Did you know that some of the oldest living olive trees are in the Mediterranean area. Some are estimated to be 4,000 years old!  The Explore the Bible Study and Video: Mercy, help us understand the mercy God has expressed to all of us by grafting us into the rich root of the cultivated olive tree (Romans 11:17). 

The illustration in Romans 11:17-32 of the cultivated olive tree and the wild olive tree was given to explain God’s plan to graft both believing Jews and believing Gentiles into the same root, where both would grow together. Everyone has the same opportunity we have had to receive Christ and to be grafted into the tree that springs up from the root of Jesus Christ. We cannot look down on any people because we have all been saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. But we should especially not look down on Jews. It is from their root that salvation came. It should be our prayer that all will receive Christ and we should work to that end by sharing and showing the good news of Jesus to all.

DOWNLOADABLE TEACHING IDEAS
There are several ideas you might want to incorporate into your online discussion or Bible study emails to your group this week. I have also included an 8-minute video that describes how a farmer grafts a tree. This could be shared in advance of your online meeting in order to introduce the session.

OTHER RESOURCES

• LifeWay is providing an additional resources you might want to consider: Discussion Guide for Online Teaching
• Click on this link to preview the video and to better understand Paul's context in the passage: https://youtu.be/Ryf0248Od60

We have all heard numerous stories of medical personnel who have volunteered to help during this COVID-19 pandemic – doctors, nurses, EMS personnel. Have you ever wondered why people are willing to offer such unprecedented help? What motivates them to place themselves in uncomfortable and, at times, risky situations in order to save others? Their example should motivate us to examine our passion for seeking out the lost so that they might be saved. This will be examined in this week's Explore the Bible Study and Video: Saved.

As you plan to help your group engage with the Scriptures, help them to examine all the amazing volunteers who are helping on the frontlines of this COVID-19 pandemic. Then help them to look at Paul's message in Romans 10:5-15 and how it should motivate us to share the gospel with others.

DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT

Adoption is one of those amazing events that God uses to fill the empty heart of a child with the love that only a loving mother and father can provide. Equally, it fills the heart of the mom and dad with a love for a child that is unexplainable, yet so amazing. Paul uses this powerful analogy to help us understand our new relationship as a believer. This is the focus of the Explore the Bible Study: Secured.

Paul states in Romans 8:15 that, you received the Spirit of adoption. Spiritual adoption into God’s forever family is even more amazing, mysterious, and miraculous than physical adoption. Then, he paints an incredible picture through words in Romans 8:12-25 of all that it means to be adopted into God's forever family.

DOWNLOADABLE TEACHING PLAN

The plan provides some video clips to send out in advance of this weeks study along with some addition materials for your own personal study. In addition, the discussion guide can be used for your own presentation online or you can copy it and email it to your group if you are unable to meet online.

VIDEO PRESENTATION

Consider sharing this link with your group if you are unable to meet online or share it with your church members who aren't connected to a group.

I love a great sunrise or sunset. To me it demonstrates God's wondrous work, His power, and His faithfulness. With the rising of the sun on this unique Easter Sunday, we get to celebrate our resurrected Savior in very unique ways as we study the Explore the Bible Study: Raised!

Imagine you were one of Jesus’ followers, waking to the sunrise in the days following Christ’s death and burial.  All your dreams were shattered. The One whom you had followed, the One whom you had observed healing the sick and speaking such profound truth with power, the One whom everyone celebrated with shouts of “Hosanna” (Matthew 21:9) just days earlier, the One who provided so much hope, was now dead.

But then came the sunrise on that Resurrection morning! That sunrise welcomed a demonstration of God’s handiwork that caused everything else in His creation to pale in comparison. With that sunrise came the event that changed the course of history. It is an event where sin was vanquished and death was conquered, where reconciliation was made between God and man through Jesus Christ, where access was given to God for all who believe in Jesus Christ, where those who were once enemies of God could now be at peace with God. It was an event that gives hope to those who believe, not only in the present but eternally! Not only was a new day dawning but a new life was beginning.

NEW AND HOPEFULLY IMPROVED VIDEO APPROACH
My thoughts are much better read than heard, but I have continued to strive to deliver a better quality video. Hopefully the video delivery will continue to improve with time. You could use the video in the following ways:

• "Video lesson" -- If you aren't comfortable teaching online, then share the video link with your group on Easter Sunday morning. 
• Share with Absentees -- If someone misses your online group gathering, share the video link and encourage them to continue to study God's Word. 
• Teaching Ideas -- Use it personally as you prepare to teach your group online this Easter Sunday.

I am sure by now you name the actions we are to take in order to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19.  But, have you noticed that many are still abusing the freedom we have in our society. Their abuse is putting themselves and others at risk. This should remind us of Paul's words regarding the freedom we have in Christ. We should not abuse the freedom we have from sin. This is the focus of the Explore the Bible Study: Free.

Our freedom in Christ means we don’t have to live in guilt, and we don’t have to live in bondage to sin. We have been forgiven of sin and declared righteous. We are freed from sin; therefore our behavior should change. The Explore the Bible Daily Discipleship Guide states this on page 49: “We usually think of freedom in terms of being free to do things. We like the idea of doing whatever we want, whenever we want.  But freedom has another side – the freedom not to act.”

We all struggle with sin. Believers can be tempted to think forgiveness and eternal security gives them a license to live any way they please. The Apostle Paul knew this, so in Romans 6:1-14, God led him to help us learn how to live a life that is not “weighted down by the sin that can so easily entangle us” (ref. Hebrews 12:1).

Downloadable Teaching Ideas

Be sure to check out the ideas for teaching from a distance. The ideas include suggested emails and a discussion guide for Romans 6:1-14 that can be used in an online gathering or emailed to your group.

Video Teaching Resource

The following can be shared with your group if you are unable to meet online. Or, feel free to share in other venues as well -- post it on your facebook page, share it with other teachers, add it to your website, etc.

Explore the Bible Podcast

LifeWay is providing a podcast that could be used to help you or your teachers, or could be shared as another option for Bible study. CLICK TO LISTEN AND SHARE