a CONNECT lesson

Focal Passage Outline and Scripture Passages:
Reality of Disagreements (Gen. 13:1-7)
Seeking of Solutions (Gen. 13:8-12)
Grounds of Agreement (Rom. 12:16-18; 15:5-6)

Background Passages:
Genesis 13:1-18; Romans 12:9-21; 15:1-6

Focal Passages:
Genesis 13:1-12; Romans 12:16-18; 15:5-6

What This Lesson Is About:
This lesson highlights the command for believers to live in agreement with one another. The biblical account of the conflict between Abram and his nephew Lot is presented as an example of how to work toward solutions in the midst of disagreement.

How This Lesson Can Impact Your Life:
This lesson can help you resolve disagreements with believers in ways that glorify God and build church unity.

Acts 9:1. Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 9:2. and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 9:3. And as he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 9:4. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 9:5. And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 9:6. So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” And the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 9:7. And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 9:8. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9:9. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 9:10. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 9:11. So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 9:12. “And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 9:13. Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 9:14. “And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 9:15. But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 9:16. “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 9:17. And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 9:18. Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 9:19. And when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. 9:20. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 9:21. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” 9:22. But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. 9:23. Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 9:24. But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 9:25. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.

Acts 9:26. And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
9:27. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

9:28. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. 9:29. And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. 9:30. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus. 9:31. Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

Acts 11:19. Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 11:20. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 11:21. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 11:22. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 11:23. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 11:24. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 11:25. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 11:26. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

11:27. And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 11:28. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. 11:29. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
11:30. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 15:36. Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 15:37. Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 15:38. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 15:39. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 15:40. but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 15:41. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Key Scripture:

John 15:5c. … for without Me you can do nothing.

Key Idea:

The one lesson of the parable is–as surely, as naturally as the branch abides in the vine, You can abide in Christ. For this He is the true Vine; for this God is the Husbandman; for this you are a branch. Shall we not cry to God to deliver us forever from the “apart
– Murray

Pray for revelation:

Lord, I gladly accept the arrangement: I nothing–Thou all. My nothingness is my highest blessing, because Thou art the Vine, that givest and workest all. So be it, Lord! I, nothing, ever waiting on Thy fullness. Lord, reveal to me the glory of this blessed life.
– Murray

Key words:
Do Nothing.

What a concept. To be abundant in God, all you do is nothing.

Abundant life just happens when you accept your part in God’s plan.

It’s time to lay aside those old style, worldly habits. Sinful activities, and things that are not pleasing to
God. Stop doing them. Even when it comes to religious things, do only what you need to do to stay attached. Don’t over do the activities if it begins to get in the way of spending time attaching yourself to the true vine, Jesus.

Being nothing is also the result of cutting off our bond to the vine. We become nothing. Any life that is left in us is soon gone as we lay, cut off from the vine. Our busy activity has broken off from him.

Hardships come and go. Storms blow and rage. It still affects the vine, and its branches just the same as anything else in the environment. Doing nothing but staying attached, abiding, we have assurance of our place. The dead, withered branches are the ones to blow away. But more on that tomorrow.

Just what is a branch? As a unit, connected to the vine, it is a living part of the whole. By itself, it is nothing and soon dies. It can’t shoot down its own roots into the soil and be its own plant. Some plants are known to have that ability, but we’re not talking about those. Vine branches wither away when detached.

Where does the fruit come from? If we were to disect a branch to cut it apart to see what surprises are inside, all we would get is wood. There isn’t any baby fruits in there, just waiting to pop out. There is sap that flows, but the sap itself isn’t the fruit. How does it happen then? When the parts are not apart, when they are united, work can be done that is far greater than any single part.

No matter how small we feel that we are, we can be used to purposes far beyond our imagined ability. Keep on abiding.

Key Scripture:

John 15:5a. “I am the vine, you are the branches. …
–NKJ

Key Idea:

Let us present ourselves before our Lord, until He speak to each of us in power, and our whole soul feels it: “I am the Vine; you are the branch.”
– Murray

Pray for revelation:

Ye are the branches. This word, too Lord! O speak it in power unto my soul. Let not the branch of the earthly vine put me to shame, but as it only lives to bear the fruit of the vine, may my life on earth have no wish or aim, but to let Thee bring forth fruit through me.
– Murray

Key words:
Vine,
Branches.

Really this is about the relationship of the vine to the branches. Who the vine is, and the role it plays. Who the branches are, and the role they have.

It is about dependencies. The vine, can survive without any branch. Even if many were to leave, the vine would survive and sprout more. The vine, Jesus, is the source of life to a branch, and it’s strength.

Branches, all humans, can’t attach to another branch. Not in the context of a grapevine. Each branch needs to be attached directly to the vine. Branches, we humans, depend on what the vine gives.

So, think the concept of relationships, strength, and dependancy over. To think there is no God, or Jesus, is to be a branch that has ben cut off and to lay, dieing on the ground. Or to be some foreign plant, like weeds or thorns, that have no place in a vineyard and certainly dug out, for the vine to have the soil to itself.

Once you understand your place in God’s big picture, be the best that you can be in that position. You are a branch, so be the best one you can be.

Key Scripture:

John 15:5a. “I am the vine, you are the branches. …
–NKJ

Key Idea:

… the lesson, simple as it appears, it is the key of the abiding life–that the only way to obey the command, “Abide in me,” is to have eye and heart fixed upon Himself.
–Murray

Pray for revelation:

“I am God’s Vine,” Jesus says; “all I am I have from Him; all I am is for you; God will work it in you.” I am the Vine. Blessed Lord, speak Thou that word into my soul. Then shall I know that all Thy fullness is for me. And that I can count upon Thee to stream it into me, and that my abiding is so easy and so sure when I forget and lose myself in the adoring faith that the Vine holds the branch and supplies its every need.
– Murray

Key words:
Vine,
Branches.

This is simply restating the concept of Jesus as the vine. It is about priorities. As tempting as it is to see our abundant fruit and take the credit for it, it is only due to our constant abiding with Jesus. We can do nothing unless it is through him.

it doesn’t even matter where you stand in the big picture of worldly wealth, or importance. It doesn’t matter if you have a good job, or not, or even none at all. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, or live in a big house, small house, or no house. When we stay connected to Jesus, we can grow spiritually in that place. We may not be happy in our circumstance, but joy can be found in staying attached to the vine.

As we grow in our religious activities, and grow bigger and bigger, we produce fruit, but those religious excersizes also cause us to become more woody. Remember that the wood, even productive wood must be cut back at some point. So, let Jesus work through you. Let the growth come. Use religious activity to put on some wood, because God will know how to keep you pruned back and humble. Just keep your place in the vine. As God works through the vine, let it work through you.

Stay attached, and discover the joy that can only come to our spirits from the vine. It won’t matter what the world hands our way to know that we are part of something bigger.

Key Scripture:

John 15:4a. “Abide in Me, and I in you. …

Key Idea:

“Abide in me”: that refers more to that which we have to do. We have to trust and obey, to detach ourselves from all else, to reach out after Him and cling to Him, to sink ourselves into Him.
– Murray

Pray for revelation:

Blessed Lord, Thou dost bid me abide in Thee. How can I, Lord, except Thou show Thyself to me, waiting to receive and welcome and keep me? I pray Thee show me how Thou as Vine undertaketh to do all. To be occupied with Thee is to abide in Thee. Here I am, Lord, a branch, cleansed and abiding–resting in Thee, and awaiting the inflow of Thy life and grace.
– Murray

Key words:
Abide.

Abide, as it is used in this fragment of the verse, means to continuously be abiding. Where we abide is where we live, where we set up residence. Staying with the comparison of the vine, the natural branch is at unity with the vine. They are of the same nature. The vine sends sap into the branch, and the branch circulates it back to the vine. To stay alive and be productive, the only thing the branch needs to do is keep staying attached.

There are times when a branch is grafted in. Something unique happens. Small shoots from the branch enter into the vine, and other small shoots from the vine enter into the branch. A bond is built and shared. A give and take relationship. With growth,such a bond can become just as strong as a natural branch. That new bond makes a physical connection, and builds strength. Once those firm connections are made, a foreign branch needs only to do what the natural branches are doing. Abide, stay connected to the original vine.

If you want to be a new branch, and bbe part of the Kingdom of God. Attach yourself to the vine by reading the ‘How to be Saved’ page, elsewhere on this web page. If you are somehow reading this somewhere else on the Internet, visit http://altamontfirstbaptist.org where you’ll find that page.

There is no religious ceremony, no church tradition, no rituals, nothing at all that we do to force our fruits to pop out. Who cares what the other branches are doing, or how they may move around in the winds of tribulation. Do some moving around yourself. Move in your natural places, but stay attached. Keep abiding. Preserve that unity with the vine.

It is such a simple act, just abiding. It may seem like there should be more that is required that we do. Obey, by staying attached. Trust that that simple act will be all it takes to bear fruits.

Key Scripture:

John  15:2a.  “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; …

Key Idea:

The branch is exactly like the vine in every aspect–the same nature, the same life, the same place, the same work. In all this they are inseparably one.
– Murray

Pray for revelation:

Lord Jesus, I pray Thee, reveal to me the heavenly mystery of the branch, in its living union with the Vine, in its claim on all its fullness. And let Thy all-sufficiency, holding and filling Thy branches, lead me to the rest of faith that knows that Thou workest all.
– Murray

Key words:
Branch.

Before a vine can produce fruit, there needs to be a branch. More on fruit tomorrow, but to continue the comparison of Jesus to the vine, we are the branches. Focus on that idea. The vine is the main trunk of the plant. It grows in the ground and provides life giving nourishment for the branches.

A vine doesn’t normally grow fruit on it directly, it grows branches, and those branches is where the fruit is produced.

There needs to be unity. The branch needs Read More…

Background Passage: Ephesians 5:22-33
Lesson Passage: Ephesians 5:22-33

LESSON PASSAGE OUTLINE
1. Wives: Submit as Service (Eph. 5:22-24)
2. Husbands: Love as Christ Does (Eph. 5:25-30)
3. Both: Express a Complete Unity (Eph. 5:31-33)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
Christians are to relate to their spouses on the basis of their own relationship with Jesus Christ.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults promote biblical ideals of being married

Background Passage: Ephesians 4:1-16
Lesson Passage: Ephesians 4:1-16

LESSON PASSAGE OUTLINE
1. Live Up to Your Call (Eph. 4:1-6)
2. Appreciate Spiritual Gifts (Eph. 4:7-12)
3. Work Together (Eph. 4:13-16)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
Christians are to work together to build up their church.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults work together to build up their church

Background Passage: Ephesians 2:11-22
Lesson Passage: Ephesians 2:11-22

LESSON PASSAGE OUTLINE
1. Brought Together (Eph. 2:11-13)
2. Joined Together (Eph. 2:14-18)
3. Built Together (Eph. 2:19-22)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
When we are saved, we become part of God’s new people and are united with them in a new relationship.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults relate to other believers in ways that express their unity

Background Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:1–3:23
Lesson Passages: 1 Corinthians 1:10,21-31; 3:9-10,16-17

LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
1. Focus on Members’ Agreement (1 Cor. 1:10)
2. Focus on the Gospel’s Truth (1 Cor. 1:21-25)
3. Focus on God’s Work (1 Cor. 1:26-31)
4. Focus on the Church’s Best (1 Cor. 3:9-10,16-17)

BIBLICAL TRUTH
Christians are to promote the unity of their churches and avoid actions that contribute to divisions.

LIFE GOAL
To help adults promote unity in their churches

Focal Passage Outline and Scripture Passages:
Focus on Unity (1 Cor. 11:17-22,33-34)
Put the Spotlight on Jesus (1 Cor. 11:23-26)
Examine Yourself (1 Cor. 11:27-32)

Bible Passage:
1 Corinthians 11:17-34

What This Lesson Is About:
This lesson is about the attitudes that are essential for meaningful Lord’s Supper observances and all other worship experiences.

How This Lesson Can Impact Your Life:
This lesson can help you recognize attitudes that prevent meaningful corporate worship.

James 3:1-4.
3:1.  My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
 3:2.  For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
 3:3.  Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
 3:4.  Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

Learn Self Control

The call of this passage is to be careful about being a teacher of the scriptures to others. To do so requires to be in full control of our lives. Being the teacher places a load of responsibility on that person. Being in charge can bring an amount of glory and honor, but when things go wrong the blame has to end with the person in charge.

James begins to allude to how to control a huge, powerful vessel, namely a horse, or a ship. There will be more on that topic in a later passage. For now, just consider how controlling a ship applies.

Not many of us should be teachers. On a ship there is only one captain, and for times when the captain is off duty, there are only a small amount of officers. Even a smaller amount of officers who have any direct control over steering the ship. Onboard that ship are probably hundreds of people. They all have their own jobs to do to make sure the ship keeps on sailing, but they can’t all be captains. That would lead to confusion.

A sailor doesn’t have to agree with the captain, just do what he says. The best a person can do is to take charge of the small task he is given. As each little, and often unrelated task gets done, the shipkeeps sailing and arrives in harbor. With all these individual jobs functioning under the unity of the captain, everybody benefits from the blessings. Should something go wrong, the crew is rarely to blame, but the captain always is.

As Christians, we should strive to do what God has called us to do. Act in faith to do that task, but as long as there is another who is teacher, or captain over us, follow in unity, rather than try to take that position for yourself. We all will benefit from that persons leadership, but if there are problems, it will be that person that will have to stand before God and answer for it.

Background Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Lesson Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

BIBLICAL TRUTH
Christians are to relate to other believers in ways that strengthen their churches.

LIFE IMPACT
To help adults relate to other Christians in ways that strengthen their churches