Explore the Bible with Dr. Jim McCullen

Introduction: Isn’t it significant that God ordered blood to be placed on the doorpost and as He saw that act of obedience and trust He passed over that house? If you place blood on the two side posts and on top of the lintel, some will drip down and can make the symbol of a cross. God’s grace does give those under the blood an Amazing Deliverance.

1. The . . Preparation For An Amazing Deliverance. 12:1-5

Look at the dating, design, and details of this preparation. It always interests me that God goes to such details. He specifies the date when the first Passover would be observed. Do you think He planned a date for the crucifixion of Christ? I am sure the time did not surprise Him. In the design for the number of people eating an individual lamb, one commentator said, “Rabbis allowed no less than ten persons to a lamb and not more than twenty.” In His design for the Passover, He took care of many details. Note the lamb must be a first year male without blemish. He was teaching them about the purity of Christ. How drastic it is for some to think they can substitute their works for Christ.

2. The . . Particular Details For An Amazing Deliverance. 12:6-10

The particular details even specify the day and time of death for the lamb. Then some blood of the lamb must be placed on the door posts and lintel. I like the old song, “When I See The Blood,” and the chorus that says, “I will pass, I will pass over you.” The Lord has a precise way for the actual dining and how the lamb will be eaten and afterwards how the remains will be disposed of. The Lord made every detail important.

3. The . . Pardoning Arranged For An Amazing Deliverance. 12:11-13

The dress represents their faith as they are ready to start marching when God causes Pharaoh to release these people. I think it would be a joyous occasion just getting ready for this event. I doubt they regularly got all dressed up for the evening meal. It would be a joy to explain to any and all who asked, “Why are you getting all dressed?” Those who disbelieved the Lord’s plan will see the death of their first born just as the Lord promised. Those who believed God’s plan and placed the blood on the door posts and lintel will see their first born spared as the death angel will pass over their homes.

4. The . . Praise Commemorated For An Amazing Deliverance. 12:14

Does reading this passage make you want to praise the Lord? He makes an annual day of celebration and praise to commemorate this event. As the children of Israel met in the future they would share their knowledge of this event with the younger Jewish people. This commemoration was commanded to be an event practiced again and again for truly it celebrates an Amazing Deliverance. Amen? Amen! (For a more detailed outline, visit: http://www.preachhim.org/SundaySchoolIndex.html.)

Introduction: Most Christians find it easier to express their faith after several years of encounters with the Lord. Trust can be learned, although at times a young Christian will demonstrate more faith than an older one. Whether the demonstration comes from a new or older person of faith we all like to see Persevering Faith and the older Christian normally needs to help the younger.

1. Persevering Faith Through The . . Direction Of The Lord.    13:17-18

Certainly events of God’s will and purpose do not always take the shortest route. God’s wisdom about His people and the details of getting them from point one to point two may be different than we would choose. What may not seem logical to us immediately may eventually make sense as we see the why in His decisions. God’s knowledge of His people and the route to the Red Sea caused Him to know not to take the shortest route. God knew the maturity of the Israelites could not withstand the route going by the Philistines. Not only did the route He chose not represent the shortest way, it was not the simplest way.

2. Persevering Faith Through The . . Deliverance Of The Lord.   14:9-14

Some people think God’s ways are easy and never present any troubles. You will never read where God promised that His children would always have peace, prosperity and pleasantries. We may face some fearful experiences and God’s people may give a lot of flak as they second guess the Lord and His ways. The Lord’s graciousness put up with the children of Israel with all of their complaining and lack of trust. He finally told Moses to move forward, then to stand still and watch as He opened the Red Sea. He fought for them and gave a tremendous victory.

3. Persevering Faith Through The . . Defiance Of Pharaoh.   14:15-18

As we read this passage of Scripture, we want to ask Pharaoh what it will take for him to wise up and stop opposing the Lord. In the face of Pharaoh’s defiance God commanded His children to go forward. The children of the Lord moved forward and actually walked on dry ground. One preacher said, “The first soldiers of Pharaoh actually choked to death on the dust.” God enjoyed the results of His activity against Pharaoh. I think He had Himself a little party, and said, “I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh.”

4. Persevering Faith Through The . . Display Of God’s Power.   14:31

This display of power by the Lord caused His people to have a reverential fear, and an awesome appreciation of all He did for them. They also acknowledged Moses as God’s man. We could easily say, “Well it is about time they did this.” Do we ever deserve someone suggesting the same for us? All of us might learn from this story to demonstrate a Persevering Faith. Amen? Amen! (For a more detailed outline, go to: http://www.preachhim.org/SundaySchoolIndex.html.)

Introduction: Christians possess hope because of the resurrection of Christ. No other belief or religion gives this hope. Jesus alone gives this Resurrected Hope.

1. The Ladies Were... Surprised By The Resurrection Reality.   24:1-8

The Lord told the disciples about His resurrection and these ladies heard it; but the truth did not register. They went to the tomb expecting to be able to anoint the body of Jesus but they were surprised because of their misunderstanding and failure to comprehend the teaching about the resurrection. We can understand this and probably would not have understood either. After all no one had ever arose from the dead before. They were also surprised by the angels appearing as men in dazzling apparel. Then the message of the angels surprised them as they remembered the words of Jesus and they began to put the words and the reality of the resurrection together. It must have been an exciting message as the truth began to be comprehended.

2. Everyone Was... Startled By The Appearance Of Christ.   24:36-46

When Jesus appeared to the disciples they were startled. At first, His presence caused them to be terrified as they thought His ghost appeared to them. As the Lord spoke He pronounced peace to them and told them not to be afraid. Then the Lord offered the obvious proofs of His body and that He was not a ghost. He asked them to touch Him and see for themselves. Then He asked for something to eat and after receiving a piece of fish He ate it. The Lord proclaimed the scriptures in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the book of Psalms that spoke of Him as the Messiah. Back in the days before the Conservative Resurgence in our convention, I had a professor who said the Old Testament did not talk about Jesus. I asked him what he thought about these verses and he said, “Well it would be interesting to know what actual verses Jesus spoke of, wouldn’t it?” I am very pleased that does not happen in our seminaries today.

3. Everyone Was... Sent As Witnesses Of The Resurrection Reality. 24:47-49

All of these early disciples understood that Jesus pronounced these disciples as “witnesses of these things.” How could they keep quiet about such a startling fact? But we may ask the same question about ourselves. Do we witness concerning the reality of our resurrected Lord? The Lord gave a proclamation that included a promise and power. The Lord called attention to the promise of God given long ago and becoming a reality for that hour and even the promise for our day. The Lord promised to send His spirit to empower us for this witness. It is a tremendous privilege to witness for the Lord in the power of the Spirit and see people’s lives transformed. We have the responsibility and privilege to proclaim the Resurrection Hope. Amen? Amen! (For a more detailed outline go to: www.preachhim.org/SundaySchoolIndex.html)

Introduction: This lesson is not so much about devotion unless it is God’s devotion to His people and His promises. The people grumbled and complained. I think there are some people in many groups that are always complaining about something. They most often are negative people. It is refreshing to get away from those people and be around those who speak positively and try to build up the faith and the faithful. Moses tried to be obedient to the Lord’s direction but the people did not appreciate it. God tested the people to see if they would follow. In this sense, there is a Tested Devotion.

1. God Tested Israel’s Devotion Through Their... Grumbling.    16:2-4

The people in the text grumbled against Moses. We know Moses was God’s man for the job and these grumblers made his job more difficult. Do you know anyone who grumbles against the leaders of the church?

They make the work more difficult. These people in the text grumbled about the food and the lack of it. If they had focused on the truth they would have realized God would provide as He did. What a sad day when God decides to test our obedience. We need to be obedient in all kinds of circumstances. God wanted His people to go to the promised land and He will see they get there.

2. God Tested Israel’s Devotion Through Their... Complaints.
16:11-15, 18

I wonder if complainers know God hears their complaints. If they realized this would they complain as much as they do? In spite of their complaints God worked miraculously to provide for their needs. They knew this food came by the provision of God. God gave Moses a report of what He was going to do and He did exactly what He told Moses. I believe He was allowing the people to know Moses was His man and He was working through him. It is interesting that God only gave them a one day supply. I believe this made the people build their trust in the Lord. God did not allow anyone to get more in one day than what they needed. You and I need to learn about God’s daily supply for us. In the model prayer Jesus said, “Give us this day our daily bread.”

3. God Tested Israel’s Devotion Through A... Reminder Of Manna. 16:32-34

Do you like to go and see memorials? I do. I remember going to the memorial at Pearl Harbor and seeing some with tears in their eyes. When we went through the Holocaust museum in Israel, many wept over the memory of that horrible event. God commanded two quarts of manna to be put in jars and placed in the Ark of the Covenant so throughout Israel’s history they would remember what He had done through those days. Truly this was a time of Tested Devotion. Amen? Amen! (For a more detailed outline go to: www.preachhim.org/SundaySchoolIndex.html)

Bible Studies for Life with Dr. Andy Chambers

All of us are tempted to insist on our way, instead of doing what pleases God, who said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18). What does following Jesus look like when you put the needs of others above your own (cf. Phil. 2:3; Rom. 12:10)?

First, you learn to let love rule (1 Cor. 8:1-3). The believers in Corinth knew an important truth that in first century Rome was radical. There is just one God. Paul was glad that they had a good foundation of knowledge about God, but he warned them that knowledge without love for people simply puffs us up with pride. Knowledge with love, however, seeks to build others up (v1). The person who takes pride in what he knows about God doesn’t really know as he should know (v2). You can only really know God when you humble yourself before Him (James 4:6). That kind of knowledge leads you to truly love God and be known by Him (v3).

If you know God, you will be marked by humility before Him and with others, and love will rule your life.

Second, you refuse to put a stumbling block in front of your brother (1 Cor. 8:4, 7-13). When love rules, you will put your brother’s needs above your freedom. The Corinthian Christians knew that an idol is nothing. Therefore, meat that was formerly used in pagan worship was fine for Christians to eat (v4). However, for many newer Christians who came to Christ out of idolatry, this freedom would have defiled their consciences. It confused them to see other Christians eating such food (v7). Paul reminded the believers that before God what they ate was a non-issue (v8). However, their freedom could become a stumbling block to the weak (v9). Their behavior risked encouraging weaker brothers to slip back into idolatry (vv10-11). Failing to take account of your brother’s conscience when you consider you freedom is sin (v12). Therefore, it is better to set your freedom aside than risk making your brother stumble (v13).

If any freedom you have in Christ leads a brother to stumble, you should set that freedom aside for the sake of your brother. Others’ needs should outweigh your desire for freedom.

Third, do all things to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31-33). A good rule of thumb when you are making choices with your freedom is to ask, “What will bring God the greatest glory?” Paul wasn’t just talking about attending worship when he wrote about bringing glory to God. He brought it down to everyday choices like what to eat and drink! (v31). The way you bring God glory is to consider the consciences of people around you and seek to keep them from stumbling by what you do (v32). In this way they will profit from their relationship to you, and many will be saved (v33).

Jesus said that the second greatest command, to love your neighbor, is like the greatest command to love God (Matt. 22:34-40). When you seek what is best for the people around you in your choices, you bring greater glory to God.

How can you honor God in corporate worship, especially when your church takes the Lord’s Supper together?

First, focus on the unity of the church in worship (1 Cor. 11:17-22, 33-34). Paul addressed the disunity in Corinth, especially when they took the Lord’s Supper. He heard that the church was tolerating divisions even in worship (vv17-18). The factions among them exposed their lack of unity (v19), so that when they came together for the Lord’s Supper, it wasn’t really the Lord’s Supper they took (v20). If it was the Lord’s Supper, then the church would have done it together (i.e. it is a church ordinance) and in an orderly way. In Corinth, people would not wait for everyone to arrive before they began to eat, and some were getting drunk at the meal (v21). Paul told them to take their meals at home (v22). When the church gathered to eat, they needed to wait for everyone to get there (v33). The person who was too hungry to wait, needed to eat at home, so that the church did not bring God’s judgment down on them due to disobedience (v34).

Are you conscious of God’s call to unity in the church when you take the Lord’s Supper?

Second, focus on Jesus and what He did for us (1 Cor. 11:23-26). Paul passed on what he received about what occurred on the night of Jesus’ betrayal (v23). He gave thanks for the bread, broke it, and told the disciples, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (v24). He did the same with the cup, calling it, “the new covenant in My blood” and calling His disciples to remember Him whenever they drank it together (v25). Doing this is one way Christ’s followers proclaim His death until He comes again (v26).

At the heart of the gospel is the death of Christ for sin (Acts 2:42). The Lord’s Supper commemorates this central event and teaching of the Gospel. The Lord’s Supper should be a time of deep personal and corporate reflection on Christ’s sacrifice for us.

Third, focus on self-examination (1 Cor. 11:27-32). Paul warned the church against eating and drinking in an unworthy manner, to avoid sinning against the body and blood of the Lord (v27). What would be an unworthy manner? First, taking the elements without examining yourself would be inappropriate (v28). Second, it would also be inappropriate to fail to recognize the body. The body here could refer to the church or to Christ’s own body represented by the bread and the cup (v29). Either way, Paul called readers to a deep seriousness about the Lord’s Supper. An irreverent attitude led to God’s discipline coming against His own people. Some became sick. Others died (vv30-31). God is jealous for His name and reputation. He will protect it. We should take self examination seriously, so we won’t be condemned by the world (v32).

True self examination leads to brokenness over sin, where we recognize our undone state and the enormity of Christ’s sacrifice. The heart of worship is at the foot of the cross, where our Savior died. He also rose again. Let us honor Him in our worship.

Introduction: Christians possess hope because of the resurrection of Christ. No other belief or religion gives this hope. Jesus alone gives this Resurrected Hope.

1. The Ladies Were... Surprised By The Resurrection Reality.   24:1-8

The Lord told the disciples about His resurrection and these ladies heard it; but the truth did not register. They went to the tomb expecting to be able to anoint the body of Jesus but they were surprised because of their misunderstanding and failure to comprehend the teaching about the resurrection. We can understand this and probably would not have understood either. After all no one had ever arose from the dead before. They were also surprised by the angels appearing as men in dazzling apparel. Then the message of the angels surprised them as they remembered the words of Jesus and they began to put the words and the reality of the resurrection together. It must have been an exciting message as the truth began to be comprehended.

2. Everyone Was... Startled By The Appearance Of Christ.   24:36-46

When Jesus appeared to the disciples they were startled. At first, His presence caused them to be terrified as they thought His ghost appeared to them. As the Lord spoke He pronounced peace to them and told them not to be afraid. Then the Lord offered the obvious proofs of His body and that He was not a ghost. He asked them to touch Him and see for themselves. Then He asked for something to eat and after receiving a piece of fish He ate it. The Lord proclaimed the scriptures in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the book of Psalms that spoke of Him as the Messiah. Back in the days before the Conservative Resurgence in our convention, I had a professor who said the Old Testament did not talk about Jesus. I asked him what he thought about these verses and he said, “Well it would be interesting to know what actual verses Jesus spoke of, wouldn’t it?” I am very pleased that does not happen in our seminaries today.

3. Everyone Was... Sent As Witnesses Of The Resurrection Reality. 24:47-49

All of these early disciples understood that Jesus pronounced these disciples as “witnesses of these things.” How could they keep quiet about such a startling fact? But we may ask the same question about ourselves. Do we witness concerning the reality of our resurrected Lord? The Lord gave a proclamation that included a promise and power. The Lord called attention to the promise of God given long ago and becoming a reality for that hour and even the promise for our day. The Lord promised to send His spirit to empower us for this witness. It is a tremendous privilege to witness for the Lord in the power of the Spirit and see people’s lives transformed. We have the responsibility and privilege to proclaim the Resurrection Hope. Amen? Amen! (For a more detailed outline go to: www.preachhim.org/SundaySchoolIndex.html)

Introduction: This lesson is not so much about devotion unless it is God’s devotion to His people and His promises. The people grumbled and complained. I think there are some people in many groups that are always complaining about something. They most often are negative people. It is refreshing to get away from those people and be around those who speak positively and try to build up the faith and the faithful. Moses tried to be obedient to the Lord’s direction but the people did not appreciate it. God tested the people to see if they would follow. In this sense, there is a Tested Devotion.

1. God Tested Israel’s Devotion Through Their... Grumbling.    16:2-4

The people in the text grumbled against Moses. We know Moses was God’s man for the job and these grumblers made his job more difficult. Do you know anyone who grumbles against the leaders of the church?

They make the work more difficult. These people in the text grumbled about the food and the lack of it. If they had focused on the truth they would have realized God would provide as He did. What a sad day when God decides to test our obedience. We need to be obedient in all kinds of circumstances. God wanted His people to go to the promised land and He will see they get there.

2. God Tested Israel’s Devotion Through Their... Complaints.
16:11-15, 18

I wonder if complainers know God hears their complaints. If they realized this would they complain as much as they do? In spite of their complaints God worked miraculously to provide for their needs. They knew this food came by the provision of God. God gave Moses a report of what He was going to do and He did exactly what He told Moses. I believe He was allowing the people to know Moses was His man and He was working through him. It is interesting that God only gave them a one day supply. I believe this made the people build their trust in the Lord. God did not allow anyone to get more in one day than what they needed. You and I need to learn about God’s daily supply for us. In the model prayer Jesus said, “Give us this day our daily bread.”

3. God Tested Israel’s Devotion Through A... Reminder Of Manna. 16:32-34

Do you like to go and see memorials? I do. I remember going to the memorial at Pearl Harbor and seeing some with tears in their eyes. When we went through the Holocaust museum in Israel, many wept over the memory of that horrible event. God commanded two quarts of manna to be put in jars and placed in the Ark of the Covenant so throughout Israel’s history they would remember what He had done through those days. Truly this was a time of Tested Devotion. Amen? Amen! (For a more detailed outline go to: www.preachhim.org/SundaySchoolIndex.html)