SUNDAY SCHOOL

Sunday School is now SATURDAY SCHOOL! | Saturday School conference calls are Saturdays at 9:00 a.m.

DIAL IN: 312-626-6799 | Access Code: 322476888

Spring 2026: Social Teachings of the Church
Unit 2: Fulfilling Our Obligations to Family and Community

Obligations to Family and Community
The second unit examines the scope of the Christian life from its foundations in Jesus’ resurrection to its application in the household. We belong to God through faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Therefore, God’s way of doing things shapes our households, allegiances, and submission to authority (Mark 12:17; Romans 13:6–8; 1 Peter 2:13–17; see lesson 6).
God values children. They model Christian values and perspective (Mark 9:36–37, 42; 10:13–16 see lesson 7). Jesus asks us to learn from them and diligently instruct them in God’s ways (Deuteronomy 6:3–9; see lesson 8). Our households are strong when we love God with the whole of our lives and honor the marriage covenant (Matthew 19:3–9). God calls his people to implement his commandments and values, which alter our attitudes toward children, our spouses, and governmental structures’ power, authority, and prestige.

Lesson 6    Resurrection: The Future Hope. 1 Corinthians 15:13–20, 51–58 265
Corinth was a great commercial center in the first-century Roman Empire. It was situated between two seas on a very narrow strip of land in southern Greece: the Aegean to the east and the Adriatic to the west. A popular trade route grew between the two harbors because it was cheaper and less dangerous for merchants to freight their cargo overland than to sail around the Peloponnesian Peninsula.  Paul traveled to Corinth from Athens during his second missionary journey between AD 51–54. His initial visit lasted around 18 months (Acts 18:11). Then Paul traveled to Ephesus, where he made a brief stop before proceeding to Jerusalem. He returned to Ephesus on his third missionary journey and, while there, wrote a letter to the church in Corinth. We now refer to that letter as 1 Corinthians. (Paul mentions being in Ephesus in 1 Corinthians 16:8.)  Among an array of issues causing tension and debate within the Corinthian church was the resurrection  of the dead. Some believers were still impacted by their pagan background and philosophical ways of thinking. The Greeks considered the body and soul as entirely separate entities. Plato and Socrates viewed the body as a “prison” for the soul. They even had a saying to express their philosophical disdain for physical mortality: Soma Sema, which means “the body [is] a tomb.” Greek philosophers believed in the immortality of the soul but not a resurrection of the body (Acts 17:32).
Paul begins 1 Corinthians 15 by reminding the Corinthian church of the gospel he preached to them and that they received. The foundation of the gospel is Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1–4). Paul then lists some of the appearances Jesus made after his resurrection, including his appearance to Paul, “as of one born out of due time” (15:5–8). In the first portion of our printed text, Paul describes the devastating consequences that result if Jesus’ resurrection did not occur.

Lesson 7    Authority: Belonging to God.  Mark 12:17; Romans 13:1, 6–8; 1 Peter 2:13–17 273
General
The Gospel of Mark and the epistles of Romans and 1 Peter contain some of the sharpest statements in the New Testament about how Christfollowers should relate to their governments. These passages guide us as we walk out our duties to God and nation. Two aspects of first-century context are helpful for modern readers in this regard.
First, the intended audiences of these texts lived under the dominion of a foreign empire. The Roman emperor held total authority. He ruled locally through a structure of governors and other officials. Roman citizens possessed a few rights, but most of the emperor’s subjects had minimal legal protections and no say in the political processes that affected them. Public objection toward ruling powers was considered seditious, and officials responded swiftly with overwhelming force.  Consequently, the populace possessed few avenues for political or cultural change.
Second, the earliest Christians viewed spreading the gospel as their primary responsibility. Therefore, they avoided actions that might hinder their message. They discouraged behaviors that would dishonor the faith community in the eyes of unbelievers—the apostles aimed at discipleship, not political revolution.
Mark
The Gospel of Mark contains a series of stories with a consistent structure: (1) Jesus’ opponents pose a tricky or controversial question, hoping he will stumble in his response, but (2) Jesus gives a response that challenges, frustrates, or silences them (Mark 2:18–22; 2:23–28; 3:1–6; 7:1–13; 11:27–33; 12:13–17; 12:18–27; 12:28–34). The opponents aimed to trick Jesus, harm his reputation, and subvert his authority (12:13). These opponents came from religious sects like the Pharisees and Sadducees, as well as political groups like the Herodians. Conflicts between members of religious sects or philosophical schools were common in the ancient world—as the old saying goes, “Nothing makes better friends than a common enemy.”
Romans
Paul wrote this letter to introduce himself to the followers of Christ in Rome. He explained the gospel message, corrected rumors, and addressed misconceptions regarding his character and message. One distortion of his teaching was that Paul encouraged his converts to “do evil” so that “good may come” (Romans 3:8). Paul provided examples of upright behavior in response (Romans 12–15).
1 Peter
The epistle of 1 Peter was most likely written from Rome in the early AD 60s. During this time, the evil Emperor Nero reigned (AD 53–68). Therefore, we detect a coded reference to the city of Rome as Peter greets his readers from the church “who is in Babylon” (1 Peter 5:13; compare Revelation 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2). The Babylonian empire brought about the exile of the southern kingdom of Judah (586 BC). In Jewish literature contemporary to 1 Peter, Babylon represented decadence, immorality, and opposition to God. Some Jews, like the authors of 4 Ezra and 2 Baruch (non-biblical books from the collection known as the Apocrypha), also used “Babylon” as a code name for Rome. The author of Revelation calls Rome “Babylon” too.  Peter addresses his letter to the “exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1 Peter 1:1). By using the term “exiles,” Peter encourages Christ’s followers to perceive themselves primarily as citizens of God’s kingdom, even as he addresses the responsibility owed to their earthly government.

Lesson 8    Children: Gift and Model. Mark 9:36–37, 42; 10:13–16 281
Historical
Our text lands between Peter’s confession of Jesus, “Thou art the Christ” (Mark 8:29), and the triumphal entry (11:1–10). Sandwiched between these events are clarifying motifs defining God’s kingdom as upside down and backward to natural human instinct. Examples of these motifs are the high cost of discipleship (10:21–22), the difficulties of wealth (10:24–31), and a redefinition of greatness (10:36–45). Throughout this section, Jesus exalts the weak and lowly while humbling the powerful and proud.  Just prior to today’s text, Jesus and his disciples
traveled the 25 miles between Caesarea Philippi and Capernaum (Mark 8:27; 9:33). Caesarea Philippi was a town in the hill country at the base of Mount Hermon. Capernaum was a small fishing village that Jesus used as the home base of his ministry on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:13). Capernaum is mentioned in all  four Gospels and named more than any other town in the New Testament except Jerusalem. It is where the centurion asked for Jesus’ help and where Jesus healed the paralytic who was dropped through the roof (8:5; Mark 2:1–12). In contrast, Scripture mentions Caesarea Philippi only twice: in Matthew 16:13 and its parallel in Mark 8:27.
Children
In the Greco-Roman world of the first century AD, children held little significance. Adults viewed them as lacking reason and requiring training. The aim of their training was to learn their parents’ business and duties. Their value was in their contribution to the family. In the extreme, children were considered property—to be nurtured or disposed of as the head of household determined. The same was true in Jewish households, but God also taught his people to consider children as a blessing (Psalm 127:3–5). God instructed parents to teach Israel’s faith to their children and train them properly in behavior and wisdom (Deuteronomy 11:19; 31:12–13; Proverbs 22:6). Still, they had little power or status.

Lesson 9    Family: Distinct and Obedient. Deuteronomy 6:3–9; Matthew 19:3–9 289
Deuteronomy has been described as a “farewell speech.” The people of Israel were about to enter the promised land. Although Moses had led them since their freedom from Egypt, they were to enter a land forbidden to Moses (Deuteronomy 3:25–27). Even on the eve of his death, Moses prepared the people to move on without him.  Deuteronomy begins with a summary of the people’s journey to that point in the text (1:1–4:43) before shifting into a list of laws and commandments (4:44–28:68), the renewal of the covenant (29:1–30:20), and then the final deeds and death of Moses (31:1–34:12). Many of the laws and commandments found in this middle section of Deuteronomy, where our passage occurs, are similar to the earlier books in the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible). But specific commandments are worth repeating on the eve of Israel’s transition.  The second passage in today’s lesson, Matthew 19:3–9, describes proper application of the Law of Moses. By the time of Jesus, some 15 centuries had passed since the Law of Moses was given. But people still had questions regarding its application.
Various branches of first-century Judaism—particularly the Pharisees and the Sadducees—regularly debated the interpretation of the Law of Moses. This situation is no different: Jesus is challenged to provide his interpretation of a particular subject in the Law of Moses. The sparring partners here are Pharisees, but the Pharisees were not a united front.

BIBLE STUDY

Adult Bible Study |  Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. To join virtual Bible Study please visit Zoom.us and enter Meeting ID: 802 973 031  To join by phone, dial 312-626-6799 and enter Meeting ID: 802-973-031

God’s love is stronger than the forces of hate and injustice that shape our broken world. Throughout Scripture, we see a God who draws near to the hurting and stands with the vulnerable.

This twelve‑session Bible study invites you to reflect that same heart. You’ll uncover God’s vision for justice and discover practical ways to live it out in your daily life. Each session challenges you to love what God loves, resist what harms His image in others, and live as a sign of His justice and compassion.

• 7/8 – No bible study
• 7/15 – VBS

Click title to access lesson.

1. Does God Care About Injustice? – Habakkuk 1–2; 3:16-19

2. Acceptable Worship – Isaiah 58

3. No Partiality – Acts 10

4. Caring for Our Enemies – Jonah 1–4

5. A Kingdom of Service – Mark 6:17-44

6. The Lesser Become Greater – Mark 14:1-11

7. Prejudice in the Early Church – Acts 6

8. Challenging Nationalism – Acts 7

9. Cultural Identity – Exodus 3–4

10. Choosing the Better Role – Luke 10:38-42

11. The Temptation of Materialism – Revelation 18

12. Putting People Before Products – Matthew 12:1-21

We all long for a full, rich, satisfying life. But how do we fill up the empty places in our souls? How can we quench our thirst for something deeper, more lasting, more meaningful?

This 13-week study on the second half of John urges you to take a fresh look at Jesus. Here is the opportunity to establish (or renew) your faith in the One who offers true meaning, true belonging, and true life.

This bible study is  January 7th – April 1, 2026.

Click title to access lesson.

1. The Son as a Slave (John 13:1-17)       LESSON 1 REPLAY

2. A Traitor? Not Me! (John 13:18-38)     LESSON 2 REPLAY

3. Comfort for a Troubled Heart (John 14)      LESSON 3 REPLAY

4. The Secret of the Vine (John 15:1-11)         LESSON 4 REPLAY

5. The Cost of Friendship (John 15:12 – 16:4)        LESSON 5 REPLAY

6. Secrets of the Spirit (John 16:5-15)           LESSON 6 REPLAY

7. Peace in a Time of Trouble (John 16:16-33)      LESSON 7 REPLAY

8. Jesus Prays for Us (John 17)       LESSON 8 REPLAY

9. Trial Trust (John 18:1-27)        LESSON 9 REPLAY

10. Character Test (John 18:28 – 19:16)      LESSON 10 REPLAY

11. Obedient to Death (John 19:17-42)      Lesson 11 Replay

12. The Son is Up! (John 20)     LESSON 12 REPLAY

13. A Walk With a Resurrected Man (John 21)     Lesson 13 REPLAY