2nd Quarter 2015 Lesson 5 JuniorPowerpoints

8/9/2019 2nd Quarter 2015 Lesson 5 JuniorPowerpoints

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5 Mastering ObedienceKey References: Ephesians 6:5-9; Messages to Young People,chap. 70, 228-230;The Bible Story(1994) , vol. 10,

pp. 135-138; Our Beliefs nos. 11, 22, 17



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LEARN Startmemorizing tpower text.DO Do the acton page 46.

S a b b a t h

power text“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, notpeople” (Ephesians 6:7).

We serve Godwhen we serveothers with ourwhole heart.

p o w

e r p o i n t

Imagine what it would be like if you had no choice aboutwhen you got up in the morning, no choice about what you ate, where you went, or what you did? How do youthink you would feel? That was just what it was like to bea slave in Bible times.

In the early years after Jesus’ death, many Christians were slaves. The

good news of salvation has always struck a note with those who arethe most hopeless, and who is more hopeless than a slave? Slaverywas common in most of the world, and in some places, such as the cit-ies Paul visited, slaves far outnumbered masters. Most of the churchesPaul started had both masters and slaves as members.

A Roman citizen might own hundreds of slaves, and he was freeto do with them as he chose. A master could beat his slaves, torturethem, or even murder them. If a slave tried to defend himself, themaster might wipe out his entire family. It was a tough life, but not an

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uncommon one, so it’s not surprising thatPaul talked directly to slaves in severalplaces in his letters, and even wrote theentire letter of Philemon to a slave ownerabout his slave.

Since slavery is no longer legalanywhere in the world, you might betempted to just skip over what Paul hadto say on the subject. But even thoughwe are in little danger of being bought,sold, or owned by someone else, therewill always be other people to whom wemust answer. Now it’s parents, teach-ers, coaches. Later it will be a boss or aspouse, and believe it or not, your own

kids. Life is lled with responsibility toand for other people, so Paul’s words toslaves are still lled with wisdom for ustoday.

“Obey your earthly masterswith . . . sincerity of heart,” wrotePaul (Ephesians 6:5). Sincerity ofheart. That means honestly. Genu-inely. Because you mean it, not justbecause you have to do it.

“Obey them not only to win theirfavor when their eye is on you, but asslaves of Christ, doing the will of Godfrom your heart” (verse 6). H’mmm. Don’t just do what you’re asked to do whensomeone is watching. Do it all the time,from your heart.

“Obey . . . just as you would obeyChrist. . . . Serve wholeheartedly, as if youwere serving the Lord” (verses 5-7). Wow! Treat your slave master—that lousy,



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no-good, mean tyrant—as if he wereJesus. In modern terms, that means dothe work you do for your parents, yourteachers, your boss—whoever it is—as ifyou were doing it for Christ. Kind of putsa new slant on whatever it is you hatedoing most, doesn’t it?

Imagine what that kind of enthu-siastic obedience could do. Imaginethe witness. Out of 100 angry, sullen,do-enough-to-get-by slaves, one iswilling, even cheerful. One is pleasantand upbeat. One is faithful and trust-worthy and dedicated and a motivatedself-starter. Do you think the master will

notice? I’d say so. It’s happened before. Think of Joseph and of Naaman’s slavegirl. Their lives of responsibility and obe-dience were powerful inuences.

Ask anyone who owns or managesa business, and they’ll tell you cheerfuldedication and responsibility are in shortsupply. That kind of enthusiastic, whole-hearted service to parents, bosses, teach-ers, or whoever it may be, is as popular

today as it was with slave masters 200 or2,000 years ago. And that kind of witnessis a powerful argument in favor of thegospel—the kind that can still help winthe master to the Master.



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THE CALL

PUZZLE

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TRUE LOVE PUZZLE

Instructions: Finish the Bible verse below by substituting for each letter thesecond letter before it in the alphabet. For example, “f” would become “d” and“c” would become “a.” When you get to the beginning of the alphabet, you startfrom the end again.

“If you nqxg og, mggr oa eqoocpfu” (Lqjp 14:15).

PUZZLE

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2nd Quarter 2015 Lesson 5 JuniorPowerpoints

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