“It is finished”(John 19:30).1 Jesus, through His Sabbath miracles, demonstrated what the Sabbath is really about. It is a day for healing and restoration. Jesus intended for the Sabbath to call to mind God’s creative power. Thus, the Sabbath is the day when He frees the captives (Luke 4:31–37), makes the lame walk (Luke 13:10–17, John 5:1–9), and restores sight … Continue reading –>
Since February is Black History Month in the United States and Canada, we are going to look at how issues of race, slavery and ministry were addressed by the early Seventh-day Adventist church, as well as how they are discussed in the Bible. Of all possible topics to be discussed, race, religion and politics are … Continue reading –>
Books have been written, and are still being written, with the sole purpose of showing that Jesus, when here in the flesh, was pointing people away from the seventh-day Sabbath, either toward Sunday worship or (more commonly today) toward the idea that the seventh day has been superceded and replaced with a more generic and … Continue reading –>
How many hours of sleep do you get on an average night? Do you get the full eight, or do you feel lucky to get five? How many hours a week do you work (for pay)? How many more do you work at home? Do you ever feel really rested? I heard someone remembering being … Continue reading –>
Though Seventh-day Adventists are most familiar with the Sabbath commandment as expressed in the book of Exodus, the Lord gave it again (and all the other commandments) in the book of Deuteronomy. What’s fascinating is that, although the commands appear in very similar language, the language isn’t precisely the same. Moreover, the commandment in Deuteronomy … Continue reading –>
Read Exodus 20:8–11. What does the Lord tell us to do, and what reason are we told to do it?1 The entire family household, including any servants of either gender, the working class along with the “boss,” are to rest together. Sabbath is the great equalizer, the liberator of all inequities in the social structure. Before … Continue reading –>
One of the most deeply imbedded truths of the Bible is that back in Eden, in a perfect world created by a perfect God, the seventh day was set apart from the rest of the week and made holy. That’s how far back, and basic, the seventh-day Sabbath is. From the perspective of this world, … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Gen. 2:1–3, Exod. 20:8–12, Deut. 5:12–15, Matt. 12:1–13, John 9, 19:30. Memory Text: “ ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath’ “ (Mark 2:27, 28, NKJV). Key Thought: The seventh-day Sabbath, in every way, points us to Jesus, our Creator and our … Continue reading –>
I was driving at 110 kph, the speed limit, along the F3 freeway into Sydney when I passed a traffic police car sitting on the side of the road, ready to catch the unwary who strayed over the magical 110. I glanced at my speedo, saw the 110, reminded myself that all speedos are a … Continue reading –>
“The ten holy precepts spoken by Christ upon Sinai’s mount were the revelation of the character of God, and made known to the world the fact that He had jurisdiction over the whole human heritage. That law of ten precepts of the greatest love that can be presented to man is the voice of God … Continue reading –>
Enkhchimeg Enkhbaatar Eggie’s family wasn’t religious, but when a classmate in secondary school invited her to attend church with her, Eggie agreed to go. She knew that her parents didn’t mind, for her mother had told her that worshipping God was a good thing. Her friend’s church was a small group of 20 or 30 … Continue reading –>
“Uncle Jim is coming,” Mom announced one morning. “Whoopee!” “When?” “He should be here any minute. I think that’s him at the front door. Could you let him in, Marcia?” Uncle Jim was tall and lanky. He looked like he could drop a basketball in the net without even stretching. Marcia and her brother Tim … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: The law describes who God is and how He lives and how He has meant for us to live. We are free to live in happiness as we let Him write those laws in our hearts and minds. [Teaching Plan for "God the Lawgiver" February 8, 2012] 1. Have a volunteer read Exodus … Continue reading –>
From the start, the principles of the Ten Commandments were given to humanity out of the Lord’s love for people. The law has always been intended to be a blessing. You obey the law, and you are greatly protected from the ravages of sin; you disobey, and you face the inevitable consequences of transgression. Who … Continue reading –>
Little controversy exists over the existence of the Law in the period after Sinai. The Old Testament writings are filled with references to the law. And though, so often, those references deal with Israel’s transgression of the law and the subsequent punishments that came, other texts reveal the great love and reverence many in Israel … Continue reading –>
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one … Continue reading –>