Sunday School Lessons

For Lent, Holy Week, and Beyond

LESSON 10                                                                                                                 May 8, 2011

He Is Worthy

Background Scripture: Revelation 4

Print: Revelation 4:1–2, 6b–11

(Rev 4:1 NRSV)  After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."

(2)  At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne!

(6b)  Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: (7)  the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle.

(8)  And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, "Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come."

(9)  And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the One Who is seated on the throne, Who lives forever and ever, (10)  the twenty-four elders fall before the One Who is seated on the throne and worship the One Who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, (11)  "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your Will they existed and were created."

Key Verse: You are worthy, our Lord and God,

                           to receive glory and honor and power,

                        for You created all things,

                           and by Your Will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11

Introduction

The Revelation of John is a unique book in the Christian Bible.  It is the final book describing Heaven and  the final act in the history of humankind, the second coming of Jesus Christ.  It is the only prophetic book in the New Testament.  It is written by John in the tradition of the Gospel According to John and the three letters of John.

The story of Revelation is the story of Heaven.  In the Old Testament the dwelling place of God was in the Temple of Jerusalem.  This where Isaiah had his vision.  The Jews were God’s people and God dwelling was in their midst.  However Solomon’s Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, and while it was later restored, it was never the same.

The Hebrew Bible focused on the Jews, God’s Chosen People, but in Jesus God was made a new covenant with people of all nations focused on the Messiah, God’s Chosen One.        

Bible Study

This vision of John in Revelation has a number of similarities and differences with Isaiah’s vision of YHWH found in the sixth chapter of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.  

Location:  Isaiah saw YHWH enthroned in the Temple, which was God’s earthly dwelling place.  This gave the Jews their special identity as God’s Chosen people.  John was taken by the Holy Spirit into heaven where he saw YHWH sitting on the throne.  Heaven is the new throne room of God, Who is not partial to any nationality or ethnic group.  God is our Father in heaven.

Angelic Host:  In Isaiah’s vision YHWH is surrounded by angels with six wings.  In John’s vision, YHWH is surrounded by four living creatures with six wings, who also had many eyes on all parts of their bodies, indicating that God is all seeing and all knowing.  One resembled a lion, another an ox, the third had a human face, and the last resembled a flying eagle.  These creatures are used as the symbols of gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, indicating the importance of the Gospels. 

Angelic Song: "Holy, Holy, Holy” is shared by both visions.  “Holy” means set aside or consecrated or special in the Greek and Hebrew.  In English holy is closely related to the words wholeness and health.  We know that God is holy, but the only characterization of God in the Bible is “God is Love.”  I think that being holy means to be wholly loving.  Peter calls us to be holy as God is holy. (1Pet 1:15-16) 

God is not just Holy, God is Holy, Holy, or Holy x Holy.  God is not only Holy², God is Holy x Holy x Holy, or Holy³.   The triplet can also be considered an indication of the Trinitarian character of God.

Name of God:  Isaiah calls God, “the Lord of hosts,” while John uses “the Lord God Almighty.” These are basically the same with Isaiah using the personal Name of God, YHWH (pronounced YAH-WeH), translated as the Lord, and John using the translation.  “The Almighty” is the Greek expression for the Hebrew term, “of (angelic) hosts.”  YHWH’s power was seen as based being the commander of the angelic armies. 

“Who was and is and is to come."  YHWH is identified as “I AM WHO I AM.” (Ex 3:14)  Also “I WAS WHO I WAS” and “I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE.”  It is based on the rare root form of the verb “to be,” which verb is not used in Hebrew.  YHWH is the One Who Was and Is and Is to Come.   

Other: In addition John includes 24 elders worshipping the One.  I think that this represents the Church.  Twelve represents the 12 tribes of Israel, so 24 represents Israel augmented by rest of the world worshiping God the Father, YHWH, through its leaders, the elders.  They praise YHWH by declaring that God the Father is Worthy of all honor and glory because God created all things and only by God’s Will does anything exist, including us.  

Life Application

Some take the praise song, “When the praises go up, the blessings come down” to mean that we need to praise God to receive God’s blessings.  However, this scripture clearly states that we are to give God all honor and praise because only God is worthy.   

God is worthy means that only God deserves honor, praise, and worship.  We need to praise, honor, and worship God because God alone is worthy and because this reminds us how blessed we truly are and how grateful we need to be. 

God is YHWH, I AM WHO I AM.  God does what God chooses to do.  God did not have to create the universe, but God did.  God did not have to create the planet earth, where life developed, but God did.  God might have created other such planets and even other such universes, we cannot really say, but we know that God created ours.

YHWH did not have to create human beings in God’s own image, but God did.  We did not ask to be brought into existence and do not deserve to be brought into existence.  Certainly YHWH’s existence would be much simpler if God had just not chosen to create people who have polluted the planet, polluted ourselves with sin and addictions, and polluted society with injustice and corruption.    

We believe that God created humans in God’s own Image.  This is important because it makes humans important and able create, think, and love.  Often this is thrown back in our face by some saying that humans have created God in our own image.

However we know that we did not create ourselves.  We as human beings need to honor and respect our parents and others past and present who have shaped our lives, but it is ultimately God to Whom we owe all honor and glory now and forever more.  YHWH is Worthy.

Summary

This lesson is taken from the Book of The R________ to J___, the final book in the Christian B____, which is prophecy about H____ and the E__ T____.  This passage describes the T_____ of Y___ in Heaven, which is similar to the vision of the p_____ I_____ found in chapter 6 of his book.

The main difference between the two is that in the O__ Testament YHWH resides in the T____ in J_____, while in the N__ Testament, YHWH resides in H____ beyond any n_____ or nationality.

YHWH is Holy t___ 3.  YHWH is I A_ W__ I A_.  F___ living creatures representing the g_____ fly around the throne. The E___ represent the C___ before the heavenly Throne.  YHWH created h_____.  Humans did not c_____ YHWH.  YHWH a___ is W_____.

Closing Prayer

YHWH, our Lord and our God, help us to make heaven our home and to make earth as much like heaven as possible.  Thank you for being our God.  Thank you for creating and caring about us.  Thank you for being Holy, Holy, Holy, and help us to be more loving.  In Your Name.  AMEN.      

LESSON 9                                                                                                                   May 1, 2011

He Humbled Himself

Background Scripture: Philippians 2:1–11

Print: Same

(Phil 2:1 NRSV)  If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, (2)  make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

(3)  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.

(4)  Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

(5)  Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

(6)  who, though He was in the form of God,

                        did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited, 

(7)  but emptied Himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

            (8) He humbled Himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.

(9)  Therefore God also highly exalted Him

and gave Him the Name

that is above every name,

(10)  so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth

and under the earth,

(11)  and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is LORD,

to the glory of God the Father.

Key Verse: Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5

Introduction

We tend to look at the early church as a golden age where they did not have the problem of self-seeking leaders that we have.  However, a close reading of this passage shows that the church at Philippi had many of the same problems as we have today, that is people more interested in their own narrow interests than the good of all.  Here Paul has to tell his friends, “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” v. 4

Bible Story

Paul wrote a powerful appeal to the Philippi Church to work together in one accord and capped it all with a beautiful hymn to Christ praising Him for giving up everything anyone would ever want in order to come to earth to share in our common plight, living as a suffering servant for our salvation and dying in unbelievable pain for our sin.

Please the powerful rhetoric or use of words that Paul used. “If then there is any encouragement in Christ…”   How can any Christian say that Christ has not encouraged them?  If then there is “any consolation from love.”   If then there is “any sharing in the Spirit…”  If then there is “any compassion and sympathy….” How can any Christian say that there has not been any comfort from God’s love?  How can a Christian say there is no sharing of the Spirit?  How can a Christian deny that there is any compassion and sympathy in the Church? 

Then “make my joy complete:”  Paul reinforced his plea by making it personal.  He asks the church to do him, their spiritual father, a favor.  He does not ask them for money or help of any sort, but to make his joy complete or perfect.  Paul is careful to indicate that his joy was not based on the deeds of humans, since it was based on faith in God.       

“Be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”  Paul asks the church to get its act together and stop fussing at each other.  Some think that this means that Christians must be in agreement on everything.  On closer examination this is not true.  The Greek word used for mind means indicates that we must be together in attitude, rather than agreement on the facts.  We must be of the same attitude and of one attitude, which we should be since to be a Christian is to share the same attitude of love toward God and others. 

This attitude is best found in Jesus Christ, Who is described in a beautiful hymn, which has been incorporated into Paul’s letter.  The hymn reveals that Jesus was God, not because He was powerful, but because He was good and goodness involves caring for others more than His own comfort.    

Life Application

Jesus gave of Himself for us, and we need to follow His example by giving of ourselves for others.

“He was in the form of God.”  God has richly blessed us.  Some of us might think that we were left out when God gave out the blessings, but that is not true.  God has given us all gifts that we can use to help others and ourselves.

Jesus “did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited.”  He did not treat His gifts, His power and authority, as things to be used for His own benefit, but to help others.  He “emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.”  Jesus gave of Himself.  He gave up Who He was outwardly, and revealed Who God is inwardly.   

“And being found in human form, He humbled Himself.”  Jesus did not insist on His own way.  He allowed God the Father be His Guide.  “And became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross.”  Jesus did not have to die, because the wages of sin is death and He was without sin. 

Jesus did not have to suffer for any reason because He was God, yet He became a human being, He suffered and died, because this was part of God plan for salvation for you and me.  He was obedient not because He had to be, but because He chose to be.  He suffered and died not because He had to but because “He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs.”  

“Therefore God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the Name that is above every name.”  Because God the Son gave up His life for humanity, God the Father confirmed His place as equality within the Trinity. “So that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”  This equality is expressed by making the Name of Jesus equal to the Name of the Father (YHWH.)

“Every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Jesus Christ is Lord, YHWH or God, not as a challenge to YHWH or God, but the glory of YHWH. 

Paul challenged us to put aside our differences and pride, so we can work together.  He shows us that Jesus set aside a comfortable life in order to live for others.  He described how God the Father shared Power and Glory with God the Son.  Real power, glory, and the meaning of life are found in working for and with others for the benefit of all.  We are called to follow Jesus and live by His example. 

Summary

P___ wrote this l_____ to Christians in P_______ to e________ and i______ them.  He made a powerful plea for them to give up their p______ preferences, and follow the e_____ of C_____, so they can work t______ to build the B___ of Jesus Christ. 

J____ did not e______ His being in the f___ of G__ for His own c_____, but gave it up to l___ as a h_____ being, even to the point of living the life of a s____ serving o_____.  Jesus was o______ to the p___ of God for our s_______ in that He d___ for our sin, therefore God the F____ exalted Him to a place of e______ with the Father.  Christians need to follow the e_____ of Jesus. 

Closing Prayer

Our Lord and our God, we thank you for Jesus, the Messiah, Who dared to empty Himself and come down to serve and die for us so He might be our Savior.  Help us to have His attitude of humility and love and follow His example. 

We thank you for parents, and grandparents, pastors and members of the church, and others who went without so we could live and know You.  Bless us and your people so that we might have the faith to follow the example of Jesus so that others might live for You.  In the Name that is above all other Names.  AMEN.

LESSON 8                                                                                                               April 24, 2011

He Lives!

Background Scripture: Matthew 28:1–17

Print: Same

(Mat 28:1 NRSV)  After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

(2)  And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

(3)  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

(4)  For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.

(5)  But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.

(6)  He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

(7)  Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you."

(8)  So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

(9)  Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

(10)  Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

(11)  While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened.

(12)  After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, (13) telling them, "You must say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.'

(14)  If this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."

(15)  So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.

(16)  Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.

(17)  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

Key Verse: He is not here; for He has been raised, as He said.  Come, see the place where He lay. Matthew 28:6

Introduction

Today is Easter, or better Resurrection Day.  Jesus the Messiah arose from the dead on the first day of the week.  That changed the universe because it made clear that the power of life was stronger than the power of death, and the power of God is stronger than the power of this world and evil. 

Every Sunday Christians celebrate the Resurrection by gathering in God’s House for worship.  Every Sunday Christians gather to celebrate the New Covenant of Jesus Christ whereby God gives people through the Holy Spirit eternal life and forgiveness of sin.

Bible Story

Jesus died on Friday, but the final preparations for his burial could not take place on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath.  During the Sabbath, the seventh and last day of the week, Jews are forbidden to do any work.  That included the preparing the body of Jesus for burial.  It was only on the morning the first day of the week, Sunday, that they were able to make their sad journey back to the tomb to complete the work interrupted by the coming of darkness that began the Sabbath day of rest.

It was only one week ago that the crowds had welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem as the Messiah, but then things began to change.  On Monday Jesus cleansed the Temple of the money changers who were cheating the people, and the priests who benefited from this trade were upset.  Jesus refused to move against the Romans and even encouraged people to pay taxes.  Jesus warned the people that Jerusalem would be destroyed.

When Jesus did not give the people what they wanted and expected, they doubted that He was the Messiah and the leaders moved against Him.  They told the Romans that Jesus was plotting a rebellion against them and had Him arrested.  He was charged, convicted, and crucified for being the Messiah, the King of the Jews. 

And now what?  The hope was dead.  Jesus was gone.  So through their tears the women walked to the grave, only to find the stone rolled away and His body not there.  An angel met them and told them that He was raised and gave them a message for the disciples to meet Him in Galilee.  Jesus met them and gave them the same message.  His disciples went to Galilee where Jesus met them, but some still doubted.

The disciples never really recovered from the shock of the crucifixion until the coming the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, seven weeks after Easter. 

Life Application

Jesus arose from the grave.  That is true and that is important, but that is not the end of the story.

Often people seem to get hung up with the empty grave as the proof of the victory of Jesus, but when the women saw the empty they became upset and confused.  When they told the disciples the disciples did not take them seriously.

It was only after Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, and then to the group that they began to get themselves back together.  However it was not until Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, that the disciples really began their ministry. 

Pentecost is the name of a Jewish festival which takes place fifty days after Passover.  Christians celebrate it seven weeks or 49 days after Easter.  Easter takes place on the first day of the week.  If Day of Passover was on Saturday, the Sabbath, which seems very probable, then Passover would take place on Sunday, fifty days after that.  This is another reason in addition to Easter that the Christian day of worship is on the first day of the week and not the Sabbath.     

Easter represents salvation through Jesus Christ which makes possible our Eternal Life, while Pentecost represents the coming of the Holy Spirit, which generates our Rebirth in God and creates our close relationship with God, which is the nature of Eternal Life.  The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ are basic to salvation and reconciliation with God the Father.  Rebirth in and by the Holy Spirit is the result or fruit of salvation and the beginning of our new life in communion with God.

The Holy Spirit is the Seal of God.  The Spirit is the Sign or Mark that tells us that we belong to God.  We know we are saved if we demonstrate the Fruit of the Spirit.  ”The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23)

Summary

E_____ is the day that C______ celebrate the R_________ of J____ C_____.  Jesus died on the c____ on F_____, but there was no time to properly prepare His b____ for burial before d____, which was the beginning of the S______.  When the w____ returned to the tomb to finish this task on S_____ morning, J____ had been raised.

J____ appeared to the women and to His d______ in G______, but they were still in s____ and g____ from the His d_____.  It was only at P_______, s____ weeks after Easter, that the ministry of the H___ S____ and the C_____ began.  The C__________ and R__________ of Jesus made possible r__________ with God and s_______.  P________ and the H___ S____ make real e______ life and our new r__________ with God.    

Closing Prayer

Our Lord and our God, we thank you for the Savior, Who was born, lived, was crucified, and arose from the grave for us.  Help us to understand that Jesus showed us the Way to overcome sin and death.  Thank you for salvation through Him and eternal life in the Holy Spirit.  Help us to know Jesus and demonstrate the Fruit of the Spirit.  In the Name of Risen Christ.  AMEN.

#1

LESSON 4                                                                                                           March 27, 2011

Building Up God’s Family

Background Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:1–22

Print: 1 Timothy 5:1–8, 17–22

(1 Tim 5:1 NRSV)  Do not speak harshly to an older man, but speak to him as to a father, to younger men as brothers, (2)  to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters--with absolute purity.

(3)  Honor widows who are really widows.

(4)  If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some repayment to their parents; for this is pleasing in God's sight.

(5)  The real widow, left alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day; (6)  but the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.

(7)  Give these commands as well, so that they may be above reproach.

(8)  And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

(1 Tim 5:17)  Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; (18)  for the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves to be paid."

(19)  Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

(20)  As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear.

(21)  In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality.

(22)  Do not ordain anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

Key Verse: Do not speak harshly to an older man, but speak to him as to a father, to younger men as brothers, to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters—with absolute purity. 1 Timothy 5:1–2

Introduction

The family is the basic social unit of our society.  It is into a family that we are born and in a family that we are raised.  There are many types of families, but it is true that when the family suffers, the whole society suffers, because we depend upon families to raise our children, not our schools, not our churches, and not our courts. 

Paul considered the church to be like an extended family.  Its leaders needed to be good family men and women.  Paul advised Timothy to treat the members of the church as members of a family.  In our churches we used to and still call people Brother and Sister, Mother and Father.  We need to treat members of the church as members of our family. 

Bible Story

Paul advised Timothy how to relate to members of his congregation.  Basically he tells him to treat them as his extended family.  He is to respect the older men as his fathers, the men about his age as his brothers, the older women as his mothers, and the younger women as his sisters and not become sexually involved with them!

 

Provide for widows who are without any family to support them.  Otherwise the children and grandchildren of the widows are to provide for their parents and grandparents as part of their service to God. 

The “real widow” has turned her back on marriage and this world, and turned her eyes toward God with continual prayers and supplications.  Warn the widow who still lives for the pleasure of this world that she must clean up her act and be above reproach.  Again those who do not provide for elderly or disabled relatives, especially family members, are a disgrace to the faith.  

The elders here appear to be older men who are ministers of the church.  The ones who preach and teach well are to be paid extra.  Do not believe any accusation against them unless it is well documented.  However, if any take advantage of their situation and do not learn from private reprimand, then a public rebuke is necessary to show that the disciplinary rules apply to all with no exceptions.

Paul gave Timothy a solemn warning to follow these instructions without prejudice and to act impartially in all things.  Do not give into pressure to ordain anyone too quickly.  Do not give into pressure to participate in wrongdoing, because “everyone is doing it.”  Keep yourself pure in all ways. 

Life Application

Paul gave Timothy good advice.  The church is like an extended family.  The older women and the older men are to be respected as the mothers and fathers of the church family. The men and women who are our age or younger are our brothers and sisters.  Each person was to be respected for their place in the family.  Each person has their own role to carry out in the family and is expected to carry out that role. 

We know that we are called to honor our fathers and mothers.  This does not mean that they are always right in all they say and do, but we are to respect them for what they have done for us in bringing us into the world and providing for us.  We need to respect them because they have lived longer, experienced more, and know more about life than we do. 

When they are hard on us, usually they are trying to prevent us from making the same kind of mistakes that they made or some of their friends made in life.  Our parents care about us and we need to respect them for this, even when they make things difficult for us.  As the Bible says, “Love overcomes a lot of misunderstandings.” (1 Peter 4:8 paraphrase)

Many of our elders have faced difficulties that we can only imagine.  For this alone they deserve our respect and consideration.  We need to do our best to get along with them, because hopefully some day we will be in their situation.   

          

Youth or adolescence is a difficult time.  It is a time of transition from childhood to adulthood.  It is a time when youth are developing their own ideas, their own values, and their own life styles, which can be in conflict with those of their parents and other adults.  Do not treat everyone the same, but each individually according his or her place in the community.  Just because you listen to and respect people does not mean that you agree with them.     

Summary

The f_____ is the basic s____ u___ of our society.  The c____ is modeled after an extended f_____.  P____ encouraged Timothy as a p____ to treat the elderly with r______ as M_____ and F______ of the church.  We are to regard people near our own age as b______ and s____, and those younger as our c______.

As young people we are to h_____ our e____ as if they were our p_____.  H____ means to r____ and pay a_______ to others.  It does not mean we must always a____ with them because adults can be mistaken also.

Closing Prayer

Our Lord and our God, thank you for our families.  Thank you for our mothers and fathers, sisters and brother, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins.  Bless them all and bring them to saving faith in You. 

Help us to honor and respect our elders and for them to respect us.  Help us to become responsible members of Your church family. In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16