On 9-18-11 Proverbs 15:21-33 will be our Adult Sunday School Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Teaching Values or Instruction in Wisdom. You will find the 9-11-11 lesson directly beneath this message.
Jed
Teaching Values
Or
Instruction in Wisdom
Proverbs 15:21-33
International Sunday School Lesson
September 18, 2011
Commentary
By
Jed Greenough
Why do children go to school? Why do professionals such as doctors have continuing education? Why will you be in your Sunday School class?
The answers are all the same--so that we might be taught.
I know that there are many teachers among this “class” who are here for ideas to help prepare them for their class that they will teach on the 18th. Similarly there will be many students from classes that stop by to be instructed so that they will be more prepared and more able to participate in their groups.
These are serious roles we play of student and teacher and I take my role in the process seriously. One way I do that is to make prayer an important part of the process. Prayer before, during and after every effort I make in this blog is the rule so that I might help you the student or you the teacher.
I know first-hand that I accomplish far more and feel far better about my contributions when I have an active prayer life and I encourage you to do this as well. I would also encourage you to make prayer a bigger part of your classes.
Right now perhaps you start and end in prayer but sometimes try expanding upon it by having others take part. This could occasionally include prayers from multiple participants from the class as they pray for what the Spirit moves them to pray for. You as leader don’t have to lead in all aspects of your class and this can be one of those where you listen.
So what have my prayers this week led me to conclude with regard to today’s scripture? Well this week my slant is that the power in a church can lie with the Sunday School. Let me explain.
No matter how called the Pastor or Minister or whatever title you give them may be, it is your classes where the real “growth” in a church will arise. This is where the meaty teaching and continuing education will occur. What size is your church, 70, 100, 600 or even larger? It isn’t in the worship service, where all come together, that people at every level in life and faith will be able to participate. They won’t share, agree and disagree. Not many will participate in prayers nor even possibly occasionally rebuke someone. Rather people sit silently in church as they listen to the sermon. They may agree, disagree or not understand what it is being said and the vast majority of the time that is where it ends. Finally it won’t often occur that before or after services that the spiritual is normally discussed. But in the Sunday School class, the smaller groups are where the koinonia, the fellowship will form.
Go back to today’s scripture, notice all the different positive and negative things. These things all remind me of what can happen in your Sunday School classes. Those who are studying this scripture today and sharing it as teachers or students in fellowship with each other are who will benefit from the positives mentioned here. And it is all those who are not studying these words whether in fellowship or not who are at risk of practicing the negatives.
Looking at the verses specifically I can confidently say that because of those you are joined with you will have much less chance of failing due to lack of council but will gain understanding because of what is shared. As you and other students grow and participate you all will find joy in giving a good answer at just the right time.
Your classes are where the value of humility like a widow being valued over being prideful is taught just as today’s scripture says. So will be the lessons concerning greed, thoughtfulness, pure thoughts and matters of righteousness. Students and teachers alike will actively participate, grow, laugh, learn, love and cry with each other. Again does this sound like worship services or does it sound more like active and vibrant Sunday School classes?
I do not think I have ever used Wikipedia for a quote before but for today’s lesson I love what they had to say about Koinonia, “Koinonia is the anglicisation of a Greek word (κοινωνία) that means communion by intimate participation.” Intimate participation, that’s it alright, it’s in your classrooms or should be!
Yep, this is the slant that I got when I read those proverbs. Use the power of your classes for the difference you can make for the kingdom. I lift you up. I encourage you. I pray for you that the teaching you give and receive will be powerful.
For Discussion:
1. Include in your classes the prayer needs of those who make up your groups.
2. Make it a class project to formally invite people into your group. Send invitations, offer to pick them up, literally walk with them through the door.
3. Discuss verse 25’s how God tears down a proud man’s house.
4. Discuss verse 27’s how a greedy person brings trouble to their family.
5. Verse 28 talks of how the righteous weigh their answers before choosing to speak. Discuss how in our exuberance for God’s word we might often be too quick to speak.
6. Showing up is the first step, but discuss with those the growth that can occur both as individuals and for the benefit of their classmates if they study and come prepared.
9-25-11: Wisdom and Discernment (Wisdom and Government), Proverbs 25:1-10
10-2-11: An Ordered Life (Wisdom in Practice), Proverbs 29:16-27
10-9-11: The Superiority of Wisdom (Wisdom is Better than Might), Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 or 9:13-10:4
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved
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