SUN DAY 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. Feb. 6, 1955 The Grace of God 1 John 4:10; Eph. 2:4-9; Tit. 2:11-14 Pointers on the Lesson
money that was to be his and go out into the world. When his money was gone he worked feeding pigs and finally ate the pigs’ food to keep from being hungry. At last the boy thought of his home and the love of his father. He decided to re turn and ask to be made a servant in the home. The father was grieved at the action of his son, but his heart was ready to forgive and love the sinful boy. So great was the joy when the prodigal son returned that a feast was prepared and beautiful clothing was brought for the boy to wear. The boy had never ceased to be his father’s son; but he had lost the joy of being with his father and enjoying his father’s love. Sometimes those who know the Lord Jesus as Saviour sin and wander away from Him and neglect His Word and His house. They are still His children, but they have no joy and no fellowship with Him and with other Christians. Accord ing to John 10:28 and many other verses in the Bible, when one truly receives the Lord Jesus as Saviour and becomes a child of God nothing can cause Him to be lost again. He can lose the joy of his salvation, but he can never lose his salvation! God’s love that sent the Lord Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins also provides security when we are bora again. When we sin after we are saved we need only confess our sins and “ He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Feb. 13, 1955 The New Life in Christ' John 3:5-7; Acts 16:25-34; 2 Cor. 5:17 Pointers on the Lesson The Christian life is a supernatural life. It is the result of a miracle that takes place in a believer’s life. It is not a condition that the individual can bring about by his own efforts. It is God-given. It is closely associated with the doc trines of conversion and regeneration. The Necessity of the New Life John 3:5-7 The double verily of verse 5 points to something very important. If a person is to experience the new life it must come through the purifying influence of the Word and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. The new life is not bora of the flesh but by the Holy Spirit from heaven. The person who desires this life must receive it from above (v. 7). The expression born again literally means born from above. The new life is a heavenly life, therefore it must be received from heaven. The New Life Expressed Acts 16:25-34 The fact that Paul and Silas were new creatures in Christ Jesus caused them to rise above the experiences of persecution. CONTINUED ►
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of helping win thousands of lost youth to Christ. Untold thousands are perish ing— UNTOLD. If we neglect young hearts today, they will break our hearts tomorrow. If you desire to know how you can participate in saving heart-hungry, broken lives in your area and across Americo write:
For sinful man there is no doctrine more attractive than that of the grace of God. It makes possible his salvation no matter how deep-dyed his sin may be. The reason is clear—God is the author of this salvation. Omnipotence is respon sible for it—not puny man with his in effective efforts. Teachers should make it crystal-clear to their scholars that salva tion is all of grace. No work of man has anything to do with it. The Source of Divine Grace 1 John 4:10 Divine grace is an expression of God’s love. Christian love has its source in the heart of God. Man’s salvation comes about through God’s intervention. In no sense is it ever worked up by man. Naturally man does not love God. But in spite of this, God has provided for his salvation by appointing His only Son as the mercy seat where God can meet the sinner in divine forgiveness. Have you been to this mercy seat? The Operation of Grace Eph. 2:4-9 Grace becomes operative in the sinner’s life through faith (v. 8). It is alone through faith, not through any works of righteousness or the observance of any ceremony. Man naturally is spiritually dead (v. 5). But God’s mercy has inter vened and provided a salvation for him who in no way was able to provide for his own salvation. The last verse of this section tells us that God has so arranged this matter in order that man will have no reason to boast. Salvation is of the Lord. Faith is the hand that reaches out to receive what God has provided. Response to Divine Grace Titus 2:11-14 When the grace of God has been re ceived by man, it is normal to suppose that he will manifest the reality of it by living a life of godliness in this present evil world. More than this he ought ever to be living with the expectation of the Lord’s return in his thoughts. There is nothing that will do more toward produc ing holy living than a day to day expec tation of the Lord’s coming. Helps for the Children A Story About God's Love Luke 15:11-24; 1 John 4:10 M EMORY VERSE: "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the pro pitiation for our sins" 1 John 4:10. The Lord Jesus told many parables (earthly stories with heavenly meanings) while He was upon the earth. One of these stories is loved by people in every land—the story of the prodigal son. The boy decided that he no longer wanted to live at home—he wanted to take the
101 new and beautiful, titled, hymn slides in natural, full-color. These are authentic pictures of the Holy Land, attractively lettered with favorite hymns of the Church. Must be seen to be appreciated. To send for sample slide on approval, together with list ©f hymn and scene titles, write to: PALESTINE HYMN SLIDES, JUANITA STUDIOS 92 North Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 1, Calif. REFUGEE HARVEST IN BERLIN Rev. Arvid F. Carlson*, just back from Berlin where he ministered in refugee camps, says: “ I saw the power of God at work! Those strained, lined, worried faces so deeply marked by disappointment and sorrow, will haunt me through many days to come. Almost every hand went up as l gave the invitation to accept Christ . . . The breath of God was on the final meet ing particularly. Some 25 out of 100 pres ent remained for salvation—THE REF UGEE CAMP MINISTRY IN BERLIN IS A STIRRING CHALLENGE FOR EVANGELISM." Your fellowship in enlarging this fruitful spiritual and physical ministry among Europe’s millions of destitute, neglected, forgotten people is earnestly desired. Fea ture length sound color film on Europe, “ Lest W e Forget,” now being shown in California, Midwest and East. Write for a showing and for a free copy of our monthly magazine, “ The Gospel Call.” *Rev. Carlson is pastor of the Mission Covenant Church in Pasadena, California, and one of our Trustees. E A S T E R N E U R O P E A N M I S S I O N Interdenominational - Incorporated in 1927 Rev. Paul B. Peterson, F.R.G.S., President Vaughn Shoemaker, Litt.D., Treasurer 36 N. Marengo Ave. 48 Alma St. Pasadena 1, Calif. Kitchener, Ontario 39
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