SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON HELPS Homer A. Kent, Th.D. • Allison Arrowood (children) Lesson material is based upon outlines of the International Sunday School Lessons copyrighted by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Aug. 2, 1953 Christian Ideals for Family Living Col. 3:12-4:1 Pointers on the Lesson
Aug. 9, 1953 The Whole Armour of God Eph. 6:10-20; Rom. 14:19-21 Pointers on the Lesson The latter part of the book of Ephe sians, chapters three to ,six, deals with the matter of the believer’s walk. It shows what kind of folks Christians ought to be in their walk before the world. But the question arises in this connection, How is it possible to live like this in a world so full of sin and with the devil going abput all the while seeking to bring de feat to every effort of God’s children to live holy lives? The answer to such a question is found in the chapter we have for this week’s study. God has provided the means for success. He has supplied an armour for every believer which if care fully worn w ill assure victory in the con flict. The Christian Life is a Warfare Eph. 6:10-13 These verses bring forcefully to mind the fact that the Christian has a battle on his hands. This passage sets aside the idea some folks appear to have that when one becomes a Christian all difficulties will be over. Really, on the other hand, the battle just begins when one becomes identified with Christ. He then finds himself face to face with “ the wiles of the devil” (v. 11). He at once engages in a conflict with the arch-enemy of God and of His saints. In view of this fact, every Christian must “ put on the whole armour of God” if he expects to come off the spiritual battlefield the victor. The Christian Life Can be Victorious Eph. 6:14-20 The means for Christian victory is clearly presented in this section. First, the defensive armour is set forth. It in cludes (1) the girdle of truth (v. 14a). This is the living and written Word. They are both shown to be the absolute truth — “ I am . . . the truth . . . thy word is truth” (John 14:6; 17:17). If we are sure of the truth we will not be swept aside by false teaching. We will be able to discern the right. Those who are losing spiritual battles today are not those who are firmly fixed upon the Rock. It also includes (2) the breastplate of righteous ness (v. 14b). This doubtless refers to the believer’s everyday sanctified living. Paul was speaking to those who already pos sessed Christ’s imputed righteousness. He would hardly have exhorted them to put that on. But surely all believers need to be exhorted to practical holiness. Com pare First Peter 2:15. Well-doing is one of the strongest arguments for the reality of Christianity. (3) Next are the sandals of evangelism (v. 15). The word prepara tion here has the idea of readiness. The Christian ought to be ready at all times to proclaim the gospel of peace. The busy believer will not be likely to be overcome If your home has not been a happy one, pray that the Holy Spirit will search your heart to see if you are the reason for the unhappiness. The same Lord who told children to obey and honour their parents can give them the strength to obey that commandment! CONTINUED ► 43
tainly intends that Christians maintain a vital Christian testimony there. Wives need to act toward their husbands “ as it is fit in the Lord” (v. 18). Husbands need to love their wives “ even as Christ also loved the church” (Eph. 5:25). Surely no wife need hesitate to be subject unto such a husband. Children ought to be obedient to their parents. This is pleasing to the Lord (v. 20). On the other hand, fathers (and mothers too) need to be careful not to “ provoke” their children to anger (v. 21). The actions of some parents in the matter of discipline is not conducive to ready obedience. The passage before us also clearly teaches that a con siderate attitude should always prevail be tween workmen and their employers (w . 22ff.). Memory Verse: "Children, obey your par ents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother" (Eph. 6:1, 2a). Is your home a happy place in which to live? If not, perhaps you are one of the reasons why it is not happy! The great missionary, Paul, knew that happy Christian homes are so important that he took time in several of his letters to the early Christians to give some rules for a happy home. One of these rules con cerns boys and girls: “ Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother.” Some times even Christian children get up in the morning feeling “ grumpy” and cross. They are unpleasant at the breakfast table, they complain about having to make their beds or do the morn in g dishes, or hurrying to get to school on time. When it is bedtime they pout because they cannot stay up longer. Seldom do they remember to say “ Please” and “ Thank you” to their parents or their brothers or sisters. They are more polite and cheerful around strangers than they are to members of their own family. When friends who are not Christians watch the lives of Christian boys and girls sometimes they do not see any dif ference in the way in which they act in their home and the way in which those who do not love the Lord Jesus live. Boys and girls who know the Lord Jesus can be a real testimony for Him before their unsaved parents. Many boys and girls have led their parents to the Saviour by being cheerful, helpful, and courteous in their homes. When parents see how the Lord Jesus can change the lives of their children, they know that He has power to change their lives too. Children honour their parents, not only by their actions in the home, but by behaving in their parent’s absence as they have been taught. Others know what sort of parents boys and girls have by the way in which children behave when mother and father are not watching them. Helps for the Children Making Home a Happy Place Eph. 5:25-33; 6:1-9
Paul’s great letter to the Colossians lays emphasis upon the glory of Christ as the head of the church. The keynote of the letter may be found in chapter two, ver ses 9 and 10. In them our attention is called to the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is the fullness of the Godhead and that those who are vitally identified with Him are complete. Those who have Christ lack nothing they really need. The prayer that breathes through the entire epistle is “ that in all things he might have the preeminence” (1:18). Our lesson this week is found in the practical portion of the epistle. As in Ephesians and other epistles of his, Paul first deals with doctrinal matters and then takes up practical applications. He lays a foundation and then builds upon it a superstructure of ideal Christian living. It is first the root and then the fruit. Thus in today’s lesson we have presented the nature of Christian living in several re lationships. In Colossians, chapter 3, the Christian life is described generally as a risen life, verses 1 to 4, negatively as a mortification of the old life, verses 5 to 11, positively as putting on the graces of the new nature, verses 12-17, and rela tively as it manifests itself in family and servant relationships, verses 17 to 4:1. Only the positive and relative aspects are studied today. Christianity a Putting On 3:12-17 Christianity is not only a putting off of evil (w . 5-11). It is also a putting on of the graces of the new life. Note in verses 12 through 15 the nine graces which are mentioned: bowels of compassion, kind ness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long- suffering, forbearing and forgiving, love, peace and thankfulness. In a very true sense every born-again believer has al ready put on the new nature which in cludes the above graces but each believer needs to increasingly realize that these graces belong to his new nature and to allow them to express themselves fully. When all of these graces are fully ex pressed, a mature Christian is evident. The means toward a powerful expres sion of the graces of the new life are found in verses 16 and 17 — the indwel ling Word and service “in the name of the Lord Jesus.” God’s Word is power ful (Heb. 4:12) and if allowed free course in the life will produce marvelous effects. Service in Christ’s name suggests service backed by all for which Christ stands and energized by His power (Matt. 28:20). Christianity a Relationship 3:18-4:1 It is sometimes said that the hardest place to live the Christian life is in the home. However that may be, God cer- J U L Y 1 9 5 3
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