Monday, December 28, 2015

On 1-3-16, Genesis 29:15-30 will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as A Bride Worth Waiting For

A Bride Worth Waiting For
Genesis 29:15-30
January 3, 2016




Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough




I almost never read from week to week what others have to say about the current week’s scripture because I want to not lose “my voice”.  This is one week after I am done that I plan on making an exception.  It should prove interesting to see what every one is inspired to bring to the study table concerning this most interesting scripture.

I am not terribly knowledgeable what the marriage practices were in that day so that might take me off the mark.  And I am not terribly familiar with the wedding traditions either.  I might be way off base this week but what I see are the characters of the individuals involved.

Some of what I do involves a great deal of negotiation.  Seldom is a term put out there and accepted.  Rather there is the give and take that is expected and figured in until both parties are satisfied.

Laban showed some good character by offering to pay Jacob for his labors and Jacob showed his hand in this negotiation immediately.  I am sure that the pay choice might have come as a surprise to Laban but not Jacob’s feelings for his daughter so Laban went for the jugular, another indication of his character.

Jacob’s impetuous character or his romantic nature blinded him from what must have been a big part of an adult male’s business dealings, that being negotiation.  Jacob merely acquiesced.  

Laban’s character showed again with the ruse and the same Jacob showed up.

Jacob could have negotiated more favorable terms the first time such as first the daughter then the seven years.  And the second time, well you’ll have to forgive me but this is bordering on the less than intelligent.

Sacrilegious to say so?  Why should it be?  We are not all Solomon.  I think it is important that the Bible shows us the character, the strong and weak points of individuals if we are to understand and relate to them.  It makes it all the more real to me and thus relevant.

For Discussion:

  1. Discuss what you think of Laban.
  2. Discuss what you think of Jacob.
  3. Discuss how you think Jacob would not have recognized this was not Rachel.
  4. How do less than perfect characters in the Bible help you?
  5. Discuss other individuals in the Bible and their character.
  6. Look into what verse 17 means by “weak eyes”.  It varies from version to version and the word “but” plays in to this.
  7. Discuss the thoughts/feelings of Leah and Rachel.


Upcoming Lessons


1-10-16     The Most Beautiful Bride     Song of Solomon 6:4-12






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

Monday, December 21, 2015

On 12-27-15, Matthew 23:2-12; Mark 12:38-44 will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as A Generous Gift

A Generous Gift
Matthew 23:2-12; Mark 12:38-44
December 27, 2015




Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough



Reading the scriptures from today should send shivers down the spines of some who teach and at least give pause to all who do!

Really I don’t think there are too many teachers especially Sunday School ones who are in danger of this but then again I have not been exposed to all that there is and there could be much more than I think.

No, I think that most of these labor without glory in this day and age because those they labor for do not encourage them but instead they take.  Rather hard in that situation to become too full of one’s self.

But I suppose there are some who succeed in certain ways and the accolades they receive from men may lead to some of what we read in today’s scripture.

More likely and in fact definitely what is in sight are our “supreme” church leaders.  Those that wear the robes and speak from the pulpit or whatever form that takes and are called whatever title your church bestows.

The position brings with it automatic respect, automatic credit from doubt and a supposition of correctness.  People have always wanted to align themselves with power and when you get treated special it naturally leads to the danger of the downfall of the devil himself which was pride.

As with most things, being aware of the danger and being prayerful about it are the first solid steps to remaining grounded.  But I think that this fault is most likely to occur with those who have not truly received the gift from the Holy Spirit to teach but rather have inserted themselves into the position.  So if they have reached for a position for which they are not truly ordained it stands to reason there can be fall out.

Whichever the case these individuals are not alone in their blame if the elders that surround them do not help them, if their education didn’t prepare them for this and if those who have chosen them along the way have not shown discernment or the individual in the church shows favoritism.  

The widow from today shows the gravity of these leaders position in what they do with what they are given.  They decide how to spend what this poor woman who gave everything provided to them.

How will they be judged by their choices?  Did they choose that they were worthy of a building addition, a special sound system, a special house or car or even a jet over feeding the poor, clothing the ragged, seeding a new church, nurturing a missionary or spreading the gospel?

What she gave she gave to God but these who lead are the intermediaries who write the check.  In their pride do they decide that God’s clear examples of how to give are no longer relevant.  Do they twist and turn it to say that they need those things mentioned above or some variant in order to accomplish this?

Truly as I said those who do this should have shivers run down their spine and especially when they read what Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’


For Discussion:

  1. Discuss from verse 3 how Jesus stressed the need to follow those in authority despite their shortcomings.
  2. With regard to verse 4 discuss how leaders such as Rabbis overcomplicated things such as the Sabbath.
  3. If no one should be called Rabbi or instructor or teacher or father what might we me doing wrong in titles we use today in light of this scripture?
  4. Discuss how we might help the situation.
  5. Discuss when the needs of the church or improvements in the church should come in versus widows, orphans, the poor, the prisoner and of course the gospel.
  6. Was Jesus being critical of the wealthy who gave or just praising the poor woman?  Discuss.
  7. Happy New Year!



Upcoming Lessons


1-3-16     A Bride Worth Waiting For     Genesis 29:15-30












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

Monday, December 14, 2015

On 12-20-15, Exodus 13:13-15; Luke 2:22-32 will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Dedications of Firstborn

Dedications of Firstborn
Exodus 13:13-15; Luke 2:22-32
December 20, 2015




Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough



At this our last Sunday before Christmas it strikes me when I read today’s scripture how important it was for the devoted of Israel to recognize the work God had done in releasing them from slavery from Pharaoh.

Today’s scripture doesn’t cover all the scriptures involved but you know well the story of how God spared those of Israel because they had been instructed to spread the blood of lambs on their door frames.  All the first born of Egypt, in this the final plague before Pharaoh released Israel from slavery, were taken by the destroyer.

Thus Israel was instructed by God to always remember this deliverance.  We must think on that awhile.  Each first born of Egypt was taken and each first born of Israel was spared.  Just as for us when the Day arrives and those who are His will be spared and those who are not will not be.

These people of Israel, such as Jesus’ family, were recognizing all that had been done so many generations before.

Maybe for some it was pure tradition and for others more devout it still meant much to them after so long.  What do you think about that?  Surely Mary and Joseph who though poor (thus the two doves instead of a lamb) had been blessed so greatly through their experiences of Jesus birth would have been motivated but what about all those others who redeemed their firstborns in remembrance?  I wonder at the rate of prevalence in that day.  Was it all, most, half or only some?

Simeon’s joy was obvious in his words from today’s scripture.  These words show that though Jesus was a baby Simeon had it revealed to him that this was the Messiah.  How excited he must have been!

How excited are you this Christmas season?  We might be wealthy or we might be poor like Jesus’ family but we too can share in recognizing God’s work, not in releasing us from a mortal king who enslaves but the slavery of death.

Simeon was a devout and devoted servant to whom the Messiah was revealed as a babe but as Simeon said, “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations.”  Eventually all would know the fulfillment of God’s plan.

Again, how excited are you this Christmas?  What will you do to remember His birth and sacrifice and resurrection?  What will you do to share your excitement with others.  Don’t just let this be a season of going through the motions of remembering as some might have done in remembering the Passover.  Rather think of the sparkle that must have been in the eyes of Mary and Joseph when they consecrated their son to the Lord!


For Discussion:

  1. Discuss how important it is that we remember what God has done.
  2. Discuss the things that we might remember.
  3. Discuss the social condition of Jesus family.
  4. Discuss this in light of their being the family of the Messiah.
  5. What can we give as a remembrance this Christmas season for what God has done.
  6. Discuss the life to god Simeon must have lived.
  7. I think that next Sunday is a very important one for students so don’t take a break just because Christmas will be past!
  8. Merry Christmas!





Upcoming Lessons

12-27-15     A Generous Gift     Matthew 23:2-12; Mark 12:38-44
1-3-16     A Bride Worth Waiting For     Genesis 29:15-30





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


This Christmas season as you study Exodus 13:13-15; Luke

Monday, December 7, 2015

On 12-13-15, Leviticus 22:17-25, 31-33 will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Acceptable Offerings

Acceptable Offerings
Leviticus 22:17-25, 31-33
December 13, 2015




Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough







Examples are invaluable to us as human beings.

It is through example that a child learns everything that they become.  They see and hear their family as they walk and talk and they want to emulate these things.  They see good behavior and this example helps bring that out in them.  Likewise when a child hears or sees nothing but bad things in their environs you know what happens.  This is how we raise children, by example.

God was raising up a children in the Israelites wasn’t he?  He showed them by example that He was holy and how they could be holy in turn.  When God gave to the children of Israel He did not give to them the worst but the best.

Being holy seems to go against our nature even though God kindly shows us what being holy is all about.  We are often stingy with what we give back despite the fact that all we have came from Him.  Do we want to give to Him the blemished when He has given us the perfect?  He doesn’t mind when we give more than the perfect but rather when we only give of the least of the best.  Surely this is not how we want to be treated.

God knows what He has given and He just wants us to love Him as He loves us.  This goes back to the idea of examples.  As we read in Leviticus we saw even foreigners were to respect this model of giving and the Israelites were to acknowledge God’s holiness in how they gave.  It is that example idea.

Likewise for us when we acknowledge God is holy through our example we show non-Christians something that might cause them to want to emulate us and in turn treat God as holy.

What do people see in you as an example?




For Discussion:

  1. Those who give generously to God know that He rewards them for this even though they are only doing what they should.  Discuss this.
  2. Discuss from a mortal standpoint the receiving or giving of flawed things if that is all that is being given.
  3. Discuss the way we are examples.
  4. Discuss how being bad examples is negative in it’s results.
  5. Discuss how we come to God relates to this aside from in how we give.
  6. Discuss Christ as sacrifice.




Upcoming Lessons

12-20-15     Dedications of Firstborn     Exodus 13:13-15; Luke 2:22-32








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

Monday, November 30, 2015

On 12-6-15, Exodus 20:8-11; 31:12-16 will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as The Lord’s Day

The Lord’s Day
Exodus 20:8-11; 31:12-16
December 6, 2015




Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough


This blog by nature and by choice is a succinct attempt at helping you either come up with an idea to pursue as a teacher or to get involved as a student and of course a mixture of the two.  It stands to reason I won’t get too complicated or involved.  Most of you as teachers or students are already committed to doing a thorough study.

This week is one of those weeks when it is difficult to not get to far away from this model as the Sabbath has been a personal point of concern or care of mine for quite some time.  I have in my passion for God been concerned that I am not worshipping on the day that would please God.  I have worried that I have labored when I should not.

We will not go there and words I could say will not sway you anyway if these are concerns of yours you will have to settle this for your self.  I have pursued to my relief or comfort or satisfaction that this (the Sabbath) as with many things was one of many things that pointed to the necessity for Christ.

The people of Israel were told that this is “The Lord’s Day” as in most of our titles.  They were told in Exodus 16 twice that the Sabbath was to the Lord.  To the Lord, remember that.  It was not to them.

Of course there are many more examples of this and I will not note them all but you really should do a concordance search of all the uses of this word and you will get the idea that the Sabbath is to God, it was given to these people to be holy because God is holy.

But man being man and in this case Israel could not just do as the Lord prescribed. Those that taught from the beginning until those who became more officially know as Rabbis added layers of restrictions that no one could follow or keep.  I encourage you to again do a search and see the “layers” that these added to make the keeping of the Sabbath a farce.  Miss one of these things in your observance of the Sabbath and you made all of it for naught according to their teaching.  According to Isaiah these observances were are meaningless to God to the point where He could not bear them.

Fortunately Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath as Matthew 12 tells us.  We could go on Ad Nauseam  but this is what those who taught did before Jesus.  But Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith showed that in honoring God it was always about spirit and truth.. He healed on the Sabbath, He gathered grain on the Sabbath, He did not ignore what was right because of a legal outlook..  Instead He did what was holy.  

This was what God intended for these people to do once a week but really all days and to do in a way that all around them would notice and hopefully emulate.


For Discussion:


  1. Discuss how you have struggled with observing the Sabbath.
  2. Discuss Seventh Day Adventists and how we have none among us as we study weekly because of this one issue.
  3. Discuss how Jesus showed the Sabbath should be observed.
  4. Discuss how the verses 12-17 from chapter 20 show a type of holy living.
  5. Discuss why God initially prescribed the Sabbath knowing how things would turn out.
  6. Read and discuss Hebrews 4.



Upcoming Lessons

12-13-15     Acceptable Offerings Leviticus 22:17-25, 31-33










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

Monday, November 23, 2015

On 11-29-15, Acts 18:1-11, 18-21a will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Teaching God’s Word

Teaching God’s Word
Acts 18:1-11, 18-21a
November 29, 2015




Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough


Frustration is a common and powerful thing.  You work away with little encouragement and discouragement catches up with you.

Encouragement is one of the gifts of the Spirit and it is something we do not all have the gift of and those who do can offer it in a timely fashion if they do as the Spirit moves them.  

These times when these people make good use of their gift is critical in the kingdom work that is going on.  Other times this encouragement is not available or is not given.  

You perhaps are a teacher and every so often you run out of steam and a Christian in your path gives of their gift and you are able to carry on with utilizing your gift to teach.  Other times they don’t live up to their potential and God steps in.

This week as we study Paul we see this encouragement working with Paul.  I think it shows how important this turns out to be when even Paul is in need.

We read how Paul testified to the Jews but they became abusive to him.  Paul reacts with frustration by shaking out his clothes and in frustration saying, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it.”  Sounds familiar doesn’t it?

But Paul received success anyway and a vision of God to bolster telling him to keep on with what he was doing and he did.  We see him continuing on still going to the synagogues  and not giving up on who he shared the message with.

I would encourage all of you who do the ministry that you are involved with to keep on keeping on.  God sees what you are doing and most who are benefitting from your work are silent but you are important to them.

For those of you who can make a difference through your encouragement, please don’t be negligent in the exercise of your gift as it really matters.

For Discussion:

  1. Discuss the significance of what verse 3 might have meant to Paul.
  2. Discuss Paul’s statement in verse 6.
  3. Discuss what the arrival of Timothy and Silas would have done for Paul.
  4. Discuss what the vision must have meant to Paul.
  5. Discuss the length of time that Paul was in Corinth.
  6. Discuss Paul’s hair cutting for an oath.
  7. Discuss where you have needed encouragement and didn’t receive it.
  8. Discuss where you have received it.
  9. Discuss where you have given encouragement or seen it given.




Upcoming Lessons

12-6-15  Teaching God’s Word  Exodus 20:8-11; 31:12-16















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

Monday, November 16, 2015

On 11-22-15, Acts 17:1-4, 10-12, 22-25, 28 will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Thessalonica, Berea and Athens

Thessalonica, Berea and Athens
Acts 17:1-4, 10-12, 22-25, 28
November 22, 2015




Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough




Last week we read that the Lord opened Lydia’s heart to respond to Paul’s message.  This week  we don’t read those words but we see it in the different people who came to believe what Paul was teaching.  Sometimes there were more Gentiles and sometimes there were more Jews.

Acts 17 is very interesting to see the process that Paul used to try and convey his message.  He didn’t wait for people to come to him but rather went to where the people were.  He went to synagogues and to the marketplace and spoke before meetings both friendly and otherwise.

Paul used the scriptures to explain and prove that Jesus was the Messiah whether he was in Thessalonica or Berea or any town.  Again some came to believe and some did not.  I find it most interesting that there seemed to be more success in Berea where these people did not just listen to the message but searched the scriptures for themselves.

For those who might have been unfamiliar to the scriptures Paul looked around for things that those people could relate to and in Athens that was idols, alters and reason.  These people specialized in talking things through and Paul’s method of explaining to them who God was in verses 22-31 really had to set off some light bulbs!  Really I’d say it was ingenious if not inspired.

But all this certainly points out that first, though God could lead some spontaneously to do it on their own, someone first has to bring the message.  Thus, “ And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”  Romans 10:15-17

And, “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.”

This part we don’t understand where some are led to believe but how we go about doing it is all we need to be concerned with.

In the last couple weeks we have talked of not ignoring his call to be sent and we have seen today how to be prepared to deliver the message.  We needn't be concerned with the outcome as God determines that.



For Discussion:

  1. Discuss God opening peoples hearts.
  2. Discuss the effectiveness of God’s word in speaking to people.
  3. Discuss the idea of going out and not staying within the church so that the message is spread.
  4. Discuss how to bring people within the church to hear the good news is done by inviting them.
  5. Discuss if the message they hear if they come will be the gospel.
  6. Discuss the need for creativity in bringing knowledge of God to people.
  7. Discuss how to support those who are bringing people the gospel message.





Upcoming Lessons


11-29-15  Teaching God’s Word     Acts 18:1-11, 18-21a









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

Monday, November 9, 2015

On 11-15-15, Acts 16:1-5, 8-15 will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as From Derbe to Philippi

From Derbe to Philippi
Acts 16:1-5, 8-15
November 15, 2015




Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough





I suppose most of you use prepared lessons created by publishing companies that chart out a lesson for you.  This week is one of those where I’d be glad to use one.  I mean look even at the title most are using, “From Derbe to Philippi”.  The week after that won’t be any better!  Sometimes inspiration is drawn from the weekly titles but for me at least there aren’t too many ideas coming too easily from this week’s lesson's title.

But after a while when I got to thinking about those geographical names I decided to look at a map of these journeys that Paul undertook and these city names.  When you look at charts and maps that dealt with the titles we are about to undertake it started to not be so easy to gloss  over or maybe glaze over as it would  otherwise be.

It became apparent that it wasn’t easy to just go from town to town as it is of course for most of us today.  30 miles in that day could create quite a hardship.  Then of course one starts to think about those hardships that are just part of the reason that not all are called to the same tasks in the kingdom.  Some who are called won’t go as we talked about the last couple of weeks because of the idea of hardships.  This should help us to appreciate what it took to start the early church.  These were committed and long suffering individuals driven by their faith and servant hearts.

We can appreciate how tenacious Paul was, he tried to even go to places that God wouldn’t let him (see the not included verses from Acts 16).  He also tried to read into whatever he could including his dreams about where his work should lead which led him to Macedonia.

From reading this scripture we don’t even know if this was a vision from God nor did Paul.  The scripture says that they concluded this is why Paul had the dream.

I like that what materializes is not a man, which is what Paul had seen in the dream but  rather a woman, Lydia, who is apparently was the first convert there and provides them with a home while they are in the area.

This brief mention of Lydia made her a pretty special person in the eyes of some.  With some churches elevating her to a saintly status based on what, we don’t know.  Too much of what is written about Lydia is supposition because what we in fact do know is all found within this chapter.

But of what we do know my favorite is that “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.”  What she did after that somehow led to much supposition and a lot of that led to stories of Lydia rising to greatness.  I hope that she really did achieve such things.  

That should be the story of all of us who God draws to Him when He opens our hearts to respond to the message.


For Discussion:

  1. Find charts which show Paul’s journey.
  2. Discuss why you think Paul had Timothy circumcised which seems to counter what was just discussed in Jerusalem and the message Paul was delivering.  
  3. Discuss the not included verse 7.
  4. Discuss how when our minds are constantly on subjects we dream about those subjects.
  5. Discuss where Lydia’s home town of Thyatira is in relation to Philippi.
  6. Discuss what can be known about Lydia from this scripture.
  7. Discuss what might be possibilities about Lydia from this scripture.
  8. Discuss some of the things that people have come up with in relation to Lydia.


Upcoming Lessons

11-22-15  Thessalonica, Berea and Athens     Acts 17:1-4, 10-12, 22-25, 28











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