Northlake Baptist Church Young Adult Ministry

Welcome to the Northlake Baptist Church Young Adult Ministry page. Each week we'll give thoughts on current biblical topics, updates on class events and questions to keep you thinking and studying from Sunday to Sunday. We hope this is a useful resource to you as we learn how to live out God's Word together! The Young Adult Sunday School class meets at 9:30 a.m.(upstairs; first room on the right). For directions to the church, click on the link below on the right. We hope to see you there!

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

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Reading Assignment

This week wouuld be a great time for some PRIMARY research. Rather than trusting other sources to discover the meaning of Christmas, why not get out your Bible and review the real Christmas story? You'll find it in Matthew 2 and Luke 2. Better yet, why not gather some family and friends and read it out loud? Merry Christmas to all! . . . . . JC

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April 4 - Sunday School Study Guide

It's Friday, but Sunday's Coming . . .

Greetings! It's time for us to enjoy an anniversary celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our lesson title above is taken from a sermon by Tony Campolo (click on the link to the right). It is a great video.

We will examine the power of the resurrection as it was manifested in the lives of various individuals. To get the idea, look briefly at these two passages about Peter - Mark 14:67-71 (before) and Acts 4:18-20 (after).

BE BEREAN - Read the passion from one of the gospels and reflect on what Jesus has done for you.
Matthew 26:17 - 28:10
Mark 14:12 - 16:8
Luke 22:7 - 24:4
John 13:1 - 20:18

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

March 28 - Sunday School Study Guide

Focal Passage - Matthew 5:21-26

Verse 21 of Matthew 5 begins a new section in the Sermon on the Mount. From this point through the end of Chapter 5, Jesus takes the Law to a new level. In verse 21 we learn that not only can you not murder (Commandment 6), you can’t even covet (Commandment 10) to murder -- i.e. “be angry” with your brother. In subsequent verses, Jesus gives similar restrictions relating Commandment 10 (Thou shalt not covet) to other points in the Law. Compare Exodus 20:13-17 and Leviticus 19:18 with Matthew 5:21-48 to get an overview of Jesus’ train of thought.

For a real-live example of how the Pharisees and teachers of the Law where subverting God’s teaching, take a look at Matthew 15:1-20. In this passage, Jesus clarifies the true intent of the Law. Pay particular attention to Jesus’ summary of the situation in v. 17-20.

BE BEREAN - Take a close look at Matthew 5:22.

The NIV reads angry with his brother . . .

The NKJV reads angry with his brother without a cause . . .

Question #1 - Why is there a difference in the renderings?

Question #2 - Does it matter? And if so, in what way(s)?

To research #1 you might use the Bible link on the right and look at footnotes and compare several translations. To research #2, explore Bible commentaries (if you have any available) or conduct an on-line search, being careful to evaluate your sources as you go.

We have much to consider in this passage. I hope to see you Sunday @ 9:30

February 28 - Sunday School Study Guide

From the first chapter of Genesis (1:3) to the last chapter of Revelation (22:5) God's Word is a record of light. John 8:12 refers to Jesus as The Light of the World, So . . . if we are to be like Jesus, should we not also be The Light of the World. Our focal verses (Matthew 5:14-16) say that Jesus' disciples are indeed just that.

In addition to these references, check out these passages about light:
John 1:1-14 - referring to Jesus
Ephesians 5:8-14 - referring to Jesus' disciples

This passage also mentions darkness. Here are some important passages about darkness - John 3:16-21 and Job 24:13-17 - that "bring things to light" about the sinful nature of man.

BE BEREAN - Taking the verses cited above as a starting point, search the scriptures in order to compare and contrast light and darkness. You can use a concordance or the search function on the Holy Bible link to your right. Write down your findings and be prepared to share them with the class.

I hope to see you Sunday @ 9:30

February 14 - Sunday School Study Guide

This Sunday is Valentine's Day, so . . .

. . . we'll take a break from the Sermon on the Mount Series and consider the topic of love from a Biblical standpoint. Who was Valentine? look him (them) up on the internet and try to distill fact from fiction. Good luck!

BE BEREAN (Acts 17:11)- What does the Bible say about love? Start by reading through I John 3 - 4 and then look at I Corinthians 13. Use the search function on the Holy Bible link (to your right) to discover other passages about love.

See you Sunday @ 9:30 a.m.

February 7 - Sunday School Study Guide

FOCAL PASSAGE: Matthew 5:13

Click on the Bible Link to your right, then type "Salt" in the search window and view all the Bible passages that include this word. You should find about40 to 50 total references depending on the translation you search. From the results determine the following:

* What does Moses say about the role of salt in the various offerings he describes in the law (see references in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers)?
* What does Jesus say about salt?
* What do Paul and James add about salt?

Reflect on this response I received last night from an inquiry to my nephew who has a PhD in chemistry. "The chemist in me really doesn't like that verse (Matthew 5:13). NaCl is very stable, so for it to change into something else does not seem likey. However Jesus always knew his audience and I don't think he was talking to people with a nice box of pure white Morton salt on the shelf. I think the salt that they had back then had a lot more than NaCl in it. The impurities in the salt are what could go bad and make the salt not useful. Perhaps that is a useful ilustration for us today. It is not that the salt, which I guess could represent the spirt of God, that goes bad. It is all the impurities in our lives that can make the salt useless. "

BE BEREAN (see Acts17:11)

In a sermon on Matthew 5:13, John Wesley stated that " I shall endeavour to show . . . that Christianity is essentially a social religion; and that to turn it into a solitary one is to destroy it." Where do you think he may have been headed with this idea? Read Matthew 25:31-46 and John 15:1-8 to get some ideas.

See you Sunday @ 9:30 a.m.

January 31 - Sunday School Study Guide

FOCAL PASSAGE: Matthew 5:11-12

This week's study guide also serves as a follow-up to the January 24th lesson. The verses for the two lessons are inextricably linked. Read Matthew 5:10-12 (Bible link is to the right if you aren't near a paper copy)

Notice how verses 11-12 amplify and intensify the beatitude in verse 10 with:

* Specifics * A Reason * Imperatives * Promises * Examples

Read the parallel passage in Luke 6:22-23 to learn more detail about this teaching of Jesus. Look deeper into this teaching by studying Jesus' admonition to his disciples on the night before His crucifixion. John 15:18-25

BE BEREAN (see Acts17:11) - Read how the apostles were treated for proclaiming the good news about Jesus in Acts 5:12-42 and consider the possibilities of what we might face some day. See last week's study guide for more study ideas.

See you Sunday @ 9:30 a.m.

January 24 - Sunday School Study Guide

Click on the Holy Bible link - to your right - and reread the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10)
Notice that the first seven beatitudes all describe character traits of - or actions initiated by - those who are blessed.
Now carefully read v. 10 again. How does this beatitude differ from those that precede it?

Read about those who were persecuted because of righteousness in the conclusion of the "Roll Call of Faith" as recorded in Hebrews 11:32-40. Reflect on Pastor Jones' sermon last Sunday (click on Northlake Home in the green box on the right and select listen on-line) and how these verses may more directly relate to our society someday.

BE BEREAN (Acts 17:11)- Consider the life of Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet. You'll find some persecution because of righteousness in these chapters - Jeremiah 20, 26-28, 36-38. You'll also find blessing and hope in these chapters - Jeremiah 30-33.

I hope to see you Sunday at 9:30 for class . . . JC