Sunday School Lessons

Our teacher, Rev. Dr. Richard Boyce, will from time to time post lesson material here for the upcoming Sunday School lesson.  Class members are encouraged to read the material and post comments.

January 19, 2025

Psalm 103

This week we listen to one of my all-time favorite psalms: Psalm 103.  Though its link with God’s reign is a little obscure (verse 19, “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens.”), this psalm’s description of the core character of the God who reigns over all is extraordinary.  This psalm is a call to remember what God has done for us (especially in forgiveness), and thus what we should do in response as “ministers of his will (verse 21).”

Keys to God’s Character.  At the heart of this psalm is verse 8, a collection of attributes that shows up in other critical places in the Hebrew scriptures (see page 45 of your lesson book).  One word here (hesed), you’ve heard repeatedly from me.  Another (rehem) is grounded in language of the womb.  Key to God’s sovereignty is Israel’s testimony to the everlasting “steadfast love” and “mercy” of our God.  What character traits would you cite as fundamental for your experience of God?

Fruits of God’s Character.  Psalm 103, in many ways, is a recitation of the “benefits” of God’s character for God’s covenant people.  God’s “redemption” of us as God’s people has been the primary benefit we’ve discussed in past lessons.  Here “forgiveness” comes to the fore.  Quoting James Mays: “They [God’s people] do not receive steadfast love because they fear the Lord; they fear the Lord because they have been forgiven (Psalms, page 330).”  How does God’s forgiveness inspire “awe” in you?

Ministers of God’s Will.  At the end of this psalm (in verses not included in our lesson!), God’s people lift up their eyes toward a cosmic view.  The angels and the heavenly host are included in this psalm’s call to blessing.  I believe we all should include ourselves in these “ministers who do his [God’s] will (verse 21).  How is doing God’s will a proper response to God’s forgiveness?

If God were King without also being loving and merciful, we’d be in a tight spot indeed.  Clearly the heart of God’s character is the same heart we’ve met and celebrated in the heart of Christ Jesus.  This Sunday, let’s call ourselves to remember all God’s benefits to us – so that we in turn might “benefit” the world.  We’ll need to go out singing!

January 12, 2025

Psalms 47 and 93

We continue this week with psalms declaring God’s reign.  Both psalms challenge how we think about God’s power.  With Santa Ana winds blowing, and winter storms approaching, nature’s power is foremost in our minds.  How does it compare with God’s power?

God’s Power Today.  For the ancient Israelites, the most formidable power in their world was the sea.  So, it was no small testimony to declare that the Lord’s power is more majestic “than the thunders of mighty waters (verse 4).”  How would we describe God’s kingly power today?

Power and Love.  If God is only all powerful, God must be terrifying.  But if God is only all loving, God must be ineffective (given the malignant powers at loose in our world).  How do we describe the relationship between God’s power and God’s love?

Jesus as Revelation of God’s Power and God’s Love.  As the author points out (page 41), the gospels are a wonderful source to “witness balance in both love and power.”  How does Jesus help us understand the relationship between God’s love and God’s power?

I’m trusting the snow and ice will be clear in order for us to make our way to church on Sunday.  But even if a winter storm is powerful enough to shut down the Lord’s house, there is someone more powerful, and loving than this.  Stay safe, and see you Sunday – God willing.

January 5, 2025

Psalms 9-10

This Sunday we start up a new unit from the Psalms entitled “Our God Reigns.”  We will think about the Lordship of Christ from the perspective of those psalms that testify to the reign of God.  We begin with paired psalms that alternate between lament and praise.

The Success of the Wicked.  Rumbling beneath the praises of these psalms is a recognition that the wicked often seem to have free reign in God’s world: “their ways prosper at all times (verse 5).”  Surely, the ongoing success of the wicked is a theme that resonates with our times.  Toward what would you point in today’s world?

The Reign of God.  Nevertheless, the psalmist gives testimony to the reign of God: “The Lord is king forever and ever (verse 16).”  How do you square the reign of God with the ongoing success of the wicked in our world?

God Who Hears and Responds.  In each psalm (verse 19 in Psalm 9, and verse 12 in Psalm 10), the psalmist calls on God to “rise up.”  This is in response to the cries of the needy and the oppressed.  How are we called to participate in God’s response to such cries today?

A firm confidence in the reign of God is a great way to begin a new year – especially when the headlines continue to be so discouraging.  Keep your eyes open for signs of God’s reign in our world and then come Sunday ready to testify.  Let us “give thanks to the Lord with our whole hearts, and tell of God’s wonderful deeds (verse 9:1, paraphrased).”  Hope to see you Sunday.

December 29, 2024

Luke 18

We conclude our series on the Davidic heritage of King Jesus with a non-Christmas story from Luke.  In a chapter where the theme of blindness clusters, Jesus makes a prediction about events coming in Jerusalem and heals a beggar in Jericho.  The beggar’s cry (“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” verse 38) is what links this passage to our study.

Son of David.  Having spent several weeks reading stories regarding the heritage of David, let’s think about the ways this title works in our passage.  Why would the beggar expect mercy from a Messiah in David’s line?

Blindness.  The author points out that “blindness” (both literal and metaphorical) is a recurring theme in this chapter of Luke (see page 27).  How is “recovery of sight to the blind (Luke 4:18)” part of our experience of Jesus’ reign?

Collective Spiritual Vision.  One of my favorite lines in this week’s lesson is found on page 30:

“In most instances, the angels who care for us and help us regain spiritual vision are friends, family members, members of our faith community, and sometimes even strangers.”  Stories anyone?

This lesson had me from the beginning – as a beneficiary of cataract surgery (see page 25).  How does the reign of Jesus help us see the things that matter, and give us hope?  What a great way to head into the New Year – trusting the ongoing mercy of the Son of David.  See you Sunday – with or without glasses!

December 15, 2024

Luke 1

We move this week from God’s covenant with King David to the remembrance of this covenant in the song of Zechariah, which anticipates the birth of his son, John the Baptist.  This song announces the “raising up” of a mighty savior from the “house of his child David” (verse 69).  Let’s look at three phrases within this song as ways to prepare ourselves for the birth of this new king, Jesus.

Rescue from Our Enemies.  Last week we puzzled over the promise of “rest” from all enemies.  This is, at best, an ambiguous promise, given the wars that followed David’s reign, and continue during the reign of King Jesus.  How do you understand the promise in Zechariah’s song that we will “be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us (verse 70)?”

Serve without Fear.  According to Zechariah’s song, the fruit of our delivery from our enemies is our ability “to serve him [the Lord] without fear (verse 73).”  How does Jesus’ coming set us free to serve without fear?

The Way of Peace.  The song concludes with the inbreaking of God’s tender mercy from on high, which shines God’s light on all who sit in darkness, in order to guide our feet “into the way of peace (verse 79).”  This seems a strange prophecy in light of today’s headlines.  How might Christmas inspire us to walk in this way?

This song of Zechariah is one of the most spectacular breakings of silence (re-read Zechariah’s story) in all of scripture.  We probably should accompany our lesson this week with music!  Let us gather Sunday, in the spirit of John the Baptist, as we continue to go before the Lord in order “to prepare his ways (verse 76).”  See you Sunday – missing the locusts and wild honey!

December 8, 2024

2 Samuel 7

This week we move from Ruth (great-grandmother to David) to David himself (newly king of Israel).  Our passage centers on God’s covenant with David, a covenant that shall be established “forever (verse 16).”  This too is part of the genealogy of Jesus, and opens up several topics under the banner of “the reign of God.”  All of these revolve around a play on one word in Hebrew – beth (or “house,” as in “Bethlehem,” “house of bread).

A Tent versus a House.  Through the prophet Nathan, God makes clear to David that God’s preference has been for a “tent” versus a “house.”  A tent enables God to “move about (verse 6),” versus a house which is set in one place.  How might our experience of God change if we worshiped God in a tent versus a house?

A People versus a Palace.  Another meaning for “house” (in Hebrew and in English) is a “people” or a “dynasty” (as in “the house of Hanover”).  God promises to make out of David a house or a people whose kingdom shall go on and on (verse 13).  How do we experience God’s presence and purpose in a people versus a “palace/sanctuary”?

Forever.  “Forever” (as the saying goes) “lasts a long time!”  Indeed it does.  How does God’s promise of an eternal reign for David’s house affect our work and witness today?

The author points out that a similar theme of God’s “moveability” and “availability” comes to us through Jesus’ teaching about the Holy Spirit (see page 10 of our lesson).  This Spirit is also promised to be with us, wherever we may go, “forever” (John 14:16).  How does this lesson on God’s covenant with David help us get ready to greet the babe in Bethlehem?  See you Sunday – in the RJB “class” versus a “tent”!

December 1, 2024

Ruth 1-4

This week we begin a new quarter with the theme, “A King Forever and Ever.”  We shall explore the biblical language of kingship, as a way of thinking about God’s reign in Jesus Christ.  Our first unit (appropriate as we move toward Christmas) deals with the heritage of Jesus, in both the Old Testament and the New.  This Sunday, we’ll discuss the story of Ruth (the great-grandmother of King David).  We’ll do so by thinking about Jesus’ genealogy with respect to three central characters:  Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz.

Ruth.  The author proposes the category of “steadfast love (hesed)” as the central character trait of Ruth.  How does Ruth’s character reflect the character of Jesus?

Naomi.  In a similar way, the author credits Naomi with “wisdom and perception.”  How does Naomi’s shrewdness reflect the character of Jesus?

Boaz.  Third, the author focuses on observance of the law as an essential trait of Boaz.  How does Boaz’s knowledge and use of the law reflect the character of Jesus?

Through Boaz’s compassion, obedience, and love, he serves as the “redeemer” of not only his cousin Elimelech, but the two survivors – Naomi and Ruth (see page 6).  How could we participate in Christ’s “redeeming” work in our journey as disciples, especially with regard to those who might be classified as “outsiders and/or outcasts”?  See you Sunday.  Bring your family trees!  

November 10, 2024

Psalms 146-150

This week we skip to the end of the psalter and a collection of what we might call “praise hymns.”  The central refrain is “Praise the Lord,” or, in Hebrew, halleluyah.  Let’s reflect on the role of praise of God, in our worship and in our lives, as we continue this fall’s study on songs in the Bible.

Trust in God.  Perhaps it’s providential, this post-election Sunday, to be given a psalm with this lead-off stanza: “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help (verse 3).”  What is the proper approach to choosing “princes,” for those of us called to trust the Lord?

The Works of God.  If we listen to the stanzas of this song, it’s clear that God’s character is made manifest in two primary spheres:  the realm of nature (“who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,” verse 6), and the realm of society (“who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry,” verse 7).  What responsibilities do we have as stewards to participate in God’s reign – in nature and in nations?

Praise of God.  This section of the psalter builds toward Psalm 150, which unleashes a loud, inclusive, and extravagant call to praise: “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord (verse 6)!”  In what ways does our Presbyterian praise respond (or not respond) to this call for “over the top” worship?

I can’t help reading our assigned psalms without thinking that all of us should, in some way, be members of the PTL Club (not Jim Baker’s, but Jesus Christ’s).  How would our days and weeks, our voting and our vocations be different, if they all began and ended with “Hallelujah/Praise the Lord?”  See you Sunday.  Somebody bring the tambourines and cymbals!

November 3, 2024

Psalm 23

This week our challenge is not “unfamiliarity,” but “familiarity.”  Our song for this Sunday is Psalm 23 – the most beloved of all biblical songs (at least within my pastoral experience).  How can we hear this psalm afresh; or, at least, appreciate its power and its comfort once more?  Here are three possible themes.

The Shepherd.  For people with little experience of sheep, much less shepherds, the central image of the psalm is problematic.  Yet, it is a central image in the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New.  Let’s talk some about how this image speaks to our trust in God, as God continues to guide us as individuals and the people of God along the way.

The Table.  Another central theme of the psalm is “hospitality,” especially the particulars of a desert culture’s hospitality at the table (oil, cup, and enemies).  How does God’s preparation of a table for us (and our enemies!) speak to our experience of God’s hospitality around the tables of our lives?

God’s Presence and Our Trust.  The image of “dwelling in the house of the Lord” is an image of living in God’s presence (either “my whole life long” or “forever,” depending on the translation).  How does God’s presence with us (both in “green pastures” and “the darkest valley”) inspire our trust in Christ?

I vividly remember a sermon where the preacher continued the shepherd theme by pointing out the presence of two sheepdogs in verse 6: one named “Goodness,” and the other named “Mercy”!  The image of being followed by these two guiding canines “all the days of my life” has remained a comforting image for me.  See you Sunday – with or without the cup and the oil!

October 27, 2024

Psalm 62

This week we’re back in the Psalms.  Psalm 62 may be less familiar than Psalm 22 or 51, but it has much to teach us.  Let’s listen to this “song” according to the following three “movements”:

Waiting in Silence.  The author of our lesson asks: “How, if at all, have you experienced silence and meditation as a form of worship or prayer (page 53)?”  This is in response to the repeated refrain: “For God alone my soul waits in silence (verses 1 and 5).”  How do, or don’t you practice “silence” as a form of worship and/or prayer?

Trouble.  Like many of the psalms of lament, the psalmist switches back and forth between praise and complaint.  The complaints deal especially with those who cause the psalmist “trouble (see especially verses 3-4 and 9-10).  What experiences drive us back toward trust in the Lord?

Trust in God Alone.  Perhaps the strongest refrain in this psalm is its call to trust in God, and God alone.  Listen, for instance, to this verse: “If riches increase, do not set your heart on them (verse 10).”  We fairly casually put “In God We Trust” on our money and license plates, but what does this mean in faith and practice?

One of the things that strikes me about Psalm 62 is the way it shifts from the indicative to the imperative; from “For God alone my soul waits in silence (verse 1),” to “Trust in him at all times, O people (verse 8).”  We might call this a move from worry to witness.  How can we help one another make this shift in our lives?  See you on Sunday – God, alone, willing!