For Sunday, December 5, 2010

Lesson prep for Sunday, December 5, 2010.

1) 1 Kings 1
Who are the main characters mentioned in this chapter? Who was king? Who became king? What obstacles were in his way? How would you describe the way the new king treated his brother in verses 52-53?

2) 1 Kings 2:1-12
What were the main instructions David gave to Solomon? What warnings did David give Solomon? Why? In verses 2-4, David passed along the promise God had made to him. What promises of God have you shared with someone else recently?

3) 1 Kings 3:3-15
What did God ask Solomon? How would you have answered? How did Solomon answer? Why did this answer please God so much? Is verse 14 a promise to everyone, or a specific promise to Solomon? What did Solomon do next after this encounter with God?

4) 1 Kings 3:16-28
Can you think of other stories over time that have been based on this story? How would you have handled this situation if you were Solomon? How did Solomon handle it? What was the response of all the people who heard about it? Do you trust God to provide the wisdom you need? See James 1:5-8.

For Sunday, November 28, 2010

Lesson prep for Sunday, November 28, 2010.

1) Ephesians 6:10-17
Paul uses this imagery in small sections of other letters. How do you think he came up with this idea?
Isaiah 59:15-20
The Isaiah 59 passage may have been his example. What do these verses say about the Lord as a warrior? How does the time and society described in this passage compare to today?

2) Ephesians 6:10-17; Hebrews 4:12
Which is the only offensive weapon Paul listed? What happens when Christians try to use other methods of offense?
Luke 4:1-13
What does Jesus’ example show us about God’s Word as a weapon?

3) Ephesians 6:18-20
What instructions does Paul give about prayer? What requests did he ask for himself?
Luke 18:1-8
What did Jesus emphasize in this parable about prayer? How does your prayer life measure up to the example he gave?

4) Ephesians 6:21-22
Who was Tychicus? See Colossians 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:12; and Titus 3:12.
Ephesians 6:23-24
What are the key words of Paul’s blessing on the Ephesians? Which do you need most right now?

For Sunday, November 21, 2010

Lesson prep for Sunday, November 21, 2010.

1) Ephesians 6:1-3
What does it mean to "honor your mother and father" as an adult? What is it about obeying and honoring your parents that leads to verse 3 being true in your life? Evaluate your treatment and attitude toward you parents: does it follow God's standard?

2) Ephesians 6:4
In this verse, the word translated for "Fathers" actually is generic for parents.
In what ways do you exasperate your children? In what ways are you bringing them up in the training and instruction of the Lord?
Hebrews 12:5-11
According to Hebrews 12:5-11, what is the goal of discipline?

3) Ephesians 6:5-9
What is surprising about this teaching? How do verses 6-7 relate to the work place? Do your attitudes and activities at work meet this standard? What is surprising about verse 9? How would it effect a master's treatment of a slave (or an employer to an employee) if they are God-fearing?

4) Ephesians 6:1-9
Examine your own family and workplace relationships. How do your relationships measure up to Paul's teaching? Which of these teachings point to an area for your to work on?

For Sunday, November 14, 2010

Lesson prep for Sunday, November 14, 2010.

1) Ephesians 5:22-33
What was Paul’s main topic in this passage? Why was this teaching so important for the Christians in Ephesus? How does our society’s view of marriage compare to Paul’s teaching?

2) Ephesians 5:22-33
What standard does Paul set for how wives should love their husbands? For how husbands should love their wives? In what ways has verse 22 been misrepresented over history? How does that compare with Christ’s example described in Ephesians 5:1-2?

3) Ephesians 5:22-33
In what ways are the relationship between husband/wife and Christ/church the same? How should this identity, as the bride of Christ, effect how a church acts? In what ways does our church act like the bride of Christ?

4) Ephesians 5:22-33
What does it mean to submit? What does it not mean? What is the purpose of submitting, according to Paul? If Christian marriages all followed this teaching, what would be the effects in our church and society?