JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL - ACTS 15:36-16:5 - ACTIONS AND RESULTS

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL

Explore the Bible Curriculum p.47

ACTS 15:36-16:5 – ACTIONS AND RESULTS

Acts 15:36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

ACTION: Paul and Barnabas disagreed about taking John Mark with them to visit cities in which they had previously preached the Gospel.

RESULT: Barnabas took John Mark with him, and Paul chose Silas to journey with him. Thus creating two teams of missionaries and covering more ground.

Acts 15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

ACTION: Paul and Silas traveled through Syria and Cilicia.

RESULT: The churches were “confirmed” or strengthened. In other words, discipleship was a part of Paul’s ministry as well as evangelism.  The two are interdependent.

Acts 16:1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

ACTION: Paul and Silas traveled on to Derbe and Lystra.

RESULT: Paul chose to take Timothy under his wing and had him join him and Silas on the journey. As we know, much later in His ministry, Paul wrote two letters to the younger man, Timothy, to encourage him in his own ministry. These two letters are included in the New Testament.

Acts 16:4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

ACTION: Paul, Silas, and now Timothy explained the requirements set forth for Gentile believers as decided by the elders in Jerusalem.

RESULT: The churches were “established” which can be translated strengthened (same word used for the strengthening of the lame man’s legs outside the temple earlier in Acts).

Susan: The key that connects these actions and results is the goal of revisiting the churches for the purpose of discipleship. Although their goal was not evangelism on this trip, evangelism resulted as the young believers were discipled and began to evangelize as well.

Susie: Evangelism (leading people to the Lord) results in the need to disciple (teach) new believers which in turn leads to the newer believers evangelizing.

Susan: It’s a concentric circle . . .

Susie: . . . a ripple effect.

Susan: Evangelism and discipleship work in concert with one another. They go hand and hand.

Susie: We cannot focus on either evangelism or discipleship. It cannot be either/or but must be both/and.

Susan: They are two sides of the same coin—the Gospel.

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL - LUKE 2:29-30, 38

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL

Explore the Bible curriculum, p.41

Evaluate Your Emotional Response to Luke 2:29

Bonus: Simeon and Anna’s reactions compared

Luke 2:29-30 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation . . .

Susan: Simeon felt amazement, wonderment, and pure joy as he held his Savior.

Susie: There may be a feeling of relief as well. We do not know his age, but Simeon had been waiting to see the Messiah as the Lord had promised him for a long time.

Susan: Simeon could be content because everything he had ever been taught about and dreamed of was encapsulated in that human baby. He was holding the fulfilment of every dream and desire he had had for the nation of Israel in his arms. He could move on to the next chapter of living because he saw and held in his arms the living reality of everything he had been taught as a Jew.

Susie: By the power of the Holy Spirit, Simeon knew deep in his soul that this particular baby was the promised Messiah. After four hundred years, God broke His silence with the cry of His only begotten Son.

Susan: For me, realizing that God wanted me to be His child and Himself to be my parent, was humbling. I was speechless at the reality that Jesus was more interested in a relationship with me than His other titles as King of kings and Lord of lords. Having a Lord who desires what is best for me is beyond amazing. I felt wonderment and awe that the God of the Universe could love me that much.

Susie: Overwhelmed is the best description of how I felt when I realized I could come to Jesus just as I was, no need to “fake it till you make it.” As the baby Jesus rested in the arms of Simeon, the elderly man realized that he could truly rest in Jesus. Joyful, energetic, but relaxed in trusting Him would describe my emotions when I first came to know Jesus.

Luke 2:38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Susie: Simeon was at complete peace and ready to leave this earth for his heavenly home, but Anna had a different reaction.

Susan: Anna had the same attitude of complete thanksgiving that Simeon had expressed. However, she was not ready to graduate to Heaven. Instead, she went and told everyone who would listen that the Messiah had finally come. The prophetess became an evangelist. She had a new zeal.

Susie: At the age of at least 84 years (maybe more), Anna found renewed strength when she realized the Messiah, the Son of God, had arrived. 

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL – Acts 15:9

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL

Explore the Bible Curriculum – Winter 2017/2018

Session 3 – p.31

Reflect on Acts 15:9

Acts 15:9 (KJV) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Acts 15:9 (NIV) NIV He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

Susie: Peter had just described that the Lord called him to witness to a Roman soldier named Cornelius, a gentile, and his entire household. Upon their surrender to the gospel message, the Lord filled them with His Holy Spirit just as He had the Jewish believers. His point here was that God did not treat the Gentile believers differently, as another translation puts it, He made “no distinction” between Jewish and Gentile believers. They were equal. I thought to myself, do we discriminate or see other believers as different? Do we see black believers differently than white? Poor differently than middle class? Well-dressed differently than those in shorts and a T-shirt? Those who lift their hands differently than those who bow their heads? Susan has yet another perspective.

Susan: God made clear to me that there was no distinction between able-bodied people and those with physical challenges. I was complaining to God about being stuck in the limitations of my earth-suit and that people who did not have an earth-suit like mine seemed to have it so much easier and were so much further ahead of me in their careers. The Lord said that no physically sound person or physically challenged person were ahead or behind one another from God’s perspective. He told me that the fact of the matter was that neither the most elite athlete nor the most profoundly physically challenged person were fit for Heaven in their current earth-suit. They were fit for earth and earth only. I had to shut my mouth and say, “Yes, Sir.” However, it is still difficult at times to remember that there is no inequality the able-bodied person and myself as far as the Lord God is concerned.

In light of this verse, are there attitudes we need to change in order to more effectively present the gospel message and reflect the love of Jesus in our worship services or in our day to day lives? 

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOOL - ACTS 14:15 - INTENTIONAL SHARING

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL

Explore the Bible Curriculum – Winter 2017/2018

Session 2 – p.27

INTENTIONAL SHARING

Acts 14:15 (VOICE) Paul and Barnabas (shouting): Friends! No! No! Don’t do this! We’re just humans like all of you! We’re not here to be worshiped! We’re here to bring you good news—good news that you should turn from these worthless forms of worship and instead serve the living God, the God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that they contain.

Susan: Paul was saying, “Gentlemen, we are mere men like you, nothing worthy of worship. Good News! We are here to introduce you to the one true living and authentic God who created the heavens, the earth, the sky, the sea, and everything in them!”

Susie: Susan and I point others to the living God via our website and blogs and try to be sure to include a concise gospel message frequently no matter what book(s) of the Bible we are studying.

Susan: Also, we hope to enjoy opportunities to at churches, conferences, and retreats to share our testimonies and proclaim God’s word to encourage fellow believers and to point seekers toward the one true God.

Susie: Personally, I want to more frequently share a verbal witness on a one on one basis as I go about doing everyday things—grocery shopping, picking up mail, pumping gas, etc.

INTENTIONAL WAYS TO SHARE

THE GOOD NEWS

·      When you open a conversation by remarking about the weather, segue to the fact that God controls the weather. Progress to the ability to know the all-powerful Creator.

·      In the doctors waiting area, strike up conversation with another patient. Really listen to their concerns with compassion. Express confidence in God’s ability to see you through and offer to pray with them. Possible move toward gospel presentation: “I sure am glad I know the Great Physician. Do you know Him? If not, please let me introduce you.”

·      Waiting in check-out line. Strike up a conversation with person behind you. Praise the Lord for an answered prayer. Their response will let you know if they are a brother or sister in Christ. If they do not seem to be, share in a nutshell. Perhaps carry a gospel tract or your own testimony on a small card to give to them. Put the name and address of your church on the back.

·      At the grocery store the other day, a lady just walked up and handed me a business card that said, “You are loved. Love in, fear out. God is in control. Trust Him. Worrying about tomorrow will take away today’s peace.” That was a nice thing, but I would put the church’s name and address or a link to a website that has a gospel presentation.

·      Take a new neighbor some baked goods and ask if they have a church home in the area yet. If not, invite them to your church. If they say they are not believers, ask them if you may tell them why you are a believer.

Other places to share:

·      Laundromat

·      Playground or indoor play area

·      Breakroom at work

Brainstorm your own ideas. Then get out there and share! We have found that simply smiling at passersby instead of keeping your head down can open up a conversation. Be in a constant attitude of prayer for opportunities to share the gospel. That is a prayer God wants to answer!

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL - COMPARE ACTS 2:23-26 TO ACTS 13:26-39

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL

Explore the Bible Curriculum – Winter 2017-18

Session 1, Page 14

Compare Acts 2:23-36

to

Acts 13:26-39

We have highlighted similar statements in yellow and those things less similar in fuchsia.  Our comments are found below the passages.

Acts 2:23-36 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Acts 13:26-39 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Peter spoke to Jews from various places who were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost right after the Holy Spirit had come upon the believers and enabled them to be understood by everyone who spoke other languages. Paul spoke to Jews in a synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia. Both taught that the Jewish leaders had turned Jesus over to be crucified by those who did not believe in God but that this was prophesied, or as Peter put it “with God’s full knowledge.” They both taught that, as prophesied by David, the Messiah’s body did not see corruption because God raised Him from the dead. Peter uses the first-person plural “we” when speaking of being witnesses of the resurrected Christ. Paul, who saw Jesus much later than the others, stated “And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people,” speaking of the apostles and other disciples who had followed Jesus during his ministry on earth. Peter accuses the Jews dwelling in Jerusalem of being complicit in Jesus’s death. Paul tells the Jews in Antioch of Pisidia that the message of salvation is sent to them. Peter emphasized that Jesus was Lord and Christ (Messiah or Anointed One). Paul held Jesus up as the One who preached forgiveness of sins. 

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL: Using Multiple Scripture Passages To Understand a Biblical Doctrine

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL

Using Multiple Scripture Passages

To Understand a Biblical Doctrine

Explore the Bible Fall 2017

Session 13 – p. 125

God Disciplines His Children

Psalm 94:12-13 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law; That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.

Psalm 94:12-13 (AMPC) Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law, That You may give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity, until the [inevitable] pit of corruption is dug for the wicked.

Susan: God instructs us from His manual for life, His word.

Susie: God disciplines us when we stray from His commandments in order to keep us going in the right direction.

Susan: He disciplines us because of His love for us in order to give us an unshakeable peace in the days of adversity.

Susie: One way we know our parents love us, especially looking back, is recognizing the times they kept us from doing stupid things by telling us “no.” God, our Father, reins us in to keep us from engaging in wrongdoing and suffering its inevitable consequences.

Proverbs 3:12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Susie: As Susan said before, God corrects us because He loves us, not because He is angry with us. A loving father realizes that true love means teaching a child obedience. Obedience is a protection. I remember one of my grandchildren at about 18 months old headed down my driveway toward the street. Her mother loudly but calmly said, “Freeze!” The baby stopped in her tracks and turned around just as a car whizzed by. Her obedience protected her. God knows Satan is whizzing by every few minutes hoping to knock us off course. Therefore, the Lord corrects us to prevent us from heading into the danger zone.

Judges 2:1-3 And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?  Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. And it came to pass, when the angel of the Lord spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the Lord.

Susie: When God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, he commanded them not to make alliances with the people of Canaan and in many instances told them specifically to annihilate entire cities. However, Israel did not follow His instructions. Although God would never forsake them or go back on His covenant with Abraham, He did punish them by not taking care of those hostile nations for them but instead telling the Israelite they would suffer the consequences of having to fight them over and over again and the temptations to follow after idols.

Susan: The Israelites chose to be in this situation by not obeying the Lord’s command or remembering their choices had consequences.

Susie: All the people wept upon hearing God’s plan of discipline. They could have wept in true sorrow for their sin and sacrificed in acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty.

Susan: Or they may have wept in frustration at the prospect of not being able to drive out the Canaanites and tried to appease God with a sacrifice. Or they may have been mad at themselves for disappointing the Lord.

Susie: As with our earthly parents, there are consequences when we choose not to obey God the Father.

Hebrews 12:5-7 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Susan: When God disciplines you, it is a sign that you are in a Father/Child relationship with Him. Discipline shows that you have incredible value. If He did not discipline you, it would say He did not care, that He was not invested in you.

Susie: We must go forward to verse 11 to see the entire point of this passage:

Hebrews 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Susie: Physical discipline (exercise, healthy eating, etc.) results in strength and good health. Godly discipline results in righteousness and perfect peace.

1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Susan: God’s discipline leads us to maturity. Entrusting Him with our words, thoughts, deeds, and our entire being ensures that discipline will have its perfect result of maturity for those who are in Christ.

Susie: Leading a life “set apart” for God’s service involves self-discipline and the proper response of submission to God’s authority when He disciplines us as His children.

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL - USING SCRIPTURE TO UNDERSTAND SCRIPTURE

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL

USING SCRIPTURE

TO UNDERSTAND SCRIPTURE

Explore the Bible – Session 12

Bible Skill on p. 114

Leviticus 16:3-6 3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.

Susie: On the Day of Atonement, Aaron had to follow specific procedures prescribed by God. He had to bathe, put on special clothing, and prepare everything in order. Once all was in place, his first task was to offer a sacrifice for his own sins and those of his own household. He could not officiate sacrifices for others until he was cleansed from his own sin.

Hebrews 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

Susan: Again in Hebrews, we are told the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies only once a year and only after offering a blood sacrifice for his own sins and those of his household. After he offered a sacrifice for himself, he was covered. Only then was he acceptable to offer a sacrifice on behalf of the people.

Hebrews 9:11-12 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Susie: Jesus as our High Priest, had no need to offer bulls or goats as a sacrifice for His own sins because He was the perfect, sinless Lamb. He had the right to enter the heavenly holy of holies because of His own blood.

Susan: Because Jesus was, from eternity, the perfect Son of God, he had no need to offer a sacrifice for Himself. He had the authority to enter the Holy of Holies in Heaven after offering Himself as a sacrifice for sinful men.

Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Susan: Jesus’s sacrifice did not cleanse us externally alone, but internally to the heart and soul, the very core of our being.

Leviticus 16: 29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.

Leviticus 16:34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the Lord commanded Moses.

Susan: In Hebrew, this day is known as Yom Kippur and is still celebrated yearly with reverent fasting among the Jews.

Susie: The sacrifice of animals demanded by God was only a foreshadowing of the sacrifice made of the final, perfect Lamb of God. The Day of Atonement served as a temporary cleansing and had to be repeated every year.

Hebrews 9: 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Susan: The Tabernacle and the Temple were pictures of the permanent Temple in Heaven. 

Susie: The priest had to enter each year on the Day of Atonement to purge Israel, to cleanse its people from their sin.

Susan: Jesus, acting as our High Priest, only had to offer Himself once to cleanse away our sin. Jesus’s blood was the soap of His love to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Hebrews 10:3-4 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Susie: The blood of the Jewish sacrifices could not permanently remove sin. Thus, the sacrifices had to be made over and over again.

Hebrews 10: 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Susan: The sacrificial system under the Law of Moses was replaced by the sacrifice of God Himself wrapped in the human form of His Son, Jesus. The Old Covenant of the Law was replaced by the New Covenant of His blood shed for the remission of sins.

Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Susie: The blood of Jesus shed on the cross was the final sacrifice and the only means of reconciliation, atonement, for our sins.

Hebrews 10: 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Susan: Because of Jesus’s acceptable sacrifice of Himself, those who have trusted Him and received this precious gift of God can enter into the presence of the Lord with boldness and confidence. Rather than being separated from God by the chasm of our sin, we now enjoy “familyship”—our relationship is that of child to Father—because of the blood of Jesus.

Susie: Believers are no longer covered with the guilt and shame of sin. We are made pure in God’s eyes because of Jesus’s death on our behalf. This is what is meant by being “covered by the blood.”

In summary, Aaron and his descendants had to offer sacrifices for themselves before others and had to sacrifice year after year to atone for the sins of Israel.

Jesus was Himself the perfect sacrifice given one time only to satisfy God’s judgement and make atonement for those who would receive Him. He had no need to sacrifice on His own behalf because He lived a perfect, sinless life as the God-man.

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL - GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL

SESSION 11

BIBLE SKILL ON P.105

GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE

Deuteronomy 4:24 For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 9:3 Understand therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the Lord hath said unto thee.

Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Leviticus 9:24 And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

Numbers 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

Numbers 16:35 And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Judges 6:21 Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.

1 Kings 18:38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

2 Kings 1:10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

2 Kings 1:12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

2 Chronicles 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.

Job 1:16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Ezekiel 22:31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God.

SUSIE: The consuming fire seems to represent the omnipotence of God—the fact that He is all-powerful. It can represent His jealousy for his people, His acceptance of an offering, or His wrath against those who turn from Him.

SUSAN: I concur. When we come to God and submit ourselves to Him, like a wildfire He consumes all of the real estate of our lives. Every person or event that comes into our lives, whether seemingly negative or positive, is ultimately for our good and God’s glory. Everything that happens to us is according to His divine design for His ultimate purposes for which we were created.

SUSIE: I think you are saying that the Lord envelopes and consumes everything in our lives. When things seem out of control, like a forest fire, God is truly causing a “controlled burn” to get rid of the chaff (the worthless things) in order to allow room for the best things to grow.

SUSAN: The literal pruning of my legs seemed to be a fiery trial in my life, but my Heavenly Father wanted to cut off that which endangered my life and prevented me from fulfilling His purposes through my earth-suit.

SUSIE: God as a consuming fire can be devouring the enemies of His people or demonstrating acceptance of sacrifices from His children. Either way, He is demonstrating His power.

Leviticus 10:1-3 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

SUSAN: The consequence to disobedience can be as severe as death.

SUSIE: The consuming fire of God’s jealousy cannot tolerate disobedience, and those who do not follow His commands may find themselves consumed (literally or figuratively). Since God is the all-powerful Creator, it is His right to do with us as He wills.

SUSAN: Aaron, as a father, was probably numb. But Aaron, as a priest, accepted God’s judgment against his sons. Aaron could not defend their flagrant disobedience and flippant behavior in the presence of a holy God.

SUSIE: In the 21^st century church, we are sometimes in danger of forgetting that the same God who fills us with His Holy Spirit as an all-consuming fire fueling our service to Him is also the God who can send fiery judgment on those who reject His offer of salvation.

SUSAN: As Christians we are sometimes guilty of filling our bodies (His temple) with good things in place of God Himself. Being filled with God Himself can be expressed in as many different ways as there are people. The filling with God’s Holy Spirit brings some to quiet reflection and others to joyous expression.   We are each uniquely fit for God’s service, a divinely designed presentation.

SUSIE: We are unique individuals, but God within us reaches out to His other exceptional children and unites us to spread His all-consuming love like a wildfire in our communities.  May we, the church, submit ourselves to be consumed by God’s Spirit for the benefit of His kingdom.

JEWELS FROM SESSION 10 IN EXPLORE THE BIBLE CURRICULUM

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL

Session 10

LEVITICUS 1:3-9, 2:1-3, 3:1-5

This week’s lesson in the Explore the Bible curriculum for Fall 2017, suggested an exercise in using a Bible dictionary on page 94. Many of you may not have taken the time to do it, so we will share our work with you. We looked up the word “atonement” in Easton’s Bible Dictionary found at www.biblegateway.com and have shared a couple of sentences from the definition below. We also looked up many of the references listed there and have copied them in the King James Version for you.  After those references, you can read how each of us defined “atonement” in our own words.

Excerpts from the definition of “atonement” in Easton’s Bible Dictionary

Atonement means at-one-ment

The means by which it is covered is vicarious satisfaction, and the result of its being covered is atonement or reconciliation.

It must also be constantly kept in mind that the atonement is not the cause but the consequence of God's love to guilty men.

SATISFACTION FOR OFFENCES

·      Exodus 32:30 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

·      Leviticus 4:26 And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.

·      Leviticus 5:16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.

VICARIOUS SATISFACTION

·      John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

·      Romans 3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

·      Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

·      1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

·      1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

GOD’S HOLY NATURE DEMANDS SATISFACTION, PAYMENT FOR SIN

·      Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

·      Joshua 24:19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

·      Psalm 5:4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

·      Psalm 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

·      Nahum 1:2 God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

·      Nahum 1:6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

Susie: Atonement, being made acceptable for a relationship with God, is the result of Jesus’s dying on the cross in my place. Atonement is purchased by the shed blood of Jesus once for all, replacing the need for shedding the blood of animals over and over again.

John 17:20-21 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Susan: Atonement is the manifested work of Jesus on the cross that enables me to come into the familyship of God, to be one with Him as the Holy Spirit abides with me forever.

Susie: Wow! This does give me a greater appreciation for all Jesus did on my behalf when He sacrificed Himself in my place. It makes me more aware of the utter sinfulness of all people, including me!

Susan: All the pain that Jesus endured on the cross and emotionally in the garden beforehand reminds me that even my earth-suit is a piece of cake. Sometimes it is hard to remember in the moment, but when frustrations come in life, it would behoove us to remember His sacrifice. Then whatever we are going through, whatever we are facing is all small stuff. All things are possible because Christ died to give me relationship with God, and He strengthens me each day.