In The World

In the world but not of the world

Use this news story from recent days to help your students see the relevance of this week's lesson from the Standard Lesson Commentary or Standard Lesson Quarterly.

Check out all of our Standard Lesson Commentaries or Standard Lesson Quarterlies.

Download "In The World" for July 5. (Usually updated no later than Wednesday afternoon.)

Download Now


OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford was out of touch with family and staff for several days recently, having implied that he would be hiking the Appalachian Trail. Actually, he was committing adultery with a woman in Argentina. After his deceit was discovered, he held a press conference, confessing that “God’s laws” were designed to “protect us from ourselves.” The governor is only the latest in a long string of public figures—both secular and religious—who have tasted the forbidden fruit of adultery. It leaves a bitter aftertaste.

GETTING IN TOUCH WITH GOD

We are tempted to bemoan the sorry state of morality that the above event highlights. However, we must admit that we all contribute to the problem whenever we demonstrate our lack of regard for the standards God set forth in the Ten Commandments. Those commandments guide our attitude and behavior toward God and others. It is good that Gov. Sanford recognizes that God’s laws should protect us from ourselves; if only the governor had realized that before his trip to Argentina!

  1. Why do public figures deceive themselves into thinking they can get away with serious sins?
  2. Is any one of the sins forbidden by the Ten Commandments more serious than the others? Why, or why not?
  3. Since the Ten Commandments are part of the old covenant, are they binding on Christians? Why, or why not?
  4. How would you respond to those who would say that we should not judge anyone’s actions to be wrong since we are also sinners?
  5. Should our reaction to the sins of public figures be different from our reaction to the sins of those who are not public figures? Why, or why not?

—Charles R. Boatman

 

Find additional Sunday school lesson resources