Friday, April 30, 2010

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday May 2, 2010
_____________________________________________

A FAITHFUL COMMUNITY PRAYS
(Pray for one another in accordance with GOD’s will)
(Colossians 1:1-14)

Paul was imprisoned in Rome when he wrote this letter to the Colossians circa A.D. 61. Colosse was a city that he never got a chance to visit during his travels. However, he had come to know the believers who lived there, while he himself resided in Ephesus, during his second missionary journey. The Christian community in Colosse had grown considerably under the leadership of Epaphras and Archippus, whom Paul had sent to help grow the church in that city a few years earlier.
Colosse was a city within the Roman province of Asia, which is now western Turkey. It was situated in Lycus River Valley about 100 miles east of Ephesus. As early as the fifth century B.C., Colosse was known as a prosperous city, but by the start of the Christian era it had been surpassed by its two neighbors, Hierapolis and Laodicea in growth. Thereafter, Colosse continued to decline to the status of a small town, but it was able to retain some degree of importance well into the third century A.D.
Paul wrote this letter to the Colossians after learning of a new and unique heresy, which would later come to be known as “Gnosticism”, that had sprang up in the Christian community. Here in this letter, Paul incorporates his resounding theme of the trilogy of virtue, Faith, Hope, and Love, which he often used in his doctrinal epistles.
Paul believed that “Faith” is the soul looking up to GOD, “Love” is what looks out to others, and “Hope” looks forward to the future. In other words, “Faith” rests on the past works of CHRIST JESUS, “Love” works in the present, and “Hope” anticipates a future with GOD.
It is for the purpose of GOD that the Christian is called. It is by the work of the HOLY SPIRIT that a person’s heart is hallowed towards GOD. And it is by the sprinkling of the blood of CHRIST JESUS that past sins are forgiven, and we look forward to a future of obedience to GOD.
We as Christians cannot profess to have faith in GOD, and then, perpetually disobey HIS word. False teaching and false religion comes into existence when we try to reach GOD by ways in which GOD HIMSELF did not prescribe. It is one thing to recognize GOD, but it is quite another thing to obey GOD. To “believe in GOD”, is not the same thing as “believing GOD”.
Scripture makes a clear distinction between knowing about GOD, knowing HIM in a saving way through faith, and, knowing GOD in a sense of experiencing HIS presence. Paul’s prayer for the Church at Colosse reminds us, that, to know GOD in this way, we need to be able to grasp the implications of scripture for living, and then, put GOD’s word into practice.
In Colossians 1:9, the Greek phrase Paul uses in his original writings, “thelematos autou”, is translated “that which GOD has willed”. We come to know what GOD has willed by reading and studying HIS word. Knowing GOD personally and experientially begins with the objective revelation given to us in scripture.
Men ought always pray, but we must first learn what GOD’s will is for us, by reading and studying HIS word, in order that we might know how to petition within HIS will. That way, when we do pray, we are more able to pray fervent, effective prayers that only a person living in the righteousness of CHRIST can pray. And then we can be assured that GOD will always answer in the only way HE can, and that way is, “The Best Way”.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander


Larry Dell Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Friday, April 23, 2010

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday April 25, 2010
_____________________________________________

COME ON IN
(GOD’s invitation is only accepted by those who are humble enough to come)
(Luke 14:1-24)

In the gospel story (Mark, Luke, and John), there are seven incidences of which JESUS healed on the Sabbath day. Here in this passage in Luke 14:4, we see one of those miraculous healings take place in the home of an unnamed leading Pharisee. There was a man present, who suffered from a disease known as “The Dropsy”, which is an ailment that is caused by a fluid build-up in the body, due to organ malfunctions such as the kidney, heart, or liver. Ordinarily, the Pharisees would never have invited such a person to be a dinner quest at their home on any occasion. However, on this occasion, he was invited there to be used by the Pharisees to set JESUS up with, what they perceived as another “Sabbath day violation” opportunity. They knew that JESUS would not be able to resist showing compassion for a sick person who might be in HIS presence.
JESUS, however, being aware of the evil motives of the religious leaders, used this opportunity to show how their cruel treatment of this man, by using him for bait, was much worse, than HIS so-called violation of the law, by healing the man on the Sabbath.
First, JESUS turns the tables on the Pharisees by asking them a theological question. “Is it permitted in the Law of Moses to heal people on the Sabbath day, or not? When the Pharisees refused to answer, JESUS touched the sick man and healed him, and then, sent him away.
JESUS then turned and asked them two more questions, “Which of you doesn’t work on the Sabbath? Then, HE quickly follows up with another question, “If your son, or your cow falls into a pit on the Sabbath, would you not hesitate to try and get them out right away? But again, being caught up in their own web of deceit, the Pharisees would not answer (Luke 14:3-6).
Throughout HIS three-year ministry, JESUS never refused the hospitality of anyone, and to that end, HE never abandoned the hope of converting, or appealing to a lost soul. In this case, HE even accepted the invitation of a known enemy, because HE wanted HIS followers to see such occasions as an opportunity to possibly convert a lost soul, and even turn an enemy into a friend.
We must remember that almost every time JESUS met with members of the religious hierarchy in Jerusalem and other places, HE would leave one or more of them feeling convicted, or in some cases, with a converted heart. JESUS is always, in a divine sort of way, luring the hearts of men from a state of arrogance and pride, and into the realm of humility and dependence on GOD.
In Luke 14:7-14, after JESUS had noticed how all the quests were jockeying to be seated in a place of honor at the head of the table, HE began to advise them with a parable aimed at teaching people some of the advantages of being humble. He gives them an illustration of how pride can set a person up to be humiliated, or knocked down. HE tells them in verses 8-9, not to always head for the best seat. What if someone, more respected than you, has also been invited? Then the host will have to come and tell you to let that person sit there instead, and you might be embarrassed, and have to move to whatever seat is left at the foot of the table. Instead, find you a place at the foot of the table. That way, you put yourself in a position where you can only be moved up to a more honored seat, closer to the head of the table. The proud person sets himself up to be humbled, but the humble person sets himself up to be honored.
And finally, in Luke 14:15-24, we see JESUS presenting the invited guest with yet another parable. This time HE turns our attention to the most important of all invitations. It is the invitation to salvation that HE HIMSELF came to deliver. Here JESUS gives the illustration of a man who prepared a great feast for which he sent out many invitations. When the time of the feast came, he even sent his servants out to notify them that the time had come. One by one they all begin to make lame excuses as to why they could not attend. When the servants returned and told their master what had happened, in his anger, he sent them back out instructing them to go into the streets and alleys of the city and invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. After this, he sent them back out, this time into the country places to ask everyone that they might see, to come to the feast, so that his house would be filled.
This parable serves to show us that GOD invites all people to enter into the salvation feast. However, only those who are humble enough to accept HIS invitation through CHRIST will be able to attend. Salvation is for all who are willing to first humble themselves enough to repent, and then, accept the invitation and come by faith to CHRIST.
Ironically, this passage, Luke 14:15-24, was the text of the last sermon preached by the highly respected minister, D.L. Moody in Kansas City, way back in 1899, only one month prior to his death. But it is a message of salvation that was first delivered by CHRIST JESUS, from the house of an unbeliever, somewhere in the midst of the city of Jerusalem over 2000 years ago. And JESUS had no doubt inspired a hope in Moody similar to hope that HE had previously inspired in HIS original disciples. It is a hope that each generation would take advantage of the opportunity to share in the coming feast that can only be attended, by those who are humble enough to accept the invitation.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander


Larry Dell Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Friday, April 16, 2010

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday April 18, 2010
_____________________________________________

CONNECTING IN THE COMMUNITY
(Learn how to love GOD so you know how to love others)
(Matthew 22:34-40 and Mark 12:28-34)

In Matthew chapter 22, verses 34-40, and Mark chapter 12, verses 28-34, one of the teachers of religious law, probably a Pharisee, was standing close by, listening to JESUS’ answer to the Sadducees, regarding the resurrection. The Sadducees were a group of wealthy Jewish men who prided themselves as being experts in the knowledge of religious law. They also did not believe there would be a resurrection of life after death.
After seeing JESUS handily defend the word of GOD against these misguided scholars, this particular teacher, who apparently had more insight than the others, poses this question of his own to JESUS, when he asks, “Which is the first commandment of all? Here, the Greek word translated “which”, is “poios”, and it means “what kind of”. The Greek word translated “first”, “protos”, means “most important”. And so, here, JESUS is being asked, in effect, “Which is the most important commandment?”
JESUS begins by reciting the opening line, of the first part of the three-part “Shema”, which was recited by devout Jews twice daily. It stresses the unity of GOD, and, the importance of loving HIM and HIS Laws, and it goes like this; “Hear old Israel; the LORD our GOD is one LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
To love the LORD THY GOD with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength calls for a thorough commitment to GOD that is both personal, and whole of heart. It speaks to the whole of humanity, personally; “the heart”, which is the center of human life, “the soul”, which is the “self-conscience” life of all men, “the mind”, which is the entire thought process of man, and, of course, “the strength”, or, entire physical power of man. In other words, we should love GOD with every fiber of our being. This is what is covered in the first four commandments (see Exodus 20:3-11), where GOD tells us, in effect, that our love for HIM must be;
• totally loyal (verse 3),
• totally faithful (verse 6),
• totally trusting (verse 7),
• and, must show total reverence at all times (verse 8).
Next, JESUS states that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves. This is the concept of the remaining six commandments (Exodus 20:12-17);
• If we love each other, we can certainly begin with honoring our own parents.
• If we love each other, we are not likely to intentionally, or maliciously take another’s life, which by the way, is made in the image of GOD.
• If we love each other, we will not commit adultery against our spouse with another person.
• If we love each other, we won’t steal from each other.
• If we love each other, we won’t lie on each other, or falsely accuse each other.
• And finally, if we love each other, we won’t jealously desire anything that belongs to someone else.
And so I guess, in summation, JESUS is saying that, everything, that GOD commands us to do, is of the utmost importance to HIM. And that the Ten Commandments can really be viewed as being only two. And both of them, or all ten of them, are of equal importance to GOD. When we come to love GOD, we then understand more clearly how we can love one another, who are, after all, made in the image of GOD.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander


Larry Dell Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Larry D. Alexander's Storefront - Lulu.com

LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website

Larry D. Alexander-Christian Art

Larry D. Alexander-Art for the Ages

Alexander Sunday School Lesson 2_The Gospel of John

Larry D. Alexander
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

Friday, April 9, 2010

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday April 11, 2010
_____________________________________________

LOVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY
(Live in the light of GOD’s love)
(1 John 2:7-17)

The world of ancient Rome was represented by an olio of religious voices, and it is likely that the readers of this first letter of the apostle John were bombarded daily by a variety of religious ideas and doctrine. And even though they may have done so in different ways, they were all guilty of heresy in John’s mind, by way of their common denial of the person of CHRIST JESUS.
In this intensely practical letter, addressed to a group of Christians, John gives a stern warning against the dangers of false teaching and encourages these believers to remain faithful to GOD and continue in their love for each other, by living in the light.
In the Greek, the word John uses for “new” in chapter 2, verses 7 and 8 is “kainos” (kahee-nos), and it is “newness in respect to freshness of age”, and is not necessarily “new in existence to the world”. For example, we can buy a new pair of shoes, but shoes are not new to the world. They have been around for ages, yet we create new shoes every day. The idea for us to “love one another” was not new to the followers of GOD. They had been hearing it since the Old Testament times, as it is evidenced in Leviticus 19:18. They were also taught this concept at the time of their conversion to Christianity only a few years earlier.
When JESUS came, bringing healing to men’s bodies and Salvation to men’s soul, HE also brought with HIM, a new freshness to the phrase “Love one another”. HE expanded it to include, “love your enemy also”, and this is especially true, if the person you consider to be your enemy also happens to be a professed Christian.
JESUS sought to show us, throughout HIS three-year earthly mission, that, no one was outside of HIS love, and that, no one was outside of the purpose of GOD. Both HE and the FATHER wishes all mankind to be saved. HE wanted to show HIS followers then and now, that in HIS new Christian Order, there would be no such thing as an enemy, except satan, in all the world. If a professed Christian says he is living in the light of CHRIST, and hates any one of his fellow men, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, or national origin, he is mistaken, and is still living in the darkness from which he thought he had escaped.
Up until this point, John’s letter may tend to lead his readers to think that he is dissatisfied with their spiritual growth and conditioning. However in verses 12-14 the tone seems to shift a bit, to a feeling of assurance, that their spiritual assets had indeed not gone unnoticed. Here John reminds them of how their sins have been forgiven, by way of JESUS’ vicarious sacrifice on the cross at Skull Hill (v.12). He then speaks of their maturity in their knowledge of who CHRIST is, and how, because of it, they’ve quite literally, won their battle with satan (V.13).
In the Greek, the word used for world is “Kosmos”, and it is from that word that we derive our English word “Cosmos”. In the spiritual sense, it is “that complex intertwining of sinful desires that shape our world of lost humanity”. Before we come to CHRIST, we have already, long ago, adopted man’s perspectives, values, and attitudes. And now we are faced with the radical change that comes with getting to know GOD, and adopting HIS perspective, values, and attitude.
By choosing the Christian walk we automatically become strangers to worldly behavior, as we are no longer permanent residents of this earth. We suddenly become citizens of Heaven, where therefore, the Laws of GOD become paramount to us.
It is not until a person falls in love with goodness, that wrong things no longer fascinate and have power over them. Our relationship with GOD becomes our greatest asset. We realize then that the person who loses his, or her heart to the things of this world, is the person most vulnerable to satan.
This world really is fading away, along with everything in it, and everything it craves. But if we continue to do the will of GOD, by obeying the counsel of the HOLY SPIRIT, we are promised, by CHRIST JESUS, that we will live forever.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander


Larry Dell Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Friday, April 2, 2010

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday April 4, 2010
_____________________________________________

THE PAIN AND THE JOY
(The joy of HIS resurrection overshadows the grief of death)
(John 16:16-24 & 20:11-16)

(The following commentaries are excerpts from the book “Home Bible Study Commentaries from the Gospel of John” by Larry D. Alexander)

THE PAIN

John 16:16-24 – pages 89-90

“JESUS’ private teachings now shift from the subject of the HOLY SPIRIT and HIS future work, to what the immediate future held for each of HIS disciples. John 16:16-24 deals mostly with the emotions of HIS disciples. At this point they were in deep sorrow and were also confused about some of JESUS’ sayings. They were also afraid and really, by and large, were not having a very good night.
The phrase, “in a little while”, that is used by JESUS in this passage was very confusing to this, now depressed, group of men. They wondered among themselves just what JESUS meant by the parables HE was uttering. They didn’t realize at the time that JESUS was speaking of returning immediately after HIS crucifixion to minister to them, periodically, for an additional forty days before HIS ascension back into Heaven. However, JESUS did not clarify what HE meant, but chose instead, to let them come to understand what HE meant, in the process of time.
GOD brings joy to our lives, not by substituting our trials and pains, but rather, by our transformation and growth, from them. In John 16:21, JESUS gives just such an analogy to HIS disciples, as HE tries to reassure them that their sorrow, brought on by the news of HIM leaving, would soon be turned to joy over HIS return. Here HE likens their woeful situation to that of a woman experiencing labor pains. At first, she suffers with excruciating pain. However, after birth is given, all of her pain and anguish soon turns into the joy of having brought a new life into the world. With Christian joy, the pain that went before it is soon forgotten, and the new feeling of that experience of joy, can never be taken away”.

THE JOY

John 20:1-18 – pages 111-113

“In the Greek, the word New Testament writers use for “resurrection” is “anastasis” (an-as-tas-is), and it is “a moral recovery of spiritual truth”, and it also means, in the physical sense, “to stand up again”. In John chapter 20, verses 1-18, Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-19, and Luke 24:1-12, these authors of GOD share their respective Gospel accounts, of the Resurrection of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. The Resurrection of CHRIST is the essence of the Christian faith, and the core of all of the Apostles teachings. All accounts tell us that it was early in the morning, on the first day of the week, in fact, while it was still dark.
By combining all four Gospel accounts, we can see that Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom JESUS removed seven demons (Luke 8:2), Mary, the mother of James and Joseph, Salome, who was Zebedee’s wife and the mother of James and John, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager, all went to the tomb of JESUS to anoint HIS body for burial, with spices.
Perhaps no one had ever loved JESUS as much as Mary Magdalene did. HE had done something for her that no one else could ever do, and she never forgot it. It was the custom of the Jews to visit the tomb of a loved one for three days, after the body had been laid to rest. They believed that, for three days, the spirit of the deceased person would hover around the tomb, and only departed when the decomposing body became unrecognizable.
The day following JESUS’ Crucifixion was the Sabbath, which is our Saturday, so to visit on that day would violate the Sabbath law. That is why their first visit had to occur on that early Sunday morning. The original Greek writings of the New Testament authors tell us, that, it was during “proi” when they visited the tomb. The Jews divided their nights into four watches. The first night watch was from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the second watch was from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m., the third watch was from 12 a.m. to 3 a.m., and the forth and final watch was from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. It was during this forth watch, called “proi”, that, the women came to the tomb.
Tombs, in those days, were “cave-like” compartments that, had been carved into the side of a hill, or mountain, and then, covered by a circular shaped rock, which rested, in a slanted groove that had been carved out, along the front opening of these compartments. This extremely heavy rock had to be rolled uphill to open, and downhill to close. So we can envision that it was much harder to open than to close. In addition, Matthew tells us that JESUS’ tomb was also sealed by Roman officials, at the request of the Jewish leaders (Matthew 27:62-66). They also placed guards out in front of the tomb. Matthew also records that there was a great earthquake associated with an angel of the LORD, who came down from Heaven and rolled away the stone, from the entrance of the sepulcher, and sat on it. This apparently frightened the Roman guards so much, that they fainted (Matthew 28:2-4).
When the women arrived at the tomb, they were shocked and frightened by what they saw. However, the angel was able to allay their fears and invite them to look into the cave, so they could see that JESUS was no longer there. He then urged them
to go and tell JESUS’ Disciples the good news that JESUS had arisen just as HE said HE would.
The women then ran and found Peter and John, still not understanding, and thinking someone had broken into the tomb and removed JESUS’ body (John 20:2). Peter and John then run to the tomb, and with John arriving first, he looks in and sees JESUS’ body wrappings lying there in the tomb, but sees no body. Peter then arrives and actually goes into the cave, where he too, only sees the cloth that had enwrapped JESUS’ body. When Peter saw, he remembered and realized what Scripture had said, and what JESUS had said about rising from the dead after three days, and he believed, and they went home.
John tells us in 20:11-18, that afterwards, Mary Magdalene was standing outside the tomb weeping, and as she wept, she peered inside the cave. She saw two white-robed angels, sitting at the head and foot of where JESUS’ body had lain. One of the angels asked her, why was she crying? Mary, still not understanding, replies, “Because they have taken away my LORD, and I don’t know where they have put HIM”. Just then, she noticed someone standing behind her, that, she thought was the gardener (she didn’t recognize, at that time, that it was JESUS, probably because her eyes were filled with tears). “Sir”, she said, “If you have taken HIM away, tell me where you have put HIM”. JESUS then speaks to her, and she apparently recognizes HIS voice and runs to hug HIM. But JESUS tells her not to cling to HIM, because HE had not yet ascended to HIS FATHER. Mary then runs to find the Disciples once again, but this time, to tell them that she had seen the risen LORD.
We see throughout these “Passion Narratives” of the Bible, that this lady, Mary Magdalene, was always there in the vicinity of our LORD and SAVIOR. She was there at the foot of the cross when JESUS’ earthly life expired on that infamous Friday in world history (John 19:25). She was there when JESUS’ body was wrapped and entombed, by Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:61, Mark 15:47) and Nicodemus (John 19:39-40). And she was there when the empty tomb was discovered early that Sunday morning. And so, it was only fitting, that she became the first person on earth, ever to see the “RISEN LORD”. It is a distinction that she would never have to share with anyone. What a wonderful earthly reward she had received for her unparalleled love for, and faithfulness to, the SON of the ONLY WISE GOD. And her example of undying faith in GOD is one of the great Sunday school lessons of all times. It is a lesson that every Christian should learn, and then, keep in their hearts and use as fuel to propel them through their Christian journey, and then, into “Eternal Life”.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander