Silence

SILENCE
John 11:1-7
Vs. 6: “Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days.”

We recognize emergencies when we see one. When a loved one is sick, we often worry until we see the danger is past.

“Send a message to Jesus right now—today!” Mary pleaded to her sister, Martha.

“You’re right, Mary, Lazarus is getting worse” Martha said. She sent this message to Jesus, “Lord, the one whom you love is sick.”

Can you see them pacing back and forth, wringing their hands, anxious for Jesus arrival?

Two days later, Lazarus died.

Jesus waited two more days before returning to Judea.

Why did Jesus wait before going to help his friends?

Silence gets our attention. Jesus had a bigger blessing in mind. His ways are always for our benefit—even when we accuse Him of being slow. Patience is learned behavior.

Silence teaches trust. Mary and Martha expected Jesus to heal Lazarus.

Jesus comforted them with a question, “Do you believe that whoever believes in me will never die?” (Vs. 26).

Martha proclaimed (we can almost see the tears streaking down her face as she says) “Yes, Lord…I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world.” (Vs. 27).
Jesus’ purpose for waiting before rushing to Lazarus’

side was to teach. By raising Lazarus from the dead, He displayed His own resurrection prophesies. (Mark 9:31-32). Leading Lazarus from his tomb prepared them for seeing Jesus alive following His own death.

Even though Jesus delayed, He answered their plea and exceeded expectations.

There will be times of dire stress in our lives. Sometimes we can only hear our racing heartbeat as we pray. God’s silence can be frustrating and frightening. Scripture comforts us with this promise in Hebrews 13:5: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Would your faith waiver if your prayers seem to fall on deaf ears?

Take Home Nugget

Matthew 17:20 says that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. Imagine how tiny our faith must be when we give up on the Lord!

Though sometimes God is silent, He is working on our behalf. His perfect timing aligns His plan with our blessing.

Giving up on God is a grave mistake!

When the Lord is silent, pray on.
When nerves are frazzled, pray on.
Pray on in majesty, pray on in faith.
Don’t give into the devil’s lies, pray on!

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Silence
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Kinship

KINSHIP

Galatians 4:4-7
Vs. 7: “So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has also made you an heir.”

Father God loves each person He creates. Like every parent, He offers His children benefits. He answers their prayers. (Luke 18:7,8). He provides for their needs. (Matthew 6:31-33). He protects them. (Proverbs 18:10).

This amazing Father—the creator of the heavens and the earth; everything you see He created—wants to have a relationship with YOU!

The world is full of people who are desperate for intimate relationships, with the Father and a family.

The need for love, belonging to family, and sharing a common name is how we are wired. The very word adoption brings hope to orphans. How often do children who are naturally born into a family take a moment to pause kindly to those who have no family?

Adoption is not a dirty word. People who are surrounded by a natural family must reach out to those who are adopted with sensitivity and compassion.

After all, we who have accepted Jesus as our Savior are adopted into God’s family and are heirs to His Kingdom.

Now adoption no longer sounds like a dirty word, does it?

The authors of the New Testament embrace family tree words to include kinship to all peoples.

Sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters of Christ are members of God’s family and are heirs to the kingdom, and Jesus’ kin.
Jesus said in Matthew 12:50, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Our new name is children of God (1 John 3:1). With this new name comes the special privilege of calling on the Father.
Are you ready to be a part of God’s family?

Take Home Nugget

In orphanages, few people are chosen to be adopted. Their hope dwindles each day that they are in the orphanage. But God offers all people the right to be called His child—part of His family. The process is simple, with no forms to fill out and no waiting period. Believing that Jesus died for your sins wins you adoption.
Can you see the Father’s grin, arms outstretched when He greets you, “Welcome to My family!”

Some kids are an only child,
Some kids fight for space in a crowd;
No matter what your natural family,
As heir and brother to Jesus—you’re wowed!

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Kinship
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Alpha and Omega

ALPHA and OMEGA
Revelations 22:13
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Alpha is the “A” of the Greek alphabet, with Omega being the “Z”.

Jesus said that He is the Alpha and the Omega. How can He be the first AND the last?

He’s so much more. He’s also everything in between. He’s the continuum, the Laminin—that which holds all things together. (See 095 dev.)

How can we live in peace every day of our lives?

Lucy collected Christmas ornaments, full of memories. Delicate glass ornaments represented every year of her life—many she had chosen specifically for a special occasion. One year she trimmed her Christmas tree early, and it was perfect—with lights, ornaments and icicles. She admired her trimmed tree, seeing the ornaments that marked her life—so colorful, meaningful, magnificent.

This would be the last time she would show off her prized possessions.

A late-season tornado ripped through her neighborhood the first week of December—right after she finished decorating for Christmas.

Houses were destroyed, people homeless, possessions strewn across the neighborhood.

Lucy’s tree was missing.

She huddled together with friends and neighbors, speaking in hushed horror. They found shelter in schools and churches. Food kitchens fed them. Salvageable items were retrieved and returned to the owners.

Ned found one of Lucy’s ornaments and held it out. “Oh, my glass-blown piano!” Lucy cried, clutching the ragged memory to her chest. “Thank you, Ned!” Then she broke down, sobbing.

Ned wrapped his arms around her, hugging her close. He said softly, “Lucy, we are fine. We will rebuild. We will get new stuff. We will start over, and soon things will be good again.”

Lucy whispered. “Of course you’re right. We are fine, and we will start over. What we lost was just ‘stuff’. Stuff can be replaced.”

Ned nodded and replied, “A verse from Ecclesiastes, in the Bible, comes to mind. In chapter 3, verse 3 says, ‘a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build.’”

“And further on it says, ‘a time to weep and a time to laugh.’ This is a time to laugh.” Lucy said.

Take Home Nugget

Lucy finally got it. God was before, inside, and after the tornado. He became her real live Alpha and Omega. How comforting to know He will be with us no matter what, no matter where. We CAN have peace every day of our lives.

We serve an awesome God who walks with us through every heartache, and tenderly deposits us into our safe landing.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Alpha and Omega
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

His Face

HIS FACE
Isaiah 53:1-6
Vs. 2: …“He has no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.”

You certainly wouldn’t be the first one to wonder what Jesus looks like.

We wonder why one of His apostles didn’t make note in one Gospel what their Savior looked like—as they followed Him for three years? Wasn’t one person in the masses who hounded Him to speak gifted in art? Couldn’t someone have charcoaled a rough resemblance of His face somewhere? Even in a cave? We want to see the face of our King Jesus!

Everyone has a favorite picture of Jesus as depicted in various scenes. One, “Head of Christ”, simply shows an artist’s idea of what He might have looked like. Warner Sallman painted this in the 1940s. Other favorites include one with Jesus knocking on a door, a Shepherd with His sheep, and praying on a rock at Gethsemane. Which is your favorite picture of Jesus?

Clearly the Father doesn’t consider Jesus’ facial description vital to our adoration of Him. The only clear picture we have of Jesus is what Isaiah said hundreds of years before His birth. It seems, much to our frustration, that Jesus’ human form was deliberately kept vague. His face simply was never stressed, never called attention to. He simply looked like an ordinary man—whatever that means.

People weren’t drawn to Him because of His beauty, or an obvious muscle-sculpted body. It wasn’t His regal appearance that drew people to His knees. Jesus’ distinguishing features was what He said, what He did, and His message of love and other sermons and parables. (John 3:16-17).

He said the most peculiar things. He didn’t speak like ordinary men. Love your enemies? Whoever is last will be first (in His kingdom)? I did not come to be served, but to serve? Who talks like that?

But clearly, when a person meets Jesus, they never forget Him. Now that’s charisma! (kar*IS*ma means charm, magnetism). Their lives are never the same. That’s personality plus! Those who are His children, know His voice. They cannot be snatched away from Him.

Wise men still seek Him.

Take Home Nugget

We will see Jesus one day—the next time He comes to earth. (Luke 21:27). From that day forward, everything will be different. Our Savior will return as he Sovereign King of kings, and Lord of lords. Everyone on earth will recognize Him then. There will be no mistake. His face will either usher in terror or splendor in the hearts of people.

The more I see His glory,
The more I live His grace,
The more I long, unrestrained
To gaze upon His face.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for His Face
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Embracing Jesus Part 3 of 3

EMBRACING JESUS Part 3 of 3
1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Paul pleads to His people,…in v. 2: “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.”

If you were to witness a miracle, would that make a difference to you about Jesus?

I kid you not: when you pray for something that seems impossible, if you are aligned to God’s will, believe that it’s yours. We learned that perfect faith is being certain that our request is already granted.

Hold fast to your faith and watch God perform a miracle for you.

Jesus performed many miracles while on earth. He resurrected Lazarus to life—this is only possible by supernatural power. (John 11:43-44).

Jesus was worshipped and forgave people’s sins. (Matthew 9:2-8, John 9:38).

These acts are only appropriate for a Deity.

Who else could live a perfect life, without sin? Who else could withstand evil and know precisely what to do in every situation? (Matthew 4:4-11).

Who else could show mankind how to live as we were intended—perfectly and sinless? Who else could show us how to pray and develop a relationship with God?

Jesus and the Father are one—truly.

Who else would willingly go to His own horrendous death—CERTAIN that His Father would resurrect Him, and would reign at the Father’s right hand?

How confidently cool!

Jesus even showed us how to “die with dignity”.

He’s done it all—before we understood what He was showing us.

But the most important lesson Jesus wanted us to get was about love. The Father loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Jesus would not die, but have eternal life. Paraphrased from John 3:16.

Jesus gave us the golden rule in Matthew 7:12—to treat people as you want to be treated—paraphrased summary of the Law.

But the kicker is Matthew 5:44: “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for them who persecute you.”

No one does this except he who follows Jesus.

Take Home Nugget
Do you know your King better now? When do you think Jesus first realized that He is God? As an infant? As a small boy?

The earliest that we know for sure is when He was 12 years old.

He stayed behind in the temple court in Jerusalem. (Mark 2:41-49). Even then, He was asking questions and giving clarification to learned men.

If someone asks you, “Who is Jesus?” Tell them, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).

People make fun and say I’m narrow-minded
When I say that Jesus is the only way.
I think trash talk has them blinded;
And He’ll come to prove this, one day.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Embracing Jesus Part 3 of 3
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

More About Jesus Part 2 of 3

MORE ABOUT JESUS Part 2 of 3
Exodus 3:14-15
“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.’” In Vs. 15b, God says, “This is My name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.”

OK, I get it. This works for me. When God, er, I AM created the entire universe, and even formed me in my mother’s womb, (Psalm 139:13), He can call Himself anything He wants!

Let’s learn more about I Am’s Son, Jesus. The full meaning of I AM is hard to grasp in the Bible’s Old Testament. But in the New Testament, Jesus finishes the thought. In John’s gospel alone, Jesus completes the I AM sentence eight ways.

John 6:35 says that Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” This means that Jesus sustains life. He is also our Spiritual nourishment. In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” As followers of Jesus, we never walk in darkness. John 10:9 reveals “I am the gate.” This means that He is the door to our salvation.

“I am the good shepherd” is John 10:11”(who) lays down His life for the sheep”. This signifies that Jesus protects us and provides for our needs. He even died for us to pay for our sins, and offers us eternal life. In John 11:25, Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.” After resurrecting Lazarus from the dead, can anyone deny Jesus’ power?

John 14:6 disproves that there is any other way to salvation except through Jesus. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” End of debate—for anyone who loves to argue.

John 15:1-2 shows Jesus’ gardening. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” Vs. 5: “I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”

This shows us our place, doesn’t it? The Father prunes us to bear much fruit (for His kingdom), while Jesus provides the life-flowing nourishment that sustains us.

Take Home Nugget
We often think of Jesus as a baby, but He is the Son of the Living God--a distinct and integral person of the Triune God. Will you allow Him to grow up and claim His place in your heart as King of kings?

God’s strength is best seen in our weakness; our strength is best seen by our connection to the nourishing vine.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for More About Jesus Part 2 of 3
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Getting to Know Jesus Part 1 of 3

GETTING TO KNOW JESUS Part 1 of 3
Micah 5:2, Colossians 1:15-20, John 10:30, 14:9
John 10:30: “I and the Father are one.” 14:9b: “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

Do people really talk like that? Well, WE don’t, but Jesus isn’t like you or me. He was serious when He said this, and meant every word. Jesus, the Son, and God, the Father, are ONE. One heart, one mind.

“But” I hear your protest, “Jesus is God’s SON! He was born on Christmas day.”

“Well yes,” I’d reply. “This is how the Father achieved His redemptive plan for us, His children. God required a perfect sacrifice, and that means both God and man. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit in a virgin woman. (Matthew 1:18). Jesus’ shift from heaven to her womb happened in an instant, and without human intervention. This preserved Jesus’ divinity.”

Here we find the Trinity at work. The Holy Trinity, or Triune God, consists of three persons: God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the three distinct persons who comprise the Triune God. One God—three persons.

Each person is literally, God.

Our salvation depends on Jesus’ flawless divinity. Jesus—clothed in flesh, lived sinlessly, and was crucified for our sins as the sacrificial lamb. (Leviticus 22:19-21, John 1:29-30).

But that’s not all. The God/man Jesus is also the Word made flesh. (John 1:1-4). Who else would KNOW the entire Bible by heart? Jesus IS the living WORD. These are thoughts to wrap around your head in meditation.

Honestly, this is a challenge for me, too. But I do get how important it is to God that we believe it—and we’re discovering that belief is impossible without help from the Holy Spirit. While we believe by faith, the world believes only what it can see.

That’s why we’re to come as little children before God’s throne. We’re to leave cynicism (sarcasm, suspicion) behind and simply believe that what God says in the Bible is true. Believing by faith is our conviction.

But the coolest part is that Jesus was God from the beginning. Micah tells of His ancient origins. In Colossians 1:16, Paul names Jesus creator.

Jesus existed before His own birth!

Take Home Nugget

A popular comedian calls the Bible a fairy tale. He doesn’t get what Jesus meant in Mark 10:14-15, about he who does not receive the kingdom of God as a child will not enter in.

So, check your cynicism at the door so God can welcome you into His Kingdom with open arms.

We make many mistakes and it’s easy to fail—
Life’s challenges are as high as the sky.
But we know that the Bible is no fairy tale—
It’s God’s Word of truth, and that’s no lie!

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Getting to Know Jesus Part 1 of 3
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Epiphany

EPIPHANY
Isaiah 60:3, Matthew 4:16
Isaiah 60:3: “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and the kings to the brightness of thy rising.” KJV
Matt. 4:16: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light…”

Epiphany means a realization, awareness, fulfillment, or completion. Three kings came to worship baby Jesus. Now they could announce to the world that God’s Son, Immanuel (God with us), came to earth to reconcile (or reunite) all people to Holy God.

Jesus taught, healed, and obeyed the Father. His death on the cross was the LAST SACRIFICE necessary to extinguish our sin—once and for all.

Belief in Jesus is the secret door that offers salvation and life eternal to everyone—Jews and Gentiles alike. This is indeed, Good News! Jesus is the best Christmas gift—the original Christmas gift—for all God’s children!

Jeremy had a super Christmas, but now was the time he hated. Christmas decorating was one job assigned to him and his older brother, Michael, that they eagerly accepted.

After choosing a “real” live tree, they would haul it home, and wrestle it into the stand. Mom always dropped an Aspirin in the water (“to keep the tree fresher longer” she claimed). The lights, ornaments, and tinsel layering for tree trimming grew more professional-looking each year. As the boys grew older, their appreciation for the finer details of decorating shimmered by adding outside lights, garland/holly wrapping around the light poles, and adding a manger scene.

But after Epiphany, the brothers were reluctant to “undecorate”—storing everything away until next year.

“Help me with this box, Jerm” Michael said. “We can stuff all the outside decorations into it before hauling it upstairs. The outside lights looked great this year, don’t you think?”

“I think Mom and Dad are proud of our job. I overheard Dad bragging to Mr. Gibson that we did everything by ourselves. His grin was ear to ear.”

“That’s what it’s all about—making them proud of us. Now, it’s your job to remove all the candles from the windows.”

Jeremy trudged through the house, piling electric candles into a box. Candles disappeared from their home, one window at a time. The house began to look bare, and Jeremy noticed his heart growing heavier with each step. “Things are normal now, but the house looks so plain, dreary” he said aloud, shaking his head.

Take Home Nugget

“Come out here!” Michael yelled. Jeremy threw down the box and scrambled outside.
“Look up.” Michael said, pointing to the roof.

Jeremy gasped. In the attic turret was a glowing candle. “Ahhh. Let’s leave it, Mike. After all, it could stand for the light of Jesus that never goes out.”

Shine on one lonely candle;
Throw your light beyond this house.
Jesus never sleeps and He’s reaching out
Offering each of us a rescue handle.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Ephany
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Expectations

EXPECTATIONS
Philippians 1:12-21
Vs. 20: “…(I) will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”

St. Paul was in prison when he wrote this, and his prospects were grim. The emperor, Nero, could kill him any time. So, what was Paul’s expectation? He thought that his suffering helped further the Gospel of Christ. (Vs. 12). During his imprisonment, jealous people preached in his absence out of envy and strife (Vs. 15). Instead of encouraging their confined brother, they were trying to take his place in the people’s hearts.

Paul’s response? Vs. 18 says, “Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” How can anyone rejoice in this dreadful circumstance?

We too, have expectations. We expect that the sun will rise tomorrow. We expect that our friends will stand behind us in support, that loved ones will always be on our side. We expect that when we are sick, a doctor will get us well. What happens when life does not live up to these expectations?

Paul shows us the way to remain positive when everything around us looks negative. Despite his high expectations in people, where he preached, and the future being shattered in his face, Paul showed us how to live with great expectations—how to live joyfully amid desperate circumstances.

Here are three questions for you to ask yourself when life throws you a curve ball that seems impossible to hit successfully:

Is anything in my current situation threatening my salvation? No. There is nothing that can take away my salvation.

Do I still have the privilege to pray with confidence at God’s throne with cries of “Abba—Help!” Yes. Jesus welcomes us with open arms—giving us refuge.

Do I understand the difference between living in faith and living by sight? Maybe. Not sure. What does living in faith mean?

During difficult times, when we “see” that our circumstances are not as we expected, we have an Ace hidden up our sleeve. It may be time to pull out that Ace card and throw down.

The Ace is Jesus, and He trumps every kind of problem. Others may not “see” our Ace, but we know His power. When we pray to God crying out for His help, He immediately comes to our aid in all power and might.

This confidence gives us the positive, joyful outlook we see in Paul. We know God is working on our behalf, and we can be sure of a good outcome. Our expectations are secured by our faith in God.

This is living by faith and not by sight.

Take Home Nugget

Adopting Paul’s expectation—for Christ to be honored no matter what—the Ace in our pocket will defeat all trouble. With Christ at our back, we’ll emerge victorious!

J.D. Griffith

In all I think and say and do,
I long, O God, to honor You;
But may my highest motive be
To love the Christ who died for me.

D. De Haan

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Expectations
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.