March 7 "Mission to the Community"
Alternate Title: "Influencing Community Change"

Bible Lesson: Jonah 1:1-3; 3:1-9

What we shall learn from this lesson: Songs have been written about Isaiah's statement "Here am I; send me". This showed the willingness of Isaiah to follow the Lord's wishes. Jonah did the opposite: he tried to get far away from where the Lord wanted him to go. Perhaps he thought God would forget all about him and leave him alone. He did not want to go to Nineveh for the inhabitants were enemies of Israel and were wicked people. Perhaps Jonah did not want to warn the people of Nineveh that God intended to destroy them because Jonah didn't want them to have a chance to repent. In any case, Jonah found out that you can't escape the Lord for He knows and sees all ... you can run, but you can't hide!

Jonah was to find that you can't escape the Lord's desires and that there are consequences you must face for disobeying those desires. In the end, Jonah suffered the consequences and afterwards was more than willing to do as God wanted. He told the people of Nineveh that God was angry with them and had decided to destroy them. But then the people sought to repent and from the King down to the common people they did repent based upon what Jonah had told them. Wouldn't it have been better for Jonah if he had just said as Isaiah did, "Here am I; send me"?

The above link is for the King James Version. You may also wish to read the New Living Translation of
Jonah 1:1-3 ; and 3:1-9 . When you get to the New Living Translation web site, scroll down the page a short distance to find the Scripture.

Tell the world how the Lord has made a difference in your life on our website Testimony Page.

March 14 "A Community to Redeem"
Alternate Title: "Jealousy or Others"

Bible Lesson: Jonah 3:10 - 4:5 (also 4:5-11 for the alternate title)

What we shall learn from this lesson: In this section of scripture, we will see that the people of Nineveh were frightened by Jonah's prophesy that the whole community would be destroyed by the Lord. The whole community sought repentance and forgiveness for their sins against God. As a result, the Lord had mercy on them and would not carry out the destruction. This upset Jonah for two reasons. First, his prophesy would not come true and so, on a personal level, Jonah's pride would be hurt. Second, the people of Nineveh were enemies of Israel, and no doubt Jonah didn't think of them in a merciful way.

In your class, discuss how too much personal pride and the lack of compassion for others do not belong in the Christian world.


The above link is for the King James Version. You may also wish to read the New Living Translation of
Jonah 3:10 and Jonah 4:1-5. When you get to the New Living Translation web site, scroll down the page a short distance to find the Scripture.

Tell the world how the Lord has made a difference in your life on our website Testimony Page.

March 21 "Family as Community"
Alternate Title: "Commitment to a New Community"

Bible Lesson: Ruth 1:1-9, 14b,16 (alternate title cover Ruth 1:1-16)

What we shall learn from this lesson: The first chapter in Ruth sets the stage for the rest of the book. Here we find that a family (husband, wife, and sons and their wives) had moved to Moab because of a famine where they lived (Bethlehem of Judah). They had moved to find better living conditions, but the husband and sons died leaving only the wife (Naomi), and her two daughters-in-law (Orpha and Ruth). Since the famine in Judah had eased, Naomi decided to go back home. She told both of her daughters-in-law that the best thing for them (Orpha and Ruth) was to return to their respective families in Moab. Orpha did as suggested, but Ruth declined and pledged her love and devotion to Naomi and the God of Israel.

Naomi had few prospects. She had no means of support, no husband, no sons, and did not hope to remarry. Perhaps Ruth felt compassion and pity for her mother-in-law; perhaps she just loved her and was devoted to her. Regardless of the reasons why Ruth stayed with Naomi, the fact that they both went together to face an uncertain future showed a strong family bond. Ruth gave up her home community in Moab, gave up the worship of the Moab gods, and went to a different land.

No doubt, Naomi felt abandoned by God, but she was to discover later that God had greater things in store for her. We can learn from the story of Ruth that family loyalty is definitely important, but faith in God should be held closest ... for it is our foundation.

The above link is for the King James Version. You may also wish to read the New Living Translation of
Ruth 1:1-9, 14b, 16. When you get to the New Living Translation web site, scroll down the page a short distance to find the Scripture.

March 28 "Acceptance in Community"
Alternate Title: "Gaining Acceptance"

Bible Lesson: Ruth 2:5-12; 3:9-11 (for alternalte title cover Ruth 2-3)

What we shall learn from this lesson: Since Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi had no real means of subsistence (their husbands had died), Ruth went into the fields behind the harvesters to pick up what they had left so that she and Naomi would have something to eat. The field she went to was owned by Boaz (an in-law of Naomi). The workers had allowed Ruth to remain so she was accepted by them. When Boaz saw her and asked who she was, he gave her special privileges because he knew of the kindness and devotion she had for Naomi.

Ruth went and laid by Boaz feet while he was asleep in the threshing floor (done at Naomi's urging). This action was a method of Ruth asking Boaz to marry her. Boaz was pleased at this prospect and said to her in verse 3:10, "... You are showing even more loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor" (NLT). That scripture speaks for itself; Boaz thought Ruth was attractive enough to pick someone younger than he whether rich or poor. Nevertheless, Ruth appealed to Boaz to marry her on the basis of him becoming the Family Redeemer.

A family redeemer would rescue a destitute or provety stricken relative from losing their land or becoming in-slaved due to debt. So, in addition to marrying Ruth, Boaz would be taking on a specific financial responsibility in rescuing Ruth and Naomi from financial ruin.

There are some skeptics that might say that Naomi and Ruth were just after a rich older man's money, but in reality they were doing what was necessary and acceptable in that culture. Ruth's good character was shown by her being completely honest with Boaz of what she wanted him to do ... she did not try to trick him to get what she wanted for herself and Naomi. In fact, Ruth had a family in Moab that she could go to in order to survive, but instead, she sacrificed herself in more ways than one for Naomi. God knew her heart and rewarded Ruth by allowing her to be in the lineage of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior for she was the great-grandmother of King David. If God approves, then who are we to question His judgment?

The above link is for the King James Version. You may also wish to read the The New Living Translation of Ruth 2:5-12 and Ruth 3:9-11. When you get to the New Living Translation web site, scroll down the page a short distance to find the Scripture.

April 4 "The Community Faces Pain and Joy"
Alternate Title: "Loss of Life"

Bible Lesson: John 16:16-24 ; 20:11-16 (for alternate title also cover John 13:21-30)

What we shall learn from this lesson: At the Last Supper, Jesus had announced that one of the apostles would betray Him. Peter had inquired who that might be. Jesus had told the apostle next to Him (this could have been John) privately that it would be the one that He gave the bread to after dipping it into the bowl ... that was of course Judas to which He gave the bread. Jesus then sent Judas out and he proceeded to betray Jesus for a payment. Apparently the other Apostles were unaware of what was happening.

Jesus told the Apostles the He must go through something that would seem terrible to them and would be separated from them for a little while. Afterwards they would rejoice and this was compared to a woman suffering the pain of labor but to rejoice afterwards for the birth of her child. In this way, He was saying that they would experience pain but that pain would turn into joy.

After the crucifixion, Mary Magdalene suffered great pain not only because of the death of Jesus but also because it appeared to her that someone had removed His body from the tomb. When Jesus appeared next to Mary and spoke to her, she was overjoyed. One can only imagine the feeling that she had in going from such overwhelming pain to such uncontrollable joy in an instant.

As Christians, we are encouraged to cope with the pain associated with human existence (both emotional and physical) because of two reasons. First, Jesus is with us all the way as we endure the pain of this life. Secondly, what pain we go through on earth will be overwhelmed by the joy of eternal life with the Lord.

The above link is for the King James Version. You may also wish to read the The New Living Translation of John 16:16-24 and John 20:11-16. When you get to the New Living Translation web site, scroll down the page a short distance to find the Scripture.

For access to all chapters of the King James Version Bible in audio and visual formats, visit
the Audio-Bible.com web site.

For other versions (NIV, New Living Translation, etc.) of the Bible in audio and visual formats, visit the
World Wide Study Bible page of Christian Classics Eternal Library site. Also visit the New Living Translation web site.

Some information on this page is referenced from Jesus Is All.com.