Four Ways to Promote Church Unity, 1 Cor. 1:10, 21-31; 3:9-10, 16-17

Gary Payne posted his PowerPoint slides for this week's lesson, "Four Ways to Promote Church Unity", based on 1 Cor. 1:10, 21-31; 3:9-10, 16-17. Gary always has good background pictures for his slides.

Jeff Meyer also posted his lesson commentary, which I always enjoy reading. His questions at the end are especially appropriate.

Lifeway had a lesson on church unity, "Consider Others" from Romans 14 that I blogged about in January, 2006 (follow the "newer posts" link at the bottom of that page to see subsequent blog entries for that lesson). I published PowerPoint slides for that lesson that you may want to review.

PPT slides for, "Show Others Godly Grace," Leviticus 23:1-27:34

As I mentioned in the previous post, my PowerPoint slides this week are different in style and content this week from what I traditionally use (we are meeting in a new classroom).

For example, I normally use pictures, but none are in these slides. I typically include the focal passages on the slides, but not in these. Lastly, I usually include "transition slides" for introductory purposes and  to help move between lesson steps, but not in these.

Essentially, I prepared to teach with minimal slide support (if any) since I may find that the relatively small HD monitors are a learning impediment in a large room.

Nevertheless, I recommend the slides to you since they contain a summary of the Hebrew Feasts from a Christian perspective as well as provide some basic structure to a lesson based on Leviticus 23:1-27:34. Be sure and look at the slide notes since some contain helpful tips.

God bless!

Show Others Godly Grace, Leviticus 25:8-22, 35-38

I'm teaching this week in a new classroom. The old room had a large projection screen, but the new one has two HD monitors that serve each side of a wide space. PowerPoint font's can't be any smaller than 24 points, and black-on-white text is best for reading. I say all this since it will impact my slides.

Gary Payne posted his slides for "Show Others Godly Grace," from Leviticus 25:8-22, 35-38. I like Gary's reference to the inscription from Leviticus on the Liberty Bell.

Jeff Meyer posted his plan, too. His suggested opening (using the number 50) is very appealing.

Since Monday is Memorial Day, another possible opening for the lesson is to mention Memorial Day and what it means, but then ask members to name other special days they celebrate. Make a list of these and note their meaning. I'll lead with one of these suggestions then jump next into Leviticus 23 with a slide summarizing the feast days prescribed by God.

PPT slides for "Stay Away from Perverted Practices," Lev 17:1-22:33

I'm not teaching this week, but Gary Payne graciously posted his PowerPoint slides for the lesson, "Stay Away from Perverted Practices," based on Leviticus 17:1-22:3.

I encourage you to also consider the lesson plan posted by Jeff Meyer. His opening about naming things people avoid is creative.

Lastly, Scott Susong posted his lesson plan that includes a warning to teachers not to be overly graphic in dealing with some of the material.

PPT slides for "Do Right When You Do Wrong", Lev 1-16

Gary Payne posted his PowerPoint slides for the lesson, "Do Right When You Do Wrong," from Leviticus 1-16.

Do Right When You Do Wrong, Leviticus 1:1-16:34

I spoke to co-teacher Curt about reading Leviticus in preparation for teaching this week's lesson, "Do Right When You Do Wrong." A strategy he is personally using is to "name" each chapter as he reads it. Giving it a name forces him to summarize the chapter to its basic meaning.

Perhaps a way to start the class is to have your class members each take a chapter, read it, and name it. Have them write their suggested name on a marker board. After they are finished, compare their names with the ones you created and discuss the differences in the suggested names. [Note: if you have less than 16 class members, just do that number of chapters. If you have more than 16, then each chapter to multiple people.]

I like this idea because it leverages your own reading of the background passage and it has class members reading the Word for themselves (even if it is only one chapter).

PPT slides for "How do you contribute?", Exodus 35:1-40:38

Many members in your class probably have personal ministries they offer in service to the Lord. Consider using this lesson on "How do you contribute?" as an opportunity for each person to briefly discuss their ministry with the class. It might be an opportunity for those who are not involved in personal ministry to make a commitment to serve in some way.

I've posted my PowerPoint slides for the lesson. I relied heavily on commentaries from Jeff Meyer, David Self, and Sam Tullock (see links in the notes sections of the slides).

Offerings

I like the opening Jeff Meyer suggests in his comments on the lesson, "How do you contribute?".

Also, Dr. Sam Tullock gives an excellent outline of the large background passage Exodus 35:1-40:38, which I find very helpful.

Lastly, I want you to be aware of Gary Payne's PowerPoint slides for the lesson.

I hope to get mine posted tomorrow or early Saturday.

How do you contribute?, Exodus 35-40

Yesterday's lesson went much better the second time I taught it. Why? First time was as a guest teacher in another class, and the slides about Peter were distracting. Sometimes as a teacher, I get too clever. I need to remind myself to not only keep the lesson biblically based, but to also to be interesting, relevant, and clear. Sometimes the effort to make it interesting undermines the the goal to make it clear. I'm sure I am not alone in doing this!

This week we wrap up the lesson series on Exodus with one called, "How do you contribute?" based on chapters 35 through 40. The link points to commentary by David Self of First Baptist, Houston. I recommend it because you can always count on David to generate a well thought out commentary. I used it at the last minute yesterday to summarize chapter 33, for example.

To create interest Sunday, I'm considering starting the lesson with an animation about the tabernacle. I might do a demo from iLumina since I own the software. As an alternative, I might use one of a number of videos about the tabernacle that can be found on Youtube. For lack of time, I  haven't picked one in particular to recommend. The first minute of this one might do for our lesson, but the source troubles me.