Hope for the Future

Copyright © 2014 by Standard Publishing,

Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved.

Hope for the Future

Lesson 2





Old vs. New

Decode the following to reveal some stark differences between the old covenant and the new covenant.

AbleStock.com/Thinkstock iStockphoto/Thinkstock



Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

LHJSKL KP SZTHMR

In the New Covenant

HRR XMRSMIMTZ

Those in Covenant: God and . . .



Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

LHJSKL KP SZTHMR

NATION OF ISRAEL

In the New Covenant

HRR XMRSMIMTZ




Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

LHJSKL KP SZTHMR

NATION OF ISRAEL

In the New Covenant

HRR XMRSMIMTZ

ALL BELIEVERS




Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

XKLOHDM KP PRMZF

In the New Covenant

XKLOHDM JK ZSL

Delivered from. . .



Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

XKLOHDM KP PRMZF

BONDAGE OF FLESH

In the New Covenant

XKLOHDM JK ZSL

Delivered from. . .



Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

XKLOHDM KP PRMZF

BONDAGE OF FLESH

In the New Covenant

XKLOHDM JK ZSL

BONDAGE TO SIN

Delivered from. . .



Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

JHXRMJZ KP ZJKLM

In the New Covenant

FEAHL FMHTJZ

Where the law is written:



Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

JHXRMJZ KP ZJKLM

TABLETS OF STONE

In the New Covenant

FEAHL FMHTJZ




Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

JHXRMJZ KP ZJKLM

TABLETS OF STONE

In the New Covenant

FEAHL FMHTJZ

HUMAN HEARTS




Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

JHEDFJ LMSDFXKT

In the New Covenant

HRR VLKC DKO

Knowledge of God:



Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

JHEDFJ LMSDFXKT

TAUGHT NEIGHBOR

In the New Covenant

HRR VLKC DKO

Knowledge of God:



Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

JHEDFJ LMSDFXKT

TAUGHT NEIGHBOR

In the New Covenant

HRR VLKC DKO

ALL KNOW GOD

Knowledge of God:



Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

HLSAHR ZHYTSPSYM

In the New Covenant

BMZEZ’ ZHYTSPSYM

Sins covered by . . .



Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

HLSAHR ZHYTSPSYM

ANIMAL SACRIFICE

In the New Covenant

BMZEZ’ ZHYTSPSYM




Old vs. New

In the Old Covenant

HLSAHR ZHYTSPSYM

ANIMAL SACRIFICE

In the New Covenant

BMZEZ’ ZHYTSPSYM

JESUS’ SACRIFICE






Lesson Outline

IntroductionA. The Newer, Better Covenant B. Lesson Background





Lesson Outline

I. New Covenant Promised (Jeremiah 31:31, 32)

A. The Future (v. 31)B. The Past (v. 32)





What Do You Think?

• Which Scripture do you find most useful in helping you maintain covenant faithfulness to Jesus? Why?

iStockphoto/Thinkstock





What Do You Think?

• Which Scripture do you find most useful in helping you maintain covenant faithfulness to Jesus? Why?

• Talking Points for Your Discussion– 1 Corinthians 11:25– Galatians 3:13, 14– Ephesians 5:8– Hebrews 10:26-29– Revelation 19:7; 21:2, 9– Other





Lesson Outline

II. New Covenant Described (Jeremiah 31:33, 34)

A. Hearts and Minds (v. 33)B. Least and Greatest (v. 34a)C. Forgive and Forget (v. 34b)





What Do You Think?

• What can you do to make your heart more receptive to having God’s Word written on it?






What Do You Think?

• What can you do to make your heart more receptive to having God’s Word written on it?

• Talking Points for Your Discussion– Regarding habits, people, places, and

things to embrace– Regarding habits, people, places, and

things to avoid

Hemera/Thinkstock





What Do You Think?

• What more can you do personally to help spread the gospel to peoples of all nations and languages?






What Do You Think?

• What more can you do personally to help spread the gospel to peoples of all nations and languages?

• Talking Points for Your Discussion– In the exercise of spiritual gifts– In reevaluation of financial priorities– Other





What Do You Think?

• What wrongs against you do you find particularly difficult to forgive? What will you do to overcome this problem?






What Do You Think?

• What wrongs against you do you find particularly difficult to forgive? What will you do to overcome this problem?

• Talking Points for Discussion– Broken promises– Betrayal– Character attacks– Other






Lesson Outline

III. New Covenant’s Permanence (Jeremiah 31:35-37)

A. Source (v. 35)B. Promise (vv. 36, 37)





What Do You Think?

• When was a trying time that consideration of creation led you to a greater appreciation of the Creator? How do you pass this lesson along?

Ingr

am P

ublis

hing

/Thi

nkst

ock





What Do You Think?

• When was a trying time that consideration of creation led you to a greater appreciation of the Creator? How do you pass this lesson along?

• Talking Points for Your Discussion– During a spiritual crisis– During a financial crisis– During a health crisis– Other







Lesson Outline

ConclusionA. The Newer, Better Covenant B. PrayerC. Thought to Remember





Fractured Scriptures

Read through Ezekiel 31:31-37 to help repair the incorrect statements about today’s text.






1. Israel decided to make a new covenant with the Lord.






1. The Lord decided to make a new covenant with Israel.

2. God made the old covenant with Israel when He led them out of Babylon.







2. God made the old covenant with Israel when He led them out of Egypt.

3. A new covenant was necessary because there was something wrong with the old one.







2. God made the old covenant with Israel when He led them out of Egypt.

3. A new covenant was necessary because the Israelites broke the old one.






4. The Lord acted like an enemy to His people.






4. The Lord acted like a husband to His people.

5. In the new covenant God’s law would be in the people’s synagogues.







5. In the new covenant God’s law would be in the people’s minds or inner beings.

6. In the new covenant God’s law would be written on stone tablets.







5. In the new covenant God’s law would be in the people’s minds or inner beings.

6. In the new covenant God’s law would be written on human hearts.






7. No longer would the people teach each other, “Obey the Lord.”






7. No longer would the people teach each other, “Know the Lord.”

8. Some of them will know the Lord, particularly the greatest.







8. All of them will know the Lord, from the least to the greatest.

9. The Lord would remember their iniquity and not forgive their sins.








9. The Lord would forgive their iniquity and not remember their sins.

10. The people should worry that God will keep His promises.








9. The Lord would forgive their iniquity and not remember their sins.

10. The people should believe that God will keep His promises.





Identify the Covenant

• What a privilege to be living under the new covenant of grace rather than the old covenant of law and legalism!

• Read the following quotes and indicate which covenant pattern is being followed, old or new.






“Since I missed taking Communion last Sunday, I’m afraid that I won’t go to Heaven if I die today.”

Goodshoot/Thinkstock






“Since I missed taking Communion last Sunday, I’m afraid that I won’t go to Heaven if I die today.” (Old)

Goodshoot/Thinkstock






• “Why can’t I get the victory over this particular sin? I will trust Jesus for help and forgiveness.”

Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Thinkstock






• “Why can’t I get the victory over this particular sin? I will trust Jesus for help and forgiveness.” (New)

Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Thinkstock






“I make sure always to tithe 10 percent so I know that I am ‘good to go’ with God.”







“I make sure always to tithe 10 percent so I know that I am ‘good to go’ with God.” (Old)







“No Christian should go to that kind of movie, so why did I see a church elder there?”







“No Christian should go to that kind of movie, so why did I see a church elder there?” (Old)







“I realize I have the freedom to eat all kinds of food, but I always pause to consider how exercise of my freedom will affect others.”







“I realize I have the freedom to eat all kinds of food, but I always pause to consider how exercise of my freedom will affect others.” (New)






Thought to Remember

The greatest blessing of all is to be part of the new covenant!



ANTICIPATION OF A NEW FUTURE

Next Week’s Lesson

Hope for the Future

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