ss scripture lesson text 2022a

Sunday School Lesson Text for June 26, 2022

“God’ Offers Deliverance” – Isaiah 51:1-8

1. Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were hewn.

2. Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.

3. For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and melodious song.

4. Pay attention to Me, My people, and listen to Me, My nation; for a law will go out from Me, and My justice will become a light to the nations; I will bring it about quickly.

5. My righteousness draws near, My salvation is on the way, and My arms will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look for Me and wait in hope for My arm.

6. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth below; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its people will die like gnats. But My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never fail.

7. Listen to Me, you who know what is right, you people with My law in your hearts: Do not fear the scorn of men; do not be broken by their insults.

8. For the moth will devour them like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will last forever, My salvation through all generations.

Sunday School Lesson Text for June 19, 2022

“God’s Restored People Shall Prosper” – Isaiah 49:18-23

18. Lift up your eyes, look around and see; all these gather together and come to you. As I live,” says the Lord, “You shall surely clothe yourselves with them all as an ornament, and bind them on you as a bride does.

19. “For your waste and desolate places, and the land of your destruction, will even now be too small for the inhabitants; and those who swallowed you up will be far away.

20. The children you will have, after you have lost the others, will say again in your ears, ‘the place is too small for me; give me a place where I may dwell.’

21. Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me, since I have lost my children and am desolate, a captive, and wandering to and fro? And who has brought these up? There I was, left alone; but these, where were they?’ ”

22. Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will lift My hand in an oath to the nations, and set up My standard for the peoples; they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders;

23. Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers; they shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord, for they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me.”

Sunday School Lesson Text for June 12, 2022

“God Foretells of Redemption” – Isaiah 49:1-13

1. “Listen, O coastlands, to me, and take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called me from the womb; from the matrix of my mother He has made mention of my name.

2. And He has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He has hidden me, and made me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden me.”

3. “And He said to me, ‘you are my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’

4. Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; yet surely my just reward is with the Lord, and my [c]work with my God.’ ”

5. “And now the Lord says, who formed me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel is [d]gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength),

6. Indeed He says, ‘it is too small a thing that You should be my Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob,

And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be my salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

7. Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, to Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise, Princes also shall worship, because of the Lord who is faithful, The Holy One of Israel; and He has chosen You.”

8. Thus says the Lord: “in an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages;

9. That You may say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’ to those who are in darkness, ‘show yourselves.’ “they shall feed along the roads, and their pastures shall be on all desolate heights.

10. They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat nor sun shall strike them; for He who has mercy on them will lead them, even by the springs of water He will guide them.

11. I will make each of my mountains a road, and my highways shall be elevated.

12. Surely these shall come from afar; look! those from the north and the west, and these from the land of Sinim.”

13. Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.

Sunday School Lesson Text for June 5, 2022

“God Foretells Destruction” – Isaiah 47:10-15

10. “For you have trusted in your wickedness; you have said, ‘no one sees me’; your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.’

11. Therefore evil shall come upon you; you shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; you will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, which you shall not know.

12. “Stand now with your enchantments and the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth—perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you will prevail.

13. You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you.

14. Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame; It shall not be a coal to be warmed by, nor a fire to sit before!

15. Thus shall they be to you with whom you have labored, your merchants from your youth; they shall wander each one to his quarter. No one shall save you.

Sunday School Lesson Text for May 29, 2022

“The Spiritual Fruit of Freedom” – Galatians 5:16-26

16. I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

17. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

18. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,

20. Idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

21. Envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23. Gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

24. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Sunday School Lesson Text for May 22, 2022

“The Nature of Christian Freedom” – Galatians 5:1-15

1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

2. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.

3. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.

4. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

5. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

6. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

7. You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

8. This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.

9. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

10. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

11. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.

12. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!

13. For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

14. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

15. But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Sunday School Lesson Text for May 15, 2022

“Freedom And The Law” – Galatians 3:18-29

18..For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19. What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.

20. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

21. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

22. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

24. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

26. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

27. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Sunday School Lesson Text for May 8, 2022

“Freedom For the Future” – Romans 8:18-30

18. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

20. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;

21. Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

23. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

24. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?

25. But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

26. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

29. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Sunday School Lesson Text for May 1, 2022

“Freedom From Sin” – Romans 6:1-14

1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

2. Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

3. Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

4. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

6. Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

7. For he who has died has been freed from sin.

8. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

9. Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.

10. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

11. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

13. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

14. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Sunday School Lesson Text for April 24, 2022

“Freedom In Christ Jesus” – John 8:31-38

31. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

32. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33. They answered Him, we are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. how can You say, You will be made free?

34. Jesus answered them, most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

35. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.

36. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

37. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.

38. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.

Sunday School Lesson Text for April 17, 2022

“The Paschal Lamb Lives” – Matthew 28:1-10

1. Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

2. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

3. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

4. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

5. But the angel answered and said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

6. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

7. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.

8. So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

9. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, Rejoice! So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.

10. Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.

Sunday School Lesson Text for April 10, 2022

“The Passover With The Disciples” – Matthew 26:17-30

17. Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?

18. And He said, go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, my time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.

19. So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

20. When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.

21. Now as they were eating, He said, Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.

22. And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, Lord, is it I?

23. He answered and said, He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.

24. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.

25. Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, Rabbi, is it I? He said to him, You have said it.

26. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat; this is My body.”

27. Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you.

28. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

29. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.

30. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Sunday School Lesson Text for April 3, 2022

“Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem” – Matthew 21:1-11

1. Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

2. Saying to them, go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.

3. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.

4. All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

5. Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.

6. So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.

7. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.

8. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

9. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

10. And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

11. So the multitudes said, This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.

Sunday School Lesson Text for March 27, 2022

“Lest We Forget” – Deuteronomy 8:1-11

1. Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers.

2. And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

3. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

4. Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.

5. You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.

6. Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.

7. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills;

8. A land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;

9. A land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper.

10. When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.

11. Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today,

Sunday School Lesson Text for March 20, 2022

“Celebrate Passover Liberation” – Ezra 6:13-22

13. Then Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, Shethar-Boznai, and their companions diligently did according to what King Darius had sent.

14. So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

15. Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

16. Then the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the descendants of the captivity, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.

17. And they offered sacrifices at the dedication of this house of God, one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

18. They assigned the priests to their divisions and the Levites to their divisions, over the service of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses.

19. And the descendants of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

20. For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves; all of them were ritually clean. And they slaughtered the Passover lambs for all the descendants of the captivity, for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

21. Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel.

22. And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the Lord made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Sunday School Lesson Text for March 13, 2022

“Freedom To Worship” – Ezra 6:1-12

1. Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon.

2. And at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found, and in it a record was written thus:

3. In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem: “Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offered sacrifices; and let the foundations of it be firmly laid, its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits,

4. With three rows of heavy stones and one row of new timber. Let the expenses be paid from the king’s treasury.

5. Also let the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple which is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and taken back to the temple which is in Jerusalem, each to its place; and deposit them in the house of God”—

6. Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, and your companions the Persians who are beyond the River, keep yourselves far from there.

7. Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God on its site.

8. Moreover I issue a decree as to what you shall do for the elders of these Jews, for the building of this house of God: Let the cost be paid at the king’s expense from taxes on the region beyond the River; this is to be given immediately to these men, so that they are not hindered.

9. And whatever they need—young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the request of the priests who are in Jerusalem—let it be given them day by day without fail,

10. That they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

11. Also I issue a decree that whoever alters this edict, let a timber be pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it; and let his house be made a refuse heap because of this.

12. And may the God who causes His name to dwell there destroy any king or people who put their hand to alter it, or to destroy this house of God which is in Jerusalem. I Darius issue a decree; let it be done diligently.

Sunday School Lesson Text for March 6, 2022

“The Babylonian Captivity Ends” – Ezra 1:1-8, 11; 2:64-70

1. In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows:

2. This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.

3. Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.

4. And let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.

5. So the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites—everyone whose spirit God had stirred—prepared to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.

6. And all their neighbors supported them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuables, in addition to all their freewill offerings.

7. King Cyrus also brought out the articles belonging to the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the temple of his gods.

8. Cyrus king of Persia had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.

11. In all, there were 5,400 gold and silver articles. Sheshbazzar brought all these along when the exiles went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

64. The whole assembly numbered 42,360,

65. In addition to their 7,337 menservants and maidservants, as well as their 200 male and female singers.

66. They had 736 horses, 245 mules,

67. 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

68. When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings to rebuild the house of God on its original site.

69. According to their ability, they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priestly garments.

70. So the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, along with some of the people, settled in their own towns; and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.

Sunday School Lesson Text for February 27, 2022

“Serving a Just God” – Job 42:1-6, 10-17

1. Then Job answered the Lord and said:

2. I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

3. You asked, Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4. Listen, please, and let me speak; you said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.

5. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.

6. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

10. And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

11. Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold.

12. Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys.

13. He also had seven sons and three daughters.

14. And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch.

15. In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.

16. After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations.

17. So Job died, old and full of days.

Sunday School Lesson Text for February 20, 2022

“Bildad Misunderstands God’s Justice” – Job 8:1-10, 20-22

1. Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

2. How long will you speak these things, and the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?

3. Does God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice?

4. If your sons have sinned against Him, He has cast them away for their transgression.

5. If you would earnestly seek God and make your supplication to the Almighty,

6. If you were pure and upright, surely now He would awake for you, and prosper your rightful dwelling place.

7. Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.

8. For inquire, please, of the former age, and consider the things discovered by their fathers;

9. For we were born yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.

10. Will they not teach you and tell you, and utter words from their heart?

20. Behold, God will not cast away the blameless, nor will He uphold the evildoers.

21. He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing.

22. Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing.

Sunday School Lesson Text for February 13, 2022

“Ezra Seeks God’s Law” – Ezra 7:1-10, 23-26

1. Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

2. the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

3. the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

4. the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

5. the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—

6. this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.

7. Some of the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

8. And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

9. On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

10. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

23. Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

24. Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God.

25. And you, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know them.

26. Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.

Sunday School Lesson Text for February 6, 2022

“Nathan Condemns David” – 2 Samuel 12:1-14

1. Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.

2. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds.

3. But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.

4. And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

5. So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, As the Lord lives, the man who has done this [a]shall surely die!

6. And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.

7. Then Nathan said to David, You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

8. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!

9. Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.

10. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’

11. Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.

12. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.

13. So David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David, The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

14. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.

Sunday School Lesson Text for January 30, 2022

“Justice and the Marginalized” – Deuteronomy 24:10-22

10. When you lend your brother anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge.

11. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you.

12. And if the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight.

13. You shall in any case return the pledge to him again when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his own garment and bless you; and it shall be righteousness to you before the Lord your God.

14. You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates.

15. Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you.

16. Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin.

17. You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow’s garment as a pledge.

18. But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this thing.

19. When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

20. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

21. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

22. And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this thing.

Sunday School Lesson Text for January 23, 2022

“Justice, Judges And Priests” – Deuteronomy 16:18-20, 17:8-13

18. “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the Lord your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

19. You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.

20. You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

8. “If a matter arises which is too hard for you to judge, between degrees of guilt for bloodshed, between one judgment or another, or between one punishment or another, matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the Lord your God chooses.

9. And you shall come to the priests, the Levites, and to the judge there in those days, and inquire of them; they shall pronounce upon you the sentence of judgment.

10. You shall do according to the sentence which they pronounce upon you in that place which the Lord chooses. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they order you.

11. According to the sentence of the law in which they instruct you, according to the judgment which they tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left from the sentence which they pronounce upon you.

12. Now the man who acts presumptuously and will not heed the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall put away the evil from Israel.

13. And all the people shall hear and fear, and no longer act presumptuously.

Sunday School Lesson Text for January 16, 2022

“The Laws Of Justice And Mercy” – Exodus 23:1-12

1. You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

2. You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.

3. You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute.

4. If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.

5. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it.

6. You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor in his dispute.

7. Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked.

8. And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.

9. Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

10. Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce,

11. But the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove.

12. Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed.

Sunday School Lesson Text for January 9, 2022

“Hagar And Ishmael Are Not Forgotten” – Genesis 21:8-21

8. So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.

9. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing.

10. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.”

11. And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son.

12. But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.

13. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.”

14. So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.

15. And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs.

16. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.

17. And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.

18. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”

19. Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink.

20. So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

21. He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Sunday School Lesson Text for January 2, 2022

“Justice, Vengeance and Mercy” – Genesis 4:1-13

1. Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.”

2. Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

3. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord.

4. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering,

5. But He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

6. So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?

7. If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

8. Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

9. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10. And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.

11. So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

12. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.”

13. And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear!