Sunday School Lesson for April 28th.

We are studying 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. Lesson 11 on the following guide.

Sunday School Lesson

Lesson 14, Treasures in Heaven, Matthew 6:19 - 21

Sunday School Lesson for the Adult Class

Witnessing as Jesus and the Bible instructs us to witness

XVI. Treasures in Heaven                                                    Matthew 6:19 - 21

A. Eternal Rewards and Security                               Matthew 6:19, Luke 12:32, 33, Luke 18:22

         Putting off gratification now for a reward down the road is ultimately the rule of a successful life, Christian or otherwise. This is a law God put in place before the world began. Can you name a time or opportunity that comes along that doesn’t fit this rule?

         B. Divine protections                                                 Matthew 6:20, Luke 12:33, 1 Peter 1:4

         What guarantees do you have for your money in the bank, your retirement, you 401K, your social security, or money stashed in a mattress? What guarantees do you have that you can depend on your children or friends later in life? We only have the guarantees that God promises, and those alone.

  

         C. Hearts and treasures                                             Matthew 6:21, Luke 12:34,

  

Exodus 20:3. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. What your mind is the most is your god.

Lesson 13, Jesus on Fasting, Matthew 6:16 - 18

Sunday School Lesson for the Adult Class

Witnessing as Jesus and the Bible instructs us to witnessXIII. Jesus on fasting                                                                   Matthew 6:16-18

         A. When you fast                                                                Matthew 6:16

Christ doesn’t say if you fast, but when fast in the sixteenth verse. We can take this verse to mean that there was fasting among devout Jews at the time and an expectation of fasting among devout followers of Jesus.  Whenever Jesus speaks of fasting, it seems almost in a negative connotation except in Mark 9:29 (And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.) When we walk with Christ, because of temptation and sin, it is easy to get sacred things wrong.

   

         B. Looking our best                                                            Matthew 6:17

  

Why would it be important to our savior how we look when we are fasting or in a struggle against sin, or a fight for the cause of Christ?

  

         C. Open rewards                                                                Matthew 6:18

Christ wants the rewards for our service to him to come from Heaven and not the earth. Praise from mankind can lead to sin, but rewards from Heaven are everlasting.

Other verses about fasting.                      Luke 18:12, Acts10:30, Acts 27:33, 1 Corinthians 7:5, 2 Corinthians 6:5