THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

AIM FOR CHANGE

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL;

EXPLORE the biblical and spiritual principles behind loving God and our neighbors; DESIRE to genuinely express kindness to those we meet; and PRAY for forgiveness for not universally applying God's love. 

FOCAL VERSES Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Mark 12:28-34

KEEP IN MIND

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:30-31). 

AT-A-GLANCE

1. Love Defined (Leviticus 19:18)

2. Love Commanded (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

3. Love Lived (Mark 12:28-34)

IN FOCUS STORY

The fact that Darrin was in the car alone did not stop him from talking and mumbling under his breath. "I am so sick of this. This guy had better not come up to my car asking my to by some homeless newspaper. It's at the point where you can't stop at a light or pull into a gas station without someone begging."

Darrin wished the light would change. He kept his gaze ahead. He didn't even want to feel sorry for this jerk. For some reason, however, his gaze drifted to the man. That's when he recognized the man's disfigured ear. It was Clyde.

He and Clyde had grown up together in the projects. Clyde's family had always had problems. His dad was in jail and his mom had overwhelming mental issues. His grandmother took care of them. He had been with Clyde during the accident; Darrin had come out unscathed, but Clyde's ear was badly damaged and he lost his hearing in that ear. His family couldn't afford the plastic surgery or any other medical attention, so Clyde bore a disfigurement and disability for life. When Darrin's family moved, he lost touch with Clyde.

Ashamed, Darrin pulled his care over and got out. "Wow," he said this time. "I went on with my life. I should have loved my neighbor enough to find him before now." He walked to Clyde and extended his hand. 

In today's lesson, we can discover what it means to love God with all of our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. 

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, and TIMES

Scribes. The scribes were more than just copiers. During the time that Israel was captive in Babylon, they became interpreters and preservers of the Scriptures. They knew ancient and contemporary law in depth and functioned in society as judges and lawyers. Although they were often associated with the Pharisees, they were separate group. In the Gospels, they were usually arguing with Jesus over legal matters. 

Whole Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices. A whole burnt offering was the whole of an animal, usually a lamb or a bull. The whole animal carcass was placed on the altar, burned, and consumed with fire. The offerings were placed on the altar daily in the temple courts, and their smoke could be seen on a daily basis. This offering symbolized complete and total dedication to God and His will. Those who offered it saw giving of this offering and other sacrifices as and act of religious devotion to God. 

Kingdom of God. The kingdom of  God was understood to be the rule and reign of God over His people and the whole earth. This was to be accomplished through the Messiah, who would defeat the enemies of God's people and establish a kingdom of peace and justice. It became the hope and dream of the Jews, and expectation was that God would expel the Romans and establish a Jewish king. This was the desire of the Jewish population living in Palestine. Jesus infused this term with spiritual meaning as well, and it became synonymous with the working of the Holy Spirit and righteousness in the life of God's people. 

BACKGROUND

The scribes often argued with Jesus about the correct way to interpret the law. Jesus was questioned on a topic that was currently debated by many rabbis and priest in Israel-which commanded was the greatest. At the time, rabbis, such as Hillel, did not think that all the commandments held equal importance. The idea was to find the "parent" commandment from which all the other commands could be reduced. Jesus responded with two passages familiar to His audience, defining His understanding of the law what is means to truly follow God's commands. 

The command to love was prominent in the Jewish Scriptures and in the religious life of Israel. Love was given first to God. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 states the loyalty that the Israelites were to give God and God alone by loving or desiring Him with all their hearts, minds and strength. This passage is called the Shema. The words of the Shema were to be worn on the hands and head and placed on the doorpost in order to remind faithful Jews of the obligations. Jesus stated that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all of our being. 

The next passage that Jesus cited has to do with love on a social relational level. This command first appears in Leviticus 19:18. In this verse, the Israelites were commanded against holding grudges or taking revenge one each other, but instead to love their neighbors as themselves. This command was given in the context of fostering love between fellow Israelites. Later on, it was widened to include others outside of the nation of Israel. Jesus made this command the second greatest command in the whole Bible. Together, both of these commands constitute what it means to express and experience the kingdom of God. 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. What actions are in opposition to love (Leviticus 19:18)?

2. What are the indicators of the importance of teaching children to love according to the command of God (Deuteronomy 6:7-9)?

3. Why did the scribe ask Jesus  which commandment was greatest (Mark 12:28)?

4. Explain why we must love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (v. 30). 

5. What does it mean to be "no far from the kingdom of God" (v. 34)?

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. How can we make loving God and others a priority in our lives?

2. How do these three passages expand the understanding of what it means to love our neighbor?

3. Deuteronomy goes to great length to describe how Israel was to teach children the command of God to love Him and its neighbors. How can we pass the principles of love to our children today?

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

In a global world, our neighbors are limitless. How can we bring love to our neighborhoods and our cities? As the Apostolic Pentecostal church, what responsibility do we have to carry out the commands of Leviticus and Deuteronomy? How can we bring the love of Jesus to a dying world?

MAKE IT HAPPEN

1. Every day we have the opportunity to love God as our highest priority, and to love our neighbor wholeheartedly. Loving our neighbor as ourselves is a sign that God is working in us. Examine your innermost emotions and identify those people you have not loved as you should. Regardless of what hinders your love for them, make the first step-a call, a letter, a text, a tweet. Do whatever it takes to move toward loving as you should. 

2. In order to love God with all of our being. we must commit to setting aside time daily for prayer and meditation on His Word. Commit to memorizing Scriptures. Make it a habit think of Him throughout the day. Give practical attention to loving your neighbor as yourself. Ask God to help you learn to speak encouragement to others. Make a plan now to live our the Word daily. 

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

JESUS' TEACHING ON THE LAW

AIM FOR CHANGE

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL:

IDENTIFY how this lesson clarifies the difference between the letter and the spirit of the law; REFLECT on the impact of traditions on our faith; and CONSIDER whether we have kept traditions without regard to their spiritual significance or truth. 

FOCAL VERSES Matthew 15:1-11, 15-20

KEEP IN MIND

"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men"

(Matthew 15:8-9).

AT-A-GLANCE

1. The Scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 15:1-9)

2. The Crowds (vv. 10-11)

3. The Disciples (vv. 15-20)

IN FOCUS STORY

Carl always thought part of being a good Christian was the ability to pay tithes. When he lost his job, he found him self  in an awkward situation, having to choose between paying tithes and using his unemployment checks to pay for basic necessities. He began to feel bad about his inability to tithe. 

One day he decided to talk to his pastor about how guilty he felt. "Pastor, since I've been unemployed, I haven't been paying my tithes. I feel terrible about it. I know I'm required to do this and that it's an obligation, but living off unemployment gives men so little to work with. Julia and I still have two kids to feed and since the economy tanked, our house note has gone up along with our taxes. She's working, but she does't make much and nothing new is coming along for her either. I fell like God won't forgive men for not being able to tithe. What should I do?"

In this lesson, Jesus challenges the Pharisees and scribes regarding their practice of honoring traditions over the truth God's Word. 

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, and TIMES

Pharisees. As one of the largest groups of Jewish religious leaders in the New Testament, they transformed the focus of Judaism from sacrifice to law. They accepted the Scripture (our Old Testament) as the authority because they believed the way to God was obedience to the law. Problems arose, however, because over the years they added hundreds of religious traditions to the law and thn made those traditions as important as the law. They were fierce opponents of Jesus because He refuted their interpretation of the law and many of their traditions. 

Hypocrite. A Greek word, the original meaning was to five an answer. The meaning later shifted to describe one who is pretentious or believes he is a better person then he really is. The Synoptic Gospels describe Jesus' opposition to the religious leaders who acted like hypocrites (see Matthew 6, 15, 22-24; Mark 7; Luke 11-12).

BACKGROUND

As the first book of the New Testament, Matthew introduced Jesus Christ: "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1, NKJV). Presented as a proclamation of Good News, the Gospel of Matthew establishes Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, and the world's Savior. 

The Gospel of Matthew records the birth of Jesus to Mary, who was a virgin; her subsequent marriage to Joseph; the wise men who came to visit the infant Jesus; and the fleeing of Joseph and Mary to Egypt after an angel of the Lord warned Joseph to take his family there for protection. The Gospel of Matthew describes the birth of Jesus as fulfilling prophecy. "So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel'" (from vv. 22-23, NKJV). 

Jesus taught His disciples and, through the Word of God, teaches us how to live and then how to share with others the way to become His followers. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (from 28:19-20, NKJV). 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. How were the religious leaders using a tradition to excuse breaking God's law (Matthew 15:3-6)?

2. What prophecy by Isaiah does Jesus say fits the hypocritical actions of the religious leaders (vv. 7-9)?

3. What sins does Jesus say come "from the heart" (v. 19)?

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. Instead of immediately responding to the accusation regarding ceremonial hand washing, Jesus took the opportunity to discuss the hypocrisy behind the religious traditions. Relate this to the difference between the letter and the spirit of the law. 

2. Jesus' teaching was His response to the question about hand washing. His answer, however, was addressed to the multitude, not the leaders. Why?

3. Are there any traditions practiced by Apostolics that have been give precedence over or have no clear basis in God's Word? If so, what are these traditions? What is the result of holding traditions above spiritual truths?

4. What is your response to Carl (In Focus)? Support your response with Scripture. 

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

Our culture hold traditions high. Everything from school colors to "lucky baseball socks" can represent traditions that are accepted without knowing their meaning. People sometimes hold their traditions on the same level as their faith. Make a list of the good, bad, and suspicious traditions that have crept into religious practices. Is there any spiritual significance or danger in any of the  traditions you have listed? If so, what should be done?

MAKE IT HAPPEN

What traditions in the church or your family have been a help or hindrance to your spiritual walk? Create a list of steps to either return the negative traditions to their proper point of reference or rid yourself of them. 

(Except from the Apostolic Light Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.)

JESUS' MISSION ON EARTH

AIM FOR CHANGE

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL:

RECOGNIZE the significance of what Jesus read in the synagogue at Nazareth; BE MOTIVATED to explore our spiritual gifts and consider what God may want us to do with our lives; and CREATE a list of our spiritual gifts with ways God can use each. 

FOCAL VERSES 

Luke 4:14-21

KEEP IN MIND

"And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:21).

AT-A-GLANCE

1. Return From the Wilderness (Luke 4:14-15)

2. Preaching in Nazareth (vv. 16-17)

3. Outlining His Mission (vv. 18-19)

4. The Shortest Sermon Ever (vv. 20-21)

IN FOCUS STORY

Sam showed up for church a few hours early. It was Youth Sunday, and as the president of the Young Peoples Auxiliary, he was charged with delivering the Sunday morning sermon this week. He definitely had pre-sermon butterflies. He knew others in the church were more qualified than him and had far more experience. The church had a number of people who had earned degrees from credible universities, while Sam had just started working on his bachelor's degree. There were also a few national evangelists in the ministerial alliance. Sam was an avid Bible student, but he hadn't been preaching that long. He wasn't really sure that he was called to be a preacher. Still he had prayed and fasted all week, asking that the Lord speak through him. 

An hour later, Sam delivered one of the most powerful sermons ever preached at his church. The pas tort and others confirmed as much. As he got on his knees later to thank the Lord for blessing the message and the messenger, Sam realized that once he opened himself to stepping out in faith to speak God's Word, he felt the Lord's leading and anointing. 

In today's lesson, we learn that our destiny, like our mission, is determined by the Lord. We must be prepared to boldly declare His will. 

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, and TIMES

Nazarenes. The people in the town of Nazareth did not have a good reputation in the region of Galilee. Their unpolished dialect and lack of culture, religious devotion, and morals could have been the cause. The resident of Nazareth were considered to be aggressive people, scathing and fiery. Indeed, when Nathanael first heard that Jesus was from Nazareth, he asked, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (from John 1:46, NLT).

Nazareth. Jesus spent His childhood and youth in this small town, from which He set out to visit the towns and villages of Galilee. After the destruction of the second temple, some Jews lived at Nazareth and it was the seat of the priestly family of Pises. After His death, Nazareth, in its association with Jesus, began to enjoy a place of prominence. 

BACKGROUND

Luke, a doctor, was not among the twelve apostles. On one of Paul's missionary journeys, it is assumed that Luke possibly was saved. Luke began to accompany the Apostle Paul, and some portions of the book of Acts included "we" sections, denoting Luke's presence (Acts 16:10; 20:5, et al.). Luke 4 begins with the temptation of Jesus. Jesus went on a forty-day fast after His water baptism. Satan came to tempt Him at the end of His Fasting period. The temptations reveal the deceit of Satan and what he will do for power. This all occurred before Jesus went into the synagogue at Galilee. 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. What was the atmosphere around Jesus when He came into Galilee (Luke 14:14)?

2. What does Luke point out about Nazareth (Luke 4:16)?

3. What does the passage from Isaiah say is Jesus' mission as Messiah (v. 18)?

4. What was Jesus sent to proclaim (v. 19)?

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. Would the impact of this passage have been the same if it had been the first thing Jesus did in His ministry?

2. Luke 14:18 doesn't just list the activities of the Messiah, it includes the recipients of each. What is the significance of each pairing?

3. What is the "acceptable year of the Lord"?

4. What is the significance of Jesus going into the synagogue (Luke 4:16, 20)?

5. Explain what confirmation (if any) Sam, the In Focus character, received regarding his call. 

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

We are called to preach the Good News to the poor and proclaim freedom to those imprisoned by sin. We tend to leave that to others. Develop a plan to support the P.A.W. Mission Program or to engage in the evangelism efforts of your church or council. If you are already involved in such outreach programs, recruit others to be a blessing to all "nations, tongues, and tribes."

MAKE IT HAPPEN

1. Often we work in ministry based on what others do, what is popular to do, or what just needs doing. While that may be helpful to the body, it may not be fulfilling the passion and call God has for you. This week, complete a spiritual gifts inventory. While it is not the only way to find your gifts, it may help you confirm or negate your thinking. Go to God in prayer, asking for clarity for the next steps in your life. And by all means speak with your pastor. 

2. Don't have the Holy Ghost? That's step one. Seek today to be saved!

(Except from the P.A.W. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.)

JESUS RESISTS TEMPTATION

AIM FOR CHANGE

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL:

EXPLAIN the significance of using Scripture to fight and overcome temptation; REFLECT on the awesome power of the written Word of God; and DEVELOP a workable, realistic, desirable, and systematic plan for studying the Bible. 

FOCAL VERSES Deuteronomy 6:13-16; Matthew 4:4-11

KEEP IN MIND

"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, 

Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:10). 

AT-A-GLANCE

1. The Commandment (Deuteronomy 6:13-16)

2. The Temptation (Matthew 4:4-11)

IN FOCUS STORY

Mother Lawson was a wonderful saint of God. She not only raised her own children, but she was often a mom to the children in her neighborhood. At her Church, she was more than faithful; she was a stalwart prayer warrior and worker. If she could lend a hand or give an encouraging word, she would. And she knew the Word. She had taught Sunday School and served for several years as the superintendent. Even at 80, she wasn't slowing down very much. She was as vibrant as she had ever been. 

That started to end, however, when the family noticed that her forgetfulness was a bit more than the "old timers" she wanted admit. She got lost on her own block. She left the stove on and forgot to close the doors. Medical test confirmed Alzheimer's. The disease robbed her ability to recognize friends and most family. Though the disease progressed, everyone was amazed at what she did remember. When the saints visited and sang the old songs of Zion, Mother Lawson would chime in. When anyone read the Bible to her, she could be heard quoting one or more of the Scriptures form the book they were reading. 

Today's lesson show us how we should take delight in God's Word and meditate on it day and night. 

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, and TIMES

Oaths. Yahweh's name was considered powerful and effective; the utterance of oaths would demonstrate which deity was truly considered powerful. Though inheriting the cities, homes, and farms of the Canaanites, the Israelites were not to inherit the gods that had been associated with protecting those cities and providing fertility to the land. One of the ways to demonstrate their rejection of those gods was to refuse to attribute power to them through oaths. 

Massah. The name given to the place at Rephidim near Sinai where water came out of the rock. As the Israelites traveled in the wilderness after their liberation for slavery in Egypt, they complained to Moses about a lack of drinking water (Exodus 14:1-7). Moses accused them of putting the Lord to the test. The Lord told him that he would smite a rock in that place, and water would emerge for the Israelites to drink. 

Pinnacle. The NLT and NIV translate "pinnacle" as "highest point." It is impossible to decide definitely what portion of the temple was referred to as the pinnacle. The use of the definite article make plain that it was not a pinnacle but the pinnacle. Much difference of opinion exists respecting it. but it may be that it was the battlement ordered by law to be added to every roof. 

BACKGROUND

The Lord was about to give the Israelites "instant prosperity" in their new land. But there is an inherent danger in prosperity, because when a person prospers, he could forget God. It was at the height of David's own prosperity that he committed his greatest acts of unfaithfulness. When the Israelites would come into this prosperity, they were to be all the more careful to fear God and serve Him. The command to "swear" (take oaths) by the name of the Lord reinforces the instruction to fear Him, because one swears by the God he fears, and under whom he is responsible to fulfill hi oaths. If they would forget God, they would almost certainly follow other gods, for God created people not only with the capacity but the need to worship. And this act of unfaithfulness would result in judgement, since the Lord "is a jealous God." This means He zealously protects what belongs to Him alone. Jealousy in this sense is ethically right; jealousy in the sense of envy for another's possessions or privileges is, of course wrong.

Moses envisioned another sin the Israelites might be tempted to in the new land-that of testing the Lord. This implies that at times the people would face hardship as they did at Massah, where that lacked water and thought they would die of thirst. Rather than trusting God in this trial, they tested Him by complaining and quarreling. In the future, the Israelites would remember this embarrassing incident. They would know that if they obeyed His commands, doing what is right and good, then no matter what hardship they might encounter, God would take care of them. 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. Who should you fear, serve, and maintain faith in at all times (Deuteronomy 6:13)?

2. What should you not do to God and why (vv. 14-16)?

3. What about the devil's attacks indicates the necessity of knowing the Scriptures (Matthew 4:6)?

4. What was Satan's ultimate goal (v. 10)?

5. Who ministered to Jesus after the Devil left Him (v. 11)?

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. Deuteronomy 6:13 gives explicit directions. How do verses 14-16 more clearly explain the command in verse 13?

2. In Matthew 4:4, does the mandate to live by the words of God negate the importance of addressing our physical needs?

3. Why doe you think the temptation occurred at the top of the temple rather that just on a high mountain? What does this tell us about what Satan tries to do to the saints of God?

4. Why do you think Mother Lawson in the In Focus story did not lose her memory of the Word of God? What does this say about the power of the Word? What does it say about Mother Lawson's discipline?

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

The media and our culture make it seem so much easier to do wrong than right. In film, politics, business, and other areas, wrong is not only appealing, but it appears that people can get away with it. Sin has become so common that it masquerades as normal. God has laid out very specific guidelines for those of us who trust Him. It is our responsibility to know those guidelines and to apply them to every aspect of our lives. 

1. What can you do to better memorize Scripture?

2. There are people around the world-and in our communities- who do not have Bibles. As an Apostolic congregation, is there anything your church family can do to alleviate that problem? Should you?

MAKE IT HAPPEN

Jesus is Himself God, yet He was tempted by Satan. How much more will Satan tempt us who struggle in our own sinful lusts? In the fight against evil and temptation, is it sufficient to be able to recite Scripture without giving evidence that you are living it?

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