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Sunday School Special : Lesson 71

Text: John 6:22-29
1 August 2021

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 1 August 2021

Text: John 6:22-29

Subject: Evangelism

Focus: Key Issues

INTRODUCTION

1. There may be some who appear

a) To be interested in Christianity
b) They may even “follow” 

2. Much discernment is needed

a) To know who are genuinely interested
b) To know who have personal self-interests at heart

APPARENT INTEREST

1. Polite talk

2. Small talk

“Rabbi, when did You come here?” John 6:25

3. Apparent concern shown

REASONS FOR SEEKING THE LORD

“You seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled” John 6:26

1. Candid conversation

a) Why do people seek the Lord?
b) Two reasons brought to the forefront
i) Was it because of the signs the Lord Jesus performed?
ii) Was it because of having eaten the loaves the Lord gave?

2. Wise to understand why people seek the Lord Jesus!

a) No discouragement intended
b) Just needed candidness
c) It sets the stage for further discussion

ENCOURAGEMENT TO SEEK ETERNAL THINGS

“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” John 6:27

1. Labouring for food which perishes

a) Food may represent: 
i) Physical focus
ii) Material matters
b) Many will labour
i) To have material blessings
ii) To have healing

2. Labouring for food which endures to everlasting life

a) This is the correct focus
b) Everlasting life is to be given full consideration

3. The Son of God 

a) He has the Seal of God, the Father
i) Evidenced in His life
ii) Seen in His sign-miracles
b) He can give everlasting life
i) To all who seek this life
ii) And will seek the Lord Jesus for who He is

QUESTIONS OF THE PEOPLE

Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” John 6:28

1. “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”   

2. What this question showed:

a) They picked up on what the Lord Jesus said
“Do not labour for the food which perishes, but (labour) for the food which endures to everlasting life”
b) “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God” John 6:28
i) That we may work 
Same word that the Lord Jesus used, translated as “labour”
ii) The works of God

c) There is presumption here

That one can “work the works of God”

d) There is wrong understanding about obtaining everlasting life

That if one does the works of God, one would be rewarded with everlasting life!

THE ANSWER THE LORD JESUS GAVE

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:29

1. This is the work of God… that you believe in Him whom He sent!

a) The idea of “the work of God”
i) This had been misunderstood
ii) This was now explained even more clearly
iii) Misconceptions must be cleared up
b) The work of God is to believe
i) To believe in the Lord Jesus
ii) To believe that God had sent Him to give us everlasting life

2. Elucidation from the writing of the Apostle Paul

“4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7

a) Believing God as our Saviour
i) He is kind
ii) He is loving
iii) He is merciful (Titus 3:4-5)
b) How a person is not saved
Not by works of righteousness which we have done (Titus 3:5)
c) How a person is saved
i) Regeneration
Washing of regeneration 
ii) Renewal
Renewing of the Holy Spirit
iii) Outpouring
He is poured out on us
iv) Through the Lord Jesus
Through the Lord Jesus Christ (His atoning work)
v) Justification 
Justified by His grace
d) One special result highlighted
We become heirs of the hope of eternal life

CONCLUSION

1. Focus on Everlasting life

2. Focus on Faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ

3. Check comprehension of doctrine of salvation (Titus 3:4-7)