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APR. 17: REDEEMED FROM POOR CHOICES

April 11, 2016

By Gene Price
Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal Passage: Genesis 15:1-6, 16:1-5, 17:18-19

People often will make promises. However when it comes time to fulfill that promise, they neglect to follow through on their word. Who has not been hurt by having a promise made and then broken? For instance, “I promise I will not tell another person. I promise to be on time. I promise I will pay you. I promise to love, honor, and cherish.” What good is a promise if someone does not keep their word?

Abraham was a man of faith. Back in chapter 12, God had already promised Abraham that He would make of him a great nation. Now the years have gone by and Abraham and Sarai are getting older and still do not have a child. Abraham’s faith was strong enough that he left his homeland and his family to follow the call of God. But now looking from a human perspective, God’s promise of a child appeared to be impossible. Even though God restates His promise and shows Abraham the stars, he really offers him nothing more or new. Instead, once again, God reiterates the promise of His Word. Abraham, like many other biblical characters proves that even people of faith will have times of doubt and weakness. [Read more…]

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APR. 10: INTEGRITY

April 5, 2016

By Ken R. Speakman
Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleFocal Passage: Acts 4:36-37; 5:1-11

In our last study we observed Peter and John standing before the Sanhedrin with the healed beggar. They had been commanded not to speak of Jesus. They went to the church and told their story. The church broke out in a spontaneous time of prayer (Acts 4:23).

The church was growing in spirit and number and encountered the first dose of persecution when Peter and John healed the lame beggar. The apostle’s display of courage before the entire counsel of Jewish religious leaders greatly encouraged the church. The church was joyful and their contagious spirit attracted many to join them. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Explore the Bible, Sunday School Lessons

APR. 10: OUR NEED FOR PURPOSE

April 5, 2016

By Gene Price
Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal Passage: John 15:1-8

Jesus and His disciples had left the Upper Room. They had partaken of the Lord’s Supper and now they were on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus would pray and later be arrested. Along the way, Jesus used an object lesson from the garden. By looking at the grape arbor, the signs of a vinedresser were obvious. The vines had been tended and pruned. It was obvious that someone had spent time with the vines intending to have a good harvest of grapes. The purpose of this analogy from the lips of Jesus was to remind believers of their purpose in following Jesus. Our purpose is very simple — Jesus expects us to bear fruit for Him. Often people will ask, “Why was I born?” Now Jesus answers that question. In a believer’s life, there will always be times of discouragement. Situations and circumstances will enter into a believer’s life that will hinder in the production of fruit. During these times, our life’s purpose can seem a little fuzzy. [Read more…]

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APR. 3: COURAGEOUS

March 28, 2016

By Ken R. Speakman
Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleFocal Passage: Acts 4:1-13

We begin our lesson in chapter 4 by turning our attention to events of chapter 3. Peter and John are about to enter the temple when they encounter a lame beggar who has been lame since birth. In the name of Jesus the beggar is healed and begins to leap and jump. This story weaves its way through the middle of chapter 4. As a result of this beggar’s conversion, the persecution of the early church begins.

Just as the Old Testament prophets were able to authenticate themselves through miracles, so the New Testament church period opened with apostles whom Christ has given power to heal (Matthew 10:8). These miracles were performed to demonstrate the power of the gospel and bring glory to the Lord Jesus. After seeing the miracle of healing the lame beggar, more than 5,000 believed.   [Read more…]

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APR. 3: OUR NEED FOR PEACE

March 28, 2016

By Gene Price
Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal Passage: John 14:1-7

Jesus is preparing the disciples for His return to heaven. Jesus knew that it would be a troubling time in the disciples’ lives as they faced life and death without His physical presence. He knew there would be fear in their hearts. Jesus tells them how to have peace.

Belief in Jesus brings peace in troubled times. God loved us and cares so much for us that He left heaven and came down to earth to live among us. Jesus is God with skin on His face. Even the demons believe in Jesus (James 2:19) but when Jesus said, “Believe also in Me,” it means to put one’s trust in or commit one’s self to Him.” Dr. Paul Powell commenting on verse 6 once said, “I am the way — without Jesus there is no going. I am the truth — without Jesus there is no knowing. I am the life — without Jesus there is no growing.” Trusting Jesus gives us faith to face all kinds of troubled times in our lives. A person cannot have the peace of God (Philippians 4:6-7) until he/she has made peace with God (Romans 5:1). [Read more…]

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MAR. 27: RESURRECTED!

March 22, 2016

By Ken R. Speakman
Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleFocal Passage: Luke 24:1-12

The importance of Jesus’ death is surpassed only by the wonderful news of His resurrection. Without the resurrection we would have no forgiveness of sin, and all preaching and faith would be in vain (I Corinthians 15:14). Since the Jewish leaders had heard Jesus would be raised from the dead, they called a meeting and bribed the solders to say the disciples came and stole His body (Matthew 28; 12-13). This could not happen. The tomb was carefully guarded (Matthew 27:62-66), and it would have been impossible for the frightened apostles to overpower the guards, move the stone, and steal the body. Even though Jesus, on several occasions, told His followers He would suffer and die and be raised from the dead (Matthew 17:23; Luke 9:22), they did not believe Him. So, why would they perpetrate such a hoax? The message of the gospel rests on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:3-4). [Read more…]

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MAR. 27: OUR NEED FOR HOPE

March 22, 2016

By Gene Price
Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal Passage: John 11:17-27

Jesus tells the disciples that He is going back to Judea because Lazarus has fallen asleep (died). The disciples are surprised that Jesus would want to go back there, because in John 10:31 the Jews tried to stone Him on his last visit to Judea. Jesus is teaching the disciples that they should not be afraid of death. People still respond to the death of a loved one with the same question that Job once asked: “If a man dies, shall he live again?” Jesus is going to use this occasion to answer that question.

Jesus shows by resurrecting Lazarus that He has power over death. Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. The first of the resurrections that Jesus performed was the widow of Nain’s son. Then Jesus also showed His power over death by raising the young daughter of Jairus, a synagogue leader. Resuscitation is a return to life, but eventually physical death comes again. [Read more…]

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MAR. 20: UNIFIED

March 14, 2016

By Ken R. Speakman
Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleFocal Passage: Acts 2: 41-47

Speaking boldly under the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter challenged those who heard him to repent and show the sincerity of their decision by being baptized. He told the crowd that Jesus was the Messiah, God had raised Him from the grave and they had seen Him. Peter’s words pierced their hearts and they cried out, “what must we do?” Peter replied, “repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Verse 38 should not be used to teach salvation by baptism. Baptism comes as a result of salvation, and is a witness that one has accepted Christ. Verse 41 tells us that about 3,000 new believers were added to the church. What would the disciples do with them? How would they disciple them? They had no New Testament, no manuals, and no church organization. [Read more…]

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MAR. 20: OUR NEED FOR PROTECTION

March 14, 2016

By Gene Price
Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal Passage: John 10:7-15, 27-30

Jesus said, “I am the door.” A door basically is an entrance or an exit. When you walk through a door, you enter into one place and exit another one. When we walk through the door named Jesus Christ, we exit a meaningless life and enter into a meaningful life. What do we find when we walk through the door called Jesus?

(1) God will give me direction in my life. A flock of sheep with no shepherd is totally helpless. Sheep have no sense of direction and they wander aimlessly. They will stray from the flock and will lose their way. During World War II the English government knew that Hitler was planning to invade England so they asked each community to take down all the road signs which would cause the German army to lose their way. Today we can read His Word for guidance, we can talk to Him and ask for direction, and He promises that He will lead us to the place where we need to be (Psalm 23:2). [Read more…]

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MAR. 13: EMPOWERED

March 8, 2016

By Ken R. Speakman
Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleFocal Passage: Acts 2:1-15

Thousands jammed the streets of Jerusalem. Jewish law required all males living within 20 miles of Jerusalem to attend. Ordinary labor was prohibited during this national holiday, and all shops were closed. Many Jews had traveled from many other nations to stay for the Passover and Pentecost. Unknown to them, according to the divine plan of God, and the promise to the disciples, (Acts 1: 4-5), a new dispensation was only hours away. The third person of the Godhead would make His electrifying descent from the throne of heaven. Acts 2, is the story of that descent. [Read more…]

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