The Eleventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

Transcription

1 In pursuing the theme The Sovereignty of God, we have in our first four lessons examined passages in Isaiah. These have focused primarily on His sovereignty that will be exhibited in the messianic kingdom. The next five lessons, taken from the book of Hebrews, direct our attention to the sovereignty of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Many are willing to acknowledge that a Supreme Being wields final control over all things. But they are less willing to concede this status to Jesus Christ. This is not new. Some New Testament epistles were written especially to correct faulty teachings about Jesus (cf. Col. 2:2-9, 19; 1 John 2:22; 4:3). Errors concerning Jesus abound today as well. Many people are willing to accord Him the status of a wise teacher, a worthy example, or a social reformer. But they balk at the truths of His deity, resurrection, ascension, and promised return. The Jesus of the New Testament is fully God, and He has demonstrated His divines sovereignty through His perfect life, miracles, removal of sin, and victory over death. 21st Century Church School Committee: The Reverends Reginald Johnson, Kimberly B. Stockton, James Watkins, Gene Brown; Delegates: Brother Rudolph Certain, Sisters: Thelma Wilkerson, Vanessa Maner, Minnie Baldwin, Loretta Dukes The Eleventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church The 117th Session of the Central Annual Conference ANNUAL CONFERENCE THEME: Prayer, Praise, Proclamation and Prophetic Engagement Intentional About Ministry Generation to Generation Friday, September 30, 2016 Host Church Allen Chapel AME Church Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr., Presiding Prelate Mrs. Connie Speights Richardson, Episcopal Supervisor Dr. Samuel Hunter, Episcopal District, Church School Superintendent The Reverend Hartford Lee, Presiding Elder Daytona Beach District The Reverend Nathan Mugala, Host Pastor Associate Presiding Elders The Reverend Henry L. Postell, Presiding Elder North Orlando District The Reverend Valarie Walker, Presiding Elder Orlando District 12 Central Conference Church School Superintendent The Reverend Reginald B. Johnson, Sr. 1

2 ORDER OF SERVICE Bell tap or Musical Interlude Singing #364 My Hope is Built The Apostles Creed and Church School Creed Prayer, closing with the Lord s Prayer in concert Singing #424 Standing on the Promises Calling Roll of Officers and Teachers Reading of the Lesson Text, by Church School, Responsively The Decalogue STUDY OF THE LESSON Musical Interlude (while preparation is made for teaching and learning) Church School Study of the Lesson Warning Bell (five minutes prior to end of the period Closing Bell for Study of Lesson Singing #450 Blessed Assurance Jesus is Mine Review and Application of Lesson Secretary s Report Remarks and Observations Church School Creed Eleventh Episcopal District Church School Benediction 2 Warning Bell Closing Bell for Study of Lesson Singing #450 Blessed Assurance Jesus is Mine Offering 11 Rev. Jimmie Moore Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His spirit, washed in His blood. Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest, Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love. The Offering Review and Application of Lesson Secretary s Report Closing Remarks and Observations Finance Committee Brother Tyrone Pressley Allen Chapel, Daytona Dr. Samuel A. Hunter, Episcopal District Church School Superintendent Bishop Adam J. Richardson, Jr, Presiding Prelate Church School Creed I believe my AME Church School must grow and grow; and that I must make it a top priority to make it so. Every member a Christian, Every Christian a worker, every worker trained so that a worker need not be ashamed. This we ask in Jesus name. Amen. Eleventh Episcopal District Church School Benediction WE HAVE COME, WE HAVE STUDIED, WE HAVE LEARNED, SO, UNTIL OUR NEXT COMING TOGETHER TO STUDY GOD S WORD, MAY HIS RICH BLESSINGS RESIDE WITH YOU AND MAY HIS GRACE BE ETERNALLY YOURS. AMEN.

3 Saying, Look at me as you abide in me, for our lives. I have lived the perfect example of how you should face trials and tribulations. Questions: Therefore, how we respond to 1. offers of special or anointed handkerchiefs and other religious artifacts that will cause God to move in our favor is a 2. critical area for self-examination. How about contemporary preachers, prophets and prophetesses, who suggest we look 3. to them to pray on our behalf? What are your beliefs and typical responses to suggestions How does knowledge of Jesus sovereignty keep you on track as a faithful Christian? Does the lesson provide a means for responding to cults and other New Age religious groups? Why is it important to teach new converts about Jesus sovereignty in a new members class? that you should send money, cash or a credit card, to get God s attention? Or, where do you turn when pain Closing Devotion Sister Loretta Dukes and suffering come? None of this is to refute the merits of intercessory prayer, Thank you, Lord, for opening but to emphasize the wisdom and merits our eyes to see Jesus sovereignty and of asking devoted disciples to pray with superiority. We thank you for giving us us versus relying on someone else to prey faith to accept him as our Messiah, our on us. Do wee objectify God s grace and elder brother, and for our adoption into mercy, or pray through some other celestial your royal family. Please bless us to help beings, such as angels, dead prophets others see Jesus as you have blessed us to and so forth? see him. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen. Summary The Reverend James Watkin Fortunately, we can benefit from the experiences of early Christians as well as from all scriptural references to Jesus sovereignty. Jesus ushered in a new covenant with the privilege to access God directly. He provided the only living example of perfect holiness independent of worldly events or circumstances. He also promised that if we abide in him, and his words abide in us, we can ask God for whatsoever we want, and it will be given to us (John 15:7). That is if we are faithful, obedient, trusting and truly love the Lord and that granting the request is within his purpose 10 THE BELL TAP THE MODEL CHURCH SCHOOL ORDER OF SERVICE 3 Reverend Reginald Johnson Superintendent THE SINGING OF HYMN #364 My Hope is Built Rev. Jimmie Moore Allen Chapel, Daytona Bro. Wilburt Bryant Grant Chapel, Oviedo Bro. Ted Johns, Musician Allen Chapel, Daytona My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. Refrain: On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found! Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne! THE APOSTLES CREED I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. The Third day he arose from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the church universal, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

4 THE CHURCH SCHOOL CREED I believe my AME Church School must grow and grow; and that I must make it a top priority to make it so. Every member a Christian, Every Christian a worker, every worker trained so that a worker need not be ashamed. This we ask in Jesus name. Amen. THE PRAYER (closing with the Prayer Jesus taught us in Concert) Sister Evonne Jackson, Mt. Olive, Coleman THE SINGING OF HYMN #424 Standing on the Promises Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Through eternal ages let His praises ring; Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, Bound to Him eternally by love s strong cord, Overcoming daily with the Spirit s sword, Standing on the promises I cannot fall, Listening every moment to the Spirit s call, Resting in my Savior as my all in all, THE CALLING ROLL OF OFFICERS AND TEACHERS Sister Gloria Sanders 4 Rev. Jimmie Moore Bro. Wilburt Bryant THE READING OF THE LESSON TEXT (by Church School responsively), Superintendent Because the Jews had received many divine messages through the ministry of angels, some tended to deify them. Some false teachers even taught that God was inaccessible to humans, except through angelic intercession. Instead of worshipping God directly, many followers of such teachings revered angels. Many also perceived Jesus to be a chief or superior angel. The writer of Hebrews renounced all false teachings about Jesus identity. In doing so, he recalled many Old Testament scriptures to justify new biblically-based conceptions of Jesus. Notably, God referred to Jesus as his Son and to himself as Jesus Father (verse 5). Also, God in- History. Jesus relationship to God and structed the angels to worship Jesus (v.6) his role in creation are cited as evidences In Hebrews 1:6-14, the writer (a) of his superiority. Likewise, the author refutes old paradigms, structured upon emphasizes how Jesus precise image and beliefs about Jesus being an angel, and (b) representation of God in the flesh are manifestations solidifies new paradigms structured upon of superiority that exceeds all belief in Jesus as God s firstborn Son. earthly and other heavenly beings. A These new paradigms fostered new revelations that discredited ideas that intermedi- sharper image emerges with descriptions of Jesus as the radiance of God s glory aries, such as angels or other authorities, and the exact representation of his being, might be needed. Jesus the Son and God sustaining all things by his powerful the Father are one (John 10:30)! Therefore, and indisputable conclusion that we word (verse 3). His superiority is further evidenced by his having bought, with his can derive from these scriptures is that sacrificial death, purification for sins once Jesus deserves our reverence and worship. and for all. He then returned to heaven Angels do not! where he sits at the right hand of God, our Father. No prophet, angel, law or other institution has been able to achieve this Life Application The Reverend Kimberly Stockton mission. Only Jesus was able to fulfill God s purpose to be reconciled with humankind who by nature were prone to be wayward and disobedient. Jesus Superiority Over Angels Hebrews 1:5-9 9 From life experiences, we can attest to the validity of Jesus warnings about trouble and persecution. Its inevitability is easily traced from ancient Christianity to contemporary Christian life. When troubles and persecutions came, the early Christians were tempted to seek peae through angels and other intermediaries as well as the systems and traditions of Judaism. We face similar temptations today. The scriptures abound with warnings about Satan s wiles. According to Ephesians 6:12, Our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. To experience the peace Jesus Christ offers, a need for selfexamination to determine how and where we seek to find peace is indicated. Jesus also said, I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace (John 16:33). Hence, it is obvious that Jesus is

5 THE INTRODUCTION Dr. Earl A. Burney, Jr. Daytona Beach District Supt. Today we move to a new unit of study that focuses on Jesus sovereignty and superiority over all creation. God s sovereignty was the focus of Unit 1. As ambassadors for Jesus Christ, disciples must be able to articulate understandings of his identity to others. Jesus indicated the importance of this charge when he asked his original disciples, Who do men say that I am? (Mark 8:27) After hearing the disciples responses, Jesus asked another question, Who say you that I am? (Mark 8:29) These questions are key for those seeking to really know both Jesus sovereignty and how to be effective ambassadors for him. Lesson Insights Imprint As used in this lesson, refers to Jesus as being a mirror image and/or precise representation of God in the flesh. Jesus said, He that hath seen me hath seen the Father (John 14:9) Jesus sovereignty Refers to his power and superior authority over the angels, the heavens and earth. Upon issuing the Great Commission, just before his ascension to heaven, Jesus said, All authority has been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 8:18b-19). Bible Story The Reverend Gene Brown The book of Hebrews is a letter to the Hebrews written approximately 60 to 69 C. E. to Jewish Christians. Its primary purposes were to encourage these converts as they struggled with their faith; struggled with their way of thinking and traditions under the old (Judaism) and embracing a new (Christianity) with the sovereignty of Jesus, a fellow human, and his role as Savior and giver of eternal life. One can imagine their inner turmoil as they tried to live a hybrid religious life tied to the old but yearning for the freedom from innumerable laws and rites that were impossible to keep and personal accessibility to their God. The writer, whose, identity is not known, aimed to reassure the converts of the wisdom in accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and to dissuade them from temptations to either turn back to Judaism or to adopt some hybrid form of Christianity mixed with Judaism. Through many explanations of Jesus sovereignty over all creation, the Book of Hebrews explains how Jesus suffering and painful death on the cross fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies and brought new, more complete revelations of God through Jesus life and teachings. Jesus Is God s Superior Messenger, Hebrews 1:1-4 Theses verses illuminate Jesus superiority over angels, Old Testament prophets, Moses, the Law, the old covenant, the priesthood and all that comprised the Judaic belief system at that time in 8 LESSON SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 1 PRINT: Hebrews 1:1-9 THE IMPRINT OF GOD Key Verses: He (Jesus) is the reflection of God s glory and the exact imprint of God s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. Hebrews 1:3a(NRSV) Hebrews 1:1-9(NRSV) 1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3 He is the reflection of God s glory and the exact imprint to God s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had nade purification for sins, he sat down at right hand of the Majesty on high. 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, You are my Son; today I have begotten you? Or again, I will be his Father, and he will be my son? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, Let all God s angels worship him. 7 Of the angels he says, He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire. 8 But of the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and 5 hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions. on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 1:1-9 (KJV) 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers

6 a flame of fire. 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Home Daily Bible Readings September 26 October 2 Monday John 1:1-14 (Becoming Children of God) 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Tuesday John 1:15-18 (Receiving Grace upon Grace) Wednesday John 5:24-27 (From Death to Life) Thursday Hebrews 1:10-14 (Jesus, Superior to the Angels) Friday Colossians 1:15-20 (Jesus Reconciles All Things) Saturday Ephesians 1:38a (Jesus, Author of All Spiritual Blessings) Sunday Acts 8:9-24 (Jesus, Imprint of God s Very Being) Leader: Hear what Christ our Savior says, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself. On these two Commandments depends all the Law and the prophets. The Gloria Patri (#626 AMECH) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. THE STUDY OF THE LESSON The Musical Interlude (while preparation is made for teaching and learning) The Church School Study of the Lesson The Decalogue and Summary Leader: Hear the Commandments of God to God s people: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of bondage; you shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make yourself any idol. You shall not invoke with malice the name of the Lord your God. Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. Honor your father and mother. You shall not commit murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not be a false witness. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor. People: Lord, have mercy upon us, and write these laws upon our hearts. Nearer, my God to Thee, nearer to Thee! E en though it be a cross that raiseth me; Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God to Thee; nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee! 6 7