Sunday School: Prophet of Deliverance

Good morning!
We're so glad that you've joined us today!

When we meet in person, we share joys and concerns together. Think about your past week, and the prayer concerns this brings up. Feel free to share any joys or concerns that you would like in the comments below today's lesson. When you are ready, use the prayer below to get started:

God of spirit and truth,
You alone satisfy our dry and weary souls.
Let us drink from the spring of your mercy
so that we may never be thirsty
for the gift of your saving love;

[Pray for your personal requests and shared requests here]

Through Jesus Christ, the water of life.
Amen

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This week's lesson is on Deuteronomy 18:15-22. Click on the scripture to open it in a new window.

In ancient times, people worshiped many gods, and each god would have prophets, so there were many false prophets.  We are all familiar with the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal.  There were 400 prophets of Baal and their god could not send down fire to burn an offering. Elijah’s GOD sent down fire to burn the offering, it also the  altar as well as the water in the moat surrounding the altar.

This quarter is titled “Prophets Faithful to God’s Covenant”.  Prophetic books of the Old Testament are referred to as major or minor, depending on the length of the book. Deuteronomy was written by Moses, a prophet of the Lord as well as the lawgiver to God’s covenant people.  He is preparing the people for a new leader, his words  also foreshadow the coming of our spiritual leader - Jesus.  Moses was given words to reassure God’s people that they would still be led by the Lord.

The people demanded a prophet because they were afraid of God.  Imagine the worst thunder and lightening storm possible, add an earthquake and top it of that defining sound of trumpets. Mount Horeb was surrounded by fire and if they set foot on the mountain they would die. Who wouldn’t be scared to death?
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The following is from the website www.GotQuestions.org:

Are there true prophets today? If the purpose of a prophet was to reveal truth from God, why would we need prophets if we have the completed revelation from God in the Bible? Prophets were the foundation of the early church. Are we still building the “foundation” today? Can God give someone a message to deliver to someone else? ABSOLUTELY! Does God reveal truth to someone in a supernatural way and enable that person to deliver that message to others? Absolutely! But is this the biblical gift of prophecy? NO.

Scriptures provide the standard by which we are to evaluate any teaching we hear of read.
Is the weather man a prophet?  Is Dr. Fauci a prophet? No to both, but we do depend on them for advice.  Wearing masks and distancing has kept us safe during a plague of virus.  
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God provides guidance for his people.

Prayer
Father, may we ever be grateful for Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of the prophet to follow Moses -  and more!  Empower us to remain faithful to him.  
​In Jesus’ name we prey.  Amen.

Benediction
This week's benediction is from the Tree of Life Translation.

Next week's lesson is on Joshua 5:13-15 and Joshua 6:1-5, 15-16, 20.