Week 39 Why We Shine
“The gospel of Jesus Christ prescribes the wisest rules for just conduct in every situation in life. Happy they who are enabled to obey them in all situations!”
Benjamin Rush
Passage
1God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
2in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 1:1–4 (NASB95)
Robert Stadler’s question mark installation in Paris" by Dom Dada is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Background
Quote-Benjamin Rush (January 4, 1746 [O.S. December 24, 1745] – April 19, 1813) was a Founding Father of the United States who signed the United States Declaration of Independence, and a civic leader in Philadelphia, where he was a physician, politician, social reformer, humanitarian, educator, and the founder of Dickinson College. Rush was a Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress. He served as surgeon general of the Continental Army and became a professor of chemistry, medical theory, and clinical practice at the University of Pennsylvania.
Rush was a leader of the American Enlightenment and an enthusiastic supporter of the American Revolution. He was a leader in Pennsylvania's ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788. He opposed slavery, advocated free public schools, and a more enlightened penal system. Rush argued that illness was the result of imbalances in the body's physical system and was caused by malfunctions in the brain. He promoted public health by advocating clean environment and stressing the importance of personal and military hygiene. His study of mental disorder made him one of the founders of American psychiatry. In 1965, the American Psychiatric Association recognized Rush as the "father of American psychiatry".
Passage-The book of Hebrews is a General Epistle (Apostolic Letter). It was written mainly to the Hebrew believers. The author is anonymous, although either Paul or Barnabas was traditionally accepted as the author. It was written approximately 67 A.D. Its purpose was to present the Lord Jesus Christ as perfect and superior in comparison to anything Judaism and the old covenant had to offer. The author was writing to a group of Christians who were under intense persecution and some were contemplating a return to Judaism. He admonished them not to turn away from their only hope of salvation.
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
The year is drawing to a close. We’ve talked a lot about shining a light for others to see, but why shine? Reflecting the love of Jesus can be time-consuming, saps energy, and takes resources we might not want to part with. Why shine at all?
Ask: What are we commanded to do?
Point: First Reading Matthew 28:18–20 (KJV 1900)
Ask: What does that passage indicate to you we are commanded to do?
Point: This is a unique answer by each person. While two or more people might agree on the same end-goal or even the same path to that goal, how they walk that path might look very different, one to the other.
Second Reading Luke 24:45–53 (KJV 1900)
Ask: Does Luke’s version of this command from Jesus change anything about how you feel you are called to fulfill this duty?
Point: Luke has more of the Gospel command in verse 46 and 47 over Matthew’s simple command to “…observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…”
Third Reading Mark 16:15–20 (KJV 1900)
Ask: Does the way Mark relates this command change anything for you?
Point: Remember, all three of these men watched, saw, and heard the same things yet relate them differently.
Ask: Does the fact that Matthew, Mark, and Luke all relate the same event differntly mean it didn’t happen or somehow they got it wrong?
Point: No. It means they were meant to reach different audiences and different people with their message.
Ask: Does one of the three commands from Matthew, Mark, or Luke impact you more? In a better way?
Point: Likely yes.
Ask: Is it bad or wrong that other people aren’t as moved by the same passage as you?
Point: No.
Ask: What does it mean if someone else is moved by a different passage but not moved at all by the one that you find so deeply impactful?
Point: That you and that other person are different.
Ask: Is that difference a bad thing?
Point: No, it is not. It simply means they are different.
Ask: Can we be different and still agree?
Point: Yes.
Ask: Is it okay to be different and not agree?
Point: That depends on what the disagreement is about and what it is based upon.
Fourth Reading Ezekiel 12:1–6 (KJV 1900)
Closing Statement
If the Ezekiel passage makes no sense to you in line with the title of today’s lesson, I highly recommend the questions for the week. Why do we shine? Because we are commanded to shine. We are commanded to bring the light to the darkness. We are commanded to be set on a lampstand and illuminate the house so people don’t bump into things and hurt themselves. What are those things? Sin. Those things that miss the mark of God’s glory. Those things that separate us from His love. Those things that hurt us when we clutch them close thinking they are a blanket to keep us warm. Jesus is our example, our beacon, the light we reflect based on His ways, not ours. Anything else is shadow falling on those who desperately need a light to see their way.
Questions for the Week
Question 1 Read the passage for today’s lesson and write down what that means to you in relation to the title of today’s lesson.
Question 2 Select one of the three commandments from the readings (First, Second, or Third Reading) in this lesson and write down what that means to you in relation to the title of today’s lesson.
Question 3 Read the Fourth reading, then read Today’s Passage from this lesson, then read the command you selected for question 2 and write down how all three of these scripture influence why you shine for Jesus.
Scripture
First Reading
18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28:18–20 (KJV 1900)
Second Reading
45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48And ye are witnesses of these things.
49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
50And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
53And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
Luke 24:45–53 (KJV 1900)
Third Reading
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Mark 16:15–20 (KJV 1900)
Fourth Reading
1The word of the Lord also came unto me, saying,
2Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.
3Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house.
4Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth at even in their sight, as they that go forth into captivity.
5Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby.
6In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulders, and carry it forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel.
Ezekiel 12:1–6 (KJV 1900)