Text: Genesis 49:3-4 In ancient times, the firstborn (particularly the firstborn son) held a place of prominence – inheritance, assume leadership role after the death of the father. There are several examples in the book of Genesis about the firstborn being passed over for a younger brother who would later appear in the genealogy of Christ. Why […]
The Meekest Man in All the Earth
Text: Numbers 12:3 “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3, KJV). This lesson will examine this trait of meekness – how it was manifested in Moses’ life and why we must display it in ours. What Is Meekness? Hebrew word (anav) – depressed, […]
Mary the Mother of Jesus
Text: Matthew 1:20-23 Some in the religious world elevate Mary to the status of deity. She played an important role in Christ being born into the world, but she was not equal with Him. Without elevating her too highly, we can recognize and appreciate the good qualities she possessed. We will consider some of these in this […]
Joseph of Arimathea
Text: Matthew 27:57-60 One of the people we read about in connection with Jesus’ death is Joseph of Arimathea. He took it upon himself to bury the body of Jesus. He is mentioned in all four gospels, but only briefly. There are some lessons we can learn from this man – challenges he faced and traits […]
Lessons from Paul’s Letter to Philemon
Text: Philemon 1 Philemon was a wealthier Christian who lived in Colossae or the surrounding area. Onesimus was Philemon’s slave who had run away, met Paul, and obeyed the gospel. Paul was sending him back to Philemon along with this letter. This lesson discusses what we can learn from Paul’s letter to Philemon. Develop a Reputation for Good […]
Through Many Tribulations (Part 4: Persecution)
Text: Acts 14:22 Paul and Barnabas encouraged the brethren to remain faithful to the Lord “through many tribulations” so they could reach the final reward of heaven. The kinds of tribulations that we may face could be unique to Christians or common to all people. Any of these tribulations could potentially derail our faith and […]