Date: February 1, 2026
Session Title: Jesus Matters
The Point: Jesus is God, and no one has done what Jesus has done.
Get Into the Study
Read after discussing Question 1:
Civil rights icon Claudette Colvin passed away January 13, 2026 at age 86. Nine months before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus, 15-year-old Colvin did it first. In March 0f 1955, Colvin was on her way home from high school when the white section at the front of the bus became full. She refused to comply with the driver’s order that black passengers give up their seats and was arrested.
In an interview in 2020, Colvin said that “history had glued [her] to [her] seat,” that she “was not going to move that day.” Six months later, another black teenager named Mary Louise Smith was also arrested for refusing to give up her seat. And Rosa Parks was the third in December of 1955.
Colvin was one of four plaintiffs in the lawsuit that outlawed bus segregation in Montgomery, AL. Mayor Steven Reed said that her actions “helped lay the legal and moral foundation” for the civil rights movement.
Claudette Colvin likely wasn’t expecting to make history by not giving up her seat, but felt compelled to act by an injustice. As believers, we must let God’s view be the center of our worldview. When we see others as God does, we are compelled to be His hands and feet as we look out for others.
Study the Bible
Read after discussing Question 5:
Ryu Lopez was born August 18th after a miraculous pregnancy outside his mother’s uterus. 1 in 30,000 pregnancies occur in the abdomen instead of the uterus, but it’s almost entirely unheard of to have one develop to full term.
Ryu’s mother, Suze, had a large ovarian cyst in her abdomen that was being monitored by medical staff. Due to other issues with her cyst, she had no idea she was pregnant until she went in for a scan to look at getting the 22-pound cyst removed. As CT scans give exposure to radiation, Suze had to take a pregnancy test and was shocked when it came back positive.
Under full anesthesia, Suze delivered 8-pound Ryu and had the cyst he’d been hiding behind removed. Thanks to the medical team and her husband’s prayers, she survived the surgery. Both mom and baby are thriving.
In a society that can treat human life flippantly, many people would’ve told Suze to abort Ryu because her life was in danger. But God created all people in His image, meaning that even unborn babies have value. As believers, we are compelled to stand on His truths, even when they go against what the culture believes. The world changes, but God’s word does not.
Study the Bible (Option for Adult Leader Guide)
In advance, obtain copies of a hymnbook or the lyrics to “Jesus Is All the World To Me” or a similar song. Invite a volunteer to lead the group in singing the song. Afterward, ask people to compare aspects of Christ mentioned in the song with the various titles of Christ found in today’s session passage. Make the point that we can never exhaust the reasons for why Jesus is important to us.
The week’s writer for Extra is Emily Duncan. Emily is a Southern California native who lives in west Georgia with her husband and daughter. God saved her from Wicca when she was sixteen while at a youth retreat. Emily’s a member of Midway Church in Villa Rica and mentors young women as they transition from high school to college.
Additional Questions
Icebreakers
- In one word, how would you describe today’s culture?
- What depictions of God can you recall from movies, TV shows, and songs?
- What are some things people say matter most in life?
Colossians 1:15-17. Jesus is the Creator of all things.
- What do we learn about God in this passage?
- Since Jesus holds creation together, how do you explain natural disasters?
- What do you find most significant in this description of Christ?
Colossians 1:18-20. Jesus is God, the Ruler over all things.
- When have you seen a true “reconciliation” of a relationship?
- What is the meaning of “all his fullness” in verse 19?
- Why does it matter that Jesus took the initiative to reconcile the world to Himself?
Colossians 1:21-22. Jesus is the Reconciler of all things.
- These verses use the phrases “Once you… and “But now He…” – how would you fill in that story with the truth about your own life?
- How can we weave in the idea of reconciliation as part of how we talk about the Gospel and what God has done for us?
- How does it make you feel to know that because of Jesus’s sacrifice, God will see you as holy and blameless?
Podcast
Click here for a podcast for both the group member and the leader.
It would be appreciated if the Extra material came out earlier. When I need to be gone on a Sunday I am unable to give my substitute the Extra information. Thank you for considering. Have a blessed day.
Hi Cherlye, Thank you for sharing this. We completely understand the need to have Extra materials early when you’re arranging a substitute. Our intention is always to post Monday materials no later than two Sundays prior at the latest, while also balancing getting you the newest information/news possible. That said, we’re grateful for your feedback, and please feel free to reach out anytime. We’re listening and appreciate you using BSFL. I hope you have a blessed day! —Ryan
Here is a rewritten version that leans clearly toward gratitude and an invitation for deeper discipleship support, while keeping the tone respectful, constructive, and public facing. I have also honored your punctuation preference and avoided dashes and colons unless necessary.
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Over the years, I have been grateful for Lifeway’s commitment to remaining biblically faithful and for the way your studies have helped our church make disciples. As a Sunday School teacher, I deeply value the care that goes into your curriculum, and that is why I wanted to share a concern in the spirit of partnership and growth.
At times, it can be challenging when key teaching resources are only available through additional purchases. In this week’s Session 2 lesson Jesus Matters, the reference to Pack Item 12 stood out to me. The content is foundational and incredibly helpful, especially as it addresses basic Christology, and it feels essential for students rather than supplemental. I often recreate materials when needed, but this is one resource I genuinely wish had been included directly in the Personal Study Guide.
Lifeway has provided strong models for this in the past. Resources like free leader extras, sermon outlines, and family connection articles have been a real gift to teachers. Bible Studies for Life has shown that deeper theological tools can be made accessible without compromising quality. Including certain Leader Pack items as optional deeper study resources within the lesson framework could greatly strengthen Bible study and discipleship efforts in local churches.
We continue to use Lifeway resources because we trust your theological integrity and your heart for the church. I hope that you would consider expanding access to materials that help teachers and students go deeper in Scripture and doctrine, much like the leader extras you already provide online. These kinds of resources truly aid us in forming mature disciples who understand not only what they believe, but why they believe it.
Thank you for listening and for your continued investment in the church.
Hi Marquis, Thank you for sharing this feedback. We are grateful for your trust in Lifeway and for your faithful work as a Sunday School teacher making disciples in your church.
Your thoughts regarding the pack items are well taken. You’ve articulated an important distinction between supplemental and essential resources, and we appreciate you raising this in a spirit of partnership. Your reference to past models like leader extras is also helpful. Please know your perspective is noted as we are always evaluating how to best serve teachers and learners. Thank you again for your encouragement, your care for sound doctrine, and your commitment to helping others understand not only what they believe, but why they believe it.