Sunday School Superintendent March, April, May 2016

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SPRING QUARTER

Vol. LXXXI

No. 2

Sunday School Superintendent SPRING QUARTER

March, April, May 2016

Editorials................................................................................................................

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The Gift of Faith UNIT I: Tests of Faith Mar. 6—Powerful Faith—Mark 9:14-29 ............................................................................. 4 Mar. 13—Simple Faith—Mark 10:17-31............................................................................... 6 Mar. 20—Struggling Faith—Mark 14:26-31, 66-72 ............................................................. 8 Mar. 27—Resurrection Faith (Easter)—Mark 16:1-8 .......................................................... 10

UNIT II: Restorative Faith Apr. 3—Healing Faith—Luke 7:1-10.................................................................................. Apr. 10—Saving Faith—Luke 7:36-50 ................................................................................. Apr. 17—Spiritual Deliverance—Luke 8:26-36................................................................... Apr. 24—Reconciling Faith—Luke 15:11-24 ......................................................................

12 14 16 18

UNIT III: Fullness of Faith May May May May May

1—Increasing Faith—Luke 17:1-10........................................................................... 8—Grateful Faith—Luke 17:11-19............................................................................. 15—Humble Faith—Luke 18:9-14 ............................................................................... 22—Childlike Faith—Luke 18:15-27; Mark 10:16 ....................................................... 29—Joyous Faith—Luke 19:1-10 ................................................................................ Paragraphs on Places and People......................................................................

20 22 24 26 28 30

Writer: Derrick M. Hammond Edited and published quarterly by THE INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF THE GOSPEL WORKER SOCIETY UNION GOSPEL PRESS DIVISION Rev. W. B. Musselman, Founder Price: $1.55 per quarter* $6.20 per year* *shipping and handling extra

ISBN 978-1-59843-454-5 Lessons based on International Sunday School Lessons; the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2012 by the Committee on the Uniform Series and used with permission. Edited and published quarterly by The Incorporated Trustees of the Gospel Worker Society, Union Gospel Press Division, 2000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44109-5812. Mailing address: P.O. Box 6059, Cleveland, Ohio 44101-1059. www.uniongospelpress.com

Editorials BY

DERRICK M. HAMMOND

The Gift of Faith This quarter we turn our attention to the subject of faith. Our theme, “The Gift of Faith,” will guide our discussion as we explore thirteen aspects of faith in three units. Progression through the units will mirror our faith walk—from tests through restoration and into fullness. The lesson texts are found in the Gospels of Mark and Luke, both of which emphasize action. In the first unit, “Tests of Faith,” we will study four instances of faith being tried. Each lesson text comes from the latter part of Mark’s Gospel. This should come as no surprise since Mark’s Gospel moves distinctly toward the cross, the ultimate test of faith, after chapter 8. We will begin lesson 1 by establishing that we have the power to overcome any obstacle by faith. Several people are involved in this lesson including a discouraged father, a sick child, a skeptical crowd, and unbelieving disciples. This will be the first of three lessons in which the primary characters demonstrate a lack of faith. Lesson 2 reminds us that faith requires a willingness to forsake all for

Christ. In essence, the rich young ruler simply moved from self-doubt to self-righteousness. We will examine this example of how an outward show of following the law does not constitute a demonstration of faith. We will then be carried into the passion narrative by lesson 3, in which we will study the impact that fear can have on our faith. Peter’s denial of Jesus in the outer courtyard will be the focus of our attention. Unlike the rich young ruler in the prior lesson, Peter will inspire us with a repentant heart that shows God’s tender mercy. The fourth and final lesson of the unit will move us from Peter in the courtyard to the women at Jesus’ tomb. We will look at their response to the heavenly messenger as well as their first response to the glorious news that our Saviour had risen. Once we have looked at different tests of faith leading up to and through the crucifixion in the first unit, we will transition our study from Mark to the Gospel of Luke. The second unit, “Restorative Faith,” will echo the theme of Luke’s Gospel by highlighting restoration through faith. The movement in this unit is as geographical as

PLEASE NOTE: The Incorporated Trustees of the Gospel Worker Society, Union Gospel Press Division, most earnestly endeavors to proclaim fundamentally sound doctrine. The writers are prayerfully selected for their Bible knowledge and yieldedness to the Spirit of Truth, each writing in his own style as enlightened by the Holy Spirit. At best we know in part only. “They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

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it is theological. Lesson 5 sets the tone for this unit with the restoration of a servant’s health in the lakeside town of Capernaum. Unique to this lesson is the degree of intercession involved, so we will discuss petitioning God on behalf of others in detail. We will also look at the type of faith that Jesus called the greatest in all the area. The great theme of Scripture is that God has brought restoration through forgiveness of our sin. The sixth lesson demonstrates that the person who has been forgiven more, or has a greater awareness of his sin, will love God more in response. The scene then shifts from a Jewish town to a predominately Gentile region in lesson 7. We will explore the concept of demonic activity and Jesus’ authority over evil spirits. The parable of the prodigal son, a familiar story, is the focus of study in lesson 8. We will revisit God’s willingness to restore the lost and be reminded that He desires to give us all that He has. By the end of the second unit, we will have covered several ways that faith moves one into a closer relationship with God. The third unit, “Fullness of Faith,” examines how this closeness is nurtured through petition, gratitude, Sunday School Superintendent

humility, and childlikeness. In our Christian walk, we are certain to experience both offenses and blessings. The next two lessons examine how we are to respond to each. Lesson 9 reminds us that we must not respond to transgressions with vengeance. Given human nature, we must recognize our dependence on God for the faith required to respond with grace and forgiveness. In lesson 10 we look at the appropriate response to blessings, which is gratefulness. We will explore the difference between being healed through obedience and being made whole through thankful worship. Self-righteousness resurfaces again in lesson 11. Our study will contrast the prayers of those who are self-righteous with the prayers of those who are humble. Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God more than anything else. Lesson 12 describes the type of faith required to enter into that kingdom. We will explore childlike faith and revisit how the rich young ruler of lesson 2 failed to demonstrate that kind of faith. Our final lesson of the quarter will fittingly touch on the unique balance between man’s responsibility and God’s sovereignty. We must diligently seek God while we can, trusting that He already knows our situation but desires to commune with us anyway. With salvation having come to the home of a social leper, our studies on faith end on a celebratory note. Hopefully by the end of the quarter, you will have a better understanding of why it is impossible to please God without faith and why it is a gift from God. My sincere prayer for you and your staff is that the Lord’s hand will be upon you, granting increased faith to those who hear you as you faithfully teach His Word. (Continued on page 31) 3

LESSON 1

MARCH 6, 2016

Powerful Faith Lesson: Mark 9:14-29 Read: Mark 9:14-29 TIME: A.D. 29

PLACE: possibly near Mount Hermon

GOLDEN TEXT—“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23).

SELECTED HYMNS (Adults) “All We Need” (Hall) “He Is Able to Deliver Thee” (Ogden) SELECTED HYMNS (Juniors and below) “Living by Faith” (Wells) “There Is Power in the Blood” (Jones) A PRAYER OF PRAISE FOR GOD’S POWER—“But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning” (Ps. 59:16). SUPERINTENDENT’S SPECIAL One of my daughter’s earliest and fondest memories is of the day she learned to be particular about what she put her faith in. Her outstretched, little

arms would be a signal to me to lift her up to get things that were out of her reach. She recalls how she often dreamed of what it would have been like to get things on her own. In a bold act of independence one day, she decided to pursue her dream by way of a weak chair that soon sent her crashing to the floor. She went to the chair again later, but after a brief moment of contemplation, she ran back out of the room. She returned with my finger clenched tightly in her little hand. I then lifted her to the cabinet in joy and security. We often put faith in things that fail us. Our Father helps when we fall. He also grants those things that are outside of our reach but not outside of His.

GUIDING THE SUPERINTENDENT Samson, Saul, and Solomon are a few of many examples of people in the Bible who erroneously put their faith in others. This lesson is interesting because the disciples, as representatives of Jesus, should have been worthy repositories of faith in God the Father. 4

DEVOTIONAL OUTLINE 1. Hope but no help (Mark 9:14-19). In the New Testament period, scribes were teachers of the law and convincing leaders. Like the Pharisees and Sadducees, they were one of many authoritative groups who consistently sought