THEME FOR BIBLE LESSONS FOR FIRST QUARTER, 2018

Guiding Principles For Young People

Fresh for the new year, God inspired me with the idea to address topics relevant to our younger members of the class. It may seem difficult at first to find scriptures that deal with the many new and intricate situations in which we find ourselves. But the beauty and majesty of God’s Word is that its truths are timeless. There are guiding principles that will provide the ranges and boundaries we need when confronted with any “modern” questions.

The two most important principles of all, which will be foundational for every lesson in this series, are the ones Jesus laid down when He said, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40). They are, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37-39). What Jesus said applied then, and it will be the basis for every decision now.

This is what I love about Bible study. The “old, old story” is always new, and it always works.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

JANUARY 7, 2018

THE CHRISTIAN WALK

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

A Walk in Wisdom

Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

A Walk In Love

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us,

A Walk By Faith

II Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

A Walk In the Spirit and Not After the Flesh

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

A Walk In the Light and Not In Darkness

I John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

I John 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

MEMORY VERSE: Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. —I Thessalonians 4:1

CENTRAL THOUGHT: As young people we can find scriptural guidelines for our walk as a Christian. Applying those guidelines to particular situations help us know how we ought to live.

WORD DEFINITIONS

Colossians 2:6 “Received”: to receive near; associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation); to learn; take unto.

Colossians 2:7“Rooted and built up”: to become stable and built upon. “Stablished”: from a root implying the foot, from which we get our English word base and basis; confirmed; made steadfast, firm and sure; to make stable.

Ephesians 5:15 “Circumspectly”: exactly; perfectly; diligently. “Literally, looking on all sides; looking round. Hence, cautious; prudent; watchful on all sides; examining carefully all the circumstances that may affect a determination, or a measure to be adopted” (Webster’s).

Ephesians 5:1 “Followers of God”: Imitators of God.

Galatians 5:16 “Fulfil”: complete; execute; make an end; reach the limit; accomplish the goal.

Galatians 5:16 and Romans 8:1 “Flesh”: the body as opposed to the soul or spirit; human nature with its frailties (physical or moral) and passions.

I John 1:7-8 “Fellowship”: from a root meaning common, or shared; partnership; communion; participation.

LESSON BACKGROUND

These scriptures provide a general outline of a life or walk with God. Most of them come from letters of instruction which Paul the apostle wrote to the different congregations. Several come from the letter the Apostle John wrote to the saints.

Paul was addressing many of the new Gentile Christians who were just learning, for the first time, of God’s will for man. He spent a great deal of time instructing them about their walk or behavior which was on display to the heathen world around them. He also wrote instructions to the Jewish Christians who were learning the difference between the law and salvation by faith through God’s grace.

John specified that much of his instruction was to “young” men. He puts great emphasis in his three epistles on living free from worldliness, sin, idolatry and darkness. He also deals with brotherly love and fellowship.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

DISCUSSION:

1. In Christ: Why is it important that my life—my “walk”— subsequent to coming to Christ for salvation be “in Him,” rooted and established in Him, and what are ways to practically do this? Name some “other ground” upon which we are tempted to place our dependence, trust or expectations for support, guidance or spiritual authority.
2. Walk in Love: Who set the standard for the love in which we are to walk?
3. By Faith: Share specific areas in life where this principle can apply.
4. Flesh and Spirit: You must make a decision whether or not to attend a movie with the rest of your class. How can these verses help you decide?
5. Fellowship, Love and Light: A brother or sister is hard for you to “like.” How can this affect your walk with God?
6. Abounding More and More: Is there ever a point where you can relax and think, “I’ve got this”? What is the danger here? 

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

It is imperative that we learn to apply these simple concepts to daily living—our “walk.”

We can begin by asking ourselves some questions:

Am I learning to receive my sustenance, guidance and comfort from daily, earnest prayer and communion with Christ and diligent study of His Word or does all my spiritual food come from a secondary source, such as a personal friend, devotional book, blog or other social media, inspirational author or speaker, or weekly worship service?

Is this particular activity causing me to abound more and more in my Christian walk, or does it make me feel lethargic, distant, not as warm or fervent in my love for God, confused, angry with others, or depressed?

When I am with this person or group of persons, am I more tempted with the things of this world or drawn to the things of the Spirit?

After engaging in this activity, reading this literature, listening to this music, or consulting with this particular source, is my walk by faith strengthened or weakened?

When I evaluate this particular way of thinking/speaking/acting in terms of godly wisdom or sinful folly, how does it measure up?

Learn to measure all the things in your life by these standards: spiritual progress, trust and faith in Christ, godly wisdom, love for God and others, light versus darkness, and attraction of the flesh or the Spirit.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

REFLECTIONS

“Oh how sublime is the life a Christian!” Walking daily with Jesus, and knowing you are a child of the King, is a glorious life. It’s a walk not always easy on the flesh, but ultimately blessed by God. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

The lesson gives plenty of scriptural pointers on walking with God, but I have a few thoughts on it as well. As Christians who walk the straight and narrow, we are new creatures. We aren’t the same as someone who is walking the broad way and following after the world. Holy living is a transformative experience, not one tainted by the influences of the world.

Colossians 3:9-10 describes Christians as people who have “…put off the old man with his deeds: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” Our walk with Christ changes our life from an old, sinful life to that of a new, purified member of the body of Christ. Yet, salvation isn’t a one-time silver bullet for a blessed, happy life. Like the lesson earlier detailed, it’s a daily walk to maintain the favor of God. There are lessons to be learned along the way to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and follow Him.

In our “new body,” we have challenges to walk worthy of our vocation (Ephesians 4:1). Some of those are found in verses 12-14 of the third chapter of Colossians: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another and forgiving one another…And above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Each of these are Christ-like traits which are found in the lives of those walking in the footsteps of our Savior. It is certainly a challenge, but something so very worth our effort. Spiritual progress comes by prayer and adding these teachings to our daily lives. Having the love of God in our lives, and sharing that love with everyone else is a perfect bond. It strengthens us in our daily walk. Praise God for saving, keeping grace! What a blessing it is to daily walk with our Savior, our Teacher, and Friend!

—Bro. Bretton Cole, Neosho, MO