Junior High Quarterly

Transcription

1 Baptist Training Course Junior High Quarterly Prepared by John Cooper Vol. 79, No. 4 ISSUED SEPTEMBER, 2014 FALL QUARTER Outlines by Don Price EDITOR IN CHIEF: Larry E. Clements larry.clements@bogardstore.org BUSINESS MANAGER: Wayne Sewell wayne.sewell@bogardpress.org PRODUCTION EDITOR: Kyle Elkins ADULT EDITOR: Jim Jones CHILDREN S EDITOR: Libby Gill ILLUSTRATOR: Connie Spears GRAPHIC ARTISTS: Shawn Blase Jeff Allen Greg Hilterbrand LAYOUT DESIGNERS: Cindy Butler Ashley Elkins Tammie Sutton CONTENT EDITORS: Terry McKellar Deby Turrentine Carolyn Burks Joni Curtis PRINT PRODUCTION: Charles Easley Copyright 2014 Bogard Press 4605 N. State Line Ave. Texarkana, TX THE NAMES OF GOD S PEOPLE Quarterly Aim: To show the many names and titles used in both the Old and New Testament to identify God s people. Since God chose Israel as His people, they carried His name. In the New Testament the ones who are identified with Jesus by Him or His inspired writers are the redeemed and have various names and titles. CONTENTS Lesson 1, September 7, 2014 My People Lesson 2, September 14, 2014 God s Redeemed Nation... 7 Lesson 3, September 21, 2014 Elect Lesson 4, September 28, 2014 Saints Lesson 5, October 5, 2014 Christians Lesson 6, October 12, 2014 Disciples Lesson 7, October 19, 2014 Sons of God Lesson 8, October 26, 2014 Babes in Christ Lesson 9, November 2, 2014 Witnesses Lesson 10, November 9, 2014 Brethren Lesson 11, November 16, 2014 Believers Lesson 12, November 23, 014 Spiritual Lesson 13, November 30, 2014 Of That Way... 52

2 About the Writer Brother John Cooper has been the pastor of Stamps Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Stamps, AR, since He also has served as a faculty member at Louisiana Mis sion ary Baptist Institute and Seminary in Minden, LA, since He received his Masters of Theology degree from LMBIS. Brother Cooper was born and raised in Fort Smith, AR, where he was saved and baptized at Massard MBC. He surrendered to preach in 1997 at Liberty MBC in Shreveport, LA. He has been the pastor of Hope MBC in Heflin, LA, and Landmark MBC in West Monroe, LA, as well as associate pastor of Liberty MBC in Shreveport and missionary helper at Landmark MBC in Stonewall, LA. He is married to the former Cynthia Dart of Van Buren, AR. They have a daughter, Hilary. jdcooper20@bellsouth.net

3 LESSON 1, September 7, 2014 My People APPLICATION To show that God is quick to identify Himself with His people, Israel. SCRIPTURES TO READ Text: Exodus 3:7-22. Related Scripture: Exodus 7:4, 16; 8:1, 20-23; 9:1, 13, 17; 10:3, 4; 22:25; Leviticus 26:12; 1 Samuel 2:29; 9:17; 2 Samuel 7:8; 2 Kings 20:5; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 81:8, 11, 13; Isaiah 3:12; 5:13; 10:2, 24. Devotional Reading: Pharaoh Knew Who God s People Were, Exodus 5:1, 2. Introduction The title of the lessons this quarter is The Names of God s People. The Bible is full of names for God s people, starting with the Israelites God s chosen people in the Old Testament and finishing with the redeemed saints who are identified with Christ in the New Testament. Each name gives a unique insight into the relationship of God with His people. Take, for instance, the title of My People in this first lesson. Though Israel often did many things that were against God s will, He never turned His back on them. He loved them and nurtured them in good times and bad times just as a father would his children. God called the Israelites My People, showing them to be His possession. Consider the thought: the Creator of the universe who spoke the world into order claimed the Israelites as His very own. David wrote, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). David declared that the Lord belonged to him. That s the wonderful thing about being God s people because we are His and He is ours. 3

4 1. God s Message to Moses (Exodus 3:7-9, 12-15) Just as a father would not want his children mistreated, God hated seeing His people being abused by the Egyptians. Some four hundred years earlier, Joseph s own brothers had sold him into slavery by the Ishmaelites to the Egyptians. Joseph had been blessed, although, and ended up the second highest-ranking official in the land. Eventually, he moved his entire family, even his brothers, to Egypt because of a famine. Four hundred years later, this family had multiplied into a great nation as promised to Abram in Genesis 12:1-3, which had the Egyptian Pharaoh concerned they would revolt and overtake the Egyptians. So, he made sure they remained slaves and made their labor strenuous. The Israelites soon began to cry unto the Lord for help. God heard those cries and raised up Moses to confront Pharaoh. Moses had been born an Israelite but was raised as Egyptian royalty. Yet, he chose to leave Pharaoh s house to help his people (Heb. 11:25). Even so, Moses was a little timid about confronting Pharaoh and facing the Israelites. He had tried to become their leader previously but was rejected (Ex. 2:13, 14) and fled to the desert, where he remained for forty years. Through that time in Midian, God was preparing him for the task ahead. The time had come for Moses to go, and the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush with words for him to take to His people. He wanted them to know He had heard their cries and had seen how the Egyptians had oppressed them (Ex. 3:9). God always hears the prayers of His people and He always knows their needs. Nothing ever gets past His eyes. He also had a plan for them to leave Egypt and go to the Land of Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey (verse 8). He also wanted Moses to take with him a special name that declared His eternal existence: I AM THAT I AM (verse 14). The same God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, had sent Moses to lead His people (verse 15). Point To Ponder: How should the name I AM THAT I AM comfort us in sharing Christ with others? Maybe the names Abraham, Isaac and Jacob don t mean as much to us today as they would to a Jew, but certainly the names Peter, James, John and Paul should mean much to us. The same God who was with them in their sharing of Christ is with us as we share Him with others today! 2. God s Concern Manifested (Exodus 3:10) Trouble for God s people never escapes His eyes. The children of Israel needed help that only God could provide through Moses. God took 4

5 this assault upon Israel personally. He sent Moses to Pharaoh that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt (verse 10). Once again, God emphasizes the children of Israel are my people. He empowered Moses to do the job of rescuing His people from bondage. The people were greatly troubled and afflicted. God s concern for them was evident as He spoke to Moses, and it was apparent that,,if something didn t happen soon, the Israelites were in danger of being wiped out by the Egyptians. God knew that wouldn t happen, but He was also moved by the pleadings of His people. He commissioned Moses to get His people out of Egypt. The verbs in verse 10 are commands, so this verse declares, I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. Point To Ponder: Do you think God cares when you are faced with suffering? The Bible tells us that all who will live godly will suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). However, what we call persecution may not be persecution in the eyes of God. But when we do suffer persecution, God cares and He will personally get involved. 3. God s Mandate (Exodus 3:15-19) God s instruction to Moses was clear. Moses was to speak to the people of Israel first and tell them by whose authority he was working, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (verse 15). He was to bring the elders of the people together to tell them that their God had sent him so that they would know He had seen their affliction in Egypt. While this task was given to Moses, make no mistake that it was God who was going to bring the children out of the land of bondage and bring them into the land of promise (verse 17). Notice the usage of the phrase I will in verses 17, 20 and 21. This was a personal matter to God. His very own people were involved. While Moses was rejected in his first attempt to lead the people forty years earlier, this time the Lord said they would accept him as their leader (verse 18). Second, Moses was to confront Pharaoh and demand that he allow the children of Israel time to take a three days journey into the wilderness to sacrifice unto the Lord. Remember, they were slaves in Egypt and were not allowed to worship the true God as their forefathers had. After four hundred years as slaves, you would have thought they deserved a three-day hiatus, but the Lord delivered the bad news to Moses, And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand (verse 19). Imagine being told that you will be a failure. In Isaiah, we read of another man of God who, after volunteering to go for God, was told nobody would heed his message (Isa. 6:8-13). Pharaoh was so sure of himself that he was certain no act 5

6 of war would work against his people. He would prevail. Pharaoh had no idea of the mighty hand he was truly facing. Point To Ponder: We fear rejection. That s why approximately ninety-five percent of believers will never lead anybody to Christ; the vast majority of those will never try. Will you accept the mandate of God to reach your part of the world with the gospel? Don t let the fear of rejection silence you. 4. God s Promise (Exodus 3:20-22) Though the beginning of God s confrontations with Pharaoh would not result in a release of God s people even for three days, the end would be worth it all. God promised to smite Egypt with all my wonders (verse 20), and Pharaoh would change his mind. God knew Pharaoh would not let the Israelites leave for a short journey to worship, but He also knew the outcome that ten plagues on Egypt would produce. Had Pharaoh said yes to the first request, God would have kept His word and returned the children of Israel to Egypt. But God knew it would never happen. Nothing surprises God. He knows all, and He knew Pharaoh would let them go only after the ten plagues. Since the people were never compensated for their labor, the Lord said they would not walk away from Egypt empty-handed. They would ask their masters for presents and would leave with jewels of silver and gold and clothes. God wanted His people to enjoy the spoils of Egypt because they had worked hard and deserved them. Point To Ponder: Do you think the good guys win, or do you think those who cheat and steal are the ones who win the most? Read Psalm 73 and discuss. Application This lesson should prove to you that God does not like it when others mess with His people. He is always for His people, even when are out of His will. That doesn t mean He condones their sinfulness, but He still loves them and desires they return to Him. If you belong to Him, what can you do this week to show your loyalty to Him? 6