Sunday School Lesson September 27, 2020

Subject: Honor Life

The Point: Respect human life as God does.

The Passage: Exodus 20:13, 1 Samuel 26:7-11, 22-25

Study The Bible: Exodus 20:13

1). Human Life Is Precious to God—and Should Be Precious to Us.

13. Do not murder.

Lasting truths from Exodus 20:13

• We need to value human life because God values it.
• We need to value human life because God created every person in His image.
• We are not to destroy another’s life through hate or defamation.
• We need to value human life because the Scriptures teach that human life is sacred

1 Samuel 26:7-11

2). We Respect Life by Acknowledging God’s Authority over it.

7. That night, David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him.
8. Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just one. I won’t have to strike him twice!”
9. But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can lifts a hand against the Lord’s anointed and be innocent?”
10. David added, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will certainly strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.
11. However, because of the Lord, I will never lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.”

Lasting truths from 1 Samuel 26:7-11

• We respect life by refusing to take advantage of others when we have the upper hand.
• We respect life by leaving vengeance in the Lord’s hands.
• We respect life by acknowledging God’s authority over it.

3). We Respect Life by Treating Every life as Equally Valuable.

1 Samuel 26:22-25

22. David answered, “Here is the king’s spear; have one of the young men come over and get it.
23. The Lord will repay every man for his righteousness and his loyalty. I wasn’t willing to lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed, even though the Lord handed you over to me today.
24. Just as I consider your life valuable today, so may the Lord consider my life valuable and rescue me from all trouble.”
25. Saul said to him, “You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail.” Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

Lasting truths from 1 Samuel 26:22-25

• We respect life by refusing to return evil for evil.
• We respect life by leaving vindication to the Lord.
• We respect life by treating every life as equally valuable.
• We respect life by valuing every aspect of others’ well-being.

Live It Out

As you reflect on this session, respond to the following questions.

1. By what standards do you assess the value of human life? Be specific with your answer.
2. How does the way you treat others reflect the standards you claim regarding the value of human life?
3. What are some practical ways you can take a stand for the value of human life in a culture that increasingly devalues it? Which of these ways are you implementing?

Closing Prayer:

“Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died on the cross to forgive me of my sins and rose from the dead to give me new life. I’m sorry for all the wrong I’ve done and ask You to forgive me. I now accept Your gift of eternal life. Thank You for Your love, forgiveness, and a new life in Jesus Christ. From this day forward, I choose to follow You, In Jesus’ name, Amen”