Concordia Adult Bible Class

Hope When…Your Children Rebel 1 Samuel 2:22-26 Eli has wicked and rebellious sons. The disobey God’s commands and even abuse women. When Eli tries to talk to them, his efforts prove feeble and futile. His sons do not listen to him. However, there is another young man in this story named Samuel who will eventually become the greatest prophet in all Israel. Eli may have lost his biological sons but he finds a son from God in Samuel. We too have a Son from God in Jesus. When our children rebel, we can give thanks that God’s Son never rebelled, but fulfilled the will of His Father perfectly. And His perfection covers over our children’s rebellion and over our rebellion as well.

Hope When…You’re Estranged 1 Samuel 18:9-14, 21, 31-33 David and his son Absalom are not on good terms. Indeed, one time David says of Absalom, “He must not see my face” (2 Samuel 14:24). This estrangement continues until finally, Absalom is killed in battle. It is only then that David realizes how futile his estrangement from his son has been. When sin estranged us from God, He did not allow that estrangement to remain. Rather, He sent Jesus and deal with us a loving father deals with his son – firmly, but compassionately.

Hope When…You’re Stretched Too Thin Exodus 18:13-18, 21-23 Have you ever felt overwhelmed? Moses knows how you feel! He took on too much. Blessedly, his father-in-law encouraged him to delegate his tasks. One of the great spiritual dangers of our world is the danger of having too much to do and not enough time for what – and who – matters most. Do you delegate what you need to delegate so that you have time for your family and for God?

Hope When…You’re Caught In Blame Genesis 3:1-13 “My wife tricked me!” At least, that’s Adam’s excuse when God questions Adam as to why he broke God’s command. Adam blames his wife for his sin. He tries to pass the buck. How often do we try to blame others for our faults and pass the buck of our foibles to others? The blame game destroys relationships and families. Thankfully, we have someone who took the blame our sins deserved and died the death we should have died – Jesus Christ. Rather than playing the blame game, Christ removes our blame of sin.

Finishing Fit 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 At this time of year, when we consider the passion of Christ and how he “completed” the work his Father set before him (cf. John 19:28), it is good to ask, “How will we complete our lives? Will we complete our lives with our integrity in tact? What kind of legacy will we leave for future generations?” Anyone can begin a fitness regimen, but sticking with it to the end is difficult. Yet, this is what God calls us to. How are we running this race of life?

Financially Fit 1 Timothy 6:3-11 Appropriately managing your money requires appropriately managing your heart. For the human heart can become easily ensnared by the allures of money, piercing a man with many griefs (cf. 3:10). Financial fitness, then, requires both a portfolio check and a heart check. As you steward your money, consider not only what your money can do for you but what your money means to you.

Relationally Fit Matthew 5:21-26 Jesus offers a series of three teachings in these verses, all concerning how we steward our relationships. In verses 21-22, he talks about our relationship with our brother in the context of our relationship with our own heart. In verses 23-24, he talks about our relationship with our brother in the context of relationship to our Lord. In verses 25-26, he talks about our relationship with our brother in the context of our relationship to the world.

Physically Fit 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Our bodies are gifts from God and ought to be stewarded as such. Stewarding our bodies includes not only how we treat our bodies – the foods we eat, the exercise we get – but how we use our bodies. That is, do we use our bodies for things which dishonor God such as sexual immorality or drugs? Paul addresses both how we treat our bodies and use our bodies in these verses.

Physically Fit 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Our bodies are gifts from God and ought to be stewarded as such. Stewarding our bodies includes not only how we treat our bodies – the foods we eat, the exercise we get – but how we use our bodies. That is, do we use our bodies for things which dishonor God such as sexual immorality or drugs? Paul addresses both how we treat our bodies and use our bodies in these verses.

Eternally Fit John 3:1-16 Before we focus on our fitness in this life, we must focus on our fitness for the next. Fitness for eternal life is something we can never earn or achieve; rather, it is granted through water and the Spirit when we are born from above.

Wholly Fit John 10:1-11 Material and spiritual. Corporal and ethereal. Many people sharply compartmentalize their “spiritual life” from the rest of their physical life. But this was never Christ’s desire. His desire was that we be wholly fit – both spiritually and physically. This is why Christ has come – he has come that “we may have life, and have it to the full” (John 1:10). Jesus wants every aspect of our lives to be full with him.

Shining…Servants Mark 10:35-45 The sons of Zebedee want to shine like stars in glory, enthroned beside Jesus. Jesus’ glory, however, does not yet consist of a throne, but of a cross. For this is the place where he serves humanity. At Concordia, we have many opportunities to serve. And when we serve, we receive God’s promise that we not only will feel great because we have done something significant, we will be great.

Shining…To Others Matthew 5:13-16 Concordia’s cross was designed to be a landmark to Christ in our community. Like Jesus’ city on a hill (verse 14), it is meant to light the way to where the Savior is preached. Like our cross shines, our people do too. Who will you shine to so that they might believe and glorify God?

Shining…Guidance Psalm 119:97-112 Psalm 119 is a celebration of God’s Torah. It is “a lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (verse 105). Do we, like the Psalmist, love God’s Word and meditate on it constantly (cf. verse 97)? As God’s people, this is our calling, for God’s Word is where we hear God’s most certain voice.

Shining…Praises Luke 2:22-32, 36-38 On Epiphany, we celebrate how a light from a star led Gentile magi from the east to worship the Christ child. Simeon, in his song of worship, remembers God’s promise that he will prepare salvation "in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (verse 31). Both he and the prophetess Anna worship the newborn king, as did the Magi. Their simple, yet sincere, worship of Christ ought to mark our lives as well.