Concordia Adult Bible Class

We have come to expect that politicians will make campaign promises they cannot keep. Jephthah made a promise that he should not have kept, but did, and it ended up costing him the life of his daughter. Jephthah tried to control God’s actions with a foolish vow. Is there any ways in which we try to control God’s actions?

It was Franklin Roosevelt who famously said in his first inaugural address, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Gideon was a man who was always afraid. Many people know the story of Gideon’s test of God with a fleece. Far fewer people know, however, that before Gideon tested God with a fleece, he tested God with an offering. It seems as though Gideon had a hard time trusting God, always asking God to prove Himself because Gideon was always frightened. In what ways are we frightened?

The first major judge in Judges is a woman! And she is strong. She spearheads a battle against Jabin and reveals that her commander, Barak, is a coward. Deborah is an example of how heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and do not always look or act the way the world thinks they look and act.

“The definition of insanity,” the old adage goes, “is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” The book of Judges is set during a time when Israel fell into the same sins over and over again – and got the same result of judgment. What “insane” things do we do over and over again of which we need to repent?

During this time of year, it’s not too tough for jealousy to take root. We see what gifts others are buying their families and we can be tempted to try to keep up, or to compare the gifts we receive with the gifts other receives. In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul warns against comparison, instead encouraging contentment in Christ.

Christmas cookies are delicious! That is, unless the recipe gets messed up. I once had some Christmas cookies without sugar. Rather than being delicious, they were bitter. Sometimes, what is true of a messed up cookie can also be true of our messed up lives. We can become bitter. In this message, we discover how to overcome bitterness by the sweetness of God’s grace.

Daniel is persecuted by people who are jealous of him. They purposely set him up so that he will have to compromise his faith or risk being killed in a den of lions. Daniel does not compromise in his faith. As we watch instances of persecution around our world, how will we witness to our faith – no matter what?

King Belshazzar has taken holy things plundered from the temple in Jerusalem and used them for unholy purposes – for revelry. God judges Belshazzar’s immorality, however. When we are confronted with immorality, do we trust that God will get the final word of righteousness?

In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar sets up a giant golden idol. Three of Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have a choice: do they bow down to the king’s statue or do they stand up for what they believe. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stand up for what they believe. When we are confronted, do we capitulate? Do we handle things passive aggressively? Or, do we stand?

In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that none of his wise men can interpret for him. Daniel offers to interpret the king’s dream, but before God reveals to Daniel its meaning! All Daniel can do is trust and pray that God will give him the wisdom that he needs. When things are uncertain in our lives, do we trust and pray that God will give us what we need?

In order to learn from mistakes, a coach will often have his team watch the tape of their last game. This way, they can study and learn how to do better next time. We too are to “watch God’s tape” – that is, God’s Word – so that we can understand our mistakes and serve our Lord well. As Joshua reminds us, we are to “be careful to do everything written in [God’s Word]” (Joshua 1:8). As we celebrate the Reformation, we are reminded to be people who read, mark, and inwardly digest God’s precious truth.

Professional teams live with salary caps. This way, one team cannot radically outspend another. We too live with salary caps. God has given us much, but He has not given us everything. Our challenge is to be generous with what God has given us not only when it feels good, but when it becomes hard.

A superstar may be good for a franchise’s bottom line, but it is rarely good for a team. Teams play together to lift each other up. As Christians, we are on Christ’s team. We must play together and serve each other. This is why one of the fundamental facets of Jesus’ ministry, as Jesus Himself describes it, is service. He has come to serve us. In the pattern of Jesus, we too are to serve others. Service teaches us humility and reminds us that what is most important is not found in our accomplishments, but in our selflessness.

When you’re on the field, you have tune out the roar of the crowd to focus on the game. When life roars at us, we need similar focus. This is why, when Job loses everything, his friends come to him not to speak, but to sit in silence with him. Silence allows us to listen to God and guards us from confusing God’s Word with our words. It also allows us to demonstrate, as Job’s friends do, empathy with someone – not explaining their pain, but being with them through their pain.

Just as important as playing hard is resting well. We need rest to replenish ourselves. This is why the Bible commands us to Sabbath. But Sabbath is not only a command, but a blessing. To legalistic religious leaders who had turned the Sabbath into a burden rather than a blessing, Jesus restores the Sabbath’s appropriate place as a gift of time to rest and relax. Are we taking advantage of this?