Jesus had been baptized and was preparing to begin His important ministry on earth. God had a very important mission for Him, and He knew that the lives of every human being depended on Him to be successful in the mission. Jesus also knew that if He succeeded He would one day earn a brand new title. He was about to be tested in a way He never had been before. He was about to enter a battle against the current ruler of the world – the one whose name literally means “adversary”.
Discuss:
Who is the god/ruler of this current age? (Hint: Have a look in 2 Corinthians)
In what ways did Satan tempt Christ? How did Christ respond? What are some ways we can respond when we are being tempted to do something wrong?
Why do you think Satan offered to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world?
What title(s) will Jesus Christ have when He returns to the earth? What will happen to Satan at that time?
Christ will not return to the earth alone, the saints will be with Him. Who are the saints? What will the saints’ role be in the Kingdom of God? Why do you think Satan would be angry about that?
What are some ways that life will change when Christ and the saints rule the earth?
Memory Challenge:
Matthew 4:10
Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
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As Jesus began His ministry He became more popular among the people in the region. The Jewish leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees, started to notice. The Sadducees were a group of Jews who had more liberal interpretation of the law and did not believe in angels or the resurrection. On the other hand, the Pharisees were very strict; they thought that following all their extra rules made them righteous. Jesus taught God’s law as it was in the Holy Scriptures which made the Jewish leaders angry. However, one leader came to Jesus seeking the truth.
Discuss:
Who was Nicodemus? Why do you think Nicodemus came to Jesus at night?
What did Jesus tell Nicodemus he must do to be in the Kingdom of God? What was Nicodemus’ response?
What example did Jesus use to explain being a spirit being?
What did Jesus tell Nicodemus about going to heaven?
What did Jesus tell Nicodemus was the reward for believing in Him? What does it mean to believe in Jesus as the Son of God?
What did Jesus mean when He said that “God so loved the world”? Who does God want us to love?
Memory Challenge:
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
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After spending some time teaching in Judea, Jesus and the disciples headed home for Galilee. The shortest route to get there was to go through Samaria. Samaria had been in the land of the Kingdom of Israel before God allowed them to be taken into captivity by the Assyrians. The King of Assyria replaced the Israelites with people who mixed the worship of the true God with paganism (2 Kings 17:24-33). The Jews didn’t like the Samaritans and would usually travel many extra miles around Samaria to avoid meeting them–but not Jesus.
Discuss:
Why was the woman at the well surprised that Jesus asked her for a drink of water? From whose well did the woman draw water?
What did Jesus mean by “living water”?
What did the woman do when she realized who Jesus was?
Why do you think the disciples were surprised to see Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman?
What did Jesus call His “food”?
What is the work that Jesus was doing? What are some ways you can help do the work that Jesus is doing today?
Memory Challenge:
Luke 4:13-14
“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.’”
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CL-feature-image-2-11.png6111651Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2021-04-30 09:15:002026-02-26 11:14:07Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: NT Lesson 4 “Woman at the Well”
Jesus Christ had begun His ministry on earth. Many people followed Him, excited to see what miracles He would perform and to hear what He had to say. One day, Jesus went up on a mountain to teach the people and His disciples some very important lessons. The speech he gave that day is one of the most famous ever given, and it is often called “The Sermon on the Mount”. He began His speech with a list of qualities we call “The Beatitudes”. “The Beatitudes” is a good place to start learning what Christ looks for in a Christian.
Discuss:
Beatitudes express attitudes that should be part of a Christian. What are the beatitudes Christ teaches?
The Greek word for “blessed” can also be translated as happy. What conclusion can you reach about people who have these qualities?
What does it mean to be poor in spirit?
What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness? (Psalm 119:172 tells us what righteousness means)
Think of an example in which you can act as a peacemaker.
Christ said true Christians would experience persecution. Have you ever experienced persecution for Christ’s sake? Can you think of any examples of Christians who have?
What are the promises God offers to those who have the qualities mentioned in the Beatitudes?
Memory Challenge:
Matthew 5:3-12
Memorize the Beatitudes!
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It was the Feast of Tabernacles, and the city of Jerusalem swarmed with people from all around. In Jerusalem there was a pool where at certain times an angel would come and stir the waters in the pool, and the first person to get in the waters would be healed. Many sick people were at the pool for this reason, but only one could be made well. Out of compassion, Jesus healed a man who lay there, but not everyone was happy that the lame man could walk again.
Discuss:
Why was Jesus in Jerusalem at this time?
How long had the man that Jesus healed been sick?
What law did the Jews think the man was breaking by carrying his bed? Why were they upset that the man had been healed?
Why did the Jews want to kill Jesus?
What did Jesus say about His relationship with the Father?
What authority did God give to Jesus Christ?
Memory Challenge:
John 5:19
Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CL-feature-image-2-11.png6111651Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2021-04-29 15:45:162026-02-26 11:09:35Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: NT Lesson 5 “The Pool of Bethsaida”
Author: Juliette McNair | Student, Living Education Charlotte 2021
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 48 seconds.
In the staff meeting room at Headquarters, Mr. Frank introduced Mr. Mario Hernandez as the Forum speaker. Mr. Hernandez asked, “Do you remember the laws of success?” The students nodded and recited them. The seventh law of success, Mr. Hernandez explained, is to acknowledge God in all your ways. “I’m going to give you an indispensable key to being successful. Without it,” he said, “even if you have all the others, you won’t succeed before God or man… What is the fifth commandment?”
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
– Ephesians 6:1-3
For those who obey and honor their parents, God gives a two-fold promise: a long life and a successful life. Mr. Hernandez turned to Exodus 21:15-17 to show God takes the fifth commandment seriously. Children who struck or cursed their parents were to be put to death. Yet, Mr. Hernandez noted that disrespect towards parents parallels this sin. In Leviticus 19:3, God commanded Israel to revere their parents. Mr. Hernandez said, “Treat them with great respect no matter what. They represent God.”
Respect as a Facet of the Culture of God
“We’re living in a generation where children are oppressors of their parents. They’re not taught to respect.” He read Leviticus 19:32, “You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man….” The custom to rise and acknowledge an older person when they enter a room may seem outdated or not culturally practiced. But, Mr. Hernandez said, “That’s a lack of culture, my friends. We are here to learn the culture of God and not to say, Oh, in my country we don’t do that.” Young people should acknowledge the presence of an older person rather than ignoring them and turning to their peers. “In this country, which I love and respect, there is a tendency for there to be different cultures for the youth and for the elderly. Each [group] lives in their own world, and there is not much communication.” This phenomenon, which Mr. Hernandez termed “the teenage syndrome,” is nurtured in the modern education system. In tomorrow’s world, a family-oriented learning system will encourage young people to respect and interact appropriately with the older generation.
“The commandment goes all the way to the adult age until the end of your parents’ lives.”
In Mark 7:1-13, Christ rebuked the Pharisees for disobeying God’s command to honor one’s parents. In 1 Timothy 5:4-8, Paul commands, “if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents….” Mr. Hernandez explained that adult children—who are at the productive stage of life—are still obligated to honor their parents.
Joseph
“Now we’re going to see the story of a man who honored his father and was greatly blessed. That is the story of Joseph.” Out of all the sons of Jacob, only Joseph truly honored his parents. The “bad report” Joseph brought to Jacob in Genesis 37:2 indicates the brothers had a poor reputation in the community. When Jacob called to Joseph to send him to his brothers in the field, Joseph replied, “Here I am.” Abraham had this same response when God tested him by commanding him to kill Isaac (Genesis 22:1). Mr. Hernandez compared it to saying, “Whatever You say, here I am to obey you.”
“Here I am.”
Reuben committed adultery with one of his father’s wives (Genesis 35:22), in contrast to Joseph, who refused to lie with Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:10). At the end of Jacob’s life, in a final act of respect, Joseph bowed down to the ground as Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48:12). Joseph was 110 years old when he died, and he had become the second most powerful man in Egypt. “God was fulfilling His promise because Joseph obeyed and respected his father.”
Honor the Hoary Head
Mr. Hernandez concluded, “Don’t just stay among the youth, having your different culture apart. Open your heart and talk to the older person… They feel dishonored—although they don’t complain—when a youth passes by and ignores them or rarely comes to greet them. The hoary-head are becoming weak because of age, and they need respect.” Mr. Hernandez explained that respect to one’s parents and older people is respect towards God. He challenged the students to honor older people, revere their parents, and fear God by keeping the fifth commandment—so they may live a long and successful life as God promises.
This post is part of our new series of student-written content for LivingEd-Charlotte. These summaries cover topics originally presented by our faculty and guest speakers in our weekly Forum and Assembly. For more Assembly-related content check out our Second Thoughts posts.
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/michael-dziedzic-1bjsASjhfkE-unsplash.jpg11791500Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2021-04-29 13:30:002021-09-03 11:07:45Forum Summary: A Hidden Key to Success
Prayer is something that God wants us to do. When we pray, we are coming before the Eternal’s magnificent throne to talk to our Heavenly Father. You may be curious about how to pray and wonder if you are doing it correctly. No worries! You are in good company; the disciples also wanted to learn how to pray (Luke 11:1). Jesus Christ left us instructions written in His word so that we can know how to pray.
Discuss:
What does Christ say about prayers that are recited to get attention? Where did Christ say we should go when we pray? Does this mean we have to be in a specific place when we pray?
How often should we pray? Can you think of any examples of people in the Bible who prayed regularly?
To Whom did Jesus say we should address our prayers?
What does the word hallowed mean? How can we hallow God’s name?
Why did Christ say that we need to pray for God’s kingdom to come? What are some reasons that we need His kingdom to come?
What are some things we should regularly pray about? For each thing that you mention, why do you think God wants us to pray about those things?
Imagine someone you are close to. How did you build a relationship with them? How does praying help us build a relationship with God?
Why does God want us to pray?
Memory Challenge:
Matthew 6:6
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
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Jesus was becoming popular, and everyone was talking about Him. Who was this man? Was He the prophet of who Moses had written about (Deuteronomy 18:15)? Was He the Messiah who had come to save them, or was He just deceiving people? Jesus’ own family did not even believe Him, and the Pharisees and chief priests were out to kill Him! It was time to keep the Feast of Tabernacles as God had commanded. Jesus needed to keep the feast in Jerusalem, but how could He go when it was so dangerous?
Discuss:
What did Jesus’ brothers tell Him to do? What was Jesus’ response?
Why did Jesus not go up to Jerusalem with His brothers? What did He do instead?
Why were the people arguing about Jesus?
Where did the people believe Jesus was born? Why did it matter?
What is doctrine? From whom did Jesus say He received His doctrine?
How did Jesus make His presence known at the Feast?
What did Jesus preach about on the eighth day? What do we call the eighth day of the feast?
Why do you think God did not allow the Jews to capture Jesus?
Memory Challenge:
John 7:28-29
Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CL-feature-image-2-11.png6111651Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2021-04-28 15:57:532026-02-26 11:09:01Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: NT Lesson 6 “Jesus Goes to the Feast”
Peter told his listeners on the day of Pentecost that following repentance and baptism they would “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). What is receiving the Holy Spirit intended to accomplish in our lives?
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/kaleb-tapp-DNrjKP3srT4-unsplash.jpg10001500Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2021-04-28 13:30:002021-03-24 14:48:49Course Spotlight: The Role of God’s Holy Spirit
Author: Mr. Kenneth Frank | Faculty in Theology, Living Education
Estimated reading time: 7 min., 22 sec.
Did you know that God’s redemption is described in Scripture as plenteous?
Bible readers discover through diligent study that God has set in motion a plan to redeem those willing to confess their sins, repent of them, and seek God’s forgiveness. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as the Redeemer. One may wonder if there are limits to His redemption. We will encounter in this study a fitting psalm that is often recited at funerals because of the comfort it affords. This Digging Deeper introduces our topic with an inspirational verse that will encourage and strengthen God’s people through His commitment to save them.
Our focus verse is: (Psalm 130:7 KJV) “Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.” Psalm 130 is the sixth of seven traditionally-named Penitential Psalms that include Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143. They are expressive of sorrow for sin, repentance, and change of behavior. The Book of Psalms was Israel’s hymnbook of praises to the Almighty. Believers have found solace time and again from its abundant instruction and assurances.
The Dake Annotated Reference Bible under its note for Psalm 130:1 calls this “A Backslider’s Psalm” and outlines the psalm in this manner:
1. “His state or condition (Psa 130:1)
2. His prayer (Psa 130:1-4)
3. His questioning (Psa 130:3)
4. His promise (Psa 130:4; 130:7-8)
5. His sincerity and longing (Psa 130:5-6)
6. His hope (Psa 130:5; 130:7)
7. His faith and assurance (Psa 130:4; 130:7-8)” (Bible Analyzer 5.4.1.22)
A price paid for deliverance
The word redeem means “to deliver by paying a price.” Redemption is a major New Testament doctrine. The CARM Theological Dictionary defines this noun more fully: “Redemption means to free someone from bondage. It often involves the paying of a ransom, a price that makes redemption possible. The Israelites were redeemed from Egypt. We were redeemed from the power of sin and the curse [penalty] of the Law (Galatians 3:13) through Jesus (Romans 3:24; Colossians 1:14). We were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23)” (e-Sword 13.0). Sinners were held captive by the archenemy of humankind, the Devil. Christ the Liberator sets them free when they trust in Him through the ransom He paid by His sacrificial death.
There is more than one nuance to the word redemption. The Bridgeway Bible Dictionary elaborates redemption further: “In Bible days a slave could be set free from bondage by the payment of a price, often called the ransom. The whole affair was known as the redemption of the slave (Leviticus 25:47-48). (The words ‘redeem’ and ‘ransom’ are related to the same root in the original languages.) The Bible speaks of redemption both literally (concerning everyday affairs) and pictorially (concerning what God has done for his people) (Psalm 77:15; Titus 2:14)” (e-Sword 13.0). Our God has come to our rescue, remitting the full price for our liberation from Satan’s kingdom.
Sinners must be redeemed from the penalty for violating God’s law. Concerning God’s transaction through redemption from sin, Webster’s 1828 Dictionary offers this summary definition: “In theology, the purchase of God’s favor by the death and sufferings of Christ; the ransom or deliverance of sinners from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God’s violated law by the atonement of Christ” (e-Sword 13.0). This older dictionary so well defines this doctrine since it drew many of its definitions from the Bible unlike many modern dictionaries.
The Scofield Reference Bible in its note for Exodus 14:30 elaborates on this major biblical doctrine: “Exodus is the book of redemption and teaches:
(1) redemption is wholly of God Exodus 3:7; 3:8; John 3:16.
(2) redemption is through a person. (See Scofield “Exodus 2:2“). John 3:16-17
(3) redemption is by blood Exodus 12:13, 23, 27; 1 Peter 1:18.
(4) redemption is by power Exodus 6:6; 13:14; Romans 8:2.” (e-Sword 13.0).
Perfect and plenteous atonement
There are other doctrines related to redemption. B.J. Carroll’s An Interpretation of the English Bible elaborates: “When applied to the sacred work of the Lord Jesus Christ, it generally means ‘deliverance through atonement.’ Thus understood, it means both atonement and deliverance” (e-Sword 13.0). Christ is the great Deliverer whose blood atonement sets us free from our sins. This source further adds: “Man has always been endeavoring to find some atonement for his sin, and has always failed, but we have received a perfect atonement in Him; it is plenteous. (1) Plenteous to cover the sins of the whole world. (2) Plenteous to cover all the sins of each one” (Ibid.). God’s grace is truly all-sufficient! This is what our focus verse means by using the word plenteous.
Let us explore this theme even further. Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible provides this additional note: “It is ample; it is full; it abounds. It is not limited; it is not exhausted; it cannot be exhausted. So we may always feel when we come before God, that his mercy is ample for all the needs of all the sinful and the suffering; that the provisions of his grace are unexhausted and inexhaustible” (e-Sword 13.0).
The following quotation from The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary, edited by Joseph S. Exell, should leave us awestruck: “’And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities’ (Psalm 130:8). It is no temporary, or indistinct, blessing that is so anxiously sought; it is nothing less than a complete deliverance from all iniquity. Redemption from sin includes redemption from all other evils: it is the greatest and most perfect work of God, and bestows the most exalted blessings on man” (e-Sword 13.0). Does this not remove any lingering doubts? This source continues: “LESSONS: —1. Redemption is a Divine work. 2. The most degraded soul is not beyond the hope of recovery. 3. Redemption must be eagerly and prayerfully sought” (Ibid.). Only God can accomplish this consequential redemption.
In this light, look at this supporting scripture: (Hebrews 7:25 KJV) “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost [most extensive degree] that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Christ delivers believers not only from the consequences of sin but even from sin itself. Sinners who imagine themselves beyond redemption will find it if they turn to the Savior in sincere repentance, confession, and contrition. It must be accepted on God’s terms, not as we would imagine it. This is true for returning sinners as well (1 John 1:8-2:2).
Not willing that any should perish…
We have multiple examples of God’s enduring mercy. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges illustrates one notable example for us: “Observe how the thought that God’s manifold mercy and patience have not been exhausted by Israel’s persistent rebellion runs through the confession in Nehemiah 9; Nehemiah 9:17; 9:19; 9:27-28; 9:30-31; 9:35. Cp. Isaiah 43:25; 55:7” (e-Sword 13.0). Bible readers are awed by God’s abiding patience and desire for Israel to turn back to Him since He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
The Dake Annotated Reference Bible for its note on Psalm 130:7 offers “Five Reasons Israel Should Hope in God:
1. God does not mark iniquities for punishment without extending mercy (Psa 130:3).
2. There is forgiveness with Him (Psa 130:4).
3. There is mercy with Him (Psa 130:7).
4. There is abundant redemption (Psa 130:7).
5. He shall redeem from all sin (Psa 130:8).” (Ibid.)
This is not a purely individualistic endeavor. It is essential to realize that this process is a family experience. Bob Utley’s You Can Understand the Bible explains: “Remember biblical faith is corporate. It is a family! Be careful of the modern western over-emphasis on the individual. Salvation has a corporate focus! We are saved to serve. The goal of individual salvation is the health and growth of the body of believers” (e-Sword 13.0)! God’s church is to be filled with consecrated and spiritually clean sons and daughters of God who have received and continue to receive His plenteous redemption.
Kenneth Frank was born and raised in New Jersey, USA, and attended Ambassador College, graduating in 1973. He served in the Canadian ministry from 1973-1999, after which he returned to the USA to pastor churches in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina for 15 years. Having earned a BA degree from Ambassador College he later earned a MA degree from Grand Canyon University before being assigned to the Charlotte office to teach at Living University, now Living Education. Currently, he teaches the Survey of the Bible course to the on-campus students and writes the Digging Deeper column for our online Bible study program. He is married, has four children, and seven grandchildren.
