Summer theme: Toward a New Creation Genesis, Psalms, Zephaniah, Romans This summer, lessons in Adult Bible Studies follow the theme, “Toward a New Creation.” The student book writer is Clara Welch; Mark Price is the writer for the teacher book. Judgement and Salvation The quarter’s first four lessons deal with the concept of the day of the Lord, the consequences of disobedience, assurances and joy for the faithful, and the consequences of ignoring God’s truth. Scriptures come from Genesis, Zephaniah, Psalm 8, and Romans 1. A World Gone Wrong The first lesson in this unit leads us to consider God’s truth within us, while the second lesson reminds us of sin’s power. The third lesson celebrates that God has set things right, while the next lesson reminds us that we are not without hope. Scriptures come from the Book of Romans. Left on God’s Terms The five lessons that conclude this quarter’s study lead us to discover how death becomes life, how we are safe in God’s love, what it means to live under God’s mercy, how God prunes and grafts us into God’s family, and how love fulfills the law. Scriptures again come from the Book of Romans. Developed for use with the student book based on the Uniform Series, this leader resource provides a wealth of information, planning ideas, and lesson guides for each of the 13 lessons in the quarter. This resource includes detailed study of the biblical text, suggestions for developing lessons, teaching options, maps, and charts. It features articles that explore biblical themes related to the passages studied in the lessons. Available in regular print, as a downloadable file or an eBook. Free Extras! All found at adultbiblestudies.com Supplemental Resources Free supplemental resources related to each lesson enhance teacher preparation and small group participation. Current Events Supplement The free Current Events Supplement offers a way to connect each week’s lesson to a timely event or topic in the news. The supplements can enhance all resources using the Uniform Series. Register for the Forums and you can post and read comments about the lessons from other readers
Summer theme: Toward a New Creation Genesis, Psalms, Zephaniah, Romans This summer, lessons in Adult Bible Studies follow the theme, “Toward a New Creation.” The student book writer is Clara Welch; Mark Price is the writer for the teacher book. Judgement and Salvation The quarter’s first four lessons deal with the concept of the day of the Lord, the consequences of disobedience, assurances and joy for the faithful, and the consequences of ignoring God’s truth. Scriptures come from Genesis, Zephaniah, Psalm 8, and Romans 1. A World Gone Wrong The first lesson in this unit leads us to consider God’s truth within us, while the second lesson reminds us of sin’s power. The third lesson celebrates that God has set things right, while the next lesson reminds us that we are not without hope. Scriptures come from the Book of Romans. Left on God’s Terms The five lessons that conclude this quarter’s study lead us to discover how death becomes life, how we are safe in God’s love, what it means to live under God’s mercy, how God prunes and grafts us into God’s family, and how love fulfills the law. Scriptures again come from the Book of Romans. Based on the Uniform Series, this quarterly study presents stimulating lessons that explore the biblical message and how to apply it to daily life. The curriculum helps adults move from a focus on the Word to reflection on personal, family, church, and community concerns. Ideal for a variety of settings, lessons are Bible-based, Christ-focused, and United Methodist – approved curriculum for use in adult Sunday school classes, mid-week Bible study, and small-group studies. Available in regular and large print or as an eBook. Free Extras! All found at adultbiblestudies.comSupplemental Resources Free supplemental resources related to each lesson enhance teacher preparation and small group participation. Current Events Supplement The free Current Events Supplement offers a way to connect each week’s lesson to a timely event or topic in the news. The supplements can enhance all resources using the Uniform Series. Register for the Forums at adultbiblestudies.com, and you can post and read comments about the lessons from other readers.
Spring theme: The Gift of Faith This spring, lessons in Adult Bible Studies follow the theme, “The Gift of Faith.” The student book writer is Jack Gilbert; Von Unruh is the writer for the teacher book. Tests of Faith The quarter’s first four lessons deal with powerful faith, simple faith, struggling faith, and resurrection faith by examining biblical texts from Mark’s Gospel. Restorative Faith The first lesson in the second unit examines Luke’s account of the healing of the centurion’s servant, while the second lesson continues in Luke 7 with a focus on the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume. The third lesson features Luke’s account of Jesus healing the demon-possessed man; and the next lesson, also from Luke, explores the account of the prodigal son. The last lesson in this unit focuses on Jesus’ teaching about forgiveness and giving and receiving correction. Fullness of Faith The four lessons that conclude this quarter’s study again come from Luke’s Gospel. The first looks at Jesus’ healing of the ten lepers; the second examines Jesus’ contrast of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The third lesson explores Jesus’ teaching about having childlike faith. The final lesson of this quarter highlights joyous faith by reviewing Jesus’ encounter with the tax collector Zacchaeus. Developed for use with the student book based on the Uniform Series, this leader resource provides a wealth of information, planning ideas, and lesson guides for each of the 13 lessons in the quarter. This resource includes detailed study of the biblical text, suggestions for developing lessons, teaching options, maps, and charts. It features articles that explore biblical themes related to the passages studied in the lessons. Available in regular print, as a downloadable file or an eBook.
God’s Prophets Demand Justice This summer, lessons in ADULT BIBLE STUDIES follow the theme “God’s Prophets Demand Justice.” The student book writer is Sarah McGiverin. Stan Purdum is the writer for the teacher book. Unit 1 Amos Rails Against Injustice The four lessons in this unit come from the Book of Amos. The first lesson focuses on knowing right from wrong and choosing wrong. Lesson 2 deals with attempts to hide injustice. Lesson 3 focuses on the injustice of greed and selfishness, while Lesson 4 deals with failure to heed warnings to end injustice. Judgment on Israel and Judah (Amos 2:4-8) God Is Not Fooled (Amos 5:14-15, 18-27) Rebuked for Selfishness (Amos 6:2-8, 11-14) God Will Never Forget (Amos 8:1-6, 9-10) Unit 2 Micah Calls for Justice Among Unjust People The first lesson in this four-lesson unit from Micah focuses on social and moral injustice. Lesson 2 deals with the injustice of corrupt leaders. The last two lessons examine what God requires for justice and how God dispenses mercy to restore justice. No Rest for the Wicked (Micah 2:4-11) No Tolerance for Corrupt Leaders and Prophets (Micah 3:5-12) Justice, Love, and Humility (Micah 6:3-8) God Shows Clemency (Micah 7:14-20) Unit 3 Advocates of Justice for All The final unit this quarter offers five lessons from five different biblical prophets. Lesson 1 features Isaiah’s prophecies that God will come as a redeemer bringing righteousness and justice to Israel. Lesson 2 focuses on Jeremiah’s description of corruption in the Temple as a choice to do good or bad, resulting in God’s blessing or punishment. In Lesson 3, the focus is on Ezekiel’s call for confession and repentance in order to build a healthy faith community. Lesson 4 features Zechariah’s words on God’s clear instruction for showing kindness, mercy, and justice to others. Finally, Lesson 5 examines Malachi’s efforts to inform the people that God requires justice and faithfulness and will bestow bountiful blessings in proportion to what they were willing to give. Our Redeemer Comes (Isaiah 59:15-21) A Choice to Be Just (Jeremiah 7:1-15) A Call for Repentance (Ezekiel 18:1-13, 31-32) God Demands Justice (Zechariah 7:8-14) Return to a Just God (Malachi 3:1-10) Developed for use with the student book based on the Uniform Series, this leader resource provides a wealth of information, planning ideas, and lesson guides for each of the 13 lessons in the quarter. This resource includes detailed study of the biblical text, suggestions for developing lessons, teaching options, maps, and charts. It features articles that explore biblical themes related to the passages studied in the lessons. Available in regular print, as a downloadable file or an eBook. About the Series Hundreds of thousands of students and teachers use ADULT BIBLE STUDIES each week in Sunday school classes, mid-week Bible studies, and other small group settings. Bible-based and Christ-focused, it is an approved resource by the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church. It is published quarterly. Each week’s lesson features: A purpose statement offering focus and direction for the lesson. Printed biblical text from The Common English Bible. Reliable and relevant biblical explanation and application. A closing prayer, guiding personal commitment. Free Extras! All found at adultbiblestudies.com Supplemental Resources Free supplemental resources related to each lesson enhance teacher preparation and small group participation. Current Events Supplement The free Current Events Supplement offers a way to connect each week’s lesson to a timely event or topic in the news. The supplements can enhance all resources using the Uniform Series. Register for the Forums at adultbiblestudies.com, and you can post and read comments about the lessons from other readers.
Summer Theme: A Covenant in Christ Jesus Ruth | 1 Samuel | Matthew | Luke | Ephesians This summer, our lessons focus on how Jesus fulfilled the Law in the sense that it was given full meaning. Jesus emphasized the deep, underlying messages of the gospel; and this same message is continued through the apostle Paul and the writer of Hebrews. Relationships of faith empower us to live the covenant and spread the gospel message. The writer of the student book lessons is Kevin Baker; the teacher book writer is Timothy Bryan. A Fulfilled Covenant The first unit, in four lessons, reveals a new sign of the covenant for Jewish and Gentile believers, as recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, Hebrews, and Colossians. During the celebration of the Passover, Jesus explained to the disciples that he would initiate a new covenant through his death. Paul explains that the sign of the covenant is now a relationship of the heart between God and God's people, not circumcision. A Heartfelt Covenant The four lessons in this unit give new meaning and purpose to the Law. According to Matthew, Jesus began teaching the Law in a way that gave life to the hearer and the doer. Unlike other teachers of the Law, Jesus preached the transforming righteousness of the Kingdom. Jesus challenged the mere external observance of God's law without internal transformation. Covenant: A Personal Perspective The four lessons in this unit focus on personal relationships between people in 1 Samuel, Ruth, and Ephesians. Ultimately, those relationships pave the way for the Messiah. After Christ established the New Testament church, relationships between people have been based on relationship with Christ Jesus. These relationships continue the work of Christ Jesus by spreading the gospel message. Developed for use with the student book based on the Uniform Series, this leader resource provides a wealth of information, planning ideas, and lesson guides for each of the 13 lessons in the quarter. This resource includes detailed study of the biblical text, suggestions for developing lessons, teaching options, maps, and charts. It features articles that explore biblical themes related to the passages studied in the lessons. Available in regular print, as a downloadable file or an eBook. Free Extras! All found at www.adultbiblestudies.com Current Events Supplement The free Current Events Supplement offers a way to connect each week's lesson to a timely event or topic in the news. The supplements can enhance all resources using the Uniform Series. Register for the Forums at www.adultbiblestudies.com Bold, and you can post and read comments about the lessons from other readers.
A comprehensive Bible study plan and spiritual practices to deepen your relationship with God. Hundreds of thousands of people each week have transformative encounters with God through Adult Bible Studies—Bible-based, Christ-focused Sunday school lessons and midweek Bible studies endorsed by the Curriculum Resources Committee of The United Methodist Church. The Kit includes a Teacher Book and a Concise Commentary that are both supplementary and complementary to the Adult Bible Studies student book The Teacher Book provides small-group leaders, teachers, and facilitators with additional biblical background and exposition, and suggestions for guiding group discussion. Printed with a larger font for ease of reading. Included to help leaders prepare and lead each week: -As a comprehensive Bible study plan with more flexibility in terms of Scripture selection and topics. -Additional information, as well as suggestions, is designed to help leaders and facilitators lead with confidence. -Observation of the church seasons, including Advent and Lent. -Suggestions for developing spiritual practices (prayer, confession, worship, mindfulness, solitude, community, hospitality, neighboring, service, and celebration). -One font size in the student edition to accommodate all readers. -No printed Scripture text allows you to choose your own Bible translation. The Concise Commentary provides biblical commentary for the focal Bible passages used in Adult Bible Studies. Based on the Abingdon Basic Bible Commentary. Printed with a larger font for ease of reading. Included each week are: -The focal Bible passages for each Sunday. -The unit introductions. -Commentary on the focal Bible passages. -A pronunciation guide for Bible names and places. Additional information about Adult Bible Studies, Summer 2023 Inspired by God This summer, our Bible lessons follow the theme “Inspired by God” and help us look at the careful design of Scripture and the art and poetry through which it touches our hearts and minds. They then move into a consideration of one of Scripture’s most practical categories, wisdom literature, followed by a look at some of Scripture’s heroes, who might surprise us. The writer of the student book is Betsy Haas; the teacher book writer is Stan Purdum. The Rich Literature of the Bible The lessons in this unit look at some of the different kinds of writings we find in Scripture and how God speaks to us through writings such as the Law, the prophets, visions, and the psalms. They invite us to dwell within Scripture’s reality rather than a reality of our own construction. Scriptures: Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 14 | Matthew 5:17-20 | Malachi 2:1-4 | Ezekiel 37:1-10 | Ephesians 2:4-7 | Psalms 51 | Colossians 3:16-17 Spiritual Practice: Study Wisdom Living with wisdom affects how we think, speak, act/behave, relate to God, and relate to others. What constitutes wisdom according to the Bible is not conventional wisdom about how to stay safe and healthy or how to prosper in life. Conventional wisdom tells us not to give aid or comfort to an enemy, whereas biblical wisdom teaches us the opposite. Conventional wisdom tells us to store up our grain in barns for tomorrow, whereas biblical wisdom encourages us to share what we have with those whose need is for today. Scriptures: James 1:2-8 | James 3:1-12 | James 3:13-18| 1 Corinthians 1:10-25 | Ecclesiasters 3:1-8 Spiritual Practice: Guidance | Spiritual Direction Heroes and Anti-Heroes The men and women of the Bible who “save the day” are not the typical heroes of Western mythology. They do not have superhuman powers; they are not mighty warriors; they are not descended from the gods. They are ordinary men and women who use their status and situation to serve God’s purpose or people in need. The people who tradition prefers to make into heroes of kings and warriors frequently disappoint us by using their power to serve themselves. Scriptures: Joshua 2:1-14 | Kings 11:1-13 | Mark 7:24-30 | John 13:21-30 Spiritual Practice: Forgiveness Other Adult Bible Study components, sold separately, include: Student Book Each week’s Student Book lesson lists background Scripture, features key verses, provides reliable and relevant biblical explanation and application, and more in a readable font size that is accessible to everyone. Included to help students go deeper into the lessons are : A comprehensive Bible study plan with more flexibility in terms of Scripture selection and topics Observation of the church seasons, including Advent and Lent Suggestions for developing spiritual practices (prayer, confession, worship, mindfulness, solitude, community, hospitality, neighboring, service, and celebration) No printed Scripture text allows you to choose your own Bible translation DVD/Video Does your group enjoy watching videos as a way to generate conversation around Bible studies? Would your teacher or group facilitator appreciate having the support of video hosts in setting the stage for Bible lessons? Then the Adult Bible Studies is just what you need. Each video, directly corresponding to the content in Adult Bible Studies, features 13 5-minute video segments. On each, one of our three hosts will provide some context for the lesson and then tie that content to personal stories and daily living. Your group can then connect more deeply with the material, draw closer to God, and discover ways to live out biblical teachings. Visit AdultBibleStudies.com and sign up for the weekly newsletter to automatically receive the FREE Current Events Supplement and other information about these resources and more!
Sacred Gifts and Holy Gatherings This winter, lessons in Adult Bible Studies Teacher follow the theme, “Sacred Gifts and Holy Gatherings.” The student book writer is Chuck Aaron; Martha Myre is the writer for the teacher book. Unit 1 What We Bring to God The quarter’s first four lessons explore the concepts of sabbath, giving offerings, celebrations, and giving from the heart by examining biblical texts from Exodus, Leviticus, Luke, Matthew, and Mark. The Lord’s Day (Exodus 20:8-11; 31:12-16) Acceptable Offerings (Leviticus 22:17-25, 31-33) Dedication of Firstborn (Exodus 13:13-15; Luke 2:22-32) A Generous Gift (Matthew 23:2-12; Mark 12:38-44) Unit 2 Four Weddings and a Funeral The first lesson in this unit reviews the relationship between Jacob and Rachel from the Book of Genesis, followed by a lesson from the Song of Solomon. The third lesson examines the relationship between Hosea and Gomer and deals with broken relationships, while the following lesson takes us to the Gospel of John and Jesus’ miracle at the wedding in Cana. The final lesson in this unit, again from John’s Gospel, deals with the death of Jesus’ dear friend Lazarus. A Bride Worth Waiting For (Genesis 29:15-30) The Most Beautiful Bride (Song of Songs 6:4-12) An Unfaithful Bride (Hosea 1) A Wedding in Cana (John 2:1-12) The Death of a Friend (John 11:38-44) Unit 3 Holy Days The four lessons that conclude this quarter’s study examine the holy days of Passover, celebrating God’s deliverance of the people as recorded in Exodus;and the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost; the Day of Atonement;and the Festival of Booths, described in Leviticus. Passover (Exodus 12:1-14) Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15-22) Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:11-19) The Feast of Booths (Leviticus 23:33-43) Developed for use with the student book based on the Uniform Series, this leader resource provides a wealth of information, planning ideas, and lesson guides for each of the 13 lessons in the quarter. This resource includes detailed study of the biblical text, suggestions for developing lessons, teaching options, maps, and charts. It features articles that explore biblical themes related to the passages studied in the lessons. Available in regular print, as a downloadable file or an eBook.
Adult Bible Studies Summer 2022 Theme: Transform The lessons this quarter begin with a look at the ministry of the Holy Spirit that brings new life to us as members of the body of Christ. Jesus tells the disciples in John’s Gospel that he must leave so that the Comforter or Holy Spirit could come. The Spirit will lead and guide us into all truth and bring gifts and graces to all who will receive them. This transforming power prepares us for ministry in the world. The Holy Spirit’s work in empowering us to be the church and carry out its mission is not limited to time and space. The lessons in Unit 2 take us through a series of events in the context of Jewish and Gentile hostility in which we see how the Holy Spirit moved the church forward to serve others. The final four lessons in this quarter explore a problem that has plagued humankind throughout the ages—violence! How do we as the people of God confront and overcome this menace to the faith? Unit 1: The Fruit of the Spirit Paul used the metaphor of fruit to help us understand that our lives are like the firstfruits of offering. Through participation in Christ’s crucifixion through baptism, we have offered our lives to God’s service. The Holy Spirit then gives us gifts to display. Scriptures: Acts 2:1-4, 17-21, 33, 38-39; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16; Galatians 5:13-21; Galatians 5:22-26 Spiritual Practice: Silence Unit 2: The Work of the Church These lessons take us through a series of events in the Book of Acts in which the activity of the Holy Spirit drives the action forward. The lessons in Unit 1 identify the gifts granted to us by the Spirit; these lessons look at the path on which the Spirit directs our lives and how the Spirit is already active before we arrive at our destination. Scriptures: Acts 4:23-31; Acts 8:26-39; Acts 11:1-18; Acts 15:1-21; Acts 16:25-34 Spiritual Practice: Service Unit 3: The Pursuit of the People God’s word established a created order that depends on fruitfulness and cultivation rather than violence to maintain it, but humanity through its rivalries brings violence into God’s created order. It is clear from Scripture that God’s intent is to reestablish shalom, the Hebrew word that means “a shared well-being and abundance.” While violence remains a part of the created order, God does not quietly sanction the human use of violence and calls us to imitate God’s love and work toward shalom. Scriptures: 1 Chronicles 22:6-10, 17-19; Matthew 5:9, 38-48; Ephesians 2:11-22; Matthew 26:47-56 Spiritual Practice: Remembering Adult Bible Studies components include: Student Book Published quarterly, each week's Student Book lesson lists background Scripture, features key verses, provides reliable and relevant biblical explanation and application, and more, in a readable font size that is accessible to everyone. Teacher Book/Commentary Kit Each quarterly Teacher/Commentary Kit includes a Teacher Book with additional biblical background and exposition and suggestions for guiding group discussion and a copy of the new quarterly Adult Bible Studies Concise Commentary, designed for readers who seek additional background on the biblical text for each session of Adult Bible Studies. Video-DVD Does your group enjoy watching videos to generate conversation around Bible studies? Video sessions directly correspond to the Adult Bible Studies quarter’s theme and content and features a segment for each Bible lesson. Hundreds of thousands of people each week have transformative encounters with God through Adult Bible Studies—Bible-based, Christ-focused Sunday school lessons and midweek Bible studies endorsed by the Curriculum Resources Committee of the The United Methodist Church. Lessons follow the church seasons, including Advent and Lent, and include suggestions for developing spiritual practices to help nurture your faith.
The three units of Bible lessons in this quarter unify around the theme, Respond. The lessons move through various responses people of faith are called to make as they live out their faith in both good times and difficult ones. Unit 1: Intended for Good The Genesis story of Joseph and his brothers is one of the great stories from the Bible, with forgiveness and grace among its underlying themes. As the story stretches over several chapters of Genesis, the four weeks of this unit give us ample time to explore it and see how the meaning of its events changed as Joseph recognized God at work behind the scenes. Scriptures: Genesis 37:5-28; Genesis 39:1-21; Genesis 41:1-16, 25-32; Genesis 45:1-15 Spiritual Practice: Forgiveness Unit 2: The People Next Door “Neighbor” is an important theme in both the Old and New Testaments, and so this four-lesson unit delves into it from several perspectives. The first lesson (Lesson 5 in this quarter) gathers various verses from Proverbs on that topic. The second lesson, using a passage from the book of Ruth, invites us to think about what it means to be a neighbor to immigrants. The third lesson looks in the book of Acts for how the early church leaders incorporated neighborliness into the church’s structure. And the fourth lesson takes us to Mark’s Gospel for an example of four individuals who were true neighbors to a man in need. Scriptures: Proverbs 3:27-30; 6:1-5; 25:20-23; Ruth 2:4-16; Acts 6:1-7; Mark 2:1-12 Spiritual Practice: Scripture Unit 3: The Five Stages of Job As suffering in some form comes to most of us at some point (or points) in life, it is useful to consider how Job, who suffered greatly, responded to it, and to learn from his experience. The five lessons of this unit show us five diverse ways Job responded to his calamities: worship, resignation, protest, angry despair, and acceptance. While not suggesting that all of these are useful in every case, the lessons help us recognize what may be going on in our spirits when suffering overtakes us. Scriptures: Job 1:8-20; Job 1:21-22, 2:7-10; Job 19:1-6, 13-19; Job 30:16-23; Job 40:1-5; 41:1-10; 42:1-6 Spiritual Practice: Lament
Summer Theme: A Covenant in Christ Jesus Ruth | 1 Samuel | Matthew | Luke | Ephesians This summer, our lessons focus on how Jesus fulfilled the Law in the sense that it was given full meaning. Jesus emphasized the deep, underlying messages of the gospel; and this same message is continued through the apostle Paul and the writer of Hebrews. Relationships of faith empower us to live the covenant and spread the gospel message. The writer of the student book lessons is Kevin Baker; the teacher book writer is Timothy Bryan. A Fulfilled Covenant The first unit, in four lessons, reveals a new sign of the covenant for Jewish and Gentile believers, as recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, Hebrews, and Colossians. During the celebration of the Passover, Jesus explained to the disciples that he would initiate a new covenant through his death. Paul explains that the sign of the covenant is now a relationship of the heart between God and God's people, not circumcision. A Heartfelt Covenant The four lessons in this unit give new meaning and purpose to the Law. According to Matthew, Jesus began teaching the Law in a way that gave life to the hearer and the doer. Unlike other teachers of the Law, Jesus preached the transforming righteousness of the Kingdom. Jesus challenged the mere external observance of God's law without internal transformation. Covenant: A Personal Perspective The four lessons in this unit focus on personal relationships between people in 1 Samuel, Ruth, and Ephesians. Ultimately, those relationships pave the way for the Messiah. After Christ established the New Testament church, relationships between people have been based on relationship with Christ Jesus. These relationships continue the work of Christ Jesus by spreading the gospel message. Hundreds of thousands of students and teachers use Adult Bible Studies each week in Sunday school classes, mid-week Bible studies, and other small group settings. Bible-based and Christ-focused, it is an approved resource by the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church. It is published quarterly. Each week's lesson features: A purpose statement offering focus and direction for the lesson. Printed biblical text from The Common English Bible. Reliable and relevant biblical explanation and application A closing prayer, guiding personal commitment. Free Extras! All found at www.adultbiblestudies.com Current Events Supplement The free Current Events Supplement offers a way to connect each week's lesson to a timely event or topic in the news. The supplements can enhance all resources using the Uniform Series. Register for the Forums at www.adultbiblestudies.com Bold, and you can post and read comments about the lessons from other readers.
