Sunday School Lessons Archives - Page 52 of 53

Nov. 9: Overcome Hard Times

November 4, 2014

Focal Passage: Genesis 41:28-36, 46-49

By Van Richmond
Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville

Hard times come in many forms. Some of what we might call hard times are actually nuisances rather than extreme challenges. A dear lady had a husband who was an airline pilot, and he often had difficulty locating items around the house. One day he asked his wife where the salt was. Annoyed, she responded, “How on earth can you find Detroit at night in a blizzard, but you can’t find the salt in your own kitchen?” “Well, darling,” he replied, “they don’t move Detroit.”

Perhaps you are attempting to find relief or reassurance right now in the middle of your own trials. Charles Stanley described hard times in this fashion: “We all know what it means to be broken — to feel shattered or blown apart, as if our entire world has fallen apart. We all have had times when we didn’t want to raise our head off the pillow and when we felt certain that the tears would never stop flowing.” [Read more…]

Oct. 26: Only Jesus Transforms

October 21, 2014

By Chuck Williams
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington

Focal Passage: Hebrews 8:1-13

Nothing lasts forever. When is the last time you shopped at Woolworths, bought gasoline at a Sinclair station, or tried explaining an 8-track player to someone under 30? Contracts, covenants, and sure things come and go. In today’s world is there a place that is permanent or a person who can truly transform? The writer of Hebrews answers yes when he challenges the readers to see Jesus as the Superior High Priest of the New Covenant.

Verse 1 tells us the priesthood of Christ is real and permanent, while the Hebrew economy was temporary by nature. Christ has been exalted to honor and glory in God’s presence at His right hand. The right hand was regarded as a place of great honor. To be at the right hand of God means that He is exalted to the highest honor in the universe. Of course God has no hands as we do, but the language conveys that He is nearest to God in love and affection. [Read more…]

Oct. 26: Overcome Temptation

October 21, 2014

By Van Richmond
Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: Genesis 39:3-12

The Temptations were a hit Motown vocal group in the 1960s and 1970s. “The Temptations” could also describe the difficult battles every believer faces daily. Sunday School teacher Clara Noll had just finished a lesson on Christian behavior. “Now, Billy,” she asked, “Tell me what we must do before we can expect to be forgiven for our sins.” Without hesitation, Billy replied, “First we gotta sin!”

The temptation to sin is exactly where our troubles begin. It has been said that the trouble with trouble is that it usually starts out as a whole lot of fun. James 1:14 (HCSB) describes the process well in saying, “But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires.” When Potiphar’s wife repeatedly attempted to seduce him, Joseph ran headlong into an enticement that would have been both flattering and appealing for a young man. [Read more…]

Oct. 19: Only Jesus Saves

October 14, 2014

By Chuck Williams
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington

Focal Passage: Hebrews 7:23-28

One time a preacher in the middle of his sermon asked the rhetorical question, “Do you know of anyone who has lived a perfect life?” Surprisingly an older man raised his hand. The pastor asked, “Well, who is this perfect person?” The man calmly replied, “Pastor, that would be my wife’s first husband.”

This man’s weary perception was not true reality, but it is an insight into what we need. Who is going to save us since we all fall short of perfection? The writer tells the new Jewish believers …

Only Jesus saves because He is eternal: vv. 23-24. The Levitical priests had a problem … they died. Therefore they had to transfer their priesthood to someone else. Even though Christ died, His death did not stop Him from continuing as a priest. He died voluntarily. He did not place an animal sacrifice on the altar; rather He placed Himself as victim upon the altar. Death had no power over Him, because He has risen to life again. He can truly say, “O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” [Read more…]

Oct. 19: Overcome Betrayal

October 14, 2014

By Van Richmond
Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: Genesis 37:19-27; 39:1-2

You have walked across the razor-sharp pieces of broken trust, just trying to understand why you were betrayed. The act of betrayal creates a tormenting pain that tears at every emotional fiber of your being while simultaneously wrapping you in a dulling numbness. Disbelief, shock, and denial become constant companions because of someone’s treachery or violation of a personal confidence. Thankfully, we are not trapped in that state. God can and does bring us to a point of deciding how to overcome the betrayal.

Most people find betrayal triggers a mental tug-of-war between a Christian response and a carnal response: what we should do versus what we would like to do. Satan is really, really hoping you get dragged across the dividing line and lose that battle. To ensure Christ gets the victory, let’s look at God’s directives as well as Jesus’ example on how we should conduct ourselves in situations like these. [Read more…]

Oct. 12: Connected Through Prayer

October 7, 2014

By Van Richmond
Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: Ephesians 6:18-22

E.T., the abandoned alien in the 1982 movie, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” learned enough English to express his deepest desire: “Phone home.” Today E.T. would probably say something like, “Skype Saturn.” Incredible technological advances allow us to use high-definition sight and sound to easily connect with someone in Memphis, Madagascar, or on the moon.

Thankfully Christians have prayer as our instant link to the most important person in our lives — and prayer never needs recharging, software updates, or tech support! [Read more…]

Oct. 12: Don’t Walk Away

October 7, 2014

By Chuck Williams
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington

Focal Passage: Hebrews 6:1-8

A family who moved to a new neighborhood got a late start one morning. As a result, their 6-year-old girl missed her school bus. Though it would make him late, the father agreed to take her to school if she could give him directions. After going in circles for 20 minutes they finally arrived at school, which turned out to be a few miles from where they lived. Patiently the dad asked why they drove all over the neighborhood. She replied, “That’s how the school bus takes me.”

Sometimes your spiritual life is not making much progress because of detours, circle-going, and constant stops. Hebrews 1-5 encourages the readers to move on to maturity and get off dead center. Because of their Jewish background they want to go back to the ceremonial laws rather than move forward toward the cross. [Read more…]

Oct. 5: Secured With Confidence

October 1, 2014

By Chuck Williams
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington

Focal Passage: Hebrews 4:14-5:6

This passage is one of the great monuments in this letter. In chapters 1 and 2 the writer discusses the superiority of Christ as King of the angels. In chapter 3 He is shown to be superior to Moses. In this the last part of chapter 4 and the beginning of chapter 5, the writer goes to great length to show that Jesus is superior as a Priest to Aaron.

In verses 14-16 we see doctrine and duty. The doctrine part is that sinful man has always looked for someone to be a priest for him before God. Years ago as a college student, I was preaching a weekend revival at a small church. On my way back to the dorm I was caught speeding and a ticket was written. The next night at the service a man who had found out about my fine gave me an envelope to pay this cost. The feeling of relief and joy was one I still remember today. Christ has gone through the heavenlies and in celestial majesty paid the fine for our sins. Aaron went once a year through the blue veil into the tabernacle; but our High Priest has passed through the first heaven into the heaven of heavens and is seated at the right hand of the Father in glory. [Read more…]

Oct. 5: Connected in Service

October 1, 2014

By Van Richmond
Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: Ephesians 5:15-21

Most people probably would not own a computer today if it was a stand-alone device. Whether used for e-mail, shopping for virtually anything imaginable, or keeping track of family and friends through Facebook or Instagram, the computer’s value to users is exponentially multiplied because of one thing: servers. An earth-spanning network of data-processing gee whiz boxes called servers makes it possible to earn a college degree from home, work from home, and even buy or sell a home.

Modeling Christian faith works best when we have a network of servers — not the digital doodads, but people who love God and love serving others. In this passage, Paul uses the words “unwise” and “wise” to refer to unbelievers and believers as he instructs followers of God in how they should operate (walk) within an obedient network. Tennessee Southern Baptists very frequently make the most of the time, just as the apostle directed. Giving through the Cooperative Program, traveling across the state and the nation to serve as part of a disaster relief team, conducting ESL classes, volunteering at a Crisis Pregnancy Center — these are just a few of the many ways we serve through a network of dedicated believers. [Read more…]

Sept. 28: Watch Out!

September 23, 2014

By Chuck Williams
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington

Focal Passage: Hebrews 3:7-15

It’s the small decisions which can lead to great consequences. Recently as I was traveling on Interstate 40 I noticed a small turtle on the road to my right. It was easy for me to avoid him, but I knew the more progress he made the quicker his end. My thought, “Pretty soon you are gonna regret making that decision to cross the white line.”

The children of Israel couldn’t see the consequences ahead for them when they decided to ignore God’s direction for their lives. There are three results to be seen in this passage: [Read more…]

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