Focal Passage: Matthew 24:32-44 

It might seem strange — here in January — to still be in a series of lessons entitled “Looking Forward to CHRISTmas.” We could also wonder why today’s lesson in that series concerns Christ’s Second Coming — His Second Advent. Remembering that “Advent” is another term for CHRISTmas, I checked the dictionary. 

Advent is defined as “… a time of waiting and preparation for both the celebration of Jesus’ birth at CHRISTmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming.” Aha! So it’s very natural to conclude this series with a lesson on Looking Forward with Expectation — to the “Second Advent”! 

Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ’s first advent, so both Testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that in the Old Testament alone there are 1,845 references to Christ’s second coming. In the New Testament 318 such references are found — or one out of every 30 verses.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Matthew 2:1-11; 16-18 

The very “first CHRISTmas” was over. Jesus’ birthday had come to pass. Some research scientists of that day had gotten word of it, and had traveled a long way to see the newborn Child. Even though theirs was an after CHRISTmas visit, it was memorable: they had sojourned many miles to WORSHIP that Baby! 

Our calendars also say CHRISTmas 2024 has “come to pass,” yet today we’re studying a lesson entitled “Looking Forward to Worship.” 

Why is this? It’s because the Looking Forward to CHRISTmas series is not just about anticipating a day on the calendar; it’s about participating in an ongoing worship celebration of Jesus’ incarnation. It’s more than one day; we’re told in Scripture to “continually offer the sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15). 

Our focal text is Matthew 2:1-11; 16-18, “the visit of the wise men.” Those research scientists had studied an unusual star formation and had concluded that it was the sign of a newborn king, worthy of their worship. This is their story. 

In fact, it’s the story of wise men AND fools! 

Verses 1-11. The wise: seeking to worship The SOVEREIGN 

Dawson

During CHRISTmas in my boyhood years at church, I often donned a flannel robe and put on a glittering crown that Mama had made out of cardboard. A couple of friends would be dressed similarly; we were of course depicting “the three kings .” Sometimes we even tried to sing, We Three Kings of Orient Are. Most everyone knows now that the Bible doesn’t mention three men; there could have been just two, or several. And they weren’t kings; they were magi — wise astronomer-types of that day. And they weren’t “Orientals,” either! 

But we do know they were wise men: (1) They searched the skies for signs of the King. (2) They were guided by the light from heaven. (3) They traveled far and wide until they found JESUS. (4) They bowed at His feet and worshiped Him. (5) They gave Him their treasures, gifts truly fit for a KING, items that symbolize His Kingliness and even His death. (6) Then they departed “different” from how they arrived. Read back over those things; are they not six steps any of us should take in worshiping Jesus this season? 

Verses 16-18. The foolish: seeking to worship SELF 

Herod and his cohorts revealed things that fools do at the mention of Christ and CHRISTmas. They MAKE trouble (remember verse 3). They FAKE religion (think back on verse 8). They attempt to TAKE Christ “out” (verse 16). And they BREAK hearts and homes (verses 17-18). Grinch-like Herod and his bloody men represent the Satanic, self-centered activity that surface every CHRISTmas. Let’s rebuke and resist such foolishness. 

True story: A town put on a well-attended outdoor pageant every CHRISTmas. One year they decided the wise men would carry incense censers for effect. But the streaming smoke set off the town fire alarms. Firetrucks screamed up and firefighters rolled out hoses. Finally it was known what had happened, and everything settled down. But the crowd distinctly heard the fire chief say with irritation, “You wise men have set off alarms all over town!” 

That’s still happening among the wise and foolish today. The CHRISTmas Gospel delights wise men — and disturbs fools! B&R — Dawson is pastor emeritus at First Baptist Church, Columbia, and has served as transitional interim pastor at numerous churches since his retirement from full-time ministry. 

Note from the writer: I returned to Tennessee to become pastor of FBC Columbia in 1996; two years later Lonnie Wilkey became editor of the B&R. So he has been my ‘window’ into Tennessee Baptist life — and into Kingdom work beyond — for nearly 30 years. Lonnie is truly a gentle giant in Christian journalism, and I’m privileged to call him friend. How deeply grateful I am for his invitation to be writing the Bible Studies for Life Sunday School lessons for this, his final edition as editor. Happy retirement, Lonnie! No doubt you’re leaving a major part of your heart in Tennessee, but we know you’re also humming “Nothing could be finer … Than to be in CAROLINA … in the morning.” Enjoy every one of them, my Brother! — Mike Dawson

Focal Passage: John 1:14-18; 3:14-18 

A kindergarten class was putting on their holiday play. As the production began, the children were lined across the stage, each one holding up a sign with a large letter on it, spelling out the title of the play, “C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S  L-O-V-E.” One preschooler was so exuberant she accidentally moved a bit in the line and also held her letter “M” upside down. Everyone chuckled at first, then became serious as they noticed the title now read “CHRIST WAS LOVE.”

That’s what today’s lesson is all about. Called Looking Forward to LOVE, it’s from John 1:14-18 and John 3:14-18. These are ten of the most profound verses in the Bible; the first five present INCARNATION, the birth of Jesus Christ — AND the next five describe SALVATION, the new birth of all who trust in Him as Lord.

John 1:14-18 is from the Prologue to John’s Gospel, which includes verses 1-18. This prologue shows Jesus Christ to be the eternal WORD of God. CHRISTmas is about the historical fact of Christ’s birth. Yet John takes history (‘His-story’) back into eternity past. An old Latin inscription epitomizes what John tells us happened at Christ’s incarnation: I AM what I was — GOD. I was not what I am — MAN. I am now called both — GOD AND MAN.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Isaiah 8:20-9:7 

I was in high school the first time I heard a live performance of Handel’s Messiah. The climax was The Hallelujah Chorus; everyone stood. But I’d been even more impressed earlier as the tympani drummer in the orchestra pounded the rhythm and the exuberant choir sang: “And His name shall be called, WONDERFUL! COUNSELOR! THE MIGHTY GOD! THE EVERLASTING  FATHER! THE PRINCE OF PEACE!” 

Those words are from Isaiah 9, the prophetic passage in today’s lesson from our current series, Looking Forward to CHRISTmas. But first let’s deal with some “gloom, despair, and agony on me,” as the cast of HeeHaw mournfully sang years ago. It’s found in Isaiah 8:20-22. [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 

This is the first of six Bible Studies for Life entitled: Looking Forward to CHRISTmas.

(I always spell it “CHRISTmas,” by the way. For years I have put CHRIST in all caps. It’s a reminder to me and everyone that we are not the reason for the season, He is. After all, it’s not “ChristmUS!” ) 

Looking Forward is a good choice of words; we all remember from childhood that a huge part of any CHRISTmas morning was the anticipation of it. So it was — to an immeasurably greater degree — that very first CHRISTmas: centuries of anticipating the wondrous day of Christ’s birth on earth had millions of saints and angels ‘on tip-toe’ with excitement!  [Read more…]

Focal Passages: Psalm 30 

We turn our attention this last lesson of the fall quarter to Thanksgiving, a favorite holiday for many believers.  Psalm 30 highlights many reasons for God’s children to be grateful.  Entitled “A Dedication Song for the House,” this Psalm of David focuses on the individual’s thanksgiving to God for deliverance and healing.   

Rescued from destruction. We may not have armies encompassing us, threatening our safety as in David’s life.  However, we can all relate to being surrounded by trouble, worry and impending defeat. And, when it comes to our need for salvation, our despondent and desperate depravity binds us in a hopeless state of sin and death. As Psalm 3 declares, the “foes increase” mocking, “There is no help for him in God … But Thou, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head!”   [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Genesis 42:3-5, 21-24a, 45:1-5 

The story of Joseph and his brothers teaches us that it is better to work toward restoration and reconciliation than to seek revenge. While Hollywood can earn millions with a movie plot centered on a protagonist seeking to claim vengeance, God demonstrates through the gospel that reconciliation and forgiveness leads to the greatest story ever told. 

God often uses crisis to bring about reconciliation. Joseph had risen from slavery and prison to second in command in all of Egypt. He was tasked by Pharoah to oversee the storage of seven years of plentiful grain harvest.  [Read more…]

Focal Passages: Genesis 37:1-4, 18-24, 31-34 

The greatest family dynamic in the Book of Genesis must be Joseph and his brothers. God demonstrates His faithfulness even through betrayal, setbacks and suffering. This story also illustrates that family reconciliation is possible, even in the most extreme cases, when the love and grace of the Lord God comes into play. That happy ending for Joseph and his brothers is for next week’s lesson. This week we see what caused Joseph’s brothers to go from jealousy to hatred, leading them to violently seek Joseph’s downfall and deceive their father to intense grief. 

Parental favoritism leads to fraternal discord. Jacob had 12 sons. Most of the sons were blessings of God through Leah, or the handmaids Bilhah and Zilpah. Israel had only two sons with his beloved Rachel — Joseph and Benjamin. He loved Joseph more than any other as the oldest of Rachel’s sons.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Genesis 27:35-41; 33:1-4, 8-11 

Isaac and Rebekah’s favoritism spawned a family rivalry between their sons Esau and Jacob. Jacob and Rebekah’s deception threatened to destroy the family forever. Yet, Jacob desired to return to the land promised to his grandfather Abraham. That would require restoration of family ties long severed. The reconciliation between Jacob and Esau provides hope for families broken asunder by hatred and deception. 

Hatred should never be an option. Esau had every right to be furious over the stolen blessing. He complained to his father that Jacob had cheated him twice. However, his anger for his brother turned into bitterness, envy and violent hatred. This provides a glimpse into the heart of Esau.  [Read more…]

The patriarchal blessing founded by God through the family of Abraham carried with it the very promise of salvation for humanity, ultimately fulfilled in God’s only Son, Jesus the Messiah. However, this “first family” was not without its problems. In their favoritism Isaac and Rebekah infused in their children a rivalry that had disastrous consequences for their descendants. 

Never let family differences breed favoritism. From the very birth of Esau and Jacob we see personality traits in their names and their parents’ relationship with them Esau’s name means “hairy or rough,” pointing to how he appeared from the womb. This translated to a life in the outdoors, becoming a huntsman. Jacob’s name means “to follow or supplant.” He came into the world holding Esau’s heel, seemingly destined to yearn for his older brother’s birthright. Their father Isaac loved to eat the food Esau killed during his hunts. Therefore, Esau naturally became Isaac’s favorite son.  [Read more…]