NextGen Leaders: October- December 2023

By R.H. Boyd Publishing Corp.

Master Teacher is the teacher’s quarterly to be used with Adult Christian Life and College and Career. Each lesson contains extensive biblical exposition and specific instructions for the teacher. The outline of the lesson is reader-friendly, and includes suggestions for maximizing teacher/student interaction and topics for making the study informative and enriching. 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: Sep 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886351385

Book preview

LESSON FOR WEEK OF OCTOBER 1, 2023

LESSON 1

A MATTER OF THE HEART

Unifying Topic: Keeping the Law Inwardly

Background Scripture: Romans 2:1–29 • Focal Scripture: Romans 2:12–24, 28–29

Let’s Get Started...

Our printed text comes from Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome, around 54–57 AD, from Corinth while he was on his third missionary journey. It is uncertain who started the Church, but some scholars believe that it was started by Hellenistic Jews and God–fearing Gentiles that had come to the Feast of Tabernacles (Pentecost) in Acts chapter two. Paul’s recent missionary activity had been in the northeastern Mediterranean area. According to the agreement made with the apostles in Jerusalem, Paul had been collecting gifts to take to them. After this, Paul hoped to take the Gospel to Spain (15:28) and stop in Rome while on his way. He wanted the Christians in Rome to know the Gospel that he preached (see 1:11–15).

Remember This...

But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Romans 2:29, KJV

Additional Resource

Boyd’s Commentary for the Sunday School

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1. Justified through obedience

(Romans 2:12–16)

NOTES

In the first three chapters of the book of Romans, Paul wrote that the entire world was lost. The Gentiles were lost because the world had rejected what it knew about God. This resulted in humanity having minds that approved of things that were in opposition to the law of God (see 1:18–32). Paul said that the Jews had access to the law and they knew it very well. Yet, they had no right to judge the Gentiles because they too were guilty of disobedience to the law. Paul echoed the teaching of Jesus that judgment is best left to God because no one can see clearly the sins of others due to their own sins (see Matt. 7:1–5).

LIFE.POINT

There are people sitting in churches that know the rules, but they fail to make the rules a part of their lives.

LESSON.POINT

Paul preached the Gospel that both Jews and Gentiles must believe the Gospel to be saved. While the law excludes some people, the Gospel includes all people.

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NOTES

The Jews were much like their forefathers that Amos prophesied to. Amos spoke God’s judgment upon seven nations, including Judah and Israel. Although Judah and Israel had God’s law, they were just as guilty of disobedience as the nations that surrounded them (see Amos 1:1–2:6). God judges the heart of a man instead of their outward appearance (see 1 Samuel 16:6–7). Even the Pharisees and scribes judged the disciples of Jesus based on what they saw (see Matthew 15:1–3). Jesus called them hypocrites because they judged others while failing to keep the law themselves (vv. 4–9).

God judges a person because of what they do and approve of. There are some who sin without having access to the law; they will perish without the law. At the same time, there are some that have access to the law and yet they still sin. It is not good enough that a person hears the law; everyone must obey the law. Paul wrote, For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified (v. 13, NRSV). Paul does not mean that a person is saved by their works. We have previously said that Paul believed that salvation is through faith alone. What Paul means is that those that have faith and a clean heart are motivated to do good works. God has good works in mind for the ones saved by faith (see Ephesians 2:8–10).

In order to demonstrate this principle, Paul said that there were Gentiles that had never been made aware of the law. Even still, they did what the law required. This was because the law was written on their hearts. Such people may have conflicting thoughts because the ways of the world conflict with what their conscience bears witness to. In Romans 1:18–32, Paul described the behaviors and lifestyles practiced by Gentiles, but not all Gentiles lived that way. They could see in nature that there was a God that created and rules the world by laws. Their conscience made them aware that there was a God whose laws are different from the laws of the people. Even though they did not have access to the law in the same way that the Jews did, they instinctively obeyed the law because it was written on their hearts. Again, God does not judge a person according to their head knowledge. Those who obey the law that is written on their conscience, God will judge them according to the law in their hearts (see Jeremiah 31:33).

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2. Do What You Know

(Romans 2:17–24)

Paul warned the Jews that sought to justify themselves on the basis of their knowledge of the law. It is not in knowing what the law says that makes one righteous and justified before God. Paul warned the Church not to judge those outside of the church because they too were guilty of disobeying the law. He warned against teaching others the law while they themselves were not doing what the law says. Paul meant that head knowledge will not prevent penalties if the head knowledge does not result in compliance to what the law requires. It would be of no value to know that the law forbids stealing and adultery if one is found guilty of stealing and adultery. What would be the point? Paul asked, You that boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? (v. 23, NRSV).

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