Many Christians are surprised when serious sin is uncovered in their church, especially in the lives of leaders. However, in the book of Numbers we find the Israelite community in the Wilderness, repeatedly struggling with sins, foreshadowing the Christian church. This is a practical message that is surprisingly relevant today, offering reassurance and Biblical direction […]
Dealing with Sin in the Congregation (Numbers 15) View Lesson
The Bible tells us to honor the elderly and seek out their wisdom. In contrast, the world seeks to avoid even looking old! -- and casts the elderly aside as useless. In this lesson, we examine how the Ancient of Days feels about the elderly, as well as the role He expects them to play […]
Rise Before the Gray-Haired Man (Leviticus 19:20-37) View Lesson
Teaching Notes
Peter calls the young men to submit to their elders in the church. But what should we do when we are under unrighteous shepherds? While navigating such a challenge is extremely difficult, the Scriptures provide us clear direction and inspiring examples of those who suffered in the same way. Peter's commands to clothe ourselves with […]
Peter exhorts his fellow elders to be good shepherds of the flock. We first consider Peter’s unusual role in the church, and then examine the historic controversy surrounding his role. Historically, the Catholic Church has asserted that Jesus established Peter as the first pope, while Protestants reject such a claim and tend to focus on […]
Since the high priest of the tabernacle represents Christ (from Hebrews 8-10) his attire takes on greater significance for us. In this lesson we look at that special clothing, particularly the spectacular breastplate which featured twelve unique gemstones on its front panel. Early Christian writer Tertullian pointed to this as one of several Old Testament […]
While Moses serves as the sole judge for disputes in Israel, the people must wait all day for their turn for justice. His father-in-law, Jethro, gives some unsolicited advice: appoint righteous men to judge the routine cases. In this lesson we explore often-neglected principles related to taking advice. We also consider how passages like this […]
At the end of John's gospel, Jesus appears to His apostles and gives very specific instruction to Peter: feed My sheep. God has always been deeply concerned about the sheep and that there are shepherds who will feed, protect and care for His people. We conclude our series learning more about the heart of the […]
Given that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are supposed to walk as he did, what does this characteristic of Jesus mean for our own lives? This lesson examines Jesus’, Paul’s, and Peter’s expectations for us as shepherds, whether of our family or our local church, and addresses the gap between the Biblical role […]
What did Jesus mean when He announced, "I am the Good Shepherd"? This may seem like an illustration that he came up with on the spot, but the Old Testament is full of talk of shepherds, and Jesus' use of the term is part of this conversation. In this lesson we consider five good shepherds […]