HOME DAILY BIBLE READINGS
 
Passover
Monday, February 1: “Jesus and the Passover” – Luke 2:41-49
Tuesday, February 2: “The ‘Last’ Passover” – Matthew 26:20-30
Wednesday, February 3:              “The Fourth Plague” – Exodus 8:20-29
Thursday, February 4:  “The Eighth Plague” – Exodus10:12-20
Friday, February 5:  “Detailed Instructions” – Numbers 9:1-4, 13
Saturday, February 6:  “When Your Children Ask” – Joshua 4:1-7
Sunday, February 7:  “Passover” – Exodus 12:1-14
   
WORD FOCUS
 
Exodus:            the Greek word for going out, or departure
 
Egypt:              the land of bondage, a type of world
 
Commemorate: to remember, honor, celebrate, observe
 
Passover:          the sparing of people of Isreal; a type of God's sparing of us through the work of Christ
                       
The blood:         
of the lamb:      the blood on the doorposts which caused the destroying angel to pass by; a type of
                           the atoning blood of Christ’s sacrifice which pays for our sins
 
Today’s lesson speaks to us about the Exodus which was the greatest of God’s act of deliverance in the Old Testament.  It reveals the liberation of the Israelites who had been trapped in a system of oppression for 420 years. God spoke to Moses and Aaron and told them that he had heard the cries of His people, and it was time for a new beginning. God gave very specific information on how this new beginning would happen. As we study these verses on The Passover, we also find that the same verses give us a picture of the death of Jesus, and we can associate their freedom from slavery to our Emancipation Proclamation which ended slavery and to the Civil Rights Act which brought an end to segregation. We can feel deep sympathy for a race of people who were held in bondage for more than 400 years. Celebrating deliverance from any situation that has held us in bondage is great!
 
The first thing we see is something very interesting. God changed their calendar (Exodus 12, verse2: “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.”). Instead of the first month beginning in the fall for the Israelites, a new start, a fresh beginning would now open in the month of Nisan (March-April) and go through to the month of Adar (February-March). Why did God do this? The answer is that He knows that everything begins with the Passover.  Jesus’ death on the cross is the beginning of the New Covenant of grace; it is the beginning of the New Creation, and it is, once a person places their faith in Jesus, the beginning of real life as God had intended it to be. A person’s life does not amount to anything until he or she gets to this point. They may have all the money, all the intelligence, all the beauty in the world, but if they have not come to believe in the death of Jesus for their sins, then they have not even left the starting line in this race. We have to believe that Christ died for our sins! He didn’t have any!  Notice, too, that this new calendar begins in the spring when everything is blooming, fresh and new. Notice that the calendar is aligned with the time when we celebrate Easter and the resurrection of our Lord who was tortured, crucified, but rose on that first Easter morning.
 
To prepare the Israelites for the Day of Remembrance, God gave instructions, preparation,
then deliverance.
 
INSTRUCTIONS
Beginning in Exodus 12, verses 3 through 7, the order for the Passover is outlined:

• On the 10^th day of the month, each man was to choose a lamb or goat for his family; if the family was small, the family was to share with another family; every Israelite family had to have a sacrificial animal.
• The lamb or goat had to be one year old, had to be a male, and had to be without spot or blemish.
• The Israelites were to keep the sacrificial animal until the 14^th day, inspect it, make sure it had no spots or blemishes, then kill it at twilight (between 3-5 p.m.). Some of the blood of the animal would then be placed over the door and on the door frames, and whenGod ( “the death angel”) passed through Egypt at midnight, every house “covered by the blood” would not lose its firstborn child or firstborn animal; instead, the house would be “passed over.”
   
  Notice the similarity between the Passover lamb in Exodus and Christ, our Passover Lamb. Christ was also without spot or blemish, male, sinless and perfect, and He was willing to die for our sins. (See Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; John 1:29; Ephesians 1:7; 1John1:7). Think about the blood on the doorposts and how it saved them from death. They chose their perfect, spotless lamb. God chose our perfect lamb—His only begotten son, Jesus. His blood still covers us today, because “The blood that Jesus shed …. “it will never lose its power.” In order to follow Christ, we have to be willing to listen to and obey His instructions.
   
  PREPARATION
  God also required the Israelites to prepare the sacrificial lamb in a special way:
• They had to roast the lamb with fire; no broken bones; the head, legs and inner parts;
• eat it with unleavened bread (bread made without yeast), and bitter herbs; the bitter herbs would always remind them of the terrible life they suffered in Egypt while in slavery; it also helps us, too. When we think of the cross, we should always think of the bondage(s) that God brought us from;
• They could not leave any part of the meal. If something was left, it was to be burned;
• The Israelites had to eat quickly and fully clothed with their cloaks tucked in their belts, sandals on their feet, and staffs in hand (Exodus 12:8-11).
   
  Here is another comparison between the Israelite Passover Lamb and our Passover Lamb – none of Jesus’ bones were broken either.
   
  DELIVERANCE
  When a person has been set free from any situation, it is a memorable event. Just think about the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil Rights Movement.  The Israelites were to continue the Passover as a memorial to God forever. They put their trust in God and started a new journey, a new walk. In addition, when we partake in Communion, this is our memorial to the goodness of God in our lives.
   
  CONCLUSION
  In conclusion, if we follow and obey God’s instructions, he will deliver us from any situation that holds us in bondage. He has redeemed us from the penalty of sin. The blood is over our lives, and we have been declared righteous because of it. God has a journey for each of us, and He wants us to be ready to walk where he calls.
   
  This week’s highlights were submitted by Sis. Valerie Clemon, Church School Junior Department.
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REMINDER TO BELIEVE:  John 11:38-40
 
Jesus approached the grave groaning.  “Jesus Wept.” Because He, Jesus was seeing the family weeping so much that he had compassion and a troubled spirit. They didn’t know what to expect when moving the stone from the grave where Lazarus was buried.  They were weeping as though all was lost.  Lazarus had been in the cave for four days and Martha did not know what to expect.  When death comes so suddenly we are dismayed.  But Jesus reminds the Christian to believe and stand still and believe in his Glory.
                              
REQUEST FOR BELIEF:  John 11:41-42

Sometimes in distress we need to know that Jesus will comfort us in any given situation.  Things and/or situations can make us forget that we serve a God that can bring us to through whatever
happens when life throws something unexpected.  Although the miracle had not occurred.  Jesus had to remind the people that though it seems to look impossible, with faith in the father, when we pray he will hear our every prayer.
 
RESULTS OF SHOWING BELIEF:  John 11:43-44

Jesus could have called Lazarus silently or thought him from the grave.  Jesus chose a loud voice.  Calling Lazarus out loud would be done so all could hear, see, and believe.  Lazarus came of the grave and Jesus told the people around to help Lazarus out of his dead clothing.
 
CONCLUSION

To see God bring Christians out of any situation that seems impossible, lets us know that no one could and would have done this but God.
 
                                                                                    Amen……..
 
 
This week’s highpoints were submitted by Sis. Cecelia Perry, Taylor’s Bible Class
                                                      
 
CHURCH SCHOOL HOME DAILY BIBLE READINGS
(January 25– January 31, 2016)
Death of a Friend
Monday, January 25:  “Trust in Facing Death” (Psalm 56)
Tuesday, January 26:  “Life Eternal” (Isaiah 25:6-10)
Wednesday, January 27:  “Darkness Dispelled” (Matthew 4:12-17)
Thursday, January 28:  “For God’s Glory” (John 11:1-6)
Friday, January 29:  “I Am Life” (John 11:17-27)
Saturday, January 30:  “Jesus Wept” (John 11:28-37)
Sunday, January 31:  “The Death of a Friend” (John 11:38-44)
 
Have a wonderfully and amazingly blessed week! 
 

   
Today John’s writing presents Jesus’ ministry in the beginning of creation.  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God (John 1:1-2).
 
Today’s lesson teaches us that Jesus had been baptized, tempted in the wilderness, called His disciples, and now attending a wedding in Cana of Galilee.  His mother was there when they needed more wine; if they had run out there would have been embarrassment and punishment.  Mary the mother of Jesus said unto Him that they did not have any more wine.  Jesus in turn asked His mother, “What have I to do with thee; mine hour has not yet come.” His mother directed the servants, “Whatsoever, He said unto you, do it.”
 
Jesus at His mother’s request, showed hospitality.  There were six water pots made of stone (which the Jews used for purifying themselves); the pots held twenty to thirty gallons of water.  Jesus directed them to fill the water pots to the brim with water.  Afterwards He told the servants to draw out of the pot, and take it to the head of the feast.  Without questioning, the servants obeyed Jesus and did what exactly what He directed them to do.
 
“Jesus’ First Miracle” – Quantity and Quality:
 
When the ruler of the feast tasted the contents of the cup, He did not know from where it was from, only the servants knew.  The governor of the feast called the bridegroom and charged him, saying “Every man brings forth their good wine at the beginning; and when men have well drunk, they bring out their worse; but thou has kept the good wine until now.”  This was the beginning of the miracles that Jesus did in Cana of Galilee; and manifested for His glory and His disciples believed on Him.
 
They had complete confidence in Jesus, because they knew that water had been drawn had been placed in those pots, and were witnesses of the governor’s confirmation that what was drawn from the pots and served to him was “the best wine.”
 
After this Jesus the Christ went to Capernaum with His mother, His brethren, and His disciples to build relationships before moving on in ministry.
 
In Conclusion

This lesson shows us the prime example of showing hospitality.  Hospitality is not just limited to our own guess who are present in our own personal assemblies; but wherever we are as followers of God, we should be willing, (as much as lie within our ability), to be hospitable to everyone.  Jesus showed honor to His mother by doing as she directed him. Jesus obeying His mother was the start of a magnificent event.  The servants’ obedience to what Jesus’ mother had told them to do, was honorable in that they did not question the methods; but rather trusted that the outcome would be favorable.
  
So must we trust and do as Jesus directs us to do.  We may not understand the method, but we must have faith that if we follow His direction, the outcome or the miracle that we need worked in our own lives with be favorable to our circumstances.
 

This week’s highlights were submitted by Sis. Jessie Cox, Teacher of the Women’s Bible Class
 
A Wedding in Cana

Monday, January 18:  “The Mighty Deeds of God” (Psalm 77:11-15)
Tuesday, January 19:  “The resurrected Messiah” (Acts 2:22-28)
Wednesday, January 20:  “The Gift of Sight” (John 9:1-11)
Thursday, January 21:  “The Gift of Health” (Matthew 15:29-38)
Friday, January 22:  “The Clean Gift” (Matthew 5:22-26)
Saturday, January 23:  “The Healing Mission of Jesus” (Luke 4:16-24)
Sunday, January 24:  “A Wedding at Cana” (John 2:1-12)
   
 

  This week’s lesson discusses the depth of the love that the bridegroom has for his bride, and a bride for her groom; the depth of the love of a husband for his wife or a wife for her husband.  The love is so very deep that in the eyes of those two people the other is seen as physically perfect; and these verses perfect in other areas, such as a shepherd providing for his flock, as in verse three (although not included in today’s scripture selection).  Their ability to reverence and care for one another is flawless because of the intimacy and passion that is the bond between them.  They cherish their relationship so much so that the love between them is resilient, indescribable, and almost unable to be comprehended.
 
When we attend weddings, as the groom is waiting for his bride, he anticipates her beauty.  As she makes an entrance, many times the groom is so overwhelmed by her presence, her beauty, her promise that he, as strong as he may be weeps in joy. Or, the bride will gaze upon her groom and become overtaken with emotions and the love that she holds in her heart and weep.
 
How about our union - our relationship with Jesus Christ?
 
How deep is our love for the “bridegroom”?  Are we excited about our union?  Are we so in-love with Him that we see him perfect and in seeing him perfect, do we oftentimes weep as we enter His presence.  Can we accept that because of the beauty of who He is and His perfection, that He can see love in us? When God created us he created us out of His perfection; His perfect love. He loved us so much that He created us in His image and after His likeness.  God has a steadfast love for us (Psalm 103:11) and God does not see as man sees.  Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 
 
When our love is toward God, we adore Him.  We trust His love for us.  We have confidence and an assurance that He can see the love we have in our hearts for Him.  We see Him perfect in every area of our being.  We have confidence in His strength because He is a strong tower; we know that He is the Good Shepherd for he leads us in safety; we know that He is a provider for we do not lack; we know that He is mighty in stature and a mighty man of war.  His love is perfectly satisfying to us.  We do not have a hireling or substitute to tend to us – to love us and care for us for He is the Good Shepherd, who has given His life for His sheep.
 
Physical beauty does not represent what is in the heart.  God does not look upon our physical attributes to see our beauty.
 
Proverbs 15:3 - The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.  Our beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
 
What does He see in us?

This week’s highpoints were submitted by Sis. Tonya Jackson-Calhoun
 
CHURCH SCHOOL HOME DAILY BIBLE READINGS
(January 4 – January 10, 2016)

The Most Beautiful Bride
Monday, January 4:  “A Perfect Woman” (Proverbs 31:10-11, 20, 25-26)
Tuesday, January 5:  “The Perfect Shepherd” (John 10:1-6)
Wednesday, January 6:  “The Good Shepherd” (John 10:7-15)
Thursday, January 7:  “The Eternal Shepherd” (John 10:22-13)
Friday, January 8:  “The Most Perfect Love” (Song of Solomon 4:9-15)
Saturday, January 9:  “The Most Handsome Groom” (Song of Solomon 5:9-16)
Sunday, January 10:  “The Most Beautiful Bride” (Song of Solomon 6:4-12)
   

 

Church School Highlights
December 27, 2015
 
General Topic:  A GENEROUS GIFT
MATTHEW 23:2-12; Mark 12:38-44
Devotional Reading:  John 1:10-18
Background Scripture:  Matthew 23;1-12; Mark 12:38-44
 
Adult Topic:  Giving from the Heart
Key Verse:  Matthew 23:12 – “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted”
 
Youth Topic:  Genuine Generosity
Key Verse:  Mark 12:43 – “And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: ”
 
Lesson Highpoints for the Intermediate Department:
Here Jesus points out the Pharisees, calling them hypocrites.  They were pretenders; they thought they were better than anyone else and wanted recognition.  Jesus condemned them calling them insincere and unsympathetic.  They were focused on their titles instead of the things of God.
 
Jesus tells us that as His followers we must be sincere having integrity.  We must be humble, and vain pretenders.  In other words, we must practice what we profess.  Jesus assures us that when we humble ourselves, God will exalt us.
 
 
This week’s Highlights were submitted by Sis. Brenda May, Intermediate III Class Church School
 
CHURCH SCHOOL HOME DAILY BIBLE READINGS
(December 21 – December 27, 2015)
Dedication of Firstborn
Monday, December 21:  “Modeled Generosity” (John 1:10-18))
Tuesday, December 22:  “Gracious Generosity” (Ephesians 2:1-10)
Wednesday, December 23:  “Excellent Generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:3-9)
Thursday, December 24:  “Wise Generosity” (Colossians 3:12-17)
Friday, December 25:  “Loving Generosity” (Romans 12:6-13)
Saturday, December 26:  “Humble Generosity” (Matthew 6:1-6)
Sunday, December 27:  “A Generous Gif”” (Matthew 23:2-12; Mark 12:38-44)

 
General Topic:  DEDICATION OF FIRSTBORN – Exodus 13:13-15; Luke 2:22-32
Devotional Reading:  2 Chronicles 30:5-12
Background Scripture:  Exodus 13:11-16; Leviticus 12; Numbers 3:5-13; Luke 2:21-39
 
Adult Topic:  Excitement of Celebration
Key Verse:  Luke 2:22 – “And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;”
 
Youth Topic:  Let’s Celebrate!
Key Verse:  Luke 2:28 – Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,”
  When the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, prior to the plague of the deaths of the Egyptian firstborn male (and beast); Yahweh instructed them to place lamb’s blood over their door (thresholds), indicating that their firstborn males of the Israelites were redeemed of the God himself.  From the point of the great exodus, the Israelites were commanded to remember the sovereignty of God and His power by celebrating routinely, His redemptive act towards them in Egypt.  They were commanded to dedicate the firstborn of man among them; they would offer a redemptive sacrifice (a lamb, or two turtle doves, or two pigeons “Leviticus 12:8”) to Yahweh to remember/commemorate God’s perpetually great redemptive act towards them.
 
At some time, their children would ask why they performed this ritual/celebration.  The explanation would be simple and yet profound:  because by the strength of God’s hand, we were brought out of the house of bondage.  Because when Pharaoh would not set us free, Yahweh slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, man and beast; but the firstborn of Israel he redeem by the blood of the lamb.
  Once again, the Jewish (Israel) community found themselves in a state of turmoil, not only burdened by the restrictions of the Romans, but weighed down by laws of their religious leaders.  Mankind was saturated in sin.  The animal blood sacrifices for sins that were established in the Leviticus laws were not sufficient to redeem man anymore.  But there were some that held on to the prophecy of the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world.
 
Simeon, a just and devout man in the eyes of God was one that held on to that belief, and because of it the Holy Ghost revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
  Although many years had passed between the great exodus and the time of Simeon, the Jews still adhered to God’s commandment to dedicate the firstborn, with the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.  So, according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph brought their firstborn (Jesus the Christ), to be presented to the Lord.  Simeon performed the ritual and blessed God for his promise to him.  Simeon was then satisfied!
  Excitement is everywhere during this season; whether realized in the spiritual realm of holy worship and celebration of the sacrificial birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, or in a more carnal celebration of commercialism.  But as the Church, worshippers of the True Living God, celebrants of the promise of Yahweh, the core and only real reason of the Church’s celebration during this season is the birth of the Great Redeemer, the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).  Because of the sacrifice of the Perfect, Unblemished Lamb there is now, never a need to offer the blood of an animal for our redemption.
 
Hebrews 9:13-15 - For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
 
What a reason to CELEBRATE!!!!!
 
This week’s Highlights were submitted by Sis. Tonya Calhoun, Adult II Class Church School
 
CHURCH SCHOOL HOME DAILY BIBLE READINGS
(December 14 – December 20, 2015)
Dedication of Firstborn
Monday, December 14:  “Separate for a Purpose” (Leviticus 209:7-9, 22-24)
Tuesday, December 15:  “God’s Heart and Dedication” (2 Chronicles 30:5-12)
Wednesday, December 16:  “Dedication of Samson” (Judges 13:2-5, 24-25)
Thursday, December 17:  “Dedication of Samuel” (1 Samuel 1:11, 20, 24-28)
Friday, December 18:  “Dedication of David” (1 Samuel 16:10-13)
Saturday, December 19:  “Dedication of Saul/Paul” (Acts 9:1-6)
Sunday, December 20:  “Dedication of Firstborn” (Exodus 13:13-15; Luke 2:22-32)

  Merry Christmas. Have a wonderfully and amazingly blessed celebration! 
____________________________________________________________________________________

Devotional Reading:  Hebrews 11:4-16
Background Scripture:  Leviticus 22:17-33; 23:9-14, 31-32; Deuteronomy 22:6-7; Isaiah 1:10-20; Micah 6:6-8; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:14-2
 
Adult Topic:  Choosing the Right Gift
Key Verse:  Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
 
Youth Topic:  The Best Gift We Can Give
Key Verse:  Leviticus:  22:31 – Therefore shall ye keep my commandments and do them:  I am the Lord.
 
The absolute best gift we, as Christians can give our Lord is obedience to his commandments.  According to the words of our Lord, the very first thing we must do to even become His disciples is to “deny ourselves.”  Until we take this fundamental stop, we are unable to give God the gift that He is looking for from each of us; which ultimately is our hearts.  We always make our best gift selections when we are guided by heartfelt love for the person for whom the gift is chosen.  Our love for God should motivate and drive us to live a life that brings glory and honor to God, which is the greatest gift that we can offer unto God and to mankind.  “The earth is The Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1).  Our hearts and heartfelt praise, worship and fellowship as one-unit, is the gift that He longs from us.
 
As we take a closer look at the key verse, Paul encourages us to imagine that we bring our bodies to God each day; lay them on the altar before God’s presence, and ask Him to use this “sacrifice” for His glory and the good of His people.  It is our r service when we look at what The Lord has given to us.  God doesn’t want us to try and “sin less”; but rather to depend upon His Spirit to be transformed into people who love to please God through willing obedience.  This transformation begins in the mind.  We must sacrifice our absolute best to God.  We must show the outside world what God is doing inside of us; this takes humble, merciful, and just actions of sacrifice.
 
This week’s lesion focuses on the sacrifices we make to God.  We are to give our very best to The Lord, not our leftovers or what we do not want or cherish.  What The Lord means to us is revealed by what we freely offer to Him.  Most of all, He wants our hearts, and in return, He gives us Himself.  God’s requirement of only offering our very best sacrifices in this lesson is not to devalue certain people or animals but rather to honor the holiness of God.  Jesus is our supreme example of the sacrifice of oneself in the service of our Almighty God.
 
This week’s Highlights were submitted by Deacon Donald Turner, Assistant Superintendent of the Church School.
                                                              
  Please take the time to study the following scriptural passages for your study enhancement.
   
Monday, December 7:  “Living Sacrifice” (Psalm 40:1-8)
Tuesday, December 8:  “Contrite Sacrifice” (Psalm 51:15-19)
Wednesday, December 9:  “Loving Sacrifice” (Mark 12:28-34a)
Thursday, December 10:  “Complete Sacrifice” (Romans 12:1-8)
Friday, December 11:  “Faithful Sacrifice” (Hebrews 11:4-16)
Saturday, December 12:  “Perfect Sacrifice” (1 John 4: 9-16))
Sunday, December 13:  “Acceptable Offerings” (Leviticus 22:17-25; 31-33)