Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: John 16:5-15; Colossians 1:28-29; 1 Peter 1:13, Matthew 5:29; Genesis 32:1-32. Memory Text: “To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:29, NIV). A man and woman sat together on a talk show. Both had experienced the murder of a child. The woman’s son had … Continue reading –>
Part 5: Crashing a Baptism By Andrew McChesney The day of Junior’s baptism arrived. Five people, including Junior, were to be baptized at 4 p.m. at Alpha Seventh-day Adventist Community Church in Manaus, Brazil. “I won’t go,” Father said. “Drive me to the temple.” On the way to church, Mother wondered out loud whether Father might … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Test of Faith,” Pages 145-155 in Patriarchs and Prophets; “Praise Ye the Lord,” Pages 315-319 in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5. “God has always tried His people in the furnace of affliction. It is in the heat of the furnace that the dross is separated from the true gold of the … Continue reading –>
So far this quarter, we have considered many examples of the crucibles that God uses to bring purity and Christlikeness to our lives. However, some people may view these examples and conclude that God is a severe and demanding taskmaster. Sure, some may say, “We know that God wants something good for us, but these … Continue reading –>
“We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9, , NIV). As God’s chosen apostle, Paul had endured … Continue reading –>
Read Job 1:6-2:10. What caused Job’s suffering? There is something astonishing here. The angels come to see God, and Satan comes with them. God asks Satan where he has been, and Satan replies that he has been “roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it” (Job 1:7, NIV). Then God poses this question: “Have you … Continue reading –>
The story of Hosea has some powerful lessons to teach us. Hosea’s situation is remarkable. His wife, Gomer, runs away and has children with other men. Though she is sexually unfaithful, God calls Hosea to take his wife back and fully show his love to her again. This story is meant as a parable about … Continue reading –>
Read Genesis 22:1-24. Out of nowhere and without explanation, God suddenly calls Abraham to offer his own child as a burnt offering. Can you imagine how Abraham must have felt? It was a totally revolting idea that a holy God should request that you sacrifice your own son. Even if Abraham thought that this was … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Genesis 22:1-24, Hosea 2:1-12, Job 1:6-2:10, 2 Corinthians 11:23-29, Isaiah 43:1-7. Memory Text: “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper … Continue reading –>
Part 4: Plotting With Spirits By Andrew McChesney Months passed before Mother and Junior learned why Father had abandoned them for two months and lived in the Candomblé temple in Manaus, Brazil. It was because Junior wanted to become a Seventh-day Adventist. After seeing a man baptized at Alpha Seventh-day Adventist Community Church, Junior told … Continue reading –>
