International Sunday School Lesson March 5 2023 Spring #1

Luke 15:11-32 ESV  And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.  (12)  And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.  (13)  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.  (14)  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.  (15)  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.  (16)  And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.  (17)  “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!  (18)  I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.  (19)  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’  (20)  And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  (21)  And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  (22)  But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.  (23)  And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.  (24)  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.  (25)  “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.  (26)  And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.  (27)  And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’  (28)  But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,  (29)  but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.  (30)  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’  (31)  And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.  (32)  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Luke 15:11-32 ESV

Notes

Background

• We are going to include all the parable. The International Sunday School Lesson stops at verse 24 but we will include through verse 32 with the older brother’s reaction.
• The main point of the parable is the reaction of the brother that stayed.

I Want it Now — Luke 15:11-12

• Clarke it is considered, that it has been an immemorial custom in the east for sons to demand and receive their portion of the inheritance during their father’s lifetime; and the parent, however aware of the dissipated inclinations of the child, could not legally refuse to comply with the application.

Consequences — Luke 15:13-14

• Proverbs 29:3 (ESV) He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
• Proverbs 21:17 (ESV) Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

Rock Bottom — Luke 15:15-16

• Malachi 2:8-9 (ESV) But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, [9] and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

Came to Himself — Luke 15:17-19

• 1 John 1:9-10 (ESV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Forgiveness — Luke 15:20-24

• 1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV) The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Resentment — Luke 15:25-27

• Luke 7:37-39 (ESV) And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, [38] and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. [39] Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

Cause for Resentment — Luke 15:28-30

Your Brother is Now Alive — Luke 15:31-32

• Isaiah 35:10 (ESV) And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Conclusion

• Do not be harsh or judgmental on those repenting and coming back.
• Be careful of wolfs dressed as sheep though. There are some people who will pretend to repent to gain resources or lessen penalties.

International Sunday School February 26 2023 Lesson 13

1 Peter 2:1-10 ESV  So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.  (2)  Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—  (3)  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.  (4)  As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,  (5)  you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  (6)  For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”  (7)  So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”  (8)  and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.  (9)  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  (10)  Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:1-10 ESV 

International Sunday School Lesson February 19 2023 Winter #12

James 2:1-12 ESV  My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.  (2)  For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,  (3)  and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,”  (4)  have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?  (5)  Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?  (6)  But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?  (7)  Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?  (8)  If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.  (9)  But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.  (10)  For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.  (11)  For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.  (12)  So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

James 2:1-12 ESV

Notes

Background

• Adam Clarke It is supposed that these were children of Joseph, by a former marriage; this is a very ancient opinion; as there is nothing improbable in the supposition that Joseph was a widower when he married the blessed virgin.
• They are supposed to have been children of Joseph and his wife Mary; all born after the birth of our Lord. This is an opinion extremely probable: see some reasons for it in the note on Mat 13:55 (note); see also on Mat 1:25 (note).
• That they were called our Lord’s brethren, because children of Joseph by the wife of one of his brothers, who had died childless, and whose widow Joseph took, according to the Mosaic law, to raise up seed to his deceased brother. This is very unlikely, because, in this case, it would have been only requisite for Joseph to have had one male by his brother’s wife; but here we find four, besides several sisters.
• That Cleophas, called also Alpheus, married a sister of the blessed virgin, called also Mary, by whom he had the above issue; and that these were called brethren of our Lord, from the common custom among the Hebrews, to term all the more immediately cognate branches of the same family, brothers’ and sisters’ children, i.e. cousins-german, brethren. These, therefore, being aunt’s children of our Lord, are, according to this usage, called his brethren. The first and second of these opinions appear to me the most probable; though most modern writers are of the latter opinion.

Partiality — James 2:1

• Deuteronomy 1:17 (ESV) You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’
• 1 Timothy 5:21 (ESV) In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.

Rich and Poor — James 2:2-3

• Proverbs 30:8-9 (ESV) Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, [9] lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

Poor Judge –James 2:4

• John 7:24 (ESV) Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Poor but Rich — James 2:5

• Matthew 11:3-5 (ESV) and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” [4] And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: [5] the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

Oppress You — James 2:6-7

• Cover up for rich and powerful
• Remember Nathan and David

Love your Neighbor — James 2:8-9

• Galatians 5:14-15 (ESV) For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [15] But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Failing at One Point — James 2:10-12

• Matthew 5:18-19 (ESV) For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. [19] Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

International Sunday School Lesson February 12 2023 Lesson 11

2 Timothy 1:3-14 ESV  I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.  (4)  As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.  (5)  I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.  (6)  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,  (7)  for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.  (8)  Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,  (9)  who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,  (10)  and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,  (11)  for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,  (12)  which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.  (13)  Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  (14)  By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

2 Timothy 1:3-14 ESV