Sunday School Superintendent March, April, May 2018 SPRING QUARTER
Vol. LXXXIII No. 2 Sunday School Superintendent SPRING QUARTER March, April, May 2018 Editorials... 2 Acknowledging God UNIT I: Follow in My Ways Mar. 4 The Lord Will Provide Gen. 22:1-14... 4 Mar. 11 A Prayer of Dedication II Chron. 6:12-21... 6 Mar. 18 Worshipping in God s Temple II Chron. 7:1-9... 8 Mar. 25 Seeking His Face II Chron. 7:12-22... 10 UNIT II: All Glory and Honor Apr. 1 He Has Risen (Easter) Luke 24:1-12, 30-35... 12 Apr. 8 Appearance of the Risen Lord John 21:1-14... 14 Apr. 15 Follow Me John 21:15-25... 16 Apr. 22 The Lord God Almighty Rev. 4:1-6, 8-11... 18 Apr. 29 Blessing, Glory, and Honor Forever Rev. 5:6-14... 20 UNIT III: Give Praise to God May 6 Giving from a Generous Heart Exod. 35:20-29; II Cor. 9:6-8... 22 May 13 Bringing Firstfruits Lev. 23:9-14, 22... 24 May 20 Remembering with Joy Lev. 25:1-12... 26 May 27 Rejoicing in Restoration Ps. 34:1-10; Heb. 2:17-18... 28 Paragraphs on Places and People... 30 Editor in Chief: Todd Williams Writer: Darrell W. McKay Edited and published quarterly by THE INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF THE GOSPEL WORKER SOCIETY UNION GOSPEL PRESS DIVISION Rev. W. B. Musselman, Founder Price: $1.65 per quarter* $6.60 per year* *shipping and handling extra ISBN 978-1-59843-701-0 Lessons based on International Sunday School Lessons; the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright 2014 by the Committee on the Uniform Series and used with permission. Edited and published quarterly by The Incorporated Trustees of the Gospel Worker Society, Union Gospel Press Division, 2000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44109-5812. Mailing address: P.O. Box 6059, Cleveland, Ohio 44101-1059. www.uniongospelpress.com
Editorials BY DARRELL W. MCKAY Acknowledging God If there is ever a time for God s people to acknowledge Him, it is now. Our age is becoming increasingly dark spiritually as Christianity is being marginalized in the workplace, in the public square, and on university campuses, and missionaries are being expelled from foreign fields. This is no time for believers to be chameleons. We must not be ashamed of our Lord or to be identified as His disciples. Hopefully, our lessons this quarter will strengthen our faith to remain bold for the cause of Christ. Our first unit of study has four lessons on following God s ways. Lesson 1 is on Abraham s supreme test of faith, when God told him to sacrifice his son Isaac. All parents will inwardly question what they would do if God asked that of them. God will not do so, but He will send other tests that will require a faith as strong as Abraham s. Lesson 2 takes us to the time of King Solomon and the dedication of the temple. The lesson will not focus on the actual building of the house of worship but on its dedication to the glory of God. We will look at Solomon s preparation for the dedicatory prayer and his opening words. In lesson 3, we will look at the first worship service Israel ever had at the temple. The two-week event and the huge number of animals sacrificed indicate a large turnout of worshippers. Regardless of what history would later show, Israel had a good beginning in terms of temple attendance and worship. Lesson 4 is about seeking the face of God. Although God made a specific promise to Israel, He wants us to know that if we will humbly seek Him, He will respond with grace and mercy. The choice is up to us as to whether or not we own up to our sins and seek His forgiveness. May the Lord speak to hearts during this lesson so that individuals and the church will be strengthened. The second unit, which focuses on glory and honor, begins with a lesson on the resurrection of Christ. Resurrection Sunday is always a treat for believers, and we anticipate its arrival, but the first disciples of Christ did not anticipate it. It was not that they were not told of Jesus resurrection; it was that it never sank into their minds to the point that they expected it. We will go to the empty tomb with them and relive their joy. Lesson 6 is on the appearance of PLEASE NOTE: Fundamental, sound doctrine is the objective of the Incorporated Trustees of the Gospel Worker Society, Union Gospel Press Division. The writers are prayerfully selected for their Bible knowledge and yieldedness to the Spirit of Truth, each writing in his own style as enlightened by the Holy Spirit. At best we know in part only. They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:11). 2
the risen Christ to several of His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. In a scene reminiscent of the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus had a meal of bread and fish for them. He did not multiply the fish as in the earlier miracle but gave them a catch far greater than normal that opened their eyes to the identity of the Stranger on the shore. When we get to lesson 7, we will focus on the rehabilitation to ministry of the disgraced Apostle Peter. The fact that Jesus forgave Peter and had a place of service for him in His name should be encouraging for all of us, for not one of us is perfect. Lesson 8 is the first of two lessons in the book of Revelation. Here, immediately following the letters to the seven churches, heaven was opened to John and he was invited to look into the throne room of God. The text offers a glimpse of worship in heaven and what believers will do there. Of course, believers should be worshipping regularly here as well. Lesson 9 closes out our second unit of study for the quarter, as we again look with John into God s throne room and see the Father transfer to the Son all authority and power. Seen as the Lamb that was slain, the Son will open the seals of judgment that will come upon the earth. Every unsaved person should flee to Him now for salvation. Our third unit, which focuses on giving praise to God, begins with a lesson on giving, specifically giving willingly and generously from the heart. We will look at passages from both the Old and New Testaments and be challenged to examine our own hearts in the process. For believers, giving is not to be done grudgingly but joyously. Lesson 11 finds us in Leviticus, when God gave Israel instructions for what should be done at the beginning of harvest. The ceremony instituted here gave God thanks for the harvest, acknowledging that He was the One who made it happen, not the people. In lesson 12, we will look at the instruction God gave His people for giving the land a rest every seventh year with a special Jubilee year after every forty-nine years. This was to be an exercise in trusting God. Our last lesson is on the joy of restoration. The Lord s desire is that everyone would turn to Him for salvation and experience the restoration of being brought back into a relationship with Him. Perpetual praise and rejoicing are but two of salvation s by-products for the believer. We will look at Psalm 34 and Hebrews 2, first at David s invitation to join him in magnifying God, then as a reminder of the help Christ can give to those who trust Him. May God use the lessons of this quarter to enrich your life and the lives of those in Sunday school. (Editorials continued on page 31) Sunday School Superintendent 3
LESSON 1 MARCH 4, 2018 The Lord Will Provide Lesson: Genesis 22:1-14 Read: Genesis 22:1-24 TIME: 2050 B.C. PLACES: Beersheba; Moriah GOLDEN TEXT Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together (Genesis 22:8). SELECTED HYMNS (Adults) Faith Is the Victory (Yates) Ye Must Be Born Again (Sleeper) SELECTED HYMNS (Juniors and below) Trust and Obey (Sammis) Standing on the Promises (Carter) A PRAYER FOR STRONGER FAITH Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief (Mark 9:24). SUPERINTENDENT S SPECIAL George Müller (1805-1898) was born in Prussia. After conversion, he went on to a long life of varied work for the Lord. He was born again at about twenty years of age and soon began serving the Lord. He traveled to England and eventually started a ministry to orphans in Bristol. Though accomplishing much for the Lord, he is perhaps best remembered for caring for more than ten thousand orphans in his lifetime. Those who read about his work providing for the fatherless are challenged by the faith he had to trust God to supply the needs. Müller s faith was frequently tested, and readers still are excited to read how God fulfilled the needs, often at the last minute. His faith was much like that of Abraham s. Though Müller was severely tested, God was glorified in the end. There are unsung heroes of the faith who, even today, live in such close fellowship with the Lord that they see His hand perhaps more clearly than others do. It is a challenge for all of us. GUIDING THE SUPERINTENDENT All who claim faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ will have their faith tested. Tests can come without advance notice, last for an indeterminate time, and be of varying intensity, but all are intended by the Instructor, God, to 4 strengthen the faith of believers, making them more Christlike. It was only fitting, therefore, that the father of all them that believe (Rom. 4:11) have his faith tested and he was severely tested at that.