Archive for the ‘Sunday School’ Category

1. Is there a danger today of Christians returning to “the land of God” physically without really returning to God spiritually? If so, how do we avoid this danger?

Some hold on to the perception that the church building is the place of God. After a time away from involvement in church, people may feel a need to return to church to fulfill some type of religious ritual and feel better about them. Don’t we find it easier to perform outward acts that appear to evidence faith when our hearts actually are shallow toward God? See Matthew 15:8. There is no physical, earthly “promised land” for the church of the New Testament as there was for Israel of the Old Testament. This fact should make it easier for us to avoid Israel’s mistake of equating any kind of physical return with a spiritual return. But the physical should not be separated from the spiritual too much. Developing a deep faith is quite difficult when Christians neglect to be physically present with one another (Hebrews 10:25).

2. What are some specific things you need to do to conform your thoughts and actions to God’s standards?

This can lead to a wide-open discussion, even to a time of repentance. Expect answers that deal with prayer, Bible study, acts of benevolence, and a greater emphasis on evangelism.

One problem that can distract from the need to conform thoughts and actions to God’s standards is the danger being devoted more to a certain messenger than to the message itself. Paul spoke of those who were more interested in lining up behind certain church leaders rather than behind Christ (1 Corinthians 1:12). Some may quit going to a particular church when the preacher leaves. A church may fail to take action against a leader who has fallen morally, excusing or even rationalizing the sin. Such undue loyalty to the messenger of God demonstrates a disloyalty to the person of God by violating His Word.

3. The heart is considered the seat of the emotions. What steps have you taken to develop a proper heart for God and His kingdom? What steps do you yet need to take?

A good starting point is to examine how Bible characters developed a heart for God. David, a she cried for mercy from God because of his sin, said, “Create in me a clean heart, 0 God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).The first step is humility.

Forsaking the lure of this world is also necessary in developing a heart for God. Paul says, “And be not conformed to this world: but he ye transformed” (Romans 12:2). Keeping God’s Word leads to a renewed heart. Jesus said, “But that [seed] on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). These biblical examples and precepts should shape our individual practices.

4. What modern applications can we see in Zechariah 7:12?

We remind ourselves that people have freewill—they can choose to close their ears and refuse to hear. Instead of their rejection causing us to be reluctant to share the message in the future, God expects us to continue to do our part by faithfully proclaiming His message. Jesus did! Even a cursory reading of Scripture reveals that the majority of people will reject the message (Matthew 7:13, 14). This fact should not dissuade us from being teachers of God’s Woe, sharing the message of eternal hope.

5.What are some modern examples of crying out to God as a last resort? Do you think, God ever honors those cries? Why, or why not?

A deathbed confession of faith is an example of a last-resort cry. Deathbed confessions comfort some people when they coax an acknowledgment of God from the lips of the one who is dying. Such confessions may or may not demonstrate true repentance. Only God knows the heart. After the person dies following such a confession, there are no actions possible by which that person can demonstrate true repentance. ‘Otis is not true in other situations. A person who cries to God for deliverance from an approaching tornado may live through the experience to demonstrate true repentance. God always honors True repentance.



1. How does the knowledge that God owns your very being affect how you live? What changes do you need to make?

The fact of creation makes God the owner. Scripture also reminds us that we have been bought back from sin by the blood of Christ; therefore we glorify God in body and spirit (1 Corinthians 6:20). This means that we are not to be the servants of others in a sense of allowing them to have ultimate authority over us (1 Corinthians 7:23). We seek God’s will above all else.

Our minds belong to God; therefore we are to let only holy thoughts enter. Our eyes belong to God; therefore we are to keep them from lingering over those things that bring unholy thoughts into our minds. Our time also belongs to God; therefore we are to be sure that we use our hours in ways that honor Him.

2. In what ways have you been guilty of circumventing or disavowing your personal sin? How have you made positive changes in this regard?

The Scottish singing group The Proclaimers has a song entitled “Everybody’s a Victim.” That title pretty much says it all, doesn’t it? A common cultural response to an accusation of wrongdoing is for a person to claim that he or she is a victim and thus not responsible. The song bemoans the fact that the singer’s country (presumably Scotland) is becoming like America in that regard.

The comedian Flip Wilson was famous for his tagline, “The devil made me do it.” Scripture speaks against this view, saying that sin is the fault of the sinner (James 1:14, 15). Another way we try to alleviate personal responsibility for sin is by rationalizing. The idea is that if we are “not as bad” as someone else, then we must be relatively ok. We attempt to justify greed and bitterness by telling ourselves that at least we did not steal or kill. But Jesus said that if we ponder certain things in our hearts, then we are as guilty as if we had actually committed the sin (Matthew 5:21, 22).

3. Though sin is not passed from parent to child, the consequences may be. What are some ways that the consequences of one’s sins may be visited upon another, and conversely, what are some ways that the consequences of one’s holy actions may be a benefit to another?

A mother who has been a drug addict may give birth to a baby who suffers birth defects caused by the addiction. A father who spends all his money on drinking binges is not able to provide properly for the needs of his family. If a child overhears a parent complaining about things in the church, the children may develop a cynical attitude toward Christianity. Acts of mercy and compassion, on the other hand, serve as a witness (1 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:7).

4. God neither keeps a record of a Christian’s sins nor remembers them. How do you use this fact to develop a godly nature?

Reminders of our past sin come from three sources: Satan, other people, and self. Learning to let go of the past and not hold on to guilt can be difficult when these three sources keep bombarding us with reminders! Recognizing the source of the discouragement is important. One thing is certain: the source is not God.

Another challenge we have is to hold no sins of others against them. When someone has repented and is trying to put his or her life back together, we as brothers and sisters in Christ are to do all we can to affirm and assist in the restoration process. God expects us to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

5. Repentance leads to a restored relationship with God. What other benefits of repentance have you noticed in your life?

Salvation is, of course, the ultimate good that comes from repentance. But there are other benefits for us while still living out our faith on earth. Turning from sexual sins can lead to the avoidance of disease. Turning from sins of abusiveness restores relationships; if there was physical abuse, then there is now safety for those who were being abused.

Repentance or turning from a sin today makes it easier to resist another temptation tomorrow. It has been said that in repentance we do not become sinless, but we do sin less and less.

Originally posted 2010-04-14 00:22:56. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Few today choose to make a commitment to church ministries that demand persistent presence and active participation. Just ask your minister if there is a surplus of Bible teachers in the congregation. Church leaders sometimes question why few have a commitment to the church’s programs and ministries. The answer is simple; few are truly committed to God. Thus, few are committed to God’s demands for a life of doing right. This quarter’s lessons offer an opportunity to challenge commitment in the learners. Some simple learning activities that run through the quarter of study may be a step in the right direction to “getting back into commitment.”

How Am I Doing?

God’s prophets had a primary task: to call God’s wayward people back to His ways. Consider having your class members maintain a notebook (journal) during this series, a record of their own responses to the truths studied. Make multiple copies of the following form so you can provide one to each student each week. At the end of the first week’s study, introduce the concept by saying, “At the end of the week ahead, sit down and ponder how well you are doing in relationship to the commitment we have studied today”. Fill in the word Justice (the key word in the first week’s lesson title) on the lines marked with an asterisk (*); then write your thoughtful responses in the other spaces.”
When it comes to being committed I rate myself a [Use a scale of 1. "barely noticeable" to 5 for "giving daily evidence.")
One occasion this week when I gave evidence I am committed to [ blank] was when I[blank] This event or behavior best exemplified such a commitment because it[blank]
One occasion this week when my behavior or words demonstrated a lack of commitment to [blank] was when I [blank]
The verse from this week’s text that has the greatest impact on me is [blank]. The reason for this impact is [blank]
Have students use the same form each week. The key words or themes for the 13 weeks from the lesson titles are (1) justice, (2) God’s ways, (3)true worship, (4) seeking God, (5) God’s requirements, (6) righteousness, (7) hope, (8) account-ability, (9) trusting God, (10) hope even in pain,(11) taking responsibility, (12) returning to God, and (13) doing right.

What Is Lacking?

This weekly journalizing will allow students to confront their own levels of commitment. Ask for volunteers to give candid self-assessments to the class as a whole.
The problems that your students reveal actually may be symptoms of a deeper problem: a lack of knowledge. God’s lament, through the pen of Hosea, was, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). When disciples thoroughly know the person and will of God, commitment should be a by-product. In Simon Peter’s words, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).Consider how you can facilitate greater knowledge through memorization of pivotal verses. In the first week of the study, for example tell your students, “I have found some significant thoughts of God in my preparation for this series of studies in the theme of commitment from God’s prophets. So I have committed to learning some of those great ideas by heart.” Then quote, for example, part of Amos 5:15: “Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment.”Offer your class an opportunity to join you in your quest to increase their own knowledge of God as found in the prophets. To this end, you can distribute commitment cards like this:

Dear God,
Thank you for revealing your will through your prophets. I hereby commit to learning at least verses of beauty and challenge during our class’s study this quarter. My prayer is that Your Word will cure my lack of knowledge.
Signed;
Date

Indicate that this commitment activity is strictly a personal matter and that the cards can be carried in one’s Bible. Make suggestions for good verses to memorize. Regularly talking about your own progress will encourage participation.

Into the Lesson

To open today’s lesson, say, “In 1989, a researcher developed a model for robotic behavior. The author, Pattie Maes, says that for a robot the act of ‘doing the right thing’ should have the following characteristics:
1. It favors actions that are goal oriented.
2. It favors actions that are relevant to the current situation.
3. It favors actions that contribute to the ongoing goal/ plan.
4. It looks ahead to avoid hazardous situations.
5. It never completely breaks down, even when certain parts fail.
6. It is reactive and fast.
Ask your students to imagine they are writing a manual for humans “to do the right thing.”What characteristics would they specify for humans in this regard? Write ideas on the board. When you finish discussing this exercise, tell your students that today’s lesson deals with God’s explanation of how to do the right thing. As an alternative, obtain a recording of Handel’s Messiah and play one or two tracks based on today’s text (Malachi 3:2, 3): “But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming?” and “And He Shall Purify.” Then tell your class that today’s lesson explains these words from Malachi.

Into the Word

Use the Lesson Background and commentary on Malachi 2:17 to discuss the situation in Judah leading up to Malachi 3. Focus on the final question in verse 17: “Where is the God of judgment?” Ask why students think that God would be weary of Judah’s whining and how Malachi 3:1-4:1 is God’s answer to the above question. Next, divide your class into groups of three or four and direct attention to the activity The Lord Has Cometh in the student book. If you don’t use the student book, provide paper and pencils; assign each leans the following passages: Malachi3:1-5; 4:1; Mark 1:1-4; Luke 2:21-32, 41-47; John1:14; 7:14, 33-41; Hebrews 8:8-10; 13:15, 16;2 Peter 3:8-13; Revelation 20:7-15.
Instruct each group to paraphrase the Malachi passages, indicating how each verse is fulfilled in the New Testament. For example, Malachi 3:1 could be paraphrased, “See, I’m going to send John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus.” Tell your students that their paraphrases should answer the following questions: I. Who prepared the way for the promised Messiah? 2. On what occasions did Jesus come to His temple? 3. What new covenant was brought by the Messiah and Why? 4. How were the people to be refined? 5. What will judgment be like for the wicked? When your students finish their studies, use the lesson commentary to evaluate the results.

Into Life

Remind your students of their answers to the first exercise in today’s lesson, and then read the following hypothetical situations. Ask volunteers to suggest responses to each that reflect God’s concern for doing the right thing.
Situation #1. A pro-abortion organization has opened a clinic in your area “to ensure the availability of safe, legal abortions to women who desire to make that choice.” What can your congregation do to offer women an alternative consistent to God’s Word? How will your response promote justice for pre-born children?
Situation # 2. A local atheist has sued your school district to stop the daily recital of the Pledge of Allegiance on the ground that the phrase under God violates the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment’s separation of church and state. What can you do in response?
Situation # 3. Your community newspaper has printed an editorial accusing a political candidate of being “too religious” because he has admitted that he consults the Bible when he is forming his position on moral and political issues. What would you say in a letter to the editor?
After discussing their thoughts, encourage your students to act accordingly this coming week in response to other challenges to their faith.
What was a situation in which you think you have wearied the Lord with your How do you guard against doing so? Are you suspicious of someone who says kind things to a person’s face and evil things behind the person’s back? We can be guilty of sin in some way. We can say good about God and tell others we believe in Him, yet fail to honor Him in our lives.
Jesus can return at any time, and we must be ready. We should be motivated to prepare ourselves and others for the return of Christ, but not spend time trying to determine the exact date. The major thing is to be prepared: it is a minor detail for us as to when this event takes place. What Malachi 3:1 implies about Jesus’ first coming is thus very useful when we ponder His second.
4. In what areas of your life has God had to apply His refining fire and purifying soap? How is your life better as a result? In what areas do you still need God’s purification?
When we surrender our lives to Christ according to the biblical plan of salvation, we are cleansed from our sin guilt. Yet even after that cleansing, we carry with us some residual effects. The Holy Spirit has to continue to work in our lives, refining and cleansing. Paul spoke of his continual struggle with sin even after becoming a follower of Christ (see Romans 7:19). God promises, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (5 John1:9). There are areas for each of us to recognize our sin, confess it to God, and allow Him to do His cleansing work. It may be the sin of gossip, lust, greed, or pride. We are not able to conquer these sins on our own; we need the refining power of God.
5. Why do you think that many today do not fear the Lord? In what ways would your life change for the better if you had a greater fear of the Lord?
A lack of fear of God often may be traced to a conscious or unconscious belief that a person is ultimately accountable to self. An emphasis on God’s love to the exclusion of His holiness may also be the problem.
Parents who truly love their children and want the best for them also desire that their children respect them and honor them. They want their children to have a healthy fear of them and not think they can get away with just anything it is similar with God.

Into the Lesson

Prepare 15 sheets of copier paper, each displaying one of the following letters or blanks. Put a number at the bottom of each sheet, as indicated.

SON OF THUNDER!

8 15 11 6 3 14 7 13 9 2 4 12 5

On the back of these sheets of paper, print the following letters and blanks, inverted:

APOSTLE OF LOVE

Affix the 15 sheets to the wall in a single line, with Son of Thunder! and numerals showing. Put masking tape along the top of the sheets so each can be lifted to reveal the letter on the back. Refer to Luke 9:54, in which John and his brother suggested fire from Heaven to punish a village that refused hospitality to Jesus and His apostles. Refer to Mark 3:17, where Jesus gave these two brothers the nickname Boanerges, or- “sons of thunder.”

Lift the flaps in numerical sequence, taping the revealed letters upward. As letters are revealed, encourage students to identify at any time what the phrase on the reverse is. Once the puzzle is solved, ask, “How is it that one called a son of thunder became a messenger of love?” Be sure to mention that John, after being in Jesus’ company for several years, felt so loved he would call himself the one “whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20).

Into the Word

Write all the following statements, drawn from the commentary, on slips of paper. Do not include either the sequence numbers or the verse numbers on the slips.

1. Genuine children resemble their Father in an important way (v. 7); 2. One who does not have love does not know God (v. 8); 3. God’s love is a mighty passion (v. 9); 4. Jesus was the “propitiation” that restored God’s favor (v. 10); 5. God took steps to deal with our sins (v. 10); 6. Nothing less than love for others is acceptable (v. 11); 7. We can have God’s presence dwelling in us (v.12); 8. We have the Spirit because God gave Him to us (v. 13); 9. The apostles knew firsthand that the Father sent the Son into the world (v. 14); 10. Jesus did not come just to teach – He came to rescue (v. 14); 11. If a person confesses Jesus, then God dwells in him or her (v. 15); 12. God embodies what is good about love (v. 16); 13. When we dwell in His love, God dwells in us (v. 16); 14. We have confidence to speak boldly in the presence of God (v. 17); 15. If our love is mature, then we can stand pure and righteous before the Father (v. 17); 16. Fear and love cannot coexist (v. 18); 17. The person who lives in unhealthy fear of God is not spiritually mature (v. 18); 18. Without God’s initiative we would have not known genuine love (v. 19); 19. The practical test of love is that God’s child must love others (v. 20); 20. If we cannot find anything lovable in another, then we will not find anything lovable in God (v. 20); 21. The two great commands of Jesus (love God; love one’s neighbor) are inseparable (v. 21); 22. God is the source of love (v. 10).

Put the slips in a box and pass it around. Say, “Take one of the slips.” (If your class is small, suggest each take two or three.) Then say, “Now turn to 1 John 4:7-21 and find the verse that best relates to the truth on your slip(s).”

As you read through the text, ask students to identify verses they have matched. Because of the emphatic repetition in John’s style, students may associate statements with verses other than the ones identified above.

Into Life

Write the letters LFOEVAER on the board. Ask, “What’s wrong here?” Once someone notices that the word fear is embedded in the word love, the answer will be obvious: 1 John 4:18!

Ask the class to share in a prayer for God to make our love so perfect or whole that fear will disappear. Suggest that such a prayer is a worthy idea for the beginning of each new day.

1. How can we speak so that both believers and non-believers can appreciate the contrast between the holiness of God and the awfulness of sin? Should we use different language to the two groups in this regard? Explain.

Non-believers may tune us out when their sinful behavior is described as filthy and polluted. Yet if sinful behavior is allowed to be perceived as normal, then it is hard for individuals to examine it from another perspective.
Perhaps one way to begin is to focus on the holiness of God and how His commandments flow from this characteristic. Anything short of that standard fails miserably by comparison.

2. How can leaders in the church stumble into following the bad example of the religious leaders described in our text? How do we guard against this?

There are malicious religious leaders who followed the customs of the day rather than being beacons directing people to God.

3. People are often asked to evaluate how they would act if Jesus were standing beside them. But what if we turned that idea around?

If we watched God as He worked in the midst of sinful situations as He tried to bring people back to Him, we could have a guide on how to do the same.

4. How can the church teach young people—or indeed anyone—that shame, guilt, and remorse are appropriate reactions to sin?

We are surrounded by a generation of young people who seem not to be embarrassed about seeing or participating in any activity. There will be no shame, guilt, or remorse where sin is not recognized as sin. Helping people see the truth of this concept is vital.
If your class is made up of older individuals, this question may lead them into rehearsing a long list of the things the younger generation does that really irritates them. But a mannerism or behavior by one person that irritates another isn’t necessarily sinful in the eyes of God.

5. What descriptive models can we create to communicate an accurate picture of the awesome force of God’s anger? Or should we jus tsay what the Bible says and not be too “creative” in this regard?

Lead the class in formulating a list of possible ways to explain God’s reactions of anger and judgment; then help them evaluate the effectiveness of these models in today’s culture. One po-tential problem is using modern disasters as examples of His anger. We cannot be sure if they were judgments from God or just occurrences of nature. Passages such as Revelation 8:6-9:19 are powerful enough without embellishment!

6. What safeguards can the church put in place to keep the focus on winning the lost rather than fighting over interpretations of prophecies?

The fulfillment of the prophecy in verse 9 has been explained variously as (1) the return of the Jewish people to rebuild Jerusalem, (2) the unity developed as the church began, (3) a set of circumstances that will unfold just before the second coming of Christ, and (4) the final unity in Heaven. Rather than immediately focusing on disagreement, it is undoubtedly better to focus on what all Christians can agree with: God is in charge and His plans will be revealed in His time frame.
Yet we need not merely stop at that point, sweep our disagreements under the rug, and say, “God will work it out; let’s not worry about it.” We can dig deeper to see if there are further areas of agreement. For example, another thing we can agree upon is that in prophecy more than one interpretation may be true in a “double fulfillment” kind of way.

Into the Lesson

Below are several statements about morality from the pens of famous writers. Ask your students to critique the quotations.

1. “I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after and what is immoral is what you feel bad after” (Ernest Hemingway); 2. “Morality is simply the attitude we adopt toward people whom we personally dislike” (Oscar Wilde); 3.”Morality is the best of all devices for leading mankind by the nose” (Friedrich Nietzsche); 4.”What is morality in any given time or place? It is what the majority then and there happen to like and immorality is what they dislike” (Alfred North Whitehead); 5. “Morality is the theory that every human act must be either right or wrong, and that-99-percent of diens are wrong” (H. L .Mencken).
When you finish your discussion, explain that today’s lesson deals with upholding God’s moral standards in an immoral society.

Into the Word

Divide the class into pairs. Ask each to read Zephaniah 3:1-9 and answer these questions:

1. What does the word woe signify in verse 1?
2. The people were guilty of what four sins, according to verse 2?
3. What do the images of lions and wolves tell us about how the rulers treated their people?
4. In what way could the Judean prophets be guilty of treachery?
5. How did the priests pollute the sanctuary and do violence to the law? (See 2 Kings 21:4, 5.)
6. How did God bring His judgment to light? How did the unjust respond to these revelations?
7. What nations had God destroyed before that time? (See Deuteronomy 3:1-11; Joshua 18; etc.)
8. How had God warned Jerusalem concerning sin and impending destruction (v. 7)? How had the people responded?
9. What warning did God give the nations? What promise did He make to the people?
10. What is the contrast between the promised “pure language” of verse 9 and the treachery of the false prophets in verse 4?

When your pairs have completed the exercise, discuss their answers. Also, explain (from the les-son Conclusion) the concept of the “day of the Lord” in Zephaniah and the other prophets. Then ask your students to read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:15. Use these questions to discuss that passage. Answers are indicated in parentheses.

1. To what event does Paul link the day of the Lord? (the return of Christ)
2. What will happen to those who are not ready for His return? (they will be destroyed; see Matthew 24:36-44; 25:31-46)
3. How will Christians escape the wrath of God? (through the death of Christ; see also Romans 5:6-11)
4. Knowing all this, how should Christians behave? (with self-control, living by faith, love, and hope; we encourage one another)

Into Life

Ask your students to return to the quotations from the Into the Lesson exercise. Below are summary statements of these quotes and a criticism of each based on today’s lesson. Tell students to turn to their student books and do a three-way match: each author with a summary statement and a criticism. (If you don’t use the student books, reproduce the text below as necessary.)

A. Morality is just the opinion of the majority; B. Morality is based on personal feelings; C. Morality is just a means of controlling others; D. Morality is just a theory that most human behavior is bad; E. Morality is a means to criticize people we dislike.

a. Biblical morality is about self-control, so that we are ready for Christ’s return; it is not about controlling others; b. Christians are to use morality to encourage one another to be like Christ, not simply to condemn people; c. Only behavior that contradicts God’s Word is evil; d. Morality is based on God’s nature and His Word, not on human feelings; e. Morality is based on God’s nature and His Word, not on majority opinion. (Answers: 1Bd, 2Eb, 3Ca, 4Ae, 5Dc.)
Discuss answers and relate them to question four of the 1 Thessalonians exercise.

Into the Lesson

To open today’s lesson, share the following riddle with your class also printed in the student books. Ask students to guess the answer.
I am both first and last. In the course of time I was, and was not, and am again forever. Who am I?
List your students’ suggested answers on the board, then ask them to read Revelation 1:12-18. They should recognize that the answer is Jesus,who is the first and the last, and who lived, died, and rose again to eternal life.
Next, use the commentary on verse 18 to sketch the three reasons why the Christian should not fear death. Then tell your class that today’s lesson deals with the biblical evidence for believing that Jesus did indeed conquer death.

Into the Word

Share the following information with your class: George Rawlinson (1812-1902) was an English historian. He formulated guidelines for historians to follow to determine the value of historical writings. He proposed that (1) the writings of eyewitnesses generally have the highest degree of credibility, (2) the writings of those who get their information from eyewitnesses have the next highest degree of credibility, and (3) writers of a later age, who depend on word-of-mouth (oral tradition) for their information, have the lowest degree of credibility.
Using these guidelines and the questions below, your students should evaluate the historical credibility of the following biblical reports of the risen Jesus. (This exercise is also in the student books.) You can either divide your class into small groups and assign each group one or two passages. Or investigate each passage with the entire class.
The passages are (A) John 20:11-20; (B) John 20:26-28; (C) John 21:1-14; (D) 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Questions for Each Passage

1. Was the author an eyewitness of the appearance of the resurrected Christ?
2. Did the author get the information from an eyewitness?
3. Did the author rely on word-of-mouth from an earlier age?
4. Taking the first three questions together, what degree of historical credibility should we assign to the passage in question?

Answers

Passages A, B, and C: The author, John, was an eyewitness of the resurrected Lord; see John 21:20-24 (highest degree of credibility).
Passage D. Paul and others were eyewitnesses of the risen Lord, though not all were witnesses to the same appearances; see Acts 9 (highest degree of credibility).
After you have analyzed each passage, discuss the implications this evidence has for a Christian’s faith. Use the lesson commentary on John 20:30-31 and the questions below to guide the discussion.

1. Why did John record so many miracles, especially the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection?
2. Why is it important to have historical evidence of the highest credibility upon which to base one’s faith in Jesus?
3. What assurance do we have that death has been defeated, based on the historical evidence we have for the resurrection of Jesus?

Into Life

Introduce the last exercise by saying, “It is important for each Christian to be able to explain why he or she believes in Christ. As Peter said, ‘But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear’ (1 Peter 3:15).”
Then ask students to use the paper you provided (or the space in their student books) to complete the following open-ended statement: “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, because …”
Ask several volunteers to share their faith statements.

Into the Lesson

Have two sides of your assembly area clearly marked, “This Side” and “That Side.” As class begins, ask everyone to stand. Give these directions: ‘I want all the on “This Side” and all the on “That Side.”
Fill in an appropriate dinotomy, such as men/women, right-handed/left-handed, local sports team fans/fans of teams from their cities. If you like, you may perform this division two or three times rapidly, using different criteria each time. Then have students sit.
Say, “Many things divide us. But one matter must never divide us: who we consider Jesus to be.”
Have a student read John 6:40-43. Note – Today’s texts in John chapters 8 and 12 continue Jesus’ answer regarding questions of who He is. Remind the class of this quarter’s theme, “Jesus Christ: A Portrait of God” and remind them of Lesson 1, “Who Is Jesus Christ?”
Continue with an emphasis on the “I Am” theme of the Gospel of John. Say, ” John 1 is an affirmation of power and position.”
Ask students to affirm a position or role that each holds. Give them one personal example, such as, “I am the head of the class.” Encourage metaphors, to be coded by other members of the class.

Into the Word

Prepare in advance half sheets of paper with two blocks drawn vertically down the left side.
One block should feature one of the letters of the word darkness. On the right side of the paper make eight numbered lines with a “T/F” by each line. Give each student eight yellow peel-and-stick dots to resemble small suns, each large enough to cover a letter on the paper. (Such dots are available inexpensively at office supply stores.)
Say, “Read the text silently and then close your Bibles and books. We are going to have a true-false quiz on elements of today’s lesson.Your goal is to ‘dispel darkness’ with the Word of light. For each answer you get correct, you may cover one letter with a ‘sunlight’ dot.”
Read aloud each of the following statements. Allow time for students to mark their answers,and then give the answer and any explanation necessary. (1) Jesus calls himself the light of the world [True; 8:12]. (2) This is the first time in the Gospel of John that Jesus has been called “the light” [False; 1:5, 7-9]. (3) In the Pharisees’ legal system, a person could not testify on his own behalf [True; 8:13]. (4) Jesus affirms that the Pharisees had no idea where He came from [True; 8:14]. (5) Jewish law required four witnesses to testify to confirm a truth [False; 8:17]. (6) The Jewish leaders asked Jesus to bring in his mother as a witness [False; 8:19]. (7) No one was able to lay a hand on Jesus [True; 8:20]. (8) Seeing Jesus is the same as seeing God [True; 12:45]. (9) Jesus’ discussion with the Jewish leaders in John 8 took place in the temple [True; 8:20]. (10) Believing in God requires believing in Jesus, and vice versa [True; 12:44].

Into Life

Introduce the assignment below using this book summary. Say, “In Ursula LeGuin’s fantasy The Tombs of Atuan, the hero, named Ged, rescues the princess, Atha, who has learned to love the darkness of the catacombs. There she has been made priestess of the dark powers. As Ged delivers her from the tombs, he assures her that she was not made for darkness but for light.”
Explain that Arha was taken as a young child to replace a dying princess, but as most children are, she was afraid of the dark. As she grew comfortable entering the dark world of tombs she became fascinated. She gained a sense of power over the darkness, even as it gained power over her. Arha’s name means “the eaten one.” Comment on those darkness first scares, then fascinates. then “eats alive.” Liken this same sequence to most people in our world who get swallowed up in darkness and need a light bearer to rescue them.
Close with a time of sharing. Ask students how they plan to change one habit in the week ahead to better reflect Jesus’ light.

1. Some claim to believe in God, yet do not exhibit a lifestyle that acknowledges God’s commands. How do you share with someone of this mind-set what a relationship with God really involves? How do you prepare yourself for a “judge not” response?
Mere mental assertion is so easy! Yet our faith in Christ must be more than this. Scripture tells us that even the demons believe there is a God (James 2:19).
Perhaps you can approach the person with an illustration: someone claims to be an employee of a company, but he or she never does any work there and knows nothing of that company’s product line. Is he or she really an employee of that company? Scripture tells us that true faith and love for God is evidenced and expressed through obedience (James 2:20-24). After Jesus said, “Judge not” He also said, “by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:1, 20).
2. John says God’s commandments are not grievous (burdensome). Without giving trite, pre-packaged answers, what would you say to a believer who is struggling with obedience in some area?
What we say to one who struggles with obedience can depend on the nature of the disobedience: giving up profanity may require a different approach from giving up an adulterous affair. It can also depend on whether or not the person seeks us out for counsel or we seek the person out for godly confrontation.
Modeling holy lives ourselves is a prerequisite in any case. Presenting oneself as an imperfect fellow struggler is also important. At our new birth, the Holy Spirit grants us a new nature that empowers us to obey, yet we know that we still struggle with sin (Romans 7:7-25). But we are not in the struggle alone: we have our fellow believers. God’s Spirit changes our hearts, motives, and desires to the degree we allow Him to do so.
3. The next time you face temptation, how will it help you to know that everyone who is born of God overcomes the world?
There’s nothing more empowering and encouraging than hearing “you can do it,” as these verses proclaim. Other Scriptures confirm our ability to triumph over sin. Since we know that God always offers us a way out (1 Corinthians10:13), we know to look for that escape. Since we know that we are in a battle and that God has equipped us with tools to fight Satan’s attacks (Ephesians 6:10-18), we know to prepare for and expect temptations (1 Peter 5:8).
4. John writes these verses to refute a heresy that claimed Jesus had not come to earth “in the flesh.” What other false ideas do we deal with today? What makes some false ideas more serious than others?
There is much historical evidence that Jesus walked the earth. Today we are snore likely to find people who would deny Jesus’ claim to deity rather than His humanity. Many struggle with the idea of virginal conception, six-day creation, and other biblical doctrines that science cannot explain.
Sometimes the most dangerous false ideas are not those that “subtract” from who Jesus was but those that “add” elements to His identity that are not found in the Bible. For example, one false doctrine acknowledges Jesus to be the Son of God while adding the idea that Jesus was also a spirit brother of Satan.
5. How does today’s text help you witness to someone who believes in God but feels that insisting on Jesus as the only way is too exclusive? How do cultural trends lure people into this trap?
Some nonbelievers agree that Jesus puts forth the highest standards for morality. They recognize Him as a great moral leader, yet Jesus claims to be God. Would a great moral leader tell lies? Either He is God, or His moral teachings are hypocrisies, or He suffered from delusions. Believing in God in the abstract is easy; believing in the God who walked the earth and looked at people eyeball to eyeball is threatening! Yet God himself offered dramatic validation of Jesus’ divinity (Mark 9:7; Luke 3:22). God offers us no middle ground regarding who Jesus is. God allows each of us to choose or reject Jesus. He doesn’t offer another way into His favor (John 14:6).