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

Monday, November 2, 2015

On 11-8-15, Acts 15:1-12 will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Saved by Grace or God Makes No Distinction

Saved by Grace
 or 
God Makes No Distinction
Acts 15:1-12
November 8, 2015




Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough




“No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”  

This verse today is among the easiest and among the most difficult to accept for us now and always as Christians.

With it we over simplify and risk falling prey to the devil’s schemes.  We think in affect that we can do anything and get away with it.

It is among the most difficult to accept because in our passion for the Father we want to do more.

I don’t have ill feelings for these new converts who were Pharisees.  They were used to being a legalistic people.  In their passion for God they wanted to dot their i’s and cross their t’s and they thought others should as well.  Have you ever caught yourself doing that?  Have you ever worried that you are worshiping on the wrong day or not following things because you read about them in the Old Testament?  I will admit that I have.

But when Jesus said He wanted people to worship in Spirit and truth that covers it.  You know in your hearts when communion is sincere or when you are going through the motions.  And that covers all aspects of our worship.

We are a roller coaster people, we get in ruts or we get in good times where our worship and our kingdom work becomes less or more or mechanical or in the Pharisees sense it can become legalistic or worse Pharisaical.  

God proved through them why it didn’t work, Peter said, “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?”  This he was saying was  to oversimplify why we needed Christ and God’s grace to save us.

I love that part of today’s verse 8 which reads, “God, who knows the heart.”  Let that rattle around in your head awhile repeating those words, “God, who knows the heart.”  Use that to judge yourself when you are making your choices in church, at home or in public.  Not someone else’s measure of what you should do and not even your own.

I think it purifies like a refiners fire so even we ourselves know what we should do or what we are doing will be what He desires.


For Discussion:

  1. Share ways you may have been worshiping other than in Spirit and truth.
  2. Share your peaks and valleys of worshiping.
  3. Discuss why the Jews felt as they did both positive and negative.
  4. Discuss how Paul had been a Pharisee among Pharisees.
  5. Discuss the “dangers” of verse 11.
  6. Discuss the influence the Gentiles would have had on the Jews in this their new faith.
  7. Discuss how new converts could similarly have an influence on us.
  8. Discuss how we could have a negative influence on new converts.




Upcoming Lessons

11-15-15  From Derbe to Philippi     Acts 16:1-5, 8-15











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