Editorial Notes

The Book of Hebrews

2010-12-22T07:17:00.000-08:00

Hello! Long time no blog! Hopefully I can be more regular on this blogspot during the new year!

What do you think about the book of Hebrews? We will study Hebrews in Sunday School of our Through-the-Bible series during the Summer Quarter of 2012. Seems like a long way off, but probably not!

Churches who use Bogard Press or Baptist Sunday School Committee adult curricula study through the whole Bible every ten years. My initial thoughts on how we will study the book of Hebrews in 13 weeks is broken down below. If you have any thoughts, criticisms, suggested changes or improvements, please let me know!

Here is how I have arranged the 13-week study of Hebrews so far:

Lesson 1: Christ-Eternal Son of God, Hebrews 1:1-14

Lesson 2: Christ-Sinless Son of Man, Hebrews 2:1-18

Lesson 3: Christ-Greater than Moses, Hebrews 3:1-19

Lesson 4: Christ-Greater than Joshua, Hebrews 4:1-16

Lesson 5: Christ-Greater than Aaron, Hebrews 5:1-14

Lesson 6: Christ-Our Forerunner, Hebrews 6:1-20

Lesson 7: Christ-Our High Priest, Hebrews 7:1-28

Lesson 8: Christ-Our Mediator, Hebrews 8:1-13

Lesson 9: Christ-Our Redeemer, Hebrews 9:1-28

Lesson 10: Christ-Our Perfect Sacrifice, Hebrews 10:1-39

Lesson 11: Christ-Our Victory of Faith, Hebrews 11:1-40

Lesson 12: Christ-Our Faultless Example, Hebrews 12:1-29

Lesson 13: Christ-Our Unchanging Lord, Hebrews 13:1-25

I look forward to hearing from some of you who Love the Living Word of GOD!

-Larry

2010-08-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

No Place to Stop!

Our youngest child, Deborah Sue, recently graduated from Texarkana (Arkansas) High School. She was so happy to be finished, to graduate, and to be done with school. We attended the diploma granting service called a commencement. The thing is that, when you commence something, you begin it, not end it. The Latin root of the word has to do with “beginning together.” Graduates come to the end of their school years and celebrate by beginning together, commencing something new, a new phase of their lives. This is altogether as it should be.

For students, graduation should be the beginning, not the end, of learning. When applied to the Christian life, this is even more true. For the Christian, there is not a place to stop learning, growing, serving and applying Scripture. Nobody gets to the place where he has arrived and needs no further Bible knowledge.

Paul wrote to the young preacher Timothy and commanded him to “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). No matter what Timothy’s education and training, he would never reach a plateau where he did not need to spend time in God’s Word! If this was true for Timothy, whom the apostle Paul mentored, how much more is it true for us?

Notice three facts about Timothy’s continuing education program:

First, Timothy was to study to please God, not people, not churches and not to pass a test! The grand objective behind spending time, energy and effort in the Word was to please the Author of the Book. Spending time in the Word will help your teaching, improve your preaching and make you wise giving counsel, but this is not the primary purpose! “Study to shew thyself approved unto God.”

Second, Timothy was to study so he could be an effective laborer for the Lord. God’s preachers, indeed, all of God’s people, are to be workers for Him, who labor and are not ashamed of their Lord, their labor or their lives. God’s Word is the only thing that can make you “throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:17). Like Timothy, you are to be a “workman that needeth not to be ashamed.”

Third, as he spent quality and quantity time in the Word, Timothy was to gain knowledge to correctly handle, or “cut straight” the Word. Ultimately, the shame of God’s disapproval waits for all who mishandle, misinterpret or misapply God’s Word. Like Timothy, may you be one who is “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

To please God, to serve God without embarrassment and to understand, explain and teach Scripture rightly, you must study it! There is no shortcut; there is no other way! God’s children should spend quality time every day poring over His Word—reading, studying, memorizing and meditating on it!

For all these reasons and many more, Sunday School and BTC should be part of your continued training! These are not just for kids! In Sunday School on September 5, our Fall quarter begins a new decade of Bible study with Genesis! It will be a great time to begin again, at the beginning! BTC study will focus on Trials, Tests and Tribulations as you will learn from Bible characters who endured.

For more informationContact me, LarryClements@abaptist.org for more information.

2010-07-26T08:05:00.000-07:00

Here is the basic outline for how I propose to study Romans in the Adult Sunday School series. There are a couple of adjustments from the previous entry. Below the outlines is the workup of Lesson 1.

IF you have any input, suggestions, criticisms or ideas, please post a comment! THANKS!

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON OUTLINES

Winter Quarter 2011-12 – December—January—February

Material to be Studied: Romans

Quarterly Theme: “God’s Righteousness—Our Salvation” or “From Faith to Faith”

Quarterly Aim:

Outlines for Winter Quarter – 2011-12 Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 1—December 4, 2011 The Revelation of Righteousness—The Gospel

Lesson 2—December 11, 2011 The Lack of Righteousness—Guilty Before God

Lesson 3—December 18, 2011 The Means of Righteousness—Faith in Christ

Lesson 4—December 25, 2011 The Obedience of Righteousness—Yield to God

Lesson 5—January 1, 2012 The Battle for Righteousness—Between Two Natures

Lesson 6—January 8, 2012 The Practice of Righteousness—Walking in the Spirit

Lesson 7—January 15, 2012 The Security of Righteousness—Safe in Christ

Lesson 8—January 22, 2012 The Absence of Righteousness—Israel’s Condemnation

Lesson 9—January 29, 2012 The Attainment of Righteousness—Israel’s Salvation

Lesson 10—February 5, 2012 The Pursuit of Righteousness—Transformed-not-Conformed

Lesson 11—February 12, 2012 The Submission of Righteousness—The Law of Love

Lesson 12—February 19, 2012 The Duty of Righteousness—Consider Others

Lesson 13—February 26, 2012 The Responsibility of Righteousness—Work Together

Lesson 1 December 4, 2011

Lesson Title: The Revelation of Righteousness—The Gospel

Scripture Text: Romans 1:1-17.

Lesson Focus: Romans 1:1-17.

Key Verse: Romans 1:16, 17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Lesson Application: Eternal life only comes by faith in Jesus Christ, which fully reveals the righteousness of God. Whether you are Jew or Gentile, the gospel is for you!

Lesson Outline:

1. Paul’s Letter (Rom. 1:1-7)

A. The author (verse 1)
B. The subject (verses 2-6)
C. The recipients (verse 7)

2. Paul’s Prayer (Rom. 1:8-15)

A. He was Thankful for their faith (verse 8).
B. He prayed for them constantly (verse 9).
C. He requested to come and see them (verses 10-13).

3. Paul’s Desire (Rom. 1:14-17)

A. He felt obligated to Greeks, Barbarians, wise and unwise (verse 14).
B. He wanted to preach the gospel at Rome (verse 15).
C. Reasons he wanted to preach the gospel (verses 16, 17).

1) The gospel is the power of God unto salvation.
2) The gospel is able to save every person who believes.
3) The gospel reveals the righteousness of God.
4) All who are justified get that way by faith.

Sunday Devotional: The Gospel Defined, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

Daily Devotionals:
November 28 M.—Son of God – His Deity, 1 John 5:20
November 29 T.—Son of David – His Humanity, Matthew 1:16.
November 30 W. – Origin of the Gospel, Galatians 1:6-12.
December 1 T.—Apostle to the Gentiles, Galatians 2:7-9.
December 2 F.—The Way of Salvation, Ephesians 2:8, 9.
December 3 S. – The Gospel of Whosoever, John 3:16.

Suggested Word Studies: declared, Romans 1:4; saints, Romans 1:7; Barbarians, Romans 1:14; unwise, Romans 1:14; salvation, Romans 1:16.

Subjects for Mannas: Paul’s Apostleship, Romans 1:1; The Holy Scriptures, Romans 1:2; Spiritual Fruit, Romans 1:13; The Gospel of Christ, Romans 1:16; The Righteousness of God, Romans 1:17.

Questions for Application:

1. What does it mean to be a saint? Discuss the biblical concept of sainthood (Rom. 1:7).

2. What did Paul mean by his desire to have some fruit among the Romans (Rom. 1:13)? What is spiritual fruit?

3. Why is it important to be clear on the Gospel?

4. Discuss how only the true Gospel reveals the righteousness of God.

Study of Romans

2010-07-22T14:28:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon!

This is the very first blogging experience for me. I hope you enjoy the things I plan to put on here.

The reason for this blog is to give an opportunity for some who want to contribute to the planning and outlining of our Adult Sunday School studies. I would like to receive some input and ideas from some bright people on better ways to present and study portions of the Bible in Sunday School classes.

I have been working on how we will study the book of Romans in 13 Sunday morning lessons. I will copy and paste what I have done so far. Some of you Bible scholars and studiers may want to suggest other titles or texts for the 13 lessons. If you will add comments to the blog, I will be glad to look them over.

WELL....Here is what I have so far:

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON OUTLINES

Winter Quarter 2011-12 – December—January—February

Material to be Studied: Romans

Quarterly Theme: God’s Righteousness—Our Salvation

Quarterly Aim:

Introduction:

Outlines for Winter Quarter – 2011-12 Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 1—December 4, 2011 The Revelation of Righteousness—The Gospel

Lesson 2—December 11, 2011 The Lack of Righteousness—Guilty Before God

Lesson 3—December 18, 2011 The Means of Righteousness—Faith in Christ

Lesson 4—December 25, 2011 The Obedience of Righteousness—Yield to God

Lesson 5—January 1, 2012 The Battle for Righteousness—Between Two Natures

Lesson 6—January 8, 2012 The Practice of Righteousness—Walking in the Spirit

Lesson 7—January 15, 2012 The Security of Righteousness—Safe in Christ

Lesson 8—January 22, 2012 The Need for Righteousness—Israel’s Condemnation

Lesson 9—January 29, 2012 The Acquisition of Righteousness—Israel’s Salvation

Lesson 10—February 5, 2012 The Pursuit of Righteousness—Transformed-not-Conformed

Lesson 11—February 12, 2012 The Submission of Righteousness—The Law of Love

Lesson 12—February 19, 2012 The Duty of Righteousness—Consider Others

Lesson 13—February 26, 2012 The Responsibility of Righteousness—Work Together

Lesson 1 December 4, 2011

Lesson Title: The Revelation of Righteousness—The Gospel

Scripture Text: Romans 1:1-17.

Lesson Focus: Romans 1:1-17.

Key Verse: Romans 1:16, 17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Lesson Application:

Outline of Lesson:

Sunday Devotional:

Daily Devotionals:

November 28 M.—

November 29 T.--

November 30 W. --

December 1 T.--

December 2 F.--

December 3 S. --

Suggested Word Studies:

Subjects for Mannas:

Questions for Application:

Lesson 2 December 11, 2011

Lesson Title: The Lack of Righteousness—Guilty Before God

Scripture Text: Romans 1:18—3:20.

Lesson Focus: Romans 1:18-23; 3:9-20.

Key Verse: Romans 3:19, 20, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Lesson Application:

Outline of Lesson:

Sunday Devotional:

Daily Devotionals:

December 5 M.—

December 6 T.--

December 7 W.--

December 8 T.--

December 9 F.--

December 10 S.--

Suggested Word Studies:

Subjects for Mannas:

Questions for Application:

Lesson 3 December 18, 2011

Lesson Title: The Means of Righteousness—Faith in Christ

Scripture Text: Romans 3:21-5:21.

Lesson Focus: Romans 3:21-28; 5:1-9.

Key Verse: Romans 3:21, 22, “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.”

Lesson Application:

Outline of Lesson:

Sunday Devotional: The Righteousness of God in Him, 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Daily Devotionals:

December 12 M.—

December 13 T.--

December 14 W.--

December 15 T.--

December 16 F.--

December 17 S.--

Suggested Word Studies:

Subjects for Mannas:

Questions for Application:

Lesson 4 December 25, 2011

Lesson Title: The Obedience of Righteousness—Yield to God

Scripture Text: Romans 6:1-23.

Lesson Focus: Romans 6:1-7, 11-19.

Key Verse: Romans 6:16, 17, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”

Lesson Application:

Outline of Lesson:

Sunday Devotional:

Daily Devotionals:

December 19 M.—

December 20 T.--

December 21 W.--

December 22 T.—Call His Name Jesus, Matthew 1:18-25.

December 23 F.—Made to Redeem, Galatians 4:4-7.

December 24 S.—Thy Salvation, Luke 2:25-33.

Suggested Word Studies:

Subjects for Mannas:

Questions for Application:

Lesson 5 January 1, 2012

Lesson Title: The Battle for Righteousness—Between Two Natures

Scripture Text: Romans 7:1-25.

Lesson Focus: Romans 7:1-6, 14-18, 21-25.

Key Verse: Romans 7:5, 6, “For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”

Lesson Application:

Outline of Lesson:

Sunday Devotional:

Daily Devotionals:

December 26 M.—

December 27 T.—

December 28 W.--

December 291 T.--

December 30 F.—

December 31 S.—Make Your Days Count! Psalm 90:10-12.

Suggested Word Studies:

Subjects for Mannas:

Questions for Application:

Lesson 6 January 8, 2012

Lesson Title: The Practice of Righteousness—Walking in the Spirit

Scripture Text: Romans 8:1-25.

Lesson Focus: Romans 8:1-13, 22, 23.

Key Verse: Romans 8:1, 2, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Lesson Application:

Outline of Lesson:

Sunday Devotional:

Daily Devotionals:

January 2 M.—

January 3 T.--

January 4 W.--

January 5 T.--

January 6 F.--

January 7 S.--

Suggested Word Studies:

Subjects for Mannas:

Questions for Application:

Lesson 7 January 15, 2012

Lesson Title: The Security of Righteousness—Safe in Christ

Scripture Text: Romans 8:26-39.

Lesson Focus: Romans 8:26-39.

Key Verse: Romans 8:38, 39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Lesson Application:

Outline of Lesson:

Sunday Devotional:

Daily Devotionals:

January 9 M.—

January 10 T.--

January 11 W.--

January 12 T.--

January 13 F.--

January 14 S.--

Suggested Word Studies:

Subjects for Mannas:

Questions for Application:

Lesson 8 January 22, 2012

Lesson Title: The Need for Righteousness—Israel’s Condemnation

Scripture Text: Romans 9:1-33.

Lesson Focus: Romans 9:1-7, 25-33.

Key Verse: Romans 9:31, 32, “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone.”

Lesson Application:

Outline of Lesson:

Sunday Devotional:

Daily Devotionals:

January 16 M.—

January 17 T.--

January 18 W.--

January 19 T.--

January 20 F.--

January 21 S.--

Suggested Word Studies:

Subjects for Mannas:

Questions for Application:

Lesson 9 January 29, 2012

Lesson Title: The Acquisition of Righteousness—Israel’s Salvation

Scripture Text: Romans 10:1—11:36.

Lesson Focus: Romans 10:1-4, 9-13; 11:25-27.

Key Verse: Romans 11:26, 27, “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”

Lesson Application:

Outline of Lesson:

Sunday Devotional:

Daily Devotionals:

January 23 M.—

January 24 T.--

January 25 W.--

January 26 T.--

January 27 F.--

January 28 S.--

Suggested Word Studies:

Subjects for Mannas:

Questions for Application:

Lesson 10 February 5, 2012

Lesson Title: The Pursuit of Righteousness—Transformed-Not-Conformed

Scripture Text: Romans 12:1-21.

Lesson Focus: Romans 12:1-5, 9-21.

Key Verse: Romans 12:1, 2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Lesson Application:

Outline of Lesson:

Sunday Devotional:

Daily Devotionals:

January 30 M.—

January 31 T.--

February 1 W.--

February 2 T.--

February 3 F.--

February 4 S.--

Suggested Word Studies:

Subjects for Mannas:

Questions for Application:

Lesson 11 February 12, 2012

Lesson Title: The Submission of Righteousness—The Law of Love

Scripture Text: Romans 13:1-14.

Lesson Focus: Romans 13:1-14.

Key Verse: Romans 13:7, 8, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”

Lesson Application:

Outline of Lesson:

Sunday Devotional:

Daily Devotionals:

February 6 M.—

February 7 T.—

February 8 W.--

February 9 T.--

February 10 F.--

February 11 S.--

Suggested Word Studies:

Subjects for Mannas:

Questions for Application:

Lesson 12 February 19, 2012

Lesson Title: The Duty of Righteousness—Consider Others

Scripture Text: Romans 14:1—15:3.

Lesson Focus: Romans 14:1-13, 21; 15:1-3.

Key Verse: Romans 14:13, “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”

Lesson Application:

Outline of Lesson:

Sunday Devotional:

Daily Devotionals:

February 13 M.—

February 14 T.--

February 15 W.--

February 16 T.--

February 17 F.--

February 18 S.--

Suggested Word Studies:

Subjects for Mannas:

Questions for Application:

Lesson 13 February 26, 2012

Lesson Title: The Responsibility of Righteousness—Work Together

Scripture Text: Romans 15:4—16:27.

Lesson Focus: Romans 15:4-14, 30; 16:17-20.

Key Verse: Romans 15:5, 6, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Lesson Application:

Outline of Lesson:

Sunday Devotional:

Daily Devotionals:

February 20 M.—

February 21 T.--

February 22 W.--

February 23 T.--

February 24 F.--

February 25 S.--

Suggested Word Studies:

Subjects for Mannas:

Questions for Application: