Church Of God In Christ: Annual Commentary 2022 - 2023

By Church Of God In Christ Publishing House

52 Bible Study Lessons for Christian Teaching and Growth

• Language: English
• Publisher: Church Of God In Christ Publishing House
• Release date: Jan 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781680874716

Book preview

CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST

ANNUAL COMMENTARY 2022-2023

Legacy Edition

Church Of God In Christ Publishing House

CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST, INC.

ANNUAL SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON COMMENTARY 2022-2023

INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS

Volume I of II

Copyright © 2022 by UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.)

CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST PUBLISHING BOARD

Chairman

Bishop Uleses C. Henderson, Jr, Esq.

Southern California First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

Secretary Of The Board

Bishop Reggie Witherspoon, B.S. ThM, Doctoral Candidate

Washington Northwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdictional Prelate

Chairman of Marketing Publishing Board

Sandra S. Jones, ThM

Michigan Southeast Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

Chief Editor - Publishing House

Bishop James L. Whitehead, Jr., M.Div.

Prelate of Second Jurisdiction of South West Michigan

Content Team: Avery Brown, PhD, Member Second Jurisdiction of South West Michigan; Member of South Carolina Jurisdiction; Evangelist Irether Sanford, Doctoral Candidate, Member of Virginia First Jurisdiction; Goldie Wells, PhD, Member of North Carolina Greater Jurisdiction

Bible Art: Aaron and Alan Hicks

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from the authorized King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 2015 by the Lockman Foundation

Used by permission www.Lockman.org

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without the prior permission of the copyright owners. Lessons and/or readings based on the Uniform Series International Bible Lessons for

Christian Teaching. Copyright © 2021 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.

Used by permission. Supplementary Lesson Development. Copyright © 2021 by UMI. Printed in the USA.

All proper names mentioned in this publication are fictional unless otherwise indicated.

ANNUAL COMMENTARY REGULAR PRINT

ISBN 13: 978-1-68087-467-9 ISBN 10: 1-68087-467-5

ANNUAL COMMENTARY LARGE PRINT

ISBN 13: 978-1-68087-469-3 ISBN 10: 1-68087-469-1

Publishers: COGIC Publishing House, Memphis, TN 38116

To place an order, call 1-877-746-8578 or visit our website at www.cogicpublishinghouse.net

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Presiding Bishop’s Letter

Chairman Of The Publishing Board

The Voice Of Marketing

The Voice Of The Chief Editor

Feature Article History Of Sunday School

NEW FEATURE!

Engaging the Theme

The Church Of God In Christ Publishing Board strives to provide new and relevant material for your personal growth and development. As we face today’s challenges, it is critical that every believer is properly equipped and prepared to respond to the seeker about the hope that exists within us. As a result, the COGIC Publishing Board has added a new feature to enhance each student’s experience. The author delves deeply into church history while also providing practical application and insight into the study material. We are confident that you will benefit from this new feature and share your knowledge with others.

NEW FEATURE!

FAITH

Quarter-At-A-Glance

Quarterly Quiz

Engaging the Theme

Unit 1: What Is Faith? SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER

4 Faith Calls for Perseverance

Hebrews 10:19-31

11 Faith Is Assurance

Hebrews 11:1-3, 6; Psalm 46:1-3, 8-11

18 Faith Is Endurance

Hebrews 12:1-11

25 Faith Inspires Gratitude

Hebrews 12:18-29

Unit 2: Who Understands Faith?

OCTOBER

2 Faith Requires Mutual Love

Hebrews 13:1-3; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

9 Stephen’s Arrest and Speech

Acts 6:8-7:2a

16 Stephen’s Martyrdom

Acts 7:51-8:1a

23 Simon Wants to Buy Power

Acts 8:9-24

30 Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch|

Acts 8:26-39

Unit 3: What Does Faith Cost?

NOVEMBER

6 Paul before King Agrippa

Acts 26:19-32

13 Paul Sails for Rome

Acts 27:1-2, 33-44

20 Paul Ministers in Malta

Acts 28:1-10

27 Paul Evangelizes in Rome

Acts 28:23-31

Winter Quarter 2022–2023

GOD: JESUS CHRIST

Quarter-At-A-Glance

Quarterly Quiz

Engaging the Theme

Unit 1: Victory in Jesus

DECEMBER

4 Spiritual Blessings in Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:3-4

11 One in Jesus Christ

Ephesians 2:11-22

18 Unity in the Body of Christ

Ephesians 4:1-16

25 Live in the Light

John 1:1-5; Ephesians 5:1-2, 6-14

Unit 2: Exalting Christ

JANUARY

1 Christ’s Love for the Church

Ephesians 5:21-6:4

8 Proclaiming Christ

Philippians 1:15-26

15 Jesus’ Humility and Exaltation

Philippians 2:5-11

22 Gaining in Jesus Christ

Philippians 3:7-11

29 Stand Firm

Philippians 3:12-16

Unit 3: Imitating Jesus

FEBRUARY

5 The Supremacy of Jesus Christ

Colossians 1:15-20

12 Full Life in Christ

Colossians 2:6-15

19 Clothed with Christ

Colossians 3:5-17

26 Spiritual Disciplines for New Life

Colossians 4:2-6

Spring Quarter 2023

HOPE

Quarter-At-A-Glance

Quarterly Quiz

Engaging the Theme

Unit 1: The Kingdom of God

MARCH

5 Daniel’s Vision of Change

Daniel 7:9-14

12 Daniel’s Prayer

Daniel 9:4b-14

19 Gabriel’s Interpretation

Daniel 8:19-26

26 Living With Hope

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

Unit 2: Resurrection Hope

APRIL

2 The Lord’s Supper

Luke 22:14-30

9 The Lord Has Risen Indeed!

Luke 24:13-21, 28-35

16 The Lord Appears

Luke 24:36-53

23 The Holy Spirit Comes

Acts 2:1-13

30 Hope Comes from God’s Grace

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 9-17

Unit 3: A Call to Holy Living

MAY

7 A Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3-12

14 Equipped with Hope

2 Peter 1:4-14

21 Hope through Stewardship

1 Peter 4:1-11

28 Hope in the Day of the Lord

2 Peter 3:3-15a

Summer Quarter 2023

WORSHIP

Quarter-At-A-Glance

Quarterly Quiz

Engaging the Theme

Unit 1: The Prophet and Praise

JUNE

4 Holy, Holy, Holy

Isaiah 6:1-8

11 Give Thanks

Isaiah 12

18 Meaningless Worship

Isaiah 29:9-16a

25 The Glorious New Creation

Isaiah 65:17-21, 23-25

Unit 2: Worshiping in Jerusalem Again (Ezra)

JULY

2 Joyful Worship Restored

Ezra 3:1-7

9 Temple Restored

Ezra 3:8-13

16 Dedication of the Temple

Ezra 6:13-22

23 Fasting and Praying

Ezra 8:21-23

30 Gifts for the Temple

Ezra 8:24-30

Unit 3: Worshiping in Jerusalem Again (Nehemiah)

AUGUST

6 Festival of Booths

Nehemiah 8:13-18

13 Community of Confession

Nehemiah 9:2, 6-7, 9-10, 30-36

20 Dedication of the Wall

Nehemiah 12:27-36, 38, 43

27 Sabbath Reforms

Nehemiah 13:15-22

Glossary

Affirmation of Faith

COGIC Statement of Faith

From The Presiding Bishop’s Desk

The Church Of God In Christ Commentary is packed with a wealth of knowledge that will inspire, motivate, and educate the reader in every facet of ministry. This resource is not only for Bible scholars but is also written so that even the Babe in Christ will understand and grow to love.

I trust that as you use this Commentary, your vocabulary and knowledge of the Bible will be enhanced, and this will become a valuable part of your biblical library.

The use of the Commentary will ultimately create a yearning to learn and study more of God’s word and, thereby, cause you to grow deeper in His ways.

In Ministry

Drew Sheard

Presiding Bishop & Chief Apostle

Church Of God In Christ

Eighth In Succession

THE VOICE OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLISHING BOARD

Blessings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

The 2022 season has already been underway for quite some time now, and in a few months, we will be entering the 2023 season. Before we transition from one season to the next, we as Christian believers must make sure that our inner man is ready to receive seed. I am not talking about sowing into our various churches and ministries; I am talking about sowing seeds that we personally want to reap from the Lord. We deal with the outer man daily, but in this season, I see the Lord blessing the inner man that has been in lack for a while. What have we accomplished to prepare the ground to receive her seed? Have we been exercising our faith with strength tests as we encounter different trials and tribulations? Have we taken the time to feed our faith through prayer, fasting, and meditating on the Word of God day and night? Our faith and our hope in Christ Jesus are vital to making sure that the seeds take root in the ground of our inner man.

God is tilling the soil of our hearts, as there are some personal things that we need to receive from the Lord. Thus, there are times when we need to hear a personal Word from the Lord, and there are times that we need to know that we can walk on the waters of life. We need to know that the seeds of faith sown in us will sustain us through our storms, so the storms do not develop inside of us. In fact, it’s the storms that water our faith, which will ultimately bring forth a harvest of joy. We need to know that our faith in God is not in vain. It is time for us to heal inwardly from these two years of the COVID Pandemic, and we must seek out God to make us complete on the inside as well as the outside.

To those loyal supporters of our Literature, I want to personally say thank you for sticking with us in these trying and troubling times. I ask that you continue to pray for Ukraine, that you pray for the unity of our country, that you pray for God to manifest in our lives and in our churches in a new way. I ask that the Lord shifts the winds of grace and favor in our direction and that we are able to experience Him as we have never experienced Him before.

God Bless You All,

Bishop Uleses C. Henderson, Jr., Esq.

Chairman of the Publishing Board

Church Of God In Christ Inc.

The voice of marketing

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

I am honored to be before you once again as the Chairman of Marketing for the Publishing Board. We strive to bring you our updated Legacy Series Content for 2022-2023. The COVID-19 Pandemic has caused much worry to the global supply chain. Therefore, we are moving more of our products to a digital platform. You will now be able to access your Sunday School lessons and various other books from any electronic device you might own.

The Lord is shifting in this season! Therefore, the Church must recognize the Move of God in this shift, and I believe that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, yet His methods change. The process and procedures that we have used for the Church for many years aren’t working for today’s generations. With this move to a larger digital platform, we believe it can increase the love and need for our literature again. It will afford an increase in our exposure across the country and allow better access to those around the globe. Where people were limited to receiving our literature through the mail or when they arrived in Sunday School, they can now download the material right where they are.

I know that change can be difficult at first, but with this change comes a better chance to expose our witness to the world. May the Lord bless you and keep you in these last and evil days.

Mother Sandra Smith Jones, B.S., MTh

Senior Marketing/Sales Consultant Publishing House

Church Of God In Christ Inc.

The voice of the cogic liaison

Dear Sunday School Student,

Special greetings to those who have been faithful supporters of the Church Of God In Christ Publishing House.

I want to appreciate the Publishing House team and celebrate the hard work and innovative ideas they are using to make our literature more spiritual and competitive. Likewise, we now have as our executive director a young lady who has a history of excellence in the Christian Education world. She is determined whatever our history has been, we will now become even better under her leadership.

I hope you will appreciate the prophetic content of this series of lessons we will study this year. Even though they were written in the earlier part of this year, they effectively speak to a subject that’s more of a challenge now than it has been in the past.

Our nation is going through a time unlike many of us have never seen. All the evil incidents that led to World War II seem to be happening again. Therefore, the challenge to our faith in a good God during bad times is about to be severely tested.

For this reason, the first quarter of our lessons will challenge us to revive our understanding of what it is to have faith in hard times. We will be reminded that God never fails to reward our faith and our faithfulness no matter how hopeless things may seem.

These lessons will also guide us to never be tempted from realizing our hope is always in Christ and never ourselves. Our chief goal should always be to become the kind of vessel that God can use at any time and under all circumstances.

The latter part of the year will focus on the life of Daniel. There are so many similarities between what he went through and what we have to endure in these times. Just as Daniel had to stand for what was right in spite of the disapproval of his king, so must we show the same courage.

Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  ¹⁷ If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. ¹⁸ But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

The Spring Quarter will help remind us that despite what appears to be the worst of times, Christ and the hope of the resurrection is yet our most important purpose in this life. These lessons will remind us that we cannot allow what’s happening in our world to distract us from being the light of the world.

Bishop J. L. Whitehead, Jr. A.A., B. A., M.Div

Chief Editor - Publishing House

History of the International Sunday School Department

Written by Supt. Rodney Lamar Atkins

Vice President, International Sunday School Department

Administrative Assistant, Texas

Northeast Second Jurisdiction C.O.G.I.C.

Tyler, Texas, Bishop David R. Houston, Prelate

Pastor, Victory Temple C.O.G.I.C., Tyler, Texas

Father Christmas

In 1907, the Church Of God In Christ was founded under the leadership of Bishop Charles H. Mason. The first Sunday School was started in Lexington, Mississippi, by Professor L.W. Lee in 1908. Professor Lee was the principal of the College at Natchez, Mississippi. He was saved under Elder C.P. Jones in 1895. He was the first Sunday School Superintendent of a church. In 1916 in St. Louis, Missouri, Elder F.C. Christmas led Sunday School classes with nine women and three men. Elder D.J. Young in Kansas started publishing Sunday School literature for our church, and Elder F.C. Christmas helped to organize it. Father Christmas began using quarterly publications in the Sunday School, and, within two months, many of the church leaders were in an uproar over his actions. These Saints felt that the Bible should be the only literature used in their study. The uproar was so great that Bishop Mason was asked to judge the matter. Following a review of the quarterly publication, Bishop Mason commented. I do not see anything wrong. Father Christmas continued to use the quarterlies.

Mother Lizzie Roberson called Bishop Mason’s attention to Elder Christmas’s efforts and recommended him for the Sunday School work as national superintendent. In 1926, he was appointed National Superintendent of the Sunday School Department for the Church Of God In Christ by Bishop Mason. He still met a great deal of opposition from many COGIC members who disagreed with the use of quarterlies. Some State Overseers refused to regard the appointments of state Sunday School superintendents made by Father Christmas. Elder D.J. Young was a Morehouse College graduate. As Young’s family contributed literature, Father Christmas contributed in organizing the Sunday Schools. Bishop Lawrence Patrick was appointed as Assistant Superintendent in 1938 and served in this capacity for seventeen years, and later succeeded Father Christmas.

So the department today can praise God for the advances we have made through the labor of Father Christmas, Bishop Lawrence Patrick, Sister Jinnie Jones, Sister Katie Neely, Bishop Cleveland Williams, Sister Ada Patrick, Bishop Jerry W. Macklin, Sister Gloria Smith, Sister Mae Winbush, Sister Margaret Threlkeld, Bishop Alton Gatlin, Sister Georgia Lowe, Sister Cleolia Penix, Supt. Robert Smith Sr., Bishop Adams Edwards, Supt. Robert Smith Jr., Supt. Althea Sims, Supt. Darrak Scurles, Supt. Wilfred Brown, Field Representative Jeannette Donald, and many, many more workers. We shall never forget the labor of Bishop Roy Winbush.

Let us not forget: The Sunday School Laboratory, and then years later, The Sunday School University with Dr. Kenneth Hammonds. We look forward to fulfilling the vision of Dr. Mark Ellis, International President of the International Sunday School Department.

Sister Gloria Smith

Sister Ada Patrick

If I had time today, I would share the biographies of the former Sunday School State Workers, such as: Elder W.G. Law of Houston, Texas; Bishop David R. Houston, Tyler, Texas; Bishop Travis T. Terry, Dallas, Texas; The late Bishop Frank W. Smith, Dallas, Texas; The late Bishop David L. Smith, Fort Worth, Texas; The late Bishop W.K. Gordon, Sr. Baton Rouge, Louisiana; The late Bishop O.B. Pete, Sr. Oberlin, Louisiana; The late Bishop F.D. Lawson, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; The late Supt. Clifford Hooks, Jr., Columbus, Ohio, and thousands of other workers.

2022-2023 COGIC TEACHING TIPS

BY QUARTER

Teaching Tips are general principles designed to assist pastors, Sunday school superintendents, teachers, volunteers, small group leaders, Bible study teacher and parents. Thank you to Evangelist Sandra Daniel and Evangelist Juanita Bryant for coordinating this year’s writers.

FALL 2022

• Ministering Effectively to Special Needs Population, Dr. La Royce Lyn Murphy

• Tips For Organizing and Administering the Sunday School, Evangelist Sandra Daniel

• Presenting Teacher Training Opportunities, Dr. Cathy Owens-Oliver

• Teaching Like The Master Teacher, Pastor Christopher L. Green

WINTER 2022 – 2023

• Financial Stability For Sunday School Success, Evangelist Sandra Daniel

• A Strong Constitution In Teaching, District Missionary Nora Kelly-Reynolds

• What A Healthy 21st Century Sunday School Looks Like, Dr. Cathy Owens-Oliver

• Is Your Classroom Smart? Sister Teresa Hanson

SPRING 2023

• Choosing the Right Bible Translation, Evangelist Charla V. Johnson

• Teaching Tips for Sunday School Teachers for a Smart Class, District Missionary Nora Kelly

• Evaluation: Techniques And Strategies For Sunday School Improvement, Superintendent C.D. Knowles

• Mobilizing The Church For Sunday School: Deploying God’s People To Serve, Dr. Jeannette H. Donald

SUMMER 2023

• Reaching The Masses: (Unwed Mothers, Prisoners Transitioning, Ex-Addicts and Backsliders), Evangelist Classy Randle-Thomas

• Interpreting Scriptures with Clarity for Your Students, Evangelist Charla V. Johnson

• Teaching the Transitional Population, Pastor Christopher Green

• Tips for Preventing Ineffectiveness in Sunday School, Evangelist Sandra Daniel

How To Use This Commentary

Welcome to the The Church Of God In Christ Annual Sunday School Lesson Commentary 2022-2023! This Bible study guide accomplishes the Christian education goals of the International Sunday School Department (ISSD) to equip and edify God’s people through a systematic study of God’s Holy Word.

In-Depth lessons are divided into four quarters—Fall (September-November), Winter (December-February), Spring (March-May), and Summer (June-August). Each quarter is comprised of three units, which contain four to five lessons that are perfect for Sunday School, weekly Bible studies, small groups or individual study.

Scriptures that are studied in this commentary are based on The International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching, which is the standard of Scriptures to study the entire Bible over a period of seven years. The Church Of God In Christ Annual Sunday School Lesson Commentary 2022-2023 brings biblical teaching to life with:

• Parallel King James Version with the Amplified Bible

• Contextual exegesis of passages by theologians and Bible scholars

• Background on the people, setting and circumstance of events

• Greek and Hebrew word studies with explanations

• Questions for small group discussions and individual reflection

• Teaching tips by ISSD leadership to enhance your Sunday School

• Challenges for a Spirit-filled relationship with God that results in holy living

Each lesson is organized with:

Lesson Aims—Teaching and learning objectives based on Bloom’s Taxonomy

Light On The Word—Overview of the lesson

Life Need for Today’s Lesson—Answers a universal need for believers

Introduction—Summary of the lesson

Bible Learning—Two- or three-point outline of the lesson

Search the Scriptures—Questions and Answers about the previous text

Light On The Word—Commentary on the Scriptures

Bible Application—Practical suggestions to apply the lesson

Students’ Responses—Practical steps for personal application

Prayer—Heartfelt entreaty based on the lesson

Dig a Little Deeper—In-depth analysis of an aspect of the lesson

The International Sunday School department guarantees that after diligent study, instruction, and application, no student, teacher, or Sunday School will ever remain the same!

Fall 2022

QUARTER AT-A-GLANCE

QUARTERLY COMMENTARY

TEACHER’S TIPS

Ministering Effectively to Special Needs Population

Dr. La Royce Lyn Murphy

Tips For Organizing and Administering the Sunday School

Evangelist Sandra Daniel

PRESENTING TEACHER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Dr. Cathy Owens-Oliver

Teaching Like The Master Teacher

Pastor Christopher L. Green

QUARTERLY QUIZ

Ministering Effectively to Special Needs Population

Dr. La Royce Lyn Murphy

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus tells his disciples to "Go ye therefore and teach ALL nations." In this passage of Scripture, Jesus’ instructions were to teach ALL. All means the whole quantity, which means everyone. This directive from Jesus for all to be taught has permeated from generations to generations, all throughout history. In 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was instituted as the main educational policy for K–12 education in the United States from 2002–2015. This policy held principals and teachers accountable for how ALL students learned and achieved. In 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was instituted, committing to giving every student an opportunity to learn. The common word from Jesus’ directive to today’s educational policy is ALL. ALL students should receive high-quality teaching, and ALL students should learn. Knowing this, the onus is on school leaders and teachers to identify, respect, and attend to the diverse strengths and challenges of all students they serve; this includes the special needs population.

Sunday School is the learning institute where all students’ learning needs should be met. The superintendent (the Principal) and teachers must ensure that all students are ministered to effectively. Students should leave their Sunday School class understanding the Subject, Memory Verse, and Aim of every lesson every Sunday.

Often, students with special needs are overlooked. This sometimes happens because of Sunday School’s limited time for teaching and learning on Sunday mornings. The teacher often does all of the talking, and the students are sitting and listening. This is an example of a sit and get lesson with limited learning occurring, a one-size-fits-all approach leaving some students behind. However, effective ministers of the Gospel zoom in on the learning needs of all students, LEAVING NO STUDENT BEHIND.

The question is how do we minister effectively to the special needs population? There are different strategies teachers can use to minister effectively. One of the best ways to do so is to incorporate Howard Gardner’s (1983) Theory of Multiple Intelligence into the planning and teaching of the lesson. In order to minister to all students, the teacher needs to present the lesson in different ways and provide new options for student expression. There are multiple types of human intelligence, each representing different ways of processing information:

Howard Gardner’s (1983) Theory of Multiple Intelligence

So, the next time you are teaching a lesson about Noah and the Ark, use Howard Gardner’s (1983) Theory of Multiple Intelligence and tap into your students’ logical-mathematical and visual-spatial intelligence. Show your students a picture of the inside and outside of the Ark. Show them pictures of Noah, his family, and the animals safely tucked in the Ark. This will help your students to remember God’s Word and apply their learning of biblical principles in their daily Christian walk. Why? Isn’t that what Sunday School is for?

References:

Blythe, T., & Gardner H. (1990). A school for all Intelligences. Educational Leadership. 47(7), 33-37.

U. S. Department of Education. Every Student Succeeds Act. Retrieved from: https://www.ed.gov/essa

Dr. La Royce Lyn Murphy holds a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership specializing in Teacher Education, a Masters Degree in Educational Administration, a Masters Degree in Education, a Bachelors Degree in American Studies, and an Education Specialist Degree in Early Childhood Education. Additionally, she holds a Preschool and Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and an Administrative Services Credential. She has worked in education for over 23 years. She is currently a principal within the second largest school district in the United States.

Dr. La Royce Murphy is an academic scholar who is focused on being excellent on purpose. As a researcher, her specialized area of study is Teacher Education. The publication of her dissertation, The Impact of Professional Learning Community on Teacher Learning and Student Achievement: A Qualitative Approach, written as a doctoral candidate at the University of Southern California (USC), continuously serves as a platform for her continuous work with coaching teachers and teaching pre-service and in-service teachers at the university level, preparing them to serve our children. Her latest achievement to date is the completion of the Superintendent Academy for public school leaders through the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). Dr. Murphy is enthusiastic and prepared to contribute her administrative knowledge and support as she works in her local church, jurisdiction, and at her school site, serving children, teachers, scholars, parents and the entire community working in an urgent manner.

Tips For Organizing and Administering the Sunday School

Sunday School accomplishes one of the greatest needs in the church: education for all levels, making its ministry imperative. Since Sunday School is biblical education in action, it is the mortar that holds the bricks together and becomes the foundation of the house. Although most churches have larger attendance at their morning services than at their Sunday Schools, this fact does not diminish the influence and necessity of Sunday School.

Most people mistakenly think that Sunday School is a few classes for children somewhere in the church before the important meeting - the Sunday morning service. This is so wrong! Every member of the family should be in Sunday School because every person should be growing spiritually and learning the Word of God. Sunday School is not just an appendage tacked on before or after the morning church service. Sunday School has been described as an arm of the church. Just as the arm is part of the body and a person is not complete without an arm, no church is complete without a Sunday School. The verse that has historically been used to describe the ministry of the Sunday School is Deuteronomy 31:12: Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law.¹ Sunday Schools should be designed to reach the lost in the community and teach them the Word of God, but some fail to do so. The Sunday School must be properly organized for a spiritual thrust just as a business, army, or any other institution organizes itself for new thrusts. The success of the organization, however, depends to a large extent upon the way it is administered.²

Historically, a Sunday School committee/cabinet was organized to administer the ministry of the Sunday School. This committee was made up of the pastor, the Sunday School superintendent, and other elected personnel. With the growth of the total educational program in modern churches, however, a broader committee was needed to give leadership to the total ministry of education in the local church. In some churches, the Board of Christian Education has grown to assume this ministry, including the supervision of Sunday School. The pastor is a member of the Board of Christian Education, along with other godly people from the educational groups in the church. The pastor always remains vitally involved in the Sunday School because working through the Sunday School is one of the best ways he can shepherd the total church.³

Proper organization is essential to any thriving institution, but too much organization can add weight to the Sunday School. Too little organization can prevent its operating with peak efficiency. For an efficiently functioning Sunday School, there must be good organization and supervision. The Sunday School receives its supervisory authority from the local church. Every worker must be qualified, trained, and excited about the ministry. When the leaders function properly, the whole Sunday School functions well.

Answer these questions concerning your Sunday School:

• What is the pastor’s attitude toward Sunday School success?

• What is our organizational structure, and why is it important in the Sunday School?

• Do we have the needed leaders to administer a growing Sunday School?

• Why are Sunday School records important/useful?

Try these activities:

• Analyze your present Sunday School organization and list ways it can be improved.

• Prepare a list of qualifications and duties of the teachers and officers in the department.

• Create a checklist of responsibilities.

• Prepare a list of books, videos, pamphlets, resources of in-service research, and training for the staff.

Resources for further study:

Benson, Clarence H., Sunday School Success (Evangelical Teacher Training Association, Wheaton, IL 1964, revised).

Cully, Iris V., New Life for Your Sunday School (Hawthorn Books, Inc., New York, 1976).

Gangel, Kenneth O., Leadership For Church Education (Moody Press, Chicago, 1970).

Hyles, Jack, The Hyles Sunday School Manual, The Sword of the Spirit Publishers, Murfreesboro, TN, 1969.

Towns, Elmer, How To Grow an Effective Sunday School, Destiny Image Publishers, 2014

Towns, Elmer L., The Successful Sunday School and Teachers Guidebook (Creation House, Carol Stream, IL, 1976).

Evangelist Sandra Daniel,

Jurisdictional Sunday School Field Representative

Evangelist Sandra Daniel attended the University of California at Santa Barbara as an undergraduate and graduate school continued at University of California at Irvine, where she studied to become an instructor. Sandra also completed classes at Ventura College in Business Administration and Law. She taught junior high school and high school. She was employed for the Ventura County Community College District at Oxnard Community College for 33 plus years. Evangelist Daniel attends Channel Island Community Church in Oxnard, California. Her pastor is Elder Artemus Bradley. Her deepest desire is to please the Lord.

1 Towns, Elmer, How to Grow an Effective Sunday School page 5

2 Towns, Elmer, How to Grow an Effective Sunday School, page 17

3 Towns, Elmer, How to Grow an Eeffective Sunday School page 17

PRESENTING TEACHER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Dr. Cathy Owens-Oliver

The effectiveness of a Sunday School teacher is directly connected to the training and education she or he has received. It is important for us, as teachers, to continue learning new skills, approaches, and content. As the world continues to evolve, so should we. We must ensure that our own learning is ongoing and in tandem with new knowledge being made available every day.

Sunday School teachers, leaders, and superintendents must be intentional about learning new teaching methods, new ways to engage students online, new Bible Study materials, and expanding the knowledge and skills of students as well as other teachers. There are trainings for all of this. The more teachers learn the more they can teach students.

All Sunday School teachers need training. Jesus spent more than three years training the disciples to become master teachers as He was. He made intentional, ongoing efforts to increase the knowledge and skills of those following Him. We must do the same. As teacher-leaders, we must create opportunities for them to learn more.

Your teaching team or staff may not know where to look to find training. Sometimes those who know where to look aren’t sure which training is right for them. Before presenting training opportunities to your team, consider what they are interested in learning.

Survey what kinds of training your teachers would like to experience. Perhaps the youth class teachers want to learn more about social media. In this case, you could host training on the basics of Instagram and Tiktok and then a discussion on how to use these apps to promote the Sunday School lesson.

Surveying or polling your teachers will give you insight into a variety of things they want to learn. When you present trainings because of what they asked for, they will show up and participate. If you randomly choose whatever you want them to learn, they may not take the training seriously. Use the survey results as an information guide to help you determine which training to set up and when.

The second step when presenting training opportunities is making sure you share them as a means of growing the whole team and not just a few people. Teachers may feel they are being chastised if they, alone, must attend training. Make the training an all of us opportunity wherein all your staff participates in training that will help them become better teachers. Market the training as something good for all teachers. Provide a list of trainings to choose from. People love having a choice.

Sunday School superintendents, teachers, or other assigned coordinators must seek high-quality, relevant training opportunities to present to their teams. There is so much good online material to increase teacher knowledge and ability. There is also a wealth of knowledge in the pews. If you have good trainers at your church, talk to them about helping you elevate teacher knowledge and skills. When teachers are trained more, students will learn more.

Dr. Cathy Owens-Oliver

www.drcathyo.com

Dr. Cathy Oliver is a wife, evangelist, author, professor, and leadership coach. She earned her doctorate in Education Leadership, Management, and Policy at Seton Hall University. She completed undergraduate studies at UNC-Greensboro and NC A&T State. She started her career as a high school English teacher and became a National Board Certified Teacher. She has traveled to 46 of 50 states and Canada training teachers, school boards, and college professors.

She has served as a senior director in three national organizations—the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in Southfield, MI, Learning Forward in Dallas, Texas and Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ. As the founder and CEO of Educational Effectiveness Group, she helps schools and faith-based communities implement organizational change and develop more effective leadership. She is published in education journals and college textbooks. Her new book Why Schools Fumble (a guide for school improvement) is an Amazon bestseller.

Through the years she has served in the altar ministry, pastor’s aide, Sunday School, youth department, YWCC, and the fine arts and music ministry. Her books Everything but Satisfied and Church Girl, Get Your Life were penned for women’s ministries. She was the jurisdictional coordinator for missionary training in NC, MI, and PA. Currently, she serves as Dean of Education for the International Sunday School Department and attends Hinsley Temple COGIC. She attributes much of her ministry effectiveness to the tutelage of her spiritual father, the late Bishop Otis Lockett, Sr. Dr. Oliver is married to Minister Sidney Oliver, and they reside in Charlotte, NC where they enjoy golfing, traveling, and mentoring millennials.

Teaching Like The Master Teacher

Pastor Christopher L. Green

A true teacher possesses three essential characteristics. First, the teacher must be one of prayer, one who is anointed and on the cutting edge of what is on and in God’s heart. Second, this real teacher will also maintain a close fellowship with his or her peers in the teaching field of Ministry. Third, this teacher will be willing to go out on the ledge to give information, knowledge, and wisdom to his or her students.

If you do not know what is on and in the heart of God, maybe it is time to say, I’m not a teacher. Why would I say that? How can you teach on the cutting edge like Jesus and not know what is on and in the heart of God? Today, we have many distractions. However, prayer will make sure all is well with the words because the words that we speak are spirit and life! (John 6:63).

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God (Luke 6:12, KJV),

Honest and true teachers are always in the know of what’s going on in their field. Secular teachers will continue their schooling after receiving their degree and credentials to teach. As it is with the secular teaching, God wants His anointed teachers of children, young people, adults, and seniors to be just as versed and elite in their society—spiritually, mentally, physically.

You don’t need to impress another teacher or your superintendent. Who you need to impress is God! That’s why we…

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, not man, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15, KJV).

Some do not realize that God has a society in this world that is on the cutting edge and are the elite (God calls them the Elect). Those are the ones that take that next step into their destiny. Teaching is their destiny.

"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues" (1 Cor 12:28, KJV).

Your teaching and effectiveness are so important that God has set you higher than the greatest miracles that are done in this world. Never, but never think your position is small and insignificant. God set you up thirdly in the body of Christ.

Jesus used everyday things that happened in His world at the time. As a result, he attracted the rich, the poor, the allycat, and the aristocratic. The farmer liked the way He talked about seed. The rich liked the way He talked about money. Therefore, he was able to reach everyone.

God only wants the best. Understand why the armed forces have boot camps. They want to weed out the weak, the ignorant, the weird, the nobodies in their regiment, so when the armed forces come up against the enemy, they will conquer and not be conquered. You are God’s best.

That person that’s a teacher of God’s Word is a man or woman of prayer. Confident that God hears them. Like Jesus, your prayer life is vital to the call of teacher/leader. This is where most times you receive your orders. God would like to inform you. Books and aides will help get the job done, but prayer will ensure it’s done right.

Being a person of prayer will allow God to speak his heart not only to you but through you. Understand, those who seek His heart and not His hand are the ones who are rewarded with the great insight of His Word.

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (1 Cor 2:9, KJV).

But God hath revealed them unto us (the teacher/Leader) by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God (1 Cor 2:10, KJV).

Pastor Christopher Green was born in the inner city of Los Angeles, where there was always war, hate, drugs, and guns. But his mother, Missionary Hortense Green, made him go to church and learn the Bible whether he wanted to or not. Chris was trained and, at seventeen, gave his heart to God. His life changed. He thought he was going to exit the ghetto and become a millionaire. He was well on his way by twenty-four, but his call to pastor as God commanded was not the plan. Chris ran from pastoring for nine years doing other good deeds. He was in the drama play The Great White Throne Judgement, and people were being saved by the hundreds all across the nation. He became Youth Pastor at the West Angeles Church. Pastor Chris thought these were a good alternative to Pastoring that God would approve of. He didn’t, so Chris founded The Tabernacle of Praise Church. He started pastoring and loved it. Chris received his unique way of presenting the Bible from the Miracle Valley Bible College in Arizona, where he graduated. He also attended Cal State University, Los Angeles. He has his Master’s in Theology from the Fuller Theological Seminary and has his Master’s in Business Administration from Ashley University. God has blessed this pastor in many ways. God blessed him, especially when he made Sharon the queen of his life. He often comments, God designed her especially for me. And God doesn’t make any junk for me, only a master piece. To this union, we have six children and thirteen grandchildren.

Dig Deeper Writers

FALL QUARTER

_________________________________________

The Reverend Eric James Gréaux, Sr., Ph.D.

Eric Gréaux, is a native of Amityville, New York, where he received his formal education at Our Redeemer Lutheran School, St. Kilian Jr. High School, and St. John the Baptist High School.

During his formative years, he received a sound fundamental foundation in Christian ethics and virtues through the godly example of his parents and godparents at Amityville Gospel Tabernacle. These experiences were strengthened by the training he received from the pastor and Christian Education workers at Faith Temple Church Of God In Christ. Eric gave his heart to the Lord on August 15, 1979.

Eric Gréaux earned the Bachelor of Arts in Biblical & Theological Studies from Gordon College, the Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and the Ph.D. in New Testament & Early Christian Origins from Duke University.

Dr. Gréaux has held teaching positions at Duke University, Carolina Evangelical Divinity School, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Charlotte, and Shaw University Divinity School. He is presently serving as Associate Professor of Religion at Winston-Salem State University, where he recently received the Wilma Lassiter Master Teaching Award. Eric holds memberships in the American Academy of Religion, the Society of Biblical Literature, the Evangelical Theological Society, the Institute for Biblical Research, and the Black Religious Scholars Society

Dr. Gréaux is the author of To the Elect Exiles of the Dispersion … from Babylon, a study of the function of Old Testament citations and allusions in First Peter. He has written articles that have been published in peer-reviewed journals, and Sunday School material for Urban Ministries, Inc. Dr. Gréaux has lectured and presented papers before numerous colleges, universities, and seminaries across the United States and at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. In addition, he has traveled to India and Turkey in order to continue his studies and enhance his teaching skills. Dr. Gréaux is the recipient of the Wilma Lassiter Master Teacher Award (2019) and the Wells Fargo Excellence in Teaching Award (2021).

Elder Gréaux is married to the former Loring Bonita Crockett, a native of Boston. They have two sons, Tyler (a student at Gordon College) and Eric Jr. (a student at Appalachian State Universit). They live in Kernersville, NC, where he also serves as Pastor of Triad Ministries Church Of God In Christ. Bishop Leroy Jackson Woolard of Greater North Carolina is his Jurisdictional Prelate.

QUARTERLY QUIZ

The questions on this page may be used in several ways: as a pretest at the beginning of the quarter; as a review at the end of the quarter; or as a review after each lesson. The questions are based on the Scripture text of each lesson (King James Version).

LESSON 1

1. What should believers hold fast according to Paul in verse 23?

2. Name the consequence for persons who despised Moses’ law (Hebrews 10:28).

Lesson 2

1. How is the way the word of God created the world understood (Hebrews 11:3)?

2. God is our strength and our protectors, so we do not have to allow__________ to overtake us (Psalm 46:1-2).

Lesson 3

1. Describe the analogy used to express the large number of witnesses in Hebrews 12:1.

2. When God rebukes believers, how should they respond (Hebrews 12:5)?

Lesson 4

1. Share who Jesus is in the New Covenant (Hebrews 12:24).

2. Paul describes God in this instance as a _______ __________ (Hebrews 12:29).

Lesson 5

1. Although Paul has the gift of prophecy and has faith, if he does not have ___________, then everything else is nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2).

2. Charity (love) is kind and does not envy itself, and is not __________ _________ (1 Corinthians 13:4).

Lesson 6

1. Stephen was accused of speaking blasphemous words against ________________ and _____________ (Acts 6:11).

2. ___________ witnesses were bought to speak against Stephen (Acts 6:13).

Lesson 7

1. What did Stephen see as the heavens opened up (Acts 7:56)?

2. Choose Saul’s response to Stephen’s death—consenting or outrage (8:1a).

Lesson 8

1. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the ________________ and the ___________________, they were baptized, both men and women (Acts 8:12).

2. What did Simon offer the apostles in exchange for the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:18-19)?

Lesson 9

Who did the Ethiopian eunuch work for and what did he do (Acts 8:27)?

2. Then Philip ______________, and began at the same Scripture, and ______________ Jesus (Acts 8:35).

Lesson 10

1. Who was Paul addressing in his appeal (Acts 26:19-32)?

2. What did Festus say in response to Paul’s appeal (Acts 26:24)?

Lesson 11

1. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all ___________________, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued ___________________, having taken nothing (Acts 27:33).

2. Who prevented the soldiers from killing Paul and the other prisoners (Acts 27:1, 43)?

Lesson 12

1. Paul was shipwrecked on what island (Acts 28:1)?

2. What did the barbarians think after Paul shook off the viper and felt no harm (Acts 28:5-6)?

Lesson 13

1. Which prophet foretold that the Jews would not listen to God’s message (Acts 28:25)?

2. After the Jews rejected Paul’s message of salvation who did he say would hear it (Acts 28:28)?

Engaging the Theme

We’ve Come This Far by Haymanot

by Vince L. Bantu, PhD

The Gift of God

Faith is a gift from God. In the early 1400s, there was a Christian leader in Ethiopia who was named Giyorgis of Sagla. Giyorgis led a large Christian community, was well-versed in Scripture and wrote a systematic theology called the Mashafa Mestir (Book of Mystery). Giyorgis is the first identified author from Sub-Saharan Africa, and he was a Christian theologian! This testifies to the power of the Gospel that has been at work among all peoples, including African peoples, from our very beginnings. All throughout his book, Giyorgis constantly reminds his community of the importance of haymanot (HAY-man-not). The word haymanot is an ancient East African word used in various languages that has a very full meaning. It is most often translated as faith, but it is a very wholistic concept that can also mean theology, doctrine, teaching, conduct, or lifestyle. At one point in the book, Giyorgis was exhorting his community on the importance of the unity and equality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As he was concluding his teaching, Giyorgis boldly declared that on account of my belief (I am) of the people of the Nazrawiyan (Christians) and on account of my baptism, a son of the Apostles, a great Christian, girded by the power of haymanot and sealed by balm ointment. Glory to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.¹ Giyorgis exhorted the believers of his day to both live a godly lifestyle and to proclaim biblical doctrine. However, Giyorgis understood that haymanot is not something that originates with people—it is a power that girded him and came from the Lord.

The Apostle Paul also wrote to encourage Christians in his community about haymanot. After helping to establish the Church in the Asian city of Ephesus, Paul later wrote an epistle to this multi-cultural body of believers. Paul begins with celebrating the work that God has done in Jesus by making us alive through His Spirit. Furthermore, Paul clarifies that our salvation is through a haymanot that comes not from us, but from God: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.² In the preceding chapter, Paul outlines God’s initiative in restoring humanity to right relationship with Him through the sacrifice of Jesus and the filling of the Holy Spirit. God did this first through the Hebrews whom He chose in advance of the creation of the world to be His children through Jesus. He also gave His Spirit as a gift to the Gentiles, who are also adopted as children according to His divine purpose. As we delve into the theme of faith, the first thing that we should acknowledge is that faith does not come from ourselves; it is the gift of God.

Haymanot Comes from Hearing

Faith is empowered by proclamation. In the mid-1400s there was an Ethiopian monk named Estifanos who started a reformation movement that spread across the empire. Estifanos was raised in a military family but responded to a call to ministry during his adolescence. Estifanos went to a monastery named Hanbar Godba, where he was ordained by the local bishop after being examined in his haymanot: "Then the saint (Estifanos) discussed with him (the bishop) on what concerned the subject of haymanot (faith), showing him his worship of the Creator who exists in a Trinity of persons without confusion or difference, presenting witnesses from the revelations of the Prophets and the teaching of the Apostles."³ For Estifanos, his haymanot was the gift of the Holy Spirit that was confirmed and strengthened by the witness of Holy Scripture. It was his belief in the sole authority of Scripture that led Estifanos to defy the dominant church and the emperor of Ethiopia that led to his imprisonment, torture and death. However, Estifanos’ followers continued his teachings, and he is still revered today among many Ethiopian Christians. Estifanos refused to pray to saints or bow before the king or icons. He emphasized faith in God alone and the authority of Scripture over the teachings of the church. A century later in Europe, Martin Luther made similar arguments against the Catholic Church which ignited the Protestant Reformation. However, there was a reformation movement started by Estifanos a century earlier in Africa! Estifanos was led by his faith which was empowered by the proclamation of the Gospel as presented in Holy Scripture. Estifanos was able to stand against an empire due to his faith that was a gift from God and confirmed by the witness of the Word of God.

In his epistle to the believers in Rome, the Apostle Paul explains the necessity of faith for salvation. Paul then communicates God’s desire for His people to carry the message of salvation to the world: But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!’ But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, Lord, who has believed our message?’ So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.⁴ God does not call humanity to place faith in Him with no foundation. God has given humanity reasons to trust in Him. Indeed, our goal is that this study guide will be yet another witness to God’s goodness that will strengthen your faith. God gives us the gift of faith through the proclamation of His Spirit, His Creation, His People, and His Word.

We Live by Haymanot

Faith is the way of life of the believer. Someone who taught this was an Egyptian theologian and monk named Shenoute of Atripe. Shenoute lived in the Southern Egyptian desert where he led a community of thousands of Egyptian and Nubian Christians in the early 400s. The monastery that Shenoute led was a wholistic example of the Gospel; the Christians there were discipling people in the Word of God, worshipping the Lord together, creating literacy, and vocations for the community, serving the poor, and calling the privileged to justice. The community also had a hospital for the sick, which is probably why Shenoute likened the sanctifying work of God to the process of healing: As for our trust that we will be cleansed entirely of this disease (of sin) through his (Jesus’) medicines, it is our perfect faith in him.⁵ Shenoute taught the early Egyptian Church that the lifestyle of a believer is characterized by godly character that is actualized by faith. Just as a patient trusts the doctor and her medicine in order to heal illness, the Christian trusts Jesus with perfect faith.

Jesus’ brother James also speaks of perfect faith in the Word. James said that faith by itself…is dead and useless, and that it is alive when accompanied with a godly lifestyle: Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.⁶ Faith begins with God, as it is His gift to give believers; faith manifests in the believer through obedience. As previously noted, faith comes from God and is not the result of human works. We are saved by faith, and not by works; we are saved by faith for works: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do good things he planned for us long ago.⁷ The faithful lifestyle of the Christian is characterized by trust in the Lord, being guided by His Spirit and His Word, who fulfills the commandments of the Lord through our new way of life.⁸ Haymanot is the gift of God, the gift of a new way of being: For we live by faith, not by sight. This way of life does not come from us; haymanot is God’s gift that He makes complete in and through us.

1 Giyorgis of Sagla, Mashafa Mestir, ed. Yaqob Beyene, CSCO 515, Scriptores Aethiopici 89 (Louvain: Secrétariat du Corpus SCO, 1990), 44.

2 Eph. 2:8–9. Unless otherwise noted, all biblical references are from the New Living Translation (NLT).

3 The Ge’ez Acts of Abba Estifanos of Gwendagwende, ed. Getatchew Haile, CSCO 619, Scriptores Aethiopici 110 (Louvain: Secrétariat du Corpus SCO, 2006), 21.

4 Rom. 10:14–17 (cf. Is. 52:7; 53:1).

5 David Brakke and Andrew Crislip, Selected Discourses of Shenoute the Great: Community, Theology, and Social Conflict in Late Antique Egypt (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2015), 140.

6 Jas. 2:17–22.

7 Eph. 2:10.

8 Rom. 8:4.

LESSON 1 • SEPTEMBER 4, 2022

FAITH CALLS FOR PERSEVERANCE

BIBLE BASIS: Hebrews 10:19–31

BIBLE TRUTH: Jesus’ sacrificial death opens the way to the presence of God.

MEMORY VERSE: Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. (Hebrews 10:23, KJV).

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: KNOW Jesus’ sacrificial death opens the way to the presence of God; FEEL the importance of holding on to faith in Jesus; and SHARE our faith with others.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Hebrews 10 — Read and incorporate the insights gained from the Background Scriptures into your study of the lesson.

TEACHER PREPARATION

MATERIALS NEEDED: Bibles, (several different versions), Quarterly Commentary/Teacher Manual, Adult Quarterly, teaching resources such as charts, worksheets/handouts, paper, pens, and pencils.

OTHER MATERIALS NEEDED / TEACHER’S NOTES:

LESSON OVERVIEW

LIFE NEED FOR TODAY’S LESSON

To live confidently in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

BIBLE LEARNING

To learn that God will judge us based on our relationship with His Son.

BIBLE APPLICATION

To know that we can come before the living God with great confidence because Jesus is the way.

STUDENTS’ RESPONSES

Students will worship God with confidence.

LESSON SCRIPTURE

HEBREWS 10:19–31, KJV

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

21 And having an high priest over the house of God;

22 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.

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

HEBREWS 10:19–31, AMP

19 Therefore, [c]believers, since we have confidence and full freedom to enter the Holy Place [the place where God dwells] by [means of] the blood of Jesus, 

20 By this new and living way which He initiated and opened for us through the veil [as in the Holy of Holies], that is, through His flesh, 

21