EDITOR’S NOTE: In today’s Baptist Press, the Jan. 1, 2017 Bible study is posted below the Dec. 25, 2016 study.
NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.
Bible Passage: Luke 1:26-38
Discussion Questions: What is the significance of your name? What is the history behind your being given that name? Why was it important for Mary to be told that she would name her son Jesus? What does His name reveal about His life and purpose?
Food for Thought:
Social media has opened the door for creative birth announcements. Some couples post photos of kids holding signs announcing they are no longer the youngest or have been promoted to big brother or sister status. Some couples use pets to make their announcement. Several parenting websites feature articles about what to include in these types of announcements — and what to avoid. One thing everyone seems to agree on is including the name of the child. Some suggest including tags or links to the person or persons for whom the child is named to help people understand the mom and dad’s hopes and aspirations for the child.
Gabriel told Mary that the child she would supernaturally conceive would be called Jesus (see Luke 1:31). Joseph would be told by the angel to name the child Jesus as well, but the angel went on to explain why: “because He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus was the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, meaning “salvation” or “God saves.” This was an obvious wordplay, pointing to the purpose of the Son’s taking on human flesh.
In the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, we can easily lose sight of the purpose of the Child born in the manger. We like to think about the baby’s birth and forget that He had a purpose ahead of Him that included death on a cross for your sin and my sin. The birth was just a start toward something greater. As we celebrate His birth, may we also celebrate His purpose.
Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the Bible books in a systematic way. More information can be found at LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible.
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.
Jan. 1, 2017
NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from The Gospel Project curriculum.
Bible Passage: Daniel 6
Discussion Question: How does our dependence on God for salvation lead us to mission in God’s world?
Food for Thought:
As King Darius, who was particularly fond of Daniel, came near to the den of lions, “he cried out in anguish … ‘Daniel, servant of the living God … has your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you from the lions?’ ” (Daniel 6:20). Most likely, he did not expect to hear a thing other than the satisfied purring of lions following their supper.
Suddenly, and no doubt to his joyful surprise, Daniel spoke (vv. 21-22)! This is the only time Daniel’s words are recorded in the entire chapter.
Next, we see how God used this entire story to show His greatness to the pagan world.
Darius was clearly impacted by God’s miraculous deliverance of Daniel. In words reminiscent of the Psalms, and in particular Psalm 2, this unbelieving ruler wrote of the living God “to those of every people, nation, and language who live in all the earth” (Daniel 6:25). The language of Daniel here anticipates the glorious missionary promise of Revelation chapters 5 and 7.
Once again, God honored His faithful servant. Just as he blessed and honored Daniel under the Babylonian kings Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, he did so again under the Medo-Persian king Darius (that is, Cyrus the Persian, v. 28). The truth of James 4:10 rings forth: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
All throughout the Bible, the stories point us to a coming deliverer, a rescuer, in fulfillment of the first Gospel promise in Genesis 3:15. Sometimes we see how events like the Passover in Exodus 12 point us to Jesus. Other times we see how institutions like the temple and the sacrificial system point us to Christ. And still other times we see how people like Adam, Abraham, Moses, David and Daniel point forward to the coming King.
In the messianic Psalm 22, the Righteous Sufferer proclaims in verse 21, “Save me from the mouth of the lion!” God indeed saved the Messiah Jesus from “the mouth of the lion” when He raised Him from the dead on Easter morning. Praise God we can have courage as we follow a risen Savior!
The Gospel Project
The Gospel Project is a chronological, Christ-centered study for kids, students, and adults. The Bible is not a collection of stories. It is one story of God’s plan to rescue His people from sin and death. It is the story of redemption, the gospel message of Jesus Christ. More information, free samples, and The Gospel Project blog can be found at gospelproject.com.
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.
