SPRING QUARTER (Mar/April/May)

ADULT / YOUNG ADULT (18 AND ABOVE)

CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE

BIBLE BASIS: Zephaniah 3:6-8

BIBLE TRUTH: Zephaniah recounts how God punished the people for their disobedience, and wanted them to correct their behavior.

MEMORY VERSE: “Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms. to pour upon them one indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy” (Zephaniah 3:8)

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: EXAMINE Zephaniah’s prophecy that God would want to save His people and the people’s intransigent rebellion; HELP adults realize that God loves us, wants our obedience and will give us a second chance to repent; and COMMIT to asking God to give another opportunity for redemption and salvation.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Deuteronomy 8:11-18; Genesis 1:1-2:3; Zephaniah 3:18-Read and incorporate the insights gained from the Background Scriptures into your study of the lesson.

SIMPLE FAITH

BIBLE BASIS: ZEPHANIAH 3:9-14,20

BIBLE TRUTH: God’s intervention was required to stop the people from rebelling and to return to the Lord with singing

MEMORY VERSE: “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel: be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem” (Zephaniah 3:14).

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: TELL of God’s proclamation through Zephaniah that He would bring the people to obedience; BE ASSURED God will help us through our times of trouble and disobedience; and PRAY for one another and ourselves for God’s presence and involvement in our lives.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Hebrews 11:29-39; Zephaniah 3:9-14,20–Read and incorporate the insights gained from the Background Scriptures into your study of the lesson.

IGNORING GOD’S PLAIN TRUTH

BIBLE BASIS: ROMANS 1:18-23,28-32

BIBLE TRUTH: Paul recounts how people will disobey God and take pride in filling their lives with actions that oppose Him.

Memory Verse: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20)

Lesson AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: KNOW Paul’s plaintive story of God’s magnificent creation choosing to wreck itself with sin; FEEL that humans really do have the freedom to be disobedient but will suffer God’s punishment; and DO God’s will instead of sinning.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Psalm 8 & Psalm 52— Read and incorporate the insights gained from background scriptures into your study of the lesson.

IGNORING GOD’S TRUTH WITHIN US

BIBLE BASIS: ROMANS 2:17-29

BIBLE TRUTH: Paul declares that some people teach others to follow the Law, but do not follow the Law themselves.

MEMORY VERSE: “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified” (Romans 2:13) 

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: TELL what Paul reveals about the people who claim to follow God’s Law while failing to keep it; RECOGNIZE the hypocrisy of claiming to belong to God will breaking God’s Law; and IDENTIFY the hypocrisy in our beliefs and daily actions and ways to comply with God’s Law.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Psalm 104; 1 Peter 1:13-23; Romans 2:14-29 — Read and incorporate the insights gained from Background Scriptures into your study of the lesson.

WE WERE ALL UNDER SIN’S POWER

BIBLE BASIS: ROMANS 3:9-20

BIBLE TRUTH: Humans are God’s creation. Paul laments that we have corrupted ourselves from the beginning and that all unrepentant  sinners will be held accountable by God.

MEMORY VERSE: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20)

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: KNOW that humankind began corrupting creation from the start and God’s retribution to sinners will surely come; ACCEPT our personal roles toward our own corruption; and BE ATTENTIVE to the biblical prophets and accept accountability with God by repenting and being redeemed back to God.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Psalm 136:1-9; Romans 3:9-20; 1 John 1:5-10 — Read and incorporate the insights gained from the Background Scriptures into your study of the lesson.

GOD SETS THINGS RIGHT

BIBLE BASIS: ROMANS 3:21-31

BIBLE TRUTH: There is hope that faith in Jesus Christ can save those who continue in sin.

MEMORY VERSE: “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:22-24)

LESSON AIM: By the end of this lesson, we will RECALL Paul’s Good News of God providing Jesus Christ as a way for humankind to reestablish its loving, obedient relationship with God; HOPE for getting right with God by believing in Christ Jesus’ CONFIRM our belief in Jesus Christ as Savior and pledge anew to follow Him.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Psalm 148; Romans 3:21-31; Ephesians 2:1-17 — Read and incorporate the insights gained from Background Scriptures into your study of the lesson.

NOT WITHOUT HOPE

BIBLE BASIS: Romans 5:1-11

BIBLE TRUTH: There is faith in Christ with the presence of the Holy Spirit; God has given reconciliation and hope.

MEMORY VERSE: “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5)

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: KNOW Paul’s encouraging words about peace, endurance, character, hope, and love as gifts God gave through the death of Jesus; FEEL that God’s provision of the Savior is His continuing commitment to His creation; and TAKE hope through Jesus Christ into the difficult times in life.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Psalm 42; Romans 5:1-11 — Read and incorporate the insights gained from the Background Scriptures into your study of the lesson.

DEATH BECOME LIFE

BIBLE BASIS: ROMANS 6:1-4, 12-14, 17-23

BIBLE TRUTH: Christ provides freedom from sin and believers can be slaves of righteousness, and thus receive sanctification and eternal life.

MEMORY VERSE: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4)

LESSON AIM: By the end of lesson, we will: RECALL Paul’s explanation that accepting Jesus frees one from sin while it enslaves them to righteousness and gains them eternity; CONNECT being baptized into Christ with giving up sin and renewing creation; and RENEW our baptismal commitments.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 6 — Read and incorporate the insights gained from the Background Scriptures into your study of the lesson.

SAFE IN GOD’S LOVE

BIBLE BASIS: ROMANS 8:28-39

BIBLE TRUTH: Believers can never be separated from the love of Christ for humanity.

MEMORY VERSE: “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?(Romans 8:31).

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: REVIEW the principal points of Paul’s teachings on Jesus, from who love we can never be separated by any turmoil or hardship; BELIEVE that Christ Jesus was God’s plan for humankind from the beginning of creation; and COMMUNICATE the joy and love of Christ with others.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:28-29; 1 John 4:7-16– Read and incorporate the insights gained from the Background Scriptures into your study of the lesson.

LIVING UNDER GOD’S MERCY

BIBLE BASIS: ROMANS 9:6-18

BIBLE TRUTH: Trust in God and belief in what Jesus has done for all through God’s mercy provides an unbounding love and opportunities for believers.

MEMORY VERSE: “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeners” (Romans 9:18)

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: KNOW the details of Paul’s teaching about who are the true descendants and inheritors of God’s promise; FEEL a strong familial connection to the people of God as inheritors of the promise God as the author and reason for all the good we do in order that God may be glorified.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: James 5:7-12: Romans 9:6-29— Read and incorporate the insights gained from the Background Scriptures into your study of the lesson.

LIVING UNDER GOD’S MERCY

BIBLE BASIS: Romans 9:6-18

BIBLE TRUTH: Trust in God and belief in what Jesus has done for all through God’s mercy provides an unbounding love and opportunities for believers.

MEMORY VERSE: “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth” (Romans 9:18)

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, students will: KNOW the details of Paul’s teaching about who are the true descendants and inheritors of God’s promise; FEEL a strong familial connection to the people of God as inheritors of the promise God intended from creation, and PROCLAIM God as the author and reason for all the good we do in order that God may be glorified.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: James 5:7-12; Romans 9:6-29- Read and incorporate the insights gained from the Background Scriptures into your study of the lesson.

GOD PRUNES AND GRAFTS 

BIBLE BASIS: ROMANS 11:11-24

BIBLE TRUTH: Belief in Jesus Christ is the core belief that Jews and Gentiles can be united

MEMORY VERSE: “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be cut off” (Romans 11:22)

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, students will: KNOW the details of Paul’s teaching about who are the true inheritors of God’s promise; AFFIRM that God has not rejected the Jews and that Gentile believers have not superseded the Jews, but believing in Jesus is the fulfillment of creation; and DEVELOP an ecumenical ministry to encourage unity among God’s people.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: John 15:1-8; Romans 11:11-36 – Read and incorporate the insights gained from the Background Scriptures into your study of the lesson.

LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW

BIBLE BASIS: ROMANS 12:1-2, 13:8-10

BIBLE TRUTH: Paul encourages believers to allow the love of Christ to transform their minds so that they can love others and themselves as Christ does.

MEMORY VERSE: “Owe no many anything, but to love one another: for he that liveth another hath fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8)

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, students will: RECALL Paul’s exhortation to be transformed in order to discern the will of God so we can love others effectively; ACCEPT God’s will to love one another unconditionally; and COMMIT to a new beginning in which we actively carry God’s love into the world.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 13:15-20; Romans 12:1-2. 13:8-14 – Read and incorporate the insights gained from the Background Scriptures into your study of the lesson.