Monthly Archives: January 2021

Called to Testify

International Sunday School February 7, 2021 Winter Quarter #10

The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” (26) Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you–I am he.” (27) Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” (28) Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, (29) “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” (30) They came out of the town and made their way toward him. (31) Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” (32) But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” (33) Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” (34) “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. (35) Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (36) Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. (37) Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. (38) I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” (39) Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” (40) So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. (41) And because of his words many more became believers. (42) They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

John 4:25-42 (NIV)

Called to Prophecy

International Sunday School January 31, 2021 Winter Quarter #9

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, (37) and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. (38) Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Luke 2:36-38 (NIV)

No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: (17) “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. (18) Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. (19) I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. (20) The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. (21) And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Acts 2:16-21 (NIV)

Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. (9) He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

Acts 21:8-9 (NIV)

Called for the World’s Beliefs

International Sunday School January 24, 2021 Winter #8

I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. (15) My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. (16) They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. (17) Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (18) As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. (19) For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. (20) “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (22) I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one– (23) I in them and you in me–so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (24) “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

John 17:14-24 (NIV)

Called in Authority

International Sunday School January 17, 2021 Winter Quarter #7

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. (2) They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. (3) Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. (4) Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. (5) When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (6) Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, (7) “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (8) Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? (9) Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? (10) But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, (11) “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” (12) He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Mark 2:1-12 (NIV)

Called to Follow

International Sunday School January 10, 2021 Winter Quarter #6

Luke 5:1-11 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. (2) He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. (3) He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. (4) When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” (5) Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” (6) When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. (7) So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. (8) When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (9) For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, (10) and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” (11) So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Luke 5:1-11 (NIV)