Sunday School Lesson Text for April 25, 2021
“A Plea for Restoration” – Lamentations 5:1-22
1. Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us. Look and see our disgrace!
2. Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.
3. We have become fatherless orphans; our mothers are widows.
4. We must buy the water we drink; our wood comes at a price.
5. We are closely pursued; we are weary and find no rest.
6. We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.
7. Our fathers sinned and are no more, but we bear their punishment.
8. Slaves rule over us; there is no one to deliver us from their hands.
9. We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the wilderness.
10. Our skin is as hot as an oven with fever from our hunger.
11. Women have been ravished in Zion, virgins in the cities of Judah.
12. Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders receive no respect.
13. Young men toil at millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.
14. The elders have left the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.
15. Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
16. The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17. Because of this, our hearts are faint; because of these, our eyes grow dim—
18. Because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, patrolled by foxes.
19. You, O LORD, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation.
20. Why have You forgotten us forever? Why have You forsaken us for so long?
21. Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return; renew our days as of old,
22. Unless You have utterly rejected us and remain angry with us beyond measure.
Sunday School Lesson Text for April 18, 2021
“Nehemiah: The Captive Cupbearer Rebuilds a Nation” – Nehemiah 2:11-20
11. So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
12. And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
13. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
14. Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
15. Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
16. And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
17. Then said I unto them, You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
18. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So, they strengthened their hands for this good work.
19. But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you do? will you rebel against the king?”
20. Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore, we his servants will arise and build: but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
Sunday School Lesson Text for April 11, 2021
“Ezra: Faith-and-Action Preacher” – Ezra 10:1-12
1. Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.
2. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
3. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
4. Arise; for this matter belongs unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.
5. Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they swore.
6. Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.
7. And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;
8. And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
9. Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
10. And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
11. Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.
12. Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.
Sunday School Lesson Text for April 4, 2021
“The Suffering Servant Brings Salvation” – Isaiah 53:4-11
4. Surely, he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
8. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Sunday School Lesson Text for March 28, 2021
“Elijah: Prophet of Courage” – 1 Kings 18:5-18
5. And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
6. So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7. And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art you that my lord Elijah?
8. And he answered him, I am: go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
9. And he said, What have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
10. As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek you: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found you not.
11. And now you say, Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
12. And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry you whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he shall slay me: but I your servant fear the LORD from my youth.
13. Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD’S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
14. And now you sayest, Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.
15. And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
16. So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17. And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art you he that troubles Israel?
18. And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but you, and your father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and you hast followed Baalim.
Sunday School Lesson Text for March 21, 2021
“Huldah: Prophet of Wisdom” – 2 Kings 22:14-20
14. So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.
15. And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,
16. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:
17. Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore, my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
18. But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which you have heard;
19. Because your heart was tender, and you have humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heard what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you rent your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you, saith the LORD.
20. Behold therefore, I will gather you unto your fathers, and you shalt be gathered into your grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.
Sunday School Lesson Text for March 7, 2021
“Moses: Prophet of Deliverance” – Deuteronomy 18:15-22
15. The LORD your God will raise up unto you a Prophet from the midst of you, of your brethren, like unto me; unto him you shall hearken;
16. According to all that you desire of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.
17. And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
18. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto you, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
19. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
20. But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
21. And if you say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?
22. When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing follows not, nor comes to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously: you shalt not be afraid of him.
Sunday School Lesson Text for February 28, 2021
“Lydia: Called to Serve” – Acts 16:11-15, 40; 1 Corinthians 1:26-30
11. Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
12. And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
13. And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spoke unto the women which resorted thither.
14. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
15. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
40. And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
26. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nothing things that are:
29. That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
Sunday School Lesson Text for February 21, 2021
Priscilla: Called to Minister” – Acts 18:1-3, 18-21, 24-26; Romans 16:3-4
1. After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
2. And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to part from Rome:) and came unto them.
3. And because he was of the same craft, he abided with them, and worked: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
18. And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
19. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
20. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
21. But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
24. And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
3. Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
4. Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
Sunday School Lesson Text for February 14, 2021
Mary Magdalene, A Faithful Disciple – Mark 15:40; Luke 8:1-3; John 20:10-18
1. AND IT came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
2. And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3. And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
40. There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
10. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11. But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher,
12. And seeing two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13. And they say unto her, Woman, why are you weeping? She said unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15. Jesus said unto her, Woman, why are you weeping? whom are you seeking? She, supposing him to be the gardener, said unto him, Sir, if you have borne him hence, tell me where you hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16. Jesus said unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and said unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17. Jesus said unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Sunday School Lesson Text for February 7, 2021
Called To Evangelize – John 4:25-42
25. The woman said unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
26. Jesus said unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
27. And upon this came his disciples, and marveled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What are you seeking? Or Why are you talking with her?
28. The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
29. Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
30. Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
31. In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
32. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
33. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
34. Jesus said unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
35. Say not you, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36. And he that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reaps may rejoice together.
37. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reaps.
38. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors.
39. And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
40. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
\
41. And many more believed because of his own word;
42. And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.
Sunday School Lesson Text for January 31, 2021
Prophesying Daughters – Luke 2:36-38; Acts 2:16-21; 21:8-9
36. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
37. And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day.
38. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
16. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19. And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:
20. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
21. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
8. And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
Sunday School Lesson Text for January 24, 2021
Called As The Intercessor – John 17:14-24
14. I have given them Your word and the world has hated them; for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15. I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.
16. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.
18. As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world.
19. For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.
20. I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message
21. That all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22. I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one
23. I in them and You in Me that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.
24. Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Sunday School Lesson Text for January 17, 2021
Called To Heal – Mark 2:1-12
1. And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.
2. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
3. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.
4. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
5. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
6. And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
7. “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8. But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?
9. Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?
10. But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”, He said to the paralytic,
11. “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
12. Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Sunday School Lesson Text for January 10, 2021
Called To Significance- Luke 5:1-11
1. So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret,
2. and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.
3. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
4. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
5. But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”
6. And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
7. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
8. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
9. For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;
10. and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”
11. So when they had brought their boats to land, they [a]forsook all and followed Him.
Sunday School Lesson Text for January 3, 2021
Called To Proclaim – Luke 4:14-22
14. Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.
15. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
16. So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
17. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
20. Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
22. So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
