EDITORIAL STAFFRev. Dr. Roderick Belin, PublisherBen Howard, EditorCindy Klick, LessonsJason Brown, LessonsEvan Jones, LessonsA.L. Stanfield, Copy EditorM.E. Russell, Layout Design

THE APOSTLES’ CREEDI believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; the third day He arose from the dead, He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Church Universal, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

THE CHURCH SCHOOL CREED

I believe my A.M.E. Church School must grow and grow; and that I must make it a top priority to make it so. Every member a Christian, every Christian a worker, every worker trained so that a worker need not be ashamed. This we ask in Jesus’ name.

A.M.E. Discipline

I. Bell tap or organ voluntary as a signal for silence

II. Singing

III. The Apostles’ Creed

IV. Prayer, closing with the Lord’s Prayer in concert

V. Singing

VI. Calling roll of officers and teachers

VII. Responsive reading of the lesson text by school

VIII. The Decalogue

I. Organ interlude while the classes are being arranged

II. Class study of the lesson

III. Warning bell — 5 minutes

IV. Closing bell — silence

I. Singing

II. Review and application of the lesson

III. Secretary’s report

IV. The Church School Creed

V. Singing

VI. Benediction

Devotion: Constant Like the Waves

One of our church’s annual mission trip destinations is a Methodist school campus in Belize, where our youth and adult leaders help with building improvements and maintenance. At the end of each work week, our mission teams enjoy a few days of sabbath time at a modest beach resort community.

Th e chaperones stay in a cabana that gives them a view of the students’ rooms on one side and the vast and breathtaking ocean on the other. I’ve oft en fallen asleep laying in the hammock on the porch or in bed listening to the steady rhythm of the waves lapping up on the shore. It’s a peaceful, soothing sound that provides me with both relaxation and comfort. Even weeks later at home, when I close my eyes, I can almost hear the ocean again. An Old Testament psalm of David describes God’s constant presence in the same way. Read and meditate on the focal Scripture below.

Th e next time you fi nd sabbath in the quiet rhythms of nature, or experience waves of suff ering resulting from either human choices or accidental circumstances, whisper a prayer of thanks. God’s love remains with you through it all, as steady and reliable as the ocean waves.

Add your thoughts about this devotion here:

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Focal Scripture Verse“Give to the Lord the glory due his name! Bow down to the Lord in holy splendor! The Lord’s voice is over the waters; the glorious God

thunders; the Lord is over the mighty waters. The Lord’s voice is strong; the Lord’s voice is majestic.” — Psalm 29:2-4

ADAPTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT ©2020 BY ABINGDON PRESS.

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OVERVIEWSENIOR QUARTERLY

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LESSON 1

Adam and Eve lived in a paradise and had everything they needed. But they chose to ignore God’s rules, changing their lives and the lives of their descendants forever.

LESSON 2

Even our best friends let us down sometimes, simply because they’re human. Jesus learned this when his closest friends couldn’t stay awake to pray for him when he needed it the most.

LESSON 3

Imagine packing for a short vacation on your way to a new home. Along the way the journey turns into a nightmare that lasts for decades. It happened to the Israelites, complete with bad food and poisonous pests.

LESSON 4

Satan tempted Jesus with comfort, power, and control during his time fasting in the desert. Temptations lure us to act independently from God.

LESSON 5

The people of Judah followed leaders who forgot about God. They were blinded by sin, selfish deeds, and prohibited religious practices. As a result, they suffered thirty-seven years of exile and imprisonment.

We’ve all experienced suffering—sometimes as a consequence of our personal choices and other times for what feels like no reason. In this unit, we will learn about how God’s people in the Old and New Testaments experienced suffering.

SUFFERING Comes to All Unit 1

LESSON 1 MARCH 1, 2020

Expulsion From the GardenNew LifeThe garden of Eden described in Genesis was a paradise. Throughout the Bible, the garden is a shorthand for paradise and what it means to live with God. Growing a garden takes time, but let’s focus today on a miniature garden that will bear quick results.

● Why is the idea of a garden so appealing?

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● Why do you think the Bible describes paradise as a garden?

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● What would it feel like to be banished from paradise?

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GENESIS 3:8-24 (NRSV)

8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

9 But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

10 He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.”

13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.”

14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

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16 To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

17 And to the man he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life;

18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.

19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

20 The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

21 And the Lord God made garments of skins for the man and for his wife, and clothed them.

22 Then the Lord God said, “See, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—

23 therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken.

24 He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life.

KEY VERSES: Th e Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to farm the fertile land from which he was taken. He drove out the human. To the east of the garden of Eden, he stationed winged creatures wielding fl aming

swords to guard the way to the tree of life. — Genesis 3:23-24 (CEB)THE SNAKE SAID WHAT?

Have someone read the Bible verses aloud. As they are read, say “pause” whenever you hear something in the passage that would be unexpected if it happened today. Also, say “pause” if you have a question.

Have someone volunteer as a scribe who will, on a markerboard or large sheet of paper, record the word or phrase mentioned whenever the reading is paused.

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● Looking at everything listed on the chart, what stands out most to you from this story?

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● Why do you think it was important to include this detail?

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POSITIVE/NEGATIVEOften, we tell the story of Adam and Eve as a way to explain what people did wrong, but it also can teach us positive things about how God cares for us and how we should respond to God.

● What are three positive lessons you can learn from this story? (for example, “God is . . .” or “We should . . .”)

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2. _____________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________

● What are three negative lessons you can learn? (for example, “God is not . . .” or “We should not . . .”)

1. _____________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________

FIRST MEMORY● Draw a picture showing your first memory of doing something

wrong or getting into trouble.

SOUND OF SILENCEClose your eyes and reflect on what Adam and Eve may have felt when they left the garden and how it changed their lives.

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LESSON 2 MARCH 8, 2020

Jesus in GethsemaneSo VividWhen we have deeply emotional experiences, they often become etched in our memory. Sometimes we can remember smells and details that we wouldn’t remember otherwise.

● In the space below, draw a vivid memory from your life. What does it feel like? taste like? smell like? sound like? look like?

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MATTHEW 26:36-46 (NRSV)

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated.

38 Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.”

39 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.”

40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour?

41 Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

43 Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

44 So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words.

45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”

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KEY VERSES: When he took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, he began to feel sad and anxious. Th en he said to them, “I am very sad. It’s as

I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert with me.” — Matthew 26:37-38 (CEB)

ROCK OF GETHSEMANEHave someone in the class read the Bible verses aloud. As you listen, write below words that express the ways in which Jesus was suffering.

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2. _______________________

3. _______________________

4. _______________________

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6. _______________________

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BE A FRIENDForm three small groups and chose one of these apostles to write about: Peter, James, or John.

Apostle: ___________________________

● Reread today’s Bible verses and make notes about what your apostle did in the garden.

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● How could this apostle have behaved differently in Jesus’ time of need?

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● How would you want a friend to respond in a similar situation?

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Write a paragraph from the perspective of your apostle about how he would act differently.

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PRAY WITHOUT CEASING● What emotions do you recognize from Jesus’ prayer (v. 39) in the garden?

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● How can you pray for the others today?

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FAST FRIENDS● Who are two or three friends you will pray for this week?

1. _____________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________

Fasting helps us to be conscious of our actions and reminds us to focus on God. Fasting does not just have to mean abstaining from eating. It can also apply to other activities as well.

● What is something you will fast from this week: _______________

_____________________________________________________ During the time you normally would be doing this activity, remember to pray for the friends you listed.

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