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Scott Allen leads today's lesson from 1 Peter 3:1-12. Our identity in Christ leads us to prioritize our witness to others, even in times of adversity. We must also live out our identity in our relationships. By working within God's framework , believers can experience the fullness of life even when in relationship with those who are not yet transformed by God's grace. It will take sincerity, a quiet spirit, submissiveness, treating others as special, and a sympathetic attitude.
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Scott Allen leads today's lesson from 1 Peter 2:11-25. As sin interferes with believers living out our identity in Christ, selfish desires also interfere with believers presenting a proper witness about what Christ has done for us. When we represent Christ, we can expect slander and foolish behavior in response. Instead of reacting with natural impulses, Peter teaches us to show restraint and seek an honorable response when the world mistreats us. Moreover, we have a responsibility to be good earthly citizens, remembering that our primary citizenship is in heaven. When we face unfair treatment, we remember how Daniel, David, and Jesus handled unjust adversity. When called upon, God can also use our example to demonstrate his love through suffering.
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Scott Allen leads today's lesson from 1 Peter 2:1-10. Who are we in Christ? And how should that affect our daily decisions and actions? What attitudes will impact our spiritual growth into the disciples Jesus has called us to be? Peter addressed all of these questions. There are attitudes to avoid so we can grow from our salvation, live appropriately, make our allegiance to Christ known, and grow in our understanding of serving God.
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Scott Allen leads this lesson on the remainder of 1 Peter chapter 1, verses 10-12 and 13-25. We've received astounding, stupendously good news through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. When we believe, our inheritance is kept by God's power, not our own efforts. Does it matter that we live holy lives? In fact it does, as holiness is the outcome of a healthy Christian life as believers appreciate and reflect on the costly redemption Jesus paid for our sins. When we set our faith and hope upon Jesus, holy living is the proper response.
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Scott Allen leads today's lesson from 1 Peter 1:3-8. How can we experience joy in troubled times? While believers will face adversity, we find assurance from being born again and receiving God's unconditional promises of eternal life. Then when our faith is tested, we can maintain a joy that is based on God's reliable promises, not our fickle circumstances.
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Scott Allen leads todays lesson from Leviticus 26:1-13 with a summary of Leviticus 16:1-10 and 29-30. The Day of Atonement provided a solemn opportunity for the nation of Israel to receive a temporary forgiveness of sins through annual rituals. In the present day, believers have permanent forgiveness through the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our heavenly high priest. With such amazing grace available, why is it still important to obey God's commands. We find several reasons listed in Leviticus 26 and come to the conclusion that the benefits of a life of consistent obedience are too wonderful to miss out on.
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Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Leviticus 9:15-24 and 10:1-3 with a preview of 16:1-10. Many types of offerings were prescribed for the Israelites so they might relate to God. These various offerings made it clear that there were significant barriers for sinners hoping to worship a holy God. As we look at the burnt offering, sin offering, grain offering, and fellowship (peace) offering, we develop an appreciation for what Jesus provided believers under the new covenant, while respecting that humankind cannot choose their own path to God. Only Jesus properly mediates a way to lasting fellowship with the holy, mighty God of the universe. The underpinnings of the path to our pardon are provided in the Jewish system of sacrifices, and all of Jewish history services to teach us two crucial lessons: we all desperately need a divine Savior, and those who believe in Jesus now serve as the priests who connect others to a right standing with God.
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Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38. Moses' obedience to God's instructions set the stage for God's arrival at the newly constructed tabernacle. Yet even the design of the new worship center pointed out the contrast between God's holiness and the people's sinfulness. We find both comforting and challenging aspects to God's presence and discuss how these aspects carry over to New Testament believers, who enjoy more direct access to God through Jesus.
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Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Exodus 25:1-9 and 31:1-6. How can God's people go about doing God's work? First, we must be aligned to God and His moral commands. Then, we must willing offer ourselves and our possessions to God. Then we must follow His instructions so we can commune with Him. Lastly, we can trust that God will provides us leaders and skilled workers to help us follow Him. God's dealings with the Israelites as they journey from Egypt to the promised land serve as a model for believing Christians today, yet we realize that only through repentant hearts and Christ's forgiveness can we remain in communion with God during our earthly journey.
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Scott Allen leads today's study of lessons 7 & 8 of our Lifeway study of Exodus & Leviticus (combined due to inclement weather). In Exodus 20:1-17, we find 10 commandments God gave to the Israelites. If God knew we would not be able to keep them all, why did He give these commands to us? Was God trying to take away all our fun, or are God's moral precepts central to a flourishing human society? And with so many rules, how can we truly align ourselves to God's purposes? We soon realize that God's commands have much in common, and although specific rules such as those in Exodus 22:21-27 and Leviticus 19:9-10 are important, when we live out God's principles we will naturally gravitate to living out God's design for humanity.
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After a holiday break, Ken Travis leads a our lesson combining lessons 5 (Exodus 14:19-31) and 6 (Exodus 16:4-19) of our quarterly plan. Pharaoh finally relented to let the Israelites go, but when God has Moses march the people back towards the north, it sets up a final showdown. Here, crossing the Red Sea, and later, providing their needs in the barren wilderness, God shows that He alone saves and provides for His people.
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Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Exodus 12:21-32. We recap the plagues against Egypt described in chapters 7-11, ending with the announcement of the tenth and most devastating plague, the death of all the firstborn in Egypt. But God had a plan to deliver the Hebrews from punishment for stubborn disobedience. A Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, consumed, and commemorated. Blood would mark the doorframes of houses and save them from destruction. All of this points to God's redemptive plan for the world. Jesus Christ came as God's Lamb and through His shed blood on the cross has provided deliverance for all those who believe. Yet this story leaves us with a warning that for those not under the blood of Jesus, God's wrath and judgment remains.
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Ken Travis leads today's lesson from Exodus 5:1-4 and 6:2-9 and surrounding verses. Moses has finally agreed to confront Pharoah with the help of his brother Aaron, but it won't be easy. Pharoah has no regard for the God of the Hebrews nor any desire to lose his source of forced labor. This story can encourage us when we face difficult conservations and face a negative response when sharing with others what God has asked us to do.
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Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Exodus 2:23-25; 3:7-15. Long after Joseph's death, the people of Israel became Egyptian slaves. Moses was rescued as an infant and grew up in Pharoah's house, but when his attempts to fight for his fellow Israelites failed, he lived in exile. At the proper time, God calls Moses to lead the rescue out of Egypt, but how can an outcast like Moses stand before the new Pharoah? Does God even care about this enslaved people? God does care. He sees our trouble. He hears our outcry. And most of all, when He fights for us, we need not fear any enemy. God's promises to the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be proved true, showing believers today that we can trust God's faithfulness to fulfill each and every one of His promises.
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Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Acts 27:30-44 and surrounding verses. Paul is on his way to Rome, having appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen and avoiding the plots of opposing Jewish leaders. Yet the journey westward from Crete during poor sailing weather proves every bit as hazardous as Paul had warned the chief soldier and captain of the ship. As the leaders and passengers face unrelenting storms, and the many prisoners on board face betrayal and reckless choices by the sailors and soldiers, Paul provides godly leadership and communicates God's promises to his battered shipmates. In the end God's promise proves true and Paul's spiritual insights are heeded, providing us a model for providing leadership through adversity.
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Ken Travis leads today's lesson from Acts 26:19-29. Paul again finds opportunity to share his testimony with Roman leaders as he speaks before governor Festus and King Agrippa. Paul models the witness that all believers can have as we tell our story, expect opposition, and ask for a response. While we are not responsible for how people respond, we are responsible to share Christ with every person, both great and small.
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Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Acts 22:6-21. Paul, having returned to Jerusalem to worship at the temple, faces a hostile mob of zealous Jews who consider him a traitor to their religion. Saved by Roman soldiers, Paul takes opportunity to address the crowd, recounting the events of Acts chapter 9. Paul's presentation highlights both the uniqueness of his conversion experience on the Damascus road as well as common elements of every believer's salvation experience. Whatever our background, salvation comes through repentance and faith in Jesus the one and only Savior. Like Paul we must have a personal confrontation, compliance, and conversion... and we all obtain a personal commission to share such a great salvation in our own mission field.
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Ken Travis leads today's lesson from Acts 20:7-38. On his way to Jerusalem at the conclusion of his multi-year third missionary journey, Paul stops in Miletus and summons the elders of Ephesus for final words. Paul reminds them that over many months he has faithfully proclaimed, taught, led, and warned them. Paul had uncertain days ahead, but he was ready to commit himself and the church to God's care, and so inspires believers today to commit our faith, lifestyle, fellowship, teaching, and loved ones to God.
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Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Acts 9:8-20. Paul continues his third missionary journey by returning to Ephesus after revisiting the cities closest to Antioch. A two-year ministry flourishes with confirmation in the form of miraculous healings and power over evil spirits. When a family of unbelieving Jewish exorcists tries to leverage Paul and Jesus against demonic forces, everyone learns an important lesson: knowing about Jesus is not the same as personally knowing Him. As a result, God is feared, Jesus is honored, and genuine revival is demonstrated through repentance.
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Scott Allen leads today's study from Acts 18:1-11, 18-21. Paul travels south from Athens to share the gospel in the busy trade city of Corinth. We get a peek behind the scenes as Paul leverages the support of his teammates to make more and more of an impact in the center of Greece (Achaia). Although Paul again encounters fierce resistances from Jews unwilling to accept Jesus as the Messiah, we see how he channels his time and efforts into a blooming ministry which God allowed to continue for a year and a half. Then Paul leaves, which marks the end of the second missionary journey, yet plants the seeds for the third as Paul makes a brief but significant stop in Ephesus.
- Visa fler
