Study today's Bible passages and review the Explore the Bible Leader
Guide.
Commit to the Lord (Matt. 3:13-17)
Ask learners to read Matthew 3:13-17. Identify John the Baptist
as Jesus’ cousin, and note that John the Baptist preached a baptism of
repentance. Note that Jesus’ baptism had a different purpose—to fulfill all
righteousness (Matt. 3:15). Have learners underline this phrase in their Bibles
or Sunday School books.
Say: John MacArthur
listed four ways that Christ’s baptism fulfilled all righteousness:
It pictured His death and resurrection (Luke 12:50).
It prefigured Christian baptism.
It marked his first public identification with those
whose sins He would bear (Isa. 53:11; 1 Pet. 3:18).
It affirmed His Messiahship publicly by testimony from
heaven (Matt. 3:17).
Source: MacArthur, John (2007).
The MacArthur New Testament Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson
Publishers.
Read the following article:
Addiction Cost Former Pastor His Wife
HOUSTON (BP)-—Back in 2000, Darrell Allen’s
once-prosperous business was sputtering. Creditors and suppliers were
hounding Allen and his business partners about outstanding debts. The
business partners wanted to weather the storm. Allen wanted a way out.
Looking for a place to escape his mounting woes and
determined creditors, he found refuge in an odd place for a former Southern
Baptist minister: a strip club near his office in Houston.
“Probably the
first step was needing to escape where no one would find me,” Allen
recalled. “The first time I walked in there I saw this big wall with
big-screen TVs, different sporting events on each one. I had a couple of
drinks and got lost to the world.”
“I knew I was in
a place I shouldn't be,” Allen said. “It became easier for me to walk into
that place. I’ve got a pretty outgoing personality, and pretty soon I knew
the waitresses, I knew the dancers. They would invite me to lunch sometimes.
It was a place where I would get away from another place that was very
uncomfortable.”
Allen, 45, had
become a Christian in high school and served years ago on the staff of
Lazybrook Baptist Church in Houston; strip clubs and pornography were not
part of his life during his ministry.
“It was
different then,” he said. “I never went to those places.”
After the pastor
of the church left for another pastorate, Allen entered the business world
and made enough money for him and his wife to travel often and not worry
much about bills. It seemed a good life, he said.
When that
changed, “All of the sudden you’ve got a business struggling. I allowed a
lot of outside pressure to build up that I didn’t address that I should have
addressed.”
It became common
for Allen to schedule his day around hitting the strip club; he even worked
harder to have money to spend there, all the while knowing he should be home
with his wife or working, he said.
He spent an
entire workday at the club once, and after discovering Internet pornography,
which became an addiction, he said he would escape there too—sometimes for
four or five hours continuously.
“It’s amazing
how much you can find on the Web without spending a penny,” said Allen, who
has since lost his wife to another man after his restoration process had
begun with his church. Allen and his former wife had no children; she has
remarried and is pregnant with a second child with her second husband.
“I remember looking at it and imagining and
fantasizing and thinking, ‘I can’t do this.’ But as the pressures mounted, I
would either walk into the strip club or look at the pornography online. It
was a great big rock rolling downhill. Once it started, it was hard to
stop.”
Source: Pierce, Jerry (2007, July 6).
Addiction cost former pastor his wife. Retrieved August 27, 2007,
from www.bpnews.net.
Ask:
How did Allen’s commitment to God affect his ability
to resist temptation?
What pressures resulted in the temptations that
plagued this former pastor?
What type of commitment could have prevented Allen’s
yielding to the temptations?
Why is it important that Jesus’ ministry began with a
commitment to God’s will for His life?
How does Jesus’ baptism provide hope for us that God
will assist us in resisting temptation and fulfilling His will in our
lives?
Focus on God's Word (Matt. 4:1-4)
Ask learners to read Matthew 4:1-4 and
pretend they are writing a movie billing to describe an upcoming movie titled
The Temptations of Jesus. Encourage them to write a short blurb about
each of the following:
The setting
The protagonist (Jesus)
The antagonist (Satan)
The supporting cast (angels, Matt. 4:11)
The plot
Emphasize that the first temptation, “If you are the Son
of God, tell these stones to become bread” (v. 3), was not a question of whether
Jesus was God’s son. The type of sentence used in the Greek language literally
would render the translation, Since you are the Son of God. Satan did
not question Jesus’ identity; rather, he tempted Him to misuse His authority as
God’s Son for His own benefit.
Identify Jesus’ response as a quotation of Deuteronomy
8:3. From His response, we can see that Jesus:
regularly and
intensively studied the Scriptures;
memorized
Scripture;
and knew how to
apply Scripture.
Ask:
What steps
should a person take to gain a comprehensive understanding of Scripture?
How would you
rate your commitment to Scripture memorization?
What is the
difference between knowing Scripture and knowing how to apply it?
Say: Dr. Charles Stanley emphasizes that
one of the key problems with temptation is that people rationalize it in order
to ignore or minimize the potential dangers of temptation. Some of these common
rationalizations include:
I want it.
I must have it now.
If it feels this good, how can it be wrong?
It doesn’t matter—what my spouse doesn’t know won’t
hurt him.
Source: Stanley, Charles (2007,
September). Temptations of the Heart. HomeLife, 27. (Adapted from
“The Process of Temptation” and “The Struggle with Temptation” by Dr.
Charles Stanley, In Touch, March 2007).
Using the blurbs they have just written about the temptations of Jesus
based on today’s verses, ask:
Taking each
rationalization one at a time, how would the plot have changed if Jesus
had focused on rationalizations instead of Scripture?
Can you think
of specific Scriptures that would refute each of the rationalizations
given to us by Dr. Stanley?
What are some
of the greatest temptations people in your social world face?
What Scriptures
help keep you centered on God instead of rationalizations?
Recognize What God Wants (Matt. 4:5-7)
Enlist a volunteer to read Matthew 4:5-7.
Ask:
Why did the
Devil quote Scripture to Jesus?
Though he
quoted the Scriptures accurately, how did he misinterpret them?
Say: Satan aptly quoted the Scripture, but he encouraged Jesus
to tempt the Lord rather than trust Him, which is the original meaning of the
passage. Satan quoted Psalm 91:11-12, while Jesus corrected his intentions with
Deuteronomy 6:16.
Summarize this news release from a local TV station in Orlando, Florida:
Father: God Told Me To Sacrifice Wife, Children
A man sentenced to 90 years in prison for attempting to
set his Orlando home on fire with his family sleeping inside said God
commanded him to sacrifice his wife and children, according to a Local 6
News report.
Hans Missal, 51, admitted to dousing his Orlando home
with gasoline last March. Missal also duct-taped the doors shut and ran a
hose from the house to a car tailpipe while his wife, son and daughter slept
before he attempted to set the structure on fire.
Tuesday, Missal said he was following God’s
orders. Missal compared himself to the Bible’s Abraham, who was commanded by
God to sacrifice his own son, and said he received a message from God to
kill his entire family, Local 6 News reported.
“God had a plan for my family, I had no idea
what that plan was,” Missal said. “I trusted God and God was faithful to the
end.”
Missal said God stopped the sacrifice by waking up the
family before he set the house on fire.
“I know that God was putting me through a test,” Missal
said. “He said, ‘Do you love your family?’ And absolutely, I love them more
than anything in this world.”
“Missal understands why people may think he is mentally
ill,” Local 6 reporter Mike DeForest said. “But he said it was all God’s
plan for him to serve the next 90 years in prison.”
He also said it was God’s plan for his wife and children
to endure such mental anguish. “I know too many children who have easy lives
and they suffer for that,” Missal said.
“So, this was to make your kid stronger?” DeForest said.
“It was not to make my kid stronger, but they will be
stronger because of it,”Missal said.
Source: DeForest, Mike (2006, April 16).
Father: God Told Me To Sacrifice Wife, Children. Retrieved August 27, 2007,
from www.local6.com.
Ask:
How might Satan
have misused the passage about Abraham and Isaac to Missal?
How should one
properly interpret the Genesis 22 passage, and how would one know that
Missal was wrong in what he did?
What steps
should we take in Bible study to safeguard against misinterpretations?
How can we
recognize God’s desires through the Scripture?
Say: Recognizing and being determined to stay true to what God
wants us to be and do will help us resist any temptation.
Refuse to Compromise (Matt. 4:8-11)
Ask learners to read Matthew 4:8-11. Note that though Satan is
the “ruler of this world” (John 12:31) and the “god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4),
the earth belongs to the Lord (Psa. 24:1).
Ask:
How did Satan
promise more than he could deliver?
In what other
ways have you seen Satan promise more than he could deliver?
Why did Jesus
choose Deuteronomy 6:13 to respond to Satan’s promise?
What might have
been the result if Jesus had compromised?
Ask learners to read the article about quarterback Michael Vick:
Falcon’s Owner: Vick Indictment Will Not Compromise Team
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said today that facts
— and not emotions — are needed in pursuing a course of action following
quarterback Michael Vick’s indictment on dogfighting charges.
Blank declined to say whether he envisions Vick playing
for the Falcons again. He said that right now the allegations are unproven
criminal charges, and the legal process has to be respected.
Blank said the team had suggested a four-game suspension
by the NFL but is satisfied with action taken by Commissioner Roger Goodell,
who has ordered Vick yesterday to stay away from the team’s training camp
until a league review of the charges against him is completed.
Blank noted at a news conference this afternoon that
Goodell has instructed the Falcons not to take any unilateral action on
Vick’s status pending the league review.
He said the team needed to prepare for the possibility
that Vick’s absence “may run into the regular season,” and said that the
Falcon organization “can’t allow it to disrupt what the Falcon’s are trying
to achieve on the field and in the community.”
“We are committed to doing the right thing on and off the
field,” Blank said. “No one will compromise what we stand for.”
Source: Associated Press (2007, July
24). Falcon's Owner: Vick Indictment Will Not Compromise Team. Retrieved
August 27, 2007, from www.foxnews.com.
Ask:
How has Vick’s alleged compromise of the team’s
values affected others on the team?
How might it affect him in the future?
Can we compromise our convictions without affecting
others?
Jesus referred to worshiping God alone as the answer
to Satan’s temptation to compromise. How does true worship help us avoid
compromise?
Conclude by reminding learners that Jesus faced real
temptations in this passage and elsewhere (see Matt16:21-23). But according to
Hebrews 4:15, He “has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.”
Say: He remained sinless because He
followed the four important principles discussed in this lesson: He was
committed to God; He focused on God’s Word; He recognized what God wanted; and
He refused to compromise.
Ask these questions for personal reflection:
Which of these principles needs to be strengthened in
your life?
What will you do differently this week as a result of
this lesson?
Remind learners “we can approach the throne of grace with
boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper
time” (Heb. 4:16). Close the session by dividing learners into pairs to pray for
their personal struggles with temptation and their new commitments to live by
the principles that enabled Jesus to resist temptation.
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
September 9, 2007
Feeling Anxious About the Future
Dana Armstrong
Daniel 2:1-3,27-29a,36-44
Before the Session
Download the Don't
Worry handout, and copy it to cardstock for each class member.
Daniel 2:1-3,27-29a
Enlist a volunteer to read Daniel 2:1-3.
Say: In today’s verses, King
Nebuchadnezzar had had dreams that so troubled him, he could not sleep. Anxiety
overtook him, and he could not rest until he knew the meaning of this dream.
Disturbed, restless, and anxious, Nebuchadnezzar demanded that his wise men
reveal both the dream and its interpretation. If they were unable to do this,
Nebuchadnezzar declared harsh consequences would await them: “You will be torn
limb from limb, and your houses will be made a garbage dump (v. 5).”
Nebuchadnezzar thought he was anxious, but imagine how the wise men must have
felt! However, rewards awaited the ones who could give the king what he wanted:
“But if you make the dream and its interpretation known to me, you’ll receive
gifts, a reward, and great honor from me. So make the dream and its
interpretation known to me” (v. 6). The Babylonians believed the gods sent
messages through dreams.
Emphasize that the term Chaldeans referred to a
category of wise men, not to the people of Babylonia.
Ask:
Why did King
Nebuchadnezzar go to the Chaldean’s to find out the meaning of his
dreams?
What causes you
to be anxious or to have sleepless nights?
Where or to
whom do people usually turn when they are anxious or stressed about the
future?
Where do you
turn when you are anxious about your future?
Say: King Nebuchadnezzar was a man
without hope and a man without a relationship with the true and living God.
Unfortunately, he soon realized he also was a man without people around him who
could help him with understanding his dream. When the conjurers, sorcerers and
other wise men came before the king, they asked him to tell them the dream
first. Then they would interpret it for him. Had they forgotten the sequence of
events the king had demanded—tell me the dream and then interpret it? Had they
forgotten that if they didn’t follow the king’s orders exactly they would be
torn limb from limb? While this seems to be an unreasonable, gruesome
punishment, dismembering enemies was a common practice at that time. Although
the Chaldeans knew they should take Nebuchadnezzar’s threats seriously, they did
not know how they were going to fulfill the king’s demand. The Chaldeans said,
“What the king is asking is so difficult that no one can make it known to him
except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals” (v. 11). The king became so
angry that he commanded that all the wise men in Babylon be executed.
Ask:
Did the
Chaldeans have reason to be anxious about the future? Explain your
answer.
After reading
verse 11, why do you think God chose not to allow the Chaldeans to be
able to interpret the dream?
Say: Daniel asked Arioch, the captain of
the king’s guard, what was happening. After Arioch explained everything, Daniel
went before the king and requested more time to interpret his dream. Daniel went
to his friends—Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—and told them the situation. He
told his friends to pray for God to intercede and give them knowledge and
understanding of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Because of their faith, God revealed
the meaning of the king’s dream to Daniel. Note that Daniel didn’t immediately
go to the king with the interpretation. He first took time to praise the God of
heaven.
Ask:
Why do you
think King Nebuchadnezzar was willing to grant Daniel more time when
frustration and anger had just caused him to order the death of all the wise
men?
Who was under
pressure to perform—Daniel or God? Explain your answer.How do you react
when faced with situations that cause stress and anxiety?
What can we
learn about dealing with anxiety about the future from the example of
Daniel and his friends?
When God
answers your prayers or makes a way where there seems to be no way, do
you stop and praise God passionately as Daniel did?
Enlist a volunteer to read Daniel 2:27-29a.
Say:
Verse 29a reads, “Your Majesty, while you were in your bed thoughts came to your
mind about what will happen in the future.” Nebuchadnezzar was worried about
what would happen in the future, so he turned to magicians, enchanters,
sorcerers, and astrologers for answers. Like Nebuchadnezzar, we must realize
that human wisdom cannot sufficiently discern God’s plans, for only God knows
what the will happen in the future. If we allow it, worry will control our
lives.
Read the
following article about worry:
Surrounded by Worry
Do you ever
worry? No, I mean really worry – to the point of losing sleep or developing
an ulcer, a headache, or high blood pressure? The word worry comes
from an old Anglo-Saxon word meaning “to choke” or “to strangle.” That’s an
apt description of what worry does to us.
And it not only
has physical consequences, it has spiritual ones as well. In the end, worry
won’t stretch our savings account or keep cancer or job loss at bay. But it
will sour our mood and eventually stifle our relationship with God. Giving
up the debilitating influence of worry is one big step toward a life
well-lived.
Worry Types
Worry is primarily based on fear and uncertainty. It’s
the anxiety caused when we think we might lose something important to us.
Sometimes it’s obvious: You’re worried about losing your job; you’re worried
about losing a relationship; you’re worried you’re losing your mind. At
other times, the potential loss is a little trickier to identify: You’re
afraid because you’re losing the ability to control a situation; you’re
anxious about the future; you’re afraid of losing a dream.
Though the roots of worrying are the same, worriers
come in many shapes and sizes. Some are casual worriers to whom worrying is
more of a hobby. Others have become full-time professionals at this deadly
game. See if you qualify for any of these:
Mayday worriers. Life is full of
risks, and weighing risks is an important part of decision-making. But
scaring ourselves by dwelling on remote or unlikely risks and anticipating
the worst-case scenario in every situation is a surefire prescription for
sleepless nights and anxious days. Mayday worriers continually live as if
their plane is going down and no one is responding on the radio.
Yesterday worriers. These are the
people who can’t get past their mistakes of the past. They suffer from the
“shoulda-coulda-woulda” syndrome – “I shoulda known that would happen.” “I
coulda prepared for that better.” “I woulda pursued that other lead.”
The events of yesterday can give us the wisdom to make
better choices today, but none of us possess the power to take back a
careless word, undo a careless act, or unthink a hurtful thought. Yesterday
worrying is perhaps the most futile category.
Someday worriers. Speculation about
what might happen is futile. Tomorrow belongs to God. It’s completely His,
with all its possibilities, burdens, perils, promise, and potential. It may
be ours in time, but for right now, it’s His. Therefore, there’s no need for
us to worry about what’s not even ours yet.
Source: Rowell, Ed. Surrounded by
Worry. Retrieved August 27, 2007, from
www.lifeway.com.
Ask:
Into which
category of worrying do you fit?
How has
worrying impacted your life? Your peace of mind? Your contentment?
Pass out copies of the Don't
Worry handout. Read the Scripture as the class follows along. Encourage
learners to meditate on these verses during the week.
Say: This Scripture clearly explains what we are to worry
about—nothing! We may not know what the future holds, but as Christians, we know
who holds the future. God is in control; He is aware of every situation and need
in our lives. We must focus on seeking His kingdom and His righteousness,
placing our trust in God, and God will take care of our needs and concerns.
Daniel 2:36-43
Enlist a volunteer to read Daniel 2:36-43.
Say: Daniel revealed to the king the dream and its meaning in
great detail. The interpretation was not good news for King Nebuchadnezzar and
his successors, for Daniel explained that each empire succeeding
Nebuchadnezzar’s would be weaker than the previous. But Nebuchadnezzar did not
retaliate against Daniel. Although Babylon was the world’s superpower,
Nebuchadnezzar was informed that empires would rise and fall.
Explain that Christians must realize that the world’s superpowers are not here
to stay; even the societies that seem to be most stable politically and
economically are only temporary in God’s economy. Christians must remember that
all power, even that given to leaders, comes from God. God is sovereign, and He
is working to bring His plan to completion.
Ask:
After reading
these verses, are you anxious about the future of the United States, the
world’s current superpower?
How does
knowing God controls history (past, present, and future) help you avoid
anxiety about the future?
Daniel 2:44
Ask a volunteer to read Daniel 2:44.
Say: Daniel revealed to Nebuchadnezzar
that God would establish another kingdom that would endure forever, one that
would not be destroyed or turned over to other rulers. No human kingdom would
compare.
Explain that after he realized he had just heard the truth, King Nebuchadnezzar
fell down and paid homage to Daniel (Dan. 2:46). More importantly, he realized
Daniel’s God was “indeed God of gods, Lord of kings, and a revealer of
mysteries” because He had enabled Daniel to reveal and interpret the dream (Dan.
2:47).
Read the following article:
It’s Never
Too Late To Experience Adventure, Become “Kingdom Person,” Hemphill Says
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. -- Too many
Christians miss out on the joy and fulfillment of being God's people when
they could be part of His supernatural work -- transforming lives and
revealing His glory to a lost world.
Ken Hemphill believes more Christians should experience
the life-changing power of understanding God's purpose in history and
finding the part He wants them to play in His kingdom.
Hemphill, former president of Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, is the national strategist for
Empowering Kingdom Growth, a joint initiative of the Southern Baptist
Convention and LifeWay Christian Resources.
Understanding God's kingdom -- and what it means to be part of it -- is
the key that unlocks the spirit of God and helps Christians discover God's
purpose for their lives, Hemphill said.
"Kingdom questions are among the most important a Christian will ever
face," he said. "Few are more crucial to our understanding of why we're here
and what we should be doing with the brief time God has given us."
A DAILY REALITY
Being God's people means aligning our hearts with God's, Hemphill said,
yet too few Christians experience His power in their daily lives.
"Knowing what truly ignites the heart of God is something we desperately
need to understand, yet we have such a hard time recognizing it. We don't
always know it when we see it. We don't always live by it when we do. And we
don't always realize it when we're missing it," he said.
Living and serving in the kingdom of God is exciting and
life-changing, he said. "It will impact every area of your personal life.
Even standing in line at the checkout counter no longer seems like a humdrum
waste of time but potentially a kingdom opportunity."
The greatest shame is for Christians to live out their days without ever
experiencing what God had in mind for them, Hemphill added.
"A lot is at stake if we fail to grasp the meaning of the kingdom for
us," he said. "We miss the joy of participating in God's supernatural work,
the exhilarating freedom that comes from radical obedience, the opportunity
to experience God's abundant provision. Saddest of all, we miss God's
purpose for our lives.
"Whatever our situation, wherever we are, however we feel about our
relationship with God, it is never too late to discover what it would mean
to be a kingdom person -- and to experience the adventure of a lifetime."
THE QUEST OF A LIFETIME
Obeying Jesus' admonition to seek the kingdom first (Matt. 6:33) is the
quest of a lifetime and the key to finding one's purpose on earth, Hemphill
said, adding that a Christian in search of God's kingdom must travel the
pages of the Bible.
"We see God's kingdom best by opening our Bibles and letting God speak to
us through the pages of His story, through the lives of His people and
through the love of His Son," Hemphill said. "But we aren't inventing a new
model or lifestyle. We're building on what God already has shown us.
"That's because the kingdom has always been there. The kingdom has been
God's plan and purpose for all eternity, and He has painted it from one
corner of the Scripture to the other.
"The kingdom has always been central to our relationship with God, for it
has always been his means of relating to us," Hemphill said. "His purpose
has always been to raise up a people who would embrace His mission, embody
His name and obey His word."
'THE ONLY REALITY THERE IS'
A singular focus on God's kingdom clarifies a Christian's calling,
invigorates everyday life and deepens one's relationship with God and
others, Hemphill said. Wholehearted investment in God's kingdom changes the
world.
"When I think about the impact that faithful obedience to God's Word
could have on our world, I am overwhelmed," he said. "You become an
instrument in the hand of the sovereign God of the universe.
"To live with this kind of kingdom focus is not merely one choice among a
long list of priority-setting options and life-management techniques. For
the believer in Christ, living in the kingdom is the only reality there is.
"The kingdom of God is everything. And living in the
kingdom is God's purpose for you. For me. And for all of God's people."
Source: Kelly,
Mark. It’s Never Too Late to Experience Adventure, Become “Kingdom
Person,” Hemphill Says. Retrieved August 27, 2007, from
www.lifeway.com.
Ask:
How do worry
and anxiety divert our attention from what is important?
What kingdom
opportunities has God given you that you had not recognized prior to
reading this article?
What are you
doing to allow God’s kingdom to be expressed in your daily life?
What is our
responsibility according to Matthew 6:10? According to Matthew 6:33?
What steps will
you take this week to worry less and to become more responsible based on
the instructions in Matthew 6:10,33?
Close with prayer, challenging learners to become kingdom
people instead of worrywarts.
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.
