Current lesson of the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of the Hope Sabbath School “Christ and Religious Tradition” is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the HopeTV Sabbath School Site. You might want to bookmark the HopeSS Youtube channel.
Informal discussion regarding this week’s Sabbath School lesson with author Dr. Keith Burton on Vimeo in less than 30 minutes:
You can view the same video on Youtube if you
Further Study: For more information on this week’s topic, read Ellen G. White, Tradition, pp. 395-398, Woes on the Pharisees, pp. 610-620, in The Desire of Ages. Also read Matthew 23.
Let all who accept human authority, the customs of the church, or the traditions of the fathers, take heed to the warning conveyed in the words of Christ, In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. -Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 398.
Discussion [...]
So He [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight [...]
[Thought questions for Christ and Religious Tradition April 16, 2014]
Image © Jeff Preston from GoodSalt.com
1. Intro. We like to think that “other” churches teach the doctrines of men while “our” church believes in doctrines that are 100% from God. Is it possible for “our” church members today to prefer hand-me-down beliefs to the clear Word of God? Is it wrong to have religious traditions in our homes? If not, what sort of religious traditions do you believe would be most helpful [...]
Key Thought : While tradition has its place in the church, no human has the authority to create religious traditions and elevate them to the level of Divine law.
[Lesson plan for Christ and Religious Tradition April 14, 2014]
1. Have a volunteer read Matthew 15:8,9.
a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. Why are traditions important, and what role do they have in our community?
c. Personal Application: What are [...]
Although the scribes and Pharisees sat in Moses’ seat, their source of authority for religious instruction extended beyond the Old Testament. The law that the Pharisees utilized consisted of biblical interpretations of leading rabbis. These interpretations were not intended to replace the Scriptures but to complement them. At first they circulated orally; later the scribes began to assemble them into books.
Image © Jeff Preston from GoodSalt.com
The first official publication of rabbinic law did not appear until the end of [...]
[Thought questions for Christ and the Law of Moses April 9, 2014]
Image © Steve Creitz from GoodSalt.com
1. Introduction. What is your attitude toward the Mosaic law? When you read the Bible through, how do the descriptions of feasts and sacrifices and other rituals as described in the Old Testament affect you? Are you ever tempted to skim past those chapters and “get on with” the rest of the Bible? Why did Jesus and His earthly family follow the requirements [...]
Sunday’s section of this week’s Sabbath School lesson, mentions circumcision, which some people in Western cultures now classify as barbaric. I have also heard a few good Christians question why God chose circumcision for a sign of belonging to Him? In certain safe circles faithful Christian men have asked, “Why the penis of all places?”
We all know circumcision is no longer a sign of a covenant between God and us, and we’re glad for that. Still it puzzles some believers and unbelievers [...]
Straining to reach through the crowd, a nameless woman refuses to lose her opportunity for healing. Just beyond the crowd was her miracle. Just beyond the crowd was the start of a new life. It would not be an easy task, but it was worth any discomfort to achieve the desire of her life. The woman with the issue of blood as recorded in the Gospels is our role model for this week’s lesson.
The subject of Christ and the Law [...]
