Church School Lesson Highlights - December 13, 2015

by Tonya Jackson Calhoun |  December 10, 2015

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)