The Lord's Day International Sunday School Lesson, Outline

May 19

Lesson 12 (KJV)

Called to Mutual Acceptance

Devotional Reading: Romans 10:5–13

Background Scripture: Romans 11

Romans 11:11–24

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

Key Verse

Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.—Romans 11:18

Discipleship and Mission

Unit 3: Call to Life in Christ

Lessons 10–13

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Describe the components of Paul’s analogy of the olive trees.

2. Explain the inclusive nature of God’s grace.

3. Repent of self-congratulatory pride.

Lesson Outline

Introduction

A. “It’s Complicated”

B. Lesson Context: Paul, Jews, and Gentiles

C. Lesson Context: Olive Trees

I. Result of Stumble (Romans 11:11–15)

A. Provoking to Jealousy (vv. 11, 12)

B. Pushing for Emulation (vv. 13–15)

II. Outcome of Brokenness (Romans 11:16–21)

A. Partaking of Fatness (vv. 16–18)

B. Grafting by Faith (vv. 19–21)

Grafting Today

III. Possibility of Restoration (Romans 11:22–24)

A. Continuing in Goodness (vv. 22, 23)

Rebellion and Restoration

B. Regrafting onto God’s Tree (v. 24)

Conclusion

A. Grace Is Always Prior to Salvation

B. Prayer

C. Thought to Remember

HOW TO SAY IT

Andronicus	An-dro-nye-kus.
Antioch	An-tee-ock.
Barnabas	Bar-nuh-bus.
Corinthians	Ko-rin-thee-unz (th as in thin).
Ephesians	Ee-fee-zhunz.
Galatians	Guh-lay-shunz.
Gamaliel	Guh-may-lih-ul or Guh-may-lee-al.
Gentiles	Jen-tiles.
Jotham	Jo-thum.
Junia	Joo-ni-uh.
Leviticus	Leh-vit-ih-kus.
Matthias	Muh-thigh-us (th as in thin).
synagogue	sin-uh-gog.

Visual for Lesson 12. Start a discussion by pointing to this visual as you ask, “How do we overcome hurdles to Christianity that nationalism may pose?”

What Do You Think? What boundaries or limits should we observe regarding techniques used to win people to Christ? Digging Deeper Evaluate the phrase “the end justifies the means” in relation to this question.

What Do You Think? Under what circumstances, if any, should Paul’s ministry to Gentiles be a precedent for sending missionaries to other cultures rather than training evangelists from within those cultures? Why? Digging Deeper How do Acts 13:46; 18:6; Galatians 2:7–9; and Philippians 3:5 inform your viewpoint, if at all?

What Do You Think? Considering Christianity’s roots in Judaism, how should this text influence our view of the value of the Old Testament? Digging Deeper Consider also Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Colossians 2:14

What Do You Think? What needs to happen for you to be considered a root for the generation of Christians to come? Digging Deeper How will you create and maintain accountability for your progress?

What Do You Think? What steps can you take to help your fellow believers better understand both God’s kindness and severity? Digging Deeper What will happen in cases where one is stressed to the exclusion of the other.

To print the reproducible activity page, simply click the highlighted text below to create a pdf file on your hard drive. Then open the pdf file in Acrobat Reader and print.

Activity Page (May 19: Called to Mutual Acceptance)

Krause, Mark S. et al. “Called to Mutual Acceptance.” The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2018–2019. Ed. Ronald L. Nickelson et al. Vol. 66. Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2018. 321–323. Print.