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Jr High Sunday School Review – 4/13/08

Kings and Kingdoms

This week, the Middle Schoolers were learning about the division of the kingdom of Israel following King Solomon’s death. The prophet Ahijah told Jeroboam the Ephraimite, who had been an exile under King Solomon, that he would be given 10 of the 12 tribes to rule (1st Kings 11:29-33). Solomon’s successor Rehoboam made the split in the nation certain, by forsaking the advice of his father’s counsellors.

Jeroboam’s kingdom, which took the name of Israel, went through a succession of idolatrous rulers, with one king murdering another. One king, Zimri, actually only ruled for seven days!. All this resulted in a steady decline in the the nation until it was no more.

The Southern kingdom, Judah, didn’t fare much better. There were a total of eight godly kings out of 20, and under only three of them did the nation of Judah experience revival. We drew the conclusion that these kings were influenced heavily by the neighboring nations

– both in idol worship and in the manner in which the people of a nation followed their leader. We further noticed that it is difficult (although not impossible) for a godly leader to lead a godly life and influence everyone who is going in the wrong direction to reverse course.

We also saw in these descriptions of the kings, a good example of Pastor’s message the week before — that God’s first strategy may be to hold back from punishing sin, offering the sinner an opportunity to repent (Romans 2:4). Then if the sinner is unwilling to repent, God will bring pain in judgment of the sin (1st Peter 1:17). As with individuals, so it is with nations and their leaders.

Next week, we will look at some of the prophets that God sent to warn the people of their ways.

This past week, Middle schoolers studied the life of King Solomon. He was ordained by father, and more-importantly, by the Lord, to be Israel’s King following David.

The Lord appeared to him willing to grant him a wish – whatever he wanted (1^st Kings 3:3-14). Instead of a long life, riches, or the lives of his enemies; Solomon asked for an understanding heart and discernment. God gave him great wisdom, and also the things he DIDN’T ask for!

But Solomon developed a problem (1^st Kings 11:1-13). Likely because all the other kings around were doing it, he disobeyed God by multiplying to himself wives (700!) and concubines (300), many from the nations around him, and wound up following their false gods.

Even a man as wise as Solomon was able to fall into idolatry. From 2^nd Corinthians 6:14-18, we discovered that God has commanded us to avoid the unequal yoke – whether in friendships, in dating relationships, or in business partnerships. Our world view is different from that of those who do not know Christ. God has promised to bless mightily, those who maintain a pure relationship with Him.

This past Sunday the Junior High Sunday School class continued in the Route 66 series with the book of 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles.

We surveyed the Old Testament up to 1 Chronicles.

We then talked about David’s relationship with God and his sin with Bathsheba. This led into the topic of repentance.

The Greek word for repentance is metanoia or meta – to change and noia – mind. To have a change of mind is essential for salvation. If I’m working on homework with 11 problems but I don’t think number 11 is for me, then I won’t seek a solution/answer for number 11. I need a change of mind ( repentance ) before I seek a solution. This was true of David also, with respect to his sinful relationship with Bathsheba and her husband. Before Nathan confronted David, his mind was set one way. He needed a change of mind (repentance) before he would seek God’s forgiveness (Psalm 51). Again, repentance (a change of mind) is needed for salvation. See: Luke 3:8; 5:32; 13:3.

Next week: Solomon – the man who had it all.

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This past Sunday we discussed the topic of Miracles and specifically those done by Christ as seen in the Gospels. Much of the discussion on miracles is wrapped around the definition of a miracle and so we attempted to define a miracle. Based on Vines Expositiory Dictionary we found two definitions which are:

• Power, inherent ability, is used of works of a supernatural origin and character, such as could not be produced by natural agents and means.
• A sign, mark, token, to give a sign, is used of miracles and wonders as signs of Divine authority

We learned that the word miracle is used differently in different places in the Bible. In the Gospel of John it is used many times as the second meaning (that of being a sign). We discussed several of the miracles as seen in the Old Testament as well such as the mana in the wilderness, stopping of the sun, and the parting of the red sea. After we looked at these miracles and many of them that are in the Gospels we asked the question: What are the reasons for miracles? Here are some of our findings:

• Glorify God – John 9:1-5
• To show Christ as God – Matt. 8:5-10; John 20:30-31
• To authenticate the Scriptures – Acts 2:5-14
• To fulfill Scriptures – Acts 2:5-14
• To meet Human need – as seen in the feeding of the 4,000 and 5,000
  • Christ was often moved with compassion
• Not for selfish unworthy purposes
  • i.e. – Matthew 4:1-7, Matthew 12:38-39; Matthew 16:1-4;John 4:48

In our conclusion we asked the question of whether miracles are still happening today.  What do you think?  Do they still happen? We must be careful to answer that question based on our definition of a miracle as we attempt to answer that question.

Continuing our journey through the Old Testament, we
studied the life of King Saul. We actually filled in “his diary.” We
traced his life from his humility at God’s selection of him as
monarch (he was from the smallest tribe, of Benjamin) and through his
life as king.
We saw that when he made a mistake, he never was able to learn from
it. From 1st Samuel 15:22-23, we learned that God is not as pleased
with great sacrifices — as with obedience to His Word. And we saw
that, at the end, Samuel literally mourned for Saul — at what could
have been, but never was.
Saul’s downward spiral continued, even trying to take the life of
David. David had been anointed as Saul’s replacement on the throne,
but David never did anything but submit to his king’s authority.

Next time: King David!

This past Sunday the Junior High Sunday School class continued in the Route 66 series with the book of 1 Samuel.

We reviewed last weeks lesson on the book of Ruth.

We covered some basic things to keep in mind when studying the books of the Old Testament. Basically, that God created us in His image to have a relationship with Him. His adversary, the Devil, wants to destroy that relationship. From the Fall, where the relationship was destroyed, in the Garden, God cursed the Devil and promised a future Deliverer that would restore our relationship with Him. The Old Testament shows God working out His promise, with the Devil trying to thwart Him at every move.

We then looked at the first 3 chapters of 1 Samuel. The title of the lesson being THE BOY WHO LEARNED TO LISTEN, we talked about how Samuel was different from Eli’s sons in that Samuel listened and obeyed. We, also talked about how Samuel was different from Saul the first king. Samuel listened and obeyed, Saul didn’t. We talked about the difference between the wise man and the foolish man that Jesus referred to in the parable found in Matthew 7:24 – 27. The difference being “whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,” Finally, worksheets on the lesson were passed out to do outside of class.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this weeks lesson.

Here is a recording from the meetings with the Galkin Evangelistic Team. Aaron Coffey is preaching on the topic of fear.

 

 Teen Knights Service with Galkin Evangelistic Team - Aaron Coffey Preaching: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Here is a test for Podcasting.

 

 O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Marimba and Piano: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week in our lesson we are looking at the beatitudes in Matthew 5.  In the Old Testament there was a good amount of emphasis placed on external actions conforming to the standard.  It makes sense how this happens because today in our age it seems as though we are masters of the same thing.  It is easy to conform to the external standards of life and not even consider the internal.  In the lesson this week we are striving to explain that the internal is what God is concerned with.  Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” God is concerned with the internal, because the internal changes the external.

In our class today we will be looking at the beatitudes and how each of them shows us the mindset Christ was expecting for us to receive eternal life.  The principles of the beatitudes are applicable to us everyday, but Christ was giving the way to the “kingdom of heaven.”

We will also look at the interaction of Christ and the rich young ruler.  It is a sad account of someone coming so close to receiving Christ and then walking away from it.  He had so much material things and yet was unable to give it up for something so much greater.

Here are some questions that will be discussed today in class.

1. What question did the rich young ruler ask Christ?
2. What kind of life did the young man lead?
3. How do you  know what kind of life he had?
4. What did Jesus ask the rich young ruler to do that focused on the inner character and values of life?
5. In talking with His disciple, Christ talked about the things that are truly important. In Luke 18:28-30 what did Jesus mean based on the study from the beatitudes?
6. What were the Pharisees often concerned with?
7. What was Jesus concerned with?
8. What is a rule?
9. What is a principle?

(If you would like the answers that we discuss please feel free to send me and e-mail and I will send you the answers that we discussed in class.)

The beatitudes emphasize that our outward actions begin in our heads/minds. What we think becomes what we do. Jesus uses the analogies of salt and light in Matthew 5:13-16. In the remainder of Matthew 5, Jesus relates several types of life situations in which those such as the pharisees focus on the external while he helps us to understand that the inner attitudes and values are even more important.

Thank you all for your hard work this past week.  I wanted to let you know that I am so thankful for all of you that put in the time and effort to invite your friends as well as those you didn’t even know.

I look forward to seeing what the Lord will do with the efforts that many have put in towards this past week.  But, I also wanted to encourage us not to stop there.  When I talked with many of your friends that came to “Cola Wars” they were excited about coming back to other activities.  Remember we have several coming up soon and I want to encourage you to remind them of those events.

I believe the Lord has shown us the potential of what being lights for Him can do.  I am excited about what might happen in the future and pray that you will be as well.  Thank you again for all your hard work.