Lord's Day - International KJV Sunday school Lesson, Outline for Teacher's & Student's

March 29

Lesson 5 (KJV)

Need for Just Leaders

Devotional Reading: Psalm 50:1–15

Background Scripture: Malachi 2; 3

Malachi 2:1–9

1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.

2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.

4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.

5 My covenant was with him of life and peace, and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me and was afraid before my name.

6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.

9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

Malachi 3:5, 6

5 And I will come near to you to judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.

6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Key Verse

If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.—Malachi 2:2

Justice and the Prophets

Unit 1: God Requires Justice

Lessons 1–5

Lesson Aims

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

1. Describe the conduct of the Judean priesthood of the late fifth century BC.

2. Explain why God held the priesthood to a high standard.

3. Create a plan to improve one aspect of his or her own priestly ministry (1 Peter 2:5).

Lesson Outline

Introduction

A. A Model for Leadership

B. Lesson Context

I. Failing the Call (Malachi 2:1–9)

A. Hear the Lord (vv. 1–4)

Take That!

B. Fear the Lord (vv. 5–7)

Reliable Delivery

C. Follow the Lord (vv. 8, 9)

II. Renewing the Call (Malachi 3:5, 6)

A. Trying Offenders (v. 5)

B. Unchanging God (v. 6)

Conclusion

A. “Familiarity Breeds Contempt”

B. Prayer

C. Thought to Remember

HOW TO SAY IT

Artaxerxes	Are-tuh-zerk-seez.
Levites	Lee-vites.
Levitical	Leh-vit-ih-kul.
Malachi	Mal-uh-kye.
Nehemiah	Nee-huh-my-uh.
Persia	Per-zhuh.
Shechem	Shee-kem or Shek-em.

What Do You Think? What are some ways to discern a pending problem of cursed blessings today? Digging Deeper When difficult times do come, how will you determine if the problem is one of [the] cursed blessings rather than random occurrence?

What Do You Think? How can churches do a better job in the area of holding their leaders accountable? Digging Deeper Which of these texts best support your response: Matthew 18:15–17; Romans 16:17, 18; 1 Corinthians 5:11–13; 2 Thessalonians 3:14, 15; 1 Timothy 6:3–5; Titus 1:10–16; 3:10? Why?

What Do You Think? In what ways is the admonishment to the priests applicable to Christians today, given the reality of our own priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)? Digging Deeper If no one seeks God’s Word from you as a messenger of the Lord, what problem and solution do you see?

What Do You Think? What are some good ways your church can acknowledge its leaders who are doing the opposite of Malachi 2:8? Digging Deeper What will be your part in this initiative?

What Do You Think? In what ways can you use Malachi 3:5 as a source of comfort or encouragement in the face of today’s negative headlines? Digging Deeper In what ways can you be an empathizer in passing that encouragement along to the oppressed as named in this text?

Prayer

Father, keep us from handling sacred duties in such a way that we lose sight of You. Empower our church to remember our covenant with You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Thought to Remember

Working for God requires faithfulness.

 Redford, Douglas, Jim Eichenberger, and Matt Lockhart. “Need for Just Leaders.” The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2019–2020. Ed. Ronald L. Nickelson et al. Vol. 67. Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2020. 267. Print.