Reflections by Burgess Walter

“Heirs to the Promise” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2012-02-13T16:25:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday February 19, 2012

Purpose: To understand our identity as children of God and heirs to God's promise

Scripture Text: Galatians 3:15-18; 4:1-7 (NRSV)

Galatians 3:15-18
(15)Brothers and sisters, I give an example from daily life: once a person’s will has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it. (16)Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, “And to offsprings,” as of many; but it says, “And to your offspring,” that is, to one person, who is Christ. (17)My point is this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. (18)For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

Galatians 4:1-7
(1)My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; (2)but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. (3)So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. (4)But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (5)in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. (6)And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (7)So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

When we began our study of Galatians a few weeks ago, we noted that the theme for Paul's letter was Christian freedom. Which means Christians are free from the yoke of the law, therefore our salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not by obedience to the Mosaic Law. It is by the grace of God, and our faith in what Jesus Christ accomplished on Calvary, that we are made acceptable to God. None of us would ever be holy enough or good enough to achieve a position of being righteous enough to warrant any form of salvation by following rituals and rules. It is only by Grace through faith that allows God to accept us as part of His family.

Paul's exasperation with the Galatians comes from the fact that they had previously accepted the fact that their hope and salvation came from God's grace and their faith in what Paul told them from his first hand experience of what Jesus revealed to him on the road to Damascus. Now a group of well meaning Jews had come to them with different criteria of how redemption and salvation are attained, and told them they must first become followers of the Mosaic Law, and observe all of the traditions and purification ceremonies required by the law, in order to become a Christian.

Paul tries to persuade them by reason and illustration that the law has been superseded by the “offspring” (singular) promised to Abraham some four hundred thirty years prior to the giving of the Law by Moses. Paul's point is that the original covenant made with Abraham was not nullified by the giving of the law by Moses. Paul's point is, that singular offspring was Jesus Christ. The law was not a replacement for the original covenant, but was given as a way for a community to coexist together. The law established an ordered society until the promise was fulfilled by the birth, death and resurrection of the Messiah, who was Jesus Christ. The salvation of the Jew was still by God's grace and the people's faith in God's instructions.

In Chapter 4 Paul continues his argument using as an example of minor children that become heirs, but they are no different than slaves until they reach the age where the property becomes theirs and it is no longer under the control of a guardian or trustee but theirs.

Being an heir, whether by birth or adoption gives us special privileges, one of those is our relationship with our Father. When Jesus uses the words: “Abba! Father!”, it is equivalent to us using the term “Daddy.” That is how our relationship changes when, by faith we accept God's grace into our lives.

Being an heir sometimes requires responsibility, being a son or daughter also carries a unique blessing. When someone tells us we look or act or have the same passion as a parent it often makes us feel good and also we have a sense of closeness with our parent. Isn't the same true when we are a child of God?

For us as Christians we need to ask ourselves this question: How is the observance of spiritual disciplines different from the discipline of obedience to the law? What are some of your “spiritual disciplines”? Do you go to church, fast and pray, study the bible?

“Freed From Law Through Christ” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2012-02-06T17:09:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday February 12, 2012

Purpose: To grasp the biblical distinction between law and grace

Scripture Text: Galatians 3:1-14

Galatians 3: 1-14 (NRSV)
(1)You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified! (2)The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? (3)Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? (4)Did you experience so much for nothing? —if it really was for nothing; (5)Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

(6)Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” (7) so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham. (8)And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.” (9)For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed.

(10)For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.” (11)Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law; for “The one who is righteous will live by faith.” (12)But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, “Whoever does the works of the law will live by them.” (13)Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— (14)in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Paul's passion and heart are readily visible as we read these words that sometimes seem harsh. Paul seems to have reached a point of exasperation with this group of people that he had originally shared the story of the crucifixion of Jesus. He had also shared his story of what had happened to him on the road to Damascus.
Because some Judaizers had visited the area and preached that they must first become followers of the Jewish/Mosaic laws before they could be considered followers of Christ, they started the practice of circumcision as well as celebrating the Jewish Festival Days; trying to appease those that came into their community.

Paul's encounter with Christ was far different than what Paul was proclaiming to the Galatians. Christ revealed Himself to Paul, while Paul is preaching, because of my revelation, you should believe by faith that Jesus Christ was crucified. When Paul encountered Christ on the road to Damascus he not only saw Jesus, he was also filled with a new Spirit. Paul ceased from a persecuting spirit, to a believing Spirit.

While telling his story to the Galatians he also performs many miracles because of his Spirit filled life. Now he can not understand how they could accept the word of someone without the miracles. What did the Judaizers do that compared to Paul's story of conversion, vision, and miracles? While the Judaizers believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, they did not understand that His coming was the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham, “All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.”

Paul's conversion was unique in that the vision and encounter were enough for Paul to be considered an Apostle, which is one that actually saw and witnessed Jesus Christ. There is no doubt in Paul's mind, however, when Paul left Galatia, to proclaim the Good News to others, they were open to a more structured religion, maybe requiring less faith, and preferred obedience to a set of rules easier than the faith required by Paul's teaching.

Paul and the rest of the Apostles had a different kind of faith from the rest of the world, both then and now. The Galatians, and us encounter Jesus Christ in a different way; our sight and vision comes from believing what the Apostles and Paul said was true. Then we also need an understanding of God that frees us from a law that must always be followed, to a God of grace that assures us that we have, by faith, achieved a new relationship with God, because of what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross, and through the resurrection. The promise made to Abraham has become reality.

Even today it seems easier to follow a set of rules that are provided for us, than to enjoy the freedom that was gained for us at the cross. I think the story of adoption of older children can help us understand the difference. A child living in a foster home might be obedient because of the chance for adoption. While one that has been adopted might be obedient out of gratitude for a loving father and mother. In much the same way our relationship with our Heavenly Father works that way. By faith, we become joint heirs with Jesus. We are God's heirs because of God's grace, not because we were good enough.

“Justified by Faith in Christ” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2012-01-30T16:02:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday February 5, 2012

Purpose: To celebrate God's work through Jesus Christ and our place in God's plan

Scripture Text: Galatians 2:15-21

Galatians 2:15-21 (NRSV)
(15)We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; (16)yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. (17)But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! (18)But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. (19)For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ;(20)and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (21)I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

For the rest of this quarter we will be looking at the Book of Galatians. Galatians is only six chapters long, but it contains some great theology and teachings. The overall theme of Galatians is “freedom.”

Our text is part of an argument Paul is making concerning Peter and Barnabas, who slipped back into the Jewish traditions when visitors from Jerusalem came calling. There was present a faction of converted Jews that thought it necessary for Gentiles to first become Jews if they were going to call themselves Christians. Our lesson argues against such a practice.

The opening lines of our text sounds rather harsh, in calling those that were not Jews by birth “sinners.” However, it should be noted this is not a moral judgment against the Gentiles, but a simple statement of fact according to Jewish tradition. Since they did not follow Jewish law they were considered to be sinners, just as all of us are considered sinners when we are compared to the Holiness of our Creator God.

Paul's argument contends that everyone is “justified” (acquitted), not by the works of the “law,” “but through faith in Jesus Christ.” Believing by faith that Jesus was The Christ,” or promised Messiah. Paul is impressing upon those that had come to believe that Jesus was The Christ, simply believing and trust that belief is all that is required to obtain the “justification” or to be acquitted of all of our transgressions.

Regardless of how good we think we are, or how much we try to live a life that follows all of the rules laid down by ourselves and others, we are incapable of obtaining an acquittal from condemnation by following a set of rules. This fact is often hard for some Christians today that try and live a sacrificial life and a life of self denial. Paul says, “no one will be justified by the works of the law.” All salvation comes by way of faith in Jesus The Christ.

Paul's new found freedom comes from living a life that is grounded in Jesus Christ, the life he lives now is not Paul's life but Christ living in Paul. Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, has taken up residency in Paul. Paul's actions are no longer his but Christ living in him. The life now being lived by Paul is a life of faith, not a life being lived by a set of rules established by men. Paul is able to live this new life with Christ abiding in him because of the grace of God that has made it available to all humankind, that puts there trust and confidence in the one that was willing to die the cruel death of the cross in order that we might obtain eternal life in Him. Paul closes this portion of his argument by stating, “if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.”

Paul inserts a warning in the middle of his argument, you can not go back and destroy what has been revealed to you, once you have seen the light of the gospel, (justification by faith) returning to your old ways condemns you as a “transgressor.”

God went to great lengths, to provide us with a way whereby we can be acquitted, or justified. The plan He chose was sending His Holy Son to die in our place. That is why out of gratitude for the grace extended to each of us we try and live a life that reflects that Son of God (Christ in us) in our daily lives. God, who knows us best, and loves us the most, deserves our best.

"Out of Egypt” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2012-01-23T18:29:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday January 29,2012

Purpose: To marvel at God's continuing faithfulness to the people of promise

Scripture Text: Exodus 15:1-3, 19, 22-26 (NRSV)

Exodus 15:1-3
(1)Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea. (2)The Lord is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. (3)The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.

Exodus 15:19
(19)When the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his chariot drivers went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them; but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.

Exodus 15: 22-26
(22)Then Moses ordered Israel to set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. (23)When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter. That is why it was called Marah. (24)And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” (25)He cried out to the Lord; and the Lord showed him a piece of wood; he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and an ordinance and there he put them to the test. (26)He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

There are a few interesting points I would like to make concerning the years from Joseph's death until Moses leads God's chosen remnant out of Egypt. It seems obvious to me that the burial sight of Joseph was well marked and because of his position under the ruling Pharaoh it may have been near or in one of the Pyramids of Egypt and his body was probably mummified, as this was the Egyptian custom. Regardless, for four hundred years it had remained a sacred place for the descendants of Jacob.

In Exodus 1:3 we are told there were 70 descendents of Jacob/Israel that made Egypt their new home, not counting Joseph and his family. For the next four hundred years they worked hard, prospered and multiplied, and kept alive the story of Joseph as well as the stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The sad statement of Exodus 1:8 “Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph,” changes everything. This haunting statement might even be applied to our own history as a nation, today we wonder if in fact our present rulers remember how and why our nation was founded. Joseph, who had saved the nation of Egypt from famine, was no longer relevant or even remembered. Only those that were descendants of Jacob/Israel still had a place in their heart for the once very famous and powerful Joseph. This should challenge us today to remain faithful in remembering where we came from and what our heritage is all about as Christians in America. We do not want to be guilty of being that generation that does not remember who Christ was.

I think when this new Pharaoh took over he was very much aware of how this family of foreigners had grown into a considerable force within Egypt. He made every effort to slow down their growth and destroy their will to survive, but that made them only grow faster and stronger. It also separated them from the Egyptians, their culture and stories made them into a proud people that were protected by their God, and the God of Joseph, Jacob, Isaac and Abraham. All of this time they never forgot Joseph's promise to them; Genesis 50:(24) Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die; but God will surely come to you, and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”(25)So Joseph made the Israelites swear, saying, “When God comes to you, you shall carry up my bones from here.” (26)And Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old; he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.

Now God had come to them through Moses, Aaron, and Mariam, and had convinced Pharaoh to let them go to that land promised 7 or 8 hundred years prior to Abraham. These three descendants of Levy became the family, through which God would work to lead these people of promise out of captivity, but there was a catch, they needed to listen carefully to His voice, and do what was right in His sight and heed His commandments. Their obedience was required by God, so that He could bring about the blessing that had been promised.

In life we are always looking for God's blessing, but we grow weary of doing our part. We do more of what we please, than what pleases God. We follow our own rules and decide which of God's laws are relevant for us. We must always remember it is humility that releases grace. Proverbs 3:34 "Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble".

“Joseph Transmits Abraham's Promise” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2012-01-16T17:08:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday January 22, 2012

Purpose: To see our role in carrying out the purpose of God

Scripture Text: Genesis 50:15-26

Genesis 50:15-26 (NRSV)

(15)Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” (16)So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, (17) ‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. (18)Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” (19)But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? (20)Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. (21)So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

(22)So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s household; and Joseph lived one hundred ten years. (23)Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation;the children of Machir son of Manasseh were also born on Joseph’s knees. (24)Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die; but God will surely come to you, and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”(25)So Joseph made the Israelites swear, saying, “When God comes to you, you shall carry up my bones from here.” (26)And Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old; he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Have you ever asked God, or a friend or family member, for forgiveness and doubted that you had truly been forgiven? That is the position the brothers of Joseph find themselves in today's text.

I think there are times when forgiveness seems to be less than sincere or we are so haunted by our past deeds that forgiveness seems too good for us. We doubt that we are truly forgiven. I know many people have a hard time that have lived a rather wicked life, and when they come to that place where they ask God for forgiveness, and can not believe it is that simple for all of their past sins to be completely forgiven.

Joseph was in a position where forgiveness could be offered and given for what his brothers had put him through. And like us, when we come to Christ asking for forgiveness, Christ grants it completely, but we, like the brothers, have a hard time accepting it.

Because of Joseph’s closeness to God, he understood that his brothers had actually done him a favor, by selling him to the Egyptians. Now of course this outcome was dependent upon Joseph remaining obedient to God's call on his life. God wants us to work with him to accomplish His purpose. I am fully convinced God would have used another way and person if Joseph had not been obedient. God had revealed to Joseph that even if his father and brothers ended up in Egypt, God would still deliver them to the land promised to his great-grandfather Abraham. Knowing the promise given to Abraham, it must have been on the mind of Jacob/Israel when he consented to move to Egypt. Jacob/Israel wanted to make certain that when his death came that he would be returned to the land of his father and grandfather for burial.

We often say that Joseph was a “type” of Christ, and we can see in this text a few more examples of that. First he was able to forgive, second, he would provide for everyone that chose to live in the land of Goshen, and third, he promised that perfect resting place when death came.

Joseph does not live near as long as his father (147 years), but lived to be 110 and enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When Jacob/Israel died, Joseph requested a leave of absence from Pharaoh to go and bury his father as he had promised. Pharaoh not only granted that request but sent a large contingent of Egyptian officials to accompany Joseph and his family back to the cave where Jacob/Israel was to be buried. Joseph likewise, when he was dying, requested the he be embalmed and carried back to Shechem to be buried on the ground that his father Jacob had bought from the children of Hamor, as recorded in Exodus 13:19, & Joshua 24:32. It took a little over 400 years for that to come to pass, but that is what is so amazing about Joseph's faith, next week or next year or 400 years, he was certain of his final resting place.

Pharaoh had always said “Joseph was filled with the Spirit of God.” Joseph's life revealed that spirit, by his integrity, wisdom and faith; If only each of us could have that said about our lives. God's spirit is revealed to the world and to unbelievers by such things as wisdom, integrity and faith.

“God Preserves a Remnant” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2012-01-10T18:30:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday January 15, 2012

Purpose: To understand that God's blessings can be transmitted through our acts of love and forgiveness

Scripture Text: Genesis 43:3-15

Genesis 45:3-15 (NRSV)
(3)Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence. (4)Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. (5)And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.(6)For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. (7)God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. (8)So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. (9)Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. (10)You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. (11)I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.’ (12)And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you.(13)You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt, and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” (14)Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. (15)And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

I want to share a really good lecture with all of you, if you click on the Walter Edwards, article, The Grand Miracle, at the very top left portion of my home page you will find a very interesting read for those of you that would like a better historical and scriptural look at early Christianity and some of the problems with revisionist history that need to be addressed by more traditional believers.

This week's text is a lesson in relationships; relationships are difficult to maintain, because none of us are perfect. Hurtful words and hurtful deeds often cause a break in our relationships. This happens in families, in marriages, in friendships, and within the church. When there is no repentance and forgiveness, relationships will remain broken. When there is a broken relationship our ability to be an effective witness for Christ is seriously damaged or destroyed.

All of us are guilty of holding onto hurts and refusing to accept blame or admit guilt, we are reluctant to say “I am sorry.” The sad thing is most relationships can only be restored when there is mutual forgiveness and repentance. We must allow ourselves to let go, forget and forgive, then our relationships can be restored and our life begins anew.

This is where Joseph found himself in our text, he was an injured party, yet he is the one that reached out and restored a relationship with his brothers. As we read the story, Joseph had some very good reasons to despise and to punish his brothers for what they did to him. Our human nature would cause us to get even.Because Joseph took something bad and turned it into something good, he was able to offer forgiveness to his brothers. Joseph's brothers had sold him into slavery because they did not like the fact that their father treated him special and Joseph interpreted a dream where they were all bowing down to him. Jealousy and envy are often the beginning of a broken relationship.

Joseph had remained faithful to God and diligent in his service to whatever task was assigned. Joseph was able to see God's hand in his life, and realized what his brothers thought was evil, God used as good. Now Joseph was the second most powerful person in all of Egypt and he controlled all of the resources of Egypt. Egypt is nine years into the fourteen year prophesy; they had the seven years of abundance and now they were two years into the famine and drought years.

Joseph has built large grain storage facilities throughout all of Egypt, he has prepared for the lean years. The famine has spread to the entire region; Canaan is going through the same drought and famine. Joseph becomes the only hope for salvation and continuation of the promise made to Abraham. Supply and demand is all in favor of Joseph and Egypt; they have what the rest of the world wants. Joseph invites his father and all of his brothers to come and live in the land of Goshen and he offers to provide for all of their needs.

We too have what the rest of the world wants, we can offer hope and comfort to those that are without. Joseph offers us the ideal way to handle broken relationships, not just forgiveness, but restoration. That is what God offers us, through His Son Jesus, we are not just forgiven and restored but we become family again.

“Joseph Finds Favor” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2012-01-03T13:51:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday January 8, 2012

Purpose: To comprehend that God's favor can exceed our human expectations

Scripture Text: Genesis 41:37-45, 50-52 (NRSV)

Genesis 41:37-45
(37)The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. (38)Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?” (39)So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. (40)You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command; only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”(41)And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” (42)Removing his signet ring from his hand, Pharaoh put it on Joseph’s hand; he arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck. (43)He had him ride in the chariot of his second-in-command; and they cried out in front of him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. (44)Moreover Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” (45)Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. Thus Joseph gained authority over the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41: 50-52
(50)Before the years of famine came, Joseph had two sons, whom Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him. (51)Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” (52)The second he named Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my misfortunes.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

After Joseph is falsely accused by Potifar's wife and placed in prison, his diligence and good demeanor are rewarded by the chief jailer and he is place as a trustee over fellow prisoners. The prison is the prison of Pharaoh, and in it are two of Pharaoh's former servants, the former cupbearer and baker to Pharaoh. Joseph interprets their dreams, and it leads to the cupbearer being restored to Pharaoh's court, and the baker being hanged, all within a three day period. After Joseph interprets the cupbearers dream he asks a favor and explains his plight of being falsely imprisoned under a false accusation. Three days later when the cupbearer is restored to Pharaoh's court, Joseph's request to be remembered to Pharaoh's is lost; the cupbearer develops “amnesia.” For two years Joseph remains faithful to his God and to his responsibilities as a trustee in prison.

Two years after the cupbearer is restored to Pharaoh's court, he hears that Pharaoh is having trouble getting a dream interpreted. Suddenly the cupbearer's amnesia is cured and he recalls Joseph who had interpreted his own dream in prison.

Out of frustration with the rest of Egypt’s brightest and best, Pharaoh is willing to listen to the cupbearer and Joseph is sent for and interprets Pharaoh's dream, not only interprets the dream but suggest ways to avoid the inevitable seven year famine and save all of Egypt.

Joseph never claimed that he was doing the interpreting, but always said it was God that revealed everything to him. Pharaoh was so impressed not only with Joseph but also his God that he made Joseph second-in-command in all of Egypt. In modern day language Joseph became the “the keeper of the seal.” A term used for secretaries of corporations. Nothing can be authenticated without the corporation seal.

Joseph's faithfulness to God is rewarded; he began his life receiving a coat of authority from his father, and being treated special. When his brothers sold him into slavery and Potiphar's wife falsely accused him and the cupbearer forgot about him for two years he never lost faith in his God. Now a coat stolen from him is replaced with an even better garment of “fine linen.” The chains of slavery are replaced with a “gold chain.” Instead of being thrown into a pit, he is given a ride in Pharaoh's chariot. And he was given a new name and a royal wife, so Egypt and Israel would be forever linked. Joseph is no longer thought of as an alien, but more like an adopted son, just as we are adopted into God's family by Jesus blood and righteousness.

Pharaoh recognized that “the spirit of God” not an Egyptian god but the God of Joseph, was a very powerful God, and greater than all the Egyptian gods, and He was with Joseph.

Pharaoh's recognition of “the spirit of God” is the second mention of “spirit of God” in the Old Testament. The first being in Genesis 1:2; NKJV says “the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Joseph will long be remembered in Egypt until in Exodus 1:8 it says (8)Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. Pray that never happens to us or America.

It is often said only two people's lives, recorded in the bible, have no record of sin. One is Joseph and the other is Jesus. No wonder Pharaoh said, “Can we find anyone else like this?

The answer is, yes we can; He is the Incarnate Son of God, who came to save all of humankind.

“God Watches Over Joseph”

2011-12-27T17:48:00.002-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday January 1, 2012

Purpose: To believe that God honors a life of integrity and faith

Scripture Text: Genesis 39:7-21a

Genesis 39:7-21a (NRSV)
(7)And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” (8)But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, with me here, my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my hand. (9)He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (10)And although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not consent to lie beside her or to be with her.(11)One day, however, when he went into the house to do his work, and while no one else was in the house, (12)she caught hold of his garment, saying, “Lie with me!” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.

(13)When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled outside, (14) she called out to the members of her household and said to them, “See, my husband has brought among us a Hebrew to insult us! He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice ;( 15) and when he heard me raise my voice and cry out, he left his garment beside me, and fled outside.” (16)Then she kept his garment by her until his master came home, (17) and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to insult me; (18) but as soon as I raised my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me, and fled outside.”

(19)When his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, saying, “This is the way your servant treated me,” he became enraged. (20)And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; he remained there in prison. (21)But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

To fully appreciate the story of Joseph you need to read chapter 37, to see how Joseph ended up in Egypt. The story has been recreated in the Broadway Play, by Andrew Lloyd Webber “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Evidently Joseph's father, Jacob (now called Israel by God) saw something unique in Joseph and made him a coat with bright colors and long sleeves, a coat that signified power. Joseph was the first born son of Jacob's favorite wife Jacob had labored fourteen years marry her, because Rachel's father had tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, the elder of the two sisters after his first seven years of labor. Then Rachel died giving birth to Joseph's younger brother Benjamin.

As we come to today's text, Jacob's name has been changed by God (32:28) to Israel and he has twelve sons. His first wife Leah is the mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Rachel was Joseph and Benjamin’s mother. Rachel's maidservant gave birth to Billah, Dan and Naphtali, and Leah’s maidservant had Zilphah, Gad and Asher.

Joseph is sold by his brothers to Ishmaelites, or Midianites, (see 37:28) both were descendants of Abraham. (See 16:15 and 25:2) Abraham would have been Joseph's great-grandfather.

Joseph's qualities seen by his father were also seen by Potiphar, a commanding officer of Pharaoh’s bodyguard. Joseph had been given command over Potiphar's house and all of his possessions; Potiphar seemed to recognize that Joseph was blessed by his God, and God blessed Potiphar's household because of Joseph. Potiphar had so much confidence in Joseph's ability that verse 6 tells us he didn't even know what he had, except he had bread to eat. Verse 6 also ends with these words: “Now Joseph was handsome and good-looking.”

You can sense the plot thickening as we approach our text, there is about to be all one could ask for in a good movie or book. However, we should not let the story deter us from the fact, that Joseph becomes a type of Christ for us. Joseph, who is betrayed, by his brothers, treated as a slave, arrested without cause, emerges as a savior for his entire family, without bitterness; it makes him an ideal type of Christ. Jesus The Christ would come as a descendant of one of Joseph's older brothers, (Judah) and be born in the very same place that Joseph's mother Rachel gave birth to Benjamin and died doing so.

Our text ends with, “the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love.”

My prayer for each of you this coming year is that the LORD will be with you and know that God's steadfast love is available to all that call upon Him.

Wishing a very Happy New Year to all of you.

“According to the Promise” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-12-20T14:16:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday December 25, 2011

Purpose: To rejoice in the good news of God's promised gift to the world, Jesus Christ

Scripture Text: Luke 1:46-55

Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV)
(46And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, (47) and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, (48)for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; (49)for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.(50)His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.(51)He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. (52)He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; (53) he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. (54)He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, (55)according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Today's text is often referred to as “The Magnificat,” or sometime as either“Mary's Song” or Mary's Canticle.” In Latin the first word is often used as the title of that work, hence “My soul magnifies the Lord” becomes “The Magnificat.”

Prior to the birth of Jesus, Julius Caesar had declared December 25th as the day of the Winter Solstice, or that time of the year when the sun was at its lowest place in the sky and the least amount of sun shone on that day. After the Winter Solstice. the sun would renew itself and the days would get longer and longer and it was the renewing or rebirth of the sun that caused cultures throughout the world to celebrate on that day.

The first few centuries of the church the birth of Jesus was more aligned with the Magi visit than the Winter Solstice. The birth was most often celebrated on January 6th or Three Kings Sunday. When the Julian calendar was discarded for the Gregorian calendar in 1582 the winter solstice was moved to the 21st of December.

The early Christian's decided rather than fight the pagan celebration they would make it about the birth of the Son of God instead of the rebirth of the sun, as the pagans believed. They declared December 25th to January 6th as a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, hence the 12 days of Christmas. However, many of our traditions today stem from the original celebration of the winter solstice, the evergreens, the Yule log, mistletoe, holly and candles.

Our text paints a different picture of what the birth of God's son means to a lowly pheasant girl named Mary. Mary had a very good understanding of God and how He works. And I think Luke was making a point for Theophilus, the Roman official that Luke was writing to. God is not impressed by what you have, or your title He prefers to work with the lowly and those that are in need of mercy, those that are hungry for God, not the proud, powerful, or the wealthy. “God’s mercy is for those that fear him.”

Mary understood that this child she was carrying would be a fulfillment of Gods promise to Abraham; Jesus would be a blessing to all nations forever. Mary's words are considered by some as revolutionary, she addresses moral, social, and economic problems that a merciful God has a great deal of interest in. Verses 51, 52, and 53 address all three problems. The hope for all of us is that God's mercy is extended to us, as promised to Abraham, and because of that we can achieve God's blessing through faithfulness (trust and obey).

“The Lord Provides” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-12-13T16:07:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday December 18, 2011

Purpose: To know that when we place our complete trust in God, God will provide what we need

Scripture Text: Genesis 22:1-2, 6-14 (NRSV)

Genesis 22:1-2
(1)After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” (2)He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.”

Genesis 22: 6-14
(6)Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. (7)Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (8)Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together. (9)When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. (10)Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. (11)But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” (12)He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” (13)And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. (14)So Abraham called that place “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

As I read this text, I ask myself, am I ready to have my faith tested by God? And I cannot help but wonder, if tested, would I pass or fail? Nothing in the preceding verses or chapters give us any reason to think Abraham was anything but faithful. God has finally provided an heir that is both from Sarah and Abraham, truly a miracle that Abraham and Sarah are very much aware. The long awaited son has arrived, a gift from God, now God was asking the unthinkable.

At the time and place of this original writing, in the land of Canaan, human sacrifice was often used in the worship of their gods. Many theologians look at this story as a condemnation of such practices, and this is what separated Abraham's faith and practices from the rest of the world at that time. However, we should not lose sight of the fact that God devised the sacrifice of His only Son as a means of redemption for all of humankind. God was not asking Abraham to do anything that He was not willing to do himself.

So where did God send Abraham to perform this awful cruel deed? In 2nd Chronicles 3:1 we read: "Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had designated, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite". Many believe that this is the present day location of the “Temple Mount,” in Jerusalem not far from Mount Calvary where the crucifixion took place.

In the 5th verse, that was skipped, in our text we get a sense of Abraham's faith, 22:5 "Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” Abraham was trusting God to provide a way out of sacrificing his only son, he didn't know how God would do it but he was confident enough to tell his two young men, “We will come back.”

In the same way we are given a way out of our own “condemnation,” Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit". And in Romans 5:8, it says, "But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us". Our redemption is provided in the same way as Isaac's, by faith. God's only son whom He loved, became our “Ram caught in the thicket by its horns” or my translation would be “a Lamb caught by thorns,” God always provides a way out, there are times when our faith cannot see the “Ram in the thicket” but remember we need to expect God to work a miracle, just as Abraham was tying his son Isaac to a pile of wood, he was still looking for God to provide that sacrifice. Keep watching and listening for God to respond in times of need, 2 Corinthians 12:9a “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

When God becomes all we have, He is all we need. 1st Peter 5:7 says, Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.

As you study this text, take a moment and think of what Mary was asked to do, she was in the same situation as Abraham when Jesus was on the cross.
God Bless you all and Merry Christmas

“ A Promise to Abraham” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-12-06T14:14:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday December 11, 2011

Scripture Text: Genesis 15:1-6, 12-18 (NRSV)

Purpose: To learn to trust God will deliver on his promises on his schedule

Genesis 15:1-6
(1)After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” (2)But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” (3)And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” (4)But the word of the LORD came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” (5)He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” (6)And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 15:12-18
(12)As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. (13)Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know this for certain, that your offspring shall be aliens in a land that is not theirs, and shall be slaves there, and they shall be oppressed for four hundred years; (14)but I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. (15)As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. (16)And they shall come back here in the fourth generation; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” (17)When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. (18)On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Abram finds himself in a place a lot of us come to. We doubt God's ability to deliver on His promises. He has been promised a great multitude of offspring, but so far the only offspring in his household is from a slave that was picked up in Damascus, as he journeyed to this land that God had promised him. Furthermore, both him and his wife were at an age where child bearing seems very unlikely.

As our minds wander at what the LORD told Abram, we wonder what if Abram had believed from the start and NOT used Sarai's slave Hagar, and Ishmael had never been born. Or was that the LORD'S plan all along, two great nations of people from the loins of Abram? I guess there is always the question of whether it is God's will, or does God allow things outside of His will to happen?

In our modern day environment, I doubt Abram or Sarai would be rebuked for taking some initiative in trying within their own power to achieve what God had promised. Waiting on God is never easy, it is sort of liking wanting a new car, but not being willing to save in advance; we want the car now and are more than willing to pay the interest to a bank in order to get it now. Abram and Sarai doubted the LORD's ability to deliver on His promise, so a price is paid. Unfortunately just as we have been blessed through Abram's descendents we are also troubled by descendents of Ishmael that claim Abram as their father and despise both Jew and Christian today.

Not sure if the next part of our lesson comes from the foreseen disobedience or if that was God's plan all along. Abram's descendants would encounter trouble in the future that would last for four hundred years. That of course was the slavery in Egypt that Moses would lead them out of. One cannot help but wonder what kind of a world we would live in today if Abram had waited on the LORD.

God's has a plan for each of us, when we deviate from that plan or fail to listen, God works around our failure, but He is always trying to get us back to a place where He can reveal Himself to us anew; if not through Abraham, Isaac or Jacob, then through Joseph and Moses, then David and eventually through the Christ Child. “God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” sounds simple enough, if only we believed.

You might note that the very last part of our lesson has been fulfilled, that the descendents of Abram, do occupy that land between Egypt and the Euphrates, but not the descendants of Isaac, they have but a small piece of that ground.

“Facing Life Without Worry” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-11-22T15:55:00.001-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday November 27, 2011

Purpose: To celebrate the loving care of God

Scripture Text: Matthew 6:25-34

Matthew 6:25-34 (NRSV)
(25)“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? (26)Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (27)And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? (28)And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, (29)yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. (30)But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?(31)Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ (32)For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (33)But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (34)“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

"Don't Worry, Be Happy" is a song by musician Bobby McFerrin. Released in September 1988, it became the first a cappella song to reach the number one spot on Billboards top 100 hits. Today's lesson will attempt to teach us what it means when the Bible as well as Bobby McFerrin tells us “Don't worry.”

In order to understand today's text we need to go back one verse so we can see the context of what Jesus was talking about. Verse 24 of Matthew 5 says this, “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth". Jesus understood that a lack of wealth is often equated to worry. In the teaching method used by Jesus he uses nature as a way of comparing what man sees as needs and what is provided by God for all of nature. Jesus had already taught that anger can destroy one's relationships the same as murder, now he equates worry as a source for destroying our relationship with God. Jesus teaches that pursuing wealth causes us to rely on ourselves rather than on Him that created us. Being consumed by creating enough wealth so that we do not worry, does not necessarily work. And it that is how our time is spent, what about God?

We were told in last week's lesson to pray for our “daily bread,” so I don't think Jesus was telling us not to be concerned about our need for food, water, and clothing. The Greek verb used in this text as (to worry) is (merimnao) which translated means “fearfully anxious” or “troubled,” as used in Psalm 38:18 or “heartfelt concern” as used in Philippians 2:20. Jesus wants us to be reasonably concerned, but not distracted to the point that we miss the really important things. God wants to be our provider and He wants us to be dependent upon Him, that is what God does. That is why we call him “Our Father” And that is why he says, “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Jesus ask this in the form of a rhetorical question, and it sounds a lot like the way Jesus answered the tempter in Matthew 4:4 when he said, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” It is important to remember that Jesus was talking to his disciples that he had just ask to drop everything and “follow me.” they have just been assured that there needs will be provided for, and they always were.

In the verses that follow Jesus once again as he had previously said, the creator God is God of everything and He cares about everything and He provides all of the necessity’s, whether birds or man. My father used to tell me, “worrying helps,” “because most of the things I worry about never happen.” Certainly Jesus says something similar when he says, “can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your....life.”

Jesus brings the discussion down to faith, it is a lack of faith and trust in God's ability to provide that causes us to worry about how “we” are going to provide for ourselves the things that God has promised. But remember God did not promise to provide us with all of our wants. Jesus reminds us that our first desire should be, “for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all of these (other necessary) things will be given to you as well.”

Lastly, the Kingdom should be our ultimate focus, not today or tomorrow, but maintaining that right relationship with God, our neighbors and family, that is what God wants us to focus on. “God's will on earth as it is in heaven.” That is what we pray, and that is what God also wants, for each of us.

“Praying as God's People” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-11-15T16:43:00.003-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday November 20, 2011

Purpose: To open in our hearts the treasure house of prayer

Scripture Text: Matthew 6:5-15

Matthew 6:5-15 (NRSV)
(5)“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. (6)But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (7)“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. (8)Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

(9)“Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.(10)Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.(11)Give us this day our daily bread. (12)And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (13)And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. (14)For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; (15)but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Today's lesson is about prayer and part of our text includes what is often referred to as “The Lord's Prayer.” The Lord’s Prayer is repeated, recited, and prayed by many congregations each Sunday. How can we continue to use this great prayer in our services and not be guilty of what Jesus is saying hypocrites do? First, we need check why we use it and how it is used. As a congregation do we think that it somehow makes us more holy?

When we pray it as a congregation, do we personally use more gusto, to emphasize our own holiness or righteousness? Treating the prayer as rote or reciting it can lead to the criticism Jesus is referring to. Anything we do to impress someone else qualifies us to be called a hypocrite. There is a very fine line on displaying our piety, and remaining righteous. Our piety and our righteousness should never be on display as a way of proving our relationship with God. When we do that we are guilty of being “self-righteous,” and like most things that involve “self,” we have lost our way.

Getting recognized for our inspiring prayers, and our seemingly righteous attitude gives us an earthly reward, but not necessarily God's approval. Praying in secret and prayers to our Father, which are intended for His ears only is the way Jesus teaches us to pray.

When praying, Jesus says it is not about flowery words or old cliché phrases, or babble, it is about recognizing our relationship with the Father, and affirming our needs and concerns, that He is well aware of, as well as our praise, thanksgiving and repentance.

When we pray the way we address God shows something about our relationship with God. If we are His child we should address him as “father” but not “My Father” but rather “Our Father.” “Our Father,” shows an understanding of the community we are part of. God is not just “My God,” but rather He is God to everyone that is a child of God.

Just because we address God as “Our Father,” we should never diminish God's holiness, but rather recognize that calling God holy requires us to seek a higher level of holiness for ourselves. God's name should be hallowed, and we should be seeking that same hallowed title for ourselves. Realizing being made in His image, beckons us to reflect that image in our lives.

Since we assume God's will is accomplished in heaven, we are to work toward His will being accomplished on earth, and that begins with us. God has revealed His will to us by proclaiming it through the scriptures. God also allows things outside of His will to happen. A couple of God's proclamations include:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. and

Jeremiah 32:27“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”

Both verses should give us comfort when we pray.

Verse 11 offers some real hope and promise for us for our physical needs, but more importantly He wants to supply our spiritual needs. Jesus refers to himself as the bread of life and in the Old Testament the Bread of Presence represents the coming Messiah. I think our prayer should be “give us this day Jesus' presence in our lives.

We are encouraged to pray about keeping us from the evil one, Jesus himself was tempted, we should expect to be tempted also but we should always be aware that Jesus is there, in the person of Emmanuel, (God with us) when the evil one comes.

When we address God as “Our Father” that sense of community should standout for us and we should realize our relationship with others is important to Jesus, and forgiveness is the most god like things we can do. It is not, “forgive them and I will forgive you,” but rather if you cannot forgive them you are not a child of mine.

“Loving as God's People” adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-11-08T14:30:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday November 13, 2011

Purpose: To recognize and expose the divisive work of evil

Scripture Text: Matthew 5:43-48

Matthew 5:43-48 (NRSV)
(43)“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ (44)But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (45)so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. (46)For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (47)And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? (48)Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

The further we go into the Sermon on the Mount passage, the bar seems to be raised higher and higher. Most of us can deal with seeking forgiveness when we have offended or when we are the object of someone’s anger or angst, especially when it involves family, whether that family is ours by name or Christian. But today's text takes it a step further, “love your enemies.” Is that even possible?

In the history of the Jewish nation, that was a legitimate teaching, taught by Moses in Leviticus 19:18, 34

“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.34The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” In these passages God, speaking like a parent, simple says because I said so. No further explanation was necessary, “I am the LORD your God.”

It is hard to read this and apply it to our current situation in America, where it seems we have so many aliens who are also considered our enemies. September 11, 2001 changed a lot of things for us as Americans; suddenly we associated aliens as enemies. We had been attacked by a group of people whom we thought were indebted to us, or certainly not an enemy. Our reaction was more like the Psalmist in Psalm 5:4-6; 21:8-11; 26:4-5, 9-10 4
For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil will not sojourn with you.
5 The boastful will not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.

8 Your hand will find out all your enemies;
your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9 You will make them like a fiery furnace
when you appear.
The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath,
and fire will consume them.
10 You will destroy their offspring from the earth,
and their children from among humankind.
11 If they plan evil against you,
if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.
4 I do not sit with the worthless,
nor do I consort with hypocrites;
5 I hate the company of evildoers,
and will not sit with the wicked.
9 Do not sweep me away with sinners,
nor my life with the bloodthirsty,
10 those in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.
We wanted God, at the least, to not bless them. I do not think this is what Christ means when He says, “pray for those that persecute you.”

The God that we worship, like it or not is responsible for all creation. He blesses all of his creation with the sun and rain regardless of their righteousness or unrighteousness. Our challenge is go from just one that receives blessings, to be one that blesses, we accomplish this and do God's work when He becomes our Father.

Loving the lovely is no big deal, loving the unlovely requires a heart like God's. At some time in our life I suppose we are all loved and able to love. But what about loving those that are trying to destroy us, or harm us, or our economy.

Being perfect means to be complete. We become complete when we are able to love as God loves. Reflect on the a few verses from this great old hymn, “Complete in Thee.”

Complete in Thee! no work of mine, May take, dear Lord, the place of Thine;
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me, And I am now complete in Thee.

Dear Savior! when before Thy bar, All tribes and tongues assembled are, Among Thy chosen will I be, At Thy right hand—complete in Thee.

The Chorus goes like this:

Yea, justified! O blessed thought!
And sanctified! Salvation wrought!
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And glorified, I too, shall be!

“Forgiving as God's People” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-11-01T19:52:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday November 6, 2011

Purpose: To understand the connection between worship of God and reconciliation with neighbor

Scripture Text: Matthew 5:17-26

Matthew 5:17-26 (NRSV)
(17) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. (18)For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. (19)Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20)For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

(21) “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ (22)But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.( 23)So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,(24)leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. (25)Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. (26)Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

It is important to understand what Jesus was referring to in his reference to “the law” and “the prophets.” Jesus is referencing the Torah, the teaching of the first five books of the bible and the Nevi'im (the books of Prophetic Literature); those along with the Ketuvim (the Books of Writings) comprised all the scriptures used at the time of Christ.

Jesus is well aware that His Sermon on the Mount, to His disciples, would be controversial. What He taught was not the same as what those of old had taught, but that did not require abolishing the old teaching, but rather a new understanding. Since John declares Jesus as “The Word” it would be impossible for Jesus to abolish “the law” or God's word without denying Himself. Jesus, The Christ, is the fulfillment of both “the law” and “the prophets.” Jesus would not only clarify the old Mosaic Law, but He would also fulfill the prophecy of those that wrote of a coming Messiah. Jesus also declares that God's word would last for eternity. Everything declared would become reality.

Jesus teaches those that break, as well as do not teach, these commandments will be the least, while those that keep and teach these commandments “will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” I think it is worth noting that those unable to keep and failing to teach, still seem to be allowed into the kingdom. Which contrast with the next phrase which is “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The Torah taught a right relationship with both God and community, that right relationship is what we call “righteousness.” The scribes and Pharisees were guilty of teaching a self righteous law that was based on their self proclaimed righteousness. They were looking only vertical and not horizontal in their world. They had little concern for their fellow man and considered him unworthy of their time or concern. They declared themselves as the only ones worthy to have a relationship with God.

Anger is as destructive as murder when applied to our relationships, and notice that in verse 23 it is the person that has something against you, that you need to seek out and reconcile with before your offering is accepted. So many times we think it is reconciling with someone we offended, this passage does not say that, we, even though we are the one being cutoff, must go and be reconciled with that one that is holding the grudge. That behavior would certainly separate us from the scribes and Pharisees.

Forgiving and reconciling with each other is paramount to living a righteous life. Always remembering that God has gone to great lengths to reconcile with us, how can we except God's forgiveness and not extend it to our families, friends and community? When you get both the vertical (with God) and the horizontal (community) you create a cross, where we all meet, the picture is not complete until we forgive as we have been forgiven.

“Living as God's People” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-10-25T15:37:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday October 30,2011

Purpose: To listen afresh to the voice of eternal wisdom

Scripture Text: Matthew 5:1-12

Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)
(1)When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. (2)Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
(3)“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(4)“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (5)“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (6) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (7)“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. (8)“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (9)“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (10) “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (11) “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. (12)Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Our lessons on “Wisdom” now shift to the teachings of Jesus as found in His “Sermon on the Mount.” Our text comes from Matthew chapter 5. This is very early in Jesus' ministry and comes after Jesus learns of John the Baptist being imprisoned. Jesus returns to Galilee and to His home town of Nazareth, but He does not stay in Nazareth but chooses to go into the area of the Decapolis, originally 10 pagan cities near and on the Sea of Galilee. These cities all contained a high Gentile population and were primarily of Greeco-Roman culture. They had pagan temples, and other Roman structures. Our lesson comes after a series of events that makes Jesus a very popular teacher and healer. His fame had spread all the way to Syria. He had selected a group of young men to follow him, and our lesson may have been exclusively for them. The wording in verse 1 seems to imply that Jesus took His disciples away from the crowd and taught them.

Jesus seems to be teaching the disciples a new thought, not about keeping the letter of the law, as the Pharisees were trying to do, but rather some ground rules for living a righteous life, in contrast to what the scribes and Pharisees were teaching. The lesson Jesus was teaching His disciples was a detailed explanation of how a person should act after they have repented of their sins. If you go back to the previous chapter 4 verse 17b (17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”) Jesus was not teaching repentance, but rather how one who has repented should live.

The “Law” that was given to and by Moses dealt with living responsibly before God and the community, they are well defined and somewhat easy to follow. The Blessings that Jesus relates to the disciples explains a path that can lead to true happiness both in this world and in His kingdom. The word translated “blessed” in our text, literally means “happiness.”

“Happiness” is somewhat subjective, we see people all the time that look like they are happy, only to find out latter they are hurting inside. We see people that seem to have what everybody else wants, but they are not “happy.” In contrast we see pictures or experience people that should have no reason to be happy, only to find out they are indeed happy even in their poverty.

What makes you happy? Take a moment and inventory your life, are there things you could do to increase your “happiness”? Does your “happiness” depend on you or others?

Jesus taught the disciples that happiness is available in all sorts of circumstances, most of which we would rather not experience. Happiness might best be experienced by sharing and giving to those that are without, or suffering for a greater cause. We know that giving generates more happiness than getting. Most of us can relate to the joy and happiness we get from giving to our children and grandchildren compared to the happiness and joy we get from receiving gifts from those same people.

However we should not miss the fact that some happiness may be delayed, and will only be experienced in the New Kingdom that we will share with Christ. Until then verses 13-16 of this chapter tells us we are to be “salt and light.” 13“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

“Tradition and Love” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-10-18T19:09:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday October 23, 2011

Purpose: To learn how wisdom and divine love reinforce each other

Scripture Text: Song of Solomon 4:8-15; 5:1a (NRSV)

Song of Solomon 4:8-15
(8)Come with me from Lebanon, my bride; come with me from Lebanon. Depart from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards. (9)You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride, you have ravished my heart with a glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. (10)How sweet is your love, my sister, my bride! how much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice! (11)Your lips distill nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon. (12)A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed. (13)Your channel is an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, henna with nard,(14)nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all chief spices—

(15)a garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon. 16Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden that its fragrance may be wafted abroad. Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits.

Song of Solomon 5:1a
(1a)I come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I gather my myrrh with my spice, I eat my honeycomb with my honey, I drink my wine with my milk.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

This lesson is quite a contrast from last week's, which left us a little depressed with the picture of old age painted by the writer of Ecclesiastes. The Song of Solomon is an unusual Book and it is about Solomon and a Shulamite women and their love for each other.

At the time of this Book's writing, Solomon, according to Chapter 6 verse 8, already had 140 wives and concubines, and virgins without number. 1st Kings 11:3, claims Solomon had 1000 wives and concubines, at a some point of his life, and they are responsible for turning his heart from God.

The Song of Solomon is a series of love sonnets written by Solomon, to a dark Shulamite girl that wanted to be one of Solomon's wives, but she did not want to chase after him. The dialogue of the book is between Solomon, the young girl, and the wives already married to Solomon that live in the palace at Jerusalem and occasionally God joins the dialogue.

Our text is from the consummation part of the story taken from verses 1-15 of chapter 4, verse 16 is the bride speaking and verse 5:1a is Solomon speaking again and 1b is God speaking to the couple.

This book is about sexual desire, lust, and passion, but the love comes from God in creating humankind with this great capacity for sexual desire. Sex is a gift from God, and man unlike most animals, that only mate when they are in season, men and women have the ability to mate whenever they mutually desire.

It would be good to read the entire Book, and see that 6 verses after our text and the consummation of the marriage, Solomon has already lost interest in his newest bride. (verse 5:6)

From reading the lesson it is easy to conclude that lust and desire and not enough to sustain a marriage, in order for a marriage to be successful there needs to be genuine love. The lust and desire part are only the beginning, true love comes from knowing, and learning about each other, and after you know each other’s thoughts, good and bad habits and quirks, then the lust and desire can be consummated by marriage that will last beyond the lust and desire and when you give yourselves completely and exclusively to each other, there is no need for seeking pleasures outside the marriage.

God created sex for us to enjoy, but He also created within us a conscience that destroys us from within, when we fulfill our sexual cravings beyond the bounds of commitment that a marriage requires. Whenever we do things or commit acts that only fulfill our selfishness, we are sinning against God. God has created for us this wonderful gift, but we must use it in a way that glorifies God, not as a means to self gratification. The conflict remains between our selfishness and God's desire for us to enjoy his creation the way He intended.

“Wisdom for Aging” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-10-11T20:09:00.003-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday October 16, 2011

Purpose: To discover how wisdom helps us understand our life experiences

Scripture Text: Ecclesiastes 11:9-10; 12:1-7, 13 (NRSV)

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10
(9)Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. (10)Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7
(1)Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; (2)before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return with the rain; (3)in the day when the guards of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the women who grind cease working because they are few, and those who look through the windows see dimly; (4)when the doors on the street are shut, and the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low; (5)when one is afraid of heights, and terrors are in the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along and desire fails; because all must go to their eternal home, and the mourners will go about the streets; (6)before the silver cord is snapped, and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel broken at the cistern, (7)and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 12: 13
(13)The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

As you read our text it appears to be full of contradictions and hard understand, however it contains a lot of good advice and wisdom, and also paints a picture of life that most of us can relate to.

It begins by addressing the young; the advice is there are some things that only the young can do; enjoy that part of your life. You will never be any more athletic or energetic than you are in your youth. Set yourself some goals and try to achieve them, go for the things that will bring you joy, follow your dreams. But remember while you are setting your goals and following your dreams, that you are accountable to God. He will hold you accountable for the way you pursue your dreams and goals as well as how you treat your fellow man during the journey. Most of all, the teacher wants you to live a stress free life. When we are young we think there is pressure on us to accomplish something and to be successful as the world measures success. As we grow older we experience a different kind of pressure. We have our family, our parents, our possessions, and our health, that bring about anxiety that the youth cannot imagine. The anxieties of our youth seem almost frivolous when we look back. The writer says, “for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.” Or we would say it is but a mist or foggy memory.

In Chapter 12 the writer encourages the young to establish a relationship with their creator when they are young, then as the troubles of life come in our latter years we have a relationship with the Creator to fall back on. Bringing God into our life when we are young helps us to withstand the trials and tribulations that come with our old age.

How often do you hear the elderly say why? What is the sense of old age? Indeed in visiting, many of the elderly question their value and worth. “There is no pleasure in them.”

The picture of old age painted by the writer of Ecclesiastes is like a decaying estate or home. Notice how everything and everybody seems to be falling apart and decaying before our eyes. Work has ceased, the eyes have dimmed, the hearing is gone, the music isn't what it used to be, and sleep is interrupted by a bird’s song. Our hair turns white (almond tree reference) the sex drive is gone, (grasshopper dragging). Death then comes and several images are given, (the silver cord is snapped, the golden bowl, pitcher and wheel are all broken.) Notice that even in a culture that did not believe in life after death, while the body returns to dust, “the breath returns to God who gave it.” In the story of creation God breathed life into man; some think that is why we each have a soul, which soul is returned to God.

In the end, after everything has been said, the importance of fearing God and keeping his commandments is the most important thing we can do whether young or old.

“The Superiority of Wisdom” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-10-04T18:15:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday October 9, 2011

Purpose: To discern the quiet voice of wisdom in a noisy world.

Scripture Text: Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 (NRSV)
(13)I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. (14)There was a little city with few people in it. A great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. (15)Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. (16)So I said, “Wisdom is better than might; yet the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.” (17)The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouting of a ruler among fools. (18)Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one bungler destroys much good.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Our lessons move from The Book of Proverbs to a lesser known book, The Book of Ecclesiastes. The Book of Ecclesiastes paints a different picture than most other “wisdom literature.” It seems to be searching for the meaning of life, but illustrates the importance of living a life obedient to God's order and understands His ultimate position as Judge of all creation. Ref. 3:16-17 (16)Moreover I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well. (17)I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for he has appointed a time for every matter, and for every work.

The title for the book is taken from the Hebrew title Qoheleth, which means “one who convenes and speaks at an assembly” or an ecclesiastic or preacher. The Greek equivalent, ecclesiastes also means “preacher.”

Most present day scholars doubt that Solomon was the author, although that is claimed in the very first verse of the book. The style and linguistic evidence points to the 3rd century B.C. as the time frame, or sometime after the exile. However it could have been written about Solomon, since the writer or preacher/teacher reiterates that having it all does not guarantee happiness, wealth, women, power and wisdom still leave a void. Vs. 1:2 “Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. Life, to the teacher is like a vapor or mist or the wind, it seems to exist, but hard to grasp.

In his book “Preaching Christ from Ecclesiastes” Sidney Greidanus (Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.) says Ecclesiastes is relevant especially for out culture because it tackles many of the temptations posed by secularism. The author quotes Leland Ryken (Professor of English, Wheaton College) as saying “Ecclesiastes is the most contemporary book in the Bible. Ecclesiastes is a satiric attack on an acquisitive, hedonistic and materialistic society. It exposes the mad quest to find satisfaction in knowledge, wealth, pleasure, work ,fame, and sex.”

Our lesson text seems to be parable/narrative; there are no names or evidences of any real historical facts. It seems to say, “Here is an example of some things I have observed.” The city seems to have very little importance, and why a king would want it is hard to figure. Is the king us, seeking things because we can, with no thought of the consequences? Or are we the poor wise man who delivers the city, or could have delivered the city but no one ask, and no one remembers?

It is easy to see the tensions that the “teacher” faces, being wise did nothing for the poor man’s wealth or status; while being wealthy and powerful gained little for the king. So what if he conquered a small defenseless city. How would that enhance his position in the world? In the end neither might nor wisdom won, a city was destroyed and wise man was ignored. So what is our lesson? Wisdom, even if it is not followed or sought is better than the destruction of war and greed. With wisdom we have a chance to recover and rebuild. “Better to be wise than a “bungler.”

“An Ordered Life” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-09-27T15:40:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday October 2, 2011

Purpose: To recognize the dangers of being controlled by the passions

Scripture Text: Proverbs 29:16-27

Proverbs 29:16-27 (NRSV)
(16)When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases,
but the righteous will look upon their downfall.
(17)Discipline your children, and they will give you rest;
they will give delight to your heart.
(18)Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint,
but happy are those who keep the law.
(19)By mere words servants are not disciplined,
for though they understand, they will not give heed.
(20)Do you see someone who is hasty in speech?
There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that.
(21)A slave pampered from childhood
will come to a bad end.
(22)One given to anger stirs up strife,
and the hothead causes much transgression.
(23)A person’s pride will bring humiliation,
but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
(24)To be a partner of a thief is to hate one’s own life;
one hears the victim’s curse, but discloses nothing.
(25)The fear of others lays a snare,
but one who trusts in the LORD is secure.
(26)Many seek the favor of a ruler,
but it is from the LORD that one gets justice.
(27)The unjust are an abomination to the righteous,
but the upright are an abomination to the wicked.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

This lesson concludes our study from the Book of Proverbs. At first glance our text seems to be a jumbled array of wise sayings. These sayings seem to jump from government to child rearing and even advice on how servants should be handled. I think the overall jest of these verses can help us in all sorts of relationships. They spell out for us the importance of acting faithfully in all of our relationships. How might our neediness or immaturity end up damaging our children, our workplace, our church, and even the larger society? How have we been shaped for good or ill, by relationships and institutions? What can we do to mitigate the damage? How do we stay strong in our faith and ethics when others exert a negative influence on us? Hopefully we can answer some of these questions after we study these verses further.

Beginning with verse 16 and depending on the translation you are reading, this verse can apply to “the wicked” or “the wealthy” and they can be in power or just thriving. The implication is that when the wicked are in power or thriving, sin and transgressions increase, and the righteous will be around to see their downfall.

Verse 17 seems simple enough to understand, unruly children require more work, and a better chance of breaking our heart. Refrain from discipline creates miserable children and parents.

Verses 18 talks about the importance of receiving God's word, without it, we have a tendency to just go wild.

Verse 19 tells us there are times when “words” are not enough to get someone’s attention. There are criminals and evil doers that require more than words; I suppose this also could apply to unruly children. Sometimes words need an added persuasion.

Verse 20 sounds like a Seinfeld episode, with a “fast talker.” This also applies to those that talk without thinking. Fools have a better chance of succeeding than someone that “puts their mouth in motion before the brain is engaged.”

Verse 21 like verse 19 talks about servants or slaves, but again we might relate this to societies unruly or criminal element, pampering may bring on a more serious problem down the road.

Verse 22 talks about something we can all relate to, anger. Simply put, anger begets sin. Anger probably causes more problems in our world than anything else; it has started world wars and destroyed families. And it also destroys those that cannot control their anger.

Verse 23 talks about arrogance and pride. When we become prideful and arrogant we become worthless to ourselves and to society. However, humility has just the opposite effect, it brings honor to us and our community.

Verse 24 talks about a life of crime and mischief. I like the Good News translation of this verse it says, “A thief’s partner is his own worst enemy. He will be punished if he tells the truth in court, and God will curse him if he doesn't."

Verse 25 deals with fear. Fear, when it is fear of what others think about us, can paralyze us from being an effective witness. Trusting in God can release us from fear, and give us the security that comes from that trust, it is God that we must please and not man.

Verse 26 says we should not put our confidence in earthly rulers, but rather put our confidence in the only one that can truly administer justice, and that is the LORD.

Verse 27 tells us that good and evil cannot co-exist. The good guys don't like the bad guys and the bad guys don't like the good guys. I am reminded of the passage in James 4:7-8: 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

“Wisdom and Discernment” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-09-20T15:28:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday September 25, 2011

Purpose: To understand how the wise person lives in the world

Scripture Text: Proverbs 25:1-10

Proverbs 25:1-10 (NRSV)
(1)These are other proverbs of Solomon that the officials of King Hezekiah of Judah copied.
(2)It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.
(3)Like the heavens for height, like the earth for depth,
so the mind of kings is unsearchable.
(4)Take away the dross from the silver,
and the smith has material for a vessel;
(5)take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
(6)Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
or stand in the place of the great;
(7)for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. What your eyes have seen
(8) do not hastily bring into court; for what will you do in the end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
(9)Argue your case with your neighbor directly,
and do not disclose another’s secret;
(10)or else someone who hears you will bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute will have no end.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

You have probably heard most of your life that you should not mix politics and religion, but that is exactly what our lesson is about this week. For the past few weeks our lessons have been about family wisdom. Today our lesson is more about political wisdom, or how a society can function at its best.

Verse 1 confirms what we had already addressed earlier; Solomon was the primary writer of the Book of Proverbs. These additional writings address how governments and constituents are expected to act.

Today, as it was in the time of Solomon and Hezekiah, the leaders of the government like to “toot their own horn.” On the other hand God prefers for us to figure it out for ourselves. Scripture as a whole is not God concealing things from us, but rather revealing Himself to us by scripture, the Holy Spirit, prophets and the proclaiming of His Holy Writ. What God has concealed, such as His creation, is concealed from those that do not seek His wisdom. While it has been concealed from the world, it has not been concealed by those that know and trust in God. All of creation is a mystery, but when it is closely inspected, God's fingerprints can be found on every piece of the puzzle.

While it might be hard for us today to believe that God establishes kings and kingdoms or that they are granted exceptional wisdom by God, verse 3 implies that godly rulers are given a wisdom that is above our normal wisdom (unsearchable).

Verses 4 & 5 are a practical illustration that there are bad advisers and distractions that need to be removed through a purification process. The result is a pure vessel that can be used for its intended purpose, and it is without the junk and other advice that has no value.

Verse 6 & 7 are just good advice for those that find themselves in the presence of powerful people. Too often people have a tendency of wanting to “rub elbows” with the rich and powerful. Sadly, many times people are judged by who they know, or who they claim to know. Keeping one's place, whether we are talking family, work, worship or community, often requires humility not easily attained.

Verses 8-10 paint a slightly different picture. How sure are you about what you think you saw? Before we accuse someone we need to check all of the facts. Sometimes a person’s ethnicity makes them the object of accusations, as someone once said, “The only exercise some of us get, is jumping to conclusions.” The writer states and important fact, “Argue your case with your neighbor directly.” Also we are to refrain from gossip and spreading rumors or confidences. Have you ever got caught telling another's secret? And then it comes out you are the only one that could have started or divulged that secret. If it has happened to you, don't be surprised if people stop sharing confidences with you. We have a saying around our house about gossip, we simply say, “they told more than they heard.” In the words of the famous TV detective Sgt. Friday, “just the facts” and even those should be checked.

“Teaching Values” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-09-13T17:12:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday September 18, 2011

Purpose: To consider the kind of abundance wisdom offers

Scripture Text: Proverbs 15:21-33

Proverbs 15:21-33 (NRSV)
(21)Folly is a joy to one who has no sense,
but a person of understanding walks straight ahead.
(22)Without counsel, plans go wrong,
but with many advisers they succeed.
(23)To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone,
and a word in season, how good it is!
(24)For the wise the path of life leads upward,
in order to avoid Sheol below.
(25)The LORD tears down the house of the proud,
but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
(26)Evil plans are an abomination to the LORD,
but gracious words are pure.
(27)Those who are greedy for unjust gain make trouble for their households,
but those who hate bribes will live.
(28)The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.
(29)The LORD is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
(30)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes the body.
(31)The ear that heeds wholesome admonition
will lodge among the wise.
(32)Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,
but those who heed admonition gain understanding.
(33)The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,
and humility goes before honor.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

For the past two weeks our lessons could be defined as a parent/child format. The writings seem to reflect that of a parent teaching a child. This week's lesson uses a different format. Our text is taken from a portion of what is called the “Antithetical Collection.” That simply means each verse uses antithesis, or an extreme contrast between the first part of the verse and the last.

This type of writing is often used to get a point across, by showing the extremes. Unfortunately it does not leave much room for middle ground. It is an effective way of getting us to understand but also question the contrast, is there any room for thoughts less extreme. One way to teach this or to reflect on some of the contrast is to list on one side of a paper “Folly” then drawing a line to the other side and write “straight ahead” and then you or the class can mark where they individually would fall on that line, more to the left of center or to the right of center. The writer puts everything in a black and white relationship, but we know through our own wisdom that some things are not so easily defined. We can see that in verse 22 where is says, “Without counsel, plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed.” Is that always true? Sometimes the counsel is just wrong to start with, or if all of the advisers are followers instead of leaders, you may get a consensus that lacks wisdom; in the Book of Daniel chapter 2 one wise adviser was far better than several unwise ones.

Never-the-less each verse needs to be read and discussed with an open mind. Note the instruction in verse 28 “The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.” Or you could look at verse 29 “The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” Our wisdom tells us that God is a simple “I am sorry God,” from being near to the vilest of sinners. Of course one could then say they were part of the righteous.

I hope you are able to go through each verse and compare the contrast and that you are not guilty of “Ignoring Instruction” as it speaks about in verse 32. Using an antithesis often helps us to define the problem and address a solution to that problem.

Always remember the warning in verse 33 “The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honor.” There are so many good verses in this passage and it is fun to show the contrast and to seek good instruction. Consider “Those who heed admonition gain understanding.” There are many examples, of greedy, evil, trouble makers in our society today that we can point to as an antithesis of God's wisdom. But don't just concentrate on them; think of those that are bringing joy and wise counsel as the antithesis of those bent on doing evil in our community.

“From Generation to Generation” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-09-05T13:39:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday September 11, 2011

Purpose: To explore what it means to “keep the heart”

Scripture Text: Proverbs 4:10-15, 20-27 (NRSV)

Proverbs 4:10-15
(10)Hear, my child, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
(11)I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
(12)When you walk, your step will not be hampered;
and if you run, you will not stumble.
(13)Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
(14)Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of evildoers.
(15)Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.

Proverbs 4: 20-27
(20)My child, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
(21)Do not let them escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
(22)For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
(23)Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
(24)Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
(25)Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
(26)Keep straight the path of your feet,
and all your ways will be sure.
(27)Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

As I begin writing my thoughts on this lesson, I cannot help but consider the date this lesson will be taught and studied all around the world; September 11, 2011, ten years after the horrific assault on America. Our hearts and minds still can clearly see the images of that day. But, what lesson have we learned from that experience? Immediately following those events there was a spike in church attendance, and for a brief moment it
appeared God had our attention. Unfortunately that soon faded and we seem more intent than ever to remove God's influence from our lives. Now, we have experienced every phenomenon known, floods, earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, and drought and yet we collectively refuse to hear and see where our help lies.

The lesson our text teaches is obedience is essential to a long and productive life. As we look at this text together there are three different perspectives we can use to influence how we look at this passage.

“I need to hear this,”
“My child needs to hear this,”
“I wish I had known this.”

Is it ever too late to follow good advice? Our text appears to be a father advising a son that is about to make his own way in the world, a sort of last best effort before he leaves the nest. But the advice goes far beyond just venturing out, it includes lifetime guidance. Unfortunately we encounter distractions all along our life journey that can derail us from following the correct path. Temptations and peer pressure is not restricted to the young. Setting a standard early of obtaining wisdom is our best guide for future success. A funny thing about proceeding down the path of uprightness and a proven well developed path is there are fewer things on that path to stumble over. Only when we deviate, from that path, do we find those things that cause us to stumble and maybe even lose our way.

Part of seeing the path, is hearing the words of our fathers, and keeping them in our hearts. A well guided heart offers our best chance for an “abundant life” as Jesus promised in John 10:10 …. “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

The way that we talk and how we communicate with and about others, can become a distraction and cause us to lose sight of the path, as well as what we are focused on. Talk to any old farmer about plowing a straight furrow and they always tell you to pick out a fence post or tree in the distance and focus on that, and your furrows/paths will be straight. It is impossible to go straight when your focus is always on your next step.

God wants us to establish within our hearts a desire to learn and grow and not repeat the mistakes of our parents or our youth. Look beyond this moment, pleasures and other distractions can cause us to drift or wander. Our goal should be an “abundant life” one that glorifies God and helps create a place where God's will is done, not our will. Following our own will and desires will lead to a life of disappointment and despair. That is not what God wants for you.

“Righteousness and Wisdom” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-08-29T15:14:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday September 4, 2011

Purpose: To discover the kind of happiness wisdom provides

Scripture Text: Proverbs 3:1-12

Proverbs 3:1-12 (NRSV)
(1) My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; (2)for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you. (3)Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. (4)So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people. (5)Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. (6)In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (7)Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. (8)It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body. (9)Honor the LORD with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; (10) then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. (11)My child, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, (12)for the LORD reproves the one he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

For the next three months our bible lesson will be about tradition and wisdom. The lessons will come from parts of the bible referred to as “Wisdom Literature” as well as Jesus' teaching from Matthew and the “Sermon on the Mount.”

Our first lessons come from the Book of Proverbs, then we will look at Ecclesiastes and later the Book of Matthew. Other “Wisdom Books,” are the Book of Job and Song of Solomon, as well as some of the Psalms. Some of the characteristics of “Wisdom Literature” are; these writings do not necessarily talk about the history of the Jewish nation nor do they offer ceremonial guidance or instruction, some scholars even doubt they belong in our bible.

Most scholars agree that a majority of the Book of Proverbs was written by Solomon, who has always been considered one of the wisest men to have ever lived.

It is hard to approach the Book of Proverbs without first defining the difference between
knowledge and wisdom. Many think “knowledge” comes from books, while “wisdom” comes from experience. How would you define the difference?

The Book of Proverbs begins with and important statement found in chapter 1 verse 7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Our lesson is written as an instruction issued by a parent to a child. The heart is almost always considered the place where our true feelings abide, even Jesus said in Matthew 15:18-19, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander."

The writer/parent teaches things like “loyalty”, “faithfulness”, and “trust in God”. These are all important qualities to have, and they will provide us with a good reputation and keep us humble. Trusting in what we know about God, rather than on our own understanding, means knowing God in such a way that our thoughts and actions are guided by what we know about God through the precepts taught and the environment around us we witness. Fleeing or turning away from evil is important if we want a sense of peace and stability in our life.

The last part of our lesson deals with our responsibility to share what God has provided for us with those that are called to be the teachers and prophets. Lastly we should not be upset or discouraged when we find ourselves the subject of God's discipline. The writer of Hebrews says in 12:6 “for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises every child whom he accepts.”

Chastisement from God should be considered a “teaching moment” and hopefully we will have learned our lesson. As parents, that should be an easy lesson for us to accept.

“Respecting Community Standards” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-08-22T17:19:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday August 28, 2011

Purpose: To examine what it means to fulfill God's mission through our communal lives

Scripture Text: Ruth 4:1-10

Ruth 4:1-10 (NRSV)
(1)No sooner had Boaz gone up to the gate and sat down there than the next-of-kin, of whom Boaz had spoken, came passing by. So Boaz said, “Come over, friend; sit down here.” And he went over and sat down. (2)Then Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here”; so they sat down. (3)He then said to the next-of-kin, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech. (4)So I thought I would tell you of it, and say: Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one prior to you to redeem it, and I come after you.” So he said, “I will redeem it.”( 5)Then Boaz said, “The day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead man, to maintain the dead man’s name on his inheritance.”(6)At this, the next-of-kin said, “I cannot redeem it for myself without damaging my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” (7)Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one took off a sandal and gave it to the other; this was the manner of attesting in Israel. (8)So when the next-of-kin said to Boaz, “Acquire it for yourself,” he took off his sandal.

(9)Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have acquired from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. (10)I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to maintain the dead man’s name on his inheritance, in order that the name of the dead may not be cut off from his kindred and from the gate of his native place; today you are witnesses.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

The Book of Ruth is only four chapters, but it offers us a glimpse into God's plan and His sovereignty. The book was obviously written many years later as referenced by its continuous use of the phrase “as was the custom in those days.” The author seems to bridge the generations from Judah to David by way of a few foreigners; First Tamar, then Boaz's mother Rahab, and finally Ruth. It appears from the very beginning God's plan was inclusive, and it focused on the family unit. Outsiders were continually brought into this chosen circle of families.

Today's lesson begins by implying God's divine intervention into a routine/happenstance business meeting. Did this unknown relative of Naomi go through the city gate every day? Boaz went to the courthouse and just happened to meet the one person he needed to negotiate with. As I look at the negotiating skills of Boaz, it makes you wonder where the Boazs of today are. In the past few months we have seen a lot of negotiating in our society. There was the NFL lockout, the NBA lockout, the budget and debt ceiling debacle.

Boaz knew the law as established in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. In order for Boaz to become the legal owner of Naomi's land and that of her late sons, it would be necessary for the closest relative to pass on the option first. You have to admire Boaz's skills; he presents a fact, but not all of the facts. The relative was more than happy to buy the property and take in Naomi as one of his own. But then Boaz ups the ante by informing the relative that Naomi's sons are also entitled to an heir, so not only Naomi would need to be provided for but also Ruth. That would require a longer term investment and commitment, and it might even cause problems with his present sons and wife. This seems to be a higher price than the relative was willing to pay, so he yielded his rights to Boaz.

The entire scenario takes place in front of the town council or elders so there is no doubt about the legality of the transaction. Instead of a Notary Seal, they use the exchanging of sandals as a seal of the transaction. I am reminded of the USSR ruler that took off his shoe at the UN and beat it on the lectern, some years ago. Maybe he was looking for an exchange of shoes to seal a deal.

It was a popular thing a few years ago for fans of Labron James, the basketball player, to hold up signs and wear T-shirts stating “we are witnesses,” but, then things changed, they no longer want to be “witnesses.” Boaz wanted everyone to know that he had legally acquired all rights to Naomi, and more importantly to Ruth.

The marriage of Boaz and Ruth produced a son named Obed, who fathered a son named Jesse, who fathered a son named David. The Book of Ruth was written so we would know that today, and from David's seed a thousand years later was born Jesus, coincidentally in the same house or property where a Moabite woman and a half Canaanite man conceived David's grandfather. David who is celebrated as one of the greatest of Jewish leaders started out ¼ Jew. God's plan was completed, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem and crucified in Jerusalem.

Boaz is an example of someone that followed the traditions and laws and provided for those outside of his community. He was very much aware of his responsibilities as well as the laws and traditions of his father. God rewarded him and his offspring, by providing through them, one that would be called the Messiah, God with us, Jesus the Christ.

“Empowering the Needy” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-08-15T14:11:00.001-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday August 15, 2011

Purpose: To encourage generosity to those in need

Scripture Text: Ruth 2:8-18

Ruth 2:8-18 (NRSV)
(8)Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women.(9)Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” (10)Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?” (11)But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. (12)May the LORD reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!” (13)Then she said, “May I continue to find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.” (14)At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here, and eat some of this bread, and dip your morsel in the sour wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he heaped up for her some parched grain. She ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. (15)When she got up to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, “Let her glean even among the standing sheaves, and do not reproach her. (16)You must also pull out some handfuls for her from the bundles, and leave them for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”

(17)So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. (18)She picked it up and came into the town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gleaned. Then she took out and gave her what was left over after she herself had been satisfied.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

This week's lesson gives us a couple of insights into how the needy should be treated and also how the needy should react to the situation they in which they find themselves. Ruth and Naomi were not to blame for the situation, but Naomi knew the best chance for survival was to return her homeland and to her family and friends in Bethlehem. Ruth had shown her devotion to Naomi and to Naomi's God, by vowing to go with her wherever she went and Ruth chose the God of Naomi over the gods of her mother and father in Moab.

If we look back at Chapter 1 of Ruth in verse 20 She said them, “Call me no longer Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me.(21)I went away full, but brought me back empty; why call me Naomi when the LORD has dealt harshly with me, and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” Interesting that Naomi seems bitter about something she blames on God, but notice she says “I went away full,'' a famine in the Bethlehem community was the reason for Naomi and her husband going to Moab. They probably left Bethlehem full of hope and promise, and trusting in their own ability and resources, never dreaming of the catastrophe that would cost so much. Naomi's confession that she had been brought back empty, (“but brought me back empty”) is an important confession. It has been said many times “When Christ becomes all we have, He is all we need.” Naomi was on the path of recovery, but she was not looking for handouts, she knew about God's law recorded in Leviticus 19: 9-10 (When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. (10)You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God.) and in Deuteronomy 24:19 where is says (When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all your undertakings.) Naomi and Ruth qualified as both widows and aliens, and so they were entitled to glean.

Something you may not be aware of, today we still “glean.” Each year the Society of St. Andrew goes into fields that have been harvested and gleans those fields with volunteers and distributes those gleanings to food banks all over America. Last year they gleaned over 28 million pounds of potatoes and other produce with the help of 29,000 volunteers. (More information on the Society of St. Andrew can be found at http://www.endhunger.org/) Your class may want to look into helping in your area.

Boaz offers us an example of proper wealth management, He was wealthy, but he also had compassion for those working in his fields and he provided a safe environment for his workers, he was not afraid to eat with the help, something we do not find in today's society. Boaz was impressed with Ruth's compassion and caring for her mother-in-law, and he rewarded Ruth's diligence, but he did not just write a check, he allowed Ruth and Naomi to keep their dignity and at the same time he followed God's commandments. Ruth's labors and deeds were rewarded, and God used Boaz not only as a Kinsman Redeemer, but also a comforter and refuge where both Naomi and Ruth found favor.

Unfortunately today there are some aliens and needy that do not want to glean, and there are wealthy landlords that never give any consideration to the poor and needy. A community that follows God's commands works best when we, like Naomi, find ourselves, “empty” of our own riches and learn to let God be our provider, and a community that follows God's commandments.

“Choosing a Community”

2011-08-08T11:49:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday August 14, 2011

Purpose: To affirm the importance of authentic community in the Christian life

Scripture Text: Ruth 1:8-18

Ruth 1:8-18 (NRSV)
(8)But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. (9)The LORD grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.” Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. (10)They said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” (11)But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? (12)Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, (13)would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has turned against me.” (14)Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.(15)So she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” (16)But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. (17)Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried. May the LORD do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!” (18)When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

The Book of Ruth is an interesting book to read, it contains a lot of the drama and romance we love in our books. The events take place within the time of the Judges in Israel, probably within a hundred years after the fall of Jericho. I say that because Ruth’s eventual husband was the son of the harlot that helped hide the spies as recorded in Joshua 2:1. The genealogy is also recorded in Matthew 1:5. Boaz's father was Salmon a descendant of Judah. The Book of Ruth was probably written during the time of David, this helps explain why the author felt compelled to explain customs that no longer existed in Israel.

Elimelech and Naomi were originally from the land of Judah, and more specifically Bethlehem. Because of a famine they migrated around the Dead Sea into Moab, where the descendants of Lot, nephew of Abraham had settled. This is important because it was not against Jewish law for Israelites to marry Moabites.

Once in Moab this family faced tragedy after tragedy, the two sons’ of Elimelech and Naomi, married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. After about 10 years, Elimelech, and his two sons all died. This left Naomi a widow with two daughter-in-laws to provide for.

Our lesson it titled, Choosing a Community, Naomi had a decision to make, stay in this foreign country of Moab or return to the home of her husband and his family. Family and friends usually offer the best opportunity for community. Today many of us build our own community via social networking; we want as many Facebook friends and Twitter followers as possible. We want to be involved with as many people as possible, we want the approval of our actions expressed by clicking a “Like” button, or we like judging others with comments or “Like.”

Naomi, by her own admission in verses 20-21, was bitter about her circumstances. She tried her best to get Orpah and Ruth to go back to their mothers’ house. If you wonder about that term of “their mother's house” and not “their fathers’ house,” it could be that it was in the mother's tent or bedroom that marriages were arranged in that society. Naomi reasons that the best chance for them to get new husbands was back in their own community.

Eventually Orpah yields to Naomi's pleadings and kisses Naomi goodbye. Ruth, whether out of her compassion or love for Naomi, declares her allegiance to Naomi and to the God that her new family worshiped. Ruth is willing to try a new community, where she can flourish, and her determination is rewarded with acceptance by her new community.

Aside from social networking, our local church can offer us an opportunity to share in community. We make friends and receive support from our local church, as well as spiritual guidance. I think the Sunday School Class offers an opportunity for community, and it offers many of those attributes we look for in establishing relationships. Our vows and pledges to each other give us a sense that we belong to something greater than ourselves.

“Walking in God's Path” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-08-01T14:59:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday August 7, 2011

Purpose: To understand that God has a calling for each individual

Scripture Text: Judges 13:1-8, 24-25 (NRSV)

Judges 13:1-8
(1)The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. (2)There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren, having borne no children. (3)And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “Although you are barren, having borne no children, you shall conceive and bear a son. (4)Now be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, or to eat anything unclean, (5)for you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor is to come on his head, for the boy shall be a nazirite to God from birth. It is he who shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”(6)Then the woman came and told her husband, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like that of an angel of God, most awe-inspiring; I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name; (7)but he said to me, ‘You shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the boy shall be a nazirite to God from birth to the day of his death.’”

(8)Then Manoah entreated the LORD, and said, “O, LORD, I pray, let the man of God whom you sent come to us again and teach us what we are to do concerning the boy who will be born.”

Judges 13: 24-25
(24)The woman bore a son, and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the LORD blessed him. (25)The spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

As I read this text and title for this week's lesson, my thoughts went immediately to an actual event in 1956, when five missionaries were martyred in the Amazon jungle by the Waodani tribe. That event later led to a miraculous conversion of that jungle tribe. The story was first written about by Elizabeth Elliot, (whose husband was one of those missionaries) in the book, “Through Gates of Splendor,” and more recently in the book and movie “End of the Spear,” by Steve Saint. (Steve is the son of Nate Saint one of the five that were martyred in the jungle)

One of the many miracles to come out of that tragedy was the conversion of many of that tribe of savages to an understanding of God and the way that He leads. Mincaye, one of the Waodani tribesmen, explains it this way, “...seeing the Creator's markings, some of us decided to follow the trail, He marked with His Son's own blood. That is a very good trail.”

In our text, we find an “angel of the Lord,” marking out a trail (path) for a childless couple to follow, before they were given that child. That child was of course, Samson, one of the great stories in the Book of Judges.

The path or trail that was laid out by the angel of the Lord seemed so demanding and difficult that the father (Manoah) asked for a second meeting with this messenger. God wanted Samson raised as a “Nazirite” such a strict and devout sect, that very few Jewish men chose to follow it. Samuel was another nazarite that chose those vows. Some believe, John the Baptist, also to be a nazirite. Samson's vow seems to have been a lifetime vow, but that was not always the case for this vow, and it was often for a limited period of time. The “angel of the Lord” instructed Samson's mother to observe the restrictions even during her pregnancy, so Samson was a nazirite from the time of conception.

Being set apart for God's service, which is what nazirite means, is similar to vows taken by those that enter full time Christian service today.

Samson was born with so much potential and promise and as long as he remained faithful to that vow and to following the path God had marked out for him, Samson lived a productive life and saved his people from the scourge of the Philistines that ruled over them for forty years prior. Unfortunately, Samson disobeyed his parents and his God.

Just as in the jungles of the Amazon, when one ignores the carvings and loses sight of the trail, you can easily find yourself lost. Our path (trail) has been laid out for us, Proverbs 3:5 tells us “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight".

“Return to Obedience” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-07-25T14:07:00.001-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday July 31, 2011

Purpose: To remind us that the salvation God provides follows genuine repentance

Scripture Text: Judges 10:10-18

Recommended Background Reading: Judges 10 & 11, 21:25

Judges 10:10-18 (NRSV)
(10)So the Israelites cried to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against you, because we have abandoned our God and have worshiped the Baals.” (11)And the LORD said to the Israelites, “Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines? (12)The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, oppressed you; and you cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. (13)Yet you have abandoned me and worshiped other gods; therefore I will deliver you no more. (14)Go and cry to the gods whom you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress.” (15)And the Israelites said to the LORD, “We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you; but deliver us this day!” (16)So they put away the foreign gods from among them and worshiped the LORD; and he could no longer bear to see Israel suffer. (17)Then the Ammonites were called to arms, and they encamped in Gilead; and the Israelites came together, and they encamped at Mizpah. (18)The commanders of the people of Gilead said to one another, “Who will begin the fight against the Ammonites? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

The Old Testament records a continual series of rejection and repentance, today's lesson records such a story. Throughout the Book of Judges we see a people that had been given victory after victory and who had been given a land they had no claim to, except for God's promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You would think they would continue to worship the God that had been so gracious to them and delivered them from slavery in Egypt.

Once again our lesson begins “So the Israelites cried to the LORD.” In the history of this new nation this seems to occur every few years. God hears the cry and delivers them only to find after a few years they return to worshiping false gods and idols.

This time God lets them dangle and quickly tells them, if they are unhappy maybe they ought to try and get help from those false gods they insist on worshiping. The amazing part is the Israelites understood what God was saying and agreed with Him. And for the first time in the Book of Judges there appears to be genuine repentance and they destroy the foreign gods they had been worshiping. That act, up to this point in the Book of Judges, had not been recorded, there was always the crying out, but repentance was not recorded, so this is a first. And that act of repentance tugs on God's heart of love, and as He always does, He gave the nation of Israel another opportunity to prove themselves worthy of His love and forgiveness.

In this present age “easy believe-ism” is more of the norm. We want a God that works for us but also one that does not require anything in response. We want redemption without repentance, we want security without responsibility. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German pastor and theologian coined the phrase, “cheap grace,” in his book “The Cost of Discipleship,” In defining cheap grace, Bonhoeffer said, “It is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without Church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without contrition. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the Cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”

Today, we are told if we do not include all of the false and foreign gods, into our acceptance, we are elitist, closed minded, self-righteous bigots. But, when we make exceptions for God's grace we are proclaiming a false gospel. A life that is touched by God's grace ought to be a transformed life. God's forgiveness should be followed by repentance and contrition on our part. As much as we would like to incorporate every religion and god into a plan for redemption, our God chose to proclaim, that salvation comes through accepting Him alone as our God. In the Acts of the Apostles 4.12: it says, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”

“Let God Rule” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-07-18T15:02:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday July 24, 2011

Purpose: To emphasize the importance of putting our faith in God rather than in ourselves or our human leaders

Scripture Text: Judges 7:2-4, 13-15; 8:22-25 (NRSV)

Judges 7:2-4
(2)The LORD said to Gideon, “The troops with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand. Israel would only take the credit away from me, saying, ‘My own hand has delivered me.’ (3)Now therefore proclaim this in the hearing of the troops, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home.’” Thus Gideon sifted them out; twenty-two thousand returned, and ten thousand remained. (4)Then the LORD said to Gideon, “The troops are still too many; take them down to the water and I will sift them out for you there. When I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; and when I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”

Judges 7:13-15
(13)When Gideon arrived, there was a man telling a dream to his comrade; and he said, “I had a dream, and in it a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, and came to the tent, and struck it so that it fell; it turned upside down, and the tent collapsed.” (14)And his comrade answered, “This is no other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, a man of Israel; into his hand God has given Midian and all the army.” (15)When Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped; and he returned to the camp of Israel, and said, “Get up; for the LORD has given the army of Midian into your hand.”

Judges 8:22-25
(22) Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also; for you have delivered us out of the hand of Midian.” (23)Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you.” (24)ThenGideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you; each of you give me an earring he has taken as booty.” (For the enemy had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) (25)“We will willingly give them,” they answered. So they spread a garment, and each threw into it an earring he had taken as booty.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

The story of Gideon can be found in chapters 6-8 in the Book of Judges, I would suggest you read those three chapters and also the very last verse of the Book of Judges 21:25. This will give you a more complete picture of the story of Gideon.

Gideon is introduced in verse 11 of chapter 6, and the introduction does not seem to flatter Gideon' bravery. He is found sort of cowering in a winepress harvesting grain, so that the Midianites couldn't see him and steal his harvest. While we may see a cowering Gideon, God saw something different, notice God's greeting in 6:12, “The LORD is with you, you mighty warrior.” It has often been said, “God does not call the equipped, he equips the called.” At the time of his call Gideon was a middle aged man, living at the family compound and was evidently a worshiper of Baal. Verse 25 of chapter 6 says, “....pull down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and cut down the sacred pole that is beside it; …..” The other thing we see about Gideon is he prefers to operate during darkness, which is not a strong sign of courage.

Even after his call, and the miracles that were shown to him, he continues to doubt, and ask for two more signs, which was the putting out of fleeces, (verses 6:36-40) before he agrees to God's command.

As our text for today begins, Gideon has been able to rally together a fair sized army from the neighboring tribes of Israel 32,000 volunteers. Again we see a sign of Gideon's courage; Gideon wanted as big an army as he could muster if he was going into battle. The problem with that was if his numbers were greater than the enemy, it left no room for God to demonstrate to the world that He was greater than Baal and all of the other gods that were being worshiped. What we accomplish, in our own strength, does not bring glory to God. God's plan is global and universal; it looks further down the road than we can see. God's plan is recorded in 1st Timothy 2: (3) This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (4)who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (5)For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human.”

When God starts weeding out those that are not needed, the army of 32,000 is quickly reduced by 22,000. Still God does not need 10,000 soldiers to defeat the Midianites, so the soldiers are reduced to 300 men that lapped up water like a dog, that is, they used their hand like a dogs tongue, and did not kneel down to drink from the stream, but rather brought the water up to their mouth with their hand, never leaving themselves vulnerable to others, always on alert. Willingness to serve does account for something in God's army.

As the story of Gideon progresses we see God continuing to reassure Gideon that the victory has already been won, but we also see Gideon starting to believe it is because of himself and his efforts that the victory is won. When Gideon proclaims in verse 7:18: “For the LORD and for Gideon” , we can see the start of a decline in his understanding of how God desires to work within us, and his focus becomes more about himself and less about God.

Now, because I am a member of Gideon's International, I must tell you that in the King James version, verse 18 says, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon” and Gideons believe that the bible is the “Sword of the Lord” and that it can accomplish God's will when it is read. That is why we try to get the bible into as many hands as possible.

The story of Gideon ends rather sadly, as we see a man become proud, greedy and disobedient. The very thing God ask him to destroy he now builds, an idol or ephod, in his home town and makes a sort of shrine to his accomplishments. Gideon had shown great promise, and rightly refused to be made a king, but he found something better, he could live like a king with all of the wives and concubines but did not have to perform any duties except do as he pleased. Sadly the Book of Judges ends with verse 23 of chapter 21 “In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.”

Unfortunately this philosophy is far too popular today in our society, nobody wants to answer to a God of righteousness, they prefer to do what seems right to themselves, so we are as guilty as those in Gideon's day We were created in God's image, but too many of us have created a god in our image.

“Use God's Strength” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-07-11T12:38:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday July 17, 2011

Purpose: To recognize that during difficult times God's salvation may come in unexpected ways

Scripture Text: Judges 3:15-25; 21-25 (NRSV)

Judges 3:15-25
(15)But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The Israelites sent tribute by him to King Eglon of Moab. (16)Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length; and he fastened it on his right thigh under his clothes. (17)Then he presented the tribute to King Eglon of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man. (18)When Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent the people who carried the tribute on their way. (19)But he himself turned back at the sculptured stones near Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” So the king said, “Silence!” and all his attendants went out from his presence. (20)Ehud came to him, while he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber, and said, “I have a message from God for you.” So he rose from his seat. (21)Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into Eglon’s belly;(22)the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his belly; and the dirt came out. (23)Then Ehud went out into the vestibule, and closed the doors of the roof chamber on him, and locked them. (24)After he had gone, the servants came. When they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “He must be relieving himself in the cool chamber.” (25)So they waited until they were embarrassed. When he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them. There was their lord lying dead on the floor.

Judges 3:29-30
(29)At that time they killed about ten thousand of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; no one escaped. (30)So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest eighty years.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Wow! What a gruesome story and in today's vernacular TMI. However, there are many things about this story that I find intriguing. First, Ehud was left-handed and that is mentioned, because I am left-handed and married to someone that is left-handed, I find that somewhat intriguing. That Ehud was from the tribe of Benjamin, which means “son of the right hand” I also find intriguing. It appears from reading later in the Book of Judges, left-handedness may have run in the family of Benjamin; take a moment and read from Judges 20:15-16 “On that day the Benjaminites mustered twenty-six thousand armed men from their towns, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah. 16 Of all this force, there were seven hundred picked men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair, and not miss.”

Let me say first that I played baseball in my youth and I pitched some, however, accuracy has never been a trait of mine or most other left-handers I have known. Now my mother and father were both right-handed but 3 out of the five children were left-handed. On the other hand my wife and I are both left-handed but all of our children are right-handed, but about half of our 8 grandchildren are left-handed to some extent.

Trying to figure out how God redeems and who he chooses to use to achieve such redemption requires a higher pay grade than I have been given. But in reading the Book of Judges we can see how this new nation soon forgot all that they had been taught under Moses and Joshua.

When the Israelites took possession of the land that God gave them, it was inhabited by people who worshiped the false gods of Baal and Asherah. Everywhere the Israelites looked they could see these gods displayed, they were everywhere. These false gods were responsible for fertility and good crops; the more immoral the greater the worship of these false gods. Baal and Asherah were very visible, but God had chosen this nation of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob's descendents to represent Him, God chose to remain invisible. Israel was to represent God's presence in the world.

After several years of wanton disregard for the God that had redeemed them out of slavery in Egypt, and given them a land of their own, they found themselves crying out once again for God's help. Baal and Asherah had brought them nothing but immorality and slavery once again. It is amazing that God's grace knows no end, and we see no great movement for repentance, just crying out to God.

A young attorney in our town that I have known for many years and who grew up with my grandchildren, recently told how he just cried out to God in his desperation, and God reached out and touched him and he experienced God's touch on his life. That all happened without him going to church or answering an altar call, that was in February of this year, he sought out a church, was baptized and joined the church and he is hungry to know more about a God that redeemed him. God does not always use the conventional, God uses whatever means he chooses to redeem those that cry out to him.

God's grace is multiplied many times over; Israel was given eighty years of peace and rest. Eighteen years of oppression (3:14) and eighty years of peace, God's grace was four fold and delivered in a single day.

God's redeeming grace does not always come the way man would do things, but as we have been told “God's ways are higher than our ways.” What else should we expect from a God willing to send his own Son to a cross of shame, so that we might have eternal life with Him? Remember that moment in the garden on resurrection morning, when Jesus told Mary, “Don’t touch me for I have not ascended to my Father.” Jesus may have been on his way to present himself on the “mercy seat” in heaven, in God's “Holy of Hollies” and there place His blood for all of us that cry out to him for redemption. It is just that easy. “Father, forgive me for I have sinned.”

“Listen to God's Judges” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-07-05T12:43:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday July 10, 2011

Purpose: To discern how steadfastness and resolve during trying times bring glory to God

Scripture Text: Judges 2:11-19

Judges 2:11-19 (NRSV)
(110Then the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and worshiped the Baals; (12)and they abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; they followed other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were all around them, and bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger. (13)They abandoned the LORD, and worshiped Baal and the Astartes. (14)So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers who plundered them, and he sold them into the power of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. (15)Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them to bring misfortune, as the LORD had warned them and sworn to them; and they were in great distress. (16)Then the LORD raised up judges, who delivered them out of the power of those who plundered them. (17)Yet they did not listen even to their judges; for they lusted after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their ancestors had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the LORD; they did not follow their example. (18)Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD would be moved to pity by their groaning because of those who persecuted and oppressed them. (19)But whenever the judge died, they would relapse and behave worse than their ancestors, following other gods, worshiping them and bowing down to them. They would not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Isn't it amazing how soon we can forget? Just a generation ago the Israelites were a victorious nation of people, with the help of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses and Joshua. In today's text they are a lost nation, again seeking to worship the very god's that those they defeated trusted in. You would think they would stay on the side of the God that had given them the victory over the other nations and gods.

The gods mentioned in our text, Baal and Astarte, were fertility gods worshiped by the Phoenicians and Canaanites; Baal being the male god of fertility, Astarte being the female god of fertility and sexual love, corresponding to the Egyptian god Isis, or the Greek god Aphrodite. The worship of these idols promoted the very opposite of God's law handed down by Moses. Starting with the first commandment, “no other gods before you” and going on to “adultery,” “covetousness” “murder,” (because human sacrifice was part of worshiping Baal), and “worshiping carved images.” Practicing the worship of Baal and Astarte allowed for all sorts of sexual exploits and a life of undisciplined self gratification, maybe similar to those that worshiped “love” (the age of Aquarius) in the generation of the 60s and 70's.

In the late 1940's according to Gallup polling 91% of all Americans considered themselves Christian, in the latest Gallup poll 82% now identify with Christianity, however, only about 63% will admit to attending church even on a “seldom” basis (which includes weddings and funerals). Back in 1957 -- during the halcyon days of the Eisenhower administration -- 69% of Americans said religion was increasing its influence, it is just 32% today

If we read and study today's text and do not apply it to our own apathy and disregard for God's commandments I think we are missing a valuable lesson. The other lesson we can learn is that God will go to great lengths to draw us back to Him. In the case of the Israelites He raised up Judges at various times to lead a group back to worshiping God as their forefathers had done, judges such as Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, and Samson.

The good news for us is that God has always listened for the cry of His people and has always responded by rising up someone that would lead them out of their misery and sinfulness. As long as we chase after the things that we want, and not after the things that God desires for us, we will find ourselves estranged from God. However, we can be assured that God is always waiting for us to wake up and realize real joy comes from serving and obeying the God who continues to love us in spite of our wanderings.

We too have a choice, we can continue in our stubbornness, ignoring God and seeking pleasures, or repent our lustful idolatry worship and seek to follow Him who loves us the most. Obedience is the response God expects for the love and grace He has given to each of us.

“God Reacts to Disobedience” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-06-27T14:51:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday July 3, 2011

Purpose: To explore the cost of disobeying God

Scripture Text: Joshua 7:1, 10-12, 22-26 (NRSV)

Joshua 7:1
(1)But the Israelites broke faith in regard to the devoted things: Achan son of Carmi son of Zabdi son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things; and the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.

Joshua 7: 10-12
(10)The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen upon your face? (11)Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I imposed on them. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have acted deceitfully, and they have put them among their own belongings. (12)Therefore the Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they turn their backs to their enemies, because they have become a thing devoted for destruction themselves. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.

Joshua 7:22-26
(22)So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. (23)They took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites; and they spread them out before the LORD. (24)Then Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan son of Zerah, with the silver, the mantle, and the bar of gold, with his sons and daughters, with his oxen, donkeys, and sheep, and his tent and all that he had; and they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. (25)Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD is bringing trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him to death; they burned them with fire, cast stones on them, (26)and raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore that place to this day is called the Valley of Achor.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

I remember the first time I heard a sermon on this passage; it was at the beginning of a revival meeting that our pastor was holding in one of the three churches that made up our charge. While I was maybe 12 or 13 years old, I still remember the title of Pastor Thompson's sermon on the first night of that revival meeting; he titled it “Is there and Achan in the camp?” I do not remember all that was said that night, but I remember my father going forward at the invitation, and still remember the vividness of how important each of us was to the success or failure of our little church's outreach into that Indiana farming community.

Over the years the story of Achan has always held a special place in my heart. I realize that today the story probably offends many people. The punishment for disobedience seems severe and lacks grace and love. However, I think the story enhances both grace and love. What does grace and love mean if we don't know what the consequences of not receiving both grace and love in our lives?

Because of Achan's desire or covetousness, to have what someone else had, he decided that God was not serious in his commandments or Joshua was not serious in his orders to the nation of Israel. God had given strict orders on how the city of Jericho, was to be captured and how the spoils were to be given to God's treasury with nothing being kept by individuals.

The question for me today is; how many Achans are in our churches today? How does that affect our ministry in our communities? Joshua and the Elders seemed to be innocent and had no idea of Achan's sin, but, the whole nation suffered for one man's sin. Does that sound familiar? Romans 5:12 say's “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned.” The reality is we are all Achans, we all deserve that penalty of death.

As I look at today's text Achan becomes both a symbol of Adam and a symbol of Christ. Achan's sin brought defeat and death to the entire nation, while his death brought restoration with God. Notice that in verse 26 after the sentence for Achan had been carried out…. “Then the Lord turned from his burning anger.”....... God's anger and condemnation had been satisfied. The nation would no longer suffer because of one man's sin; the penalty had been satisfactory to God. Again from Romans 5:20 But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The people of God are still called to a life of obedience. All sin carries consequences, not just for the sinner, but also for family members and others. In 1st Samuel 15:22 it says, “...... Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice......Better to be obedient.

“God is Victorious” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-06-20T17:19:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday June 26, 2011

Purpose: To celebrate God's victories in behalf of God's people

Scripture Text: Joshua 6:2-3, 4b, 12-20b

Joshua 6:2-3, 4b (NRSV)
(2) The LORD said to Joshua, ‘See, I have handed Jericho over to you, along with its king and soldiers. (3)You shall march around the city, all the warriors circling the city once. Thus you shall do for six days, with seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. (4) On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, the priests blowing the trumpets.

Joshua 6: 12-20b
(12) Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. (13) The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD passed on, blowing the trumpets continually. The armed men went before them, and the rearguard came after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually. (14) On the second day they marched around the city once and then returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

(15) On the seventh day they rose early, at dawn, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. (16) And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, ‘Shout! For the LORD has given you the city. (17) The city and all that is in it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers we sent. (18) As for you, keep away from the things devoted to destruction, so as not to covet and take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel an object for destruction, bringing trouble upon it. (19) But all silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are sacred to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD.’ (20) So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpets, they raised a great shout, and the wall fell down flat.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

It would be a big mistake to read our text and think this victory was easy. There were three important events prior to this successful conclusion. They all take place in Chapter 5 of Joshua.

The first event was the circumcising of those men that were born while they wandered in the desert for forty years. Their fathers had all been circumcised prior to leaving Egypt, but none had been circumcised while on this forty year journey. In preparation for entering the Promised Land God ordered Joshua (5:2)...“Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites a second time.” You should also know the men were given plenty of time to heal before the battle.

The next thing Joshua was commanded to do was to hold the feast of the Passover on Canaan soil. And it was a special feast, for the first time since the wandering had begun forty years prior, they feasted on the land. God had provided “manna” for the past forty years but from this time forward the “manna” ceased. (Verse 5:11) 11On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.

Next, Joshua saw a vision as he was scouting out the city of Jericho. (5:13-15) 13 Once when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, ‘Are you one of us, or one of our adversaries?’14He replied, ‘Neither; but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and he said to him, ‘What do you command your servant, my lord?’15The commander of the army of the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy.’ And Joshua did so.

I find it interesting that as “the commander of the Lord's army” he was not on either side. The success of the battle would hinge on Joshua's faithfulness to God's commands. The commander could swing the battle either way, he could bring judgment on Israel, or he could bring judgment on Jericho. The commander of the Lord's army obeyed God's commands without prejudice. Later, we see Israel's army defeated because of disobedience.

With God there is only one side, that's His side. By His grace he has made victory possible, but we are required to join Him in the battle and follow His commands Like this new nation God created in the wilderness, we too have the assurance of victory. But our assurance is based on our remaining faithful to a mighty and powerful God. Just as Joshua proclaims later in this book (24:15) “but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” What god do you serve today? Joshua commanded the people (24:23) “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” Our victory was won on the cross by the perfect lamb that takes away all of our sin, but we need to claim it.

“God Protects” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-06-13T13:30:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday June 19, 2011

Purpose: To nurture a courageous faith in the God who never forsakes God's people

Scripture Text: Joshua 2:3-9, 15-16, 22-24

Joshua 2 (NRSV)
I am showing the entire chapter so you can get a better picture of our chosen text. Today's text appears in BOLD type

(1)Then Joshua son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and entered the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and spent the night there. (2)The king of Jericho was told, “Some Israelites have come here tonight to search out the land.” (3)Then the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come only to search out the whole land.” (4)But the woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from.(5)And when it was time to close the gate at dark, the men went out. Where the men went I do not know. Pursue them quickly, for you can overtake them.” (6)She had, however, brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof.(7)So the men pursued them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. As soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.

(8)Before they went to sleep, she came up to them on the roof (9)and said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that dread of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before you. (10)For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. (11)As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no courage left in any of us because of you. The LORD your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below. (12)Now then, since I have dealt kindly with you, swear to me by the LORD that you in turn will deal kindly with my family. Give me a sign of good faith (13)that you will spare my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” (14)The men said to her, “Our life for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the LORD gives us the land.”

(15)Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the outer side of the city wall and she resided within the wall itself. (16)She said to them, “Go toward the hill country, so that the pursuers may not come upon you. Hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers have returned; then afterward you may go your way.” (17)The men said to her, “We will be released from this oath that you have made us swear to you (18)if we invade the land and you do not tie this crimson cord in the window through which you let us down, and you do not gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your family. (19)If any of you go out of the doors of your house into the street, they shall be responsible for their own death, and we shall be innocent; but if a hand is laid upon any who are with you in the house, we shall bear the responsibility for their death. (20)But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be released from this oath that you made us swear to you.” (21)She said, “According to your words, so be it.” She sent them away and they departed. Then she tied the crimson cord in the window.

(22)They departed and went into the hill country and stayed there three days, until the pursuers returned. The pursuers had searched all along the way and found nothing. (23)Then the two men came down again from the hill country. They crossed over, came to Joshua son of Nun, and told him all that had happened to them. (24)They said to Joshua, “Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands; moreover all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before us.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

What a difference a generation can make, forty years prior the Israelites were camped at the same location. That generation made a terrible mistake. (Numbers 25:(1 )While Israel was staying at Shittim, the people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab. (2)These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. (3)Thus Israel yoked itself to the Baal of Peor, and the Lord’s anger was kindled against Israel.)

Joshua had learned a valuable lesson from that experience as well as the one at Kadesh-Barnea. (Num. 13-14) This time the spies were sent out secretly, to spy out the land.

As out text begins the king (ruler) of Jericho has heard rumors of spies within the fortified city. Now Rahab owned a house that sat on top of both an inner wall and an outer wall; while her occupation would not be accepted in today's society, in Jericho, Baal's priestesses were all prostitutes. She was a successful business woman who was concerned for her family’s safety and was well aware of the success that the Israelites had on the other side of the Jordan. The camp of the Israelites was approximately12 miles from Jericho.

I know it is uncomfortable for some to accept what seems like savagery and brutality on the part of God's chosen people, but we should always take into account that all of the Canaanite people had heard the stories of God's people and how they escaped Egypt and how they had just recently destroyed two strong armies on the other side of the Jordan. Everyone in Canaan had a choice to believe and accept the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. If they had done that we have every reason to expect God to spare them and bring them into His family, just as He did Rahab.

Rahab's path to salvation is not unlike ours, she believed and trusted. By her faith and by her deeds she was spared and given a special place in God's family. Hebrews 11:31 tells us “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.” And James 2:25 states“Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road?”

Rahab was not just a casual believer; she put her life on the line for a God she had only heard about. This paints a picture of the importance of witnessing to an unbelieving world, without the testimony of others Rahab would not have been aware of this God that rules both the heavens and the earth.

Rahab's faith and belief was also contagious, she assured the spies, and later they assured Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands; moreover all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before us.” What God had promised He was about to deliver and all that God required was “trust and obey.”

God honored Rahab's faith and actions, and He also honored the covenant made by the spies to Rahab. That reminds me of the words of Jesus to His disciples in Matthew 16.19: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Just as forty years prior the Jews enslaved in Egypt were spared by the sprinkling of blood on the doorpost, now Rahab was spared by tying a scarlet cord and hanging it out the window; you know that all of those who would have chosen to display the courage of Rahab would have also been spared. They had all heard the same tales (witness) as Rahab, but choose not to believe. Nothing has changed over the past 3500 years, salvation is available to all who believe and trust God. God's grace is available to all.

“God Has Expectations” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-06-06T15:26:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday June 12, 2011

Purpose: To recognize how much our ultimate success in life depends upon faithful obedience to God and God's laws

Scripture Text: Joshua 1:7-16

Joshua 1:7-16 (NRSV)
(7)Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. (8)This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. (9)I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

(10)Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, (11)“Pass through the camp, and command the people: ‘Prepare your provisions; for in three days you are to cross over the Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess.’” (12)To the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said,(13)“Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest, and will give you this land.’ (14)Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan. But all the warriors among you shall cross over armed before your kindred and shall help them, (15)until the LORD gives rest to your kindred as well as to you, and they too take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land and take possession of it, the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan to the east.”

(16)They answered Joshua: “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

In today's lesson and especially in our “Purpose” statement the word “success” is used. Success is a popular word used to motivate in our culture, it is often associated with wealth, power, prestige and things. However, you will notice none of these things are mentioned in our text. Success for Joshua and God's people simply means fulfillment of God's mission.

Two other words used in today's lesson are “strong and courageous.” I am reminded of a famous quote by the late John Wooden, former basketball coach at UCLA. “Success is never final, failure is never fatal, it's courage alone the counts.” Courage and strength are critical in our life of faith. It is what puts legs to our beliefs. Another word which we could use for courageous and strong is commitment, Peter F. Drucker, the political economist and author said, “Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans". In today's text we see God's plan carried out by Joshua's commitment.

So how was Joshua instructed by God to be successful? Verses 7 and 8 tell us that God's instructions were to study the Law as dictated by God to Moses and don't deviate from that. The instructions given by God indicated a high degree of study and discerning and sharing God's laws, and trusting God and believing all that God promised He could fulfill. Notice how swiftly Joshua went to work following God's instructions.

Some clarification is required to understand verses 10-15. The camp was set to cross over the Jordan River, and take possession of the “Promised Land.” However it should be noted that the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half-tribe of Manasseh, had already settled in land east of the Jordan River which was given to them by Moses. (Deuteronomy 3:12-20)

Manasseh was one of the sons of Joseph, Ephraim was the other, they were adopted by Jacob just prior to his death, so Joseph did not receive an inheritance but his two sons were each given a ½ share, and since the sons of Levi were distributed amongst all the other tribes they received no land of their own, so with the other 10 sons of Jacob and the 2 sons of Joseph, the total tribes dividing the land God had promised was 12.

The conditional promise made with Reuben, Gad and Manasseh was their warriors would have to help take possession of the land west of the Jordan, and once that was accomplished they could return to farm the land previously given to them that was east of the Jordan River. The response in verse 16 shows their wiliness to accept both God and Joshua's leadership. They understood what God had said and what he had promised.

Way back in the Book of Genesis chapter 3, there are some haunting words when the serpent asks Eve, “Did God really say......?" That was a conversation about God, not a conversation with God. So often today we read the Old Testament stories and God's law as dictated to Moses and instead of accepting it as God's word, we allow the serpent to rephrase it into. Did God really say......? Joshua was successful because he understood the difference between talking about God and talking to God. He listen and believed and did not deviate, his commitment was rewarded with success; that means God's will was accomplished.

It does take strength and courage as well as study, to follow God's commandments and His law of love as given by His Incarnate Word, (Jesus) but, our reward is seeing God's will accomplished on earth as it is in heaven. That is God's expectation for His church.

“God's Promises Fulfilled” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-05-30T13:08:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday June 5, 2011

Purpose: To affirm that God always keeps God's promises

Scripture Text: Joshua 1:1-6; 11:16-19, 21-23 (NRSV)

Joshua 1:1-6
(1)After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, (2)“My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. (3)Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. (4)From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. (5)No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. (6)Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them.

Joshua 11:16-19
(16)So Joshua took all that land: the hill country and all the Negeb and all the land of Goshen and the lowland and the Arabah and the hill country of Israel and its lowland, (17)from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, as far as Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He took all their kings, struck them down, and put them to death. (18)Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. (19)There was not a town that made peace with the Israelites, except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon; all were taken in battle.

Joshua 11:21-23
(21)At that time Joshua came and wiped out the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel; Joshua utterly destroyed them with their towns. (22)None of the Anakim was left in the land of the Israelites; some remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod. (23)So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

For the next three months, we will be looking at “Community” and how God instructs us. Today's lesson takes us back to the early beginnings of the nation of Israel, and how God directed them as he used them to reveal Himself, to the rest of the nations.

Moses was dead, and his assistant Joshua was given the responsibility by God to lead this group of tribes into the next phase of God's plan. Over 400 years prior, God had made a promise to Abraham, found in Genesis 12:2-3 “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” And again to Moses in Exodus 19:5-6 “Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, 6but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelite.” This nation that came out of a promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and Moses, was now at the threshold of receiving or claiming God’s promise.

Moses had been denied by God, of leading these people into the promised land. That task was given to Joshua. Because God is always true to His covenants and promises, He reaffirms His commitment to Moses in verse 3 and extends that covenant to include now Joshua. God not only extends the covenant, but also extends His pledge or promise to be with Joshua, just as He was with Moses. With God, the only chance of failure comes when we choose to do it our way instead of His way. If we are strong and courageous, we can expect to receive what God has given us. But we must always be aware that the strength and courage are a gift from God, just as much as the possession.

If we relate the possessing of Cannon to our own salvation we can draw some interesting parallels. First, salvation has been made available to all. It is a gift from God, just like the Land of Cannon was a gift to the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But, just as Joshua was instructed to possess the land, we also must possess or claim the promise God has made to each of us. God's promise was conditional; it required trusting in His power and ability to deliver what He had promised.

Our text ends with these words, “And the Land had rest from war.” The writer of Hebrews has this to say about our rest, in Hebrews 4:11 “Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.”

Our rest depends on our obedience, just as this young nation's did. God always keeps God's promises.

“Tree of Life” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-05-24T13:30:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday May 29, 2011

Purpose: To embrace the Tree of Life as a sign of God's gracious healing and a foretaste of God's abundant provision

Scripture Text: Revelation 22:1-9 (NRSV)

Revelation 22: 1-9
(1)Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (2)through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (3)Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; (4)they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. (5)And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (6)And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” (7)“See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”(8)I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me; (9)but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

This is not only our last lesson from The Book of Revelation; it is also our last lesson for this quarter. All of this past 13 weeks we have been looking at Worship, for the next 13 weeks we will be looking at Community. Our upcoming lessons will be from Joshua, Judges, and Ruth.

This week as we conclude our study of Worship, we look at the ultimate in worship. From the time since man's fall in the Garden of Eden forward trough time, man has been restricted from seeing God face to face, but in today's text verse four, we shall see his face, and we will be identified as His possession by the seal of the Holy Spirit on all of those that have heard and believed. Imagine no longer worshiping symbols of God, or icons we have made to remind us of Him, but worshiping God face to face, all of the mystery of God will be gone and we will see Him, and seeing Him, we have no other inclination but to worship Him.

The first three verses of this text simply tell us that whatever the need, God will provide, all that we want, as well as all of the healing that we ever wanted is ours. And verse three assures us that unlike what happened in the Garden of Eden after man's fall, this time there will be no curses, like work for our food, or bearing children, all curses will be gone.

It appears that not only will this be a new earth and new heaven, but the entire solar system will change, no sun, moon or stars, or even electricity, for the glory of God will produce our light, without any darkness whatsoever and without a measure of time. Today we measure time by the rising and setting of the sun, and by the orbit of the earth around the sun. The new heaven and new earth will not have or need any measure of time.

What is the prophecy of this book? Christ is coming soon and our responsibility is to persevere, remain faithful, till that happens. As I stated in a previous lesson I believe the entire word of God as recorded in the Old and New Testaments to be a written record of what God wanted to say to the human race. I also view Jesus as the Incarnate Word of God, the ultimate revelation of God's nature, including especially His love. Thus I view the Bible as the written word of God about the Incarnate Word of God. And the book of Revelation is a revealing of Jesus Christ beyond the Incarnate Word, and beyond the resurrection, and it brings together both the Old Testament revelations and the New Testament's revelation of Jesus Christ, and shows Him restored not only to His original position, but, to an even more exalted position, because of His obedience.

Philippians 2:6-11 says, (6) “who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, (7)but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, (8)he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. (9)Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, (10) so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11)and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We should never forget what we read in Revelation 1:1 this is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” No secret codes or hidden meanings only a glimpse through a door left ajar, for John to see and record for all the Saints of God.

“All Things New” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-05-17T14:37:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday May 22, 2011

Purpose: To reflect on how worship enables believers to be impacted now by the new heaven and earth that are yet to come

Scripture Text: Revelation 21:1-8 (NRSV)

Revelation 21:1-8
(1)Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (2)And I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (3)And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; (4) he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” (5)And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”(6)Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. (7)Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children. (8)But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, the murderers, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Last week's lesson on “Thankful Worship” from Revelation 7 received more comments than another lesson I have posted over the past three years. This week we jump all the way to the 21st chapter, and I should point out we are studying a theme about “Worship” and not just studying the Book of Revelation. Having said that, I hope this lesson sparks within each of you a desire to know more, not only the Book of Revelation, but also the other books that have been covered in this quarter's studies.

Once again to get a better understanding of our text, we need to refer back to the Old Testament writings. Such as Isaiah 65:17 “For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.” and Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says the LORD; so shall your descendants and your name remain.

The “first heaven” and the “first earth” that John sees is a broken, fallen, sinful state that no longer exists. What John sees now is something akin to what Paul said in Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, (39) nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This new heaven and new earth will not be a return to a better Eden, where God visited occasionally, but rather a future place where God chooses to dwell with us, much as Christ dwelt with us for a season. God is going to be “tabernacling” with His people. Thus fulfilling His promise of Leviticus 26:11-12 “I will place my dwelling in your midst, and I shall not abhor you.(12)And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people.”.

Similar to last week's text in 7:17 “for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” God's proximity guarantee's the removal of everything that can cause affliction. Then God assures John that indeed “He is making everything new, and that God is trustworthy to do what He says.”

The statement “it is done” is interesting and at first glance it would seem comparable to the final words of Christ on the cross, “it is finished.” Certainly the idea of divine completion exists in both statements. As for the word “from the spring of the water of life” refers back to Jesus’ words recorded by John in chapter 7 verses 37-39 of his gospel (37) “On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me,(38)and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” (39)Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

The promises are for those that conquer or overcome. The cowardly, faithless, polluted, murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters and liars will not be able to enjoy these promises but will receive what they have been promised, which is a second death.

How does all of the above affect your worship today?

“Thankful Worship” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-05-10T16:43:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday May 15, 2011

Purpose: To celebrate with joy that not even tribulation can separate us from God's saving presence in Christ Jesus

Scripture Text: Revelation 7:9-17 (NRSV)

Revelation 7:9-17
(9)After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. (10)They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (11)And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, (12)singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

(13)Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” (14)I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (15)For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. (16)They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; (17)for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Let me say upfront, that some of you reading this may be disappointed in my understanding of the end times. Many of you like me, grew up in the 20th century studying and believing the footnotes of the Scofield Study Bible. Several years ago I came to realize that much of what we took as gospel was actually just a hoax, perpetrated by a series of hucksters, and scammers.

From a study of historical facts, you find that prior to 1830 there had never been a teaching of any kind concerning a “rapture” of the church prior to the tribulation or the millennium. The origin for the pre-tribulation rapture is well documented. The doctrine was publicly revealed first by a London preacher named Edward Irving. After receiving information by a woman named Margaret McDonald, who claimed to receive a revelation from God, Irving began to publish teachings about the pre-tribulation rapture in his journal, The Morning Watch, about 1830.

The list of individuals promoting this thought goes from Irving, to J. N. Darby, to Scofield, to Hal Lindsey. Hal Lindsey's book The Late, Great Planet Earth has sold millions of copies and opened up a whole new field of "ministry." The "ministry" is called Prophecy Teaching and it is the most exciting and entertaining enterprise that Christianity has ever seen. Currently the most popular stars in this very relatively new “ministry" is Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, two writers who teamed up to produce several best sellers. Their books reached the New York Times best seller list and the two authors have appeared on top rated talk shows including Larry King Live. There is not the time or space to address all of those that have helped to keep this hoax alive for the past 180 years. My point is all of our founding fathers, like Luther, Wesley and Calvin had no theology that allowed for a pre-millennial or pre-tribulation removing of the Church from our world. I hope this does not preclude you from doing your own research and study on the history of this relatively new idea of a pre-millennial rapture of God's Church.

Now let's look at today's text, first remember that John was introduced to Jesus Christ in Revelation chapter 4 (1) after this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. And in Chapter 5:5-6 then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. As each seal is broken it reveals an aspect of life that each of us must face. The final words of chapter 6: “for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” are followed by a comforting answer in chapter 7. But you need to go back to Zechariah 6:2-3, where we first met the four horses. (2)”The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot black horses, (3)the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled gray horses.”

Now the four horsemen are more famous from the history of Notre Dame football than from Revelation chapter 6 where Jesus Christ opens the first four of the seven seals, which summons forth the four beasts that ride on white, red, black, and pale horses which each symbolize Conquest, War, famine and Death, respectively. The answer to chapter 6's question “who can stand?” is found in chapter 7 “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on earth or sea or against any tree. I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to damage earth and sea, saying, ‘Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads.” Once again we need to go back to Zechariah 6:4-5 “Then I said to the angel who talked with me, ‘What are these, my lord?’The angel answered me, ‘These are the four winds of heaven going out, after presenting themselves before the LORD of all the earth.” From this we learn that the four horses are also called “winds.” With this we find the first half of the answer to “Who can stand.” Ephesians 1:13 says “In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit" and in Ephesians 1:4just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. For the rest of the answer we look at today's text.

In John's vision he sees multitudes from every nation, every tribe, and every language represented and they are all worshipping God, and they are all “robed in white” signifying pure and holy. Remember the question at the end of chapter 6 “who can stand?” This is another part of the answer. Notice these are all standing before the throne.

The word “salvation” used here is used in different ways in the New Testament's writings. Paul and the Synoptic Gospels use it as a deliverance from sin. In the Gospel of John it is rarely used but when it is, it has more of an Old Testament feel, that of being rescued or overcoming particular struggles and hardships. Those in “white robes” express gratitude. They offered a sevenfold offering of praise. The offering of praise is not an attempt to give something to God. It is an acknowledgment that God possess these items or attributes already. “Blessing” is the ability to speak a good or kind word on behalf of a person. Thus “Glory” is God's reputation. “Wisdom” is God's intimate knowledge for what we need and how to provide it, “Thanksgiving” points to God's grace and favor that he exhibits. “Honor is God's inherent worth or dignity. “Power” is God's ability to accomplish whatever God desires or wills. “Might” is God's strength that is most readily displayed in Christ's ability “to break Satan's fetters, to liberate the captives, and to win the victory over Satan.

Paul asks the question in Romans 8:35 “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Our text says nothing will separate us. That is why we worship an awesome God.

“Heavenly Worship” Adult Sunday SSchool Lesson

2011-05-03T16:17:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday May 8, 2011

Purpose: To recognize how steeped Christian worship is in the stories of Israel and the early church

Scripture Text: Revelation 4:1-2, 6b-11(NRSV)

Revelation 4:1-2, 6b-11
(1)After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”(2)At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne!.......

(6b) Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: (7)the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. (8)And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, “Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.”( 9)And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, (10)the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne, singing, (11)“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

It seems each year as we begin our Sunday School Class, the question of what we will be studying always arises. A lot of students want to know more about the Book of Revelation, now for the first time in many years we will spend the next four weeks looking at this most requested book.

There are a few misconceptions about the Book of Revelation, first it is singular, not Revelations. Second the word “antichrist” and “rapture” do not appear anywhere in this book. The Greek word for revelation is apocalypse. The book is the revelation of Jesus Christ, (1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, ) recorded by John.

I believe the entire word of God as recorded in the Old and New Testaments to be a written record of what God wanted to say to the human race. I also view Jesus as the Incarnate Word of God, the ultimate revelation of God's nature, including especially His love. Thus I view the Bible as the written word of God about the Incarnate Word of God. And the book of Revelation is a revealing of Jesus Christ beyond the Incarnate Word, and beyond the resurrection, and it brings together both the Old Testament revelations and the New Testament's revelation of Jesus Christ, and shows Him restored not only to His original position, but, to an even more exalted position, because of His obedience, as we looked at last week in Philippians 2:6-11.

In our text this week in verse 1, John is shown a door, not THE door but a door that is ajar, open for all to come and go or have access through. John is then taken in the spirit and shown what takes place after this, this referring to the open door, not some future event. The throne room is revealed to John, by Jesus. Some of the mystery of this book comes from not knowing and understanding what was written by previous prophets. What John sees is almost an exact replica of what Ezekiel saw in Ezekiel 1:26-28 (26And above the dome over their heads there was something like a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was something that seemed like a human form. 27Upward from what appeared like the loins I saw something like gleaming amber, something that looked like fire enclosed all around; and downward from what looked like the loins I saw something that looked like fire, and there was a splendor all around. 28Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendor all round. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of someone).

You can also compare with Exodus 28:17-21 (17You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of carnelian, chrysolite, and emerald shall be the first row; 18and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and a moonstone; 19and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper; they shall be set in gold filigree. 21There shall be twelve stones with names corresponding to the names of the sons of Israel; they shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes.) You can also read Isaiah 6, to see another vision that corresponds closely to John's vision.

When the Old Testament's writings are compared, a lot of the mystery and fear are removed. In verse 6 of our text we see the four living creatures, that can see everything because of their eyes are everywhere, are first mentioned in Ezekiel 10. Verse seven names them as, a lion, an ox, a human, and an eagle, the noblest, the strongest, the wisest, and the swiftest of God's creation. They are responsible for overseeing all of God's creation, or are a symbol of it.

The twenty-four elders referred to in verse 10 could be as simple as an elder from each tribe of Israel as well as the twelve apostles. In casting their crowns before the throne, it could simply mean they get it, whatever glory or honor they may have achieved, it pales when compared to Jesus Christ, God has honored Him above everything else on earth, or under the earth. They join together to sing praises to the one on the throne; the one who was and is and is to come. Or as God revealed himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14(14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.”) No secret codes, not even that much mystery, just a glimpse, a peek if you will through a door left ajar for us.

“The Christ Hymn” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-04-26T18:20:00.001-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday May 1, 2011

Purpose: To discover how worship of Jesus Christ completely reshapes our lives and purpose

Scripture Text: Philippians 2:1-11 (NRSV)

Philippians 2:1-11
(1)If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, (2)make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. (3)Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. (4)Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. (5)Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, (6)who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, (7)but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, (8)he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. (9)Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, (10)so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(11)and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Paul's letter to the Philippians is an interesting letter to study, because it was written to the most supportive church, that he and Silas founded, while on his second missionary journey. Paul's decision to cross over from Turkey and Asia Minor and to go into Europe with the gospel of Christ came from a vision. The city of Philippi was located in Macedonia and was named after Alexander the Greats father. At the time of Paul's visit it was a Roman outpost, and the citizens of Phillipi were given Roman citizenship.

The reason for the letter is explained in chapter 4 verse 2 “I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.” Word had come to Paul, while he was a prisoner in Rome, about these two women that were tearing the church apart. It appears from his reference, “I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women,” That Silas may have been the one left in charge of the church in Philppi. (Acts 16:19).

It is a common practice sometimes to read the scriptures and apply them on a personal basis, however this passage seems to be more apply applied as a communal or congregational letter. In the original Greek, the first four verses are written as one sentence. It is a rhetorical question to an obvious truth; Paul is making his point, “be more Christ like.” Or as Paul writes in verse 5 “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.”

Amazingly down through history, some of the things causing the tension in Philippi, may be some of the same things that has created within the Christian community, so many different denominations and forms of Christianity. Is it possible these two women were disagreeing over a form of baptism, or how Holy Communion was celebrated? Or maybe it was the power structure of the church.

Whatever the differences, Paul reminds them, to not insist on being right all the time. “4Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.”

Paul then gives them a lesson in humility, by sharing what Christ went through when He became obedient to God. Christ reigned with God, and created with God. He possessed all of the power of God, but chose not to use that power, for a season, while he was here on earth with us. In other words, He was always a King, but choose to become like a slave and servant, and willing to face a death reserved for slaves and servants, a death so cruel it was not allowed to be used on a Roman citizen, it was reserved for the lowest of humans.

It is God's recognition of Jesus' humbleness and obedience that generates Jesus' highly exalted status in all of creation. 9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Our willingness to acknowledge/confess Christ as the Messiah, is what brings “glory to God the Father.” The knowledge or light that we have received from our study or upbringing, should always be tempered by the humbling thought that our own thoughts are usually less than humbling. It is hard for us to admit that being right, in our own mind, and being in the mind of Christ, do not always align. We are encouraged to show the same Grace as Christ.

“Christ is Risen” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-04-19T15:40:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Easter Sunday April 24, 2011

Purpose: To realize that we can worship God with bold confidence despite the doubts we continue to have

Scripture Text: Matthew 28:1-17 (NRSV)

Matthew 28:1-17
(1)After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. (2)And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.(3)His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. (4)For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. (5)But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. (6)He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come; see the place where he lay. (7)Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” (8)So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. (9)Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. (10)Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

(11)While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. (12)After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, (13) telling them, “You must say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ (14)If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” (15)So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.

(16)Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. (17)When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Within most of the Christian church we celebrate Easter Sunday every week by meeting and coming together in celebration of what happened on the very first Easter.(“the day of resurrection”) Some refer to every Sunday as “little Easter,” with the term “Great Easter” referring to the day we celebrate as Easter Sunday.

As I look at our text for this week, I have a few new thoughts. First is the fact that the two Mary’s might have witnessed the rolling away of the stone that guarded the tomb, along with the angel descending from heaven. Another striking fact is the contrast in stories between the soldiers and the two Mary’s. When reading this text, notice the phrase, “he has been raised.” Seeing those words makes me think that the Father, rather than Jesus was in control of the situation, the obvious being a dead person cannot raise himself, only an outside force can cause someone, “to be raised.”

In verse 5, we also see the words “I know that you are looking for Jesus.” What a great testimony, and one we should always be aware of when talking to those that are seeking Jesus. It is interesting to note the choices made by those present; the two Mary's are obedient and “go and tell.” The temple guards choose another course, they choose to take the money and lie about what happened, even though they were there; if asleep, how did they know what happened, and if awake, why did they allow it without a fight. The contrasting actions make it clear that there are those that may even know the truth, but, choose to ignore it or choose personal riches over the known truth.

The other little phrase I like is in verse 7, “indeed he is going ahead of you.” Jesus does indeed go ahead of us both in life and in death, allowing us to achieve all we can for His work on earth, as well as winning the victory over both the grave and death.

When given the opportunity, the two Mary's worship at the feet of Jesus; what a great example for us. Jesus shows great compassion and grace by telling them, “go and tell my brothers.” What comforting words those surely were to the eleven that seemingly disappeared out of fear, just a few days prior. Aren't you glad God's grace extends to those moments when we deny, and doubt, but He is always ready to welcome us back into His brotherhood.

The untold story of this lesson is the final verses of this chapter that are not included in our text. The story starts at the tomb, but it is the same story, “go and tell.” The final verses are the Great Commission. (18)And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.(19)Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20)and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

“Hosanna!” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-04-12T16:45:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending April 17, 2011

Purpose: To consider what or whom elicits our extravagant praise and why

Scripture Text: Mark 11:1-11 (NRSV)

Mark 11:1-11
(1)When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples (2)and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. (3)If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” (4)They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, (5) some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” (6)They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. (7)Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it.(8)Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. (9)Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
“Hosanna!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! (10) Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (11)Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

This passage of scripture is often highlighted or subtitled in some bibles as “Jesus Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem.” Let me say that it more properly might just state “Jesus entry into Jerusalem.” Jesus has a “Triumphant Exit” from Jerusalem and the grave, but the entry is rather humbling, sitting on a borrowed colt, no “red carpet” entry, just palm branches and old coats and cloaks. A rather hollow entry when we know what will transpire during this coming week. And looking back knowing this was “God with us,” would this small band of followers that would soon turn against Him, be part of anything called “triumphant.” In the next four days this turns into the deepest hurt and agony known to mankind. The triumphant event is yet to come, Jesus triumphing over death and the grave and willingly accepting the cruelty of the cross, which should make us all shout “Hosanna.”

The events of the week when read in a synoptic setting go like this:

Saturday: After sundown, Jesus is anointed at Bethany, in the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, six days before the Passover. (John 12:1-8) There is a plot to kill Lazarus by the chief priest. (John 12:9-11)

Sunday: This is the entry into Jerusalem on a borrowed colt. (Recorded in Luke 19, John 12, Mark 11, Matthew. 21)

Monday: Monday is the morning walk to Jerusalem, and the cleansing of the Temple.

Tuesday: Again a morning walk to Jerusalem, and a very busy day. Christ’s authority is challenged by the Jewish leaders. Then the three parables of warning found in Matthew 21:28 – 22:14; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19. Next is a barrage of questions from the enemies of Christ. Tuesday continues with Christ pronouncing eight woes against the Scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-47) Christ then watches as offerings are given, and entertains visiting Greeks. (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4; John 1220-50). Jesus then delivers His Olivet Discourse found in Matthew 24,25; Mark 13; Luke 21:5-38. Jesus then ends the evening by telling the exact time of His Crucifixion. (Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16; Mark 14:1, 2, 10, 11; Luke 22:1-6. Tuesday night is spent with the disciples at the Mount of Olives. (Luke 21:37-38).

Wednesday: We have no record of what happened on Wednesday of Passion Week.

Thursday: Thursday is pretty well known with the preparation for the Passover meal, the meal, and the betrayal, all of which are recorded in the four Gospels.(Matthew 26:17-46; Mark 14:12-42; Luke 22:7-46; John 13:1-38 & 14,16, 17, 18:1)

All of the above brings us to through the agony of Gethsemane, and into Friday very early in the morning. My hope is that after you read all that happened the first five days, your hearts are ready to embrace and understand what becomes the Triumphant Exit from Jerusalem come Sunday morning.

Imagine leaving everything behind in heaven, and willingly accepting what was about to happen. Jesus said it best, “greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for a friend.” What a Friend we have in Jesus.

“Praise Builds Us Up” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-04-05T13:41:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday April 10, 2011

Purpose: To discern how authentic worship of God heals divisions, promotes reconciliation, and builds up the body of Christ

Scripture Text: Jude 17-25 (NRSV)

Jude 17-25
(17)But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; (18)for they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.” (19)It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. (20)But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; (21) keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (22)And have mercy on some who are wavering; (23) save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies. (24)Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, (25)to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

The Book of Jude offers some curious insights that are not found elsewhere, (verse 6,9,14) and is somewhat paralleled in Peters second epistle, especially in the second chapter. Both Peter and Jude address the problem of corruption within the first century church in Asia Minor. Jude introduces himself as the brother of James, and a servant of Jesus Christ, apparently he was not inclined to assert himself as a half brother of Jesus, but rather a servant of his. James of course was the half brother of Jesus and the leader of the first century church and was well known throughout all of the new Christian churches established by the apostles and Paul.

According to verse three, Jude was preparing to write to the churches about their “common/shared salvation.” But, apparently he was advised of a more serious problem that would require immediate attention and it needed to be addressed. It required some warnings and encouragement on how they could stop some of the practices that were taking place by leaders and others within that early church. The teaching of the original Apostles was being ignored and it was being replaced by orators, complainers and schemers that were abusing God's grace and ignoring God's call for holiness.

While acknowledging the redemption offered by Jesus' death and resurrection, the new teaching seemed to consider that Christianity was a license to commit all types of sin and live a lustful self-centered life without consequences. It was not unlike what some teach today, where being Christian enables us to do as we please and not face any judgment for our actions. Certainly not what Jesus meant when he said in, John 15.10: “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” I fail to see how we can ignore His commandments and continue to abide in His grace and love.

When Jude refers to “the last time,” it possible refers to this current age of the church, maybe better said, the time we are in since the death, resurrection, ascension, and the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost or awaiting Christ return and the final judgment of God at the end of our age. For this reason I think Jude's message is an important message for today's church, because we are living in the same environment that Jude addressed in this letter.

I like the way Jude addresses the problem and how he exhorts the believers, while condemning the worldliness of those that lack (“devoid of”) the Holy Spirit in their lives. There are many today that are teaching a new theology of grace that requires nothing from us, a universal salvation, without fear of judgment. Certainly not the teaching of the Apostles or Christ, and is not rooted in the dwelling of the Holy Spirit within each of us. Rather it teaches man himself creates his own heaven and hell, which is blasphemy of the highest order.

Jude is very adamant that we should not settle or accept without doing all we can do to persuade those that are teetering on the edge of this heresy, but we should do everything we can possible do through pray and persuasion, by “snatching them out of the fire.” The phrase quoted was especially dear to John Wesley’s heart because at a young age he was rescued or “snatched” from a fire that destroyed the Epworth rectory, and always considered that as God's claim on his life. Indeed all of us that believe have been snatched/rescued from the fire. That should create a desire within us to live lives that are obedient to God's claim on us, by abiding in Him.

Jude closes with a great benediction or doxology, the difference between the two is a benediction is a closing, offered to the hearers, while a doxology is offered as praise to God. I will let you decide, read it over and choose benediction or doxology?

“Remembering Jesus Christ” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-03-29T14:04:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday April 3, 2011

Purpose: To warn us of the dangers of spiritual amnesia

Scripture Text: 2nd Timothy 2:8-15 (NRSV)

II Timothy 2:8-15
(8)Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a (descendant of David—that is my gospel, (9)for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. (10)Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.(11)The saying is sure:If we have died with him, we will also live with him;(12)if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; (13)if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself. (14)Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. (15)Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

There is an old Henny Youngman joke that goes something like this; “I had to quit loaning my kids money, I found out it made them sick..............it gave them amnesia.”

All too often we find ourselves in the same situation with our faith and our beliefs, we forget what has been done and what has been promised, we get amnesia when it comes to our Christianity. Paul addresses this problem in this letter he writes to Timothy, shortly before Nero had him beheaded on the Appian Way outside of Rome.

Paul was facing a crisis, he was imprisoned and in chains. He had evidently been released from “house arrest” and according to legend had either gone or was preparing to go to Spain, but was arrested again and this time Nero ordered his death.

Paul relates to Timothy the essentials of his belief; Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and he was a descendent of King David. Paul himself had encountered Jesus while traveling to Damascus to persecute the early Jewish believers, on behalf of the Jewish rulers in Jerusalem. During his ministry, after that encounter, Paul faced many hardships, from imprisonment, beatings, shipwrecks, hunger, and maybe partial blindness, but what he was currently facing was far more serious.

Reading between the lines, it appears that Paul may be worried about how Timothy and others would react to his death. His words of assurance seem to say, death is not so bad, because it means, living with Christ. Living or enduring, likewise, is not so bad, because we will reign with him. Even losing our faith, for a season, can be overcome, because Christ remains faithful, and our faith can be restored. The only thing there is no glory or hope in, is denying Christ. The outcome for denying Christ is to be denied by Christ.

Paul then speaks of what will likely happen after his death, there will be a “wrangling over words.” History teaches us that the “wrangling over words,” is still going on. Back then according to Paul's personal doctrine, Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Christ was the Messiah promised by God in the Old Testament, as early as Genesis 3:15, the promised descendant of King David, that had defeated both death and the grave as foretold by the prophets, and by Jesus himself.

From the close of this passage you can get the sense that Timothy may have come from a wealthy family, but had now gone through that wealth, and maybe needed to swallow some pride and become a paid worker for the church. Something that Paul now endorses, although he himself had struggled not to accept help in the past.

Whether we are facing death and old age, or maybe a crisis of faithlessness, our best hope still remains in our belief in Jesus Christ as the risen savior, the one who remains faithful in His promises to us. The command from Paul was,” present yourself to God as one approved by him,” doing God's work preaching, teaching and testifying of His goodness and faithlessness. What are the faith resources you use when you are going through a crisis?

“Worship Inspires Services” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-03-22T15:43:00.000-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday March 27, 2011

Purpose: To identify how the worship of God shapes and orders the common life of families and the larger family of God.

Scripture Text: I Timothy 5:1-8,17-22 (NRSV)

1 Timothy 5:1-8,
(1)Do not speak harshly to an older man, but speak to him as to a father, to younger men as brothers, (2) to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters—with absolute purity. (3)Honor widows who are really widows. (4)If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some repayment to their parents; for this is pleasing in God’s sight. (5)The real widow, left alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day; (6) but the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. (7)Give these commands as well, so that they may be above reproach. (8)And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 5: 17-22
(17)Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; (18)for the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves to be paid.” (19)Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. (20)As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear. (21)In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality. (22)Do not ordain anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Just a few weeks ago a famous Hollywood icon appeared before congress complaining of “elder abuse.” He pleaded with congress to end this terrible abuse quickly. You can read the article at: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2011/03/mickey-rooney-tells-senate-he-suffered-elder-abuse/1.

The problem of elder abuse is real and it happens in families of all types, rich or poor, but it is not new to our generation, which is why Paul took time to instruct Timothy about this problem.
Paul's advise is good advice and something all of us can carry out, the way we speak to our elders should be respectful and with love. This is not just for our family and our parents and grandparents but for all of those we come in contact with. Paul also includes younger women, who should be treated with “absolute purity.” Since this was written to Timothy, I am certain you could also apply this to young men, if a female is carrying out God’s mission.

When Paul uses the words “really widows” he is asking Timothy to check some things out, just as we have welfare abuse today, in the first century there were also attempts to get around the system and take advantage of the early church's generosity.

If you read verse 9 of this chapter, you will see that Paul sets an age limit of over 60 years old, and limits the marriages to just one man. He issues further restrictions in verse 10; a widow is expected to be productive and benevolent with what she has. He also warns against the younger widows, who end up just being “gossips and busybodies.”

Paul thought that the best solution (verse 14) was for the younger widows to marry quickly and start a new family. This was not only good for the community but also it kept them from the temptation of becoming a women just seeking pleasure.

What Paul was suggesting was not new, it was required from the Old Testament that widows are taken care of by the families first and it no family was available, then the church should step in and see that the needs were met for those that were in real need. (Exodus 22:22) “You shall not abuse any widow or orphan.” (Isaiah 1:17) learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, and plead for the widow. (Psalm 146:9) The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

Starting with verse 17 of our lesson, Paul is speaking about those that hold a position within the church, not about people who are older. Those that are employed and did a good job should receive a double portion, for their labor, especially those that are teachers and preachers. Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 25:4 about not muzzling the ox that is tramping out the grain and he also quotes from Jesus' words to his disciples (Luke 10:7) when he is sending them out to spread the “good news” during His ministry.

Paul warns about believing everything you hear about church leaders and seeking testimony from more than one person to substantiate any charges. If they are guilty of persistently sinning, then the whole church should be informed publicly. That would serve not only as an embarrassment for the offender, but also as a warning for those that might have been leaning in that direction. The hardest part of administering this kind of justice is doing it without prejudice, sometimes we are prone to wink at sins of close friends and family.

Paul's final instruction on this is “don't be too hasty to ordain anyone”, let’s see out they live with some limelight before we ordain them, and above all keep yourself pure.

The question generated by this passage might be; “Which is thicker blood or water?” Before you answer too hastily, remember your baptism.

“Prepare for Leadership” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-03-15T15:38:00.001-04:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Sunday March 20, 2011

Purpose: To rediscover the holy habits and godly practices that builds Christian character and prepares us for faithful leadership in the church

Scripture Text: I Timothy 4:6-16 (NRSV)

I Timothy 4:6-16
(6)If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed. (7)Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness,(8)for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (9)The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. (10)For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.(11)These are the things you must insist on and teach. (12)Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (13)Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. (14)Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. (15)Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. (16)Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Today some of the most popular books and articles we choose to read are about “self- help.” As Christians it is important to know the difference between holy habits and godly practices, versus the more popular “self-help” way to get God's attention. The desire and ability to achieve a spiritual life of practice and discipline comes as a means of grace, (comes from God) not as a task to accomplish, or instructions to follow.

Paul is explaining to Timothy and to us, that unlike those that are talked about in verse 1 of this chapter, which are “paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.” These have departed from the faith. As Christian we should instead receive our nourishment from the “words of faith” and “good doctrine.” Today's Christians should not fall into the same trap as Eve in the garden and accept a half-truth from a “deceitful spirit” “Did God really say?” (See Gen. 3:1)

Paul tells Timothy to reject the easy way and quick fix that he may have heard about; instead, we need to exercise ourselves to godliness. As you watch the television advertisements for losing weight most are trying to sell you an easy quick fix, a pill, you can take, when the truth is, it takes discipline and work (exercise) to accomplish the weight loss. Paul even says “while exercise has some value for a time, eventually we will all face the reality of death, better we should concentrate on godliness, because it will last us for all of eternity” (my paraphrase and amplification)

Why should we “toil and struggle”? It is because we have been redeemed by God, through the work of Jesus the Christ, His only begotten Son. God has made this available to the entire world, but it is important that we believe and exercise our faith, in this truth. Just because His Son died for the entire world does not mean the whole world has accepted Him.

There are several things we can do in our Christian walk to help us understand what God wants from us. According to Paul we should be aware of five things; our words, our deeds, our love, our faith, and our purity. Understand that neither none of these or all of these can redeem us. These are God's expectations from us if we love Him, and accept His gift.

Maybe this can best be illustrated in marriage. If when we get married, we no longer put in the work necessary for a happy marriage, the chances are that the marriage will fail. Likewise, if we toil for the sake of the marriage, we have the opportunity to reap great rewards for the effort we put into the relationship. It has often been said when we are young and in love, “love is blind.” We can accept all of the little flaws. But with marriage our sight improves, and all of sudden what we thought was cute and eccentric now drive us crazy. Getting through that, takes both works and grace.

Timothy is encouraged to read, exhort, and teach Gods word, which is what God has called him to do. This is not a call to practice sometime during the year, but rather a habit that should be established. We are to do this on a regular basis.

How committed are you to a life of holiness and goodness? How often do you exercise and practice your faith?

“Qualifications of Worship Leaders” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-03-08T15:54:00.001-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending March 13, 2011

Purpose: To grasp that God expects Christian leaders to be not only transparent and accountable but also holy and humble

Scripture Text: 1st Timothy 3:1-13 (NRSV)

I Timothy 3:1-13
(1)The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. (2)Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, (3)not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. (4)He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way— (5)for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? (6)He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. (7)Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.

(8)Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money; (9)they must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. (10)And let them first be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons. (11)Women likewise must be serious, not slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things. (12)Let deacons be married only once, and let them manage their children and their households well; (13)for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

One of the things that stands out in Paul's pastoral letters is all three letters were addressed to one of Paul's appointed pastors, either Timothy or Titus, and they cover many topics and doctrines, and vary in the instructions and teaching given by each letter.

The lesson is not intended to look back at history and the first century church, but rather to offer a valuable reflection on how best to select, recognize and train local church leaders, as well as pastors. Regardless of denomination, or label, the rules laid down by Paul to Timothy in the first century, are relevant to all churches, in all periods of time.

The phrase “The saying is sure,” applies every bit as much today as it did in Paul's time. It was important that the early church understood the responsibility of leadership. Bishops earned the position by being faithful as deacons and teachers, prior to being selected as a bishop; for the most part, the bishop was comparable to today's senior pastor. Today's standards have been lowered considerably when compared to the standards Paul suggested for Timothy and the church he was nurturing.

I am afraid today we fill offices and positions by one's willingness to serve rather than the qualifications taught by Paul. We can overlook almost anything, as long as the position gets filled. It should also be pointed out that many that qualify, for whatever reason, choose not to serve or lead.

The question for churches today is: what qualifications are we willing to sacrifice? Are Paul's qualifications unrealistic? Can we expect our leaders to adhere to such a strict code of conduct? Unfortunately the world has the same problem with is leaders. Notoriety has replaced temperate, sensible and respectable, and for the most part if we eliminated all of those that were NOT lovers of money, who could we get to run for public office.

As I read our text, I am haunted by the question is holiness and humbleness a gift from God? Or is it a characteristic of what all Christians should be?

Our lesson contains a lot of suggested behavior patterns for both men and women; it also seems to impose some type of apprenticeship, or training for those that wish to serve.

There was a time when a Christian was expected to live a separated life, that is, we were to separate ourselves from the things of this world. Nowadays it seems we take separate lives to mean, we separate our church life from our family life and both of those from our life at work. Unfortunately that is exactly what Paul was addressing, we should live one life dedicated to the principles taught by Jesus and Paul whether at church, home or work. Our problem may not be qualified leaders, but rather a qualified pool from which to choose our leaders. There is nothing in Paul's list that should be too difficult to abide by, not just for leaders, but for all Christian congregations. Hold fast to the mystery of your faith.

“Instructions About Worship” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-03-01T19:40:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending March 6, 2011

Purpose: To explore how true worship of God invites us into the great mystery of faith, revealing both the truth about god and the truth about ourselves

Scripture Text: I Timothy 2:1-6; I Timothy 3:14-16 (NRSV)

I Timothy 2:1-6
(1)First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, (2)for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. (3)This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (4) who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (5)For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human,(6)who gave himself a ransom for all—this was attested at the right time.

I Timothy 3:14-16
(14) hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, (15)if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. (16)Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

For the past 13 weeks we have been studying Hope. For the next 13 weeks we will be looking at Worship. The text we will be using for the next several weeks comes from a portion of Paul's Pastoral Epistles. The Pastoral Epistles is a name given to three of Paul's epistles, First and Second Timothy and Titus. The simple explanation for the title is; they were all written to pastor's appointed by Paul to work in the churches he had established while on his missionary journeys.

It was Paul's intention that he would visit these congregations in person, but we can be thankful that was not the case, and instead, he wrote letters of instruction to the assigned pastors, thereby leaving us a transcript, rather, than just hearsay.

Paul's instructions to Timothy contain some important instruction for us to follow today in our congregations. First and foremost was prayer. A funny thing about prayer, while we may think we are sometimes influencing God into changing His mind, more often than not it is our minds and attitudes that are changed by our prayers. If we consistently pray for the leaders of our nation and our church, are we still so prone to constantly criticize?

As you look at verse 4, note that it is God's, “desire for everyone to be saved,” not His edict or command. While by His grace, He has made salvation available to all men, He has not made it universal, in that all men are automatically redeemed, nor are they forced against their will to accept the salvation offered. Paul also gives us an important theological statement, “there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all.” for the last part of this statement, – “this was attested at the right time.” I like the Amplified version of this verse which says, “(6) who gave Himself as a ransom for all [people, a fact that was] attested to at the right and proper time.

Paul continues his instructions to Timothy on how one ought to behave, while a member of God's universal church. Again Paul gives us some theology about the mystery of our faith. I am paraphrasing, but to me he tells Timothy that Jesus was revealed to us in the flesh, and he was proven by the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed by the world, and was taken up to glory before our eyes. For Paul and hopefully for us, that is all the proof needed.

So how should we prepare ourselves for worship?
(1) We need to come prayed up, and willing to pray for all manner of things, general request, interceding for others, giving thanks.
(2) We need to come to worship at peace with our friends and family, filled with godliness and dignity.
(3) Come expecting results, because, if we have prayed, and if we know it is God's will for everyone be saved, we have every right to expect answers to our prayers, because we are praying for God's will to be done.

If you are not talking to God, how can you know what he wants or what he expects of you? All Relationships, whether with God, a spouse, our children, or our coworkers, require that we communicate to each other.

“Coming of the Son of Man” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-02-22T12:46:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending February 27, 2011

Purpose: To hear Jesus' words about the end of the age as a proclamation of hope and encouragement

Scripture Text: Mark 13:14-27 (NRSV)

Mark 13:14-27
(14)“But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; (15)the one on the housetop must not go down or enter the house to take anything away; (16)the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. (17)Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! (18)Pray that it may not be in winter. (19)For in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, no, and never will be. (20)And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days. (21)And if anyone says to you at that time, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘Look! There he is!’ —do not believe it.

(22)False messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. (23)But be alert; I have already told you everything. (24)“But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, (25)and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. (26)Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. (27)Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

As I study Mark 13, I think back to one of our early family vacations. We loaded our three children in a car with a luggage rack on top and headed for Rocky Mountain National Park. On our second day, while still in Nebraska, we saw our first glimpse of a mountain peak and as we continued our drive it got closer, but another peak behind the first peak became visible. From our first glimpse until we arrived seemed to be an extremely long time, especially with three children asking that famous question; “Are we there yet?” That is sort of how I understand our lesson, viewing time down a corridor, Jesus speaks of the first peak, and then looking further down that corridor to the next peak, no one is sure how much time is involved in getting to that next peak. Like restless children, we find ourselves asking the same question; Are we there yet?

Putting our text into a time frame, Jesus had just finished upsetting the money changers in the temple and is walking back up the Mount of Olives. When, for whatever reason, one of his disciples ask Jesus if he had ever seen anything as spectacular as the magnificent structure they had just left. Jesus then proceeds to explain to them, that what they think is indestructible we be nothing but a heap of stones after the “desolating sacrilege.”

Jesus is referring to The Book of Daniel, where Daniel refers to this as the “abomination of desolation” in the KJV. All that Jesus declared about the “desolating sacrilege” took place before the generation that was living at that time, or in other words before forty years would pass; this all happened according to historians.

In the year 70AD, a ruler and self proclaimed god, came and destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and set up an altar to himself, and sacrificed pigs on that altar as an act of defiance. This all took place where once the Holy of Hollies and Ark of the Covenant reigned. That was the “desolating sacrilege.” Mysteriously many Jews fled to northern Perea and escaped the horror that went on in Jerusalem.

Just three days from Jesus being hung on a cross, he knew as he looked out over the temple its relevance would be destroyed. First the veil would be torn from top to bottom, and the need for animal sacrifice would no longer exist.

Starting in verse 24 Jesus is not looking at a different peak all the way to the end of time. And He describes how it will be at the end, when the Son of Man will come, “with great power and glory.”

As I write this I understand that another prediction has been made about a “rapture” of the church on May 21, 2011, and the annihilation of the universe on October 21, 2011. Those days like all days should be ones of watching and waiting and always being ready.

“Jesus Came to Serve” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-02-15T20:00:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending February 20, 2011

Purpose: To comprehend that greatness in God's sight is measured by humble service to others

Scripture Text: Mark 10:35-45 (NRSV)

Mark 10:35-45
(35)James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”(36)And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” (37)And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” (38)But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” (39)They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; (40)but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

(41)When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. (42)So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. (43)But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, (44)and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. (45)For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

As we continue Mark's rapidly paced gospel, Jesus and His entourage are getting ever closer to Jerusalem. And in Mark's shortened version, James and John approach Him with an unusual request. In Matthews’s version it is the mother of James and John that makes this request. Just a reminder that James and John's mother was Salome, many believe she was the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus. So in Mathew’s version Jesus' aunt is making the request on behalf of her sons.

In our text, it reads like a couple of sophomoric kids trying to get a favor without telling what they want. We, that are parents, have all experience this request for a guaranteed response before we hear the question, “promise me you will just say yes.” Jesus' responded with a direct question. “What do you want?” You have to wonder what would have happened if the request was granted; which one would get the right hand position and which one the left? Maybe mom would make that decision for them.

I think the boy's were still thinking in terms of a Messianic Kingdom on earth, but Jesus reminded them, that what was about to happen to him, they too would have to be willing face. The answer they gave, “We are able,” is the correct answer and should serve as an example for us to follow, when we are called to fulfill the task assigned.

History tells us that indeed James faced death early in the history of the church, as recorded in Acts 12:2 being the very first of the apostle's to suffer martyrdom. John lived mush longer, but faced exile and hardships in his long and storied life. Tradition tells us he was boiled in oil by Roman authorities and given the title of martyr, although he lived through that horrific experience and the boiling oil had no effect on him.

The special place of power that the brothers sought is for God alone to assign, not even the Son could make that call. Just as His return is also God the father's call. It is not hard for us to imagine the outrage and the name calling that the other apostles bestowed on these two power seeking brothers. Most of us can relate to a fellow worker that cozies up to the boss for special favors, and how we feel about that.

Jesus calls all of them together and explains that His Kingdom's rules are considerably different than the rules and ways of the world. In His Kingdom it is not about how much power you have, but how well you serve those that you called to minister. Jesus would later make this point when He washed the feet of each of His disciples on the Thursday night before the cross.

This passage often leads me to think that most of our church hierarchy has it wrong, those that are called to minister, spend most of their time working for the hierarchy and very little time serving those they were called to serve. If Christ teaching were followed, then our Bishops and Superintendents would be coming and serving our pastors rather than setting in the ivory palace making decrees. Originally, superintendents and bishops were out preaching in the parishes, and assisting pastors in their ministry. “We have failed to be an obedient church and we have not heard the cry of the needy.”

With God's help, we can do a better job of serving those that we are called to lead, we can go to the back of the line, and become servant leaders. We, like Christ, are called to serve, not to be served.

“This is My Beloved” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-02-08T13:22:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending February 13, 2011

Purpose: To identify barriers to listening to Jesus

Scripture Text: Mark 8:2-13 (NRSV)

Mark 9:2-13
(2) Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, (3) and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. (4)And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. (5)Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (6)He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. (7)Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”(8)Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus.
(9)As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. (10)So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean. (11)Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” (12)He said to them, “Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt? (13)But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Let me begin by telling you that Mark is the shortest of all the synoptic gospels and it was written to Gentiles more specifically Romans, and does not normally go into detail like Matthew or Luke. Therefore, the first verse in our lesson uses a detail that may seem out of place in Mark's Gospel. “Six days later” must be very significant for Mark to include it in his writing. How far could Jesus and the Apostles travel from the area of Caesarea Philippi in six days? Certainly enough time to get to either Mt. Hermon or Mt. Tabor; Mt. Hermon was north of Caesarea Philippi maybe twenty-five miles and Mt. Tabor would have been approximately sixty to seventy miles south of Caesarea Philippi, no one is sure on which mountain this passage takes place.

It could be that Mark is giving us a time frame of how long it took for the previous lesson to sink in. Whatever Mark's reason, he must of felt it was important to give us this time stamp. Peter, James, and John were chosen by Jesus to accompany him on this trek up the mountain. Most of us can accept Peter and John, but why James? It could be that James, the older brother of John, would be one of the very first of the Apostles to be martyred by Herod Agrippa in 44AD, while his younger brother John would live the longest.

To be transfigured means “to be transformed into something more beautiful or elevated.” Some scholars believe this could go back to creation when “light” was created, prior to the fourth day when the sun and moon were created, and God himself became the “light of the world.” in the form of Jesus. It appears there was some surprise when Moses appeared with Elijah. Elijah, they understood, but Moses' death was more mysterious, God buried Moses, and Moses' grave was never found. The fact that Jesus communicated with both Elijah and Moses, shows the relationship between the three was an eternal, everlasting relationship and places Jesus as a resident of a heavenly kingdom.

Peter, was ever the exuberant one, and out of a lack of things to say, says, “let us make three dwellings.” Peter may not have realized, none of the three needed a dwelling place on earth, they all had a home in glory.

The affirmation of who Jesus was comes from the Father, remember the question in last week's lesson? “Who do you say that I am?” God confirms the answer, “This is my Son, the beloved.” Then God issues a command to the three witnesses, “listen to him!”

I love the last line in verse 8, because it says all we need to know, “they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus.” We are in the same situation, we only have Jesus, but that is all we need. Jesus in us and with us is the only proof we need, that He is “The Beloved.”

The last three verses can get very confusing when read, but suffice it to say most scholars believe the Elijah mentioned, was John the Baptist, who preceded Jesus and who was brutally murdered, as well as ignored by the Jewish leaders.

I trust you can witness to the world that Jesus lives in you and through you, and you are convinced that Jesus was indeed, “The Beloved.”

“Jesus is the Messiah” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-02-01T15:27:00.002-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending February 6, 2011

Purpose: To realize that claiming Jesus as Lord requires actions as well as words.

Scripture Text: Mark 8:27-38 Mark 9:1 (NRSV)

Mark 8:27-38
(27)Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”(28)And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” (29)He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” (30)And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

(31)Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. (32)He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. (33)But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

(34)He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (35)For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. (36)For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? (37)Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? (38)Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Mark 9:1
(1)And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

This passage contains three distinct events and questions. (1) Mark 8:27-30, (2) Mark 8:31-33, (3) Mark 8:34-9:1. The first event takes place in a Gentile region called Caesarea Phillippi about twenty-five miles north of the Sea of Galilee. The city was built by Herod Phillip II in honor of Caesar Augustus. Herod Phillip II was the son of Herod the Great and Cleopatra.

Question number one is; “Who do men say that I am?” Question number two; “but who do you say that I am?” And question number three; “what will a man give in exchange in exchange for his soul?”

The first two questions occur when Jesus and His disciples are on a road outside the city, and seem to be addressed specifically to the twelve. That first question is still quite relevant for all of those that claim to be a follower today. And today we get some of the same answers, a prophet, a philosopher, a teacher. But then Jesus narrows the discussion, “what about you” “who do you say that I am?” Since Jesus already knew the answer to both questions why did he ask them?

Why is important that you answer them? The question is not who does your church say that I am? It is much more personal, how you answer can determine where you will spend eternity. The world says one thing, your church says another, but the most important question is addressed to you. While Peter answered correctly, I doubt he realized at the time, that his expectations of a worldly kingdom would not be fulfilled during his lifetime. One has to wonder if Jesus had taught verse 31 prior to asking the question; how Peter would have responded. Jesus obviously thought it was important for Peter and his other disciples to verbalize their thoughts, and declare who Jesus was. Jesus knew that doubts and fear would soon be upon all of those that were following Him. It could be the reason it is so important for us to share our testimony and belief.

The next event begins in verse 31 where Jesus is now addressing not only the twelve, but all of His followers. These included people that were just there for the show, the miracles. Imagine how their minds raced when they heard this miracle worker talk about his murder and death at the hands of the religious leaders. The most outrageous claim was that He would “rise again” after being dead three days, a period of time that was considered impossible by any God fearing Jew or Gentile. I would imagine that this may have thinned the crowd following Jesus. Jesus then calls the entire remaining crowd together and explains that following Jesus is not easy, it will be a difficult journey and requires giving up of what “we” want in favor of being obedient to the task before them.

The third event begins in verse 34, and the message is clear, there is no earthly glory, no riches to be claimed, only denial of one's self. The reward is for a future time and place. Jesus then asks the third question. “What can you give in exchange for your life?”

Acknowledge Jesus now, and He will acknowledge you in glory. Deny Him now and He will deny you in glory. Who do you say Jesus is? Your answer matters.

“Healed by His Bruises” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-01-25T12:57:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending January 30, 2011

Purpose: To ponder how the suffering of one can be redemptive for others

Scripture Text: Isaiah 53: 4-6, 10-12 (NRSV)

Isaiah 53:4-6
(4)Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. (5)But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. (6)All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53: 10-12
(10)Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him with pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the LORD shall prosper. (11)Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. (12)Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

To get the best understanding of our lesson passage, I would suggest you read from the beginning of this Servant Song starting in chapter 52:13 and reading through 53:12.

By going back to the beginning of this passage, in 52:13, you will find a couple of interesting statements. First it begins by declaring “Behold,” which denotes a new prophesy, second “My servant,” tells us that God is now speaking through the prophet, and of course God is speaking of His only begotten, Jesus the Christ. (The Messiah). Also you might notice from verse 15 that this is not addressed just to Judah or the Jewish people but to “many nations.”

With our understanding of the above, we can make some assumptions about the pronouns used. The “he” refers to the servant (Christ), the “our” refers to the nations.

As you read the first few verses you get the sense that the whole world is aware of its need for repentance and forgiveness, the world is very much in need of redemption. The question for God is how can this be achieved? The answer is if one person could take upon himself all of the worlds quilt and shame and if God was willing to accept that as sufficient for all, then only that willing servant would be required to suffer the pain, agony, punishment and embarrassment for all. All of which happened with Christ, in living, suffering and dying. Because of His generous act, the rest of humankind has the opportunity to be redeemed, and restored to a right relationship with the Creator.

Substitutionary suffering is a difficult doctrine for some to accept. It certainly goes against most “evolutionist” thinking, because they believe we are tuned for self preservation at all cost. The survival of the fittest, or “first law of nature” would contradict what Christ and even other heroes have done for people they love, or just out of doing “the right” thing.

The result achieved outweighs the suffering endured, and Jesus did it without any promise of reward, because the reward comes after the deed. Through Christ we all have a chance at being righteous, not by our deeds, but by what was accomplished through Him. It is after the fact that God rewards the servant with, “a portion of the great.”

This passage is sobering and should be humbling for all of us. What about us makes us worthy recipients of such grace? Not just receiving our redemption but also having Christ as our intercessor as stated in verse 12. We, like lost sheep need the “Good Shepherd” to find our way back into His fold, by ourselves we will remain lost for all of eternity. Why not accept Christ today as your redeemer? Consider all that He did just for you.

“The Servant's Mission in the World”

2011-01-18T15:08:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending January 23, 2011

Purpose: To hear and heed God's call to bear witness to God's salvation to all the world

Scripture Text: Isaiah 49:1-6 (NRSV)

Isaiah 49:1-6
(1)Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The LORD called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. (2)He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. (3)And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” (4)But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the LORD, and my reward with my God.” (5)And now the LORD says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and my God has become my strength— (6)he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

This passage presents a real dilemma for those commentators that think the Book of Isaiah was written at three different periods. Their inability to accept it as a real book of prophesy, and that it could not have foreseen the rise of Cyrus II, also precludes them from seeing this passage as a Messianic prophesy. I guess the reasoning is since Isaiah, with God's help, could not look 250 years into the future, then certainly they could not admit that Isaiah could look 700 years into the future to the Incarnation of God and the birth, life and death, of Jesus the true “Prince of God.”

Our text begins with, “listen to me,” so the question is; Who is the “me” ? When the commentators claim the “me” is Israel they are correct, but they fail to go all the way back to Gen. 32:28, where God renames Jacob, Israel, because “he had struggled with God and men and prevailed”. According to bible dictionaries “Israel” means “the Prince that prevails with God,” certainly the “el” refers to God. Any attempt to explain this passage another way would place the commentators in the same position as the “Ethiopian eunuch” as recorded in Acts 8:26-36. They possess great learning, but no understanding; thankfully Phillip knew how to interpret The Book of Isaiah. On another occasion Jesus himself uses a passage in Isaiah 42:1. (Found in Matthew 17-21). All of these clearly point our passage to the Messiah.

As I read this passage it clearly opens the gospel to not just the Jews but also to the Gentiles, “peoples from far away.” The statement “the Lord called me before I was born,” is further evidence this is about the Prince of Peace, the Prince that prevails.

Verse 2 adds to our thesis that this is about God coming to earth, “he made my mouth like a sharp sword.” Compare that to the verses in Hebrews 12:4 and Revelations1:16 that use similar language. Remember that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The latter part of this verse also refers to the judgment that the Messiah will deliver, but it is also a reference to the fact that Jesus has always been with God, from the beginning, hidden from the world but always in God's quiver, ready to be used. Another interpretation could be gleaned from Psalm 127:5 which seems to reference the quiver as where mans seed is stored, and in that case God's quiver contains one perfect arrow, and that “polished arrow” will be the one that judges all of the nations.

In verse 3 we see some of the things I have previously addressed, certainly God will be glorified by what Jesus accomplishes, even though His life appears, from first glance, to have been lived in vain. Certainly we know now that Jesus did not live in vain, but at the time it seemed as such. It is easy to use Christ prayer in the garden as evidence that Jesus may have thought of His life as a failure when He says, “never the less not my will but thine be done.” which aligns nicely with the latter part of verse 4.

I think verse 5 once again addresses the nation of Israel in the word “Jacob;” Jacob was unfit until he encountered God and wrestled with God, hence the reference to the unrepentant Jews as “Jacob.” The last part of this verse could read, “Until the Jews return to God through Jesus.” (My translation)

It is no small thing, (light) that the tribes of Jacob are restored to a place of honor and their influence will serve as a light, just as Jesus is “the light of the world” so to the nation of Israel (descendents of Jacob) were to be the light that illuminated God for the rest of the world, and through that, all of the world would have an opportunity for salvation. The coming of Christ fulfilled all of this by coming by way of the lineage of Jacob, and more precisely Jacob's son Judah and his descendent David. Jesus was always the arrow in God's quiver.

“Reassurance for God's People” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-01-12T15:13:00.003-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending January 16, 2011

Purpose: To embrace God's faithfulness and offer of reconciliation

Scripture Text: Isaiah 48:14-22 (NRSV)

Isaiah 48:14-22 NRSV
(14)Assemble, all of you, and hear! Who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans. (15)I, even I, have spoken and called him, I have brought him, and he will prosper in his way. (16)Draw near to me, hear this! From the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there. And now the Lord GOD has sent me and his spirit. (17)Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go. (18)O that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your prosperity would have been like a river, and your success like the waves of the sea ;( 19) your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me. (20)Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it forth to the end of the earth; say, “redeemed his servant Jacob!” (21)They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split open the rock and the water gushed out. (22)“There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.”

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

This week's lesson offers some interesting ideas, and I think it goes beyond, just speaking to those in captivity in Babylon, but speaks to today's world as well. Even the salutation of verse 14, in my view speaks to us today, we are part of the, “all of you.” What other religion or god has given us this truth? God can and does use men that are strangers to Him, but God loves them even though they show no signs of knowing Him. While our text may be referring to Cyrus II the King of Persia that would release the captives to return to Judea and Jerusalem, it is possible that it could also apply to some modern day ruler that God is using or has used to accomplish His will for our world and His people. God has, from the beginning, been trying to become known through His laws and grace as a God of love and compassion, but also a God that expects men to follow those laws, and also have compassion on their fellow man. God's law of love, which is “Love the Lord with all of your heart and do unto others”, has always been a lesson for us to learn. The entire united nation of Israel had failed on all fronts to obey God and to show the love for others that God had commanded.

I find verse 16 very interesting because I think it introduces the Trinity for our Church Age; remember this was written by the prophet Isaiah as dictated by God, 2700 years ago and 700 years before the birth of the Messiah, and 1000 years before the Church even adopts the doctrine of the Trinity. The “Me” reference, seems to point to the pre-incarnate Son of God, there is also referenced the “Lord God” and “His Spirit.” Clearly a reference to all of those entities we include in, our understanding, of the Trinity Doctrine.

I think verse 17 speaks to us as a parent would try to instruct a child, it is for our own good that God tries to teach us, and like a lot of parents God is disappointed when we fail to “pay attention” to His commandments, not that we won't survive, but how good it could have been if we only listened and learned. It goes beyond our own prosperity; it goes to all of those that follow us. Ever wonder how things would have been different for you and your offspring if you had only listened and followed all of the advice you were given by your parents and others. Theologians call this aspect of God, “anthropomorphic” which simply means “possessing human qualities.” Sometimes we lose that picture of God, God the parent, it is the picture of God Jesus used when He called God “Abba Father, (see Mark 14:36) which means “daddy” when translated.

Through 6000 years of recorded history God has remained faithful to His promise, but still we doubt. As long as we doubt God's faithfulness, and ignore His commandments we will remain a restless wicked people.

What can you do to provide assurance, peace, and prosperity to the next generation? Our disobedience hurts God; Do you care?

“Turn to Me and Be Saved” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2011-01-04T13:41:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending January 9, 2011

Purpose: To acknowledge and live in response to God's sovereignty

Scripture Text: Isaiah 45:18-24a (NRSV)

Isaiah 45:18-24a
(18)For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it a chaos, he formed it to be inhabited!): I am the LORD, and there is no other. (19)I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, “Seek me in chaos.” I the LORD speak the truth, I declare what is right.

(20)Assemble yourselves and come together, draw near, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge— those who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save. (21)Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is no one besides me. (22)Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. (23)By myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness a word that shall not return: “To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” (24)Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; all who were incensed against him shall come to him and be ashamed.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

This week's lesson is about the sovereignty of God, and that always raises serious questions about what God's sovereignty really means. It is obvious from Isaiah's writings that it may have meant something different to the nation of Judah and Israel, at the time it was dictated by God. God is speaking to a nation that is now in captivity in Babylon, where other gods were the mainstay of that countries religion. Many of those carried away into captivity, especially those that were born and raised in Babylon, were probably guilty of worshiping and making idols of local gods.

God, through the prophet Isaiah, is trying to reinforce some of what they had heard or had been taught prior to being taken captive. He seems to be reinforcing the fact that there is only one true God, and that He is the creator of everything, and the redeemer of Israel and Jacob's offspring. Furthermore God is willing to redeem everyone through the offspring of Jacob, which is the Messiah, the Christ.

When God speaks of the “survivors of the nations,” He is speaking to that remnant that will not only return to God, but will also return to Judah and Jerusalem and rebuild. God separates them from the idol worshipers. As I read verses 20 and 21 God seems to draw a line in the sand and welcomes a challenge between Himself and the so called gods of Babylon. God is reminding this remnant that only He predicted all of the years prior through this very prophet.

The other important declaration God makes in verse 21 is that He is the only one righteous and He is the only one that can save them, and His righteousness makes Him the only qualified judge.

In verses 22 &23 God makes it clear that salvation comes from Him and through Him in the person of the Christ, and that it is received by turning to Him; the term “all the ends of the earth,” reflects the fact that through the “Great Commission” given by the Christ, (God in the form of the Word), that salvation is opened up to all humankind through the proclamation by Jesus of the “Great Commission.” Today's remnant are called to proclaim that (Acts 1:8) “to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it". In the end, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall testify (swear), that God alone is the only one righteous enough, and strong enough, to judge the world and humankind.

We have no cause to complain, the plan has been explained, and we are all given an opportunity to participate. Choose your gods wisely, because it really does matter which one you serve.

“I Am Your Redeemer” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2010-12-27T17:37:00.001-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending January 2, 2011

Purpose: To recognize God's power to redeem today by remembering God's acts in the past.

Scripture Text: Isaiah 44:21-26 (NRSV)

Isaiah 44:21-26
(21)Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you, you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. (22)I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. (23)Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel. (24)Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by myself spread out the earth; (25)who frustrates the omens of liars, and makes fools of diviners; who turns back the wise, and makes their knowledge foolish;(26)who confirms the word of his servant, and fulfills the prediction of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, “It shall be inhabited,” and of the cities of Judah, “They shall be rebuilt, and I will raise up their ruins”;

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

I am going to include in our study the final verses of chapter 41, verse 27 & 28, which says: (27)who says to the deep, “Be dry— I will dry up your rivers”; (28)who says of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd, and he shall carry out all my purpose”; and who says of Jerusalem, “It shall be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”

The reason I have included these two additional verses is if you think, as I do, that the Book of Isaiah was written by one writer some 200 years before Cyrus was born. It sort of proves God's prior statements in this chapter about being the one and only true God who makes other gods look foolish. None of them as ever made a statement like this one God makes at the end of the chapter, not predicting, but telling how things will play out a quarter of a century later. And not only predictions about Cyrus whom God names and anoints, but how Babylon would fall when the Persians enter the city on the dry river bed and open the gates from the inside.(see 45:1)

Our printed text gives those in captivity, as well as us, real hope. Notice in verse 22 how God has removed our sin and redeemed us, even when we were still living in sin and did nothing on our own to deserve His redeeming grace. How often have you heard someone say, “They were not good enough to be a Christian?” That is a true statement, none of us are. But notice God redeems us before we “return to Him.” I think the returning to Him is an important act, and it justifies God's act of redemption. Most of us do not repent or change our lifestyle until after we realize what God has done for us by His declaring us His own and redeeming us from a life of sin and self destruction. Repentance and turning toward, or returning to God is an important part of our salvation, just as it was for those that Isaiah was prophesying to.

How many foolish predictions have you heard from those supposed intellectual's or even some bible scholars of today? It is hard to turn on Christian television today and not hear
some prophesy of doom. It can also be said of mainline newscast.

I think the difference is explained in verse 26, only God, “confirms the word of the servant or prophet.” Only God can foretell of a restoration prior to destruction. Only God can declare us redeemed, prior to our repentance. Thanks be to God for remembering, forgiving, redeeming, and restoring His people.

“I Will Be With You” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2010-12-20T17:39:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending December 26, 2010

Purpose: To affirm the constancy of God's compassion and the certainty of God's help in times of trial, both personal and communal

Scripture Text: Isaiah 43:1-7, 11-12 (NRSV)

Isaiah 43:1-7
(1) But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. (2) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (3) For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. (4) Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. (5) Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; (6) I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth—(7) everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Isaiah 43: 11-12
(11) I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior. (12) I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses, says the LORD.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

The more I study the Book of Isaiah, the more convinced I am that our forefathers had it right when they considered the entire book to have been written by Isaiah, and not additional writers at a later time as modern scholars would have us believe.

Certainly the New Testament writers considered it a book of prophecy written prior to the time of the restoration of Judah and Jerusalem. Isaiah has always been considered “The evangelical prophet” since so much is said about the redemptive work of the Messiah. It is quoted in the New Testament writings more than any other book. For me to attribute this book to later writers that actually were living at the time does no justice and is hard to support if you are claiming it as a book of prophecy. I realize that Cyrus and other mentioned rulers are called by name, but to believe that God did not deliver the words to Isaiah and God did not know who would be rulers would be limiting my understanding of the Creator God and the One True God. My contention is the entire book was written by the same author and that no part of it was written at the time of the Babylonian captivity but more than a hundred and forty years prior. The exciting part it was written for us in our generation, as much as it was written for those going through the captivity.

The God that created Jacob and Israel also is responsible for the Messiah, our redeemer. We too are called by name and we are His. We too are guided through difficulties and trials. We too can claim Him as our Savior.

We were instructed by Jesus in Acts 1:8 to “go into all the world, first Jerusalem, then Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth” to be witnesses of His mighty works. I think that covers East, West, North and South, Jesus uses the same words as Isaiah, when he said “from the end of the earth.”

Verse 7 says it all “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” That is us! Verse 9 and 10 of this chapter are not included in our text, but they cannot be ignored, They say “Let all the nations gather together, and let the peoples assemble. Who among them declared this, and foretold to us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to justify them, and let them hear and say, “It is true. You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me”. For me it is hard to ignore the declaration of these words, I would paraphrase it as if there are other gods, let's hear and see the testimony. The very Book of Isaiah is testimony of God's awesome power and love, unless, you don't believe it was written prior to the captivity and the events described in it.

Verses 11and 12 say, “We have no Savior outside of God's only begotten. I think God's preeminent grace shines through this verse when he says “I declared and saved and proclaimed.”

What makes you precious to God? How does God knowing your name bring you comfort? Remember, God created you, God redeemed you, and He knows your name.

“The Mission of the Servant” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2010-12-14T14:26:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending December 19,2010

Purpose: To celebrate the promise of the coming Messiah and anticipate God's peace and righteousness in the world.

Scripture Text: Isaiah 9:7; 11:1-8 (NRSV)

Isaiah 9:7
(7)His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 11:1-8
(1)A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. (2)The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. (3)His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; (4)but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. (5)Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. (6)The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. (7)The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. (8)The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

The Book of Isaiah was written by the prophet Isaiah, but the words are God's words given to Isaiah by God. At the actual time of the writing, Isaiah may have thought these words applied to the excitement and anticipation of new ruler, King Hezekiah, and in fact they may have been written for the coronation of the new king. But since Isaiah was a prophet of God, and the words were given by God, they are not restricted to that particular moment in time. Today we look at these words given by God as foretelling the coming of Jesus and even further as the coming of a new creation.

Uzziah had been king of Judah for 52 years and it is at his passing that Isaiah starts writing. After Uzziah's death from leprosy, his son Jotham ruled for 16 years and was considered a good king, except, like his father, he did not remove the high places of idol worship. After Jotham came 16 years of rule by Ahaz, who did not rule like David, but rather ruled like the wicked kings of the northern kingdom of Israel, most notably building a new altar in the temple, one copied after an idol altar he had seen in Damascus.

Knowing all of the above you can see why Isaiah was excited about the new king Hezekiah, coming into power, a true son of David. And like our own excitement and anticipation when we have a change of power in Washington we speculate and hope for a new kind of ruler and for national peace and prosperity. Hezekiah did many good things, like cutting down the groves where the idols were worshiped. The bible tells us “he trusted in the Lord as no other king.” Because of the revival initiated by Hezekiah the kingdom of Judah would outlast the northern kingdom of Israel by about 120 years.

It is easy to understand Isaiah’s enthusiasm at the crowning of this new king. Finally a king we can put our trust in. Justice and righteousness would now prevail throughout Judah. Almost all of the things Isaiah writes about applies to his world at that time, but because it was God dictating the words they would mean so much more for coming generations and for generations still to come. Certainly not all of those things happened during the reign of Hezekiah, or even at the coming of Jesus, but they will all come about at some future time.

Today the challenge is for us to bring peace and goodwill in our lifetime and in our own communities and families. The poor and the meek become our responsibility as commissioned by Jesus. Today I met with a local group that feeds 1470 children every weekend here in our local county. It is an awesome responsibility that requires an entire community effort to succeed.

How are you being challenged to help the poor and meek in your community? All of God's work will get done, but each of us must listen and obey His commands, if we want to see peace on earth in our time.
God blessing on each of you that read this, this holy season and Merry Christmas to all.

“I Am Your God” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2010-12-07T13:02:00.001-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending December 12, 2010

Purpose: To remind us that God continues to claim us even though we may feel abandoned

Scripture Text: Isaiah 41:8-10, 17-20 (NRSV)

Isaiah 41:8-10
(8)But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;( 9)you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; (10)do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41: 17-21
(17)When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. (18)I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. (19)I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, (20)so that all may see and know, all may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

As we continue our study of Isaiah, I think it is important to remember that these words are given by God to His prophet Isaiah about 120 years before the nation of Judah is carried away into captivity by the Babylonians. Now the challenge is for those in captivity to believe these words were written by Isaiah at God's command over a hundred years prior, and these words of hope and comfort applied to them in their present state of captivity, in a land a thousand miles from their homeland and the temple they knew as the dwelling place of their God.

There are a couple of things we can learn from the message from God given to Isaiah. First the entire nation of Israel is addressed, and then narrowed to Jacob, then back to the offspring of Abraham, a friend of God. Remember that Jacob was not, what most would call, a shining example, of someone to emulate. Jacob, prior to “wrestling with God's angel all night at the River Jabbok”, (Gen. 32) was a scoundrel, a cheat, and a liar, after this night of struggle God gave Jacob a new name “Israel.” The invoking of the name Jacob should not be lost; it would serve to remind those in captivity that they too were scoundrels, and undeserving of God's blessing. Thankfully, God does not always look at what we are, but rather what we can become. While Jacob's brother and father may not have seen his potential, God did. As we have stated many times, God does not always call the equipped, but rather God equips the called. We should take comfort that the covenant made with Abraham extends to all humankind not just the descendents of Jacob.
God reminds those in captivity, through the prophet, of some of the things He has done throughout the history of these chosen people. In spite of disobedience, “He has not cast them off.” Then proceeds to list five promises,
(1) “I am with you,”
(2) “I am your God,”
(3) “I will strengthen you,”
(4) “I will help you,”
(5) “I will uphold you.”

God, through the prophet, uses several metaphors to show His caring and concern. God shows both sympathy and empathy for what they are going through in captivity. (Remember: Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone; empathy is feeling sorry with someone.)

Do you have a hard time believing good news? Do you constantly see the glass half empty? Are you constantly asking, what next? Do you feel abandoned by God? That is exactly what those living in exile felt. The picture of hope that God paints may seem to be unrealistic, however He is promising an Emanuel, “God with us.” His promise of making the desert bloom may only have happened in the past years since 1946, when Israel was re-established as a nation. The nation of Israel stands today as a fulfillment of this promise made some 2700 years ago. It would be unrealistic to deny what “the hand of the Lord has done.” Verse 17 says “I will not forsake them.” Today we should be encouraged by what God has done for the nation of Israel and take it as a promise we receive through the birth, life and death of His only Son, that we can still trust a sympathizing and empathizing God. “Do not fear; for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God.”

“The Highway for God” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2010-11-30T14:51:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending December 5, 2010

Purpose: To explore the meaning and nature of the hope that God provides

Scripture Text: Isaiah 40:1-5, 25-26, 29-31 (NRSV)

Isaiah 40:1-5
(1)Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. (2)Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
(3)A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (4)Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. (5)Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Isaiah 40: 25-26
(25)To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. (26)Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing.

Isaiah 40: 29-31
(29)He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. (30)Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; (31) but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

For the past three months we have been studying “The Inescapable God,” for the next three months we will be looking at “Amazing Hope.”

Our first lesson on “Hope” comes from the Book of Isaiah. And we will look at the meaning and nature of hope that God provided through the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah was a prophet that lived in Jerusalem, and was an adviser to four different kings of Judah, roughly from 740/742 BC till at least 701 BC. Primarily the first 39 chapters of Isaiah pertain to Isaiah’s lifetime. Chapters 40-55 are Isaiah's message of hope to the people that had been exiled to Babylon. While chapters 56-66 point to the time of the restoration back in Jerusalem.

Our text applies to those that have been in captivity for about 40 years, and most would remain in captivity until the 70 years prophesied was fulfilled. Imagine the frustration and doubt of a people that could no longer offer sacrifices in the temple, because there was no temple. Many of this generation could not even recall their days in Jerusalem, indeed a whole new generation had been born in captivity, with no connection except for stories told by elders. Furthermore, it was not their sins that put them in this position, but rather the “sins of the fathers.” You can imagine the discouragement and doubt.

Even the “good news” that Isaiah prophesied was not readily received, or understood. Today we read it and understand that Isaiah is offering redemption, “The penalty is paid.” Some scholars believe that the penalty was assessed as “a year for every year that Judah did not recognize the sabbatic rest that was to take place every 7 years for the land. The beginning of the reign of Israel as a nation in 1096 BC till the time of captivity in 606 BC represented 490 years or 70 sabbatic years of rest for the land, now they were paying the price for the disobedience by the leaders to follow the law as laid out in Lev. 25:4; 26:33; II Kings 25:21. This is spelled out in Jeremiah's prophesy.

The way into captivity had been a rough and rugged march, but the return to Jerusalem and Judah was going to be a breeze by comparison, God was offering a way that would seem easy, compared to the previous restrictions and rules that they were called to follow. We recognize this prophesy as meaning God will make Himself available to all, through “the glory of the LORD.”

The good news to the captives was there is hope coming, and the creator God will know us by name, and those that would faint, will now be carried by, “wings like eagles,” and we be able to accomplish whatever task we are called to perform without becoming weary.

Forgiveness is always about the future not the past. Forgiveness is about what will be; it is not about what has been. Forgiveness is the very root of reconciliation, redemption, and renewal.

Israel had paid the price, now God was offering them a new opportunity, forgiveness and grace are provided by a God that knows and loves us.

“God is All-Knowing” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2010-11-23T19:34:00.000-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending November 28, 2010

Purpose: To celebrate the wonder that God knows us better than we know ourselves yet loves us without limit

Scripture Text: Psalm 139:1-6, 13-16, 23-24 (NRSV)

Psalm 139:1-6
(1)O LORD, you have searched me and known me.
(2)You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.
(3)You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
(4)Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it completely.
(5)You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
(6)Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.
Psalm 139: 13-16
(13)For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
(14)I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.
(15)My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
(16)Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.
Psalm 139 23-24
(23)Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.
(24)See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

I can recall at a very early age I learned these three important sounding words that sort of defined God for me, they were “Omniscient,” “Omnipotent,” and Omnipresent.” One reason I learned them was because they were in one of the hymns we used to sing, but for the life of me I cannot remember the name of the hymn. Concerning how we define God, one of my favorite authors said this “What comes into our minds when we think about God, is the most important thing about us.” —A.W. Tozer

In our lesson text, the Psalmist uses different thoughts to define his conception of God. This Psalm is used by many to explain the” “all-knowing” and “all-powerful” “ever-present,” attribute we assign to God.

In a world that goes to great lengths to keep their privacy, it is sometimes uncomfortable for us believe that God is aware of our every word, thought or deed. However that is exactly the picture that the Psalmist paints.

God’s power, knowledge and presence with each of us as individuals and as a whole is unfathomable for most of us. We need to understand as threatening or restrictive that might seem, His grace for us is even greater. Knowing our faults, and mistakes or indifference is not the same as judgment. “All we, like sheep, have gone astray.” That is not a secret, we know it and God knows it. Our problems come when we ignore the remedy for sin. The Psalmist recognizes his need to seek a new path, “lead me in the way everlasting.”

The Psalmist appears to comprehend the complexity of human life, and knows that all that has been revealed to him pales, when compared to the knowledge God possess. As I see it the challenge is for us to align God's plan for our life, with our own plan, then we are assured of achieving what God has planned for us.

What is it that keeps you from not trusting God completely?

“God Delivers and Protects” Adult Sunday School Lesson

2010-11-16T17:22:00.003-05:00

International Sunday School Lesson

For Week Ending November 21, 2010

Purpose: To explore what it means to say that God protects God's own

Scripture Text: Psalm 91:1-6, 9-16 (NRSV)

Background: Psalm 91

Psalm 91 NRSV
(1)You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
(2) will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”
(3)For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;
(4) he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
(5)You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day,
(6) or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
(7)A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
(8)You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
(9)Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place,
(10) no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
(11) For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
(12)On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
(13)You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
(14)Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
(15)When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.
(16)With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

I have posted the complete chapter from the Psalms, because the missing verses (7, 8, and 9) were too good to leave out.

As I am writing this commentary the President is presenting the Congressional Medal of Honor to a 25 year old young man from a small Iowa town. He is Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, and he showed unusual valor and bravery while on patrol in Afghanistan. Seeing his friends wounded by enemy fire he single handedly pursued the enemy to recover his wounded friend from the hands of the enemy. Everyone of this patrol received some sort of shrapnel or wound from the enemy. What impressed me was his response, “I was just doing what anyone of my fellow soldiers would have done for me.” I realized that God has promised us that same kind of protection. We live “in the shelter of the Most High.”

The 91st Psalm promises all kinds of protection from all kinds of threats, even those imagined by us. Sometimes it is the “night terrors” that are imagined that cause us our greatest fear, because we often fear the most, those things we cannot always explain through reason.

There are things that occur during our lifetime that are difficult to explain, we miss catastrophe by seconds because of some silly delay in our schedule. One such story offered by two of the Chilean miners rescued after being trapped for two months is just such a tale. As two of them were driving in the mine on the day of the collapse, they suddenly noticed deep under the earth, this white butterfly. This insect had somehow traveled deep into the mine and caught the attention of these two men. Not much later the mine collapsed in front of them. If they had not slowed down to look at that butterfly, they would have been crushed under the rocks.

One of the other trapped miners, Jimmy Sanchez, sent a note up stating, “There are actually 34 of us, because God has never left us down here.” God is present in our difficulties.

One of the other miners, Ricardo Villarrael, said “I never used to pray. Here I learned to pray. I got closer to God.” Those trapped in the mine set aside an area, and a time, for prayer. This would be good practice for all of us to follow, set aside a time and place to pray and commune with God.

In what areas do you need to trust God more than you are now? What problem are you focusing on instead of focusing on God's solutions? How can you reorient your thinking regarding this situation?