March 26
Lesson 4 (KJV)
Restoring Love
Devotional Reading: 2 Peter 3:1–10
Background Scripture: Joel 2
Joel 2:12, 13, 18, 19, 28–32
12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
18 Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
19 Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.
Photo: Albisoima / iStock / Thinkstock
Key Verse
Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
—Joel 2:13
God Loves Us
Unit 1: God’s Eternal, Preserving, and Renewing Love
Lessons 1–4
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Identify the two places where portions of the lesson text are quoted in the New Testament.
2. Explain the difference between false repentance and true repentance.
3. Identify modern ways that people rend garments rather than hearts, and make a plan to avoid this hypocrisy.
Lesson Outline
Introduction
A. Culture of Defiant Unrepentance
B. Lesson Background
I. Repentance (Joel 2:12, 13)
A. Turning to the Lord (v. 12)
B. Tearing the Heart (v. 13)
II. Rebuilding (Joel 2:18, 19)
A. Jealousy and Pity (v. 18)
Jealous God, Zealous God
B. Provision and Honor (v. 19)
III. Revelation (Joel 2:28–32)
A. Receiving the Spirit (vv. 28, 29)
It’s for Everyone
B. Seeing Wonders (vv. 30, 31)
C. Claiming Salvation (v. 32)
Conclusion
A. Locusts of Life
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
HOW TO SAY IT
apocalyptic
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uh-paw-kuh-lip-tik.
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etymology
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eh-tuh-mall-luh-jee.
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Ezekiel
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Ee-zeek-ee-ul or Ee-zeek-yul.
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Isaiah
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Eye-zay-uh.
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Pentecost
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Pent-ih-kost.
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Zechariah
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Zek-uh-rye-uh.
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What Do You Think?
What should be the when, where, why, and how of fasting for Christians?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Considering positive biblical examples (Matthew 6:17, 18; Acts 13:2, 3; 14:23; etc.)
■ Considering negative biblical examples (Zechariah 7:5, 6; Matthew 6:16; Luke 18:12; etc.
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What Do You Think?
What are some ways to rend one’s heart in true repentance?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ In contrast with a halfhearted rending
■ In terms of changed priorities
■ In terms of how sin is viewed
■ Other
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What Do You Think?
In what ways can churches be more attuned to God’s will so that His blessings will serve to mute the reproach of secular culture?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Concerning charges of inconsistency
■ Concerning charges of irrelevance
■ Other
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