Subject:  The Wisdom of Jesus

Background:  Mark 6:1-6  &  7:1-23

Printed Text:  Mark 6:1-6

Aim for Change:
“By the end of the lesson, we will:
   IDENTIFY the reason or reasons the people in Nazareth
       could not accept the wisdom of Jesus,
   REPENT of the occasions when Jesus’ words made us feel offended
      instead of accepting them as wisdom,
   and COMMIT to accepting the words of Jesus even when they challenge us.”

Keep in Mind:
“And when the sabbath day was come,
  he began to teach in the synagogue:
  and many hearing him were astonished,
  saying, From whence hath this man these things?
  and what wisdom is this which is given unto him...?
  And they were offended at him”
     Mark 6:2–3, KJV

Excerpt From: Adonijah Okechukwu Ogbonnaya. “Precepts for Living (2019-2020).” Apple Books.
  https://books.apple.com/us/book/precepts-for-living-2019-2020/id1472286612

Subject:  The Boy Jesus

Background:  ECCLESIASTES 3:1–15; LUKE 2:39–52

Printed Text:  ECCLESIASTES 3:1,7; LUKE 2:39–52

Aim for Change:
“By the end of the lesson, we will:
      EXPLORE the account of Jesus’ experience in the Temple at the age of twelve,
      SENSE the awe experienced by all those who witnessed Jesus’ wisdom
      as well as Mary and Joseph’s angst,
      and REJOICE in the opportunity to know the wisdom of God.”

Keep in Mind:
“And the child grew,
  and waxed strong in spirit,
  filled with wisdom:
  and the grace of God was upon him”
         Luke 2:40, KJV

Excerpt From: Adonijah Okechukwu Ogbonnaya. “Precepts for Living (2019-2020).” Apple Books.
  https://books.apple.com/us/book/precepts-for-living-2019-2020/id1472286612

Subject:  Wisdom’s Vindication

Background:  Matthews 11:1 - 19

Printed Text:  Matthews 11:7 - 19

Aim for Change:
“By the end of the lesson, we will:
   EXPLAIN how the different actions of Jesus and John the Baptist both displayed divine wisdom,
   FEEL encouraged to behave in ways that follow Jesus even when they are contrary
          to people’s expectations,
   and REVIEW our own behavior to determine whether it reflects godly wisdom.”

Keep in Mind:
“The Son of man came eating and drinking,
  and they say,
  Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber,
  a friend of publicans and sinners.
  But wisdom is justified of her children”
       Matthew 11:19, KJV

Excerpt From: Adonijah Okechukwu Ogbonnaya. “Precepts for Living (2019-2020).” Apple Books.
  https://books.apple.com/us/book/precepts-for-living-2019-2020/id1472286612

Subject:  Wisdom’s Feast

Background:  Proverbs 9

Printed Text:  Proverbs 9:1 - 6; 8 - 10  & 13 - 18

Aim for Change:
“By the end of the lesson, we will:
  COMPARE and contrast the call and promise of wisdom with that of folly,
  DESIRE to walk the path of wisdom and receive its benefits,
    avoiding the peril of foolishness, and
  GROW in the fear and knowledge of the Lord
    as the first step in walking the way of wisdom.”

Keep in Mind:
“Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding”
  (Proverbs 9:6, KJV).

Excerpt From: Adonijah Okechukwu Ogbonnaya. “Precepts for Living (2019-2020).”
Apple Books.
  https://books.apple.com/us/book/precepts-for-living-2019-2020/id1472286612

Subject:  The Gift of Wisdom

Background:  Job 8 & 42  and Proverbs 8

Printed Text:  Proverbs 8:8-14 & 17 - 24

Aim for Change:
“By the end of the lesson we will:
   RECOGNIZE the incomparable value of wisdom,
   APPRECIATE the difference between the rewards of wisdom
      and the rewards of mere wealth,
   and PURSUE godly wisdom rather than a substitute.”

Keep in Mind:
“Receive my instruction, and not silver;
  and knowledge rather than choice gold.
  For wisdom is better than rubies;
  and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it”
     (Proverbs 8:10–11, KJV).”

Excerpt From: Adonijah Okechukwu Ogbonnaya. “Precepts for Living (2019-2020).”
Apple Books.
  https://books.apple.com/us/book/precepts-for-living-2019-2020/id1472286612

Subject:  The Value of Wisdom

Background:  Genesis 39 & Proverbs 2

Printed Text:  Proverbs 2:12 - 22

Aim for Change:
“By the end of this lesson, we will:
  UNDERSTAND the search for the wisdom that comes from God is most important;
  YEARN for the wisdom that comes from God;   and
  CENTER our hearts, wills, and thoughts in the wisdom that comes from God.”

Keep in Mind:
“For the LORD giveth wisdom:
  out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding”
  (Proverbs 2:6, KJV).”

Excerpt From: Adonijah Okechukwu Ogbonnaya. “Precepts for Living (2019-2020).” Apple Books.
 https://books.apple.com/us/book/precepts-for-living-2019-2020/id1472286612

Subject:  The Call to Wisdom

Background Scripture:  Proverbs 1

Printed Text:  Proverbs1:1-4, 7-8, 10, 20-22, 32 - 33

Aim for Change:
“By the end of the lesson we will: 
  RECOGNIZE the value of godly wisdom and direction, 
  VALUE godly wisdom in our choices, and 
  APPLY the standards of wisdom to a specific choice that needs to be made.”


Keep in Mine:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: 
  but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7, KJV).

Excerpt From: Adonijah Okechukwu Ogbonnaya. “Precepts for Living (2019-2020).” Apple Books.  https://books.apple.com/us/book/precepts-for-living-2019-2020/id1472286612

Theme:  “Peace and Justice Reign”

Bible Background • ZECHARIAH 8

Printed Text • ZECHARIAH 8:1–8, 11–17

Aim for Change:
By the end of the lesson, we will:
 COMPREHEND the impact of God’s presence in a community,
 YEARN for God’s perpetual presence and the promise of justice it brings,
     and PRAY for God’s presence to result in a communal sense of justice, prosperity, and unity.

Keep in Mind Verse:
“So again have I thought
 in these days to do well unto Jerusalem
 and to the house of Judah: fear ye not”
(Zechariah 8:15, KJV).”

Excerpt From: Adonijah Okechukwu Ogbonnaya. “Precepts for Living (2019-2020).”
Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/precepts-for-living-2019-2020/id1472286612

Theme: “A Vision of Restoration”

Bible Background • ZEPHANIAH 3

Printed Text • ZEPHANIAH 3:14–20

Aim for Change:
By the end of the lesson, we will:
   DISCERN the need for the just restoration of God’s people,
   PURSUE trusting God for victory, hope, and renewal,
   and CELEBRATE the return of joy and God’s glory in salvation.

Keep in Mind Verse:
“Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee:
  and I will save her that halteth,
  and gather her that was driven out;
  and I will get them praise and fame
  in every land where they have been put to shame” (Zephaniah 3:19, KJV).

Excerpt From: Adonijah Okechukwu Ogbonnaya. “Precepts for Living (2019-2020).” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/precepts-for-living-2019-2020/id1472286612

Subject:  “The Lord Loves Justice”

Bible Background • ISAIAH 61:8—62:12  (Chapters 61 & 62)

Printed Text • ISAIAH 61:8–11; 62:2–4

Aim for Change:

By the end of the lesson, we will:

 EXPLAIN the hope of vindication for the righteous and faithful,

 DESIRE salvation and restoration for God’s people, and

 COMMIT to making just decisions in everyday life.

Keep in Mind Verse:

“For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering;
  and I will direct their work in truth,
  and I will make an everlasting covenant with them”

 Isaiah 61:8, KJV.

Excerpt From: Adonijah Okechukwu Ogbonnaya. “Precepts for Living (2019-2020).” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/precepts-for-living-2019-2020/id1472286612