Key Thought : Jeremiah’s prophecy of the new covenant is the reaffirmation of God’s eternal covenant. God’s covenant has always offered salvation through righteousness by faith.

The Covenant December 5 – 11, 2015

1. Have a volunteer read Genesis 9:13-17.

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a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. What covenant was made by God for humanity and how does it reflect His grace?
c. Personal Application : What do you think when you see a rainbow? Does it remind you of God’s promises? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “Isn’t the rainbow covenant an old one? Didn’t Jeremiah predict that God would establish a new covenant? How does the rainbow fit into the new covenant?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 4:1-6.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. What was Israel’s problem with the gospel that God had given them?
c. Personal Application : Do Adventists face a challenge in their understanding of Sabbath-keeping and righteousness by faith? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “Didn’t the Jews keep the seventh-day Sabbath? Why does God seem to associate their rejecting the gospel with their Sabbath-keeping?” 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 does it mean to have God’s law written on the tables of our hearts?
c. Personal Application: How do you experience tension between law and grace in your own life? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your neighbors states, “Adventists are known for emphasizing the law of God, especially the Sabbath. How can you emphasize the law without becoming or being called legalists?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read I Corinthians 11:24-26.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What importance does communion play in your church and in your personal experience?
c. Personal Application: How important is it to prepare for communion beforehand? 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.” Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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