Church School Highlights - December 20, 2105

by Tonya J. Calhoun |  December 17, 2015

 
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! 
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