2020–2021 TOWNSEND PRESS Sunday School Commentary Based on the International Lessons Series Sunday School Publishing Board National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Rev. Derrick Jackson Interim Executive Director Copyright © 2020 Townsend Press, Nashville, Tennessee. A division of the Sunday School Publishing Board, NBC, USA, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without expressed permission in writing from the Sunday School Publishing Board, P. O. Box 70990, Nashville, Tennessee 37207-0990. E-mail: [email protected]. The Commentary lesson expositions have been developed from the International Sunday School Lessons Series, 2016–2022 Cycle, copyright © 2017 by the Committee on the Uniform Series of the National Council of Churches USA. The Home Daily Bible Readings are prepared by the Committee on the Uniform Series, copyright © 2017. Used by permission. Bible passages are taken from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture passages marked NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and are used by permission. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked NLT taken from the New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, are used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible. Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org) Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ASV are taken from the American Standard Version. *Some Scripture passages may represent the writer’s paraphrase. __________________________________ Writers: Dr. Cleo LaRue; Dr. Geoffrey Guns;Editors: Wellington A. Johnson Sr.; Chantaye Knotts; Emmanuel Reid; Content Editor: Tanae C. McKnight Murdic; Associate Editor: Regina Hoosier; Copy Editor: Yalemzewd Worku; Layout Designer: Royetta Davis; Cover Designer: Vashon L. Oggs ISBN: 978-1-949052-44-2 ii CONTENTS Six-year Cycle . v List of Printed Texts . vi Preface . vii Acknowledgments . viii Know Your Writers . ix Fall Quarter, 2020—Love for One Another General Introduction . 1 September: UNIT I—Struggles with Love 6 Issues of Love (Genesis 37:2-11, 23-24a, 28) . .3 13 God Rewards Obedience (Genesis 41:25-33, 37-40, 50-52) . .13 20 Love versus Guilt (Genesis 42:6-25) . 22 27 God’s Plan Revealed (Genesis 45:1-8, 10-15) . .31 October: UNIT II—Inclusive Love 4 Love and Devotion to Others (1 Samuel 19:1-7) . 40 11 Love Your Enemies (Luke 6:27-36) . 49 18 Loving Your Neighbor (Luke 10:25-37) . .57 25 Love Divine (1 Corinthians 13:1-13) . .67 November: UNIT III—Godly Love among Believers 1 Loving by Serving (John 13:1-15, 34-35) . .77 8 Abiding Love (John 15:4-17) . .87 15 Confident Love (1 John 3:11-24) . .96 22 Sharing Love (Acts 4:32-37; 5:1-11) . 106 29 Impartial Love (James 2:1-13) . 116 Winter Quarter, 2020–2021—The Call of God in the New Testament General Introduction . 125 December: UNIT I—The Beginning of a Call 6 Called through Heritage (Hebrews 1:1-5; Matthew 1:1-6, 16-17) . .127 13 Called before Birth (Matthew 1:18-25) . .136 20 A Regal Response to Holy Light (Matthew 2:7-15) . .144 27 Called to Prepare the Way (Matthew 3:1-12) . 153 January: UNIT II—Jesus and Calls in His Ministry 3 Called to Proclaim (Luke 4:14-22a) . .162 10 Called to Significance (Luke 5:1-11) . 171 17 Called to Heal (Mark 2:1-12) . 180 24 Called as the Intercessor (John 17:14-24) . 189 UNIT III—The Call of Women 31 Prophesying Daughters (Luke 2:36-38; Acts 2:16-21; 21:8-9) . 197 February: UNIT III—The Call of Women 7 Called to Evangelize (John 4:25-42) . 205 iii 14 Mary Magdalene: A Faithful Disciple (Luke 8:1-3; Mark 15:40; John 20:10-18) . .213 21 Priscilla: Called to Minister (Acts 18:1-3, 18-21, 24-26; Romans 16:3-4) . .222 28 Lydia: Called to Serve (Acts 16:11-15, 40; 1 Corinthians 1:26-30) . 230 Spring Quarter, 2021—Prophets Faithful to God’s Covenant General Introduction . 239 March: UNIT I—Faithful Prophets 7 Moses: Prophet of Deliverance (Deuteronomy 18:15-22) . 241 14 Joshua: Prophet of Conquest (Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-5, 15-16, 20) . 249 21 Huldah: Prophet of Wisdom (2 Kings 22:14-20) . 258 28 Elijah: Prophet of Courage (1 Kings 18:5-18) . .267 April: UNIT II—Prophets of Restoration 4 The Suffering Servant Brings Salvation (Isaiah 53:4-11a) . .276 11 Ezra: Faith-and-Action Preacher (Ezra 10:1-12) . 285 18 Nehemiah: The Captive Cupbearer Rebuilds a Nation (Nehemiah 2:11-20) . .295 25 A Plea for Restoration (Lamentations 5:1-22) . 304 May: UNIT III—Courageous Prophets of Change 2 Micaiah: Speaking Truth to Power (1 Kings 22:15-23, 26-28) . 313 9 Isaiah: Offering Hope for the Future (Isaiah 29:13-24) . .322 16 Jeremiah: The Suffering Preacher of Doom (Jeremiah 38:14-23) . 332 23 Ezekiel: Street Preacher to the Exiles (Ezekiel 18:1-9, 30-32) . 341 30 Jonah: Fiery Harbinger of Doom (Jonah 3:1-10) . .350 Summer Quarter, 2021—Confident Hope General Introduction . 359 June: UNIT I—Jesus Teaches about Faith 6 “Why Do You Worry?” (Matthew 6:25-34) . 361 13 “Why Are You Afraid?” (Matthew 8:23-27) . 370 20 Healed by Faith (Matthew 9:18-26) . .378 27 “Why Do You Doubt?” (Matthew 14:22-33) . 386 July: UNIT I—Jesus Teaches about Faith 4 An Attitude of Gratitude (Leviticus 13:45-46; Luke 17:11-19) . .395 UNIT II—Faith and Salvation 11 The Power of the Gospel (Romans 1:8-17) . 404 18 The Faith of Abraham (Romans 4:1-12) . 412 25 Justification through Faith (Romans 5:1-11) . ..