Bring or ask someone to bring a portable CD player and praise CD.
Hang the poster (pack item 19, Leader Pack).
Rejoice over the Savior (Zech. 9:9; 12:10)
As an introductory activity, guide adults to write a
response under “Reasons for Joy” on the markerboard as the praise music is
played.
Ask:
Do the nitty-gritty problems of life get you down? Do daily cares and
responsibilities cause you to be joyless sometime?
Are most people you meet full of joy? Why not?
Read the following article about Laura West, founder
of Center for Joyful Business. “She provides inspiration, resources, and
perspectives to women entrepreneurs who are creating Passion, Purpose and
Prosperity in their work and life.”
Joyful Business Guides are being delivered around
the world!
The Joyful Business Guides are being delivered around
the world - all over the United States, Canada and even as far away as
Singapore! Businesses and lives are changing as these business owners
embrace a new way of doing business using joy [as] their guiding light. The
system uses the law of attraction principles and tools so that business is
exciting, inspiring and authentically in alignment with their true way of
being a business.
Here are a sampling of comments I’ve received from
voice mails, emails and conversations . . .
"I’m going to have to repaint my office to match the
beauty of my new Joyful Business Guide™!" . . . .
"It’s so full of ABUNDANCE! I find myself having to
take just a nibble . . . take one thing out and look at it and take another
bite . . . just like rich Belgium chocolates!"
"It’s so amazing and beautiful. I couldn’t wait to show
it to my mastermind colleagues. I was really excited to show them each piece
and see them ooh and aahh. They all can’t wait to get their own copy too!"
"I’m getting ready to meet my husband for lunch and I’m
so inspired! I can’t wait to show him all the gorgeous tools. I’ve got so
many ideas running through my head just from opening the box that I’ll never
be able to eat lunch!"
"Opening the box feels really sacred. Truly like I am
embracing a new way of being in my business."
"I loved that right on top is a letter from you telling
me where to start! I don’t feel like I’m alone in creating my Joyful
Business Guide™"
"Well I can just throw my afternoon plans out the
window . . . I just got my Joyful Business Guide™ and all I want to do is
unwrap the tools and think about what I’m creating!"
"From the moment it arrived in its box on the front
porch I felt lighter and well . . . more joyful. It was such fun to open the
box . . . in fact I kept the box around for a few days so I could
re-experience the pulling things out. It is so bountiful! I love ALL the
STUFF!!!"
"We have set aside the week of June 30-July 6 to be
my/our joyful biz guide week. I’m looking forward to playing with all of the
tools myself…taking it to the next level and then . . . well we’ll see what
happens won’t we????
"I followed your directions inside my box and claimed
my Joyful Business Guide™ by putting my name on the front. I couldn’t
believe how nervous I was – and you knew it – and led the way making it ok
to make a mess. Letting me know that business is messy and it’s part of the
process! Thanks!"
You can get your own Joyful Business Guide and still
get the introductorypricingat $159 -
throughJune28only. And then the price will go up
to $249.00 - so order yours now!
What do you think of selling joy? Is the price reasonable?
How is this joy different from the joy referred to in the Bible?
Say: In our last study of Zechariah we’ll examine
verses that refer to Christ’s first and second coming and we’ll discover reasons
for joy.
Enlist a volunteer to read Zechariah 9:9 and another to
read 12:10. Tell learners “Daughter Zion” and “Daughter Jerusalem” refer to
the whole nation of Israel as do “house of David” and “residents of Jerusalem”
(Bible Knowledge Commentary, 1562-1563).
Ask:
Why were the people to rejoice and shout in triumph?
How is the King described? (Point out that in Zechariah’s day, Judah had
no king but only a governor.)
Why would a victorious King ride on a donkey? When did Christ do this?
(The Triumphal Entry, today celebrated as Palm Sunday.) Note: “In the
ancient Near East if a king came in peace, he would ride on a donkey
instead of on a war stallion” (Bible Knowledge Commentary, 1563).
In Zechariah 12:10, what word refers to Christ’s crucifixion?
How does the reality of His wounds and suffering make you feel?
Point out that Zechariah 12:10 refers to Israel (and
perhaps all nations) looking at the Messiah in the future. They will be overcome
with grief that they rejected Him and failed to believe the gospel. But good
news follows in the next chapter.
Rejoice over Cleansing (Zech. 13:1,7-9)
Enlist another volunteer to read Zechariah 13:1,7-9,
as learners listen for the good news.
Ask:
What is the good news? (They will be cleansed of their sin.)
Listen to the following article about cleansing:
Washing Our Sins Away -- Literally?
Germs may not be the only things you're
washing away at the sink. Washing one's hands may also give the feeling of
washing away your sins or cleansing a dirty conscience, reveals a new report
in the journal Science.
Physical cleanliness is linked to moral
or spiritual cleanliness in religions and cultures worldwide. Scientists
have finally put that concept to the test and have found that physical and
moral purity are indeed psychologically intertwined -- and sometimes even
interchangeable.
"Showering -- a simple everyday
activity -- is linked to morality in a way we never knew," said study
co-author Katie Liljenquist of Northwestern University. Liljenquist and her
colleagues were inspired to research the phenomenon of the sense of linkage
between physical cleanliness and morality after remarking that movie
characters almost always showered after committing a heinous crime.
. . . The researchers first asked a
group of 60 college students to concentrate on either something ethical or
unethical that they had done in the past. Students who remembered their own
unethical behavior were more likely to act as if they felt unclean. For
example, the "unethical memory" students were more likely to say that the
unfinished word "W _ _ H" was "WASH" instead of "WISH." And they were more
likely to see "S _ _ P" as "SOAP" instead of "SOUP" or "STEP."
In another similar experiment, 32 other
students also were asked to remember some ethical or unethical action from
their past. Each student then got a choice of two free gifts: a pencil or an
antiseptic wipe. Sixty-six percent of the students who said they had
recalled an unethical memory took the antiseptic wipe, as if they wanted to
wipe their hands -- and perhaps their conscience -- clean. Only 33 percent
of the students who said they had conjured up an ethical memory took the
wipe.
Just like committing murder drove Lady
Macbeth to wash her hands compulsively in William Shakespeare's play,
unethical acts or even unethical thoughts give us "a dirty feeling. We need
to get that feeling off of us. Get that grime away," Liljenquist said. "It's
interesting that [showering or washing] can compensate for moral
indiscretion," she said . . .
In this experiment, students first
remembered an unethical deed, and then either washed their hands or did not.
Finally they were asked to help out a desperate graduate student -- by
volunteering for another research study without pay.
Those who had been unable to "wash
their sins away" with water were more likely to volunteer to help the needy
student, the study found. Seventy-four percent of those who had not washed
their hands offered to help, while only 41 percent of the participants who
had washed their hands did.
Zhong cautions that the study does not
mean everyone should wash their hands more often to become more moral, or
that those with less-than-perfect hygiene might have less-than-perfect moral
slates. The association is interesting, though . . .
Say: Even though a little soap and water might make
us feel better about our bad deeds and attitudes, God’s cleansing of sin is
absolutely necessary for salvation. On that future day of the Lord the Jewish
nation and all of God’s people will have access to God’s cleansing. (See
Leader’s Guide p. 106.)
Ask:
What gives cause for rejoicing in verse 1?
What were the consequences of “striking the Shepherd” who is Jesus?
(Turning His hand against the little ones may refer to persecution of
Jewish Christians in the book of Acts.
After two-thirds of the people die, how will the one-third, or remnant,
be refined and tested? (Here Zechariah has switched to the second
coming. The people will be refined by the tribulation and God’s
judgment.
When has God refined or tested your character?
How might that testing affect your relationship with God? (See the last
part of verse 9.)
Rejoice over the Coming King (Zech. 14:3-4,5b-9)
Option: If you have a laptop PC with
wireless connection, take the class to “Walk through Jerusalem’s Old City:
Cityscapes” at the Web site http://judaism.about.com/od/jerusalem/ss/oldcity_6,
and show how the Mount of Olives looks today. (Also discover why Jews want to be
buried there.)
Enlist someone to read Zechariah 14:3-4,5b-9 while
all look for the reference to the Mount of Olives.
Ask:
Where was Christ when He ascended? (Acts 1:11-12)? Where will He return?
Do you know anyone who will return with Christ? Who will that group be?
What will be the weather report that day?
What will be the final outcome?
Tell this story:
Hagee, Israel backers push a get-tough policy
WASHINGTON — Inside a reserved Senate room, several
hundred evangelical activists …waited for the arrival of Texas' two
senators. As their leader, Pastor John Hagee, entered the room, they erupted
in cheers, snapping photos of the face of modern Christian Zionism, a
movement that promotes Israel as a biblical mandate. The room turned silent
as Hagee greeted Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn near the stage.
Hagee looked the senators in the eye and said: "These people are from Texas
— and they are voters."
That message came through loud and clear last week as
Hagee and 4,500 like-minded Christians visited the Capitol to lobby for
Israel and a get-tough policy against Iran. Motivating them is their belief
that Israel's fate is tied to that of the free world.
"We didn't come to Washington to figure out what
Washington thinks," Hagee said. "We came to Washington to express our views,
and we came as people. People hold the power in America."
Pastor of the 18,000-member Cornerstone Church in San
Antonio and a world-reknowned TV evangelist, Hagee organized the lobbying
blitz (the second in two years) to try to exert political power in Middle
East policy, including consideration of a pre-emptive strike on Iran.
He founded a non-profit organization, Christians United
for Israel, 18 months ago, to give a louder voice to Christian Zionists, who
are among the 60 million to 100 million evangelicals in the U.S. Many of
them believe they are living in the final days described in prophetic books
of the Bible and that standing with Israel assures them of being on God's
side when it is all said and done.
Known for his fiery apocalyptic sermons and books, such
as "Jerusalem Countdown," Hagee, 67, is no stranger to conservative
Republican politics and mobilizing Christians to vote.
Last week, along with the visit to Congress, CUFI
conducted a three-day summit for 4,500 delegates that included seminars on
the evils of militant Islamic groups, lessons on effective lobbying, the
showing of pro-Israel documentaries, banquets for donors and its signature
event, Night to Honor Israel, which was broadcast on Israeli TV. The
ceremony drew nearly 5,000 participants inside the Washington Convention
Center and 15 protesters outside.
How close are we to the final days when Jesus will come again?
If you knew He would be here next month, what would you do differently?
Referring to the poster, summarize the reasons Zechariah
gave to rejoice.
Read or sing “Rejoice in the Lord Always” (Hymn 433
from The Baptist Hymnal). Pray together thanking God that He will be
victorious and reign over all the earth!
EXTRA! is a supplement designed
to enhance and expand the effectiveness of printed curriculum provided by
LifeWay Church Resources.
EXTRA! is produced by Publishing
Services and Multimedia, LifeWay Church Resources, Copyright 2007, LifeWay
Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
SPECIAL NOTE: Some Internet
addresses given in EXTRA! are outside the LifeWay Internet domain. Because of
the changing nature of the Web, EXTRA! editors cannot be held responsible for
content on pages outside their control. At the time of this posting, the
specific pages mentioned have been viewed and approved by the EXTRA! editorial
staff. However, at the time of your viewing, the information on these pages may
have changed. Links from the specific page addresses referenced in this material
possibly could link to inappropriate material.
EXTRA! Weekly Supplemental Teaching Plans
Adult
Bible Studies for Life
Bible Studies for Life EXTRA
August 5, 2007
When Overwhelmed by Responsibilities
Ashley Linne
1 Kings 3:1-15
1 Kings 3:1-4
Read 1
Kings 3:1-4.
Say:
Solomon had already carried out several difficult decisions as king, but we
later learn that he feels inexperienced in leadership. A burnt offering is
used to worship God and seek His favor and forgiveness. Solomon offered
1,000 burnt offerings, so he must have been pretty serious about seeking the
Lord. Even though he was offering these sacrifices at a “high place” (these
are normally condemned as pagan places of worship) instead of at the Ark in
Jerusalem, God seems to see his heart in the matter and responds to him
there.
Ask:
What sorts
of “sacrifices” might you make or have you made in order to seek the
Lord in a certain situation?
Why do you
think God responded to Solomon?
Read the
following background information:
In ancient
times, a major component of Jewish ritual was the offering of qorbanot. An
entire order of the Talmud (Kodashim, that is, Holy Things) is devoted to
the subject.
The word
"qorbanot" is usually translated as "sacrifices" or "offerings"; however,
both of these terms suggest a loss of something or a giving up of something,
and although that is certainly a part of the ritual, that is not at all the
literal meaning of the Hebrew word. The word qorbanot comes from the root Q
of-Reish-Beit, which means "to draw near," and indicates the primary purpose
of offerings: to draw us near to G-d. (Please see editor's note
below)
Parts of the
rituals involved in the offering of qorbanot were performed exclusively by
the kohanim (priests). These rituals were only performed in the Temple in
Jerusalem. The procedures could not be performed by anyone else, and could
not be performed in any other place.
There are
three basic concepts underlying qorbanot: giving, substitution and coming
closer. The first is the aspect of giving. A qorban requires the
renunciation of something that belongs to the person making the offering.
Thus, sacrifices are made from domestic animals, not wild animals (because
wild animals do not belong to anyone). Likewise, offerings of food are
ordinarily in the form of flour or meal, which requires substantial work to
prepare.
Another
important concept is the element of substitution. The idea is that the thing
being offered is a substitute for the person making the offering, and the
things that are done to the offering are things that should have been done
to the person offering. The offering is in some sense "punished" in place of
the offerer. It is interesting to note that whenever the subject of qorbanot
is addressed in the Torah, the name of G-d used is the four-letter name
indicating G-d's mercy.
The third
important concept is the idea coming closer. The essence of sacrifice is to
bring a person closer to G-d. Contrary to popular belief, the purpose of
qorbanot is not simply to obtain forgiveness from sin. Although many
qorbanot have the effect of expiating sins, there are many other purposes
for bringing qorbanot, and the expiatory effect is often incidental, and is
subject to significant limitations. The purposes of qorbanot are much the
same as the purposes of prayer: we bring qorbanot to praise G-d, to become
closer to Him, to express thanks to G-d, love or gratitude. We bring
qorbanot to celebrate holidays and festivals. Others are used to cleanse a
person of ritual impurity (which does not necessarily have anything to do
with sin). And yes, many qorbanot, like many prayers, are brought for
purposes of atonement.
There are
many different types of qorbanot, and the laws related to them are detailed
and complicated. Perhaps the best-known class of offerings is the burnt
offering. It was the oldest and commonest sacrifice, and represented
submission to G-d's will. The Hebrew word for burnt offering is olah, from
the root Ayin-Lamed-Hei, meaning ascension. It is the same root as the word
aliyah, which is used to describe moving to Israel or ascending to the
podium to say a blessing over the Torah. An olah is completely burnt on the
outer altar; no part of it is eaten by anyone. Because the offering
represents complete submission to G-d's will, the entire offering is given
to G-d (i.e., it cannot be used after it is burnt). It expresses a desire to
commune with G-d, and expiates sins incidentally in the process (because how
can you commune with G-d if you are tainted with sins?). An olah could be
made from cattle, sheep, goats, or even birds, depending on the offerer's
means.
Editor's note: Out of respect to God, the orthodox Jew never says
God's name out loud. Thus, when His name is written, the Orthodox Jew always
leaves out the middle letter so the reader knows to pause at that point
instead of saying the word God. Out of respect for the material
quoted, the author of EXTRA left the material exactly as it was
written in the quote from the website.
1 Kings 3:5-9
Read 1 Kings 3:5-9.
Say: In a dream, God asks Solomon what he is seeking. Notice
that as Solomon responds, he first states what he knows to be true about God’s
character. He knows that God loves him, and trusts that He is concerned with the
things he is experiencing. Solomon feels free to tell God how he is really
feeling, that he feels like a little boy.Solomon
seeks the Lord for an understanding, obedient heart. The Hebrew word he uses to
describe the kind of heart he wants is shama which might sound
familiar—it literally means “to hear, listen to, obey.” Also you might recall
the Shema: “Hear O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord
your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength”
(see Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Solomon knew that loving God and obeying Him would lead
him to discern between good and evil, and help him to lead God’s people in the
right paths.
Ask:
If you are
comfortable, share a time when you felt inadequate, unqualified, or not
good enough. (Depending on responses, you may want to take a good amount
of time to discuss sensitive subjects.)
As a group,
what are some of God’s truths that we can recall when we are feeling
inadequate?
.
1 Kings 3:10-15
Read 1 Kings 3:10-15.
Say: As you can imagine, God was delighted that Solomon asked
for a “Shema heart” instead of all the things he could have asked for—wealth,
success, or long life. Solomon sought first God’s kingdom, and God added all the
other things to Solomon as well. While seeking God doesn’t bring us the riches
it brought Solomon, it brings spiritual blessings beyond the value of all of
Solomon’s treasures: riches in Christ. Note that God did say that the length of
Solomon’s life depended on how he walked with the Lord. As we know, Solomon is
famous not only for his incomparable wisdom and riches, but also for his
hundreds of foreign wives and for eventually following after their gods. His
“Shema heart” became corrupted and divided, leading him to do evil. (See 1 Kings
11 for more on this.) Some scholars believe that Solomon was only about 60 years
old when he died.
Ask:
How can we
be diligent in our resolve to walk in God’s ways? Why can it be so
difficult?
What are
some of the “riches in Christ” that we enjoy as we follow Jesus?
To wrap up your
session, read the following verses to encourage your group to persevere in
seeking a “Shema heart”: "Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead
our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—with the blood of the everlasting
covenant, equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is
pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever"
(Hebrews 13:20-21).
EXTRA! is a supplement designed
to enhance and expand the effectiveness of printed curriculum provided by
LifeWay Church Resources.
EXTRA! is produced by Publishing
Services and Multimedia, LifeWay Church Resources, Copyright 2007, LifeWay
Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
SPECIAL NOTE: Some Internet
addresses given in EXTRA! are outside the LifeWay Internet domain. Because of
the changing nature of the Web, EXTRA! editors cannot be held responsible for
content on pages outside their control. At the time of this posting, the
specific pages mentioned have been viewed and approved by the EXTRA! editorial
staff. However, at the time of your viewing, the information on these pages may
have changed. Links from the specific page addresses referenced in this material
possibly could link to inappropriate material.
