Class Lesson September 30, 2018

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

Between 1590 and 1613, William Shakespeare wrote close to forty plays that are still performed around the world. So in 1795, when William-Henry Ireland produced documents supposedly written by Shakespeare, the world took notice. Several experts authenticated the documents. When Ireland “found” a previously unknown Shakespearean play called Vortigern and Rowena, it was immediately put into production. But the first performance revealed a play so bad that fighting broke out and Ireland was revealed as a fraud.1 

Ireland didn’t find these documents at all. He had cleverly aged parchment paper and learned to forge the handwriting of the famous playwright; eventually however, these works were seen for the forgeries they were. At some point, inauthenticity will always be revealed—even when it is in a Christian’s attitude. 

Most of us can be polite and friendly when we have to, but genuine joy calls for something deeper. People can detect the difference between a superficial “I’m glad to see you” and authentic joy. We cannot manufacture such genuine joy, but we will possess it when we’re consumed with the gospel and the love of Christ.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace. 2 We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers. 3 We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Christian church did not have a peaceful beginning in Thessalonica, the capital and largest city of Macedonia. Paul, Silas, and Timothy visited the city on Paul’s second missionary journey. Many people in Thessalonica accepted the missionaries’ message of Christ, but the Jewish community incited a mob to attack the house where the missionaries were staying. (See Acts 17:1-5.) 

Nonetheless, the church had gotten off to a good start overall, but then Paul had to leave hoping the good work of the gospel would continue. Paul was not disappointed. He later received word that the new Christians in Thessalonica were continuing to grow in the faith and were persevering despite the continued persecution they were experiencing. 

So great was Paul’s joy that he wrote the letter we know as 1 Thessalonians. In these first few verses, you can hear not only his relief but also the great joy Paul felt after hearing what was going on there. 

The Thessalonian Christians were working, laboring, and enduring. Paul was certainly thankful, and his thankfulness carried a sense of confidence that all these things would continue. But how could Paul be confident that these believers, young in their faith—believers he had spent so little time with—would continue working, laboring, and enduring?

His confidence was not in the Thessalonians’ ability. They were just ordinary people, weak and fallible. No, his confidence was in the foundation of their work, labor, and endurance. Faith produced their work. Love motivated their labor. Hope inspired their endurance. 

Because the foundation was sure, the outward actions would continue. It is important for us to remember that any outward signs of our faith—like joy, for example—are ultimately dependent on the firmness of our foundation. 

The battle and the work of the Christian are to be done at the heart level. And though it might not be as immediately gratifying as focusing on the beauty at the surface, this deep soul work where the Holy Spirit molds and shapes us is where we find our true strength. Long before our joy is expressed outwardly to others it is formed inwardly through our faith, hope, and love.

1 Thessalonians 1:4-6 

4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance. You know how we lived among you for your benefit, 6 and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit. 

The foundation of our entire being is built on our salvation in Christ. These Christians believed the gospel, received the Holy Spirit, and were confident they had been accepted and welcomed into the family of God. As a result of that sure foundation, they had a joy that was unshakeable. 

If we are truly confident in our salvation in Christ, then we should have a true and authentic joy that is apparent to all who come in contact with us—and such joy is infectious to those around us. This authentic joy is one of the greatest ways we can have a welcoming heart and spirit. With such joy we truly desire for others to experience the same certainty and joy that we have experienced. 

What does this kind of joy look like? Authentic joy that arises out of salvation in Christ has at least these three characteristics: 

1. Authentic joy does not wax and wane with circumstances. We tend to associate joy with what’s going on during our day. But joy is deeper than a mere sentiment or emotion; joy does not ebb and flow with our circumstances. Joy finds its source in God and in God alone.                                                                              
2. Authentic joy is more solid and stable than the rising sun. Because joy comes from God, our unshakable Rock (see Ps. 18:2), we can know our true source of joy will never be shaken. That means we are never without hope.                                                                                                                         
3. Authentic joy is not found in immediate gratification but by pushing past it. Everywhere we turn, the promise of happiness is held out for us, but joy is much deeper. Author C. S. Lewis wrote: “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”2 

1 Thessalonians 1:7-10 

7 As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 

The Thessalonian believers presented just such a joyful witness. Paul reported that the believers in this city had become an example for others throughout the region and beyond. These believers had a reputation—a joyous designation that pointed to Christ and served as an invitation for others to embrace what they had. What a wonderful thing! 

Perhaps you desire that too, but the circumstances of life seem to constantly threaten living in such joy. Maybe we can begin by reminding ourselves daily of a few things: 

Remember what you deserve. One of the great enemies of joy is entitlement. Entitlement creeps in when we look around at our circumstances and begin to foster the idea that we deserve something better than the situation or circumstance in which we find ourselves. 

Remember what you have. Another enemy of joy is comparison. We can get so caught up in our own covetousness that we simply don’t have any room for joy. In those moments we should reflect on what we truly have. 

Remember what was paid. A great price has been paid for our salvation. We were not rescued from our empty way of life by silver or gold; no, it was by something much more valuable. Jesus was given for our sake. And in response, we begin to cultivate hearts that are no longer entitled. Instead, our hearts burn white hot with joy for the glory of the Lamb that was slain.

LIVE IT OUT

A faithful walk nurtures authentic joy with Christ. Choose one of the following applications. 

• Thank someone. Who is one person in your life who lives with authentic joy? Write a note and thank that person for his or her example. 

• Grow in joy. Take a hard look at the three suggestions for growing your joy (see page 49). Write them on index cards and place them in spots where you will see them on a daily basis. 

• Journal your thanks. Because joy is linked with gratitude, begin a “thankful” journal. Each day for the next month write down something you are thankful for and watch your joy begin to grow. 

Happiness and a plastic smile can be manufactured easily enough, but time and circumstances will reveal the phoniness behind it. Authentic joy, on the other hand, will shine through, for it is rooted in what God has done for us in Christ. 

Hope to see you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Teacher Notes:

Video: Billy Graham 

Click Here to Watch

Not long ago I visited the dean of a great American university. We looked out the window of his office and watched hundreds of students walking to their classes. I asked the dean, “What is the greatest problem at this university?” He thought a moment and answered, “Emptiness.” So many people today are bored, lonely, searching for something. You can see it in their faces. 

One girl home from college told her wealthy father, “Father, I want something but I don’t know what it is.” That’s true of many people; we want something to meet the deepest problems of our lives, but we haven’t found it. 

David said, “I have found it. I shall not want.” 

Paul expressed it, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”

You don’t have to give up on life, to throw up your hands and cry, “It’s no use.” . . . You can have God’s peace, God’s joy, God’s happiness, God’s security; and yours can become the most thrilling life in the world. - Billy Graham Devotion

The Christian church did not have a peaceful beginning in Thessalonica, the capital and largest city of Macedonia. Paul, Silas, and Timothy visited the city on Paul’s second missionary journey. Many people in Thessalonica accepted the missionaries’ message of Christ, but the Jewish community incited a mob to attack the house where the missionaries were staying. Paul had to leave hoping the good work of the gospel would continue. Paul was not disappointed. 

Authentic joy flows from a relationship with Jesus. And the Thessalonians give us an initial understanding of what it means to have a relationship with Jesus.

I. Faith, Love, and Hope Drive Everything We Do 

1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace. We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers. We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

First Thessalonians was written about 18 years after Jesus' resurrection; therefore, it provides a glimpse into early Christian life. Faith, Love, and Hope must drive everything we do.

How are faith, love, and hope connected?

We must look beyond our activities (work, labor, endurance) to the reasons we do them and the purpose they fulfill. 

The pursuit of happiness (JOY) is an innate drive found in every man’s nature. 

Everyone wants to be happy and seeks it in varying ways and with varying degrees of intensity. Some seek it through pleasure, others through entertainment, possessions, work, position, education, and success; still others seek it in athletic endeavors, hobbies, travel, fashion, physical beauty, wealth, status, bigger homes, boats, planes, and vacation homes, as well as alcohol, food and drugs. 

King Solomon pursuit of meaning, happiness and joy. 

He conducted a series of experiments in a quest to get the most and best out of life —and found it to be nothing but vanity and a striving after wind” (Ecc 2:1-12). Therefore, said Solomon, “I completely despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled under the sun… it was all vanity” (Ecc 2:20-25). 

Most people think they would have had an endless amount of joy were they as blessed as Solomon was… but Solomon concluded that it is God who determines whether or not we experience joy (Ecc 2:26). 

The experiences of men the world over tell us that no matter how secure and wonderful their sources of joy may be, human joy does not last long.

Biblical joy is a fruit, a byproduct, an additional blessing, not an end in itself.

Is your goal in life to search for “JOY” or to search for God who gives JOY? The fruit of hard work done to glorify ourselves will be passed on to those who may later lose or spoil it all. Such toil often leads to grief, while serving God leads to everlasting JOY. 

A Christian’s joy can be just as short-lived as anyone else’s, if he seeks it for itself as the world does. 

Biblical joy is a fruit, a byproduct, an additional blessing, not an end in itself. It flows into and grows within the person whose life and energies are not focused merely on being “joyful.” 

The lives of those in this world who so zealously chase after it prove this point. If they are still chasing it, then they must not have it! God’s Word also substantiates this. God knows that even among His people, relaxation and merriment tend to become their most important interest… and in the end their joy becomes gaiety, hilarity, revelry, and even debauchery… and God-produced joy is lost. On the other hand, when we follow God’s prescription, He feeds us in such a way that we experience real joy and satisfaction. 

God makes it very clear in Scripture that real joy lies in the quality of our relationship with Him; therefore, can we actually be so foolish so as to think that we can somehow produce it ourselves? 

One thing is certain: dwelling on ourselves and our wants will never produce true joy — rather than being obsessed with ourselves we must become obsessed with Christ; if we do, we will immerse ourselves in His Word, and seek to know Him more intimately “and our joy will be made full” (Jn 15:1-11). 

Believers are to rejoice and give gratitude to God for one another. Fullness of life – including grace, peace, faith, hope, and love – can be realized only by being in right relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers in Jesus are to be known for their faithful service, labors of love, and enduring hope.

II. Joy Flows from Our Salvation 

1 Thessalonians 1:4-6 

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance. You know how we lived among you for your benefit, and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit. 

It is only through God’s Spirit that we can experience true joy (Ps 15:11-12; Gal 5:22; 1 Th 1:6); it cannot be accomplished apart from God (2 Cor 12:10; 13:4). 

The harder we try to be joyful through our own efforts, the more miserable we will become. Paul writes in Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” 

Twice in Philippians 4:4 Paul gives this command: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say rejoice.” Just because God’s Spirit dwells within us does not mean that we will necessarily experience joy— we must make a choice to let Christ be our joy. When we falter in our faith, we try to manufacture our own joy, and that is simply not possible, because God is its author. Only when we find our happiness in the person of Christ can we experience true joy.

Our Lesson Says: The foundation of our entire being is built on our salvation in Christ. 

The Thessalonians believed the gospel, received the Holy Spirit, and were confident they had been accepted and welcomed into the family of God. As a result of that sure foundation, they had a joy that was unshakeable. 

If we are truly confident in our salvation in Christ, then we should have a true and authentic joy that is apparent to all who come in contact with us—and such joy is infectious to those around us. 

III. Love and Joy Flow Out of Us as a Witness and Example 

1 Thessalonians 1:7-10 

As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. For the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. (How You Changed)

Jesus Christ changed their lives. (vv. 3, 7-10) The Thessalonians believers became an example for all believers. They were an example in their:

Work (v. 3). Paul knew that these Thessalonians had come into a relationship with Jesus because he saw a change in their lives through their work produced by faith, motivated by love and inspired by hope. Their work did not save them, but it testified to the change their relationship with Jesus had made. 

Witness (v. 8). These believers could not keep silent about Jesus. As the Thessalonians shared Christ, the message reverberated throughout the entire region. They lived in relationship with Jesus, and they told others about the relationship. Their message sprang from personal experience. They were satisfied, fulfilled, and joyful followers. A satisfied customer is always the best advertisement for any product. When our life has been changed, we can’t keep silent about it.

Walk (v. 9). The Thessalonians had made an about-face, turning to God from their former life of worshiping "idols to serve the living and true God." They made a radical change. 

Waiting (v. 10). While serving, they were looking for Jesus’ return. They had a confident expectation in Jesus’ coming. They wanted to see face to face their King with whom they had a personal relationship. He was their Redeemer and their Rescuer.

Paul reported that the believers in this city had become an example for others throughout the region and beyond – they were a joyful witness. 

When have you found it most challenging to exhibit joy as a Christian?

One of the great enemies of joy is entitlement. Entitlement creeps in when we look around at  circumstances and begin to foster the idea that we deserve something better than the situation or circumstance in which we find ourselves. 

Another enemy of joy is comparison. We can get so caught up in our own covetousness that we simply don’t have any room for joy. In those moments we should reflect on what we truly have. 

LIVE IT OUT

Happiness and a plastic smile can be manufactured easily enough, but time and circumstances will reveal the phoniness behind it. Authentic joy, on the other hand, will shine through, for it is rooted in what God has done for us in Christ.

Conclusion: The person who claims to be a Christian, but whose life does not change, is only fooling himself. Those whom God chooses; He changes. This reality does not mean they are perfect, but they are possessors of a new life that cannot be hidden. That new life is evident in their work, their witness, their walk, and their waiting. 

Class Lesson September 23, 2018

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

What do the following have in common? 

• Alexander Fleming found mold in a petri dish had killed all the bacteria around itself. We now have penicillin.1                                                                                         
• Percy Spencer walked in front of a magnetron and the peanut butter candy bar in his pocket melted. This led him to create the microwave oven.2                                                                                                          
• On a hike, Georges de Mestral noticed burrs clinging to his pants. This gave him the idea for Velcro®.3 

All these discoveries were made by accident; they stumbled onto a discovery that would shape part of history going forward. 

These may have been happy accidents, but we can’t approach the Christian life that way. Following Jesus does not mean stumbling around in the dark hoping for a good result; following Jesus is an intentional act of obedience. If we desire to be a welcoming people, we won’t get there by accident. We will only get there through intentional acts of love. It’s a standard of love that goes the extra mile.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

Luke 10:25-28 

25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the law?” he asked him. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind;” and “your neighbor as yourself.” 28 “You’ve answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.” 

Jesus used a powerful story to teach us what it looks like to intentionally love others. But to fully understand the meaning of the story, we must understand the occasion when Jesus told it. The story of the good Samaritan was prompted by a question from an expert in the law. 

Some questions are pure in their intent. A person typically desires to know a certain piece of information. That information may even be vital to their health or future. In those cases, just asking the question is an act of humility, for in asking we are admitting our shortcoming in not knowing the answer ourselves. 

But that’s not the attitude that prompted this question. This expert of the law asked a critically important question, but his question was not born of a humble search. This was instead a prideful examination. He had no desire to hear truth from Jesus; instead, he “stood up to test him.” His question was meant to demean and discredit Jesus. 

Jesus answered the question by asking one of His own, and knowing the man was an expert in the law, He asked the question in terms of the law. This gave the man what he really wanted: an opportunity to showcase his knowledge. In this man’s mind, he already knew the answer to his own question. To inherit eternal life, he must love God with his entire being, and love his neighbor as himself. Indeed, this was the right answer, though the young expert failed to understand the true implications of those commands.

One such implication is that these two great loves which summarize all the commands of Scripture are linked together. Our love for God comes first from the fact that He loved us (see 1 John 4:19), and that love drives and shapes our love for others. That means our love for others should have these qualities: 

• We love others unreservedly. God is no respecter of persons. Nationality, ethnicity, education level, and social standing do not limit or regulate His love. We should not withhold our love for someone based on external appearance, familiarity, or any other reason. 

• We love others sacrificially. How much did God’s love for us cost Him? It cost Him the life of His One and only Son. This is the highest price He could have paid; yet God was willing to back up His love with action. 

• We love others proactively. God’s love is not an ivory tower kind of love. Rather, He got down in the muck and mire of a sinful world in the person of Jesus Christ. He did not wait for humanity to cry out to Him, but instead He took the initiative to come to us. We also must be the first movers.

Luke 10:29-32 

29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 

Although Jesus answered the man’s question, he was not satisfied. He wanted a further qualification from Jesus. If this man were to love his neighbor, then he wanted to know specifically who that was. 

The spirit behind his second question: “Who is my neighbor?” is one of minimalism. The man wanted to know how little he could do with this “love your neighbor” stuff and still be OK. Jesus calls us to love in a much different way. Jesus wants to move us from asking, “What’s the least I have to do?” to “What else can I do?” 

Jesus doesn’t give us a glimpse into the thoughts behind the actions of the priest and the Levite, but we surely can imagine all the ways they might have justified their indifference and apathy. 

The point is that both men found excuses not to help, and it probably wasn’t that difficult to do so. Indifference was the easier way—and it still is. Every day, we encounter people who are spiritually injured and bleeding on the proverbial roadside. We can always find an excuse for passing them by. 

• It’s none of my business. 

• I wouldn’t know what to say. 

• I’ve got enough problems of my own. 

• Someone else is better equipped. 

At the bottom of any excuse we offer is a simple failure to love. This is the dirty truth of indifference—it is not an attitude of neutrality; it is an outright denial of the call to love others as God loves them. 

We would do well to recognize our tendency to find excuses. Once we recognize our own internal pull toward indifference, then we will be more prepared to actively fight against such indifference. And we fight indifference through intentional—and many times uncomfortable—acts of tangible love.

Luke 10:33-37 

33 But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

The lawyer whose questions led to this story had sought to justify himself by doing as little as possible for his neighbors. Jesus gave the Jews a hero they hated because of his race, and yet this Samaritan went above and beyond any reasonable expectation in order to help someone in need. As we look at the intentional acts of love and mercy the Samaritan showed, we are to do the same. 

• Be people of awareness. We must make it our business to be people of awareness. We must educate ourselves on the lives and issues facing the individuals we encounter each day. Until we do so, we will always simply be passing on the other side of the road. 

• Be people of compassion. The Samaritan in the story wasn’t motivated because a crowd was watching him. He was internally motivated by compassion. We should be asking God to fill us with the same love and compassion that motivated Jesus to be the friend of the friendless. 

• Be people of margin. The reason the Samaritan was able to give of his resources is because he had built in some margin. This is a good lesson for us because most of us have zero margins in our lives. We should assume God will bring needs into our path every day that will cost us and arrange our schedules, finances, and other resources to have room to meet those needs.

LIVE IT OUT

We might accidentally stumble upon a situation that requires our help, but none of us are going to accidentally love and serve someone else. We only do this with intention. Choose one of the following applications. 

• Get to know someone. How intentional are you when you come to worship? This week, intentionally seek someone out you aren’t familiar with and ask that person a few questions to get to know him or her. 

• Trim your schedule. How much margin is in your life? Evaluate your finances and schedule, and cut back so that you have room to meet the needs of others God brings your way. 

• Encourage someone. Who is one person you know that is struggling, but to whom you have been indifferent? Schedule a time to sit down with that person this week. 

Let’s gear our lives so that we are ready to intentionally take advantage of opportunities God brings our way to express His love to others.

Hope to see you on Sunday!



In His Love,

David & Susan

Teacher's Notes:

Click Here to Watch

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood first aired in 1968. 50 years later, 2018 has seen a resurgence of interest about the show and its host, Fred Rogers, who passed away in 2003. This year saw Mister Rogers on a USPS forever stamp, the release of a successful biographical documentary, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? which will be released on DVD this month, and the scheduled filming of a new movie, You Are My Friend, starring Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers. An ordained Presbyterian minister, Fred Rogers worked to teach children the importance of love. He invited people from diverse backgrounds to be his neighbor while modeling what it looked like to be a good neighbor to others. 

Following Jesus does not mean stumbling around in the dark hoping for a good result; following Jesus is an intentional act of obedience. If we desire to be a welcoming people, we won’t get there by accident. We will only get there through intentional acts of love. 

Luke 10:25-28 

25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the law?” he asked him. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind;” and “your neighbor as yourself.” 28 “You’ve answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.” 

Why do you think Jesus connected love for God to love for others?

What does it actually look like to love God in the ways described in these verses?

Lesson: Our love for God comes first from the fact that He loved us (see 1 John 4:19), and that love drives and shapes our love for others. That means our love for others should have these qualities: 

• We love others unreservedly. God is no respecter of persons. Nationality, ethnicity, education level, and social standing do not limit or regulate His love. We should not withhold our love for someone based on external appearance, familiarity, or any other reason. 

• We love others sacrificially. How much did God’s love for us cost Him? It cost Him the life of His One and only Son. This is the highest price He could have paid; yet God was willing to back up His love with action. 

• We love others proactively. God’s love is not an ivory tower kind of love. Rather, He got down in the muck and mire of a sinful world in the person of Jesus Christ. He did not wait for humanity to cry out to Him, but instead He took the initiative to come to us. We also must be the first movers.

Point: Loving God completely leads to loving others compassionately.

Luke 10:29-32 

29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 

How can our treatment of church visitors be similar to the actions of the priest and Levite?

Lesson: The spirit behind his second question: “Who is my neighbor?” is one of minimalism. 

• The man wanted to know how little he could do with this “love your neighbor” stuff and still be OK. Jesus calls us to love in a much different way. 
• Jesus wants to move us from asking, “What’s the least I have to do?” to “What else can I do?” 
• Indifference was the easier way—and it still is. Every day, we encounter people who are spiritually injured and bleeding on the proverbial roadside. We can always find an excuse for passing them by. 
• It’s none of my business. 
• I wouldn’t know what to say. 
• I’ve got enough problems of my own. 
• Someone else is better equipped. 

At the bottom of any excuse we offer is a simple failure to love. This is the dirty truth of indifference—it is not an attitude of neutrality; it is an outright denial of the call to love others as God loves them. 

Point: We fail to show love when we fail to take action on behalf of others.

Luke 10:33-37 

33 But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

What are we in danger of losing when we make an intentional choice to love others?

• Time, resources, and effort

Lesson: The lawyer whose questions led to this story had sought to justify himself by doing as little as possible for his neighbors. 

• Be people of awareness. We must make it our business to be people of awareness. We must educate ourselves on the lives and issues facing the individuals we encounter each day. Until we do so, we will always simply be passing on the other side of the road. 
• Be people of compassion. The Samaritan in the story wasn’t motivated because a crowd was watching him. He was internally motivated by compassion. We should be asking God to fill us with the same love and compassion that motivated Jesus to be the friend of the friendless. 
• Be people of margin. The reason the Samaritan was able to give of his resources is because he had built in some margin. This is a good lesson for us because most of us have zero margins in our lives. We should assume God will bring needs into our path every day that will cost us and arrange our schedules, finances, and other resources to have room to meet those needs.

Point: Acting with love can be costly and inconvenient, but neither is justification for not loving or taking loving action.

Because the good man was a Samaritan, Jesus is drawing a strong contrast between those who knew the law and those who actually followed the law in their lifestyle and conduct. 

1. By ending the encounter in this manner, Jesus is telling us to follow the Samaritan’s example in our own conduct; i.e., we are to show compassion and love for those we encounter in our everyday activities. 

2. We are to love others (vs. 27) regardless of their race or religion; the reason is need. If they have a need and we have the supply, then we are to give generously and freely, without expectation of return. 

What an example of loving others this Samaritan is. Loving others is more than a feeling, a word, a good thought, or even an organized church program. It is seeing an opportunity and being so moved by love that one will go out of his way to take action to bring relief to someone in distress and need. The priest and the Levite saw the injured man, but they did not see an opportunity. Even if they felt sorry for him, apparently it was not enough to move them to action.

The Samaritan had no more reason to stop than the priest or the Levite. All the excuses the other two might have made, he might have made as well. But he didn't. The Bible says that when he saw the man, he pitied him. The nameless Samaritan did something. The others passed on by, but he stopped and helped the man. Love means nothing unless it moves us to action. 

Here is the kicker: The two religious men who should have shown compassion—didn’t! And the one who wouldn’t have been expected to—did! 

Conclusion: A man was standing at a construction site. A large hole had been dug as part of the excavation. Many workers were in the hole removing dirt when the walls collapsed around them. Rescuers began running from everywhere, but the man stood by and watched the scene with detachment. Suddenly a woman called out from the construction office trailer: “Jim, your brother is in the hole!” Instantly the man stripped off his coat and began digging for dear life. Why? His brother was in mortal danger, and he must get him out.

Who is my neighbor? He is my brother. My brother is anyone in danger, anyone in need, anyone in pain, anyone in trouble. Look! Your brother is sick; your brother is dying; your brother has lost his job; your brother is homeless; your brother is lost; your brother is discouraged? When will you help? Tomorrow may be too late. Today is the day. Now is the time. Why is now the best time to express love? Because you don’t know how long you will have the opportunity. Circumstances change. People die. Children grow up. You have no guarantee of tomorrow. If you want to fulfill Jesus command to love your neighbor as yourself, you had better do it now.

Let’s gear our lives so that we are ready to intentionally take advantage of opportunities God brings our way to express His love to others.

Class Lesson September 16, 2018

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

The world’s largest hotel chain owns exactly zero square feet in hotel room space. 

Airbnb® was launched in 2007 when two roommates could not afford to pay their rent in San Francisco. In order to make a little extra money to cover their expenses, they had the idea of putting an air mattress in their living room and charging people to stay there. For many, the idea was laughable. Who would pay to sleep in the home of a perfect stranger? 

But a decade or so later, Airbnb has three million lodging listings in 65,000 cities and 191 countries. These are real people opening up their homes to strangers and inviting them in. Clearly, the thought of staying in a real home resonates with a lot of folks in a lot of cultures. 

Gracious hospitality is nothing new. Being hospitable is, in fact, a very spiritual characteristic. Hospitality is a command and one Christians must embrace if we want to live in a welcoming posture to those coming into the faith. Our graciousness and hospitality to individuals outside our circle of friends attracts people to the gospel we profess.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

1 Peter 4:7 

7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. 

Hospitality. This was an important quality that characterized the New Testament church; the biblical writers knew it was of great importance. 

Hospitality played a key role in the spread of the gospel in the days when the church was just beginning to flourish. When traveling to a new area, people were at the mercy of those who lived in that city. Therefore, Christians took hospitality seriously, and fellow believers who had been displaced were welcomed into the homes and lives of others. This graciousness helped the gospel to spread and take root in these communities. 

Times have changed. Despite the fact that we live much of our lives in a “public” way online, most people value privacy more than they did in the past. Though we might put forth a version of ourselves through social media, we still really like our personal space and private time. The nature of hospitality runs counter to this, since hospitality is sharing what we consider to be “personal” with each other in a sacrificial way. 

True enough, some gravitate more naturally towards this kind of sharing with others and are bent towards a more “public” approach to life than others. But if we take the words of Scripture seriously, hospitality is more than a character trait that is easier for some to practice than others; it’s a command. 

To live lives of hospitality, we must begin with prayer. When we pray, we recognize that we are incapable of doing, providing, or manufacturing something on our own. In prayer, we express our reliance on God as our Provider. In prayer, we acknowledge our selfishness and commitment to our own desires are what keep us from sacrificially serving and loving others in the most practical of ways. 

So what should we pray for in order to foster an attitude of hospitality?

• Pray that God would help us see ourselves as stewards. One of the reasons we struggle with hospitality is we see ourselves as owners. We own a house. We own our time. We see these things are ours. But we are not owners; we are merely stewards. Everything we have has been given to us by God to use for the sake of His kingdom. Everything. 

• Pray that God would help us confront our greed. Another reason we struggle with hospitality is that we are just plain greedy. We hoard our resources for our own personal use and comfort, and our greed makes us reluctant to share them with anyone else. Hospitality is one of the ways God actually breaks us of this mindset. 

• Pray that God would bring us opportunities. If we really want to be obedient to the command of hospitality, then we should be praying for the opportunity to put action to our faith. We should ask God to open our eyes to the needs around us. When we start praying for opportunities to show hospitality, we’ll soon be surprised at how many we’ll find. 

Peter began verse 7 with the reminder that “the end of all things is near.” We pray, act in love, and practice hospitality because time is of the essence. The end is near so let’s pray, and let’s welcome people into our lives. In so doing, we also welcome them into God’s kingdom.

1 Peter 4:8-9 

8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 

Love is not a feeling; it’s a deeply held commitment for the good of another that is always worked out in tangible, practical ways. That’s why hospitality is one of the most concrete signs of love. It’s a physical, practical way we serve someone else which also costs us something personal. 

For the Christian, hospitality is not just an act to be performed; it is a lifestyle to be assumed. To understand why that is so, we first need to understand what hospitality is. While certain acts, like making a casserole or opening your home, are indicative of hospitality, the characteristic itself has a deeper meaning and implication than these actions that demonstrate it. The word for hospitality used in this passage comes from the combination of two words: “love” and “stranger.” Literally, then, hospitality is the love of strangers. 

In the ultimate act of hospitality, God provided a way to welcome us through the death of Jesus Christ. Therefore, hospitality is a characteristic built into the spiritual DNA of all those who have experienced God’s divine hospitality. Hospitality, then, compels us to put aside our own interests, lay down our own desires, and welcome the needs of others ahead of our own. Jesus did that for us, and we’re to do likewise. 

During His earthly life, Jesus practiced the essence of hospitality, which is sacrificing something of your own to welcome others. Hospitality is not merely a set of actions; it’s a posture of living that grows out of “constant love for one another.” Let’s love like Jesus, assuming a posture of sacrifice to welcome others into our lives.

1 Peter 4:10-11 

10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 

God gives His children spiritual gifts—not for our own sake, but for the sake of building others up. He gives us gifts to be used in service. When we exercise our gifts for the sake of the body of Christ, we can do so with confidence, knowing God will give us what we need to do so. 

The power and provision is God’s responsibility; He does all the enabling we will need. But we have a responsibility as well. Rather than being passive bystanders to God’s enabling power, we must act in faith to make the most of what God is providing. 

Think of this divine/human partnership like a sailboat. The only way a sailboat is going to be propelled through the water is by the force of the wind. But the diligent sailor does not simply wait for the wind to blow. Rather, the sailor positions the sail so it can make the most of the wind when it does start to blow.

So it is with us and the enabling power of God. For our hospitality and other spiritual gifts to make a difference, we need the empowerment of God. But we have the responsibility to position our lives in such a way that we are ready to make the most of what God is going to do in and through us. 

When God works through us using our spiritual gifts, many things happen. The most obvious one is that other people benefit. They might benefit from an encouraging word, from an act of service, or from the gracious welcome of hospitality. But that’s not all that happens. Our willingness to be used by God to serve other people implicitly communicates important things we believe to be true: 

• We are speaking about our provision. Exercising hospitality will cost us in time, energy, resources, and even privacy. When we willingly allow God to use us to demonstrate hospitality, we are testifying that we believe God to be our great Provider. 

• We are speaking about our contentment. Hospitality requires us to share with others, which often means we will have to make do with less for ourselves. But when we choose this posture of hospitality, we are testifying about our personal contentment. 

• We are speaking about our future. God is not merely redeeming individuals; He is building a people for His own glory. These people will live together with Him for all eternity. Heaven will not be lived in isolation, but in community. When we welcome others in, we are living out a small foretaste of what’s to come in the future.

LIVE IT OUT

Hospitality might be easier for some than others but we are all commanded to be hospitable. Choose one of the following applications. 

• Greet. Arrive at church a few minutes early this week. Spend extra time in the area outside the worship room to make sure you say hello and meet people you don’t know. 

• Host a group. Look for an opportunity to host a small group in your home or to be a greeter in your Bible study group. 

• Share a meal. Dedicate one Sunday each month to be a day when you will invite someone into your home for lunch. Make this a regular rhythm in your life. 

Regardless of whether our natural personality is welcoming or not, we are compelled by how God has welcomed us to extend the same welcome to others.

Hope to see you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan


Teacher Notes:

Hospitality??

Video: Right Media: Loving Others - Logan said that it is important to invite people into the reality of what life is and in the reality of our messes. Do you agree with her? How do you invite people into your life?

Hospitality Video

Click Here to Watch

Sometimes we get so busy that we forget what it looks like to engage, love well the person that is right in front of you.

We all believe that it important that Right doctrine in the church is taught. But church doctrine is not only to be learned, it is to be lived. 

People inside and outside the church evaluate us by the way we live more than by how much we know. The best way to communicate what we believe is to live what we believe. Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). 

Our third lesson is called Gracious Hospitality for good reason. Hospitality is a Biblical command. It is not about providing hotels and restaurants to visitors. It doesn’t even mean allowing strangers to rent rooms in your house. Gracious hospitality is a sacrificial extension of brotherly love that begins with prayer. 

I. Prayer lays the groundwork for our love and hospitality. 

1 Peter 4:7 

The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. 

Hospitality. This was an important quality that characterized the New Testament church; the biblical writers knew it was of great importance. Hospitality played a key role in the spread of the gospel in the days when the church was just beginning to flourish. When traveling to a new area, people were at the mercy of those who lived in that city. Therefore, Christians took hospitality seriously, and fellow believers who had been displaced were welcomed into the homes and lives of others. Times have changed. Despite the fact that we live much of our lives in a “public” way online, most people value privacy more than they did in the past. Though we might put forth a version of ourselves through social media, we still really like our personal space and private time. The nature of hospitality runs counter to this, since hospitality is sharing what we consider to be “personal” with each other in a sacrificial way. 

Why is prayer so important to hospitality?

• To live lives of hospitality, we must begin with prayer. When we pray, we recognize that we are incapable of doing, providing, or manufacturing something on our own. In prayer, we express our reliance on God as our Provider. In prayer, we acknowledge our selfishness and commitment to our own desires are what keep us from sacrificially serving and loving others in the most practical of ways. 

• Prayer an essential ingredient in the way we reflect God’s understanding of hospitality.

• Prayer represents our interaction with God, time spent in His presence and a reflection of our attitude toward the Lord. Our attitude toward the Lord will shape our disposition toward others.

What should we pray for in order to foster an attitude of hospitality?

• Pray that God would help us see ourselves as stewards. One of the reasons we struggle with hospitality is we see ourselves as owners. We own a house. We own our time. We see these things are ours. But we are not owners; we are merely stewards. Everything we have has been given to us by God to use for the sake of His kingdom. Everything. 

• Pray that God would help us confront our greed. Another reason we struggle with hospitality is that we are just plain greedy. We hoard our resources for our own personal use and comfort, and our greed makes us reluctant to share them with anyone else. Hospitality is one of the ways God actually breaks us of this mindset. 

• Pray that God would bring us opportunities. If we really want to be obedient to the command of hospitality, then we should be praying for the opportunity to put action to our faith. We should ask God to open our eyes to the needs around us. When we start praying for opportunities to show hospitality, we’ll soon be surprised at how many we’ll find. 

Peter began verse 7 with the reminder that “the end of all things is near.” We pray, act in love, and practice hospitality because time is of the essence. The end is near so let’s pray, and let’s welcome people into our lives. In so doing, we also welcome them into God’s kingdom.

II. Constant love leads to a lifestyle of hospitality. 

1 Peter 4:8-9 

Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 

For the Christian, hospitality is not just an act to be performed; it is a lifestyle to be assumed. 

• To understand why that is so, we first need to understand what hospitality is. While certain acts, like making a casserole or opening your home, are indicative of hospitality, the characteristic itself has a deeper meaning and implication than these actions that demonstrate it. 

• The word for hospitality used in this passage comes from the combination of two words: “love” and “stranger.” Literally, then, hospitality is the love of strangers. 

• In the ultimate act of hospitality, God provided a way to welcome us through the death of Jesus Christ. Therefore, hospitality is a characteristic built into the spiritual DNA of all those who have experienced God’s divine hospitality. Hospitality, then, compels us to put aside our own interests, lay down our own desires, and welcome the needs of others ahead of our own. Jesus did that for us, and we’re to do likewise. During His earthly life, Jesus practiced the essence of hospitality, which is sacrificing something of your own to welcome others. 

How would you explain what a constant love looks like?

• Love is not a feeling; it’s a deeply held commitment for the good of another that is always worked out in tangible, practical ways. That’s why hospitality is one of the most concrete signs of love. It’s a physical, practical way we serve someone else which also costs us something personal. 
• The greatest attribute of true believers is love for God, which enables them to love others.
• The love believers have toward one another is to be deep, earnest, and constant.

Why did Peter say in verse 9 to show hospitality without grudging?

• Believers are to rejoice over opportunities to demonstrate kindness to others without complaining or grumbling because of the cost or inconvenience.

III. God enables us to love and serve others. 

1 Peter 4:10-11 

Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 

How does God enable us to love and serve one another?

• We are to support others who have given themselves to ministry with the resources and abilities given to us. We are to be good stewards of the grace gifts given to us. When we speak, we are to serve in His strength and not try to do things on our own. All that we say and do ought to glorify God both now and forever.
• God gives His children spiritual gifts—not for our own sake, but for the sake of building others up. He gives us gifts to be used in service. 

When God works through us using our spiritual gifts, many things happen. The most obvious one is that other people benefit. They might benefit from an encouraging word, from an act of service, or from the gracious welcome of hospitality. But that’s not all that happens. Our willingness to be used by God to serve other people implicitly communicates important things we believe to be true. 

What are your gifts and talents? How do you use them to serve and love others well? What can you do to actively invite people into your life?

Logan said, "And I just really think, if people can learn how to love each other in the need, meet the need and you can serve, and open your front door, and let your mess be exposed to somebody else and they expose their mess to you, there’s this authenticity of relationship and community and love that makes a transaction there."

• Hospitality points to the great Provider. It will cost us in time, energy, resources, and even privacy. When we willingly allow God to use us to demonstrate hospitality, we are testifying that we believe God to be our great Provider.
• Hospitality points to contentment. It requires us to share with others, which often means we will have to make do with less for ourselves. But when we choose this posture of hospitality, we are testifying about our personal contentment. 
• Hospitality points to heaven. God is not merely redeeming individuals; He is building a people for His own glory. These people will live together with Him for all eternity. Heaven will not be lived in isolation, but in community. When we welcome others in, we are living out a small foretaste of what’s to come in the future.

We should live expectantly because Christ is coming. Getting ready to meet Christ involves continually growing in love for God and for others. It’s important to pray regularly, and it’s important to reach out to needy people. Your possessions, status, and power will mean nothing in God’s kingdom, but you will spend eternity with other people. Invest your time and talents where they will make an eternal difference.

LIVE IT OUT

Jesus told His disciples that He came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Mat. 20:28). May this be our vision of hospitality—seeking not to be served, but to sacrificially serve our families, friends, neighbors, church, community, travelers, and strangers all with Jesus and for Jesus.