Monday, February 23, 2015

On 3-1-15, John 1:29-34 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as The Lamb of God


The Lamb of God

John 1:29-34

International Sunday School Lesson

March 1st, 2015

 

 

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

 

"I myself did not know Him". " I myself did not know Him"

This is repeated twice in today's short scripture and is what you should build your Sunday around.

Sure there is much other to observe if you look. We can see in verse 29, John giving us a clear title for Jesus in " Lamb of God".

We can learn much about the prophet John by seeing that God had given him his mission to bring awareness " make straight the way for the Lord", the need for a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. We can see that God gave John a way to know for sure who Jesus was when He saw Him.

We know that John knew Christ was from before, meaning That Jesus always was here.

But most important to my thinking this Sunday was that John still needed to learn about Jesus, to KNOW Him and then to reveal Him to others.

That's where we come in, to also "make straight the way for The Lord", to reveal Him to others.

This is the responsibility that John was given and this is the responsibility that Jesus gave to His disciples (including us) when He left.

I eluded to this role of ours as it relates to each other a few weeks ago when I quoted the story of the servant left in charge of His fellow servants. We read about it again when we saw a couple of weeks ago our role as shepherds. And now we can continue that theme if we pull it from today's scripture.

The scriptures had pointed to Christ but the Jews needed Him revealed to them according to what we read in today's scripture.

Now today we have the whole Bible that if not explained to people would in most likelihood confuse them. What do we have in place today to do this explaining?

In some instances we have missionaries in the world who do a wonderful job at revealing Christ. I don't think we as a whole do enough to help aid them.

In some instances we have churches who do a fine job as well. And we have families that can raise up their children in the way that reveals Christ. But do either of these do as good a job as they used to?

When you look at how the beginning church did it, when you look back at how it was done even just 100 years ago, how do we measure up? With the technology we have available to us in this generation how do you think we are doing?

Quote the talents scripture here Matthew 25:14-30

Everyone who reads this has the ability to do more with what they have been given then generations past. Imagine if every one of us supported, created, or led a ministry that reveled Christ to those who do not know Him.


 

For Discussion:

1.      Discuss what our generation has been given to reveal Him.

2.      Discuss the myriad of ways every individual could take part today if they choose.

3.      Discuss Jesus as the Lamb of God

4.      Discuss John’s role

5.      Discuss the trinity as shown

6.      Discuss baptizing with water versus the Holy Spirit.

 

 

Upcoming Lessons

 

3-8-15     Jesus Promises an Advocate or Another Comforter/Advocate John 14:15-26

 

 

 

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

 

 

Monday, February 16, 2015

On 2-22-15, Ephesians 6:10-20 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Clothed and Ready


Clothed and Ready

Ephesians 6:10-20

International Sunday School Lesson

February 22, 2015

 

 

 

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

 

 

This week's passage is a great one for someone like me who wants to impress upon others that they need to be prepared.

I am continuously trying to drive home to Christians to not be taken in by the stories they are told by some who teach that they are going to get a free pass to the front of the line at "the Great Buffet". To accept this notion would be to accept that God or His word is not consistent.

When you read this week that you are to put on the full armor of God the words do a great job in helping us to visualize all the different pieces that will protect us such as swords and shields. This gives us the clue that we cannot go unprepared.

In fact clue isn’t the right word as it is much more than a clue when the fact is clearly being demonstrated. A clue might be to just say, "Take the shield of faith" but this in many and multiple ways says you will need "the FULL armor of God". Not a little, not some, but all and not man's armor of this world but God's. You can't rely on yourself nor your abilities but you WILL need God to be prepared.

God wants you to be prepared, if this weren't the case he wouldn't want you to train or equip yourself as the scriptures clearly show. As I write this what comes to my mind is someone who enters the military service today. They expect to go to somewhere nasty because they know they are no better than others who have gone before.

But then what if the unthinkable happened and no one is training them. Their basic training is just a big party. When they ask if they should be learning weapons or strategy or how to operate their equipment they are told, "Aw, you'll never see action. You signed up that's enough." Pretty scary scenario if you ask me!

As scary as that seems in a worldly fight this scripture wants you to know this fight you might have to endure is far more than that. This is the battle that many don't seem to give the gravity that it is due. This is not "flesh and blood"!

Do you have that? It makes me want to say like Dr. Charles Stanley says in his sermons at key points, "Listen!" This is about rulers, powers, and authorities of the DARK WORLD.

Did you get that? This battle is going to go on with "spiritual forces of EVIL in the heavenly realms"! How about that did you get that?

Do you remember Daniel 10 and the angel who was speaking to him there? Do you remember what this angel said he had been doing and what the angel Michael had to say?

How about this from 2 Kings 6:15-17, “When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.



One of the signs of the end of the age is to just be weighed down with life (Luke 21:34). I could see that being easier to happen if you think you are getting a free pass and you just think about you and this world.

One day the heavens will roll back like a scroll and all will see.


For Discussion:

  1. Discuss scriptures that show God wants you to build yourself up.
  2.  Share other scriptures that talk about the spiritual struggles that are going on.
  3. Discuss other scriptures that show this other realm.
  4.  Discuss why this realm exists.
  5. Discuss how to be prepared or how to put on the full armor of God.
  6.  Discuss parts of God's armor.



Upcoming Lessons

3-1-15 The Lamb of God John 1:29-34
3-8-15 Jesus Promises an Advocate or Another Comforter/Advocate John 14:15-26





 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Monday, February 9, 2015

On 2-15-15, Matthew 25:31-46 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Serving the Least


Serving the Least

Matthew 25:31-46

International Sunday School Lesson

February 15, 2015

                                                                                 

 

 

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

 

 

For years I had a flock of sheep.  It started out when I was a boy so I just came into it through assimilation and ended when I was in my 30’s.  I miss them.  I had pigs too and it wasn’t the same, you know?  And I also had goats, and again not the same.

Pigs and goats are smart and I was always confident they could have found a way to survive without me, a great example are the ever expanding feral pigs we have in this country.

Sheep on the other hand need a shepherd.  They fall asleep wrong in a corn row and they can’t get up without help.  Their wool must be harvested or they suffer terribly from ticks and heat.  They are easy prey for predators such as marauding dogs or coyotes.  They often need assistance in delivering their lambs.

The list goes on but raising a flock of sheep wasn’t difficult except times when they panicked and leaped and threw their large bodies against you or the night was late or stormy when their needs called or the days of shearing grew long. But somehow the chores were like laying down to sleep and getting back up again.  I feel that this is what we should adapt as our attitude towards our role as shepherds of our fellow man.

I think the tendency is to think this role of shepherd belongs to the ones synonymous with this name by their literal meaning in the Bible of elder and pastor.  These however are specific to the church and what we are talking about is mankind at large.

In our roles here as shepherds we don’t seem to have the life where it is a part of our being at least not consistently.  We don’t seem to do it in that way that is just a part of us like laying down to sleep and getting back up again.  We have cycles of enthusiasm where we do pretty good but then it wanes and we neglect the flock.  Thank God that Jesus didn’t and doesn’t operate as our shepherd in that way!

Jesus shows us the importance He places on our role as shepherds and I gave one example last week when I quoted Matthew 24’s scripture concerning the servant left in charge of others.  The examples left to impress us of this are scattered throughout the Bible and here are several: Luke 6:38, Leviticus 19:9-10, Proverbs 14:21, Isaiah 58:10-11, Luke 3:10-11, 1 John 3:17.

None of those are shepherd verses but rather show the consistency throughout God’s words of who he wants us to be toward each other and being this way makes us an emulator of Christ our shepherd.

But how do you become a shepherd by nature?  I think my example from my youth applies where being a shepherd was how I was raised something like Proverbs 22:6 but how about for us as adults?

The answer is found throughout the Bible such as the scriptures given above but it must become a part of who we are each and every day not just once a week as we prepare for class.  But you have to want to be a sheep and not a clever goat who thinks they can manage it on their own.

 

For Discussion:

  1. Discuss a true disciple as being sheep and the opposite.
  2. Discuss having or not having a desire to taking care of those in need.
  3. Discuss ways to feed, clothe and visit.
  4. Discuss the examples from today’s scripture being both literal and figural.
  5. Discuss times you have known you should help but did not and how you felt as well as the opposite.
  6. Discuss that this behavior as shepherds should begin in the church and expand from there.
  7. What ways could your class react to this as a group which can help all involved to grow as shepherds.
  8. Discuss how your class could help your church to grow as true shepherds.

 

 

 

Upcoming Lessons

2-22-15     Clothed and Ready     Ephesians 6:10-20

 

 

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

 

Sunday, February 1, 2015

On 2-8-15, Luke 10:25-34 or 10:25-37 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Serving Neighbors, Serving God


Serving Neighbors, Serving God

Luke 10:25-34 or 10:25-37

International Sunday School Lesson

February 8, 2015

                                                                                 

 

 

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

                                                              

For me these are the kind of scriptures that I most enjoy, they are the ones that hit home when we are pompous, the ones that remind us that there are many different ways often to teach about God’s word.

Many this week will concentrate on prejudice.  For many of you prejudice is a part of your life that has affected you your whole existence but you must not forget that it isn’t always about you, so don’t get swept away in this and lose track.

It is easier to see in the New Testament that it isn’t just about us and that we have an obligation towards each other.  I like how Jesus made this very clear so that we are without excuse.

In today’s scripture he made it very clear to the inquiring teacher the importance of this instruction to help each other by saying, “Do this and you will live.”

That is no small statements so don’t pass it by, but grasp a hold of it.

I challenge you to prove what I am saying is true about the importance upon how we take care of each other was/is to Christ by finding all the examples He gave to us to not look at each other as black, white, red, brown, gay, male, female, Methodist, Baptist and so on.

In Luke 12 the warning is, “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.

In Luke 6 Christ talks of our taking care of not just those who it is easy to take care of but to care even for our enemies.  He makes it crystal clear in verse 30 by saying, “Give to everyone who asks you...”

Taking care of everyone that is a tall order but to me it is abundantly clear that this is the standard to which we as Christians are to be held and most clearly as it regards the gospel.

 

Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?  It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.  I tell you the truth; he will put him in charge of all his possessions.  But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.  The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.  He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.   Matthew 24:45-51

 

 

For Discussion:

  1. What comes to mind when you read as it says in verse 25 that this individual was “an expert in the law.”?
  2. Discuss that this whole episode was “to test Jesus”.
  3. Verse 27 is known as the Greatest Commandment.
  4. Find where else Jesus uses this.
  5. Try to find one word to describe what you read in verse 27.
  6. Ask yourself the question posed in verse 29, “And who is my neighbor?
  7. Discuss how one goes about doing what Jesus said in verse 37, “Go and do likewise.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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