Freelance submissions due by April 15, 2012 All about us: SEEK® is a magazine created to encourage adults in their walk with Jesus Christ. SEEK® corresponds to the topics of Standard Publishing’s adult curriculum line and is designed to further apply these topics to everyday life. How to write to this theme list: Please read the Scriptures listed so that you know what will be studied in class. Listed are the aims of the lesson— the points of the lesson that students will apply to life. Your story or article will be an example of how someone did or can apply these points to real life. REMEMBER TO MARK ON THE MANUSCRIPT THE ISSUE NUMBER AND DATE FOR WHICH IT IS BEING WRITTEN. Word count: 850 minimum, 1000 maximum. (Manuscripts without this information will be rejected as not written to theme.) Use the King James Version when quoting Scripture. No decision will be made on any manuscript prior to the submission due cutoff date. Please e-mail your submissions to seek@standardpub.com. Quarter titles for Spring 2013: Unit 1, The Kingdom of God (Issues 1–3); Unit 2, Resurrection Hope (Issues 4–9); Unit 3, A Call to Holy Living (Issues 10–13). Issue 1: Daniel’s Vision of Change (Better Days Ahead) March 3, 2013 Scripture: Daniel 7:1-3, 9-14 Lesson Aim: Explain how we can accept things that won’t change while remaining hopeful regarding what can change. Compare some earthly (or even fictional) kingdoms with God’s perfect kingdom that never ends; explore some characteristics of a perfect kingdom. Help readers see what we can learn from Daniel, who lived as a man of God in a pagan culture. Using Scripture (and reading between the lines), relate how Daniel must have lived in order to stay so close to God. Profile a modern-day Daniel: a Christian who is respected even among people who don’t honor God. Outline how believers can be secure in the fact that God (and His followers) will be victorious in the end. Issue 2: Daniel’s Prayer (Have Mercy!) March 10, 2013 Scripture: Daniel 9:4-14, 17 Lesson Aim: Share accounts of God’s mercy in the Old Testament (in contrast to the typical view that the Old Testament God is wrathful). Find words and emotions in Daniel’s prayer that might fit readers’ own situations. Show how Daniel prayed on behalf of the people’s sin, even when they themselves couldn’t see it. Emphasize that fervent and earnest prayer is one of the strongest ways to increase faith. Since we tend to pray more about physical health than spiritual health, provide readers with some sample prayers reminiscent of Daniel’s prayer. Help readers assess where they are on the “close to God” scale. Talk about guarding our behavior and realizing the far-reaching implications of disobedience. Discuss how we can know when suffering, sickness, and natural disaster might be a punishment from God. Issue 3: Gabriel Interprets Daniel’s Vision (Dreams for a Better Tomorrow) March 17, 2013 Scripture: Daniel 8:1, 15-26 Lesson Aim: List some messages from God in the Bible that help arm us for the future. Caution readers about people today who claim to have visions/predict the future (and back this up with Scripture). Share stories about good spiritual mentors and how other strong believers can help us when we’re confused/uncertain. Encourage readers to know that the fact that Bible prophecies come true is a source of comfort. Dig into some historical world conflicts and show the good that God brought out of the bad. Issue 4: The Lord’s Supper (The Privilege of Serving) March 24, 2013 (Palm Sunday) Scripture: Luke 22:14-30 Lesson Aim: Expound on the implications of verses 27 and 28, where Jesus talks about His followers serving together with Him. Give reasons why we should value the ideal of serving others in contrast to being served ourselves. Explore the irony of Jesus’ introduction of a memorial concerning His great sacrifice at a time when the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest. Tell the story of someone who exhibits the principle of greatness through humble service. Explore how Christians can exhibit confidence without drifting into arrogance, entitlement, or “me first.” Approach the topic of the Lord’s Supper in a fresh way. Showcase some of the ways the Lord’s Supper is observed in churches around the world. Issue 5: The Lord Lives (Hope Restored) March 31, 2013 (Easter) Scripture: Luke 24:13-21, 28-35 Lesson Aim: Verse 31 says that “their eyes were opened and they knew” or recognized Jesus. You could take that thought in several directions: how emotions can cloud our understanding; the way grief can keep us from realizing that Jesus is with us; victorious times when we rejoice in His resurrection power. Suggest ways readers can identify with the two travelers as they become aware of how Jesus meets them on their personal journeys. Share a personal experience when Scripture caused your heart to burn within you. Apply for readers the importance of evaluating experiences according to the written Word. Find creative ways to celebrate the resurrection. Investigate some incredible claims about the lives of the heroes/messiahs/prophets of world religions and show how Jesus’ resurrection account is different.
Issue 6: The Lord Appears (Promises Kept) April 7, 2013 Scripture: Luke 24:36-53 Lesson Aim: Emphasize the truth that with His resurrection Jesus kept His word and fulfilled the prophecies about Him. People also make promises but have trouble keeping them; advise readers on the importance of keeping their word. Share stories of people who stood on God’s promises during impossible circumstances. Explore evidence that supports the truth of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. In today’s text, Jesus said that He was written about in the law, the prophets, and the psalms; delve into the way the story of Jesus runs throughout Scripture. Challenge readers to rest in Christ’s promise to be with us always and to share this promise with others. Issue 7: The Lord Sends the Spirit (Power to Change) April 14, 2013 Scripture: Acts 2:1-16 Lesson Aim: Review evidence that the church was not a manmade invention but was launched through the power of the Holy Spirit. Since there were scoffers even at the start of the church, explore how readers can know where their job of sharing Jesus ends and when “the rest is up to God.” Describe ways that believers can know that the Spirit is present with them. Offer good examples/case studies of Christians who shared the Word boldly but also with gentleness/love. Unwrap some of the aspects of the church that we learn from its launch in Acts 2; for example, it has Jesus’ stamp of approval, it has the promise of the Spirit’s power/help, the presence of many nationalities indicates God’s intention for the whole world to know him. Issue 8: The Lord Will Return (Great Expectations) April 21, 2013 Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11 Lesson Aim: Consider the range of emotions people feel as they anticipate Christ’s return. Discuss ways we can encourage one another with hope in the midst of difficulty. Explore why people seem so anxious to know when the world will end—are they eagerly anticipating or afraid? Diagram some other end-of-the-world views and/or afterlife views (such as the Islamic paradise or Buddhist extinction/nirvana) and compare with Scripture. Describe the difference in bereavement among Christian vs. non-Christian families. Contrast some of the big-picture truths about the second coming with some of the less important aspects people argue about (like millennial views). Lesson 9: The Lord Will Triumph (Sure Source of Hope) April 28, 2013 Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, 8-17 Lesson Aim: Offer several biblical warnings about deception, and teach readers ways to recognize it. Describe the dangers of listening to those whose teachings are contrary to the revelation of Scripture. This passage says that people who are deceived are those who refuse to “love the truth.” Illustrate what it looks like, in daily life, to love the truth. Compose a “Top 10 Ways to Know You’re Falling Away.” Show how believers can be on guard against deception that comes from within the church. What steps should be taken by the leadership of a church to deal with a false teacher in their midst? How can we have compassion rather than ridicule for those caught up in false teaching? Encourage readers to look forward to the Lord’s triumph in spite of the frightening events that seem to accompany it. Lesson 10: Living Hope (Hopeful Living) May 5, 2013 Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-16 Lesson Aim: People say, “He lived a good life.” Contrast how living in the hope of the resurrection is superior to the secular idea of “living a good life.” Tell how a person facing death can find hope in eternal life in Heaven with God. Interview several people and report their accounts of “I felt hopeless when . . . Here’s what I did . . . And here’s how it turned out.” Interview various ones who will reveal their “most treasured possession” and how they would replace it if lost. Explore a topic such as “7 Ways to Keep Hoping When There’s No Visible Benefit.” Encourage readers to find ways to bring the hope of Christ to others. Lesson 11: Sure Hope (Life Worth Living) May 12, 2013 Scripture: 2 Peter 1:2-15, 20, 21 Lesson Aim: Review some of the “great and precious promises” that Jesus has given us. List statements we often make that imply we don’t have everything we need; then critique those in light of Peter’s promise that God’s power gives us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” Consider the list of virtues/disciplines in verses 5-8 (self-control, patience, kindness, etc.); then challenge readers to develop those qualities and provide tools to do so. Give readers a checklist that will help them assess their effectiveness/productivity. Profile Bible characters or modern-day people who exemplified the qualities in this passage. Identify ways we can become more effective and fruitful Christians. Lesson 12: Active Hope (Serving One Another) May 19, 2013 (Pentecost Sunday) Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-11
Lesson Aim: The list of sins in this passage seems obvious. Explore some less obvious but equally harmful ways we might live “as unbelievers” (fearful, “slightly” dishonest, discontent), and outline the dangers. Give readers tools to assess whether they’re doing things in their own strength or in the strength God provides—so that God will be praised. Over commitment leads to burnout; offer practical solutions. Help readers understand how to recognize their gifts in order to share them, be productive, and glorify God. How can believers be good stewards of the gifts God has given them? Provide scriptural insight on determining which human desires are evil and which are not. Lesson 13: Patient Hope (Ready and Waiting) May 26, 2013 Scripture: 2 Peter 3:3-15a, 18 Lesson Aim: God prolongs the end of the world because He doesn’t want anyone to perish. Share stories of Christians who have suffered in order to share the good news of the gospel with others. Join the conversation of whether the world is getting worse and worse or better and better (use Scripture). Collect and share honest opinions about seasons of life in which people most look forward to Heaven. List some ways we can “grow in grace” as we wait for the Lord’s return.