Archive for the ‘Explore the Bible’ Category


Goal: To help adults affirm that they can rely on the Lord’s faithful love in the midst of suffering

Background Passage: LAMENTATIONS 1:1-5:22

Remembering the Lord’s Faithful Love (Lam. 3:21-26)

Recognizing the Lord’s Purpose (Lam. 3:27-33)

Acknowledging the Lord’s Power (Lam. 3:37-39)



Goal: To help adults recognize their accountability to the Lord and examine their lives for attitudes and actions that bring about His judgment

Background Passage: JEREMIAH 46:1-52:34

None Is Invincible (Jer. 50:2-3a)

Resistance Is Futile (Jer. 50:24-25,44b)

Resistance Is Fatal (Jer. 50:29-32)


Aug 7

Goal: To help adults evaluate whether they are seeking the Lord’s guidance in their decisions with a determination to follow His leading

Background Passage: JEREMIAH 40:1-45:5

Seeking the Lord’s Guidance in a Panic (Jer. 42:1-3,5-6)

Receiving an Unpopular Response (Jer. 42:9-10)

Warning About Self-Deception (Jer. 42:19-22)

Rejecting the Lord’s Guidance (Jer. 43:2)


Jul 31

Goal: To help adults remain faithful to the Lord by refusing to compromise their biblically based convictions

Background Passage: JEREMIAH 34:1-39:18

Example of Faithfulness (Jer. 35:1-2,5-8a)

Example of Unfaithfulness (Jer. 35:12-14)

Consequences of Unfaithfulness (Jer. 35:17a)

Rewards of Faithfulness (Jer. 35:18-19)



Goal: To help adults evaluate their spiritual condition and decide to live in personal relationship with the Lord

Background Passage: JEREMIAH 30:1-33:26

Promise of New Life (Jer. 31:27-28)

Individual Responsibility for Sin (Jer. 31:29-30)

Transformation of the Heart (Jer. 31:31-33)

Personal Relationship with the Lord (Jer. 31:34)



Background Passage: Jeremiah 22:1–25:38

Lesson Passage: Jeremiah 22:13-21

1. What Are You Building Your Reputation On? (Jer. 22:13-14,17)
2. What Does It Mean to Know the Lord? (Jer. 22:15-16)
3. What Are the Consequences of Self-Indulgence? (Jer. 22:18-19)
4. Is Your Behavior in Line? (Jer. 22:20-21)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
The Lord expects His people to demonstrate a right relationship with Him by treating others fairly and compassionately.



Background Passage: Jeremiah 19:1–21:14

Lesson Passages: Jeremiah 19:3-6; 21:1-5,11-12

1. Spiritual Unfaithfulness (Jer. 19:3-6)
2. Spiritual Blindness (Jer. 21:1-5)
3. Social Injustice (Jer. 21:11-12)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
The Lord expects His people
to recognize and submit to His
discipline in their lives.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults submit to the
Lord’s discipline



Background Passage: Jeremiah 16:1–18:23
Lesson Passage: Jeremiah 18:1-15

LESSON PASSAGE OUTLINE
1. Appreciate the Lord’s Patience (Jer. 18:1-4)
2. Appreciate the Lord’s Power (Jer. 18:5-10)
3. Amend Your Ways (Jer. 18:11-15)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
The Lord is willing and able to remake flawed lives.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults show they appreciate the Lord’s willingness to remake flawed lives



Background Passage: 2 Corinthians 10:1–13:13
Lesson Passages: 2 Corinthians 10:1-3,15-18; 12:14-21

LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
1. Approach Courageously (2 Cor. 10:1-3)
2. Challenge with God’s Work (2 Cor. 10:15-18)
3. Declare Any Concerns (2 Cor. 12:14-18)
4. Seek to Strengthen (2 Cor. 12:19-21)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
Christians can seek and develop skills to improve relationships that are lacking.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults develop skills to improve relationships that are lacking



Background Passage: 2 Corinthians 7:5–9:15
Lesson Passages: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9; 9:1-2,7-8,12-15

LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
1. Look at Others’ Example: Be Generous (2 Cor. 8:1-7)
2. Consider Jesus’ Example: Be Loving (2 Cor. 8:8-9)
3. Establish Your Example: Be Eager (2 Cor. 9:1-2,7-8)
4. Think About Results: Be Optimistic (2 Cor. 9:12-15)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
Christians can minister to others even in distant, uneasy situations.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults minister to others in long-distance relationships



Background Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:11–7:4
Lesson Passages: 2 Corinthians 5:11–6:1; 7:2-4

LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
1. Reach Out in Openness (2 Cor. 5:11-13)
2. Respond to Christ’s Love (2 Cor. 5:14-16)
3. Remember God’s Work in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-21)
4. Reassure Others of Your Desires (2 Cor. 6:1; 7:2-4)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
When our relationship with another Christian is fractured, we are to seek reconciliation.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults seek and receive reconciliation with grace.



Background Passage:2 Corinthians 3:1–5:10
Lesson Passages: 2 Corinthians 3:1-6; 4:1-5,15-18; 5:9-10

LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
1. Rely on God (2 Cor. 3:1-6)
2. Stand by the Gospel (2 Cor. 4:1-5)
3. Concentrate on the Eternal (2 Cor. 4:15-18)
4. Anticipate the Future (2 Cor. 5:9-10)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
Christians can serve God faithfully amid Christian relationships that seem to be going nowhere.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults persevere in faithful service to God



Background Passage: 2 Corinthians 1:1–2:17
Lesson Passages: 2 Corinthians 1:3-12; 2:14-17

LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
1. Live for Others (2 Cor. 1:3-7)
2. Live in God’s Strength (2 Cor. 1:8-11)
3. Live So God Approves (2 Cor. 1:12; 2:14-17)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
Christians can exhibit integrity amid imperfect relationships.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults live with integrity



Background Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:1–16:24
Lesson Passages: 1 Corinthians 15:1-6,12-18, 50-52,54b-57

LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
1. It Is the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-6)
2. It Is Reasonable (1 Cor. 15:12-18)
3. It Is Certain (1 Cor. 15:50-52,54b-57)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
Because the resurrection of Jesus is a reality, the resurrection of believers is certain.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults declare their belief in the resurrection



Background Passage: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Lesson Passage: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

LESSON PASSAGE OUTLINE
1. Understand Love’s Importance (1 Cor. 13:1-3)
2. Demonstrate Love’s Qualities (1 Cor. 13:4-7)
3. Exhibit Love’s Permanence (1 Cor. 13:8-13)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
Christian love is to be the guiding principle for all we do in our churches.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults express Christian love in all they do in their churches.



Background Passages: 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 14:1-40
Lesson Passages: 1 Corinthians 12:4-13,18-19, 27-31; 14:1,39-40

LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
1. We All Have Gifts (1 Cor. 12:4-10)
2. We Are Important to the Church (1 Cor. 12:11-13,18-19)
3. We Have Gifts for the Church (1 Cor. 12:27-30)
4. We Are to Use Gifts Unselfishly (1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1,39-40)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
All Christians possess spiritual gifts that they are to recognize, develop, and employ.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults use their spiritual gifts as God intends


Jun 27

Background Passage: 1 Corinthians 8:1–11:34
Lesson Passages: 1 Corinthians 8:1-3,9-13; 9:19-23; 10:23-24,31–11:1

LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
1. Is It Based on Love? (1 Cor. 8:1-3)
2. Will It Harm Others? (1 Cor. 8:9-13; 10:23-24)
3. Is It Evangelistic? (1 Cor. 9:19-23)
4. Will It Glorify God? (1 Cor. 10:31–11:1)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
Christians have adequate criteria for determining if a behavior is appropriate for them.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults exercise appropriate limits on their behavior as Christians


Jun 13

Background Passage: 1 Corinthians 7:1-40
Lesson Passages: 1 Corinthians 7:10-16,32-39

LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
1. Where to Begin (1 Cor. 7:10-11)
2. When to Stay Married (1 Cor. 7:12-16)
3. When Not to Marry (1 Cor. 7:32-35)
4. When to Marry (1 Cor. 7:36-39)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
Most people should get married, and ideally people who are married should not divorce.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults follow God’s plan for their lives with regard to marriage



Background Passage: 1 Corinthians 5:1–6:20
Lesson Passages: 1 Corinthians 6:1-9a,11,13b-20

LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
1. To Help Your Church (1 Cor. 6:1-6)
2. To Exhibit Your Salvation (1 Cor. 6:7-9a,11)
3. To Maintain Your Godliness (1 Cor. 6:13b-17)
4. To Safeguard Your Well-Being (1 Cor. 6:18-20)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
We are to practice Christian morality because such behavior has a positive impact on our churches and our lives.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults practice
Christian morality



Background Passage: 1 Corinthians 4:1-21
Lesson Passages: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5,9-20

LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
1. Refuse to Be Critical (1 Cor. 4:1-5)
2. Recognize Their Service (1 Cor. 4:9-13)
3. Accept Their Guidanc (1 Cor. 4:14-20)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
Christians can help their churches’ leaders be more effective by encouraging rather than criticizing them.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults encourage their churches’ leaders