Lesson 10, Loving Everyone

Sunday School Lesson for the Adult Class

Witnessing as Jesus and the Bible instructs us to witness

X. Loving everyone                                                                          Matthew 5:38 – 47

          A. Jesus reminds of the law once again                                 Matthew 5:38, Deuteronomy 19:21

          B. Turn the other cheek                                                                   Matthew 5:39, Luke 6:29

Christianity is about going above and beyond for love; Christ’s love. If there is any doubt, we can read Isaiah 50:6

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

The idea that is so unique about Christianity and salvation is that we have an example to follow that walked and partook of every trial he asks us to go through. He is our example and not a man made law, not cultural norms and not our own selves, but old testament fulfilling example of Jesus Christ.

          C. Sue you at law                                                                             Matthew 5:40, Luke 6:29

Notice this is not only Christian instructions but deeds Christ himself eventually performed. Matthew 27:28.

Also, this is not about law in a court so much as it is about teaching that there is no holding onto ‘self’ in our service to Christ.

          D. Go the extra mile                                                               Matthew 5:41

          E. Ready to Give                                                                    Matthew 5:42, Luke 6:30

What is the example of Christ but readily and willingly giving of himself for others that did not deserve his love.

          F. Loving everyone                                                                 Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:31-36

         

          To follow this example and to live this life seems hard and it is if you try to live this kind of life without Jesus. He is not only an example for this Christian life but also helps carry the load while we are walking with him.

Matthew 11:30

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Lesson 9, Vows, Oaths, Swearing

Sunday School Lesson for the Adult Class

Witnessing as Jesus and the Bible instructs us to witness

IX. Mean exactly what you say                                    Matthew 5:33 – 37

          A. Jesus again reminds them of the law             Matthew 5:33, Numbers 30

Jesus follows the pattern he speaks in previously. First he mentions the law, then he brings about his way that deals with the heart and conscience.

          B. Jesus commands us not to swear seemingly contrary to Old Testament law   Matthew 5:34

          C. Jesus tells them plainly not to swear by anything Matthew 5:35, 36

Jesus makes the case that whatever we swear by, it is not truly ours to give or even change. To swear by anything is pointless if we are not in a position to do anything about it. Also, a Christian should not need to swear by anything because everyone should know that a Christian’s word is exactly what they will perform.

If you swear or make any kind of oath, is it any different than if you say something and perform task to the best of your ability as you said you would? Isn’t this about matching words with deeds?

          D. Any promise other than to say yes or no is invite sin        Matthew 5:37

It is human to desire to convey how earnest we feel about performing a task we say we will perform whether keeping a secret or doing a favor. In the end though, to say yes or no and perform it just that way is the best thing we can do to show our word is true like God’s word.

         

I believe (the Great Commission in Matthew Chapter 10) that Christians are better to suited to witness when they have been taught to witness; not to go uninformed of God’s word. 

Lesson 8 in Matthew, Marriage and Divorce

VIII. Marriage and Divorce                                         Matthew 5:27 – 32, Mark 9:43 – 48, 10:11, 12, Luke 16:18

          A. Law vs. the Heart                                           Matthew 5:28

Can we all agree that you just don’t show up at the destination of murder and adultery?

There is something that happens first in the mind and heart, and after it festers is acted upon. Jesus is trying to get Christians to deal with sin in the heart before it becomes physical. Many times, once it becomes physical the damage cannot be contained.

          B. Pluck it out                                                     Matthew 5:29

                   No sacrifice is too great if it enables us to conquer a lust which cuts us off from Jesus.

         

          C. Cut it off                                                                   Matthew 5:30

                   Cost of Discipleship pg 132

          D. Divorce, Sin and the Law                               Matthew 5:31, 32, Mark 10:11, 12, Luke 16:18

          Do we understand that once the law comes into play, Sin has already taken place?

          Sin happens and Christ gives us true and real forgiveness of sin where the law fell short. So now, with a heart changed by Christ, we can sin no more if we lean on him. When we lean on our own understanding, or the law, or on anything but God and his love, we will sin again and again.

          Marriage is the illustration that God uses when telling us of the return of the Groom (Jesus) to claim his bride (the Church). Let us take all of God’s precepts seriously, but marriage is a precept that shows the Christian example to the world.

I believe (the Great Commission in Matthew Chapter 10) that Christians are better to suited to witness when they have been taught to witness; not to go uninformed of God’s word. 

Lesson 7, Anger and your Brother

Sunday School Lesson for the Adult Class

Witnessing as Jesus and the Bible instructs us to witness

VII. Anger and your Brother.                                       Matthew 5:21 – 26

          A. Jesus reminds of the law, then expounds it.   Matthew 5:21, 22

If a person obeys the commandments but wishes evil, or longs to give into lust, is that person truly just?

Are you justified to obey the letter of the law, but not the intents of it?

Jesus was removing all false interpretations of the law. The law was external, but the Spirit of God was internal.

          B. Gift to God while living in sin.                        Matthew 5:23, 24

What good are our outward or external motions of Christianity if our heart is far from God?

          C. Don’t let a standing disagreement hurt your light of the Gospel. Matthew 5:25, Luke 12:58

          D. Uttermost farthing.                                         Matthew 4:26, Luke 12:59

If we as Christians cannot rectify our wrongs and sins after being forgiven of such great sins ourselves by Jesus Christ, what example is it for us to let sins and hardships exist between us and our acquaintances?

Lesson 6, Jesus Fulfills the Law and Prophets.

Sunday School Lesson for the Adult Class

Witnessing as Jesus and the Bible instructs us to witness

VI. Jesus fulfilling the Law and Prophets                    Matthew 5:17, Romans 8:3 – 6, Romans 10:4

People might say that the original commandments, or the Old Testament no longer matter, but this is not true, Jesus life didn’t destroy the Old Testament but fulfilled it.

          A. Jot and tittle                                                    Matthew 5:18, Luke 16:17

We serve a savior that leaves nothing undone. Most prophecies have been fulfilled, but there a some yet to come.

          B. Commandments and Heaven                          Matthew 5:19, James 2:10

Do the Old Testament commandments matter? Are there degrees in Heaven?

          C. Righteousness of God matters, not man        Matthew 5:20, Romans 10:3

Christ was speaking in a way the Pharisees didn't speak about the Jewish faith. Christ was speaking in such a way, except for John the Baptist, no one had spoken in hundreds of years. The Old Testament prophets for the most part were despised by the ruling class of Israel. Many leading Christians today may look down upon the rightful interpretation of the Bible.

Who matters when it comes to our discipleship and how we tell Gods word?

Lesson 5, Seasoning and Light of the World

Sunday School Lesson for the Adult Class

Witnessing as Jesus and the Bible instructs us to witness

V. Christians are the seasoning and light of the world                   Matthew 5:13 – 16

          A. Salt of the earth                                                        Matthew 5:13, Luke 14:34, 35, Mark 9:50,

If you are not full of God’s power and spirit are you any good for spreading the Gospel? Luke 14:33

          B. Light of the World                                                    Matthew 5:14, Luke 8:16, 11:33 – 36

Notice that we ARE the light and salt and not merely ‘have’ the light or salt. Once we accept him as our savior, we have a purpose that exists whether we choose to serve him or not. We can hide our light or salt, but we cannot remove it; we are made those things by Jesus Christ when we accept him.  –From ‘Cost of Discipleship’ Dietrich Bonhoeffer pg. 116

          C. City set on a hill -               When you are traveling at this time in history, you long for the cities. The highways and byways are where the robbers and bandits are. Traveling at night has its own hazards when there are no lights or electricity.

Do people look forward to our presence? Do people see us a haven in a sinful and dangerous world?

          D. Hidden candle -                  We can hide our lights, but it goes against common sense, the point of the candle, nature, and our God-given purpose.

          E. Light to the whole house - We are always to be a light everywhere we go, all the time.

          F. You let your light shine for God’s glory -       God gets the honor and glory if we are a light for him.

          Is there any self or ego in being a light for Christ?

Lesson 4 in Matthew, the Beatitudes

IV. The Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount                Matthew 5:1 - 12

            A. After attracting a following he begins to preach     Matthew 5:1, 2, Luke 6:20

Is a Christian’s work done in the church or outside the church building? Church is for worship and teaching, but Christ preached and taught in the church and evangelized outside the church.

Did Jesus convert more in the synagogues or outside them?

          B. The Beatitudes                                                Matthew 5:2 – 12, Luke 6:20 – 23

                   1. Blessed are the poor in spirit

                   2. Blessed are they that mourn

                   3. Blessed are the meek

                   4. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness

                   5. Blessed are the merciful

                   6. Blessed are the pure in heart

                   7. Blessed are the peacemakers

                   8. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake

                   9. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you

                             a. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Cost of discipleship chapter 6 expounds this well.

          C. The opposite of the Beatitudes – Proverbs 6:16 – 19

                   1. proud look

                   2. lying tongue

                   3. hands that shed innocent blood

                   4. heart that deviseth wicked imaginations

                   5. feet swift running to mischief

                   6. false witness

                   7. he that soweth discord

Can we be successful in winning souls to Jesus without these characteristics described in the beatitudes?

Does Christianity require that we are willing to suffer for the cause of Christ? (Verse 12)

Does the ‘American’ or ‘modern’ way of life conflict with the beatitudes?

I believe (the Great Commission in Matthew Chapter 10) that Christians are better to suited to witness when they have been taught to witness; not to go uninformed of God’s word.