Summary lesson quotes from the David C Cook Adult Teacher’s Guide, March-May 2021
Lesson 13 – May 30 – Jonah: Fiery Harbinger of Doom
Prayer of the week: “Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunity to call on You for help. Please show us clearly when we need to turn from wrongdoing. Thank You for Your compassion and loving kindness toward us and help us show that same compassion toward others.”
Week of May 24 through May 30
Something to think about this week: How would you define the word “compassion.”
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Matthew 12:38-42 – Jonah’s Experience Foreshadows Christ’s.
Tues. – Luke 11:29-32 – Nineveh’s Repentance and a Lasting Message.
Wed. – Jonah 1:1-12 – Jonah Turns Away from God’s Call.
Thurs. – Jonah 1:13-16 – Sailors Make Vows to the Lord.
Fri. – Jonah 4:1-5 – Jonah Resents God’s Grace toward Others.
Sat. – Jonah 4:6-11 – God’s Compassion Overrides Jonah’s Personal Comfort.
Sun. – Jonah 3 – God’s Mercy Prevails.
Lesson 12 – May 23 – Ezekiel: Street Preacher to the Exiles
The focus for today’s lesson is to encourage people to take responsibility for their actions, whether good or bad. The prophet Ezekiel explained to the Israelites how people needed to be responsible for their actions. They couldn’t blame their parents or others when they sinned, only themselves. It sure is easy, even today, to blame others for our weaknesses, or to take credit when we really don’t deserve it. God’s Word makes it clear that we are responsible, and no one else, for our actions (see Gal. 6:3-5). When it comes to your own actions, own them! Whether it’s credit or blame, step up and be responsible. God honors truth.
Week of May 17 through May 23
Something to think about this week: Think about a time you happily said, “Yes, I did that!”
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Deuteronomy 24:14-18 – Treat Each Other Fairly.
Tues. – Jeremiah 31:27-30 – Taking Personal Responsibility.
Wed. – Ezekiel 18:10-13 – The Child Who Sins Suffers Punishment.
Thurs. – Ezekiel 18:14-18 – The Righteous Child Is Rewarded.
Fri. – Ezekiel 18:19-24 – All Are Accountable for Their Sins.
Sat. – Ezekiel 18:25-29 – God Is Compassionate and Fair.
Sun. – Ezekiel 18:1-9, 30-32 – Repent and Live Righteous Lives.
Lesson 11 – May 16 – Jeremiah: The Suffering Preacher of Doom
Listening to God and talking with Him is the first thing we need to be doing every day, not the last thing we think of when nothing else “works.”
God wants us to listen to Him, and He blesses those who listen to Him with wisdom, knowledge, and peace. Knowing that you’re following God helps you when you face adversity and brings joy and happiness that is only possible when you obey Him.
Week of May 10 through May 16
Something to think about this week: What “listening devices” do you use regularly?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Acts 4:13-22 – Apostles Speak Truth to Council.
Tues. – Jeremiah 37:11-16 – Prophet Jeremiah Is Arrested and Imprisoned.
Wed. – Jeremiah 38:7-13; 39:15-18 – Ebled-Melech’s Trust in Jeremiah Honored.
Thurs. – Jeremiah 37:17-21 – Jeremiah Reaffirms Prophecy of Zedekiah.
Fri. – Jeremiah 38:24-28 – Jeremiah’s Last Days in Jerusalem.
Sat. – 2 Kings 25:1-12 – Jerusalem Destroyed People Exiled.
Sun. – Jeremiah 38:14-23 – Zedekiah Must Submit to Babylonian Conquest.
Lesson 10 – May 9 – Isaiah: Offering Hope for the Future
Have you ever had your heart set on doing something in your own way? Then after considerable time and effort you suddenly discover and say to yourself: “THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK!!” It might be that you are not on the path that God has set for you.
When God derails people’s expectations, even Christians can become upset or disenchanted with His plans for their lives. It is then, more than ever, that we must place our trust and our hopes in Him and believe that the Lord truly desires the very best for us. Therefore, let us seek God in the same way the psalmist expressed his desire for the Lord: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Ps. 42:1).
Week of May 3 through May 9
Something to think about this week: Expectations you had when growing up that have been fulfilled or not fulfilled. Did you ever play the children’s rhyme game: Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief / Doctor, lawyer, Indian chief?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 – Discipline the Immoral Person with Respect.
Tues. – Exodus 23:1-9 – Uphold Justice for All Peoples.
Wed. – Jeremiah 29:10-14 – Seek and You Will Find Me!
Thurs. – Mark 7:1-8 – Lip Service Is Not Enough.
Fri. – Isaiah 29:1-8 – Jerusalem Punished and Rescued.
Sat. – Isaiah 29:9-12 – Judah, Blind to God’s Ways.
Sun. – Isaiah 29:13-24 – Israel Will Enjoy a Bright Future.
Lesson 09 – May 2 – Micaiah: Speaking Truth to Power
Just as an out-of-control fire can cause chaos and destruction, so also can lies cause confusion and harm.
First, a lie can become a raging fire by a mere spark. One little lie can ignite a series of other lies that can burst into an enormous falsehood, consuming an entire landscape of people.
Second, evil is the source of lies. In fact, Jesus said the devil “is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
Finally, James noted that those who lie and are given to evil cannot subdue their tongue. In other words, lying is who they are.
Sadly, we believe many of the lies the world tells us because they support our inclinations or appeal to our desires. Some of these lies we know are wrong, other lies are deceptive and fool us until God’s truth reveals these lies for what they are. Either way, there are always harmful repercussions.
Week of April 26 through May 2
Something to think about this week: What are the best places to find lies that the world tells us?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – 2 Kings 3:9-17 – Elisha Prophesies Truth to King Jehoshaphat.
Tues. – 1 Kings 22:1-6 – Kings Propose Battle against Aram.
Wed. – 1 Kings 22:7-14 – Micaiah Resists Pressure to Prophesy Falsely.
Thurs. – 2 Chronicles 18:18-22 – A Lying Spirit Brings Disaster.
Fri. – 1 Kings 22:29-40 – King Ahab Suffers Fatal Injury.
Sat. – 1 Kings 22:41 -46 – Jehoshaphat Promotes Peace with Israel.
Sun. – 1 Kings 22:15-23, 26-28 – Prophet Micaiah Speaks the Truth.
Lesson 08 – April 25 – A Plea for Restoration
It is not a sin to cry out to the Lord or even complain to Him. He not only expects but also wants us to turn to Him when we are in deep distress. Moreover, He understands why we complain, even if the complaint is directed at Him. We are, in fact, frail human beings, who can persevere only through the power of the Holy Spirit. What God does expect from us is that we will invariably trust in His promises to care for our needs despite the severity of our ordeals.
We must trust in God no matter how quiet He seems.
Week of- April 19 through April 25
Something to think about this week: In what situations do people have and understandable reason to complain to God?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Psalm 111 – Praise for God’s Wonderful Works.
Tues. – Zechariah 8:18-23 – God’s Blessings Intended for All.
Wed. – Psalm 102:12-22 – The Lord, Our Sovereign.
Thurs. – Psalm 79 – Plea for Mercy for Jerusalem.
Fri. – Jeremiah 9:17-22 – Mourn the Destruction of Zion.
Sat. – Lamentations 3:22 – 33—God’s Mercy and Love Never Ends.
Sun. – Lamentations 5:1-22 – Remember and Restore Us.
Lesson 07 – Nehemiah: The Captive Cupbearer Rebuilds a Nation
Nehemiah shows us that many impossible things are possible when people see that God is in their work and blessing it. With the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, we can…
Matthew 19:26 NIV – Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Week of April 12 through April 18
Something to think about this week: When playing with a child’s building blocks, what do you like to build?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Daniel 9:4-6, 15-19 – Daniel Intercedes for Jerusalem.
Tues. – Nehemiah 13:4-9 – Nehemiah Orders Temple Cleansing and Restoration.
Wed. – Nehemiah 13:10-14 – Nehemiah Restores Ministries of Levites, Singers.
Thurs. – Nehemiah 13:15-22 – Nehemiah Reforms Sabbath Observances and Practices.
Fri. – Nehemiah 13:23-27 – Nehemiah Sets Standards for Marriages.
Sat. – Nehemiah 2:1-10 – Nehemiah Sent to Rebuild Jerusalem.
Sun. – Nehemiah 2:11-20 – Nehemiah Inspires the People to Rebuild.
Lesson 06 – Ezra: Faith and Action Preacher
Standing for God and His righteousness has consequences, but believers must be bold and courageous. The cost of following God is always all in, not partway in. We may try to set boundaries and say, “I’ll follow You if You don’t make me do X,” but that is not what a true disciple says. We often look at temporal costs first (losing money, friends, etc.) because those are what we see first. Jesus paid an extreme cost, not a “little” one, for following the Father, and His first disciples paid a high cost as well.
Week of April 5 through April 11
Something to think about this week: How often do you think about the cost of things that you buy?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Acts 26:19-23 – A Light to Jews and Gentiles.
Tues. – Ephesians 4:17-24 – Live the New Life in Christ.
Wed. – Leviticus 18:24-30 – Keep Land Faithful to Godly Practices.
Thurs. – Zechariah 7:8-14 – Ignoring God’s Laws Leads to Judgment.
Fri. – Nehemiah 7:73b-8:6 – People Anxious to Hear the Law.
Sat. – Nehemiah 8:9-12 – People Respond Actively to the Law.
Sun. – Ezra 10:1-12 – Committed to a Life of Obedience, Salvation, and Redemption.
Lesson 05 – April 4 – The Suffering Servant Brings Salvation
We often associate suffering with sin and judgment, and that can be true if someone is suffering for a particular sin, but we know that on the Cross, Christ suffered for a debt He didn’t owe. He paid the price of our sins, and we can find freedom from our sins when we accept Him as Lord and Savior. As believers, we know the greater glory that awaits us because we have accepted the salvation He paid for on the Cross. Also, as believers, we suffer with Christ and allow suffering to perfect in us patience, peace, hope, and righteousness.
Week of March 29 through April 4
Something to think about this week: Recall a situation where some kind of suffering was ultimately good for you in some way. For example, in school you may have “suffered” studying for a test, but because of that, you received a good grade.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Isaiah 52:13-53:3 – Isaiah Foretells the Suffering Servant.
Tues. – Acts 8:26-35 – Jesus, the Suffering Servant.
Wed. – Luke 18:31-34 – Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection.
Thurs. – Luke 24:1-12 – Jesus Is Raised from Death.
Fri. – Luke 24:13-27 – The Risen Christ Appears to Disciples.
Sat. – Luke 24:28-35 – Christ Revealed in Breaking of Bread.
Sun. – Isaiah 53:4-11 – Christ Suffered and Interceded for Sinners.
Lesson 04 – March 28 – Courageously obey God
On this Palm Sunday, it is good to remember the courage of our Lord. Jesus entered Jerusalem knowing that He would be the true Passover Lamb. He knew all the prophesies concerning His betrayal and the false accusations, mockery, shame, pain, and death that awaited Him—yet He still rode into Jerusalem, fully understanding His crucifixion was near.
Week of March 22 through March 28
Something to think about this week: What does this statement mean? “Obedience requires courage.”
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Mark 9:2-8 – Elijah with Moses and Jesus.
Tues. – Mark 9:9-13 – John the Baptist, the New Elijah.
Wed. – 1 Kings 18:1-4 – Elijah Sent to King Ahab.
Thurs. – 1 Kings 18:20-26, 30-33, 36-39 – Elijah Challenges Baal Prophets.
Fri. – 1 Kings 19:1-8 – Elijah in the Wilderness with God.
Sat. – 1 Kings 19:9b-15 – God Commissions Elijah for New Work.
Sun. – 1 Kings 18:5-18 – King Ahab Meets Prophet Elijah.
Lesson 03 – March 21 – Huldah: Prophet of Wisdom
It is difficult to acknowledge our sins because we don’t like to think of ourselves as sinners, and we also don’t like to face the consequences of what we have done wrong. What we don’t confess to God or others eats away at our souls like a cancer. We need the healing and cleansing that only confession can bring.
1 John 1:9
Week of March 15 through March 21
Something to think about this week: Think about something you do each week or even each day to experience peace in your life.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Psalm 25:1-10 – God Loves Covenant Keepers.
Tues. – Hebrews 4:1-11 – Entering God’s Promised Rest.
Wed. – Deuteronomy 29:1-6 – New Covenant Made with the Israelites.
Thurs. – 2 Kings 22:1-7 – Josiah Prepares to Repair the Temple.
Fri. – 2 Kings 22:8-13 – Josiah Seeks Guidance to Confront Disobedience.
Sat. – 2 Kings 23:1-3 – Josiah Leads in Covenant Renewal.
Sun. – 2 Kings 22:14-20 – Huldah Confirms Coming Judgment; Josiah Spared.
Lesson 02 – March 14 – Joshua: Prophet of Conquest
God’s agenda is always the best for us, and He knows the future—we don’t. The more we pack our agenda with what we want to do, without praying to Him first, the less likely we are to be following Him. We don’t set the agenda and then ask Him to bless it. He will let us know His agenda when we come to Him through prayer and reading Scripture.
Week of March 8 through March 14
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Something to think about this week: What are your plans for the next six months?
Mon. – Hebrews 11:23-31 – Rahab Is Rewarded for Her Faithfulness.
Tues. – Luke 18:35-42 – Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Jericho.
Wed. – Joshua 5:8-12 – Enjoying the Manna and Local Produce.
Thurs. – Joshua 6:6-14 – Marching around the City of Jericho.
Fri. – Joshua 2:15-24 – Rahab and the Spies Confirm a Rescue Plan.
Sat. – Joshua 6:22-25 – Rahab Saved While Jericho Is Destroyed.
Sun. – Joshua 5:13-6:5, 15-16, 20 – Joshua’s Successful Conquest of Jericho.
Lesson 01 – Moses: Prophet of Deliverance
We don’t have prophets like in the Old Testament, but we can still “hear” from God in many ways today—through Scripture, prayer, His creation, musical lyrics, or words from a friend or spiritual leader that penetrate our hearts. Even a persistent thought that won’t go away may be the Holy Spirit trying to guide us.
Week of March 1 through March 7
Something to think about this week: How do you find out the truth about something?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Psalm 77:11-20 – Remember God’s Acts of Deliverance.
Tues. – Luke 16:19-31 – They Have Moses and the Prophets.
Wed. – Exodus 12:43-50 – Instructions for Observing the Passover.
Thurs. – Numbers 9:9-14 – Foreigners and the Unclean Share Passover Meal.
Fri. – Exodus 13:1-2; Deuteronomy 15:19-20 – Consecrate All Firstborn to God.
Sat. – Exodus 13:3-10 – Observe Festival of Unleavened Bread.
Sun. – Deuteronomy 18:15-22 – God Leads through Prophets.
Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church 