' earthly ministry, prayer had degraded in many cases to either pompous public piety or pagan incantations.Sadly this describes many of the religious leaders,whom Jesus called hypocrites.

How Not to Pray
Matthew 6:5-8KJV
 ⁵And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
   ⁶But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
   ⁷But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
   ⁸Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Footnotes:

Here in Jesus teaching on prayer,Jesus addressed two specific problems with people's praying, praying like hypocrites,and praying like the pagans.Praying like the hypocrites reveals a flawed view of the reason for prayer;praying like the pagans reveals a flawed view of the recipient of prayer,God.See the hypocrites didn't pray to communicate with God, but rather to elevate themselves in the eyes of others.This practice glorified the wrong person.Praying in Jesus name is much more than just tacking that phrase at the end of the prayer.It should indicate that what and how we pray is in accord with that Holy name.So when the hypocrite prays he will receive his due reward, the praises of men.The second problem Jesus addressed is praying like the pagan,which exposes a wrong view of God.Pagans pray incessantly and repetitvely because they are not heard, there is no one to hear them.Jesus points out that our Father knows what we have need of before we ask Him,and the pagan drone on in hope of one day being heard.Now know there is a difference in vain babbling and repetitions and that of a biblical concept of persistant prayer.Jesus dosn't encourage persistant prayer because God needs to be reminded,but so that the one praying won't lose heart while awaiting God's answer.(read Luke 18:1-7)

Principles of Godly Prayer

Matthew6:9-15KJV

 ⁹After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

   ¹⁰Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
   ¹¹Give us this day our daily bread.
   ¹²And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
   ¹³And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
   ¹⁴For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
   ¹⁵But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Footnotes:

Comentators have called this passage the Lords Prayer, the Disciples' prayer, and the model prayer.However, as part of God's eternal Word, this prayer has been a model to believers down through the centuries.Therefore, we will approach this passage as a model for bringing our praises, supplications,and intecessions to our heavenly Father.The Prayer begins by reminding us to whom we are to pray to,and it closes with the related topics of forgiveness and temptations.When believers truly understand just how much they have been forgiven in Christ,they will find it a small thing in comparison to forgive others.On the other hand, failure to acknowledge God's forgiveness by harboring grudges opens the door to all manner of temptations.However, those who acknowledge and confess they need God's forgiveness will receive cleansing and forgive the wrongs of others. Jesus ended the model prayer with praise,knowing that God will indeed answer our prayers.For the answers to prayers are not based on the seriousness of the words coming from a person's lips,but the petition is before the almight God who knows all things and will bring all His desires to pass.

Loving as God's People

                                                                    Sunday School Lesson
                                                                       November 13, 2011

Lesson Focus:
Love when love is not expected
Lesson Scripture:
Matthew 5:43-48 kjv

Introduction:

Love your enemies,the Jews of Jesus' day understood loving their neighbors, but they did not understand loving their enemies.It was fine to hate your enemies.Jesus taught just the opposite.If someone is being mistreated,how can the hurting party show love? First of all,the love spoken of here is not ordinary fleshly love,but agape love,the kind of unconditional love that defines who God is.Once a person receives and understands that kind of love, it overflows into a love for others.Jesus gave us practical ways to love an enemy, bless them, pray for them, and do them good.This kind of attitude and these actions can win over a person in opposition.Jesus summarized His teaching on love with an exhortation to be perfect,by showing God's complete love to our enemy.God's love goes out to all people,therefore all who represents him here on earth,should also love all people and nations inspite of how they treat us.

Divine Love Identifies the Child of God

Matthew 5:43-45,KJV

⁴³Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

   ⁴⁴But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
   ⁴⁵That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Footnotes:

Here Jesus addresses the proper attitude His followers should have towards others,whether neighbors or enemies.Jesus contrasted the misguided interpretation of the Law by the Jewish religious leaders with the true intent and fulfillment of the Law of God.The Pharisees taught that Israelites should "love their neighbor, meaning other Israelites and those who were their friends, but they should hate their enemy.However Jesus completely reversed this teaching,telling His disciples to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute you.Just as God blesses the evil and the good with the sun and the rain, we are to love our enemies and our friends.We also don't know who is our friend and who is our enemy,so by loving all people we can't go wrong, after all Jesus loved us while we was his enemy.

Divine Love Reflects the Character of God

Matthew 5:46-48,KJV

⁴⁶For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

   ⁴⁷And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
   ⁴⁸Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect

Footnotes:

Here Jesus told the people that loving only those who love you is practiced by the tax collectors,and this is the not action worthy of a reward.We must love those who despise us,who say all matter of evil about us, who persecute us, this is the love of God.Jesus concludes His teaching by calling on His followers to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.We are to emulate the righteous standard set by God, who extends love toward everyone.It is a call to a conduct in this life that truly reflects the character of our Father which art in heaven.

Why was Jesus so willing to lay down His life even for those who hated Him?His motive had nothing to do with the character or conduct of those he died for.A mob rejected him,His followers betrayed him,and denied knowing him,he was spit on, sworn at, slapped,and beaten, and all of this was before they nailed Him to the cross.But while we were without power Christ died for the ungodly.He gave His life for His friends and His enemies, and offered to all who will accept it, salvation.If we are going to be Christ like ,we too must be willing to lay down our life for friends and enemies alike and become a living sacrifice, that the lost might be saved.

Forgiving as God's People

                                                                     Sunday School Lesson
                                                                         November 6,2011

Lesson Focus:
Practice and teach the laws of the kingdom
Lesson Scripture:
Matthew 5:17-26

Introduction:

Jesus completes God's law; At this point in Jesus' ministry some of the jewish leaders accused Him of being a destructive force against the Old Testament laws.Jesus set the record straight,His ministry and teaching was a continuation of God's revelation(Romans 10:4).God had provided the law so the Jewish nation would run to Jesus,realizing they could not keep all the law and needed God's grace.Instead they criticized Jesus and missed God's point entirely.Jesus is God's free gift of Salvation and the way into the Kingdom.

      

 The Jewish people were used to quoting the law and then rigidly following it.But Jesus brought out the compassion and the heart of the law.We should not brag or feel smug and say,"I never murdered anyone".If you are angry with people or hold grudges against others,it's just as bad as murder. Murdering an innocent bystander or slandering your neighbor are both sins.Jesus wants people to see that their negative relationships with each other hinder their relationship with God.Being at peace with all people is essential to being at peace with God.Jesus emphasizes that reconcilliation in a small or large matter needs to be done quickly.If a person drags his or her feet in taking care of conflicts it could end up in a big mess.

Jesus Fulfills the Law of the Kingdom

Matthew 5:17-20KJV

¹⁷Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

   ¹⁸For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
   ¹⁹Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
   ²⁰For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

footnotes:

In this section of the sermon on the mount, Jesus explains His relationship to the law of Moses.He first asserts that He did not come to destroy or replace the law or the prophets,but to fulfill them. During His earthly ministry,Jesus often encountered and condemned hypocrisy.There were some  whose public displays of piety was done  to gain the praises of men rather than a sincere desire to do the will of God.They played the part of godliness,but were in reality blind to devine truth, including the true nature of the righteous God requires to be a citizen in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus told them that their righteousness,their conduct of life required for entrance into the kingdom of heaven must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees.

Jesus Explains the Laws of the Kingdom

Matthew 5:21-26KJV

   ²¹Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
   ²²But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
   ²³Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
   ²⁴Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
   ²⁵Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
   ²⁶Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

footnotes:

Here Jesus begin to explain how genuine Kingdom righteousness and true fulfillment of the Law contrasted with the false righteousness and self serving legalistics practices of the scribes and pharisees.He showed His disciples how the righteousness of the Jewish leaders fell short of the righteousness God requires.The first example was "do not murder",here Jesus teaches that just being angry with a brother is equal to committing murder in the Kingdom.The kind of sinful attitudes Jesus described clearly required repentance on the part of the offending person. Jesus addresses the need for reconcilliation,as before we can present a offering at God's altar that will be acceptable to Him,we should first seek reconcilliation with our brother before hand.Forgiveness is a huge act of Kingdom living.Unforgiveness can hover over your life like a dark cloud.So can unresolved anger toward another person.We are called to practice the KIngdom life and show that our righteousness is not self centered and self serving.

Living as God's People

                                                               Sunday School Lesson
                                                                   October 30,2011

Lesson Scripture
Matthew 5:1-12


Introduction:

The Kingdom Message:Jesus climbed a mountain in Galilee and delievered a powerful sermon.He set out to accomplish several things in this message,present a standard of living for his disiciples and all believers,contrast God's kingdom and the world,expose the differences in Jesus' ministry and the legalistic teaching of the pharisees, and give examples of how Old Testiment teaching fits in with the new beliefs Jesus ushered in. Jesus laid out eight characteristics of living a life filled with deep down hope and joy within,not just happiness, a temporary external circumstance.

God Blesses Kingdom Conduct

Matthew 5:1-9KJV

 ¹And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

   ²And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
   ³Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
   ⁴Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
   ⁵Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
   ⁶Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
   ⁷Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
   ⁸Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
   ⁹Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

footnotes:

Characterististics of Kingdom Living; Fortunate are those who choose to follow closely after Christ,humbly recognizing their need for Him.As a result they will dwell with God's people on earth and also in heaven.Mourners, those who mourn a loss or mourn over sin or persecution and suffering,all will receive God's comfort.Those who see no need to throw their weight around(the meek),but rely on God to throw his weight around, will inherit a high place in God's kingdom.Those who desire an obedient,trusting relationship with God(Hunger for righteousness) will ultimately be satisfied with a sin free existence in heaven.Those drenched in God's love have the Holy Spirit working in them and so they are able to extend mercy and love to others,even their enemies. Jesus forgiving His enemies on the cross provides a perfect example of mercy in action.Those who have a pure heart,love God, and have no worldly loyalty eventually will see God's face,in heaven(1john 3:2). God is the ultimate peacemaker.Once peace with God is established, those who follow after Him will also desire to maintain and traffic in peace.

God Rewards Kingdom Conduct

Matthew 5:10-12KJV

¹⁰Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

   ¹¹Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
   ¹²Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

footnotes:
Kingdom Persecution; Jesus warned that persecution is coming.People who follow him will "go through" adversity,even be killed. But for those in the "suffering for Jesus' sake" crowd, nothing will compare to the reward they receive in heaven(Romans 8:18).Yet knowing the great hardship to come,Jesus encourages us to realize that we are devinely blessed, even when we are insulted, persecuted, and falsely accused of all manner of evil deeds solely because we follow Him.Rejoice and be glad.Because it brings great heavenly reward and because it identifies Christ followers with the godly line of persecuted prophets who faithfully foretold the coming of the messiah.

TRUE LOVE

                                                                    Sunday School Lesson
                                                                        October 23,2011

Lesson Focus:
True Love is a gift from God.
Lesson Scripture:
Song of Solomon 4:8-5:1


Introduction:

There have been two interpretations of the song of Solomon.One is that it is a true story of courtship and marriage of Solomon and one of his wives,and it serves to offer guidance to couples.Another is that it's an allegory for the believer's groom, Jesus Christ,and His bride,the church.Either way,the book conveys intense,serious love between two parties.

  

Love's Delight
Song of Solomon 4:8-10 KJV

 ⁸Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
   ⁹Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
 ¹⁰How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!

footnotes:

In an age when divorce has become common and marriage is under fire,it's easy to become skeptical about the institution and it's importance.But you must establish the relationship.First the groom invites the bride to "come away with me".He desires a relationship with her and woos her with compliments.God desires a relationship with His creation and sent his Son Jesus to die and take care of the sin problem that caused the division.Once we invite Christ in and accept His death for our sins,God fills believers with a desire to love him and one another.Solomon calls his bride away from her hometown,and her family to be with him and to cling to him,to place her security in no one else but him.God called us out of the darkness,away from sin and the lust and desires of our flesh, to be with Him and to trust and rely soley on Him.

The Fragrance of Love
Song of Solomon 4:11-15KJV

 ¹¹Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
   ¹²A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
   ¹³Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
   ¹⁴Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
   ¹⁵A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.

footnote:

In order for love to be displayed the two parties spend much time together.The passage in song of Solomon talks about a cord,one not easily broken,around the neck of the couple. While yoked together, good pleasant communication,nourishing(milk) and sweet (honey), takes place between them.A comfort level is established in talking to one another about anything and everything,even one's personal information and secrets.In human relationships, and in the believer's relationship with Christ,the communication has to continue to deepen in order for intimacy and trust to build. This is a sign of true love.We now live our life based on God's love for us, but when we truly begin to live base on a sincere love for him we then will too develope an intimate relationship with our creator.

Love's Invitation
Song of Solomon 4:16-5:1KJV

¹⁶Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits
   ¹I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

footnotes:

By refering to his wife as his sister, we see that there are intimate aspects to their relationship that go beyond sexuality.She is not only his lover, but his friend,his love for her is unconditional.In all relationships misunderstandings occur and love may begin to fade.In chapter 4 a wind was asked to blow.The bible equates wind with the third person in the trinity,the Holy Spirit. As He is invited in to come be a part of the relationship and stir up affections, there seems to be a renewal of excitement and celebration between the couple.The Holy Spirit is the source of refreshment. In our relationship with Christ, when the communication begins to sour with complaints and trouble,the Holy spirit can and will come in a make a positive difference as it renews the joy of our salvation.

Life Worth Living

                                                             Sunday School Lesson
                                                                  October 16,2011

Lesson Scripture
Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:7,13

Introduction:
Advice to the young is here offerded by Solomon.Young people are free and fresh,hanging loose.But enjoy it while it last,Solomon says,because it won't last forever.Follow your heart,pursue dreams, but also know that God still has to be answered to in the end.He advises revering God often in the early years,and not saying ,"when I get older I will go to Church; that's when I will surrender my life to the Lord."Each individual is still going to have to give an account for his or her actions,even as a youth.

Days of Our Youth
Ecclesiastes11:9-10KJV
⁹Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
   ¹⁰Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

footnotes:

Here he gives instructions to the young who will will read his words.He tells them to live their youthful lives to the fullest,to take advantage of their youthful energy,and to experience everything they can while they have physical and emotional capacity to enjoy those things.However, they must do all those things in light of God's perfect judgement,for everyone will have to account for their youthful words and deeds of their youthful years.Everyone will be held morally responsible for his actions,no matter what age he was when he committed those actions.

The Olden Years
Ecclesiastes 12:1-3KJV

 ¹Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
   ²While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
   ³In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

footnotes:

Solomon encourages the youth to allow God to use a young healthy body,he motivates the youth not to waste their time and opportunity in front of them.First and foremost, he tells them to remember their creator.He found himself doing this less and less as the pagan wives he collected turned his heart away from the Lord.When God is acknowledged as lord and Sovereign Ruler over the affairs of men,life is full of purpose.To further motivate the youth Solomon illustrates the diminishing capacity to live life as one grows older.Older adults have various physical problems to address such as poor vision, physical impairment, increased need for help from others,loss of hearing,memory impairmant,fraility, new fears of ordinary things,and so forth.Sometimes they feel they have one foot in the grave,and the family and friends are preparing for the eventual death of the older people.

The End of the Matter
Ecclesiastes 12:4-7,13KJV

  ⁴And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
   ⁵Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
   ⁶Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
   ⁷Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
 ¹³Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

footnotes:

Life is wonderful,but it is also breif.No sooner are you born,than you look around and it's time to die.Solomon says it's all smoke, a vanity,a chasing after the wind.So he's trying his best to impart wisdom in order that others may live life fulfilled,content and well.See Solomon remembered the place where he started,when he was allowed any gift from God.As a young kid he asked for wisdom to lead the Lords people and God granted his request,alone with prosperity and peace.Solomon's greatest enemy turned out to be himself,when he allowed himself to be persuaded to forsake God. After years of stumbling,Solomon returned to square one.He realized there was only one path to purpose and meaning and that was to fear God and to obey Him.This wisdom is advantageous to everyone.His final word is ,fear God and do as He says;Period!There simply is no meaning to life apart from a dynamic and growing relationship with God.

The Superiority of Wisdom

                                                                Sunday School Lesson
                                                              Week of October 9,2011

   Lesson Scripture
Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Introduction: Solomon loved wisdom;he embraced wisdom and held her in high regards.In modern terms,Solomon could be called a wisdom advocate.Solomon whole heartedly believed in the value of God's wisdom for every situation in life.As part of Solomon's wisdom,he told a story that emphasizes the value of wisdom over every human effort.He said it is better to have wisdom than a lot of physical strength and powerful war weapons.

Wisdom vs. Folly
Ecclesiastes 9:13-14KJV
¹³This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:
   ¹⁴There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:

footnotes:

This week we begin a two-session study from th ebook of Ecclesiastes.here in the 9th chapter, Solomon looks back at an event that had a powerful effect on him.Here Solomon was looking at life from a human perspective,and from a human perspective,life can look very bleak and meaningless. The further Solomon got away from God,th eemptier and more meaningless hi slife became.He lost sight of the truth that when good things happen to the righteous,they bless God and those around them.And when they suffer that are able to rest in the fact that God is always in control,and there is a reason for everything that happens.

Wisdom vs. Strength
Ecclesiastes 9:15-16KJV

 ¹⁵Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
   ¹⁶Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

footnotes:

In his story  Solomon recalls a poor,but wise man who somehow saved the city.We ar enot told how he did this.More than likely, he gave wise military advise based on his own personal experience. Long after Solomon's time,a single man save an entire ethnic group by his quiet wisdom, Mordecai. That story can be read in the book of Esther.From Solomon's purpose challenged perspective, he took this incident as typical of what happens when no one is in control.People do good,and no one notices,and so what is the use.But with God everything is noticed,and everything we do makes a difference.Solomon still concedes that wisdom is better than strength,but feel that no one notices. But rather anyone notices or not we must always do that which is right in the sight of God, for God will never forget the good we have done regardless of the non attention it might receive.

Wisdom vs. War

Ecclesiastes 9:17-18KJV

¹⁷The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

   ¹⁸Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

footnotes:

As Solomon reflects on the incident,he tries to make sense of it. Finally he concedes to what he knows is true,and what he know is wise.Many times wisdom is delievered quietly,and we must be still to hear it,and to heed it.Solomon knew from experience that there were many people out there who substituted volume for substance.and sometimes the largest crowds are following the more charismatic leader only because the delievery of his false message is more compelling than his wise,but quieter counter part.In the end Solomon concedes that we must put more weight on the message than we do on the messenger.With all th ewisdom God has made available to us ,it only takes one clever sinner to miss lead many with pretty words wrapped in a fancy delievery.Much like Israel, we often listen to foolish words of the world rather than the wise voice of the Lord.Jesus message of repentance and salvation was indeed drowned out by other louder voice.

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God gives wisdom to those who ask(james 1:5).Studying Scripture and quiet contemplation with devote believers could be a good place to start.The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.So ask God daily for His wisdom for your life.

Law and Order

                                                                  Sunday School Lesson
                                                                       October 2,2011


Lesson scripture                                                                          Lesson Focus
Proverbs 29:16-27                                                          Follow God in an unjust world       

Introduction:We must understand and reach out to the lost.When people are clueless about God and His ways,it results in confusion,and the enemy is able to freely circulate his destruction.God's children need to make sure they are intruducing unbelievers to Christ and giving biblical understanding,even if th eonly way a message can be preached is through a christ like life.

   There will always be challenging people and situations.Employees who won't listen, arrogant people who will talk before thinking,the weak who will allow others to walk all over them, and angry people who will stir up mess.But we must let go of superiority,and practice humility.Realize if it was not for God's grace,we all would be in the same boat.What the lost world says about the believer is irrelevant;wrap yourself in the arms of God's protection and prclaim to the world th egoodness of God.

Discipline and Revelation

Proverbs 29:16-19KJV

  ¹⁶When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.

   ¹⁷Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
   ¹⁸Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
   ¹⁹A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer

footnotes:

One of the deep mysteries of God is why He allows the wicked to prosper.But the proverb promises that the righteous will see justice done,if not in this life,then in the next.While the wicked may see themselves as autonomous and self-sufficient, one day they will see their error.Here we also see the cause and effect relationship of the effective discipline of children.First it brings peace,and then delight to the soul.Discipline in this text not only includes correcting bad behavior,but also praising what children do well.What ever gets rewarded gets repeated.When a child sees that a parent will not only notice but also praise good behavior they are likely to choose good over evil.But when we become to busy to notice, children will do what ever is needed to get attention from the parent.When we realize we will be held accountable for our behavior and judged by God guidlines for living this life,we will restrain from our own wickeness and seek out the things of God.

Hot-Tempered Fools 

Proverbs 29:20-23KJV

²⁰Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

   ²¹He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.
   ²²An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
   ²³A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

footnotes:

Think before you speak! Do you ever wish you could take back something you said? Perhaps you found it easy as putting toothpaste back in the tube.Some people, make speaking without thinking a habit.Like the fool these quick to speak people often justify their rushing words by calling themselves honest."I call'em as I see'em" but quite often,those words come back to haunt them.When people are allowed to get away with to much, it brings suffering to all involved.There is also destructive consequences of the habitually angry person.Anger,used effectively,can promote change.But when people use anger to control others,the hot tempers become contagious,Just as misery loves company,angry people love to generate rage in all they see.By stirring up dissension,they feel justified in their wrath.Then we see the contrast between pride and humility.Pride tends to bind one to the obstacles that lie ahead.When the prideful stumble,there usually aren't too many people around to support and lift them back up.But the humble can see clearly.These are the ones whose confidence rest in God and not themselves.

Fear vs.Trust

Proverbs 29:24-27KJV

 ²⁴Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.

   ²⁵The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
   ²⁶Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.
   ²⁷An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

footnotes:

Here we have the contrast fear of men with the trusting the Lord.People pleasers tend to dig holes for themselves out of which they cannot escape.The approval of others,or the avoiding rejection of people means everything to many on this journey.But they soon find out that pleasing everybody is impossible and so they find themslves trapped.But those who trust in the Lord are free from the traps of the people pleasers.The last proverb sets up an paralleled contrast:godly people hate the wicked,and wicked people can't stand the righteous.The wicked detest the righteous because the godly exposes what they do as evil.

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1)-Why does it take courage to follow God in an Unjust world?

2)What can people do when they see that the wicked are prospering?

3)How do you back up what you say by your actions?

4)When does anger become dangerous?

5)What is the advantage of being humble and notprideful?

6)What happens when we fear others more than we trust God?

7)Why is it important to trust God for ultimate justice?

For next weeks lesson read Ecclesiastes chapters (7-10).