Of all the chapter beginnings in the New Testament, none is more famous than this: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). And John 1 soon takes you to the unforgettable verse: “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have … Continue reading –>
Read Genesis 28:10-17. What is the context of this story, and what does it teach us about God’s grace for those who, in a sense, are on the run from their sins? In his dealings with the rest of the family, Jacob, with his mother’s help, had fallen into cruel deceits, and now he’s paying for … Continue reading –>
Read Genesis 3:1-11. Why would God have asked Adam, “Where are you?” Typical stories of the Fall depict the fruit as an apple. But that’s not what the text says. It was simply the “fruit of the tree” (Gen: 3:3). The kind of fruit doesn’t matter. Eating from this tree was forbidden because the tree stood for something. … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Gen: 3:1-11, Rom: 5:11-19, Gen: 28:10-17, John 1:1-14, Matt: 15:21-28, Mark 10:46-52. Memory Text: “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road” (Mark 10:52). Who among us has never been ashamed of himself or herself? Who among us … Continue reading –>
Finding Freedom in Rwanda By Lucette N’Diay Mitrac I don’t know why I volunteered to preach at Total Member Involvement evangelistic meetings in Rwanda in May 2016. Other than me, only young people volunteered to preach when coordinator Duane McKey invited our Seventh-day Adventist church in Paris to participate. I was weak after a long … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Teacher Sent From God,” pages 73-83, in Education. “In the Teacher sent from God, all true educational work finds its center. Of this work today as verily as of the work He established eighteen hundred years ago, the Saviour speaks in the words – ‘I am the First and the … Continue reading –>
One moment, they are a band of ordinary shepherds caring for an average flock of sheep outside a small town. In the next moment, they are the recipients of an amazing appearance of angels who bear startling, wondrous, world-shattering news. Motivated by that appearance, they seek out the child whom the angels announced. Imagine standing with … Continue reading –>
Human relationships all too often break down. We become estranged from one another. The person who was once our close friend becomes, over time, someone we distrust. However, such a broken relationship can be mended. When that happens, we experience the wonder of reconciliation. Few human experiences are as sweet as this. How does reconciliation lie … Continue reading –>
What concern about the Christian community in Philippi is on Paul’s heart as he writes his letter to them? Phil. 2:1-4; Phil. 4:2-3. Philippians 2:1-11 is one of the most profound passages in all the Bible. It discusses the preexistence of Christ, His divinity, His incarnation, His humanity, His acceptance of death on the cross. It describes the long, … Continue reading –>
In the moving prologue to his Gospel (John 1:1-18), John discusses Jesus as the eternal “Word.” John’s claims for Jesus are not timid or limited; they are bold and cosmic in scope. Jesus was in existence before the world came into being – from eternity, actually. In fact, Jesus is the agent of creation ( John 1.2-3). … Continue reading –>
