SUNDAY SCHOOL
SERMON ON THE MOUNT SERIES


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August 22, 2010 - Matthew 7:12 - The Golden Rule
August 29, 2010 - Matthew 7:13-14 - Two Gates

August 29 - SS Study Guide

Focal Verses: Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

If you haven't done so - or done so recently- (re)read the Sermon on the Mount, located in Matthew, chapters 5 - 7, to get the context of theses verses. The sermon can roughly be divided into two parts. The first part presents information and regulations regarding the Kingdom of Heaven. The second, which begins with these verses, presents choices regarding the Kingdom of Heaven. Here, Jesus presents two gates and two ways to live.

THE way
Isaiah prophesied about one who would prepare THE way (Is. 40:3. John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy (Mark 1:2-4) and ultimately Jesus declared, "I am THE way" (John 14:6). Note that Jesus did not say "I am A way" or I am ONE way". Unlike our study last Sunday where we considered versions of the Golden Rule by Confucius, Buddha, et al (See August 22 Review/Follow-UP below), Jesus declares that He is THE way. Perhaps this is why THE way that leads to life (v.14) is difficult. His teaching is often hard - who can accept it? (John 6:60)

Search a concordance for additional references on the way. See the Bible link to your right and type "way" in the quick search box. The very first hit, from Genesis 3:24, should get you to thinking about how strait - or difficult - THE way can be. By contrast, the way that leads to destruction is broad . . .
If you would like to do further reading, I would suggest this article by Brian Schwertly.

I hope to see you in class this Sunday @ 9:30 a.m.

August 22 - Sunday School Follow-Up/Review

Focal Verse -Therefore,whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 NKJV

To all the visitors who attended Sunday School today - thanks for joining us and please consider yourself welcome @ Northlake any time. For those who are on the North Georgia campus, please feel free to come by my office (Nix 317) to visit any time. I love to talk with young adults!

As we discussed today, Jesus' teaching about The Golden Rule was not a new idea. It had been around for at least several hundred years. What was new was the authority with which he taught the concept and the fundamental truth that FIRST the relationship between man and God had to be appropriately established, THEN the appropriate relationship with fellow man would naturally follow. To understand the fullness of Christ's teaching, take 15 minutes now to read The Golden Rule in the context of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 - 7).

BE BEREAN (see Acts 17:10-11): Here are some of the scripture passages referenced in today's lesson on The Golden Rule plus a few that never made it into the lesson before time ran out. Check them out to verify my teaching. NOTE: Here's a good Bible link in case you don't have a paper copy handy.

Luke's version of the Golden Rule - Luke 6:27-31
Universality of the Golden Rule - Romans 2:15
Application of the Golden Rule - James 2:1-10
Paul's comment on the Golden Rule - Romans 13:8-10

References Linking the Law & the Prophets
Matthew 5:17-18
Matthew 22:34-40 (see Deut. 6:5 & Lev. 19:18 for sources)
John 1:45

Still want more? Check out this essay by Brian Schwertly on Matthew 7:12. I found it to be particularly enlightening and used some of the information as a basis for the lesson.

See you next Sunday @ 9:30 - Joe Chapman

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Special Sunday School Speaker on 01/10/10

Please plan to join us this Sunday for a SPECIAL REPORT from one of our class members who had an adventurous Christmas break in a foreign land. Hopefully this person will be able to share at least a few details about this exciting experience. We will resume our expositional study of the Sermon on the Mount next Sunday. Breakfast should be great with contributions from several class members, along with my wife's signature muffins. These muffins are so fresh that on Saturday night they will still be wheat kernels in a bucket. We'll also have two versions of eggs - scrambled and gourmet. . . . . if you're not sure what gourmet eggs are, then come at 9:30 on Sunday to find out. I hope to see you then.

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