Adults 4th quarter 2024
November 17, 2024
GOLDEN TEXT
“A new heart I will give you and put a new spirit within you; I will take the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” ( Ezekiel 36:26 )
PRACTICAL TRUTH
Those saved in Christ Jesus have a new heart, focused on the Word of God and willing to do His will.
DAILY READING
Friday - Jr 20.12 God sees the human heart
BIBLE READING IN CLASS
Romans 2.25-29; Jeremiah 31.31-34
Romans 2
25 – For circumcision is indeed profitable, if you keep the law; but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
26 – If, then, uncircumcision keeps the precepts of the law, will uncircumcision not be considered circumcision?
27 – And uncircumcision, which is by nature, if it fulfills the law, will it not judge you, who by the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law?
28 – For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision one who is one outwardly in the flesh.
29 – But He is a Jew who is one on the inside, and circumcision is that which is of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter, whose praise does not come from men, but from God.
Jeremiah 31
31 – Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
32 – Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, because they made my covenant void, even though I had married them, says the Lord.
33 – But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.
34 – And no man shall teach his neighbor, nor any man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their wickedness, and I will remember their sins no more.
LESSON PLAN
1- INTRODUCTION
For many years, the people of Israel served God only with a religious heart, restricting their relationship with God only to compliance with human laws and traditions. The promise of a new heart is in line with the words of our Lord Jesus who stated that “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). This is a heart transformed by the message of the Gospel.
2- PRESENTATION OF THE LESSON
A) Objectives of the Lesson:
I) Conceptualize the word “heart” according to the Bible;
II) Highlight the new perspective on life of those with a new heart;
III) List the promises for the new heart.
B) Motivation: The person who has a new heart leans towards the Kingdom of God and has their lifestyle completely changed. Thus, new behaviors are observed in a person who has a new heart.
C) Method Suggestion:The first topic of the lesson highlights the biblical perspective of the heart. In general, the heart is the center of reason and emotion. Thus, the action of the Holy Spirit transforms the way a new believer thinks and feels. Based on this principle, the Bible emphasizes that the laws established for the people of Israel in the Old Covenant would be practiced not by fulfilling external rituals and ceremonies, but rather by the sincere obedience of a converted heart. Take advantage of the opportunity, divide the class into groups and suggest a situation in which they have the role of guiding a newly converted person regarding spiritual regeneration. Allow time for them to talk about the subject and then present their explanation.
3- LESSON CONCLUSION
A) Application: The promise of a new heart, expressed since the Old Testament, reveals a lifestyle that thinks and acts according to the teachings of Jesus. Practicing the teachings of our Savior identifies the new lifestyle of those who have a heart like Jesus'.
4- TEACHER'S SUPPORT
A) Christian Teacher Magazine. It is worth getting to know this magazine that brings reports, articles, interviews and support resources for Adult Bible Lessons. In issue 99, p. 39, you will find a special resource for this lesson.
B) Special Resources: At the end of the topic, you will find resources that will support you in preparing your class:
1) The text “THE MIND”, located after the first topic, highlights the concept of the heart, more specifically, when it refers to the human mind;
2) The text “NICODEMOS VISITS JESUS AT NIGHT (John 3-1-21)”, located after the second topic, explains the understanding of the Kingdom of God granted to all those who experience the “New Birth”.
INTRODUCTION
The heart has a very unique biblical perspective. The word refers to the reality of each person’s inner life. That is why, throughout the Bible, 1 we come across advice that encourages us to take care of our hearts and guard them from all evil influences. The heart, according to the Bible, is the center of life. The promises for the heart are the theme of this lesson.
KEYWORD: Heart
I – THE HEART IN THE BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE
1- The heart in the Bible. In the Bible, the word “heart” is rarely used as a reference to the physical organ I ( 2 Sam 18.14 ; 2 Kgs 9.24 ). In general, this word refers to the “inner man” in order to reveal the center of the mental, emotional and spiritual life of the human being. In this way, the apostle Paul refers to the “outer man” (the physical body) and the inner man (soul and spirit), which constitutes the human being in its entirety: body, soul and spirit ( Heb 4.12 ). It is to the dimension of this “inner man” that the Bible applies the word “heart”, everything that is part of our soul and spirit.2- The circumcision of the heart. The text of the Bible Reading in Class presents Romans 2.25-29 in a context in which the apostle Paul teaches the meaning of the true circumcision of the New Covenant. In fact, circumcision was a physical act established by God for the descendants of Abraham. However, in the New Testament, what attests to the New Covenant is no longer a physical mark ( Rom 2:28 ), but the work done by the Holy Spirit in the person’s heart (Rom 2:29). This is the true circumcision! This is an exclusive work of the Spirit that enables us to be a follower of the Lord Jesus and establish a personal relationship with God. Without this circumcision of the heart, it is impossible to maintain a living relationship with the Father ( John 3:3-8 ).
3- A new heart. This teaching of the apostle Paul goes back to the prophet Jeremiah 31:31-34 regarding a New Covenant that breaks with the form of the Old. This New Covenant would no longer be known by physical, ritualistic and external marks, but would have to do with the interior of the person, because God would write His Law in the “heart”, He would place His Law within the House of Israel (Jer 31:33). Thus, God would give a new heart to His people. Therefore, the apostle Paul refers to this work with the word “spirit” instead of “letter” (Rom 2:29), because the Law of God would be within the human being who goes through the work of regeneration promoted by the Holy Spirit (John 3:6,7). Therefore, in general, the word “heart” refers to what is inside the human being ( Prov 4:23 ; Matt 15:18-20 ).
EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE
“KARDIA
Prolonged form of a primary word, káp (Kar, in Latin, cor, 'heart'); the heart, ie, (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (the mind); also (by analogy) the middle: – broken heart. A noun meaning heart, the seat and center of circulation, and therefore of human life. In the New Testament it is used only in a figurative sense: I – As the seat of desires, feelings, affections, passions, impulses, ie, the heart or mind (Mt 5.8,28); […] II – As the seat of the intellect, meaning the mind, the understanding (Mt 13.15); […] III – In a figurative sense: the heart of something, the middle or central part, ie, the heart of the earth (Mt 12.40) […].” Expand your knowledge further by reading the Study Bible Key Words: Hebrew and Greek, published by CPAD, p.2252.
SYNOPSIS I
The heart refers to the “inner man” to reveal the center of the mental, emotional and spiritual life of the human being.
THEOLOGICAL HELP
THE MIND “The heart refers to the mind, but not to the brain and, in this case, does not involve human physiology. It is a metaphor and, although the neurophysiology of the heart may be interesting in itself, it has no relation to this use of language. Deuteronomy 6.5 gives the command to love God with all one’s heart, soul and strength. When the command is repeated in the Gospels, it occurs with three variations (Mt 22.37; Mk 12.30; Lk 10.27). Common to all three is the addition of the word 'mind'. By adding “mind,” the Gospel writers want to make sure that their audience hears Jesus, but their addition is based on the fact that the meaning of the Hebrew word for heart includes the mind. The mental activities of the metaphorical heart are plentiful. The heart is where a person thinks (Gen. 6:5; Deut. 7:17; 1 Chr. 29:18; Rev. 18:7), where a person understands and has understanding (1 Kgs. 3:9; Job 17:4; Ps. 49:3; Prov. 14:13; Matt. 13:15). The heart plans and plans things (Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Prov. 20:5; 1 Chr. 29:18; Jer. 23:20). A person believes with the heart (Luke 24:25; Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9). The heart is the seat of wisdom, discernment, and skill (Exod. 35:34; 36:2; 1 Kgs. 3:9; 10:24). The heart is the seat of memory (Deut. 4:9; Ps. 119:11). The heart plays the role of conscience (2 Sam. 24:10; 1 John 3:20, 21)” (LONGMAN III, Tremper. Baker Bible Dictionary. Rio de Janeiro: CPAD, 2023, p. 407).
2- A conscious heart. As the center of the inner life of the human being, in our hearts we meditate, ponder and evaluate, as Mary, the mother of Jesus, did when hearing what the shepherds said about the boy: “And all who heard it marveled at what the shepherds they told them. But Mary kept all these things, checking them in her heart” ( Luke 2:18,19 ). Thus, whoever receives a new heart, transformed by the new nature from the Word of God, has the ability to guard his heart and what happens around him, so that he can desire to do the good, pleasant and perfect will of God ( Rm 12.2 ; Phil 4.8,9 ).
3- God sees the heart. In the book of the Prophet Jeremiah it is written: “You therefore, O Lord of hosts, who tests the righteous and sees the thoughts and the heart, let me see your vengeance on them, for I have discovered my cause for you” ( Jer 20:12 ). From this text, we can infer that the human heart is a place that few can know, enter and contemplate. It is the most hidden place of the person. However, the Bible says that God sees the heart. He contemplates the human being inside and out. The Creator formed man in his entirety, both his outer and inner life, and, therefore, He contemplates and knows each person's heart well. Thus, whoever has been regenerated and transformed is contemplated by God in all dimensions of the heart.
SYNOPSIS II
The new heart is inclined to God, aware of His will and knows that God knows all things.
THEOLOGICAL AID
NICODEMUS VISITS JESUS AT NIGHT (John 3:1-21). “[…] The fact that a person must be born again referred to a spiritual birth, but Nicodemus understood that Jesus was referring to a physical rebirth. But what could Jesus expect Nicodemus to know about the Kingdom? From Scripture he could have known that the Kingdom would be ruled by God, would eventually be restored on earth, and would incorporate God’s people. Jesus revealed to this pious Pharisee that the Kingdom would be made available to the whole world (John 3:16), not just the Jews, and that Nicodemus would not be part of it unless he was born again (3:5). This was a revolutionary concept: the Kingdom is personal, not national or ethnic, and the requirements for entry are repentance and a new spiritual birth. Later, Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God had already begun in the hearts of believers (Luke 17:21) and would be fully realized when He returns to judge the world and abolish lawlessness forever (Revelation 21–22). […] Only God the Holy Spirit grants the new life of heaven (being ‘born of the Spirit’). At the same time that God places His precious Spirit within us, we receive a new, regenerated human spirit. It is God’s Spirit, not our own efforts, that makes us children of God (1:12). Jesus’ description reaffirms men’s hope that they can somehow inherit virtue from their parents, that they can earn it through good behavior, through church training, or by associating with the right people. At some point, we must be able to answer the question, ‘Have I been born of the Spirit?’” (New Testament Commentary – Personal Application. Vol. 1. Rio de Janeiro: CPAD, 2009, pp. 501, 502).
2- A heart full of love. Love is the essence of Christianity. Without it, there is no true expression and identity of what it means to be a Christian. The apostle Paul writes: “And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” ( Romans 5:5 ). This word shows that the love of God is poured out in the hearts of those who have the Holy Spirit and, therefore, their hearts are transformed. Therefore, the heart of the saved is full of love. In this way, we can live what the apostle Paul wrote: “And above all these things put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body. And be thankful” ( Col. 3:14,15 ).
3- The pledge of the Spirit in the heart. In his Second Letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul writes: “But he who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit as a pledge in our hearts” ( 2 Cor 1:21,22 ). Here, this biblical text shows that the pledge of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our salvation, given by God and testified in our hearts. In addition to this guarantee, the “pledge of the Holy Spirit,” also called the “pledge of our inheritance,” is a guarantee of victory for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ ( Eph 1:13,14 ). Therefore, the Holy Spirit is the greatest guarantee that God will fully fulfill all the promises made to His Church.
SYNOPSIS III
God has promises of a new, happy heart, filled with the love that is poured out by the Holy Spirit.
CONCLUSION
In this lesson, we study the promise of “a new heart” for the Church. No one can see the heart, because it refers to the interior of each person. A person can say one thing and think another, can promise one thing and act differently. All of this is part of the weaknesses of the human condition. However, through His Omniscience, God knows everything and all things, both in the universe and in the heart of the human being. He is the Lord who searches our hearts, tests our thoughts and rewards each one according to their actions ( Jer 17.10 ).
REVIEWING THE CONTENT
1- What does the word “heart” refer to?
The word refers to the reality of each person’s interior life.
“KARDIA
Prolonged form of a primary word, káp (Kar, in Latin, cor, 'heart'); the heart, ie, (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (the mind); also (by analogy) the middle: – broken heart. A noun meaning heart, the seat and center of circulation, and therefore of human life. In the New Testament it is used only in a figurative sense: I – As the seat of desires, feelings, affections, passions, impulses, ie, the heart or mind (Mt 5.8,28); […] II – As the seat of the intellect, meaning the mind, the understanding (Mt 13.15); […] III – In a figurative sense: the heart of something, the middle or central part, ie, the heart of the earth (Mt 12.40) […].” Expand your knowledge further by reading the Study Bible Key Words: Hebrew and Greek, published by CPAD, p.2252.
SYNOPSIS I
The heart refers to the “inner man” to reveal the center of the mental, emotional and spiritual life of the human being.
THEOLOGICAL HELP
THE MIND “The heart refers to the mind, but not to the brain and, in this case, does not involve human physiology. It is a metaphor and, although the neurophysiology of the heart may be interesting in itself, it has no relation to this use of language. Deuteronomy 6.5 gives the command to love God with all one’s heart, soul and strength. When the command is repeated in the Gospels, it occurs with three variations (Mt 22.37; Mk 12.30; Lk 10.27). Common to all three is the addition of the word 'mind'. By adding “mind,” the Gospel writers want to make sure that their audience hears Jesus, but their addition is based on the fact that the meaning of the Hebrew word for heart includes the mind. The mental activities of the metaphorical heart are plentiful. The heart is where a person thinks (Gen. 6:5; Deut. 7:17; 1 Chr. 29:18; Rev. 18:7), where a person understands and has understanding (1 Kgs. 3:9; Job 17:4; Ps. 49:3; Prov. 14:13; Matt. 13:15). The heart plans and plans things (Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Prov. 20:5; 1 Chr. 29:18; Jer. 23:20). A person believes with the heart (Luke 24:25; Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9). The heart is the seat of wisdom, discernment, and skill (Exod. 35:34; 36:2; 1 Kgs. 3:9; 10:24). The heart is the seat of memory (Deut. 4:9; Ps. 119:11). The heart plays the role of conscience (2 Sam. 24:10; 1 John 3:20, 21)” (LONGMAN III, Tremper. Baker Bible Dictionary. Rio de Janeiro: CPAD, 2023, p. 407).
II – THE HEART OF THOSE WHO ARE IN GOD
1- A heart inclined to God. When a person receives Christ as their Savior, they go through the process of New Birth, Regeneration. Therefore, she begins to see the Kingdom of God and, at the same time, her own spiritual need. Concerning this, our Lord says: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” ( John 3:3 ). Thus, whoever has a regenerated, transformed heart participates in the Kingdom of God and, consequently, leans towards the things of the Spirit in order to live in accordance with God's commandments ( Rom 8.5,6 ).2- A conscious heart. As the center of the inner life of the human being, in our hearts we meditate, ponder and evaluate, as Mary, the mother of Jesus, did when hearing what the shepherds said about the boy: “And all who heard it marveled at what the shepherds they told them. But Mary kept all these things, checking them in her heart” ( Luke 2:18,19 ). Thus, whoever receives a new heart, transformed by the new nature from the Word of God, has the ability to guard his heart and what happens around him, so that he can desire to do the good, pleasant and perfect will of God ( Rm 12.2 ; Phil 4.8,9 ).
3- God sees the heart. In the book of the Prophet Jeremiah it is written: “You therefore, O Lord of hosts, who tests the righteous and sees the thoughts and the heart, let me see your vengeance on them, for I have discovered my cause for you” ( Jer 20:12 ). From this text, we can infer that the human heart is a place that few can know, enter and contemplate. It is the most hidden place of the person. However, the Bible says that God sees the heart. He contemplates the human being inside and out. The Creator formed man in his entirety, both his outer and inner life, and, therefore, He contemplates and knows each person's heart well. Thus, whoever has been regenerated and transformed is contemplated by God in all dimensions of the heart.
SYNOPSIS II
The new heart is inclined to God, aware of His will and knows that God knows all things.
THEOLOGICAL AID
NICODEMUS VISITS JESUS AT NIGHT (John 3:1-21). “[…] The fact that a person must be born again referred to a spiritual birth, but Nicodemus understood that Jesus was referring to a physical rebirth. But what could Jesus expect Nicodemus to know about the Kingdom? From Scripture he could have known that the Kingdom would be ruled by God, would eventually be restored on earth, and would incorporate God’s people. Jesus revealed to this pious Pharisee that the Kingdom would be made available to the whole world (John 3:16), not just the Jews, and that Nicodemus would not be part of it unless he was born again (3:5). This was a revolutionary concept: the Kingdom is personal, not national or ethnic, and the requirements for entry are repentance and a new spiritual birth. Later, Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God had already begun in the hearts of believers (Luke 17:21) and would be fully realized when He returns to judge the world and abolish lawlessness forever (Revelation 21–22). […] Only God the Holy Spirit grants the new life of heaven (being ‘born of the Spirit’). At the same time that God places His precious Spirit within us, we receive a new, regenerated human spirit. It is God’s Spirit, not our own efforts, that makes us children of God (1:12). Jesus’ description reaffirms men’s hope that they can somehow inherit virtue from their parents, that they can earn it through good behavior, through church training, or by associating with the right people. At some point, we must be able to answer the question, ‘Have I been born of the Spirit?’” (New Testament Commentary – Personal Application. Vol. 1. Rio de Janeiro: CPAD, 2009, pp. 501, 502).
III – PROMISES FOR THE HEART
1- A happy heart. When a human being has a new heart, as a result of the work done by God through His Spirit, happiness is a reality. In His Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus brings a list of blessings, that is, a state of happiness for those who manifest the virtues of the Kingdom of God ( Matthew 5:1-9 ). This means that happiness for the Christian is not found in material things, but in doing what pleases God. In Proverbs, we read: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” ( Prov. 17:22 ). As a consequence of this happiness, joy settles in the heart. Today, we know through science that joy in the heart, that is, within, produces chemical reactions that contribute to the balance and maintenance of human health. The person who seeks the presence of God in his or her daily life has the joy of the Lord, which is our strength ( Nehemiah 8:10 ).2- A heart full of love. Love is the essence of Christianity. Without it, there is no true expression and identity of what it means to be a Christian. The apostle Paul writes: “And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” ( Romans 5:5 ). This word shows that the love of God is poured out in the hearts of those who have the Holy Spirit and, therefore, their hearts are transformed. Therefore, the heart of the saved is full of love. In this way, we can live what the apostle Paul wrote: “And above all these things put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body. And be thankful” ( Col. 3:14,15 ).
3- The pledge of the Spirit in the heart. In his Second Letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul writes: “But he who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit as a pledge in our hearts” ( 2 Cor 1:21,22 ). Here, this biblical text shows that the pledge of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our salvation, given by God and testified in our hearts. In addition to this guarantee, the “pledge of the Holy Spirit,” also called the “pledge of our inheritance,” is a guarantee of victory for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ ( Eph 1:13,14 ). Therefore, the Holy Spirit is the greatest guarantee that God will fully fulfill all the promises made to His Church.
SYNOPSIS III
God has promises of a new, happy heart, filled with the love that is poured out by the Holy Spirit.
CONCLUSION
In this lesson, we study the promise of “a new heart” for the Church. No one can see the heart, because it refers to the interior of each person. A person can say one thing and think another, can promise one thing and act differently. All of this is part of the weaknesses of the human condition. However, through His Omniscience, God knows everything and all things, both in the universe and in the heart of the human being. He is the Lord who searches our hearts, tests our thoughts and rewards each one according to their actions ( Jer 17.10 ).
REVIEWING THE CONTENT
1- What does the word “heart” refer to?
The word refers to the reality of each person’s interior life.
2- What attests to the work of the New Covenant?
What attests to the New Covenant is no longer a physical mark (Rom 2.28), but the work carried out by the Holy Spirit in the person’s heart (Rom 2.29).
What attests to the New Covenant is no longer a physical mark (Rom 2.28), but the work carried out by the Holy Spirit in the person’s heart (Rom 2.29).
3- What is the capacity of those who receive the new heart?
They have the capacity to guard their heart and what is happening around them, so that they can desire to do the good, pleasing and perfect will of God (Rom 12.2; Phil 4.8,9).
They have the capacity to guard their heart and what is happening around them, so that they can desire to do the good, pleasing and perfect will of God (Rom 12.2; Phil 4.8,9).
4- What is the essence of Christianity?
Love is the essence of Christianity. Without it, there is no true expression and identity of what it means to be a Christian.
Love is the essence of Christianity. Without it, there is no true expression and identity of what it means to be a Christian.
5- What can be testified in our hearts?
The pledge of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our salvation, given by God and testified in our hearts.
The pledge of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our salvation, given by God and testified in our hearts.
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