My Bible reading this week included 1 Kings 3:1-15, which tells the story of the beginning of Solomon’s reign — and compromise. 1 Kings 3:1 tells of his marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter, a compromise conforming to the customs of the day. 1 Kings 3:3 tells us that “Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes … Continue reading –>
Before we take this week’s lesson title (Conformity, Compromise and Crisis in Worship) as an excuse to proscribe forms of worship that we do not like, we need to consider worship in its wider context. There are three aspects of worship (Yes I am well aware that my classification is not the only one but … Continue reading –>
Friday morning I woke up, turned on my computer, looked at the news headlines and got a shock. One of the headlines read, “In Jerusalem, scholars trace Bible’s evolution.” The first two paragraphs were most unsettling: JERUSALEM (AP) — A dull-looking chart projected on the wall of a university office in Jerusalem displayed a revelation … Continue reading –>
We often think of God as the creator and the one who keeps us alive. We look at Him as the one who blesses us by supplying all our needs and many of our wants. But how often do we really think about the extent that God is involved with us? The writer of Hebrews … Continue reading –>
Make Your Own Music The psalmist David loved music. Maybe he played the drum or blew on a horn. Or maybe he sang in a sweet tenor voice. The Bible doesn’t tell us. But the Bible tells us clearly that David played a harp. David learned to express his deepest feelings in music. Have you … Continue reading –>
“I liked that joke the pastor told in the sermon this morning,” Rolly said during lunch at home after the church service. “Didn’t you?” He shot a look at his dad and then his mom. “Joke?” repeated Dad. “I didn’t hear a joke.” “Honey, you were late getting to the sanctuary today,” Rolly’s mom said. … Continue reading –>
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!” Isaiah 5:20-21, NASB Today, most Christian denominations are hierarchical in structure with layers of clergy … Continue reading –>
“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.” Matthew 27:51-52, NIV Have you ever told someone that you were spiritual but not religious? Or … Continue reading –>
Sometimes we get confused about the sanctuary as described in Scripture. Is the earthly sanctuary of Old Testament times an exact replica of the heavenly sanctuary? If so, why? Do God and the angels need a visual representation of God’s holiness when they have the very presence of God Himself with them? Certainly the items … Continue reading –>
See Rejoicing Before the Lord: The Sanctuary and Worship (July 23) Key Thought: The sanctuary worship services centered on God’s provisions to save us from sin and make us holy on a daily basis. 1. Have a volunteer read Exodus 25:1-9. A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea … Continue reading –>
