In Sunday School and in the sermon this week, we continued our series on the importance of  Sunday School. As a family, review the Sunday School Scripture (Philippians 1:9-11) and sermon notes and Scripture (Hebrews 12:26-29).  

DISCUSS: What did you learn this week about the importance of worshiping in a small group setting like Sunday School? How can worship and meeting together with a Sunday School class equip us to live kingdom-centered lives?

In part of his sermon this week, Pastor Jamey taught us that when people gather together to worship, they hear God speak and tell them how to live in His unshakable kingdom. One of the ways we learn to live kingdom-centered lives is to know and claim the promises of God. A kingdom-centered life is built on the knowledge of God’s promises and the full assurance of their fulfillment in Jesus.

DISCUSS: Is my life kingdom-centered, firmly established on the unshakable foundation of God’s promises? Or is my life me-centered, built on the temporary foundation of my own pride, resources, abilities, and desire for happiness?

Read 2 Corinthians 1:18-22

Consider these wise words from Pastor John Piper:

“So here, Paul is saying: My heart is not divided toward you because God's heart is not divided toward you. If you belong to Christ by faith, then everything God could possibly give you for your good he has signed over to your account in Christ. You hear the same answer at every point: Is this promise in my account? Yes. Is this promise in my account? Yes. Is this blessing in my account? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All the promises of God are YES in Christ.

In Galatians 3:29 Paul wrote, "If you are Christ's then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." (See Ephesians 3:6; Galatians 3:14, 22; Hebrews 9:15; Romans 15:8.) All the promises of God for the good of his people focus in Christ. He confirms them and secures them and, as it were, purchases them for all who belong to him—for all who believe (Galatians 3:22). Every sinner who comes to God in Christ, with all his needs, finds God coming to him in Christ, with all his promises. When a sinful person meets the holy God IN CHRIST, what he hears is YES. Do you love me? YES. Will you forgive me? YES. Will you accept me? YES. YES. Will you help me change? YES. Will you give me power to serve you? YES. Will you keep me? YES. Will you show me your glory? YES.

All the promises of God—all the blessings of God in the heavenly places—are YES in Christ Jesus. Jesus is God's decisive YES to all who believe.” (John Piper, sermon “All God’s Promises are YES in Christ” on December 31, 1989).

DISCUSS:  How well do you know the promises God gives us in His Word? Are there any promises that you desire to claim, but lack faith for?

THIS WEEK:

Thank God for the promises He gives in His Word and fulfills through Christ. Take time to make a list of a few promises God has made that apply to your life now. Throughout the week, meditate on ways that God has faithfully provided for you and fulfilled these promises through His Son.

In Sunday School and in the sermon this week, we continued our series on the importance of Sunday School. As a family, review the Sunday School Scripture (Proverbs 27:17) and sermon notes and Scripture. 

Review the MEMORY VERSE: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 NIV

DISCUSS: What did you learn this week about the importance of Sunday School?

Read Hebrews 10:24-25

As Christians, we learn and grow when we are part of a community of other Christ-followers. The Bible commands us to meet together and to encourage one another. The Christian life cannot be lived in isolation. We need other believers to help us on our journey! Max Lucado writes, “Christ distributes courage through community; he dissipates doubts through fellowship. He never deposits all knowledge in one person but distributes pieces of the jigsaw puzzle to many. When you interlock your understanding with mine, and we share our discoveries, when we mix, mingle, confess and pray, Christ speaks” (Max Lucado, Fearless).

Read Romans 12:9-13

In this passage, Paul encourages his readers to love each other sincerely and humbly. Just imagine if we did everything listed in these verses, what an amazing family of faith we could have! We are called to live in community and to love each other. Sunday School provides the perfect opportunity to do this.

Based on a survey taken by AARP, over 44 million people, people just like you and me, are lonely and longing to connect with another living, breathing soul.  And consider these research findings: “researchers studied 34 students at the University of Virginia, taking them to the base of a steep hill and fitting them with a weighted backpack. They were then asked to estimate the steepness of the hill. Some participants stood next to friends during the exercise, while others were alone. The students who stood with friends gave lower estimates of the steepness of the hill. And the longer the friends had known each other, the less steep the hill appeared” (“What are Friends For? A Longer Life” by Tara Parker Pope, published in The New York Times on April 20, 2009).

Numerous research studies prove the same thing: friendship is crucial and loneliness can be detrimental. As you think about those you come into contact with during the week, your coworkers, family, friends, and acquaintances, how many of these people are lonely and longing to be part of a community? How can you reach out to them, show the love of Christ, and invite them to be involved in your community of faith?

THIS WEEK:

Thank God for the community of believers in which you’re involved. Pray for those in your Sunday School class and think of ways you can serve them. Then commit to ask at least 1 person to come be a part of your Sunday School small group.