1: Choose a Rock
Memory Verse:
Deuteronomy 32:4:
The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
Deuteronomy 32:4:
The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
Additional verses: Psalm 62:2; Psalm 95:1; _____________________; ________________________ ; ______________________
Devotion: Suppose you had a whole pile of rocks poured out in front of you. You can only pick one. Which one would you pick? What characteristics make a rock attractive to you?
Some people might pick the very first one they come to - just so they make sure they get a rock. Some people might pick the smoothest rock. Some people might pick the shiniest rock. Some people might pick the white rock. Some people like flat rocks. Some people like round rocks. Some people want the biggest rock they can find. Some people choose one that will fit in their pocket.
Which rock will you choose?
Perhaps part of the decision of which rock to choose depends upon what you plan to do with your rock.
In today’s lessons, we’re going to take your rock, put it into a bottle and fill in sand around it. So that automatically limits your rocks to one that is small enough to fit into the bottle.
Now as we fill in the sand around the rock, you have to make sure the rock is still visible. Otherwise what’s the point of having your rock in the bottle?
Obviously, we’re not just talking about rocks and bottles. We’re talking about Jesus Christ as our Rock and our salvation. We have to choose Him above all other gods that may look attractive to us in this world. Those others gods aren’t real gods. They may seem real, but they aren’t. There is only One God. All the others are fool’s gold in comparison to real gold.
But there’s another object lesson here: If you put the rocks in the water, their beauty is enhanced. Similarly, the attractiveness of Jesus is enhanced by the Holy Spirit. That is, if you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within, Jesus is much more beautiful to you.
The bottle is like your life. The sand is like all of the activities in your life. You have to put God in your life first. If you put in all the activities and then try to put in God, you’ll find there’s no room left over. You have to put God first - always. Then fill in only that for which you have room. Oh, and make sure that God is visible in your life to everyone around us. What good does it do to put God in your life if no one can see Him in your words and deeds?
Music: I Will Call Upon the Lord; In Christ Alone
Did You Know?
Gold in its natural state is dull and hardly attracts any attention. If you see a rock that glitters, it most certainly won’t be gold.
Devotion: Suppose you had a whole pile of rocks poured out in front of you. You can only pick one. Which one would you pick? What characteristics make a rock attractive to you?
Some people might pick the very first one they come to - just so they make sure they get a rock. Some people might pick the smoothest rock. Some people might pick the shiniest rock. Some people might pick the white rock. Some people like flat rocks. Some people like round rocks. Some people want the biggest rock they can find. Some people choose one that will fit in their pocket.
Which rock will you choose?
Perhaps part of the decision of which rock to choose depends upon what you plan to do with your rock.
In today’s lessons, we’re going to take your rock, put it into a bottle and fill in sand around it. So that automatically limits your rocks to one that is small enough to fit into the bottle.
Now as we fill in the sand around the rock, you have to make sure the rock is still visible. Otherwise what’s the point of having your rock in the bottle?
Obviously, we’re not just talking about rocks and bottles. We’re talking about Jesus Christ as our Rock and our salvation. We have to choose Him above all other gods that may look attractive to us in this world. Those others gods aren’t real gods. They may seem real, but they aren’t. There is only One God. All the others are fool’s gold in comparison to real gold.
But there’s another object lesson here: If you put the rocks in the water, their beauty is enhanced. Similarly, the attractiveness of Jesus is enhanced by the Holy Spirit. That is, if you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within, Jesus is much more beautiful to you.
The bottle is like your life. The sand is like all of the activities in your life. You have to put God in your life first. If you put in all the activities and then try to put in God, you’ll find there’s no room left over. You have to put God first - always. Then fill in only that for which you have room. Oh, and make sure that God is visible in your life to everyone around us. What good does it do to put God in your life if no one can see Him in your words and deeds?
Music: I Will Call Upon the Lord; In Christ Alone
Did You Know?
Gold in its natural state is dull and hardly attracts any attention. If you see a rock that glitters, it most certainly won’t be gold.
Ayers Rock is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It lies 208 miles southwest of the nearest large town, Alice Springs, 280 miles by road. Ayers Rock is one of Australia's most recognizable natural landmarks. The sandstone formation stands 1,142 feet high, rising 2,831 feet above sea level, with most of its bulk lying underground, and has a total circumference of 5.8 miles.
Memory Verse: He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deuternomy 32:4 (NIV)
On the lines below, write either the memory verse in from the NIV, the ESV, or your
favorite Bible translation.
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This lesson talks about the Rock, Jesus Christ. As part of the lesson, you had to choose a rock.
Why did you choose your rock? What criteria did you use to choose it?
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How do you make God more visible in your life? Is it something you say or do?
Write an example.
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One of the songs for this lesson, “I Will Call Upon the Lord,” includes this line:
“who is worthy to be praised . . .”
Why, and how, do you praise the Lord?
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Read Revelation 2:17. How does this verse apply to the lesson?
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Extending the Lesson through Music . . .
I Will Call Upon the Lord (lyrics)
I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised.
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
I will call upon the Lord
The Lord liveth, and blessed be the Rock,
and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
Exploring "I Will Call Upon the Lord"
The musician who wrote the song is Michael O’Shields.
The words for this song come directly from Psalm 18:3 and Psalm 18:46.
Read the rest of Psalm 18. What other verses in this psalm really jump out at you?
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Could you write another stanza to this song based on other verses from Psalm 18?
Let’s try.
In Christ Alone (lyrics)
In Christ alone my hope is found - He is my light, my strength, my song.
This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my all in all, here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless Babe.
This gift of love and righteousness scorned by the ones He came to save.
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied;
for e’ry sin on Him was laid. Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay. Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost its grip on me.
For I am His and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in live, no fear in death, this is the pow’r of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand.
‘Til He returns or calls me home, here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.
Exploring "In Christ Alone"
Authors: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
Take this song apart and really think about the words:
1. What is found in Christ alone? _______________________ Why can’t you find it anywhere else?
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2. What five nouns are applied to Christ in the first stanza?
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Which of these makes you think of His love and His peace?
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3. What was the reason given in stanza two for Christ coming as a helpless babe?
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4. What incredible historic event is related in stanza three?
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Why is this event important to you?
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5. According to stanza four, what does Christ’s power enable you to do?
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In your own words, tell what Christ’s power enables you to do today.
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In Summary . . .
Cultural Note: It was common practice for peoples in the ancient world to identify their deities with observable, awe-inspiring natural phenomena. As Canaan was a land of tempests, the high-ranking deities of the Canaanite pantheons were storm gods. Storm gods were conceived of as vigorous warriors, revered for their ability to usher in the rains needed for fertility and feared for their destructive power unleashed in the storm. Religious iconography frequently portrays storm gods as riding on beats while wielding weapons in their hands.
Israel’s God also appears in the storm. Indeed, the Old Testament fully fleshes out the concept that God controls the storm. (NIV Archaeological Bible, pg 808.)
For further reading: Psalm 139:7-8; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Luke 8:22-25; Psalm 18:7-15; Ezekiel 1:4-28; Habakkuk 3:3-15; Job 37:1-5; Psalm 29:3-9; John 12:28-29; Revelation 10:3-4; Deuteronomy 4:33-35; Micah 1:3-5; Exodus 20:18-19; Exodus 33:18-23; Exodus 19:16-19; Matt 24:30-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 1:7
In a few words, write a summary of this lesson, or the main points you will remember.
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