Month / December 2024
1: God Loves Freely-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan
Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, January 4, 2025.
Main Theme: God loves us freely, desire our love in return.
Read in Class: Exodus 33:15-22. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What does this passage, especially verse 19, reveal about God’s will and love?
Apply: In what ways has God continued to reveal and manifest His love to you—even beyond any reasonable expectations?
Share: Your friend says that Exodus 33:19 sounds like predestination to them. What do you tell your friend? Hint: See Ephesians 1:4 and 1 Timothy 2:4.
Read in Class: Hosea 14:1-4 and John 17:24. Ask the class what the main ideas of these passages are?
Study: What do these verses reveal about God’s steadfast love for His people, now and before the world existed?
Apply: What does the fact that God continues to bestow love on this world, despite its fallenness and evil, tell us about His love and character? How should this truth cause us to love Him in return?
Share: Your friend says since God’s love is unconditional and everlasting, everyone will be saved no matter what. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: Matthew 22:1-14. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What is the meaning of this parable?
Apply: What about your life reveals that you have accepted the wedding invitation and have come appropriately clothed?
Share: Your friend asks, “What does it mean that Many are called but few are chosen?” What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: John 10:17-18 and Galatians 2:20. Have the class identify the common thread in these passages.
Study: What’s the message to us here in these texts?
Apply: How does your life show that you truly appreciate God’s self-sacrificing love?
Share: Your friend asks if you know of anyone who has laid down their life for a friend? What do you tell your friend?
Follow Me
Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” John 21:18-22 NKJV
Jesus’ gentle reminder to Peter is a reminder for us as well. How often do we as humans, get distracted by what is going on with other humans, when we are supposed to be following Jesus? In John 5:1-15, a man is distracted by the pool, and those getting in before him, and wondering why no one would help him. Finally he takes his eyes off the pool and those around him. He casts his eyes on Jesus and finds healing. In Matthew 11:1-11 John the Baptist begins to doubt when his faith could not see beyond the prison walls. John may have wondered, “Am I going to be left here to die? Why doesn’t God senfd a chariot of fire to come pick me up like He did for Elijah? Surely I deserve to be lifted up above the crowd in the same fashion as Elijah? Why wouldn’t God do for me the same as He did for Elijah? “Granted, I don’t know if John the Baptist ever thought that or not, but it sure seems he could have. If so, he would have just been human like the rest of us, including Peter, who was wanting to compare his fate to the fate of the other disciple. Thus Jesus’ simple yet profound reminder to Peter and the rest of us, “What is that to you? You follow me.”
When I was young, you never even heard the term “turnover rate” used for pastors. If someone was a pastor you knew they would be a pastor for life. Now there is such a thing as a turnover rate for pastors. With respect for the office diminishing, (Some of which is deserved but that is another lesson for another time.) increased conflict arises between congregations and pastors. Overwhelming stress, lack of support and feelings of isolation, like I am sure John the Baptist felt, have many pastors leaving for greener pastures. Now I have no doubt God may lead some pastors into another realm of service, but in most cases could it be the pastor is looking at greener pastures instead of looking to Jesus? Could it be the pastor is looking at the conflicts in the church instead of looking to Jesus? Could it be the pastor is comparing the respect given to pastors years ago with the respect he is given today? Could it be the pastor simply needs to do what the man in John 5 did and take his eyes off the pool and everyone around him, and place them on Jesus? Jesus, who was spit upon, beaten and crucified, does not tell us to compare ourselves to other pastors. He tells us to follow Him. Where did Jesus go? He went to the cross. Again I do not know what John the Baptist was thinking while confined by those prison walls, but I sure hope he was not comparing his ministry to Elijah and that chariot of fire that came and took him away. I hope he was looking to Jesus, as John did in a real sense follow Christ to the cross.
I know I am not telling you anything new, but today you may just need to be reminded, when you were baptized you did not give your heart to man, you gave it to Jesus. If people are letting you down in your ministry, rest assured people were never meant to be your solution. Has the church let you down? No worries, the church was never promised to be there for you. Psalm 46:1 tells us God is our ever present help in times of trouble. Don’t feel betrayed if the conference did not come through for you on a benefit you thought you were entitled to. The conference did not call you into ministry, God did, and the only benefit He promised you was a cross. You work for God and not for man. See Ephesians 6:7. When you were baptized Jesus did not promise you a chariot of fire. He did not promise you special honor and privilages, He did not promise everyone would love you. On the contrary He told you all would hate you for His sake. See Matthew 24:9. When Jesus asked you to follow Him the only thing He promised you was a cross.
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.Luke 9:23 NKJV
You may be reading this thinking, “But I am not a pastor” but you are! The New Testament teaches the priesthood of all believers, and you have been called to pastor in some realm, which could be an actual church, or classroom, workplace or neighborhood. Wherever God is calling you to serve, please take your eyes off the “pool,” take your eyes off that other disciple who you think may have been given a better deal. Take your eyes off the people who are not cooperating and supporting you as you think you deserve. Place your eyes on Jesus, the Lamb who was freshly slain, and as He becons you with His nailed scarred hands, drown out all the noise from the crowd around you as He pleads, “Follow me.”
Will you?
13: Epilogue: Knowing Jesus and His Word-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan
Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, December 28, 2024.
Main Theme: In this, our last week in John, we will look at some of this Gospel’s key points, which can help us move beyond the mere head knowledge of Jesus to, instead, knowing Him better and more closely abiding in Him and in His Word.
Read in Class: John 21:1-25. Have the class define the main idea of this chapter.
Study: What crucial truths are revealed here, especially about God’s grace—and human humility?
Apply: Why is humility so key in anyone seeking to know the Lord? In light of the Cross, what do any of us have to be proud of?
Share: Your friend points out that people jumped to the wrong conclusion about what Jesus meant in John 21:20-23. Your friend asks why people sometimes misunderstood Jesus’ words. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: John 1:4-10 and John 8:12. Ask the class to define the common thread of these passages.
Study: What great contrast is present here, and why is this contrast so foundational to understanding truth?
Apply: Read John 8:42-44. How does Jesus describe the false foundation on which the religious leaders of Israel had based their faith?
Share: Your friend asks you, “How do you respond to truths that “step on your toes,” as opposed to how you should respond to those truths?” What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: John 4:46-54. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What problem brought the official to Jesus, and what was the real underlying issue here?
Apply: What is the relationship between our love for Jesus and obedience? Why is any kind of “obedience” not based on love in danger of being legalism?
Share: Your friend asks you if you believe in Jesus because you have seen signs and miracles, or because of what the Bible says about Jesus. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: John 12:32 and John 15:1-11. Ask the class if there is a common thread in these two passages.
Study: What is it that draws people into a relationship with Jesus?
Apply: What is the secret of spiritual growth and health?
Share: What are some fresh and new revelations you have gained studying this quarter’s lesson, “Themes in the Gospel of John?”
12: The Hour of Glory: The Cross and Resurrection-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan
Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, December 21, 2024.
Main Theme: John presents the Cross as the enthronement of Jesus, particularly tied to the idea of the hour, which is referred to numerous times throughout the book (John 7:30; John 8:20; John 12:27). This idea of enthronement is an ironic picture since crucifixion was the most ignominious and shameful way to die that the Romans used. This contrast points to the deeply ironic depiction that John presents: Jesus is dying in shame, but it is, at the same time, His glorious enthronement as the Savior.
Read in Class: John 18:33-19:5. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What did Pilate and Jesus talk about? How did Pilate try to persuade the people to ask for Jesus’ release?
Apply: How scary—a pagan ruler wants to release Jesus while the spiritual leaders of the nation, who should have recognized Him, wanted Him crucified instead! What lessons can we take from this for ourselves?
Share: Your friend asks you, “how do you understand the idea of Jesus as the Truth?” What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: John 19:25-30. Ask the class what the main idea of this passage is?
Study: What touching scene regarding Jesus’ mother happened at the cross?
Apply: When Jesus said, “It is finished,” what does that mean for each of us? What was finished, and how does that apply to our lives?
Share: Your pastor friend says he wishes he had time to help his ailing mother, but his ministry just keep him so busy that he can’t be there for his mother. What do you tell your pastor friend?
Read in Class: John 20:1-10. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What was the meaning of the folded face cloth?
Apply: What is the importance to us about what is depicted in these verses?
Share: Your friend asks, “when Jesus was resurrected wouldn’t it have been more advantageous for Him to have gone at once to appear before all the leaders back in Jerusalem, instead of just appearing first to a woman who had been fighting addictions?” What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: John 20:11-18. Ask the class what the main idea of this passage is?
Study: What happened here that shows why Mary Magdalene still did not understand the meaning of the empty tomb? What changed everything for Mary?
Apply: Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-20. According to Paul, what good is our Christian faith if Christ had not been raised from the dead?
Share: Your friend asks, how you know for sure that Jesus was really resurrected? What do you tell your friend?
They Made her a Whore, Jesus Made her a Woman
Noticing that John 8:1-11 was not included in the current quarter’s study on Themes in the Gospel of John, I thought I would reshare an article I contributed in the past on the subject.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1 NKJV
He told her he loved her. Said she was beautiful. Promised her she would be special. Next thing she knew she was being dragged out of bed by the friends of him who had dragged her into bed, and he who had praised and flattered her just stood and watched her being dragged away.
Now she was kneeling half naked, humiliated before Jesus. Eyes closed, not wanting to see the stones that would soon be crushing her head, she waited in terror. It seemed like eternity. When would it be over?
Barely peeking through one eye she sees Jesus doing something in the sand. Not sure what. She hears footsteps as men walk away. What is going on? Then she hears a word she had not heard in years directed at her.
“Woman…”
Jesus didn’t call her a “slut,” or “whore.” He called her “woman.” He was addressing her with the same title of respect that He gave to his own mother, who spoke with angels and gave birth to the Son of God.
“….where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” John 8:10 NKJV
She opens her eyes and looks around. They are all gone! She makes no accusations against the men. We know little about the background of this woman. She may or may not have been a victim of sex trafficking. But we do know that, terrified as she was, she was ready to face the consequences without blaming anyone else for the choices she had made, and the role she had played, which now brought her half-naked and humiliated into the presence of Jesus. Yet incredibly, as guilty as she was, it was her accusers who slunk away. As she lay helpless at His feet, there was no one to condemn her! When we fall helplessly at the feet of Jesus, there is no condemnation for us either.
He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” (John 8:10 NKJV)
She said, “No one, Lord.” (John 8:11 NKJV)
What was next? A sermon? A lecture? Nowhere is it recorded, but I can imagine Jesus placing His coat over her near-naked body.
The Holy One Who would be hanging naked on a cross in front of the entire universe one day, takes off His robe and covers this woman, protecting her human dignity more than just covering her sexuality.
He doesn’t preach to her. He ministers to her.
Did you know you don’t have to be a preacher to be a minister? Ministering to sinners doesn’t always have to include a sermon. An-ill timed sermon can do more harm than good. Jesus could preach with the best of them, but He knew when to preach and when not to preach. He also knew when to minister.
He called her “woman.” He placed His coat over her near-naked body and gave her the sense of dignity she had been promised by the man who betrayed her trust. Then He did not preach to her with words, He ministered to her with words.
“Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:11 NKJV
His words were brief and clear, yet somehow we get them mixed up. Have we ever told someone “Go and sin no more, and then I will stop condemning you?” That’s not what Jesus said.
Jesus said clearly, “Neither do I condemn you.” Present tense.
“Go and sin no more.” Future tense.
Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” What Jesus did not say was, “If you go and sin no more then I won’t condemn you.”
The world told her they would stop condemning her once she stopped sinning. Jesus promised not to condemn her, so she could stop sinning.
They called her a whore and a slut.
Jesus called her a woman.
A man promised her she would be special, and then humiliated and betrayed her.
Jesus gave her dignity back and made her special.
There was no condemnation for this woman at the feet of Jesus, and there is no condemnation for you, when you kneel at the feet of Jesus.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1 NKJV
Jesus does not condemn us, so we too may walk in the Spirit instead of the flesh.
You may Study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.
11: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan
Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, December 14, 2024.
Main Theme: This week’s lesson looks at how the Gospel of John presents the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but now within the context of the farewell discourse (John 13:1-17:26).
Read in Class: Genesis 3:7-9, John 3:16-17, and 2 Corinthians 5:19. Have class define common thread in these passages.
Study: How does this reveal the breach that sin caused, and what does it mean that it was God seeking them out, not vice versa?
Apply: These verses present the Father in close connection with Jesus Christ, His Son. The Father has intimate contact with our world and a deep investment in our salvation. What does this truth teach us about God’s love for us?
Share: Your friend says, “Jesus made the greatest sacrifice to come and die for us while all the Father had to do was watch from heaven.” What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: John 5:19, John 7:16, John 14:10,23 and John 17:3. Have the class define the common thread in these passages.
Study: What do the following texts teach us about the relationship between Jesus and the Father?
Apply: How would your life be changed if your thoughts and actions were fully an expression of God’s will for your life? That is, how can we better live out what we know from Jesus is God’s will for our lives?
Share: Your friend asks how do we get to know God now that Jesus is up in heaven and no longer with us? What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: John 1:10-13, John 3:5-8, John 14:26 and John 16:13. Have class define the commin thread in these passages.
Study: What do these passages teach us about the importance of the Holy Spirit for conversion?
Apply: How have you seen the Holy Spirit working in your conversion process?
Share: Your friend says that the Holy Spirit convicted her that the Sabbath is no longer binding. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: John 17:1-26. Have the class define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What words or phrases in this chapter express the desire of Jesus for a close relationship of love between Himself, the Father, and His disciples?
Apply: How can you better reflect the love of God, such as exists between Jesus and the Father, in your own life?
Share: Your friend asks how your church family reflects the unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What do you tell your friend?
10: The Way, the Truth, and the Life-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan
Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, December 7, 2024.
Main Theme: This week’s lesson will begin with the purpose of the farewell discourse and its introduction with the significant episode of Jesus’ washing His disciples’ feet. Then it will turn to the “I AM” statement in chapter 14 (“I am the way, the truth, and the life”).
Read in Class: John 13:1-20. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What happened here, and why is this story so important? What lessons did Jesus seek to teach?
Apply: What does the Ordinance of Humility teach you about following in the footsteps of Jesus and how to humbly serve others?
Share: Your friend says the ordinance of humility, which we do every quarter is an illustration of how we are to serve each other, but what are some literal ways you have seen church members serving each other besides the ordinance of humility? What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: John 14:1-3. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.
Study: In what context did Jesus say these words?
Apply: What does the Cross teach us about the certainty of Christ’s second coming? Without the Second Coming, what good did Jesus’ death do us at the first coming?
Share: Your friend says he is not sure he will make it to heaven. What do you tell your friend, and how might you use John 14:1-3 in the process?
Read in Class: John 1:14, John 1:17 and John 14:5-11. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passages.
Study: How does John tie the concept of truth directly to Jesus? What query did Thomas make about where Jesus was going? How did Jesus respond?
Apply: Why is it so comforting to realize that Jesus is the best revelation we will have here of what God the Father is like?
Share: Your friend says there are many world religions and ways to get to heaven besides just Christianity. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: John 5:38-40. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What is Jesus saying here about the Scriptures?
Apply: Read Luke 24:27. What example did Jesus give us to apply when sharing the truth about Jesus with others?
Share: Your friend asks, “Are there any truths taught in the Bible that science, even in theory, can never teach us?” What do you tell your friend?
In Light of The Cross 
