Sunday School Lesson for March 14, 2010 9:45 A.M.. DAILY BIBLE READINGS (Readings in Preparation for Lesson 2) C. Morrell Upchurch Monday—CONSEQUENCES OF SIN. Genesis 4:1-13 Meditation—Cause and effect is a law of physics and it also applies to living. For every action we take, there is a result. Sinning sets in motion the consequences of sinning. The consequences of sinning are many, but the worst of all is that of being separated from fellowship with God. To live in fellowship with God, we must repent and forsake sinning. Tuesday—NOAH FOUND GRACE. Genesis 6:6-18 Meditation—Noah found grace (favor) with the Lord because he had received "grace for grace" (John 1:16) as believers in Christ have. God's grace was available to him, and he received grace to obtain or find more grace. Grace caused Noah to live godly in an ungodly world, and by this grace he obtained God's favor to be delivered from the Flood. Wednesday--GOD BLESSES HIS PEOPLE. Psalm 84:1-12 Meditation—In this world, God's people are ignored, despised, and even hated by those who do not love God, but God blesses His people. The fact that God's people have His blessing far outweighs any contempt the world my have for them. The blessing of the Lord is far more to be desired, and far more rewarding, than is the approval of the world. Thursday—CHRIST GIVES LIFE. John 1:1-12 Meditation—Most living things on this earth need light to go on living. Similarly, the light of the Gospel is needed to produce and sustain spiritual life. When a person receives Jesus Christ as his Savior, He imparts to that person both light and life. Christ is the source of moral enlightenment and of everlasting life. In His light, there is for us eternal life. Friday—ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT. Romans 8:1-10 Meditation—In this passage, the Holy Spirit is identified as the agent of God who imparts to believers in Christ the life of Christ and of God. The life of the Spirit is transforming life, seen in the changed life of the believer in Christ. Only by the life-giving, life-changing power of the Holy Spirit can we live as Christians, because the Spirit enables us to do so. Saturday—UNITED IN CHRIST. Galatians 3:22-29 Meditation The cross of Christ is the greatest equalizer. Regardless of our nationality, gender, skin color, age, education or worldly status, we all stand equal before God at the foot of the cross. We are united by Christ our Savior, so that we become "brothers" and "sisters" in Christ, and our shared relationship with Christ supersedes all other distinctions.                                                           Adult Student / March 14, 2010 Ephesians: Understanding God's Eternal Purposes ALIVE IN CHRIST Through His death and resurrection, Christ provides reconciliation and new life. THE HOLY SCRIPTURE Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. . 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 0 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1).