Sunday School Lesson for July 18, 2010: Chosen and Called (2 Thessalonians 2:7-17)

It seems lately that I’m always apologizing. I’ve been busy prepping for the audit last week. The lesson last week was too important to ignore however, so I’m submitting it late for your consideration. Again, my apologies…



Hebrews 2:5 (New International Version)



Jesus Made Like His Brothers



5It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come



Daniel 7:21-22 (New International Version)



21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.



Daniel 12:10 (New International Version)



10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked.



‘The Long View’



There’s a reason for seasoned, mature leadership in the Body of Christ. Paul is the example here. As much as the Church at Thessalonica was enduring persecution, Paul had endured more. Paul was clear in his thinking, clear in his knowledge, clear in his mission. He lived every day as if Christ’s return was imminent, yet he evangelized most of Asia and is responsible for two thirds of the New Testament. He was able to take the long view. Make no mistake. At some level, Paul understood the order of events that would precede the Lord’s return, yet his attitude and demeanor was such that he was driven to continue preaching the Gospel, building up the Saints and making new disciples. Is the ‘long view necessary today? Most definitely! The spirit of lawlessness is alive and well in the world today. I’ve been surprised by some discoveries I’ve made recently. There are a number of well known entertainers who openly worship Satan. Really! These people are antichrists. I won’t spend a lot of time here on this, but suffice it to say that a number of our politicians and entertainers (people we tend to look up to) are involved in occult practices. Why is any of this important? Because you, we cannot lose our perspective. A Biblical perspective. A perspective that says that you, we are Blessed and Highly Favored of God. That you, we are loved deeply by our Father. That you, we are Kings and Priests in our Fathers Kingdom. The thing that we must be assured of is that Jesus will come back. The dead in Christ will rise. We will reign with our Lord in Glory forward. Amen.



Psalm 73:2-4 (The Message)



An Asaph Psalm



1-5 No doubt about it! God is good— good to good people, good to the good-hearted.
But I nearly missed it,
missed seeing his goodness.
I was looking the other way,
looking up to the people
At the top,
envying the wicked who have it made,
Who have nothing to worry about,
not a care in the whole wide world.