JESUS TEACHES COMPASSION FOR THE POOR

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL:

REVIEW the story of the rich man an Lazarus; DISCUSS our feelings about compassion toward the poor; and DEVELOP a project that brings generations together to talk about how to help those in need.

 

FOCAL VERSES LUKE 16:19-31

KEEP IN MIND

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much" (Luke 16:10).

 

AT-A-GLANCE

1. A Picture of Life (Luke 16:19-21)

2. A Picture of the Afterlife (vv. 22-26)

3. A Picture of a Final Plea (vv.27-31)

 

 

IN FOCUS STORY

Jay has lived a very privileged life. His family always took pride in sponsoring events to help the less fortunate, but at the dinner table he often heard both his grandfather and father say that people who are in poverty live that way because they are lazy and worthless.

Then one day while walking downtown, Jay ran into Clarence, a former corporate attorney for a major energy company. Having achieved his dream, Clarence thought he had it all until disaster struck-on his watch, the company came under a major federal investigation, which cost him his career. Clarence had lost everything and was homeless, living on the street. Jay knew Clarence through his father, so when Jay saw him, he was in shock. After exchanging some pleasantries, Jay asked what happened to him. All Clarence could muster up was "one bad decision and I lost everything." Jay slipped some money into Clarence's pocket as well as his business card. Jay was in tears when he left Clarence.

Often, even as Christians, we can carry the wrong attitude toward the poor. In today's lesson, Jesus uses a parable to declare God's compassion or the poor.

 

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, and TIMES

Hades. Also known as Sheol or "place of the dead" in the Old Testament, it is the region of departed spirits for those who died. Its meaning translated denotes the underworld ad was believed to be the immediate state between death and resurrection. In Jesus' parable, it is an impassible gulf of chasm that separates the lost from the righteous.

 

Abraham's Bosom. Believed to be the compartment of Hades for those who died in right standing with God due to their faith and obedience to the law. In the Talmud, a collection of rabbinic commentary of the Hebrew Bible, it is mentioned as the place where the soul rests after death. It is a place privilege for Abraham's righteous children.

 

BACKGROUND

The book of Luke features more parables than any of the other Gospels. Jesus used these illustrations to convey key principles of kingdom living. Early on in Luke 16, Jesus told the parable of the dishonest manager to make the point that to be true kingdom believers, we cannot serve God and wealth (v. 13). After hearing this parable, the Pharisees-because of their own position of power and wealth-ridiculed Jesus in an attempt to discredit Him before the people. In response, Jesus told the Pharisees that they were good at appearing righteous, but their hearts were not. In their minds, their great wealth showed that they were blessed by God, but Jesus pointed out that they were only wealthy through dishonest gain. Jesus declared that the kingdom of God runs counter to the dominant culture. The Pharisees relished their wealth and power, but Jesus warned them that they fell short of God's standards. He further bruised their egos by letting them know that God reads the heart, so it was useless to justify themselves based on their works (v. 15).

 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. Where did Lazarus and the rich man go when they died? What was different about passing (Luke 16:22-23)?

 

2. Who did the rich man appeal to for relief from his torment (v. 24)?

 

3. What id the rich man want Lazarus to do (vv. 24, 27-28)?

 

 

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. What was the significance of Lazarus receiving comfort after his death versus the rich man's fate after death?

 

2. What does this parable say about how we should view our lives, our relationships, and the value we place on possessions and status in this world?

 

3. How should we view those who are poor and in need? How can we also help the rich who may be poor in spirit?

 

4. Which of the people in the In Focus story do you relate to best: Jay or Clarence? Why? What would be your next step if you were Jay?

 

 

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

Even in our churches, we often measure people by what they do, what they have, and whom they know rather than their display of Christ-like character. This is not the way of the kingdom. Today's lesson reminds us that God does not want us to shut our eyes, close our ears, and cover our mouths when we see social ad economic injustice. We have a mandate form our Lord to care for the poor, the disenfranchised, and the marginalized. How can we collectively meet that mandate?

 

MAKE IT HAPPEN

Pray and ask God how we can individually and corporately be agents of change to provide for the poor. Examine how you can be proactive in helping to change the attitudes in your community and help young people be sensitive to the needs of others. Go beyond your comfort zone to extend a helping hand.

 

(Except from The Apostolic Light P.A.W.)

 

 

 

JESUS TEACHES ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL:

EXPLORE Jesus' teachings about humility and exaltation; EVALUATE our attitudes and behavior toward those whom God sends into our lives and our fellowships; and IDENTIFY strategies for  showing hospitality to those who enter our worship services-especially those who are unsaved or from different ethnic, socioeconomic, or religious backgrounds.

FOCAL VERSES Luke 14:7-18a, 22-24

KEEP IN MIND

"For whosoever exalted himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 14:11).

AT-A-GLANCE

1. The Places of Honor (Luke 14:7-11)
2. The Invitations (vv. 12-14)
3. The Parable of the Great Banquet (vv. 15-18, 22-24)

IN FOCUS STORY

After Suffragan Bishop Peabody retired, Elder Cogswell was called to be the pastor of One Apostolic Assembly. One of the first things Elder Cogswell taught was a 4-week Bible class series on the hospitality of Jesus Christ. It was a wonderful teaching and the saints were pleased with the fresh approach their pastor bought to the Bible classes. One of the activities that grew out of the series was "Coffee with the Pastor." Visitors were invited to have a cup of coffee with the pastor following service as an informal way to welcome them.

About a month later, an Asian family visited One Apostolic Assembly. After service, the pastor invited the family to join him for coffee. Since there were no other visitors that day, Elder Cogswell and the family sat in the pastor's conference room to chat. The family told him that they were grateful for the chance to meet him, but that they had not felt welcomed when the first entered and weren't sure the would return. When they entered, the members ignored them. When the usher led them to a seat, one of the members moved her coat, angrily saying that the seat was usually taken. At Altar Call, people stared at them, waiting for them to get up for baptism without realizing that the family had been saved at the Apostolic church in their previous town. Elder Cogswell apologized and asked the family to please come again.
The entire Apostolic church family suffers when any of our members are not open to welcoming people who are either from another cultural group or who don't "look save." In today's lesson, we will see how Jesus challenges us to show hospitality to all people.

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, and TIMES

Pharisees. A Jewish religious group that strictly followed the Old Testament laws as well as their own religious traditions. They outwardly obeyed God's laws to look pious, but their hearts were filled with pride and greed. The Pharisees were admired by the people and influential in the synagogues. They believed in a bodily resurrection and eternal life, as well as in angels and demons. Both John the Baptist and Jesus often denounced the Pharisees. This religious group believed salvation came from perfect obedience to the law and was not based on forgiveness of sins. They did not accept God's message of mercy and grace. Therefore, they rejected Jesus' claim to be the Messiah.

Hospitality. The Old Testament teachings expected the Israelites to serve as hosts and practice hospitality. It was seen as godly, righteous behavior (Genesis 18:2-8). Hospitality was also encouraged among the early Christians (Titus 1:8). It was mainly focused on stranger in need or foreigners who had no community ties and needed immediate food and lodging. The poor, orphans, or widows lacked the provisions that came with inheriting land, the means to make a living, and the protection of a family. It was expected that such people's needs would be fully provided by the one taking them into his home.
In the ancient world, to share a meal with someone was a gesture of intimacy that created a bond of fellowship. Consider, for example, God's meal with the elders of Israel (Exodus 24:1-11), the Lord's Supper (Mark 14:17-26), and Peter's meal with the Gentiles (Acts 10:48-11:3). All these communicated a message of intimacy and unity. Jesus was dependent on the hospitality of others as He traveled through towns ministering (Luke 9:58, 10:38). While partaking of meals in the homes of others, Jesus united Himself to the lost as he shared meals with sinners, tax collectors, and Pharisees alike (Mark 2:15, Luke 14:1, 19:1-10).

BACKGROUND

Jesus was always in conflict with the Pharisees for their teachings and hypocrisy. In Luke 12, Jesus warned the people against false doctrine (vv. 1-3). The teachings of the empty ritualists, the Pharisees, were nothing but a sham and hypocrisy. Jesus used the parable of the rich fool to express a warning against covetousness (vv. 16-21). He wants us to seek the spiritual benefits of the Kingdom rather than the material goods of the world.
In chapter 13, Jesus taught on repentance and judging (13:1-5). This was in direct contradiction to the Pharisees' teaching that salvation comes from strict obedience to the law, not forgiveness of sins. On His way to Jerusalem, Jesus was warned by the Pharisees that Herod Antipas wanted to kill him. However, the Pharisees said this to frighten Him into leaving the area. Jesus told them to tell Herod that His life's purpose was predetermined, and no one could change it. He wept over the condition of the people in Jerusalem (vv. 31-35).
In chapter 14, Jesus was invited to a Pharisee leader's house for a meal on the Sabbath (v. 1). This was not the first time He had been invited to a Pharisee's house (7:36). On this occasion, the Pharisees and lawyers present invited Jesus to the Sabbath meal to watch if He would say or do something so they could arrest Him. A man with dropsy was present, and Jesus questioned the Pharisees about the lawfulness of healing a man on the Sabbath. There was no response, and Jesus healed him (14:2-4). This was not in violation of Sabbath laws, just the Pharisees' interpretation of them.

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. What did Jesus teach about seeking places of honor (Luke 14:10-11)?
2. In the passage, who are the two distinct groups that Jesus addresses
(vv. 7,12)?
3. Who will be invited to the great banquet in God's Kingdom (vv. 21, 23)?

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. Why might Jesus' message regarding hospitality and humility in these verses be difficult for some people to accept?
2. What lessons in both hospitality and humility is Jesus teaching both of the groups identified in verses 7 and 12?
3. In the In Focus story, the saints enjoyed Elder Cogswell's teaching on hospitality, yet they seem to have missed the point. What causes us to fail to apply the Scriptures in all aspects of our lives?

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

Two of the greatest obstacles to reaching outside our church walls are our misconceptions about others and our feelings of superiority about "those people." Whatever the reason, it is not acceptable to Christ whose Kingdom will be composed of people from "every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Revelation 5:9). Think about these points:

1. If God's Kingdom will be composed of people from every nation, race, culture, and socioeconomic group, why are some churches limited in diversity?

2. There are those who would argue that being "too hospitable" is taking down our "Apostolic doctrine and standard." How would you respond to that position?

MAKE IT HAPPEN

1. This week, evaluate what is hindering you from inviting others to your church. Pray and ask God to forgive you for letting it stop you form witnessing and welcoming others.

2. What does God want you to personally do about your beliefs and attitudes regarding those that you don't invite to church?

(Except from The Apostolic Light P.A.W.)

 

 

 

 

 

HOW to LIVE as GOD'S PEOPLE

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL;

KNOW how to interpret the meaning of love and judgment; EXPLORE the difficult feelings associated with loving people who show total disdain for us; and COMMIT to praying in love for an "enemy."

 

FOCAL VERSES Luke 6:17-31

KEEP IN MIND

"But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you" (Luke 6:27).

 

AT-A-GLANCE

1. God's People are Recipients of God's Blessings (Luke 6:17-23)

2. God's People Anticipate Future Rewards (vv. 24-26)

3. God's People are Called to Live a Distinctive Lifestyle (vv. 27-31)

 

IN FOCUS STORY

Greg looked out on the lawn at all the trash and let out a deep sigh. "I'm tired of them knocking our trash cans over every week and I have to clean it up." Greg had a right to be upset. His neighbors, the Jacksons, had been a nuisance to his family since they moved in next door. It first started with the all-night parties and the loud music.

Greg's dad had asked them to turn it down a notch, and after that, the Jacksons intentionally began to show hostility toward Greg and his family. Knocking down trash cans and taunting Greg's dad were not enough. The Jacksons' oldest son, Dayshawn, began to insult and threaten Greg at school. Greg's dad walked out onto the front porch and shook his head. "I guess they need a little more love."

Greg was fuming with anger. "A little more love? I think they need a little more fists, and Dayshawn was going to be the first to get his."

"No, son," interjected Greg's dad. "That may be how they do things, but we do things differently in the family."

As followers of Jesus, we are called to live a distinctive lifestyle marked by love. In this lesson, we will learn how to love other regardless of how the treat us.

 

PEOPLE, PLACES and TIMES

The Disciples. The word disciple means learner or student. It is most often used for students or followers of Jesus and only used in the Gospels and Acts. These students of Jesus were distinct from the multitudes that gathered when he preached and performed miracles. The Gospels refer to the Twelve and another larger group of unnamed disciples. Jesus spent intensive time with the Twelve; the other larger group of disciples did not spend as much time with Jesus but accepted and followed His teaching and practices.

 

The Plain. The plain or level place could have been one of two things. It could have been an actual plain or flat piece of land; it also could have been level place on the side of the mountain. This word has confused scholars. as some have believed this passage is parallel to Matthew 5-7. If not parallel, then Jesus repeated some of the same sayings on a different occasion (which was often the case for an itinerant teacher).

Tyre and Sidon. Important cities on the coast of what is present-day Lebenon. In the Old Testament, they were powerful city-states and home to the Phoenicians. They were also know as the Sidonians- a Canaanite people who were not driven out by the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land. Instead, they remained on the coast and became powerful and rich through shipping and trading. Both cities were conquered by the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans and consisted of mixed populations. The Greek woman in Mark 7:23-30 was a citizen of Tyre or Sidon.

 

BACKGROUND

After spending all night prayer in choosing the 12 apostles who would continue His ministry, Jesus descended to a plain where a group of disciples and a great multitude from all over the surrounding country were waiting for Him. They had traveled to hear this great teacher and be healed of their diseases and cured of evil spirits. Jesus came down with the Twelve and their presence symbolized the creation of a new Israel. Just like Israel had set of laws that governed their behavior as a people, Jesus gave His disciples as set of "laws" that would govern their behavior. This set of laws is called the Sermon on the Plain.

The Sermon on the Plain is one of the most powerful passages in the entire Bible. In it, Jesus gives an agenda for God's kingdom, a set of rules and instructions for His people to live by. The first part of these instructions consists of four blessings and four woes. These blessings and woes are followed by more explicit instructions on loving our enemies and doing good to those who mistreat us. These instructions are general guidelines and do not cover every situation but can all be grouped under golden rule: "Do to others as you would like them to do to you" (6:31, NLT).

 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. What is the significance of people coming from Tyre and Sidon to hear Jesus (Luke 6:17)?

2. What "over the top" response are we to demonstrate even the persecution (v. 23)?

3. What does it mean to bless those who curse us (v. 28)?

 

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. What is the kingdom of God?

2. How are we as believers empowered by God to love our enemies?

3. What can we do now to cultivate joy about the future reward we will receive from God?

4. In the In Focus story, what advice would you give Greg and his dad?

 

 

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

1. As followers of Jesus, we are called to live in a upside-down kingdom. We are not to follow the ways of this world. We are to live a distinctive lifestyle marked by love-not only for those who love us, but for those who are considered our enemies as well. This is the way of Jesus. Jesus, however, did not call us to love our enemies just for our own sakes. What impact should our love have on our enemies and onlookers?

 

 

2. Are those who are baptized in Jesus' Name ever in danger of the woes Jesus gives in verses 24 to 25?

 

3. There are some people who would say that Jesus is anti-rich. What argument can you formulate either for or against that idea based on Luke 6:17-31?

 

MAKE IT HAPPEN

1. Make a list of the people who really anger or oppose you. Then prayerfully review your list to discover why you consider that person an enemy. Is it based on religion, ethnicity, political differences, their relationships with someone else, or their personal interaction with you?

Examine your own attitude and seek the Lord's direction on how to show them mercy and love, rather than either seeking to get even or ignore them.

 

2. It is easy to love those who love us. It is only natural to embrace people who embrace us. It is supernatural, however, to love those who hate us and mistreat us. Yet this is what we are called to do. Because we have the favor of God and the power of the Holy Ghost, we can embrace and love our enemies. Examine Jesus' command in verse 31. Then instead of posting hateful or demeaning notes on social media of discussing your disdain with others, offer prayers for those you find it difficult to love. Finally, consider have lunch or coffee with someone you consider an enemy.

 

(Except from The Apostolic Light P.A.W)

 

 

HONORING THE SABBATH

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL:

KNOW the principles behind the Jewish Sabbath laws, FEEL an appreciation for Jesus' care of human needs; and PLAN to honor the need for Sabbath rest and worship.

 

FOCAL VERSES Luke 6:1-11

KEEP IN MIND

"Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?"

(Luke 6:9)

 

 

AT-A-GLANCE

1. Jesus Meets Human Needs on the Sabbath (Luke 6:1-4)

2. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (v. 5)

3. Jesus Shows Justice and Mercy on the Sabbath (vv. 6-10)

4. Jesus Shows the True Meeting of the Sabbath (v. 11)

 

 

IN FOCUS STORY

God blessed Tasha with a excellent job. She gave her all to her work and still managed her time well. Before too long, she was promoted. That's when the job became more demanding. She found herself missing Bible class more often then not. She decided to step down from the choir because she seemed to always have a late meeting. After a while, she realized that not only was she missing some Sundays, but family events as well.

She felt led one day to call her friend Ernestine just to "vent". Ernestine listened and then said, "Have you considered that your stress is due in part to being tired, overwhelmed, and out of contact with the Lord? You need rest, babe- Sabbath rest. You need to stop, get away, and spend time with God. Get back to your early morning devotions and Bible reading. Make Jesus the priority and it will all fall in line."

"I guess that's why He had me call you," Tasha said. "Sabbath rest is what I need. Will you pray for me now?" Weeping Tasha bowed her head.

 

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, and TIMES

Sabbath. The Jewish day of rest. It is based on God's act of resting on the seventh day after creation. Its observance has been practiced by Jewish people from the time of Moses. Keeping the Sabbath was a very critical issue in separating Jews form Gentiles and maintain purity. It was so important that Jewish leaders created 39 laws to make sure they were not violating the Sabbath. There were multiple laws on what constituted work on the Sabbath, and these laws were hotly debated by the Pharisees and other religious groups in first-century Palestine>

Pharisees. One of the major religious groups in first-century Palestine. Religious leaders known for their zealous obedience to God's law. They also became major opponents of Jesus. The name Pharisee carries the connotation of separatists and may indicate their devotion to avoiding things that would make them unclean. They believed in the twofold law: the written and oral Torah or tradition. This tradition is what usually brought them into arguments with Jesus. One of these traditions regarded the keeping of the Sabbath.

Man with Withered hand. The man with a withered hand was the recipient of healing from Jesus. His hands was deformed and, as a result, he could not use it to do anything-especially to work. This is significant in the store because the main argument between the Pharisees and Jesus was whether He was working on the Sabbath by healing the man with a withered hand-a man who was disabled and more than likely could not do any work on any day, including the Sabbath. Jesus' healing helped to make work and many other things in life possible for this man. It was truly and act of justice and mercy.

 

BACKGROUND

Sabbath observance was one of the marks of being a true Jew in first century Palestine. As a result, what constituted true Sabbath observance was a hot topic of discussion. In its true definition, keeping the Sabbath meant ceasing activity, and most conservative Jews attempted to live out this definition. The problem was there was no set definition of what was meant by "work". The Pharisees and other religious leaders constantly debated the definition of "work" and recorded many guidelines in order to help people in their observance of the Sabbath. Many ordinary things were considered to be violations of the Sabbath, including such things as lighting a lamp. Unfortunately, many of these extra laws became a direct violation of human need.

Jesus and His disciples were meeting their needs when they walked into a field and began to pluck the grains of wheat and rub them in their hands in order to break them up so they could eat them. The two actions of plucking and rubbing were defined by conservative Pharisees as harvesting and threshing: two actions forbidden on the Sabbath because they were work Jesus explained to the Pharisees that the Sabbath is not an end in itself but was created to meet our needs as human beings. In saying this, Jesus asserted His sovereignty over the Sabbath. Next, He healed a man with a withered hand and challenged the Pharisees by asking whether is was lawful to do harm or to do good on the Sabbath. The question stumped them. Jesus redefined Sabbath law with two guidelines: justice and mercy.

 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. What is showbread (Luke 6:4)?

2. What reason did Jesus give for the legitimacy of the actions of the disciples in plucking grain on the Sabbath (v.5)?

3. Do these events occur because of only one Sabbath encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees (v. 6)?

 

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. Explain why Jesus' healing of the man was not in violation of the Sabbath (vv. 9-10).

2. Jesus says that He is "Lord also of the Sabbath." As New Testament believers, what does that say about Jesus' concern for every aspect of our lives?

3. In the In Focus story, was Ernestine's advice to Tasha good? How might you apply Sabbath rest to your life?

 

LESSONS IN OUR SOCIETY

Our bureaucratic society often makes rules that hinder meeting human needs. In Luke 6, Jesus shows us that human needs are a priority over religious or social rules. As the Apostolic Pentecostal church, how can we keep God's justice and mercy as guidelines when it comes to doing good and making a difference in the lives of others?

 

MAKE IT HAPPEN

Individually there are ways we can place ourselves in position to help meet the needs of others. We can volunteer at a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, foster programs, community centers, mission programs, etc. Consider how you can take action on the needs that God wants you to meet.

 

(Except from the Apostolic Light Pentecostal Assemblies of the World)