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

Obey the Lord

 Haggai 1:1-11

International Sunday School Lesson

June 1, 2014

                                                                                 

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

I love history and today’s scripture is pretty cool because we are given the names of three very important people who actually existed on this day on August 29, 520 B.C. 

We also know from history including Biblical (Ezra) that these Jews who are being spoke to here, these returned from exile Jews, were more to blame for the temple not being rebuilt then due to those who opposed them.

So here we are seeing God through the prophet Haggai speak to these people and say in effect, “You’ve got your home which I brought you back to have but where’s mine which I brought you back to build?”

But there was more to it if you notice.  They planted a lot but had little to show for their labor.  Their hunger and thirst is not satisfied.  Never is there quite enough of anything.  This isn't because they are over indulging but because of what they aren’t doing.  As a result God has withheld His bounty because they had forgotten Him.

Here they were returned for a reason and the results they produced were meager.  While God awaited His house verse 9 tells us they were busy with their own.

Besides history I also love how this scripture reminds of us of what, the God who does not change, expects from us today.  Does money run through your pockets?  Do you have a home but there is never an end to what you need to keep it going?  Do you have a church but the harvest is meager?  In whatever the circumstances of your pursuits does it seem that “the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops”?

It could be that God has called for a “drought” on what you produce.  If you are willing to consider that can you examine where or in what way He is waiting for you?

For Discussion:

1.      Research and discuss the history that King Darius is famous for.

2.      Discuss ways you have experienced what these Jews experienced and how things improved for you.

3.      Discuss God’s patience.

4.      Discuss different things God might be waiting on today.

5.      Discuss giving as it relates to this.

Upcoming Lessons

June 8     Trust God’s Promises, Haggai 1:12-2:9

June 15    Live Pure Lives, Haggai 2:10-19            

June 22    Hope for a New Day, Haggai 2:20-23 or Haggai 2:23, Zechariah 4:1-3, 6-14

June 29    A Call to Unity or Pursue Unity in Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 or 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:4-9

July 6     Glorify God with Your Body, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

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

On 5-25-14, Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Mark 12:28-34 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as The Greatest Commandment

The Greatest Commandment

 Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Mark 12:28-34

International Sunday School Lesson

May 25, 2014

                                                                                 

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

Last week when we were considering our scripture I tied it in with the desire God has for us to worship him in Spirit and truth. I also mentioned how we have the ever changing groups within our places where we worship who, though they change, things still stay eerily the same in that the way we worship often times hinders worship.

This week as we consider our assignments we see in the assigned scripture a great example of how we can help instead of hinder as we look at the greatest commandments. Therefore, I ask, despite all that we can learn, despite all the words is this what we should most glean from all that the Bible is showing us?

For some like me who are detail oriented or perfectionists this can be very difficult to answer in the affirmative. But we can allay the fears we have in doing wrong or doing things half-way by seeing from today's scripture that Christ did not shy away when He was asked about this very thing. His answer, as you know, is immediately given in today's Mark 4 and is fleshed out by the scribe with Christ's approval.

Today's scripture clearly wants us living like this in our daily lives, loving God with everything we have; loving our neighbor as ourselves, not seeking revenge and not holding grudges. Furthermore it is not something we do in secret but rather we do it in a way that it is a part of our being.

This is how we are to raise our children. We don't leave this at home but since it is a part of us it is with us everywhere we go from home to work.  It is with us in what we think of as we go to bed and the first thing we think of when we arise.

Living out our lives as Christians in this manner rather than all our, if we apply it to today, burnt offerings, will truly be worshiping and demonstrating how to worship in Spirit and truth.

Enough said.

For Discussion:

1.      Read all of Leviticus 19 and Deuteronomy 6.

2.      Discuss instances where you held grudges or sought revenge.

3.      Discuss where you were able to do the reverse.

4.      Discuss how the commands we read of in the OT scriptures above reveal the character of God.

5.      Discuss people who do not love themselves.

6.      Discuss examples from the Bible where people followed these greatest commandments or where some did not.

7.      Discuss how it requires our cooperation with the Holy Spirit if we are to accomplish this.

Upcoming Lessons

June 1     Obey the Lord, Haggai 1:1-11

June 8     Trust God’s Promises, Haggai 1:12-2:9

June 15    Live Pure Lives, Haggai 2:10-19

June 22    Hope for a New Day, Haggai 2:20-23 or Haggai 2:23, Zechariah 4:1-3, 6-14

June 29    A Call to Unity or Pursue Unity in Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 or 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:4-9

July 6     Glorify God with Your Body, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

July 13    Love Builds Up or Exercise Freedom with Caution, 1 Corinthians 8

July 20    Overcoming Temptation, 1Corinthians 10:12-22 or 1 Corinthians 10:6-22

July 27    Seek the Good of Others, 1 Corinthians 14:13-26

August 3  Consolation Granted Through Prayer or Comfort in Times of Trouble, 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

August 10 A Community Forgives or Forgiveness and Restoration, 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:11

August 17 Treasure in Clay Pots or Treasure in Earthen Vessels, 2 Corinthians 4:2-15 or 2 Corinthians 4:1-15

August 24 An Appeal for Reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; 7:2-4 or 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; 7:1-4

August 31 A Community Shares Its Resources or Generosity in the Midst of Poverty, 2 Corinthians 8:1-14

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

On 5-18-14, Matthew 15:1-11, 15-20 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Jesus’ Teaching on the Law

Jesus’ Teaching on the Law

 Matthew 15:1-11, 15-20

International Sunday School Lesson

May 18, 2014

                                                                                 

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

“Are you still so dull?”  Yeah, I guess in many ways we are!  Poor Peter had to be the one to ask Jesus to, “Explain the parable to us.”  Perhaps Jesus reply is a bit more easy to take when we see that 16 other translations of the Bible put His reply more as, “Don’t you understand yet?

This is not something that anyone would say to a brand new disciple or student.  Until one has had the opportunity to learn, ignorance is in fact an excuse.  No, this is directed at those who have been studying and teaching for a good amount of time.

In most cases I think intentions are good or they start that way.  Jesus is telling these here and us today that the traditions they have put in place have overtaken the purpose of glorifying God.

None of us are immune.  One group in power who set the rules is always eventually overcome by another group who sets the new rules.

In Jesus day it was the Pharisees and teachers of the law from verse 1.  Jesus knew that while they looked down upon His disciples for not keeping their tradition they prevented others from doing what God would want by prohibiting some from accomplishing things that God would approve of because they do not approve of the method because of the traditions they have in place.

In the time of Jesus the rules of worship were so complicated that one had to be more worried about following these rules then concentrating on God.  Jesus as we know from His discussions such as with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) wanted worship to be in Spirit and in truth.  We see in the early church this accomplished but in our churches today we see the return to the former.

Churches today think that because you show up in your jeans and flip flops you’re not being hung up on the formality that once dominated.  But the informality which now dominates has, if we are honest, created a lowering of standards.

We change styles and emphasis and with each change a new tradition gets in the way of worshiping God who does not change.  Review the Bible and ask what the characteristics of God are.  Does the God of the Bible want to be treated with informality or reverential awe?  Does God want to have a series of rules we create dominate our worship or does He want to put our thanksgiving, our supplications and love before Him?

If what man wants wins out what results will most likely be someone seeking control of worship or the easy path that can be followed.  I know who that pleases and it isn’t God.

For Discussion:

1.      Discuss why we fail in our attempts to worship God.

2.      Discuss worshipping in Spirit and in truth.

3.      Discuss how we can fail to see the error and what can be done then.

4.      Discuss Jesus’ reply to Peter.

5.      Discuss where you worship.

6.      Discuss the following of “blind guides”.

7.      How can you tell whether those who lead are blind or not?

Upcoming Lessons

5-25-14          The Greatest Commandment, Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Mark 12:28-34

 6-1-14            Obey the Lord, Hagai 1:1-11 

 6-8-14     Trust God’s Promises, Haggai 1:12-2:9

6-15-14    Live Pure Lives, Haggai 2:10-19            

6-22-14    Hope for a New Day, Haggai 2:20-23 or Haggai 2:23, Zechariah 4:1-3, 6-14

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

On 5-11-14, Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:14-21 or Luke 4:14-21 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Jesus’ Mission on Earth

Jesus’ Mission on Earth

 Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:14-21 or Luke 4:14-21

International Sunday School Lesson

May 11, 2014

                                                                                 

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

Are you ever intimidated by Christ?  Surely because He is God we need to hold Him in reverential awe.  Likewise we need to fear Him just as the Bible tells us this is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7).

But one of the cool things about today’s scripture is that we can do what He did!  If that thought didn’t cross your mind when you read today’s scripture go back and read it again.

The scripture says in verse 14 that Jesus was “in the power of the Spirit” and we likewise as Christians are given the ability to emulate Christ and the power of the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 1).

If you read that and then read verse 14 again I think it is fair to say if we in fact fulfilled what we read in 1 Thessalonians 1 that people would be talking about us through the countryside as well!  I think we should be motivated by this.

In the 16^th verse we see that He dared to not just do this where He was but He went home and did likewise.  Many of us can attest that living out our faith affectively where people first knew us or where people don’t know we have become Christians can be the hardest of all.  Between our obsessing about their remembering our brat moments and their in fact recalling our old ways it can be hard but…it can and should be done if for no reason than if one person is motivated by us as they see what we have become.

Like Jesus we go to our place of worship as is our custom and we each have the chance if we will take it to be given the scripture and read to others what is written.  Do you do that where you worship?  If not you should and not just the ones who always do but all should come in to rotation until all are comfortable with doing so and comfortable listening to how we each read.  Great reader or poor reader quit hogging or quit hiding, make it equal.

But it is one thing to share your faith where you worship however the key to being talked about “through the whole countryside” is doing it in the countryside!

Again, as with Christ in verse 18, we too are given the gift of the Holy Spirit.  We too are “to proclaim the good news”.  As Christians this is our great commission (Matthew 28:16-20).

Really very cool isn’t it?  Once we too have dared to do this we also will have fulfilled the scripture in our listener’s ears!

For Discussion:

1.      Read 1 Thessalonians 1

2.      Find and read the connection in more than one way of the fear of the Lord and the sharing of the gospel.

3.      Discuss the issue of being uncomfortable with reading the scriptures aloud.

4.      Discuss the sharing of your faith with those who don’t know you are Christian.

5.      Discuss experiences of going home with your faith.

6.      Discuss verse 18 and 19 in depth.

Upcoming Lessons

5-18-14          Jesus’ Teaching on the Law, Matthew 15:1-11, 15-20

5-25-14          The Greatest Commandment, Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Mark 12:28-34

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