Living in God's Light
Sunday School Lesson
Mildred Pepper*
I -
Lesson Scripture:
I John 1:5-10, 2:3-11
lesson Aims:
To understand the importance
of Jesus being the Light, to know
the benefits of a good life and the
consequence of a bad life, and to
be committed to let your life shine
for God.
Background:
This New Testament book cen
ters on "fellowship" among the
believers. Fellowship is sharing self
with God and others. This sharing
is deeply personal.
This writer also penned the two
short letters following this one. He
also writes the gospel bearing his
name and Revelation. During the
latter part of this century, the
church endures persecution. In
spite of this, John concentrates on
the internal instead of the external
events He is confident that if the
believers remain steadfast, God
will be quite pleased. Because of
that (steadfastness), believers will
overcome. Our fellowship will ulti
mately lead to joy.
I.esson:
The key word in today s lesson
is "light." John always mentions it
in contrast to darkness. In this
message, John is putting down the
false teachings about Jesus' identi
ty. Verses 1-4 (not in the lesson) set
the tone of the letter. The apostle's
message is an extensive exhorta
tion on the merits of God's light.
As believers, we must first accept
the truth and then acknowledge
that Jesus, his son, cleanses us. At
that point, we are to emulate that
light. Our lives must represent
God. It is important that we are
sincere. Thus we must not fool our
selves with regard to sin. Honesty
must supersede all else. Denying
our sin(s) is making God out to be
a liar.
Romans 6:23 states that all
have sinned. We are to confess.
"This is more than merely admit
ting our sin; it is agreeing with
God that our actions are evil and
deserve judgment" (UMI p.5).
Once we acknowledge our sin and
ask for forgiveness, God's grace
steps in. Some were teaching the
early church they could be indiffer
ent to God's standards and still be
counted in the number. John
refutes this notion and chastised
the ones who believed it. Grace
isn't a pass to sin, nor should it be
flaunted. Being a believer doesn't
give one the right to continue to
sin, for if God is light and we are in
the light, that light exposes our sin
(darkness). To continue in dark
ness is to say that we have lied
about ourselves. The command
ment mentioned in verse 8 is the
same as in Leviticus 19:18: Love
thy neighbor as thyself.
To test our fellowship with
God is to measure our obedience
to him and to love as he prescribes.
Application:
"I love the Lord, for he is first
in my life" is heard quite often dur
ing devotional service. Have we
examined that statement?
According to the lesson, God's
light will shine on all the dark
places in our lives. If we love him,
our fellowship with his creation
will reflect that. We should be will
ing to help, to encourage, and to
care for others. This is personal,
and as we exercise this relation
ship, it becomes more deeply root
ed in our lives. As believers, we
become the light for others. Our
light simply shows the way to the
true Light. It isn't for glory or
competition. What we do is for the
love of Christ Jesus in our hearts.
It is constant, not a toy at
Thanksgiving or Christmas.
People hurt throughout the year. It
is a choice that is made. The choice
is not because we desire to avoid
hell but to be obedient to him. As
we witness and testify, let's be sin
cere and loving beyond the first
day of the week. Our light is to
shine everyday.
Burst of season festivities planned Dec. 5
The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County and
the Central Winston-Salem Association invite you to kick-off
the Holiday Season in downtown Winston-Salem the evening
of Dec. 5. The streets will be filled with people. Galleries and studios will
be open. Food and entertainment will abound. Follow paths lit by lumi
naries or ride in a horse-drawn carriage through the streets as you stroll
through this fun-filled event.
Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. with the annual downtown Tree
Lighting at Corpening Plaza There will be music, caroling and plenty of
activities for the kids, including a chance to meet their favorite cartoon
characters.
Then on to the art venues. The Sawtooth Center for Visual Art will
hold their annual Deck the Sawtooth Halls Craft and Art Sale from
noon to 9 p.m. Here you can see some of the finest hand-crafted wood.
metal, ceramic and fibers, graphics and photographic art Winston-Salem
has to offer. Then make your way down to the Sixth and Trade Art
District for their 10th Annual Holiday Gallery Hop froiji 7 to 10 p.m.
Art studios of every type will be open to give you a look at one-of-a-kind
gift ideas, including calligraphy, jewelry, cabinetry, glassworks and more.
After viewing exquisite artwork, there's no better way to cap off the
evening than with artful food and joyous music. The Horse's Mouth
Coffeehouse will host a reception and opening of "Complex Gifts," an
art exhibition, from 7 to 10 p.m. Finally, the Piedmont Chamber Singers
will perform "A Festival of Carols" at 7:30 p.m. in The Arts Council
Atrium.
For more information on City Lights Celebration, call The Arts
Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County at (910) 722-2585 ext.
22.
TV producers seek unusual occupations
Unusual local occupations are being sought to be featured in a
nationally syndicated television show. Odd Jobs, according to officials of
Belle Isle Productions.
"We are seeking unique jobs in the local area to be included in our
series scheduled for syndication early next year," John Brock, executive
producer of the video/film production firm announced today.
"We are looking for really peculiar occupations to share with our
viewers," he added The occupations can be full- or part-time.
Anyone who engages in or knows of anyone occupied in an extraor
dinary means of making a living should contact the producers by writ
ing to Belie Isle Productions at P.O. Box 4133, Charlotte, NC 28226
within 30 days.
Participants will not be paid for their appearance but will be given
ample screen credit.
"It is a lot of fun to see other people at work doing unusual things,
and we intend to share any that we find locally with a widespread audi
ence," Brock concluded.
Poetry contest open to all
The Bards of (beautiful downtown) Burbank. one of America's fore
most poetry societies, is at it once again. As an annual tribute to the muse
of poetry, they are sponsoring a free poetry contest. The deadline for
entering is Dec. 23, 1997.
"Our contest is open to everyone who has ever written a poem," says
poetry director Dr. Kevin Scribner. "We especially encourage undiscov
ered talent, and to this end we are offering a whopping SI,000 grand
prize."
To enter send one poem on any subject, using any style, 21 lines or
less, to: Free Poetry Contest, 2219 W. Olive Ave., Suite 250, Burbank, CA
91506, or enter online www. freecontest. com.
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Celebrate ?
S~ he Arts Council and the Central Winston-Salem
^f Association invite you to celebrate the holidays in downtown
V S Winston-Salem on the evening of December 5th. The streets
will be filled with luminanes, gallenes and studios will be open and
food and entertainment will abound. Follow luminary paths or nde in
a horse-drawn carriage through the streets. Festivities begin with
the Tree Lighting at Corpening Raza and then on to art venues ...the
Sawtooth Center The Horses Mouth and the Atnum at Fourth Street
Make your way dovyn to the Sixth and Trade Art Distnct for their
I Oth Annual Holiday Gallery Hop.
City Lights Celebration Friday, December $tti
Tm lighting 6:^0 p.m.
Piedmont Chamber Singm fintival of Caroh 730 p.m.
at the Am Council Atrium on Fourth Stmt
Deck the Sawtooth tfalh (raft 8 Art Salt 12 noon 9pm
10th Annual Holiday 6ahcry Hop 7-10 p.m.
Hone's Mouth (offtthoust 7-10 p.m.
"(ompkx 6ifh" Exhibit/Reception
foltry Hop Pirtkipanft
Artworks Gallery Doug Bohr & Julianna Foster
Creative Heart Gallery Jack Jennings Metalsmith
Fluid Expressions in Metal . Orfe of a Kind Clothes Shop
Fiber Company Tele-Ad Consignment
Kelly Rowand Designs Awareness Art Gift Shop
The Emporium H. Huntly Hersch Photography
John Lucus Workshop Gallery Nancy Hersch Ingram Studio
Martin O'Brian Cabinetmaker Art. Inc
Faye Foster Studio Richards Art Gallery
Calligraphy Centre Carolina Treasures
Roy Bradley Photography Piedmont Craftsmen
Michael Cunningham Photography The Missing Link Coffeehouse
Billy McClam Studio Campbell's Photography
Martha Dunigan Studio
Call the Arts Council at 722-2585 for more information.
AKTS ( OUNt II WlVfim-SM.KM JOI RVU
The A< fc Council of Wmston - Solent *nc Fors/th Cotinty a prour fo ~poov> Citv l-?ght?
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