“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:3-5, NIV). In what ways should the principles expressed here … Continue reading –>
Read Mark 8:22-25. What spiritual lesson can we learn from the fact that Jesus’ first healing touch didn’t fully heal the blind man? After Jesus “spat” on the man’s eyes, He touched him and asked, “ ‘Do you see anything?’ ” (Mark 8:23, NIV). Why did Jesus “spit” on his eyes? Ancient literature indicates examples … Continue reading –>
According to Jesus, the two greatest commandments are love to God and love to neighbor (Luke 10:27-28). He also showed us who our neighbors are (Luke 10:29-37). No question, too, that Jesus’ life, from beginning to end, was an expression of the pure love of God, who Himself is love (1 John 4:16). Thus, if … Continue reading –>
A leper approaches Jesus and begs for healing. Conventional wisdom says that this man should be isolated. Jesus, the clean One, touches him and heals him anyway (Matt. 8:1-4). Peter denies Jesus three times during His trial (John 18:1-40). After the resurrection, having searched Peter’s heart, Jesus reinstates him into His service anyway (John 21:1-25). … Continue reading –>
Read Jonah 3:4-4:6. What serious attitude problem does this prophet have? In Jonah 4:1-11, the prophet Jonah sits down east of the great city of Nineveh. He has delivered the message of doom that God has entrusted to him. He reflects on his journey, his reluctance to come to Nineveh, his runaway tactics, God’s insistence … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Jon. 3:4-4:6, Luke 19:38-42, Matt. 5:43-47, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Mark 8:22-25, Phil. 2:3-5, James 2:14-17. Memory Text: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her … Continue reading –>
Read Ellen G. White, “Our Example,” pp. 17-28, in The Ministry of Healing; “Levi-Matthew,” pp. 272-280, in The Desire of Ages. The church’s mission is to the world, not only unto itself. It was organized for service to others. A church of another faith community has a sign at the end of the driveway, just before … Continue reading –>
No question, the world needs what we have been given in Christ. It’s nothing in us, ourselves, that makes what we have so important. Rather, it is only by virtue of what we have received from Christ that gives us our imperative to reach others. And it’s precisely because we have been given so much … Continue reading –>
A speaker asked a group to tell how many “non-Adventist friends” they had. One man in the back of the room stood up and triumphantly proclaimed, “I’m proud to say none!” That man might have meant well, but his words said a lot about what kind of light to the world he was. As we … Continue reading –>
Read Matthew 9:10-13. What crucial message should we as individuals take away from Jesus’ response to His critics? Read Hos. 6:6. Jesus is reclining at the dinner table, where He is fellowshiping and eating with what this society would deem “undesirables.” What kind of people does your culture deem “undesirables”? Interrupted by the Pharisees’ question of … Continue reading –>
