Monday: Understanding Our Nature

Leave something shiny lying around with a child in the room; it’s sure to disappear fast! And how often do we hear of a little one pocketing a piece of bubblegum only to have the loot discovered by mom on laundry day? We don’t teach our children to take things that aren’t theirs; that comes as a result of our fallen nature. The fall of man came from this very same concept. Misplaced ownership. Adam and Eve were given instruction to not take the forbidden fruit. They did so anyway in an attempt to gain something that was not theirs. This has resulted in severe consequences for every generation to come thereafter. Ask God this week to show you where you fall short of his blessings because of the desire to please a sinful nature.

Tuesday: Acknowledging God’s Ownership

Oftentimes we feel entitled to what we have, especially if we work hard to get it! God’s ownership of everything that there is can be a foreign concept. The Bible makes it very clear to us that everything belongs to Him. What can we learn from the following scriptures?

1. Colossians 1:16 - Everything was created by Him and for Him.
2. Deuteronomy 10:14 - Heaven and Earth and everything in it, belong to Him.
3. Haggai 2:8 - Silver and gold belongs to God

Wednesday:  A Lesson From Good Ole Nezzar!

A lot can be learned from studying about the life of King Nebuchadnezzar. One of history’s most powerful kings learned a tough lesson about God’s ownership. Read through Daniel chapter 4. King Nebuchadnezzar was enjoying a stroll through his kingdom and boasted “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” God responded in a way that would make His point very clear. The king lost his sanity and spent seven years living outside; eating grass like a cow. What are some consequences that you are dealing with right now because of the lack of understanding of what actually belongs to you?

Thursday: The Illusion Of Self-Sufficiency

Nebuchadnezzar was proud of what he had done on his own. His was proud of all he had accomplished. He felt that his hard work had earned him that pride. What have you worked hard for? What have you earned? Read Deuteronomy 8:17-18. God has given us our gifts and abilities. It is God who provides what we need to attain what we have. God has given us all that we have and, as we can learn through Nebuchadnezzar, God can take away what He sees necessary to make His point clear.

Replace pride with gratitude. It is okay to take satisfaction in your work. (Ecclesiastes 2:24) However, we must remember that the skills and strengths that allow you to succeed were given to you by God. Thank God for creating you and giving you those gifts.

Friday: All Belongs To God, Including Us!!

I Cor. 3:23 - “And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s”

We don’t need to worry about our possessions and taking pride in those things that we own. Read James 4:14 and 2 Peter 3:8. This life is a vapor. What will matter in the end is not what we own but who we belong to.

Personal Application:

Read 1 Chronicles 29:11-16.
What do these verses say to you?
How will you look at “your” possessions?
How can we remember to be thankful and not prideful?  

Monday: Matthew 6:24
Jesus says we can have only one master. We live in a materialistic society where people serve money. They spend all of their lives collecting and storing it, only to die and leave it behind. Their desire for money and what it can buy far outweighs their commitment to God and spiritual matters. Whatever you store up, you will spend much of your time and energy thinking about. Don't fall into the materialistic trap, because "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (1Timothy 6:10) Can you honestly say that God and not money is your master? One test is to ask which one occupies more of your thoughts, time, and efforts.

Tuesday: Matthew 6:24
Jesus contrasted heavenly values with earthly values when he explained that our first loyalty should be to those things that do not fade, can not to be stolen or used up, and never wear out. We should not be fascinated with our possessions, lest they possess us. This means we may have to do some cutting back if our possessions are becoming too important to us. Jesus is calling for a decision that allows us to live contentedly with whatever we have because we have chosen what is eternal and lasting.

Wednesday:  Matthew 6:25
Because of the ill effects of worry, Jesus tells us not to worry about those needs that God promises to supply. Worry may (1) damage your health, (2) cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts, (3) disrupt your productivity, (4) negatively affect the way you treat others, and (5) reduce your ability to trust in God. How many ill effects of worry are you experiencing? Here is the difference between worry and genuine concern- worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action.

Thursday: Matthew 6:33
To "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" means to turn first to God for help, to fill your thoughts with His desires, to take His character for your pattern and to serve and obey Him in everything. What is really important to you? People, objects, goals, and other desires all compete for priority. Any of these can quickly bump God out of first place if you don't actively choose to give Him first place in every area of your life.

Friday: Matthew 6:34
Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God's guidance. When done well, planning can help alleviate worry. Worriers, by contrast, are consumed by fear and will find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God. Don't let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today.

Monday:

All treasures are to be held in subjection to God and used as He directs. He who is in touch with eternal realities can well afford to hold earthly possessions with a loose hand. Worldly wealth soon passes away and leaves him who has nothing else poor indeed. But those who lay up heavenly treasure by spending and being spent for God, while numbered perchance among the poor of this world, will be rich in faith. When life is ended here they will find endless treasure held in reserve above. The more we distribute for the blessing of others as guided by the Lord, the more wealth we lay up in Heaven.

Discuss key differences in earthly treasure and Heavenly treasures. Consider earthly and eternal consequences of each.

Tuesday: Spiritual Transformation: From Self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness

Luke 3:7-14

John is calling for repentance of those who have come into the wilderness to see him. John was not trying to explain to the people ways to get into Heaven, but was rather showing others how to make the necessary changes in their lives which would prepare them, and ultimately others, for the coming of Christ.

If the necessary preparations were not made, the people could expect only discipline and judgment from the Messiah when He arrived. The Messiah’s message would build upon and exceed the message of John. This message of John is in fulfillment of the words of the angel to John’s father, Zacharias (1:14-17) and the prophecy from Isaiah 40:3-5. When we repent and live for Christ’s coming, our lives will produce fruits of Christ-centeredness. How are you working to transform your life?

Wednesday: Spiritual Transformation: To The Crowd
John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

Consider I John 3:17-18 - If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

These verses give an example of how to lay down our lives for others to help those in need. This is strikingly similar to James' teaching in James 2:14-17. How clearly do you really love others? Are you as generous as you should be with your money possessions and time?

Thursday: Spiritual Transformation: To The Tax Collectors
“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

Consider Proverbs 20:23 - Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord and dishonest scales are not good.

"Diverse weights" refers to the loaded scales a merchant might use in order to cheat his customers. Dishonesty is a difficult sin to avoid. It is easy to cheat if we think no one else is looking. But dishonesty affects the very core of a person. It makes him untrustworthy and untrusting. It eventually makes him unable to know or relate to others. Don't take dishonesty lightly. Even the smallest portion of dishonesty contains enough of the poison of deceit to kill your spiritual life. If there is any in your life, tell God about it now.

Friday: Spiritual Transformation: To The Soldiers
“Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

Consider Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

We must learn to be content by striving to live with less rather than desiring more. Give away out of your abundance rather than accumulating more and relish what you have rather than resenting what you're missing. We can see God's love expressed in what he has provided and continually remember that money and possessions will all pass away.

Monday: Function #1 Discipleship
By definition, a disciple is a follower, one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another. A Christian disciple is a person who accepts and assists in the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ. Discipleship is working as a disciple. 

Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

So how can we apply this to Sunday school?

Tuesday: Function #2 Evangelism
The spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness. The goal of evangelism is to win souls for Christ, ultimately fulfilling our calling as laid out by the Great Commission. 

Romans 10:14-15 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

So how can we apply this to Sunday school?

Wednesday: Function #3 Fellowship
Friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests. Often times we think of fellowship as gathering over coffee and donuts before worship service. Biblical evangelism goes much deeper. As we are taught by the beginning church in the book of Acts, believers had to be close due to their uniqueness as believers in Christ. They continue together in one accord, they exhorted others to believe; they practiced ordinances; such as baptism and the Lord's Supper and they prayed together.

I Thessalonians 5:9-11 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

So how can we apply this to Sunday school?

Thursday: Function #4 Service
The action of helping or doing work for someone. Why is service so central to Christian belief? Because we follow a God who serves. Because we follow a Christ who loves others. And because we have a nice day Holy Spirit who gives us gifts expressly for the purpose of building up other people. 

I Peter 4:10-11 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

So how can we apply this to Sunday school?

Friday: Function #5 Worship
The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. It is evident from a study of the scriptures that the early Christians participated in public worship. Public worship on the Lord's Day was very important to the early Christians and was presented as a requisite in Hebrews chapter 10. They came together to celebrate the Lord's Supper, to pray, sing praise to God, give of their means, and to hear the word proclaimed. Worship looks different to different people. Some prefer praise and thanksgiving others prefer joyful songs and dancing. Some may worship by giving cheerfully to help others and using their spiritual gifts. In John, chapter 4, Jesus told the woman at the well something profound about worship. He stated that those who wish to worship God must do so in spirit and in truth. God desires that our worship come from a pure heart. 

Colossians 3:14-17 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

So how can we apply this to Sunday school?