Key Thought : In the new kingdom the wages of breaking God’s law will no longer exist.. We are called to be obedient citizens in God’s kingdom.

[Lesson Plan for Christ’s Kingdom and the Law June 23, 2014]

1. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 2:11-16.

a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. Is Paul saying here that those who weren’t part of the commonwealth of Israel had no hope and without God because they were Gentiles and strangers to God’s covenant?
c. Personal Application: How do you relate these passages to Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and those who don’t understand the truth of God and His covenant of grace? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Jesus came to abolish the laws of the Jews, like the Sabbath, which separated us from each other. Now we aren’t under those laws, and there is no difference between us anymore in Christ.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read I Corinthians 6:9-11.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. What is the difference in a sinner – say a drunkard or thief – being justified and being sanctified?
c. Personal Application: Have you been washed? Have you been justified? Do sanctified people willingly break God’s law? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “If we are justified and sanctified by Christ, then our works don’t save us. If our works don’t save us, why is Paul saying that the unrighteous won’t inherit God’s kingdom? Is he just trying to scare people into being good?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

3. Have a volunteer read Jeremiah 31:31-34.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What was wrong with the old covenant that God made with Israel and Judah when He brought them out of Egypt?
c. Personal Application: Can you teach others about how to know God and His will? Do you still need someone to teach you about God? Is this an experiential knowledge that can’t be taught, but everyone needs to have? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your friends states, “How does God’s new covenant being put in our hearts and minds keep us from doing the same thing Israel did with the old covenant – break it?” How would you respond to your friend?

4. Have a volunteer read Revelation 20:13-15.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. If the just are saved by grace, why are the unjust judged by their works? Are the saved judged by their works as well?
c. Personal Application: How does one get their name written in the book of life? How do they keep it from being blotted out of the book of life? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Note : “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” MH p. 149.

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