Surprise Guardians By Andrew McChesney Marriage usually is a joyful time when families celebrate. But Khome and her husband, Eung, only suffered in their remote village in Laos. Khome, who belongs to the Laven people group, was the daughter of a spiritual medium. She had been groomed from childhood to take her mother’s place. But … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: David A. deSilva explains clearly why the early Christians suffered persecution: “Christians adopted a lifestyle that … would have been considered antisocial and even subversive. Loyalty to the gods, expressed in pious attendance at sacrifices and the like, was viewed as a symbol for loyalty to the state, authorities, friends, and family. Worship … Continue reading –>
Read Hebrews 1:2; Hebrews 9:26-28; Hebrews 10:25, Hebrews 10:36-38; and Hebrews 12:25-28. What point is Paul stressing here, particularly regarding time? There is a very important element that the apostle emphasizes that adds urgency to his exhortation: the readers are living in the very “last days” (Hebrews 1:2) and the promises are about to be fulfilled (Hebrews 10:36-38). It is interesting, as we … Continue reading –>
What did the apostle advise the readers to do in view of their situation? What can we learn from Hebrews for our own benefit? Let us analyze how God helped Elijah recover from his discouragement. Read 1 Kings 19:5-18. What did God do to restore the faith of Elijah, His servant? The story of God’s dealings … Continue reading –>
The readers of Hebrews were successful in keeping their faith and commitment to Christ, despite rejection and persecution. The conflict, however, took a toll in the long run. They fought a good fight and came out victorious but also weary. Read Hebrews 2:18; Hebrews 3:12-13; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 10:25; Hebrews 12:3, Hebrews 12:12-13; and Hebrews 13:1-9, Hebrews 13:13. What were some of the … Continue reading –>
When believers confessed their faith in Christ and joined the church, they set a boundary marker that distinguished them from the rest of society. Unfortunately, this became a source for conflict because it implicitly passed a negative judgment on their community and its values. Read Hebrews 10:32-34 and Hebrews 13:3. What was the experience of the audience of … Continue reading –>
In order to understand the sermon and apply its message to ourselves, we need to understand the history of the congregation and their situation when they received the letter from the apostle. Read Hebrews 2:3-4. What was the experience of the audience of Hebrews when they were first converted? This passage implies that the audience of … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon, Read for This Week’s Study: Heb. 2:3, 4; 1 Pet. 4:14, 16; Heb. 13:1-9, 13; 1 Kings 19:1-18; Heb. 3:12-14; Numbers 13. Memory Text: “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36, NKJV). Have you ever imagined what it would … Continue reading –>
It was at church when he first saw her. He was running an errand, absorbed in his thoughts, when the sight hit him. The painting was a little less than two meters high and three meters wide, but the girl portrayed in it exerted a strange captivating force over the young man. Why could he … Continue reading –>
Teen Makes Christmas Music By Andrew McChesney Every year, Miharu Shimizu’s church organizes a special Christmas program in Tokyo, Japan. Every year, Miharu wished that she could participate and somehow share her joy about Christ’s birth. One fall, during her first year in university, a teacher asked her to write the lyrics for a musical. … Continue reading –>
