Resurrection Hope

Since my church does not have bible study classes, I usually do not blog the week of Easter Sunday. However, I want to mention how important the hope of a bodily resurrection was to the early church. To see for yourself, take a few moments to read Rom 8:11,23;Phil 3:21;2 Cor 5:2.

Lifeway titled this week's lesson, "Resurrection Hope." For those teaching Sunday, it is a good lesson, but I also want to call your attention to a lesson on Easter Hope from Pembury Baptist Church, UK. It's more along the lines of our hope in a bodily resurrection.

PPT slides for "Persevering Faith," Exodus 13:1-15:20

I struggle sometimes to stick precisely with the Lifeway lesson, and this week I decided to cover most of the verses in Exodus 14. I hope you find the individual slide notes useful and the slides for “Persevering Faith” helpful. If needed, it is easy to cull the few extra slides I added.

A word of caution: I prepared one slide with a map that can be used to convey your understanding of the route Israel followed during the Exodus (it has no routes on it). I plan to point out the possible routes using a cool PowerPoint feature in presentation mode, called a pointer highlighter. In preparing my thoughts on  Exodus routes I read about recent archaeological discoveries (chariot wheel photos), the real location of Mt Sinai (Saudi Arabia), and a route far different from the traditional understanding (Nuweiba beach). I think good science requires confirmation of results by independent researchers, which is not the case in these purported new discoveries. If you present any of these new ideas, I would caution again being dogmatic since the true route is not known.

P.S. Co-teacher Randy Stewart also made his PPT slides available for "Persevering Faith." Also, you might consider comparing a hard heart to a hard-boiled egg that stops spinning (see this video).

Building base

I took the picture in the slide on a long hiking day on Mt Kilimanjaro last October. The porters easily caught me and passed by even though they were carrying 40 pound loads. They were very fit to persevere the multi-day journey.

Since I’m a runner and hiker, I’m thinking about introducing the lesson, "Persevering Faith," with a story about hiking Kilimanjaro last October. I’ll follow up by asking members “How do you build your faith in God?”

Lesson plan strategy

One strategy for teaching a given background passage is to look at examples of how other people have successfully taught it and copy their approach. We do this when we teach the suggested plan from Lifeway, for example. Jeff Meyer of Bayleaf Baptist structured his teaching plan for “Persevering Faith” along these lines as did Floria Perez of Second Baptist in her lesson help. I like Jeff’s opening suggestion and Floria understanding of the Israelite organization/structure.

Another strategy is to use elements of a plan, such as the Life Goal suggested by Lifeway, and then structure your plan around it. Gary Payne of Henderson Hills Baptist uses the Lifeway aim “to help adults persevere in their faith in God” for his lesson, “Persevering Faith.” In his PowerPoint slides, Gary focuses on the issue of route taken by the Israelites.

I’m still studying, thinking and praying about the approach I’ll take this week. I may use Bob Deffinbaugh’s article as a basis for my PPT slides and put the focus on how God ultimately deals with His enemies (as opposed to a believer’s persevering faith). If nothing else, you have to like his opening story!

If you have a suitable plan developed for teaching Exodus 13, 14 in a Southern Baptist Church, let us know about it.

Persevering Faith, Exodus 13:17-15:21

Co-teacher Curt did a great job yesterday with the lesson from Exodus 12:1-14. He titled his lesson, “Lamb of God Illustrated,” and related how the Exodus lamb was needed, chosen, slain, eaten, trusted, and honored.

He then gave a New Testament equivalent of each point presenting Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who was needed, chosen, slain, eaten, trusted and honored. Curt ended by saying, “God is the same yesterday and today. The difference is now one of administration—we are now under the new covenant, not the Abrahamic covenant.”

I’ve already started thinking about how to teach this week’s lesson, “Persevering Faith,” based on Exodus 13:17-15:21, with a focus on Exodus 13:17-18; 14:9-18, 31. For example, I'm thinking about taking some unleavened bread to class and have members eat a sample while I give the background in Exodus 13:1-16. This will help to make the lesson memorable.

Where can I buy unleavened bread? I don't have time to make it :-).

PPT slides for "Amazing Deliverance", Exodus 12:1-14

Gary Payne is a bible teacher at Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, OK. I'm including a link to his PowerPoint slides for this week's lesson, "Amazing Deliverance."

Also, I want to call you attention to a lesson plan by Phillip Inman of Second Baptist in Houston. He grabs attention by announcing members will learn how the first passover relates to Christians today. This sets up an expectation, which members listen for as the lesson progresses.

Protecting memorable moments

To prepare to teach the lesson, “Amazing Deliverance,” check out the opening suggestion in the lesson plan by Jeff Meyer of Bayleaf Baptist Church. His question about 'protecting memorable moments' is a variation of the Lifeway alternate teaching plan for Step 5, published in the Adult Leader Guide. However, I believe Jeff's approach will get the class talking, and prepare them to hear your discussion of Exodus 12:1-14.

Amazing Deliverance, Exodus 12:1-14

Couching his lesson last Sunday in the truth that God keeps His promises to us, co-teacher Randy Stewart did a masterful job presenting the plagues God performed to deliver the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage.

Jeremiah 25:11 and Jeremiah 29:10-14 relates another time when God promised deliverance to the Israelites—this time from Babylonian captivity.

Jesus Christ gave up His life to deliver us from the bondage of sin.

This week’s lesson, Amazing Deliverance, based on Exodus 12:1-14, intends to help adults determine if they have experienced the Lord’s deliverance.

How are people enslaved today? Four types of slavery are defined in the article, “Types of Slavery”. To start the class talking about the subject of bondage, present these types of slavery. The topic of spiritual bondage will come up in the lesson.

Teachers step up

Gary Payne, an adult class teacher at Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, OK, gave permission to post his PowerPoint slides for Sunday's lesson, "Divine Purpose."

Thanks Gary, I'm sure other teachers will look through it and see how it might help.

Late add, but co-teacher Randy Stewart also posted his slides for the lesson, "Divine Purpose". 

Thanks Randy!

Divine Purpose, Exodus 5:1-10:29

To begin the lesson, “Divine Purpose,” with an exercise (and perhaps fun), consider drawing a clock face on a marker board before class. Give members some of the words from the suggested activities list and have them note their activities around the clock face at the time they typically do them. This should get class members actively engaged in what’s going to happen in the lesson (this exercise will cause them to break with their normal class routine).

PPT slides for "Compassionate Action," Exodus 1:1-4:31

I'm posting my PowertPoint slides for this week's Explore the Bible, lesson "Compassionate Action."

All the best on your lesson preparation.
Ronnie

Working through

Working on teaching step 4 of the lesson, "Compassionate Action," I thought about presenting the slide below with a picture from the old TV show The Millionaire. The slide presents a few of many instances in Scripture illustrating God's work through others. Do you have a favorite "working through" verse, or example that I should use instead?

God introduces Himself

I like the LifeWay Adult Leader Guide alternate suggestion for starting Step 3 of the lesson, "Compassionate Action." First have class members shake hands and formally introduce themselves to someone sitting nearby. Encourage them to learn something about each other. (Use left side of slide below.)

Next, have them call out characteristics of God as they read Micah 7:18-20 and Exodus 34:6-7. Then show the right side of the slide, which lists the characteristics.

Hard work then and now

The Lifeway Adult Leader Guide plan for teaching Step 2 of the lesson, "Compassionate Action," suggests a discussion of hard work: then versus now. I'll facilitate that discussion in my class with a slide somewhat like the following one. However, the right hand column is not quite right. It needs to speak more directly to hard work, and working harder. Any suggestions?

Based on the comment below, I changed the slide to better define Hard Work now. Make sense?

Compassionate Action, Exodus 1:1-4:31

This week we start a series of lessons from Exodus. The first is "Compassionate Action" from Exodus 2:23-3:10, 3:19-20.

The Lifeway Adult Leader Guide suggests asking members to brainstorm the questions hurting people ask. I plan to use the four questions posed in the book, Hope When You're Hurting: Answers to Four Questions Hurting People Ask, by Dan B. Allender and Larry Crabb, as illustrated in the following slide.