GOD SCATTERS THE NATIONS

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL

IDENTIFY the misguided thinking and fear at work in the plan to build the tower of Babel; MEDITATE on our futile attempts to take control of situations that we don't fully understand, and SEEK guidance for the areas in which we have failed to recognize God's hand at work in our lives.

FOCAL VERSES: GENESIS 11:1-9

KEEP IN MIND

"So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all earth: and they left off to build the city" (Genesis 11:8).

AT-A-GLANCE

1. The People Exalt Themselves (Genesis 11:1-4)
2. The Lord Brings Down the People (vv. 5-9)

IN FOCUS STORY

John was a single parent and life was difficult for him and his daughter. Most importantly, he hated that the only place he could afford to live was in a community where the school district was horrible. The crime rate at his daughter's high school was higher than its graduation rate. The schools on the south side were better. They had more resources and better books, and their students were not subjected to security measures to enter the building or attend a sporting event.

John could not bear to hear any more of the stories Lauren told when she came home. After praying for a month with no change, John decided to take matters into his own hands. He found a nice, small house for himself and daughter. There, Lauren would be able to attend Southside High. It didn't matter that the rent was double what he paid on the west side; John could not afford to jeopardize Lauren's academic success. When his rental application was turned down because of poor credit, John cried. Didn't God care about his child's needs? John realized the answer to the question when, a month later, he heard the news of a pipe bomb explosion at Southside High School that fatally injured two students.

Sometimes God's way seem to confuse us, but His intent is always to protect us. In today's lesson, we learn that a failed attempt at something can be God's sovereign grace at work.

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND TIMES

Brickmaking. Building in the ancient world were constructed using bricks made of claylike mixture of mud and straw. Scholars suggest that there were likely two ways of making brick. One way-the easiest-was to pack clay into a mold and let it dry in the sun. The Hebrews probably used this method in Egypt and later in the Promised Land. But the Babylonian method was more advanced-they used kilns to make their brick harder and more durable. Their were also larger and flatter, so they could support more weight. It was probably the Babylonian's ancestors who built the tower of Babel.

Shinar. Its name means "country of two rivers," as it was a tract of land
between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. It is reported that Shinar was a plan country where brick was used for stone and slime for mortar. The country was later called Chaldea. Babel (Babylon) was its capital.

Tower of Babel. Only mentioned once in the Bible, this tower was built of brick and slime. It is reported that it had the shape of a pyramid and was built in seven receding stages. The first, second, and third stories were twenty-six feet high, and the other four were sixteen feet. Scholars assert that there may have been a fifteen-foot ark or tabernacle on the seventh story, nearly covering it. The entire height of the tower, with the three-foot platform (to support its weight and height), would have been 160 feet, but without the platform, 157 feet.

BACKGROUND

Genesis 9 closes the curtain on Noah's life, letting us know he lived 350 years after the Flood. One may be tempted to skip over Genesis 10, as it appears to be another long genealogical account of names and places. But Genesis 10 sets the stage for the rest of the book's chapters. Its shows us how God repopulated the earth, tell us who the main characters are and the roles they'll play, and unfolds God's plan for all people of the world. In our lesson text, we see how God carried the Gospel to all the world by scattering a bold group of people.

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. What did the people say to one another (Genesis 11:3-4)?
2. What were the people trying to do (v. 4)?
3. How did God respond to their work (vv.7-9)?

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. Why didn't God choose another intervention to stop the people from building the tower? Why do you think He chose to give them different languages?
2. Why did the people think that "making a name" for themselves would answer their fear? How do people in our society do this today?
3. What do you think about God using the very thing the people were afraid of as His judgment (i.e., v. 4 records that they were afraid of being scattered)?
4. In the In Focus story, John prayed "for a month with no change" and then asked the question: "Didn't God care about his child's needs?" The pipe bomb incident brought him out of his confusion. Have you ever been faced with a similar situation? What clarified God's response to you?

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

This text does not name the people who were causing this "fear of being scattered." What we do know is that they were not afraid of the One who could ultimately scatter them! Our society seems to have a similar misplaced fear. Despite the violence in communities, "don't snitch" has become the motto of the day. Parents cope with children who are afraid of being labeled "uncool" based on clothing or electronics. For fear of gang rejection, youths prefer jail to college. For fear of ridicule, people join bullies rather than protecting the bullied. Families fear that a child will be put off the team for missing Sunday practice, so they miss Sunday School instead. Why does our society seem to fear people they barely know rather than fearing God, who has their best interest in mind? What can the Apostolic Church do to help instill a vision for God?

MAKE IT HAPPEN

Are you confused about why your actions aren't getting you anywhere? Perhaps you are overstepping your bounds, living beyond your means, or taking matters into your own hands. Sometimes ego and peer pressure, rather than God's voice, cause us to do things that lack God's wisdom. If this is your challenge, get help this week by prayerfully seeking a credit counseling agency or a professional in the areas where you need help in order to get the help you need. Consider talking to your pastor, a licensed Christian counselor, or another professional who can provide real resources and assistance to deal with your issue. Then trust God to make a real difference.

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AN EVERLASTING COVENANT

 

 

 BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL

EXPLORE the covenant God made with Noah after the flood; DELIGHT in signs of God's grace; and IDENTIFY promises of God which gave us peace and assurance.

 

FOCAL VERSES  Genesis 9:8-17

KEEP IN MIND

"And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth" (Genesis 9:11).

 

AT-A-GLANCE

1. The Covenant (Genesis 9:8-11)

2. The Sign (vv. 12-16)

 

IN FOCUS STORY

Therese was eagerly awaiting her husband's arrival from work. He had talked about wanting to take a trip for their anniversary-nothing big, just a getaway. She had wanted to go, but wasn't sure she could. She had really been working hard, but her new supervisor always had an excuse for why a request for leave was denied even when employees had the time. God had given Therese the assurance in her heart that He would make a way, but since they needed the money, Therese didn't want to rock the boat by making her supervisor upset. She believed that God would make a way-even if she couldn't imagine how.

Today, however, she got great news, Not only was she going to have time off, but the company was giving several employees the opportunity to fly to a seminar on an island. She had been selected. The seminar was Tuesday through Thursday, but the memo congratulating her also stipulated that the company would pay for the weekend as part of their appreciation for a job well done. That meant that not only did she have the time off, she had airfare and a room. Her husband could join her, and the trip would work great financially. She knew God had promised to make a way, but she was blown away by the way He made!

 

God is indeed a promise keeper. In today's lesson, we learn that He never fails!

 

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, and TIMES

Covenant.  A covenant is formal agreement between two parties. The principle section of a covenant is the stipulations, which may include requirements for either party or both. In this covenant, God took stipulations upon Himself rather than imposing them on Noah and his family. Unlike the later covenant with Abraham and those that build on the covenant with Abraham, this covenant did not entail election or new revelation. It was also made with every living creature, not just people.

 

 

BACKGROUND

Leaving the Ark, Noah made a sacrifice to God. Noah received God's grace, walked with God in obedience and righteousness, was preserved from judgment, entered a new age with people's wickedness temporarily removed, and responded with worship.

After Noah made the sacrifice, God promised never to curse the ground in this way again. The continuity of seasons is evidence of God's forbearance.

God instructed Noah to be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth (vv. 1, 7) just as He told Adam (1;28). And Noah, like Adam, was to have dominion over animals (9:2; cf. 1.26, 28) with one prohibition (9:4, cf. 2:17).

With Noah's new beginning came a covenant. It was necessary now to have a covenant with obligations for mankind and a promise from God. Because of the Flood's destruction of life, people might think that God views life as cheap and assume that taking life is a small matter. This covenant shows that life is sacred and that man is not to destroy man, who is made in the image of God.

In essence, then, this covenant was established to ensure the stability of nature. It helped guarantee the order of the world. People would also learn that human law was necessary for the stability of life and that wickedness should not go unchecked as it had before. So human government was brought in.

 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. With whom did God make the covenant (Genesis 9:8-10)?

2. What is the purpose of the rainbow in the cloud (vv. 13-15)?

3. How long was the covenant to last (v.16)?

 

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. Why is it important that God's promise include humans and animals? What does this tell us about God's love?

2. What do you see as the importance of water in the narrative of Noah's encounter with God? Can we relate this to baptism in Jesus' Name?

3.God saved Noah and all who were with him and then made a covenant with him that would extend to his children and to the animals eternally. What does this say about God's mercy?

4. In the In Focus story, Therese believed God based solely on her faith. When have you faced a situation when you were assured by faith alone that God would deliver you? Can faith serve as a "bow" of God's promise? How?

 

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

We often her about natural disasters affecting hundreds of people. At these times, we can't help but act on our concern. How can we encourage ourselves, and other who are facing disaster, to hold on to the covenant God made to His people? How can Apostolic believers continue to trust and help others to trust that God will never forget his promises?

 

MAKE IT HAPPEN

As we continually hear of alarming situations, we must remain prayerful knowing that God does provide for His people. In this passage, God promises that the rainbow would be a reminder of His deliverance and His promise. In what way can you represent God's rainbow this week to someone who is in need of encouragement regarding His eternal covenant?

 

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KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL

 

 

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL:

IDENTIFY ways in which sin creates barriers to healthy relationships with God and others; EXPRESS sorrow and repentance for wrongdoing; and SEEK God's help in discerning right from wrong.

 

FOCAL VERSES

Genesis 3:8b-17

 

KEEP IN MIND

"And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken" (Genesis 3:22-23).

AT-A-GLANCE

1. Hiding from and Breaking God's Heart (Genesis 3:8-8)

2. Broken Fellowship Caused by Sin (vv. 10-13)

3. The First Judgment upon Sin (vv. 14-17)

 

IN FOCUS STORY

Ken had been saved for three years now. Today was, in fact, his spiritual birthday. The saints had welcomed him. His pastor was a blessing to him and the fellowship of the brotherhood was awesome. He was learning what it meant to be a man of God. He had grown tremendously over these three years, yet he harbored a secret that he struggled with daily.

 

The saints knew he had a child from a relationship before he was saved and that his daughter lived in another state. What they didn't know was that he was not paying child support. He told himself that he would do better when he found a better job, that her mother had a good job and probably didn't need his money. As he watched the brothers in the church with their children, he wanted more and more to be the kind of father he saw in them. 

God was beginning to convict him. Ken knew he had to make a change, because not being a good father and not meeting his obligations was a sin that he could not hide any longer. He wasn't sure where to turn for help, but he knew that God would not give him rest until he made a change.

 

Sin destroys and leads to broken relationships. In today's lesson, we see the consequences of sin and the provisions God makes for His creation.

 

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND TIMES

GARDEN. The beautiful garden made by God for Adam and Eve. The word "Eden" refers to a well-watered place, suggesting a luxuriant park. The word translated "garden" does not typically refer to vegetable plots but to orchards or parks containing trees.

 

COOL OF THE DAY. Akkadian terminology has demonstrated that word translated "day" also has the meaning "storm." This meaning can also be seen for the same Hebrew word for "day" in Zephaniah 2:2. It is at times connected to the deity coming in a storm of judgment. If this is the correct rendering of the word in this passage, Adam and Eve heard the thunder of the Lord moving about in the garden in the wind of the storm.

 

BACKGROUND

God created the heaven and the earth and the Holy Spirit moved on the waters (Genesis 1:1-2). He created the light and the firmament (vv. 3-8), separated the waters (vv. 9-13), made the sun, moon, and stars (vv. 14-19), and created man in His image (vv. 26-28). God then planted a garden in Eden, where He placed the man and took care of him (vv. 29-31). God made the trees to grow, including the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil (2:8-9). God told the man he may eat freely of every tree in the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil (vv. 16-17). Then, God made a help meet for the man because it was not good for man to be alone. The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam. Performing the first surgery, God took one of Adam's ribs and made a woman (vv. 18-25). They were given only one prohibition, but we see in today's lesson that they failed to obey God and began to experience life under the curse.

 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. Why did God call out to Adam and ask, "Where art thou?" Didn't He Know where Adam was (Genesis 3:9)?

2. Why was the serpent punished (v. 15)?

3. Why were Adam and Eve punished (vv. 16-17)?

 

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. In what ways do we try to hide from the "presence of God"?

2. Why did God ask about "nakedness"? What does nakedness represent?

3. Ken in the In Focus story was engage in sin that no one around him knew about. If no one knows we are hiding sin, why is hiding sin so detrimental to us and others?

4. Ken was playing "hide and seek" with God and sin. How do we play hide and seek with sin? With God?

 

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

Sin affects everyone. When we sin, we sin against God. That sin is passed down from generation and destroys people, families, and communities. Through Jesus Christ, provision has been made for salvation so that we no longer have to "hide from God" or deceive others and ourselves regarding sin. As Apostolic believers, how well do we tell the message about what God has done? What should we individually and collectively do to better help realize that God's grace is for their deliverance?

 

MAKE IT HAPPEN

1. Failing to encourage others when we can, not accepting the help that God has sent through other people, and not offering help when we are able can all be considered sin because they represent our failure to please God. What other sins can you identify that are subtle, but real, in the lives of people (saved and unsaved) today?

 

2. Each of us is called to face our sins of omission (what we fail to do but should) and our sins of commission (what we do that is not pleasing to God). In your own life, think about the sin (whether omission or commission) you are hiding. What will you do this week to relieve the guilt?

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GOD'S IMAGE: MALE AND FEMALE

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL:

KNOW why God considers marriage and companionship important; APPRECIATE that God recognizes our need for companionship; and IDENTIFY areas in our lives where God has provided for our need for relationships with others. 

FOCAL VERSES: Genesis 2:18-25

KEEP IN MIND

"And the LORD GOD said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him" (Genesis 2:18)

AT- A- GLANCE

1. God Provides Identity (Genesis 2:18-20)

2. God Provides Companionship (vv. 21-23)

3. God Provides Marriage (vv. 24-25)

IN FOCUS STORY

"I cried my last tear yesterday." The lyrics to the song playing on her MP3 player reminded Sharon of just how alone she was feeling. She had been apprehensive about moving to a new state, but understood what it could mean for her career. As she sank down into the floor of her empty living room, her furniture located on a moving van stuck in winter storms somewhere in the Midwest, she identified with the singer's feelings of being alone and overwhelmed. Through her tears, she remembered that an Apostolic church was located not far from her new home. She knew God would help her adjust if she could just make contact with the saints. 

Just then a knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. "Who is it?" she asked. It was her neighbors, Terrance and Shana, with a pot of soup and freshly baked bread, asking it they might join her. She hesitantly opened her door. They saw her empty living room, apologized, and invited her over to their apartment. They ate, laughed, and talked while making plans to show Sharon the neighborhood. When she mentioned the church, they both laughed and said, "Praise the Lord! That's our home assembly."

God intends for people to be in relationship with one another. In this lesson, we examine how healthy relationships are ordained by God. 

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND TIMES

ADAM. 

The first man; created by God in God's image. God made Adam for the dust of the ground, breathing the breath of life into his nostrils. God gave Adam the responsibility for the created order. 

WOMAN. 

The first woman; created by God to be companion to Adam, the first man. 

THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 

The book of beginnings: The beginning of the creation of the universe (Genesis 1); the creation of the world and living things (Genesis 1-2); the creation of mankind (Genesis 1-2). 

BACKGROUND

The book of Genesis is the first book of the Bible and the first book of the Pentateuch. The Pentateuch is the first five books of the Old Testament. The Jewish label for these books is "Torah," which means teaching, while English Bibles refer to these books simply as the "Law."

Written by Moses, the leader of the enslaved Hebrew people (Exodus 1), the book of Genesis is a book about beginnings - the beginnings of the universe, the beginning of creatures, the beginning of mankind, and the beginning of God activity in the life of the world. "In the beginning God created..."

(Genesis 1:1) "And God said...and God made...and God blessed... and God saw..." (Genesis 1 and 2).

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. Why does God say it was not good to be alone (2:18)?

2. What trust did God place in Adam (vv. 19-20)?

3. What is the difference between how God brought forth animals and how he brought forth Eve (vv. 19, 22)?

4. How does verses 24 and 25 specifically address marriage?

DISCUSS THE MEANING 

1. Does the text encourage or discourage competition between men and women? How?

2. Compare the naming in verse 19 and with the naming in verse 23. 

3. How does the In Focus story point to how God's plan works in both marriage and singleness?

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

1. Those of us who are healthy, have strong family ties, and are regularly connected to a church family often take companionship for granted. There are people among us who are shut in and shut out because circumstances exclude them from continuous human contact. As saints of God, how does this passage call us to respond to the loneliness of others?

2. The popularity of social media has caused many to replace human contact and daily companionship with online and cyber reltationships. Does this passage call us to be more mindful face-to-face contact? Does this mean that online and cyber contacts are always detrimental? Why?

MAKE IT HAPPEN

There are people among us who feel isolated or overwhelmed. This passage shows how God created humans to support and comfort one another. How can you commit to helping lift the burdens of people you know by showing the genuine love and concern of Jesus?

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GOD CREATES

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, PARTICIPANTS WILL:

DESCRIBE God's creative power and provision; APPRECIATE the wonder of God's Creation; and PRAISE God for His blessings and provision. 

FOCAL VERSES PSALMS 104 : 5-9, v. 24-30

KEEP IN MIND VERSE 

"O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches" (Psalm 104:24)

AT-A-GLANCE

1. God orders (Psalm 104:5-9)

2. God works (vv. 24-26)

3. God provides (vv. 27-30)

IN FOCUS 

When Gale lost her job last year, her joy went with it. At first, she was happy to spend a couple of months with her children. Then she began her job search, expecting to be employed within a month. Thirteen months later, she was staring a pile of disconnection and collection notices. It seemed that the more she prayed, the worse her situation became. 

Since she couldn't pay her bills, she decided to taker her last five dollar bill to by a fast food value meal. 

Inside the restaurant, she ran into a former coworker who remembered Gale as "the Cake Lady." Gale used to share homemade cakes with the employees. The woman explained that her wedding was coming up and she was considering a $1,200 estimate from a cake designer she didn't know. She offered the job to Gale since she knew her work, then wrote a $600 check for a deposit. 

At that moment, Gale realized she'd been praying for a temporary fix for her problem, and God gave her a permanent solution. She went to her car, retrieved a folder full of cake orders forms, and handed some to the woman to pass out at work. Gale praised God on the way home for giving her the talent to make the money she needed. 

God has already given us everything we need. In today's lesson, we will praise God for resources available to us. 

BACKGROUND

It is possible that the Israelites were in captivity during the time Psalm 104 was written. Most people held against their will focus on the things the do not have - freedom, security, and happiness. While in bondage, captives complain, cry out to God, and shake their fists in anger. However, because some scholars attribute this psalm to David, the purpose would be different, for David lived long before the Israelites went into captivity. If David was indeed the author, he did just the opposite of raising his fists in anger when faced with difficult situations. In Psalm 104, he gave an account of the things that he knew could not be taken from him. He focused his attention on God's creation, emphasizing that it is God who creates, sustains, provides, and preserves. With Psalm 104, David affirms that God has provided all our needs through His creation. 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. Why did God set a bound over the waters (Psalm 104:9)?

2. What happens when God send forth His Spirit (v.30)?

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. How does this text illustrate God's creative power and provision?

2. Using the text, identify resources GOd made available to us though His creation. 

3. In the In Focus story, what assurance did Gale find?

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

In a downturned economy, it is easy to focus on what we have lost, things we cannot obtain, and the hopelessness we might feel. In Psalm 104, David chose to focus on God's creation and the riches thereof. We will do well to challenge ourselves to identify resources we can use to produce what we need. Provision is all around us. 

MAKE IT HAPPEN

This week, challenge yourself to focus on what you have rather than on what you do not. Challenge yourself to see God the way David characterizes Him - bountiful, attentive, and open-handed. He has not forgotten you and your family. While you wait for Him, make daily gratitude lists and thank Him for what you do have. Then, pray for wisdom to use what you have to get what you need. 

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