WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 29, 2010
____________________________________________
A BOLD WITNESS
(Be bold in your witness regardless of the outcome)
(Acts 28:16-31)
There is a great purpose for everything that is written in the Holy Scriptures, and the hand of the unseen, only wise GOD, is at the helm of it all. The door that was closed to CHRIST by the Jews is now the door that was opened to salvation for the Gentiles. Here in chapter 28, the book of Acts draws to a close with a loud shout of triumph as the gospel has now reached the center of the world of the first century, and is being freely proclaimed in the midst of the Roman Empire.
Three months after the shipwreck in which Paul and Luke had been involved in while they were prisoners traveling from Jerusalem to Rome on the Mediterranean Sea, they set sail on yet another ship that had wintered at the small, nearby island of Malta. It was a ship that had originated in Alexandria, Egypt, in northern Africa. The ship was said to have had “the twin gods” as its figurehead. They sailed from Malta to Syracuse, a city on the east coast of Sicily and there they docked for three days before moving on to Rhegium (now called Reggio) in southern Italy.
After spending the day in Rheguim, they hitched a ride on a south wind which carried them to a place called Puteoli, a seaport located on the northern shore of the bay of Naples. It is also the place where the city of Pozzuoli stands today. There they ran across a group of fellow believers who invited them to stay for seven days.
Puteoli was the final stop before arriving in Rome, and by then, all of the believers in Rome were aware of their coming. Upon arrival, many Christian brothers and sisters came to meet them at The Three Taverns, a well-known place that was located about 33 miles from the city, along the famous Roman road called the Appian Way. When they arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to reside in his own private lodging, but he was still being guarded by a Roman soldier.
Three days after his arrival, Paul called an impromptu meeting with the local Jewish leaders. He informed them of his arrest in Jerusalem, where he was handed over to the Roman government, even though he had done nothing wrong against his fellow Jews, nor had he violated any of their customs. The Romans had tried him and found no cause for the death penalty, and thus, had to release him. However, the Jewish hierarchy protested the decision bitterly, and so Paul felt he had no choice but to appeal to Caesar, as he was also a Roman citizen (Acts 22:24-29).
And so, apparently, no accusations about Paul had been forwarded to the Jewish community in Rome from Jerusalem regarding Paul’s trial. Here in Acts 28:17-31, we see that Paul actually wants to meet with his people in Rome, not to complain about how he was treated in Jerusalem, but rather, he wanted to boldly preach the gospel of CHRIST to them, right in the heart of Rome, which at that time, was an extremely dangerous undertaking, and, he was also willing to do it while still a prisoner, bound in the chains of Christian persecution.
Paul wanted to express his deep concerns for his own people, and to also, share the same conviction that CHRIST had, to preach the gospel first, to the Jews. And like in JESUS’ effort, Paul’s presentation won very little positive response, and as a result, he felt released by the HOLY SPIRIT to concentrate on ministering boldly to the Gentiles in Rome.
Church history tells us that the Apostle Paul was eventually acquitted of these charges, on this occasion, and he went on to continue his ministry for a short time in other places. However, ultimately (approximately two years later) he returned to Rome, and at that time, he was re-arrested, convicted, and executed in close proximity to the Apostle’s Peter’s execution there in Rome, near the end of the reign of the Emperor Nero circa A.D. 68.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 22, 2010
_____________________________________________
GROWING IN JOY AND PEACE
(Put into practice, what you know about GOD)
(Philippians 4)
Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi is a very warm and very personal one. He was beholden to the Philippians because they had been the only church to offer up financial help to him, showing concern that he might be in need. They had sent an emissary named Epaphroditus to Paul while he was incarcerated in Rome. It was an offering that came at a time when Paul was not even sure that he would live or die as a result of this act of Roman persecution.
Epaphroditus became ill and nearly died during this benevolent mission, in fact, his illness is one of the overriding reasons why Paul was writing this letter. He was sending Epaphroditus back to Philippi to continue in the work of the church there (Philippians 2:25-30), and wanted also to introduce his young protégé and co-worker, Timothy, who would be visiting for a while there at the church in Philippi (Philippians 2:19-24). Thirdly, he wanted to encourage those who were upset about his imprisonment and remind them of the active promotion of the Gospel that his imprisonment was causing among others. Paul felt that for that reason alone, they should all rejoice.
Throughout this touching letter we see the theme of “rejoicing” being resonated. For the Christian, to live is cause to rejoice, because GOD loves us enough to allow it, despite our continued disobedience to HIS word. To die in CHRIST, is also reason to rejoice, because, as believers, ultimately, we will be with HIM forever, sharing in HIS wonderful kingdom, because of GOD’s grace.
However, this by no means says that we won’t have problems and difficulties from time to time, for that comes with being a part of the human experience. And remember, even JESUS, WHO had no sin, had to suffer when HE made HIMSELF a part of humanity, as part of GOD’s plan to save us from ourselves. And so, even in our obedience to GOD, we will inevitably be involved with a certain degree of suffering.
In Philippians 4, Paul urges those who live in CHRIST to stand firm in that power. He pleads for harmony between two faithful Christian women, as they struggle with a mere difference of opinion, seeking to encourage them not to jeopardize all the good work they had done, by behaving in an ungodly way (V.1).
As Christians, we are not to render worthless, the value of a life that has been dedicated to the work of GOD, by turning on one another for reasons that are petty, and do not involve the violation of the doctrine of CHRIST JESUS. We are to fix our minds and thoughts on what is true and honorable and right, thinking only of those things that are pure and lovely and admirable in the eyes of the LORD. We must put into practice, those things that we have learned concerning GOD’s perfect will for us, and then, the GOD of peace, will be with us, because we are walking in HIS light (v. 9).
In the biblical Greek, the word used for truth is “aletheia” (al-ay-thi-a), and it is “that which is in harmony with reality”. GOD’s truth is to be communicated as concepts that are heard, learned, and received. However, it must be received as “reality”, rather than as “philosophy”, and most of all, “truth” must be seen in the teacher.
When “truth” is communicated to others, by those who exemplify the life that they teach about, then, is it likely to be put into practice by those who hear it. Then to, those who hear it, will be able to grow in joy and peace, because they then sense and discover, the joy and peace of GOD, that had been previously suppressed, within themselves.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 22, 2010
_____________________________________________
GROWING IN JOY AND PEACE
(Put into practice, what you know about GOD)
(Philippians 4)
Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi is a very warm and very personal one. He was beholden to the Philippians because they had been the only church to offer up financial help to him, showing concern that he might be in need. They had sent an emissary named Epaphroditus to Paul while he was incarcerated in Rome. It was an offering that came at a time when Paul was not even sure that he would live or die as a result of this act of Roman persecution.
Epaphroditus became ill and nearly died during this benevolent mission, in fact, his illness is one of the overriding reasons why Paul was writing this letter. He was sending Epaphroditus back to Philippi to continue in the work of the church there (Philippians 2:25-30), and wanted also to introduce his young protégé and co-worker, Timothy, who would be visiting for a while there at the church in Philippi (Philippians 2:19-24). Thirdly, he wanted to encourage those who were upset about his imprisonment and remind them of the active promotion of the Gospel that his imprisonment was causing among others. Paul felt that for that reason alone, they should all rejoice.
Throughout this touching letter we see the theme of “rejoicing” being resonated. For the Christian, to live is cause to rejoice, because GOD loves us enough to allow it, despite our continued disobedience to HIS word. To die in CHRIST, is also reason to rejoice, because, as believers, ultimately, we will be with HIM forever, sharing in HIS wonderful kingdom, because of GOD’s grace.
However, this by no means says that we won’t have problems and difficulties from time to time, for that comes with being a part of the human experience. And remember, even JESUS, WHO had no sin, had to suffer when HE made HIMSELF a part of humanity, as part of GOD’s plan to save us from ourselves. And so, even in our obedience to GOD, we will inevitably be involved with a certain degree of suffering.
In Philippians 4, Paul urges those who live in CHRIST to stand firm in that power. He pleads for harmony between two faithful Christian women, as they struggle with a mere difference of opinion, seeking to encourage them not to jeopardize all the good work they had done, by behaving in an ungodly way (V.1).
As Christians, we are not to render worthless, the value of a life that has been dedicated to the work of GOD, by turning on one another for reasons that are petty, and do not involve the violation of the doctrine of CHRIST JESUS. We are to fix our minds and thoughts on what is true and honorable and right, thinking only of those things that are pure and lovely and admirable in the eyes of the LORD. We must put into practice, those things that we have learned concerning GOD’s perfect will for us, and then, the GOD of peace, will be with us, because we are walking in HIS light (v. 9).
In the biblical Greek, the word used for truth is “aletheia” (al-ay-thi-a), and it is “that which is in harmony with reality”. GOD’s truth is to be communicated as concepts that are heard, learned, and received. However, it must be received as “reality”, rather than as “philosophy”, and most of all, “truth” must be seen in the teacher.
When “truth” is communicated to others, by those who exemplify the life that they teach about, then, is it likely to be put into practice by those who hear it. Then to, those who hear it, will be able to grow in joy and peace, because they then sense and discover, the joy and peace of GOD, that had been previously suppressed, within themselves.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Friday, August 13, 2010
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 15, 2010
_____________________________________________
LIVING INTO THE FUTURE
(Live for your future in CHRIST, not in your past)
(Philippians 3)
The Apostle Paul was the first great Christian missionary and theologian, after the example of JESUS CHRIST of course. He was born and raised in Tarsus of Cilicia, as Gaius Julius Paulus, the son of a Roman citizen, under the strictest of Jewish tradition and Judaism. He went on to become the first man to clearly show the distinction between Judaism and the Gospel of CHRIST JESUS. He presented Christianity as the universal religion for all mankind, and clearly showed that it was not just a tiny little spin-off of Judaism, that had been formed expressly, for the benefit of Jews.
In his lifetime, Paul became widely known as the apostle of the Gentiles. He solved, once and for all time, the issues that arose concerning the problems people had with Christianity, and the biblical and non-biblical traditions of the Jewish law. While the other apostles, with maybe the exception of Peter, continued on with a practical attitude toward the law and Judaism, oftentimes not seeing far into principle, Paul, on the other hand, preached that the issue was very much different than Judaism. He insisted that the doctrine he preached concerning CHRIST was defined by the cross. In other words, Paul keenly felt that one either had to choose “Pharisaism”, or JESUS, or, quite literally, “Law” or “Love, as the ultimate revelation of GOD.
All of Paul’s known letters bear traces of the Hellenistic background from whence he came, and he most certainly obtained many of his Greek ideas through the medium of Judaeo-Greek, or, Hellenistic literature. In fact, a careful study of his letters gives us some idea of this societal element in his early life, due to his Jewish birth. They suggest Paul’s own youthful attitude toward the importance and responsibility of being born Jewish.
In Philippians 3, Paul sought to exhort, or urge with a strong appeal, that the church at Philippi would continue to rejoice in the LORD. He also warned of the work of the Judaizers, calling them “dogs” and “mutilators of the flesh” (a reference to circumcision) who continued to preach that one must become a Jew, through circumcision, before they could be saved.
Paul, however, had spent a lot of time preaching to the infant church that they should place no confidence in the flesh. In fact, Christians should place no confidence in their own effort at all, but instead, must only boast of their faith in what JESUS has done for them. The Christian must worship GOD in the SPIRIT, and thereby, experience a spiritual “circumcision of the heart” that can only come by knowing GOD.
Paul said that if anyone could have confidence in their own background and training, he could. He once held in high regard, his boyhood studies under the great first-century scholar, Gamaliel, at the famous “School of Hillel” in Rome. He himself, as a pure-breed Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, had been circumcised when he was eight days old. He had also been a member of the Pharisees, who demanded the strictest adherence to Jewish tradition and the Mosaic Law. But now he had experienced the priceless gain of knowing JESUS CHRIST, and everything else suddenly seems worthless by comparison. Before getting to know CHRIST, Paul placed all of his value on the things that he had achieved in the past, but now, he understood clearly that his future of eternal life with GOD can only be realized through he belief and confidence in what JESUS has achieved.
And so, like Paul, all Christians must press ahead toward the highest goal that a man can ever achieve in this life. It is a goal that can never be achieved through human effort, but instead, has already been achieved through the vicarious sacrifice of CHRIST. However, a man will never accept the free gift of salvation in his heart, unless he first, become willing to remove his love for the things of this world from his heart.
From the original Greek, the phrase translated “becoming like HIM”, that is used in verse 21 of this passage, is “symmorphizomenos” (sim-morph-i-zo-me-nos) and it means “being conformed inwardly through one’s experience of something”. The Christians must continue to work toward the day when they can be all that CHRIST died for us to be, and all that GOD wants us to be, and that is, more like HIM, and, with HIM. And it is a change that can only occur, first, inwardly, so that it can then be manifested outwardly, so as to have a positive, GODly effect on the lives of those whom we will be coming in contact with in the future.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 15, 2010
_____________________________________________
LIVING INTO THE FUTURE
(Live for your future in CHRIST, not in your past)
(Philippians 3)
The Apostle Paul was the first great Christian missionary and theologian, after the example of JESUS CHRIST of course. He was born and raised in Tarsus of Cilicia, as Gaius Julius Paulus, the son of a Roman citizen, under the strictest of Jewish tradition and Judaism. He went on to become the first man to clearly show the distinction between Judaism and the Gospel of CHRIST JESUS. He presented Christianity as the universal religion for all mankind, and clearly showed that it was not just a tiny little spin-off of Judaism, that had been formed expressly, for the benefit of Jews.
In his lifetime, Paul became widely known as the apostle of the Gentiles. He solved, once and for all time, the issues that arose concerning the problems people had with Christianity, and the biblical and non-biblical traditions of the Jewish law. While the other apostles, with maybe the exception of Peter, continued on with a practical attitude toward the law and Judaism, oftentimes not seeing far into principle, Paul, on the other hand, preached that the issue was very much different than Judaism. He insisted that the doctrine he preached concerning CHRIST was defined by the cross. In other words, Paul keenly felt that one either had to choose “Pharisaism”, or JESUS, or, quite literally, “Law” or “Love, as the ultimate revelation of GOD.
All of Paul’s known letters bear traces of the Hellenistic background from whence he came, and he most certainly obtained many of his Greek ideas through the medium of Judaeo-Greek, or, Hellenistic literature. In fact, a careful study of his letters gives us some idea of this societal element in his early life, due to his Jewish birth. They suggest Paul’s own youthful attitude toward the importance and responsibility of being born Jewish.
In Philippians 3, Paul sought to exhort, or urge with a strong appeal, that the church at Philippi would continue to rejoice in the LORD. He also warned of the work of the Judaizers, calling them “dogs” and “mutilators of the flesh” (a reference to circumcision) who continued to preach that one must become a Jew, through circumcision, before they could be saved.
Paul, however, had spent a lot of time preaching to the infant church that they should place no confidence in the flesh. In fact, Christians should place no confidence in their own effort at all, but instead, must only boast of their faith in what JESUS has done for them. The Christian must worship GOD in the SPIRIT, and thereby, experience a spiritual “circumcision of the heart” that can only come by knowing GOD.
Paul said that if anyone could have confidence in their own background and training, he could. He once held in high regard, his boyhood studies under the great first-century scholar, Gamaliel, at the famous “School of Hillel” in Rome. He himself, as a pure-breed Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, had been circumcised when he was eight days old. He had also been a member of the Pharisees, who demanded the strictest adherence to Jewish tradition and the Mosaic Law. But now he had experienced the priceless gain of knowing JESUS CHRIST, and everything else suddenly seems worthless by comparison. Before getting to know CHRIST, Paul placed all of his value on the things that he had achieved in the past, but now, he understood clearly that his future of eternal life with GOD can only be realized through he belief and confidence in what JESUS has achieved.
And so, like Paul, all Christians must press ahead toward the highest goal that a man can ever achieve in this life. It is a goal that can never be achieved through human effort, but instead, has already been achieved through the vicarious sacrifice of CHRIST. However, a man will never accept the free gift of salvation in his heart, unless he first, become willing to remove his love for the things of this world from his heart.
From the original Greek, the phrase translated “becoming like HIM”, that is used in verse 21 of this passage, is “symmorphizomenos” (sim-morph-i-zo-me-nos) and it means “being conformed inwardly through one’s experience of something”. The Christians must continue to work toward the day when they can be all that CHRIST died for us to be, and all that GOD wants us to be, and that is, more like HIM, and, with HIM. And it is a change that can only occur, first, inwardly, so that it can then be manifested outwardly, so as to have a positive, GODly effect on the lives of those whom we will be coming in contact with in the future.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 8, 2010
_____________________________________________
BEING IN CHRIST
(To be in CHRIST is to be saved)
(Philippians 2:1-18)
In Philippians chapter 2, verses 1-11, perhaps two Greek words sum up the gist of the Apostle Paul’s message to the Church at Philippi, “tapeinophrosune” (tap-i-nof-ras-oo-nay) which means “unity through humility”, and “sumpsuchos” (soom-psoo-khos), which means “together in spirit, or like-minded”.
Here, Paul writes of how his joy in his fellowship with the Philippians would be even greater, if they would began to exhibit more unity, by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. This is perhaps Scripture’s clearest portrait of the humility that is called for by CHRIST JESUS.
Humility, in the biblical sense, is not a weak man’s surrender, but rather, it is a strong man’s rejection of all things selfish, and it is a desire to be actively and genuinely concerned with the needs of others (verses 2-4).
In verses 5-11, Paul uses JESUS as the great example, or standard, of what true humility in a Christian should look like. Here Paul tells us that our attitudes should be the same as CHRIST exemplified, during HIS three-year mission on earth. During that time, even though HE was GOD, HE did not demand, or cling to HIS to rights as GOD. HE took the humble position of a slave and appeared to us in human form. HE obediently humbled HIMSELF even further, by dying a criminal’s death on the cross, by Roman method.
In this supreme illustration of humility, JESUS willingly surrendered the prerogatives of deity, in order that HE may die for the sins of all humanity. It is because of JESUS’ great sacrifice, that GOD raised HIM up to the heights of Heaven and gave HIM the name that is above all others. And it is at the very mention of HIS name that, one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD. And it will all be to the glory of GOD the FATHER in Heaven. These statements by Paul (vs. 6-11) constitute a grand expression of Christology. In fact, it is said by some scholars that these verses are taken from one of the popular hymns of the early Christian Church.
Through our struggles here on earth, the Christian must be able to tap into GOD’s will for us, and thereby, shine brightly for CHRIST. Paul reminded the Philippians of how careful they were to follow his instructions while he was with them. And now, he was urging them to put what they had learned from him into action, and show the world, through their behavior, how GOD’s saving work is having a positive affect on their lives, and the lives of others. It is the brightness of our Christian light that sheds light and life on the Gospel message that we hold out for others to see.
We must set as our goal, a desire to gain certain qualities in life, among them being, a genuine interest in the welfare of others, a genuine concern for those interests that are CHRIST’, and a record of faithful service that we can point to as our witness before those whom we aspire to convert. And by following the examples of JESUS, or, by “being in CHRIST”, the Christian Church, by working together, will be able to work out GODly solutions to its own problems, and, they will be able to do so, without murmuring and complaining.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 8, 2010
_____________________________________________
BEING IN CHRIST
(To be in CHRIST is to be saved)
(Philippians 2:1-18)
In Philippians chapter 2, verses 1-11, perhaps two Greek words sum up the gist of the Apostle Paul’s message to the Church at Philippi, “tapeinophrosune” (tap-i-nof-ras-oo-nay) which means “unity through humility”, and “sumpsuchos” (soom-psoo-khos), which means “together in spirit, or like-minded”.
Here, Paul writes of how his joy in his fellowship with the Philippians would be even greater, if they would began to exhibit more unity, by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. This is perhaps Scripture’s clearest portrait of the humility that is called for by CHRIST JESUS.
Humility, in the biblical sense, is not a weak man’s surrender, but rather, it is a strong man’s rejection of all things selfish, and it is a desire to be actively and genuinely concerned with the needs of others (verses 2-4).
In verses 5-11, Paul uses JESUS as the great example, or standard, of what true humility in a Christian should look like. Here Paul tells us that our attitudes should be the same as CHRIST exemplified, during HIS three-year mission on earth. During that time, even though HE was GOD, HE did not demand, or cling to HIS to rights as GOD. HE took the humble position of a slave and appeared to us in human form. HE obediently humbled HIMSELF even further, by dying a criminal’s death on the cross, by Roman method.
In this supreme illustration of humility, JESUS willingly surrendered the prerogatives of deity, in order that HE may die for the sins of all humanity. It is because of JESUS’ great sacrifice, that GOD raised HIM up to the heights of Heaven and gave HIM the name that is above all others. And it is at the very mention of HIS name that, one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD. And it will all be to the glory of GOD the FATHER in Heaven. These statements by Paul (vs. 6-11) constitute a grand expression of Christology. In fact, it is said by some scholars that these verses are taken from one of the popular hymns of the early Christian Church.
Through our struggles here on earth, the Christian must be able to tap into GOD’s will for us, and thereby, shine brightly for CHRIST. Paul reminded the Philippians of how careful they were to follow his instructions while he was with them. And now, he was urging them to put what they had learned from him into action, and show the world, through their behavior, how GOD’s saving work is having a positive affect on their lives, and the lives of others. It is the brightness of our Christian light that sheds light and life on the Gospel message that we hold out for others to see.
We must set as our goal, a desire to gain certain qualities in life, among them being, a genuine interest in the welfare of others, a genuine concern for those interests that are CHRIST’, and a record of faithful service that we can point to as our witness before those whom we aspire to convert. And by following the examples of JESUS, or, by “being in CHRIST”, the Christian Church, by working together, will be able to work out GODly solutions to its own problems, and, they will be able to do so, without murmuring and complaining.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Friday, July 30, 2010
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 1, 2010
_____________________________________________
A LIFE WELL LIVED
(Exalt CHRIST by the way you live your life)
(Philippians 1)
The city of Philippi was named after Philip II of Macedonia, who was the father of Alexander the great. Philip captured the city from the Thracians in 358 B.C. It is located about 10 miles northwest of the seaport of Neopolis. It was near there, that, Mark Anthony and Octavius (Caesar Augustus) defeated Brutus and Cassius after they had murdered the Roman Emperor of Julius Caesar. Shortly afterwards, Philippi became a colony of the original Roman Empire.
In A.D. 52, Paul visited this city, during his second missionary journey with Silas. It became the first European city in which a Christian church was established. Lydia and her family, and also, the Philippian jailer and his household were converted to Christianity by Paul and Silas, before, and during their incarceration there, respectively (Acts 16:6-40).
Ironically, Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, while under house arrest in Rome, some 10 years later. It was written in response to the financial generosity of the Philippian Church, during and after his visit there in Macedonia. Paul says that, they were the only church to respond in such a way, when he delivered to them, the good news about CHRIST JESUS (Philippians 4:15-16).
After a sincere prayer of thanksgiving for, and vote of confidence in, the Christian Church at Philippi (vs. 1-11), Paul moves on to describe some of the problems that he was currently faced with in Rome. However, he wanted all of the Christian brothers and sisters to know that everything that was happening to him also contributed to aiding the spread of the Good News about JESUS CHRIST (vs. 12-14)). And even though some were preaching out of jealousy and rivalry to Paul, most were preaching out of a love for him, and most of all, a love for CHRIST. Paul was confident that the prayers of the saints and the SPIRIT of CHRIST JESUS would deliver him from his pain (vs. 15-19).
In the biblical Greek, the word used for “earnest expectation” or “hope for the future” is “apokaradokia” (a-pok-a-ra-do-kee-yah). It describes the attitude of a man who scans the horizon, with his head stretched forward, eagerly anticipating the first signs of the coming of the glory of GOD. You see, for Paul, life was not a weary and defeated waiting, but rather, it was a throbbing and very vivid expectation.
The Christian has always been, is now, and, will forever be a part of the human experience. By that I mean, from within, we all have to suffer with our own “sin nature”, which is, in the Greek “epithumia”, it is that battle that constantly goes on within ourselves between “reason” and “passion”. When we give in to “passion” we sin, but when we yield to the “reasoning” of the HOLY SPIRIT, we are able to avoid the clutches of sin.
In addition to suffering with our own sin nature, we are also affected by the sins of others. But we must learn how to, in the power of CHRIST, live in a world full of death and decay, and also withstand suffering caused by sins that are not our own, just as CHRIST did.
In Philippians 1, verse 20, Paul says that he lived in earnest expectation and hope that he would never do anything that would cause shame to himself, or to CHRIST, neither in life, nor, in death. He resolved that his living would be for CHRIST, and that his dying for CHRIST would be even better. He was torn between two desires, living in service to CHRIST, and dying for the sake of CHRIST. But he reasoned in the only unselfish way that he could, that it would be better for those who were lost, that he lived on, working in hopes that one day they too, could experience the joy that he himself had found in CHRIST JESUS.
To exalt CHRIST through our behavior results in a life well lived. In the biblical times the word “conversation” meant “your whole way of life”, how you lived and your manner of living, what you did and how you did it. Sadly, today it only means “the way you talk”.
Professed Christians must begin to let their “conversation” (way of life) be worthy of CHRIST, because we are, in reality, professing to be citizens of Heaven. We must give up the desire to conform to the ways of the world, even and especially in the church. We have to transform from the world before we can enter into Heaven, and we can take nothing of this world with us when we make our transitions.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 1, 2010
_____________________________________________
A LIFE WELL LIVED
(Exalt CHRIST by the way you live your life)
(Philippians 1)
The city of Philippi was named after Philip II of Macedonia, who was the father of Alexander the great. Philip captured the city from the Thracians in 358 B.C. It is located about 10 miles northwest of the seaport of Neopolis. It was near there, that, Mark Anthony and Octavius (Caesar Augustus) defeated Brutus and Cassius after they had murdered the Roman Emperor of Julius Caesar. Shortly afterwards, Philippi became a colony of the original Roman Empire.
In A.D. 52, Paul visited this city, during his second missionary journey with Silas. It became the first European city in which a Christian church was established. Lydia and her family, and also, the Philippian jailer and his household were converted to Christianity by Paul and Silas, before, and during their incarceration there, respectively (Acts 16:6-40).
Ironically, Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, while under house arrest in Rome, some 10 years later. It was written in response to the financial generosity of the Philippian Church, during and after his visit there in Macedonia. Paul says that, they were the only church to respond in such a way, when he delivered to them, the good news about CHRIST JESUS (Philippians 4:15-16).
After a sincere prayer of thanksgiving for, and vote of confidence in, the Christian Church at Philippi (vs. 1-11), Paul moves on to describe some of the problems that he was currently faced with in Rome. However, he wanted all of the Christian brothers and sisters to know that everything that was happening to him also contributed to aiding the spread of the Good News about JESUS CHRIST (vs. 12-14)). And even though some were preaching out of jealousy and rivalry to Paul, most were preaching out of a love for him, and most of all, a love for CHRIST. Paul was confident that the prayers of the saints and the SPIRIT of CHRIST JESUS would deliver him from his pain (vs. 15-19).
In the biblical Greek, the word used for “earnest expectation” or “hope for the future” is “apokaradokia” (a-pok-a-ra-do-kee-yah). It describes the attitude of a man who scans the horizon, with his head stretched forward, eagerly anticipating the first signs of the coming of the glory of GOD. You see, for Paul, life was not a weary and defeated waiting, but rather, it was a throbbing and very vivid expectation.
The Christian has always been, is now, and, will forever be a part of the human experience. By that I mean, from within, we all have to suffer with our own “sin nature”, which is, in the Greek “epithumia”, it is that battle that constantly goes on within ourselves between “reason” and “passion”. When we give in to “passion” we sin, but when we yield to the “reasoning” of the HOLY SPIRIT, we are able to avoid the clutches of sin.
In addition to suffering with our own sin nature, we are also affected by the sins of others. But we must learn how to, in the power of CHRIST, live in a world full of death and decay, and also withstand suffering caused by sins that are not our own, just as CHRIST did.
In Philippians 1, verse 20, Paul says that he lived in earnest expectation and hope that he would never do anything that would cause shame to himself, or to CHRIST, neither in life, nor, in death. He resolved that his living would be for CHRIST, and that his dying for CHRIST would be even better. He was torn between two desires, living in service to CHRIST, and dying for the sake of CHRIST. But he reasoned in the only unselfish way that he could, that it would be better for those who were lost, that he lived on, working in hopes that one day they too, could experience the joy that he himself had found in CHRIST JESUS.
To exalt CHRIST through our behavior results in a life well lived. In the biblical times the word “conversation” meant “your whole way of life”, how you lived and your manner of living, what you did and how you did it. Sadly, today it only means “the way you talk”.
Professed Christians must begin to let their “conversation” (way of life) be worthy of CHRIST, because we are, in reality, professing to be citizens of Heaven. We must give up the desire to conform to the ways of the world, even and especially in the church. We have to transform from the world before we can enter into Heaven, and we can take nothing of this world with us when we make our transitions.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Friday, July 23, 2010
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday July 25, 2010
_____________________________________________
FINDING THE STRENGTH TO DO RIGHT
(Never tire of doing what is right)
(2 Thessalonians 3)
With the issue of eschatology now handled, Paul closes out his second letter to the Thessalonians with a final warning to always do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD. In order for us to build our spiritual foundations on the Most-High Faith, we as Christians must show the world, through our behavior, that Christianity does indeed, produce the best men and women. We must be able to do the right thing, even in times of hardship, struggle, and persecution.
Everyone in this present time needs prayer, in fact, prayer is something that has always been needed by every generation that has ever lived on this earth, and Paul himself, in his time, was no exception. Paul understood fully that GOD always answers the prayers of those who righteously seek HIM, and that HE will deliver them from the clutches of the evil one, who seeks through his demonic forces, to destroy the work of Christianity.
I myself experience attacks almost every day from antichrist elements who seek to sabotage my online Sunday school ministry, and scandalize my name by linking it to pornography, sex-enhancement drugs, vulgar you tube videos, etc. and then, sending them through the e-mail to many of my readers. And while most of my readers are not fooled by these disrespectful attempts to stop my Christian teachings, there are some who do buy into it. And since these cowardly attacks comes from various places around the world, and can’t be traced, it would be foolish to let such things discourage my work. I refuse to try and track down cowards who wish to attack people that they don’t know, and then, hide behind their P.C.’s and laptops. It kind of reminds you of the C.B. era when cowardly closet racists would use a lot of racial slurs while hiding behind their C.B.s. And so I will persist, continuing my work, just as JESUS did, and just as Paul and other Christian workers did, who followed HIM.
Suffering for the faith is never easy, and we should never allow suffering to force us to surrender. Our best response to difficulty is to continue to do what we know is right according to the GOD of Heaven and earth, remaining confident in HIS eternal love for us, and long-term commitment to us. GOD will always bless those who suffer for the sake of CHRIST JESUS.
In 2 Thessalonians 3, verses 6-15, Paul shifts gears a little bit and delivers a final exhortation to those who insisted on waiting idly on the onset of the “Day of the LORD”, refusing to see the need to continue working and earning their own way in life.
One of the key reasons why Paul would work in his vocation as a tentmaker when he visited a city for an extended period of time is that, he wanted to give Christian converts a model of a good work ethic that they could follow. He understood that a leader must lead by example and be sensitive to the influence that their own behavior will have upon others who might be watching them.
It was very disturbing to Paul that some ignorant and lazy believers spent the majority of their days looking up in the sky, saying “We’re waiting on JESUS to return any minute now, so we don’t need to work because the end of the world is at hand”. Those who were idling themselves also became busy bodies who meddled into the affairs of others. Paul admonishes the church that “anyone who doesn’t work should not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-11). In fact, Paul commanded them to get to work so that they might earn their own living and quit freeloading off other Christians. They should spend their time wisely, working for a living, and thereby eliminating some of the spare time they were misusing to interfere in other folks business, gossiping, and stirring up trouble.
Christians are called to a higher standard of proper living, seeking to do what is good and right, according to the word of GOD, even in times of stress and difficulties. Whenever Christians irresponsibly take the easy way out, and seem to prosper by doing so, it becomes a discouragement to those who are trying to do things the right way, and they themselves may be tempted to join in, in wrongdoing.
Paul closes by advising us to never grow weary of doing what’s good and favorable in GOD’s eyes. And we should pay close attention to those professed Christians who refuse to honor Christian values, so that we may understand clearly what NOT to do. And while we should not seek to permanently ostracize them from our lives, or the church, we should perhaps stay away from them for a while, if necessary, if for no other reason than to give them time to think about what they are doing, so that hopefully they will become convicted by their own behavior (verses 13-14). But we should never see another Christian as our enemy, instead, we should see them as we see ourselves, we’re all just Christians, who will always have to contend with our own sin nature and struggles, and also, will always have to share in the struggles and problems of others.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday July 25, 2010
_____________________________________________
FINDING THE STRENGTH TO DO RIGHT
(Never tire of doing what is right)
(2 Thessalonians 3)
With the issue of eschatology now handled, Paul closes out his second letter to the Thessalonians with a final warning to always do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD. In order for us to build our spiritual foundations on the Most-High Faith, we as Christians must show the world, through our behavior, that Christianity does indeed, produce the best men and women. We must be able to do the right thing, even in times of hardship, struggle, and persecution.
Everyone in this present time needs prayer, in fact, prayer is something that has always been needed by every generation that has ever lived on this earth, and Paul himself, in his time, was no exception. Paul understood fully that GOD always answers the prayers of those who righteously seek HIM, and that HE will deliver them from the clutches of the evil one, who seeks through his demonic forces, to destroy the work of Christianity.
I myself experience attacks almost every day from antichrist elements who seek to sabotage my online Sunday school ministry, and scandalize my name by linking it to pornography, sex-enhancement drugs, vulgar you tube videos, etc. and then, sending them through the e-mail to many of my readers. And while most of my readers are not fooled by these disrespectful attempts to stop my Christian teachings, there are some who do buy into it. And since these cowardly attacks comes from various places around the world, and can’t be traced, it would be foolish to let such things discourage my work. I refuse to try and track down cowards who wish to attack people that they don’t know, and then, hide behind their P.C.’s and laptops. It kind of reminds you of the C.B. era when cowardly closet racists would use a lot of racial slurs while hiding behind their C.B.s. And so I will persist, continuing my work, just as JESUS did, and just as Paul and other Christian workers did, who followed HIM.
Suffering for the faith is never easy, and we should never allow suffering to force us to surrender. Our best response to difficulty is to continue to do what we know is right according to the GOD of Heaven and earth, remaining confident in HIS eternal love for us, and long-term commitment to us. GOD will always bless those who suffer for the sake of CHRIST JESUS.
In 2 Thessalonians 3, verses 6-15, Paul shifts gears a little bit and delivers a final exhortation to those who insisted on waiting idly on the onset of the “Day of the LORD”, refusing to see the need to continue working and earning their own way in life.
One of the key reasons why Paul would work in his vocation as a tentmaker when he visited a city for an extended period of time is that, he wanted to give Christian converts a model of a good work ethic that they could follow. He understood that a leader must lead by example and be sensitive to the influence that their own behavior will have upon others who might be watching them.
It was very disturbing to Paul that some ignorant and lazy believers spent the majority of their days looking up in the sky, saying “We’re waiting on JESUS to return any minute now, so we don’t need to work because the end of the world is at hand”. Those who were idling themselves also became busy bodies who meddled into the affairs of others. Paul admonishes the church that “anyone who doesn’t work should not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-11). In fact, Paul commanded them to get to work so that they might earn their own living and quit freeloading off other Christians. They should spend their time wisely, working for a living, and thereby eliminating some of the spare time they were misusing to interfere in other folks business, gossiping, and stirring up trouble.
Christians are called to a higher standard of proper living, seeking to do what is good and right, according to the word of GOD, even in times of stress and difficulties. Whenever Christians irresponsibly take the easy way out, and seem to prosper by doing so, it becomes a discouragement to those who are trying to do things the right way, and they themselves may be tempted to join in, in wrongdoing.
Paul closes by advising us to never grow weary of doing what’s good and favorable in GOD’s eyes. And we should pay close attention to those professed Christians who refuse to honor Christian values, so that we may understand clearly what NOT to do. And while we should not seek to permanently ostracize them from our lives, or the church, we should perhaps stay away from them for a while, if necessary, if for no other reason than to give them time to think about what they are doing, so that hopefully they will become convicted by their own behavior (verses 13-14). But we should never see another Christian as our enemy, instead, we should see them as we see ourselves, we’re all just Christians, who will always have to contend with our own sin nature and struggles, and also, will always have to share in the struggles and problems of others.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Friday, July 16, 2010
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday July 18, 2010
_____________________________________________
STANDING FIRM
(Hold fast to the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST)
(2 Thessalonians 2)
In 2 Thessalonians 2, verses 1-12, the Apostle Paul writes of eschatological truths that aren’t revealed to us anywhere else in scripture. Here he deals with the doctrinal errors concerning “the last days”, which, had infiltrated the Christian Church at Thessalonica, during its infancy. These doctrinal errors were the root cause of some of the practical errors that Paul would later address in chapter 3 of this epistle.
New Christians, naturally, tend to be somewhat more vulnerable to false teachings because they have not yet had a chance to ground themselves in the truths of the Holy GOD’s scriptures. However, any Christian, especially in this day and time, is subject to be misled by the many charismatic personalities that come to us live, and through various mediums, seeking only to make a buck off the gullibility of those of us who refuse to read GOD’s word for themselves. These days, perhaps more so than in any other era of human existence, professed Christians must have an experiential, private, personal relationship with GOD if we are to navigate safely through the luciferic attractions of this world.
As I mentioned in the last installment, false rumors had been circulating through the church saying that Paul had identified the hardship and tribulations that the church was going through, as “The Last Days”, or, the onset of the “Day of the LORD”, an Old Testament phrase that is used in prophecy to indicate a series of events associated with the “end times”, or the end of the world as we know it.
Here Paul explains and cautions that the Thessalonians must not fall prey to such false teachings that were apparently coming to them from various sources that appeared to be authoritative. These confusing and erroneous messages made it hard for the Thessalonians to distinguish the biblical warnings from the current troubles that they were experiencing. In others words, just like in today’s society, they were confusing the “news” of current events, such as earthquakes, wars, and other natural and man-made disasters as a sign that the end is here. But in reality these things are just news and our world has always suffered with such catastrophes, and always will.
In his explanation, Paul refers to three events that must occur before the judgments of the day of the LORD can take place. They are, first, “The apostasy” (verse 3), or, “falling away”, which means “the deliberate abandonment of”, or “departure from” a professed position or belief, in this case “Christianity”.
Secondly, there will be a revealing of “The Man of Lawlessness”, in the Greek, “ho anthropos tes anomias”, or “The Antichrist” (verses 3-4, 8) who will be fully characterized by his lawlessness, and particularly by his sin, and complete active violation of all moral principles known to man.
And then finally, there will be a removal of restraints by the HOLY SPIRIT, which had been keeping this personified antichrist at bay. Here Paul paints a picture of a man who will be completely energized by satan, and who will lead mankind into a final, but futile rebellion against the GOD of Heaven. In fact, he will exalt himself above everything that is called god, and even set himself up in the Christian church itself, to be worshiped. In effect, Paul is telling the Church that the end is not here until all three events have come to pass.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, Paul urges the church to stand firm and rejoice in their salvation, and, when CHRIST does come, they will rejoice with HIM in HIS glory. He also advises them to do the things that they had been taught in the beginning, which are right according to the LORD, and to continue to do them, even when times become difficult.
A person’s best response to difficult times is to persist in doing that which is right in the eyes of the LORD. We must show confidence in GOD’s love and long-term, eternal commitment to us. Paul was not relying on the Thessalonians’ inherent power to do what is right, but rather, he was relying on their confidence in GOD, to work in them, through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, which is given to all Christians, because they believe on CHRIST JESUS.
The SPIRIT and the Bride (the Christian Church) say come. But the lure of this world and satan say the same. The HOLY SPIRIT in us will always try to compel us toward CHRIST. However, the “sin nature” in us will always try and tug us back toward the World. That battle within us, between “the reason to do right” and “the passion to want to do wrong” stays with us long after we accept the gift of salvation. However, through our strength in CHRIST, we can successfully overcome the gravitational pull of this world, just as HE did, and find ourselves in “the ultimate happy ending” that has been prepared for us by GOD, since the foundation of this world.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday July 18, 2010
_____________________________________________
STANDING FIRM
(Hold fast to the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST)
(2 Thessalonians 2)
In 2 Thessalonians 2, verses 1-12, the Apostle Paul writes of eschatological truths that aren’t revealed to us anywhere else in scripture. Here he deals with the doctrinal errors concerning “the last days”, which, had infiltrated the Christian Church at Thessalonica, during its infancy. These doctrinal errors were the root cause of some of the practical errors that Paul would later address in chapter 3 of this epistle.
New Christians, naturally, tend to be somewhat more vulnerable to false teachings because they have not yet had a chance to ground themselves in the truths of the Holy GOD’s scriptures. However, any Christian, especially in this day and time, is subject to be misled by the many charismatic personalities that come to us live, and through various mediums, seeking only to make a buck off the gullibility of those of us who refuse to read GOD’s word for themselves. These days, perhaps more so than in any other era of human existence, professed Christians must have an experiential, private, personal relationship with GOD if we are to navigate safely through the luciferic attractions of this world.
As I mentioned in the last installment, false rumors had been circulating through the church saying that Paul had identified the hardship and tribulations that the church was going through, as “The Last Days”, or, the onset of the “Day of the LORD”, an Old Testament phrase that is used in prophecy to indicate a series of events associated with the “end times”, or the end of the world as we know it.
Here Paul explains and cautions that the Thessalonians must not fall prey to such false teachings that were apparently coming to them from various sources that appeared to be authoritative. These confusing and erroneous messages made it hard for the Thessalonians to distinguish the biblical warnings from the current troubles that they were experiencing. In others words, just like in today’s society, they were confusing the “news” of current events, such as earthquakes, wars, and other natural and man-made disasters as a sign that the end is here. But in reality these things are just news and our world has always suffered with such catastrophes, and always will.
In his explanation, Paul refers to three events that must occur before the judgments of the day of the LORD can take place. They are, first, “The apostasy” (verse 3), or, “falling away”, which means “the deliberate abandonment of”, or “departure from” a professed position or belief, in this case “Christianity”.
Secondly, there will be a revealing of “The Man of Lawlessness”, in the Greek, “ho anthropos tes anomias”, or “The Antichrist” (verses 3-4, 8) who will be fully characterized by his lawlessness, and particularly by his sin, and complete active violation of all moral principles known to man.
And then finally, there will be a removal of restraints by the HOLY SPIRIT, which had been keeping this personified antichrist at bay. Here Paul paints a picture of a man who will be completely energized by satan, and who will lead mankind into a final, but futile rebellion against the GOD of Heaven. In fact, he will exalt himself above everything that is called god, and even set himself up in the Christian church itself, to be worshiped. In effect, Paul is telling the Church that the end is not here until all three events have come to pass.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, Paul urges the church to stand firm and rejoice in their salvation, and, when CHRIST does come, they will rejoice with HIM in HIS glory. He also advises them to do the things that they had been taught in the beginning, which are right according to the LORD, and to continue to do them, even when times become difficult.
A person’s best response to difficult times is to persist in doing that which is right in the eyes of the LORD. We must show confidence in GOD’s love and long-term, eternal commitment to us. Paul was not relying on the Thessalonians’ inherent power to do what is right, but rather, he was relying on their confidence in GOD, to work in them, through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, which is given to all Christians, because they believe on CHRIST JESUS.
The SPIRIT and the Bride (the Christian Church) say come. But the lure of this world and satan say the same. The HOLY SPIRIT in us will always try to compel us toward CHRIST. However, the “sin nature” in us will always try and tug us back toward the World. That battle within us, between “the reason to do right” and “the passion to want to do wrong” stays with us long after we accept the gift of salvation. However, through our strength in CHRIST, we can successfully overcome the gravitational pull of this world, just as HE did, and find ourselves in “the ultimate happy ending” that has been prepared for us by GOD, since the foundation of this world.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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