SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON - January 16th

Week of January 16 - Building a Culture of Life

LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
1. Follow the Right Blueprint (2 Kings 22:11-13)
2. Encourage Others’ Involvement (2 Kings 23:1-3)
3. Protect Children’s Well-Being (2 Kings 23:10)
4. Keep Your Heart in It (2 Kings 23:24-25)

BIBLICAL TRUTH - The Lord expects His people to align their lives and culture with His ways.

Bible Commentary - by John C. Crutchfield, Director of Middle Eastern Studies at Columbia International University (CIU) in Colubmia, SC. Dr. Crutchfield & his family worship and serve at First Baptist Church, Columbia, where he teaches an adult Sunday School class.

The Scripture passage for this lesson is being studied out of its normal sequence in 2 Kings because it centers on King Josiah of Judah and the cultural reform movement he led to bring that nation back to God.

“Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,” Moses urged the Israelites as they were poised on the edge of the promised land (see Deut. 30:19). This ancient call to godly living lies embedded like a vein of pure gold in the Judeo-Christian moral and ethical traditions. The biblical view of life is a core value that has led Christians throughout the centuries to establish hospitals and leper colonies; to create soup kitchens and poverty relief programs; to lobby for the passing of child-labor laws and abuse hot lines; to work to outlaw slavery; and, more recently, to become advocates for children in the womb by taking a stand against abortion and by providing care as well as adoption services for those who may be considering an abortion. Choosing life isn’t just a motto; it’s a way of life.
Christian churches all across our country set aside this Lord’s Day in a special effort to be advocates for the unborn and to permeate our culture with the biblical teachings regarding the sanctity of human life. As Christians, we are called to participate in building a culture of life wherever we live. God expects us to use our spiritual gifts and abilities for His glory and to help impact our society with the gospel. The question this lesson focuses on is What kind of culture are you helping to build?

How have you actively participated in the past in helping build a culture of life? How does your church equip members to address sanctity of life issues in your community?