Sunday, June 29, 2014

On 7-6-14, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Glorify God with Your Body

Glorify God with Your Body
 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
International Sunday School Lesson
July 6, 2014
                                                                                 


Commentary
By
Jed Greenough

Selective sinning, we are all guilty of it from time to time and for some it is a constant struggle.  We can ask of someone, “How can they take drugs?”  or “How can they drink so much?”  But we don’t often hear in the same way, “How can they let their body go?” or “How can they eat so much?”
You and I both know that to God if something is sinful there are not differences between it and another sin in that they are both sin.  If sexual immorality which is most in sight with today’s scripture is a sin because our body is now to be a temple to Him than other improper uses of that body are sin to Him also.  If we are honest we will admit that some of the things we have “done” with our body are sins we have not acknowledged.
Yes, the following are sins:
Sexual activity of any kind that is not between a man and wife.
Over indulging in eating.
Over indulging in drinking.
Putting anything else into ourselves which creates a negative effect.
Not taking care of our bodies.
I could go on for I have my own excused sins particular to me as do you but just like sinning becomes easier with practice so too does excuse making.
Do you say any of the following:
I’m getting old.
That’s just the way my body is.
It’s all the stress in my life.
It makes me happy.
He/she loves me the way I am.
Again, we could continue and though we each share some of these we also have our own particular excuses but I think they share a common theme and it is one we share with our worship—the lowering of our standards.
High standards are not easy but very few things that are worthy are easy and who do you think is more often going to be pleased when we lower standards, God or satan?
When we lower our standards in worship we bring a casual nature to our worship that eventually reduces our reverential awe and the seriousness that we should hold Him Who Should Be Feared!
Lower one standard and it is easier to lower the next and the next and so on.  Holding ourselves to a high standard including with regard to our bodies because of His Spirit that is within us will please Him because as Paul wrote in our last verse it honors Him.
For Discussion:
1.      Discuss how views have changed with regard to sexual immorality.
2.      Discuss how views have changed with regard to our bodies.
3.      Discuss verse 12.
4.      Read 1 Corinthians 7:2-5.
5.      Discuss why not just the Spirit within us but our bodies are important.
6.      Discuss how the Spirit within us can help us with these issues.

Upcoming Lessons
July 13    Love Builds Up or Exercise Freedom with Caution, 1 Corinthians 8
July 20    Overcoming Temptation, 1 Corinthians 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




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

Sunday, June 22, 2014

On 6-29-14, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 or 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:4-9 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as A Call to Unity or Pursue Unity in Christ

A Call to Unity or Pursue Unity in Christ
 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 or 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:4-9
International Sunday School Lesson
June 29, 2014
                                                                                 

                                                   
Commentary
By
Jed Greenough

For me, and perhaps for you, this week may prove to be a frustrating lesson.  I don’t know about you but the frustration lies in the fact that what Paul was attempting to quash exploded into the church we have today.  Furthermore, in the end I do not think anyone is going to do anything significant to deal with the issue.
For me autonomy is a good thing.  I have neither job at stake nor any personal relationships; I just write this blog as a service so I can be blunt and say, “How we are any different than the Pharisees were in Jesus day?”  The Pharisees felt that their power and way of life were at risk and they put themselves ahead of their flock.
Today how would you like to be a pastor with kids to care for or how about a 55 year old one with a mortgage?  Job security, financial security and the cares of this world don’t just weigh heavily on you and me.
How about the preacher who is seeing benchmark numbers that are ever rising?  They are filling a niche with their plans from day care to senior care.  They are meeting the needs of all from divorce counseling to financial advisement and from exercise class to gardening instruction.  How could they leave now?  Can they see with the same eyes as they arrived with as to whether that is a church as Paul envisioned?
There are other issues if we can admit it.  There are some churches that are run like family businesses and I don’t just mean family in the traditional sense but also in the most negative.  If you aren’t related or a “made person” you will never be a true part.  Have an issue with how things are done or taught and you might just as well move along.
Other examples are like the political parts of our world today.  Let’s simplify it by saying you are either liberal or conservative therefore you are going to vote one way or another.  Likewise churches have created differences that we must align ourselves to dealing with issues such as communion, baptism, church position qualifications and sexual orientation.
All these things were what Paul was against.  Paul didn’t want anyone to think it was about him or anyone else but Christ.  He didn’t want the message to be watered down but I think he too eventually had to expand his message into other areas as he dealt with those who made up the ever growing church.
Do you think however that he ever stopped stressing the gospel message first?
Do you think he ever started giving in to adulation that was given him?
Do you think he ever loaded himself down with earthly treasures so that he had to consider them as he preached?
Do you think that the individual churches had to worry if Paul was putting himself ahead of God’s will?
There aren’t too many Pauls out there who will truly live a life devoted to Christ and the gospel message, who will leave all to follow Jesus.  Or who will limit themselves to a few years in a location so that those who naturally start to cling don’t.  Or that by overstaying those who naturally start to have more and more differences with them will have those differences hinder their worship.  There aren’t too many who can realize when they first arrived they could see things more clearly than they do now that everyone is comfortable.  There aren’t many who when success comes will give of their growing resources to start a new church instead of expand their own.  There aren’t many who when failures stack up will voluntarily let someone take their place who can succeed.
So if there aren’t too many Pauls left what do I Mr. Critic think should be done?  I think it’s on you!  After all there are a lot more of us than them.
You vote, serve on committees, teach, have a voice.  You have more power than you think as you debate matters you shouldn’t.  You inflate some egos and deflate others.  You know you do.  But what you must do is to get back again to what Paul emphasized.  He was a really smart man but I think that what he was smartest about was to realize that our wisdom isn’t so great and we need to remember that.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,  so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”


How many of us are wise enough or brave enough to return the church to what Paul wanted which was Churches which weren’t about individual personalities but about Christ and spreading the message of salvation, period?

For Discussion:
  1. Discuss the fear of rocking the boat.
  2. Discuss what God might think about those who know things should change but don’t do anything to bring about that change.
  3. Discuss the fact that those who lead have forceful personalities.
  4. Discuss that the things that I bring up are why so many leave the church.
  5. Discuss how many who leave a church and start one end up with similar or other issues.
  6. Discuss what those who are not Christians think of how we get along.

Upcoming Lessons
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, 1 Corinthians 10:12-22 or 1 Corinthians 10:6-22
July 27    Seek the Good of Others, 1 Corinthians 14:13-26



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

Monday, June 16, 2014

On 6-22-14, Haggai 2:20-23 or Haggai 2:23, Zechariah 4:1-3, 6-14 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Hope for a New Day

Hope for a New Day
 Haggai 2:20-23 or Haggai 2:23, Zechariah 4:1-3, 6-14
International Sunday School Lesson
June 22, 2014
                                                                                 


Commentary
By
Jed Greenough




Each week I try to include the two most commonly followed scriptures but this week they are vastly different.  Some of you are only studying Haggai 2:20-23 while others are skipping verses 20-22 in the aforementioned case but adding those from Zechariah.  Of course my suggestion is that you read both!

Haggai and Zechariah were both "operating" at the same time which is not surprising given the importance of what is happening in history with the Jewish people and their temple.  Because of their falling away from God the glorious temple built by King Solomon was destroyed and the Jewish people were swept away into exile.

Of course God knew what might be going through the peoples’ minds as they built something that some of them could compare from memory (Haggai 2:3).  That temple was indeed glorious in its awesome beauty and people didn't have to have seen it to remember that.  But God said, “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house”Haggai 2:9 

Likewise the two prophets both mention in today’s scripture the thoughts that must have been going on in Zerubbabel’s and perhaps Joshua’s mind as well (our two olive branches as I understand them). 
The task before these two was formidable and Zerubbabel ,the descendant in David’s line like Solomon, didn't wield the power that Solomon had when that first temple was built.  So I look at today’s scripture in part as being a series of encouragements to those involved.

Zerubbable needed to know that God was in control.  Zerubbabel needed to hear that royal thrones, kingdoms and armies were God’s to control and He said He would when He said would overturn and shatter them, not just once but twice in the short book of Haggai’s chapter 2.

Zerubbabel had to wonder how much power he really had so God gave him those encouragements about the secular matters but he would also receive assurances about the temple.

God said it would be accomplished not by might or power but by God’s Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).  But God didn't quit the buildup going on to say that a mighty mountain would be nothing before Zerubbabel, his hand laid the foundation and his hands would complete it.

Joshua and Zerubbabel, the two anointed ones, Priest and ruler; I agree with others who state that this combination points to our Priestly King in Jesus.  Have a great lesson!


For Discussion:

1.      Discuss the significance of being chosen as Joshua and Zerubbabel were.
2.      Discuss the stress or doubts that might create.
3.      Discuss the roles of Haggai and Zechariah.
4.      Discuss God’s authority and use of rulers and nations, prophets and priests.
5.      Discuss the imagery in today’s Zechariah.
6.      Discuss the difference between the roles as seen when the temple was built by Solomon and this one.




Upcoming Lessons


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



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

Sunday, June 1, 2014

On 6-8-14, Haggai 1:12-2:9 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Trust God’s Promises

Trust God’s Promises
 Haggai 1:12-2:9
International Sunday School Lesson
June 8, 2014
                                                                                 
                                                                     

Commentary
By
Jed Greenough

Please note the date of this commentary as I needed to post early in the day.  This is for the 6-8 lesson.  You will find the 6-1 lesson posted below this one.  Jed

This week’s lesson for most is entitled, “Trust God’s Promises”.  It could just as easily of course be, “Trust God”.

It is very important to go back to last week and review what we studied to keep the continuity, and my guess is each week, that we are in this book of Haggai.

Last week I was very impressed with the loving patience of God toward the Jews who had been sent back from exile to rebuild God’s temple.

Though He had provided for them on their return, they had not accomplished what they had been sent back to do.  As a result though they had enough to get by they never had enough to get ahead.  This was God’s effort to get their attention and ultimately it had to be pointed out through the prophet Haggai.

Likewise, last week I had to equate it to ourselves today.  If we asked the question why we have droughts of sorts in our lives, what might God be waiting on in our lives?

This week we see what we can expect, if we like those people, hear and react to this message.  By reacting, by acknowledging the validity of what they were being told they were immediately obeying.  God seeing what is in their heart and therefore in ourselves had an equally immediate response by saying in verse 13, “I am with you”!

I love what comes next in verse 14, God stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel and the spirit of Joshua and the spirit of all the people.   If you reacted in like fashion last week what was God’s immediate response for you?  Like today’s title in part says, “trust God” because it will happen.

The thing to not forget though is the results might not be what you expect.  In the verses that remain this week God warned these Jews of that.  He said in verse 2:3, “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory?  How does it look to you now?  Does it not seem to you like nothing?”

Don’t miss the key “Does it not seem to you like nothing?”  But this is what God wanted, this union with them, and what He wants from us too.  This is Jed Greenough talking but just as He said “the glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house” so will the glory of the temple that is within us be greater than what went before.  I promise, but more importantly God promises.

For Discussion:

1.      Discuss the immediate response by all involved.
2.      Discuss the stirring up of the spirit.
3.      Discuss how we might not realize what it is God is looking for.
4.      Discuss the prophecy found in 2:6-9.

5.      Discuss the promise God kept.

Upcoming Lessons

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