More than half the world’s population lives in cities, yet the Adventist work in the cities languishes. God has a heart for cities. Speaking of Nineveh, He asked, “Should I not be concerned about that great city?” (Jonah 4:11, NIV). When Jesus came to this earth, He “had compassion on [the people] because they were … Continue reading –>
Even the most cursory reading of the Bible reveals that God is actively involved in humanity and in what happens here on earth. He is not distant, detached, removed, as some ancient Greek concepts of God taught, or even as some Christian theologians try to depict Him. Though radically different from what He created, the … Continue reading –>
The Bible reveals to us truths about God that we aren’t going to find anywhere else. Among those truths is that He is the Creator. In fact, that’s the first thing the Bible tells us about God, that He created “the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). One of the many fascinating things about this text … Continue reading –>
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Gen. 1:26). Understanding how inspiration works, however important, is only a means to an end, and that end is to know God. A deep understanding of how the Bible was written, or even a deep understanding of the truths revealed in it, mean … Continue reading –>
“It is not the words of the Bible that are inspired, but the men that were inspired. Inspiration acts not on the man’s words or his expressions but on the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, is imbued with thoughts. But the words receive the impress of the individual mind. The … Continue reading –>
Read 2 Peter 1:19-21. What do these verses tell us about how the New Testament authors regarded the Scriptures? Peter affirms that the prophecies of the Old Testament were not of human origin. His argument is that the prophets spokebecause they were “moved by the Spirit of God.” The expression “moved by the Spirit of God” means … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Pet. 1:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19;Heb. 11:6; Exod. 3:1-14. Memory Text: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also … Continue reading –>
Read Frank B. Holbrook, “The Great Controversy,” pp. 969-1008 in Raoul Dederen (ed.), Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology. “The Bible is its own expositor. Scripture is to be compared with scripture. The student should learn to view the word as a whole, and to see the relation of its parts. He should gain a knowledge of … Continue reading –>
Gustave read the notice of evangelistic meetings in his town in Burundi. He had heard about Adventists-heard that they are sinners because they work in their gardens on Sunday. But Gustave decided to attend the meetings anyway. He hoped to learn something new about God. The messages touched his heart. Gustave couldn’t attend the meetings … Continue reading –>
“ ‘And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, … Continue reading –>
If you looked carefully at yesterday’s study, you would have seen a progression of how God manifested Himself and His truth in the midst of the great controversy. God worked through the patriarchal and Israelite sanctuary services, through Christ’s sacrificial atoning death, through the church, and through Christ’s own ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. Satan, … Continue reading –>
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15). In what way is the great controversy revealed in this text? The cryptic language of Genesis 3:15, in which the controversy is here predicted, gives us a … Continue reading –>
Although the Bible does not explicitly tell us the issues involved in the controversy between God and Satan, they can be inferred from some pertinent scriptural passages, such as Isaiah 14:4-21 and Ezekiel 28:12-19. In their original settings, these passages represented pagan kings of Tyre and Babylon; but, when read carefully, they provide details that go beyond these … Continue reading –>
All throughout recorded history, people have sensed that humanity is in some sort of battle, a warfare, a struggle between competing forces. The poet T. S. Eliot wrote, In all of my years, one thing does not change. However you disguise it, this thing does not change: The perpetual struggle of Good and Evil.” -T. S. Eliot: The Complete Poems … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Gen. 3:15, Rev. 12:1-17, Isa. 14:4-21, Ezek. 28:12-19, Isa. 53:6, Rom.1:20-28, John 16:2. Memory Text: “ ‘And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel’ ” (Genesis 3:15, NKJV). Key Thought: The great controversy motif is the overarching concept that gives … Continue reading –>