In this lesson, students learn that God's Word is the way to eternal life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxX8hzQKgYA start at 3:48 to
Devotion
The lesson
16 So the Jews began to persecute Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working right up to the present time, and I am working too.”
18 This is why the Jews tried all the more to kill him, because he was not merely breaking the Sabbath, but was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
Blasphemy
19 Jesus answered them directly, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: The Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. Indeed, the Son does exactly what the Father does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. And he will show him even greater works than these so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to those he wishes.
22 “In fact, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Amen, Amen, I tell you: Anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He is not going to come into judgment but has crossed over from death to life.
For each of the ways the Bible is used, tell if it will result in life or not.
Herod consulted the Scribes about where the Savior would be born.
Mary sat at Jesus feet to hear Him.
The disciples told the little children to be quiet.
Deuteronomy 6:8 phylacteries
Josiah had the Bible read in front of all the people. II Chron. 34:15
25 “Amen, Amen, I tell you: A time is coming and is here now when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who listen will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and will come out. Those who have done good will rise to live, but those who have practiced evil will rise to be condemned. 30 I can do nothing at all on my own. I judge only as I hear. And my judgment is just, for I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
31 “If I were to testify about myself, my testimony would not be valid. 32 There is another who testifies about me, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. 33 You sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34 The testimony I receive is not from man, but I am saying these things so that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that was shining brightly, and for a while you wanted to enjoy his light. 36 But I have testimony greater than John’s. For the works that the Father gave me to carry out, the very works that I am doing, these testify about me that the Father has sent me. 37 The Father who sent me—he is the one who has testified about me. You have never heard his voice or seen his form. 38 And you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them. They testify about me! 40 And yet you do not want to come to me in order to have life.
41 “I do not accept honor from people. 42 But I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, yet you do not accept me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe while you continue to accept glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
45 “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. The one who accuses you is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe what I say?”
Treating memory work like a task we have to do for God or school. Instead we should treat it as a way to use God's gifts. One I've been working on is the list of things to think of.
Treating Bible reading like a good work. Instead it should be a joy we want to do.
Sometimes we think that we need help understanding what the Bible says. One way to help understand what we read is to start with a paraphrase (Philips, Living Bible) that may not be literal but is easy to understand, then compare it to a good translation (NKJV, ESV, EHV)
For a deeper understanding read a Lutheran commentary (Kretzmann) after reading the section.
Resist Blogs of people with whom we are not in fellowship, that's what God wants (Romans 16:17)
Make sure what the person says matches with other parts of Scripture. (Bereans in Acts 17)
Use the internet as a concordance to find a passage, i.e. "Where does God say, "Unto us a child is born." Then use an online Bible like BibleHub or Biblegateway.
If a translation doesn't make sense, use the original Hebrew or Greek to figure it out. i.e.. Gen 4:17 How could Cain build a city, where did the people come from. עִ֔יר means city, but it also means fortification. Which makes sense given Cain's state of mind that he was afraid people would kill him even though God told him He would protect him.
Christ and his Apostles, Tiffany stained glass, 1890.