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Christian Education

This page contains the content of Christian Education post. It is one of the ways we use to extend the teaching ministry of the Church to our members, our friends and the world. It is a supplement to the teaching that goes on in classrooms, meetings, and other gatherings of the Church where Christian theology, doctrine, and instruction is taught. We are welcomed and encouraged to comment on any of the messages by clicking the “SS Preview” link you want to comment on, going to the bottom of the page and filling in and Submitting the Reply at the end of the message. Most of the post will have audio playback so you can listen to as well as read them. We hope you are blessed, enlighten and inspired through our Christian Education forums and invite you to join us at any of our meetings.

Aug '19

SS Preview Sept 1 2019

Posted on Aug 29, 2019 in Christian Education |

Aug '19

The title of this Sunday’s Lesson is “Faith and Doubt”. The lesson text is found in Genesis 19:1; 15-26; 29. Faith and doubt are in conflict like fire and water. Fire doesn’t cancel water, but water cancels fire. And doubt is what cancels faith and faith is what saves.

There are two fundamental doubts that has and continue to overthrow the faith of some and prevent others from obtaining faith. The first doubt is whether what we have is better than what we shall receive. The other is the doubt that God will do what He says He can and will do. Both of these doubts were evident as Lot hesitated to leave at the command of the angels with them.

First, Lot appeared comfortable in Sodom and satisfied with his life there. He had invested time and energy into achieving the life he had and now he was being commanded to leave it all behind. There was no time to take anything with him. Too many people have invested much in this world including family, friends and possessions.

Furthermore, they enjoy the pleasures this life provides and have become accustomed to them. They would rather enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season than spent an eternity with God. They, like Lot, doubt whether leaving it all is worth the promises and life God is offering.

Then Lot wasn’t convinced they were really going to destroy the city. Like Lot, people aren’t convinced God is really going to judge them and the world. Between these to doubts Lot hesitated and probably would not have been saved if the angels didn’t grab them by the hand and compelled them to come.

Most of us will probably not have an angel compel us to accept God’s offer of salvation in Jesus Christ. The best most of us can hope for is a caring family member, friend or stranger who invites us to church or shares a testimony and lives a life before us that reflects their faith and hope in Christ. Or sometimes an event in our lives can also serve as a sign and will help us to accept God’s invitation to salvation.

Any faith that arises from these or any other means is like the flickers of a flame. The water of doubt can come along in many forms and from different places to douse any new or established flames of faith. Doubt can cause a person to long for where they came from and stimulate desires for life before Christ. This is apparently what happened to Lot’s wife and to many people who start the journey but don’t continue.

Jesus made a reference to Lot’s wife when emphasizing the need to persevere and not look back, go back or long for what is being forsaken for the kingdom of God sake. He warns that whoever looks back is not fit for the kingdom. The two questions of “Is what God has and promised enough for me to let go of what I have now” and “can and will God deliver on what He has promised” is the root of doubt and the enemy of faith.

With the help of the angels Lot and His daughters overcame their doubts and escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Have you overcome your doubts that will allow you to escape the destruction of your soul? And if not, where is the water coming from that is dousing your flame of faith.

Well, I hope you will attend SS this coming Sunday and share your thoughts with the class. If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section at the bottom of this preview. So, until next time remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

Pastor Jordan

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Aug '19

SS Preview August 25, 2019

Posted on Aug 22, 2019 in Christian Education |

Aug '19

Greeting everyone

The title of this Sunday’s Lesson is “Marriage: A Covenant of Mutual Love”. The lesson text is found in Ephesians 5:21-33. God defined and instituted marriage as a bond between a man and his wife that provides the proper context for sexual relations and for bearing and rearing offspring.

The man and his wife form a team that should work together to tackle and address the challenges they encounter in life. God formed the man first and commanded him and placed him in charge. Afterward He made the man’s wife, a being like himself to be with him and to rule alongside him. And though they are equal and alike in nearly every aspect, the manner and circumstances under which they were created places the man in the first order of authority.

This is the backdrop for allowing Paul to write that they have a mutual responsibility to each other by saying they should submit to one another. Paul reminds women that their husbands have the first order of authority and that this authority is like the authority that Christ possess over the church. Next, he reminds husbands of the special status their wives have with them. Husbands should love and relate to wives as Christ loves the church.

Christ expressed His sacrificial love for His church by giving Himself for it. In fact, Paul equates wives with the husband’s own flesh noting that men are careful and nurturing with their own flesh. Furthermore, if a man loves his wife, he loves himself. Paul makes the connection between the husband and wife with that of the oneness of the body which is inseparable. He concludes by exhorting husbands to love their wives and wives to be respectful of their husbands.

Marriages work best when husbands and wives respect this divine covenant between themselves. However, too many Christians are allowing and accepting the norms of society to define marital relationships instead of the Word of God. As a result, wives are not submitting to their husbands, husbands are not loving their wives, women are marrying women and men are marrying men, adultery, fornication and divorce is rampant and out-of-wedlock births are becoming the norm instead of the exception. All of which is outside God’s divine will and institute of marriage. If these trends continue, then marriage as it should be will become a rare occurrence.

Pastor Jordan

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Aug '19

SS Preview August 18, 2019

Posted on Aug 15, 2019 in Christian Education |

Aug '19

Greetings everyone

This week’s SS lesson scriptural text is again found in the Old Testament book of Ruth. The Book of Ruth is neatly positioned between the Books of Judges and 1^st Samuel. It is a book of history that takes place after Joshua and the conquest of Canaan and before the Jewish monarchy that began with Saul. It tells the story of King David’s parentage and of Ruth his great grandmother.

Last week’s lesson introduced us to Ruth and the significance of her decision to go with Naomi back to Israel. I encourage you to listen to last week’s commentary to understand it better. This week’s lesson is entitled “A Covenant to Marry” or “The Reward of Commitment”.

Upon returning home to Israel, the two widows found themselves alone with no means of support. Grains, much like today and throughout human history, is a staple of the human diet. So, Ruth decided to go, with Naomi’s blessing, to glean or gather the leftovers of what the reapers of the grain harvest were leaving behind in whoever field would let her gleam. Gleaning indicated a person’s low economic status and was the only means many people kept from starving.

Unbeknown to Ruth, she chose the field of her dead husband and father in law kinsman. He was a wealthy and an older man and immediately took notice of Ruth and made inquiries about her. He treated her with special attention and kindness after discovering her and Naomi’s situation. After the harvest was over, Naomi instructed Ruth to go to the threshing floor where Boaz, this near kinsman, would be sleeping, undercover and lay down at his feet and ask Him to redeem that which had belonged to his deceased kinsman which would include marrying her.

This is something a woman would not normally do for fear it would appear improper, forward and prove to be very embarrassing. But Naomi sensed that Boaz had feelings for Ruth by evidence of the particular kindness He had shown toward her. Boaz, was surprised but grateful that Ruth had done this because he did have feelings for her but didn’t think she would be interested in him because of their age difference.

He promised her he would do what she asked if a nearer kinsman to them who had a stronger claim to redemption declined to do so. The other kinsman, when offered the chance to redeem all of Naomi’s and Ruth’s husband’s inheritance, declined. Boaz then made good on his promise to Ruth and redeemed it all and married Ruth. They had a son, Obed, who had a son Jesse, who had a son David of whom Jesus is called the son of.

One of the beautiful analogies of this story is that of believer and redeemer. Ruth represents the believers and Gentiles believers in particular. Boaz represents Christ the Savior. Ruth, an outsider, who placed her fate and faith in a people and God she didn’t know was saved by a Redeemer, Boaz, who showed her undeserving favor and kindness.

We too have been shown kindness and favor who are outsiders by a loving and merciful God we have place our fate and faith in. We are all a type of Ruth and Boaz is a type of Christ. Like Ruth, we must lay ourselves down at the feet of Jesus and ask Him to cover and redeem us from the curse and consequences of sin.

Ruth could have had other younger, richer men who could have comforted and took care of her but chose a redeemer instead. We too can choose someone or something other than Christ to bring us joy and comfort, but Christ is the only Redeemer of the soul and spirit. Ruth is a short book with only four chapters and is a beautiful story of fate, faith, love and redemption which is well worth the read.

Pastor Jordan

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Aug '19

SS Preview August 11, 2019

Posted on Aug 8, 2019 in Christian Education |

Aug '19

Greetings everyone

This week’s SS lesson scriptural text is found in the Old Testament book of Ruth in the 1st chapter. The Book of Ruth is neatly positioned between the Books of Judges and 1^st Samuel. It is a book of history that tells the story of King David’s parentage.

Ruth is King David’s great grandmother. She was not born Jewish, but was a Moabite. She married into a Jewish family who had come to Moab from Israel to find food and escape a famine. While living in Moab, Ruth’s husband, her father-in-law and her brother-in-law all died leaving just her, her sister-in-law and mother-in-law, Naomi.

After learning the famine was over, Naomi decides to go back to Israel and her two daughters-in-law decided to go with her. Naomi urges both of them to stay with their people and after much persuasion, one daughter-in-law decided to stay. But Ruth could not be persuaded and was determined to go with Naomi and become one of her people.

There are several important takeaways from this lesson. First, some bonds between people are so strong that they can’t be broken by circumstances. Our bond with God through Christ should be like that so that nothing can break it.

Second, sometimes we must leave what we know or our comfort zone in order to do and go where we feel compelled to go. Ruth felt compelled to go with Naomi. To be a disciple of Christ, we must forsake many, if not all of, the friendships, relationships and ways we are familiar with to go on a spiritual journey that is new, different and unknown. It doesn’t mean we won’t have any interactions with those we know, it means the manner in which we have such interactions will become new and different.

Thirdly, a person doesn’t have to be born a Jew or into the family of God to belong to His family. Most people are born outside the physical family of God because they are born non-Jewish. Ruth was one such person. But she accepted God as her God and His people as her people and God allowed her to do so and received her into His family. The same thing applies to us today. Even though we were not born into God’s family, by receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we are adopted as full children and heirs with Christ.

Finally, by trusting God, God did for her things neither she nor Naomi thought possible when they set out on their journey home. They didn’t know what awaited them or how they were going to make it. The same thing applies to us today. We can’t see or know how things are going to turn out in our lives by following Jesus. All we can know is that we trust Him, regardless of what happens, to bring us to a better and everlasting place and that He is able to make our way better and brighter as we journey to our eternal home.

This lesson is the first of two from the Book of Ruth. Today’s lesson looks at the commitment to become one of God people. Our journey as Christians must begin with commitment. Ruth’s commitment was unto death and so must ours be. Anything less is unacceptable to God. A church or individual’s faith is only as strong as their commitment is to doing the will of God. Part two of Ruth on next Sunday will look at how God intervened in Ruth’s and Naomi’s life as two widows alone with only their faith. So, don’t miss it.

Well, I hope you will attend SS this coming Sunday and share your thoughts with the class. If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section. Until next time remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

Pastor Jordan

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Aug '19

SS Preview August 4, 2019

Posted on Aug 1, 2019 in Christian Education |

Aug '19

Greeting everyone

This week’s SS lesson scriptural text is found in the Old Testament book of 1st Samuel in the 18th and 19th chapters. First and 2nd Samuel record the establishment of the Hebrew monarchy and of the reigns of Israel’s first king Saul and 2nd king David, with the exception of the last days of David which are related in the beginning of the books of Kings.

Today’s lesson is entitled “A Covenant Between Friends” or “A Trusted and Loyal Friend” and it focus’s on the friendship between Saul’s son Jonathan and Saul’s son-in-law and Israel’s 2nd king David. At first Saul liked David. But not long afterwards, Saul’s jealousy of David led him to look for ways to murder him. The marriage of David to Saul’s daughter was part of one of Saul’s plots to have him killed. But his plot backfired because she loved David and helped him to escape her father.

Nothing Saul did worked in his efforts to kill David because the Lord was with David and had anointed him to be king after He rejected Saul. David never felt about Saul the way Saul felt about him. In fact, David had opportunities to kill Saul while Saul was trying to kill him but He would not do it. Before all this jealousy began, Jonathan and David became dear friends. They never allowed Saul’s feelings and efforts to kill David to come between them.

Even though he was heir to Saul’s throne, Jonathan accepted God’s will for David and didn’t allow any ambitions he may have had to come between them. When Saul issues orders to Jonathan and the rest of his servants to kill David, Jonathan warned David of His father’s intentions, helped him to hide and then was able to talk his father out of killing David and pledged not to kill him. But Saul’s pledge didn’t last and he continued his effort to kill David.

Jonathan and David were both great warriors. Jonathan died in battle alongside his father Saul and soon thereafter David became king of Israel. David wept bitterly at the news that Saul and his friend Jonathan had fallen in battle. One thing we can take from all this is that we should feel about the Savior the same way David and Jonathan felt about each other.

We must not allow anything and anyone to come between us. God’s love is steadfast and despite whatever or whoever comes our way to test that love, we must be able to say and believe as the Apostle Paul said “I will let nothing separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus”. Well, I hope you will attend SS this coming Sunday and share your thoughts with the class on this important lesson. If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section. Until next time remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

Pastor Jordan

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Jul '19

SS Preview July 28, 2019

Posted on Jul 25, 2019 in Christian Education |

Jul '19

Greeting everyone

This week’s SS lesson is found in the 7th chapter of Matthew as part of what is known as “the sermon on the mount”. The whole sermon consisting of chapters 5 through 7 is filled with important and fundamental Christian doctrine and truth. If you haven’t read the lesson text you can do it by clicking here. The title of the lesson is “Jesus Teaches About Spiritual Discernment” or “The Pursuit of Truth”.

People have used “Judge not” to condone and excuse misconduct from the pulpit to the door. But Jesus teaching here is not and never was intended for people to use to justify or get people to look away from their or the other’s sin. The teaching here is about attitude toward one’s self and others. We are not to have an attitude toward others in which we search for things to point to as flaws in their life or character.

Our aim or purpose is to help lift people up not condemn or judge them for where they are or have been. If we looked hard enough, I’m sure we can find something to say about just about anyone. The way we look at others then, is the way God will look at us. As we endeavor to help others, Jesus tells us to make sure we are not in need of help ourselves for what we are trying to help others with. In other words, don’t attempt to clean the house of others when ours is in need of cleaning. He says to clean our own house first and then go lend a hand to someone else.

But then He says don’t offer to clean the houses of those who don’t want their houses clean, not now or ever. These people will use you, abuse you and have contempt for your efforts. People like this have a way of letting us know they don’t need or want our help. Sadly, everyone calling on the name of Jesus is not doing the works of Jesus nor teaching the truth of what He said. To know the difference, we must judge or discern the true meaning of what we see and hear in them.

Jesus raises a very high bar when He says that a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit nor an evil tree bring forth good fruit. Keep in mind His reference is to “prophets” or generally those who claim to speak for God. I believe the “fruit” that Jesus references is every aspect of a prophet or teacher which is observable and how it lines up with the teachings of God.

Finally, Jesus warns of inauthenticity. Anyone faking it, won’t make it. Evil works or darkness have no place in the life of Christians. Not some or just a little bit, but none. Those who attempt to enter the kingdom without purging themselves of every sin and weight, do so at their own peril. As believers, we must as

1 John 3:1-3 says purify ourselves.

Well thanks for listening. Leave any comments or questions in the space provided below. I hope you will attend SS this coming Sunday and share your thoughts on this important lesson. Remember, fear God and keep His commandments.

Pastor Jordan

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Jul '19

SS Preview July 21, 2019

Posted on Jul 18, 2019 in Christian Education |

Jul '19

Greetings One and all and Welcome to This Week’s SS Lesson Preview

This week’s lesson is entitled “Jesus Teaches About Transforming Love”. If you have not already read the lesson text, I invite you to click here and read it first before continuing with this commentary. This text, like last week, is a continuation of part of what has come to be known as “the sermon on the mount” which consist of chapters 5 through 7 in Matthew. Parts of the sermon is also found in Luke and Mark.

This week’s lesson includes some fundamental principles and doctrines of Christianity. As part of His call for repentance, God requires unconditional love and forgiveness toward others. This seems difficult to do. How can you love someone who wants to harm you, take advantage of you, see you fail and display their dislike toward you in their words and actions? Jesus said the motivation to love this way is a desire to be like our Father and Creator. He points to the fact that God is good to those who are evil and unrighteous. And that there is no reward or difference in being good only to those who are good to you.

The evil and unrighteous are good to those who are good to them. But in order to be perfect, we must rise above our carnal instincts and see humanity the way God sees us. God sees us as broken and fallen and in need of help. The enemy uses our struggles, trials, tragedies and differences to pit people against one another and keep us from loving and helping each other. In most cases, people are manipulated to hate others with devices and tactics that appeal to fear and jealousy that somehow suggest the other person is a threat to us.

The hatred directed toward one person is then return by the other person. Jesus calls on His disciples to break this pattern and cycle by returning love instead of hate. Chapter 13 in 1st Corinthians is dedicated to explaining this kind of love. One of the distinguishing characteristics of love is that “love works no ill to its neighbors”. In other words, if one loves another then they will do them no harm. This love is the fulfilling of God’s law.

It is tempting to take matters into our own hands whenever we are wronged. But if we believe in and want to receive God’s mercy, we must be merciful and forgiving. We must allow and trust God to deal with evil and unrighteousness in His own way in His own time. In doing so, Jesus said we will be perfect as our Father. This concludes my commentary for Sunday, July 21. Feel free to share your thoughts, comments and questions online in the comment section. Thanks for listening.

Pastor Jordan

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Jul '19

SS Preview July 14, 2019

Posted on Jul 12, 2019 in Christian Education |

Jul '19

Greetings my friends and Welcome to This Week’s SS Lesson Preview

This week’s lesson is entitled “Jesus Teaches Us to Love One Another”. If you have not already read the lesson text, I invite you to read it first before hearing this commentary. It is always better to form your own thoughts before listening to the thoughts of others. This text, like last week, is a continuation of part of what has come to be known as “the sermon on the mount” which consist of chapters 5 through 7 in Matthew. Parts of the sermon is also found in Luke and Mark.

As the lesson title indicates, Jesus focus is on our relationship to others. He gives three examples of situations where Christians should take note and modify their behavior according to the principles outlined in each case. The first part of the lesson address negative feelings toward other people. People often dislike other people even when they have not done anything to harm or hurt them. This is hating people without cause.

No one controls who their parent are, what they look like when born, where they live and many other factors they had or have no control over. Yet, people are often despised and hated over these types of things. As a result, people are often devalued and referred to in derogatory and demeaning ways that demonstrated their dislike and contempt for these people. Jesus warns that such feeling will get those who harbor such feeling in trouble.

Jesus also teaches in this lesson to settle disputes quickly to avoid them spiraling out of control. Avoid being stubborn and hard-hearted over disputes one may have with other. This can only lead to deeper resentment and hardships that should have and could have been avoided. He further states that our own overtures toward God are not accepted until we settle matters we know of involving disputes and hurtful feeling others have toward us that we can do something about.

Finally, He deals with marriage relationships. Christian marriage is designed to last a lifetime, but there are at least two factors that work against this kind of marriage. These two things are uncontrolled lust and selfishness. The only divinely sanctioned place for sexual intimacy is within marriage. Problems arise when people seek to fulfill this intimacy outside this arrangement.

“Hardness of the heart” refers to our own selfishness to have what we want regardless of what it does to others or how they feel or may feel it we leave them. Uncontrolled lust occurs when we are willing or looking to be intimate outside of marriage if presented with acceptable circumstances even if the circumstances haven’t presented themselves to us.

In conclusion, God calls upon us to demonstrate compassion, mercy and forgiveness toward others by allowing ourselves to suffer wrong, not judge people based on superficial things, not being too proud to say forgive me or I’m sorry and realizing that marriage is not all about us and what we want. This concludes my commentary for Sunday, July 7. Feel free to share your thoughts, comments and questions online in the comment section. Thanks for listening

Pastor Jordan

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Jul '19

SS Preview July 7, 2019

Posted on Jul 4, 2019 in Christian Education |

Jul '19

Greetings my fellow bible scholars

This week’s lesson is entitled “Jesus Teaches about Fulfilling the Law”. If you have not already read the lesson text, I invite you to read it first before hearing this commentary. It always better to form your own thoughts before listening to the thoughts of others. The text is a continuation of the beginning of what has come to be known as “the sermon on the mount” which consist of chapters 5 through 7 in Matthew. Parts of this complete passage is also found in Luke and Mark.

Today’s lesson focuses on verses 13 through 20. One of the main themes here is “walking the walk of the talk”. One of the primary weaknesses in contemporary Christianity is how little we value the importance of holy living. Jesus emphasizes the importance of being a changing influence upon the culture. He uses the metaphors of being both “salt” and “light”. Salt changes the favor and acts as a preservative. His disciples are called to change the “flavor” or “behavior” of the world in order to help “save or preserve” it.

Light is needed in order for people to see where they are going. His disciples are to be beacons of truth and hope to guide people out of the darkness of ignorance and despair. None of which is possible when the people His disciples are called to help don’t see any transforming power or distinction from themselves in those who say they are Christ’s disciples. He then points out that the current leadership doesn’t practice what they preach and urges His disciples not to imitate them in this regard. He makes it clear that the status quo is not going to make it and that His disciples must not just talk the talk, but also walk the walk.

In our own society we have those we consider highly desirable citizens and those we look on as dregs to society. Jesus compares those who break and teach others either directly or indirectly the commandments and those who keep and teach others to keep either directly or indirectly the commandments to these to groups of people in society. You have those who are most desirable (greatest) and least desirable (least) in any kingdom.

In conclusion, fulfilling the law is accomplished by becoming and remaining an agent by which people can change their lives. Instead of changing the people and culture, far too many in the church are being influenced instead of influencing. This concludes my commentary for Sunday, July 7. Feel free to share your thoughts, comments and questions online in the comment section. Thanks for listening.

Aug '18

SS Preview August 12, 2018

Posted on Aug 9, 2018 in Christian Education |

Aug '18

Greeting Members and Friends

It time once again for our weekly Sunday School preview so thanks for joining me and welcome back. The Summer Quarter entitled “Justice in the New Testament” focuses on ways God demonstrates His justice and ways His people should follow His example. The August unit is entitled “Paul Teaches about New Life in Christ” and has four lessons that offer Paul’s teachings about just and merciful behaviors. Those who live the new life in Christ are called to imitate God’s just and merciful nature through their actions toward others, including their enemies.

This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “Global Economic Justice” Or “Charitable Equity For All”. In this week’s lesson, Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians the importance of giving as a sign of Christian love. The Corinthians had already began a collection for some in need but had not completed it. Paul asked them to complete what they had started and used the church in Macedonia as an example of unselfish giving. Paul said that those with the means should share with those without the means so that both will have enough. Paul expresses that this is not a command, but it does stand to prove the sincerity of the love.

Not that any should give that they may suffer to relieve the suffering of others. But so that there may be equity in the body of Christ. This tells us that all should tithe. By tithing, those with more give more and that abundance is used to cover the shortfall of those who have less. But Paul suggest we don’t stop with tithing. If fact, he doesn’t even mention tithing because his focus is not on the tithe, but on an offering. He is asking them to give over and above what they are already giving in order to assist a brother or sister in need.

James tells us that if we refuse to come to the aid of a brother or sister in need when we have the means to help them, then we have denied the faith (James 2:16). It is more blessed to give than to receive. So many in the church look more for what they can receive than what they can give. Unselfish giving, whether it is time, money or talent is the mark or sign of the love of God working in the Christian heart. So let us look for ways to be givers and so demonstrate our love for God and others. Well, that’s all for this week’s preview. Be sure to join us in Sunday School this week for a fuller discussion of this lesson and the general topic of Justice in the New Testament. So, until then

Grace and peace

Pastor Jordan

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