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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Titus 2

Memory Verse: “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Introduction: The word “preach” sometimes means: to proclaim, to announce, to tell, to cry out, to command, and to use boldness in freely speaking. As the Scriptures employ the term, however, there is inherent in all of these definitions the understanding that preaching is the declaration of God’s will by God’s messengers. The sermon a preacher delivers might be defined as: a speech given with the unction

Scripture Reading: John 17:1-21

Memory Verse: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil.” (John 17:15)

Introduction: Understanding the mission of God’s Church requires an accurate concept of the Church. The word “church” is translated from the Greek word “ecclesia,” and means “that which is called out.” While this definition might not seem particularly illuminating to a carnal mind, it reveals much to the truly converted Christian.

The Church plainly meets a great need in this world of sin and darkness. It is a vessel of light, and

Memory Verse: “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” Acts 26:28

Daily Bible Readings: Acts 25; Acts 26; Acts 27; Acts 28; Isaiah 55; 1 Corinthians 3

Scripture Reading: Acts 25:1-12

Introduction:

We might think that Paul is spending two wasted years in prison during the period that is covered in this lesson. But, from another perspective, he accomplishes an important ministry during this time period. He brings Christ’s name before two governors and a king, just as he was commanded to do in Acts 9:15.

Governor Felix has been called back