Adult Enlightener: 2nd Quarter 2016

By R.H. Boyd Publishing Corp.

Adult Enlightener (ages 18-35).This book is designed for the career-oriented adult, ages 18-35. It uses language and ideas meaningful to the adult learner who is primarily handling work and family responsibilities.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Dec 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781681671178

Book preview

INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW BAPTIST TRAINING UNION’S (BTU) CURRICULUM SERIES: CONTEMPORARY TRAINING FOR THE CHURCH (CTC)

This new series is a ministry of church training. The discipline of the Contemporary Training for the Church directs church membership training in the distinctive beliefs held by the community of faith. This ministry is designed as an essential part of the total educational program of the church.

The curriculum series is for the spiritual development and enhancement of the Baptist Training Union’s expanded ministry program. It invites participation by all members of the family and empowers them to become good stewards of the faith community’s household of faith.

Selected Scripture: Romans 8:35–39

BIBLICAL TEACHING EMPHASES:

I. Paul Refused to Be Separated from God’s Love

II. Paul Overeóme Adversity Through the Power of God

III. Nothing Could Come Between Paul and God

RESOURCES:

Dr. Bernard William. Catching People in the Love Net. (Nashville, TN: R.H. Boyd Publishing Co., 2005).

KEY VERSE: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:35, KJV)

LEARNING SESSION

What comes to mind when you think of the word freedom? If you’re a recent graduate, you may finally be free of writing papers, taking tests, and long nights of studying. If you’re in the work world, freedom may be a two-week vacation from your stressful job. When we are dealing with something difficult, we long for the day when the trouble will be over and we can finally find rest. In today’s lesson, we will discuss a section of Paul’s letter to the Romans. In the letter, he encouraged the Christians to continue hoping in God because freedom is given to all those who give their lives to Christ.

I. PAUL REFUSED TO BE SEPARATED FROM GOD’S LOVE

Paul knew that the Christian life would not be easy. In his own life, he experienced many trials. He was imprisoned, flogged, beaten, and stoned. He experienced great hunger and thirst. There were times when he was cold and naked, but even through all these trials, Paul did not forsake his devotion to Christ. In fact, he considered all his suffering a privilege. In his letter to the Philippians, he wrote, [God] has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well (Phil. 1:29, NRSV). He also wrote, I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death (Phil. 3:10, NRSV).

In Romans 8:35, Paul asked if anyone or anything, including our suffering, could keep us from Christ. He asked, Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (NRSV). These things will not separate us from Him. In fact, these sufferings will join us with Christ as we take part in the suffering that He also endured. Not only do we join Him in His suffering, but we also join Him in His resurrection. And if we are a part of His resurrection, we know that we will be given freedom from sin and death, which He conquered.

Even when we know that suffering has no eternal power over us, we find it difficult to see past the pain. When a family member becomes terminally ill, when we are laid off from our jobs, when we are lonely, and when we don’t have enough in the bank to pay the bills, we likely don’t thank God for letting us endure such troubles. Instead, we pray to God, asking Him to take these troubles away from us so that we can live a life of comfort.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with asking God to take away our suffering. Even Paul asked God to take away one of the troubles he continually endured, but God did not grant this request (see 2 Cor. 12:7–10). But when we come to God about our troubles, we must also remember that nothing is as important as our faith in Jesus. So while these troubles may make our life on earth difficult, this pales in comparison to the importance of a bolstered faith, which is produced from the suffering we endure. James wrote, "Whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the