Class Lesson July 15, 2018

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

Over the course of my adult life, I’ve owned five houses. Each move to another house represented a change in our lives: a shift in ministry or relocation to a new city. With each move, my family started fresh with schools, church families, and even finding the best Mexican food in town. While it was sad to leave a house we liked and say goodbye to good friends, we also experienced the thrill of a new chapter in our lives. 

Each new chapter, though, was not without its challenges. Health issues arose. Key relationships went through unexpected changes. Friends and family died. Each new place we lived included an ebb and flow to life that wasn’t always idyllic. 

I am thankful this world is not my real home. The closing chapters of the Book of Revelation show us that God provides a permanent home where He will live with us forever. The far-from-idyllic ebb and flow of life on earth will be absent—as will be the presence of sin and death. Our final, new home will be perfect.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

Revelation 21:1-3 

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 

My wife and I are big fans of just about any TV program that shows old homes being remodeled. It’s fascinating to watch a designer inspect a dilapidated home and see its potential, completely redesign and remodel it, and then present the updated version to the new homeowner. 

The renovated “new” homes we see on television won’t even begin to compare to the new home believers will experience one day. In the Book of Revelation, the apostle John was given a vision of what the end times will be like. Revelation 21 opens with a picture of this perfect, future reality. The Creator of the universe is an expert at making things new, and one day we will see the extent of His work in “making everything new” (v. 5). 

• A new heaven and a new earth. The media is full of stories about murder, rape, theft, debauchery, and more. It seems like the world is spinning out of control. But a day is coming when the evil and devastation humanity has brought on this earth no longer will be a part of God’s good creation. The apostle Peter wrote about the destruction of the heavens and earth by a great fire. (See 2 Pet. 3:10-13.) A great noise will be heard, the elements will melt and dissolve away, but as John saw in his vision, a new heaven and a new earth will emerge after this purging and cleansing. 

• No more sea. A lot of us enjoy looking out at the massive ocean, but the sea also represents separation. When John had this vision, he had been exiled to the island of Patmos, separated from his church in Ephesus by the Aegean Sea. Some scholars believe the phrase “the sea was no more” (Rev. 21:1) means that in the future new world, God’s people will no longer be separated from one another or from the Lord.                                                                                
• The new Jerusalem. The metaphor of a bride and groom portrays the arrival of the new city of Jerusalem. It will be the dwelling place of God and His people once it descends. The word “adorned” in verse 2 (the Greek word kosmeo, from which we get our English word “cosmetics”) reminds us that our new home will awe us much like a bride’s beauty awes her groom. It will be the perfect new home for God’s people.                                                                                            
• A new way of life. This is the best news of all. God will now dwell with us. God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden; the Holy Spirit came upon people temporarily throughout the Old Testament; and He came to permanently indwell believers in the New Testament. But in our future home, we will experience the presence of God like never before. “God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them.” 

The glories of heaven will be truly that—glorious!—but the truly glorious part of it all will be the presence of God Himself. His presence is what makes heaven—well, heaven.

Revelation 21:4-5 

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. 5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”

Tears of grief are something we’ve all experienced in our lifetimes. I remember well the Monday my mother called and told me my grandfather had just died. On another Monday, my sister called and told me our father had passed away of a heart attack. You surely can recall similar circumstances: the passing of a friend or the death of a parent, a child, or a spouse. Sadness and tears are simply a part of human existence—for now. 

Thankfully, sadness will end one day. “Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more.” Let that sink in. No more death. No more grief. No more crying. No more pain. The thought of this is overwhelming. 

Sin entered our world in the garden of Eden. But thankfully, the Lord is going to restore His children. When we repent and turn to Him in faith, He removes the penalty and consequence of our sin, which brings us into a relationship with Him. And in heaven, we will be fully in His presence and know the joy His presence brings. 

A day is coming when God promises to wipe away our tears and bring an end to all our sadness and grief. The promise of an end to our pain and suffering makes me say, “Come, Lord Jesus!” 

Revelation 21:6-8 

6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. 7 The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. 8 But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

You and I are one heartbeat away from heaven or hell. That’s a sobering thought. In the blink of an eye, we could be standing before God to give an account of our lives. Consider God’s promises in this passage: 

• God freely gives salvation to those who ask. “I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life.” Only God Himself can quench the spiritual thirst we feel. God does not charge for the gift of water from the fountain of life. Christ has already paid the price on the cross. 

• Those who are saved belong to God’s family. “The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.” God does not simply do something for us; He brings us into a relationship with Him. God the Father has one Son, Jesus (see John 3:16), but He has many adopted children. (See Rom. 8:15-17; Gal. 4:4-7.) As a child of the King, any adopted son or daughter is an heir and join their with Jesus. 

• The unrepentant will not live in heaven. Some people will be excluded from heaven. Verse 8 includes a list of people who will not inherit the kingdom, and the list is representative, not exhaustive. One set of people will have responded to the gospel and God’s offer of grace. The other group will have chosen to continue in their sin. Their future is an eternity without God. 

The unrepentant person will die twice. First, they will experience a physical death like all of us will. This is the first death, the one we will all experience unless Jesus returns. The second death is much more serious: it will be a spiritual death in which a person is separated from God forever. Yet, faith and trust changes all that. When we turn to Christ, the reality of the second death is gone. Christ took that death for us, so that we could share life with Him. In heaven. Forever. 

LIVE IT OUT

A day is coming when we will experience all God created us to be. We’ll live in a sinless, perfect place with God as our Father. How will that truth impact your life this week? 

• Pray a prayer of thanksgiving. If you are a believer, take a moment to thank the Lord for placing you in His “forever family.” Thank Him for the grace that saved you. 

• Pray a prayer of salvation. If you are unsure if you are going to heaven, talk to your group leader or check out the inside front cover of this book. God desires to make things “new” in your life through His forgiveness and grace. 

• Share Christ with a friend or family member. Set a time to share the gospel with someone you believe is far from God. Help them understand that Jesus loves them, died for them, and is willing to save them from the penalty of sin. 

Of the five houses I’ve lived in, the one I currently reside in is my favorite, by far. But I will gladly give it up when God brings me into my new, permanent home with Him.

Hope to see everyone this Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Teacher's Notes:

Revelation 21:1-8 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.“ Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

“I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe.

Click Here to Watch

When you think about heaven, what do you imagine it will be like?

Franklin Graham wrote the foreword in Billy Graham’s last book intitled: Where I Am. In it he said, “My father has always stayed in tuned with the world news – he still does – and has said, ‘My heart breaks to see the world in such turmoil.” We are watching governments crumble; newscasters and people from around the world are asking, “Is there anyone who can set the world on the right track? Is there any hope? Where will it all end?” 

Yes, there is hope, and when the end of this life comes, eternity will be realized.

A Sunday school teacher was telling the story of the rich man and Lazarus. She said that Lazarus sat outside the rich man's gate covered with sores and begging for food. And that the rich man passed Lazarus without even seeing him. But when they both died Lazarus went to Heaven, while the rich man found himself in hell, which the teacher described most graphically. When she had finished, she asked the children, “Now which would you rather be—the rich man or Lazarus?” One little fellow answered, “I would like to be the rich man until I die and then Lazarus afterwards.”

Do we long for this eternity, or are we more like this little boy?

The only things we can know for sure about heaven are the things revealed in the Bible. Everything else is just speculation and hearsay. John, the apostle, unveiled his vision of heaven and shared with us what we need to know about what happens next. 

1. Where is heaven? (v. 1) 

We are fascinated by location. “Where does so and so live,” we often ask. In the movie Field of Dreams, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, comes back from death to play baseball on a converted cornfield. He asked, “Is this heaven?” “No,” Kevin Costner’s character answered, “this is Iowa.” The apostle John wrote, “Then I saw a new heaven . . .” (v. 1). Where did he look? Some say that heaven is up. The gospel writers often said as Jesus prayed that "he looked up to heaven." We always point up when we think of heaven. As though heaven is up and hell is down. Some say heaven is out there. In fact, some people say that heaven is located somewhere in the northern skies. Astronomers have discovered the region around the North Star to be empty. Because other stars are absent in that part of the sky this must be the location of heaven. Some people have suggested that heaven is a state of mind or a myth or a fantasy. We don’t know the location of heaven. But, we do know that it is real. Jesus called heaven a place. And, John saw it in his vision. 

When asked, “Where is Heaven?” my father once wisely replied, “Heaven is where Jesus Christ is, and I’m going to Him soon.” This thought prompted the title of his book, “Where I Am, taken from Jesus’ words of comfort: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.…I go to prepare a place for you.…I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” – John 14:1-4

Billy Graham has said with resolve, “When I die, tell others that I’ve gone to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – that’s where I am.”

The one thing that makes heaven heaven is missed by all the films. In fact, most Christians overlook it. We’re often too busy talking about streets of gold, reuniting with loved ones (or our dog from childhood), or the absence of long lines, committee meetings, and asparagus. Sure, all these things will bring us great joy, but they still pale in comparison to the biggest source of joy. Jesus will be there. Jesus is the One who makes heaven, heaven.

A Christian man who was dying asked his doctor what he was looking at after he died. As the doctor fumbled for a reply, he heard a scratching at the door, and he had his answer. “Do you hear that?” he asked his patient. “It’s my dog. I left him downstairs, but he has grown impatient, and has come up and hears my voice. He has no notion what is inside this door, but he knows that I am here. Isn’t it the same with you? You don’t know what lies beyond the door, but you know that your Master is there.” We don’t know the details, but we know Jesus is there. Certainly, that’s enough.

2. What is heaven like? (vv. 2, 4) 

When the great pastor R. G. Lee was asked, "What is heaven like?" he responded by saying, "Heaven is the most beautiful place the mind of God could conceive, and the hand of God could create." The Scriptures describe heaven—this real place—with fascinating terms. In speaking of heaven, John was attempting to express what defies description. It would be like trying to describe a 747 airplane to someone who lived a thousand years ago. We would have to use images of what they know to convey what they do not understand: "It's something like a giant metal bird, but it’s hard to describe.” John caught a glimpse of heaven but couldn’t adequately put it in words either. He used images: “the holy city” (v. 2). A city where there is safety and security. A place of provision and plenty. A city separate, different, unlike any that we can ever imagine. “the new Jerusalem” (v. 2). The word new means that which has never existed before. The new city will not be this old planet renovated. It will be something altogether different. “a bride adorned for her husband” (v. 2). A young lady is seldom more beautiful than on her wedding day. Heaven will be a place of beauty and purity. 

When John ran out of words to adequately describe this place, he, like we often do, was forced to explain what heaven is like by speaking of what won’t be there: no more death or mourning or crying or pain or grief. Heaven is the place of no more: no more colds, cancer, blindness, wheelchairs, hearing aids, or crutches. There will be no more hospitals or paramedics. Doctors have to find a new job so will morticians. No more fear. No darkness, no gloom, or terror, or dread. There will be no more suffering. No disease. No heartache. No broken bodies. No tiredness. 

• We will live in a perfect place.

What is the significance of God creating a new heaven and a new earth and the first earth was passed away?

• The Lord has prepared a place for the redeemed where they will live in complete fellowship with Him. The place God has prepared for His people will be filled with His presence.

3. Who is in heaven? (vv. 3, 5-8) 

This question is not hard to answer. God is in heaven because heaven is His dwelling place. Jesus has been in heaven ever since He ascended from the earth shortly after His resurrection. Angels are in heaven, serving the Lord in various ways. And the saints of God who died on this earth are in heaven. God has given them “the water of life;” they have become “conquerors.” Everyone who has genuinely trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior will be there. Regardless of what people say of others when they die, some people won't make it. Heaven is a restricted place. It is an exclusive place. The Bible speaks of the saved and the lost. The saved are those who trust Jesus Christ as their eternal Savior. The lost are those who do not believe Christ as Savior. This truth is the great dividing line of humanity—we are either saved, or we are lost. And there is no middle category. We will either spend eternity in heaven or eternity in hell. Heaven’s occupants have trusted in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation. 

Many people teach today that the blood of Jesus covers all sin, regardless of whether the sinner repents or not. This is Satan’s great lie. Some believe that they will automatically walk into Heaven when this earthly life is over because God is love. That would negate the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Don’t be deceived, for God is not mocked. God is also a God of justice and righteousness. He is not preparing a place in Heaven for the unrepentant sinners. While we have contributed nothing to God’s free gift of salvation, there is a condition to possessing it – we must confess our sin, turn from it, and receive Christ on His terms.

This truth is repulsive to many. The pride that flaunts our self-proclaimed innocence is the very evidence of our guilt. Continuing in rebellion against God, whether the sin be pride or murder, will send souls to Hell. Then there will be no turning back, no second chances. There is no afterthought in the afterlife. Today is the time to decide where you will live forever – either Heaven or Hell. This may very well be an unpopular teaching, but popularity polls do not determine destiny for anyone. 

4. How can we be sure we’re going to heaven? 

This question is the most important of all. God has made it easy for us to go to heaven. He did the hard part when He sent His Son to die on the Cross for us. He paid the price for our sins so that we could one day stand before God in heaven. He offers heaven as the ultimate gift for those who place their faith and trust in Him. Trust and obedience leads to a relationship. God will be our God, and we will be His sons and daughters. 

• Our eternity is based on our relationship with Christ.

From the Old Testament writer who wrote, “[God] has also set eternity in their heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) to the New Testament writer who penned these words about Jesus: “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) There is hope for everyone who will put their faith and trust in the One who gives us this promise: “Where I am, there you may also be.”

How does the promise of heaven affect you in terms of the way you live life on this earth? Are you prone to take heaven for granted, or does the thought of heaven motivate you to live with greater devotion to Christ?

• The end of all things is under the domain of the Lord God. Only God can satisfy our spiritual thirst. The children of God have the promise of great blessing in the eternal city of God. Unbelievers have no place in God’s heavenly city.

Conclusion: No one goes to heaven by accident. Heaven is God's prepared place for prepared people. We prepare for heaven, and then God prepares heaven for us. Most people believe in heaven, and most people think they are going there. But the only way to be sure is through personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Class Lesson July 8, 2018

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

Not long after moving into our home, a Christian neighbor appeared on our doorstep with a plate of cookies! She introduced herself and welcomed us to the neighborhood. It was an act of service that meant a lot to us at the time. 

I had the opportunity to do something similar one Saturday. I joined several members of our church to cut lawns and trim bushes for a number of senior adults. It made a big difference to those we served, including one retired pastor who did not have the income to maintain his yard. It was a joy to see how we made a difference. 

The greatest thing we do in this life is to gain salvation through faith in Christ. As great as that is, though, God doesn’t immediately take us up to heaven once we’re saved. He leaves us here on earth for a purpose. We are saved to serve. As we serve others, we imitate Christ who served us and met our deepest need. 

Now it’s our turn. We’re up!

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

Acts 2:37-41 

37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what should we do? ” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation! ” 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them. 

If you feel ordinary, welcome to the club. But God has used ordinary people over and over again in the Bible to do great things. Take Peter as an example. Peter was just a fisherman known more for his brashness and his ability to put his foot in his mouth. Fairly ordinary. But we see a different Peter in Acts 2; he is almost unrecognizable from the man we saw in the Gospels. The man who was so intimidated he would not admit to a servant girl that he knew Jesus (see John 18:15-17), now boldly proclaimed Jesus Christ to thousands of people. 

When the people asked, “What should we do?”, Peter was poised and ready with a call to action: “Repent and be baptized.” Peter was not saying we must do two things. Only one action is required: repentance. 

“Repentance” in the Greek language literally means “after-mind” or “changed mind.” To repent is to change the way you think about your life and your behavior. It means to change your thinking, change your heart, and change the direction of your life. It is agreeing that God is right and we’ve been wrong. So Peter told his listeners to repent and reverse the course of their lives.

But what about being baptized? The phrase that follows—“for the forgiveness of your sins”—sounds like we experience forgiveness as a result of baptism. But the little word that begins the phrase is the Greek word eis, which can be translated “for,” “because of,” or “on account of.” Peter was calling the crowd to be baptized because their sins had been forgiven. 

That is exactly what three thousand people did that day. They responded to the message of Christ with repentance. And because they accepted Peter’s message, they were baptized. 

Peter’s example should encourage us. One way we serve others is by sharing the gospel with them like Peter did. We serve them by telling them the truth—God’s truth—about His Son, Jesus. We don’t do others any lasting favors by simply befriending them or performing an act of service for them without coupling it with a verbal witness for Jesus. We want people to know the reason we serve them is because Jesus served us by dying in our place on the cross. We want to be ready to share the hope that is within us (see 1 Peter 3:15), so as we serve others we must speak up and tell them about our Savior, Jesus.

Acts 2:42-45 

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 

As we serve others by sharing the gospel, we continue to serve them by helping them grow in their walk with Christ. I love the way the early church accomplished this: “They devoted themselves.” Luke, the writer of Acts, described four things in which they persevered. 

• The apostles’ teaching. The apostles were now passing along Jesus’ teachings. The apostles followed Jesus’ command to teach “them to observe everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:20). We know they helped people see the connection between Old Testament prophecies and Jesus. 

• The fellowship. The Greek word koinonia was used in a secular sense to describe the sharing of goods. It means to share something in common, and it likely refers here to the sharing of time and relationships between people. The key thing they shared in common was their faith in Jesus Christ. 

• The breaking of bread. This could refer to a meal that individuals and families shared together, but it also may refer to sharing the Lord’s Supper. These disciples enjoyed time together, and Jesus was the reason for their fellowship. 

• Prayer. Spending time together also meant spending time talking to God in prayer with other believers. As these disciples used their fellowship opportunities in homes, they also spent time in fellowship with the Lord in prayer. 

Not only were the believers enjoying sweet fellowship, but the apostles were performing miracles that validated the message the apostles were proclaiming. 

Then these early believers had a curious practice where they “held all things in common” (Acts 2:44). The wording of the original language suggests that the early Christians maintained ownership of their possessions, but regularly sold their possessions and distributed the proceeds to people who were in need. (See also 4:32–5:4.)

Acts 2:46-47 

46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

In verse 46, we see a phrase repeated that was used in verse 42: “they devoted themselves.” Early Christians lived out their devotion to Christ and to each other in obvious ways, most notably in: 

1. The temple. The temple was the center of activity in Jerusalem, where large crowds of people could be found. The temple was also a place where these young believers could interact with others and share their faith. Their faith in Christ was not something to hide. (See Matt. 5:15-16.) 

2. Their homes. If the temple was the center for evangelism, homes were the center for fellowship. It was here that relationships flourished, as sounds of joy, laughter, music, and worship surely emanated from the homes of these early Christians.

People long for connections and a sense of community. They might achieve a certain level of that at work or with a few neighbors, but it lacks the love that comes when Christ binds the community together. When believers in a church freely share, fellowship, pray, and grow together, they display something no other group can: hearts changed by Jesus. When we live like that we draw others to know Christ.

LIVE IT OUT

How is God leading you to serve others? 

• Serve others with a simple act. Being kind to others can be done through simple acts that don’t cost a lot of money. Reach out to someone who needs a word of encouragement and perform an act of kindness.                                                                              
• Serve others by sharing the gospel. Sharing the truth of the gospel is one way to serve others. Pray and look for an opportunity to share Christ with a friend, coworker, or family member.                                                                                                                                                       
• Serve others by opening your home. Talk to your church leaders about starting a new Bible study group in your home. A home group is a great way to include neighbors and coworkers. 

God saves us from the penalty of sin, but He also saves us for something: to joyfully serve Him as we serve others. We’re saved to serve. You’re up!

Hope to see everyone this Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan


Teacher Notes:

Play Video: Britain’s Got Talent – Father Ray Kelly, a Parish Priest of Oldcastle in Ireland

Click Here to Watch

 Everybody Hurts

When your day is long
And the night
The night is yours alone
When you're sure you've had enough
Of this life
Well hang on

 Cause everybody hurts

Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts

 If you're on your own

In this life
The days and nights are long
When you think you've had too much
Of this life
But hang on

Everybody hurts, sometimes
Everybody hurts sometimes
So, hang on

So, hold on,
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on

You’re not alone

Why did Father Ray’s rendition of the song resonate with the judge’s like it did?

1. Why are we even here? We learned that God’s creation was orderly, purposeful, and according plan. We also learned that we are God’s greatest treasure of creation.
2. Why are we in the mess we’re in today? We chose to ruin a perfect relationship with God by our prideful rebellion of God’s one command that He gave us in paradise – and thus we allowed sin to enter the world.
3. Why Can’t We Fix It? We can’t fix it because it’s an inherited nature that’s bent on rebellion. God’s Standard is Clear, but Our Character is Flawed.
4. Why Did Jesus Come? Jesus came to save us and to remove our sin. He came to fix the mess we’re in and provide a way back to paradise.
5. What Should We Do Now? That has a lot to do with how we view our salvation.

The Believer's Purpose: Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

God has a purpose for your life. If that weren't true, He'd have taken you home to heaven at the moment of salvation. Maybe you have wondered, why doesn’t God just beam me up to heaven now that I’m saved. Why has He left you here? The Lord intends to influence others through you. 

• We are not saved from our sin just so we can go to heaven – now or later. 
• Christ saves us for something: the joy of living for Him, serving Him, and bringing glory to His name before others. Our purpose is to be a vessel through which Christ overflows to others--touching those who hurt and desperately need a Savior. Once we are saved, Scripture teaches, our involvement is threefold. 

Our lesson this morning says that we are not to live for ourselves; we serve God by serving others. – SHARE / SERVE / LOVE

I. Lead Others to Faith and Growth in Christ   Acts 2:37-41 

When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them. 

It looks like the church is making great inroads into people’s lives, but …

A lot of good things are happening in churches across America. We’re in the thick of summer, and if this summer holds consistent with recent summers:

• Over two million teenagers will attend a Christian camp like Centrifuge
• Almost three million kids will attend a Vacation Bible School.
• 72,925 kids will accept Christ as a result of VBS.
• Over a twenty-year period, Southern Baptist churches have baptized 7.1 million people.

It looks like the church is making great inroads into people’s lives, but …

The last statistic shared at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention reported this: Over seven million people have come to Christ! Yet during that same twenty-year period, 6.5 million people stopped attending church.

• 7.1 million enter. 6.5 million exit. In spite of our evangelistic efforts and statistics, the church is not growing. “Our convention could be twice as large as it is today if we would have simply engaged the people we just baptized.” [Source]
• This isn’t just a Baptist problem. It is an issue for the whole evangelical church.

What made the difference in the early church? The obvious answer is the presence and power of God’s Holy Spirit. Immediately after those 3000 came to Christ in Acts 2, the young church did something else through the Holy Spirit – read verses 42 – 45. 

II. Support and Help of Fellow Believers     Acts 2:42-45 

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 

What made the difference in the early church? Besides the presence and power of God’s Holy Spirit, it was the Support and Help of Fellow Believers that made the difference. They did this in four key ways. 

What were they? “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (2:42). 

• They were taught God’s Word.
• They invested time in being with God’s people. They shared their common faith in Christ.
• They centered this fellowship in Christ.
• They prayed continually, an act of ongoing dependence upon Christ.

What do we call this? Discipleship 

Recently our pastor told the church that if they couldn’t attend both the worship service and a Bible study group, choose the Bible study group.

• There is a direct correlation between involvement in a small group Bible study and spiritual growth … and sharing the faith ... and ministry. Preaching and exposition of God’s Word will move people toward a deeper walk with Christ, but it is the interaction with a group of other believers—as in a Bible study group—that discipleship flourishes.

Points: Sometimes God chooses to use human beings as the instruments through which He does His mighty work. The witness of the church is strengthened when those outside the church see how believers care for one another. All that we have is to be dedicated to the service of the Lord.

And finally, in verses 46 – 47, we are told to Live Lives that Honor God and Point to Christ 

III. Live Lives that Honor God and Point to Christ        Acts 2:46-47 

Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit descended on the believers, Peter preached an incredible sermon, and—BAM!—three thousand people were saved (Acts 2:41). Just a short time later that number had grown to five thousand (4:4). And it didn’t stop. The church continued to grow.

Think about this: What perception do people outside our church have of the Lord because of what they see in our church’s fellowship and service?

Points: Worship of the Lord is to be a daily experience. A fellowship of believers is made stronger when members maintain it with an attitude of joy and humility. Even those outside the church are attracted to a fellowship where the members care for one another. A growing church is the product of the Spirit’s continuous work in the life of its members.

CONCLUSION: People long for connections and a sense of community. They might achieve a certain level of that at work or with a few neighbors, but it lacks the love that comes when Christ binds the community together. When believers in a church freely share, fellowship, pray, and grow together, they display something no other group can: hearts changed by Jesus. When we live like that we draw others to know Christ.

God saves us from the penalty of sin, but He also saves us for something: 

to joyfully serve Him as we serve others.

Scripture clearly defines the believer's purpose. Aligning ourselves with God's intentions for His children--loving others, witnessing, and serving-- bring us great satisfaction. In fact, we're still on earth not merely to hear more teaching but to act on it and share with others what we learn. So, hang on!

Class Lesson July 1, 2018

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

Warning lights on the car dashboard serve a good purpose— usually. When the low tire pressure warning light came on in my wife’s car, I drove her car to the gas station and aired up the tires, but the warning light stayed on. A week later, we decided to buy new tires. But as we drove home on the new tires, we noticed the low tire pressure warning light was still on! 

I didn’t want to drive back to the tire store, so I took out my smart phone and went to the Internet. I found a short video that showed me how to reset the warning light! Problem fixed. 

It’s common these days for us to Google the solution we need. No issue seems too obscure; somebody somewhere has made a video! Thanks to the Internet, we have a fast and easy way to fix many of our problems—except our sin problem. “Solutions” are readily offered in a variety of religions, philosophies, and worldviews, but none of them work. Only Jesus can remove the problem of sin. He’s made it possible for us to be forgiven and freed from sin.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

Luke 1:68-71 

68 Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times; 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us. 

My wife and I recently found out that we are going to become grandparents. It’s an exciting time! I’ve begun seeing baby outfits everywhere I go, and my wife has started buying baby supplies, toys, and clothes. Our attention, thoughts, and prayers are focused on this unborn child. 

The birth of a child is a happy occasion. It’s something we get a glimpse of in Luke 1. Although Zechariah and Elizabeth were advanced in age, they never had a child—but that was about to change. Out of eighteen thousand priests, Zechariah was chosen by casting of the lot to go into the inner part of the temple to burn incense—a once-in-a-lifetime experience. (See Luke 1:8-9.) But this moment was made even more unique because an angel appeared to him while he was on duty. (See vv. 11-12.) 

The angel announced to a terrified Zechariah that he and his wife would indeed become parents in their old age. The angel instructed Zechariah how to proceed. The child would be a son and they would name him John, and he would be great in the sight of the Lord. Their son would never drink wine, but would be filled with the Holy Spirit, even in the womb. John would preach and turn many people to the Lord. (See vv. 13-17.) 

Talk about good news! Not only would Zechariah have a son, but he would be someone of importance in Israel—a modern day prophet. It had been four hundred years since Malachi, the last prophet, had spoken to the people. (See Mal. 4:5-6.) God was obviously up to something special for Israel, and Zechariah’s son, John, was going to play an important role.

In spite of the exceptional way this message was delivered—the presence of an angel in the inner part of the temple—Zechariah didn’t fully believe the angel. As a consequence, Gabriel silenced Zechariah’s tongue during the time of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. (See Luke 1:18-20.) 

When John was born and it was time for him to be circumcised, Zechariah’s voice was restored. (See vv. 59-64.) He no longer doubted; in fact, Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied about his son and the future. (See v. 67.) His prophecy began with two wonderful truths about God: 

• God provided redemption for His people. Our sin is a serious problem we cannot begin to fix ourselves, but God stepped in to provide a way for us to be saved. God initiated our redemption; He Himself paid the price to secure our freedom from bondage to sin and death. 

• God saved us from our enemies. Zechariah and his contemporaries lived in an agrarian society and viewed an animal’s horn as a symbol of its power and strength. Zechariah prophesied that the One God raised up—the Messiah—would have the strength to defeat any enemy. The Jews hearing Zechariah’s prophecy knew a history of oppression at the hands of others, from the Egyptians to the Babylonians to the Romans currently ruling over them. The Messiah would bring freedom! 

Luke 1:72-75 

72 He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered his holy covenant— 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, 74 since we have been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. 

Fear can be paralyzing. Fear can cause the most determined among us to freeze up, dominating every other emotion and consuming all our thoughts. Fear makes a terrible master.

For centuries the Israelites had lived with varying degrees of fear. When they left Egypt, God instructed them to take the promised land. The problem? People were already living there! God worked through the people years later to take the land, but new fears eventually set in. They faced regular threats from others: the Philistines, the Assyrians, the Babylonians to name just a few. 

The context of Zechariah’s prophecy in Luke 1:72-75 is that we can serve God without fear from enemies and those who seek to harm or hinder us. 

• … “in holiness and righteousness.” In Christ, we are made holy. In other words, we were separated from our old lives and from the world around us. He makes us righteous. “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). 
• ... “in his presence all our days.” Because we are made righteous and holy in Christ, we can enter into the presence of God. “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God” (1 John 4:15). The Holy Spirit lives in us. His presence is guaranteed daily. We cannot be separated from Him.

Luke 1:76-79 

76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. 78 Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us 79 to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Zechariah’s prophecy turned to the role his son would play in God’s redemptive work. John would: 

1. Prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Zechariah recalls two prophecies that foretold of one who would come before the Messiah to “prepare the way” (Isa. 40:3, Mal. 3:1). John, serving as forerunner to the Messiah, pointed to the One who was to come. King Jesus was soon to arrive, and He would come to conquer sin and provide forgiveness for His people.                                                                                                                                                               
2. Point to the salvation the Messiah would bring. Living in Nashville—Music City—enables me to attend numerous concerts. I have yet to attend a concert that didn’t have an opening act. That role is to capture attention, build energy, and prepare them for the main attraction. In a similar way, John served as the “opening act” for Jesus. He preached repentance. He proclaimed the forgiveness of sin. He baptized. He called people to live rightly. (See Mark 1:4-8.) 

After four hundred years of silence, something special was taking place. But if the people thought God had broken His silence with John’s preaching, they were in for a surprise! The preaching of Jesus was going to be deafening. He was going to build on John’s message of repentance and forgiveness. John would proclaim it, but Jesus would make it happen. 

The Messiah would provide freedom for His people, but it was a freedom different from what most Israelites expected. Even more than the freedom from physical oppressors, they needed freedom and redemption from sin. We are no different. We each need freedom from sin. We need freedom from guilt and shame. Our sin problem can be fixed—and Jesus came to do just that!

LIVE IT OUT

Zechariah’s words in Luke 1:68-79 offer hope to all people: there is a solution for our sin. 

• Stop using spiritual duct tape. You might be able to “mask” your sin problem, but you can’t fix it. Without Christ, you’re lost. Accept the fact that you can’t fix your sin problem and ask Jesus to forgive you. If you need help with this step, look on the inside front cover of this book. 

• Live free from fear. If worries periodically arise, memorize Romans 8:38-39. Embed the truth in your mind that nothing you might fear can separate you from Christ and His love. 

• Share the truth. You know others who are spiritually broken. Give them hope by sharing what you’ve learned in this study about the redemption Christ offers. 

We are a people who love to fix things ourselves, but when it comes to sin, we can’t do it. Thankfully, we don’t have to because Jesus removed our sin for us. Jesus made it possible for us to be forgiven and freed from sin.

Hope to see you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Teacher's Notes:

It’s common these days for us to Google the solution we need. No issue seems too obscure; somebody somewhere has made a video! Thanks to the Internet, we have a fast and easy way to fix many of our problems—except our sin problem. “Solutions” are readily offered in a variety of religions, philosophies, and worldviews, but none of them work. 

Only Jesus can remove the problem of sin. He’s made it possible for us to be forgiven and freed from sin.

Paul Harvey and the Birds

I. Jesus Christ came to redeem us from defeat.                                            Luke 1:68-71 

Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times; salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us. 

Why do we often feel defeated when it comes to meeting God’s standard?

What ideas or images come to mind when you hear the word “salvation”?

God is blessed, worthy of our praise. God always acts in the best interest of His people in accordance with His plan. God knows our need and has provided a Redeemer to deliver us from that which seeks to defeat us. God’s promises for victorious deliverance are sure, but we have to receive them for them to become effective in our lives.

Lesson: Although Zechariah and Elizabeth were advanced in age, they never had a child—but that was about to change. Out of eighteen thousand priests, Zechariah was chosen by casting of the lot to go into the inner part of the temple to burn incense—a once-in-a-lifetime experience. (See Luke 1:8-9.) But this moment was made even more unique because an angel appeared to him while he was on duty. (See vv. 11-12.) The angel announced to a terrified Zechariah that he and his wife would indeed become parents in their old age. The angel instructed Zechariah how to proceed. The child would be a son and they would name him John, and he would be great in the sight of the Lord. Their son would never drink wine, but would be filled with the Holy Spirit, even in the womb. John would preach and turn many people to the Lord. (See vv. 13-17.) Talk about good news! Not only would Zechariah have a son, but he would be someone of importance in Israel—a modern day prophet. It had been four hundred years since Malachi, the last prophet, had spoken to the people. (See Mal. 4:5-6.) God was obviously up to something special for Israel, and Zechariah’s son, John, was going to play an important role. In spite of the exceptional way this message was delivered—the presence of an angel in the inner part of the temple—Zechariah didn’t fully believe the angel. As a consequence, Gabriel silenced Zechariah’s tongue during the time of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. (See Luke 1:18-20.) When John was born and it was time for him to be circumcised, Zechariah’s voice was restored. (See vv. 59-64.) He no longer doubted; in fact, Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied about his son and the future. (See v. 67.) His prophecy began with two wonderful truths about God: God provided redemption for His people. Our sin is a serious problem we cannot begin to fix ourselves, but God stepped in to provide a way for us to be saved. God initiated our redemption; He Himself paid the price to secure our freedom from bondage to sin and death. God saved us from our enemies. Zechariah and his contemporaries lived in an agrarian society and viewed an animal’s horn as a symbol of its power and strength. Zechariah prophesied that the One God raised up—the Messiah—would have the strength to defeat any enemy. The Jews hearing Zechariah’s prophecy knew a history of oppression at the hands of others, from the Egyptians to the Babylonians to the Romans currently ruling over them. The Messiah would bring freedom! 

II. Jesus Christ came to redeem us from fear.                                               Luke 1:72-75 

He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered his holy covenant— the oath that he swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, since we have been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. 

What are some of the ways fear holds us back from serving God?

God acts with kindness and good favor toward His people. God will always be faithful to His promises and to the covenant relationship He has with His people. We have been set free from the enemy so that we might serve the Lord. Our relationship with the Lord and our disposition toward others are to be marked by faithfulness and integrity.

Lesson: For centuries the Israelites had lived with varying degrees of fear. When they left Egypt, God instructed them to take the promised land. The problem? People were already living there! God worked through the people years later to take the land, but new fears eventually set in. They faced regular threats from others: the Philistines, the Assyrians, the Babylonians to name just a few. The context of Zechariah’s prophecy in Luke 1:72-75 is that we can serve God without fear from enemies and those who seek to harm or hinder us. 

· … “in holiness and righteousness.” In Christ, we are made holy. In other words, we were separated from our old lives and from the world around us. He makes us righteous. “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). 

· ... “in his presence all our days.” Because we are made righteous and holy in Christ, we can enter into the presence of God. “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God” (1 John 4:15). The Holy Spirit lives in us. His presence is guaranteed daily. We cannot be separated from Him.

III. Jesus Christ came to redeem us from sin.                                            Luke 1:76-79 

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

If a friend asked you to explain what it means to be redeemed, what would you say?

God chooses and calls individuals to make Him known to others. Salvation from sin is not just a theory but a life-changing experience. God acted out of His tender mercy to provide for the forgiveness of our sin. Christ, the Son of God, has come to bring spiritual light to a spiritually dark world. Eternal peace comes by following Christ, who is our Guide.

Lesson: Zechariah’s prophecy turned to the role his son would play in God’s redemptive work. John would: 

1. Prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Zechariah recalls two prophecies that foretold of one who would come before the Messiah to “prepare the way” (Isa. 40:3, Mal. 3:1). John, serving as forerunner to the Messiah, pointed to the One who was to come. King Jesus was soon to arrive, and He would come to conquer sin and provide forgiveness for His people. 

2. Point to the salvation the Messiah would bring. Living in Nashville—Music City—enables me to attend numerous concerts. I have yet to attend a concert that didn’t have an opening act. That role is to capture attention, build energy, and prepare them for the main attraction. In a similar way, John served as the “opening act” for Jesus. He preached repentance. He proclaimed the forgiveness of sin. He baptized. He called people to live rightly. (See Mark 1:4-8.) 

After four hundred years of silence, something special was taking place. But if the people thought God had broken His silence with John’s preaching, they were in for a surprise! The preaching of Jesus was going to be deafening. He was going to build on John’s message of repentance and forgiveness. John would proclaim it, but Jesus would make it happen. The Messiah would provide freedom for His people, but it was a freedom different from what most Israelites expected. Even more than the freedom from physical oppressors, they needed freedom and redemption from sin. We are no different. We each need freedom from sin. We need freedom from guilt and shame. Our sin problem can be fixed—and Jesus came to do just that!

LIVE IT OUT

This prayer is a reminder of God's eternal plan and humankind's desperate hope. We are flawed, suffering from the sin defect, and we are in need of a Savior. Jesus came to rescue, redeem, and restore us. In Him, we are saved entirely and ultimately.

Q: Why did Jesus come into the world, since He knew He was going to be put to death? We went to an Easter sunrise service this year, and all the talk about the cross and the empty tomb made me curious about this.

A: Jesus Christ came into the world for one reason: to make it possible for us to be forgiven of our sins and go to Heaven when we die. Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

You see, God created us, and He meant for us to live in His presence forever. But something changed that plan, and that “something” is what the Bible calls sin. God is perfect and holy—but we have rebelled against Him, and we no longer have the right to be with Him in Heaven. No matter how good we are, we’ll never be good enough to go to Heaven on our own.

But God loves us—and because He loves us, He has provided a way for our sins to be forgiven and cleansed. That way is Jesus Christ. He was without sin (for He was God in human form)—but on the cross all our sins were placed on Him, and He took the judgment that we deserve. Now He offers us salvation as a free gift—free, because He has already paid the price.

How do we know this is true? We know it because Jesus Christ not only died for us, but He rose again from the dead by the power of God. Don’t turn away from Jesus, but put your faith and trust in Him today. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).