The Adult Sunday School

Sunday, December 30, 2012

On 01-06-13, Philippians 1:12-26 or 1:15-26 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Proclaiming Christ.

Proclaiming Christ

Philippians 1:12-26 or 1:15-26

International Sunday School Lesson

January 6, 2013

Commentary

Jed Greenough

How have tough times changed you? How have others going through trials influenced you? Anyone who has endured grueling experiences in their life where their life or that of a loved one is in difficult trials and had the experience glorify God knows what Paul is talking about in our scripture for today.

We look at the agony that Jesus went through in the garden just prior to His arrest and we use that as a guide when we consider how He handled His knowledge of what He was about to endure.

Likewise we study scripture like today’s where Paul though a prisoner through His example Christ is proclaimed thus influencing others to be amazed by his faith and in finding out why they end up Christians. Other Christians seeing that are motivated to proclaim Christ all the more because their life situation is better than Paul’s so they should be able to proclaim Christ as well.

What happens to us really can serve to advance the gospel. We become stricken with disease and in our walk through this we have an opportunity to witness for Christ to a new circle of people. Those that know you and those that are becoming acquainted think, “I want what they have.”

Of course medical issues are only one way that what happens to us can serve to advance the gospel. Many who achieve success fail to realize that all good things come from God and let that opportunity to give Him the glory slip away when that could have served to proclaim Him.

It is interesting to note that Paul doesn’t care what the motives are or what the reasons are but what is important most of all is this proclamation that “while we were still sinners Christ died for us”. People want to know why and it becomes about Him and not them.

Paul knew that he had a reward coming and that he would be with Christ. He was excited about that but he knew that others coming to faith was more important than his single desire for himself. And though he doesn’t say it directly, it isn’t for them either but that through more and more being added Christ is proclaimed more and more and this ultimately to God’s glory.

For Discussion:

1. Discuss how Paul’s example proclaimed Christ.

2. Discuss how some might have thought negatively that Paul was undergoing such things.

3. Discuss personal examples of how your situation helped you or others to witness.

4. Is it important that others know what you are going through? Discuss

5. Discuss what some are enduring in the world today on behalf of the furtherance of the gospel. Pray for them.

6. Discuss the example that Paul uses where the motives of others were not good but yet Paul didn’t mind due to the end result.

7. Discuss how your class might be a powerful voice for proclaiming Christ both within and without of your church.

8. Discuss past success in sharing the gospel of Christ and new ways that might join them considering the world we live in today.

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries

1-13-13: Imitating Christ aka Jesus’ Humility and Exaltation Philippians 2:1-13 or 2:5-11

1-20-13: Knowing Jesus Christ aka Gaining in Jesus Christ Philippians 3:1-11 or 3:7-11

1-27-13: Standing Firm in Christ aka Stand Firm Philippians 3:12-4:1 or 3:12-16

2-3-13: Focused Solely on Christ aka The Supremacy of Jesus Christ Colossians 1:12-23 or 1:15-20

Sunday, December 23, 2012

On 12-30-12, Ephesians 5:18-6:4 or Ephesians 5:21-6:4 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Christ’s Love for the Church

Christ’s Love for the Church

Ephesians 5:18-6:4 or Ephesians 5:21-6:4

International Sunday School Lesson

December 30, 2012

Commentary

Jed Greenough

“I will not put a thief in my mouth to steal my brains.” Have you ever heard that before? If you were a big fan of John Wayne movies you may distinctly remember the character of Mattie Ross say that to Rooster Cogburn when he offered her a drink in the movie True Grit. This of course comes from the book by the same name but the real originator of the statement was William Shakespeare as he wrote the words for the character Cassio from Othello Act II Scene three line 1142. I’d suggest you read the whole Act to see how a man was changed by putting an enemy in his mouth that stole his brains.

If your lesson doesn’t include 5:18-20 as it does for some that all might not make a lot of sense. In order to understand the context of what Paul is saying in 5:21-6:4 though it is rather important. He is talking about going against our natural inclination in our choices.

Paul according to the NIV study Bible scholars, tells us by his choice of words and their meanings that just as choosing to become drunk with wine is a choice and a choice by choice basis so is being filled with the Holy Spirit. We choose under what we are going to be controlled.

Choosing to submit to the Holy Spirit’s influence is indeed the only way we can put on a true reverence for Christ which in turn is the only way we will truly submit to one another instead of putting our interests and motives first.

Whether it is a husband who selfishly always considers his own wants first or a wife who ignores the order that God has planned or a child who is disobedient they will not consistently think of the other first without submitting to God’s influence.

There is plenty in today’s scripture for any of us to not like if we are not willing to submit to Him but this is what Christ did despite His position when He “gave Himself up for” the church. He thought of every one of us before He thought of Himself and this is what Paul is reminding us of in asking us to “submit to one another out of reverence to Christ.”

Yep, it takes an effort and it is something we have to consciously do but with the aid of the Holy Spirit’s influence we can accomplish something for each other that if we don’t is not pleasing to God or showing reverence to Christ. It seems like if we are going to have a New Year’s Resolution this would be a pretty good place to start.

For Discussion:

1. Discuss this idea of choosing to be filled with the Spirit.

2. Discuss what it means in 5:19 to, “speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” I mean it, really discuss it! How are we doing in that area?

3. Discuss verse 20’s, “sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.”

4. Discuss that we aren’t just talking about husbands, wives and children when we read to “submit to one another.”

5. Read 1 Corinthians 11:2-12.

6. Discuss the roll of fathers.

7. Happy New Year and I hope that my blog has been a blessing to you in the past year!