COGIC Power for Living | SEEK THE GOOD OF OTHERS – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 7/27/2014

“The Jesus in Me, Loves the Jesus In You…You’re Easy to Love!”

This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will; recount what Paul says about the value of speaking in tongues; realize the importance of speaking plainly in the company of others; and reaffirm strategies for effectively communicating the Gospel to both believers and unbelievers.

BIBLE TRUTH: Whatever you do in worship should edify other believers as well as yourself.

1 Corinthians 14:13-26 | King James Version (KJV)

13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

Paul continues to teach and lead the Corinthian church into a more productive and edifying service structure (public) for believers and unbelievers alike. This lesson speaks all tongues and prophesy in a public church setting.

Definition: Speaking in tongues here refers to someone talking in another language that they have never been taught. Paul is focusing on exercising the gift of tongues without an interpreter.

The Corinthians embraced speaking in tongues, both in private and public worship services. In fact, many believed that I they really honed in on their gift of tongues, that meant a higher level of spiritual maturity. In verses 13-15, Paul teaches for the believer to seek God for the understanding of the tongues, or the interpretation. It does no good for a person to emotionally render unknown tongues, if their mind doesn't understand the meaning of it all. This is not to be confused with Romans 8:26, where the Holy Spirit helps our infirmities with groanings which cannot be interpreted, as these are too deep for words. Tongues can be interpreted, so as believers, we are encouraged to seek the understanding.

Another important point to make is that without understanding, it’s tough to reach an agreement, or affirmation. Imagine how is may seem to an unbeliever (or believer, for that matter) to sit through a service where you can’t understand what is being said. Then, when it’s time to end the prayer, or “bless” the words of the prayer (verse 16), how can someone say “Amen” or “it is so”, if they don’t understand WHAT they are agreeing to? Make it plain! Take a look at 1 Corinthians 12:10. God gives the gift of interpretation of tongues. So, this would be edifying in the church.

Paul compares tongues to prophesy and admonishes believers to focus more on prophesy, especially in public settings. Paul gave an example to which the Corinthians could relate in verse 21. He called to their remembrance when  Isaiah the prophet, preached repentance to the Israelites in their own language, and they would not repent. Then, God sent their Assyrian enemies to invade them. The Assyrians spoke a different language, or tongue. God allowed the Israelites to understand their language, and they STILL didn't repent (Isaiah 28:11-12). They didn’t get God’s message with tongues.

In verse 23, Paul says, (highly paraphrased) “If a person who doesn't know God walks in here and hears the church speaking in tongues, and there is no instruction, won’t they say that your church is crazy?” On the other hand, if you allow God to work with you, in the gift of prophesy the believer AND the unbeliever can hear it and really understand what God is saying to them. This level of understanding and conviction will lead to a person falling on their face in the presence of the Lord, proclaiming that God has spoken through you! This glorification, although sent though a human being, goes back to God.

Paul ended here by letting them know that whatever they do, whether it be a prophesy, a song, and reading, or an interpretation, make sure that it is edifying to God, the person, and those who are listening.

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COGIC Power for Living | OVERCOMING TEMPTATION – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 7/20/2014

“You Can Get Past This!”

This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will; ponder Paul’s warning about yielding to temptation; sense the joy of resisting the temptation of sin; and pray over the specific needs of one another for God’s help in overcoming temptation.

BIBLE TRUTH: Yielding to temptation is a sin.

1 Corinthians 10:9-22 | King James Version (KJV)

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

Paul returns this week in our lesson to really HELP the Christian Corinthians out! He reminds them of how important it is to stay focused, learn from their previous generation, and do not tempt Christ!

Paul began to draw out the similarities between the current generation and the previous one. When God provided SO many ways for the Israelites in the wilderness, they yet remained ungrateful. He gave them manna…it wasn’t good enough and they complained. He provided water from the rock…that wasn’t good enough. Yet, the cloud remained, as a symbol that God was with them…they yet doubted and murmured. Well, it looks like some things never changed. The Christians at Corinth were complaining as well. They were still participating in the pagan feasts and rituals, as if partaking in the body and blood of Christ wasn’t good enough for them and they had the wrong spirit when they came to The Lord’s Supper, which is why Paul chastens them in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.

Paul brought back to their remembrance how God had an angel come down and burn some of the folks who were lodged on the outer portions of the camp (Numbers 11:1-3). These Christians didn’t particularly appreciate Paul warning them to stay away from the pagan feasts, so they too mumbled and complained.

SIDE NOTE: Have you ever complained after hearing the teaching from your pastor, teacher, or leader in church? Understand that since your leader is led of the Lord, you must be willing to hear God through them. These instructions don’t come to hurt you, but rather to build you up and set you up to be in the blessing-flow of God! Listen and do! Stay away from crowds who seek to complain against leadership. Their negative attitudes and points of view have an uncanny way of overpowering you if you linger around them enough.

In verse 12, Paul speaks to those who are super confident in themselves. These would be the people who really “think” they are right in what they do. And, he also refers to those who feel like they are “strong” enough to be in the midst of sin.

SIDE NOTE: A young minister was showing great promise as he was quick to grasp the meaning of God’s word and was confident in his walk with Christ. He built himself up with prayer and strengthened his spiritual walk each day as he communed with stronger men of God and shared in the Word of God. As part of his training, he was instructed to never consult with a woman alone and in a private place. He was warned that, unfortunately, with the nature of today’s society, anything could happen legally or otherwise, and someone who could witness an account of activities should always be there. One late evening, the young minister received an alarming phone call while he was at home. It was a young female saint. She was upset because her husband left and she wanted him to pray for her RIGHT NOW! The young minister felt like prayer was in order. Surely he didn’t need “back-up” and could easily console this woman of God, with something as basic as prayer. He rushed over to her home and rang the doorbell. She answered the door in tears and was glad to see him. They went to her seating area and discussed the issue briefly, after which the young minister said, “Okay Sis, let’s go to the Father in prayer. God is able!” He closed his eyes and prayed heaven down, right in her living room…”in Jesus’ name we pray….amen”. When he opened his eyes, the woman was standing across from him and she had removed all of her clothes. That night the young minister fell.

Paul let them know that God will always provide a way to overcome temptation. We must believe in Him and look for the way out. He wanted them to stop putting themselves in the way of temptation. Instead of seeing how close to the fence we can walk, we should be walking closer to Christ, trim out of our lives the things that are questionable, and stop overestimating our abilities and strength to “handle” the situation.

The further parts of our lesson talks about what we know today as communion. But, how should we feel about it towards one another when we partake of it? We understand that it is the body and blood of our Lord. Paul is sharing that, as Christians, we should feel unity and be more unified each time we share in this feast together in verse 17. Furthermore, don’t double-dip! You can’t attend the pagan feast on Saturday and then, share in the Lord’s Supper on Sunday. It’s just a reality. Finally, Paul put it to them like this…”You’re making God jealous every time you do this! It’s silly to provoke God, as if you are as strong and mighty as He is. That’s a powerful statement because since God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:4-5), He will chasten us if we are found here.  

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WATCH WHAT YOU EAT – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 7/13/2014

“I Love You More Than You Know!”

This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will; explore the positive and negative influences that community members have on one another; empathize with Christians who may have been negatively affected by others in the community; and evaluate our own behavior to rid ourselves of actions that might negatively influence the people around us.

BIBLE TRUTH: Put the spiritual well being of your brother as your top priority.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 | King James Version (KJV)

1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 

2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 

3 But whoever loves God is known by God.[a]

4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 

5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 

6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 

8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 

10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 

11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 

12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 

13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

Which is more important: knowledge or love? That's what we'll be diving into this week! Paul is addressing a big concern that the Corinthians had regarding something we all love to do...EAT! In prior lessons, we uncovered that idolatry was a part of the Greek culture, so many of the Corinthians were very familiar with what it meant to attend the ceremonial sacrificing of food to idol gods. 

Theologians believe that these ceremonies took place in 3 different parts:

1. The sacrifice was presented and burned
2. The cooked portion was placed on the table (where the god was thought to be present and seated)
3. All those who were invited to the feast gather around and ate in the presence of the god, while they socialized

So, before Paul worked out the church at Corinth, many of these believers possibly attended the sacrificial feasts. Now, after they have been saved, they're YET attending. In verses 1-6, Paul is acknowledging what many of the believers already knew and rested upon...there is only one true and living God, and that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. The Corinthian believers really prided themselves in their own knowledge. Paul came to shake things up a bit. He let them know that LOVE must be chosen over KNOWLEDGE, when it comes to unity and helping a fellow believer. Not everyone has the same faith and level knowledge, even in the Body of Christ. Paul warned in verse 9, that exercising a liberty to carry on eating, while another believer thinks there is idol worship going on, could cause the weaker- minded believer to backslide, be upset, or simply be confused regarding their own salvation.

SIDE NOTE: Have you ever justified that some of your own actions are okay because you're not hurting anyone, or "it's legal"? Watch closely as we go deeper into the scriptures so you can understand that your actions count, especially if you name the name of Christ.

There was wide-spread and accepted prostitution in the church. The Corinthians had no respect or regard (naturally) for the human body. Think about some of the Greek sculptures that came out of this civilization. The majority of these stone engravings depicted oversized human-slash-godly type bodies, and these sculptures accented the sexual anatomy as well. They were obsessed with sex. So, since this was perfectly acceptable in the Greek society in general, this mentality was also adopted by the Christian Corinthians. In verse 12, Paul says, "Just because you CAN do it, doesn't mean you SHOULD do it!" 

SIDE NOTE: Once, a preacher shared with his congregation that he and his wife were late for an important engagement, and wanted to phone ahead and let their guests know that they would be late. In the days of phone booths, not cell phones, they searched for loose change to make that $35 call, but only had paper bills. So, they pulled over to the nearest business (and the only one they could find on this deserted strip of road), which was a bar & tavern. The preacher walked right into the establishment, filled with the typical goings-on inside...drinking, smoking, rowdy music, amongst other things, and received the change he needed to make that phone call. During that same time, another believer was passing by just as the preacher was walking out of the bar. 

A few weeks later, the preacher received a phone call at home, with news of the rumor that he was seen "hanging out" at the bar. As you can imagine, the preacher was appalled, and wanted to explain the situation. But, who knows how many others didn't hear the explanation behind why a preacher would be in this establishment. Experienced and knowledgeable believers can read this story and say, "So what? He needed change...what's the big deal?" There may be some who feel this isn't such a good idea.

Paul is encouraging those believers who are stronger to consider their bretheren in love. Don't make your fellow brother and sister in Christ uncomfortable and bothered, by doing something that is completely optional to you (you can take it or leave it), but could be a major hindrance for them. Down through the years, verse 13 has been paraphrased, "If meat offends your brother...don't eat it!" Purposely choosing the stance of, "THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS!", is offensive to Christ (verse 12). 

As an individual, you should strive to never be responsible for someone else to fall, because you chose to exercise your spiritual maturity, over love for another believer who hasn't reached your level of revelation.

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GLORIFY GOD WITH YOUR BODY – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 7/6/2014

“Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary!”

This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will; recall the Apostle Paul's comparison of the body to a temple; recognize how as Christians we're called to keep our bodies pure; and resolve to promote and practice personal, oral, and physical purity as part of the Body of Christ.

BIBLE TRUTH: Your body belongs to God.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 | King James Version (KJV)

12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

This week, we find Paul yet preaching and teaching to the Corinthians and setting them on the right path when it came to understanding what "true" salvation was all about. The Corinthians definitely had a form of godliness, but it was all wrong. The mentality of these believers (yes, they were believers) had them thinking that they were doing the right things and honoring Godd. For instance, in verse 5, Paul reprimands and teaches against incest when he learned a step-mom married her son. This group was very sexual and didn't really see anything wrong with that. Some of the men believed that, in order to keep their own wife pure, they should go and have sex with prostitutes. In fact, since the act of "sex" itself is something which was done with the body, it was okay. It wasn't illegal to have consensual sexual relations with a harlot, so what was the big deal? God saw that the minds of the Corinthians, His people, needed to be stirred and their outlook to be redirected, so Paul goes forth. 

SIDE NOTE: Have you ever justified that some of your own actions are okay because you're not hurting anyone, or "it's legal"? Watch closely as we go deeper into the scriptures so you can understand that your actions count, especially if you name the name of Christ.

There was wide-spread and accepted prostitution in the church. The Corinthians had no respect or regard (naturally) for the human body. Think about some of the Greek sculptures that came out of this civilization. The majority of these stone engravings depicted oversized human-slash-godly type bodies, and these sculptures accented the sexual anatomy as well. They were obsessed with sex. So, since this was perfectly acceptable in the Greek society in general, this mentality was also adopted by the Christian Corinthians. In verse 12, Paul says, "Just because you CAN do it, doesn't mean you SHOULD do it!" 

SIDE NOTE: Recently, there has been a wave of medical acceptance for the legal use of marijuana, whether it be for recreation or medicinal purposes. California actually has the world's first Farmer's Market. This is great, right? WRONG! This is another example where the Christian should think about what they are doing to the body of Christ, their temple. The Bible is our road map, so if there is ever a doubt of whether or not something is permissible, get in the Word. Otherwise, a quick self-check question you could ask yourself is, "Would God be pleased with this? And, if others learned of my actions, would I bring glory to God? or shamefully lose my witness?"

The Corinthians loved food, so Paul was relating to them with this analogy. The "food" alone isn't sinful, but not having self-control and over eating is gluttony, which is a sin (Proverbs 23:20-21). Proverbs 25:28 declares that A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. Paul then says that your stomach and the food will be destroyed one day because they are both earthly and mortal. However, the body of the believer is for the Lord. If you sin sexually with it, you are also sinning spiritually with it, because it belongs to God. Verse 18 states that with all other sins, a person is commiting them without his body. But, when it comes to fornication, it's sinning against your OWN body. The body is stealing something that it has no right to take. The body will be raised up and God has a plan for the body, even after death. 

Paul is telling the Corinthians how serious a sexual act between 2 people (fornication) who are not married is. Yes, there is a physical "coming together", but there is also a spiritual coming together. God ordained two people to become one flesh, in the confines of marriage. These two people would only be joining with each other. Sex is sanctified within marriage, and it is the only time that it is not a sin. Otherwise, a single person's body belongs to the Lord. To have sexual relations with another is paramount to an immoral act in the eyes of God. Sex outside of marriage can lead to several other consequences, including broken marriages, a weak family unit (as children who are born out of wedlock often experience growing up with only one parent), as well as diseases transmitted when promiscuity exists with multiple partners. Furthermore, two spirits unite during this time. This would explain why it is difficult to walk away from marital affairs and fornication. Feelings intertwine, as Satan maintains his grip on two souls, until one or both are destroyed spiritually, and sometimes naturally.

Paul brings it home when he explains that the work of Christ on the cross was payment for each Christian's body. Therefore, we must consider the things we do with our bodies. We can glorify God in our bodies by living a sanctified life, which is pleasing to Him. Being mindful that our spirits are connected with God in every way, causes the Christian to appreciate who God really is. We worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). We love God by loving one another and loving His commandments (by honoring them and keeping them). Most of all, we are witnesses for Him on Earth in our everyday life.

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