The advertising world is powerful. Companies spend billions putting images of their products before us. They almost always use beautiful and appealing people to promote what they are selling. We look at that ad and see ourselves, not just with the product but as actually being like the people in the ad. Materialism would not … Continue reading –>
Read Luke 12:15-21. What’s the message to us here? How might the principle here apply even to someone who is not necessarily rich? Whether we are rich or poor, our desire to own things can take our mind off what really matters and focus it, instead, on what’s only temporal and fleeting and certainly not worth … Continue reading –>
Money has become the god of this world, and materialism is its religion. Materialism is a sophisticated and insidious system that offers temporary security but no ultimate safety. Materialism, as we define it here, is when the desire for wealth and possessions becomes more important and more valuable than spiritual realities. Possessions may have value, … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 John 2:16-17; Luke 14:26-33; Luke 12:15-21; Deut. 8:10-14; 1 Tim. 6:10; John 15:5; Gal. 2:20. Memory Text: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2, NKJV). The Word of God tells His people … Continue reading –>
The Life of a Christian Steward As Christians, we need to recognize our sinful condition before we see a need for change. That change can come only and thoroughly through Christ working in us. And one expression of His work in us is in the area of stewardship. Though stewardship encompasses many different aspects of … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Unity and Love in the Church”, pp. 477, 478; “Love for the Erring”, pp. 604-606, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5; “Helping the Tempted”, p. 166, in The Ministry of Healing; p. 719, in The SDA Bible Commentary,vol. 6. “I was shown the danger of the people of God in looking to Brother and Sister … Continue reading –>
Read Romans 15:1-3. What important Christian truth is found in this passage? In what way does this passage capture so much of what it means to be a follower of Jesus? What other verses teach the same idea? Most important, how can you, yourself, live out this principle? As Paul brought his letter to a close, what varied benedictions … Continue reading –>
In this discussion about not judging others who might view some things differently than we do, and not being a stumbling block to others who might be offended by our actions, Paul brings up the issue of special days that some want to observe and others don’t. Read Romans 14:4-10. How are we to understand what … Continue reading –>
Read Romans 14:15-23 (see also 1 Cor. 8:12-13). Summarize on the lines below the gist of what Paul is saying. What principle can we take from this passage that we can apply in all areas of our life? In Romans 14:17-20 Paul is putting various aspects of Christianity into proper perspective. Although diet is important, Christians should not quarrel over … Continue reading –>
Read Romans 14:10. What reason does Paul give here for us to be careful about how we judge others? We tend to judge others harshly at times, and often for the same things that we do ourselves. Often, though, what we do doesn’t seem as bad to us as when others do the same thing. We … Continue reading –>
