On 8-5-12, Psalm 146 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Praise for God’s Justice.

Praise for God’s Justice

Psalm 146

International Sunday School Lesson

August 5, 2012

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

If you live long enough someone is going to disappoint you.  It might be a politician who seemed to have it all: the answers, the charisma, the wit and intelligence.  Then a scandal or something as simple as a lack of desire takes them out.  Perhaps  for you it was a romantic interest, that certain someone who you knew was the love of your life.  Then they did something that changed everything.

People are people, in a lot of ways we are all like each other.  We have our strong suits, our good runs of time, our weaknesses and our failures.  Even the best among us in whom we invest so much faith are going to meet the same fate in the end just as it tells us today in verse 4.

Last week I mentioned in the “For Discussion” section that we have a secular system in place similar to Jehoshaphat’s of 2 Chronicles but not a religious or Christian one.  Ours is one of following men and as today’s scripture points out when men are gone they are gone back to the ground but God is forever.  Just imagine the superiority of the system or the superiority of a country that day after day, season after season and life after life followed God as the people come and go, live and die.  That system or that country would do the things of God such as what we read of in today’s verses.

When you think of empires what do you think about?  The Nazis lasted a mere 12 years, the Mongols rule is debated but we will say it lasted 54.  The British Empire lasted over 400 years and at least a couple Persian empires each lasted longer.  There were some that many do not think of often such as Portugal and a few in Africa.  The most famous, longest lasting and probably most familiar to Christians was the Roman Empire.

Each of these empires was here for a time but eventually all of them fell.  The Nazis defeated by the Allies, the Aztecs by the Spanish, the Mongols by a succession of squabbles.  With the British it seemed it was more the times that overtook it but the results are always the same.

The famous saying about the British Empire was that the sun never sat on the British Empire but the sun was and is God’s and it is still here while that empire is not.  One could also say that the church is His and the sun never sets on it either as it has now spread from one small part of the world to the farthest corners.

Just like the empires there are parts to the church that have seen them rise and then fall.  Some in spectacular fashion as they had meteoric rises and descents often times tied to their captivating leaders.  Others have been here for quite some time in human terms but their decline is visible and in the offing somewhat similar to the British Empire.

Whether it is the empires of the world, tiny churches or a mega-church each is made up of those who did as verse 3 says not to do, “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.”

No empire or church has truly lived up to its expectations.  As the psalm today says in verse 5 and 6 it is better to hope instead in God because He alone is faithful.  As a ruler makes promises or a church chooses to spend only certain amounts to sustain the hungry, help the oppressed, or reach the untouched so that they can spend more on their infrastructure instead, it is God who will remain faithful forever.

It seems easy to look at the empires of the world and see where in not following God they have failed but what about the empire that is the church that has lasted more than 2000 years?  Since it is His we know that it will last until the end but while we are here and a part of it how can we do a better job of ensuring that it reflects more of Him instead of resembling a worldly empire?

For Discussion:

1.      When considering verse 3 from today it is not that we can’t have trustworthy leaders especially in the church but we should not put too much trust there as only God saves.

2.      Discuss in general terms where you have been burned by placing your trust in someone.

3.      I watched a sermon last night by one of the most gifted preachers of our time in Adrian Rogers who passed away in 2005 and I have marveled at many of the sermons written by Charles Spurgeon who died in 1892.  Discuss this type of “prince’s” contribution and those of others you may be aware of across the church spectrum and discuss in light of verses 3 and 4.

4.      Those things in sight in verse 6 remind us of the timelessness of God.  Discuss how many different ways we can look at God’s being eternal.

5.      From your place in the empire that is the church, how is it doing in reflecting God in taking care of the issues mentioned in verses 7-9? 

6.      If you decided that your church needed to devote itself more to those items mentioned in verses 7-9 rather than the plans as mentioned in verse 4, how would you go about that, what results would you produce, what kind of opposition would you face?

7.      This may seem like a question you won’t want to consider, but has your church leader become a prince?  Have our leaders come to think of the church as their empire?  If they have, that will be a hard one to discuss, but I challenge you.

8.      In our worldly lives most of us plan for our inevitable demise when we reach the end of our life whenever that might come as it is only responsible.  Have you ever considered that it might be prudent to do the same in our churches however long a life they might yet have?

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries

8-12-12:  God Promised a Righteous Lord Isaiah 9:2-7 or Isaiah 9:1-7

8-19-12:  God Promised a Righteous Branch Jeremiah 23:1-6; 33:14-18

8-26-12:  God Promised to Be with Us Ezekiel 34:23-31

9-2-12:    Faith Calls for Perseverance Hebrews 10:19-31

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

On 2-26-12 Galatians 5:22-6:10 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Fruits of Redemption.

Fruits of Redemption

Galatians 5:22-6:10

International Sunday School Lesson

February 26, 2012

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

Sometimes, no, make that often, we forget to look at the bigger picture as we read our scriptures.  That is easy enough to do when we study for Sunday School using this ISSL/Uniform Series format.  We see what the scripture is on any given Sunday and concentrate on what we have been given but let’s look at this in how we think the context might have been when written.

But before we do that I want to ask you each a question.  I must assume that since today’s scripture begins with” but” you must know that there will be something that is contrary to what you are about to read and so you read what that was.  Having found that in the previous verses that describe the sinful nature, how did it make you feel?  When you read the acts of the sinful nature and then the fruits of the spirit, again how did you feel?  We will get back to this in a bit.

First of all putting this in the proper context I will remind you that this entire letter was written because of the reports that Paul had heard concerning these Galatians.  There was an influence among them causing them to think that they were to live their Christian lives with aspects of the Jewish law instead of by the Spirit.  So this letter was sent with urgency to correct them, to remind them that they came to be Christians by faith in the news they had heard concerning Christ not through following any laws.

Having concentrated on making them understand  through the bulk of his letter that they should live by the Spirit given to them (4:6) and not live by the law Paul is wrapping things up as we read today how the person with the Spirit lives.

So we have some, pretty new to their faith, slightly confused Christians in these Galatians.  Paul had converted them, according to my understanding during his first missionary journey.  This is a fledgling church and Paul has limited means of instructing them.  Zealous teachers of course would have influence.  Paul is far away and writes a forceful letter and to have the most affect he concentrates his firepower. 

Fortunately for us, we have all of our years of sermons and Sunday School lessons.  We have our personal study of not just this lesson but all of Paul’s letters.  Paul couldn’t write everything there was to say in each letter so again he wrote in ways to have the most affect.  For the Galatians Paul wanted to be sure that they understand they are to live by Spirit and truth.  They would have been eager to be instructed by Paul that living in the Spirit was the correct and pleasing way to God.  As I said last week they weren’t pursuing the law because they were lazy they were adding this because they were taught incorrectly that it was pleasing to God.  So Paul very clearly told them you can live one way or the other.  By the Spirit and have these attributes in your life or by the law and have the sinful nature.

Rather extreme examples were given in my honest opinion coupled with those that were less so to impress upon them the extreme difference between following the law and following the Spirit.  A rather efficient way of driving home his point to an eager reader given the constraints Paul was operating under.

So let’s get back to the question I asked.  A question that, to use the words of Rick from Casablanca, won’t matter a “hill of beans” to someone who doesn’t care but like the Galatians, to the passionate, it will matter a great deal.  Again, how do you feel when you read the acts of the sinful nature and the fruit of the Spirit?

Since we aren’t together I cannot get your responses so let me reveal to you my psyche.  I have a passion like I feel the Galatians did and I measure myself with each of the words that are listed there.  It is easy for me to not concentrate on the fact that I haven’t the depravity listed by some of these but rather concentrate on those I shouldn’t have and do.

I know that there are areas that I have where I am weak and if I were left only with this letter to the Galatians I would be motivated to react but in a somewhat depressed manner.  Fortunately I have the rest of the scriptures as well including others from Paul that tell me enough to give me encouragement.

They tell me in places like Ephesians and Romans that I am still living in a sinful body, I will still sin but as I let the process of sanctification work in me I will mature in ever increasing measure until I do become “mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

This knowledge is given to us that we are not perfect and so it comes with a caveat which Paul mentions in Galatians 4:13-14, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

For Discussion:

1.     Stay with me on this one!  If you were to privately ask 20 people what should be a very basic foundational question that could produce a clear answer such as, “What is the gospel?”  You will get 20 different and somewhat convoluted answers.  Likewise if you were to ask what it means to be a spiritual Christian or how you become spiritual you will also get a myriad of answers.  This is vital to the “Galatians” among us.  Discuss this.

2.     Discuss the burdens that we can carry for each other mentioned in 6:2.

3.     With regard to 6:2 see Romans 15:1-3.

4.     6:4-5 talks of not comparing ourselves with others but looking only at our own actions as it deals with the load we carry.  Discuss this.

5.     A teacher may find this more difficult to bring up so hopefully a student will bring up for discussion 6:6.  See also 1 Timothy 5:17.

6.     Discuss all the different ways that we can reap and sow negatively and positively.  Is this verse connected with the preceding verse 6?

7.     With regard to 6:8-10, discuss as whether your church does a good job of ensuring that those within your church are having their various needs met.  How do you know?

8.     How do you arrive at this site?  Bookmark it and make it a habit to start here!

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries

3-4-12:    Wisdom’s Part in Creation (Wisdom’s Origin) Proverbs 8:22-35

3-11-12:  The Word Became Flesh John 1:1-14

3-18-12:  The Wedding at Cana (Water Turned to Wine) John 2:1-12

3-25-12:  God’s Word Saves (Nicodemus Learns of New Birth) John 3:11-21

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

On 1-29-12 Exodus 15:1-3, 19, 22-26 or 15:1-5, 19-26 will be our International Sunday School Lesson/Adult Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Out of Egypt aka A New Ordinance

Out of Egypt

Or

 A New Ordinance

Exodus 15:1-3, 19, 22-26 or 15:1-5, 19-26

International Sunday School Lesson

January 29, 2012

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

In our last lesson we saw that the family of Joseph and his brothers had been reconciled.  Much has changed from one week to the next as we now race ahead more than 4 centuries.  The last time we met the Israelites that had descended from Abraham were still few in number.  In that lesson they were recent transplants to Egypt due to famine and though they were few they had in their favor the position and power of Joseph, second only to the Pharaoh in all of Egypt.  Today though is much different as we join them after their epic endurance of 430 years in slavery.  No longer were they just a cluster of people tied to a few brothers, now they were a nation of hundreds of thousands.

We join this people then in today’s scripture and we read of a song of joy, a song of victory a celebration of deliverance over Pharaoh’s army.  But why did this victory occur?  As in all things in God’s word there are lessons to be learned.

Back in Exodus 12:31-32 we read that after all the plagues, the final one, the one in which the LORD struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, Pharaoh had enough and told Moses to take his people and go.  And so as you know, go they did, with God leading them by means of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

So again, if they left and Pharaoh had told them to leave, why this victory, why as everyone knows was Pharaoh’s army crushed by the waters after the Israelites had passed through?  The answer is difficult for most to answer correctly because of how we tend to think.  Difficult for the most part because people tend to say in their daily lives, “Why is this happening to me?”  Or “What’s in this for me?”  When what they should be asking is, “How can what is happening to me bring God glory?”

 Our tendency to think of ourselves first is so strong that we tend to have a problem when we see the answer to the question I have posed of why after he let them leave did Pharaoh still attack given in Exodus 14:4 and 14:17-18 where we read that God said, “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them.  But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” 

This can be a tough lesson for some to swallow but when the Israelites saw the result we read in 14:31 that they “feared the LORD and put their trust in Him...”  And that is how we happen upon our scripture for today’s song, a song that does what God wants and what we should want, to give Him glory.

Yes, in this song He is exalted, He is praised. The LORD’s actions and attributes are described and sung about; it is as it should be, about Him and His glory.  Wouldn’t it be great to fade away to black there with God receiving what He deserves? 

Instead, we continue on in our lesson with the people of Israel traveling in the desert without finding water.  When they do come upon water we are told that it was too bitter to drink and they grumbled against Moses.  What that really means since Moses was God’s representative is that they grumbled against God.  Why couldn’t they have instead said, “Moses, please pray to God to provide for us just as He did 3 days earlier against Pharaoh?”

Do you do any better?  How long do you go after your victories that God provides?  I would have to admit that I myself witness God’s handiwork and 3 days later I might find myself still imperfect in my actions and reactions but I can also admit that with God’s help I am becoming better, going longer between my grumblings, becoming more pure.

That is what God does, makes things whole and pure, He heals them.  He is the LORD who heals you as it says in verse 26.  It wasn’t Moses or some wood thrown in the water that made it sweet but rather it was God.

That seems to be the lesson for us then as I will repeat to you over and over again, the glory should be His when you witness His miracles and you experience your victories remember to give it (the glory) to Him in song and praising of exaltation.  Then cooperate with Him, let the Holy Spirit work with you so that the times of grumbling are ever farther apart as He works to heal us, sanctifying us, making us pure and completely whole.

For Discussion:

1.      This may sound a bit different, but have you ever made up songs for God to give Him glory?  You can do it in private you know.  Try it the next time He protects you, defends you, and heals you.

2.      Discuss the hardening of Pharaoh.

3.      Discuss the water issue.  The Hebrew word for bitter could range in meaning from too bitter to enjoy to the extent of being poisonous.

4.      Further water issues to consider:  how long can one, in the desert regardless of temperature, under physical exertion go without water?  Do you think they carried water with them?  It says they went without finding not without drinking.

5.      See basically the two places for which Miriam is best known and remembered: today’s scripture showing her participation and leadership in this song and in Numbers 12 when she spoke against Moses and then discuss.

6.      Using a concordance look up the meaning of the word “heals” from verse 26.

7.      Read Romans 6 with this idea of becoming more pure daily.

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries

2-5-12:       Justified by Faith in Christ Galatians 2:15-21

2-12-12:    Freed from Law through Christ (The Blessing for All) Galatians 3:1-14

2-19-12:  Heirs to the Promise (Inheriting Abraham’s Promise) Galatians 3:15-18, 4:1-7

2-26-12:  Fruits of Redemption Galatians 5:22-6:10

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

On 1-1-12 Genesis 39:7-21a will be our International Sunday School/Adult Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as God Watches over Joseph aka Guided by a Loving Lord.

God Watches over Joseph

Or

 Guided by a Loving Lord

Genesis 39:7-21a

International Sunday School Lesson

January 1, 2012

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

Are you in a situation such as a job or a class or group that you just cannot stand, that you are miserable with?  Does it make you want to go home and scream?  Do you keep looking for what God wants you to do with your life so that all this will turn around?

I have been there and done that before and the scripture that we have for today has been a good lesson for me personally as I considered Joseph and his situation.  I have not been sold by my family, how about you?  I have not been sold as a slave, how about you?   I have not been falsely accused of a major crime, how about you?  I have not been thrown into prison for no good reason, how about you?

Isn’t it time we think about how Joseph reacted to his situations when we start to wonder about our “miserable” situations?  Most of us have it so cushy that when things don’t go along swimmingly we think that those times are outside of God’s will.  We can see from this time in Joseph’s life that we might just be very wrong.

Whenever you are wondering about whether something is in fact God’s will for you or not ask yourself this question:  Is this situation drawing me closer to God?  If it does, it most likely is God’s will.  If it doesn’t it most likely isn’t God’s will.

But of course you have to play the part of Joseph in these situations in order for the test to be run in a trustworthy manner.  Joseph certainly didn’t want to be ripped from his father’s bosom.  He certainly wouldn’t have wanted to lose his freedom.  No, I am sure life in prison wouldn’t have been his choice either.

What we do with our “prisons” will help us to determine if they are God’s will for us.  We learn this by seeing that Joseph wasn’t an Abraham or a Moses.  Abraham and Moses, great men of God that they were, faced uncertainty and possible and real threats and hardship but they heard the voice of God!  Joseph didn’t have that blessing but he faced his situations with aplomb.

So the next time you wish that God would just speak to you like he did the men of old in the Bible consider that was not a given and consider Joseph.  If your situation seems grim consider Joseph.  As you ponder whether you are following God’s will so you can perhaps do something if possible about it, consider Joseph.

Joseph didn’t choose the circumstance that he found himself in but he did choose how he reacted.  If we react as Joseph perhaps God will be with us in whatever our situation and even those around us will prosper in some way.

Joseph didn’t curse God when it seems that things kept going from bad to worse.  Instead we see that he stayed faithful.  Joseph to our knowledge didn’t even question God about his situation.  Rather it seems that he stayed patient until eventually learning why he was in this situation.  I don’t even know what I will yet cover when we get there officially but in Genesis 45 we read of Joseph speaking to the very brothers who sold him into slavery.

Genesis 45:5

And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

This is the point where after the light bulb goes off people return to serving God and giving Him the glory but Joseph was doing it all along.  We too can make our slavery, our prisons, the false accusations and evil people we are forced to associate with a part of our efforts to glorify the Father.  We can do it as a part of our daily life in whatever situation we find ourselves in and maybe one day we will have an aha moment and the light bulb will go off for us.  Let’s not wait til then to start giving it up for Him.

For Discussion:

1.      Was Joseph in training for even bigger roles?  Maybe we are too.

2.      Have you ever considered that you may have benefited from another because God was with that person?

3.      Things didn’t exactly turn out the way Joseph may have liked but his example of fleeing from temptation is still the example we should choose.

4.      Have people share some difficult circumstances either past or present in their lives and discuss them.

5.      Have people share some of their instances where times of trial in their life eventually led to moments of clarity concerning God’s will.

6.      Discuss how the way we act in different circumstances can be a way of sharing the gospel.

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries

1-8-12:    Joseph Finds Favor (A Discerning and Wise Leader) Genesis 41:37-45, 50-52 or   41:37-46, 50-52

1-15-12:     God Preserves a Remnant (A Brother Revealed) Genesis 45:3-15

1-22-12:    Joseph Transmits Abraham’s Promise (Reconciliation in the Family) Genesis 50:15- 26

1-29-12:     Out of Egypt (A New Ordinance) Exodus 15:1-3, 19, 22-26 or 15:1-5, 19-26

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