Sunday, December 29, 2013

On 1-5-14, Luke 6:1-11 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Honoring the Sabbath

Honoring the Sabbath
Luke 6:1-11
International Sunday School Lesson
January 5, 2014

                                                       

Commentary
By
Jed Greenough

“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.  Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”  John 4:19-24
There are many ways that God’s word reveals itself as just that, His word.  Back on 12-8-13 I said in my commentary that when I broke into a spontaneous song of praise to God it was about as close as I personally come to worshiping Him in the Spirit and truth that Jesus was talking about in John 4.  Here we see in today’s scripture Jesus in essence referring to the same thing.
The Sabbath can be a confusing thing for Christians especially to those who are at a point where they literally hunger and thirst for God and His word.  We can confuse ourselves with thoughts that we are no longer keeping the Sabbath, that we are worshipping on the wrong day and doing the wrong things.  But we must not forget that the Sabbath like all the Mosaic Laws was given to the Israelites (Exodus 31:6).  And as it says in James 2:10, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”  Do we want to go back into that trap?  Please remember that Christ freed us from all of that.
Jesus was showing us in today’s scripture that the intent of the Sabbath was to keep it Holy to God and to be holy.  Similarly he quoted the following from Hosea 6:6 in Matthew 9:13, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”  It is the spirit of the action not the action that matters.
When the Jews took, or anyone today takes, something and turns it into a legalistic or ritualistic observance instead of what it was intended to be to honor God it is no longer doing just that.


For Discussion:




Upcoming  
1.      Read parallel accounts in Matthew 12:1-14 and Mark 2:23-3:6
2.      Read Deuteronomy 23:25
3.      To Harvest on the Sabbath was considered unlawful.  Discuss if you would consider this as harvesting or revealing the nature of these Pharisees
4.      Discuss what Jesus said about David’s actions from verses 3 and 4.  Also compare our verse 3 with Mark 2:25
5.      Read Exodus 25:30 and Leviticus 24:5-9 concerning consecrated bread
6.      Discuss the wonderful statement Jesus made in verse 5
7.      Even after Jesus healed the man in front of their very eyes they were furious and plotted against Him. 

 Future Lessons:



1-12-14       Living as God’s People or How to Live as God’s People, Luke 6:12, 13, 17-31 or 6:17-31
1-19-14       Enlarging Your Circle or Jesus Teaches about Relationships, Luke 14:7-18a, 21-24 or 14:7-18a, 22-24
1-26-14       Showing Compassion for the Poor or Jesus Teaches Compassion for the Poor, Luke 16:19-31
2-2-14         Hear and Do the Word, James 1:19-27



Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved


Sunday, December 22, 2013

On 12-29-13, Luke 2:21, 22, 25-38 or 2:25-38 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Jesus is Presented in the Temple

Jesus is Presented in the Temple
Luke 2:21, 22, 25-38 or 2:25-38
International Sunday School Lesson
December 29, 2013



Commentary
By
Jed Greenough


The power of the Spirit working in the lives of the devout is readily apparent early on in these first couple chapters of Luke especially in the scripture for today as we see with Simeon and Anna.  Was it so readily there because of Christ or is there something that we are missing?
I am certain of the part Christ would have played so that answers that but the remainder might be conjecture but for me and my opinion, I am satisfied that most of us today are missing something.
Fact is, the majority of us negate the more dramatic workings of the Spirit and that means we are lessening the Spirit in our lives.  I think of the opportunities missed; missed healing, missed blessings, missed opportunity to be aware of what really is going on in these trying times.
Simeon was righteous and devout and certainly the best among us today would need to be righteous and devout or we will not be used even if we want it to occur.  Anna, even in her advanced age did not lose her passion for God.  She was constantly in a “place” of worship with God.
I will testify that myself personally I have experienced more in my life that I know to be Spirit-based when I have been most devout, most righteous and when I have been in a more constant place of worship.  Furthermore, it has occurred without effort.
After experiencing that one would think that a person would do all that they could to maintain that but we (I’m) a work in progress.  In my case I can also tell you that I wasn’t raised to give the Spirit the measure that is due and I don’t worship today in a place that does either.  But I take full responsibility and I think you can to and change it in your own life.
For those of you who aren’t missing out you can be a benefit to others who are and you must seek ways to do that.  Let me restate that.  Your gift and ability to recognize and utilize that blessing is needed by the church today and you do have a responsibility to those of us who need your assistance and for the good of all who are not yet of the church.  We must stand up and verbalize and yes, demontrate that we are neglecting one third of what we profess as the Trinity.


For Discussion:
1.       Read Exodus 12:2-8
2.       Read Leviticus 12:2-8
3.       Read Exodus 13:2-13
4.       Discuss that people (perhaps you) resist what I am saying.  They would say these examples are not available to all believers
5.       Remember Luke was a Gentile as you consider verse 32
6.       Discuss what Mary and Joseph must have thought when they heard what was said in verses 34-35
7.       Imagine holding Christ as a child in your arms as Simeon did!

Upcoming Lessons

12-29-13    Jesus is Presented in the Temple Luke 2:21, 22, 25-38 or 2:25-38
1-5-14         Honoring the Sabbath, Luke 6:1-11
1-12-14       Living as God’s People or How to Live as God’s People, Luke 6:12, 13, 17-31 or 6:17-31
1-19-14       Enlarging Your Circle or Jesus Teaches about Relationships, Luke 14:7-18a, 21-24 or 14:7-18a, 22-24
1-26-14       Showing Compassion for the Poor or Jesus Teaches Compassion for the Poor, Luke 16:19-31


Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved

Sunday, December 15, 2013

On 12-22-13, Luke 2:1-17 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Jesus is Born

Jesus is Born
Luke 2:1-17
International Sunday School Lesson
December 22, 2013

                                                                     

Commentary
By
Jed Greenough

I bring you good news of great joy…” Even from my youth, even before I was a Christian, I remember those stirring words having heard them every Christmas season.  I can’t say I remember any images that might have gone along with it all, whether it was something on television, programs or books but the words sunk in to that little boy.
We can all share the word of God with others but it is a little harder to try and show what we read about in today’s scripture.  People can read these words and see that Jesus was born in simple environs not some palatial digs.  I think that should matter to people.
To me another thing that really matters is that this most momentous of all occasions is announced to simple shepherds.  I certainly like that.
I believe that someone you are sharing this birth with would probably likewise notice that sharing was exactly what these shepherds were doing.  When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child…..The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen…
That is the essence of the gospel message, this “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” that will eventually culminate in the revelation that “God has provided salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
What a great time for us to read this Christmas story, to use the renewed energy this season gives us and emulate those shepherds of long ago and share with others this good news.
For Discussion:
1.       Discuss that God gave man a role in sharing the good news
2.       Discuss what a three day journey would have been like in that day and especially for a near term pregnant woman
3.       God obviously could have “made room” in the inn.  Discuss
4.       Read and discuss what comes to mind when you read verses 9, 13-14
5.       Discuss verse 14
6.       Verse 14 has a famous title you probably know even if you don’t know Latin
7.       Share the Good News!


Upcoming Lessons

12-22-13    Jesus is Born Luke 2:1-17
12-29-13    Jesus is Presented in the Temple Luke 2:21, 22, 25-38 or 2:25-38
1-5-14         Honoring the Sabbath, Luke 6:1-11
1-12-14       Living as God’s People or How to Live as God’s People, Luke 6:12, 13, 17-31 or 6:17-31
1-19-14       Enlarging Your Circle or Jesus Teaches about Relationships, Luke 14:7-18a, 21-24 or 14:7-18a, 22-24

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved

Sunday, December 8, 2013

On 12-15-13, Luke 1:57, 58, 67-79 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Zechariah’s Prophesies About His Son

Zechariah’s Prophesies About His Son
Luke 1:57, 58, 67-79
International Sunday School Lesson
December 15, 2013



Commentary
By
Jed Greenough

“Jed, All of your children are going to accomplish great things, they will not struggle in college, they will find and marry the love of their lives.  Their careers will be successful in that they will enjoy what they will do for a living.  Their children will be healthy and happy.  Most importantly, they will be pleasing in God’s sight.”
Wow!  I sure wouldn’t mind having a visitation or divine inspiration that told me all that about my kids, especially when they were newborns.  But alas, I did not and I have spent and continue to spend much time every day in action or thought to help do my part to help it happen for my kids.
That is how it is for most parents and that is how the children know they are loved and do end up walking a right path most of the time.
Though not without some precedence in the Bible where people like Abraham and Isaac had some vague idea about how a child would turn out the information was much more substantial as given to Zechariah not just about his son but about the Messiah both in today’s scripture and in Luke 1:8-17.
With some assumptions we can presume that was all Zechariah knew.  He probably didn’t know that his son would live in the desert until his ministry began.  He probably didn’t know that he and Elizabeth were not going to see these things come to fruition but due to their age he may have surmised.
Zechariah as you will recall was a priest and had to be very pleased indeed that he knew his son would “give his people the knowledge of salvation” as he was told by an angel of his son’s role and under inspiration here as we read today.
We also are priests and we cannot know how our children or our charges will for certain turn out but we know how the entire end turns out.  I feel strongly that a big part of our priestly role is to not only ourselves give people this knowledge of salvation but see that those upon whom we have an influence, especially our children, are doing so as well.
I myself have always told my kids that my goal was that they be better in their roles then I have been in mine.  They would be better children, better spouses, and better Christians.  I hope I get to see it happen but if it turns out for me as I suspect it did for Zechariah that I don’t get to see it fully happen I  can at least try and be as certain of it through my efforts that I can be.
What about you?  Whether you have children, grandchildren, students, neighbors and so on are you thinking about the impact they will have for the kingdom?
For Discussion:
1.      Discuss what you know about John from this entire chapter such as he was a Levite and so forth
2.      Discuss the enemies mentioned in this prophesy
3.      Discuss the fulfilled promises as mentioned in this prophesy
4.      Discuss serving God without fear
5.      Discuss what John would be doing that was different

Upcoming Lessons

12-15-13    Zechariah’s Prophesies About His Son, John Luke 1:57, 58, 67-79
12-22-13    Jesus is Born Luke 2:1-17
12-29-13    Jesus is Presented in the Temple Luke 2:21, 22, 25-38 or 2:25-38
1-5-14         Honoring the Sabbath, Luke 6:1-11


Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved