Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 5:1-10

Memory Verse: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not be constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;” (1 Peter 5:2)

Introduction: There is nothing mysterious about the role of a pastor. It is simply one of the ministries that God has ordained and set in order in the Church. The word “pastor” might just as well have been translated “shepherd,” except for the need to differentiate between one who ministers to the children of God and one who tends to literal sheep. The

Scripture Reading: Acts 1:1-11

Memory Verse: “Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.” (1 Chronicles 16:8)

Introduction: In the general sense, every person who becomes a Christian, by repenting of sin and trusting Jesus Christ for salvation, becomes a qualified witness. Once Christians have felt the transforming power of the Gospel in their own lives, gratitude demands that it be shared with others by telling them of this experience.

In the early ministry of Christ, we find active witnessing on the part of those men who found Christ to be the

Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20

Memory Verse: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14)

Introduction: There was a period of time in Bible history when God seemed to be dealing almost exclusively with the nation of Israel, During the ministry of Christ, however, one could see the national aspect of the plan of God for Israel fading into relative obscurity and becoming subsidiary to the plan God had for revealing His salvation to all of mankind.

In keeping with this

Scripture Reading: John 3:1-21

Memory Verse: “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, is not this Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:22)

Introduction: The Gospel has appealed to such a cross-section of humanity that one must conclude it to be of universal attraction (more, of course, in the Western World). Men who are wealthy have accepted it as their greatest asset, while those impoverished have accepted it as their only treasure. Men of letters and those unlearned alike have been transformed by its power. Why is this Gospel such

Scripture Reading: John 16:7-16

Memory Verse: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Introduction: Where did the Early Church get its power? The actions of the first local church were vital and effective. One cannot help but note the vast difference between the revolutionary power of this first church and the apparent weakness of most of our contemporary assemblies. This contrast points up a great need

Scripture Reading: James 2:14-26

Memory Verse: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

Introduction: Christians’ faith is much greater than anything possessed by faithless men. As one minister has said: “Faith is the eye that sees the invisible-the hand that touches the intangible-the ear that hears the unutterable.” Faith is all of this, and more. It is believing God when every other source of information says “not to believe God.” It is to trust in “divine providence” that is not seen, felt, or heard. It is to proceed with the

Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 3

Memory Verse: “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20)

Introduction: In this lesson we place emphasis on what might be called the rest, or remainder, for the Great Commission. Who could count the worthwhile volumes that have been written about the first part of those delegated responsibilities to the Church? Many sermons are preached to congregations telling them to go forth to convert and baptize as Christ commanded. And yet neither can we ignore the

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 15:1-9

Memory Verse: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Introduction: After studying some of the very basic and simple concepts of Christianity in this series of lessons, who could say that we do not stand in dire need of revival? Many of us have felt the chilling winds of orthodoxy cooling our ardor for God. Too often we have

Scripture Reading: John 20:19-31

Memory Verse: “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14)

Introduction: “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14). The significant extent of Christ’s bodily resurrection to the Christian faith is that if Jesus was not resurrected, there will be no resurrection for mankind (1 Corinthians 15:12-13). Certainly, our Savior was resurrected! All anxiety and doubt should be dispelled by the truth of God’s record of this miraculous event and by a living experience with the risen Christ.

“He is not here:

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-20

Memory Verse: “But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

Introduction: The first fruit is the very earliest or very first of the harvest of that which follows. In ancient times, also, the firstborn son was often given special recognition and double inheritance. Jesus Christ is called the “first fruits of them that slept.” In speaking of the resurrection of the dead, Christ is called the “first fruits” of the resurrection, “afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Corinthians 15:23). At