Tuesday, December 2, 2014

“Worship Christ’s Majesty” Adult Sunday School Lesson


International Sunday School Lesson
For Sunday December 7, 2014

Purpose: To see Jesus as the pure reflection of God’s glory

Bible Lesson: Hebrews 1:1-9

Hebrews 1:1-9 (CEB)
(1) In the past, God spoke through the prophets to our ancestors in many times and many ways. (2) In these final days, though, he spoke to us through a Son. God made his Son the heir of everything and created the world through him. (3) The Son is the light of God’s glory and the imprint of God’s being. He maintains everything with his powerful message. After he carried out the cleansing of people from their sins, he sat down at the right side of the highest majesty. (4) And the Son became so much greater than the other messengers, such as angels, that he received a more important title than theirs.

(5)After all, when did God ever say to any of the angels: You are my Son, Today I have become your Father? Or, even, I will be his Father, and he will be my Son? (6)But then, when he brought his firstborn into the world, he said, All of God’s angels must worship him. (7)He talks about the angels: He’s the one who uses the spirits for his messengers and who uses flames of fire as ministers. (8)But he says to his Son, God, your throne is forever and your kingdom’s scepter is a rod of justice. (9)You loved righteousness and hated lawless behavior. That is why God, your God, has anointed you with oil instead of your companions.


My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

For the next three months we will be studying “Acts of Worship.” First I would like to state that how you personally prepare yourself for worship matters. Would we prepare for meeting the most prestigious celebrity we know better than we prepare ourselves to meet God? Our attitude about how we dress, might reflect our attitude about how important God is for us. There is nothing casual about interacting with, and worshipping God. (I know I am old fashioned) I understand that God does not care how we are dressed, the point is, are we really expecting to meet God?

As for today's text from Hebrews, I think it is an important text for doctrinal purposes. It separates Jesus the Messiah, from all of the previous voices, prophets, priest or kings. “The Son is the light of God,” as stated in verse three. This light is the same light that led the Israelites out of Egypt, and across the desert for forty years.

Jesus is God, and has been involved from the beginning of creation. Jesus is an exact imprint of God. When Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the father,” he was telling us the same thing as the writer of Hebrews.

Jesus who was a “spirit” became human, so he could cleanse us from our sins. Then having achieved that he went back to being a “spirit.” And He is now seated at the right hand of the Father. Humans enter this world as flesh and bones, but Christians are reborn in the spirit, so that they can reign with God and Jesus in eternity. It is us joining Jesus in spirit that creates a new birth, one of spirit not body.

When we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior, our spirit should be one with His Spirit. Our perspective should be the same as His. Knowing this, how can we talk casually, and act casually, let alone worship casually. Putting God in a position of authority and power should humble us enough to bow down and worship.

When we are thrilled with fireworks and sporting events, how much more should we be thrilled with worshipping an all-powerful God? I think it is hard for us as Americans to appreciate royalty, but what Englishman would not be thrilled and excited to meet the king, queen or prince of England. I doubt we would meet them in cut-off jeans and flip flops.

The old hymn says, “Earthly pleasures vainly call me; I would be like Jesus;
Nothing worldly shall enthrall me; I would be like Jesus.
Refrain: Be like Jesus, this my song, in the home and in the throng;
Be like Jesus, all day long! I would be like Jesus.


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