http://www.standardpub.com/Content/Site130/Basics/1376Spring2012S_00000006909

Freelance submissions due by April 15, 2011 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: 600 minimum, 1200 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 2012: God’s Creative Word—Unit 1, In the Beginning Was the Word (Issues 1–6); Unit 2, Jesus’ Powerful Words (Issues 7–9); Unit 3, I Am . . . (Issues 10–13).

Issue 1: Wisdom’s Origin (Wise Up!) March 4, 2012 Scripture: Proverbs 8:22-35 Lesson Aim: People yearn for wisdom. Manuscript submissions should reflect joy in the wisdom and wonder of God’s creation. Christians understand that wisdom’s active role in creation demonstrates how God’s wisdom can help them accomplish their own goals. Acting wisely in life’s circumstances often leads to positive results, and acting unwisely often leads to negative consequences.

Issue 2: The Word Became Flesh (From the Beginning) March 11, 2012 Scripture: John 1:1-14 Lesson Aim: Explore the nature of Christ Jesus, who was both fully human and fully divine. Discuss how belief in Jesus can change people’s lives and make them into different people. Light and darkness are significant themes in John. Develop a contemporary article using headlines from magazines, newspapers, Internet, etc., to show how darkness (evil) still tries to overcome the light and how light can triumph.

Issue 3: Water Turned to Wine (The Good Stuff) March 18, 2012 Scripture: John 2:1-12 Lesson Aim: When faced with possibly embarrassing or difficult situations, many people hope for a miracle. Jesus’ first miracle during the wedding at Cana revealed His power by creating something good, and the disciples believed in Him. God’s power still continues to create calm and order out of chaos in the world. Encourage the readers to understand that they can petition Jesus for aid in any given situation.

Issue 4: Nicodemus Learns of New Birth (A New Life) March 25, 2012 Scripture: John 3:11-21 Lesson Aim: Behavior (all decisions and choices) has consequences. John gives assurance that, regardless of our choices, God loves us and sent Jesus so the world might be restored to a right relationship with God. Encourage readers to claim God’s unconditional love for themselves. Explore the concept of sacrificial love. Show how to deal with the consequences of bad choices and broken relationships.

Issue 5: Jesus Testifies to the Truth (No Foolin’!)

April 1, 2012 (Palm Sunday) Scripture: John 18:28-38 Lesson Aim: When bad things happen to us, we wonder whether doing “the right thing” really pays off. Even after His betrayal, arrest, and inquisition by Pilate, Jesus knew He had to testify to the truth of God’s love. Expound on ways the reader can testify to God’s redeeming love. Help the reader understand how one’s resolve to do good may be challenged by others. Empower the reader to identify ways to live out the goal of following Jesus in glorifying God through unselfish acts of love for others. Pilate knew the truth but could not live up to it. Contrast that with Jesus, who knew the truth and testified to the truth even though He knew the truth would get Him killed.

Issue 6: Jesus Lives! (Dawn of a New Day) April 8, 2012 (Resurrection Sunday) Scripture: John 20:1-10, 19, 20 Lesson Aim: People have always been divided over Jesus’ identity. Jesus’ followers were heartbroken after He died, confused when His body was missing, but joyful beyond measure when the resurrected Jesus appeared to them. Explore feelings about death and resurrection. What does resurrection (re-creation or new birth) mean in our daily walk? Encourage the reader to weigh the evidence for the resurrection and respond in faith. Believers find comfort in knowing that Jesus has experienced hurt, suffering, and betrayal.

Expound on ways that Jesus brings peace to our lives.

Issue 7: Temple Is Cleansed (Restoration and Re-creation) April 15, 2012 Scripture: John 2:13-22 Lesson Aim: Many people and organizations stray from their central purpose in life and need restoration. Jesus’ cleansing of the temple was intended to restore God’s central place in worship and in the lives of people. Readers will understand that Jesus was talking about not only the defilement of the temple building in Jerusalem but also the defilement of lives. Encourage the reader to reorder (recreate/restore) what is important in life so that worship of God is central. What does it feel like to get “off track” in life and how does one get “on track”? Focus on the true center and meaning of worship.

Issue 8: Samaritan Woman Finds Living Water (Turning Life Around) April 22, 2012 Scripture: John 4:7-15, 21-30 Lesson Aim: Our lives can be shaped by public perception and reputation. In His acceptance of the Samaritan woman, Jesus awakened hope in her life. In His powerful words, He gave her living water that restored her life. Review Jesus’ restorative power in giving people “living water.” How do we experience the redemptive presence of Christ in our lives? Encourage the readers to witness to others about the re-creating presence of Jesus in their lives. The Samaritan woman is portrayed as a model of growing faith. Explore a contemporary example of “growing faith.” Jesus crosses two cultural boundaries in this story: the boundary between two peoples, Jews (chosen people) and Samaritans (rejected people), and between men and women. Share contemporary testimonies of God’s unconditional love.

Issue 9: Blind Man Receives Sight (What Comes First?)

April 29, 2012 Scripture: John 9:1-17 Lesson Aim: People’s critical personal needs often outweigh rules and regulations. Jesus put the blind man’s need to see before the Jewish rules about Sabbath observance. Most people tend to have compassion for persons with disabilities, yet they can feel uncomfortable with these people. Christians’ experiences of faith lead them to see things in new ways. Give contemporary examples of situations that place human need above laws, rules, or regulations.

Issue 10: The Bread of Life (Nourishment for Life) May 6, 2012 Scripture: John 6:22-35 Many people are hungering for what will make their lives complete. Jesus promised His followers that they would never be hungry or thirsty if they would come to Him. How does the bread of life fill the gaps in our lives? Challenge the reader to name ways in which they can provide the bread of life to the world. How do we maintain a balance between maintaining daily physical needs and attending to our spiritual needs? Share contemporary examples of people using the gifts of God’s grace for His good work. How can we know God in deeper, more meaningful ways?

Lesson 11: The Good Shepherd (Following Good Leaders) May 13, 2012 Scripture: John 10:7-18 Lesson Aim: People often follow strong leaders who may or may not have their best interests at heart. Jesus was a strong leader whom people followed and who was willing to give up His life to save them from harm. Explore the image of the Good Shepherd. Help the reader discern the difference between a good and bad leader. Expound on the qualities and values that constitutes a good leader.

Compare and contrast the qualities of sheep and humans and the tasks of a shepherd with Jesus’ claims. Explore how the church lives out being a community grounded in the mutuality of love.

Lesson 12: The Resurrection and the Life (Life That Does Not End) May 20, 2012 Scripture: John 11:17-27, 41-44 Lesson Aims: People often think that death separates us from everything we know. Jesus promised that those who believe in Him will— even though they die—have a new relationship with God. Explore Jesus’ promise of the resurrection and the need for belief in that promise. Death is not the final experience for those who believe in Christ. Any situation can be changed, no matter how hopeless it may seem.

Lesson 13: The Way, the Truth, and the Life (Finding Direction for Life) May 27, 2012 Scripture: John 14:1-14 Lesson Aims: People always try to find direction in their lives. Jesus proclaimed that He and He alone is the way people come to God. Explore ways the reader can grow in knowledge and understanding about Jesus’ purpose and ministry on earth and about how they can be involved in serving others.