OCTOBER 15 SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON,TOPIC: Messiah’s Birth Foretold

OCTOBER 15 SUNDAY SCHOOL  LESSON

TOPIC: Messiah’s Birth Foretold

Memory Verse: Thou, Bethlehem……out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Isreal; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (KJV)

Lesson Text: Num 24:15-17; 2Sam 7:16-17;Isaiah 7:10-14;9:6;11:1-5; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:1-16,17,22-25; 2:1-6; Luke 1;34-35; Roman1;1-3

Central Truth: Old testament prophecies about the birth of the Messiah were fulfilled by Jesus.

FOCUS: To perceive that the birth of Jesus Christ was foretold in scripture and worship Him as the promised Messiah.

     OUTLINE:

1.    Born of the Virgin

A.    Supernatural Sign

B.    God with Us

2.    Born in Bethlehem

A.    From Ancient Times

B.    Confirmed by Magi

3.    Born Heir of David’s Throne

A.    David’s Line Confirmed

B.    An Everlasting Kingdom

             Learning  Objectives

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1.    Recount numerous Old Testament prophecies that point to Christ as the Messiah.

2.    Explain the important place Old Testament prophecy holds in their proclamation of Christ to the World.

3.    Worship God for the promise of the Messiah.

                  INTRODUCING THE LESSON

Question: Why are the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus Important?

       Prophecy can be a difficult subject for many. Some may struggle with its relevance to their lives. Yet within literally hundreds of Old Testament prophecies, we find the foundation of our faith as Christians: Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Saviour of our souls.

1.    Born of the Virgin

A.    Supernatural Sign.  Isaiah 7:10-14.

       More than seven centuries before Christ’s birth, the prophet Isaiah foretold this blessed event. In Isaiah 7, his prophecy came in the form of a message to

 King Ahaz. This wicked king of Judah led the people into idolatry, even sacrificing his own sons to pagan gods ( See 2Chronicle 28;1-3).

        During this time, the Assyrians were marching westward, determined to build a great empire. In response, King Rezin of Damascus and King Pekah of Israel joined force to stand against the Assyrians, and they wanted Ahaz to Join them. When Ahaz refused, Rezin and Pekah determined to depose him and set up a purppet king who would join their alliance ( see Isaiah 7:1-9).

        God instructed Isaiah to take his son Shear-Jashub and approach King Ahaz with a wearing and a promise: Ahaz must trust God. If God’s people did not turn from sin and obey God, they would go into captivity. But If Ahaz would trust God, his enemies would fail.

        To encourage Ahaz, the Lord offered him a supernatural sign ( verse 10-11). The King could ask anything of the Lord, from the depths of Sheol to the heights of the heavens. But Ahaz refused, asserting that he did not want to test God ( verse 12).”Testing God” refers to demanding a show of God’s power without reason ( see Deutronomy 6:16).

Question: What do you think motivated the Refusal of Ahaz??

    The refusal of was not a matter of piety, but a sign Ahaz had already decided to pursue another course of action. He wanted to approach the Assyrians for help against Pekah and Rezin.

   It is within this backdrop that Isaiah delivered one of the most familiar prophecies in all  of the Old Testament. The Prophet, who was almost certainly becoming impatient with the ungodly King, gave a different kind of sign, not only to Ahaz but to the whole house of David ( Isaiah 7:13-14). So, while King Ahaz would ultimately suffer defeat and judgement ( 7:17 to 8:8), Isaiah’s words pointed toward an ultimate hope.

    Isaiah’s word were no longer an invitation, but a prediction. In due time, a virgin would conceive and bear a Son. This would  be God with us –a divine Son from the Davidic line.

    Question: Why is the prophecy of the Virgin birth of Christ important to Christians?

    The prophecy of the Virgin Birth helps us understand how Jesus could be the Son of David as well as the Son of God. It gibes us insight into the profound miracle of the incarnation. What a contrast with the glories of heaven, that the holy Child would come to earth and live as one who is poor ( see 7:15)

B.    God with Us. Matthew 1:22-25; Luke 1:34-35.

       Seven centuries later, the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in supernatural events. In Luke 1:34-35, we read Mary’s amazing reaction to the angelic proclamation: