Adult Christian Life: 1st Qtr 2018

By R.H. Boyd

Adult Christian Life contains Sunday school material for people ages 25 and older. The exposition of the Scripture, with life-centered insights, is preceded by an introduction to the lesson designed to help learners gain a greater understanding of the text under discussion relative to context, content, and meaning for life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Oct 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781681673356

Book preview

ADULT

CHRISTIAN

LIFE

THE ADULT QUARTERLY

LARGE PRINT

FIRST QUARTER 2018

Vol. 122, No. 1

www.rhboydpublishing.com

R. H. BOYD, D.D., LL.D.

Founder (1896–1922)

H. A. BOYD, D.D.

(1922–1959)

T. B. BOYD, JR., D.D.

(1959–1979)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Dr. T. B. Boyd III

President/CEO

LaDonna Boyd, MBA

Chief Operating Officer

David Groves, D.Min., Ph.D.

Director of Publications

Steven Puckett, AAS

Director of Operations

Keaton Bell, M. Ed.

Director of Finance

EDITORIAL STAFF:

Tia Ferrell, M.S.

(Coordinator)

Olivia Cloud, M.R.E.

(Associate Editor)

Christopher R. Cotten, M.A., M.Div.

Kaitlyn Depoister, B.A.

Landon Dickerson, B.A.

Jane Ann Kenney, M.Div.

Vanessa Lewis, B.A.

Lauren Oldham, B.A.

Freida Crawley, B.S.

Carla Davis, B.A.

Yoni Limor, B.A.

Lesson material is based on the International Uniform Sunday School Lesson Outlines, copyrighted by the Division of Christian Education, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and is used with permission.

Scriptures taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Adult Christian Life (USPS 006-480) (ISSN 1947-6604), copyright © 2018 by R.H. Boyd Company, 6717 Centennial Blvd., Nashville, Tennessee 37209-1017. Adult Christian Life is published quarterly by R.H. Boyd Company. Periodicals postage paid at Nashville, Tennessee.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Adult Christian Life, R.H. Boyd Company, 6717 Centennial Blvd., Nashville, Tennessee 37209-1017.

For Customer Service, call [phone], Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Central, or fax [phone].

The publisher, R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation, bears no responsibility or liability for any claim, demand, action, or proceeding related to its content, including but not limited to claims of plagiarism, copyright infringement, defamation, obscenity, or the violation of the rights of privacy, publicity, or any other right of any person or party, and makes no warranties regarding the content.

Adult Christian Life contains Sunday school material for people ages 25 and older. The exposition of the Scripture, with life-centered insights, is preceded by an introduction to the lesson designed to help learners gain a greater understanding of the text under discussion relative to context, content, and meaning for life.

Know Your Writer

DR. RICKY WOODS was named senior minister of First Baptist Church-West in 1995, and has worked tirelessly not only to serve as minister to the church’s members but also as a community beacon of social justice. He is often asked to speak throughout the city, state, and country. A graduate of North Carolina A&T State University with a B.S. in economics, Dr. Woods graduated cum laude with a Master of Divinity degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology of Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. Later he earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Woods is also a member of the World Baptist Alliance, serving on the World Aid Committee. He is a member of the Academy of Homiletics, which is a professional organization made up of persons who teach preaching in North America. Dr. Woods is married to the former Laura Annette Hill and they are the proud parents of one daughter, Lauren Adelle, a student at Hampton University.

A Message from the President/CEO . . .

Greetings and Happy New Year,

For 122 years, the R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation has produced Christian education material that offers insightful exposition of Scripture and meaningful life application. As we welcome this quarter, our commitment is the same. We hope that as you study the following lessons, you will be informed and inspired in your daily walk with Jesus Christ.

Over the next three months, we will study the subject of faith in God. We will begin the quarter by exploring the faith of Daniel and his friends in action. During the second unit in February, we will survey a few texts from the New Testament to understand that faith is not just about beliefs, but deeds also. We will conclude this quarter with lessons from Genesis and 2 Chronicles. These lessons are about two men, Abraham and Solomon, who displayed their faith by following God’s guidance. This quarter will attempt to bolster our faith in God.

Our founder, Rev. Dr. R. H. Boyd, once said, Whatever is taught in the Sunday schools of this generation will be the doctrine of the church in the next generation. I pray that we, through our material, can inspire the next generation to live by faith for the betterment of themselves, our homes, churches, and communities. If we can accomplish that, then our work is not in vain.

Thank you for choosing our material. Your dedicated support enables us to fulfill our mission to produce quality Christian literature and resources that uplift the Church and the African-American community.

In His Service,

Dr. T. B. Boyd III

President/CEO

QUARTERLY OVERVIEW

The study this quarter explores the twofold nature of faith as both belief and action. Selections from Acts show various examples of proclaiming faith in Christ. In the book of Daniel, we see faith in action as sincere, obedient, bold, and strong. The lessons from several epistles show how our actions both as individuals and as communities demonstrate our faith in Jesus Christ.

UNIT I — JANUARY

Unit I, A Living Faith in God, has four lessons exploring faith in action from the book of Daniel. These lessons provide models for ways to actively engage in behaviors that demonstrate sincerity, obedience, boldness, and strength of faith. We learn from Daniel practical ways to make our faith an active one.

UNIT II — FEBRUARY

Unit II, Self-Controlled, Upright, and Godly Faith, has four lessons that look at passages from Acts, James, and 1 Timothy, providing specific examples of faith as both belief and action. James teaches that faith without works is dead. The lesson from 1 Timothy offers instructions about leading others in a life of faith. These lessons show us that one element (belief or action) is not enough; we need both.

UNIT III — MARCH

Unit III, Follow in My Ways, provides four sessions, drawn from Genesis and 2 Chronicles, showing how Abraham and Solomon acknowledged God by following God’s guidance. They chose to follow Him instead of their own paths, and they were blessed for their faith.

Features of Our

Adult Christian Life

The Adult Christian Life quarterly (large print) has many features that appeal to Sunday school students ages 25 and older. It includes a number of elements to enhance their total learning experience. This quarterly is designed to help students regard their lessons as more than simply a Sunday morning Bible study experience.

Printed Scripture Passages: The King James Version and the New Revised Standard Version are listed side by side so students can easily compare a traditional and contemporary translation of God’s holy Word.

Suggested Opening Exercises: This feature, standard to all Sunday school quarterlies published by R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation, remains a popular feature in all of our Sunday school resources for students and teachers.

Quarterly Overview: This gives a general description of the lessons to be studied during the quarter.

Main Thought: The passage of Scripture most central to the text is featured prominently at the bottom of the lesson.

Online Extras: This feature offers activities, quizzes, and additional resources for outside study via the R.H. Boyd webpage, www.rhboydpublishing.com.

Living the Lesson: This feature contextualizes the lesson truths to stimulate additional questions, interest, or action on the part of the students.

Questions on the Lesson: These questions are designed to help students consider the people involved in the Bible story as they reflect on their own lives.

Home Daily Devotional Readings: This is a traditional favorite feature of our Sunday school books, formerly known as Home Daily Bible Readings.

CONTENTS FOR FIRST QUARTER

Seeking God’s Guidance

Suggested Opening Exercises

1. Usual Signal for Beginning

2. Prayer (Closing with the Lord’s Prayer)