Adult Mentor: October- December 2022

By R.H. Boyd Publishing Corp.

The Adult Mentor is a topical Christian quarterly study guide is for the adult learner and is designed to increase Christian faith and biblical understanding using a variety of learning methods. It is a practical resource for every day Christian living. It follows the International Uniform Sunday School Lesson Outline from the National Council of Churches.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Aug 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781681679693

Book preview

Vol. 10 • No. 4

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R. H. BOYD, DD, LLD

Founder (1896–1922)

H. A. BOYD, DD

(1922–1959)

T. B. BOYD, JR., DD

(1959–1979)

T. B. BOYD III, DD

(1979–2017)

LaDonna Boyd, EdD

President/CEO

David Groves, DMin, PhD Director of Publications

Keaton Bell, BBA

Director of Finance

Steven Puckett, AAS

Director of Operations

EDITORIAL STAFF:

Olivia M. Cloud, MRE

(Associate Editor)

Landon Dickerson, MTS

Monique Gooch, BA

Joseph Tribble, MDiv

Brittany Batson, BA

Sinclaire Sparkman, BS

Freida Crawley, BS

Carla Davis, BA

Writer: Bernard Williams

Adult Mentor

Theme: Love, Joy, Commitment

The Adult Mentor is designed to enhance the biblical and theological knowledge and understanding of seasoned adult Christians, and to empower them to inspire and encourage members of the community of faith. It is the ideal resource for both personal and group Bible study.

Lesson material is based on guidelines developed at our annual Writer’s Conference. These guidelines are developed with the aim of improving nurturing and training in Christian service. Copyrighted by R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation, Nashville, Tennessee.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are 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 Mentor, Adult Quarterly (USPS 10299) (ISSN 2329– 9630), copyright © 2022 by R.H. Boyd Company, 6717 Centennial Blvd., Nashville, Tennessee 37209–1017. Adult Mentor is published quarterly by R.H. Boyd Company. Periodicals postage paid at Nashville, Tennessee.

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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.

Vol. .10 • No. 4

Look Behind You!

What Is This Love?

Incredible!

The Depths of Love

True Love

When Calamity Comes

Rescued From Danger

A Wake-Up Call

Seeing The Big Picture

Without A Doubt

Wrestling With Doubt

Building Trust

Destined For Greatness

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Summer 2022

LESSON SCRIPTURES:

Psalm 23

DISCUSSION POINTS

I. God Is Our Shepherd

II. God Is Our Protector

III. God Is Our Benefactor

Lesson 1

Look Behind You!

LEARNING SESSION

King David is often identified as the author of various psalms, including Psalm 23. David lived from about 1040 to 970 bc. He was shepherd, musician, warrior, and king. As a shepherd, David took great care of and knew a great deal about sheep. Using a familiar metaphor for himself and Israel, David compared God to a Shepherd. The shepherd’s job is to care for his flock, and like a Shepherd, God constantly looks after His people, while making sure we are safe and protected from all predators.

EXPOSITION

I. God Is Our Shepherd

For many years, David served as a shepherd by tending to his father’s sheep. In fact, when Samuel came to anoint David as the new king over Israel, he was found tending his sheep (see 16:1–13). When he defeated Goliath in the strength of the Lord, David used not the king’s armor and weapons, but a skill he had learned while shepherding (see 1 Sam. 17:38–49).

David became a very important paradigm in Israel for what a king was meant to be. He was meant to take care of the sheep, not take advantage of them. He was a shepherd, and he followed the Lord, so it made sense to the Israelites that the Lord would also be a Shepherd.

KEY VERSE:

The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.

(Psalm 23:1, KJV)

David understood the importance of a shepherd’s role in the life of a sheep. Sheep are not smart enough to avoid danger; they are largely defenseless and cannot run very fast. Left unguarded, sheep are subject to becoming easy prey for wolves and other predators. Good shepherds risk their very lives for one sheep. The shepherd leads his sheep to places of rest and makes them lie down in green pastures when they are exhausted and tired. Sheep are afraid of rushing water; thus, the shepherd knows to lead them to still water where they can drink in peace and not be alarmed or troubled. The rest and water provided for the sheep causes them to be refreshed and restored. Any failure to lead his sheep in the right way is a reflection on the shepherd.

The first four verses in Psalm 23 explore the metaphor of God as the Shepherd of His people. David makes a personal claim to God in verse one by saying, The LORD is my shepherd (NRSV). With this statement, David claimed that the Lord provided for his every need. All David needed or wanted was found in God. Only the Lord could protect David from the many dangers that he faced, especially while Saul was still king and knew that David would inherit the crown.

The still waters of verse two may echo the resting place of Numbers 10:33. Moses and the Israelites were walking through the wilderness looking for a place to rest after they left Mount Sinai. Ultimately the wilderness would not offer any lasting resting