Outdoor Object Lesson 83: Poinsettia’s Point

Key Text

“how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:14 (WEB)

Lesson

No flower embodies the Christmas season more than the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). In fact, no other plant except the Christmas tree comes close to the same popularity this time of year. But why did this flowering plant become so popular? Afterall there are numerous red flowers in nature. Poinsettias were discovered and named by Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, an amateur botanist and the first United States ambassador to Mexico. He discovered this beautiful bush growing in Mexico in 1828. He was responsible for importing and popularizing the bush in the United States.

One primary reason this plant became popular at Christmas time is because December is the only time of year that poinsettias bloom. Their brilliant red leaves are the perfect color to adorn the Christmas story. Red and green have long been associated with the Christmas season although not always as dominant as today. Poinsettias have been a staple of church decorations in Mexico at Christmas time for hundreds of years. As they spread in popularity in the United States, they easily became a staple of Christmas décor because they are one of few plants that bloom in December, especially in the northern climates.

Another reason poinsettias became popular in churches at Christmas time is because to the Aztecs of Mexico the color red represented purity. As Christianity spread in Mexico the poinsettia naturally became a dominate fixture in churches at Christmas time. In the Bible the color white is most often associated with purity. White is clean, and even the slightest bit of impurity is easily seen against a white background. So, it is easy to see why it represents purity. In the Bible red can also represent purity because of the blood of sacrifices. In the key text we see the blood of Jesus’ sacrifice used to symbolically cleans and purify us from sin.

Poinsettias are an amazing plant. They can grow into small trees in their native region reaching 12 feet (3.7 m) high with leaves 8 inches (20.3 cm) wide. It is actually their leaves that turn red. Many people mistake the red leaves as flower petals. On most flowering plants the petals have the bright colors. That is not so with poinsettias. The flowers are very small, unremarkable yellow buds at the center of the brightly colored leaves. Poinsettias come in a variety of colors including white, pink, salmon, cream, yellow, and most popular, red. You may see blue or other colors, but these have been dyed. Whenever you look at a poinsettia this Christmas, whether white, red, or some shade in between, remember what Jesus has done for you. Jesus shed his blood so that we could be purified and live with him eternally. Let that be an ever-present thought in your mind when you see a poinsettia.

Questions

What is your favorite Christmas decoration?

Why do you think red and green are the most popular Christmas colors?

How does the blood of Jesus make us pure?

What are some ways you can help to keep Christ at the center of Christmas this year?

Sources

1. Dr. Leonard Perry. “Fun Facts About Poinsettias,” The Green Mountain Gardener online, (Burlington: University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science) accessed December 3, 2018, https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/points.htm.



Written by David F. Garner
Photo credit: sandid via www.pixabay.com

Outdoor Object Lesson 78: One Special Utensil

Key Text


“If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21 (NLT)


Lesson

Eating utensils are indispensable in modern Western society and nearly the world over. They have been used in many societies throughout history. The most ancient eating utensil is likely the knife as it is most important to cut food for consumption.

Utensils have taken many different shapes and been used for a variety of purposes. From the humble spoon that has changed shape very little since it’s creation to the highly specialized utensils of Victorian era Britain. During this period the British high class had a utensil for every conceivable food connoisseur’s need. Such as the tomato server which was for one purpose only, to transfer tomato slices from the tray onto your plate.

We still have a variety of utensils today that serve different purposes for food preparation and consumption. One example are the special utensils designed for use on outdoor adventures and camping trips. These utensils are uniquely designed to meet a number of demands. They must first be as light weight as possible while remaining strong. The must be compact for easy storage. They must be durable to withstand a lot of use.

Camping utensils are often made from unusual materials in order to meet all these demands. Materials include high-temperature resistant plastic, aluminum, stainless steel, silicone, and titanium. They are often designed to have multiple functions to save weight such as combining a spoon and fork into a spork or putting a fork on one end of the handle and a spoon at the other. Some camping utensils fold up to save room.

Because of their unique qualities camping utensils are not used every day. We use regular forks and knives on a daily basis and save the camping utensils for that special purpose. We rely on them to do an important job and keep us fed when we go camping and on outdoor adventures. They have a special purpose.

In the key text Paul compares God’s people to valuable utensils that are for special or ‘honorable’ use. God has important and special work that he wants us to do. This work involves sharing the important message of his grace and soon return! But he does not want any regular person for this job. The key text specifies God wants only those that are pure. The only way we can be a valuable utensil for God’s work is by accepting Jesus to cleans us and by living pure lives according to the Bible (see Romans 12:1-2). Only then will we be a special utensil for honorable use. Pray today that God will show you how to become one of his special utensils.


Questions

What is your favorite camping food?

If Jesus makes us pure does it matter how we live?

What does it mean to live a pure life according to the Bible?

If we fail to live according to the Bible's commands do we lose our purity?




Written by David F. Garner
Photo credit: MabelAmber  via www.pixabay.com

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 61: White As Snow

Key Verse

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says Yahweh: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18 WEB

Lesson

There is an old hymn by James L. Nicholson that goes, “Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow, Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” It is curious to wonder what it is that makes snow white. Snow is water, which is clear. Ice is clear and so is water vapor that flows above a boiling pot. Why is snow any different? Snow is white no matter how you look at it. Look over a snow-covered field or mountain, it is white. Pick up a handful of snow, it is white. Pinch a bit of snow between your fingers, it is white.

Visible light appears as different colors. Each color of the rainbow consists of light waves vibrating at unique frequencies. Red light waves vibrate slowly. Blue light waves vibrate more quickly. When light hits an object, it may reflect some light waves, and absorb others. A blue object absorbs all light waves accept those that are blue. The blue light waves reflect and that is what we see making the object appear blue. It is the same for a yellow object and each color of the rainbow. A black object is slightly different, it absorbs all colors of light and so appears black.

A white object is exactly the opposite, it reflects all colors of light. A snow flake is a minute crystal with several surfaces. When the light hits these surfaces, it bounces in all directions. All colors of light reflect in every direction. When all the colors blend together the object appears white.

In the Bible sin is often described as a dark stain on our heart making it dirty. Thankfully Jesus came and sacrificed himself so that we can be forgiven of our sin. We are then pure and spotless again. Think of a clear sunny morning after a fresh snowfall and the blinding brilliant white that is so bright you can scarcely look at it. That is how pure Jesus promises to make your heart. In fact, when we receive the cleansing forgiveness of Jesus we become purer than snow. And then we can sing with Mr. Nicholson, “The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow.”


Questions

What is your favorite snow related activity?

Why do you think purity is represented with the color white in the Bible?

What does it mean to have a pure and clean heart?

As a mostly good person, do you really need Jesus’ forgiveness?

Written by David F. Garner
 Photo Credit: Nick Mealey via www.flickr.com under a CC 2.0 license minor changes made.

Leadership Lessons Series: Sexuality

Key Text

"And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 (WEB)


Lesson

Discussing sex in ministry is usually uncomfortable. So we often avoid it. But discussing it is necessary and beneficial. I have found my listeners appreciate hearing a Biblical perspective. You don't have to lead an open discussion. You can do all the talking and they can do all the listening. This often makes it a bit less awkward. I begin by telling my listeners that I am about to give them a talk on Biblical sexuality and they don't have to discuss it unless they want to. I tell them I will be available afterword for private questions. I have heard a lot of talks on this subject delivered in a judgmental and hurtful way. So I have shared my notes below from a talk I gave about this topic in the hopes it will help others to approach this subject in a non-judgmental and less awkward manor.

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Our culture tends to take sex for granted. God has a different plan, to Him, sexuality is something special. See Matthew 19:5; Proverbs 4:23. As the creator and originator of sexuality God knows best how it should work. God offers us a better way that will lead to happiness and wholeness for us and our family. Our culture promotes doing what feels good now, but God asks us to be patient so he can give us something better.

God's plan for sexuality is that it be only between one man and one woman in exclusive marriage. Sin has perverted sexuality. Premarital sex and cohabitation are normal in our society. These are not the best way to find a happy marriage. Our sexual urges are perverted too. The Bible says in Matthew 5:28 that lusting after a person is not healthy and wrong. Lusting means things like pornography and desiring someone for only what you can get.

Our perverted sexual urges mean that some people struggle with all sorts of unhealthy sexual desires such as desiring multiple wives, boyfriends, or sexual partners at the same time. Others include bisexual and homosexual attraction. The Bible tells us acting on these urges or temptations is unhealthy and wrong. There is also mounting scientific evidence that doing these things (premarital sex, cohabitation, divorce, pornography, polygamy, homosexuality, and lust) can be unhealthy. You likely know someone who has been hurt by divorce and how unhealthy it is for everyone involved.

Many of these things may seem impossible to avoid or overcome, but they are not. Jesus promises to give us the strength and ability to overcome. I have personally known many people who have stayed free from these unhealthy sexual acts. That does not mean they were not tempted, even Jesus was tempted. But it is certainly possible. Jesus even calls some people to celibacy. Jesus promises to give us the power to do what he asks.

The most important thing to remember is that sexuality is only part of who a person is. Sexual desires are part of a deeper desire for intimacy and love. We all long for love and that is what we need most, 1 Peter 4:8. And you can have that right now. You do not have to wait for marriage or the right person. Love and intimacy can come from any relationship, parents, sibling, grandparents, friends. Love and intimacy are part of every relationship not just romantic ones although it may be shown differently. The best thing is that we can have love and intimacy with the Creator and King of the Universe right now.

So what about people who have not lived up to the standards God calls us to? Anyone who has been in a Christian church very long has likely heard about purity. You may feel negative towards the idea. Perhaps you think that once you have stumbled, your purity is gone forever. Here is some news: you were born impure! Everyone has inherited a sinful nature from Adam and Eve. Jesus is the only one who can make us pure, our actions cannot, Romans 11:6. The great news is that Jesus can restore our purity no matter what we have done! If you or someone you know struggles with unwanted sexual temptations, please talk to someone like a pastor, mentor, or counselor. They are trained and want to help!

We must respect everyone who has not lived up to God's standards, because neither have we. We also must respect their freedom to choose not to live by those standards. God gives them (and us) that choice and so must we. So how do we act towards people who have not lived up to the standards God calls us to? Ganoune Diop, a leading religious freedom advocate delivered an address to a United Nations conference in 2016 about Biblical teaching on human sexuality in which he answers this question. He said, “It means saying ‘No’ to discrimination or any form of violence. It means demonstrating that people can believe differently, and be different, while sharing the same humanity; it means living in the common public space with respect for the dignity of every person; it means recognizing that each person has been granted the right — and responsibility—of freedom by their Creator.”1

Sources
1. Bettina Krause, “Adventist Leader Discusses Sexuality at UN Conference,” Adventist Review Online, posted JUNE 29, 2016, accessed January 3, 2017, http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story4137-adventist-leader-discusses-sexuality-at-un-conference.

Written by David F. Garner

Photo Credit: Pexels