Category: Lessons

God’s Call to Mission

• Lesson 3 for the week of October 14 to October 21

Leading Question: What will God do if we refuse his commission to go to the world and spread the gospel? Scripture Focus: Genesis 11:1-9, 12:1-3, 10-13:1; Acts 1:1-4, 8 The Big Idea: God cares so...

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God’s Mission to Us: Part 2

• Lesson 2 for the week of October 7 to October 14

Leading Question: Is a “Christian commune” a good thing, or is it an oxymoron? Scripture Focus: Genesis 12:1-3; John 20:21-22; Matthew 28:16-20; Revelation 14:6-7 The Big Idea: God’s blessing is to be shared with the...

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God’s Mission to Us: Part 1

• Lesson 1 for the week of September 30 to October 7

Leading Question: In Genesis 2:8, we read that Adam and Eve “heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from...

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Introduction and Aim

• Introduction

Before using this discussion guide, the reader should be aware of several assumptions made by the author. First, I assume this study guide will be used in close connection with the Adult Sabbath School Study...

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Ephesians in the Heart

• Lesson 14 for the week of September 23 to September 30

Study Guide Prepared by: John McVay Key Texts: Ephesians 1-6 Key Questions Reviewing the Epistle to the Ephesians chapter by chapter, what candidates for “life texts” do you see, passages that can inspire and shape...

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Waging Peace

• Lesson 13 for the week of September 16 to September 23

Study Guide Prepared by: John McVay Key Texts: Eph 6:10-20, Part 2 Key Questions In Eph 6:10-20, Paul exhorts believers to adopt an urgent, soldier-like approach to Christian discipleship and witness. How sustainable is such...

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The Call to Stand

• Lesson 12 for the week of September 9 to September 16

Study Guide Prepared by: John McVay Key Texts: Eph 6:10-20, Part 1 Key Questions Since we are now under the authority of the exalted Christ (Eph 1:20-23), why not simply ignore the powers of darkness...

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Practicing Supreme Loyalty to Christ

• Lesson 11 for the week of September 2 to September 9

Study Guide Prepared by: John McVay Key Texts: Eph 6:1-9 Key Questions What principles should we use in interpreting and applying the counsels of Paul’s “household code” in Ephesians 5:21-6:9? See the “Excursus,” below. What...

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Husbands & Wives: Together at the Cross

• Lesson 10 for the week of August 26 to September 2

Study Guide Prepared by: John McVay Key Texts: Eph 5:21-33 Key Questions What element of Paul’s discussion of the relationship between Christ as Bridegroom and the church as bride (Eph. 5:25-27, 29) do you find...

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Living Wisely

• Lesson 9 for the week of August 19 to August 26

Study Guide Prepared by: John McVay Key Texts: Eph 5:1-20 Key Questions What arguments does Paul offer to support his ban of crude speech among Christians? (Eph 5:3-5, 12). Which of these arguments are most...

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Christ-Shaped Lives and Spirit-Inspired Speech

• Lesson 8 for the week of August 12 to August 19

Study Guide Prepared by: John McVay Key Texts: Eph 4:1-16 Key Questions In Eph 4:17-32 Paul is very interested in the quality of speech practiced by Christians, especially within the fellowship of believers. Why is...

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The Unified Body of Christ

• Lesson 7 for the week of August 5 to August 12

Study Guide Prepared by: John McVay Key Texts: Eph 4:1-16 Key Questions Is the role of the ascended Jesus described in our passage limited to the first century? If not, what are the implications for...

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The Mystery of the Gospel

• Lesson 6 for the week of July 29 to August 5

Study Guide Prepared by: John McVay Key Texts: Eph 3:1-21 Key Questions Eph 3:10 provides something a bit unusual, a “job description” for the church. How would you paraphrase the church’s task? How might we...

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Horizontal Atonement: The Cross & the Church

• Lesson 5 for the week of July 22 to July 29

Study Guide Prepared by: John McVay Key Texts: Eph 2:11-22 Key Questions What does Paul say in Eph 2:11-22 about Christ’s work of reconciliation performed at the cross? (See the phrases “by the blood of...

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