SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON - SEPTEMBER 12TH

God’s Plan Involves Power

LESSON PASSAGE OUTLINE
1. Pray for Spiritual Insight (Eph. 1:15-17)
2. Expand Your Understanding (Eph. 1:18-19)
3. Acknowledge God’s Power (Eph. 1:20-23)

BIBLICAL TRUTH - We can have the spiritual insight needed to better understand the immeasurable extent of God’s plan and power.

Bible Commentary - by Kendell Easley, Professor of Christian Studies at the Germantown, TN, campus of Union University.

Our small Bible study and fellowship group had gathered for the regular Thursday night meeting. We were studying about God’s character, including His infinite knowledge and sovereign power. Suddenly Beth said with a bewildered look, “Thinking about God this way is giving me a headache. Why do I need to know all this doctrinal stuff? Isn’t it enough to know that God loves me and sent Jesus to be my Savior?”
“I feel the same way,” Beth’s husband Jon chimed in. “God is beyond understanding, so why should I try? Don’t tell me I’m supposed to be a theologian. I have enough challenges raising our kids right now. Our study time would be more helpful if we could talk about something practical—like how to deal with kids who sneak out of the house without permission.”

As you might imagine, Jon and Beth’s questions evoked some lively discussion in our group. It was hard for me to get us back on topic, but finally everyone agreed that Christians should seek ways to expand our knowledge of God’s power and His big-picture plan of salvation.

 Why should a Christian seek to understand more about “doctrinal stuff,” such as God’s plan and power?

Some adults find it difficult to try to understand God or truths about Him. They may not enjoy such deep thoughts or they may believe that such thoughts are too difficult for them. They may think that because God is not human—He is Spirit—He is simply incomprehensible. Others may not want to understand very much about God. Although no human being can know everything about God, we can have a better understanding of Him. Nonbelievers can understand that He has planned to provide salvation and that He has invited them to know Him. Christians can understand more about God’s great plan and recognize that God’s power is available to them. In addition, God will give them the needed spiritual insight to understand more about Him.

As you study this lesson, approach it from the perspective that you are personally seeking to gain a better understanding of God’s plan and power... Seek to recognize God’s power in your own life as you acknowledge the supremacy of Jesus Christ in all things. The Life Goal of this lesson is to ...seek a better understanding of God’s plan and power.