The 3-6-16 lesson for Mark 9:14-29

Hey Folks,

At least for now and this time and this blog the pen has run dry!

I started to prepare for this lesson and I just realized I was tired of what I had to say.  Not the message but the messenger!

If you have been in a position especially in the church for too long you begin to settle in, you begin to worry about your retirement security, you begin to think about how much you like the situation.  If you are in this situation you know what I am talking about.  Will you be honest enough to deal with it on your own?

Sometimes moving on is not quitting and I encourage you to examine your position from time to time.

Bottom line it is is not about you or me.  Look at the servant that Christ was.  He showed that we are to have our priority for the glory of God.  How will you do that?  I have to find a new way!

Blessings!

Jed

On 2-28-16, Leviticus 23:33-43 will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Heritage and Hope or Feast of Booths

Heritage and Hope

 or 

Feast of Booths 

 Leviticus 23:33-43

February 28, 2016

Commentary 

by

Jed Greenough

The last few weeks I have noticed something that I was wondering if it also struck you.  Remembering the past is important to God.

Quite often we hear things like, “don’t dwell in the past, it isn’t healthy”.  But someone else might say that, “those who fail to remember the past are doomed to repeat it”.

I know what both mean by their view.  On one hand there might be things in the past that were important or significant to you but you can’t bring them back such as a love of your life or a great career.  Dwelling on them is indeed unhealthy.

But when you look at the other side you can see how the certain things must be remembered or a folly or a blessing might be repeated or appreciated.  The instance that popped into my mind was one with the actor Nicholas Cage who supposedly during a string of really good success bought and bought and bought thing after thing like homes, luxury cars, dinosaur skulls, islands and then got into trouble financially.  One hopes that in the future he will remember the folly and be more responsible with his blessings.

We have seen how God wanted Israel to remember how they lived.  About the slavery and the Passover and how they lived in the wilderness.  He wanted them to remember how He delivered them and He wanted them to remember to be Holy.

Do you remember how you use to live before you had Jesus?  God wouldn’t want you to go back to living that way for one hour let alone one week like the Israelites did with their temporary shelters but I am confident He wouldn’t want you to forget.

So often when we first become saved our fires burn hot and we pant for the Lord but then the fires dim.  Often the fire is rekindled when we fall on hard times and we again turn with passion to Him.  It is better that we remind ourselves so that we remember how He delivered us from our slavery to sin and death.

Remembering is important.

For Discussion:

1. Discuss how remembering can be both unhealthy and healthy.
2. Discuss how Israel failed to remember.
3. Discuss how we fail to remember.
4. Discuss the importance of traditions.
5. Discuss how/why some attack traditions.
6. Discuss how stopping or failing to hold traditions of remembrance can lower standards.

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3-6-16     Powerful Faith Mark 9:14-29

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved