The Biblical Path of Life

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  • Lesson 5: 2 Kings 9:11–13:9: Jehu – Jehoahaz

    Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

    —Proverbs 4:23

    Key Verse Thought: As you read the Key verse for this lesson, use the following definitions to help you understand it a little better.

    • keep:  guard; protect; preserve
    • heart:  the center; the totality of man’s inner nature; the place where wisdom and understanding reside

     We are to be very careful of what we allow into our hearts. We should protect not only the nature (character, or attributes) but also the wisdom that we allow into our hearts. Why? What we allow into our heart is the source for the kind of life we live; the kind of person we become. That is one reason why when someone becomes saved; we say they have asked Jesus into their heart.

    Be encouraged to consider your heart as the place where a special treasure is kept — a place to be well guarded. It would also be good to understand the importance of placing God’s Word into your heart (see Psalm 119:11).

    Emphasis: We are to learn from the failings of King Jehu. We are to keep our hearts with all diligence — always continuously hiding God’s Word in our hearts so we will know what to do (unlike King Jehu).

    Lesson Summary: As we begin this lesson, we must remember that Jehoram (also called Joram) reigned in Israel. Elisha had sent one of the prophets to anoint a new king of Israel, Jehu, even while Jehoram was still king. When Jehu was anointed, he was also given a very grave message. He was to kill Ahab’s entire household.

    We will see the process that Jehu followed being established as the new king of Israel. Jehu went to Jezreel and killed King Jehoram (and Ahaziah, king of Judah, who was visiting King Jehoram). He continued by having Jezebel killed. Ahab had 70 sons living in Samaria, and they were also killed. Jehu did not stop there, he continued by killing every Baal worshiper in Israel. He then had all of the images burned, and they broke down the house of Baal. When Jehu died, we find his son, Jehoahaz, becomes the twelfth king of Israel. He reigned for 17 years in Israel, and “followed the sins of Jeroboam.” It was a greatly oppressed nation while he was king. When he died, his son, Joash (Jehoash), became the thirteenth king of Israel.

    As we read about all of the good that Jehu did, we will find an area in which he miserably failed. This is to be a lesson to us.

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 5 Questions

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 5 Children’s Worksheets

    You could have them make a journal including verses reminding them the importance of fearing the Lord and walking in His ways. That was Jehu’s failure – although he did much for God, he did not walk in God’s ways.

  • Lesson 4: 2 Kings 3 – 9:10: Elisha

    Key Verse

    For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. —Hebrews 10:36

    Key Verse Thought: After you read the Key Verse, use the following definitions to help you understand it better. 

    • patience: endurance; perseverance or constancy under suffering in faith and duty
    • will: purpose; God’s law; decree
    • promise: salvation in Christ

    Does one really understand patience? Does it take patience to do something that doesn’t always make sense? For example (here are a few examples, or you may thing of some better ones!):

    • Making your bed when you’re going to sleep in it that night — it keeps your room neat and your covers straight;
    • Going to bed at a regular bedtime even though you still have work to do — keeps you from always being tired or rundown which allows you to get sick easier;
    • Eating foods that are good for you, as opposed to junk food all of the time — also keeps you healthier;
    • Submitting to your authority, even though you think you know best!

    Today we will see many people who were asked to do things that didn’t necessarily make sense to them at the time. The important thing for them to learn was to do what the prophet of the Lord told them to do, obeying God’s Words. We will also see what happened for those who patiently did the will of God and see what God gave them.

    Emphasis: In this lesson, we should learn to obey God’s Word, patiently, even if it seems too hard or it does not necessarily make sense to us. Be encouraged to put your faith and trust in Jesus and to live your life according to God’s Word.

    Lesson Summary: In this lesson, we will continue learning the history of the nation Israel, the Northern Kingdom. Once we saw Elijah taken, we read Elisha established as the prophet of the Lord. Elisha had requested Elijah to give him a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. In this lesson, we will see that this is just what Elisha received. Not only did he have dealings with many Israelites, but we will also see that he took the Word of the Lord to the kings. His fame even spread by an Israelite maiden taken captive into the home of a captain in the Syrian army. His name was Naaman. Because he obeyed the words spoken by the prophet of the Lord, Elisha, Naaman was healed of his leprosy. Notice the many different, and even unusual things, people were asked to do, obeying the words of the prophet of the Lord. It would also be good to notice the blessings, and even the salvation from the enemies, the people received when they obeyed.

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 4 Questions

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 4 Children’s Worksheets

    You could let your students make a coloring book of their own using pictures of Naaman, the Leper, and Elisha.

  • The Heart of the Matter

    “6. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
    Isaiah 55:6-7

    Hezekiah was the greatest king Judah ever had (see 2 Kings 18:5). He was compared back to King David, the man after God’s own heart. Hezekiah made great reformations in Judah, eliminated idols and reinstated worship of the one true God. His heart was right before God. “And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:21). Hezekiah led the people to follow God.

    Hezekiah had a great sickness, and Isaiah told him that God said Hezekiah would die of that sickness. Hezekiah prayed. God healed. God did a great sign to show Hezekiah he would live. The Babylonians came when they heard Hezekiah was sick. He showed them all of the treasures of Judah. We can read that his heart was lifted up (2 Chronicles 32:25). He was prideful of all he had. He should have given God the credit for all of the treasures of Judah. He should have been a vocal witness to the Babylonians. “Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chronicles 32:31). God knew what was in Hezekiah’s heart, but now all knew what was really in Hezekiah’s heart: Pride. “Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah” (2 Chronicles 32:26). Hezekiah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem humbled themselves before the Lord, and God’s wrath was delayed.

    Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, became the worst king Judah had. “But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel” (2 Chronicles 33:2). One can read a listing of his wickedness in 2 Chronicles 33:3-9. One terrible thing he did was “to cause his children to pass through the fire,” which is child sacrifice. God went on to declare that Manasseh did worse than the heathen whom the Lord had removed before the children of Israel. God sent men to warn Manasseh and the people, but they would not listen. Isaiah was a prophet of God during Hezekiah’s reign and even into Manasseh’s reign. Read something recorded in Isaiah that we can still read today: “6. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7).

    Because of the wickedness of Manasseh, God allowed the enemy to take him captive into Babylon. “And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers” (2 Chronicles 33:12). While in Babylon, Manasseh sought the Lord and humbled himself before Him. After calling upon the Lord, Manasseh forsook his way, and turned unto the Lord. God heard his supplication and had mercy on this wicked king. God pardoned him, allowed him to return to Judah, and even sit upon the throne once again. “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

    Manasseh proceeded to do much good: he reinforced the city, took away the strange gods, idols, and altars he built in the house of the Lord, and cast them out of the city. He repaired the altar of the Lord and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel. “Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places …” (2 Chronicles 33:17a). In Hezekiah’s day, the people humbled themselves before the Lord with Hezekiah. In Manasseh’s day, the people continued in their false worship even after Manasseh turned his heart to God. God’s wrath would come.  

    Remember, God sees the heart. “20. If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; 21. Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart” (Psalm 44:20-21).

    Do you understand God knows the secrets of the heart?

  • Lesson 3: 2 Kings 1-2: Elijah and Elisha

    Key Verse

    Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised) —Hebrews 10:23

    Key Verse Thought: After reading the verse, understand that the word faithful means “constant in the performance of duties or services — like a faithful servant.” In this verse, faithful also means “as God with his promises.”

    When we understand the faithfulness of God, it helps us as we “hold fast the profession of our faith.” That means we have and retain the faith we have of the Gospel message of Jesus (that He died to cleanse us from our sins). Moreover, that we do it without “wavering.” Wavering means “steady, without giving way.” In this lesson, we will continue looking at the life of Elijah, and we will begin to learn about Elisha. Both of these prophets of God held fast, knowing God would be faithful.

    Emphasis: Just as Elijah was faithful in doing what God asked of him (no matter how difficult we may think it might have been), we, too, are to remain faithful doing what God asks of us (no matter how hard it may seem!).  

    Lesson Summary: After the people of Israel professed, “The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God” (1 Kings 18:39), there continued to be idol worship in the land. We begin today with Ahab’s son, Ahaziah, as king of Israel, seeking the answer to his question from Baalzebub, the god of Ekron. When the king was injured (he fell through a lattice), instead of inquiring an answer from God, he inquired for a word from a false god. So God sent Elijah with a word for the king – words that the king did not receive (for he did not like the message). The king sent captains with their fifties to bring Elijah to the king. Two times Elijah called fire down from heaven that consumed them. On the third time, because of the captain’s words, he and his men lived. Elijah returned with a message for the king himself. The king would die from his injury — and he did. We will then look back to the call of Elisha as the servant of Elijah, soon to be the one to replace the prophet Elijah (I Kings 19:16). As we remember Elijah’s life, we find he knew he was about to leave the earth. Recall the familiar events of Elijah taken alive into heaven by a chariot of fire and horses of fire as Elisha stood as a witness. Don’t just recall the familiar events, read them again with the intention of learning more about just what really happened. Especially think about the faithfulness displayed, as Elisha never left Elijah’s side — even when Elijah told him to stay. Notice the reward Elijah, and even Elisha, received for their faithfulness. See what the 50 men of the sons of the prophets recognized about Elisha.

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 3 – Questions

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 3 – Children’s Worksheets

    You could cut out the shape of a coat from foam and let the children lace it. This could remind them of Elijah’s mantle that Elijah picked up and kept.

  • Lesson 2: 1 Kings 16:29 – 22:53: Ahab and Elijah

    Key Verse

    And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. —Romans 8:28

    Key Verse Thought: Have you ever had something bad happen to you? According to this verse, if we are Christians (have Jesus in our heart), and are living according to God’s Word doing what God wants us to do with our lives, everything will work out for good — even if it seems like something bad at the time. In this lesson, we will see this lived out in Elijah’s life. Even when the king and queen wanted Elijah dead, God provided for him and took care of him.

    Emphasis: If we will obey God, God will provide for us and take care of us — no matter what.     

    Lesson Summary: Now that we have seen the nation of Israel divide into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, we will begin by studying the nation Israel. We will continue with Judah afterward. In our last lesson, we began by learning about the first three kings of Israel — Jeroboam, Nadab, and Baasha. Israel never had a good, or godly, king. In this lesson, we will continue with the next six kings — including one of the worst kings and his wicked queen.

    After seeing four more wicked kings (Elah, Zimri, Tibni, and Omri), we come to the worst king yet — King Ahab. After he became king, God sent His prophet, Elijah, to speak to wicked King Ahab. Elijah told the king that there would be no rain in the land; and there was a drought for over three years. God provided for Elijah during the drought and sent him back to King Ahab after three years with a great challenge. Elijah had all of Israel to meet on top of Mount Carmel to call for a decision from the people. Choose who the true God is. After Elijah’s mighty victory, he ran for his life. We see God had not forgotten him, but He showed himself to Elijah in a still small voice. He then gave Elijah a helper, Elisha. We will learn more about him in our next lesson.

    We will continue with King Ahab’s wicked reign as Benhadad, king of Syria, besieged Israel. God mightily delivered — twice. However, because King Ahab spared the enemy king’s life, God would require King Ahab’s life.

    We see more of Queen Jezebel’s wickedness as she kills to acquire Naboth’s vineyard for her husband, King Ahab. When Elijah told King Ahab of God’s displeasure about this event, we will see the compassion God had upon King Ahab when he was sorry for sin. When King Ahab joined with the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, to enter into battle with Syria, a prophet of God told King Ahab that he would die in battle — and he did. King Ahab’s son, Ahaziah, became the next king of Israel. He, too, was a wicked king.

    Year Two Quarter One Questions

    Year Two Quarter One Student Worksheets

    You could have your students make their own coloring book about Elijah.

  • Jesus Revealed

    “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
    Matthew 5:17

    When Jesus came, He did not take away the importance of the Old Testament Law and Prophets; instead, He fulfilled them. This means He completed them, or made them completely perfect. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). Fulfill means “to fill out; complete or made them perfect; to accomplish an end.” Jesus came to complete (fulfill) the promise God made to Adam and Eve (and all of mankind) in the garden after they sinned. It was in the garden that God first promised that One would come and deliver man from his sin. When Jesus came, He did not take away the importance of the Old Testament Law and Prophets, for He accomplished what God required of Him. This reveals to us the importance of the Old Testament Law and Prophets in that Jesus fulfilled the words spoken and preached therein. In accomplishing all of the requirements found in the Old Testament, Jesus was the only one qualified, to be the perfect sacrifice to appease the wrath of a just and righteous God.

    Jesus completed everything He came to accomplish. After His resurrection, Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples. “44. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46. And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48. And ye are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:44-48).

    It is very important to read God’s Word and be in a good Bible study where you can learn more about Jesus. One important goal each Christian should have is to know and understand more about the Old Testament (and the New Testament). The more you learn about the Bible, the more you begin to understand that it is so much more than just a collection of stories about people who lived long ago. In reading and studying the Old Testament in the Bible, you can search and find out why the people who lived in those times wanted to obey God. It helps you understand how they knew God would one day send Jesus. You can see what happened to His people when they obeyed God’s Word, and even what happened when they forgot God’s Word. As you read the New Testament, you begin to recognize when people began to understand that Jesus was the One who was to come (the One that was told of in the Old Testament). These events will be an encouragement to you that God is with those who love Him, those who seek to please Him, and that He takes care of His people.

    In the New Testament, we can read that there was a great plot to kill Paul because He lived as a Christian, preaching Jesus to the lost (those who did not believe in Jesus). Paul, the apostle, used this in his defense before Festus: “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets” (Acts 24:14).

    He believed all things written in the Law and Prophets that told of Jesus.

    Do you?

  • Lesson 1: 1 Kings 12–15: Rehoboam, Jeroboam, and the Divided Kingdom

    And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation … —Matthew 12:25a

    Key Verse Thought: Have you ever heard the phrase “there is strength in numbers?” Think of the following instances to help in the understanding of this concept: Work is completed faster with more workers; a choir has a stronger voice with more choir members singing; the more papers you have stacked together, the harder it is to tear them in two; it is harder to break a bundle of sticks bound together than just one stick, etc. What happens when more than one person tries to explain rules to a game (especially if they list different rules)? Unless everyone agrees, or works together, it is almost impossible to play the game or even to accomplish a task. Also remember the following: “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). In this lesson we will see what happened that caused the nation of Israel to become divided.  In our key verse for this lesson, the word desolation means “be laid waste; be made desolate (deprived of inhabitants; neglected; destroyed).”

    Emphasis: We must learn from history. Israel rejected God and chose idol worship bringing division and destruction to the nation. The same division and destruction will occur in our lives if we reject God.

    Lesson Summary: Now that we have completed the Personal Books (mostly written by David and Solomon), we will continue with the History Books. If you remember, the people rejected God as their king and wanted a man like all of the other nations to rule over them. God gave the people a man to become their king, just like they wanted. We learned about the first three kings: Saul, David, and Solomon. Saul disobeyed God, and the kingdom was removed from him and his family. David was known as a man after God’s own heart, and God promised him the kingdom would never be removed from his family. Solomon, David’s son, became the next king, but he ended up allowing his heart to be turned from God to idols. God promised to divide the kingdom because of this great sin, but because of God’s promise to David, two tribes would be left to his family. 

    In this lesson, we will learn that Rehoboam, Solomon’s only son, was a very foolish king. God left two tribes for him to rule. They became known as Judah (also known as the Southern Kingdom). God gave the other ten tribes to Jeroboam, and they became known as Israel (the Northern Kingdom). When Jeroboam became king over the Northern Kingdom, Israel, he did not allow the people return to Jerusalem to worship God. He was afraid that he would lose his kingdom, and the divided kingdom would reunite as one. So he set up two places of worship, Dan and Bethel, with golden calves in each city for the people to worship. When Jeroboam was warned by a prophet of God while offering at the altar, Jeroboam rejected his words. King Jeroboam’s hand was withered and then restored. Later, when confronted with his wickedness, he rejected God’s prophet, and God rejected Jeroboam telling him the kingdom would be removed from him and his family. And it came to pass – just as God said.

    Israel and Judah warred against each other continually. After this lesson, we will primarily continue our study with the Northern Kingdom (Israel). Afterward we will learn of the Southern Kingdom (Judah). To help keep the kings straight and find out a verse listed where they became king, refer often to the chart “The Kings and their Prophets.”

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 1 Questions

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 1 Children’s Worksheets

    One idea would be to have your children make a crown to help them remember the divided kingdom.

  • God’s Call through the Gospel Message

    “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
    Acts 2:21

    The book of Acts is about the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus. “… and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). After Jesus spoke final words of instruction to his followers: “9. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11. Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11). They were amazed to see Jesus just disappear from the earth into Heaven. Then, obeying Jesus’ instructions, they returned to Jerusalem. The Gospel spread, first in Jerusalem, then in Judea, into Samaria, and finally to the rest of the known world. Salvation is available to anyone who would believe. “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). 

    Throughout the book of Acts, Jesus’ followers began to understand what it was Jesus did when He came, and even why He did the things that He did. The understanding begins with the importance of his death, burial, and resurrection.

    As Peter preached Jesus to the people, he initially directed his message to the Jews, for they had rejected Jesus, crucifying Him. “22. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it” (Acts 2:22-24). Holden means “to use strength to hold or retain.” When Jesus could not be held by death, He took that power of death that had previously been held by the devil, Satan, “… that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14b). Death could not hold Jesus for he conquered it. Jesus then gives eternal life to any who will believe in Him. 

    Peter continued to explain to the people that because Jesus could not “be holden of it,” Jesus rose from the dead – and this people he was speaking to were witnesses. “32. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses … 36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:32, 36). All of the house of Israel should have recognized that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was both Lord and Christ. Christ means “the Savior of the world.” They were to recognize that Jesus is the Savior of the world. 

    How did they respond? “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). When they heard the gospel message preached, they were “pricked in their heart.” Pricked means “greatly pained or deeply moved.” It is important that the gospel message had a movement in their heart. Sometimes we call this “conviction” (which means “found guilty of an offense”). However, it was more important what those people did with that movement. Peter told them what they must do. “38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38-39). The people had to take action: repent. Repent means “to imply pious sorrow for unbelief and sin, and a turning from them to God and the gospel of Christ.” Repentance is a response between a sinful man and God. Baptism is an outward testimony of what happened to that individual’s heart. Notice that God “called” them. Call means “God’s call through the gospel message.”

    Have you heard or been pricked in your heart when you heard the Gospel Message of Jesus?

    Have you responded to the call of God through the Gospel message?

    How to be Saved

  • Who is Jesus?

    “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
    John 14:6

    One cannot fully explain just who Jesus is in a brief summary. However, the Bible tells who Jesus is from the beginning through to the end. Nevertheless, for a brief sampling, read the following verses.

    1. Jesus is God’s Son
      • “For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (2 Peter 1:17).
      • When Jesus asked his disciples: “15. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:15-17).
      • Another answer by a disciple: “And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:69).
    2. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life to bring us to God
      • “21. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:21-22). 
      • “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
    3. God sent His Son, Jesus, to save lost mankind
      • “16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
    4. Jesus is God

    God is “I Am,” and He will be known as that forever. When Jesus declared He was God, He called Himself “I Am,” and the people understood what it was that He was saying (that He was God) – and many rejected Him because of that saying.

    Jesus’ Seven “I Am” Statements: 

    • I Am the Bread of Life: “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).    
    • I Am the Light of the World: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).    
    • I Am the Door of the Sheep: “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7).     
    • I Am the Good Shepherd: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).     
    • I Am the Resurrection, and the Life: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).     
    • I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). 
    • I Am the True Vine: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman” (John 15:1).     

    5. Jesus’ Crucifixion: (in Matthew 27:32-56, Mark 15:21-41, Luke 23:26-49, and John 19:17-37)

    6. Jesus’ Resurrection: (in Matthew 28:1-15, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, and John 20:1-10)

    We can read of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. Although the religious leaders thought they were destroying Jesus by His death, it was a fulfillment of God’s plan. Because of the sin of mankind, causing separation between man and God, Jesus came to “… lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Remember how Jesus described friends in that next verse: “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14). Today, we call one who has faith in God, believing in Jesus, a Christian. Jesus came to earth to die for the sins of mankind – for any one who would believe. As we learn about these scriptures, we find that they are the heart of the promise God made to Adam in the garden (Genesis 3:15), and all generations that would come. It is important to understand just what it was that Jesus did. After living a sinless life, He paid the penalty for sin. By paying for that sin, He is able to give eternal life to those who have faith in Him. If you have never heard, or have never truly understood what it was that Jesus did for you, these verses will help you hear and understand.  

    Do you know Jesus?

    How to be Saved

  • Family

    “For with God nothing shall be impossible”
    Luke 1:37

    Jacob’s family moved to Egypt to be with Joseph. Before he died, he blessed each of his sons. When he came to Judah, he not only blessed him, but also made a prophecy concerning his descendants. “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be” (Genesis 49:10). God knew that His people (the Israelites) would reject Him as their king, hundreds of years before they actually did. He had already chosen a tribe to be the kingly tribe – the tribe of Judah. Not only would the kings come from this family, but Jesus (Shiloh) would one day descend from this tribe (Judah). This was to be The King they were looking for: “… and unto him shall the gathering (looking for) of the people be.”

    However, before Jesus came, remember David.

    King David (from the tribe of Judah) sat at his house, and he spoke to Nathan the prophet. “… See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains” (2 Samuel 7:2b). In the city of Jerusalem, David had set up a tent to house the Ark of the Covenant (which was a symbol of God’s presence among His people). David recognized God’s blessings, and he wanted to do something for God. God answered that night. David wanted to build a house for God that God declared was not really needed. The Ark of the Covenant had always rested in a tent. God reminded him that He had taken David from being a shepherd boy watching sheep to become the ruler over God’s people, Israel. God had always been with David, defeating David’s enemies, and He made David a great name. God went on to give David a great promise. “12. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. … 16. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever” (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Notice that God promised to build David a house – not a house to live in, but a dynasty, a kingly lineage. This promise was twofold. God established David’s family as the kings of Israel. God also promised that David’s son would build Him a house. David prayed to God thanking Him and praising Him. David’s son, Solomon, became the next king of Israel, and he built a beautiful Temple for God.

    Moreover, God would one day send His Son, Jesus, from David’s descendants: “… I will set up thy seed after thee …” (2 Samuel 7:12). Remember what Mary was told when the angel said that she would bring forth a Son. “30. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:32). When she did not understand, the angel told her, “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37).

    God did just what he promised He would do. We see it confirmed: “… he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 23. Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus” (Acts 13:22-23). It is here that we see God kept his promise given to Jacob, David and Mary. It is Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Read how Revelation describes Jesus: “… behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David …” (Revelation 5:5).

    More than that, Jesus came so that we could be restored as part of God’s family – only by faith in Jesus. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26).

    Have you looked unto Jesus, believing in Him by faith, and becoming a part of God’s Family?

    How to be Saved